How to cope with a Phablet?

trentlad said:
To be completely honest, I initially went through a honeymoon period of completely accepting the size of the phone and claiming it was more than appropriate. Fast forward four months:
- you can't depend on one handed use (I'm 6'3 so my hands aren't exactly small)
- it's substatially heavier
- use as my everyday mobile is simply cumbersome

Now I'm stuck with this mammoth for another year and a half, there was simply no way to spot this problem with research (and trust me, I review the bejeez out of anything I decide to hand over my hard earn cash towards) so I'm a little more than livid about this let alone the OS issues.
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What phone are you talking about?
 
I'm just got a Lumia 1520 a few days ago and must say I'm generally quite happy with it. It is taking a little getting used to but I think I will find it hard to get a smaller phone in future?
 
Stop wearing skinny emo jeans? :p

Had a Note 1 for the last 2 years and I think it's the perfect size - fits in all my pockets with no problems (suit trousers, jeans, shorts, etc.).

Yes it's difficult to use the whole screen with one hand, but the number of times I've actually tried to do that and it's been a problem, I could count on... well... one hand :p

I couldn't go back to a "normal" sized phone now, whenever I try to use my GF's iPhone, it's like a little kid's toy, and feels like my finger is covering 90% of the screen!
 
The Note 3 is easy to use with one hand but only thanks to the faux leather back, it provides so much grip you can shimmy your palm on it and adopt some one handed skill because of it. Not hard really.
 
They are really not all that big, i dont have a pair of jeans/trousers that it doesnt fit the pocket just fine. Is the project you talk of a school project, and you are actually 8 years old and thats why your pockets are so small? ;>
 
jubei said:
They are really not all that big, i dont have a pair of jeans/trousers that it doesnt fit the pocket just fine. Is the project you talk of a school project, and you are actually 8 years old and thats why your pockets are so small? ;>
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My youngest has had my old Note since he was 11 recently because of a cracked screen he's been looking around at the current and forthcoming phones and settled on a Note 3, now he's big ish for a lad of nearly 13 but he hasn't got giant hands, at just a tad bigger than a z1 the size is actually a non issue.
 
Had my 1520 about 3 weeks now and have adapted really quickly to its size. Normal phone just feel small now lol

MW
 
I do like the faux leather texture on the Note 3 back and bet it helps.

The Note 2 back is too smooth and you battle with it sliding out of your hands 90% of the time. Comfortable one handed operation is simply not an option, but you don't realise how often one handed operation is vital until the honeymoon period ends.

You can't pop a case on these things either, it's already huge and the slippery design is what allows you to slip it in and out of the pocket with ease. I tried a clear body glove from skinomi and it's certainly helped but your hands need to be a little moist and stylus use is hindered.

Most of my gripes are environmental. Now that I live in a sunny climate, it's too heavy in the pockets when wearing shorts. When I used to drive all the time it was fine but being on a bus, you can't touch it if you're standing. I'm out walking around a lot now too so it's just not a comfortable experience.

If you drive everywhere and mainly stay indoors then it's fine... which is why I've ripped out the SIM card and use mine like a home tablet these days.

I have massive issues with teh software side too.

What made me laugh is how friends would jump on the band wagon of mocking the iPhone as a brainless hipster tool and declare how open and free the Android world is in comparison. Turns out the only additional freedom is being able to change the skin, haha, even then each ROM comes with such massive caveats.

Then you have to deal with fundamental issues with Android:

1.) Photos management is in such a poor state with Android, you'll have a million folders based on what app downloaded/made/tweaked the image. I had album art in a few music folders and couldnt even delete them from the album. So good luck finding a new downloaded photo. Some HDR photos don't even appear in the library until a few good minutes after being shot. The single photo folder in iOS dominates.

2.) Group SMS messaging is so excruciatingly buggy in Android, why on earth they haven't they incorporated a feature that lets you group text without it working one second and messing up the next is beyond me. It's apparently an issue with iMessage on iPhones.

3.) Policed apps in iOS have a massive advantage, apps not only work better than the main website but operate fluidly, very intuitive and aesthetically look incredible. Then you look at the PlayStore and find a list of awful junk that Joey the 12 year old next door uploaded. Not only that but so many apps are jammed with ads galore and some are even dangerous to your privacy, one actually sent my phone number to an ad firm and they kept calling for three days non stop. What a joke. Plus people on iOS pay for decent apps so it encourages developers to release A-grade material.

4.) The cool tech comes to iOS first. My UP band wasn't supported by Android till two years later, Flipbook was on iOS, WAZE, Vine, Über, Mint, Teamviewer...

5.) In-app search and download of "free trial" apps, you don't have to prat about with torrents or file transfers.

6.) Games! Goodness me the games!! So many incredible games on iOS that actually make sense on a phone. Android seems to be carried away with console level games that look ace but for a mobile it just doesn't get played... oh and the same games are on iOS first

I'm fine with putting in a bit of work to get things functional for a decent price difference but this thing wasn't cheaper it's actually cost more (in fact way more) than the iPhone.

/rant

Yeah this was definitely a bad choice in my circumstance and I get to regret it for a whole two years till the contract expires.
 
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Fitted my note 2 with a zero lemon and still fit in my pants :P not sure what kind of trousers you guys are wearing.
 
Been playing with a new S4 Mini for most of the day, loving the fact that it is actually a bit smaller than my S2, but with the same screen size.

Phablets can do one, I have an actual tablet for where those would be more useful than my phone.
 
thep02 said:
My youngest has had my old Note since he was 11 recently because of a cracked screen he's been looking around at the current and forthcoming phones and settled on a Note 3, now he's big ish for a lad of nearly 13 but he hasn't got giant hands, at just a tad bigger than a z1 the size is actually a non issue.
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Your 13 year old has a £600 phone? Christ, I was lucky to get a £100 phone 7 years ago (when i was 13). Thats mad in my opinion. What does he need a phone like the Note 3 for anyway?
 
Cleisthenes said:
Your 13 year old has a £600 phone? Christ, I was lucky to get a £100 phone 7 years ago (when i was 13). Thats mad in my opinion. What does he need a phone like the Note 3 for anyway?
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why not train them young with high end equipment,

my 17month has a Nexus7 :D
 
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Cleisthenes said:
That's horrific! What happened to board games and bouncing in a doorway via elastic :(:confused:
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what will that teach them in a tech age? we cant change the world we live in, better when you have kids you teach them how to operate stuff rather than being all middle class and giving them woodern toy cars.

I have a nice balance with my daughter. we go to the park EVERY day... rain, wind or snow, we have fruit and veg every day and we also have certain TV shows and time with the tablet... she can choose which video she wants on the tablet using thumbnails and play a couple of cbeebies apps. I am quite proud

"horrific" is OTT you have to embrace technology with kids or they will be left behind.

little bit of everything is the way fwd
 
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