News from Apple this week

[TheForce]

As there should be. Where has all the innovation gone?

Just because Apple decided not to buy 5G tech for 2019, doesn't mean they will not have it in 2020 if the carriers are ready. Don't forget, Apple bought the 5G tech division of Intel just to be independent of suppliers on 5G. No longer dependent on Qualcomm licensing.

Why buy a $700-1,300 phone now that won't ever be able to do 5G?

I said earlier, if you have an X or better it doesn't make sense to me either. But if still using a 6s or even 7 it might be the right time to get the upgrade especially if 5G isn't scheduled for your location at all.

There are actually a dozen or so Android phones this year that are either 5G ready or 5G capable today.

Please l;ist the other 7. I know of Samsung, LG, and 3 models from Motorola. There are a couple being released using the 5G Snapdragon 855 that are not sold in the US and also have 5G disabled at this time, but the hardware is ready.

Which is wild considering the official 5G spec is not expected until at least September of next year.
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There is a company, Inseego Corp that signed a huge contract with AT&T to supply it's 5G system throughout the US. It's hardware was tested to be the fastest yet. While Verizon is claiming 10 times LTE and T-Mobile and Sprint 5 times, At&T tests came in at 18 times LTE 4G in speed. At&T is confident the system hardware will be the standard.

 

[navychop]

I'm not fond of Qualcomm but their stuff seems to outperform Intel.

 

[TheForce]

I'm not fond of Qualcomm but their stuff seems to outperform Intel.

So we've been told in the past and it does well in many new applications too. But intel makes the best CPU's for basic computers, better compatibility with software and excellent speed, although more expensive than AMD. I didn't even know intel had a division to make modem chips until Apple bought them. The real unknown is not what the history of intel modem chips has been in the past but where that business will take Apple iphone, ipads and watches for the future. One thing I'm certain of is Apple will not ignore 5G when it is ubiquitous across the nation, but being first in 2019 when only a literal hand few can play with it now doesn't make business sense. I wouldn't buy a 5G phone for $300 more today so why should Apple make one?

 

[harshness]

Are there a dozen?

This article lists 15 of which perhaps a dozen are viable:

List of All 5G Network Supported Mobile Phones in 2019

Right now 5G is all about marketing and hype. And suburban and rural can possibly look forward to some in 2-4 years though rural will never get much of it.

So how often do you cast off a >$700 phone? Is it every two years? Five years?

If you don't trade it in, do you hand it down or just recycle it?

5G may not be practical for most today but it will be before any iPhone 11 reaches its natural end-of-life.

 

[TheForce]

This article lists 15 of which perhaps a dozen are viable:

Ok but I don't count prototypes and variations of the same phone by the same company. Try to buy any of these at the phone stores and count what's available. Good luck finding one you can use even in a 5G listed city.

In more research on this I found many buyers having to return their Samsung S10 phones because they were claimed to have the 5G Snapdragon processor but what they received were 4G only with a different processor. Amazon is giving returns with $10 credits for the mistake in advertising. It seems like the stories that only beta testers have the 5G Samsung S10 right now.

My attitude toward this is simple: when 5G is available I will worry about upgrading to 5G. For now there are other usable benefits to what is ready for today.

Old motto- don't buy promise of future technology with today's dollars.

 

[harshness]

So we've been told in the past and it does well in many new applications too. But intel makes the best CPU's for basic computers, better compatibility with software and excellent speed,

Nobody at Intel is crying over the jettison of the mobile modem unit. I heard about the purchase from an Intel employee on July 27th and it was a big deal because it loosened the belt on many other divisions. They held a company-wide presentation about it. The cash influx of $1 billion was quite welcome at a time where AMD has got fingers on Intel's lunch. Intel is cutting CPU prices 10-15% across the board. I saw an ad yesterday for a low-end i9 processor for $419.

According to Passmark, two of the three fastest CPUs available are AMD. Although they are NOT representative of your typical desktop models, neither are the $3,000+ Xeons. The third fastest CPU today is a Ryzen 9 3900X that they say sells for $739.99. It may not be the best for video editing or VR, but you could buy four of them for the price of the faster Xeon.

AMD may be computerdom's best hope for getting back on track with Moore's Law.

 

[harshness]

Ok but I don't count prototypes and variations of the same phone by the same company.

Why don't you count different models from the same company? Are the various iPhone 11 models not awfully similar in most respects?

I didn't count the Sony because it is a prototype and the Huwai's are still under suspicion in many circles.

We'll wait a four weeks and see what the Pixel 4 is about and then we'll renew the discussion of what's available and what represents the industry standard nowadays.

If 5G landed in your area tomorrow, what would you do?

 

[TheForce]

I relied on 3 expert system builders of high end PC and they all said the same thing. So I went with that basic design. When it comes to a video editing computer, I want fast and reliability and compatibility. AMD falls short on reliability and compatibility but beats on speed. However, when a crash happens after 5 hours of rendering and you have to start over, the speed spec gets tossed out the window. I only had crash problems when the turbo mode was turned on out of spec, but now were back to normal turbo and no more crashing.

BTW- I do like AMD as a company and I own stock in them. Do not own intel stock. AMD is a growth company, intel is a dividend play.

 

[navychop]

Yawn. (About 5G coming to my neighborhood)


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[TheForce]

If 5G landed in your area tomorrow, what would you do?

Easy answer- wait until next year and buy an Apple iphone, on my time table. Don't need the 5G speed today. Besides, I just got a letter from local Comcast saying they will be in my neighborhood to upgrade the FO lines which will be doubling my speed at no additional charge. Let's see how that works out. I'm fine with what I have now except uploads to YT could use a boost.

 

[harshness]

I relied on 3 expert system builders of high end PC and they all said the same thing.

As much as reliability, system builders wan't something they can make profit on. Intel still offers that in spades.

Most of the Free World doesn't do video editing and VR so their needs are necessarily different. See more at "marginalize".

 

[TheForce]

Right! I see two industries now that require power in both processing and video display and I am active in both- Video/film and real time stock trading analysis and trend analysis/predictions. Both require very high end GPU's. The stock trading business just requires the ability to display and run many platforms and live feed charting with multiple monitors. The third industry that requires processor speed is crypto currency mining but now there are very few of these left who can get above break even.

Most others just use an iphone or laptop these days. Office workers and warehouse workers use a computer robust enough to handle single tasks of order entry, billing, and messaging communications.

 

[Foxbat]

If 5G landed in your area tomorrow, what would you do?

5G? Hell, I'd be ecstatic if I could get LTE from the AT&T network in my neighborhood, let alone 5G. I don't live in a major metropolitan area, and I'm not going to move just to have faster mobile service.

 

[harshness]

5G? Hell, I'd be ecstatic if I could get LTE from the AT&T network in my neighborhood, let alone 5G. I don't live in a major metropolitan area, and I'm not going to move just to have faster mobile service.

I too live in an area that is kind of off the freeway but I'm served by a real carrier (Verizon). If I step out onto my deck or stand in a picture window, I can get AT&T. Everyone's situation is different and their decisions should take that into account. Assuming that any one of us represents the entire marketplace is imperious.

Those who travel (Don?) are perhaps more likely to encounter 5G than most.

 

[TheForce]

Those who travel (Don?) are perhaps more likely to encounter 5G than most.

Most of my travel has been out at sea and to Islands but even a few cross country trips would not encounter 5G since that is planed primarily for city access.

I also use Verizon as it is pretty reliable.

 

[frank c.]

Not to change the subject but, has anyone had problems linking their bank account to the Apple Card? I’ve been trying since I got my card and all I get is the message “Account Services Unavailable “. This happens no matter what bank account I use. Seems to be a known issue to Apple according to what I read online. Chatted with an Apple rep and it was useless. If you can’t link a bank account to the card, how will a payment be made? I don’t want my credit rating getting screwed by this.


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[navychop]

As I understand it, t-mobile plans, if the merger goes thru, to deploy 5G in its 600MHz band 71. Covers a lot of distance, but at that frequency is hardly much better than 4G LTE.

Maybe. We’ll see. I still plan to keep my Xs Max for at least five years. I doubt I’ll miss that coverage between now and then.


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[TheForce]

Frank- Didn't have a problem with Wells Fargo Cking act. The only problem I have is linking my BJ's CC to Apple Pay but the affiliate bank, Comenity, admits it's there system that is at fault. With Comenity Bank,you have to call them and have a rep on the phone as you go through the process and then they can manually authorize the approval. This requires you know how to work the phone at the same time you run the Apple Pay setup. First time I went through it I kept disconnecting the CSR and then having to start all over again with a new CSR. The process took hours. It got worse with my wife's phone as I needed to work two phones and the setup program to complete the process. Insanely ridiculous, but that's Comenity Bank.

I still plan to keep my Xs Max for at least five years.

Aside from having older technology in 5 years, you better realize that the battery will be shot and need a replacement. If Apple won't do it, better hope the new batteries are available and you can change it yourself. I did one on my iphone 6 and it gave me another year but the technology was old so I decided to upgrade to the Xs Max too.

 

[frank c.]

Frank- Didn't have a problem with Wells Fargo Cking act. The only problem I have is linking my BJ's CC to Apple Pay but the affiliate bank, Comenity, admits it's there system that is at fault. With Comenity Bank,you have to call them and have a rep on the phone as you go through the process and then they can manually authorize the approval. This requires you know how to work the phone at the same time you run the Apple Pay setup. First time I went through it I kept disconnecting the CSR and then having to start all over again with a new CSR. The process took hours. It got worse with my wife's phone as I needed to work two phones and the setup program to complete the process. Insanely ridiculous, but that's Comenity Bank.



Aside from having older technology in 5 years, you better realize that the battery will be shot and need a replacement. If Apple won't do it, better hope the new batteries are available and you can change it yourself. I did one on my iphone 6 and it gave me another year but the technology was old so I decided to upgrade to the Xs Max too.

I took care of the problem. I deleted the card from my iPhone, iPad and watch 4. Reset all the devices and added back the card on each. I was then able to link my bank account to my Apple Card.


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[navychop]

I expect to replace the battery in those five years.


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