oh I love those. Absolutely classic SNL

The PenIs Mightier

I'll take "The rapists" for $200, Alex!

Verizon has their own software in their OTA builds that checks whether or not you subscribe to tethering.

 

It isn't the same, but part of the reason Verizon likes locking bootloaders is to enforce stuff like that.

 

There is no longer a need to subscribe to tethering on Verizon, it's default and just uses whatever bandwidth you have available now...that's the lawsuit he was talking about.

There is no longer a need to subscribe to tethering on Verizon, it's default and just uses whatever bandwidth you have available now...that's the lawsuit he was talking about.

 

Didn't work for me. I didn't buy this phone (it's a company phone used for testing), but when I tried to enable tethering on the stock ROM, it told me I had to call Verizon to enable it.

It was a settlement with the FCC

 

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57485518-...ans-to-you-faq/

It was a settlement with the FCC

 

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57485518-...ans-to-you-faq/

 

I think this phone is still under an old plan (no idea if it really is though).

 

But Verizon still offers its older plans to existing customers. This means customers who want to subscribe to Verizon's Mobile Broadband Connect service for an additional $20 a month can still do so if they want. But if they'd like to download a third party app from the Google Play or some other application store that offers such an app, they can do that and avoid the $20.

 

So I can't do tethering through TouchWiz...but I can do it through third party apps.

Best app for podcasts on Android?

Aaron Swartz, the hacker ruthlessly prosecuted by the government for hacking into JSTOR to make it publicly available, killed himself on Friday.

 

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013...nformation.html

Best app for podcasts on Android?

 

Podcast Addict.

Best app for podcasts on Android?

Stitcher

Stitcher

 

That's like a radio app more than a podcast app.

That's like a radio app more than a podcast app.

Other than the fact that it works perfectly with podcasts? It just does both, but it's neither more one than the other, and it's the best podcast app out there in my opinion.

Other than the fact that it works perfectly with podcasts? It just does both, but it's neither more one than the other, and it's the best podcast app out there in my opinion.

 

Oh well la-de-da!

Oh well la-de-da!

 

I know there's a strong chance I'll be blown away by something at Mobile World Conference but in case I'm not, this will be my next phone when my contract is up in June. What a gorgeous phone and the specs are killer.

 

Disclaimer: I have huge hands. Large phones don't scare me.

 

Edited January 16, 201313 yr by BigSqwert

I know there's a strong chance I'll be blown away by something at Mobile World Conference but in case I'm not, this will be my next phone when my contract is up in June. What a gorgeous phone and the specs are killer.

 

Disclaimer: I have huge hands. Large phones don't scare me.

 

 

HTC and Samsung will do better at MWC.

Edited January 16, 201313 yr by chw42

HTC and Samsung will do better at MWC.

We'll see. I've never really loved the cheap, plastic used in their phones. This one looks sexy and has excellent specs as well.

We'll see. I've never really loved the cheap, plastic used in their phones. This one looks sexy and has excellent specs as well.

 

same here. The thing i love about my iphone 5 is how well built it feels when its in your hand, its not just a plastic shell with a nice screen on it. But since im going back to android phones this year im looking to get my hands on that new sony phone you just showed. It looks like sex.

I know there's a strong chance I'll be blown away by something at Mobile World Conference but in case I'm not, this will be my next phone when my contract is up in June. What a gorgeous phone and the specs are killer.

 

Disclaimer: I have huge hands. Large phones don't scare me.

 

 

It's gotten to the point that these larger phones (5" or less) aren't as large as they once were, because the screen's are practically edge to edge, without much wasted bezel space...and they're orders thinner than they used to be.

 

I'm holding out to see the next Nexus phone from Google/Moto they've been working on before I'll make a choice...that Sony phone looks great...but...it's Sony...I'm not sure I can get over my distrust of them at this point.

same here. The thing i love about my iphone 5 is how well built it feels when its in your hand, its not just a plastic shell with a nice screen on it. But since im going back to android phones this year im looking to get my hands on that new sony phone you just showed. It looks like sex.

 

I've never understood the fascination of calling plastic material flimsy or cheap. Yeah, sure, there are cheap and flimsy plastic phones out there. But when you start to get into the higher tiers of smartphone with plastic casings, they're using high quality and very light polycarbonate plastic. Go look at a phone like the HTC One X, the matte finish with its polycarbonate backing looks awesome and it feels nice in the hand.

 

Everyone has their preferences, but some exaggerate the lack of build quality in phones with plastic casings.

 

 

It's gotten to the point that these larger phones (5" or less) aren't as large as they once were, because the screen's are practically edge to edge, without much wasted bezel space...and they're orders thinner than they used to be.

 

I'm holding out to see the next Nexus phone from Google/Moto they've been working on before I'll make a choice...that Sony phone looks great...but...it's Sony...I'm not sure I can get over my distrust of them at this point.

 

That's pretty much my take on it as well. I already don't like Sony's skin on top of Android and I feel like it won't get enough support from the development community to have it last for more than a year.

I've never understood the fascination of calling plastic material flimsy or cheap. Yeah, sure, there are cheap and flimsy plastic phones out there. But when you start to get into the higher tiers of smartphone with plastic casings, they're using high quality and very light polycarbonate plastic. Go look at a phone like the HTC One X, the matte finish with its polycarbonate backing looks awesome and it feels nice in the hand.

 

Everyone has their preferences, but some exaggerate the lack of build quality in phones with plastic casings.

Aesthetically, this Sony phone looks better than anything I've ever seen from HTC or Samsung.

Aesthetically, this Sony phone looks better than anything I've ever seen from HTC or Samsung.

 

That glass backing might not do too well. Look at what happened with the Nexus 4. You probably can't use that phone without a case if you want the glass on the back of the phone to stay intact.

 

Moral of story: don't put glass on the back of a phone (or at least don't make the entire back of it glass). It hasn't worked well for Apple or LG/Google so far.

 

And yes it is a very nice looking phone. I like the dedicated camera button.

Edited January 16, 201313 yr by chw42

What king of glass are they using in the Xperia Z? Perhaps it's sturdier.

What king of glass are they using in the Xperia Z? Perhaps it's sturdier.

 

It's tempered glass, apparently.

 

They're stronger than the iPhone 4's glass backing I'd assume, but I'm not sure how it stacks up against Gorilla Glass 2 or something newer. Either way, glass is prone to breaking and it's a bad idea to cover the back of a phone with it.