Phones

[octave]

https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/oppo-a79-smartphone-5g-128gb-glowing-green-oppoa79grn?istCompanyId=0403b0ba-0671-498f-aeb7-e2ff71b61924&istFeedId=00ff5695-1f12-4ff3-82f4-49dd39a43a69&istItemId=lataarmql&istBid=t&cm_mmc=Google:SEM:Always_on:RP|Technology|Gift+Cards+%26+Gifts|General||||SH|PMAX|&s_kwcid=AL!12073!3!!!!x!!&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwufq2BhAmEiwAnZqw8ihsTCsKQJ3zkIq6iD85cP-3M4HfT-k14aYCIEjG218J5-USKPR5bxoCnx0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#specifications

 

I used to have an Oppo a76 which does not have 5g however this model has I think.   The only reason I don't use my Oppo phones that I inherited a Pixel phone. 

[willedoo]

17 minutes ago, octave said:

https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/oppo-a79-smartphone-5g-128gb-glowing-green-oppoa79grn?istCompanyId=0403b0ba-0671-498f-aeb7-e2ff71b61924&istFeedId=00ff5695-1f12-4ff3-82f4-49dd39a43a69&istItemId=lataarmql&istBid=t&cm_mmc=Google:SEM:Always_on:RP|Technology|Gift+Cards+%26+Gifts|General||||SH|PMAX|&s_kwcid=AL!12073!3!!!!x!!&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwufq2BhAmEiwAnZqw8ihsTCsKQJ3zkIq6iD85cP-3M4HfT-k14aYCIEjG218J5-USKPR5bxoCnx0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#specifications

 

I used to have an Oppo a76 which does not have 5g however this model has I think.   The only reason I don't use my Oppo phones that I inherited a Pixel phone. 

Thanks octave. A mate of mine has an Oppo and is quite happy with it. The problem with Oppo phones for me is that they are quite long screens, about 25mm longer than the size I'm looking for. It's back to the same problem of pocket insecurity.

[red750]

Sunrise did a report from the American launch of the newest iPhone 16. Has lots of AI features which you probably don't need, such as - photograph a dog and it can tell you what breed it is; someone recommends a movie to see and the phone tells you where you can see it, etc. However, they said with the Airpods ear plugs, it can operate as a hearing aid. I'd like to check that out, although, like willie, it's price will be well outside my budget.

 

I have a very old iPhone 6, which is falling further and further behind in functions. It is the smaller footprint. I have never used an android phone, so when my friend asks me for help to do something, I know no more than him. I don't find them as easy to use as an iPhone, simply because I haven't had the experience. For me, they are not as intuitive.

 

I don't use apps like banking, Australia Post, maps, social media or internet etc. I don't have any music loaded, or listen to radio. Never used Facetime. I use the camera a lot, as well as phonecalls and SMS. It links to me smartwatch to read previous days stepcount, which resets to 0 on the watch at midnight, and I use the calendar for appointments, and the calculator. iPhone 6 meets most of my needs.

[Marty_d]

I bought a Motorola G84 for $300.  They're still at $299 from Hardly Normal / JB Hifi etc.

 

Honestly for what I do with it I can't tell the difference from the previous Samsung S5 or whatever it was.  Size is roughly the same too.  Just works better and now that it uses wifi for calls and text, it actually works at our place (the previous one didn't!)

 

[spacesailor]

I'm the same as marty_d . Samsung S5 to Motorola. 

Works just fine & cost $thousand less 

spacesailor

[old man emu]

8 hours ago, willedoo said:

a size that can be easily carried around in a pocket while working and not fall out.

Why not investigate a pouch for the phone that goes on your belt? Just search "mobile phone pouches australia". There's a heap there, even fancy leather ones.

[willedoo]

Thanks ome, that might be worth a try.

[onetrack]

I have the same problem as Willie, but I've never found a phone pouch that works satisfactorily. I've tried belt-mounted ones, and upper-arm mounted ones, and they all suffer the same problems - with the primary problem being the one, that you can't get the phone out quick enough to answer calls.

This is not helped by the fact that mobiles only ring for just a few rings, before they stop ringing and go to messagebank.

[willedoo]

I usually carry mine in the right side trouser pocket. I mainly only need to be careful with it in that location if I'm rolling around on the ground or slithering under a vehicle so I don't crack the screen. Top pocket is no good for me. With the side pocket, a long phone tends to get up a ratchet effect with movement. While I'm working a long phone it's like an invisible winch is working it out of the pocket. The Galaxy S10e I have is only 140mm long so short enough to stay in the pocket. It's only drawback is that it's not 5G capable, only 4GLTE. Most phones now are around 160mm to 165mm long.

[spacesailor]

So .

Phones falling out of your pocket. 

You need to tether  the phone to your belt . It alsoI. deters pickpockets. 

spacesailor

[willedoo]

2 hours ago, spacesailor said:

So .

Phones falling out of your pocket. 

You need to tether  the phone to your belt . It alsoI. deters pickpockets. 

spacesailor

After looking at new phone prices, I can understand pickpockets going for them. $3,000 for a phone seems crazy to someone like me with basic phone requirements.

[willedoo]

Telstra's 3G service shuts down tomorrow.

[newsaroundme]

I think Velcro and super glue might solve the problem of attaching phone to person.

[Jerry_Atrick]

On 12/09/2024 at 6:31 AM, willedoo said:

After looking at new phone prices, I can understand pickpockets going for them. $3,000 for a phone seems crazy to someone like me with basic phone requirements.

I only buy second hand phones these days, and the mid-range rather than premiums, which still pack a fair punch in terms of tech power, seem to be the best calue. £159 for a 5G Samsung A52 that was about £500 when new.. everything works, 256G of memory.. Only downside is, it is lilac!

 

[old man emu]

9 hours ago, Jerry_Atrick said:

Only downside is, it is lilac!

Bugger! Couldn't get it in puce?

[spacesailor]

Out with the " paint brush " . 

I just sprayed a ugly canvas,  an alternative colour.

Now it's only half as ugly , was ' khaki brown '' ,

Now a lighter shade of " khaki green ' .

spacesailor

 

[red750]

Most people, if they have a background photo at all, have their wife/girlfriend/dog/car o the phone lock screen.  Donald Trump?

 

[facthunter]

He's got BIG shoulderpads.  Nev

[willedoo]

More confusion over the 3G shutdown, 000 and blocked phones: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-03/brand-new-phones-unable-to-make-calls-3g-shutdown/104541440

 

The section in that article that related to phones purchased overseas being blocked got me thinking about second-hand sales of phones. With the 3G shutdown making my old Samsung Galaxy S5 obsolete, I bought a refurbished S10e on eBay. I wonder if any eBay phone sellers here in Australia source stock from overseas. Mine is working ok but I haven't called 000 to know if that part works. Apparently it's up to the telcos to block models they think might not be compatible but it sounds a bit arbitrary.

[red750]

I don't know it the 3G test will work, but you can try it. Text 3 to 3498. You should get a reply in 10 seconds. I can't guarantee you will be able to call 000.

[spacesailor]

There was a big push , years ago , were you're old phone was resold overseas .

I gave a couple of obsolete ' laptop's ' to a person with 

Relatives in Fiji.  On his return,  he thanked me, & said they were heaps more modern than the school were using . So one went there .

spacesailor

[Marty_d]

6 hours ago, willedoo said:

More confusion over the 3G shutdown, 000 and blocked phones: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-03/brand-new-phones-unable-to-make-calls-3g-shutdown/104541440

 

The section in that article that related to phones purchased overseas being blocked got me thinking about second-hand sales of phones. With the 3G shutdown making my old Samsung Galaxy S5 obsolete, I bought a refurbished S10e on eBay. I wonder if any eBay phone sellers here in Australia source stock from overseas. Mine is working ok but I haven't called 000 to know if that part works. Apparently it's up to the telcos to block models they think might not be compatible but it sounds a bit arbitrary.

The ad should say "AU model" or similar if it's an Australian phone.
My son got done like that.  He bought a Samsung (not sure what model) new from an Ebay seller.  3 months later there was a bright green line down the screen.  

I tried to get it fixed under warranty by Samsung Australia, they didn't want to know about it because it was a US model.  

Contacted Samsung US, they didn't want to know me as I wasn't the registered purchaser - the arsehole selling them on Ebay was.

Contacted the seller - no response.

Basically he could have taken the phone back and as the registered US buyer, got it replaced under warranty.  But he couldn't be bothered.

Contacted Ebay and put in a complaint, but they wouldn't even let me change my rating, so he's probably still flogging US stock.

So my son is stuck with the line on the screen, because it would cost about $350 to replace the screen and the phone was only $400.

Edited November 3 by Marty_d

[onetrack]

Before you purchase any phone, go to the GSMArena site, and look up the brand and model number, to check if it's a model compatible with the bandwidths used in Australia.

Many manufacturers have up to a dozen different models, all look the same, but the model number gives you the country it's built for - and a lot of countries use a lot of different frequencies to us.

 

When you find the right phone model on GSMArena that you're looking to purchase, put your mouse on the end of the "Network" line, where it says "expand", and clicking on "expand" produces all the frequencies that that particular model is set for, or is capable of operating on.

 

https://www.gsmarena.com/

 

Australia uses the following mobile frequencies and channels -

 

https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/Guides/Will-my-phone-work-in-Australia-carrier-network-frequencies

 

Note that frequencies used can vary from carrier to carrier, and rural frequencies are nearly always different to city frequencies.

 

 

Edited November 3 by onetrack

[nomadpete]

All OT's stuff is important.

 

BUT

 

The present problem can run a even deeper that all the above.

 

According to the bloke mentioned in the ABC News, he had a phone that was bought initially from Optus, then unlocked from their network, so he could use it with a Telstra SIM on their network. When checked with the SMS test, it was shown to be fully 4G Lte compatible for triple O calls. And other users of that model (purchased in AU) were ok. But because his was not purchased from Telstra, it was automatically bricked by telstra. Other networks have done similar.

 

 

 

Edited November 3 by nomadpete
got Telstra and Optus back to front. Problem remains the same anyway.

[spacesailor]

I got caught too .

Friend of a friend bought a phone in Dubbo from Optus .

but, there's no Optus in Wellington .

Returned & was told to buy Telsa sim .

Second month , they have two bills , as Optus wouldn't cancel their useless account .I bought it & cancelled both accounts.  Alas, that didn't work . The Optus still sent billing to original purchasers. 

Optus told them to report phone as stolen to cancel all accounts . Leaving me with a stolen phone . That was in use with Optus before it was stolen . I could have paid $80 dollars to Optus to get it released . But stuff it . Those carrier's are just after your money & will  sell you anything to get you hooked .

spacesailor

Edited November 3 by spacesailor
Missed word