Looking for a new phone

[shutupdonnie]

I don't mean to beat a dead horse by making a new "I NEED A NEW PHONE!#$!" thread...but I skimmed the first 10 pages of threads and didn't find anything pertaining to the subject.

Anyway, I'm looking at upgrading to a smartphone, currently using a samsung propel. My provider is AT&T, but I'm open to changing providers if someone else has a better deal. I've been looking at droids and windows phones because I'm just not sold on iphones yet, but I'm here to be persuaded. I'd like to go pick something up tomorrow if I can get enough info today.

Tell me what kind of phone you're using, love it/hate it, pros/cons of your current carrier, what phone would you rather have, etc. etc. I like to have as much info as possible before I walk into a store so any input is appreciated. PM me if you'd like. Thanks

 

[krtechsolutions]

Galaxy or nexus

Filler

 

[Paul Rodgers]

I would wait until the end of the year. Windows Phone 8 should be out, the next iPhone will be out, and the next Nexus phone should be scheduled for release.

 

[coffee]

Im using the galaxy II blaze and really like the phone. It is my first smart phone so I dont have anything to judge it by but it does everything I want in a smart phone and is loaded with android gingerbread. There is a new model of it out now and it appears to be bigger in size. I really like the phone.

I have T-mobile and Im not really all that satisfied with them. I get alot of drop outs on phone converstations when Im in the car. But T-mobile does have one feature that the others dont. They treat you like you should be treated. The others tend to treat you like a number. But T-mobile is very helpful and a pleasure to talk too.

This next year T-mobile is switching over to the new LTE network instead of G4 I understand.

Best Regards,

coffee

 

[cyde_ePhex]

Galaxy S3, International Edition. This is an absolutely gorgeous phone and fast. Coupled with a USB OTG adapter. You could say I'm happy.

 

[shutupdonnie]

I'm very ignorant of the droid v. iphone situation

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

What are your needs for the phone?
Do you prefer a smaller one? Or a larger one?

Currently I have a Samsung Charge.

I prefer Motorola phones, historically...they've always been more reliable to me, stronger signal, just...better overall quality and performance wise. I got the Samsung because my prior phone died a very painful death on the highway one day, Samsung had a 4G phone out..Motorola did not yet. So I got the Charge.

If I were to go out and get a new smart phone today, I'd probably get the Moto Razr.

I don't get crazy into apps...I really prefer to use my phone for calls, e-mail (I use Nitrodesk Touchdown for Exchange to connect to my Exchange server at my office), texting, and tethering. I don't use for multi-media.

 

[bertie40]

I use an iPhone for the following reasons:

It has a multitude of apps that assist me at work.

Network scanners, wifi checking apps, language translation apps, even a wep decoder (of which it ability to work is questionable).

It's possible to jailbreak it to add additional functionality.

Yes, most of the apps (cydia apps aside), are better scrutinised than android apps.

Android app control has been known to the poor on occasion, allowing Trojan and spyware out onto the network. (I'm not suggesting iPhones are 100% either though).

Gut feeling, Windows phones are a non starter, which should be illustrated when win8 is released.
Tried it - Hated it.

 

[shutupdonnie]

Thanks for the comments so far.

Both of the people I consider mentors on all tech related issues use iphones, so this is one reason for me to sway in that direction. However, I'm just hesitant to go in the iphone direction. I do like the fact that iphones are used by so many people, so I would think many of the kinks have been worked out. From the little play time I have got to spend with iphones, I found them fairly easy to use/navigate. And from what it sounds like there's a good amount of functional tools/apps that I might be able to utilize. I'm looking at this phone as more of a tool than a toy, so that's why I'm scrutinizing my purchase so much. I had a poor experience with a Samsung Captivate a few years ago when I tried to make the upgrade to a smart phone, so I just want to pick something up that's not going to fart out on me.

 

[brock029]

I have a Sony Ericsson xperia play with at&t. I use a ton of the helpful apps like WiFi analyzer and intuit go payment. Also with the slide out game pad I never get bored waiting in lines . I personally prefer android because you can easily customize, root, and overclock them... And install custom roms and kernals.

 

[phaZed]

It's really down to personal preference... they both do the same thing. The same Apps by and large are available for both platforms.

I don't care for Motorola or Samsung phones, their build quality is usually very cheap and plastic-y feeling. I have been using HTC products for a long while now and have had nothing but good things to say. The build quality is great, and in most of their models they use gorilla glass as opposed to plastic or tempered glass.

I would have to respectfully disagree with bertie about Google's App control. The response time for Google removing malware is usually minutes (like 5 minutes) and the infected software is usually sex related or stupid software in which you *shouldn't* be downloading anyways. Then, if your using an already rooted Android phone then you will have "Superuser" management program, a program that will prompt you if an app is trying to gain superuser access. If the app "Hilton Sex Screams" is asking for superuser permission, you know it's no good. Downloading stuff for you phone is just like your computer.. same goes for iOS devices... if you have an unlocked/jailbroken phone and your going around the net looking for porn apps or cracked apps from 3rd parties, be prepared to get screwed.

I currently have an HTC EVO 3D... It's great for business(Dual core) and what I find great is that if I am doing lots of power hungery operations (ie WIFI assessments, Traveling with GPS) on the rare occasion that my battery is about dead I have another I can switch at any time that has it's own plug-in charger for the battery alone.

 

[shutupdonnie]

So I'm to understand a droid is more customizable? What do these customizable functions allow me to do(rooting, overclocking, etc.) ?

 

[phaZed]

So I'm to understand a droid is more customizable? What do these customizable functions allow me to do(rooting, overclocking, etc.) ?

Sky's the limit...

Basically when you get your phone from your carrier you do not have root access; you are not able to access hardware functions etc.. your a power user, not an Administrator.

Once you are rooted you can do all of the fun stuff such as:
WIFI tethering (Without the additional carrier fee)
USB Tethering (Share iNet)
Load custom ROMS and Kernels (New Android Version out? Flash it.)
Custom Themes
Remove carriers crap-ware, remove interfaces such as "Sense UI"
Make ROM backups and Restore said backups and flash new ROMS over the air, no computer needed.
Access the phones entire directory structure with a File Manager
Batch uninstalling
Change default install path of apps to SD card instead of internal memory
Overclocking
Speed up SD card performance
Busybox - Linux command prompt (can we say Aircrack?)
SSH Tunneling
AdFree - Remove ads from apps
Update your Basebands (Radio ROMS) for better reception or new features
Put Beats Audio on any device.

What else? All I can think of right now

 

[brock029]

So I'm to understand a droid is more customizable? What do these customizable functions allow me to do(rooting, overclocking, etc.) ?

Rooting your phone just gives you root or super user access. Android is built off of linux and functions about the same. So root acess gives you almost total control over your phone. So for instance you can remove the bloatware apps your phone came with that your service provider marks as system files, which without root access you can't remove. Overclocking is just overclocking the processor to make your device a little faster. If you go to xda-developers there is tons of developers for almost any android device. Custom roms are basically like different distros of linux. So you can change the way everything looks and functions and whatever else the dev wants to make it do.

I can also +1 htc and Sony Ericsson, never had a problem with either.

I would recommend going to an AT&T, Verizon, whoever store and test them all out and see what you like. Most of them have working display models so you can see what suits you best.

My take is IOS works the way is supposed to, but if your like me and like messing with things and making it work the way you want then you can't go wrong with android.

EDIT: you kind of beat me to it phazed... But were on the same page

 

[shutupdonnie]

And I can't do those functions with an iphone?

Next question...is there/what's the advantage to purchasing an unlocked phone, if any?

 

[brock029]

And I can't do those functions with an iphone?

Next question...is there/what's the advantage to purchasing an unlocked phone, if any?

Some of it you can if you jailbreak it.

Depends what type of unlock it is. Some phones have locked boot loaders. Which if you want custom roms you have to unlock it first. If it is sim unlocked then that just means you should beable to use it on any GSM carrier. You want to check first to make sure it uses the same radio frequency.

 

[shutupdonnie]

Ok...let's throw something else into the equation. I have an iphone around the house that a family member gave to me, an 8gb, model a1241. Would it be worth it to use this phone for a while? I understand it would be fairly slow, but at least it would give me a chance to test out the iphone format until a new iphone comes out. I know if I wait until the iphone 5 comes out, I could probably pick up a 4 or 4s for cheaper. This inclines me to wait.

 

[altrenda]

I enjoy reading iPhone users comments about Android, based on what they've read on the web and maybe handling one or two.

At least once a day I configure an iPhone or iPad to an exchange server or to sync calendars and contacts with google apps and a Mac. For their claimed ease of use and intuitiveness, it's amazing how clunky the interface is and how annoying it is to have to go to Settings to configure an app instead of doing it within the app. Also that there is no mechanism to easily back up texts, which causes users problems when upgrading to a new iPhone.

I am a tech so I prefer Android because it allows me to do more and is more flexible. Every tool I need is available on the platform.

That being said, for non tech savvy people getting their first smartphone I suggest an iPhone because of popularity and the restrictions can keep them from messing things up.

 

[carlitos31]

my phone

I use a HTC G2... I purchased it for $75 off craiglist. I use it on Tmobile
I love it, perfect for email, google voice, taking square up payments, bank transfers
The ebay app is useful when I need to quote a laptop screen job.
I only use tmobile $10 a month internet, which is only 200 mb but its enough for my needs, since I am either home or at the office and I use wifi there.
The wifi calling works great!

 

[joydivision]

I have a Galaxy S1, had it almost two years and it is the best phone I've ever had, it is certainly the longest I've ever kept one. Still a brilliant little phone although it has been dropped 100's of times!.

Contract has now expired so I am on a rolling contract paying just £8 a month.