Forum Downtime - software update 3/24-27

[Janet H]

Android 10 was released on September 3, 2019.

As of January 2025, 6.21% of Android devices use Android 10.

It's now up to Android 15. As of March 2025, 4.51% of Android devices run Android 15.

So what version is "RV Safe GPS" supposed to run on?

Edit: I confirmed my Android is version 10 as in "Settings-System-About Phone it says:

"Device Name RC545L Android Version 10"

I also found where it says under "App Info." for "RV Safe GPS" where it says:

"Required OS Android 10 and up"

So why doesn't it work?

-Don- Reno, NV

Technically, it might still work if your device had enough available memory, however, most Android 10 devices don't at this point. RV LIFE for Android 10 is about to be sunsetted for this reason. With Your Pro subscription, you can log in to Trip Wizard to plan trips, and you can log into Campground Reviews ad-free). The part that won't work is the mobile app.

 

[DonTom]

Technically, it might still work if your device had enough available memory,

Mine has 80 gigs, with 17.90 GB used of 80 GB. That is a lot of free space. I have more than 60 GBs available.

Perhaps you didn't know you can add a memory card to Android and use it as internal or portable memory. The mini SD card could be like mine, a little pinhole slot hole on the upper left. Be very careful pulling it out as the SIM card is behind the space for the extra SD card in the same slot. It could go flying out like mine did (it can be difficult to find after it does). You can use the card as portable (removable) or as internal memory (not removable), but you have to format it for which you want. I have mine as internal memory so I will have more space for programs.

Bend a SMALL paperclip end and remove it straight out.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[jymbee]

Perhaps you didn't know you can add a memory card to Android and use it as internal or portable memory. The mini SD card could be like mine, a little pinhole slot hole on the upper left.

-Don- Reno, NV

Phones with external SD cards for the most part are a thing of the past. For years I was determined not buy a phone that did not have an external SD card. I would routinely go to settings for all apps and under "Storage" move data to the SD card. I also kept GBs of data on various cards I could swap in/out.

But alas, my previous phone was a relatively ancient Galaxy Note 9 and when that died I found there were very few options for a new phone with external storage. Finally caved and went with a phone without.

 

[DonTom]

Phones with external SD cards for the most part are a thing of the past. For years I was determined not buy a phone that did not have an external SD card. I would routinely go to settings for all apps and under "Storage" move data to the SD card. I also kept GBs of data on various cards I could swap in/out.

But alas, my previous phone was a relatively ancient Galaxy Note 9 and when that died I found there were very few options for a new phone with external storage. Finally caved and went with a phone without.

But how much memory do those newer phones have? If they come with 80 GBs of internal memory (like mine now has) not having an external memory card shouldn't be that much of an issue.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

With Your Pro subscription, you can log in to Trip Wizard to plan trips, and you can log into Campground Reviews ad-free).

Yeah, I already did that the other day.

It's really not much of an issue as I rarely have my Android turned on.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[UTTransplant]

But how much memory do those newer phones have? If they come with 80 GBs of internal memory (like mine now has) not having an external memory card shouldn't be that much of an issue.

-Don- Reno, NV

My newer iPhone 16 comes with 256 GB.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

But how much memory do those newer phones have? If they come with 80 GBs of internal memory (like mine now has) not having an external memory card shouldn't be that much of an issue.

-Don- Reno, NV

I think most phones today have 256G of memory available for storage. But the memory required for specific apps is typically RAM, not data storage - for example, my Google Pixel 9 Pro has 12GB of RAM in addition to 256 GB of storage.

 

[DonTom]

my Google Pixel 9 Pro has 12GB of RAM

That's ridiculous considering mine came with 20GB internal memory which all can all be used for apps. I added 60 GB to it which can be used for either internal memory or for portable (removable) data storage. Mine is set to add the 60 GB to the internal memory.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

My newer iPhone 16 comes with 256 GB.

That should be more than enough for anybody if it can all (or mostly) be used for apps.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[ferfer]

That's ridiculous

You may be right but.... to add to Alan Hepburn post #130-

The Google Pixel 9 Pro offers 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB with 13RAM for apps + 3RAM dedicated to Gemini (AI).

 

[jymbee]

The Google Pixel 9 Pro offers 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB with 13RAM for apps + 3RAM dedicated to Gemini (AI).

That's one of the main reason phones don't have an option or SD storage and you can only get more storage by buying phone with it installed.

For example, the difference in price between 128 GB of storage and 256 GG on most phones is around 100 bucks for that extra 128 GB.

At the same time you can get a very fast 512 GB for less than 40 bucks. IOW, you pay almost 80 cents/byte for "built in" storage as opposed to around 8 cents/byte if you could add your own SD card.

 

[ferfer]

That's one of the main reason phones don't have an option or SD storage and you can only get more storage by buying phone with it installed.

I think what you are correctly saying is new phones have built in GB storage which can not increased. SD card slots and phone jack are not built into todays phones.

At the same time you can get a very fast 512 GB for less than 40 bucks. IOW, you pay almost 80 cents/byte for "built in" storage as opposed to around 8 cents/byte if you could add your own SD card.

How does one use an SD card with no SD card slot?

 

[jymbee]

I think what you are correctly saying is new phones have built in GB storage which can not increased. SD card slots and phone jack are not built into todays phones.

I am.

How does one use an SD card with no SD card slot?

?? I was simply illustrating the discrepancy in price between internal & external storage. Thought the part about if you could add your own SD card made that clear.

 

[ferfer]

At the same time you can get a very fast 512 GB for less than 40 bucks. IOW, you pay almost 80 cents/byte for "built in" storage as opposed to around 8 cents/byte if you could add your own SD card.

I read your post multiple times and my only excuse is I got caught up in the numbers and missed the important part of your message - "if you could add your own SD card"

 

[UTTransplant]

That's one of the main reason phones don't have an option or SD storage and you can only get more storage by buying phone with it installed.

For example, the difference in price between 128 GB of storage and 256 GG on most phones is around 100 bucks for that extra 128 GB.

At the same time you can get a very fast 512 GB for less than 40 bucks. IOW, you pay almost 80 cents/byte for "built in" storage as opposed to around 8 cents/byte if you could add your own SD card.

But there is a price to be paid for the circuitry to read and write that card. It would probably be significantly more than the price of the card. The guts of most phones now is a single chip with memory and processor combined. It may also have a bunch of circuitry for the radio on the same chip, or it might be another one. But increased levels of integration means external devices cost a lot to incorporate.

 

[jymbee]

But there is a price to be paid for the circuitry to read and write that card. It would probably be significantly more than the price of the card. The guts of most phones now is a single chip with memory and processor combined. It may also have a bunch of circuitry for the radio on the same chip, or it might be another one. But increased levels of integration means external devices cost a lot to incorporate.

Good points. Also, when I looked up prices on current phone models I was surprised that the prices for the next step up, from 128 to 256 for example, wasn't as great as what I remember it used to be.

Obviously we don't know about all the factors that the marketing people consider as they go back & forth with production and design to come up with their final prices. Skeptic that I am I envision it's always a "how much can we get away with" mentality. Marketing 101 of course.

Personally, I just don't get why iPhone buyers for example go crazy over the latest/greatest models. This new Android phone I got recently costs more than I ever thought I would pay but for the most part I use it pretty much like my ancient old phone. Drilling down into all the settings the many features are indeed impressive, but how many of those to I actually need or use?

 

[LarsMac]

If you are an RV LIFE Pro member under another address, we can consolidate those accounts (your choice). Hit the contact link for some help with that

So, login through Trip Wizard is a different email. If I change the emails to match, would that let me combine the accounts? (example: changing my login here to match the trip wizard login)

 

[tlmgcamp1]

I no longer get alerts when somebody replies to my post

 

[Tom]

I no longer get alerts when somebody replies to my post

Several folks have reported that, and we've asked if it can be fixed. Meanwhile, be sure nothing has changed in the Preferences in your profile (click your name in the red bar above).