lomatopo

I said, "$115 is about the average, second-hand price here in the U.S. now. Agree it's a good deal as long as you don't have a problem and have to return it to NewEgg, and if you are looking to save some money on gifts."

I'd rather buy a second-hand (used) unit than a refurbed unit, but that's just me.

Already said it's a great deal if you don't have to return it, if you have to return it you can get it back within 30 days, don't need warranty repair (in Thailand), don't mind the older version, want to save money, don't have to pay state sales tax, shipping, can get it sent to you in Thailand for free, can avoid VAT.

There are a lot of places selling refurbed old N7's here in the U.S.

I saw a new 2013 N7/16 GB/WiFi only in Staples yesterday for $214, or $15 off.

NSA reportedly intercepting laptops purchased online to install spy malware

According to a new report from Der Spiegel based on internal NSA documents, the signals intelligence agency's elite hacking unit (TAO) is able to conduct sophisticated wiretaps in ways that make Hollywood fantasy look more like reality. The report indicates that the NSA, in collaboration with the CIA and FBI, routinely and secretly intercepts shipping deliveries for laptops or other computer accessories in order to implant bugs before they reach their destinations. According to Der Spiegel, the NSA's TAO group is able to divert shipping deliveries to its own "secret workshops" in a method called interdiction, where agents load malware onto the electronics or install malicious hardware that can give US intelligence agencies remote access.

To gain physical access, the NSA reportedly works with the CIA and FBI on sensitive missions that sometimes include flying NSA agents on FBI jets to plant wiretaps. "This gets them to their destination at the right time and can help them to disappear again undetected after even as little as a half hour's work," the report notes.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/29/5253226/nsa-cia-fbi-laptop-usb-plant-spy

These APN settings (Settings, Wireless & networks, More, Mobile networks, Access Point Names, add a new APN, remember to save it, re-start the phone, go back and select that APN with the radio button) work for me:

You can "tether" a PC via USB or Bluetooth to an Android phone, and then use it as a sort of dial-up modem, utilizing the phone's 3G connection. You cannot share/use the phone's WiFi interface from the PC. You can get a USB WiFi adapter for a reasonable price: I keep a model like this on hand for trouble-shooting: http://www.dlink.com/us/en/home-solutions/connect/adapters/dwa-130-wireless-n-usb-adapter

Obviously you will face some challenges: USB drivers, recognizing the modem, getting a SIM, adding money, subscribing to a plan, configuring the phone, etc.

For me Win 7/64 it was easy but understand there are many steps and challenges.

In your Android device go to Settings, Wireless & networks, More, Tethering & portable hotspot, choose USB tethering (available if your phone is successfully connected).

$115 for wifi version is an amazing deal.

1. Re-furbished.

2. N7 version 1, so the old, original model with the OK screen.

$115 is about the average, second-hand price here in the U.S. now. Agree it's a good deal as long as you don't have a problem and have to return it to NewEgg, and if you are looking to save some money on gifts.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230893

TrueMove H has the most coverage, the fewest customers and a decent infrastructure, although not necessarily off each and every (~ 11,500 - 13,000) CAT tower. Obviously many of those are in remote/rural areas with limited uplink, which is also shared with voice, which has priority.

That said, with a properly configured 850 MHz-compatible device, a newer TrueMove H SIM, subscription to a real 3G plan, in a major metropolitan area (provincial capital) TrueMove H should reliably deliver (at a minimum) 3 ~ 5 Mega-bits per second downstream and and 1 Mega-bits per second upstream. At least that has been my experience over a few years in a number of diverse locations including Bangkok. I have driven from/between Hua Hin, Bangkok, Chantaburi, Chiang Mai via many routes, and always had decent performance with TrueMove H.

It seems like most issues I trouble-shoot involve devices which do not support 850 MHz, have improperly configured APNs, have old SIMs, still have the "old" TrueMove network, or have not subscribed to a real 3G plan which offers HSDPA.

Why order from the US, they cost 12.900 here, for 3G version Sent from my C6802 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Agreed. If you want the 3G version, and live in Thailand much better to buy here, if only for warranty assurance. By the time you land it here you might end up paying the same.

In the U.S., the N7/32 GB/3G variant is $349 (~ 11,500) before any state sales tax, shipping within the U.S. (Google charges $13.99), shipping to Thailand, then any potential VAT/Excise/ad valorem.

(Looking at the U.S. Play Store I only see a 32GB variant of the int'l unlocked LTE model as available.)

Saw these in Best Buy (in the U.S.) this morning - I was buying another Chromecast - just to give you a feel for pricing.

They have N7/16 GB or 32 GB/WiFi only in stock: $229/$269 (USD). I saw the N7/16 GB/Wifi only for $214 USD at Staples yesterday.

In Thailand I would search out on-line options via Thai websites - ask someone to help - or go to an Asus shop which sells the N7, or if in Bangkok go to Sua Pa Road, where there is a HUGE wholesale mobile phone accessory shopping area. Dozens of shops - this is where retailers, owners of small mobile phone shops - go to shop. I guarantee you'll find something but it might take a while.

According to one analyst's estimate, those on a data plan that offers a single gigabyte per month could use up the allotment by making just one five-minute call a day on FaceTime.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303703004577476741029162690

From which I infer you may be able to get 150 minutes of video-calling per month?

You could probably find more experiences with a search of some Apple-specific forums/sites?

Those stats are impressive, I think. What Android version are you running? Whatever you do, don't upgrade as your battery performance may decrease.

The only stat that's a tad high is cell stand-by, normally you'd like to see that at 5% or less, but 9% isn't alarming especially if you are moving around a lot.

You could also consider an integrated battery-pack case which can (at a minimum) double your mAh capacity, albeit with a sacrifice is weight/portability.

http://www.mophie.com/shop/battery-cases-samsung/juice-pack-samsung-galaxy-s-iii

Which application will you be using?

Typically they have some variability in audio/video codecs and associated bit-rate, and a quick search can typically yield this detail for your app.

With something like Skye you might consume 600 Kilo-bits per second (for both audio and video, and for both upstream and downstream). If you're good at math you can figure out how many bits a 20 minute call would require, then convert that to Bytes.

I think you first need to identify what is consuming the storage/memory on the device (HTC Desire? Nexus 7? Both?) before you can address the issue(s)?

Can you go to Settings, Storage and maybe poke around there, and/or share a screenshot? There should be a bar chart at the top and a list of categories below: Available, Apps, Pictures/videos, Audio, Downloads, Cached data, Misc.

You can drill down into those categories with a long press on any one, which should reveal a likely cause. Probably a leaky/bleeding app. but then people have been complaining about the HTC Desire re: memory since Day 1.

Streetview is very handy, especially when you are looking for a business, restaurant, street address as it gives you a feel for your destination before you get there.

http://bk.asia-city.com/city-living/article/google-street-view-thailand-progress

It sounds like they've covered ~ 25 provinces, and the back-pack camera sounds pretty cool.

I think a driver, mrseven, posts in this Thai thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=f29db4ae181e2924d15fa5409fb6ae86&t=1438146&page=22

I think the OP is facing challenges getting his Android Set-Top Box onto his WiFi network, rather than trying to connect it, or some other Android device to a PC via a USB connection?

That's not to say that others didn't raise the latter issue, nor that the latter issue isn't a challenge in some instances.

I think the OP needs to first verify that the STB is indeed connected to his WiFi network. He should be able to determine this by:

- using the Android UI on the TV, Settings, WiFi, look for your WiFi network and then connect to it using any existing security protocols. There are always a lot of issues with these STB's and their less than functional remotes - there are some pretty cool 3rd party remotes which have a touch-pad or even an IR mouse. One could "open up" the router temporarily - remove any WiFi security protocols - to see if the STB can connect.

- checking the UI of the router to see if the STB is connected.

Once the STB is connected to the local WiFi network any functionality will be determined by the capabilities of the STB. I found it challenging to get a lot of detail on these Aconatic Android STBs so am not certain what one can do with this unit re: file transfer, local streaming, etc. You may have to copy files from the PC to the USB stick, with the USB stick inserted into the PC, then take that USB stick to the STB, where you can play the files on the TV through the STB.

1. Still, after much fooling around, the chrome on this phone keeps going back to (.th)

Did you follow kkerry's step by step directions in post #6? These worked for me, and stuck, even after a re-start..

Service re-commenced ~ 11:15 AM. I boarded at Asoke in-bound ~ 11:17 AM.

But reviewing Twitter I see the Sukhumvit Line closed down sometime later, but maybe now has re-re-opened?

Supposed to be a press conference at 2:00 PM.

What is the format of the file(s) which won't play? What is the extension? You can right-click on the file to get this detail.

The traffic-cone merely means that on your PC you've associated that file type with VLC. It could be an mp4, avi, mkv "container". Maybe your TV can't handle the container type (mkv?), or the embedded video and/or audio codec.

Which file types play successfully on your TV?

I have Samsung TV's and they play everything; I've never had a file which would not play.

You can review the specs, or the user's manual, to get a feel for which file types may be supported.

Not sure what qualifies as "outside Thailand", but in the U.S. some of these WiFi-only variants are heavily discounted at this time of year.

I think you have an Android Set-top box device?

http://www.papayatop.com/aconatic-an-stb292-smart-android-box/

Connected to your WiFi network?

Can you see this device on your network? Is it getting a 192.168.1.nnn IP address from your router? Maybe it is not connecting owing to your WiFi security protocols?

The USB stick may, or may not be visible, if plugged in to the STB, but I admit I;m having a hard time following your situation.

Maybe some Youtube videos or the user manual can help?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3feNq04GKE

Answered in post #6:

Your only remaining option would be to use VoIP, on WiFi or possibly 3G. You'll have to look around for the best VoIP to address your individual calling requirements.

Who/what/where do you want to call? Do you want people to be able to call you? Do you care what number they have to dial to call you? Only you know your calling patterns/requirements/budget.

You'll be able to off-load some of you originated/terminated calls via VoIP, but not all; it will probably cost you more and will be kludgy to manage.

Net, net you'd probably be better off with a 900 baht mobile phone.

The original press release mentioned that the nine remaining channels would be added "by the end of the year", so maybe sometime over the next week or so?

Nothing in the recent news, and I can't seem to access much of the CTH website, other than the top page.

I think some variants (3G/international and not LTE/U.S.) of these models support native dialers, and offer GSM voice, text/USSD:

It sounds like this film might be based on the 1963 Coup?

Here is a decent report from David Halberstam at the time:

http://www.pbs.org/weta/reportingamericaatwar/reporters/halberstam/coup.html

"The Ugly American" is a good film, it was filmed here and Kukrit Pramoj had a turn as the fictional country's PM, and he also had a brief turn as the real PM for Thailand, circa 1975/76.

Graham Greene's novel, "The Quiet American" is pretty good, it was filmed in 1958 and 2002 with varying degrees of critical success.

Asus/Thailand localized the Nexus 7 (2013)/32 GB/WiFi+ 3G/LTE for the Thai market a while ago. It is widely available here with an MSRP of 13,500 THB. This is an official product, supported by Asus/THL. There are some shops promoting this unit for as low as 12,800 THB. I forget which of the two LTE variants this model is?

As with any model/variants, there are grey-market units available in 16 and 32 GB/WiFi only; maybe even the U.S./LTE variant (supports 700 MHz LTE)?

Why not get the Nexus 7 instead?

As you've discovered the N7 is not a phone, so if you need a phone the N5 is the better option.