The OFFICIAL Unofficial Achewood Message Board
Trivial Pursuits => Wild Card => Topic started by: sailor on October 21, 2004, 05:47:43 am
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so i've been working for VZW for some months now in cust. service, and thought i'd throw that fact out here and say, hey, i can answer yr questions and tell you how not to get fucked over and other hints/tips/tricks, if y'all want, just as a service to the achewood community.
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I decided to get fucked over by Verizon any more, so I switched my cell phone service to Nextel. I get five times the service and pay half as much.
But what kinds of tips and tricks did you have in mind?
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I'm considering piggy-backing on my SO's Verizon plan. I don't use enough minutes to justify a plan on my own and Verizon is the only provider that works in the metro.
Of course I'm not even sure if her current plan is eligible for adding a line, or if I'd get to keep my # (I'm with Cingular now)
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or if I'd get to keep my # (I'm with Cingular now)
Probably not for much less money than switching normally...
I wanted to take one of my numbers across from a different network (OK, it's the UK so they probably charge way more still anyway) but it was just going to cost too much, and in the end it was so much easier to just get a contract phone with the other one.
I just wish we'd hurry up and get to the point where cells are cheaper, or at least the same price as landlines for all calls.
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I'm just wondering what phone to get. My geek nature would love a BlackBerry, but I wonder if that's really what I want to carry to, say, a softball game.
Our company has a discount deal with Verizon, and I'm fine with the plan, but they provide a dazzling array of phones at every price point from free (w/contract) to $560. Aside from glaringly obvious things like the inclusion of a camera, or the Treo 600, I'm not sure what makes one phone $50 more than another. Any suggestions on features I should be seeking out?
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i have to go to work and deal with the angry masses right now, i'll get to yr questions later.
(this is an example of standard service from verizon, expect nothing more.)
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I'm just sad that with all these newfangeled polyphonic tones and proprietary systems I can no longer e-mail ringtones to myself for free. Which is sad because then my new phone won't play Tank!
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I got a motorola through Nextel, and while I can't e-mail myself ringtones I got a $10 data cable and can upload them to my heart's content (they're just midi files with a proprietary file wrapper).
Anyway, the port on the Moto phones is universal, so even if you go with Verizon you can get a cool moto phone and upload ringtones, games, wallpapers, etc., to your phone for free.
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Which is sad because then my new phone won't play Tank!
That is such an excellent and perfect choice. Normally I hate that cell-phone-playing-music shit, because songs always seem to play from the start rather than the good part, which is usually the chorus. Our library patrons, I can report with confidence, all have uniformly terrible taste in songs they would like to hear the first six seconds of many times a day. And if I had a dollar for every time I heard Ozzy scream ALL ABOARRRRRRRRRRRD from my friend's cell phone, I'd have all these dollars.
The only other song I would even consider having as a ringtone, if my cellphone wasn't an amusing, scalding relic, is Big Show's entrance music.
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I have a nice wav file of an old Bell telephone ringing as my ringtone.
But sometimes, when I'm feeling sassy, I'll use the ringer from Flint's phone as my ringtone.
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I'm also considerate because my phone is set on ascending. So it starts ringing & vibrating very quietly and gets louder as it goes. I usueally feel it against my leg and can answer it before it bothers anybody.
But you're right, so many ringtones are the song opening instead of the chorus which makes no sense to me. Unless it was a theme because they generally have spoken intros or very distinctive opening hooks. I dunno about using Show's music, in fact I can't even think of what it sounds like. Besides, ever time your phone rang you'd have to resist the urge to shout "Oh my gawd! That's the Big Show's music! Hoss BBQ sauce government mule slobber-knocker!"
I tried putting the 6-note Good Eats theme on the SO's phone but I could only find it in Nokia format and she has an LG phone.
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My phone in residence kept not working in mysterious ways, so I gave up, cancelled it, and bought a cell phone. Now I kind of hate myself. However, I do refuse to use any ring that does not at least approximate the sound of a phone ringing.
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I dunno about using Show's music, in fact I can't even think of what it sounds like.
WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
WELL IT'S THE BIG SHOW
YEAH IT'S A BIG BAD SHOW TONIIIIIGHT (http://swanwwf.esmartweb.com/pages/themes/bigshow.wav)
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I have a nice wav file of an old Bell telephone ringing as my ringtone.
I have little choice. Mine (Sony t610) came with that or a bunch of shitty polyphonic messes. All I wanted was a really plain cell ringtone, but no...
I do though have the Final Fantasy theme, Monkey Island theme, some Sam and Max music and the music for the first Doom level. I occasionally switch it to the MI theme as I think it kicks ass, but it takes too long to get started, and is too quiet. Mind, I use ascending ring volume and the vibrate to try and have it make as little noise as possible.
I fuck*ng hate phones! And I hate not having mine on me...
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I'm considering piggy-backing on my SO's Verizon plan. I don't use enough minutes to justify a plan on my own and Verizon is the only provider that works in the metro.
Of course I'm not even sure if her current plan is eligible for adding a line, or if I'd get to keep my # (I'm with Cingular now)
porting out yr # is gonna cost you if yr still under contract w/ cingular. you can almost always keep yr # if you want tho. as her as piggy backing, it's not really a problem, but she'd have to switch plans to a "family share" and that might extend her contract, if she has less than a year to go from when you do it. but if you are gonna do it, it's $20 a month to add the secondary line and you can call her or any other* vzw person for free.
*in yr local area for a "local digital choice" plan or anywhere in US on "americas choice plan"
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But what kinds of tips and tricks did you have in mind?
well, for one, dumb stuff that most people don't realize/ignore like how to update the software on yr phone, how to keep track of shit so you don't get overage charges, stuff like why are you paying for a national plan if you only travel like once a year, shit like that.
and two, how to talk to a rep when you think you deserve a credit for something (never be a dick, dicks never get credit), stuff like that.
keep in mind i am not a hacker, i have no idea how to hack or clone a phone, and to do it and really benefit is pretty complicated and risky anyway. check out http://www.cellphonehacks.com if yr interested in that.
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I'm just wondering what phone to get. My geek nature would love a BlackBerry, but I wonder if that's really what I want to carry to, say, a softball game.
Our company has a discount deal with Verizon, and I'm fine with the plan, but they provide a dazzling array of phones at every price point from free (w/contract) to $560. Aside from glaringly obvious things like the inclusion of a camera, or the Treo 600, I'm not sure what makes one phone $50 more than another. Any suggestions on features I should be seeking out?
i think blackberries and treos are totally overrated. if you REALLY need a PDA or yr life would just fall apart, ok, fine, but those things are mostly for people to pretend like they have hella bizness ta attend to at all times cuz they are fukin' blingin' and shit.
price difference in phones is the same as anything else, for the most part. you think that phone you paid $19.99 for is a good, quality phone? why do you think we were selling em with a buy one get 4 free deal?
as for brands:
avoid LG's, we get lots of complaints about them.
nokias are almost always durable and simple, if that's what yr lookin' for.
samsungs have almost a zero complaint rate in my experience.
i myself like motorolas becuase of the style/interface, just don't get a cheap one.
audiovox is the standard middle ground.
and don't be a dubass and spend hella dough on a phone with video cuz that is just retarded. 15 secs of really low quality video ain't worth the price. i could almost say the same with camera phones. are you really gonna use that shit once the novelty wears off?
no, you are not. you suckers just got served!
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Yeah, I have a bitchin' Moto i730 and it has java games, gps, colour screen, plays videos, gets the internet, etc. I use it to make phone calls and sometimes I get stupid text messages from friends.
I should have gotten the phone that cost half as much. Of course, my phone *is* the "ooh ahhhh" toy. And some of the java apps are handy, like the calculator and restrurant finder, etc.
I also have a service where it can keep track of where you are in the GPS-ness and alert you when other people who have the same phone are nearby. I have no idea why this is useful, but I did meet a very cute girl last month via both of our phones "dinging" at the same time. However, this is not the kind of story you tell the grandkids, at least not if you want their love and/or respect.
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I'm considering piggy-backing on my SO's Verizon plan. I don't use enough minutes to justify a plan on my own and Verizon is the only provider that works in the metro.
Of course I'm not even sure if her current plan is eligible for adding a line, or if I'd get to keep my # (I'm with Cingular now)
porting out yr # is gonna cost you if yr still under contract w/ cingular. you can almost always keep yr # if you want tho. as her as piggy backing, it's not really a problem, but she'd have to switch plans to a "family share" and that might extend her contract, if she has less than a year to go from when you do it. but if you are gonna do it, it's $20 a month to add the secondary line and you can call her or any other* vzw person for free.
*in yr local area for a "local digital choice" plan or anywhere in US on "americas choice plan"
I've been monthly for a while in Cingular. I just the plans weren't so damned expensive. I thought adding a line would be like $9 not 20. I think the most I've ever used is 120 minutes one month but the cheapest plans all want to give me like 3 times that. Damn you cell phone companies!
Also, what the fuck is up with phones not working in analog mode anymore? I know digital is better but you analog has a longer range and I want to be able to fall back on it if I'm driving.
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And some of the java apps are handy, like the calculator and restrurant finder, etc.
speaking of restaurant finder, anyone played with http://www.google.com/options/wireless.htm
yet?
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i could almost say the same with camera phones. are you really gonna use that shit once the novelty wears off?
Ah, but we have a seriously goddamn cute baby. We're always taking pictures.
Thanks for the phone advice.
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I've been monthly for a while in Cingular. I just the plans weren't so damned expensive. I thought adding a line would be like $9 not 20. I think the most I've ever used is 120 minutes one month but the cheapest plans all want to give me like 3 times that. Damn you cell phone companies!
Also, what the fuck is up with phones not working in analog mode anymore? I know digital is better but you analog has a longer range and I want to be able to fall back on it if I'm driving.
well, cj, the plans you see advertised are never the full extent of plans available. we have off sheet plans and cingy prolly does to. VZW has like a 25 min plan we only offer for people who are thinking about switching.. call cing and say " i just use this phone for emergencies....blah blah...i heard verizon has plans like that.....and maybe yr sitch will be solved.
analog...most phones are all digital singnal now becuase the analog towers are jsut kinda ghost town now.
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OK here's a question I am being pestered to post .... We ordered new phones from the web site, which did not say they were out of stock when we ordered them, but now we're told they're out of stock. Can we hope that they will actually be in stock within some reasonable amount of time, or is this a situation where, if we knew how things really worked, we'd make another choice?
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OK here's a question I am being pestered to post .... We ordered new phones from the web site, which did not say they were out of stock when we ordered them, but now we're told they're out of stock. Can we hope that they will actually be in stock within some reasonable amount of time, or is this a situation where, if we knew how things really worked, we'd make another choice?
what phone? the website is kinda unreliable. one part or another doesn't work like, all the time. but, yeah tell me what phone it is and i can tell you if its in stock. or you can call my comrades in the pits.
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It's Audiovox 999. I think it has all those extra features you said we'd never use...
Maybe we ought to just go to a store? We thought that the website had to be easier than standing around waiting forfreakingEVER at one of the stores. But maybe that is a mistake.
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It's Audiovox 999. I think it has all those extra features you said we'd never use...
Maybe we ought to just go to a store? We thought that the website had to be easier than standing around waiting forfreakingEVER at one of the stores. But maybe that is a mistake.
that's what i thought. that thing is all kinds of popular, and hella cheap. people are all like shitting thier ##### because it's all got camera and video (a whole 15 SECONDS!!) and speaker phone and it's a modem for yr laptop and ringtones and blahblahblah, so yeah it's gonna be hard to get anywhere, i THINK it's still available thru cust service if you call us (tell the rep to check the inventory, we hate doing this cuz it's a pain in the ass, but just tell em to do it.) if it is totally out of stock it will be back real soon. i would try at yr local store, have fun standing in line and smile at the fact that even tho vzw knows that the long wait at the stores pisses people off, they leave it that way on purpose, so you'll get bored and pick up brochures and shit.
the reviews i've read are all pretty good. just keep in mind that even tho it's got a usb port, the only thing you can fuck around with on yr computer is the phone book; anything else would require a good phone hacker. it's only been out for a few months, so i can't really tell you about any complaints we've got about it. seems like an ok phone tho.
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The only problem with all phones across the Audiovox line is poor reception (and transmission) due to the weak transceiver.
They lowered the power output to stretch battery life, but I could hardly ever use my Audiovox phone because it would drop calls, wouldn't ring if someone called, etc. Ugh. What a friggin' nightmare.
It has a lot of bells and whistles (even more than my snazzy Moto i730 does) but it didn't work well as a PHONE. It's like buying a watch that has a calendar, phone book, games, etc., but doesn't tell TIME.
I would caution you STRONGLY against any Audiovox phones unless you NEED a 1 megapixel camera in your telephone - then by all means get it, because Vox is the only company making a megapixel camera phone at the moment.
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Ow, it hurts to type this, but Jough is right...
The warning about the lousiness of the phone part of the Audiovox phone came too late to save me. Although that is probably not solely due to the fact that the supposedly out of stock phones arrived in the mail without warning a couple of days later. I think that the decision was already irrevocable at that point. It is the price I pay for the sexist division of labor in this household that keeps me from having to think about technology too much.
Anyway, yes, the sound quality of the phone is lousy. And whenever you turn it on or off it plays a little tune that makes me want to strangle someone. I don't recommend it.
Still, we are probably going to be able to figure out how to record my dog barking and have it play when the phone rings. And isn't that the kind of thing that's really important in modern life.
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I just got a moto v300 from t mobile pre pay. it is pretty bitchin so far. i know tmobile has lousy coverage, but i hardly ever go anywhere that isn't a major city so it doesn't really effect me. the camera is still fun to have. mostly because i'll have a record for "what the fuck i did last night" type moments.
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I just got a moto v300 from t mobile pre pay. it is pretty bitchin so far.
The first cell I actually paid for was a Moto, and I stuck with them 'til after the Timeport I had died (can't remember which model but it had 8s and 9s and maybe a 3 involved and was four characters. Oh and an L).
I really liked the intuitive menu setup, and lack of useless stuff they put on them. And they were a fairly respectable size and shape (small enough to be 'sleek and comfortable' yet not as small as say the Nokias which I would just lose!). But then all I could get as a replacement from them was going to be a flipphone, so I ended up going for the Sony Ericsson t68i, and subsequently the T610, both of which feature nice, intuitive joystick based menus like the old Moto's did.
All that ranting aside, I still really dislike phones of all kinds, but could not be without.