Non-Techie Seeks Info

1. 86

   DzyMsLizzyposted 5 years ago

   Hi all!
   
   I'm hoping that one of the more tech-savvy folks here can write an article detailing all the 'stuff' about smart phones and tablets.
   
   That is to say, what does all the alphabet soup mean?  3G; 4G; LTE; Hot Spot; etc...this old-school gal wants to know.
   
   I'm semi in the market for a smart phone, but I can't afford brand new; and I need to know these things, so I'm not buying blind.
   
   Also--one important thing--on the GPS utility--I need to be able to enter latitude and longitude coordinates as a destination, as well as just a street address. Why?  I do a hobby/sport called Geocaching, and that is how the caches are coded; they don't have a street address, as they may be out in the woods!
   So do all the phones pretty much have this ability, or do I have to shop certain brands?
   
   (BTW--as a side note--my late hubby went to high school with Steve Jobs, and Jobs was NOT well-liked--so this is an i-Free household!  LOL)

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   1. 87

      Will Apseposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I would always go for a mid range android phone from the previous year (after the price drop). Anything with 4GB of RAM will be quick enough and not expensive to buy outright.
         
      Latitude/Longitude apps are easy to find.
      
      There are also plenty of specialist geocaching apps: https://play.google.com/store/search?q= … amp;c=apps

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   2. 96

      wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Not much of a techie, but I like Samsung phones.  I bought a used Note 4 for under $200 that is serving me well.  And yes, it has GPS on it.  I've used it for geocaching, too, with one of the apps dedicated to the sport.  It's on the large side if you like that - my old eyes need large print and so do my fat fingers.

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      1. 86

         DzyMsLizzyposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks, Wilderness.
         Good to hear from another Geocacher--I'm pretty new at it, and so far, my searches have all resulted in "DNF"   :-(  I'm hoping to have better luck in the future.
         I know what you mean about trying to enter info with a tiny touch-pad!  It's infuriating, and the "auto-screw-ups" are terrible!

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         1. 92

            Jean Bakulaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Hi Ms. Lizzy,
            I am not very techie either, and also use a Samsung which is a few years old. You can make the font as large as you need it. If you text often and need it, they come with a stylus, or you can buy them for very little. I'm sure it has features I never discovered, but it has all that's necessary, and does have a GPS, which "voices" directions in the car, and I've found that useful. It should help in your hobby.
            
            If there's a Walmart near you, you can get one a few years old like mine, and you won't have to pay a really expensive data plan.

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      2. 98

         Eurofileposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Not much of a techie either, but I am very happy with my Samsung J3, which I bought new for around £120 in the UK five months ago. In fact I am using it now to post this.

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2. 93

   jansharesposted 5 years ago

   This old gal is not much of a techie either. But I did discover the value of using "HOT SPOT" on my iPhone this week while visiting Dad in Buffalo for New Year's. He's 95 years young, sharp as a tack, healthy as a bull but does not have wi-fi; can't convince him to consider getting a computer. So I took my lap top and hooked up wi-fi via my phone. "HOT SPOT" means you can use the wi-fi from your phone to get on the internet from anywhere. Very convenient.
   
   Edit: Hope you can do hot spot on another phone in your iFREE household.

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   1. 96

      wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I do that when camping.  WIFI is seldom available but I can often get cell service, and use the phone as a hot spot.  Won't bother with it for a weekend (don't take the computer anyway), but when we're on a 3 or 4 week trip it's nice to check in once in a while.

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      1. 93

         jansharesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         +1

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3. 89

   GA Andersonposted 5 years ago

   You have gotten the right advice DzyMsLizzy - go for last years models, (I like LGs, which are android phones, and have had bad luck with Motorola lines), to save money, and you do need a geocaching app. There is more to the sport than just longitudes and latitudes.
   
   NOTE: SELF-PROMOTION FOLLOWS: So just ignore it if it is in poor taste. (but you did ask for info)
   
   I have several geocaching beginners information pages, from tips to start to phone apps to consider on my camping site. It is a great activity for kids and adults on camping trips.
   
   But, I never do urban geocaching, those darn caches can be as small as a bolt head. I enjoy a treasure hunt, but I don't want to have to take apart a water faucet or door hinge to find it.
   
   GA

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   1. 86

      DzyMsLizzyposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      +++++
      Thank you!

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4. 86

   DzyMsLizzyposted 5 years ago

   Thanks, everyone.
   But..I still don't know what all the alphabet soup is about...4G 3G  LTE...etc...
   Someone please enlighten me.. 
   
   That is to say, what do those letters stand for??

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5. 86

   DzyMsLizzyposted 5 years ago

   So, I still don't know what 3G; 4G; LTE, and so forth mean....what do the letters and number stand for, and what do they mean in terms of practical usage?

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   1. 94

      EricFarmer8xposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      The G stands for generation. To keep it simple a higher generation is better and faster. Right now 4G and 4G LTE are the best speeds you can get. But 5G is coming soon.
      
      The LTE stands for long term evolution. When 4G first came out companies wanted to claim they had it without meeting the standards. So they were allowed to say they had 4G LTE as long they were working towards meeting true 4G standards.
      
      To me it means a whole load of marketing BS and trying to sound better. Like right now Verizon is claiming to have 5Ge. No 5G standard is fully completed so this is purely marketing. True 5G is coming but in some years.

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6. 86

   agvulpesposted 5 years ago

   The G stands for Generation ! We have come through G1,G2,Gs and we are up to G4 at the moment and G5 will very soon be available. In Australia it is being trialed and due to be released mid 2019. LTE is 'Long Term Evolution" and when coupled with 4G it gives a very fast transmission speeds.  You should check to see if your devise is compatible with LTE, some are not !  I hope this helps?

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