View Full Version : New Phone
Matblack
17-05-2011, 22:23
Right, I'm more and more sold on buying out of the iPhone market.
I'm invested in iPhone, I've spent a lot on apps and I like iTune no matter how much other people hate it, but I feel constrained by the phone and the OS.
At the moment my eye is on the Samsung Galaxy SII but I'm open to other suggestions.
Heather also needs a new phone and her needs are really internet browsing and email, I'm concerned about the battery life of the Sumsung fitting with what she is used to and I'm wondering if something like the Motorola DEFY might be a good compromise, this would be her first smartphone.
Suggestions please?
MB
Del Lardo
17-05-2011, 22:27
I've spent a lot on apps and I like iTune no matter how much other people hate it, but I feel constrained by the phone and the OS.
Pretty much sums up how I feel. Waiting for Vodafone to deliver a Galaxy S2 to replace a 3GS. Happy to report once I've got it but Vodafone are being very slow at the moment :(
I have the SG S2 on O2. I've not started to fully use it yet as I am using up my PAYG free minutes before I transfer the number (probably next week).
This is my first smartphone so I have nothing to compare it to (apart from 5 minutes gaming on an Iphone 4). Battery life is good so far from what little I have used it. Others over on the OcUK forum have reported better battery life compared to previous Android phones.
I do think Apple need to start looking at iOS in a big way as people will start moving away as the competition starts to catch up. Thing is, will enough people move away for it to bother them?
leowyatt
18-05-2011, 07:12
I think you should wait and see what iOS 5 brings :) I'd hazard a guess there maybe big changes on the way :) We'll find out next month anyway
Matblack
18-05-2011, 08:37
I do think Apple need to start looking at iOS in a big way as people will start moving away as the competition starts to catch up. Thing is, will enough people move away for it to bother them?
I don't think it matters, Apple will hold their market on the fact that people <3 Apple, whether that is because they did it first with iPhone or whether they love the brand or the feel or the OS. You can tell from the way people camp out that there is something about Apple which will hold people even if iPhone 5 and the new OS aren't as powerful as other smartphones. You don't see people camping out outside Samsung stores for days for new release. I don't think Apple need to up their game and thats fine :)
I think you should wait and see what iOS 5 brings :) I'd hazard a guess there maybe big changes on the way :) We'll find out next month anyway
I'm sure there will be changes in iOS 5 but why should I wait for Apple to change and then adapt to their changes when there are platforms out there which allow the USER to change THEM. As a one size fits all Apple always hit the mark but I have to change to fit Apple because of the level of lockdown, going to android would allow me the flexibility to change my phone to suit my workflow not visaversa.
When iPhone was THE smartphone I was hooked but now android is almost as slick I'm being tempted away. There are other things too, the reception on my 3GS is and always has been rubbish, the battery life is dire now and I find that I only have a very few killer apps which are becoming or are available on android phones. So I'm itching and if you have played with the new gen of smartphone I think you'll see why :)
As for finding out about the new OS in June, its no use without a device and I think we'll be looking at very late 2011 eatly 2012 to see the new device and as I'm not going to camp out to get one I think a 12 month contract with a SGSII might be the way to go with the option to jump next year if iPhone 5 is a true revelation but I'm not holding my breath.
MB
HTC Desire user here - very pleased with the phone and yet to find a problem with it :)
Love HTC sense - such simple features that make me smile: if your phone is in your pocket the phone rings louder than on the desk. If your phone rings but you don't wish to answer it - turning it to face down on the desk will silence it. When it rains outside little animated droplettes of water cover my screen. All updates, downloads and installations can take place without connecting to a computer.
May not be HTC-only, but these features make having a phone so easy. Providing all the features I want and need invisibly, whilst suprising me with fun and interesting bits and bobs; perfect.
I went HTC over iPhone as I could get the phone for free, £15/month cheaper package, 6 month shorter contract = dealbreakers for me.
I've had an iPhone since the very beginning, I had a very very brief foray into the world of a PalmPre a while ago but was back to an iPhone within a week. However, for all the reasons Matt has given I'm finding it increasingly irritating. Not sure when I'm due an upgrade but it's getting to the stage I'd be happy to pay actual real dollah to make it go away.
What the general concensus on this? Looks interesting...
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-phones/google-nexus-s-by-samsung-review-50001900/
Del Lardo
18-05-2011, 15:27
What the general concensus on this? Looks interesting...
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-phones/google-nexus-s-by-samsung-review-50001900/
Based on the original Samsung Galaxy so year old hardware and also will not have the UI mods that Samsung and HTC make which makes the user experience far better than standard Android phones. The big advantage of the Nexus is that it will be one of (if not the) first phones to receive OS updates as it is the official Google phone. Unless you are desperate for the latest version of Android first go for Samsung or HTC.
Blighter
18-05-2011, 18:30
What do you find constraining about it? :S
Matblack
18-05-2011, 19:07
What do you find constraining about it? :S
What ISN'T constraining about the model Apple use? The phone and iTunes are locked down tighter than tight, with Android I would have different options for how my phone operated and looked, with iOS you get what Apple give you and you can't change it, the way the menu system works is a case in point, there is almost no customisation and I just have this niggling feeling that I'm being led by the nose.
I don't want to get into fanboi battles, I really liked my iPhone 3GS when is came out and it still has a place in my heart but I feel that maybe I don't need my hand held quite so much now :)
MB
Blighter
18-05-2011, 19:29
I'm not saying it to start a fanboy battle or anything :)
Yes, it's locked down, but what have you ever wanted to do on it that you couldn't?
Take flash for example, the only website my friend could find that didn't work on an iPhone was http://gobarbra.com/ ( ;D ) and even that had it's own app :)
Del Lardo
18-05-2011, 20:05
Yes, it's locked down, but what have you ever wanted to do on it that you couldn't?
Turn 3G off, Bluetooth on & Wifi off in 2 seconds with three taps of the screen rather than closer to 30 seconds with countless screen taps.
That is one feature I'd like - and one of only three reasons I'd jailbroken my phone. No more of that though - my old bootrom 3GS is no more. Don't know if I'll get another.
I like the ultimate customisability of my HTC - superb ability to change it to be exactly as I want, right out of the box, with no faffing with external programs etc.
I find the widgets really fun and useful too :)
Matblack
18-05-2011, 20:52
Been looking at the Motorola DEFY for Heather, smaller and with everything she needs.
MB
Del Lardo
18-05-2011, 21:24
woohoo, got just confirmation that my phone will arrive tomorrow
boohoo, first day in ages that Mrs DL & I will both be at work :(
Had a look to see when I'm eligable for upgrade. December. What kind of idiot signs a 2 year contract?!??Me apparently.
28 days for me. I thought I'd got three months left so that was a nice bonus.
LeperousDust
19-05-2011, 09:29
For a small android, in all honesty the orange san fransico (ZTE Blade i think) is amazing value for money. For the best on the market, Galaxy SII by a long way so far. LG Optimus X2 is decent but for some reason not as good as the SII (on paper it should be). Samsung really have done great things with these last two Galaxy android phones, phenomenal in fact. I'd still recommend the S if you can pick it up cheap, it's still going very strong with me, and comparing it with Dom's SII she even admits there's little difference.
With the SII samsung really just refreshed an already amazing platform. NFC is the biggest thing they did which doesn't yet reap any rewards but makes the phone more future proof than mine :)
The desire s is a fairly decent small android phone i think as well, but i'm unsure on the rest of the market, there are probably others i've missed. I totally recommend you just browse hotukdeals, as everyone on there is right on the ball as to whether its actually a decent android deal etc... There is an android phone to fit everyones bill, i'm sure of that :)
I thought I'd miss not being able to customise and fiddle with the phone. You know what? I don't. Can't be arsed with dealing with idiosyncrasies of software etc. The iPhone is intuitive enough for me and I just don't have to do anything it's great. If I could afford a mac I'd end up down that route. I just don't want to fiddle and customise anymore!
However there are many features that are restrictive like wifi and 3G toggling and lots o little things. But it's not enough for me. The phone just works and works well enough for me.
Blighter
19-05-2011, 18:58
I thought I'd miss not being able to customise and fiddle with the phone. You know what? I don't. Can't be arsed with dealing with idiosyncrasies of software etc. The iPhone is intuitive enough for me and I just don't have to do anything it's great. If I could afford a mac I'd end up down that route. I just don't want to fiddle and customise anymore!
However there are many features that are restrictive like wifi and 3G toggling and lots o little things. But it's not enough for me. The phone just works and works well enough for me.
^^ My thoughts exactly. I used to love customising stuff, but it soon gets boring and 9 times out of 10 ends up slowing the phone down/reducing the battery/all of the above
I agree too. I never customized my old WinMo phone (barely installed any apps on it, either) and then jailbroke my iPhone because I could and then found I didn't really bother with that (beyond SBSettings). Truth is that the iPhone has a killer app - accessibility - so unless someone else can compete with that then I'm staying put.
But none of that is relevant to MB - just because many of us don't want to customize doesn't mean that others shouldn't. :)
LeperousDust
19-05-2011, 22:14
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/huawei-ideos-x5-sim-free-android-2-2-169-95-carphone-warehouse/941076
For 170 sim free it's just unbelievable...
but it soon gets boring and 9 times out of 10 ends up slowing the phone down/reducing the battery/all of the above
My customisation has the exact opposite of this - increases the general speed massively and almost doubles the battery life on an out of the box setup :)
LeperousDust
20-05-2011, 13:05
My customisation has the exact opposite of this - increases the general speed massively and almost doubles the battery life on an out of the box setup :)
Agreed the android ROM's are a testament to showing what the community can really get done between a few very clever people. Samsung did a great thing with the Galaxy S but the ROM dev's and kernel dev's have made leaps and bounds on the really getting the most out of the DAC, Screen, Battery and Speed (Voodoo Lagfix) by just implementing things in different ways. It's sometimes more than customising, maybe could be compared to a complete overhaul in cyanogen's and MIUI's case :)
Matblack
27-05-2011, 10:23
I still haven't done anything about my phone but Heather is now sporting a Motorola Atrix :shocked:
I have to say I'm very impressed with and I'm tempted myself :)
There is a lot of hype around the SGS2 at the moment and it is a cracking phone but the Atrix is more of a business phone, she isn't looking to 'mod' it so the fact it's quite locked down isn't an issue for her
MB
Noticed that - glad she's enjoying it. Hopefully Motorola have lost their old stigma (I liked them, but then I hated Nokia when everyone else liked them :)).
Had the same debate at work this week - not sure where the information came from but there was talk of November and it being an [S]-style change (evolution - rather than revolution). The 3G to 3G[S] was a good step forward but I can't really see the same sort of change this time.
If it wasn't for accessibility - where iPhone is still the only player in town - then I'd be very tempted by Android. Not because of the mod-ability, but because of the attitude towards users. As it is, if I ever get the paperwork I need to make an insurance claim, I'll get another 3G[S] and maybe keep that for another year. If not, I'm due an upgrade in two weeks so will see what then.
Matblack
27-05-2011, 12:44
I'm constantly discovering things on my iphone, I've now managed to set up Google calendars so that I can see multiple calenders, so now I can for example check Heather's calendar before I book something. You have to use an exchange account via google rather than Gmail but it works nicely and it's going to make life easier :)
Of course in Android this is easy because of the Google integration but it's nice for us to both have the same facility across platforms.
I need to play with the Atrix a bit more but I do think the Google integration is a boon
MB
Just out of curiosity, will most aps for iphones... work on other smart phones? This probably sounds really daft but I genuinely know NOTHING about phones. Naaaada!
Will be looking at getting a new phone come November but only because I want the sky/star application! Ahahahaha! :D
Matblack
27-05-2011, 13:50
Just out of curiosity, will most aps for iphones... work on other smart phones? This probably sounds really daft but I genuinely know NOTHING about phones. Naaaada!
Will be looking at getting a new phone come November but only because I want the sky/star application! Ahahahaha! :D
iPhone apps work on iPhone and some on iPad but the code they are writen in is just for Apple products as they use iOS.
However many Apple apps have been ported or rewritten for use on Android or Windows 7 and many are not, usually you will find what you want but there aren't as many Android apps.
MB
Aww ta MB! Im useless I am with these things :D
Yeah, Star Walk/Solar Walk/pUniverse are iPhone/iPad only. I've got those. :)
I use google sky map which uses your GPS and compass to overlay the screen with information when you raise your screen to the sky - it's amazing and has a load of different layers so you can turn on/off stars, constellations, planets positions etc etc etc.
Amazing for picking out unknown stars or positioning of constellations as they change position over time; free on Android market and also available for iPad.
Matblack
27-05-2011, 15:45
I use google sky map which uses your GPS and compass to overlay the screen with information when you raise your screen to the sky - it's amazing and has a load of different layers so you can turn on/off stars, constellations, planets positions etc etc etc.
Amazing for picking out unknown stars or positioning of constellations as they change position over time; free on Android market and also available for iPad.
That's the thing there are almost os exclusive killer apps anymore, if you can get it for iPhone then you'll be able to get something as good, almost as good or better for Android or visa versa, development has become relatively easy from concept to delivery. One of my friends recently wrote an iPhone app and said it took him longer to set up the payment system than actually code the thing!
MB
Psymonkee
27-05-2011, 23:06
I use google sky map which uses your GPS and compass to overlay the screen with information when you raise your screen to the sky - it's amazing and has a load of different layers so you can turn on/off stars, constellations, planets positions etc etc etc.
Amazing for picking out unknown stars or positioning of constellations as they change position over time; free on Android market and also available for iPad.
Holy monkey jizz that is soooo cool! :D
In other news I got a Samsung Galaxy S2 on Wednesday. It rocks! Battery is simply out of this world too! :)
LeperousDust
28-05-2011, 00:00
S2 is defo's the phone to have :) Massive jealousy that the girlfriend has it and i have the original :p :(
App recommendation for those of you sporting android phones:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.latedroid.juicedefender&feature=search_result
I've found it so useful in extending the battery life of my Nexus One that I paid for the ultimate version for the extra controls. My phone is checking various e-mail accounts etc. for work so the battery rarely lasts a full day. With JuiceDefender I can get over a day, longer if I'm more frugal. Plus in Ultimate version you can specify which apps can and cannot access data. Some apps, e.g. e-mail, I've set to be allowed data whether the screen is on or off, others are only permitted when the screen is on :)
Flibster
28-05-2011, 02:05
I still haven't done anything about my phone but Heather is now sporting a Motorola Atrix :shocked:
I have to say I'm very impressed with and I'm tempted myself :)
There is a lot of hype around the SGS2 at the moment and it is a cracking phone but the Atrix is more of a business phone, she isn't looking to 'mod' it so the fact it's quite locked down isn't an issue for her
MB
I've been seriously tempted by this. Purely for the Lapdock accessory. Would be perfect for me in so many ways.
Other half has got a Desire Z recently and I've spent a long time playing with it. It's damn good, but it's got it's problems. One day they'll release a new phone with a hardware keyboard for people who don't have pencils for fingers. :(
I suspect that I'll get a Desire Z *or the newest version of* and an Asus Terminator instead though.
LeperousDust
01-06-2011, 06:55
Garp, without even looking into it properly i've just bought Juice Defender Ultimate for £5 so i hope you're right :p :D Ultimate trust! Tbh i didn't need a battery saver, but could always do with longer battery life :)
Stan_Lite
01-06-2011, 08:15
I've been using the paid version of Juice Defender for a couple of months now and can confirm that it's very effective. Only slight niggle (which will apply to you Alex) is that the CPU speed adjusting feature doesn't support Darky's ROM (I'm running 9.5) :( Apart from that, it's a very useful app.
LeperousDust
06-06-2011, 00:36
Yep CPU speed doesn't work, booooo need cyanogenMOD preferably. Can totally recommend Darky 10.1 if you're on 9.5 though, its 9.5 with gingerbread, tonnes of under the hood updates, speed, battery, and yet BLN (love this) and everything else still work seamlessly :)
Stan_Lite
06-06-2011, 07:50
Was looking at 10.1 a few days ago, meant to do it over the weekend but forgot. Doing it now.
LeperousDust
06-06-2011, 14:37
It's a pain in the ass because you have to flash with odin first and fart around, but its worth it :)
My Galaxy SII is sitting in the box waiting to be pounced on when I get home this afternoon :D
LeperousDust
14-06-2011, 21:09
:D
Psymonkee
14-06-2011, 21:59
Shiny shiny! :D
Enjoy it! :)
Del Lardo
14-06-2011, 22:12
Still loving mine after a month, I briefly contemplated an affair with a HTC Sensation but after playing with one I was happy to go back to my SII.
Now just waiting for the custom roms to appear :)
I have a Galaxy S2 and the only fault I can think to mention is that the software controls how quickly the battery charges and it takes a flippin age to fully charge. But my god, what a phone. Dual core processor is definitely the way forward and it weighs about the same as two credit cards. Its simply amazing.
LeperousDust
15-06-2011, 22:33
I charge my batteries with a separate wall charger, which also means i can swap them on the fly save having to almost ever actually plug my phone into anything since everything else i need is wireless :)
Do you love it more than Leo?
leowyatt
16-06-2011, 07:25
say what now?
Del Lardo
18-06-2011, 08:53
I might have to start charging Samsung commission ;D Friend who has a 5 year old Sony and had been looking for a Smart Phone for a year and never quite been convinced by anything he'd seen, he used his GFs 3Gs quite a bit and has an iPad but could never quite justify spending money on a Smart Phone. Played with my S2 for 15 minutes in the pub and promptly went home and ordered one :)
A Place of Light
25-06-2011, 00:06
Still waiting to get a Galaxy S2.
Tmobile\'s warehouse won\'t get any more until the 27th.
LeperousDust
25-06-2011, 03:13
Just bought this:
http://www.samsung.com/uk/system/consumer/product/2010/11/13/gt_b2710ikaxeu/large05.jpg (http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/mobile-devices/mobile-phones/bar/GT-B2710IKAXEU/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail)
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_xcover_271-3415.php
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Samsung-B2710_id4745
As much as i love my smartphone, i never have a reliable phone to take travelling or to festivals. So once and for all i've splashed out on something that i hope will last quite a long time. Essentially its a nothing special bar phone, which will phone and text. Crucially its quad band, water and dustproof - IP67 and US Military spec.
Only thing i can think to improve is the battery size (1300mah) which will provide more time than a smartphone could ever do, but the Samsung E2370 sports a 2000mah battery that gives it 2 months standby and a full day of solid talk time! Nothing i guess a second battery won't solve though :)
Additionally the phone sports a torch, digital compass and gps etc... I'm pretty pleased with it anyway! :D
A Place of Light
25-06-2011, 10:18
Although it\'s more expensive, the Defy ticks all the boxes you want and more.
LeperousDust
25-06-2011, 14:55
I dunno really its not officially IP67 rated, and there is no way (gorilla glass and all) its actually as hardy as the little Samsung bar phone. It's a damn good phone. Also being a smartphone its still chained to a power supply as well! The DEFY's touchscreen again is not in its favour. Once wet the screen is impossible to use, nor can you use it with gloves etc... Unlike the Samsung's chunky real keys. So i'm also good when skiing and mountain biking in gloves :)
//Edit: Oh i take back the touchscreen comment, as i didn't realise it had a qwerty keyboard hidden! Either way its still not as practical, but better!
And as you say price is a factor as well! I picked the samsung up for £83 sim free which i'm thrilled about :)
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