• What phone should I get?
    82 replies, posted
[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;35391275]I'd be the lone gunman and recommend the Lumia 800/900. The overall design is excellent, arguably the best out there, and the OS itself is sleek, fast, fluid and generally satisfying. Updates come along nicely, and while people say that the WP7 app store lacks, well, apps, I'd say that there's more than enough for whatever needs you might have, that aren't too obscure. Battery life should be very solid as well. I can do 3 days on my Radar, and 2 days if I do some medium to heavy usage. If I use it extensively (hotspot, constant browsing, etc.) I'll get one day + some ~20% battery. I won't really recommend it [I]over[/I] the Galaxy Nexus (as these phones aren't rally made for the same thing), but I'd say it's a [I]really[/I] good alternative, especially considering the price (if you're a new AT&T customer). You won't really get outdated that fast either, as WP7 don't use all that many resources. Sure there'll be a better phone soon enough, but it really isn't a biggie, as they run pretty much the same, no matter what model you're looking at. I own an HTC Radar, and I've used the Lumia 800 and 710 to a fair extent.[/QUOTE] The app store is a deal breaker :( I like playing games, and to be honest, Android takes a while to get the popular games -- WP7 will take even longer. I wish that iPhone's App Store would be added to WP7's hardware and UI, and add the power-user functionality of Android into the mix, and you have the perfect phone.
[QUOTE=Heizenberg;35391336]The app store is a deal breaker :( I like playing games, and to be honest, Android takes a while to get the popular games -- WP7 will take even longer. I wish that iPhone's App Store would be added to WP7's hardware and UI, and add the power-user functionality of Android into the mix, and you have the perfect phone.[/QUOTE] Well, the WP7 app store is the fastest growing right now, percent-wise, and most of the new "hot" apps are in the marketplace. And I dare-say the quality of the apps are generally higher than the quality on Android.
[QUOTE=Heizenberg;35387941]I think Windows phones are the least likely of the phones I would get for one reason only, and that is because of the lack of developer support. Hopefully that changes by the time I want to upgrade my phone in a couple of years.[/QUOTE] WP7 is pretty quickly getting traction on the developer front to be honest. Obviously some things are still behind but most stuff and solutions are already there. Plus Nokia gives a number of very decent (usually paid for and expensive) apps in the bundle. This is coming from a lumia user. Usually though you'll find a bit more paid games on wp7 than free ones. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. From experience with free apps on both android and wp7, the adds tend to be fairly intrusive. there also seems to be a battery issue as far as free apps go. [url]http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/23/2896253/google-play-android-mobile-ads-angry-birds[/url] Of course since android is fairly open, there's probably tools that allow you to actually block the ads from even displaying though who knows what impact that might have. Also in a sense the core gaming apps are there. There's a number of emulators, and a number of very solid titles by now. (I'm seriously loving Armed) [url]http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/bd765dda-ef5b-4c54-9e70-a02f4558a13e[/url] + it would be nice to get another soul into our little windows corner on the forum :P
You could get the Samsung SII with the ICS update then use Nova Launcher which makes it look exactly like stock ICS but with more features, and will probably run smoother than the Galaxy Nexus.
Okay so the date for buying the phone is still far away (should be around May 4th) but I've been hearing that Android crashes a lot, and the lack of app support is still a downer. It's just that I absolutely HATE iOS's UI because I've owned an iPod Touch 2G since it came out, and I am sick of it! Besides the UI and the relatively tiney screen on the iPhone 4S, I'm sort of leaning toward that because I don't want a phone that keeps on crashing. Phone gods, why can't you just mix the 3 phones into 1 all-powerful, sexy, stable phone?! [editline]3rd April 2012[/editline] Oh wow. I just looked at the windows phone app market place. [url]http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps?list=top[/url] Their apps suck so bad. The ones that are worth downloading are all $3-$5 each, and the free ones are all like eBay, Twitter, Facebook, etc. I'm DEFINITELY not getting a Windows Phone. It's down to the iPhone 4S and the Nexus. iPhone 4S seems like the safe choice, the Nexus is more exciting because it has a higher upside, but a it's down-side is much lower.
windows phone is disappointing and overhyped, take it from someone who's had one for 6 months GNexus wouldn't be terrible but as the "google experience device" it helps with one of the better features of Android: flashing custom ROMs I personally vote for the iPhone, the app store there is just a tad better and somehow I feel like the only person who prefers iOS UI over Android's widget-covered bullshit [editline]3rd April 2012[/editline] keep in mind though if you get bored of the iPhone you can't do a lot while in Android all you have to do is download a new launcher
[QUOTE=Protocol7;35412825]windows phone is disappointing and overhyped, take it from someone who's had one for 6 months GNexus wouldn't be terrible but as the "google experience device" it helps with one of the better features of Android: flashing custom ROMs I personally vote for the iPhone, the app store there is just a tad better and somehow I feel like the only person who prefers iOS UI over Android's widget-covered bullshit [editline]3rd April 2012[/editline] [B]keep in mind though if you get bored of the iPhone you can't do a lot while in Android all you have to do is download a new launcher[/B][/QUOTE] This is one of the main reasons why I'm a bit iffy about iPhone, but also the screen size, and the non-removable battery. Other than that, the iPhone seems like the clear winner to me.
[QUOTE=Heizenberg;35412897]This is one of the main reasons why I'm a bit iffy about iPhone, but also the screen size, and the non-removable battery. Other than that, the iPhone seems like the clear winner to me.[/QUOTE] I can more or less tell you that sooner or later most people stop messing with configs and use acertain stable default. Not because they're better, but because they get bored of the modding. I've seen it happen far too often. As to screen size a lot depends on your hands. I can tell you that anything 4+ is already too big to use commfortably for me. As to the top apps on WP being paid. Keep in mind that those are not really an indicative of the app count but xbla games that tend to have more promotions and as such surge in popularity. Not counting instagram, I've yet to find an app I'm missing. Well okay maybe athe stood port of dosbox. Though I feel youu're actually already set on getting a stood from your posts.
[QUOTE=wraithcat;35414158]I can more or less tell you that sooner or later most people stop messing with configs and use acertain stable default. Not because they're better, but because they get bored of the modding. I've seen it happen far too often. As to screen size a lot depends on your hands. I can tell you that anything 4+ is already too big to use commfortably for me. As to the top apps on WP being paid. Keep in mind that those are not really an indicative of the app count but xbla games that tend to have more promotions and as such surge in popularity. Not counting instagram, I've yet to find an app I'm missing. Well okay maybe athe stood port of dosbox. Though I feel youu're actually already set on getting a stood from your posts.[/QUOTE] My hands are average for a guy. They're not tiny, and not huge. I work at a hospital and medium-sized gloves fit me perfectly. Small ones fit by often tear and are way too tight. Large ones are loose. I'm sick of the iOS UI, but I totally see where you're coming from that I'll get sick of any UI eventually, that I'll even get sick of modding. Okay as of right now, the iPhone 4S is my phone, but I still have a month or so, so anything could happen by then.
Take a look on the HTC one X/S. The best that has come out of HTC since the EVO.
[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;35414857]Take a look on the HTC one X/S. The best that has come out of HTC since the EVO.[/QUOTE] I saw the S and X reviews on The Verge and Engadget, and I can't explain to you how much I hate Sense. I mean everything seemed fine at first, but then the one thing that I absolutely loved about ICS was the ability to just exit apps by swiping them, HTC ruined that for me and added an obnoxious way of swiping the apps away and to the top. Like you can see only one app at a time, which was pretty stupid to me. The S looked sexy since it was so thin, and not overly large like the X was. I like the new physical buttons, but HTC Sense is still a let down for me.
OEM's do have a habbit of messing up the UI don't they? :P
In my opinion, there isn't much point in getting an iPhone unless you have a Mac. The only features the iPhone has over anything else is how well it works with a Mac with iCloud and that sort of thing but presumably Windows phones'll have the same sort of thing, if not yet than at some point in the future.
[QUOTE=CrumbleShake;35426190]In my opinion, there isn't much point in getting an iPhone unless you have a Mac. The only features the iPhone has over anything else is how well it works with a Mac with iCloud and that sort of thing but presumably Windows phones'll have the same sort of thing, if not yet than at some point in the future.[/QUOTE] I run all 3 OSes, but the one I use the most is OSX on my Macbook. I guess that's another one for the iPhone 4S. Also, like I mentioned before, I'm planning on also getting an iPad (new)/iPad2
[QUOTE=garrynohome;35387298]I have 4.0.3 running on my Galaxy S II and yah it basically is just the Gingerbread update with some updates for ICS features. But functionally it's pretty much the same and the UI is relatively unchanged. Hey and y'know. I'll take a video tomorrow of our Galaxy Nexus and you can really see for yourself if the UI bothers you. I can't stand the animations as IMO they range from choppy to sluggish if you're used to seeing things run at a high framerate. Avid PC FPS gamers are people I expect this would bother.[/QUOTE] I have a GNexus, but the occasional framerate drop doesn't bother me. Its just eye candy and doesn't really affect device usability. Also disabling the Live wallpaper helps keep it to a minimum. Granted, that's my personal opinion, and the OP might prefer an OS that is 100% smooth. I've always held the belief that Android was first and foremost about being functional before looking pretty. I really won't complain, since for the past 2 years, I had a device that considered Angry Birds to be too graphically demanding to keep it running above 2 FPS.
[QUOTE=Heizenberg;35426250]I run all 3 OSes, but the one I use the most is OSX on my Macbook. I guess that's another one for the iPhone 4S. Also, like I mentioned before, I'm planning on also getting an iPad (new)/iPad2[/QUOTE] Well if you get an iPad you can use any apps that you own for iOS on both the iPad and on an iPhone.
[QUOTE=garrynohome;35430558]Well if you get an iPad you can use any apps that you own for iOS on both the iPad and on an iPhone.[/QUOTE] I know that for Android every phone app works for tablet, but not all tablet apps work for phones. Does this also apply to iOS or is it all 100% compatible?
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35430948]I know that for Android every phone app works for tablet, but not all tablet apps work for phones. Does this also apply to iOS or is it all 100% compatible?[/QUOTE] I'd imagine it's the same as Android. An app would be ridiculous on a tiny screen like the iPhone's if it was designed for the iPad.
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35430948]I know that for Android every phone app works for tablet, but not all tablet apps work for phones. Does this also apply to iOS or is it all 100% compatible?[/QUOTE] Some apps like photoshop touch are tablet specific. But most work on phones and tablets with a lot of apps having special ipad versions and iphone/ipod versions.
[IMG]http://puu.sh/nVX5[/IMG] the touchpad runs gingerbread and I don't own the Droid 2 anymore This is for Instagram BTW
[QUOTE=Heizenberg;35411783]Okay so the date for buying the phone is still far away (should be around May 4th) but I've been hearing that Android crashes a lot, and the lack of app support is still a downer. It's just that I absolutely HATE iOS's UI because I've owned an iPod Touch 2G since it came out, and I am sick of it! Besides the UI and the relatively tiney screen on the iPhone 4S, I'm sort of leaning toward that because I don't want a phone that keeps on crashing. Phone gods, why can't you just mix the 3 phones into 1 all-powerful, sexy, stable phone?! [editline]3rd April 2012[/editline] Oh wow. I just looked at the windows phone app market place. [url]http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps?list=top[/url] Their apps suck so bad. The ones that are worth downloading are all $3-$5 each, and the free ones are all like eBay, Twitter, Facebook, etc. I'm DEFINITELY not getting a Windows Phone. It's down to the iPhone 4S and the Nexus. iPhone 4S seems like the safe choice, the Nexus is more exciting because it has a higher upside, but a it's down-side is much lower.[/QUOTE] I'm just going to tell you. The screen size wont bug you, I have used a 4 inch inch screen and used it fine. And now my android screen is even smaller than the iphone screen. But I text and game just fine. You get used to it pretty fast.
[QUOTE=Heizenberg;35426250]I run all 3 OSes, but the one I use the most is OSX on my Macbook. I guess that's another one for the iPhone 4S. Also, like I mentioned before, I'm planning on also getting an iPad (new)/iPad2[/QUOTE] If you already plan on getting something from the ecosystem then the best thing to do is stay inside of the ecosystem due to application licenses. If you're on an iphone, you can grab ipad apps on it and vice versa. If you're on a droid you'll be split in two. Honestly paid apps is perhaps the best way to keep a user inside of one ecosystem.
[QUOTE=thelurker1234;35432374]I'm just going to tell you. The screen size wont bug you, I have used a 4 inch inch screen and used it fine. And now my android screen is even smaller than the iphone screen. But I text and game just fine. You get used to it pretty fast.[/QUOTE] I use a Galaxy S II and I too see no issue with the 3.5" screen on the iPhone. Resolution is the key thing here. A webpage or a list doesn't display more content if you have a bigger screen. In fact, Apple chose a 3.5" screen for a reason and I'm really starting to see that reason when I try to use my i9100M with one hand. [url]http://dcurt.is/2011/10/03/3-point-5-inches/[/url] I can use it with one hand, but it's not as easy as using a Lumia 710 or iPhone with one hand.
[QUOTE=garrynohome;35433264]I use a Galaxy S II and I too see no issue with the 3.5" screen on the iPhone. Resolution is the key thing here. A webpage or a list doesn't display more content if you have a bigger screen. In fact, Apple chose a 3.5" screen for a reason and I'm really starting to see that reason when I try to use my i9100M with one hand. [url]http://dcurt.is/2011/10/03/3-point-5-inches/[/url] I can use it with one hand, but it's not as easy as using a Lumia 710 or iPhone with one hand.[/QUOTE] I've heard about the thumb reaching all over the 3.5" screen, but your resolution theory is very convincing as well. Alright, iPhone 4S it is. Hopefully the new iPhone looks identical so I'm not stuck with a phone that looks old for 1.5 more years.
You won't be disappointed
[QUOTE=Heizenberg;35434331] Alright, iPhone 4S it is. Hopefully the new iPhone looks identical so I'm not stuck with a phone that looks old for 1.5 more years.[/QUOTE] they all look identical
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35435824]they all look identical[/QUOTE] I'm actually just afraid that the 5 has gorilla glass. I still don't understand why they stopped using Gorilla Glass when they started making the 4... THE ENTIRE PHONE IS GLASS FFS!
Don't drop it, and you'll be fine.
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35435930]Don't drop it, and you'll be fine.[/QUOTE] That could be tough, 2 years of owning a phone that I'll use all day. Oh well, my friend uses an Otterbox Commuter case, and a member on FP recommended it as well. The only problem is that it makes it bulky, but I guess that's better than having a shattered phone for the remainder of my 2-year contract.
[QUOTE=Heizenberg;35436031]That could be tough, 2 years of owning a phone that I'll use all day. Oh well, my friend uses an Otterbox Commuter case, and a member on FP recommended it as well. The only problem is that it makes it bulky, but I guess that's better than having a shattered phone for the remainder of my 2-year contract.[/QUOTE] I've found that literally any case will protect your phone, those Otterbox things look like gimmicks to me.
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