Full Month of T-Mobile service

Well its been a full month with TMO and I am happy with the service and my plan... Now that I have it all straightened out that is. The salesman that set up the account made to many errors for being on the job without supervision. 5 errors to be exact. But I got that fixed and we are running like a clock. I have yet to talk to a tech (on any network) that is worth listening to, but the customer service I have received over the phone has been top notch. My bill was as expected no hidden fees or any of that crap. Reception has been awesome as well. I haven't traveled out of my city and wont for a while yet to do a test on roaming. I am surprised by the small amount of roaming data that is allowed with my plan (50MB) but I don't think it will be an issue as there is Wi-Fi everywhere now a days. I am still waiting to hear if the option to move apps to the SD card will be included in the 4.3 update that is coming on the 18th of the month. As I am not updating this blog as often as I use to (been a tad bit busy at work) I will try to give an update when the 4.3 hits my device. I plan on getting a smart watch but am waiting to see which I like better the Galaxy Gear or the Google watch that is being rumored about. Either way it will have to come after I get new glasses... First I must be able to see the watch...right?

So until my next update, may the bad in life roll off you like water off a Ducks back ;-)

The good, the bad and the ugly of my first Two days with T-Mobile

All things must change and I can not help but have a little sadness in switching from U.S.Cellular (USCC) to T-Mobile. I have been with USCC for 91/2 years, and still am. I have only pulled my main line and my best friend over to T-Mobile. But I fear it wont be long before USCC is no more. When a company is doing good and making advancements they get left alone by the sharks. As a company makes more and more mistakes and starts losing business the sharks begin to swarm... Well they must be swarming around USCC by the dozens.

Over the past 3 months or so they have been trying to fix their billing system... but it looks to be a hole that can't be plugged. I went and talked to T-Mobile a few times and checked their coverage in the areas I am in the most. All looked well, so on Tuesday I took it a step further and asked to get a price on start up. Well it was a tad cheaper than I had thought. After getting one S3 and one S4 with 500MB and unlimited data respectively with trade in T-Mobile owed me $37. Now this is with their 4G LTE. Now they don't have LTE in all areas here in Bend but they have it where I spend most of my time. Then I drop down to their regular 4G, which is still way faster than the 3G I have with USCC.

So on with the good: I have really fast download and upload speeds (24.84 down and 7.95 up) Which beats the crap out of 1.35 down and 0.79 up. Call quality has been great as well. Watching videos or TV shows on the device has been seamless as well. At the store we were in and out in minutes. That was do I think to the fact that when the guy said he was going to train us on the devices we both chuckled. I mean we had just turned in 2 devices that were exactly like the ones we got. Then Carla (My best friend in the whole world) in formed him that I have a side business of teaching people how to use their new phones.

The bad: The sales rep failed to add my name on the account and also failed to put in my zip code for the porting of our numbers. So when I called to find out what was up they wouldn't tell me crap-o-la! So I got ahold of Carla and we got the account all figured out and the numbers ported... and all was fine....So I thought.

The ugly: This morning I am setting at Starbucks as I do on my days off, having coffee and decided to start moving my apps over to the SD card. I use an app called "Superbox Pro" with just a click it will give me a list of apps that can be moved over from internal to external storage. I don't move all the apps over as some work better in the internal storage, so I picked an app and went to move it over and guess what.... No option to move it over. I try another one... Same thing. So I call and talk to a rep at T-Mobile, she in turn passes me off to a tech. The tech tells me that only a few apps can be moved and to try moving "Need for Speed" over as she has that one moved on her phone. I tell her I don't have that app. She says I do, it comes pre-loaded on the device. insert eye roll here So she then tells me that I will need to do a factory reset to get the option to move apps. I ask her if she is sending me an update to the phone so the phone will have the program needed. She says no its already in the phone..... I bite my tongue and am being polite as I can when I tell her "I will bet you money that, that wont do a damn thing but cause me a few hours of work setting up the phone again." Her answer was "Sir I am a tech, this will work" Guess what.....

I'm sorry but I have yet to get a tech in the last year or so that knew which way was up, I'm sure they are out there but I haven't had the pleasure of meeting one.

Now after all this I tell her that I teach people how to use their phones and trouble shoot issues... She then hangs up on me. To make it better I go online to see if anyone else has had this issue with the T-Mobile phone, guess what.. T-Mobile hasn't done the apps to SD card update yet... But that tech told me she had an app moved one hers? Maybe she has a test phone who knows... well she doesn't obviously.

Lets call this a camera test... yeah thats the ticket

So I took a little trip up to see my grandkids.. and I guess their parents as well. All my carry on was tech gear, as I planed on taking a few photos while I was there (and I did). Some didn't turn out so well and some turned out very well. I will post a few here in a minute.


While I was out in the middle of nowhere Washington I was roaming on Verizon towers. I was running with a signal of -104dBm while in the house and had no trouble making and receiving calls and text, although I could not send picture messages, but I was ready for that. I had "Text now" installed and used that through the Wi-Fi to send a few pictures. My daughter was so impressed with my phone that she is nw planning on getting the Samsung Galaxy S4 herself. She just loves the pictures it takes. So now I will show a few that I took while I was away.

This was the "WTH" photo. I have never had this happen while using "Drama shot" on my phone. I call this one "2 1/2 Gabes"

Everyone loves a good panorama shot..here's mine from the trip.

This one was taken at the same place as the photo above.

Grandpa and his buddy

Getting ready for the game!

All smiles playing with grandpa.

Fallowing in grandpas foot steps.(took me 3 hours to get the camera to work right again...)

The only photo in this post not taken with my phone. My favorite family, miss them bunches already.

This photo is saying "You better like this post!"

Thanks for visiting, come back again soon.

Taking a trip, and leaving the farm

Well I am heading North for a few days. Going up to spend sometime with my grandkids and I guess their parents too, but really to see the grandkids. I will be testing the roaming reception which should suck ass not expecting much really as even they have bad reception out in the middle of nowhere Washington. Good thing is they do have Wi-Fi so all should be good. My daughter has started a "Daddy-do" list that I am hoping to complete while up there. So far nothing to big. A shelf, repair some sprinklers and such. I hope I can squeeze that in between playing with Gabe and Melissa....


Still waiting for my carrier to release the Moto X and my phone bill. It is not looking good for them and that's a shame. They were the best out there for me... But they are sinking like a stone. I would hate to see how many customers have dropped them over the last 2 months. I look on their fan page on Facebook and just shake my head. It all comes down to changes they had to make to sell one type of phone... And it has bit them in the lower 40. Iphone lovers I'm sorry but the apple business practices are going to be the death of this company. I will stop there as I really don't want to go on, on how apple runs its business.

I will do a post from my grandkids place but it will most likely be pictures of them.. I will call it "Testing the camera on the S4" That works for me :-)

New toys are on the way

So we have a ton of new toys out and coming soon.

The Nexus 7, LG G2, HTC One Max, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and a host of Motorola's. There are a few new tablets that are making noise that aren't from "Brand name" makers. Some that look interesting, some that make me want to say WTF?

If you could pick any device to have, no matter pricing and carrier (if that would apply) would you have, or would it be more than one. I myself would love to have the new Nexus 7 and the LG G2. Leave a comment on which you would use and why.


The Moto X is at USCC and a host of others, I plan on checking that phone out today and giving a review on it later this week.


Update on the issues that USCC is having on their billing... Nothing has changed really. I have yet to receive my bill. Call times are still 20 minutes+ and complaints are many. To many of my friends have had it with them and are looking for "Options" I am hanging in there for now, hoping that things will clear up soon. I want to see what these new plans they are going to roll out look like. They will need to be pretty awesome to save this sinking ship.

The cost of change

Just a quick (I think) post.

My carrier USCC has switched to a new billing system. As with most tech switches there has been a few hiccups. Things haven't gone very smooth and as one would expect to complaints are flying like a flock of geese. I understand customers want their bill, they want service. I want those things as well. I am willing to ride the storm with minimal fuss. But as with all things each persons length of rope is different. The fan page on Facebook has been rot with complaints, and the people have that right. USCC has for the most part been absent from that page. Only commenting here and there.


I say give it time people, let things run its course. Complaining will only raise your blood pressure. It wont get the fix in any sooner. After they get the fix in, lets see what USCC has to say.


Give peace a chance

Hello, its been awhile..Sorry bout that.

Well yes I have been MIA from here for a bit. Work has been keeping me pretty busy lately. Long hours and 6 days a week make for a tired old man. That doesn't mean I have been out of the loop though and I have a few things I am going to touch on here today.


First up is my poor carrier, They switched to a new system. Now normally one would think that was a good thing. But.... They were down for 4 days and when they came back online things went a miss. I have been getting reports of phones being activated but not actually coming on until the midnight hour, some not at all. Billing has been a nightmare. I have yet to receive my bill as have many others. I am hoping that things come together soon as customers will not wait for long. Its different when we the customers make an error, but when its a company we pay money to we tend to be fickle. Lets hope thing get better soon.



Next up, SD cards. I picked up a class 10 32GB San-disk card last week. I loaded 1100 songs on it then copied said songs to another SD card then loaded them into my two phones. The one that got the new card then started doing something a phone has never done to me before. It would randomly shut off. Not reboot mind you, but just flat out shut off. Some time s it would do it twice in a day sometimes only once. Now I never panic so I monitored this for a few days, I just forwarded my calls to the other phone so I didn't miss anything. After a few days I finally pulled the card and stuck another one in. The phone has been perfect (once again) ever sense. I will be returning the card for replacement today... if the rain lets up. Which brings me to the next subject.



I live in central Oregon. the area is called "The High Desert" We don't get a lot of rain here, on average we get 10" Which we got last night in the storm from hell The rain came sometime during the night, not exactly sure what time it was as I was dead asleep from a LONG LONG day. But the thunder woke me a few times, but only when it was loud enough to shake the whole house. Then the rain came down in buckets. I would of loved to gotten up and watched the rain fall but my body said NO! So I stayed in bed and listened until I went back to la la land. When I woke the rain was gone and I was ready to start my day. My day off always starts at Starbucks. So off I went. Now here I am with my laptop in tow and just a light jacket. You will never guess what its doing outside...SMDH Its raining and has been for the better part of an hour. I am trying to wait it out but just how much coffee can a guy pour in him?.. I will update you on this when I find out.


Next, I have not forgotten the "Knox" feature I promised. Just haven't had a lot of time to be gathering all the info I want. I did stop into the Samsung store that is now in my local Best Buy store. I asked the guy about Knox and the look on his face told me before his mouth did "I have heard of it" I looked at him and asked "You are supposed to be a Samsung specialist aren't you?" He didn't answer but he did Google it....Again SMDH. I will get said info and post about it soon.


And the other post I promised is just about done, I have a few more pics to do and then I will let that one out to the public.


Get some rest and get ready for the weekend peeps something tells me there is a ton of tech news coming this month!

Update for the S4 brings some cool features

So most of the carriers have pushed out an update for the Samsung Galaxy S4, my carrier (USCC) started pushing it out Monday and I have now gotten it on both devices.

What does this update bring? Well a few things it brings is the option to move applications to the SD card, thus freeing up some much needed space. We were also blessed with the much awaited "Google Wallet" Although for me its not very useful as in my town there isn't any place I have found that lets me use it. The one addition I have been waiting for is the "Knox" security feature. You can find out more here https://www.samsung.com/global/business/business-images/resource/brochure/2013/05/knox_0510_leaflet_web-0.pdf.

I haven't read through the whole thing but when I have a day off I will read through everything I can. This just could be one of the biggest steps in keeping not only you stuff on the device safe, but also keep thieves from even bothering to steal the device in the first place. Stay tuned as I will be updating you on all the features "Knox" has to offer. I will be also posting a little fun post very soon as I am still working on getting all the photo's in order and taken. Sometimes we all need to toss some fun in our day and I am going to try to toss some in yours.

Until then please be safe, have fun and enjoy your device!

Happy 4th of July to you, my readers

Just want to wish you all a happy 4th of July. I have been super busy at work the last couple weeks but things should calm down now. I will be posting a couple times this next week as I am expecting some big news. For now please take time to enjoy this day, have a burger drink a beer and watch some fireworks. Be safe, have fun. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

New accessories you will want for your new Samsung Galaxy S4

Here are a couple accessories you may just want to pick up for your Samsung S4. I got these at half price thanks to the deal Samsung is offering for registering your device on their site www.samsung.com. For each device I registered I received a 50% off code for anything in their store that was under $50. So here is what I picked up.

The out of phone charger comes with a spare battery and a charger that can also be used to charge the phone. I carry a portable charger as well but when you are charging 2 phones, one blue tooth a Wi-Fi hotspot and a tablet you can tax that charger, so for the price I couldn't beet the extra power. As both phones take the same battery I should be good to go for a few days without having to worry about having enough power.


The tectiles are the second version, these will work with any of Samsungs NFC devices, but the S4 will not work with the old tectiles. So far the aren't a lot of features you can use the tiles for but as with the first batch, more will be coming soon. I tried them out on my Nexus & it would recognize them but wouldn't change any of the settings. As I can not download the Samsung Tectiles app to my Asus tablet...Maybe tat will change as well or there may be an app that will allow the tiles to work on the tablet, but I haven't looked into that as of yet.. The day is still young.

So this is some helpful accessories that I thought I would pass along to you my readers. If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I will do my best to answer them. I will do an update when and if I find a way to get these tiles to work with my Nexus 7. But if you have a nexus 7 and want NFC tags you can find them on just about any site that sells tech toys.


I am Ken "Duck" Geraths, a USCC Customer Crew member

New Videos coming this week

I will be recording some new videos this week. Most will be labeled "Beginner" as they will be for people that are new to the smartphone world. One easy way to tell them apart will be the beginner videos will be done on a black S4 and the advanced or normal videos will be on a white S4.


The beginner videos will start from the basic's, how to clear the screen, answer the phone and such. There has been a rush of people wanting and needing that. "Find a nitch, fill a nitch" as I always say. So start checking my YouTube page k1960g for videos coming soon.

History and mystery and my history

I have been a U.S. Cellular customer for over 9 years. For the most part I have been happy as a clam there was that time with the blackberry curve that still leaves me saying NEVER AGAIN. Over the years many things have changed in the phone world as have I. I went from using the most basic phone the "Phantom" to using the Samsung Galaxy S4, one of the most advanced phones out there. I have also gotten quite good at figuring them out. How to know what short cuts get you where and how to trouble shoot them.


A couple years ago my local store asked me if I would come sit in on their smartphone workshop. They wanted me there to help people with some questions that they were getting that they just weren't sure about. So I started showing up on the first Saturday of the month and helping out with questions and showing the customers how to do this and that on their phones. At this same time frame I started a cell phone help page on Facebook called "The Coffee Shop". The page has over a 100 members and is very active. Most things are not phone related as we have become a close nit family. But we do talk about things going on in the cell world. Now my cell phone store is about the same. I walk in there and they turn and see that's its me and they greet me and go back to what they were doing. Now you may say that they should greet me and see what I am there for, and you would be right...except. I have told them Over and over and over before they really understood I meant it. that when I come in I know what I am there for and if I really want something I will let them know, but that most of the time I am there to chit chat, and if I am there and there is a line...move me to the back of the line. This took about a year to complete but now they are all comfortable with this.



Now while all of this was going on I was being asked buy customers to meet with them outside of the smartphone workshop. Something that at first I was not sure I wanted to do. But as more and more people requested my help, I started to give into the idea that there was a real need. I started meeting people at Starbucks and teaching them how to get the most of their new device. AT&T found out about this and the next thing I knew they were sending me customers as well. Now I am meeting with clients 3 to 6 times a week. ranging from showing them how to just do the basics to how to make their phone their own.


So I decided that I need to put a name to this little business and what better than the one place I can not start my day without. So I named it "The Coffee Shop" and I model it after that. Friendly and fun, a place where all are welcome no matter their level of phone "Smartness" where the only dumb question is the one you don't ask. Now the one catch is that the customers I have only are with me for a short time, as the learning curve is short. Once a person gets comfortable navigating the phone they will no longer need me. I'm good with that, and the sooner it happens the better job I am doing. I still get to meet some really great people and I hope some will remain friends for a long time yet to come. They also know when the step up to a new device where to come for questions.


But back to the beginning here, remember me saying that I had a bad taste in my mouth with Blackberry... well it was that bad experience that pushed me to android. I traded in my POS Blackberry Curve for a LG Apex. A low end android, perfect for starting off. Most people had many issues with this phone, I had one and was able to figure out how to fix it myself.... That's how it started. I then started jumping from phone to phone culminating to a 6 different phones in one year (last year). This year I am slowing down a bit, I don't need every phone that comes out no matter how cheap I can get them. (USCC lets you use a point system to not only push your upgrade date, but to purchase phones and accessories as well) I know most of the tricks and features of phones before the phone hits the street due to many friends that are as crazy about phone tech as me and the many blogs and video's that are out in the world today. I have been using Samsung devices for the last year and a half, I am not stuck on Samsung, I am using them because to me they are the most advanced and have the most features. There are phones out there I would be more than happy to own, HTC and LG both have a new super phone I would love to have, but my carrier doesn't have them at this time. I am not willing to switch to another just to get a phone, besides why switch to another carrier when you are so happy where you are at. I am not dissing the other carriers just stating that I am happy where I am at. I have a friend that works at AT&T that understands this and never try's to pressure me into switching.



So I guess what all this is about is me, me being happy at my place in time and looking forward to what comes next. I often wonder where all this will lead... And that is kind of the best part. It is leading somewhere and only time will tell.


I am Ken "Duck" Gearths and I am a USCC Customer Crew Member

Smartphone to the rescue

I leave the house for work 4 days a week at 4am. I ride my bike most days as the weather has improved. The other day I woke, showered and dressed for work as I always do. I then normally catch up on tech news that came out after I went to bed the night before, and on my Facebook page. So on that fateful day I headed to work on my bike, helmet on head light, tail light on. Pulling into the bike parking area I turned off my lights pull my lock out and reached in my pocket for my keys... They were gone. I reached for my wallet, it was also not there. So I knew they were both at home, no way to lock my bike (but I knew I could store it in the store for the day) and no way to pay for lunch. So I headed in for the work day wondering what I would do for lunch as I get hungry after working hard. Then I remembered I had my Samsung Galaxy S4 on my hip... I had hope. Sure enough I checked my Starbucks app on my phone and I had a balance that would allow me to pickup a sandwich. So when lunch time came I ran over and got a hot yummy sandwich using no money out of pocket as they were empty.


I don't have Google wallet setup on my phone as of yet and either is my local Starbucks, but as long as I have their app I am good. You might just want to think about setting up a backup plan such as the Starbucks app. One never knows when a brain fart will happen.

Screen protector review

I stopped into my local USCC store this Thursday with a few items I had left over from some of my older phones that I thought my good friends there could use. I had some left over screen protectors from a tablet and a Samsung Galaxy SII I no longer own. As it turned out they had a gift for me there as well, they wanted me to try out a screen protector on my Samsung Galaxy S4. Now I have mastered the art of applying screen protectors a few months back.. (yeah I know I'm a little slow). So when they asked if I wanted to try out the screen protector I was a little hesitant, for a couple reasons. One I had a few sitting at my house and two I really didn't want to purchase something I really didn't need. As it turns out they had a extra one in the back for some reason or another. I don't look a gift horse in the mouth Now this screen protector is made by Puregear and is called PureTEK It is an industrial strength protector for HD screens. Its not new to me, I have seen them but comes with a hefty price tag. It retails at the store for $29.99, which is the main reason I have never tried them before.


So as I watched Devon set my phone in the cradle clean and prepare the phone as I have done myself I was thinking that this was going to be just a gimmick, the screen protector was going to be just a screen protector and nothing more. He set the clear film in place and with one smooth motion had a screen protector installed in seconds, no bubbles, no slight "to far to one side or the other" just a perfect fit. I thought that was cool as it takes me a few minutes to work out the bubbles and such.


Then came the news He should of told me this first I think. He said "It will take about 3 days for this thing to cure, but once it does if you scratch it the scratch will just "Melt away"". I'm not sure if it showed on my face but my mind was saying "Huh?". I have not tested the scratch part as I have a habit of trying to avoid such things on a brand new phone...Silly me. One thing I did notice was that the first day or two the screen protector was "Soft" and grabby. My finger or thumb wouldn't slide across the screen smoothly.Something else Devon should have told me. But as I had figured when he said it needed to "Cure" that meant it would smooth its self out, and it did. The thing is crystal clear and I am loving it. The fit is just right as it does not go from edge to edge which means I wont be peeling up the edges when I switch cases as I do so often. I have had that issue on many screen protectors I have used in the past, in fact its the main reason I have to replace them. So maybe you do really get what you pay for, this one time anyway. I am picking up another S4 this month as my line comes up for an upgrade. I think I will be adding this screen protector too, as I will be using both phones the price is cut in half The way I look at it anyway. So I will post again if I ever scratch this puppy and it "Melts away". But for now I am thinking that if you have a pricy phone and switch out cases (or you are just hard on screen protectors) you might just want to give this one a try.

A short review of a TPU case for my S4

I ordered a Caseology Matte Finish TPU case from Mercury U.S.A. for my S4. The price was great $6.49 with shipping. I wasn't overly excited about it getting here as it didn't come in my favorite color (Red). But the blue did look good on their Amazon.com website. Well it arrived yesterday in the mail. The textured back reminds me of those good ol blue jeans The color looks like them as well when those jeans were new The edges are a smooth black, but not slick, easy to hold a grip on. The cutouts are well placed, but there is a mystery cutout in the upper right hand corner that I have yet to figure out. My best guess without looking into it would be that its for better antenna reception or maybe there is some sort of strap that you can place between the phone and case, running it through that hole. If you know, or have a wild idea post a comment and educate the Duck, I'm good like that. Here are a couple of pics of the case. Maybe soon they will get a red one and make me happy. Its all about making the Duck happy you know



For those of you who don't know I like to have choices on cases. Depending on how I feel and what I'm doing that day I will "Dress" my phone. I have a very active job and have broke more than a few holsters doing it. A case is the best way of protecting my device. Although I do not like the idea of the bulky cases, a few of my friends love them. Sound off, what if any case to use to protect your loved one?

My look at the LG Optimus G Pro

A friend of mine who works at the local AT&T store asked me to stop in and checkout the new phone from LG, the LG Optimus G Pro. I have always liked LG and have owned a few of their phones in the past. So I went in and had a look. They let me pretty much do what I wanted on the phone including loading Quadrant standard benchmark. I ran the test twice and it scored a respectable 8600+ both times.


This phone runs smooth and is powered by a Snapdragon 1.7 GHz quad core processor. The screen was impressive sharp and clear. It boasts a 5.5" full HD screen, and the poke at Samsung was kind of cute as well. You see there was a live wallpaper of pure white feathers falling. (The note II has a couple feather wallpapers). I think it is a good competitor to the Note II, all be it may be a little late hitting the shelves. The Note 3 is rumored to be out in a few months (September) and will I'm sure have a ton of new things for us to drool over.

The LG Optimus G Pro is actually smaller than the note II and was comfortable in my hand. Would I own this phone....YES I would pick this thing up in a heartbeat if USCC carried it. The only "Con" I seen with it was it was still running 4.1.2 Jelly Bean when it really should of came out of the shoot running 4.2.2. But I am sure that it is in the works and will be a OTA update soon.

So have you seen the new power house from LG? What are your thoughts?

My review of the S4, now that I have had the time to play with it

The Samsung Galaxy S4 from uscc has been a fantastic phone. I have had it for three weeks now and have had a chance to play around with it. So here is my true review.

Pros: There are many. Speed is a big one to me and this phone packs a 1.9 quad core processor. I haven't had any lag at all. Now I also use "The Next Launcher" as I switch phones and brands its nice to have one launcher that I like that I can take with me. Battery life isn't really any better for me than my Note II was. Accept when both phones are at idle, for some reason the Note II would burn through the battery faster. The screen, for the first time I can actually tell the difference in the screen, I don't know if my eye site is improving (I doubt it) or if it really is that much better, but I love the way the colors pop out at you. The hover view was rally a nice addition, it was something I thought I would miss coming from the Note II, as is the ability to put notes on my calendar.


As my schedule can change in a heartbeat so a quick little scribble can fix it right up. Reception hasn't been any better than my Note II, but then I never had any issues with that on either phone. The camera has to be mentioned as it is one of the main things that had me in fits to get this phone. So far it hasn't been matched. Even the front facing camera seems to be a hit with me. As some of you know I am not big on pictures of myself, but when kids are involved I can't help myself. (Kids are my favorite humans of all)


Z-man and the Duck. This could of been a better picture but due to where I was at its the best I could do.

Now for the cons: Storage, that's it. This thing is billed as having 16 GB of internal storage and out of the box you have 8.9 (or there about's depending on carriers bloat ware)I have around 90+ apps installed right now and am sitting at 7.2 GB of storage. Now I can live with that, but with this screen and the processor I would love to load up a few movies and maybe that new Iron man 3 game and see what it would look like. I have such things on my Nexus 7, but as many of you know the tegra 3 processor and the 720 screen are not the best for such things.

As far as an over all rating I would have to give it 4.8 stars out of 5... the storage being the downside. Would I buy it again... Yes, and I most likely will be picking up another one as I will have a line available for an upgrade next month. Maybe I will even get the black one.

I hope you found this helpful, Ken USCC Customer Crew Member.

The Duck gets his own twitter account

Phone Talk With The Duck now has its own twitter account. Post from @phonetalkduck will be 99% phone related. (I leave 1% for events beyond the Ducks control. There is also the YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/user/k1960g?feature=guide. So sign up to follow the Duck.

testing, is this thing working?

I just thought I would give a test post from my phone. I haven't tried that out yet. Thought it would be good to do a test before I actually needed to do a post... Get the bugs worked out sort of speak.
My favorite family. My daughter and her husband and my 2 grandchildren.

A quick review of the Samsung S4 from U.S.Cellular

So I have had this powerhouse for a little over a week, but it has been a busy week. I have yet to scratch the surface of all the features of this new phone. However I am really impressed with it so far. Coming from the Samsung Note II that is saying something. The 1.9 quad core processor is simply amazing. I haven't came close to getting any lag and it the battery is lasting longer than my Note II is at idle. The S Voice seems to have been improved upon, and the camera as you have seen in my previous post shows that there is no equal (IMHO). Here are just a couple screen shots of some benchmark scores I have gotten, one from Quadrant and one from AnTuTu.






People will say that one is better than the other, well that's fine, all I'm saying is that this puppy is fast no matter which one you think is the best. This is stock no rooting and over clocking at all.

So have you picked up the Samsung Galaxy S4 yet? If so how are you liking it? If not stop in at your local USCC store and check it out. This pony has more trix than that silly rabbit.

Ken USCC Customer Crew member

Who's Ready For Some S4 Photo's? (you are if you're reading this)

Here are a few pictures taken with the Samsung S4 from U.S. Cellular.

This little guy was not camera shy.


The Spit Screen option


First babies of the season


And the Drama shot!

Here it comes

Well its in the mail, yep and people are waiting for the next big thing to hit their mailbox. That's right folks, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has been shipped. Some pre-orders have in fact already arrived as of yesterday. The S4 may just be the phone that increases the gap in the "Phone Wars" Samsung is ridding high after the success of the S3 and the Note II and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Now I have, as many of you have also, been reading everything you can about the phone and its features. Also the comparisons to the HTC One and the IPhone 5. I never take much stock in these things and as you notice I wont pit one against the other. I am a fan of Samsung, but I also like some of the other brands as well. LG makes a great phone and HTC seems to have finally gotten it right with the HTC One. I was able to play with the One the other day it was smooth, fast and seemed to have a nice sharp screen. I am one who doesn't really care if the phone is made from plastic, metal or glass. The first thing I do is slap a case on a phone anyway. Phones even a free phone cost to much not to protect them from ourselves.

I will be picking up the S4 Next week as I have the points and a line that needs to be activated. I am with USCC and with the belief plans you only sign one contract (In less you are doing the unlimited data plan) and you don't have to sign another. I have one line that is without contract and two that are about to go off, but we can still upgrade our phones as if we are under contract. Plus we can push our upgrade date up by 4 months by using the belief points. So all 5 lines will be able to upgrade over the next 12 months. Now I know two lines wont want to upgrade so I may be able to get those for the other lines as their phones will be getting long in the tooth.

So look for my post sometime next week I will give my first impressions of the S4. Untill then, Answer the phone it could be a loved one.

This and that and maybe something else

Well it has been a long....long time between posts. Not because I haven't had things to post about, but because I have been working a lot and just haven't pushed myself into posting (like I should). First off lets talk a bit about the Samsung Galaxy S IV (S4 or siv as a few call it, I call it all of these). I'm looking forward to this phone and will be picking it up from my carrier U.S. Cellular in June. Why June you ask? Well they have changed their upgrade rules and that's is the earliest I can push my upgrade even using points. Now I will live until then with no lost sleep, but I will most likely be drooling waiting to spend my points to get the phone. Now I have the Samsung Galaxy Note II now and love it. But the S4 has so many new features on just the camera alone that I can't wait. Plus the 1.9 quad core processor is a huge plus in my book. I will do a review of the phone when it comes out, but it will be done from the display phone at the store so it wont be much detail. I will do another once I get the phone but by then there will be a million reviews on it. Now the Blackberry Z10. I am sorry to see how this phone is selling, I thought it would bring the company (R.I.M.) back from the brink. Alas from what it looks like people are not liking the device all that well and are returning the phone almost as fast as it is selling. The HTC One... Sweet phone great specs... I think this phone will in time help HTC out of the mess they are in. We need another power house to step up and compete with the mighty Samsung. Without the competition innovation will lag. HTC did a good job with this phone and look for more to follow. The LG Optimus G pro....now this monster really has hit Samsung at home, its selling really well in South Korea. That has to worry Samsung some. Its not available in enough markets for my liking and I hope that changes soon as well. Again, we need the competition for the good of all the phone whores out there. Well that's all for now... until I kick myself in the ass for not posting I say Later Gator

WiFi Hotspot and the fun I'm having with it

Around 6 months ago I picked up the Samsung WiFi hotspot from USCC. It is dual 3G/4G and easily fits in a shirt pocket. I used it mostly at home, for I don't have internet here at the house. (I'm really not here enough to use it) But now that I have picked up the Google Nexus 7, I have been bringing it along with me. It has worked out rather well. I can be riding the bus system here in town and still keep up with whats happening around the tech world.Its nice to know that where ever I go I can hook up and stay connected. Although USCC doesn't sell the Nexus 7, they do supply me with the means of using it... and thats awesome. I have also switched my phone and tablet to using the "Next launcher" I like some of the features. Plus at only 3.4 MB its not a space hog.If you want a really nice launcher stop by the Google Plat Store and pick it up. its $15.99, but its yours forever. Thanks for stopping by, I'm a member of the USCC Customer Crew.

Blocking Mode

Blocking Mode on the Samaung Note II (And I'm sure on any phone running 4.1 and up) is a great little feature that I use when I am working a split shift at work and want to take a nap between. Here is what it says at the top when you open the feature in your settings. "When this mode is enabled, notifications for selected features will be disabled. You will only recive notifications of incoming calls from people on your allowed list." Then you have a features list, where you can disable incoming calls, notrifications, alarm and timer and disable the LED indecator. Then you can set the time of ay you want to have blocked your choice is "Always" or you can set it for a period of time like I do. Mine is set for from 8am to 4pm right now. So while its turned on I will not recieve and notifications in that time frame. You can also "Allow certain contacts to get through even when the blocking mode is on. Your choices are:None, All Contacts, Favorites or custom. Try this out when you are going to a meeting, when you get done all you have to do to turn it off/check notifications is pull your status bar down, tap on blocking mode and it will take you to the settings and there you can disable it. Also your notifications will show as well. Hope this helps you out some. Ken USCC Customer Crew Member.

Phone survey II

Well the results are in on the phone surey. The Samsung Galaxy Note II was the hands down winner. with about 75% of the votes. Next up was the Samaung Galaxy S III, followed by the Motorola Electrify. Funny only one vote came in for the Galaxy S II and the iphone, Okay I wasn't surprised only one vote came in for the iphone, but the S II is a great phone? Anyway thanks for your help with this, hope to have another in a few months once the new line of hot phones start popping up. Ken USCC Customer Crew Member.

Phone survey

Taking a survey to find out which phone my friends and followers think is the best phone on the market is. You can post your vote in the comments here. I will also be posting this question on my facebook page as well as in my cell phone group on there as well.... Tick tock, tick tock... Time is short so hurry and vote.

Split screen on the Note II

Here is a screenshot of the split screen feature on the Galaxy Note II from USCC. I have been using it for a while now and just love it! I know I haven't been posting much lately, but with the holidays I have been busy at work and have picked up a few more customers to train. I promise that I will be doing much more blogging this year. With some fun facts that I have been picking up. See you again soon KLG aka DUCK. USCC customer Crew Member.