Samsung galaxy S23 and S23 ultra

[SteveJUAE]

$13.46 for a smoothie?! Absolutely not. Things have gotten so insane.

That's mad, I can get a meal for 2 and a bottle beer in a little Thai restaurant or even order a cocktail for my wife in the Four Seasons in Bangkok for that

Or in real international terms I can have a McD delivery of 4 patty big mac, double patty quarter cheese and a small fries LOL

Nothing smooth about that smoothie

 

[Technerd108]

That's mad, I can get a meal for 2 and a bottle beer in a little Thai restaurant or even order a cocktail for my wife in the Four Seasons in Bangkok for that

Or in real international terms I can have a McD delivery of 4 patty big mac, double patty quarter cheese and a small fries LOL

Nothing smooth about that smoothie

Prices for most things are better in Thailand compared to America. No way are you getting a meal for two in a Thai restaurant in the US let alone a beer for $13 and some change. Lucky if you can get one meal for that.

McDonald's pricing here is also crazy. Could probably get a much tastier Thai restaurant meal here for the same price as McDonald's.

 

[5105973]

My Mom has advanced Alzheimer's disease and before she got too bad my conversations with her were similar. I was her email and Mac advisor and trying to help her with simple basic stuff navigating the Mac was really a lesson in patience. I can also totally relate to the TV. If it goes out it is a major emergency that needs to be fixed yesterday.

So many times I had to resolve simple issues. And she would miscommunicate what was actually wrong so I would go in thinking one thing based on what she said and then having to figure out a solution to something completely different and sometimes I couldn't resolve it because it would be a hardware issue.

Oh good times. I can basically do IT tech support with almost anyone due to the time helping her. It was good training. Lol.

I hope you get everything figured out and a resolution that is satisfactory with Samsung in the end.

Yeah with my mom it's actually that she's not able to hear me over her phone. Like pretty much not at all. I have to accept when she calls it is going to be a one way conversation.

Lol which is why I got away with screaming at the phone. She wasn't hearing anything. If she were to ever catch me yelling at her, I would be in so much trouble! 😆

My late grandma wasn't much into tv at her assisted living place. She was a social butterfly, so if her tv ever went down we never heard about it. She was in so many activities. My mom and my father-in-law are tv junkies. Always were. For my mom it is game shows and golf. For my father-in-law it's sports.

 

[5105973]

Food prices are insane but we're stuck ordering food from multiple places whenever our kids have friends over, because these days each kid has very strict limits on what they will and won't be able or willing to eat, so that one dinner for everyone no longer works.

I'm not criticizing people for having their food aversions or allergies or anything like that. One of my kids has to avoid dairy and eggs. I am sensitive to soy.

So it's not that I begrudge anyone their needs or preferences. It's just a reality that with limited time, space and budget, I can't realistically accommodate all of our guests with a home cooked meal.

So we call in food. It's expensive. Yet I know other families don't do this. I don't know what they do.

 

[5105973]

Lol getting back to Samsung, I enjoy One UI these days. I appreciate the features and customization available. But I find myself preferring the Pixel UI more. Especially with the camera. I'm getting the results I want faster.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Food prices are insane but we're stuck ordering food from multiple places whenever our kids have friends over, because these days each kid has very strict limits on what they will and won't be able or willing to eat, so that one dinner for everyone no longer works.

I'm not criticizing people for having their food aversions or allergies or anything like that. One of my kids has to avoid dairy and eggs. I am sensitive to soy.

So it's not that I begrudge anyone their needs or preferences. It's just a reality that with limited time, space and budget, I can't realistically accommodate all of our guests with a home cooked meal.

So we call in food. It's expensive. Yet I know other families don't do this. I don't know what they do.

I imagine other families are less accommodating and do not enable their kids friends habits. Avoiding certain foods for medical reasons is one thing but ordering in food because someone is not willing to eat what you plan to cook is far beyond what I would accept. Either these kids should eat before coming to your place, bring their own food or do not stay for dinner. You are too busy and ordering multiple take in meals is too expensive to satisfy the cravings, desires and picky habits of your kids friends. Do yourself and husband and bank account a favour and send your kids to dinner at their friends places more often. Strictly my opinions of course.

 

[robvalentine]

I ended up deciding to stick with the pixel 7 pro as most work arounds will be fine if you manually set them up which is 1) inconvenient and 2) impossible with a puppy. Picture for cuteness. Ok pic ain't working so will try later

I think there might have been a glitch as I cleared the data from the camera app and it seems a bit better. It is outside now to be fair as opposed to inside

 

[Bkdodger]

I think there might have been a glitch as I cleared the data from the camera app and it seems a bit better. It is outside now to be fair as opposed to inside

Great looking dog

 

[robvalentine]

Great looking dog

Thanks. The lil bastard is very photogenic

 

[swarlos]

I think there might have been a glitch as I cleared the data from the camera app and it seems a bit better. It is outside now to be fair as opposed to inside

 

[Bkdodger]

Thanks. The lil bastard is very photogenic

What's his name ?

 

[swarlos]

What's his name ?

I’m guessing Jagger hahaha cause he’s such a good looking dog LOL.

 

[robvalentine]

What's his name ?

Dylan. Aka oi!, Get down, naughty, leave/drop it

 

[Bkdodger]

Dylan. Aka oi!, Get down, naughty, leave/drop it

Hehe . Awesome name

 

[Technerd108]

Food prices are insane but we're stuck ordering food from multiple places whenever our kids have friends over, because these days each kid has very strict limits on what they will and won't be able or willing to eat, so that one dinner for everyone no longer works.

I'm not criticizing people for having their food aversions or allergies or anything like that. One of my kids has to avoid dairy and eggs. I am sensitive to soy.

So it's not that I begrudge anyone their needs or preferences. It's just a reality that with limited time, space and budget, I can't realistically accommodate all of our guests with a home cooked meal.

So we call in food. It's expensive. Yet I know other families don't do this. I don't know what they do.

My son has an eating disorder called ARFID and he has Autism so he has a very picky palate. He has a few other mental health challenges as well. He is also mixed race. He faces a lot of challenges even without the autism. However food is more about familiarity and consistency along with texture and a few other things. So cooking food for him is a constant challenge. Before I knew of his condition I would get so frustrated. I would cook something he liked and because maybe I didn't cook exactly like the first time he wouldn't eat it.

He prefers fast food and I hate to give it to him because I know it is not healthy. But again it is the consistency and textures that are always the same that he prefers.

So I get what you do. With guests I ask what they would like within the safe choices for my son but I will not order food and pick it up from multiple places. I am pretty much done with delivery services as it adds so much more to the cost and I just don't trust the people delivering food with the one exception of Pizza.

We all have to do what we think is right for our families in the budgets we have. There is no judgement from me and I really get tired of people expecting that their way is the right way. Try raising a child with autism, ADHD and depression and tell me to raise them according to somebody else standards and I will just agree to disagree.

Raising kids is extremely difficult and especially for a single parent. Since the autism diagnosis my life has gone from caring for my mother full time to caring for my son full time. I am grateful that I am still in a position for now to be able to do so but I am constantly worried about the future and my dwindling savings. What I live on for a year is what a lot of people live on in a couple months. And that would be a single person.

So my opinion after a while of learning is to listen to others opinions and advice always with a grain of salt. What I listen to is my kid. Obviously I set limits and instill discipline but I do it in the framework of what he can understand and what is best for his growth and success as a person and that is a constant adaption and evolution and I am always learning.

 

[Technerd108]

Lol getting back to Samsung, I enjoy One UI these days. I appreciate the features and customization available. But I find myself preferring the Pixel UI more. Especially with the camera. I'm getting the results I want faster.

I am so indecisive when it comes to OneUi or Pixel UI.

I really enjoy both of them and in my opinion there is no clear winner.

I like the more simplified and clean interface that Pixel UI has. I like the AI features like call screening better on Pixel UI. I also prefer the animations. However OneUI has so much more customization. It is more integrated into more devices better. It has a more polished feel in certain ways. Then there is Dex and sPen and just better hardware.

I will say Google has made a really good competitive line of phones last year and this year so far. Better than ever before and if I could only have one device and couldn't afford the s23 ultra the Pixel 7 Pro is a really good alternative. It is so close to the s23 ultra in so many ways that I think that really says something.

However it also says something about Samsung. They really have improved OneUI 5 to the point where it is pretty close to Pixel UI and I never, ever thought I would say that. I still really hate that Samsung doesn't allow the user complete control over apps and doesn't let us choose what pre installed apps are on the phone. I don't like duplicate apps. I don't like duplicate app stores.

But this is the first year that I don't use One UI begrudgingly and wish I could have a Pixel UI over OneUI. In some ways I still prefer Pixel UI and I would like it on my s23 ultra but I know I would miss some features that I really don't want to be without. Most of the annoyances of One UI I can easily work around. So kudos to Samsung. They have improved a lot of little details like animation stutter, and polish. If they continue to keep a strong focus on optimization and polish and decrease the bloat even further I will continue to be happy.

 

[Bkdodger]

Stopped by my friends house today....his custom build...

 

[5105973]

My son has an eating disorder called ARFID and he has Autism so he has a very picky palate. He has a few other mental health challenges as well. He is also mixed race. He faces a lot of challenges even without the autism. However food is more about familiarity and consistency along with texture and a few other things. So cooking food for him is a constant challenge. Before I knew of his condition I would get so frustrated. I would cook something he liked and because maybe I didn't cook exactly like the first time he wouldn't eat it.

He prefers fast food and I hate to give it to him because I know it is not healthy. But again it is the consistency and textures that are always the same that he prefers.

So I get what you do. With guests I ask what they would like within the safe choices for my son but I will not order food and pick it up from multiple places. I am pretty much done with delivery services as it adds so much more to the cost and I just don't trust the people delivering food with the one exception of Pizza.

We all have to do what we think is right for our families in the budgets we have. There is no judgement from me and I really get tired of people expecting that their way is the right way. Try raising a child with autism, ADHD and depression and tell me to raise them according to somebody else standards and I will just agree to disagree.

Raising kids is extremely difficult and especially for a single parent. Since the autism diagnosis my life has gone from caring for my mother full time to caring for my son full time. I am grateful that I am still in a position for now to be able to do so but I am constantly worried about the future and my dwindling savings. What I live on for a year is what a lot of people live on in a couple months. And that would be a single person.

So my opinion after a while of learning is to listen to others opinions and advice always with a grain of salt. What I listen to is my kid. Obviously I set limits and instill discipline but I do it in the framework of what he can understand and what is best for his growth and success as a person and that is a constant adaption and evolution and I am always learning.

Yeah the friend groups I'm hosting are super dietarily diverse. THREE with genuine diagnosed celiac, so I straight up HAVE to order for them because we can't guarantee gluten residue won't contaminate their food in my kitchen. Kosher. Halal. Vegetarian for religious reasons (Hindu). Vegetarian by choice. Vegan. Pescatarian. Kid with a severe nut allergy. Gluten free due to generalized allergy relief.

I do also have a child with sensory issues and gastric problems. It's a lot to get into here.

That's just a sample off the top of my head of the factors I have to consider meal planning for them for sleepovers.

One of the other moms said she's started to just have them grocery shop and cook for themselves. She has a huge kitchen, though. She's got double wall ovens, a pasta maker of some sort. It sounds amazing. It looks amazing. She does host a lot of the get togethers.

My kitchen is small and awkwardly laid out. But I think we could give it a try. Except for the kids with Celiac disease. I'm not taking a chance with their health. We are very fortunate to have 3 reliable restaurants that cater to people with Celiac disease and they deliver.

Not all of these kids are here all the time. We get people in various combinations of menu incompatibility. My husband is fine with ordering in for them when it's too complicated to feed them all with one meal. It's his butt in the office chair earning the $, so I leave it for him to decide and he loves having kids here and knowing where they are and what they're doing.

 

[5105973]

I am so indecisive when it comes to OneUi or Pixel UI.

I really enjoy both of them and in my opinion there is no clear winner.

I like the more simplified and clean interface that Pixel UI has. I like the AI features like call screening better on Pixel UI. I also prefer the animations. However OneUI has so much more customization. It is more integrated into more devices better. It has a more polished feel in certain ways. Then there is Dex and sPen and just better hardware.

I will say Google has made a really good competitive line of phones last year and this year so far. Better than ever before and if I could only have one device and couldn't afford the s23 ultra the Pixel 7 Pro is a really good alternative. It is so close to the s23 ultra in so many ways that I think that really says something.

However it also says something about Samsung. They really have improved OneUI 5 to the point where it is pretty close to Pixel UI and I never, ever thought I would say that. I still really hate that Samsung doesn't allow the user complete control over apps and doesn't let us choose what pre installed apps are on the phone. I don't like duplicate apps. I don't like duplicate app stores.

But this is the first year that I don't use One UI begrudgingly and wish I could have a Pixel UI over OneUI. In some ways I still prefer Pixel UI and I would like it on my s23 ultra but I know I would miss some features that I really don't want to be without. Most of the annoyances of One UI I can easily work around. So kudos to Samsung. They have improved a lot of little details like animation stutter, and polish. If they continue to keep a strong focus on optimization and polish and decrease the bloat even further I will continue to be happy.

I'm moody when it comes to these phones. I don't know if I'll ever be able to choose one and not have another one around. They're all so interesting and all so annoying.

Today I was doing outdoor photography with the S23 Ultra. I got some spectacular results with the zoom. I was falling in love with it all over again.

When it comes time to do my emails and web surfing, I use my 7a. And of course the camera is also excellent. I just can't zoom on it worth a darn. That's my only bummer with it.

I'm really getting irritated with my 14 Pro Max over contrasting and over sharpening my subjects in my photos. But it rarely screws up a photo entirely. My Samsung has blurred a few more than my iphone has.

At least I AM happy with the phones I have. I really don't want to upgrade next time. I want to skip a cycle on the iPhone and the S23 Ultra. I'm not planning on trading the 7a away. I love the size of it. And of course, the color. Though I am too traveling and have it in a white silicone case right now. All my phones are currently wearing silicone cases, so I can stack them in together in my backpack pocket and not worry about scratches.

I am going to look at the 8 Pro. I might trade an iPhone for it. Maybe my SE3 or 12 mini. It depends what the trade in value is and depends on whether my current trade in goes through okay. Google at least provided me with a box and security tape for my trade in. And my tracking info says they received it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed we don't get another Samsung style trade in fiasco.

If Samsung doesn't fix that mess, that may decide my phone choices for me. I can be really petty that way. I'm not often petty with people, but businesses that tick me off? Oh yeah! I can hold a grudge.

 

[5105973]

Stopped by my friends house today....his custom build...

Goodness that's an actual garage at somebody's home? I'm so envious! My garage is a moldy fright. When I get back home I have to finish emptying it and cleaning it out.

That motorcycle is gorgeous. I admire the skill it took to make that. However...my old butt would need a much more cushioned seat. On the road the other day, I saw a bunch of guys in their 50's and 60's riding some beautiful motorcycles of different makes and models. What their motorcycles all had in common were generously cushioned seats. I didn't see that so much on motorcycles being ridden by younger people! 😆

 

[Technerd108]

I'm moody when it comes to these phones. I don't know if I'll ever be able to choose one and not have another one around. They're all so interesting and all so annoying.

Today I was doing outdoor photography with the S23 Ultra. I got some spectacular results with the zoom. I was falling in love with it all over again.

When it comes time to do my emails and web surfing, I use my 7a. And of course the camera is also excellent. I just can't zoom on it worth a darn. That's my only bummer with it.

I'm really getting irritated with my 14 Pro Max over contrasting and over sharpening my subjects in my photos. But it rarely screws up a photo entirely. My Samsung has blurred a few more than my iphone has.

At least I AM happy with the phones I have. I really don't want to upgrade next time. I want to skip a cycle on the iPhone and the S23 Ultra. I'm not planning on trading the 7a away. I love the size of it. And of course, the color. Though I am too traveling and have it in a white silicone case right now. All my phones are currently wearing silicone cases, so I can stack them in together in my backpack pocket and not worry about scratches.

I am going to look at the 8 Pro. I might trade an iPhone for it. Maybe my SE3 or 12 mini. It depends what the trade in value is and depends on whether my current trade in goes through okay. Google at least provided me with a box and security tape for my trade in. And my tracking info says they received it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed we don't get another Samsung style trade in fiasco.

If Samsung doesn't fix that mess, that may decide my phone choices for me. I can be really petty that way. I'm not often petty with people, but businesses that tick me off? Oh yeah! I can hold a grudge.

I totally get it. It is why even though t mobile is the best network in my area I refuse to use them. Even using an MVNO like Fi hurts a little because I know they use T mobile network. T-Mobile screwed me with my iPhone 13 Pro Max. I may forgive them a while from now but I will never forget and I think the only way you have any voice with some of these companies is to speak with your wallet.

As soon as my month is up with Fi I am switching to a non t mobile MVNO.

When you are treated unfairly and can't do anything about it in that situation I don't think it is being petty to not give the company your business. You can always change your mind whenever you want but I feel like they deserve a little pain.

You have a nice well rounded set of devices. Best of the best.

 

[Technerd108]

Stopped by my friends house today....his custom build...

Very nice!

 

[super chimp]

Some interesting comparison reviews out there comparing the Ultra with the Honor Magic 5 Pro which in the UK at least is considerably cheaper and that’s without various offers you can find for it. The Honor is also smaller and lighter than the Ultra. But for me the key issue is unlike Apple & Samsung a lot of Chinese manufacturers actually seem to see the PWM issue with displays as something to actually to tackle and improve.

 

[5105973]

Some interesting comparison reviews out there comparing the Ultra with the Honor Magic 5 Pro which in the UK at least is considerably cheaper and that’s without various offers you can find for it. The Honor is also smaller and lighter than the Ultra. But for me the key issue is unlike Apple & Samsung a lot of Chinese manufacturers actually seem to see the PWM issue with displays as something to actually to tackle and improve.

Oh I am so envious of the options outside of the US! I've been starting to check out the Chinese phones because of my problems with pwm. Unfortunately for me a lot of promising options aren't sold here in the US and worse, not supported by the carriers. My best bet would be to look at some Motorola phones. I don't know much about Motorola anymore. Last time I paid them any mind was for a StarTac.

With my S23 Ultra and my Pixel 7a I've got a little bit of eye strain from the pwm. Iphone straight up does all sorts of nasty things to me. S22 Ultra display doesn't seem to do much of anything, thank goodness.

 

[super chimp]

Oh I am so envious of the options outside of the US! I've been starting to check out the Chinese phones because of my problems with pwm. Unfortunately for me a lot of promising options aren't sold here in the US and worse, not supported by the carriers. My best bet would be to look at some Motorola phones. I don't know much about Motorola anymore. Last time I paid them any mind was for a StarTac.

With my S23 Ultra and my Pixel 7a I've got a little bit of eye strain from the pwm. Iphone straight up does all sorts of nasty things to me. S22 Ultra display doesn't seem to do much of anything, thank goodness.

I didn’t know a lot of these Chinese models aren’t sold in the US market that’s a shame. Do OnePlus sell in the US as they are effectively a Chinese brand. I was looking at the Oppo Find X6 Pro as though Oppo sell in the UK it’s not a model sold outside China for some reason.

By the way I am sorry if my post above looked like it was trolling the thread as I honestly didn’t know companies like Honor didn’t sell in the US.