Google Home Mini

Honestly, if you are using and Android phone, you are already losing the phone home battle. I just try to restrict it as much to Google as I can. After resisting for years (but having no illusions given I was using an Android phone), I was forced a while back to use Google Calendar and Contacts by circumstances beyond my control. So the already have my schedule, the people I know, they know where I've been and where I'm going (Google maps and turn-by-turn navigation). Adding my keyboarding patterns and voice to the lot doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference.

 

Exactly this. I lost this battle years ago when Palm OS and Win Mob died. It was either this, or the fruit. BlackBerry wasn't even on the radar. Far too restrictive with countless other faults.

Now it is a battle to be aware of where your info ends up. It is a losing battle, but I like to pretend I have at least some choice in the matter.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 using Tapatalk

 

I recollect Google and Amazon squabbling and the ultimate demise of YouTube on the Echo Show. I had not paid full attention to this as I didn't have one and never thought I would. It is true, no built in YouTube on the Show. However, Amazon put in a decent workaround. It has both the Silk and Firefox browser loaded. YouTube via browser works just fine. "Echo, open Firefox." Done deal.

Just had Dad 'Drop In' on our Show. Yes, the kitchen is the most 'safe' place for this gadget. You have to take extra steps to allow carefully chosen contact(s) to be able to drop in. Sorry, but unless you are an immediate family member of mine, you aren't getting drop in access.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 using Tapatalk

 

I just replace everything I can with non-google. And Blackberry is pretty good when the phones don't just snap in half in your hands, they now run standard android with PIM applications by blackberry which also work on any Android device.

I was able to degoogify the following:
-Keyboard
-Calendar
-Contacts
-File Manager
-Email
-SMS
-Browser
-Image gallery

I was honestly amazed that much was even possible.

And in terms of Android if I could switch to a flip phone I totally would.

 

TracFone ZTE Android Flip 4G LTE Prepaid Phone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZ95P7S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_iMKmCbBYDVTS8

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

 

Oh man, that is one nice looking phone!

 

GOOGLE ASSISTANT, NOW AVAILABLE ON HAM RADIO

https://hackaday.com/2019/01/05/google-assistant-now-available-on-ham-radio/

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

 

It's funny, its screen is not that much smaller than my Nexus One (2010), which was 3.7" and was considered a very large screen in it's day. I used that happily for 3 years. I had a 3.2" Nokia candy bar before that. However, I could never go back to a touch screen that small, and I certainly would never return to T9. I'd love a flip-phone with a hardware keyboard, but it would have to have a large enough screen to produce a decent sized keyboard.

Ultimately, though, at this point I prefer screens large enough to use my finger to do everything and then augment with BT keyboards.

 

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Out of context quotes fodder?