From the S8+ to the S24+...

 ... Is a long way!

I mentioned needing to get a new phone - after almost 7 years and 3 months mileage on the old one. Talk about "ride it til the wheels fall off", I wish I had as a good a relationship with any person as I did with that phone!

My biggest concerns when looking for a new phone were the usual: cost and features. Well, I chose the S24+ and it's only adding around 20-some dollars to my phone bill for a while. However, 20 dollars to someone on my budget is more than it is to someone else...

Now that I actually have the new phone, I am having to learn how to use all the new Android features. A lot of things have developed over 7 years. My brother joked that I must feel like someone going from using a  horse and buggy to learning how to drive a stick shift. That's funny but kind of true.

Back in the old days, whenever I upgraded a phone, all I needed to do was insert the SIM card into the new phone and power down the old phone. That's changed. I had to actually go online and go through a deactivation-activation process.

Another thing that upsets me is that my poor old Gear S2 watch won't work with the new phone. It won't work with any 2024 device. So now I have no smart watch. That's not a big loss since I took it off my phone plan at least 4 years ago. Since then, I'd only been using it on the home wi-fi and for the Samsung Health features. I don't really have any other watch except one I got from one of my brothers but the battery on that died. 

My cellphone carrier was really annoying when I was buying the phone. I couldn't get to the check-out page until I'd gone through several "do-ya-wanna" pages. I was ready to scream as I skipped past the offers for adding another line, getting a deal on a smart watch, temptations of fancy phone cases and other accessories. I just wanted to get checked out and get the financial hit over with as quickly as possible.

I have to tell you that I was really tempted to go for the S24 Ultra - only because it has the S-pen and I haven't had a pen for my phone since my Note died... But I noped right past that more expensive phone and I'm pretty happy with the one I got. I'm still learning how to use some of the features, but I am happy with it. After all, I'm still going to need food and medicines every month more than I need a pen.

One of my online acquaintances ragged on me about picking the Cobalt Violet color over the Amber one they like so much. It really doesn't matter what color my phone is and it never has. When I get a phone, it immediately goes into a protective case and I never see the color of the phone again. I did pick out a case in a pretty shade of red. I'll be looking at the case from now on.

By the way, this is one phone that needs to be in a case. It's so slippery... 

Hilariously, when I first unboxed the phone, I was ready to make an irate call to someone in customer service. That's because when I thought the included cord had a defect. Both ends are USB-C type and it's called a "reversible" connection. I never saw that before and all my charging bricks are for cords with a different connection. My brother (when he got through making another horse-and-buggy joke about me) explained that this is the way things are now - "in modern times". So I had to order a brick for the "modern" cable.

Anyway, after I get up to speed with the phone, I have some iPhone humor to throw at my brother. 

When I want to really irritate him, I refer to iPhone users as "iPhonies". Yeah, he hates that one.

I will never tell my brother (and a nephew iPhoner) that, for 2 seconds, I thought about joining their cult this time. The price gave me pause and, really, I don't like change and going from Android to iPhone (or the opposite) is too much change for me.

Peace

--Free

So Glad I Cheaped Out on Electronic Accessories

I will never tire of bragging that I kept a cellphone intact for over 7 years - especially to my iPhone buddies. My next brag is going to be how I cheaped out on some accessories.

When I got the S8 Plus way back in the olden days, I also got a Gear watch as a "bonus freebie". The watch was not much of a freebie since in order to fully use it, I had to pay for a line. I did end up getting rid of the line after about a year and just used the thing with wi-fi. That watch still works but it won't work with any devices newer than 2023...

As I was trying to chose a phone this time, I was momentarily tempted to get the S8 Ultra instead of the S24 Plus - just because the Ultra comes with the S-Pen. I realized how silly a decision that would be. I loved having the S-Pen with the Galaxy Note - this was a really long time back - but while I did use it to take notes, I mostly used it to play games and to, well, just have the fancy pen. So silly.

Well, I did not get the Gear watch or the S-Pen. But I did get a watch and a stylus. All together, the two cost me under $35. Guess what? I love them both. I think I love my cheap smart watch more than the Gear. The stylus works as well as the S-Pen (for my needs) and I actually got a 3-pack with extra nibs. (Side note: the cheapest Gear watch is currently running about $350 for the watch and at least $7/month for the line.)

The watch is what I use the most. It does everything the Gear did and it works smoothly. I mainly use it to track my fitness, read messages, monitor sleep patterns - you know, snitch on myself to Big Brother.  It does keep me motivated to move more during the day. I am also going to be able to show my doctors how poor my sleeping routine is. I don't think they realize how bad my insomnia has gotten.

I love having a stylus (or 3) only because of all the freaky AI stuff that is on the new phones. I think I spent more time the first day playing with the AI drawing apps than I did using the phone for anything else. I'm such a child. (And, yes, I know that this whole cool AI thing is another stage in the boiling frog situation that will be our demise as citizens.)

Honestly, I am tempted to stand right outside a cellphone store to warn people against getting expensive watches and pens for their devices. Most phone accessories are "Gotcha" buys or temptation buys - especially when you get them from the service providers.

When I was checking out during the phone purchase and having to nope through all the teaser sales, I noticed how expensive everything was. An Otterbox case cost more that part of my monthly grocery budget. The extra chargers and cables and SD cards... All so ridiculously priced. The first thing I buy for a new phone is a case and the second thing is a screen protector. I got both for under $40

Going back and looking at the accessories from the service provider (and this is with their "special sale pricing"), the total for a phone case, 1 screen protector and 1 charging block (cable not included) is $98 (or $135 without the sale). 

I have not gotten everything I need yet (I will stagger the purchases for my budget!), but the total for:

• the case (I got it) with a sliding camera cover
• 2 charging blocks with 2 cables
• 3 multi-nib stylus' with additional nibs
• 2 screen protectors (from the IQ Shield brand I used with my last phone)

... that all comes to around $65. My brother gave me a charging block and the phone came with a cable so I don't have to sweat that for now.

Once I get everything I need for my phone, I am at the very least about $500 ahead of what my provider would have charged me. I'm already mad about having to pay off the phone in installments. The next time one of my credit cards makes an offer, I will be paying off my provider and making the payments to my card...

As always when I think about the cost of things, I come back to dear Katt Williams.

You have to laugh about it to keep from crying.

Cellphones are no longer optional. They are no longer something that people get just as a status symbol (well, I can't speak for my iPhone brothers and sisters!); they are a necessity. My phone is my connection to my family, doctors, creditors, etc. I can't even buzz visitors into our building without a phone.

I prefer a chunky look over a girly style

Even though I have to have a cellphone, I realize that I don't need the fanciest one. I don't need the cool watch or pricey earbuds or blinged out case. I need the phone and for everything else I want, I can cheap out. For instance, if I have to, I could replace the cheap watch at least 10 or 11 times for the cost of the Gear. And that's if I get a really decent budget watch... To be fair, if the watch lasts me at least a year, I will be happy.

I am really glad that I cheaped out on everything about my phone this time. Here's looking forward to another 7 or 8 years!

Peace

--Free

My S8 Plus Lasted (Almost) 8 Years

My S8 Plus is was a great  good one, and it was a big part of my life-change situation. I feel a bit attached to it(as I do with anything that cost me a good amount).

Back in 2017, when I left my almost-lifelong home of Alaska, my S8 died just as I was packing to go to the airport. One of the first things I did when I got here to my new home state, was to get a new phone. There was no way I could be without a phone, right? I was in a new place, trying to find an apartment, and trying to pull together the loose pieces of my life. I had to have a phone.

Because my old (and it was old) Samsung Note phone died just as I was getting ready to leave Alaska, I'd grabbed one of those to-go phones from the phone center on the way to the airport. It was just something to get me through the plane ride and the car ride to my brother's house. And it lasted just about that long! I mean, it was literally starting to glitch on the ride to the local phone store...

If you have read my blog even randomly, you know that I don't like change. I'm a person who likes stability and routine. If you want to set your clock, just match it to my daily routine. As a matter of fact, one of the reasons I don't as much TV since I moved here is because the basic network channel numbers are different than those in Alaska. I'm dead serious. (Even though I have just now picked out a new phone, I am already upset about some of the changes.)

So, I started using the S8 Plus in July 2017. A long while back, it stopped getting updates, but it still worked fine. A few weeks ago, it started acting a little bit of a fool. I'd have to restart it quite often. Also, because it had aged out of any updates, most of my important apps no longer worked on it. And when you don't drive or have the best of health, you use a lot of apps - apps for almost everything.

Anyway, you get it. I need my phone. Also, I don't have a house phone (or didn't).

A few days ago, I got an urgent computer message from one of my brothers. No one had been able to reach my cell phone - and I'd recently ditched my house phone (which was a mistake, I realize).  He sounded like he had been about to have the police do a welfare check. My family. So dramatic... Anyway, I had to get onto one of my other emergency calling apps and let everyone know that I was okay. We realized that I could receive texts even though I couldn't get or receive calls... Weird business. (I immediately opted back into my landline service!)

So it was time for a new phone. Of course it was. Because I can afford a new one, right? Wrong. Anyway... I went ahead and picked out the S24 phone and chose my carrier's rip-off installment plan. Maybe I will win a lottery and pay the darned thing off.

I will never understand how "regular" (aka non-trillionaires) can afford to replace their phones every time a new one drops - literally or figuratively. Not only have I had the same phone since I got it, but I have the same protective case. The only thing I've ever replaced was the screen protector and the finger-ring-holder thing on the back. You know I was mad when I had to find a new case and all.

Thankfully, I found a decent protective case for a affordable price. What I love is that it includes a sliding camera cover and a kickstand. The kickstand probably won't last but it's a start. The screen protector wasn't too expensive.

My little brother wondered why I didn't use my current phone as a trade-in. I told him that I don't think my cellular provider will give me much for it and also, it still kind of works so... I'll keep it as a backup for now. Who knows how decent the new phone is or is not. I'm over here, praying that it is half as good as the S8 was.

Who knows when my new phone will ship. The carrier already has my initial payment so they aren't in a hurry. I think they might be mad that I opted out of any accessories or additional services. I'm lucky I could afford to buy a case after I got the phone. I feel like Katt Williams right about now.

Well, one good thing about this new phone is that it comes with 7 years' of updates (if the good Lord is willing that I'll still be here!). If my S8 had the same, it might still be working perfectly.

Before I go, this post about cellphones wouldn't be complete without some Android vs iPhone humor, so:

My brother is always talking about how great iPhones are. When he brought it up this time, I had a smack-down ready: "They must be since you get one every year." (I hardly ever have a good comeback like that one. Almost NEVER.)

Peace

-- Free

P.S.: That title about "almost 8 years"? I might have to update that. This S8 isn't completely dead yet!

Say It Ain’t So, Lavazza! (UPDATE 9-10-24)

(I know it's spelled "Selezione" but I always spell it the way I say it!)

**UPDATE 8/10/14:

I have come back to eat a light helping of crow. After giving the Italian Dark Roast a fair try - why not, since I had so many free bags? - I have to admit that it's tasting better. I won't say that it is the same as  Gran Selzione, but it's good enough that I wouldn't be surprised if Lavazza was only testing our taste buds. Maybe they only changed the look of the packaging but not everything about the flavor??? I could see that. Like I said, this is starting to taste better and better to me. I can also find this version for better prices than with the Gran Selzione. So there is that...

UPDATE:

My eBay purchases were all duds. I had to return them. The sellers did the same thing the Amazon seller did: substituted that icky Italian Roast for the Gran Selzione. Trying to be slick like Rick...

Apparently, there is no Gran Selzione to be had anywhere - unless those 90 dollar bags on eBay are the real deal, and I don't love any coffee that much!

 I feel as if I have lost a good friend. I haven't, thankfully, but I just learned that Lavazza is discontinuing their Gran Selzione roast. I had hoped that I was just hearing rumors but... I got confirmation straight from someone in customer service for Lavazza. 

In case you missed it, this is the heartbreaking part:

Such sad news...

I'm not a coffee snob but I do have my preferences. I like a very dark roast with a bit of sweetness and notes of chocolate and a smooth flavor.

If you go looking for the flavor description of Gran Selzione, you usually run across something like this:

chocolate, intense, chocolate &
out of stock!

That describes Gran Selzione perfectly. You know what it does not describe? The Italian Roast that Lavazza has "swapped" in... I know because I got 3 free bags of that stuff courtesy of Amazon (a seller sent me the Italian because they ran out of Gran Selzione. The nerve!) I even got a free bag of the Italian Extra Dark. I haven't tried that one yet.

The Italian Roast is not horrible but it comes nowhere near the flavor of Gran Selzione. It is about as much like Gran Selzione as some influencers are like the photos they post. Come on, now!

 It is so unlike Gran Selzione that I gave away 2 of the free bags. I'd already opened one bag so I tried adding a little bit of Dutch chocolate powder to see if that helped. Did it? Not really.

A "hint" so subtle, I can't even taste it...

I was so miserable that my brother was laughing at me for taking it personally. (I was over here practically singing "Nothing Compares 2 U"!) He did make the great suggestion that I get over to eBay pronto and order some Gran Selzione before prices go up. That was some good looking out, bro! And yes, I was able to get a few bags without blowing my budget. But now, I have to find an affordable replacement for when I run out.

I'm over here being mad at whoever at Lavazza made this stupid decision. But I'm going to dry my eyes and take a deep breath. I have to get back out there to find something halfway good enough to replace my Gran Selzione. I have one picked out but it's not the most affordable coffee I know of. That is Jim's Sweet Love blend. Illy probably has something but I know that won't be affordable...

For now, it's goodbye Gran Selzione.

Peace

--Free