2014- A YEAR OF ANDROID WORKSHOPS

NOV 13, 2014: Demo/Discussion/Comparisons of Android Smartphones/Tablets

Steve Miller: Android technology update (see "References", below)
JT Amberg: ins & outs of "jailbraking" (ex, iPod IOS8); comparisons of android security ex: lookout, Norton, others.
Steve: Steps to protect children who use Mobile devices
John Stolz: Ease of downloading and using apps (including "Magic Jack") with KitKat (Android 4.4.4) with
Sony 1504, Blu Studio 5.0c and Blu Jenny (see descriptions in Sept 11 agenda)
Next workshop: Thursday, Jan 8 (assuming HT High School is open). TOPICS??

REFERENCES:

"A New Android Tablet -Now What"? (BCUG Bytes, nov, 2014, pages 15-16)
Android 5.0 Lollipop ; eweek review
Android OS: 51% of US market for Smartphones; Apple is top OEM: 42% US market share of Smartphones; more data
Android "L" OS released by Google. - data encryption is enabled by default (ONLY when device OS is upgraded!)
comparison: iPhone6 Plus to Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (comments)
Smartphones that can truly replace a camera (Consumers Reports, Nov 2014, pg 54)
USB WiFi device- (~$3.50 including shipping)
Best buy TABLETS:
- Kindle HD Fire 7 in tablet ($140 at Amazon);
- 7 in tablet: quad core Android 4.4 ($57 at TMart)
Best buy SMARTPHONES:
- Motorola Droid Turbo 48hr battery; 5.2in Droid 4.4KitKat upgradeable to 5.0 Lollipop; Verizon $200 w/2-year contract
- 5.5inch octa-core smartphone (GSM): ($174 sale until 10/23 at TMart);
- quad core 4.0" Android 4.3 smart phone ($53 at TMart) ;
Future BestBuy SMARTPHONE (candidates): Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5
Most innovative SmartPhone: Google "Project Ara" modular Android (trial in 2015)
Apple Mac Mini Teardown
Kindle Fire HD 6 Teardown (($99 at Amazon)

INNOVATIONS: Solar Tree ; audio vest ; Beware of any download

STEVE MILLER - intro; Review June, 2014 Workshop; what we propose to cover; what do attendees want to learn??

iPhone 6 versus Android Nexus 4
- iPhone 6 (9/2014 vintage; $649, 16GB, no-contract from T-Mobile)
- Android Nexus 4 (2012 vintage; $270, 16GB, unlocked from Amazon)
Bottom line: save 50% or more. Purchase Smartphone and use no-contract/pay-as-you-go alternate cell carrier

"JT" AMBERG demonstrates:

LG Optimus190 (L90 is $150-$214 Amazon; TMobile prepaid nocontract G2 & G3 service; or prepaid SIM with Net10/StraghtTalk, using AT&T Towers)
Google Nexus 4 ($270-$340 Amazon; unlocked GSM)
Facebook; Instagram; Voice to text; Face Unlock
Discussion: Smartphone user and expert rankings

JOHN STOLZ demonstrates:

Sony 1504 c quad band; OS is one prior to current KitKat ($120-$200);
Blu Studio 5.0c HD ($120-$200);
Blu Jenny quad band; dual SIM card; ($dirt cheap)
Nokia E63
LG phone from TracFone (great option for low budget; triple minutes are a good deal)
H2O Activation Sim Card - low cost "pay as you go"

Alternatives to contract phones.
- World Phones Unlocked.
- How to get a pay as you go SIM Card on line and at a store.
- Pay as you go with basic service or text and data service.
Advantages/disadvantages of 3 levels of smart phones
- $30-$50 entry level - older OS and 2? year old hardware
- $200 -best benefit/price ratio: latest OS, and 1 year old hardware
- $500-$650 current "hot" phones: latest OS and latest hardware - Samsung Galaxy Alpha vs Apple iPhone 5S
Android Apps and how to get them.

STEVE MILLER demonstrates HTC “Droid Incredible 2” (2-3 years old; Android 2.3.4 is the current update)

Never ending stream of "Hot" phones: Amazon; IndiaTimes; knowyourmobile.com; smartphonealerts.com ; versus Chinese clones
Recommendations:
- Midrange (<$200) KitKat 4.4 Android phones: (Motorola Mobo family; LG Optimus Lgo: “BluLife One” ; “One Plus One” ($299).

Use "One Plus One" as a good video camera! (compared to Canon 5D Mark III)
Candidates for BEST smartphone for the money
- Cyanogen OnePlus One versus Samsung Galaxy S5; OnePlus One Teardown ; $299 price est;
  - (NOT Verizon-compatible; ALSO, Verizon does not allow unlocked phones)
- Lenovo S960 2GB+16GB; 1.5GHZ Quad Core ($215)
- UHappy UP520 ($108); Jiake G900W ($109) quad core; GSM + WCDMA
"Techie" choice: "BluLife One X" ($222 @Amazon) - the best of China!- but only after upcoming KitKat upgrade
- latest Android version is probably higher security (blocks exploits), and more likely to be upgraded with future security releases
- Google (owner of Android, and owner of Google Play store) is pushing a that newly manufactured hardware must run latest android within 9 months of software release.

OTHER: Need Social Media Training instructor for Senior Center (iPad, Facebook, Twitter, etc)
CONCLUSIONS
Bottom line: save 50% or more. Purchase Smartphone and use no-contract/pay-as-you-go alternate cell carrier
WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED TOPIC FOR NOVEMBER 13?

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BACKGROUND REFERENCES:

"Kill Switch" to be included in new smartphones (2H2015)
HowardForums.com contains ~millions of customer input on smartphones
Smartphone thefts. Android update: KitKat 4.4 gaining share; Google discourages manufacturers from installing older Android on newly manufactured mobile devices.
Android apps: MatchCut (automatically edit sound to match video)
How to dual-boot Ubuntu (Linux) onto your Android tablet or phone
StoryMaker (Android App)
Latest LG smartphone LG G3 specs ; features; $600 full retail price
Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone highlights ; $650 no contract price ; S5 vs competitors
Samsung Galazy S5 mini teardown
iPhone 5 ; specs ; unlocked price $505 ;
HTC One M8 : specs; unlocked price $653
$56 Android 2.3 1.3GHZ dual core;
Security Comparisons: Android vs IOS Apple
linux and android are EVERYWHERE

CLASS VOTERS PREFER THE TOPIC "ANDROID MOBILE" (Smartphone/Tablets): thefts; Android update; best smartphones/tablets at fraction of cost of Samsung Galaxy S5, S5 Mini, iPhone 5, LG L3, HTC One M8.
alternative topics which received fewer votes (saved for future workshops)

PREVIOUS TOPICS IN 2014:

MARCH 13, 2014 TOPIC: ANDROID TABLET COMPARISONS