Help me pick a new device.

[rygD]

I have been considering this thread for a couple weeks. It started when my (gifted) iPod classic was dead a couple days after charging with no use. This happens feeling when I go to mow the grass. I don't want to sweat on and crush my Pandora, but it is more reliable than other options ATM.

I have stopped using my Android smartphones (Motorola Photon Q) because they are really only good for calls and texts. The keyboards of both are dying, and I can't get official OS upgrades to something newer, so no Star Trek Timelines and other games I want to use with them. I might as well use a dumb phone. If I have one with Bluetooth I can probably type messages with my Pandora keyboard. I do try to keep in touch with others via the next device I have.

I don't really like tablets. I have a nook tablet primarily for reading and reference and some web browsing. I have the cheap one, and other than not being able to play games on it I am fine with it. I do wish it had more physical buttons and looked like a PADD. I try to use Google Hangouts, but it is really unreliable for quick delivery of messages.

Blah blah blah, Google collects all my information. Wake me when I give a fuck. I have even started using Facebook to keep in touch with some people. I am totally open and supportive of third party OSs and such. I already miss out on Star Trek Online and Entropia Universe since I gave up windows, and I want my ST games. If you have a CHEAP solution that will fit my needs while i wait for the Pyra let me know.

My preferences are Linux or other *nix, rugged construction, affordable, user fixable, open hardware, physical keyboard (on fone), all day or longer battery life.

If you make a suggestion I would like a real world review from you, or easy to find ones (I will check Amazon if it is there) from other users.

I am open to minimal/simple hacking to modify, but I don't want to spend hours just to get it going right now.

I don't have a budget, but cheaper is better. Telling me to get a $700 tablet or smartphone is a waste of both our time. I want to keep this under $100.

Lemme know what to get in the poll and your replies. Thanks everyone!

 

[Caine]

WTF? Who on earth decides their purchases based on a poll? You surprise me rygD.

 

[___]

buy yourself an apple newton, so you can appreciate more what you already have.

 

[rygD]

WTF? Who on earth decides their purchases based on a poll? You surprise me rygD.

The poll is for fun. I don't see enough polls these days. Obviously it is useless without follow on posts by voters. Ultimately I make my decision based on personal judgement and reviews.

You don't surprise me Caine.

 

[Caine]

You don't surprise me Caine.

I am happy to be deterministic.

Personally, I would wait for the Pyra. Which, unsurprisingly, is what I am doing.

 

[rygD]

Most likely I will stick with what I have while waiting for the Pyra. It sucks waiting when my other devices are failing and I feel the need of a replacement. I may need to get a cheap mp3 player just due to size. I have looked at a couple, but don't know if I really want to bother (last one I bought myself was in 2001 and was fed by CF cards).

I actually dislike people knowing what I will say or do. Don't worry, though. In person I am not as predictable.

 

[ClockworkCoder]

I actually dislike people knowing what I will say or do. Don't worry, though. In person I am not as predictable.

However, you *will* buy a Pyra, will you not? ;-)

 

[___]

make it a project and build yourself an mp3 player with readily available parts. that way you don't need to invest money in throwaway devices that something will supersede in the near future anyway. and you can post your BOM and I can copy your efforts ^^. but seriously, I have been thinking about doing this for a while.

 

[Wally]

Grab yourself a PSP, it would fill the void a bit!

 

[rygD]

However, you *will* buy a Pyra, will you not? ;-)

Yes, I *have*!

make it a project and build yourself an mp3 player with readily available parts. that way you don't need to invest money in throwaway devices that something will supersede in the near future anyway. and you can post your BOM and I can copy your efforts ^^. but seriously, I have been thinking about doing this for a while.

You first. See my third to last paragraph.

Grab yourself a PSP, it would fill the void a bit!

Oddly enough, I was thinking of getting one a month or two ago. Maybe I will look into it again and see if there are other things I can do with it that interest me. I noticed you didn't pick the last option in the poll up there...

 

[benoitb]

So you're looking for a dumb phone that will play mp3s to bring alongside your Pandora ? The requirements are not very clear.

If you're looking for cheap and good music quality I can recommend the Galaxy S1 i9000 and the Nokia 808 (probably harder to find). I own both and they have excellent headphone outputs, above my other electronic devices. The Nokia also has excellent camera abilities. However both of them lack physical keyboards.

 

[levi]

FWIW, none of the basic MP3 players I've tried can drive my usual outdoor headphones loudly enough for me to hear the music against heavy traffic noise. My Pandora goes loud enough, but devices like the Sandisc Clip seem to be more limited.

 

[elw3]

FWIW, none of the basic MP3 players I've tried can drive my usual outdoor headphones loudly enough for me to hear the music against heavy traffic noise. My Pandora goes loud enough, but devices like the Sandisc Clip seem to be more limited.

Try a walnut.
Its some, russian i think, minimalist hackware player.
Fucker has 3! Volume dials, an analog potiometer like on the pandora, digital and a whole second output for bypassing the amp.
The inbuild amp can drive my big speakers without problem and the battery time even outperforms the pandora by a lot.
And more surprisingly: Its very very cheap compared to what it offers.
This is mine http://www.dx.com/p/v2-diy-mp3-lossless-music-mp3-hifi-music-player-black-916478831
Searching for "DIY Music player" shows a few models more.

 

[levi]

Try a walnut.

Where do I put the headphone plug though?

Good suggestion though!

 

[rygD]

So you're looking for a dumb phone that will play mp3s to bring alongside your Pandora ? The requirements are not very clear.

If you're looking for cheap and good music quality I can recommend the Galaxy S1 i9000 and the Nokia 808 (probably harder to find). I own both and they have excellent headphone outputs, above my other electronic devices. The Nokia also has excellent camera abilities. However both of them lack physical keyboards.

There aren't requirements. Just looking for ideas and suggestions. I would like to use the Pandora as input if possible if I have a Phone with me.

 

[Hellfleck]

get a Jelly : https://www.unihertz.com/jelly.html


its tiny, rather unexpensive and I use one as my work phone and as LTE modem - its Android though

 

[ible]

i would get a jelly if the battery life was better.

 

[Swordfish II]

I have been considering this thread for a couple weeks. It started when my (gifted) iPod classic was dead a couple days after charging with no use. This happens feeling when I go to mow the grass. I don't want to sweat on and crush my Pandora, but it is more reliable than other options ATM.

I have stopped using my Android smartphones (Motorola Photon Q) because they are really only good for calls and texts. The keyboards of both are dying, and I can't get official OS upgrades to something newer, so no Star Trek Timelines and other games I want to use with them. I might as well use a dumb phone. If I have one with Bluetooth I can probably type messages with my Pandora keyboard. I do try to keep in touch with others via the next device I have.

I don't really like tablets. I have a nook tablet primarily for reading and reference and some web browsing. I have the cheap one, and other than not being able to play games on it I am fine with it. I do wish it had more physical buttons and looked like a PADD. I try to use Google Hangouts, but it is really unreliable for quick delivery of messages.

Blah blah blah, Google collects all my information. Wake me when I give a fuck. I have even started using Facebook to keep in touch with some people. I am totally open and supportive of third party OSs and such. I already miss out on Star Trek Online and Entropia Universe since I gave up windows, and I want my ST games. If you have a CHEAP solution that will fit my needs while i wait for the Pyra let me know.

My preferences are Linux or other *nix, rugged construction, affordable, user fixable, open hardware, physical keyboard (on fone), all day or longer battery life.

If you make a suggestion I would like a real world review from you, or easy to find ones (I will check Amazon if it is there) from other users.

I am open to minimal/simple hacking to modify, but I don't want to spend hours just to get it going right now.

I don't have a budget, but cheaper is better. Telling me to get a $700 tablet or smartphone is a waste of both our time. I want to keep this under $100.

Lemme know what to get in the poll and your replies. Thanks everyone!

First, I believe Lineage OS supports the Photon Q and will bring the OS up to date.

As far as a phone I have the LG F3Q. Upsides: I can go 03 days without charging it with actual usage (browsing, torrents, calls, messaging...I mean full usage). Also has an ir blaster, removable battery, keyboard, and microsd slot. Downsides: It is limited to android 4.xx, it has low ram, and has low onboard storage. I got around the storage piece by linking to an ext3 partion on the microsd card and transfering system apps and installed apps.

 

[comradekingu]

Sansa clip+ with rockbox. All deeeei.

 

[Xcl4m4t10n]

About Jelly, I was going to get one but the battery life and some other little points avoid me from that... But now, the team has announced that they are going to launch "something" very soon:

https://www.unihertz.com/bbs/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=51258&extra=page=1