Samsung galaxy S23 and S23 ultra

[Harthag]

No you interpreted correctly. My father passed last January. Cancer, with Covid caught at a medical facility. He was admitted to a full hospital a few days before Christmas and passed away a month later. He went about as mercifully fast as he could have hoped.

We were invited to see him and here’s where I had a problem I’ll never resolve. I made the decision to NOT see him as he was nearing the end.

I totally understand your fury at being denied the opportunity I was given, because I would have wanted to do exactly the same as you. I DID want to. It was against every instinct I had as a human being to let him be alone.

But…

He wanted above all for my mom to be protected. He would have been furious if I were to endanger her. Or my husband or myself. Or get myself sick and not be able to take care of her. And my mom was just recovering from the hip replacement surgery he had fought so much bureaucracy to get for her.

I knew what my duty was.

I know I made the right call intellectually, the one he would have wanted. Especially because when the invitation was extended to see him, he was too far gone to be responsive and he would not want my mom to see him like that.

Some of the remarks of the medical staff kind of honestly guilt tripped me a little. They were saying the standard stuff about how people in a coma can still hear us and benefit. I know that’s true. But these were extraordinary circumstances. I couldn’t let that be a factor.

I don’t fault them for anything they said in those dark days. I know they were just running on empty at that point. Every day that I spoke to any medical staff whatsoever, I could hear nurses sobbing in the background. I could hear the strain in all their voices. The doctor who told me my dad wasn’t going to make it broke down and I had to comfort and encourage HIM. And I consider it an honor and a privilege to have been able to do so. I can’t imagine what those doctors and nurses saw and dealt with during that winter surge.

But they also confused me by saying even though it technically was against protocol because of the surge, but they could sort of sneak me and my mom in to see him.

Honestly that sounded…misguided. How do you sneak a disabled woman anywhere? I think the offer was misplaced compassion from an overworked nurse that probably would have resulted in us being stopped and turned back home had I tried to take them up on it.

I don’t FEEL I made the right call when my mother gets depressive spells because she didn’t get to see him and comfort him or say goodbye. But I KNOW I did the right thing. And she KNOWS it, too. But that knowing doesn’t stop the feelings.

I live with this dichotomy between emotion and reason that runs soul deep because I knew my dad very well. I know what he expected of me. I discharged my duty. My dad was a soldier in his heart and soul. He raised me to understand duty.

I did finally see him one last time in the funeral home to make the identification as required by law.

I didn’t say anything to him. I looked one last time at his face, saluted him and turned on my heel and walked out with my back straight and my head held high. Like he always told me to carry myself. Lol except I’m a slob who normally slouches a lot. But not then. Then I was paying my respects to my Sergeant.

No, I don’t quite have peace and may never have it. But in doing my absolute best in what the circumstances dictated, I honored my loved one and I believe that gave HIM peace.

He knew I was going to do my best. It didn’t have to be spectacular or what I would have done in better times. Like the medical staff surrounding him, I wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t ideal. But I gave all I could. My dad knew me well enough to know I would. That was his peace in lieu of my hand in his.

And I’m growing to accept that. And I hope you and everyone else who dealt with this scenario works toward acceptance that we did our human best under extraordinary conditions.

Remember not how they died but how they taught us to live.

And as for the living, always resolve to fix our messes with them. My dad was far from great. He was often a verbally abusive jerk. But we loved each other and he had his good points. He didn’t leave this earth nor did I let him leave it without making sure we talked our garbage out. Nothing was left unsaid. Burn the trash and leave the treasure. That’s what we did.

It’s what I am attempting to do with my mom now. It’s ridiculously hard being left with her to take care of and not him. But it’s an opportunity to burn away the garbage that I never would have gotten otherwise.

And on to your next point, yes goodness gracious I hate e sim with so much. What is this sorcery? @jamezr articulated the situation with the carriers so beautifully many pages ago.

I love my 14 Pro Max but I deeply regret converting my physical sim to e sim. At least with a separate line for my Android phone I’ll be able to avoid the issues he dealt with. But I’m hanging on to physical sim for my Android phones. I hope Samsung doesn’t go the e sim route for a very long time.

What a great post thank you for sharing. You did what you thought was best for your family and what sounds like your father would've wanted. Can't think of a better way to handle all of that / honor him. 🎖

 

[5105973]

I love reading your stories and memories...You should write all this down and get it published. You have a very capivating writng style.
I for one would be first inline to buy your book

Thank you that’s very kind. I actually struggle with writing. Especially staying on point! Lol which is kind of stating the obvious! 🤣

But sometimes I’ll feel a connection with something that someone wrote and the words flow. I think that is more due to empathy than eloquence.

A lot of people have recently expressed a lot of suffering and perfectly encapsulated the issues that have come to a head for so many of us in these chaotic times. I just wanted to give something back. At the very least to help people feel seen and heard.

This forum has provided me with more support, compassion and sheer joy than I can ever pay back. Lol and yeah occasionally some salt and some frustration. But I treasure all of it!

 

[5105973]

What a great post thank you for sharing. You did what you thought was best for your family and what sounds like your father would've wanted. Can't think of a better way to handle all of that / honor him. 🎖

Thank you. I do hope I have honored him. It certainly was my intention every step of the way.

 

[5105973]

Okay so…for years now I have just been copying my setup via smart switch.

This time I didn’t do that and I found out Samsung Mail isn’t pre installed! I’ve been using Samsung mail and I was all set to download it.

And lo and behold there were some alarming comments and observations in the ratings.

So, that leads me to my question…what are you all using for your email on your Samsungs? I took a look at the pre installed GMail app and there were so many ads embedded in with my emails. They could be deleted like an email. I’m not used to that. I don’t remember that from using Gmail on my Pixel 6 Pro.

 

[hockeyfan81]

Okay so…for years now I have just been copying my setup via smart switch.

This time I didn’t do that and I found out Samsung Mail isn’t pre installed! I’ve been using Samsung mail and I was all set to download it.

And lo and behold there were some alarming comments and observations in the ratings.

So, that leads me to my question…what are you all using for your email on your Samsungs? I took a look at the pre installed GMail app and there were so many ads embedded in with my emails. They could be deleted like an email. I’m not used to that. I don’t remember that from using Gmail on my Pixel 6 Pro.

I'm using the GMail app for my email and I don't see any ads in there. Do you a screen shot of this?

 

[Technerd108]

Thank you that’s very kind. I actually struggle with writing. Especially staying on point! Lol which is kind of stating the obvious! 🤣

But sometimes I’ll feel a connection with something that someone wrote and the words flow. I think that is more due to empathy than eloquence.

A lot of people have recently expressed a lot of suffering and perfectly encapsulated the issues that have come to a head for so many of us in these chaotic times. I just wanted to give something back. At the very least to help people feel seen and heard.

This forum has provided me with more support, compassion and sheer joy than I can ever pay back. Lol and yeah occasionally some salt and some frustration. But I treasure all of it!

Your posts have brought a level of humanity and compassion to a forum where it is not so common.

I really appreciate your posts and what you say and offer on here and feel more free to express myself. I am not sure if that is good or bad. 😂 Lol

It is refreshing to read about how tech is more about people than specs and how the tech can help people in tough situations.

I am sorry for your losses and the struggles you continue to deal with but you have a great attitude and it shows!

Your Dad, I am sure is looking down on you in deep pride!

 

[sunking101]

Okay so…for years now I have just been copying my setup via smart switch.

This time I didn’t do that and I found out Samsung Mail isn’t pre installed! I’ve been using Samsung mail and I was all set to download it.

And lo and behold there were some alarming comments and observations in the ratings.

So, that leads me to my question…what are you all using for your email on your Samsungs? I took a look at the pre installed GMail app and there were so many ads embedded in with my emails. They could be deleted like an email. I’m not used to that. I don’t remember that from using Gmail on my Pixel 6 Pro.

I've been using Aqua Mail (the pro version) for years but it only.cost a small amount when I upgraded to Pro. Now I think there's a monthly subscription - ouch.

 

[Technerd108]

Okay so…for years now I have just been copying my setup via smart switch.

This time I didn’t do that and I found out Samsung Mail isn’t pre installed! I’ve been using Samsung mail and I was all set to download it.

And lo and behold there were some alarming comments and observations in the ratings.

So, that leads me to my question…what are you all using for your email on your Samsungs? I took a look at the pre installed GMail app and there were so many ads embedded in with my emails. They could be deleted like an email. I’m not used to that. I don’t remember that from using Gmail on my Pixel 6 Pro.

I have used Gmail since it's inception and never once used Samsung mail.

I don't see any ads when I use Gmail? Maybe using a browser but not in the app.

I love the Gmail app. Works better than any other email app I have used.

One of the things that really bothers me about Apple is the mail application and how long it takes to load. Gmail is near instantaneous.

 

[sunking101]

I have used Gmail since it's inception and never once used Samsung mail.

I don't see any ads when I use Gmail? Maybe using a browser but not in the app.

I love the Gmail app. Works better than any other email app I have used.

One of the things that really bothers me about Apple is the mail application and how long it takes to load. Gmail is near instantaneous.

Whenever I send photos from my iPad iCloud email address to my other email accounts that I use on my Android devices they take an age to come through and completely hog all my bandwidth. Not sure what the heck that Apple email app does but it doesn't do it very well!

 

[Technerd108]

Whenever I send photos from my iPad iCloud email address to my other email accounts that I use on my Android devices they take an age to come through and completely hog all my bandwidth. Not sure what the heck that Apple email app does but it doesn't do it very well!

Yeah, I honestly don't get it. Just syncing the mail takes forever on new devices.

Was really annoying on my iphone.

 

[ian87w]

Okay so…for years now I have just been copying my setup via smart switch.

This time I didn’t do that and I found out Samsung Mail isn’t pre installed! I’ve been using Samsung mail and I was all set to download it.

And lo and behold there were some alarming comments and observations in the ratings.

So, that leads me to my question…what are you all using for your email on your Samsungs? I took a look at the pre installed GMail app and there were so many ads embedded in with my emails. They could be deleted like an email. I’m not used to that. I don’t remember that from using Gmail on my Pixel 6 Pro.

Yeah, the ads in GMail is really annoying, and sometimes can mislead user (intentional, I'm sure) when one is trying to review emails quickly.

I like Samsung's default email app as well, and that's what I use on my S21 for non GMail accounts. Unfortunately, if you want GMail's push Email, the GMail app is a must. So it's a necessary evil.

Another option is Microsoft's Outlook. But... I feel it to be clunky. I don't know why, I just can't get used to it after all this time. Outlook used to be my email client of choice in my attempt to have less Google on my Android, but I end up just using Samsung Email instead. Outlook might be essential for full Exchange support though, if you have work email or whatnot.

There was an email client called Boxer that I used to like. But that was a long time ago, so cannot comment about its current version. I'm more wary in using email app from 3rd party developers nowadays, only relying on the client from the email provider themselves (Google, Microsoft) or 1st party of the handset maker (Samsung, Apple).

 

[ian87w]

I have used Gmail since it's inception and never once used Samsung mail.

I don't see any ads when I use Gmail? Maybe using a browser but not in the app.

I love the Gmail app. Works better than any other email app I have used.

One of the things that really bothers me about Apple is the mail application and how long it takes to load. Gmail is near instantaneous.

If you have Google Workspace account, there are no ads. Obviously as it's for pay.

On regular free account, there are ads. They are in the promotion/social folders, usually hanging at the top/near the top. They have tiny indicator that they are ads, but since most emails in those folders usually have ad-like subjects, it can be confusing. Even I got tricked a few times into clicking those ads, thinking that they are actual emails. Really annoying.

 

[shenfrey]

Yeah, the ads in GMail is really annoying, and sometimes can mislead user (intentional, I'm sure) when one is trying to review emails quickly.

I like Samsung's default email app as well, and that's what I use on my S21 for non GMail accounts. Unfortunately, if you want GMail's push Email, the GMail app is a must. So it's a necessary evil.

Another option is Microsoft's Outlook. But... I feel it to be clunky. I don't know why, I just can't get used to it after all this time. Outlook used to be my email client of choice in my attempt to have less Google on my Android, but I end up just using Samsung Email instead. Outlook might be essential for full Exchange support though, if you have work email or whatnot.

There was an email client called Boxer that I used to like. But that was a long time ago, so cannot comment about its current version. I'm more wary in using email app from 3rd party developers nowadays, only relying on the client from the email provider themselves (Google, Microsoft) or 1st party of the handset maker (Samsung, Apple).

I just forward my email from Gmail problem solved

 

[HouseLannister]

If you have Google Workspace account, there are no ads. Obviously as it's for pay.

On regular free account, there are ads. They are in the promotion/social folders, usually hanging at the top/near the top. They have tiny indicator that they are ads, but since most emails in those folders usually have ad-like subjects, it can be confusing. Even I got tricked a few times into clicking those ads, thinking that they are actual emails. Really annoying.

Been on gmail since 2004 (back when you had to buy a referral on eBay because no one had it yet) and never had an ad in mobile. Web, sure. That sidebar stuff that you run a adblocker to avoid seeing. But mobile apps, nothing. Maybe because I use the default inbox and none of the inbox customization stuff. I get spam, of course, but no ads. Just unsubscribe and report. My inbox is very manageable.

If the fancy inbox is creating ads, try going back to a default inbox and just creating your own folders and filters. Also, you could install Blokada and that should crush all ads at the expense of some battery life.

 

[keithop]

So, that leads me to my question…what are you all using for your email on your Samsungs? I took a look at the pre installed GMail app and there were so many ads embedded in with my emails. They could be deleted like an email. I’m not used to that. I don’t remember that from using Gmail on my Pixel 6 Pro.

yeah Im struggling with this myself. Business is a cloud provider primarily MS azure +365 etc... so I have a few 365 accounts there. Outlook is painful and doesn't seem to work well with my notification apps.... gmail works ok with the 365 accounts but the push seems minutes behind outlook (painful but yeah ok not end of the world), I'm going to try the samsung app next.

 

[lyunmac]

So my trade in is complete. I traded in a Galaxy Note 8 that I had given to my mom when I switched to the S10+. She used it until last Christmas when I got her a pixel 7 because the Note had a cracked screen, screen burn in and the power button had gotten stuck. Received $105 for it from Samsung and along with the 3% Rakuten cash back I'm happy with the trade in.

 

[LiE_]

Anyone use Samsung Internet with a password manager that's not Samsung Pass?

 

[5105973]

I'm using the GMail app for my email and I don't see any ads in there. Do you a screen shot of this?

I can’t screen shot it because it would give too much private info. But it’s basically ads in my inbox between emails. I’d never seen it before on gmail.

 

[5105973]

I've been using Aqua Mail (the pro version) for years but it only.cost a small amount when I upgraded to Pro. Now I think there's a monthly subscription - ouch.

Yeah I used them for awhile a couple of years ago on one of my Pixels.

 

[5105973]

Anyone use Samsung Internet with a password manager that's not Samsung Pass?

My Password manager is 1Password. My husband researched the options and that’s the one he chose. I use DuckDuckGo these days so I’m not sure how well it plays with Samsung Internet. But I find using GBoard that most forms of password management work well.

 

[Harthag]

Anyone use Samsung Internet with a password manager that's not Samsung Pass?

I previously used LastPass which worked well, but due to their past security breach issues I switched from it and use Keeper, which doesn't work with Samsung internet.

I am now using Firefox which is fantastic, imo, and better than Samsung internet. It supports Keeper and also Dark Reader addon which I have on my iPhone for Safari. This gives you a true dark mode that retains proper color unlike Samsung internet for some sites, and supports "true black" mode for all websites (makes the background true black and not dark gray), and overrides all sites / forces dark mode if enabled.

Sorry for a slight tangent, I too love Samsung internet but needed something else that supported my password manager, stumbled onto this a few days ago.

 

[5105973]

So my trade in is complete. I traded in a Galaxy Note 8 that I had given to my mom when I switched to the S10+. She used it until last Christmas when I got her a pixel 7 because the Note had a cracked screen, screen burn in and the power button had gotten stuck. Received $105 for it from Samsung and along with the 3% Rakuten cash back I'm happy with the trade in.

I’m glad your trade in went well.

 

[5105973]

Yeah, the ads in GMail is really annoying, and sometimes can mislead user (intentional, I'm sure) when one is trying to review emails quickly.

I like Samsung's default email app as well, and that's what I use on my S21 for non GMail accounts. Unfortunately, if you want GMail's push Email, the GMail app is a must. So it's a necessary evil.

Another option is Microsoft's Outlook. But... I feel it to be clunky. I don't know why, I just can't get used to it after all this time. Outlook used to be my email client of choice in my attempt to have less Google on my Android, but I end up just using Samsung Email instead. Outlook might be essential for full Exchange support though, if you have work email or whatnot.

There was an email client called Boxer that I used to like. But that was a long time ago, so cannot comment about its current version. I'm more wary in using email app from 3rd party developers nowadays, only relying on the client from the email provider themselves (Google, Microsoft) or 1st party of the handset maker (Samsung, Apple).

My husband used that exact word, “clunky” to describe Outlook. It’s on my desktop but I do rarely used it and now my desktop pc is in storage to be wiped and set up for something the kids want to do.

I was having a problem on Apple but saw it on Samsung mail where I would compose a reply in an email conversation and hit send and my entire email would just vanish. My husband couldn’t find it for me anywhere. Recipient never received it, either.

This sort of thing was mentioned in a review of the Samsung email app. But I have had this happen and disrupt conversations in iOS too. So I don’t know what the heck is going on.

I did disable Shake to Undo in case that was the culprit in iOS.

 

[HouseLannister]

Anyone use Samsung Internet with a password manager that's not Samsung Pass?

Switched to Firefox because it had tighter integration with Bitwarden. Installed their add-on and it just autofills everything. Bitwarden works on Samsung Internet too, but won't autofill for me. I have to select my vault from Gboard, which it always says is locked when it shouldn't be, and then give it a PIN each time, even though I have biometric unlock. Kind of annoying. On Firefox, it just works.

 

[jamezr]

Okay so…for years now I have just been copying my setup via smart switch.

This time I didn’t do that and I found out Samsung Mail isn’t pre installed! I’ve been using Samsung mail and I was all set to download it.

And lo and behold there were some alarming comments and observations in the ratings.

So, that leads me to my question…what are you all using for your email on your Samsungs? I took a look at the pre installed GMail app and there were so many ads embedded in with my emails. They could be deleted like an email. I’m not used to that. I don’t remember that from using Gmail on my Pixel 6 Pro.

So I use Outlook mobile for all of my phones and desktop PCs. I use Gmail to sync calendar and contacts across all of my devices so i have a single source of data for that. Even on my MBP and ipad iPhone and S23U and P7P so all my data is the same across all my devices.