Soliciting Advice for New Mobile Phone and Carrier

[Aloha_Shooter]

I have both the Galaxy S4 and S5 Active. I would advise you get the Active model of either one for the IP6/7 (waterproof/dustproof) feature; the non-Active versions meet all the other requirements you listed.

Personally, I prefer holding the S4 in my hand but the S5 is nicer to my aging eyes. The biggest problem Samsung has is that both phones are limited to 16 GB native memory. Yes, you can expand them with microSD cards (and should) but it's very easy to add enough apps, ringtones, etc. to the point where you can't update the apps due to lack of memory (even when you have 11 free GB on the microSD).

As far as acquiring new phones, check out Swappa: http://www.swappa.com Great way to get used phones without the risk of Craigslist or eBay. Sellers have to prove their phones are clean and unencumbered before listing them. Right now, I see the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 for Verizon going for $109+ or $215+ respectively.

[james_bond_007]

On my Android Tablets, I have 'Rooted' them, partly for the limited memory issue you describe.
The 'Roots' I have done allow me to move 95+% of the app's executable to the SD Card, and then run them from the SD card.
For about 98% of the apps I tried, it works fine. The other 2% either won't LET me move them, run too slow from the SD, or crash.

The other thing I liked about rooting was, providing you look around, you can find a suitable ROM Image without the Bloatware (pre-installed apps eating up ROM that you don't want).
Then you can selectively install what you want.
Again, this helped free up my Device memory.

I plan to do the same for my new phones, providing I can find a reliable image.
I'm told Verizon locks things down a bit tighter than the factory Samsung devices (Ex: the bootloader is hard to access)

I have both the Galaxy S4 and S5 Active. I would advise you get the Active model of either one for the IP6/7 (waterproof/dustproof) feature; the non-Active versions meet all the other requirements you listed.

Personally, I prefer holding the S4 in my hand but the S5 is nicer to my aging eyes. The biggest problem Samsung has is that both phones are limited to 16 GB native memory. Yes, you can expand them with microSD cards (and should) but it's very easy to add enough apps, ringtones, etc. to the point where you can't update the apps due to lack of memory (even when you have 11 free GB on the microSD).

As far as acquiring new phones, check out Swappa: http://www.swappa.com Great way to get used phones without the risk of Craigslist or eBay. Sellers have to prove their phones are clean and unencumbered before listing them. Right now, I see the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 for Verizon going for $109+ or $215+ respectively.

[brutal]

On my Android Tablets, I have 'Rooted' them, partly for the limited memory issue you describe.
The 'Roots' I have done allow me to move 95+% of the app's executable to the SD Card, and then run them from the SD card.
For about 98% of the apps I tried, it works fine. The other 2% either won't LET me move them, run too slow from the SD, or crash.

The other thing I liked about rooting was, providing you look around, you can find a suitable ROM Image without the Bloatware (pre-installed apps eating up ROM that you don't want).
Then you can selectively install what you want.
Again, this helped free up my Device memory.

I plan to do the same for my new phones, providing I can find a reliable image.
I'm told Verizon locks things down a bit tighter than the factory Samsung devices (Ex: the bootloader is hard to access)

Watch out for KNOX on VZW Samsung devices. Blow the e-fuse and your warranty is gone.

Looks like there's a new app - Kingroot - that is a one click root that's working on current model firmware but I haven't finished reading through the threads yet to see if it's KNOX safe.

I doubt you're going to find any way to unlock the bootloader on any current VZW Samsung device. Best you're doing to get is root. You can get around the bloatware with Titanium backup, xposed framework, etc. There may be others, I haven't looked lately. root thread on xda http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2784860

[Gunner]

I'm on Verizon now all I can say be ready to open your pocket book. If you use a lot of internet make sure you keep an eye on they will charge you if you go over.

I have also had the galaxy s4, 5, used the 6. Some iPhone experience I'm on the LG G4 now and its awesome

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[james_bond_007]

Yes, I heard that they like to make you use a lot of data.
I talked to a few people that were on their 'unlimited plan' for years and used, say 2-3 GB/mo. When they switched to their 'fixed' plan, their usage somehow was 2x -3x what it was before.

So, I've changed a bunch of settings to try and minimize Mobile data usage when I don't NEED it:
DATA USAGE-> RESTRICT BACKGROUND DATA - seems to have done the most for me. (You can set it for ALL events or select the ones you are interested in)
Setting this, has prevented all the crappy updates for programs I don't care about from downloading when I'm away from WIFI and on Mobile Data.
When I connect back to WIFI, the D/Ls start again.

By the way, this only seems to apply to BG tasks. If I bring up an app, say Email, in the FG, it will use Mobile Data until I put it in the BG.
If I use a NAV app or MUSIC app, it will use Mobile data, but the other 'updates' won't occur.
This is what I want. I want to be able to use Mobile data, but only when I NEED/WANT it, not when the programs want to dump meaningless updates across my Mobile Data account.

EMAIL SYNC -
a) I stopped syncing some of my folders that I route stuff I don't always need (see 'b' below)
b) I've been filtering out crap on the Server Side with 'Filters' or 'Rules' into Folders. Basically selectively moving the 'junk' email out of the Inbox and into a 'Junk Mail' folder
---so I can read it and delete it later. This lets me get somewhat meaningful email when I DO decide to sync via Mobile Data.
b) Sync - the above BGG DATA seems to have halted syncing when I'm on Mobile Data, and allows it on WIFI

Anything else I should look at ?

I'm on Verizon now all I can say be ready to open your pocket book. If you use a lot of internet make sure you keep an eye on they will charge you if you go over.

I have also had the galaxy s4, 5, used the 6. Some iPhone experience I'm on the LG G4 now and its awesome

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[james_bond_007]

I'd also like to go on the record stating that I'm not trying to state 'Verizon is better than all the others'.
The ONLY reason I moved to them was because they had good coverage where my wife works.

I am, however, trying to pass on my personal experiences.
Thus far, all is as expected...no punches pulled or hidden fees applied.

...I'll let you know if I feel the same way after my first bill.

Here's a Very Current comparison of the big carriers: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/...n-us-carriers/

[james_bond_007]

I do have a question of which maybe someone knows the answer.

Data Usage

My phone can, of course , show me how much data I used via Android. (it shows data used by MY phone only).

If I use the Verizon App "My Verizon Mobile" or text to #DATA (aka #3282), can I see the total data used by ALL devices in my SHARED Plan ?
Or if not, is there a way to see the total Shared Data Usage ?

[00tec]

The only reason I'm still with verizon is that I still have unlimited data on our phones. Our bill is too much for 2 phones, but my wife used 80gb of 4g last month....

It does suck having to do the full price phones, especially when like 3 good phones get listed here for sale 2 days after I spend $625 on one.

[hurley842002]

, but my wife used 80gb of 4g last month..

I'm trying to fathom what causes a person to go through 80GB of data? Video streaming?

[00tec]

I'm trying to fathom what causes a person to go through 80GB of data? Video streaming?

Probably. She watches a bunch of TV on her phone. Month before it was 58gb and change.

She used to only use maybe 5gb per month, until she got the Note 4