lamyai3

Cafe Pitini, Soi Bukow.

The first case I had for my Zenphone-5 (NORTH case from Lazada) muffled the speaker and ringer volume on my phone. Also, the round front window is open, no clear plastic resulting in many pocket calls to the last previously called number. Got rid of it.

I really like the nillkin case with this phone, very well designed and snug fit. It has the clear plastic window (rectangular) and proper windows for the speakers etc. And it's protected the phone great when I've accidentally dropped it!

Just bought an Asus zenfone 5 through Lazarda. Good efficient service from them. Nice phone with some good features but two issues. Very poor battery life and the volume control has just gone very low. Currently I am viewing an Indian Q & A forum on Asus products. The battery issue appears to be a common thread. Any ideas/comments.

Is there a time period in which you can return the phone? If so you'd be better to wait one month and get the new version with the bigger battery.

I checked out the 4.5 alongside the 5 when I bought it, it felt considerably inferior, not least because of the low pixel screen.

I'm quite pleased the 5 isn't being upgraded much actually as it gives me little incentive to replace it just for an extra 20% on the battery (this has been downgraded too as they initially spoke of a 3000mAh, now it's 2500). Aside from the battery being underpowered (and I've kind of got used to managing it now) this phone is really very good indeed.

Yeah, regarding the comment about it being filmed around last January, I noticed a guy in the first episode wearing a "Bangkok shutdown" t-shirt...

Interesting, the latest press releases make it appear the base model of the zenfone 2 is hardly much different to the current zenfone 5. New design and bigger battery, but otherwise same camera, same chipset, same screen size and resolution. Looks like the substantial upgrades are on the bigger more expensive models only.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Full-specs-sheet-for-the-5-inch-199-Asus-ZenFone-2-leaks-out_id66138

Cap'n Jack sounds like Leslie Chow from the hangover!

The version with the faster processor has never been available in Thailand. It's not actually a newer version, just the version that was released in the Chinese and Taiwanese market at the same time which had a slightly better processor.

Both those ussd codes seem to have stopped working now for the old true move interim cards. But I just extended the validity 12bt a few times on the machine outside the 7-11. Quick and easy to use.

I've got strings etc from this guy before in Bangkok, he does most of his stuff by mail. 50 Baht p&p if I remember correctly...

http://www.acousticshops.com/store/

Gotta say that looks extremely impressive! Just a couple of issues I can see (comparing it to the zenfone 5), it's about 5mm wider and also a fair bit heavier with the bigger battery. The width might be an issue as it'd no longer really be comfortable to operate with one hand, whereas the zenfone 5 has turned out to be a very usable size.

Actually, the "Lite" is LTE...4G. They changed from the Intel processor. Better battery but takes only one SIM. Selling for around B7500.

Very similar name so it's easy to confuse, but it's a brand new model. The LTE 4G (A500KL) has been out since June, whereas this is the "lite" A502CG, a lower spec model in terms of RAM and CPU, but with a new battery boosted to 2500 mAh.... the earlier 3G and 4G models had 2110 mAh.

http://m.gsmarena.com/asus_zenfone_5_lite_a502cg-6813.php

In any event I don't think this model is release in Thailand right now, but it does imply they've taken on board feedback about boosting battery power.

Xiaomi's are available on LAZADA.com

I have a Zenphone-5 and like it very much. The screen display is fine for me but no, it does not compare with Super Amoled or Nexus. I only wish it had a gutsier, replaceable battery.

Me too, I wanted something along the lines of the nexus and at the price the zenfone 5 fit the bill. For the most part I'm very happy with it, and pleased with the quick kitkat updates etc.

I read something interesting the other day, a new "lite" version of the phone has been released recently. Although it has a slower CPU (1.2 GHz) and just 1gb RAM, what it does have is a bigger battery by about 20% (2500mAh)... it may be that this boosted battery will make it's way into the regular model soon enough.

The Purachai of the new regime...

This brings to mind the Hua Hin fiasco a few months back where a local immigration chief announced it was compulsory to have your original passport on you at all times... this caused such negative media coverage that it quickly went up the line and got knocked on the head by a superior official. In the same way, sanctioning random stops and searches of tourists/expats with compulsory urine testing and possible detention is a serious escalation in police activity which the powers that be much higher up may not be aware of. I think they have no idea how outrageous foreigners find this and if it goes unchecked it will fast become major news in the foreign press.

For now, since there's no official announcement of new policy (as there was in the Hua Hin situation), I guess these complaints are effectively anecdotal until a certain amount of evidence is gathered.

My friend got one in September (US passport). Probably single entry but they definitely issue them.

Great idea to resurrect a zombie thread at Halloween!

Google "bung's tears" and you'll see this issue was resolved a year ago.

Difficult question, I considered both these but got the z5. Part of my decision was based on my gf's galaxy s3. It was great all round when she got it but after a few months she started having major battery issues with it. It was also super fast in the beginning but with all the Samsung UI updates it was really lagging after some time. The new s3 is running a newer version of Android so don't know if that improves it, but in any event I'm not so keen on the Samsung touchwiz thing and wanted more of a plain android set up on the phone.

Yes me too, had to download the Google keyboard again. I think also the haptic feedback setting is a bit less fine tuned than before, especially on the SwiftKey keyboard I sometimes use... before I could set the level of vibration very low indeed. That's probably an issue with the app though.

As everywhere is out of stock and even Asus support don't seem to know when they will be back should I order one from China.

http://www.vickmall.com/asus-zenfone-5-smartphone-dual-sim-android-dual-core-intel-16gb-rom-red.html

It's the 16GB , 2.0GHz Z2580 model for about 6700 Bt. Is it worth the risk?

This Chinese version is actually even better spec than the 3G version that was for sale in Thailand. The A501CG model in Thailand has 16GB/2GB RAM but a less powerful chip, 1.6GHz Z2560. This phone had an earlier model too, which had 8GB/1GB and priced a bit less.

The LTE has a few differences, single sim, quad core snapdragon processor instead of intel dual core etc.

I'm in England right now and did the update here. Though it wasn't in the notifications bar - I stumbled on it by accident under the systems update section (settings - about - system update). Update went fine with no glitches.

You just slide the sim in.

In mbk last week most shops out of stock, though I saw one or two still available. Probably they will restock soon enough.

Still delighted with the 3g version of this phone. Last night it got the android 4.4.2 kitkat update on it, even faster now.

I bought a Zenfone 5 last week, was looking at both the 3G and LTE models, and found out the LTE model is only a single SIM phone. At least at present. Just to clarify if folks aren't aware. I opted for the 3G model.

Earlier in the tread saw talk about cases for the phone. The shop at Fortune Town I got it at has in stock a Zenfone 5 dedicated back cover 'frosted shield' case, made by Nillkon, 450 baht, that fits perfectly over the back and along the sides, with open slots where the power button and volume sliders are so they are easy to use. The shop also had another Zenfone 5 dedicated case with a front cover which requires removal of the original back cover, but I didn't want pursue that.

Yes, just bought the 3G version myself recently, really pleased with it. There's lots of LTE models now in stock at MBK, 7990bt. These ship with the quadcore snapdragon processor, though personally I've found the intel processor on the 3G model is very fast.

It's worth double checking the box as Asus has made a few changes this year and if you find one at a cheaper price it's probably the lower spec model. I found a 1GB RAM, 8GB storage version for 4990bt, but went for the 2GB/16GB variant for an exta 1000.

Agree, the Nillkin cases are a good option and fit nicely.

 

Yes, no problem,  the crack down was on visa exempt/visa waiver.
The 12th August was the date out/in will be restricted at Airport

Exactly correct.
There have been so many rumors and misinformation about the 12th. I have been posting about that for a long time now.

 
I just got back from a 3 day trip to KL this evening and was welcomed through immigration with a smile and no mention about my previous back to back tourist visas.

Thanks ubonjoe for being so clear about this in your earlier postings, it took all the stress out of the trip for me.

Does that include Australia?

Yes. Locals here have informed me it's right in the middle of Europe, near Swissland and Yallaman.