“Why did you do it?” is one of those questions that’s not always easy to answer.
Sometimes, we look back and are unable to answer beyond: “It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”
When it comes to buying phones, the decision-making process has surely become more difficult. Phones last longer, so a change must be made in a considered manner. Worse, there are so many of the darned things these days. It feels less that they’re marketed and more that they’re 3D-printed.
So I asked my wife, a diehard Samsung Galaxy S7 owner, to talk aloud as she went through the buying process of a new phone on the Verizon website. While I sat on the sofa, took notes and sipped a $3.99 Sauvignon Blanc from Trader Joe’s.
This Won’t Take Long, Will It?
She began like this: “I clicked on the upgrade options and I’m going to choose based mostly on price and the ones I like.”
“But you don’t care about phones, do you?” I asked.
“When I look at them here, I can tell which ones I like.”
Which isn’t dissimilar to her approach on the night we met. Here, though, she explained she’d chosen four phones to be in the final. This was going to be easy.
“I picked two Apples and two Samsungs.”
“That’s a big boring, isn’t it?” I said. “There must have been other brands there.”
I wanted her to explore, you see. Otherwise, we’d be doing Apple vs Samsung all over again.
“There are things I hadn’t heard of or things I remembered from my youth, like Nokia,” she continued. “There was really stuff I didn’t know. There are 58 items. OnePlus, I don’t even know what that is. What’s OnePlus?”
“It’s a phone brand,” I muttered.
Her freedom of speech continued without stopping: “Kyocera, never heard of it. Palm, didn’t they make those personal service devices, like 20 years ago? Sonim? Never heard of it. Alcatel, never heard of it. Motorola I’ve heard of. LG, they make TVs, which is great but, some of them are expensive. 42 dollars a month? No way.”
She didn’t actually say no way. Her words were a little more descriptive. Then she stopped: “But there’s an LG for $15, perhaps I should look into that.”
A breakthrough moment, surely.
She then dug deeper. She’s a scientist. They do that. And it can take a while.
Compare and Contrast. And Contract.
“So now I’m doing the whole compare thing. I’ve got a cheap Apple, the SE and an expensive one, the XR. I’ve got the most expensive Samsung, the S20 5G and the Galaxy S10e.”
I didn’t interrupt.
“Aw, but only four devices can be compared and I want to add the cheap LG,” she said. “Its usage time is 45.92 hours, that’s what it says here. The Q70. Whereas the Apple SE is 13 and the two Samsungs are approximately 34 and 33.93.”
This really could be one of the biggest moments of our marriage, I thought. My wife might just forsake Samsung, veer around Apple and choose an LG.
I should have stopped thinking. In the next breath, she said: “Now I know why I don’t want the Q70. 6.38 inches. Too big for my tiny hands. That’s huge. That’d be so exceptionally annoying.” She didn’t say exceptionally.
Then things got even more detailed. She writes 100-page grant applications, after all.
“The XR. 25 dollars a month, I can do that. What they start at, which is of course a lie. And then there’s the important stuff. Battery life. Although they break it up by usage time and standby time. Which, I mean, standby…I guess my phone’s alone when it’s nighttime. But then it’s plugged in, so does that matter?”
I told you this was her inner monologue, right? These were the next several things out of her head, as she compared the four phones:
“I care about reviews, probably like an idiot. Weight, that matters. Storage, that definitely matters.”
“Rear camera, 12 mp. Isn’t that, like, a position in the British Parliament? Megapixels? I don’t know.”
“I want to know the difference between Black, Cosmic Black and Prism Black. I’m going to guess they’re all, guess what, black.”
“I look at battery life, ’cause I care about that. But then price starts to come into play. Because the one with the most usage time is the most expensive one.”
“S20 is the most expensive at 50 dollars a month. Starting at…..See, this is what makes the SE less interesting. 13 hours of usage time.”
“And I’m already annoyed at my Samsung. What do I have? An S7. It’s 9.20 pm and I only have 18 percent left. Would I want something with just 13 hours of usage time?”
We started long before 9pm. In the first world, life is still hard.
The Elimination.
And then the S20 was eliminated: “It’s the most expensive and it’s 6.3 inches. I don’t need something that big. Let’s measure my current phone. Oh, my God. It’s tiny. It’s 5.56. I don’t want a 6.3. That would be way too long.”
I felt we were getting close to a decision. Of some sort.
She said: “FHD? Future High Definition? WQHD? Whirling Quad HD? Apple, with IPS technology? Interpersonal stardom? The SE is kinda tiny. 4.7.”
And so: “The Samsung S10e is looking pretty good.”
At least it wasn’t the obvious choice. It was also a choice that lasted mere seconds: “Most of them have four stars. Except the Samsung Galaxy S10e, which is 3.7 stars, not four. S10e has the least number of features. The lowest ranking for design.”
I contined to listen. One day, I want to be a psychologist.
And suddenly the XR was gone: “Damn, the XR is 6.8 ounces and the Apple SE is 5.2. That kinda kills the XR for me.”
Which left the iPhone SE and the Galaxy S10e. This became painful: “The SE. 256GB, it’s another 3 dollars a month. Let’s look at the S10e. It doesn’t give me a 256 option. I can only get half, and I’m paying more for 128 GB.”
And just like that, she’d changed her mind: “Looking at what matters, what I end up with is the Apple. If I was an Apple person, I’d think great, done. But I’m going to have transfer everything and learn a new system. That seems like more work.”
This, you see, is what happens if you think about these things too much.
And then another tangent: “I see my friends can like text messages that you send. On an iPhone. Do you do that?”
“I don’t,” I said. “I like this wine for $3.99.”
This had all taken at least 45 minutes. Or, as it seemed to me, at least 4 hours and 50 minutes.
But finally, she reached a conclusion: “This is no good. I need to go into a store.”
CHICAGO (AP) — United Airlines has struck a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to offer satellite-based Starlink WiFi service on flights within the next several years.
The airline said Friday the service will be free to passengers.
United said it will begin testing the service early next year and begin offering it on some flights by later in 2025.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
The announcement comes as airlines rush to offer more amenities as a way to stand out when passengers pick a carrier for a trip. United’s goal is to make sitting on a plane pretty much like being on the ground when it comes to browsing the internet, streaming entertainment and playing games.
“Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do on board a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” CEO Scott Kirby said in announcing the deal.
The airline says Starlink will allow passengers to get internet access even over oceans and polar regions where traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals may be weak or missing.
Sony has made it easy for Canadian consumers to preorder the PlayStation 5 Pro in Canada directly from PlayStation’s official website. Here’s how:
Visit the Official Website: Go to direct.playstation.com and navigate to the PS5 Pro section once preorders go live on September 26, 2024.
Create or Log in to Your PlayStation Account: If you don’t have a PlayStation account, you will need to create one. Existing users can simply log in to proceed.
Place Your Preorder: Once logged in, follow the instructions to preorder your PS5 Pro. Ensure you have a valid payment method ready and double-check your shipping information for accuracy.
Preorder Through Major Canadian Retailers
While preordering directly from PlayStation is a popular option, you can also secure your PS5 Pro through trusted Canadian retailers. These retailers are expected to offer preorders on or after September 26:
Best Buy Canada
Walmart Canada
EB Games (GameStop)
Amazon Canada
The Source
Steps to Preorder via Canadian Retailers:
Visit Retailer Websites: Search for “PlayStation 5 Pro” on the website of your preferred retailer starting on September 26.
Create or Log in to Your Account: If you’re shopping online, having an account with the retailer can speed up the preorder process.
Preorder in Store: For those who prefer in-person shopping, check with local stores regarding availability and preorder policies.
3. Sign Up for Notifications
Many retailers and websites offer the option to sign up for notifications when the preorder goes live. If you’re worried about missing out due to high demand, this can be a useful option.
Visit Retailer Sites: Look for a “Notify Me” or “Email Alerts” option and enter your email to stay informed.
Use PlayStation Alerts: Sign up for notifications directly through Sony to be one of the first to know when preorders are available.
4. Prepare for High Demand
Preordering the PS5 Pro is expected to be competitive, with high demand likely to result in quick sellouts, just as with the initial release of the original PS5. To maximize your chances of securing a preorder:
Act Quickly: Be prepared to place your order as soon as preorders open. Timing is key, as stock can run out within minutes.
Double-Check Payment Information: Ensure your credit card or payment method is ready to go. Any delays during the checkout process could result in losing your spot.
Stay Informed: Monitor PlayStation and retailer websites for updates on restocks or additional preorder windows.
Final Thoughts
The PlayStation 5 Pro is set to take gaming to the next level with its enhanced performance, graphics, and new features. Canadian gamers should be ready to act fast when preorders open on September 26, 2024, to secure their console ahead of the holiday season. Whether you choose to preorder through PlayStation’s official website or your preferred retailer, following the steps outlined above will help ensure a smooth and successful preorder experience.
For more details on the PS5 Pro and to preorder, visit direct.playstation.com or stay tuned to updates from major Canadian retailers.
Since the PlayStation 5 (PS5) launched four years ago, PlayStation has continuously evolved to meet the demands of its players. Today, we are excited to announce the next step in this journey: the PlayStation 5 Pro. Designed for the most dedicated players and game creators, the PS5 Pro brings groundbreaking advancements in gaming hardware, raising the bar for what’s possible.
Key Features of the PS5 Pro
The PS5 Pro comes equipped with several key performance enhancements, addressing the requests of gamers for smoother, higher-quality graphics at a consistent 60 frames per second (FPS). The console’s standout features include:
Upgraded GPU: The PS5 Pro’s GPU boasts 67% more Compute Units than the current PS5, combined with 28% faster memory. This allows for up to 45% faster rendering speeds, ensuring a smoother gaming experience.
Advanced Ray Tracing: Ray tracing capabilities have been significantly enhanced, with reflections and refractions of light being processed at double or triple the speed of the current PS5, creating more dynamic visuals.
AI-Driven Upscaling: Introducing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-based upscaling technology that adds extraordinary detail to images, resulting in sharper image clarity.
Backward Compatibility & Game Boost: More than 8,500 PS4 games playable on PS5 Pro will benefit from PS5 Pro Game Boost, stabilizing or enhancing performance. PS4 games will also see improved resolution on select titles.
VRR & 8K Support: The PS5 Pro supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and 8K gaming for the ultimate visual experience, while also launching with the latest wireless technology, Wi-Fi 7, in supported regions.
Optimized Games & Patches
Game creators have quickly embraced the new technology that comes with the PS5 Pro. Many games will receive free updates to take full advantage of the console’s new features, labeled as PS5 Pro Enhanced. Some of the highly anticipated titles include:
Alan Wake 2
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
Demon’s Souls
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Gran Turismo 7
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Horizon Forbidden West
These updates will allow players to experience their favorite games at a higher fidelity, taking full advantage of the console’s improved graphics and performance.
Design & Compatibility
Maintaining consistency within the PS5 family, the PS5 Pro retains the same height and width as the original PS5 model. Players will also have the option to add an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive or swap console covers when available.
Additionally, the PS5 Pro is fully compatible with all existing PS5 accessories, including the PlayStation VR2, DualSense Edge, Pulse Elite, and Access controller. This ensures seamless integration into your current gaming setup.
Pricing & Availability
The PS5 Pro will be available starting November 7, 2024, at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of:
$699.99 USD
$949.99 CAD
£699.99 GBP
€799.99 EUR
¥119,980 JPY
Each PS5 Pro comes with a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a copy of Astro’s Playroom pre-installed. Pre-orders begin on September 26, 2024, and the console will be available at participating retailers and directly from PlayStation via direct.playstation.com.
The launch of the PS5 Pro marks a new chapter in PlayStation’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge gaming experiences. Whether players choose the standard PS5 or the PS5 Pro, PlayStation aims to provide the best possible gaming experience for everyone.
Preorder your PS5 Pro and step into the next generation of gaming this holiday season.
