Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

Larry Fox5 said:Didn't realize you were such a hater too. 🙄

Back in 2007—which wasn't exactly ages ago, so don't act like you forgot—when Jobs showed off his first iPhone 1 with that single button and touchscreen tech, where you basically did everything through gestures just like we do today... man, that changed the world. It was way more than just a revolution.

Basically, he's mocking them because the giants back then—looking at you, Nokia—were totally asleep at the wheel, thinking nothing was going to change, while it took the competition years just to catch up to Jobs' magic.

That year, 2007, was absolutely a Milestone for mobile tech.

And the first Samsung with Android didn't even show up until two years later. Two whole damn years.

I’m going to address this specifically.
You're definitely an old-timer.
It seems you remember 2007 vividly, yet perhaps not with perfect accuracy.
First off, what he actually presented was essentially a half-baked product.
Did you know that the device he introduced couldn't even send a standard MMS? It lacked 3G support entirely.
By the way, the iPhone 3G—which was the second model—isn't called "3G" because it was the third generation, but because it finally supported 3G technology. The original iPhone is generally referred to as the iPhone 2G.
You couldn't even play MP3s on that phone.
In reality, what you could actually do with that device was extremely limited.
The one truly novel feature that set it apart from everything else was multi-touch, which made zooming in on photos much easier.

Look, the iPhone didn't exactly reinvent the wheel. There were smartphones out there long before it, and devices like the Palm Pilot existed way before that too. It’s just that Apple managed to package them for the average person, effectively setting the standard for the modern era.

The iPhone 3G and that first Nexus Google built with Samsung—those were really the blueprints for everything we carry in our pockets today. Before those hit the scene, things were pretty much all over the place.

And as a "half-baked product," it had zero competition. I mean, it didn't wipe out BlackBerry for nothing.

Yeah, a half-baked product. Give me a break—even Daimler's first motor was considered a "half-baked product." 🙄

Jobs sparked a total revolution with the first functional App Store. Then again with iCloud. Honestly, which mobile device besides the iPhone has even survived from 2007 until now? None.

Everything feels pretty much the same nowadays, but back in 2007? They had absolutely no competition.

Susan Kim2 said:Look, the iPhone didn't exactly reinvent the wheel. There were smartphones out there long before it, and devices like the Palm Pilot existed way before that too. It’s just that Apple managed to package them for the average person, effectively setting the standard for the modern era.

The iPhone 3G and that first Nexus Google built with Samsung—those were really the blueprints for everything we carry in our pockets today. Before those hit the scene, things were pretty much all over the place.

The original Nexus was actually an HTC device.
Later on, HTC took the foundation of that Nexus and built something even better: the HTC Desire.
Even the current Pixel traces its roots back to HTC, especially considering Google eventually acquired part of HTC's mobile division.

Samsung developed the Nexus S and several others... LG and Motorola jumped in later too, but HTC was the one who started it all.

Larry Fox5 said:And as a "half-baked product," it had zero competition. I mean, it didn't wipe out BlackBerry for nothing.

Yeah, a half-baked product. Give me a break—even Daimler's first motor was considered a "half-baked product." 🙄

Jobs sparked a total revolution with the first functional App Store. Then again with iCloud. Honestly, which mobile device besides the iPhone has even survived from 2007 until now? None.

Everything feels pretty much the same nowadays, but back in 2007? They had absolutely no competition.

What do you mean, which mobile device has survived from 2007 to this day?
If you're talking about companies, there are damn many that have survived.
But if you mean an actual device, I honestly can't think of anyone still using a 3G, let alone a 2G.

And sure, Jobs started a revolution, but it was a marketing revolution, not a technological one.

Susan Kim2 said:I have the Mi 8, and it’s a beast.
I picked it up for $800, and for that price, you get a Full HD AMOLED screen, 128GB of storage, a killer processor, and the battery holds up easily even with heavy use.

Xiaomi used to make cheap phones, but that's ancient history. There isn't even plastic anymore—it's glass on the front and glass on the back.

I thought I'd struggle to get used to their software skin, but it turns out it's all the same. It doesn't get in your way, the interface is lightweight, and the phone runs like clockwork.
Michelle Palmer6, highly recommended.

My Redmi Note 6 Pro features a Full HD+ resolution display and a massive 6.26-inch screen—this thing is huge! With 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, considering what I paid at the start of the year for $600, I am incredibly happy with it. Plus, the aluminum chassis makes it look way more expensive than it actually was.

The speakers are freaking awesome and loud; honestly, the audio on this phone beats my laptop. And with the 4000 mAh battery, I can hammer away at it all day and still roll home with 25-30% left.

I've been thinking about trying out one of those Chinese brands when it’s finally time for an upgrade, and coincidentally, my current phone just died on me 🤣. Since we're on the subject, I wanted to see if you guys have any recommendations for models around the $667 mark? Right now, I'm looking at the Xiaomi Mi A2 because a buddy of mine was raving about it—he seems pretty happy with how much value he's getting for the price.

I've got one—solid phone considering the price point. I picked it up for $500 back when they first opened the Xiaomi store at the local mall.

The only real downside is the camera in low light; it’s mediocre at best. You can tweak the settings a bit to help, but my girlfriend's Honor 8 absolutely crushes it there. During the day, though, the camera is great—at least for my untrained eye.

I wanted this specifically for the Android One program since you get basically stock Android without all the bloatware manufacturers usually cram into their devices—and I have to say, it actually runs smooth and bug-free.

Oh, and one hardware flaw: no NFC.

The iPhone 8 is a solid phone for the price you're paying.

If you're looking to upgrade your photography game, I highly recommend grabbing "Open Camera" from the Play Store.
It really levels up your shots, especially if you're working with a lower-end smartphone.

S10, you haven't even broken a sweat yet, you're basically a pro on the pitch ☕

Jack Miller6 said:I've been thinking about trying out one of those Chinese brands when it’s finally time for an upgrade, and coincidentally, my current phone just died on me 🤣. Since we're on the subject, I wanted to see if you guys have any recommendations for models around the $667 mark? Right now, I'm looking at the Xiaomi Mi A2 because a buddy of mine was raving about it—he seems pretty happy with how much value he's getting for the price.

Just bought a Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
If you're looking for used ones, there's a huge selection, and if you want something brand new, you can find plenty on eBay...
Honestly, I'd just stick to the Chinese brands; you get a great phone for a reasonable price with solid Hard, and if you crack the screen, it's not like it's going to break the bank like a phone from John.
The Mi8 and Mi9 are top-tier, so definitely check out what's available on Njuskaloo if you can snag a deal.

Matthew Young35 said:If you're looking to upgrade your photography game, I highly recommend grabbing "Open Camera" from the Play Store.
It really levels up your shots, especially if you're working with a lower-end smartphone.

I'm already using it! The stock camera app on my Xiaomi is pretty limited—it tops out at 1080p for video. But once I switched over to Open Camera, I could finally start shooting in 4K.

Now, my device actually features a raw mode within the native app, and I have to say, the shots turn out absolutely fantastic regardless of whether it's broad daylight or pitch black... But man, a single photo ends up being fifty megabytes.

Jack Miller6 said:I've been thinking about trying out one of those Chinese brands when it’s finally time for an upgrade, and coincidentally, my current phone just died on me 🤣. Since we're on the subject, I wanted to see if you guys have any recommendations for models around the $667 mark? Right now, I'm looking at the Xiaomi Mi A2 because a buddy of mine was raving about it—he seems pretty happy with how much value he's getting for the price.

It's a solid buy. Just keep in mind it doesn't have NFC, assuming that's even a dealbreaker for you if you use mobile payments.

Matthew Young35 said:Now, my device actually features a raw mode within the native app, and I have to say, the shots turn out absolutely fantastic regardless of whether it's broad daylight or pitch black... But man, a single photo ends up being fifty megabytes.

But really, who needs RAW mode? 🤷Honestly, 98% of people wouldn't even know what to do with it, let alone have the patience to sit around editing them later. If you're serious about that level of photography, you're either going to grab a flagship phone with a killer sensor or just pick up a dedicated DSLR.
I'm not saying the app isn't great—I haven't personally tested it—but for the average user, RAW is total overkill. Even for enthusiasts, it's a lot to handle.

Paul Sanders5 said:S10, you haven't even broken a sweat yet, you're basically a pro on the pitch ☕

If you're just acting tough for show...

Michelle Palmer6 said:But really, who needs RAW mode? 🤷Honestly, 98% of people wouldn't even know what to do with it, let alone have the patience to sit around editing them later. If you're serious about that level of photography, you're either going to grab a flagship phone with a killer sensor or just pick up a dedicated DSLR.
I'm not saying the app isn't great—I haven't personally tested it—but for the average user, RAW is total overkill. Even for enthusiasts, it's a lot to handle.

Well, I actually have a phone with a top-tier camera.

I'm not saying it isn't a good app—I haven't tried it myself—but RAW is complete overkill for the average user, and honestly, even for those looking for something a bit more advanced.

Look, I’m talking about the native camera app on the phone, not Open Camera.

And yeah, I agree, it's a massive overkill.
You aren't going to get a shot that looks like it came out of a professional rig, and the file sizes are absolutely mammoth. Who is actually using raw mode on a smartphone?

I just noticed that the photos turn out incredibly well.

Thanks guys, you killed it with the suggestions 🙏 I think I'll go with this Redmi Note 7, it seems like a solid choice

Paul Sanders5 said:S10, you haven't even broken a sweat yet, you're basically a pro on the pitch ☕

It's easy for those wealthy, calculating gentlemen in Madrid to treat themselves to luxury every couple of years, but here in North London, we're just trying to make it through the week 🤣

Jack Miller6 said:Thanks guys, you killed it with the suggestions 🙏 I think I'll go with this Redmi Note 7, it seems like a solid choice

It's easy for those wealthy, calculating gentlemen in Madrid to treat themselves to luxury every couple of years, but here in North London, we're just trying to make it through the week 🤣

Hold on... wait a second...
North Chicago has actually become quite elite lately.
Well, provided you're on the right side of town, of course.

My advice? Pick up a used flagship from a year or two ago... maybe a Huawei, an HTC, or a Samsung (but stick to the S series or the Note line), or even some of the lesser-known brands.
I was actually comparing phones with a friend today; his three-year-old Sony flagship still pulls better benchmark scores than the recently released Mate 30 Lite.
The gap between a true flagship and the mid-range stuff that follows it is massive.
If you buy something a year or two old, you might actually come out ahead financially.

To give you a better idea of what I mean—I was looking at the GSMArena Redmi Note 7 comparisons against
any flagship from two years back (like the S8, U11, or XZ1). Most of them are nearly twice as fast in benchmarks.

But it's all up to you.