Smartphones

[rowyn]

One of the things that I thought would be nice about having a new smartphone was that it'd play Youtube videos and such like. Because the Android OS supports Flash.

And for about three weeks, my phone could play videos. Then Youtube and apparently every other video form on the web upgraded to a new form of Flash which Adobe hasn't released of the Android, and my smartphone can no longer play videos.

...

Between the crappy keyboard* and the no-cut-and-paste-email, I am almost tempted to buy an old Sidekick from e-Bay.

* Salesperson on the crappy keyboard: "You get used to it."
Me on the crappy keyboard, after 12 days' use: "I think I'll get used to it."
Me on the crappy keyboard, after two months' use: ".... I think what I'm getting used to is NOT WRITING on my phone."

Comments

[duane-kc.livejournal.com]

I have a Samsung Intensity, and the keyboard is barely adequate. Still, it's better than trying to enter text on the phone keypad.

[rowyn]

Hee, I guess 12-key pads do make even touchscreen ones look good. Yikes!

[fortyozspartan.livejournal.com]

I'm tempted to throw more of the blame at Adobe's feet about flash than anyone else. Although, my phone can still play YouTube videos just fine. Just not other flash content...

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Let's not forget that Google has re-encoded all Youtube videos to be HTML 5 compliant; this is how iOS can render the videos. Of course, Google is doing this because they want searchable content, but hey, if it standardized the internet, we all win.

[rowyn]

It's not really a big deal ... I don't like watching videos that much anyway. But it is one more reason to wonder why I wanted a modern smartphone anyway. :/

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you would have been better off buying an iPhone.

[rowyn]

Hahahaha no. Virtual keyboards are the CRAPPIEST OF THEM ALL. I didn't like the keyboard on this phone when I got it. When I tried to use an iPhone I was stunned and amazed by just how awful it was. People can say "you get used to it!" but having heard that about the no-number-keys problem this phone has, I am not remotely convinced that my experience with an iPhone would be all that much better than my initial impression of ZOMG UNUSABLE. It would make more sense just to not get a phone at all and save the money.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

I own neither an iPhone or an iTouch, but when I was on the campaign trail this past cycle, I started getting used to texting on the iPhone. It took me awhile to figure out some of the clever stuff Apple was doing, but it started clicking. I'm sure I'd get used to it after a week of owning such a device.

On the flip side, my biggest gripe about the iPhone/virtual keyboards is the lack of tactical response; ergo, I believe that you'll always type slower on the iPhone because it involves two senses, not just one.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

I had an ipod touch for a while (technically, I still do, but I haven't used it in almost a year -- I replaced it with one of those USB thumb-drive mp3 players) and the keyboard was the worst thing about it by far. If they were doing something clever it didn't work on my fingers.

[rowyn]

"I replace it with a USB MP3 player" is pretty harsh condemnation, when you think about it. :D

[rowyn]

Yeah, even on a thumb keyboard I touch type, and I don't see that working that well on a virtual keyboard. You also don't get that instant I-know-I-hit-the-key feedback, and I think it's a little less comfortable to type on an unyielding surface.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

?

The Android has a Youtube app. Free, I am pretty sure? It still works, at least for me.

[rowyn]

Oh, I didn't think of looking for a Youtube app. I only watch videos when people link to them, so I was looking for an upgrade for Flash. Non-youtube videos don't work either. :/

[skyflame.livejournal.com]

I think I showed you my Samsung Moment at Contra... the slide keyboard is larger than previous Samsungs (which was a requirement, considering the size of my hands), and it has a separate number row. All of the function keys are pretty much the same as a normal keyboard. I wish the space bar was a bit longer; I end hitting "b" a lot when I want a space instead, but I've trained myself to manually spellcheck before hitting Send.

The Android YouTube app is working for me. Maybe it's a T-Mobile thing instead of an Android issue.

[rowyn]

I didn't check for a Youtube app; I didn't need one when I got the phone, as the videos ran inside the browser just like they do on my home computer.

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

I *think* if you hold down on the body of the email - at least with my Android - you get a prompt that will let you select text. Granted, it's unwieldy, but you might play around and see if that works for you (and if you like it.)

[rowyn]

What's the name of the program you use for email? Neither of the pre-loaded email apps let me select text. My workaround has been to go to the webpage and start a reply to the email there. Then from the browser's text input window, I can hold down the screen to get a copy-all option. It's a pretty clunky way to get there, though.

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

I just use gmail and the app that came preloaded with my phone. :-/ But at first, I didn't think there was a way to do copy/paste either, so I haven't really been using it...but I've stumbled upon it a few times recently, just by accident.

[rowyn]

*pokes at her phone* Ahhh, the POP mail client on my phone allows cut 'n paste (but still no select all, sigh). I use gmail as my primary and don't want to use the POP client though, since the POP client doesn't sync with the gmail webpage the way the Gmail app does. The Gmail app doesn't allow text selection. :/