Rocking 2 Smartphones - Tips & Tricks?

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gehenna

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Topic # 236012 13-May-2018 21:43

I'm an iPhone guy, have been since the first gen. I've tried Android a couple of times over the years, once with a HTC Sensation around the KitKat era, and then last year with a Huawei P10 running Nougat I think. On Friday I jumped in again, this time with a Galaxy S9+.

I kind of like it. I've had to install a bunch of customisations to get it working how I want now that I'm so used to the gesture control in iOS 11 for the iPhone X. Maybe I won't need that much longer since Android P seems to be including a lot of gestures.

Anyway, I still have my iPhone and I still love it, so I'll be using two phones from here on out. One is using a work SIM, one is my own. But either way they both have basically unlimited calling/txts and loads of data.

I'm wondering if anyone else is using two phones full time, and if you have any tips and tricks for managing them? E.G.... do you forward all calls from one to the other? How do you manage your notifications for apps that are installed and logged in on both devices? Have you run into anything that just plain doesn't work? (e.g. I discovered you can't have two phones running WhatsApp simultaneously...which sucks).

Keen to hear your thoughts, I know I'm not the only one out there managing two devices.

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Reply # 2015404 13-May-2018 22:09

I purposely bought a dual SIM phone to avoid the "2 Phones" issues. Was great when an employee, as it avoided the need to constantly carry 2 phones around. And also good for travelling.

Sorry about not answering your question.

gehenna

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Reply # 2015474 14-May-2018 07:46

Aredwood:

Sorry about not answering your question.

Lol no worries. Yeah I'm specifically talking about two phones not just two accounts/numbers. I wanted to give an Android a go but didn't want to stop using my iPhone too. It's not that I have one for work and one personal phone per se.

cisconz

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Reply # 2015475 14-May-2018 07:46

I use PushBullet to sync SMS between devices and divert all calls from one to the other.

I only use my work phone for Tethering, Or if I need to make a call and show the work CLI / International call.

Hmmmm

Handsomedan

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Reply # 2015482 14-May-2018 08:02

I have rocked the two-phone thing for years.

My current set-up is two iPhones, so it's not as big a deal as wanting to actually use the other phone.

The way I have always dealt with it is to work out which phone I want to use as my daily driver and forward all calls to that from the other one and set up mail on both so there's no gap in that side.

It does leave you exposed to missing text messages, but it looks like there's a solution above, so that could cover all your bases.

It's hard when you want to actually use both - I had this dilemma a couple of years ago and simply carried two phones around. Annoying and inconvenient, is how I'd describe that...

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.

tripp

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Reply # 2015484 14-May-2018 08:09

When i was using 2 phones i would forward my calls from my work phone to my personal phone. If i needed to call someone i would then turn on my work phone and call (did not want my personal number showing up on their phone for work issues).

I would also ignore anyone sending me a text on the work phone. Texts are non confirmed messages that may / may not turn up and just not 100% reliable so refuse to use them for work. Work should be calls or email, not text.

CYaBro

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Reply # 2015533 14-May-2018 09:40

Just on the SMS thing, I setup FaceBook Messenger for my Dad last night.

As he doesn't have, or want, a Facebook account, we set it up using his mobile number and during the setup it asked if he would like his SMS to sync to Messenger.

Has anyone used that to sync SMS messages between two phones?

I assume if they sync to Messenger on one phone then Messenger should bring those across to the other phone?

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gehenna

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Reply # 2015536 14-May-2018 09:45

@CYaBro that's an interesting question, I considered this last night myself. Aside from the moral quandary of giving Facebook more access to my contacts, I wonder if it's a way of getting something like iMessage (e.g. supports both SMS and IP messaging) that works across both my Android and iPhone devices.

gehenna

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Reply # 2016679 16-May-2018 10:16

Ooh I discovered Android Auto last night. Not that I have a compatible head unit, but having the function on the 6.2" display of the S9 on my magnetic cradle is pretty sweet. Can access all my various maps for directions/traffic, phone numbers, and all my audio apps are easily accessible so I can choose music/podcasts/audiobooks within a couple of taps. Very cool, previously I was having to access my iPhone through my crappy Hyundai media interface, which is unreliable and inconsistent. Plus Auto launches as soon as my bluetooth pairs with the car when I turn it on. Very cool indeed. Looks like the S9 will be my main car device.

cisconz

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Reply # 2016686 16-May-2018 10:28

My work car is an Hyundai and I connect to the USB port, then the car stereo touch screen becomes a second monitor of the phone, thus giving me nice big maps etc.

Hmmmm

gehenna

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Reply # 2016689 16-May-2018 10:33

@cisconz yeah you'll have the next version of my head unit. In the 2016 ix35/Tuscon the firmware got a free upgrade to CarPlay/Android Auto. Mine is the 2015 model, so it's stuck on their crap proprietary firmware. I've had the head unit replaced 3 times so far because it performs so badly and/or the Bluetooth was unreliable. Finally seem to have a stable one. The Maps are good, and it works fine for what it does, but it only really functions as a bluetooth speaker and dialler for the phone, there's no other integration.

cisconz

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Reply # 2025097 29-May-2018 19:59

Not my best photo skills

Hmmmm

richms

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Reply # 2025114 29-May-2018 20:26

I just carry 2 phones and look at them occasionally. Just use the inbuilt handsfree of whatever isnt paired to the car stereo if someone calls on that one, which IME is better since the whole world doesnt hear my phonecall out the acoustically transparent doors.

Richard rich.ms

hsvhel

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Reply # 2025154 29-May-2018 20:38

cisconz:

Not my best photo skills

What are you up to in that picture......

gehenna

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Reply # 2025164 29-May-2018 20:46

I ended up getting a Qi magnetic mount for the car, and three thin carbon fiber cases to go along with it, one for my wife's iPhone 8, one for my iPhone X, and one for the S9+. Absolutely loving it, with the Samsung dual Fastcharge plug in the car it's fantastic! Highly recommend Pitaka MagMount and MagCase gear if anyone's on the lookout....

https://www.ipitaka.com/

cisconz

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Reply # 2025188 29-May-2018 21:37

One person supports this post

hsvhel:

What are you up to in that picture......

Taking a photo with my work phone while stopped at traffic lights - I thought that was reasonably obvious

Hmmmm

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