October 9th for anyone that doesn’t like to watch trailers

There may be some plan related limitations if you’re swapping from a smart phone to a “dumb” phone. That’s something that’s best to speak with an AT&T rep directly about.

As for the SIM card, yes you can walk into a store and request a physical SIM. There should not be any charge for that as you’re already a paying customer. Do not let anyone else fool you otherwise. Source: I used to work with cellular devices and am familiar with most AT&T policies.

Also, avoid AT&T franchises. When you walk in, simply ask if this is a corporate location. If they tell you no, I would try elsewhere.

Losing physical copies of games is the worst. Having everything tethered to an account can be a big plus.

I know for me that my Steam and GOG libraries will keep growing so long as I keep my accounts secure and know my credentials.

Agreed on both points. I have a brother that’s on the opposite end of the debate that went full digital a while ago. Travel and a lack of space are definitely his top reasons for the shift. Which I absolutely get. That and he has a dog who thinks it’s play time the second he gets off the couch lol.

For GKC I still will not support buying them new, however, with this change I may start waiting to buy them second hand while available for those games I really want to play but won’t get a true physical copy. It will have to be console exclusive though. As for keeping them long term, probably not. I’ll go with GOG or Steam otherwise.

Definitely a good breakdown of the major points that most are overlooking with this situation. It would be a much easier pill to swallow if these platforms were taking an approach similar to GOG or allowed for multiple storefronts on their platforms (extremely unlikely to happen).

For game consoles (focusing primarily on PlayStation and Xbox here), the following (IMHO) protections should be in place for an all digital platform that respects the customer:

• A digital purchase is tied to your account. If a game can no longer be sold on the platform, you can still download it later on if needed because you already purchased it.

• In the event that the servers are to be shut down: the downloads for active game listings and previous delisted titles that an account has access to; there will be a grace period of “X” days to allow users to buy whatever game/DLC they wish and will have the option to back up the installer for said software. This can then be moved to a compatible storage device for archiving purposes. (The cherry on top would be the ability to migrate the data to a computer so it can be archived however desired).

• A digital purchase can be lent to friends and family for “X” amount of days. During this time, the game will not be accessible to play on the host account, but can be recalled if desired. Otherwise, once the time period has passed, it will return automatically. The “lent” game will then disappear from the other players library, but if interested would have the option to visit the store page for purchase.

• Finally a digital “resale shop” where players could list their digital games/DLC. This would allow players to sell off their unwanted games and could potentially give other players the opportunity to purchase a game that may be delisted. Currency paid would likely be equivalent to store credit, but could be used for future purchases.

Sure, a lot of it is very unlikely to happen and is definitely wishful thinking, but that’s the only way I would move forward with a digital only console market. Otherwise, I would go 100% PC. Time will tell how this goes.

”I personally don’t think people care about owning physical media.”

I know I’m in what feels like a growing minority, but I will always pick up a physical copy if given a chance. I have a solid games library and I intend on playing every title I own. That said, I know eventually things will be digital only. Until that happens, I’ll stick with my Switch/2 for physical releases and multi platform releases I’ll grab on PC if it makes more sense to do so.

One last thought on this that I’ve had as someone who prefers to collect games physically. For Nintendo, I have genuinely despised their game key card approach. From a preservationists perspective, it’s a waste of money. However, getting a code in a box is a massive joke. Sony actually succeeded in making the concept of a GCK looking like a solid alternative. I really don’t know how to feel about that lol.

TL;DR - good article that brings up a lot of points others are overlooking. I personally will still get physical releases until they aren’t available anymore, then go fully digital on PC.

I know the feeling. Both of my parents do stuff like this and it drives me crazy. I’ve had to clean out the fridge/freezer multiple times and have found so much food that went bad.

For the most part…no, I don’t. I’m still of the mindset that there’s not enough people posting across communities, so blocking accounts is an absolutely last resort for me personally.

That said, there is one account that I know of that I question if it’s really a person or a bot. I won’t say who. However, they post multiple times an hour across a lot of communities. (I even went to their profile once to see when there would be a sizable break/gap for when they should be sleeping and didn’t find a gap within a 24 hour window!) I actually removed myself from one community because the posting there became way too frequent. Elsewhere that same account posts relevant content, so that was a better balance for me.

TL;DR - Usually no, so long as they’re posting what I consider acceptable/decent quality content. I’m more likely to remove myself from one community than block an account to tone down the level of posts in my subscribed feed.

I definitely understand finding it annoying though.

Also, welcome to Lemmy!

Does the P9PXL have that issue with different USB-C cables or just that one cable? If it’s multiple, there’s something going on with the port on the phone; could be lingering corrosion or some debris on (likely) the upper set of pins. Those are always harder to see.

Also, if it looks like the cable (this is for any device) doesn’t sit flush like it’s supposed to or is further out than usual, there’s some impacted debris in the port. If it feels like the end of the cable when plugged into the phone or tablet can “rock” back and forth, that’s another good indicator of that.

There’s always the slim chance that there’s damage on either the port or the cable, but I don’t think it’s as likely if (for the P9PXL) it can charge one way (and for the iPhone and iPad) the cable allows the device to start charging whichever way it’s been plugged in.

(Very quick edit: I’m glad to hear things seem to be working. You’re welcome!)

You’re welcome. If you try to clean it yourself do allow the ports ample time to dry before testing them out. Isopropyl alcohol will evaporate very quickly, but it is recommended to help it along with something like an ESD safe electric duster. If you don’t have that on hand, I would give it at least 10-30 minutes to air dry.

Hi, I have done repairs on both Android and iOS devices. From the sound of what you described, chances are the USB-C cable that was originally used had a tiny bit of corrosion in it.

That can cause a lot of the issues you mentioned in your post. If you have a way to physically look at the ports on your devices, check to see if there is any discoloration or obvious corrosion visible. Will usually be either white or green depending on what was affected.

Be sure to check the ports on the cables and charging blocks too.

If you find corrosion or discoloration you can clean the ports with an ESD safe brush and (at least 90%) Isopropyl alcohol. Do be careful though as too much can cause issues with the seals that keep dust and moisture out of the phones.

If you don’t feel comfortable trying, most good local shops will offer to do this. Stay away from any kiosk in shopping malls. Those are usually fast, but corners are cut.

(Added a quick edit on what level of Isopropyl alcohol you should be using)

Good luck!

COMBAT EVOLVED

While they may not have turned out like you expected they still look good.

If you do end up installing backlights, do share how they turned out.

I don’t disagree, I meant given the current situation. Obviously copyleft would be preferred and should be encouraged.