5punk

Anything with Android?

How good are Android phones though, compared to the shinyness of the iphone?

I say this from a position of no experience, but it seems to me from when I was looking for a smart phone that Android has an open operating system that allows you to pretty much use your phone like a PC - transfer and use files as you like, use Java apps designed for the PC, use whatever connection software you choose. iOS restricts you to whatever Apple want you to use, although it's a more user friendly OS. It's also more expensive and restricts you to one (type of) handset. But it's got an Apple logo on it, so presumably that counts from something. I plumped for the Windows phone but I wouldn't recommend it at the moment. It's as restrictive as iOS but without the support. The HTC HD7 handset is lovely though.

Galaxy S?

I got one when I sold my old 3gs. As Pantsu already said it's drag droppable without the faff of using iTunes and it will play almost any file type. I've got a .MKV rip of the A Team and it plays perfectly.

You can also get a free bit of software from Samsung that lets you share any folders you choose wirelessly. As long as my pc is on I can stream films to my phone in bed whilst my flatmate watches something else in the living room on his Samsung TV.

Speaking of phones, mine's mostly fucked, Would like something androidy with a good/decent camera with a flash.

Go.

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:Speaking of phones, mine's mostly fucked, Would like something androidy with a good/decent camera with a flash.

Go.

Galaxy S if possible. It's the only Android phone where you won't be waiting for OS updates for months if they show up at all.

deject wrote:
Galaxy S if possible. It's the only Android phone where you won't be waiting for OS updates for months if they show up at all.

They're advertising them a lot recently, come with some movie/games deal.

I assume the camera is just for casual use, as they're usually a bit crap compared to even cheap compact digitals. I was quite surprised the one in my phone produced okay pictures at close range using the "flash", but it was total rubbish at anything else. I did have a very small digital camera I used to carry with me everywhere in lieu of using my phone's one, but it wasn't robust enough and the screen cracked.

Galaxy S or desire HD. Although the htc incredible is finally arriving in the UK and has a slightly smaller screen than the desire HD (better battery life) and has an uprated camera at 8mp.

I've been looking at phones a lot recently, despite my contract not being up until early summer. On the basis of how hefty the HTC Desire HD is, I think the current front-runner is the Desire. However, if the Incredible will be sold over here by then, I may reconsider, depending on prices.

I had a Samsung a few years ago and never really liked it, and for that reason alone have never really been tempted by the Galaxy S.

TezzRexx wrote:HALP!

I'm tempted by an iPhone. Anyone got any alternatives that are better?

2 iPhones!

Hmmmmmmmmmm!

Is there a downside to Android compared to the shit available on the App store /through jail-baiting?

TezzRexx wrote:Hmmmmmmmmmm!Is there a downside to Android compared to the shit available on the App store /through jail-baiting?

It depends what you want on your phone. iPhones seem to be the new cool thing to make apps for, so many things may be iOS-only, some may have Android equivalents and Androids may have many things iPhones do not.

Pick your list of must-haves and check the requisite stores/sites for prices/availability.

TezzRexx wrote:HALP!

I'm tempted by an iPhone. Anyone got any alternatives that are better?

Not really.

Although im sure i'll get shouted at for offering an opinion other than "boo, iphones, evil apple, boo", I think it should be pointed out that I use both the iPhone and the iPad *a lot*, and the only reason I use itunes at all is that it is *mildly* faster downloading app updates on my computer than it is downloading them direct to the phone. You totally could install itunes, activate your phone, then uninstall itunes again, if you so wished. Personally, I think that would be stupid, as if you are only using itunes as a way to interfarce with your phone it works perfectly fine. You can just drag and drop both video and music, it syncs contacts up with outlook without issues, and it backs up your phone for you. All fine by me.

Apart from creepy Uncle Bonjour making an unwelcome stay on your PC.

FatherJack wrote:Apart from creepy Uncle Bonjour making an unwelcome stay on your PC.

Apart from there being another little service sat in the back of my computer (and frankly, at this point it is one of many), it hasn't made a jot of difference to me though, so meh.

Joose wrote:"boo, iphones, evil apple, boo"

Yeah, I'm a bit guilty of that even though I try not to be. It's only a backlash against the rampant Apple fanboys I encounter too often (not here).

I saw a thing that amused me actually today. A Windows Phone to Mac cable.

I have a motorola Defy. It's android and is pretty bombproof, has a gorilla glass screen and is submergable in water. Great party trick is putting it in someone's beer and then ringing it.

Oh and was £20 pm with 3gb of internets, unlimited texts and 300 mins on t-mobile...

2.2 update in the forthcoming months too.

Sol wrote:Oh and was £20 pm with 3gb of internets ... on t-mobile...

As of 1st Feb this year it's gone down to only 500mb for downloading. Web and email is unlimited. They were planning on applying this to all contracts however they backed down on fucking up existing contracts. Luckily signed mine mid Jan

I also have the Defy. For a mid priced phone it has good specs. I'm liking it, but it's my first smart phone though so I have no point of comparison.

Only problem I have is after 1 month of use it has a massive scratch across it. I have no clue how it could of happened, and find it very surprising given the "Gorilla scratch resistant glass". Sad face

Thanks for the info guys.

I think the main thing for me is the fancy Apps but the HTC's does seem to be the more usable and out of the Android phones and the internets is pointing to it to be one of the best and their Application programming base appears to be growing significantly (although, still pales in comparison to apple). I've got my eye on the HTC Desire HD although as Pete said, battery life is shite.

But, there are some good deals for around £25 on HTC's.

I'm going to ring 3 tomorrow and see what they offer as an upgrade to the iPhone as their HTC costs are insane. If its a fairly shit deal (which knowing 3 and their upgrade offers, they generally are), one of the HTC's it is.

3 are shit, I would ditch them like an old mexican streetwalker at the US border.

In terms of apps - apparently the rate at which the android apps are growing is such that soon the difference will be negligible, I'm not sure how much I trust that and given Apple are likely to get the newest and shiniest first it's unlikely to ever reach a true parity. But who needs a million+ apps anyway.

The latest sense ui on the htc's are great, it adds a lot to the android os and is very flexible, something I hate about my old win 6.5 phone is the lack of home screen customisation.

I'm due another phone in a few so I'm interested in how the incredible will be delivered to the UK market. I'm already updating my brain scripts on specs and comparisons of the major phones in anticipation. I love the shiny things!