Transform Ultra with an overheating, fast-discharging, spontaneously-turning-off battery.
[more inside]
posted by Snyder
on May 1, 2013 -
1 answer
My mom moved to Mexico recently, and I have had a hard time contacting her via phone. She's staying with relatives of her boyfriend, but it seems like she's not able to use their phone to make international calls. I'd like to get her a mobile phone that she can use to call me and her other kids (or anybody else), but I'm a bit overwhelmed by what I'm finding with google - a lot of which seems targeted to making international calls from the US to other countries or just seems spammy.
What is a good way to buy a phone here and send it to Mexico?
[more inside]
posted by jeoc
on May 1, 2013 -
5 answers
Previous AMF questions have discussed walking into various mobile providers in Italy and just buying a SIM card. Glancing around internet currently suggests that SIM card sales are (more?) heavily regulated in Italy than previously, even to the point of not offering them for sale to someone showing a passport. Curious if any current Italy residents, expats, or students can provide info for the following:
US unlocked GSM smartphone owner heading to Italy for 10 days and would like to have reasonable phone and text options to call/text back to states to check on house and pets with housesitter. Data a plus but absolutely not necessary.
Any advice to smooth the process of buying a SIM card in Italy would be greatly appreciated.
posted by teg4rvn
on Apr 23, 2013 -
9 answers
We're driving from NY to Montreal for a short 5-day trip, and we'll need to be able to make a few calls and/or send and receive texts while on the road. I've found a bunch of older answers to very similar questions (
for example) but surely things are better by now? What are my cheap prepaid (I assume) options for a short trip to Canada? Is there a simple way to pick up a prepaid SIM card over the border and use it for the trip?
[more inside]
posted by RedOrGreen
on Apr 15, 2013 -
7 answers
My best friend is currently insanely busy. She is in the U.S and I am in Europe. Texting is the best way to stay in touch with her, but I need some help doing it across the Atlantic.
[more inside]
posted by colfax
on Mar 21, 2013 -
9 answers
I have a service/sales job for which I drive
a lot. Between Spotify, podcasts, and using GPS to locate various places, my cell phone gets a workout in the car. Add to that the steady stream of phone calls I make and receive while not driving and the typically fidgety gadget nerd surfing, app-using etc. I do all day long, and my Android phone's battery has a lot of work to do every day. I end up leaving it charging pretty much whenever I'm driving. The problem is, I burn through chargers at a rate something like one every three to five weeks. It's expensive and I need a better solution. Ideas?
[more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown
on Mar 3, 2013 -
13 answers
I have a broken cell phone that I dropped. I have insurance, so they will replace the phone. However, the phone was logged into my Google account, so once it gets fixed, I am afraid that somebody might get it and be able to do bad things to my account.
How do I handle this?
posted by Irontom
on Feb 16, 2013 -
6 answers
So I broke the screen on my new Nexus 4 and just mailed it off yesterday to be repaired, and I realized too late that the daily alarm clock may go off while it's in transit. What will be done with the package if that happens?
[more inside]
posted by pete_22
on Feb 14, 2013 -
11 answers
I have been getting annoying and possilby disturbing calls from an old friend. I looked up the number and it's registered as a cell phone with an out of state area code. However, since it is a cell, the person could still be placing those calls from the local area. I called my phone provider and unsuprisingly, they couldn't help. Is there another way to find out the physical location of the caller?
posted by youdontmakefriendswithsalad
on Feb 5, 2013 -
5 answers
I want to replace my cell phone with a mobile data plan and VOIP client. What's the most cost-effective option in the Montreal, Quebec area? Snowflake details inside.
[more inside]
posted by signsofrain
on Feb 4, 2013 -
1 answer
For the last four months, I've been getting anywhere between 3 and 60 calls per day on my cell phone from (555) 555-5555, at all hours. If I pick up, it's a recorded voice, somewhere between a computer and a british lady saying "one... one... one..." What the hell is going on, and how do I make it stop?
[more inside]
posted by Jon_Evil
on Jan 23, 2013 -
13 answers
I am traveling to Taiwan for about two weeks very soon. I will be there with about 20 fellow students from my university. Being able to communicate amongst us while about Taipei will be pretty important. What do you recommend to use around the city? Inexpensive and easy would be great.
[more inside]
posted by Korou
on Jan 3, 2013 -
4 answers
Jumping into smartphone world for the first time.…..i) I would like advice on an android phone that works on T-mobile 4G for email/websurfing/productivity.
ii) Would also like advice on buying used phones in general.
[more inside]
posted by lalochezia
on Dec 27, 2012 -
7 answers
Sprint Android smart phone question: the phone rings for essentially all calls except those from one specific number.
[more inside]
posted by sciencegeek
on Dec 24, 2012 -
2 answers
I might go on and then break a TMobile contract to get Nexus 4 phone. Is that a good idea?
[more inside]
posted by cowmix
on Nov 25, 2012 -
10 answers
I have a Fancy Cousin who uses Virgin Mobile pre-paid, and my Fancy Cousin would like to get a new Android phone during this weekend's sales. A few questions:
[more inside]
posted by Greg Nog
on Nov 23, 2012 -
12 answers
We are switching from AT&T cell phone to service to Verizon, and I'd like to perform the switch smoothly while also using one of the new phones as a Christmas gift. Your advice on the proper procedure would be welcome.
[more inside]
posted by Rock Steady
on Nov 20, 2012 -
14 answers
Shopping for a cell phone - new unlocked GSM or t-mobile android smart phone, good camera (at least 5 MP), respectable battery life and under $200 without a plan (ebay ok). Any recommendations?
posted by roaring beast
on Nov 8, 2012 -
5 answers
During the past three and a half hours, I've received ten telemarketer calls on my cell phone. They seem to be from the same company using different numbers and area codes (I stopped answering and they don't always leave a message, so I can't be sure). What can I do, and what did I do?
[more inside]
posted by gladly
on Nov 8, 2012 -
8 answers
How strongly should I feel about hanging on to my grandfathered AT&T unlimited data plan?
[more inside]
posted by escabeche
on Nov 4, 2012 -
17 answers
Cell phone plans filter: I want a cell phone-sized Android device to mostly use on WiFi, and the Nexus 4 may be the right one. But I might use occasional cell voice & data - help me get that voice & data as cheaply as possible.
[more inside]
posted by Tehhund
on Oct 31, 2012 -
17 answers
Hypothetically, what are the practical results of completely cloning a GSM phone-- not just the SIM card, but also the radio fingerprint and any other method used to differentiate two mobile devices?
[more inside]
posted by shakespeherian
on Oct 24, 2012 -
5 answers
Need some solutions for temporary cell phone re-routing. Thinking Google Voice might be the solution somehow but looking for brainstorms.
[more inside]
posted by amanda
on Oct 21, 2012 -
6 answers
What is the recommended way to buy a phone on Craigslist, switch to Straight Talk, and port numbers to Google Voice?
[more inside]
posted by cycleback
on Oct 21, 2012 -
2 answers
Help me write a funny, effective, non-shaming sign asking people to please not talk on their cellphones in the office restroom.
[more inside]
posted by elizeh
on Sep 27, 2012 -
27 answers
Can you suggest a USB motor / solenoid / actuator that can by activated via the command line on my Windows 8 PC? I would like my front door to automatically unlock every time I approach it. Details are as follows:
[more inside]
posted by thankyoumuchly
on Sep 21, 2012 -
11 answers
How do I wipe the memory of a bricked Android phone before returning it to the manufacturer?
[more inside]
posted by LarryC
on Sep 10, 2012 -
3 answers
I'm currently using an iPhone 3GS in Ontario with Fido. With the new iPhone on the horizon, I'm considering buying the phone unlocked through Apple, and switching to a "Pay as You Go" service. I'm hoping the kind folks at Metafilter can help me choose the best plan.
[more inside]
posted by backwards guitar
on Sep 5, 2012 -
7 answers
How do you use your smartphone to actually improve your life/work? How would you persuade someone upgrading is worthwhile with real-life examples?
[more inside]
posted by likeyoubutme
on Aug 31, 2012 -
35 answers
Please help me with recommendations for a mobile/cell phone for my hard of hearing Father in Law.
[more inside]
posted by wwax
on Aug 29, 2012 -
4 answers
I will be travelling a lot to Sweden and I would like to purchase a Samsung Galaxy S3 made for Europe/Sweden while still in the US.
[more inside]
posted by digividal
on Aug 27, 2012 -
7 answers
Why can't you hear yourself on a cell phone? Land lines, even old analog ones, feed the sound of your own voice back to you, so you can more easily gauge how loudly you are talking. Why don't cell phones do that?
[more inside]
posted by wnissen
on Aug 19, 2012 -
15 answers
I need a Verizon phone to carry me over until the new iphone release. What's a decent cheap phone to get without doing the contract renewal or using up my upgrade?
[more inside]
posted by msbrauer
on Aug 17, 2012 -
15 answers
Someone gave out my name and phone number in a potentially creepy chatroom. What do should I do to protect myself?
[more inside]
posted by Ommcc
on Aug 7, 2012 -
8 answers
Hi mefites,
I'm researching for an art project that needs a robust GPS unit they can put in a project that will be mobile around a few mile area. The GPS needs to be fairly robust in terms of ability to withstand shakes and jounces, being upside down or turned and twisted. We're not talking bouncing it like a basketball but rather the unit will be in a larger package moving about and being shifted around a lot.
We need to be able to find the unit via GPS for a 24 hours run time. Actually, the run time needs to be at least 12 hours but using 24 hours as a way to give some leeway.
When I say GPS, really it's a GPS plus the ability to signal someone where it is located. It seems to me like a cell phone would qualify for this. What are some of the options?
Robust, power miser, and locatable in a 5 mile wide area. That's about it. Thanks for any tips on this.
posted by diode
on Aug 5, 2012 -
9 answers
