@kkarhan@infosec.space[#TLDR: JUST TELL ME IF YOUR TABLET CAN DO #CALLS!]
#DearVendors of #Android-#Tablets:
Off all the #Functions you can put into a #Specifications Sheet of your Devices there's one you should ALWAYS answer clearly on your #Website:
DOES YOUR TABLET [with #4G / #5G / …) SUPPORT MAKING PHONE CALLS?
Like: IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK TO HAVE THAT INFO IN THE SPECSHEETS?
You're obviously able to list all the #Codecs natively supported and the user-available storage as well as supported Frequency Bands, WWAN modes, WiFi channel width and the Display Glass vs. Panel dimensions including DPI of the latter and whether or not it has a hall effect sensor to detect your overpriced 1st party tablet covers!
Now some folks may ask: "WHY does this matter?" or outright dismiss this as a problem.
Listen:
Not everyone is able or willing to carry two devices when 1 SHOULD BE ENOUGH and also some places (i.e. #Turkey) have #ImportRestrictions re: #MobileDevices, so having more than 1 #IMEI is already a "NOPE!" by the authorities.
- Also this isn't something one can "fix" post-purchase like installing #VLC to decode some obscure file format in Software: Either the #Baseband and #ROM support #PhoneCalls or they don't!
So why do NONE of the #Tablet manufacturers allow to #search or #filter for that???
- Bonus points if you have lazy fucks like #HMD (aka. #Nokia) who literally copy the #Safety & #Useage information for all #Smartphones and #Tablets and don't even bother to change "Mobile Phone" for "Tablet".
NO, instead one has to download an obscenely huge #PDF just to then read on page 34 [downloadcenter.samsung.com] that for any "#telephony" function you NEED YET ANOTHER DEVICE FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER AND HAVE TO SIGNUP WITH AN ACCOUNT and even that level of #abuse WON'T GUARANTEE THAT IT WORKS...
- I mean, come on, this ain't some obscure functionality like #OMAPI to do some "evil sourcery" like managing an #eSIM that is in a #SIM-Card form factor!
Pretty shure A LOT of other folks have the same question and ain't willing to get yet another device & #SIM just to recieve the occasional call because #TechIlliterates can't be assed to send an #eMail or learn #XMPP+#OMEMO to message one...
- Obviously they same manufacturers are able and willing to specify f-stops of the built-in cameras and list EVERY SINGLE #WEARABLE they made and certify as 'compatible' with, as if anyone is gonna take their non-#waterproof #Tablet for a marathon or god forbid triathlon...
@kkarhanAnd don't even get me started on #VoLTE support [www.youtube.com]...
- Like #Australia had the glorious idea of shutting down #3G AND #2G as well as #allowlisting only specific [www.youtube.com] #IMEI|s, banning > 500k devices [www.youtube.com] for no good reason.
Also most #VoLTE / #Vo5G - devices *explicitly use #2G / #3G for #EmergencyCalls!
- Which is #funfuckingtastic in a place like Australia where basically everything in nature conspires to hurt or kill humans!
@kkarhanI mean, I don't expect a #Tablet to have good #Audio quality.
- Frankly I'd be content with #Codec2-level #AMR since no carrier properly implements #AMRWB anyway. Everyone who even halfasses #AudioQuality will plug in a headset anyway...
But being able to just chug in a #SIM and test it by calling it is something people do need rather often!
- Even if it's just for a few calls like booking a data package on the go!
@kkarhanI guess the same people who refuse to specify if one can do phone calls with a tablet are the same people that decided to instead of writing down liters remaining on the fuel gauge just write 0, ½ & 1 ...
- Like shure lets do the same with the speedometer saying only 0-125% (instead of 0-200km/h)...
@kkarhan In fairness, Americans sure do love their fractions.
@kkarhan@krutonium the problem is that this is on every single car except like the #VektorW8 which does have a fuel gauge with "U.S. gallons remaining" on it's display...
But still the problem is that this ain't actual numbers, cuz the range and fuel volume of the "red bar" / "reserve" section varies greatly depending on the car, engine and manufacturer.
- Like on a tiny Corsa D 1.0 3-door it's still 50-100+km whereas with an Audi A4 B7 3.2 you do want to "get to the next pump - NOW!"...
@kkarhan Your choice of meme reminds me of Alfred E. Neuman.