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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Lazydocker on 29 October 2010, 18:40:01

Title: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 29 October 2010, 18:40:01
Due for an upgrade in the next couple of weeks and not sure what to go for...

HTC Desire HD, iPhone 4 or Nokia N8 seem to be the main contenders.

Nokia is still Symbian and seems to be a little behind the times but prepared to be proven wrong.

So, what would people recommend?

Main requirements are decent email service (I run on Google Apps), decent web browser and the ability to watch films etc.

Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Del Boy on 29 October 2010, 19:22:14
iPhone 4, very good web browser, google app is quality, google maps are quality. Anyone who says they're crap is a liar  ;D ;)
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 29 October 2010, 19:25:50
Quote
iPhone 4, very good web browser, google app is quality, google maps are quality. Anyone who says they're crap is a liar  ;D ;)

iPhone is a strong contender and was, untill this week, my only real consideration but have heard good things about the HTC recently and know that Android has come on a lot.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Turk on 29 October 2010, 20:09:02
iPhone is the top dog for apps, only feature that's none too clever is the phone 'facility'. Some signal issues. Camera is ok at best.
Another 'smart phone' that's getting good reviews across the board is Nokia's N8. Not as many apps as the iPhone, but unless you're a teenager that shouldn't be an issue.
12 megapixel camera has a Carl Zeiss lens, and both optical and digital zoom.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 29 October 2010, 20:09:45
Quite happy with my Android unit, plus its good at making calls so is already one up on the gay phone  ;D
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 29 October 2010, 20:19:05
Quote
Quite happy with my Android unit, plus its good at making calls so is already one up on the gay phone  ;D

Which Android unit do you have Mark?
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 29 October 2010, 20:20:40
I have an SE Experia X10 pro mini (I need a small and fairly tough phone).

But to be honest, Android phones are all pretty similar.

Loads of useless apps to, just like the G-phone  ;D
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 29 October 2010, 20:22:35
Quote
iPhone is the top dog for apps, only feature that's none too clever is the phone 'facility'. Some signal issues. Camera is ok at best.
Another 'smart phone' that's getting good reviews across the board is Nokia's N8. Not as many apps as the iPhone, but unless you're a teenager that shouldn't be an issue.
12 megapixel camera has a Carl Zeiss lens, and both optical and digital zoom.

Nokia seem to have lost their way recently... I currently have an e71 and have been sorely disappointed with it. It seems to freeze randomly, the push email function tends to throw it's toys away periodically and the web browsing is slow and clunky. I'm cautious with the N8 (although am considering it) because it's still running Symbian.

Signal around my home is poor at the best of times so the iPhone issues do concern me ::)

Hmmm.... Good job I've got a few weeks to make the decision!
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 29 October 2010, 20:24:52
Quote
I have an SE Experia X10 pro mini (I need a small and fairly tough phone).

But to be honest, Android phones are all pretty similar.

Loads of useless apps to, just like the G-phone  ;D

That is actually an option too, but not a massive fan of SE after a (admittedly, long ago) bad experience!

I reckon the Android platform has as many useless apps as the iPhone now, all doing similar things, so not a major concern!
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Plomien on 29 October 2010, 20:45:43
The N8 is getting some good reviews but avoid anything with windows 7 for mobiles for the moment they are being slated.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 29 October 2010, 21:56:20
Quote
The N8 is getting some good reviews but avoid anything with windows 7 for mobiles for the moment they are being slated.

Although Win7 mobile is tempting I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole after having a windows mobile unit in the past... Even more unstable than Symbian!!!
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Del Boy on 29 October 2010, 22:55:01
Android just doesn't touch the iPhone if you ask me. I was saying this before I had one too, the iPhone is in my opinion the best smartphone out there to be honest  :y
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 29 October 2010, 22:59:28
Quote
Android just doesn't touch the iPhone if you ask me. I was saying this before I had one too, the iPhone is in my opinion the best smartphone out there to be honest  :y

Except at the phone bit ::) ::) :-/ :-/
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Del Boy on 29 October 2010, 23:06:33
On the 3G & 3Gs models, the actual phone bit of the iPhone wasn't the best, but no issues with the iPhone 4 as of yet, also I don't get any of the signal issues mentioned unless I hold the phone oddly too  :y
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 29 October 2010, 23:12:46
Thanks for the feedback Del :y :y

That's what I started this thread for
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: feeutfo on 29 October 2010, 23:21:35
IMO...sigh....smartphones.

In no particular order, nokia, historically have failed in every instance to release a new handset that is not completely pox ridden with bugs, first release firmware is often next to useless and models are generally only ever as sorted as they are likely to be when the next flagship model is released and development moves on to that model....been a nokia fan from the off and am now sick of them..BUT the n8 is the first release since the last CEO departed and apple lessons should have been learned I hope, symbian is passed it last I looked but it's open source, which is a big plus, but does mean there are some crap apps about, symbian needs another chance as a base platform...

Apple have concentrated on one basic device in the smartfone market, and it shows, there are bugs, but they are tiny and will barely show up as such if you even remotely used to symbian.

Android, open source I believe but the one I used a while back was overly fussy, not impressed but didn't really give it a chance being fair.

Windows, dull boring dull round in circles terribly sorry old boy, I am a little tired, shallow boring snooooore zzzzzzzz....

My interest, for what it's worth, would be iphone4 or n8, but I would need some serious persuading to buy another nokia.....Santa hopefully coming to Reading via the apple02 shop.  :-X
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: tunnie on 30 October 2010, 09:08:37
iPhone  :y - Its just a joy to use, its also ultra stable!

I had an Android handset for about a year, its too buggy, not as nice to use, basic functions are a not great. Took Apple a while to get copy and paste on iPhone, but it works really really well. I find trying to do the same thing on the HTC Desire a real bore.

Desire does have an awesome screen though, its also heavier than iPhone.

Just don't get it on Vodafone!
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: venom on 30 October 2010, 09:10:23
HTC every time I've had a Hero for just over a year and it has been the best phone I have had, and let's be honest the apps on Android or Apple are just toys really the main thing is the phone & I feel HTC makes for a better phone, which I'm sending this from 
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: feeutfo on 30 October 2010, 09:57:54
Agree re apps, got several on the iPad. Downloaded them and played a bit, but never used since..
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: pscocoa on 30 October 2010, 10:34:20
Nokias have been very solid for us and the X6 on Orange Panther (unlimited 50 ohotos/unlimited data/email /maps etc) plus the combined Orange and T mobile masts seems a good mix. Would go for the N8 I think to meet requirements set out in opening post.

Haven't had the problems with Nokia that others seem to have. Daughter got X6 a month ago and very happy with it
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 30 October 2010, 22:48:51
Hmm... iPhone seems to be edging it in my mind a little.

N8 still has Symbian against it IMO... My phone had yet another random reset moment last night and again today >:( >:(
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 30 October 2010, 23:38:46
There is no such thing as the 'best' phone, only whats 'best' for you.

I think the Smartphone market is pretty much now gayPhone, Android or Win7 Phone.

Each has its own strong and weak points.

gayPhone, mega stable, intuitive, easy to use, "just works" as expected. But poor phone signal, esp in weak signal areas. Have to have gayTunes, which is appalling, and Apple's insistence that you use the device as they want you to use it.

Android. Open, but falling down exactly the holes Symbian did, and will go the same way if Google do not get their backside in gear. Generally less stable that the gayPhone.  Probably the 'best' Android is the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 (not the mini - unless you need this form, but does limit it).

Win7, still new, not sure I'd want ti be an early adopter.



Symbian is a has been. A decision to not include a user interface in the core OS means that it was expensive (in development) for OEMs to release, so pretty much only Nokia did, and with a weak interface.  Interestingly, Google have chosen the same with Android, and are trying desperately hard to keep the source code closed.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: wakeyomega on 31 October 2010, 17:40:19
I have the hTC Desire. VERY happy with it. If you have any questions, fire away.

Cheers Pat
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: eclub on 01 November 2010, 10:28:43
iPhone 4 is very good.

The iPhone battery (http://www.mytrendyphone.co.uk/shop/apple-iphone-batteries-33316c1.html
) is good for the phone, and kind. The camera is excellent. (If your camera is important, you better take N8).

The device is totally made for entertainment and business.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Kevin Wood on 01 November 2010, 11:40:20
The problem with the I-phone, IMHO, is that it's too fragile to be used as a phone. Might be great as a mobile computing platform but as my main mobile phone it would last about a week.

My Boss' one has finally met its end today after about a year of gibberish phone calls from him, and a screen that has cracked and been repaired umpteen times. It's fine if you're going to treat it with kit gloves but if you ever go crawling under Omegas with your phone in your back pocket, etc. what's the point?

Think my Nokia 6300 will be staying for a while.

Kevin
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 01 November 2010, 13:15:08
TBH, I tend to be much more careful with my phones now.

The majority of my phone usage is really for email and web surfing so that needs to be my priority.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 01 November 2010, 17:30:11
I also seek lots of info and reviews..

Best 3 , iphone 4, samsung i9000  and htc hd2..

all are extremely expensive..samsung and htc about 750 euro.. and iphone 4 around 1000 euro :o

checked for htc hd2 today.. ( I was about to buy amd give up  ;D )

and some friends dont recommend windows mobile as it freezes time to time with changed rom..

so samsung i9000..  but something stop me :-/
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 01 November 2010, 17:32:55
and one more point to add.. Kevin has right,

may be its good idea to use one cheapo and one android or I'll say bye bye within days ;D
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: aaronjb on 01 November 2010, 17:35:25
I'd go for the iPhone, but I suppose that's a given after I've owned the 2G, 3G and 4 (I just skipped the 3Gs).. I haven't owned a 'sturdy' phone that I'd happily lay on for years - if you want that then the Blackberries actually seem pretty good as long as you avoid the top end ones, but it's not a patch on the iPhone for anything else - even call quality IMHO.

I have a BB for work and the iPhone is my own phone; I've had several BBs over the last four years and several iPhones and one thing I have noticed, though, is that call quality seems to get worse with each successive generation in both cases  ;D

The older (pre Curve/Bold etc) BBs are indestructible though - I tried (I even fell down three steps and landed on a concrete carpark holding the phone - it effectively broke my fall, all 150Kg of me - and it was fine!), a colleague tried (he showered with it, don't ask), another one tried (dropped it in the loo) .. all fine - that was the 7900 IIRC.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 01 November 2010, 17:41:17
I excluded blackberries as BIS membership is an extra cost..
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: feeutfo on 01 November 2010, 18:20:09
At this end of the market I always expect to be very careful where I keep a phone, left front pocket is phone only, keys and coins never in the same pocket, and never put a phone in a back pocket personaly, any sizeable screen WILL brake, and some small sturdy one too....
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 01 November 2010, 18:27:12
Quote
The problem with the I-phone, IMHO, is that it's too fragile to be used as a phone. Might be great as a mobile computing platform but as my main mobile phone it would last about a week.

My Boss' one has finally met its end today after about a year of gibberish phone calls from him, and a screen that has cracked and been repaired umpteen times. It's fine if you're going to treat it with kit gloves but if you ever go crawling under Omegas with your phone in your back pocket, etc. what's the point?

Think my Nokia 6300 will be staying for a while.

Kevin
To be honest, I think they are quite robust.  I'm not kind to phones, esp those with utter useless crappy poxy shitty hopeless pointless Vodafone SIMs in.

Its certainly far more robust that the crappy nasty hopeless buggy unusable fragile heap of HTC junk I had previously.

We use Incipio 'Feather' covers on the back, and screen protector on the front.

Signalwise, its on a par with the 3 HTCs I had previously, fractionally worse than a 6230i. Batterywise, with a good signal, about 2.5-3 days (3GS, 4 has better battery life) with my normal usage. Stick the utter useless crappy poxy shitty hopeless pointless Vodafone SIM in, it needs charging daily, again, not far from my old 6230i, and miles better (with good signal) that the HTCs. My 6210 beat all for signal and battery.


The more I use a gay, the more I realise its benefits (I originally got one to come out of the closet because it was perfect for the email system I use).  Its major, major downside is its Apple, and they truely are the scum of the earth, they dictate what you can use it for, as they are now trying to enforce on Mac ussers (glad I don't own one of them any more). And the insistence on having iTunes - a piece of software that happily, frequently wipes your device, including all Angry Birds data, Doodle Gods data, and Road Trip data. R-souls  >:(  >:(  >:(. Then won't allow you to restore the recent backup, because you had downgraded to previous iOS (surely thats a Cisco trademark?) to overcome the wifi bug with 4.1, and had to go back to June  >:(  >:(  >:( (because it had corrupted the backups in between).


Apple truely are R-souls of the highest order, but the phone (taken as a smart device) is probably the best out there for the majority of people, and certainly the best for me currently. Apple and idiotTunes let it down.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 01 November 2010, 18:33:29
here is a comparison..

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9000_galaxy_s_vs_apple_iphone_4-review-500.php
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: aaronjb on 01 November 2010, 18:37:32
Quote
they dictate what you can use it for, as they are now trying to enforce on Mac ussers (glad I don't own one of them any more).

They are? How?

On the subject of the iOS trademark - it is still owned by Cisco, they've just licensed it (presumably for a large, undisclosed, sum of money) to Apple..
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 01 November 2010, 18:58:38
Quote
Quote
they dictate what you can use it for, as they are now trying to enforce on Mac ussers (glad I don't own one of them any more).

They are? How?

On the subject of the iOS trademark - it is still owned by Cisco, they've just licensed it (presumably for a large, undisclosed, sum of money) to Apple..
Same way as they do on (what are now called) iDevices - open an app store, and only allow those applications to run (and Apple decide what is and isn't allowed in that store).
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: aaronjb on 01 November 2010, 19:14:36
When did they say you were only going to be able to install things from the app store, though?

I must have missed that announcement.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: feeutfo on 01 November 2010, 19:36:04
Quote
Quote
Quote
they dictate what you can use it for, as they are now trying to enforce on Mac ussers (glad I don't own one of them any more).

They are? How?

On the subject of the iOS trademark - it is still owned by Cisco, they've just licensed it (presumably for a large, undisclosed, sum of money) to Apple..
Same way as they do on (what are now called) iDevices - open an app store, and only allow those applications to run (and Apple decide what is and isn't allowed in that store).

There is a positive side to apples approach in that apps have to reach a certain standard and work as designed, some of the open source stuff is a joke, so not all bad, but a valid point ESP re cost as well.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 01 November 2010, 19:38:09
Quote
When did they say you were only going to be able to install things from the app store, though?

I must have missed that announcement.
Read between the lines of their recent actions - they are not going to shout "We are repositioning to screw you over" ;)


Firstly, remove the ability to run uncontrollable code via common cross-platform interpreters. The Apple v Adobe spat over Flash/Shockwave is well documented, but the start of the removal of Java from OSX isn't. Java's status has been marked as deprecated by Apple.

Then the industry's worse kept secret of the new Mac App Store as the primary software distribution method.  Now this is likely to piss off 'business class' Mac users, which is Mac's niche in life, but then Mr Jobs no longer has all his dogs on one lead, and believes his own hype.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 01 November 2010, 19:41:56
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
they dictate what you can use it for, as they are now trying to enforce on Mac ussers (glad I don't own one of them any more).

They are? How?

On the subject of the iOS trademark - it is still owned by Cisco, they've just licensed it (presumably for a large, undisclosed, sum of money) to Apple..
Same way as they do on (what are now called) iDevices - open an app store, and only allow those applications to run (and Apple decide what is and isn't allowed in that store).

There is a positive side to apples approach in that apps have to reach a certain standard and work as designed, some of the open source stuff is a joke, so not all bad, but a valid point ESP re cost as well.
Trouble is, there are lots of excellent apps that Apple refuse to allow, purely because Apple themselves, or their partners, have something similar for sale. It seems a bit corrupt to me. Also, on iDevices, Apple say you can't run Flash, for example, thats no value to the user, just simply a way of protecting Apple's control.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: feeutfo on 01 November 2010, 19:54:34
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
they dictate what you can use it for, as they are now trying to enforce on Mac ussers (glad I don't own one of them any more).

They are? How?

On the subject of the iOS trademark - it is still owned by Cisco, they've just licensed it (presumably for a large, undisclosed, sum of money) to Apple..
Same way as they do on (what are now called) iDevices - open an app store, and only allow those applications to run (and Apple decide what is and isn't allowed in that store).

There is a positive side to apples approach in that apps have to reach a certain standard and work as designed, some of the open source stuff is a joke, so not all bad, but a valid point ESP re cost as well.
Trouble is, there are lots of excellent apps that Apple refuse to allow, purely because Apple themselves, or their partners, have something similar for sale. It seems a bit corrupt to me. Also, on iDevices, Apple say you can't run Flash, for example, thats no value to the user, just simply a way of protecting Apple's control.
Quite agree, two sides to it though  :-* edit .bah, wrong smiley,  :-/ that's better

But generally, apps (just saying the words winds me up tbh) are all 'dangle berries' IMO. If it's an application worth having on the phone then it should be released in the phone at sale, the rest are just web pages in a different, well,  "folder" if it a web based. You tube does my nut, why does ot open in application? It's a flecking web page!
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 01 November 2010, 20:06:04
Quote
You tube does my nut, why does ot open in application? It's a flecking web page!
gayTube is for brain dead idiots - how many people email you mindless, tedious links that aren't funny - but Apple realise that stupid people are slowly becoming the majority.

However, because Apple ban Flash, and gayTube is realiant on Flash, it needs a dedicated app ;)
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: feeutfo on 01 November 2010, 20:17:38
Quote
Quote
You tube does my nut, why does ot open in application? It's a flecking web page!
gayTube is for brain dead idiots - how many people email you mindless, tedious links that aren't funny - but Apple realise that stupid people are slowly becoming the majority.

However, because Apple ban Flash, and gayTube is realiant on Flash, it needs a dedicated app ;)
So whats in the you tube app other than flash? Have you noticed I don't care what it's called  ;D 
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 01 November 2010, 20:33:47
Quote
Quote
Quote
You tube does my nut, why does ot open in application? It's a flecking web page!
gayTube is for brain dead idiots - how many people email you mindless, tedious links that aren't funny - but Apple realise that stupid people are slowly becoming the majority.

However, because Apple ban Flash, and gayTube is realiant on Flash, it needs a dedicated app ;)
So whats in the you tube app other than flash? Have you noticed I don't care what it's called  ;D 
Who knows, but guessing a wrappered up flash that cannot acees anything but gayLube videos.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 01 November 2010, 21:33:27
So, basically, I'm back where I started! I need to pop into one of the stores and have a play with all 3 but iPhone4 seems to have the edge over the competition for what I want.

As those who've been to my place know, mobile signal is woefully poor on all networks so whatever I get will need charging daily at a minimum! My e71, which is about 23 months old now, needs charging about 3 times in 48 Hours minimum now... It does give me a little concern when signing for a 24 month contract. I suppose I can always change the battery if needed.

Now I just need to find out what sort of deal my current network will give me... Been with 3 for about 4 years now and perfectly happy with the signal (most of the time) and I get a discount through work... Be interesting to see if they'll carry it on and give me a good enough deal to stay! Especially as I have 2 contracts and they're both up for renewal, although SWMBO says she's not fused about getting anything fancy as long as it's a Nokia!
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 01 November 2010, 21:37:14
Quote
So, basically, I'm back where I started! I need to pop into one of the stores and have a play with all 3 but iPhone4 seems to have the edge over the competition for what I want.

As those who've been to my place know, mobile signal is woefully poor on all networks so whatever I get will need charging daily at a minimum! My e71, which is about 23 months old now, needs charging about 3 times in 48 Hours minimum now... It does give me a little concern when signing for a 24 month contract. I suppose I can always change the battery if needed.

Now I just need to find out what sort of deal my current network will give me... Been with 3 for about 4 years now and perfectly happy with the signal (most of the time) and I get a discount through work... Be interesting to see if they'll carry it on and give me a good enough deal to stay! Especially as I have 2 contracts and they're both up for renewal, although SWMBO says she's not fused about getting anything fancy as long as it's a Nokia!
The gayPhone does struggle in poor signal. Most smartphones do. If you could possibly borrow one before signing up, that would be massively worthwhile
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 01 November 2010, 21:58:00
Quote
here is a comparison..

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9000_galaxy_s_vs_apple_iphone_4-review-500.php

 ::)
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 01 November 2010, 22:42:59
Interestingly, my step-mum and my dad both have 3GS's on O2 and seem to get a signal even when other phones don't!

Signal strength is going to be an issue with any handset where I live though, as you know... I'm willing to compromise there. I may well look at putting a repeater in at some point in the future.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Turk on 01 November 2010, 23:00:45
Still haven't quite decided what to get next, but seeing as I've no intention of being suckered into having to buy a new phone when the latest 'must have' version comes out, the Nokia N8 is looking like the 'smart' (sorry) option.
http://www.whatmobile.net/2010/10/nokia-comes-to-its-senses-on-symbian/
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Turk on 02 November 2010, 01:18:06
Oops !!  ;D

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/8101945/Apple-iPhone-4-alarm-clock-bug-makes-scores-late-for-work.html
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: wakeyomega on 02 November 2010, 08:05:40
If you get a smart phone, what you are actually buying is a PDA that has telephony, its not a phone, hence your battery is likely to need charging daily. Dont compare it with a phone, but with something like a Compaq Ipaq in terms of battery use.

If your problem is mobile phone reception at home, Vodafone do a signal boost device for the home that uses your broadband connection.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 02 November 2010, 08:07:44
Quote
If you get a smart phone, what you are actually buying is a PDA that has telephony, its not a phone, hence your battery is likely to need charging daily. Dont compare it with a phone, but with something like a Compaq Ipaq in terms of battery use.

If your problem is mobile phone reception at home, Vodafone do a signal boost device for the home that uses your broadband connection.

They do indeed, but they charge for it! On top of that, they are considerably more expensive than 3 as standard before I get my discount... Oh, and the reception is even worse than from 3!!! :o :o :o
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Phil on 02 November 2010, 08:19:39
Quote
I have an SE Experia X10 pro mini (I need a small and fairly tough phone).

But to be honest, Android phones are all pretty similar.

Loads of useless apps to, just like the G-phone  ;D

Now I hate the mini pro I have, after 2 days its gone back in the draw and gone back to my Nokia E75. Think I just cannot get on with android rather than the phone itself.

My other phone is a 3GS and have to say now i do quite like it, when i first got a 3G i was far from impressed, but once the software was updated to enable cut and pasting etc it changed the phone completely and thats why i stuck with the 3GS.

I have had a play with various HTC smartphones but the next choice will be an iPhone 4, unless Nokia make another 9300/ E90 type phone that is 9300 sized  :)


Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 02 November 2010, 08:29:20
Quote
If your problem is mobile phone reception at home, Vodafone do a signal boost device for the home that uses your broadband connection.
Indeed, Vodafone do this to cover up the fact that their network is pretty much universally shite!

It only fixes the issue when you are at home (use the landline), useless when you are out and about.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 02 November 2010, 08:32:17
Quote
Interestingly, my step-mum and my dad both have 3GS's on O2 and seem to get a signal even when other phones don't!

Signal strength is going to be an issue with any handset where I live though, as you know... I'm willing to compromise there. I may well look at putting a repeater in at some point in the future.
I find that O2 has pretty much universal reception, bar a couple of blackspots, though not much in the way of 3g outside of larger built up areas. They have a fair amount of EDGE as well.

Compared to Voda - my primary SIM that is now in a drawer, with calls diverted to my O2 SIM - which is universally poor, O2 is bloody wonderful.
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 02 November 2010, 08:37:42
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Oops !!  ;D

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/8101945/Apple-iPhone-4-alarm-clock-bug-makes-scores-late-for-work.html
Bugs in Apple iDevices tend to hit the media because its unusual. Personally, I think there are worse bugs in iOS 4.1 than a easily overcome, niche feature like that. Namely the fact that WiFi occasionally stops (seems to primarily affect iPhone 4 running iOS 4.1, but have seen it affect 3GS as well), needing a reboot of phone to resolve (which is something that the iPhone generally never, ever needs)
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: tunnie on 02 November 2010, 09:43:21
Before I blagged got my company iPhone on Vodafone, I was on O2, i never had a problem with signal, nearly always had it. Voda though, bloody awful, even in Central London I have only 1 bar of signal, and its not the iPhone!

Coming out of the tube it would sometimes take ages to lock onto a signal, but when i was in Tokyo, I always had full signal, and it took just seconds to lock on when exiting the tube.

Android still has a way to go yet, you can't even manually configure a proxy on Android WiFi yet...
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 02 November 2010, 15:05:32
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Interestingly, my step-mum and my dad both have 3GS's on O2 and seem to get a signal even when other phones don't!

Signal strength is going to be an issue with any handset where I live though, as you know... I'm willing to compromise there. I may well look at putting a repeater in at some point in the future.
I find that O2 has pretty much universal reception, bar a couple of blackspots, though not much in the way of 3g outside of larger built up areas. They have a fair amount of EDGE as well.

Compared to Voda - my primary SIM that is now in a drawer, with calls diverted to my O2 SIM - which is universally poor, O2 is bloody wonderful.

TBH, 3 has a pretty good coverage now days... Brackley, for example, I had full 3g signal everywhere. The good thing with 3 is that if you've got a signal then it's usually 3g or faster :y
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: aaronjb on 02 November 2010, 15:13:27
I'd agree with that - I get better signal on 3 than on O2 at home, and in Wales, and at work.. (Comparing my iPad vs. iPhone, anyway)
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 02 November 2010, 15:38:30
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Before I blagged got my company iPhone on Vodafone, I was on O2, i never had a problem with signal, nearly always had it. Voda though, bloody awful, even in Central London I have only 1 bar of signal, and its not the iPhone!

Coming out of the tube it would sometimes take ages to lock onto a signal, but when i was in Tokyo, I always had full signal, and it took just seconds to lock on when exiting the tube.

Android still has a way to go yet, you can't even manually configure a proxy on Android WiFi yet...
The iPhone has a poor reception. Vodafone have (mostly) abysmal UK coverage. iPhone + Vodafone = noPhone ;)
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 November 2010, 15:47:50
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The iPhone has a poor reception. Vodafone have (mostly) abysmal UK coverage. iPhone + Vodafone = noPhone ;)

I don't know where they've been going wrong recently. (Well, actually, I do. I think it started with a recruitment policy borrowed from Kwik Fitup.  :-X).

Kevin

Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 02 November 2010, 16:03:27
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The iPhone has a poor reception. Vodafone have (mostly) abysmal UK coverage. iPhone + Vodafone = noPhone ;)

I don't know where they've been going wrong recently. (Well, actually, I do. I think it started with a recruitment policy borrowed from Kwik Fitup.  :-X).

Kevin

If I were cynical, I would say they pride themselves on their poor network and the upselling capability it produces (as they are the only network, AFAIK, selling femtocells for home)
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 November 2010, 16:10:48
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If I were cynical, I would say they pride themselves on their poor network and the upselling capability it produces (as they are the only network, AFAIK, selling femtocells for home)

Yep. You've got to hand it to them. They've a reason to be proud. Who else could make that one fly? Charge extra for a device that allows you (and, potentially other mugs subscribers) to use a resource that you're already paying for to improve another resource that you're already paying for but not receiving.

Kevin
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 02 November 2010, 16:13:37
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If I were cynical, I would say they pride themselves on their poor network and the upselling capability it produces (as they are the only network, AFAIK, selling femtocells for home)

Yep. You've got to hand it to them. They've a reason to be proud. Who else could make that one fly? Charge extra for a device that allows you (and, potentially other mugs subscribers) to use a resource that you're already paying for to improve another resource that you're already paying for but not receiving.

Kevin
I think they may have hung up on me when I told them want they could do with their box (under its previous name, before they rebranded it with its current name, in an attempt, I suspect, to make it seem like a new idea/device).
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: CaptainZok on 02 November 2010, 16:51:21
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If I were cynical, I would say they pride themselves on their poor network and the upselling capability it produces (as they are the only network, AFAIK, selling femtocells for home)

Yep. You've got to hand it to them. They've a reason to be proud. Who else could make that one fly? Charge extra for a device that allows you (and, potentially other mugs subscribers) to use a resource that you're already paying for to improve another resource that you're already paying for but not receiving.

Kevin
I think they may have hung up on me when I told them want they could do with their box (under its previous name, before they rebranded it with its current name, in an attempt, I suspect, to make it seem like a new idea/device).

I hope you told them to file off the sharp edges and apply vaseline first. ;D ;D
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 02 November 2010, 16:54:05
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If I were cynical, I would say they pride themselves on their poor network and the upselling capability it produces (as they are the only network, AFAIK, selling femtocells for home)

Yep. You've got to hand it to them. They've a reason to be proud. Who else could make that one fly? Charge extra for a device that allows you (and, potentially other mugs subscribers) to use a resource that you're already paying for to improve another resource that you're already paying for but not receiving.

Kevin
I think they may have hung up on me when I told them want they could do with their box (under its previous name, before they rebranded it with its current name, in an attempt, I suspect, to make it seem like a new idea/device).

I hope you told them to file off the sharp edges and apply vaseline first. ;D ;D
I didn't get that far before I was talking to an NU tone ::)
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 02 November 2010, 17:37:43
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I have an SE Experia X10 pro mini (I need a small and fairly tough phone).

But to be honest, Android phones are all pretty similar.

Loads of useless apps to, just like the G-phone  ;D

Now I hate the mini pro I have, after 2 days its gone back in the draw and gone back to my Nokia E75. Think I just cannot get on with android rather than the phone itself.

My other phone is a 3GS and have to say now i do quite like it, when i first got a 3G i was far from impressed, but once the software was updated to enable cut and pasting etc it changed the phone completely and thats why i stuck with the 3GS.

I have had a play with various HTC smartphones but the next choice will be an iPhone 4, unless Nokia make another 9300/ E90 type phone that is 9300 sized  :)




I get on great with mine.

Its small and tough (sadly the iphones are far from tough....or small) but I am pretty quick at being able to adapt to different systems.

Android has been rock soldi for me, no complaints at all with it.

But I want a phone, not shed loads of pointless apps (although I do have a few of those  ;D), email, some basic web useage and texting plus an avergae camera.

Hence it ticks all the boxes  :y
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Turk on 02 November 2010, 23:50:22
Orange have offered me a HTC Desire HD, with 600 cross network mins, unlimited text (I sent 49 last month ::)), and 500Mb internet for £20pm.

'3' offered a HTC Wildfire with 500 cross network mins, 5000 texts, 5000 mins to another '3' phone, 1 Gig internet, free voicemail, free Skype and free MSN for £20pm.

That's not a bad deal from '3'.
Ok, the HTC Wildfire is no 'HTC Desire HD', but it's still a very nice unit as an introduction to the world of 'Smartphones'.

Having said that, the 'Desire HD' deal from Orange is none to shabby either, and that's a serious piece of Smartphone.

 
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: tunnie on 03 November 2010, 09:14:46
i'd go for the Desire over the Wildfire, its a much better handset. If you want to get to grips with smartphones, thats the one. The Wildfire has a very poor screen resolution, and generally i found it not very nice to use.

Desire has a screen to rival iPhone 4  :y
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: Lazydocker on 03 November 2010, 11:43:05
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Orange have offered me a HTC Desire HD, with 600 cross network mins, unlimited text (I sent 49 last month ::)), and 500Mb internet for £20pm.

'3' offered a HTC Wildfire with 500 cross network mins, 5000 texts, 5000 mins to another '3' phone, 1 Gig internet, free voicemail, free Skype and free MSN for £20pm.

That's not a bad deal from '3'.
Ok, the HTC Wildfire is no 'HTC Desire HD', but it's still a very nice unit as an introduction to the world of 'Smartphones'.

Having said that, the 'Desire HD' deal from Orange is none to shabby either, and that's a serious piece of Smartphone.

 

3 do the desire HD... Push them and they'll better the Orange deal :y

Incidentally, the network coverage on 3 is still advancing rapidly but I get a signal most places (except at home ::)) and normally when there is a signal it is 3g :y
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: henryd on 03 November 2010, 12:17:12
I was on three and found signal strength to be very good,now with orange (better deal) and not so good as three but much better than vodafone and t-mobile(although t-mobile should be ok now that orange has teamed up with them)
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: TheBoy on 03 November 2010, 20:29:11
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I was on three and found signal strength to be very good,now with orange (better deal) and not so good as three but much better than vodafone and t-mobile(although t-mobile should be ok now that orange has teamed up with them)
Remember, with EverythingEverywhere (Orange/TMobile), its a ROAM not a select best signal. Important difference in usability ;)
Title: Re: Mobile Phone Advice Please
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 04 November 2010, 10:14:54
finally I ended up with samsung wave 8500..

3g is ok (although not everywhere) but navigation is slow in getting position :(