I'm not much of a phone junkie, but I used hofo to help me pick my last phone and I couldn't have been happier. Way back when, the sum of the recommendations was a Nokia E51 and it has worked wonderfully. It's easy to fit in my pocket and does exactly what I need it to do. Or did.
I'm starting a new job and will finally have to have a data plan. Therefore, I'm joining the land of smartphones for the first time (no, I don't really consider my E51 a smartphone). Cost isn't important because the job will be paying for the phone, but I'm not really sure what I should get.
I have used all three operating systems I'm considering to some extent or another. I've used iOS the most and find it ok. Android feels like a clunkier version of iOS, but is passable. My favorite OS in the time I've used it, though, is WP7. For some reason, it just feels fresher and more intuitive to me.
That being said, I regularly use gmail and google maps, not hotmail and bing. I also don't have an XBox (have a PS3, but I'm not much of a gamer anymore).
My basic requirements are:
-fits in my pocket easily
-good battery life (I often go a while without plugging in my phone)
-excellent call quality (it is a phone after all)
-most of the standard apps available
-can easily read word and excel docs
-excellent build quality
So, I guess my questions are, given my preference for WP7, does my lack of use of microsoft's other services make it dumb to get a WP7 phone? Is the battery life on any android device good enough to consider it? Is the iPhone 4 or 4s a better fit? It seems like 4 has a better battery life.
The phones I had been somewhat considering are:
WP7:
Nokia Lumia 800
Samsung Focus S
HTC Titan
iOS:
iPhone 4s
iPhone 4
Android:
Samsung Galaxy S II
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
(others, but I haven't checked out many android products, so I'm open to suggestions)
Android galaxy SGS II is the best choice if you are Google centric Samsung just passed iphone in sales.The Samsung at this moment the best -seller worldwide – with one being sold every second.
Here are a few reasons why:
The screen is larger by almost a full inch but the device is thinner and lighter.
Faster clock speed TWICE the RAM (true multi tasking requires more RAM)
Far more peripherals and Internet connectivity options on the Samsung including WiFi Teathering, a micro USB port that supports adapters that offer the connection of an external hard drive or USB stick, and or connectivity to an HDMI input on a TV. Also has DLNA support which allows wireless high-definition video streaming to a TV
Offers 4G connectivity in areas that have 4G vs Iphones 3G only
They both offer voice activated function. Iphone Siri is slicker though but I don;pt see anyone using this feature publicly LOL ,
The front camera in the SGS II is far better than iPhone for skype. 2MP vs "vga"
Apps are not censored. You can install any app you choose from any source you choose.
Cloud Storage is less expensive. 20GB free in Google cloud. No extra charges for uploading your music not (as Apple charges $25 for music not purchased at the IStore)
You don't really NEED the cloud as you have a total of 40GB PLUS storage available right on the device. It uses far less battery (and data) to run your music from your SD card than the cloud.
Speaking of batteries. Battery life simply doesn't matter because you can actually swap them out and keep a few charged batteries for those times when you don't want to ration the use of the phone because you would have to plug it in for a charge. They also have higher MAH batteries and phone backs as well.
If you buy an international version ATT still offers the dumb phone UL data plan for $10 a month since the device IMEI is not registered on their network.
You can use any launcher you want (without a custom ROM) adding as any home screens as you want. You might have Facebook taking up one whole screen then slide to Twitter on another, Music player on another. Everything is customizable to your liking and needs. You get a desktop like web experience with Adobe flash and can trun it off an on according to need.
No need for SW other than Windows to drag and drop or sync content to and from your phone. It is a couple USB sticks to a PC. You can hook up external hard drives to the Galaxy for whatever reason you may want to.
If you want to really get creative, you can easily put a custom ROM on the device removing all ATT and Samsung bloatware and adding a ton of features. XDA Developers is the premier site for Android customization. I was no techno geek but I am now an expert at flashing ROMS and kernels, Modems, Themes, You can make the device do what you want like use a hardware button for the camera or eliminate all sounds.
I just don't see many Samsung dealbreaking advantages to iPhone unless you really are Apple centic and prefer the simpler OS and iTunes. There is a reason the SGS II is blowing away iphone right now. People are waking up to controlling their devices.
It has MS Office built in, so you can edit docs/spreadsheets, not just view them.
You can simply create a new Live account and that will "back up" your contacts...then you can add GMail to the email tile. GMaps is available in the Marketplace, so no worries there either.
WP7.5 battery life is very good if you don't have lots of live tiles or constant email syncing. I also hate having to plug in the phone constantly. Don't link up Facebook in the People tile, either, so it doesn't update every few seconds.
Nokia has excellent build quality. I hated my HTC (everything about it, really) and my Samsung Focus is built very well.
You say you enjoy WP the most, so jump in!
The definition of irony...
Originally Posted by 2.3wiztech
Blackberry is outdated and scrolling takes forever on that small screen and the apparently for blackberry suck
I really appreciate the detailed information on the GS II vs the iPhone, but I do wonder if you read everything I wrote. You didn't compare either to any Windows Phone device. Do you have any thoughts on any of the WP7 devices?
Also, could you compare getting a GS II now versus waiting a bit on a Galaxy Nexus?
I'm not in the US (in Norway), so the AT&T stuff is irrelevant.
As far as having multiple batteries or revamping the layout of the home screens, I can't picture myself doing either. I have never had multiple batteries and I doubt I'll start lugging them around now. I also tweak OS's a bit, but not a ton. I'd prefer to have it work really well right off the bat.
Ryan S, thanks for the info on the google products in WP7. I'm strongly considering the 800, but I'm not sure if I can hold out until its unknown release date (beginning of 2012 is what they're claiming for Norway, but that could be Jan 1 or Feb 28 or even Mar 15). I really like the looks of that phone though.
Ahh yes, the unknown launch date We are also told "early 2012" for the US release. The Mango update was pretty timely, so we should be optimistic
I don't know about Norway's mobile market, but can you get one from the Netherlands or Germany (or UK, France, Italy, Spain)? And wouldn't it be cheaper to have it sent to you versus buying it in Norway?
I really appreciate the detailed information on the GS II vs the iPhone, but I do wonder if you read everything I wrote. You didn't compare either to any Windows Phone device. Do you have any thoughts on any of the WP7 devices?
Also, could you compare getting a GS II now versus waiting a bit on a Galaxy Nexus?
I'm not in the US (in Norway), so the AT&T stuff is irrelevant.
As far as having multiple batteries or revamping the layout of the home screens, I can't picture myself doing either. I have never had multiple batteries and I doubt I'll start lugging them around now. I also tweak OS's a bit, but not a ton. I'd prefer to have it work really well right off the bat.
Ryan S, thanks for the info on the google products in WP7. I'm strongly considering the 800, but I'm not sure if I can hold out until its unknown release date (beginning of 2012 is what they're claiming for Norway, but that could be Jan 1 or Feb 28 or even Mar 15). I really like the looks of that phone though.
Hold out for the Nexus.. There are apps that allow you to edit Windows Office applications Quick Office is one of them. I will likely pick up a Nexus soon after developers start their ROM building and use the SGS II as a back up.
. You may not want to mess with home screens because you are not used to that sort of customization. But ocne you see what you can do you will make your device work best for you.
AS far as a battery goes mine fits in my wallet. The larger the screens get and the more RAM they use with higher clocked processors, you will want an extra battery.
I've gotta say that I care less about screen size about more about fitting into my pocket easily. Any screen as big as an iPhone screen is plenty big to surf the net and look at documents on for a little while. Any screen as small as a Titan or Galaxy Nexus is plenty small to not want to do it for hours at a time.
Nexus One, Droid Incredible, HTC Desire, Samsung Galaxy S
iPod Touch 64gb, Droid Eris (reserve)
Blackberry Tour (sold), Nokia N85, Nokia 5530, MyTouch 3G (reserve)
Carriers
DOCOMO Pacific (HSDPA);
Feedback Score
0
Get a Galaxy S2. Period.
A Galaxy Nexus is an S2 variant with the new Android version. So yeah, I would choose one or the other. I would say the GMail app on the Galaxy Nexus would own, if its anything like the GMail app on Honeycomb.
Consider the new Google+ v2.0 app if you plan on social networking and checkins.
Nexus One, Droid Incredible, HTC Desire, Samsung Galaxy S
iPod Touch 64gb, Droid Eris (reserve)
Blackberry Tour (sold), Nokia N85, Nokia 5530, MyTouch 3G (reserve)
Carriers
DOCOMO Pacific (HSDPA);
Feedback Score
0
I would say go with the Nexus. Android + Touchwiz ain't bad though, as it covers up the rough spots and presents a very fluid interface. I do think Ice Cream Sandwich has a style on its own, and its part of Google's new design language and emphasis. The Google+ v2.0 app by the way, looks way better than any mobile socila networking app I've seen. This new design language has a lot to do with Andy Hertzfeld, who codesigned the original MacOS, and the user experience engineer behind Ice Cream Sandwich is Mattias Duarte, who is the key designer to the Palm WebOS interface.
Your elaborated needs are vague and general enough that they are mostly covered with most phones, so anything is an easy fit. But if you are dependent on GMail and Google Maps, Ice Cream Sandwich now features a new very nice looking GMail app, though maybe, it might later be ported to the earlier Androids. GMail is being redressed to fit this new design language. Google Maps are updated independent of OS, so you get the latest Google Maps even if you are in the old Android 1.6. Google Maps is one of the most updated apps I've seen. There is hardly a month that goes by without an update and it vastly outperforms the version I had when I first started on Android, and even last year.
Thanks for all the replies, but it turns out that the IT department will only support iOS. So, an iPhone it is.
That's too bad. The iPhone really is full of defects now that iOS 5 came out. I have been an iPhone user for 2 years and I'm about to buy an Android or WP7 myself. iPhone's quality and user experience has gone down the drain over the past couple years. Honestly the phone and the apps crash a lot more than they used to but I guess that can be expected with the continual addition of new features.
That's too bad. The iPhone really is full of defects now that iOS 5 came out. I have been an iPhone user for 2 years and I'm about to buy an Android or WP7 myself. iPhone's quality and user experience has gone down the drain over the past couple years. Honestly the phone and the apps crash a lot more than they used to but I guess that can be expected with the continual addition of new features.
You think iOS apps crash a lot?? LOL, wait until you come over to Android. One thing I miss about iOS was that nothing ever crashed it.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by 2.3wiztech
We are also told "early 2012" for the US release. The Mango update was pretty timely, so we should be optimistic 
Bookmarks