Mobile phones

[adam1]

On 25/08/2025 at 04:12, spacemunky said:

So my phone died yesterday. Screen froze and then it just went black and I couldn't do a thing.

 

A good reminder to back stuff up, because I couldn't remember my gmail password and my backup email no longer exists. I also had never put in my cell number, so I have no way of accessing my account and that has really mucked me up.

 

Phone was a Galaxy s10e, which was pretty old. I've now got a Samsung 25, but it's been a bit of a nightmare trying to get all my stuff back.

I'm in this position with a S22 Ultra. Phones in great nick. Screen went black and then it was stuck in a boot loop.

 

I think its a software issue, I think there had been an update and the Chrome browser f#cked my phone. It kept black screening when the browser was open but I could tab across to the rest of the phone (only Chrome app black screened). Also just parts of the screen black screened, not the full screen, again only in the chrome.  I probably shouldn't have ignored it. I noticed the UI of the chrome browser had changed, when a new tab opened in the background a little icon jumped across the screen to the top right corner to indicate a new tab.

 

Just bought a S20fe as a back up phone whilst I wait for mine hopefully to be repaired with the data recovered. Her indoors needs a new phone so she will have the s20.

 

 

Edited 3 October 2025 by adam1

[FoyleFox]

Does anyone know of a messenger app that's like WhatsApp but not WhatsApp? 

 

I used to leave my parents an old Samsung Note with WhatsApp on while I'm on holiday. They can't use it but could read the messages and in an emergency someone else could use it contact me. 

I've gone to set it up today and WhatsApp auto updated, and the phone is no longer compatible. 

I can sort out a replacement phone but wondered if anyone used or knew of anything else?

[Samilktray]

8 minutes ago, FoyleFox said:

Does anyone know of a messenger app that's like WhatsApp but not WhatsApp? 

 

I used to leave my parents an old Samsung Note with WhatsApp on while I'm on holiday. They can't use it but could read the messages and in an emergency someone else could use it contact me. 

I've gone to set it up today and WhatsApp auto updated, and the phone is no longer compatible. 

I can sort out a replacement phone but wondered if anyone used or knew of anything else?

A lot of people use Telegram

[ajthefox]

@FoyleFoxYou may already be aware but you can install WhatsApp on PC too.

 

I did the same for my parents so they can video call my sister in Australia. Bit easier for them with diminshing eyesight than on a phone.

Edited 8 October 2025 by ajthefox

[FoyleFox]

8 minutes ago, ajthefox said:

@FoyleFoxYou may already be aware but you can install WhatsApp on PC too.

 

I did the same for my parents so they can video call my sister in Australia. Bit easier for them with diminshing eyesight than on a phone.

Unfortunately, that's not an option as they don't have a computer or WiFi.... they can't actually use the smartphone I left but I set up a widget so the WhatsApp messages automatically display. They could just read my 'arrived safely' messages. 

 

According to Google , Google messages works on WiFi. If I'm away, I usually only have WiFi. Although, I've bought an ESim for this trip but no idea if it'll work until I arrive. 

Edited 8 October 2025 by FoyleFox

[HighPeakFox]

1 hour ago, FoyleFox said:

Does anyone know of a messenger app that's like WhatsApp but not WhatsApp? 

 

I used to leave my parents an old Samsung Note with WhatsApp on while I'm on holiday. They can't use it but could read the messages and in an emergency someone else could use it contact me. 

I've gone to set it up today and WhatsApp auto updated, and the phone is no longer compatible. 

I can sort out a replacement phone but wondered if anyone used or knew of anything else?

Signal 

[FoyleFox]

I've added Google messages and Telegram. I'll have to just hope they work. I'm not sure they are that bothered about my arrived safely messages but I like the reassurance that they could give someone the phone to contact me in an emergency. 

Although, that's assuming I've set up my eSim and VPN properly, which I'm not sure about either 

[MC Prussian]

Anyone using a Fairphone 6?

I quite like the looks of it. Specs are rather underwhelming, though, in particular the processor power, memory (at least you can use MicroSD for expansion) and the battery capacity.

 

They've also just released new headphones.

 

I think I'll wait and see what the next generation of phones brings.

[ozleicester]

CMF (Nothing) 2 Pro.

2 weeks in.. pretty happy, relatively low cost  good spec, excellent screen... no issues so far