On 2023-02-19 14:39, Andy Burns wrote:
> Andy Burnelli wrote:
>
>> Andy Burns wrote:
>>
>>> My MVNO provides unlimited SMS, charges per MMS, and doesn't provide
>>> RCS.   I've been a bit suspicious of using google for RCS.
>>
>> I don't understand why anyone pines for RCS
>
> I wouldn't say I pine for RCS, I'm relatively happy with SMS and will
> pay to send the occasional MMS, because I certainly don't do
> WhatsApp/Messenger.  If my mobile provider had their own RCS, I'd likely
> use that, since it'd be something I was paying for as part of my bundle.
>
> If I enable google RCS, I think all my current SMS would go via it, my
> provider might think SMS is becoming less important and consider
> dropping it, meanwhile google don't have a good track record of keeping
> messaging platforms running long-term.

No, enabling the google messaging app to do RCS doesn't necessarily mean
the ISP goes hands off. They are involved.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Communication_Services

WhatsApp, which is the most popular messaging app here, is owned by
Facebook, now another name. Not saints.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2/19/2023 4:36 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

>snip>

> My Motorola g52 has a headphone jack, and AFAIK it should support Wi-Fi
> calling :-)

The Moto X that was sold by Verizon did support Wi-Fi calling. It turns
out that the unlocked model sold at stores, which is what I bought, did not.

> Or, you can just use wasap video. Or voice.

That's what we do. Google Voice would also work.

On 2/19/2023 4:42 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

<snip>

> Also, they have an habit of engaging while they are stored in their
> enclosure, so that when the phone should play an alarm or a phone call,
> it doesn't.

Forty minutes is pretty awful. My Bluetooth earbuds go 6-8 hours (the
manufacturer claims 10 hours). I didn't get Airpods because they don't
yet support aptX (see
<https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-clarifies-lack-of-high-definition-Bluetooth-codec-support-for-AirPods-Max-and-AirPods-Pro-2.670484.0.html>),
I got these
<https://www.zdnet.com/product/monolith-m-twe-wireless-earbuds/> which
are now $87.49 from Amazon <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P6B3WHW> but
are $129.99 direct from Monoprice
<https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=41500>.

In article <tstdmo$dqb0$3@dont-email.me>, sms
<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

> My Bluetooth earbuds go 6-8 hours (the
> manufacturer claims 10 hours). I didn't get Airpods because they don't
> yet support aptX

nor will they, because they support aac directly from the phone
skipping the interim conversion that aptx requires.

not that it matters since there is no noticeable difference in sound
quality in objective tests. the limiting factor is the transducer
itself and the quality of the sound file, not the protocol.

On 2023-02-19 15:29, Nic wrote:
> nospam wrote:
>
>>> Besides headphones, there are many other peripherals that can use the
>>> headphone jack.
>>
>> not really. although a few did exist, very few people actually used
>> them, and they've been replaced with bluetooth versions that are far
>> more convenient and reliable.
>
> Why do you defend the loss of the headphone jack when there is zero
> advantages (and many disadvantages) with a phone that doesn't have it.

LOL.

You don't know him. You have just started a flamewar :-D

The locals just ignore him when he says silly things like that :-P

--
Cheers, Carlos.

Andy Burns wrote:

>> Ironically, it's the U.S. where MMS is still heavily used.
>
> In earlier versions of the stock android messages app, google made the
> assumption that MMS was equally useable to anyone as SMS, so when you
> sent a group text it would use MMS, not realising that would cost
> non-American users a lot more money.

My PulseSMS (last known good version) messenger has an option for that.
*Use Group MMS = on/off*
(When disabled, group messages will be sent out as individual SMS
to each of the recipients.)
*Convert to MMS = Never,After 1, after 2, after 3, after 4 messages*
(Long messages will be sent as MMS instead of individual SMS.)

Which is my main point that on Android there are so many good features in
messaging apps that I can't figure out yet why people even want RCS.

Although I just looked and there are "Delivery Reports" in PulseSMS which
are off by default (I just turned that switch on to see what it does).
*Delivery Reports = on/off*
(Most carriers do not support this option. It is not RCS.)

What does RCS give you that a well written app doesn't get you already?

On 2/19/2023 6:29 AM, Nic wrote:
> nospam wrote:
>
>>> Besides headphones, there are many other peripherals that can use the
>>> headphone jack.
>>
>> not really. although a few did exist, very few people actually used
>> them, and they've been replaced with bluetooth versions that are far
>> more convenient and reliable.
>
> Why do you defend the loss of the headphone jack when there is zero
> advantages (and many disadvantages) with a phone that doesn't have it.

You're new here, huh?

On 2023-02-19 15:48, sms wrote:
> On 2/19/2023 4:36 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>
> >snip>
>
>> My Motorola g52 has a headphone jack, and AFAIK it should support
>> Wi-Fi calling :-)
>
> The Moto X that was sold by Verizon did support Wi-Fi calling. It turns
> out that the unlocked model sold at stores, which is what I bought, did
> not.

Oh :-o

>> Or, you can just use wasap video. Or voice.
>
> That's what we do. Google Voice would also work.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2023-02-19 20:53, sms wrote:
> On 2/19/2023 6:29 AM, Nic wrote:
>> nospam wrote:
>>
>>>> Besides headphones, there are many other peripherals that can use the
>>>> headphone jack.
>>>
>>> not really. although a few did exist, very few people actually used
>>> them, and they've been replaced with bluetooth versions that are far
>>> more convenient and reliable.
>>
>> Why do you defend the loss of the headphone jack when there is zero
>> advantages (and many disadvantages) with a phone that doesn't have it.
>
> You're new here, huh?

ROTFL! X'-D

Good thing my mug of tea was on the table and not in my hands ;-)

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2023-02-19 16:02, sms wrote:
> On 2/19/2023 4:42 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>> Also, they have an habit of engaging while they are stored in their
>> enclosure, so that when the phone should play an alarm or a phone
>> call, it doesn't.
>
> Forty minutes is pretty awful. My Bluetooth earbuds go 6-8 hours (the
> manufacturer claims 10 hours). I didn't get Airpods because they don't
> yet support aptX (see
> <https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-clarifies-lack-of-high-definition-Bluetooth-codec-support-for-AirPods-Max-and-AirPods-Pro-2.670484.0.html>), I got these <https://www.zdnet.com/product/monolith-m-twe-wireless-earbuds/> which are now $87.49 from Amazon <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P6B3WHW> but are $129.99 direct from Monoprice <https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=41500>.

I don't know how to call mine, faked airpods, earbuds... They identify
as IWOTTO on bluetooth. But they are a "present" from the bank, so
customized with their name. They charge via a short lightning cable.

I don't intend to buy anything like that.
Something with cable instead, to use on an airplane (I intend to take
one). Easy to pack.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2/19/2023 12:19 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
> On 2023-02-19 20:53, sms wrote:

<snip>

>> You're new here, huh?
>
> ROTFL!  X'-D
>
> Good thing my mug of tea was on the table and not in my hands ;-)

Please switch to coffee. “Experts agree, coffee is good food.”

On 2/19/2023 9:17 AM, Andy Burnelli wrote:

> Andy Burns wrote:
>
>> I wouldn't say I pine for RCS, I'm relatively happy with SMS and will
>> pay to send the occasional MMS, because I certainly don't do
>> WhatsApp/Messenger. If my mobile provider had their own RCS, I'd likely
>> use that, since it'd be something I was paying for as part of my bundle.
>
> Hi Andy,
> Thanks for that purposefully helpful reply of how you feel about SMS, MMS
> and RCS, where I probably wouldn't feel any different than you do given I
> don't "miss" anything in my current SMS/MMS setup that I'm "supposed" to be
> missing, at least according to the competing Google & Apple advertisements.
>
>> If I enable google RCS, I think all my current SMS would go via it, my
>> provider might think SMS is becoming less important and consider
>> dropping it, meanwhile google don't have a good track record of keeping
>> messaging platforms running long-term.
>
> I have to agree that Google's track record sucks for Hangouts and other
> messaging apps - although I have to say Google Voice is the _only_ Google
> App that does what no other app does - although only on iOS does it do it.
>
> On Android, Google Voice does nefarious things, as do the other Google apps
> that require a login, so I don't use them on Android - only on iOS.
>
>> But if I'm not paying google what are they doing with my messages?
>> They're unlikely to be providing it from the goodness of their heart.
>
> I think the messenger app is more important to Google than one might think.
>
> I think it's clear, if not from how desperate Steve is to get iMessage on
> Android, then from Apple's own emails deposed in the Epic lawsuit that
> Apple MANAGEMENT is well aware that iMessage is a shockingly huge glue trap
> for teens to pine for their parents to purchase an iPhone over Android.
>
> You know I don't make this stuff up, so if you want, I can dig up the
> references, as even I would be shocked that a simple messenger app, of all
> things, is why someone pines for one platform over the other.
>
> But Apple isn't stupid so I will not disagree with their own emails.
>
>> I'd happily use Signal or Telegram, but most of the people I send SMSs
>> to would look at me funny if I suggested it.
>
> I can't disagree, where I use whatever the _other_ person uses, which, in
> the USA, is universally SMS/MMS and for people in Europe, it's WhatsApp.
>
> Steve will tell us it's WeChat for China but I don't communicate with
> people on that side of the other pond.
>
> If I _needed_ a secure channel, I'd employ Signal perhaps, but I'm ok with
> the lack of privacy on my personal texts which maybe I do 20 a day or so.
>
>>> so I will respond to what
>>> you're using to say what I'm using (which is working just fine for me).
>>> <https://i.postimg.cc/L6dFGXVd/tmopromo03.jpg> $100 for 6 lines + $16 tax
>>
>> It seems that many USA plans cater to a whole family with multiple
>> devices, that sort of contract is available here, but it's less common.
>
> I just called T-Mobile to see if I was getting the $5 discount for
> autopayment that this recent thread talked about going away in May.
> *T-Mobile is Ending $5 Per Line Autopay Discount if You Pay with a Credit Card*
> <https://groups.google.com/g/comp.mobile.android/c/rzXt4soq9zY>
>
> Turns out my plan is $60 for the Simple Choice for six lines (really four
> lines because two are free for life data-only 200MB/month tablet plans) but
> when I traveled to Germany a few years ago, I added the $40 extra Simple
> Global option, so my plan is now $100/month for four lines + $16 in fees.
> <https://i.postimg.cc/nhpbcP50/tmopromo04.jpg> $100 for 6 lines + $16 fees
>
> I've had Verizon but I dropped them when they upped my two-year contract
> (in the days of contracts) simply for replacing a broken Kyocera, and then
> I had AT&T but I dropped them after complaining to the FCC that they
> wouldn't allow me to have a non-data plan for what they arbitrarily called
> a "smartphone" in those days - and that's why I moved to T-Mobile long ago.
>
> They're all about the same in the USA, despite Steve always shilling for
> Verizon (where he admitted they pay him for some of his services in some
> way, although it's confusing to me why or how Verizon would even do that).
>
> Despite Steve claiming T-Mobile has no coverage, I get pretty good signal
> now that I got a handful of free 5G phones well before I cared about 5G.
> <https://i.postimg.cc/zf9w1tGZ/speedtest07.jpg> 255Mbps 5G home speed
>
>>> In the USA, on T-Mobile postpaid, I get for $25/month per line a "Simple
>>> Choice" plan (which costs more than the regular plan because it gives me
>>> unlimited free slow data overseas) plus an additional $16 monthly tax.
>>
>> �7/month for unlimited UK calls and SMS, 10GB data (soon to double for
>> the same price) that rolls-over. Roaming to EU countries included,
>> other countries would cost me.
>
> That 7 pounds sterling per line seems like a third of my costs per line!
>
> My $116/month plan is about 96 pounds sterling, which is about 24 pounds
> sterling for each line (ignoring the two free data-only SIM cards).
>
> At 1/3rd the price of what I'm paying, it makes sense that you're OK with
> paying a bit extra for MMS. And 10GB of data is fine for an adult.
>
> Two of my kids (who are adults but they're still "my kids" on my plan) use
> about 40GB per month each, but my wife and I use only about 1GB or less.
>
> My point is that 10GB for you and no MMS seems like a good deal given
> my costs appears to be three times what yours is, and I don't need
> the unlimited data - but I do use the MMS a lot nowadays with the kids
> as there are grandchildren involved - and I love to see their photos!
>
> Note that there is no "roll over" provision in my T-Mobile family plan.
>
> As for RCS, I really don't see what the big stink is about, nor do I see
> how iMessage could be so sticky to kids - but Apple isn't stupid - so I
> assume their own emails tell the truth (for once) which is that iMessage is
> perhaps the biggest glue trap that Apple ever built in the walled garden.
>
> I don't understand it - but I have to believe it even if I don't understand
> it just as I have to believe that Google is desperate for us to want RCS
> even though I don't see any major advantage to RCS for me (or for you).

Why would someone want to buy an iphone just to get the imessage app on it?
--
Ken Hart
kwhart1@frontier.com

Am 19.02.23 um 18:57 schrieb Carlos E.R.:
> On 2023-02-19 15:29, Nic wrote:
>> nospam wrote:
>>
>>>> Besides headphones, there are many other peripherals that can use the
>>>> headphone jack.
>>>
>>> not really. although a few did exist, very few people actually used
>>> them, and they've been replaced with bluetooth versions that are far
>>> more convenient and reliable.
>>
>> Why do you defend the loss of the headphone jack when there is zero
>> advantages (and many disadvantages) with a phone that doesn't have it.
>
> LOL.
>
> You don't know him. You have just started a flamewar :-D
>
> The locals just ignore him when he says silly things like that :-P

Why do you feed such a Troll like Nic, Carlos?

--
Gutta cavat lapidem (Ovid)

On 2023-02-20 11:26, Joerg Lorenz wrote:
> Am 19.02.23 um 18:57 schrieb Carlos E.R.:
>> On 2023-02-19 15:29, Nic wrote:
>>> nospam wrote:
>>>
>>>>> Besides headphones, there are many other peripherals that can use the
>>>>> headphone jack.
>>>>
>>>> not really. although a few did exist, very few people actually used
>>>> them, and they've been replaced with bluetooth versions that are far
>>>> more convenient and reliable.
>>>
>>> Why do you defend the loss of the headphone jack when there is zero
>>> advantages (and many disadvantages) with a phone that doesn't have it.
>>
>> LOL.
>>
>> You don't know him. You have just started a flamewar :-D
>>
>> The locals just ignore him when he says silly things like that :-P
>
> Why do you feed such a Troll like Nic, Carlos?

Well, I don't know him.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

On 2023-02-19 13:42, Carlos E.R. wrote:
> On 2023-02-19 01:13, VanguardLH wrote:
>> AJL <noemail@none.com> wrote:
>>
>>> sms wrote:

....

> I also have a pair of "fake" airpods, and although they have fewer cuts
> the problem is that the battery doesn't always last even forty minutes.

They claim 3 hour usage, I think.

> Maybe one of the two fails at half an hour and I'm left with only one in
> the ear. And they are new.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

In article <k5h1dhFg31mU2@mid.individual.net>, Carlos E. R.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

> >> On 2023-02-19 15:29, Nic wrote:
> >

> > Why do you feed such a Troll like Nic, Carlos?
>
> Well, I don't know him.

you do under a different nym.

On 2/20/2023 2:48 AM, Carlos E. R. wrote:
> On 2023-02-19 13:42, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>> On 2023-02-19 01:13, VanguardLH wrote:
>>> AJL <noemail@none.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> sms wrote:
>
> ...
>
>> I also have a pair of "fake" airpods, and although they have fewer
>> cuts the problem is that the battery doesn't always last even forty
>> minutes.
>
> They claim 3 hour usage, I think.
>
>> Maybe one of the two fails at half an hour and I'm left with only one
>> in the ear. And they are new.
>

I've seen the fake Airpods but what's the point? They look like Apple
AirPods but they're not good.

For under $40 you can get a good-quality pair of earpods with Active
Noise Cancellation, Qualcomm QCC3040 Bluetooth 5.2, 4 Microphones, aptX,
AAC, and Low Latency Mode
<https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=43452>. But they look nothing
like AirPods.

On 2023-02-20 22:23, sms wrote:
> On 2/20/2023 2:48 AM, Carlos E. R. wrote:
>> On 2023-02-19 13:42, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>>> On 2023-02-19 01:13, VanguardLH wrote:
>>>> AJL <noemail@none.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> sms wrote:
>>
>> ...
>>
>>> I also have a pair of "fake" airpods, and although they have fewer
>>> cuts the problem is that the battery doesn't always last even forty
>>> minutes.
>>
>> They claim 3 hour usage, I think.
>>
>>> Maybe one of the two fails at half an hour and I'm left with only one
>>> in the ear. And they are new.
>>
>
> I've seen the fake Airpods but what's the point? They look like Apple
> AirPods but they're not good.
>
> For under $40 you can get a good-quality pair of earpods with Active
> Noise Cancellation, Qualcomm QCC3040 Bluetooth 5.2, 4 Microphones, aptX,
> AAC, and Low Latency Mode
> <https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=43452>. But they look nothing
> like AirPods.

Because don't look a gifted horse in the mouth? :-)

What I need now are headphones for air travel, meaning cable, and small
package.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

On 2/20/2023 1:41 PM, Carlos E. R. wrote:

<snip>

> Because don't look a gifted horse in the mouth? :-)

True. I've got several sets of both wired and Bluetooth earbuds and
headphones that I got for free. These seem to be popular giveaways at
trade shows and other events.

> What I need now are headphones for air travel, meaning cable, and small
> package
There are some hybrid wired/wireless headphones with active noise
cancellation, and aptX, i.e.
<https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=43251>. The issue is that the
package is not terribly small, though not huge either, as long as the
earcups fold. Not sure what's sold in your country though.

On 2023-02-21 01:53, sms wrote:
> On 2/20/2023 1:41 PM, Carlos E. R. wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>> Because don't look a gifted horse in the mouth? :-)
>
> True. I've got several sets of both wired and Bluetooth earbuds and
> headphones that I got for free. These seem to be popular giveaways at
> trade shows and other events.

I have a pair of "normal" BT headphones, and they experience cuts. On
the 50€ range. Sometimes for a full 30".

>
>> What I need now are headphones for air travel, meaning cable, and
>> small package
> There are some hybrid wired/wireless headphones with active noise
> cancellation, and aptX, i.e.
> <https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=43251>. The issue is that the
> package is not terribly small, though not huge either, as long as the
> earcups fold. Not sure what's sold in your country though.

I grepped for the word "cable" in there, and did not find it :-?

I don't know, I still haven't really searched.

The pain with all headphones I bought, is that the cushioning
disintegrates way too soon.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

In article <k5jkkvFsbmpU1@mid.individual.net>, Carlos E. R.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

> I have a pair of "normal" BT headphones, and they experience cuts. On
> the 50¤ range. Sometimes for a full 30".

then they're not normal.

On 2023-02-21 14:29, nospam wrote:
> In article <k5jkkvFsbmpU1@mid.individual.net>, Carlos E. R.
> <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>
>> I have a pair of "normal" BT headphones, and they experience cuts. On
>> the 50¤ range. Sometimes for a full 30".
>
> then they're not normal.

All BT speakers or headphones I have tried on all tablets and phones I
have tried experienced cuts.

The only thing that worked good have been the car hands free systems.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

In article <k5jvucFsbmpU5@mid.individual.net>, Carlos E. R.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

> >> I have a pair of "normal" BT headphones, and they experience cuts. On
> >> the 50? range. Sometimes for a full 30".
> >
> > then they're not normal.
>
> All BT speakers or headphones I have tried on all tablets and phones I
> have tried experienced cuts.

how far away?

i don't know what you've tried, but they shouldn't cut unless they're
outside the range of bluetooth itself, which is *much* more than is
needed when a phone is in a pocket or even the next room.

i've used bluetooth headphones without issue when the phone was on
another floor (through walls & floor/ceiling). only when i was two
floors away did it *start* to drop.

On 2/21/2023 2:27 AM, Carlos E. R. wrote:

<snip>

> I grepped for the word "cable" in there, and did not find it :-?

It's in the user manual
<https://downloads.monoprice.com/files/manuals/43251_Manual_210427.pdf>
on page 9:

"If your audio device does not have Bluetooth® or if you prefer to not
use Bluetooth, you can plug the headphones directly into the audio
output of your device.

1. Plug one end of the included 3.5mm Audio Cable into the 3.5mm Audio
Jack on the headphones, then plug the other end into the headphones jack
on your phone or another 3.5mm audio source.

2. Use the audio playback controls on your connected device to control
playback. The controls on the headphones do not function without a
Bluetooth connection."

I also see that the price went up $20 since yesterday! Wish that the
charging port was USB-C instead of Micro-USB.

On 2023-02-20 11:51, nospam wrote:
> In article <k5h1dhFg31mU2@mid.individual.net>, Carlos E. R.
> <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>
>>>> On 2023-02-19 15:29, Nic wrote:
>>>
>
>
>>> Why do you feed such a Troll like Nic, Carlos?
>>
>> Well, I don't know him.
>
> you do under a different nym.

You think he is Arlen?

The language doesn't match. This one is using Knode. And a different
injection server.

--
Cheers, Carlos.