Posts by Matthew Young35

nimbleranger52 said:It feels like every single new model hitting the shelves is getting more and more overpriced by the day... and then you have this massive marketing machine constantly whispering in our ears that we absolutely need it to stay relevant... and we fall for it every single time, don't we? We just swallow the hype and hand over the cash like mindless sheep...

Honestly, smartphones have got to be the biggest losers when it comes to value retention; you pay a fortune for one, and then two or three years later, it’s basically worth nothing. I mean, even used cars in the States don't lose their value nearly as fast as these gadgets do.

In that case, just pick up a flagship from a year or two ago.
It will certainly remain perfectly functional for at least another two or three years.
Sell it once it hits its limit and grab another used flagship.
That way, you aren't bleeding money, yet you still have a high-end device in your pocket.
Look, if you insist on owning the latest flagship every single year—regardless of whether it's Apple or Samsung—it’s going to cost you an absolute fortune.

Elizabeth Mendoza said:Total HTC fanboy.

Guilty as charged.
But unlike the typical brand zealots you see out there, I’ve actually put most of the major players through their paces.
Before smartphones took over, I was an Ericsson loyalist and a total Motorola skeptic.

Even if I have a soft spot for HTC, I'll be the first to admit their budget models have been absolute garbage lately.
So, if you aren't looking for a top-tier flagship, I wouldn't touch their mid-range stuff. If you want something solid in that middle bracket, you're better off looking at Huawei or even Xiaomi.

nimbleranger52 said:Man, I’m sitting here thinking about how much we all got it wrong, you know? Just looking back at where we were a couple of years ago, everyone was basically laughing their heads off at Huawei, treating them like some minor player that couldn't possibly compete on the big stage. We all just brushed them off, didn't we? But honestly, if you actually take a second to look at what they're doing right now—if you really stop and observe the sheer scale of their moves—it’s enough to make your head spin. How did we miss this? How did we let ourselves get so complacent while they were quietly building an absolute empire under our noses? It's wild, really. You have to look at them today, because the landscape has completely shifted, and frankly, it’s a wake-up call for anyone who thought they knew what was coming.

Man, I remember back in 2014 when I was rocking that old HTC phone—and honestly, looking back, it was such a joke how quickly it just fell apart on me. I mean, really, how does a piece of tech even fail that fast? One minute everything is fine, and the next, the front plastic casing right by the speaker just completely peels away like it wasn't even glued on properly. It’s infuriating, isn't it? You spend your hard-earned money thinking you're getting something solid, only for the hardware to start disintegrating in your hands before you've even gotten used to the interface. Is it too much to ask for a device that actually stays in one piece for more than a few years? Just feels like they stopped caring about build quality altogether.
Honestly, I’ve had two Sony phones in my life, and frankly, what was the point? First, there was that old Sony Ericsson thing back around 2002—or maybe it was 2003, I can't even remember—but I swear if you stood in the middle of a busy intersection in downtown Chicago, you wouldn't get a single bar of signal. It was useless. Then, fast forward a decade or so, I picked up one or two models around 2015 or 2016, and it was just more of the same headache, really. The battery life was an absolute disaster, and don't even get me started on the build quality; the whole thing felt like cheap plastic held together by prayers. I am officially done with that Sony garbage for good. If you actually look at their sales numbers, it’s pretty obvious they’re circling the drain, isn't it? At this rate, they might as well just file for bankruptcy and call it a day.
So, I used to have this LG phone back in the day, and honestly, for its time, it was actually pretty solid—like, the camera was killer and everything, really top-tier stuff for what it was. But man, even with all that, it had this one massive, glaring flaw that just drove me absolutely crazy. You know how it goes, right? Everything seems perfect until that one specific thing starts dragging the whole experience down into the dirt.
So, I finally bit the bullet and made the switch over to Samsung, specifically looking at those A-series models, but honestly? What a complete letdown. I was really hoping for a smooth transition, you know, something that actually felt like an upgrade, but they just weren't all that. Is it too much to ask for a phone that doesn't feel like a budget compromise the second you take it out of the box? I don't know, maybe my expectations were just way too high, but after all the hype, I expected something more than just... mediocre.
So, I’ve been lugging this Huawei Mate 20 Lite around for about six months now, and honestly, it gets me thinking—why does everyone act like Samsung is the only game in town? If you look at what they're actually giving you for the same price point, Huawei just blows them out of the water; I mean, seriously, aren't the cameras easily twice as good as anything Samsung is putting out at that level? But then, okay, I have to admit it, I can't just sit here and pretend everything is perfect because the screen situation is a whole different story. When it comes to the display, Samsung is hands down number one, period. Their color reproduction is just on another level compared to Huawei, and there’s really no debating that part. But hey, that’s just my two cents, right?
So, I was sitting there just minding my own business, using my Samsung tablet, when suddenly these two little bright spots pop up on the screen out of nowhere. I mean, what even is that? It’s like they just materialized! And the worst part—the absolute absolute worst part—is that whenever I pull up a white background or a blank page, those little dots just glow right at me, staring back like they're mocking my sanity. They're stuck right there in the left corner, hovering near the back button, which is just perfect timing for when I'm trying to navigate, isn't it? Just total garbage. What am I supposed to do with this? Is the hardware failing, or is the universe just testing my patience today? Honestly, it's just complete crap.

I think I’m finally ready to just pack it all up and head back over to the Samsung camp. Honestly, why do we even bother chasing these other brands when they just end up being a headache? Is it really worth the constant troubleshooting and the feeling that you're fighting your own phone every single day? I’ve been sitting here, weighing the pros and cons, staring at my screen, and it just keeps coming back to the same conclusion—I miss the reliability, I miss the ecosystem, and frankly, I’m tired of the nonsense. It’s like once you step away from what actually works for you, you spend more time fixing things than actually using them, right? So yeah, I'm pretty much set on making the switch back.

Look, I’m just going to say what everyone else is too afraid to admit out loud: Sony and HTC? Please. They aren't even playing in the same league as the heavy hitters anymore. Calling them premium mobile brands is like calling a local diner a five-star steakhouse when you know damn well they're just serving overpriced burgers. They've lost the plot, haven't they? You look at the market today and you see these massive, polished powerhouses dominating everything, while these guys are just... hovering in the background, trying to convince us they still matter. It’s honestly exhausting to watch. How can anyone take them seriously as luxury or high-end tech when they lack that actual prestige? It’s all just noise at this point.

Even Huawei was considered a total disaster just two or three years ago. How did we get here?
When I use the term "premium," I’m referring strictly to flagship devices. And frankly, I find it hard to believe the finish on an old HTC chassis would just peel off. There isn't even any color to speak of. It's a metal body—and on the more recent models, we're looking at a mix of metal and glass.
When it comes to paint peeling, Samsung used to hold the world championship title for a while there. If you look at any of their models prior to the S6, the finish would start flaking off within a month—even if you were careful enough to use a protective case.

Samsung truly produces the finest displays on the market, but there’s a catch. It only applies to their flagship models. When you look at their budget lineup? It's a complete disaster.

Michelle Palmer6 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around why anyone would still label HTC, LG, or Sony—especially Sony—as "premium" brands when you compare them to Xiaomi, or even Huawei for that matter.

Not compared to Huawei, no. You have a point there.
But I'm not saying that in the way you implied; rather, I mean that Huawei has essentially entered that premium tier itself.

And yes, you're right—Sony and LG have been struggling quite a bit over the last couple of years when it comes to build quality.

Paul Martinez73 said:How can you not see it? It’s the classic American mindset of needing a big brand name just to feel important, even if it means buying some cheap tech from Xiaomi...
I'm not talking about Matthew Young35 here, though he's pretty much in the same boat.
By the way, Xiaomi is already sitting at number four in Western Europe sales, right behind the top three. They'll probably hit third place soon in terms of total units sold.

To add to that, after the World Cup, a buddy of mine from Germany called me up and said, "Man, I always thought you Americans only came over because you were broke and working dead-end jobs, but seeing everyone driving the latest luxury cars with flags on them, I realized how wrong I was."
So I had to explain to him that most of those people are drowning in credit and leasing deals—people living in tiny apartments just so they can afford a flashy car loan, because apparently, if you don't show up in a brand-new ride, you're a complete loser. The guy couldn't wrap his head around the idea that someone would actually go into massive debt just to buy a car... especially just to flex on everyone else while being buried under interest payments...

Not even close. I'm miles away from that.
I’ve reached a point where I'm actually swapping out a high-end flagship for something that costs half as much. Why? Because my Samsung setup has become an absolute nightmare to deal with. Is there anything more frustrating than a device that simply refuses to cooperate? My S7 Edge has officially hit its breaking point, and frankly, I'm done with it.
You’ve finally found the right person to blame.

I’ve been dealing with cell phones for over twenty years now. Honestly, I’ve been in this game so long that I used to pull apart old analog cellular units back in the day. Is there anything more frustrating than a device that refuses to cooperate? Not when you've spent decades mastering them.
When I talk about smartphones, I actually know what I'm talking about.

Xiaomi has officially climbed to fourth place in Western European sales, trailing only the top three heavyweights. At this rate, they’ll be knocking on the door of third place in total unit sales before we know it. Is anyone actually surprised?

And?
Nokia probably moves more units than HTC these days... So what?
What kind of argument is that? Is it for sale?
I have an Apple monitor stand up for grabs for a few bucks. Any takers?

Let me reiterate: brands like Xiaomi and their competitors truly ARE the gold standard for value.

I should probably add a quick follow-up to this conversation. Right after the World Cup, a friend of mine from Germany called me up. He was blunt about it—he admitted he’d always operated under this misguided assumption that Americans only moved abroad because they were struggling financially or looking for any low-level job just to get by. But he told me that seeing everyone out on the road now, driving around in top-of-the-line vehicles proudly flying the Stars and Stripes, completely shattered his perception. He realized just how wrong he had been.

I tried explaining the reality of the situation to him: most people here are operating on credit or leasing. You see folks living in cramped studio apartments just to afford a car loan, because in this country, if you show up without a decent ride, people look at you like you’re some kind of incompetent loser. He just couldn't wrap his head around the idea of someone taking on debt for a vehicle. Especially when it's clearly just about status—burdening yourself with massive monthly payments just to impress people on the street. Is that really worth the stress?

Cars... blah, blah, blah.
And I’m being quoted in that post too?
It’s not even that I have some luxury car sitting on a high-interest loan. Honestly? I don't even have a driver's license. LOL.

When it comes to hardware, I’ll be honest: I likely have the superior device, and I probably walked away with it for half the price you paid. Is it really that hard to believe?
Is that all? A single emoticon? One might wonder if there was more intended, or if we are meant to find profound meaning in such brevity. Perhaps. Or perhaps not.

To be clear, I’m not writing this stuff just to act like I'm better than anyone else.
Whenever the topic of smartphones comes up, I find myself making the same argument: why chase a brand-new, budget-tier phone from a company like Leagoo—even if they’re riding high on a sponsorship deal with a team like the Tottenham Hotspur—when you could grab a refurbished flagship? I'll always suggest someone pick up a three-year-old Sony XZ or a Samsung S6 instead. It’s common sense, really. You get superior build quality and better performance for a fraction of the price. Why pay more for a cheap imitation when the old giants still hold their own?

I don't hold an ounce of snobbery in my system. Why would I?

Elizabeth Mendoza said:I’m not trying to brag or anything, but I’ve been rocking my Redmi Note 6 Pro for almost six months now. Honestly? For the price I paid, I am absolutely thrilled with it. I haven't run into a single issue so far. Updates come through regularly, too—I even already snagged the Android 9 update from them.

🙂

You're lucky; everyone's happy.

Personally, I tend toward buying a used "premium flagship"—that's my own term for it—even if it's an older model from a major brand like Samsung, HTC, LG, or Sony.
But like I said, if you're satisfied, then great.
At the end of the day, people simply have different requirements for their devices.

Some people strike me as ridiculous; I genuinely know folks who use a smartphone solely and exclusively for making calls.
For heaven's sake, why on earth would those people buy a smartphone in the first place?
If that were the case, you'd just buy an old Motorola Razr, talk as much as you want, and charge the battery once every three weeks.
As a bonus, the phone would be the size of a keychain.

I’m just pulling your leg—Xiaomi is actually quite decent.
It offers solid value for the money.

It would definitely land with more impact if there were a GIF attached to this. :P

Elizabeth Mendoza said:Apple is king!

It’s true... my ultimate dream is owning a phone that makes people say, "I'm so jealous."

🤣

Did you actually pull the trigger on a new phone?
I did.

And which one?
The iPhone.

Next step on the list: picking up a Ford Kuga.

Peter Thompson4 said:Look, I'm not entirely positive here, but I'm pretty sure you can actually swap them around in the settings, and if not, there's definitely an app on the Play Store that lets you do it.
But again, I'm just guessing, so please don't come after me if I'm wrong.

Can you actually bypass an FRP lock on a phone? Not easily. You have to strip that security layer off first, then move through rooting, then hit Expose, and honestly? After all that technical headache, you’re still left staring at a bricked device. Is it even worth the trouble? Probably not.

I’d love to sit down for a chat with that astrophysicist over at Samsung who actually looked at the logic of user interface design and concluded, "Look, everyone else puts the back button on the left; let's just stick it on the right instead." What exactly were they calculating in those labs? Is there some deep, cosmic reason why we should all be struggling with basic navigation?

Is it possible the whole thing happened because some monkey decided to snap a photo using the front-facing camera, leaving us with a mirrored image?

Damn Samsung.
I’ve been messing around with some Samsung devices over the last few days, and of course, I keep fat-fingering the back button instead of the recent apps icon.
What kind of genius at Samsung decided to flip the navigation layout? Honestly, they deserve a little something for that decision.

Susan James said:It’s not just asking, though—my kid actually managed to get a book too! 🍿

Got books... For what purpose? To support religious studies classes that students aren't even attending?
Did I catch that correctly?

Honestly, it doesn't matter if some publisher gets an extra slice of the budget. A few more dollars here or there won't make a difference; those companies aren't exactly picky about where their money comes from.

loneseal said:I think it’s obvious I was talking about that little crew that ditched the Libertarians to join up with the Democrats. 🕺

Look, I’m no fan of Zidane, but this fake outrage from people who pretend to hate the GOP-Democrat coalition yet cheer whenever some third-party candidate fails—and now they’re coming for Zidane—is just disgusting.

When a faction built on anti-vax rhetoric and conspiracy theories about secret societies finally falls apart, can you really blame anyone for feeling a sense of satisfaction?

Rachel Cooper3 said:You know full well there’s no logical connection there—assuming you have any sense at all—but it serves as a convenient jab for you.

Comparing them to the Democrats, the Libertarians, or those other groups that just follow orders is nonsensical; they are the polar opposite, and haven't caused even a fraction of the mess these guys have.

To be honest, they were the only ones actually intending to make a change.
Which explains their current standing.

They’ll need to act like a hardline movement now—"we won't work with anyone"—and then they'll just burn themselves out.
Maybe let the moderates try teaming up with the Democrats once; I certainly wouldn't mind seeing that.

But putting politics aside, it’s clear this topic bothers people here.

No connection whatsoever???
Are you joking?

Do you have the memory of an amoeba?

The Reform Party has twice ensured the Republicans could form a government after the elections.
Just to remind you, that was the last two election cycles.

And if they have to, they’ll ensure the GOP forms a government after the next one, too.

Bookmark this post. Refresh it after the next election.

loneseal said:Look, let's be real. You achieve the most when you actually hold some power. My only beef with those guys is how naive they were thinking they could somehow moderate the GOP, and giving them enough breathing room to just buy out the entire centrist wing.

Go ahead, keep believing that some radical extremist or some weak-willed puppet is better than a bunch of cronies splitting off from the mainstream party. It’s your funeral. 🙂

Oh sure, because I’m clearly a massive supporter of the Democrats when they’re busy sitting in coalition with the GOP.
Spot on.

loneseal said:Bunjčeva's greed and Pernarov's massive ego basically nuked the whole coalition. 😵

I'm with you on the GOP—it's pretty obvious once you filter out the noise from the radical wings of both parties.

It seems they’ll jump into a coalition with the Republicans whenever it suits their agenda, won't they? Typical.

rowdypanther12 said:In my experience, if there are about 20 kids in a grade who aren't attending school, there’s no way they’re going to group them together and create one massive, unmanageable classroom.
It seems like they’re actually trying to consolidate more students into single classrooms, at least at our local school district.
It just makes things easier for everyone involved.

As if we didn't have enough to deal with—now we're looking at segregation based on religious beliefs.

Robert Rodriguez9 said:I’m not sure on this one, but if they had a choice, they might pick computer science or maybe a language that aligns better with religious studies. Then again, religious education holds a different status than your typical elective since it isn't slotted into the standard schedule alongside the core subjects (thanks to that specific federal agreement).

I wonder which one that would be.

Perhaps Python or Prolog?

frozenmoose19 said:Is there any way to "tuck" those 45 empty minutes into another class? I'd love to know if this can be arranged and who I should talk to about it. Even if I have to be a bit of a nuisance, I would much rather my first grader spend that time learning a second language, coding, shop class, drama, or music—anything remotely productive.

It isn't possible.

analogtiger19 said:Download a tool like speccy and paste the results here. We need to see exactly what kind of hardware we're dealing with before we move forward...

And what exactly am I supposed to run that on?
On a computer that’s currently just a pile of parts?