View Full Version : New phone
My trusty XDA Orbit has finally given up the ghost. Well, its still functioning but battery life is now appauling and it randomly restarts as well now. This could be down to a dud battery (2.5 years old) but to be honest the phone is worn, starting to show its age too. So basically it's an excuse to upgrade. ;D
I'm currently on one of those simplicity dealies with O2. £20pcm, 500 mins and unlimited text. I quite like this so not wishing to move from O2 unless a better deal is out there.
So, what's my options? What's good out there? I'd probably go for an iPhone but I have one provided by work for my work phone. This will be a personal phone (which ironically needs to have satnav for work) So:
Needs to be Windows based.
Not stupidly expensive.
Reliable, attractive looking phone.
What's my options? (I'm totally out the loop now with XDAs etc) :)
Chuckles
22-06-2009, 20:41
iPhone 3GS ;)
Blighter
22-06-2009, 21:54
May I asked why it needs to be Windows based?
cose windows rocks.
i'm currently deciding between 3Gs and Diamond 2...
http://www.mobiles.co.uk/htc-touch-diamond2.html
i'll probably be switching to O2 and if you don't mind a 24month contract then theres a deal there - £25 a month, 600 mins/unlim txts with 7 months 1/2 price. seems good to me tbh.
and with the diamond comes the much needed developers link for all the latest roms and software;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=478
Blighter
22-06-2009, 22:11
I used to be a WM fan, but I've got both an iPod Touch and a Google G1 and the vast range of apps on there are just amazing.
edit: My G1 even has a metal detector... WTF?!?! xD
edit: My G1 even has a metal detector... WTF?!?! xD
like the finger print scanner for iphone that just displays a generic print image every time?
Blighter
22-06-2009, 22:29
Nope. An actual working metal detector.
And a non-gps based electric compass :)
Streeteh
22-06-2009, 22:59
I really want a G1 but... going from a £15/month contract to £30? Bit of a leap for a cool phone.
May I asked why it needs to be Windows based?
I have a copy of TomTom Navigator to drop onto it.
Blighter
23-06-2009, 00:11
There are a couple of GPS navigation programs available for the G1 :) They do virtually everything the TomTom app does (I used to use the TT app on my WM6 phone).
Are they like Co-Pilot? I had that free with this XDA and it was a bag of ****. It's why I actually went out and got TomTom. I'm willing to give others a go if they're definately good though. :)
While I'm sure the G1 is a fine piece of kit (HTC stuff tends to have that reputation), the problem with the G1 is that it's a first generation phone, and like all first generations, they have their pitfalls. With the G1, it's the hinge on the screen. I also didn't think much of Android's aesthetics. Definitely a personal choice decision, however.
As for the phone choice, it all depends what you mean by stupidly expensive. You almost always pay lots for WM phones, whether that's up front or in the contract. If you want to stick with XDA-like, then the obvious thing to do would be to have a look at HTC's website*, find the phone you want, and then find a contract to match.
* Other WM phone manufacturers may exist.
http://www.mobile-gadgets.net/mgc/images/D/HTC_Touch_HD_detailed2.jpg
HTC HD
I've flashed mine to win mobile 6.5 as well so it looks even better (imo).
I run Tom Tom on mine and it runs like a dream.
A Place of Light
23-06-2009, 18:37
^^^
That or the Touch Pro.
Nice devices, the pair of 'em.
Touch Pro 2 tbh.
oh, and quick tip time.
I've been comparing phones for a while now on http://www.gsmarena.com/
Great site for phone news and specs etc
and for comparison i use this chrome bookmark which loads two urls (first is current page by default) side-by-side in a tab;
javascript:A14nH=location.href;L3f7=prompt('Choose %20File%201',A14nH);R1Gh7=prompt('Choose%20File%20 2',L3f7);if(L3f7&&R1Gh7){Fr4Q='<frameset%20cols=\'*,*\'>\n<frame%20src=\''+L3f7+'\'/>';Fr4Q+='<frame%20src=\''+R1Gh7+'\'/>\n';Fr4Q+='</frameset>';with(document){write(Fr4Q);void(close())}}else{v oid(null)}
A Place of Light
23-06-2009, 18:57
^^^
Personally, I'd take the Pro too.
i wouldn't. despite the fact its a great phone, i've had a TyTNII for 18months now and want to downsize.
the pro 2 is a great device, but is a bit 'big' for most people - i don't mind the size, but still would rather lose the hardware keyboard now.
LeperousDust
23-06-2009, 19:56
Personally i just couldn't be bothered with the hassle of WinMo, always seems so much hassle and so bloated :( The magic is looking very interesting but i still feel android needs time to mature properly. Iphone is silly prohibitively expensive, which only really leaves me with my good old symbian smartphones, theyre cheap (disregarding the n97 :p) and can do anything any other smartphone can do :)
HTC HD
I've flashed mine to win mobile 6.5 as well so it looks even better (imo).
I run Tom Tom on mine and it runs like a dream.
Is it easy to flash? I've had a look on the XDA forum but never figured out how its done.
Matblack
24-06-2009, 14:12
Holding out for a Hero?
http://www.htc.com/www/product/hero/overview.html
MB
I've just watched the videos of the Hero and might use that to try and get a decent deal out of Orange before i jump ship.
I hadn't considered Android, but this UI looks really interesting.
Proper headphone jack, teflon coating, and flash support in the browser is very cool. Not being to download apps over the air is not, but I dont think that's a deal breaker, and I'm sure there'll be roms to sort that out. T-Mobile will launch it as the G1 Touch mid July, pic : http://twitpic.com/89vhk
My contract comes to it's end in July, this is probably a contender. Need to play with it though.
[edit]Apparently Orange are going announce their own version today.
[edit] http://www.android.com/market/paid.html#app=kiddgbc That would be cool!
yeah, the orange news is out already;
http://newsroom.orange.co.uk
Available 'early july' so maybe next week?
and even a video from an orange man;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ixkhFd4BHE&feature=player_embedded
I have just gone from a standard contract phone to the HTC Magic via Vodafone. All I can say is Wow what a truly amazing phone. It uses the Google Android O/S. Loads and Loads of free apps that are better than some of the Apple Guff. I picked up Nav4All, a free sat nav application and it is a lot better than my TomTom that's for sure
It looks and feels sexy, the camera is great. In a nutshell the best phone I have ever had. I did a bit of deal with Vodafone after I placed the order online (£60.00 Quidco !!) and gave them the sob story that I may want to cancel, so for a cool £25.00 I get 600 mins cross network, unlimited landline unlimited texts and data.
The only downside is that the battery life could be better. Having tested the iPhone and HTC Magic, I would say the Magic is better. I am a sucker for gadgets and brands but to pay a higher premium for an Apple badge, no thanks !!!
A Place of Light
24-06-2009, 17:51
Proper headphone jack, teflon coating, and flash support in the browser is very cool. Not being to download apps over the air is not, but I dont think that's a deal breaker, and I'm sure there'll be roms to sort that out. T-Mobile will launch it as the G1 Touch mid July, pic : http://twitpic.com/89vhk
My contract comes to it's end in July, this is probably a contender. Need to play with it though.
[edit]Apparently Orange are going announce their own version today.
[edit] http://www.android.com/market/paid.html#app=kiddgbc That would be cool!
Hmm.
My T mobile contract is up on July 8.
Might have to check this bad boy out for size.
LeperousDust
24-06-2009, 18:03
Android is looking more and more mature by the day. In a years time i can't see how it won't be a smartphone market leader, its what windows mobile should have always been... Windows mobile lived the high life with a crappy OS for far far far too long. Resting on their laurels they've now got a lot of ground to make up, so heres to hoping they really manage something decent with WinMo7.
I'm liking that HTC Hero. Will have to revisit that one early next month. Always going to be expensive however I acquire it but it's the only mobile so far I'm actually excited about. I've played with the Touch Diamond and I was very unimpressed, really laggy and non-responsive compared to my iPhone.
A Place of Light
24-06-2009, 18:15
Might just get a G1 touch next month, unless they want a testicle and a couple of corneas for the upgrade fee.
LeperousDust
24-06-2009, 18:20
iCraig i've always found all WinMo phones to have that slight "lag" people tend to put up with it until there was some decent competition.
The more i read into the hero the more i want one, definitely looking into properly when its released. Only downside will be totally awful battery compared to what i'm used to with my business symbian smartphones, but you have to give and take. Not a fan of daily ritual charging when i can currently go a good few days easily... :(
Apparently the reports of no over the air app downloads was incorrect, there will be no OTA firmware updates, but the Android market will function the same as any other Android device. Good news!
Grr another good looking, nicely specced phone to choose from come August :(
Wonder if I could get this on an uprade from orange for free :)
LeperousDust
24-06-2009, 20:29
coooool and OTA firmware makes sense since HTC have fiddled :) this is sweet as!
Blighter
24-06-2009, 21:00
I love my G1.. the only thing I'm not liking is the battery life.
Took it off charge at 6am, at 7pm it was begging me to plug it in :/
edit: and was at work so hardly used it!
I dropped the display HTC Magic at Vodaphone in Liverpool Street and it flew apart. Erk. :o
Then I noticed it was a two-piece plastic shell with a weight in the middle. Soon snapped it back together.
The battery in my TyTN is slowly dying but I'm finding myself unable to decide which way to go next. I've been out of contract for over six months and every time I make a decision something else comes along and changes my mind. :(
I've been out of contract for over six months and every time I make a decision something else comes along and changes my mind. :(
I'd say that'll be happening a lot for a while. Palm Pre in September ;)
That Hero looks the awesome...will be keeping my eye on that!!!
It does indeed look the awesome, but I think I'll need to see one for real to know if I'll get on with it (same goes for any phone, actually).
My biggest bugbear, as ever, is virtual keyboards. I two-finger touch type on a PC, and I do the same on my TyTN (symbols excepted). That's obviously not possible when there's no real keys, so I'm worried I'll be uber slow again.
Oh, and I'd like to run some GPS software on the phone so I can leave the handheld GPS at home. Doesn't seem to be much about for Android yet.
leowyatt
29-06-2009, 14:24
Palm Pre in September ;)
I got my grubby hands on the SDK so have an emulated phone to play with \o/
so I'm worried I'll be uber slow again.
I feared the same with this iphone, but if this is anything to go by then i've adapted better than expected. it still makes a few errors (i'll no accept they are my fault!) but its been really easy to adapt to these softkeys.
I got my grubby hands on the SDK so have an emulated phone to play with \o/
i want to play!
The trick with the iPhone is to not worry when you make a typo - it does a fantastic job of correcting them.
leowyatt
29-06-2009, 18:41
i want to play!
Here you go (http://www.precentral.net/webos-sdk-leaks-out)
Blighter
29-06-2009, 20:28
Scrap all my comments. The G1 is ****.
:p
Scrap all my comments. The G1 is ****.
:p
That sounds ominous, please explain.
Didn't take you long to break it. What did you snap? :p
Blighter
30-06-2009, 11:20
Nothing. As a phone etc its great but I can't get the battery to last more than 12 hours... even with gps, 3g, etc turned off and the brightness all the way down. :/
A Place of Light
30-06-2009, 19:26
Nothing. As a phone etc its great but I can't get the battery to last more than 12 hours... even with gps, 3g, etc turned off and the brightness all the way down. :/
Isn't there an extra capacity battery available?
Isn't there an extra capacity battery available?
http://www.biggreenearthstore.com/store/images/backpack.jpg
:D
A Place of Light
01-07-2009, 18:21
^^^
He he.
:D
have you made a decision yet then iCraig?
Palm Pre release info is out this week/next with a probable UK launch this month.
Orange have the Hero as 'Coming Soon' I'm keeping an eye out for when it's available and on what tariffs. Palm Pre looks interesting, but a little big if I'm honest?
Nothing. As a phone etc its great but I can't get the battery to last more than 12 hours... even with gps, 3g, etc turned off and the brightness all the way down. :/
I'd see about getting a new battery under warranty if I was you.
Talked to a guy at work today who has one and he charges his every couple of days after moderate use.
iCraig I think orange are getting the Hero during early July so any day now hopefully :)
And the Hero (G1 Touch) on T-Mobile is due mid-July too. Minded to jump ship (from Orange), even if Vodafone are planning on snapping up T-Mobile.
I don't care what phones Orange have....I'm leaving them ::/:
Davey_Pitch
02-07-2009, 10:00
I don't care what phones Orange have....I'm leaving them ::/:
Same here, the signal strength is so pathetic I wouldn't stay with them for anything. I'm counting the days till I can leave and get a better phone with a company that'll provide me with a signal all day!
I'm glad it's not just me that has signal strength issues. I've lost count of the number of times I've been on trains with people merrily chatting away on their phones nearby and my phone says 'No signal'.
leowyatt
02-07-2009, 10:36
It's crazy the difference in signal strength between 2 carriers in the same house. O2 is great, Orange is cack.
Oh. Ballsacks. :(
Is the Hero exclusive to Orange? As much as I want it, there's little point if the signal will be pants.
No, it's called the G1 Touch at T-Mobile.
Oh. Ballsacks. :(
Is the Hero exclusive to Orange? As much as I want it, there's little point if the signal will be pants.
i don't understand this talk on crap signal.
I was with orange for years and never lost signal. ever.
The first day with my iphone, i was going from Sheffield, to Chester over the Woodhead pass and barely got any signal the whole 30/40 miles. might of been able to post a tweet once in a while, but it was painful!
Davey_Pitch
02-07-2009, 14:24
i don't understand this talk on crap signal.
I was with orange for years and never lost signal. ever.
The 3 guys who work in my office (me included) are all on Orange. Not one of us gets a signal in the office all day long. We have to go elsewhere if we want to make a phonecall. O2 on the other hand gets a perfect signal down here. I think it just differs region to region.
TinkerBell
02-07-2009, 14:29
If you want to check signal just borrow someone's phone who is with orange, or get a orange sim card and try that.
Matblack
02-07-2009, 14:31
I always get great signal with Orange in London and the SE
MB
Blighter
02-07-2009, 19:40
I've never had signal issues with Orange either...
At home I'm fine on Orange, yet if I walk to the middle of town my signal can get flakey. If I'm in one of the two or three pubs I go in, my signal often drops completely. If I'm shopping in Tesco's at the other end of town I get no signal inside the shop. At Centre Parcs I had no signal. At Cheshire Cottages I got no signal unless my phone was upstairs. At work on my desk my signal often drops out. I'm going back to O2 ASAP without question and if I could get out of my contract today I'd do it.
A Place of Light
02-07-2009, 20:24
T mobile definitely has the strongest signal I've ever had
Blighter
02-07-2009, 20:54
Vodafone are pretty good in the SE signalwise.
No carriers get signal in our cell block apart from O2. Shame the job mobiles are Orange!
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