Samsung Gear S (Verizon)

I'm about to head to bed but thought I'd copy my notes on my initial experience with the Gear S:

Could not find the Samsung Gear app, even when using Samsung's instructions at http://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00038393/239278/.  I found that the problem was Chrome...it wasn't seeing the 'download' icon.  Using the OEM browser, I was able to see it.

Next issue I ran into was that the phone wouldn't pair with the watch.  The instructions never said to go into the phone's BT screen and attempt to pair the device.  As well, once the Gear app is opened, it takes over the screen...this implies that the Gear app needs to be used to initially pair the phone with the watch.  I found that when I go into the phone's BT settings and try to pair the phone with the watch, it downloads and installs 11 new apps, but still won't pair with the watch...the watch won't accept the 'OK' clicks to accept the pairing.

I got fed up and kept hitting the 'OK' prompt on the watch when trying to get it to accept the pair attempt...I hit it maybe 4-5 times rapidly and it THEN began to pair.

I also ended up not seeing the "activate" screen, so the watch was only seeing limited 3G and was set to roam.  I performed a factory reset and after the watch rebooted, it was a night and day difference, where the watch could be navigated without hesistation or voice prompting.  I was able to activate the watch and configure mobile usage for 'auto only'.  

I'm not even sure I should compare the Gear S to my Pebble (non-Steel).  I've pretty much retired my Pebble.  I'll either put it away with my other gadgets or try to sell it.  Maybe one of my daughters will want it.

I don't think I'll ever see a week's worth of usage (on one charge) with the Gear S, although I did fully charge it today...the watch is currently at 68%.  I went into the watch's settings (Settings/Connections/Mobile networks/) and set "Gear networks" to auto switch, which will only use mobile broadband when I or an app needs it (phone calls and such).  I've got the watch set to auto-dim as well.  The charging cradle actually holds a charge, although I don't know if it'll fully charge the watch's battery from empty.  The phone charges pretty quickly if you're not using it while it's being charged.

So far I've set up the Gear app to notify the same apps that I'd configured to notify on my Pebble.  I can get a view of my G-mail e-mails but I'm not sure I'm ready to use the default e-mail application on my Note Edge...I'm used to using the G-mail app, but the watch doesn't have an app for that.

I've set up my voice-mail and have to remember the watch's phone number.  I don't foresee using the watch as a standalone smart device any time soon.  I don't even think I'll be using the watch's phone features.  To set up voice-mail, I had to call the VM number using the watch.  The speaker is loud enough to hear with ease, although I've no idea how well the microphone works and if it has good noise cancellation.

The watch has a native browser as well, but I have to use the Gear app to install it.  I don't see the need to use the watch as a web browser.

I'm curious about the texting/messaging features, though.  I attempted to type a text and while the virtual keys were extremely small, I didn't do any typos, so I guess the keyboard is good enough.

The watch is hefty, but I'm enjoying it thus far.  I worry that I'll bang it against something accidentally (I opted out of insurance for the watch -- Verizon's insurance is expensive!).  I'd rather not use a screen protector...that's more hassle than it's worth (I tried to put one on my Pebble but removed it soon after, as it was annoying).

I'll be setting it up to my liking over the next week...there's so much to configure that I'm a bit overwhelmed.  I might do a quick video review of it later, as well.

For now, I'm impressed enough to say I think I'll keep it.  Initially, when I was having issues setting it up, I was irritated enough to where I was thinking on returning it ($399 for something that was giving me immediate issues...uhmmm...no), but I'm OK now.  :)

UPDATE:

I've not run into any problem with the smartwatch, so far.  I have noticed that with set to auto switch  between BT and using the mobile network, I end up with 15-20% battery use in a 24-hour period.  This is without using the watch as a phone or web browsing with it.  I typically only look at it when someone texts, when I'm notified of an incoming e-mail, or when I'm looking at the time (pretty much how I was using my Pebble).

I've also noticed that my dog likes to lick the watch...her tongue activates the watch!

UPDATE 2:

I usually sit or stand with my arms crossed...I can't do that with this watch.  My arm's skin ends up activating the screen, which sometimes enables widgets or other watch tools.  They should build some type of logic where the screen won't activate if at at certain angle.

Verizon Customer Service Issues, Samsung Gear S

I reported awhile back that I upgraded my daughter to the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge.  We had to return her phone because the display was showing a thin green line going down the center of the screen.  It initially showed after I took it out of the box, but disappeared the next day.  My daughter told me that the display issue had returned maybe a week later.  I began to research how to get the phone replaced.  Verizon has no real guidance on how to do such a thing...the box contained return instructions (in case we changed our minds about the phone)...it said nothing of if the phone were damaged.  There was nothing on their website.

Two days before the two-week return period expired, I decided to bring it in to a local corporate store.  They sent me to another store because they didn't have a replacement in stock.  I went to the other store and when trying to describe the display issue, they asked me if I were a Verizon employee (the store I initially visited didn't ask me this).  I told them, "Yes."  They told me I couldn't be helped and that I had to call Verizon Customer Service to get a replacement.  Keep in mind that this is two days before the return period expires, around 7PM.  I returned home and asked online help for assistance.  They couldn't help but gave me a number to call.  When I called the number, and after walking through a menu system that was not intuitive, I got someone who began to help but then told me that I'd have to call back the next day during core duty hours because they weren't staffed to assist me.  By this time it was 10:30PM.

I called the next morning and they walked me through the RMA process, told me where to get a return shipping label, and also told me that I had to ship it and have it post-marked before midnight that night.  I packed up the phone and took it to the local Post Office and got a shipping and tracking receipt, just in case.

That was almost two months ago.  I checked my bill last night and the RMA'd phone was charged to me (WTF).  I'm pretty sure it's because they received the phone after the two-week return period.  I'm awaiting to visit a Corporate store to get it sorted out physically...I'm tired of dealing with phone queues and being transferred (I called several times the first night I was seeking assistance and was disconnected twice).

I haven't had issues with Verizon until now (I'm a long-time customer and employee).  When employees buy phones, they receive discounts.  Verizon uses a different system to process billing of phone purchases and upgrades than they do with non-employees, but this process is convoluted and isn't documented.  I spent a LOT of time trying to determine who to call and when to call.  Another thing:  If you upgrade online, your two-week return period doesn't start until after you've received the phone (shipping days don't count), so I was within the 14-day period (they've the shipping day in their system).  None of this is mentioned anywhere on their website.

If I find that they're going to stick me with the bill after going through all that, I'll immediately withdraw the money to cancel every single line and move to a different carrier.  Almost every phone I have on the plan is a Verizon Edge phone (all but one).  I'll just pay for the 3 Edge phones and 1 contracted phone...better to do that than to give Verizon $350/month the next 2 years.

I've also ordered a Samsung Gear S watch from Verizon.  I bought the watch last night.  After seeing my current Verizon Wireless bill, I almost didn't buy this watch.  I paid full price ($399) instead of having the watch under contract ($349).  Why?  Because I didn't want to have to deal with a contract device if I have to leave Verizon over this recent billing issue.  As well, the difference is only $50 between the two.

I can't wait for this watch.  It is a stand-alone device, meaning it can be used without being tethered to a smartphone (my Pebble needs to be tethered).  I can make and receive calls from the phone.  I can listen to music directly from the phone, with or without a BT headset.  I can get notifications on the phone.  I can't do much of that with my Pebble.  The con is, I *might* get 2 days of battery life from it and will have to carry a charging cradle and micro-USB cable around with me (I can charge the watch while going to/from work and I can also do it while at work).  Functionality-wise, the Gear S is well beyond my Pebble, plus the Pebble was already returned once because of a display issue (the replacement watch has been showing similar issues, though).

I'll review the watch and post it here once I receive it.

UPDATE:

Verizon straightened up the billing for the phones.  My wife called them and got it sorted (luckily, I made sure to get receipts when I mailed the phones back to Verizon...had Post Office and UPS tracking numbers and receipts).  In fact, one was already in the process of being credited back even before my wife called.  Verizon gets a big thumbs-up this time.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

For my daughter's birthday, I upgraded her phone from an HTC One M8 to a Samsung Galaxy Note Edge.  I actually opened the box for her and ensured it had a full charge so that when she came home, from school, she'd be able to immediately play with it.  That she did!  I actually resisted the urge to play with it while it was charging, so she was able to enjoy the whole factory setup experience.

Just seeing her phone made me want to upgrade mine and I did just that!  I upgraded from my Note 3 to the Note Edge.

I was actually on the fence on whether to get the Note 4 or the Note Edge...decided that it wouldn't hurt to try the Edge and if I found to not like it, I could always 'edge up' to something else a bit later.

Some observations:

• The Edge consumes quite a bit more battery power during the day compared to my Note 3 and my daughter's M8.  This might be due to the quad display.  It consumes less power when in power saving mode, but it's nowhere near what it was with the Note 3.  There's also the ultra power saving mode, which I haven't tried yet...I'm not sure if it hobbles the phone too much (it also goes to grayscale).
• It takes some time to get used to the phone's display edge.  I keep thinking that it's about to slip out of my hands.
• The phone will get hot when using it while the display is on.
• Quick charges are ridiculously fast!  This is good, since this phone consumes power quickly.
• There's no Android 5.x for the Note Edge yet (or, at least I haven't seen the upgrade prompt for it yet).  This phone is currently at v4.4.4.  It may not seem to be a big deal, but I got a taste of 5.x on my Note 3...loved it and currently miss it dearly on my Edge.
• Verizon only had the phones in Black...I'm not sure if White was promotional or if they ran out of stock when I bought the phones, but there was a two week gap between buying the two of them, so if there was a stocking shortage, you'd think that it wouldn't last two weeks.
• There aren't many phone cases available for this phone, currently.  My daughter has the Samsung wallet cover.  I have the Verizon shell/holster combo w/ kickstand (which I had for my Note 2).  I'd much rather have an Otterbox Defender on this phone, but until they're available, I'll be happy with what I currently have.
• There was at least one app that I had on the Note 3 that wasn't detecting the user config file on the SD card that came from the Note 3.  I had to manually grab the config from the Verizon Cloud and overwrite them on the SD card for them to work (mainly Tasker).  mSecure also had a problem taking imported backup and I ended up having to manually copy over a backup.  I exported a copy of the database to G-mail and imported the G-mail copy without issue...wouldn't work with the Edge, as the app kept complaining that it couldn't see G-mail's SMTP server.  I didn't have that issue with the Note 2 and 3.
• The fingerprint reader is better than what reviewers are stating.  I've been using it with little issue...it's pretty accurate.
• The heart monitor is iffy...I'm not sure if it's precise but my pulse is usually higher than average, and it's right in that regard...I wouldn't use it in place of a dedicated blood pressure and pulse monitor, though.
• No problems using my Pebble watch...BT is BT, I guess.
• It doesn't feel any bigger than my Note 3, although it's slightly bigger.

I haven't messed with the S-Pen yet.  I have fiddled with setting up the Edge...that's gonna take some getting used to.

Now, there was an issue with my daughter's Edge.  I plugged it in when I first removed it from the box and it had a green line in the middle of the screen, going from top to bottom.  It disappeared the first day of use, then returned and stayed after that day.  I'd been trying to find out how to return/replace it and Verizon has NO documentation on how to do that...it's not included on their My Verizon pages nor does any information regarding returning/replacing or troubleshooting come with the phone.  I visited 2 different stores and got no help.  The first store didn't even check my account, I don't think...they saw that they didn't have any Edge phones to swap with mine, so they sent me to another store that was 1/2 hour away.  I got to that store and they immediately told me that they couldn't pull up the account.  I had to call their employee assistance line to request a replacement.  They treat employee accounts differently and that's what really irked me...I'm not just an employee.  I'm a damned customer.  These phones and the service isn't cheap...I deserved better service than I got.  I ended up spending at LEAST 3 hours in two stores last night.  Then I came home and was on the phone for another hour, being bounce around different tech teams.  I also spent another hour on the phone today, as well, but I finally got the right person and they were able to assist me in getting a new phone sent to me.  This could've been done yesterday without all the traveling and phone time if Verizon had understood how to help me...they didn't know a thing.  I was so ticked that I almost considered moving to a competitor ASAP.  Verizon needs to do a better job at customer service (I've said this many times to friends and colleages)...the run-around I got last night was pretty ridiculous.  They also need to make the custom replacement process for employees more transparent than what it currently is, because it's hardly transparent.  They need to make it so that the employees feel like customers...I felt like a damned leper last night.  And on top of that, I had to rush ship my daughter's phone back to them since this was the 14th day of ownership...if they'd know WTH they were doing yesterday, I wouldn't have been quite as rushed.

We'll see if the new phone is without problems...it'll be here tomorrow.

Rocksmith

I grew up playing a musical instrument.  I played the trumpet in middle and high school, playing in both concert and marching bands.  One of my girls has been playing viola the last 5 years.  Another of my girls has played both the saxophone and the violin (but has since stopped).

The point is while none of us three were prodigies, we're all somewhat familiar with music.  We sometimes end up having big Rockband and Guitar Hero sessions on weekends.  No, those games aren't really music-centric...they're more like a version of Simon Says, but you still have to know music patterns (such as beats), otherwise you're going to be struggling.

Well, I picked up a game that really takes it to a new level.  I wouldn't even call it a game...it's more like a tutorial that uses games to teach you.  What's the game?  Rocksmith.

Currently, there's Rocksmith, released back in 2012, I believe, and Rocksmith 2014.  I opted for Rocksmith since I'd read that Rocksmith 2014 tended to be less tutorial-oriented than the original version.  I want to learn how to play, not get thrown to the wolves, so to speak.

Rocksmith is sold in three versions:  For PC, for the Xbox360/XboxOne, and for the PS3/PS4.  And of those versions, you can opt to buy with or without a PC-to-guitar USB cable.  I opted for the PC version, since I'm more of a PC guy.  The cable is required, unless you already have such a cable.  You can opt to not that version if you already own Rocksmith and have a cable.  If you upgrade to Rocksmith 2014, you can use the cable that you used with Rocksmith, so you won't need another cable, unless you've broken your original one.  You can also buy the cable separately.

The PC game requires a decent PC.  You can't play it on junk machines without having system resource consumption issues, and the game requires a dedicated graphics card.  I've yet to try the game on my Alienware M17x R3, but I'm assuming it will not have issues since I've played it on my recently-built Core i5 system without issue.  The rule of thumb for me is, if you can play such games as COD or BF (recently current versions), your computer is not going to have issues playing Rocksmith or RS:2014.

And, of course, the game also requires that you have an electric guitar.

The game accounts for many different electric guitars and accounts for left-handed and right-handed people.

I got the game yesterday and was a bit surprised that the game is actually distributed by Steam.  It comes with a CD and I'm assuming that the game on the CD is either a demo or an installer that redirects to Steam.  There's a game code that you enter into Steam to activate and download the game.  It took me 20 minutes to download the game, but I've a large-piped FO connection.  Once downloaded and installed, the game had an issue detecting the USB cable.  It wouldn't detect at all and I was concerned since I'd read about cables being bad out of the box.  I read that if you use multiple USB connections (mouse and keyboard and other peripherals), the game becomes confused and doesn't see the guitar connection.  The fix is apparently to disconnect the PC-to-guitar cable and reconnect it and to keep trying until the game recognizes the guitar.  Another fix is to remove all other USB peripherals (before or after starting the game, I don't know).  I don't know which worked for me, but it eventually worked.

The game interface is weird.  It took me awhile to determine how to navigate the menu.  You have to use the keyboard arrow keys to move around the menu, and you can use either the Enter key to select your option or click the Enter graphic button with the mouse.  Going backward in the menu system is a PITA.

The game first makes you tune your guitar and will have you ensure your guitar is tuned before every song.  If you've old strings, you might want to replace them before playing this game.  Also, don't just throw your guitar around when not using it...it'll eventually get out of tune because it's being banged around and even when just normally playing, my guitar would sometimes slip slightly out of tune.  I'm not sure if that means there's something wrong with the guitar or if it means I need new strings (I bought my guitar back in 1990 at a pawn shop, not knowing a damned thing about guitars...still don't know all that much about them, but I'm now making an effort to learn).  That's the thing about this game:  it would be nice if it talked about such things.  Or maybe I could just use Google to search for those answers in my spare time (that's typically what most budding hobbyists might do anyways).

There are several games within the game.  They're designed to hone your skills and get you familiar with your guitar and guitar techniques.  The mini-games tutor you in techniques such as hammering and if it detects you're having issues with the technique, it will show you a video snippet of someone actually playing as an example.  It'll keep trying to help you (and not advance on the tutorial screen) until you've gotten through the exercise.

There's another tutorial mode where you follow along in playing songs.  The tutorial explains techniques before the song begins.  Once the song begins, it can't be slowed or stopped, though.  During the song, the virtual tutor will start out with basic techniques that will slowly begin to get more complicated.  You might start with one note per measure or one every 5 measures, then end up with several per measure.  It is quite stimulating.  Once done with the song, the tutor plays back your session to you (audibly and visually), where you can opt to skip it or listen and learn from your mistakes.

I had intended to only try a few minutes of the game but ended up playing for 2 hours, to the point where my fingertips were hurting (and still are -- waiting for the calluses to kick in!).

The game is FUN and it feels like I've actually absorbed some guitar knowledge, instead of actually forgetting it or giving up after 30 minutes of trying to learn.  It makes you want to keep trying.  In my opinion, this is a decent way to get people immersed into learning at least some aspects of playing guitar.

If my oldest daughter sees this game, her and I might be fighting for play time.

I can see spending more money on the 2014 version.

Xbox One

So, I bought an Xbox One.  I'd promised myself that I wouldn't buy one, but I say that every console generation, no matter the platform.  I held out pretty well, this time, though.  Why'd I buy one?  I got tired of missing out on the recent Forza games.  I've Forza Horizon 2 for the Xbox 360 and there's NO DLC content for it.  And, there's no Forza 5 for the Xbox 360...only the Xbox One.

So, I bought an Xbox One for Forza 5 and Horizon 2.  My thoughts so far:

1.  There's hardly any DLC support for Forza 5.  I'm not sure about Horizon 2 DLC support, though.
2.  There's barely any racing wheels for the Xbox One.  I believe there are two and one in development to be released to the public soon.
3.  Two of the three wheels are $299, while there's one that's $99.  The $99 wheel lacks FFB and manual shifting with clutch (this is the Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider wheel).
4.  Forza 5 is nowhere near as robust as Forza 4.  There aren't as many cars included in Forza 5 and Forza 4 surely has better DLC support.

There's no wheel maker that's making cross-platform wheels (ie, wheels that can be used acrosss both the PS4 and XBO systems, although they have PC/PS4 or PC/XBO wheels).

As well, controllers, games, and Kinects are non-compatible between the Xbox 360 and Xbox One.  Really??  This is the type of crap that'll drive me to PC gaming exclusively.  If I wanted to play co-op games in my own house, I'd have to by another controller or two, and they're not cheap.  I also decided to pass on buying the Kinect for the Xbox One, since I figured I'd be able to use the 1st gen Kinect that I have...well, nope, they made it incompatible with the Xbox One.

When I bought the Xbox One, I'd thought about trading in my Xbox 360 for trade-in credits to go toward my Xbox One purchase.  That would've made all my Xbox 360 games unusable and I'd have had to sell/trade them.  I opted to keep the Xbox 360 so that I could still play my older Forza and Project Gotham racing games.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to stop investing in console gaming.  I shouldn't have to spend $800 to buy a new console, a game, and a wheel, only to see the hardware and games become obsolete every 4 or so years.  Competitive racing via console used to be fun, but MS and Sony aren't playing nice with their customers.

Lollipop!

So, both of my phones (work and personal) got upgraded (OEM -- I don't root or try various ROMs on my phones...I need them to be dependable and as stock as possible) to Android 5.0 within the last seven days.

There are distinct differences in the UI between them, with the work phone being an HTC One M8 and the personal phone being a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (both Verizon phones).

I was underwhelmed with the One, but I also don't usually tinker with it since it's the work phone, so I can't really notice the new changes since I wasn't really familiar with the old options and features.

With the Note 3, there's a slew of UI changes, but I don't see much difference in the system options/configuration.  I've not yet noticed things such as excessive battery usage or bad phone reception.  I did notice that I had to re-enable some of the features I had selected prior to the Lollipop upgrade.  I also noticed an easter egg.  If you go to Settings/General/About Phone, click "Android version" multiple times, click the lollipop multiple times, then click/hold, you'll see a version of the Flappy Bird game and be able to play it!  There are some new features in the Security settings, too, like reactivation lock, "Send security reports" and "Security policy updates."

I'll report any anomalies or good stuff I discover.


UPDATE:  And I saw this article today, showing how much of a dramatic difference each Android 5.0 experience is per device.  It's good to know I wasn't the only one that noticed this.  A snippet:

This dive into Lollipop revealed something very clear to me: Manufactures are, in fact, doing Android no favors. I've already posted my take on bloatware, and I stand firm on that with Lollipop. But even minus what most would consider bloatware, manufacturers are robbing consumers of the true Android experience, and Lollipop is a perfect example of that.

Anyone who experiences the jump from KitKat to Lollipop should get the platform I had on the Nexus, rather than the HTC M8. After the very long wait for the Lollipop upgrade, some users are going to be disappointed--not because of what Google has done (because what Google has done is brilliant), but because of what the manufacturers have done to the latest iteration of Android.

I agree.

Canon Printer - Networking PITA

Over the summer, I bought a Canon MG 6420 all-in-one printer/scanner system.  It's been great.  It has wireless capability so that anyone in the house that's connected to the network can use it.

Well, the kids have been complaining that sometimes it won't print.  I've also experienced it several times first-hand.

I was trying to print a Walmart product web entry so that I could dispute the price at a local store.  The printer wouldn't print...I spent 10 minutes trying to troubleshoot before I ran out of time.  An hour later, when I returned from the store, the document was printed and waiting for me.

What error was the printer generating?  "Couldn't connect to printer".

One day, I spent a good amount of time trying to determine what was going on.  I found out that the printer was configuring itself to use the 192.168.2.0 subnet.  My home network uses the 192.168.1.0 subnet.  I've no idea why it tries to go to 192.168.2.  When I tried to manually configure the subnet information to 192.168.1, network connectivity is never established (can't ping the device, from the gateway router).

So, I just set it up to use a USB connection with our main home computer as a workaround.  This means we can't print from anywhere in the house.

As much as I've grown to hate HP inkjets, this has never happened to me when using that brand of printer/scanner.  The biggest issue I've had with HP is that the damned ink cartridges sometimes don't work (even new ones straight from the box).  The problem with this Canon is mild in comparison...at least I can still use the printer -- I couldn't do that with the HP and had to chuck it.

In researching if someone else has experienced this issue, I've not seen any complaints, but maybe the words I'm using to search the issue aren't the best...it's difficult to search against without having to slog through thousands of hits.  So, I thought I'd post about it to see if I eventually get an e-mail from someone confirming that it's a widespread issue (and maybe them supplying a solution).

I haven't reached out to Canon for support (yet).

Busy Few Weeks With Technology!

What have I been up to?  I've not been idle, that's for sure.

A few weeks ago, my work Blackberry started acting up.  I was happy enough with it, as I don't really need smartphone tech to answer calls, run conference bridges, and send e-mails or reply to them.  I actually had a phone upgrade awaiting me the last 8 months, so I decided to use it.  What'd I get to replace the BB?  I got an HTC One M8.  I already had a taste of the M8, as my daughter has one.

How's the M8?  It's a great phone!  It's overkill for what I need, though, but I'm not going to complain.  I love the included headphones and they work far better when I'm on conference calls.  I have to use the Good Enterprise client on it, though.  I didn't have to do that with the BB.  The Good Enterprise client isn't bad, but I'm surprised there's no native Enterprise tools for HTC phones (in fact, it's like this for all Android phone if you're working for my company).  iPhones aren't using the Good client.  It's kinda strange.

Anyways, I wanted to be able to play with the M8 when I'm not working, and since the Good client segregates the phone into business and personal sections, I can probably get away with taking personal photos with the phone.  I bought two 64-GB Sandisk Ultra Plus Micro SDXC cards, one for the M8 and one for my Samsung Note 3.  Both phone accept this card without issue, although my laptop didn't like the card at all (due to old drivers, which I updated).  This card uses exFAT (be aware of that, especially if you're using it with devices that may not support exFAT, such as some action cameras).

Speaking of action cameras, I bought a Mobuis action camera.  I wanted something smaller than the GoPro series of cameras that also had good features.  This camera takes good footage...just as good as the GoPro Hero 2 I currently have.  I also got a ton of accessories with the Mobius.  The Mobius doesn't have a view screen, so you have to be sure you've framed it properly.  It also doesn't have wireless capability, so you can't use it like you can the GoPro wifi backpack.  Sound is great with this camera, but the reason I noticed that is because the Mobius doesn't come with a waterproof case (hence the sound isn't muffled and is quite clear).  The kit comes with a small suction cup mount that I attached to my car's dome light...the vantage point was great...I was not able to do this with my GoPro and Gecko suction cup mounts because the suction cup is too large for the dome light.  A con of the Mobius is, while it doesn't have a non-removable battery, it is not designed to quickly swap out.  You can open the Mobius case to remove the battery, but there's no battery port to swap out batteries like the GoPro and Astak.

On the PC front, I went through my house and removed all the RAM and hard drives from the old laptops and gaming systems I no longer plan to use.  I came up with two wifi cards, 2 sets of RAM (2.5GB worth) and 5-6 2.5" hard disks, the largest being 250GB and the smallest being 20GB.  I installed three of the larger 2.5" disks into a Linux system to see if they would work (they are SATA drives)...they did, although one had partition table issues that I'm trying to sort out (been repairing the table the last 3 days).  I suppose I can revisit those laptops I scavenged and also remove their CPUs as well.  At least one of them has a removable CPU.  I might be able to determine if they're desktop CPUs, and if so, I might be able to use them to upgrade my older servers.

Unhappy Customer: Comcast Told My Employer About Complaint, Got Me Fired

http://consumerist.com/2014/10/06/unhappy-customer-comcast-told-my-employer-about-complaint-got-me-fired/

Ugh...this story is tragic.

I hate Comcast.

We used Comcast a few times before FIOS became dominant, at different locations within Virginia.  The service was good enough (this was between 2004 and 2010).  There were no service interruptions and the bandwidth was adequate.  There was no equipment or billing issues.

So, why do I hate them?  It seems that they receive far more negative news coverage than even Verizon.  Verizon definitely has customer service issues...I'm not going to even argue that they don't, but Verizon doesn't have the level of negative press coverage that Comcast does.  The problem is, the Comcast leadership seems to welcome strong-arming their customers and then dragging them through the mud afterward with such press coverage.  If the Comcast leadership want to get in front of the negativity, they need to retrain their staff and fire anyone that is involved with such activity.  Some of these stories can be refuted, but there have been several stories where the complainers actually recorded their interactions with Comcast, and it's difficult to argue against such evidence.

I've a problem with this story in particular.  Several commenters state that this was the customer's fault.  No.  It was both the employer's fault for taking Comcast's word as gospel AND Comcast's fault for calling the employer.  What's funny is that, when asked if it is standard practice for Comcast to contact customer employers, Comcast didn't provide a straight answer.  And while most states are "at-will", where companies can fire their employers without reason at any time, there should generally be a reason offered when terminated in the fashion that this Comcast employer was let go.  If I were this guy, I'd lawyer up and go after both Comcast and his employer.  Apparently, he was let go due to ethical reasons.  For such accusations (that can damage a person's reputation and hinder future job searches), a reason is definitely needed, and all evidence should be offered.  The employer never provided a copy of what was sent to them by Comcast.  Comcast didn't specify what was discussed.

Now, every company has its bad elements, but the Comcast leadership appears to be playing games with people and when journalists ask the right questions, Comcast offers blunt but insufficient answers.  At some point, they're going to get seriously burned.  I seriously hope this customer legally hunts them down (he still has to deal with those billing and service issues, too).

The next time I see a Comcast sales rep on my door step asking me to switch to Comcast, I'm going to try to discuss this article with him...maybe it'll make him leave my door step quicker.

Wordpress Woes

I did a dumb thing last week.

I'd been holding back on upgrading my Ubuntu server to 14.04...for good reason:  I was running software versions that weren't compatible with my version of Ubuntu.

Well, I upgraded anyways (after months of holding off).  It broke my web server and also reverted my Wordpress site back a few versions (3.8.x or something like that...I'd been running version 4.0).

That was this past Saturday.  Today is Tuesday afternoon and I'm almost finished restoring the site.

Things that broke:

Wordpress
PSAD
Apache

I'm going to specifically speak to Wordpress now.

This was actually an Apache/Wordpress combination issue.  I believe the version that Apache was upgraded to was 2.4.x.  It changed the default webserver location from /var/www to /var/www/html, which broke a LOT of my content.  The fix was easy:  I moved everything from /var/www to /var/www/html, ensuring the file and directory permissions didn't change.

Then, I found a multitude of issues with my Wordpress site's content:

1. All image links broke, meaning they wouldn't render, even after moving content to /var/www/html (but I could upload new pictures without issue -- and they'd render).
2. I couldn't perform upgrades to v4.0 via the GUI.
3. I couldn't install new plugins.
4. I couldn't install templates.

First thing I did was upgrade (manually, via CLI) to v4.0.  That cleared up some issues.

Next, I worked on trying to get the plugins to work.  I couldn't install new plugins.  I also couldn't update old plugins to new versions.  The error I would get was, "Unable to locate Wordpress content directory".  I'd also get "Unable to locate Wordpress plugin directory".  What I did was download (via web browser) the "third party host fix" plugin.  I loaded it to my Ubuntu server via SCP.  I then unzipped it, and moved the uncompressed directory to the plugins folder.  It still wouldn't work.  I found that a symlink was missing from /var/lib/wordpress/wp-content/plugins, so I created a new one:

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 60 Sep 30 19:48 third-party-host-fix -> /usr/share/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/third-party-host-fix

That's linked to /usr/share/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/third-party-host-fix...that also the directory where the actual plugin content is located.

After I did that, I was able to see the plugin in the UI.  I activated it successfully.  I then tried to update a plugin...I got a different error:  "Wordpress could not create directory".  Ugh...

I found the solution on how to fix that issue at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WordPress.  I went to /usr/share/wordpress/wp-config.php and edited the following:

Changed:

define('WP_CONTENT_DIR', '/var/lib/wordpress/wp-content');

to read:

define('WP_CONTENT_DIR', '/var/www/wordpress/wp-content');

That fixed the issues of installing or updating templates and plugins.

The only issue I need to resolve now is the image rendering issue, but I think I'll just reload all the images, one at a time (there aren't all that many, I believe).

This was a horrible experience but the benefit was that it got me to delve and fix the issue (vs. just wiping everything and reinstalling the whole distribution).

UPDATE:

New issues --

1. Can't remove plugins.  Error message:  "Plugin could not be deleted due to an error: Unable to locate WordPress Plugin directory."
2. Using Photo Gallery plugin - galleries will render but the images will not show within the gallery UI.  I also can't seem to view the images via browser...may be another incorrect coding issue or even a permissions issue.

UPDATE 2:

1. I've fixed the issue with the Photo Gallery plugin.  I basically dumped the picture back in the directory where the plugin was looking for them (/usr/share/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery).  I hate how hodge-podge this is...crap is everywhere without standardization, but I'm to the point where I just want the site functional again.  I just hope things don't break when I next upgrade Wordpress.
2. I'll look into the "can't remove plugins" issue tomorrow.

California Law Now Requires All Smartphones to Have Built-In Kill Switches By July 2015 - Mac Rumors

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/08/25/california-kill-switch-law/

I'm glad this is happening!  I'm hoping that this is adopted by the other states (or that there's a federal version of this law).  There are many non-U.S. countries that have laws that protect their citizens' privacy (a stolen phone will put your private information at risk).  The U.S. always falls behind the curve where citizen privacy is concerned, it seems.

As you know, my wife lost track of her phone and someone stole it.  I'm not sure if the phone's deactivation signal was ever applied (the phone was powered down by the thief before I could have the carrier deactivate the phone...the carrier never got an indication that the phone was ever powered back up...I deactivated it so that when the phone came back online, it would receive the deactivation signal but the phone never came back online).  In addition to the fact that someone stole a $500 (retail) phone, we had private data spillage to worry about.  Also, there were complications on getting a new replacement phone.  We learned some valuable lessons, but still, a stolen phone is no joke and can put you at risk for not only stolen private data, but people could possibly use the information on your phone to open lines of credit.  That's not good.

I'll be awaiting to see how this pans out for the nation.

Smartphones - Maxing Out Your Storage Capacity?

Maxing Out Your Storage Capacity?  This article can help you regain storage space.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/08/01/no-more-storage-space-on-your-phone-heres-what-you-should-trash-first/

I skimmed over the article.  It appears sound as far as what it recommends.  It speaks in a way that people should understand, no matter what brand of phone you're using (it has screenshots of both Android and Apple smartphones).

Do I need this?  No.  I already know how to free up space when I've reached the storage limits (I usually back up everything on my SD card onto my PC, then place it on a dedicated storage drive).  But I'm sure this will be able to help people like my mother or wife or daughters.

Enjoy!

How's the Note 3 holding up? Other stuff as well!

Well, I'm happy to say that my Note 3 experience has been pretty good, so far.  About the only thing I've noticed that I don't like so far is the bloatware that comes with the phone and the fact that Samsung did away with the facial recognition lock screen configuration (not that that's a huge deal, given that this option isn't the most secure unlocking mechanism, but none are 100% secure...as well, facial recognition is two-factor; the face and a PIN are used to unlock the phone).

Also, I was hoping to see that Find My Mobile was actually functional for US phones...sadly, it is not, just like the Note 2.  Yes, there are tons of apps out there that can assist in finding your lost/stolen mobile, but the Samsung solution is free, native to the Galaxy phones, and offers a crap-load more features (for free) than any other free solution you can find on the Play Store.  That being said, I'm now using Prey, which I was using with my Thunderbolt (and laptops).  That's the only free solution that I've found offers near the same amount of features as Find My Mobile.  Another thing:  I've a Norton AV subscription (it includes three licenses).  It isn't cheap at all, IMO.  Well, they offer a mobile app with AV/lock/lost features...it's not included in the price of the PC solution, although they sure as hell market it within the PC solution's GUI (that's how I knew about it).  That's extremely annoying, but it was probably something I didn't need, either...a true AV solution would hog system resources and I'm only looking for something to with features to use in finding lost or stolen phones.

I'm growing used to the Otter Defender case.  The built-in screen protector still doesn't sit well with me, but I've found that if I'm quick with the stylus, it isn't as intrusive to the stylus experience.

I've taken some pretty good pictures with the Note 3 so far and have even doe some video of my son's MMA exams (I captured some slow-mo footage of moving nunchaku).  The video settings layouts are a bit confusing to navigate.

The Note 3 really doesn't have all that much more to offer than the Note 2, IMO.  The only drastic difference are the video settings...there are some seriously high offerings if you want to capture good video.  Is that worth an upgrade from a Note 2?  It depends on how much of a video nut you are (not everyone cares about having the latest specs as far as video capturing is concerned).

Another thing:  I spent a ton of time in creating several themes using the Next launcher on my Note 2.  I lost those when I went to the Note 3.  I ran a back-up but the Next developer should have it backed up to SD card as well (and have the name and location of the backup noted somewhere within the configuration).

I also got my oldest kid an HTC One M8 (she had an iPhone but wanted to go Android).  She loves it.  It is a beautiful phone...I couldn't stop telling her and the store consultant that.  The only thing I didn't like about that phone is that the battery is not removable.  I'm not sure about the 4 Ultra Pixel camera...it's more marketing than anything, and I'm pretty sure it's not going to out-shoot my Note 3.  I love the Sense UI, as well.  I have not played with it all that much since I got it for my daughter, but one evening I'll have her unlock it so that I can play with it a bit.

I've still been wondering about the LG G3 (and even the G2).  I was actually considering the G2 when I was trying to decide which phones to consider.  It's cons were:  non-removable battery and no SD slot.  The G2 is also a free phone (as a contract phone)...I have no idea how much they're charging for it as an Edge upgrade.  The G2 has the same hardware as an S4...it's VERY fresh as far as hardware is concerned.  I think most people couldn't stomach the volume and power buttons layout, which is why it's a free contract phone with Verizon.  I might even consider seeing if I can buy an unlocked G2 as a spare phone (they shouldn't cost too much on Craigslist or eBay).

The G3 is due to be released this summer (it's already been debuted).  I'm predicting mid-July as a Verizon release date.  I'm on the Vz notification list so that I'll know when they decide to sell it.  I want to check it out.  It may well replace my Note 3 (and soon).  I'd have to pay at least 50% of my Note 3 before I can  "edge up", though.  The G3 is a great phone and will be running a ground-breaking display.  It'll be using the SnapDragon 801 series CPU in the US.  It has a removable battery and a micro-SD slot that'll take 128GB cards. (!!)  It's almost as big as a Note 3.  While it doesn't have a stylus, I rarely use the Note's stylus anyways.

Edged Up...Also Got the Note 3!

So, my daughter's 13th birthday was yesterday.  The wife and I got her an iPhone 5S (which is what she wanted).  While we were at the Verizon store, I was told that I was eligible for the Edge program (I will not explain Edge here...most Vz customers will know what Edge is).  I was curious, as I'm tired of always being locked to a phone for 2 years, so I had the Vz shop explain everything to me.  I believe the Edge program would benefit people who like to upgrade ahead of 2 years.  So, I went home and did some thinking.  I'm aware that the Note 4 will eventually be out...I always miss these releases.  I almost decided to wait until my contract with my Note 2 ended (that wouldn't have been a bad idea, either).  I did some research online and it was very difficult for me to decide which phone I'd like to upgrade to, because the Note 2 is THAT good...seriously.

There were two other phones that caught my eye that I could get through Verizon:  The HTC One Max and the LG G2.  The thing I didn't like about the Max was that it is just a big HTC One M8.  It is also extremely large at 5.9" in display area...that might've been too much for me.  Those cons weren't the kickers, though.  The kicker was that the back camera was 4MP (really???)  And a phone that big (I hate the word phablet, so I won't be using that term) needs a stylus.  The LG G2 looks like it would've held my interest...it has LOTS of features and the phone appears to be more responsive than the Galaxy S4 (probably due to Samsung's Touchwiz bloat).  The Note 3 is better than both of them, although I was willing to compromise (but only to an extent).

I ended up getting the Note 3.  I might've been happy enough with the HTC One Max, but I would not have been happy with that camera.  I came close to getting the G2, though.  What lured me toward the Note 3 was the fact that I was already familiar with the Note 2, which would help me when using the Note 3.  Also, the phone on the Note 3 is spectacular and has slow-motion (120fps) capture and 1080p 60fps capture as well.  The charging/syncing port is different, too (using USB 3.0 now and has a funky new port that can still use a regular micro-USB cable to sync).

I got the black version and got an Otter Defender case (will have to sell the Note 2 Otter Commuter case that I have).  I sorely missed the belt clip, which the Commuter case doesn't use, but I could never find a Defender case for my Note 2 in local shops.  One thing I don't like about the Defender is that built-in screen protector...my stylus doesn't like it at all, so I've been using my finger when texting.  I was tempted to cut out the plastic, but I'll try using it for a few weeks instead of being hasty.  Another thing:  I got my daughter a Lifeproof case for her phone...that damn thing was expensive, but I wanted no excuses that she got it wet or broke it.  I wanted to get one for my new phone, but apparently they aren't making them for the Note 3.  That's OK, though, because it doesn't have a belt clip.

For some reason, migrating my data to the new phone took forever, but I've been using the Note 2 heavily the last year, so there was much more data that had to be pushed to the new phone.  As well, I was never near wifi for it to complete the syncing (was shopping after I got the new phone).

My next purchase will be a larger microSD card (64GB).  I ran upon the limit of my 32GB microSD card several times the last 12 months.  I might also look into another battery, because I'm using a Pebble smartwatch now and I have to keep BT on for it to work with my phone...my phone is sucking down battery power bigtime.  I 'm lucky if I can get 10 hours of usage out of it.  If I don't touch the phone, battery life is fine, though.

There was also an Android update waiting for me when I got my hands on the phone (v4.4.3).

Other than getting all my apps installed on the new phone, I've not played with it yet.  I still need to get the Next launcher running again (will have to customize a new theme).

I'll post up any new findings I discover/experience.

New Title & URL Assigned to this Blog

I should've done this a long time ago.  I've always tried to mesh general tech in this blog but the original make-up of this site was always of an Apple/Mac orientation.

Without further ado, the new name of the blog is All Things Tech.  The new URL is technology2have.blogspot.com (everything else I tried was taken already, but I suppose I could've leveraged the domain space I currently own).

The content of continue to revolve around general technology...I've no plans to change anything else about the blog.

Pebble Smartwatch

Yes, I got a Pebble.  Eventually, I'll get a Pebble Steel, too (or get a nice metal band to imitate one).

A review video is below:




 What I like about it:

• It vibrates when e-mails and texts are received (I can read them, although long e-mails are truncated).
• I can shake or tap it as an added functionality (for example, when I want to see battery status on the StudioClock app that I'm using, I tap or shake the watch).
• I like the magnetized charger.
• I get get a week out of a charge! (added 10/13/2014)
• I can use it to control my phone when I'm running/exercising. (added 10/13/2014)

What I dislike about it:

• I don't like the magnetized charger (because it is proprietary...I hate proprietary cables...this may as well be an Apple product).
• I hear that it isn't as scratch resistant as it should be (I'm hoping that I can find a screen-like protector for this watch).  Added 10/13/2014 - I also tried to use a screen protector...that was a waste of time.

As I use the watch, I'll continue to make note of the good/bad things about the watch, as well as the apps.

EDIT:  Found a steel watchband here...this one had decent but not outstanding reviews, but the search for a steel band now looks promising.  There's also tons of screen protectors, too.

Post Install - Samsung 840 EVO SSD

SSD and OS reinstall notes

1.  Installation of SSD hardware was easy (I followed the instructions of a YouTube video on my iPad while installing the SSD).

2. I found that I could NOT use my restore image that I created when I first received the laptop.  Apparently, it will not install onto the SSD because my image is bigger than the drive itself?  The image is stored on an 8GB USB drive, but throws an error every time I try to use it to install the backed up factory install onto the SSD.  I used AlienRespawn to create it (but never tested it).  I used the factory restore CD that came with the R3 instead (very slow process compared to installing from a USB drive).

3.  I had an issue getting the SSD drive to show in the Windows drive install option section of the OS install.  I installed the SSD in the Drive 1 slot, but initially it wasn’t showing at all.  I went into the BIOS and switched the drive setup from RAID to AHCI, then tried again and the SSD drive showed as Drive #1.

4.  Later, after the install finished, I installed the SSD management software.  I followed it’s optimization instructions and saw that it stated that the drive setup should be set to RAID.  When I set it back to RAID, the install would no longer boot up.  I even tried letting Windows repair it, but it could not fix the issue.  Granted, there’s a BIOS prompt when you attempt to switch between the two settings...it states that switching could make the system not boot back up.  Next time, I won’t follow Samsung’s recommendations, at least regarding this setting.  I’m reinstalling Windows 7 again as I type this.

5.  I noticed that with a fresh install of Windows 7, none of the damned network devices work...at all.  It looks like I might have to download them onto a USB drive from another system to get them installed onto the R3.  [This was actually rather easy to fix.  I just went to Dell’s site (they have a list of M17x software, listed by revision #, that listed the specific driver I needed for the ethernet hardware)...I downloaded it to a spare USB drive, transferred it to the R3, then installed it...I instantly had internet access.]

6.  I’m using the following URL for instructions (other FAQs and help guides for the R3 did not work):  http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-17-m17x/562751-m17xr3-clean-install-ssd-instructions-recommendations.html  

This is the first one that worked.

7.  In hindsight, I could’ve bought Window 8.1 from Microcenter for $100 (but I was trying to cut costs). I do have a license for Windows 8 (and 8.1 was/is a free upgrade if you've v8 already), but I'd have had to download Win 8 again and I didn't want to spend any more time downloading, as I spent a great bit of time downloading all the damned security updates/patches for Win 7.

Some URLs of interest with this install:

• http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/04/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&docid=536193
• http://www.qca.qualcomm.com/resources/driverdownloads/
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/330-system-protection-turn-off.html

Bought a Samsung 840 EVO For My Laptop!

So, I've always wanted to install an SSD drive in one of my gaming rigs. Initially I wanted to install it on my main desktop gaming rig, but that system hasn't been stable in awhile and I've been almost totally reliant on my Alienware gaming laptop, so I decided to focus on using an SSD in that instead. Part of the problem is that the laptop is using 2 x 750GB Seagate drives in RAID0. No, it is not fast, but I have a crap ton of drive space. I did not want to lose any of that space, so in order for me to have an SSD, I'd have to go big. As well, the M17x R3 has issues with SSDs on drive 0 (of 0 and 1)...they had to nix the speed (so no 6GB/s with this drive in this system). I can go SSD on both drive slots if I wanted and even set them up in RAID0, but I wouldn't be able use SATA 3, only SATA 2. Dell has disabled SATA 3 in all BIOS versions over A08 for this system, also (I'm at A09...it's been like that since I bought it...I've had no reason to update to a higher version). So, I bought 1 x 750GB Samsung 840 EVO. I will break my RAID0 setup and replace the drive in slot 1 with the SSD (and I'll have an extra 750GB drive just sitting around, I guess...I can always throw it into one of my other laptops). I'll use the SSD for my games (BF4 and Arma 3, amongst others), and use the other drive as my data/archive drive. For now, I can live with bandwidth limitation. I can always reuse this drive if I decided to upgrade to an R4 or R5 later on. I'll post my OS reinstall experience a bit later.

Still Active

This blog is still active.  We'll, it isn't but as long as I still have Macs, I'll keep the site up and running.

I've not been using the iMac all that much. I take that back.  I use do use it, but mainly for crunching video and movies that I capture from my phone, my GoPro, and my Emerson Action Cam.  iMovie does some things that Movie Maker doesn't.  iMovie also tends to be more intuitive.  Other than that, the only action the iMac sees is in playing Minecraft (my kids).

My MacBook is barely being used (I do occasionally use it for web browsing while in bed).  My Macbook is no longer supported (it is a 1g).  I suppose I could swap out the battery with the wife's (my wife's is a 2g and is still supported - but her battery stopped working) and use hers.  Or I can throw Linux on it.

I don't think I'm every going to buy another Apple.  I love the idea and the simplicity of basic operations, but when complicated issues arise, sometimes even the basic things are no longer simple.  As well, I tire of trying to ensure the computers are supported.

But, I should document how to get my music from a backup of my iPad Mini to my Samsung Galaxy Note 2.  I've been trying to do that for a very long time.  Like a fool, when I installed Windows 8 on my Alienware, I forgot to back up my iTunes stuff (music and such).  Now, I can get most of it back via iCloud and via wireless and iTunes, but I'm having a problem getting my music reinstalled that I *didn't* purchase via iTunes.  It's a PITA (similar to the issue I had back in 2008 where I dropped and broke my iPhone...got a new iPhone but had a very difficult time getting my music onto the new phone).

Phones and Screen Protectors

So, I saw a Google+ post today regarding screen protectors (someone bought one for their Note 2).

I've used screen protection on my phone but I really think it is overkill, unless your phone spends lots of time in your pocket with your keys and spare change.  As well, they are difficult to install and can sometimes interfere with the usage experience, especially if you're using a stylus (as with the Note 2).

Some people think that screen protectors, which are small pieces of plastic, keeps your screen from being shattered from face-down drops.  Generally, that's not the case, although there are several screen protectors that are marketing just that (such as the Amzer ShatterProof screen protector).

Here's a good link of a group of people discussing general protectors vs. shatter-proof protectors.  I homed in on this, specifically:

a good screen protector will hold your glass in place after its shattered, but wont stop it from shattering. 

most screen protectors do not cover the whole screen, they leave the edges exposed. when you drop your phone, its 90% likely to land on a corner first, so you'd need to reinforce the corners to minimise vibrations and the resultant damage in the case of a drop.

Now, I've used a protector twice in the past but I've never kept them on for more than a few days.  As well, I've NEVER had any of my phones' or PDAs' screens being scratched, but then again:

• I never put my phones in my pockets with keys or change (I never put phones in my pockets if pockets are empty, either). 
• I always use a belt holster.
• I do not put my phones face down on any surfaces.

I've shattered screens before (with and without protectors).  I don't believe in YouTube videos testing this aspect of phones, because I don't think most people on YouTube are qualified enough to proficiently test/measure this aspect of phones.  I've seen quite a bit of people thinking that general screen protectors will prevent shattering in face-down drops. No.  Just like with any other glass, a plastic covering will only prevent the glass from flinging everywhere.  Just because you see it on the internet doesn't mean it's true.

I'm now going to show some back-and-forth arguments on this topic, from a reference (it may be better to go to the actual link, because the blogger.com keeps altering my formatting):

 Originally Posted by ice456789 

The hair-width screen protector won't make a difference in a drop or a fall. If you had that screen protector on and you dropped your phone and it didn't crack, that means it wouldn't have cracked if you didn't have the screen protector. The only thing a protector can do in this case is mitigate the damage. It would maybe help (debatable how much it would help) a small crack from becoming a large crack but other than that it does nothing from to save you from an impact. It takes a large amount of force of impact to cause the reinforced glass in your phone to crack; that much force will not be mitigated by a less-than 1mm flexible plastic film enough to make a real difference. That's like expecting rubber soled shoes to save you from lightning if you decide to play golf during a thunderstorm.

What they ARE useful for is keeping the screen scratch free. Sand in your pocket or on your hands can scratch the phone. Also some protectors make it easier to clean oils from your fingers off the screen or make those oils less visible. Finally, some provide interesting effects like privacy or a mirror finish. So in those ways they can provide protection but unfortunately they do not offer any impact protection.

 Originally Posted by Liderc 

Check your windshield the next time you get in a car accident that breaks it, that 1mm film in between it saves lives. I don't think you can say for certain whether a screen protector helps absorb impact or not, I can definitely say it doesn't hurt it.

1) The plastic in a screen protector is nothing like what is used in windshields.

2) The film in windshields does not prevent the window from breaking, it just prevents the pieces from flying everywhere. It does nothing at all for absorbing impact energy. If it did, our soldiers would be wearing a 1 mm piece of plastic instead of a 20lb flak jacket. I really wish that was the case.

 Originally Posted by ice456789 

1) The plastic in a screen protector is nothing like what is used in windshields.

2) The film in windshields does not prevent the window from breaking, it just prevents the pieces from flying everywhere. It does nothing at all for absorbing impact energy. If it did, our soldiers would be wearing a 1 mm piece of plastic instead of a 20lb flak jacket. I really wish that was the case.

You are exactly right. I work in the auto industry, the film is an anti-shatter device. Just keeps the glass from spraying the driver and passenger in the event the glass breaks. The glass the auto industry uses is something else though. It is extremely hard to break. We've had to bust driver side windows out with ball-peen hammers its extremely hard to do, dont even try windshields. The object has got to be sharp for a quick puncture. Auto glass is extremely resilient. The downside is it scratches very very easy. 

When it comes down to it, its all just physics. Just like working with steel. Higher Rockwell Hardness means its moredurable and scratch resistant, but becomes more brittle. I dont believe there is a wonder glass the does the best of all. Just gotta pick whats right for you.

 Originally Posted by ice456789 

1) The plastic in a screen protector is nothing like what is used in windshields.

2) The film in windshields does not prevent the window from breaking, it just prevents the pieces from flying everywhere. It does nothing at all for absorbing impact energy. If it did, our soldiers would be wearing a 1 mm piece of plastic instead of a 20lb flak jacket. I really wish that was the case.

So take this for what it's worth, but I called my father who's a mechanical engineer for Ford. I asked him what material they use in windshields to prevent them from crumbling during a shatter/crack, he said "it's similar to the films you would use on your phone or tablet."
I didn't even tell him why I was asking about it, he just threw that at me. 
As I said, I think you'd be surprised if there were tests done to show how much a "thin piece of plastic" helps absorbing an impact.
There's also a bit of a difference between absorbing a bullet and absorbing a fall to a hard surface from 3-5'' feet, your analogy is flawed.
The fact remains you have no proof proving that it doesn't help, while it's common knowledge that plastics are often used to absorb impact, whether they are thin or thick.

Last interesting post in that thread:

I think I just had a brain aneurysm reading the responses about screen protectors providing shatter protection to the screen. Unless you are using a screen protector that's a couple millimeters thick, you won't be getting any appreciable amount of energy dissipation within the screen protector on impact. These things are maybe 100 micrometers at best in thickness. I don't care what it's made of, its not saving your screen.

Now here's a good screen protector.  It seems similar to the Amzer ShatterProof.  People have to realize that these are not general screen protectors.  These protectors are designed with high ballistics in mind (high in the sense of objects or phones being thrown/dropped or purposely damaged).  Just because several screen savers are exceedingly capable in protecting screens doesn't mean they all have the same capability.  They aren't created equally.

Last reference post on this topic:

In order for a screen protector to prevent a crack, it would have to be designed so that it would distribute the pressure across the screen. With screen protectors like IS and PhantomSkinz, etc, this is not possible. These protectors aren't designed to distribute pressure, but instead to prevent scratches to the screen. Now if he was using a hard plastic cover on his screen then that would be a different story, as the thickness of such item would aid the resonant forces outward instead of inward. If you are using a thin screen protector, it wouldn't have the capacity to handle the forces, therefore the resonant forces concentrate at the sight of impact, creating a fracture for the force to escape.

References:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=964454 - iPhone-specific

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1368848

http://www.droidforums.net/forum/galaxy-nexus-accessories/191335-do-we-really-need-screen-protector.html

http://forums.crackberry.com/blackberry-storm2-f145/screen-protectors-will-save-your-lcd-screen-being-cracked-399472/