Our new Phones.

USB C is the way forward. My last 2 phones, my Chromebook and Chromebox are all USB C. I won’t touch a device (for myself) that isn’t USB C.

Unless it’s a legacy device or dirt cheap.

That phone really was messed up too.

Sony logo, black screen, Sony logo, black screen etc.

Press the key combo to get to the boot loader? Nope.

Press the keys for a factory reset ? Not listening.

Plug it into a PC via USB ? Windows doesn’t even notice.

The sony companion software couldn’t find a phone either but it offered a nuclear option if you entered the model name manually.

With that done the software goes to the internet to get a special driver package. Then you can see the software trying a few things until a Windows found new device box pops up.

From there you follow the instructions and wait for it to do its thing.

@WOF I was surprised that phones allow themselves to turn off or be turned off. I always thought that the ‘switch’ was a soft button that should be easy to disable during critical activities. Though perhaps it is easier to cut dumb users fingers off? Turning things off while do some critical activity is not something I plan to mess with, I assume that warnings are there for a very obvious reason. Some things used to suggest relying on mains power while doing critical activities. However the Sony option is an interesting and perhaps vital fall back for when things go really wrong.

To be fair to my friend Richard there was some debate about wether he switched off or the battery went flat but the result was the same ?

I now use NFC quite often but mostly for the bus or tube. The first time was when I had walked to the station and found I had forgotten my wallet. I used NFC for the train and then Emergency get cash from an ATM when I got there.

Dave, I know what you mean about the change in the pockets. Anything under a quid goes in my change pot.

I use cash often but there are times when using my phone is just easier.

Today was a prime example, yesterday some volunteers put up new curtains and curtain rods in the legion. Some of the rings broke so they ran out. I stopped at Wilko today and got some. Using cash would mean navigating the car park, parking up, hobbling to the cash point, driving another few shops down and then hitting Wilko. All in the torrential rain. Nuts to that.

Parked right outside, collared a very nice youngish female assistant, tap my phone and within 5 minutes back in the car.

Blimey never had a shop refuse cash – I’m in greater London. Our public transport runs on contactless or Oyster Cards – buses don’t take cash at all now. I must admit if you’re in a busy pub waiting to get served then contactless does speed thing along. Don’t tend to use it as it seems TOO easy. Worst thing about cash now is these plastic fivers and tenners that you can’t fold, roll or do anything with. Hate the things.

I always carry cash as we have several cash only sessions per week. I top up my ‘wallet’, (it is a small pouch on my belt), at the supermarket it is a very few feet from car to the machine. Car parking generally needs cash in most car parks so any change from cash purchases ends up in various machines. For amounts over somewhere between £5 ~ £ 20 I will use a card, (chip and pin) and I always get a receipt to keep the books straight. I just do not want the hassle of churning through endless little bits of expenditure when the next billing cycles come round. Places that do not want my custom by getting too picky about payments can do without my custom, I have yet to encounter one. Cards are a problem during power cuts, IT breakdowns and communications links issues. So I always carry a choice of payment methods.

The longest part of shopping is usually the queue though a quick dash round to get some ‘more or less matching bedding plants’ to complete an emerging planting plan tonight had no queue. So some dodgy juggling of plant trays, one £10 note and out the door. I really should have used one of the shop zimmer frames, the ones with baskets for goods. They are a great support if you are stuck behind a queue. For me, walking is OK-ish, but standing is really uncomfortable very quickly, hand carrying items is also rapidly painful.

Following the latest pain in the behind ruling from the Brussels Gestapo paying credit card bills has become a bigger pain in the behind. Card companies proudly proclaim that they have improved the ‘security’ by making it a total hassle so much more needs to be written down and laboriously punched into the PC, then wait to see if a damned text will get through, requiring more digit punching. It is making cheques far simpler and appealing, even if it would require a stamp on the envelope. Sadly the same text message farce is also coming to internet shopping, thus raising the desirability of nicking people’s phone or service.