iOS vs Android

I have a semi-smart LG-K4 that works well as a phone.
I have a Kodak camera.
I have computers, both lap top and desk top.
I need none of those devices with me all the time.
Do not pull out your smart phone when we are visiting, or the visit is over.
Many have and will again be allowed to run in to my shopping cart while texting. Geeeeeeesh............

Richard

Our hearing aids are connected to our Android phones, via blue-tooth. You won't need wi-fi for controlling the hearing aids. It's wonderful to be able to turn the volume up or down in restaurants, listening to radio in car, watching TV, or camping in remote places.

yes.. and skype etc.. use gear plugged into the PC
or
dedicated VoIP phones that plug into the your internet connection

MrWizard wrote:

I am now going to need a Smart Phone for controlling my new hearing aids. We frequently camp in an area with wifi but no and I mean NO cell coverage and cell via wifi would be nice. So my questions are, do I need a data plan for hearing aid control or calling via wifi and can I do it from a tablet?

the hearing aid connection is most likely Blu-Tooth

you can make a call via wifi, provided the phone supports that feature and has an APP for that,
in which case it uses a special IP address and connection protocol all transparent to the you

BUT to try this with your tablet, you will need your own internet phone account, and possibly some additional hardware plugged into the tablet

this is called VoIP "voice over Internet Protocol"
services like Majic Jack use this

There are different ways to do calls over wifi:
- Some phones you use the normal phone app and it's seamless (if there is wifi, it uses it)
- Then there are VoIP...skype (if you pay for a phone number), majic jack and a host of others. You need to use the system app but otherwise, you have a normal phone number and can call other phones.
- Then there are independent systems. Here you can call people who use the same system. WhatsApp, Facetime, Skype (if you don't pay for a phone number)...What you can't do is call someone on Facetime with WhatsApp. You can only call peopl on WhatsApp with WhatsApp.

Skype is a little odd because it has because it has both systems that partially blend.

Thank you Mr. Wiz. Kind of what I thought. Our Samsung expert is on maternity leave until mid January and I think that sometime earlier she mentioned the new Tab s are able to use the text feature.

Once again thanks.

I am now going to need a Smart Phone for controlling my new hearing aids. We frequently camp in an area with wifi but no and I mean NO cell coverage and cell via wifi would be nice. So my questions are, do I need a data plan for hearing aid control or calling via wifi and can I do it from a tablet?

the hearing aid connection is most likely Blu-Tooth

you can make a call via wifi, provided the phone supports that feature and has an APP for that,
in which case it uses a special IP address and connection protocol all transparent to the you

BUT to try this with your tablet, you will need your own internet phone account, and possibly some additional hardware plugged into the tablet

this is called VoIP "voice over Internet Protocol"
services like Majic Jack use this

Both my wife and I have Samsung Tablets, she has a long out of production phone with a qwerty keyboard, I have a Samsung flip phone. She has AT&T, I have Verizon, neither of us do more than talk and text.

I am now going to need a Smart Phone for controlling my new hearing aids. We frequently camp in an area with wifi but no and I mean NO cell coverage and cell via wifi would be nice. So my questions are, do I need a data plan for hearing aid control or calling via wifi and can I do it from a tablet?

Stopped at COSTCO phony center and of course they suggested more than I want. I want a cell TELEphone and a remote for my hearing aids, not a marvel of the communications field. I have not and do not intend to stream anything and my tablet(with wifi of course) nor will I with a cell phone and my Garmins get me where I want to go.

Asteroid is my preference

mr. ed wrote:
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions, friends. I think I’ll be leaning towards android. Although my flip phone works fine, I may be needing a smart phone to work in conjunction with a home heart monitoring device I recently ordered. That being said, the heart monitor should work well with my iPad, but if not, a smart phone will become a necessity.

If it's like the heart monitor my wife wore for a month, the monitor itself has a cellular network connection built in.

I think you will end up being the phone
This way you are monitored, while being out and about

Unless you only need to be monitored while asleep, iPad may not do the job