The Smartphone Thread

[goaliemanshark 6]

So you bought an iPhone that you say is inferior simply because it scrolls nicer than an android? I mean why buy the phone if its inferior in its components when there are, as you say, many superior phones on the market with better processors and 4G, bigger screens, etc?

I'd love an android phone. I bought an iPhone because I got the first one for free because I worked for apple at the time. I have had every model since then because my parents are getting my hand me downs. More importantly if I changed carriers or got anything other than an iPhone I'd lose my grandfathered in Att unlimited data contract. So regardless of what android or other phones bring to the table I still have an iPhone.

But yeah, my main complaint with android is it lacks a cohesive experience and the scrolling isn't smooth and crisp.

Oh and for all intents and purposes on the US GSM network the 4S is as 4G as other phones.

[Jason Harris 31]

Ah, marketing has another victim.

How can apples products be the second tier of vehicles if they use the same exact hardware as windows/Linux machines?

If you truly think the OSX is a better operating system than install it on non apple hardware and create a hackintosh. This way you don't waste your money on non upgradeable overpriced hardware.

Marketing has a victim? Please. Marketing is what I've done for a living. I know every trick that copywriters use to make us giddy, fearful, jealous, etc. And I don't even recall visiting Apple's website when I decided to switch back to Mac, but if I did, it would have been a small part of the analysis.

Now, onto the issue raised in the thread, I admit I don't know that Apple's hardware is superior, but my experience has been that the combination of hardware and operating system has been clearly superior on four desktops, two laptops, six mp3 players (and I even fought the iPod phenomenon for years) and three phones. Because it doesn't make sense that operating system alone would lead to longevity, I have assumed that Apple is using higher quality components than the Dells, Compaqs and HP's. If your experience with Apple says otherwise, then I will have to change my opinion and say that operating system is enough to lead to longer durability and quality with same components.

[willharris7 4]

just got a white iPhone 4 tonight, i like it a lot.

i had a good laugh looking through this http://sirisays.org/

i have tried a lot of them in the apple store and they have all worked

[goaliemanshark 6]

4 or 4S?

And yeah their hardware is inferior in every way to similarly prices PC's. Since they switched from the powerpc architecture the components are basically identical now.

Dunno why your experience has been better. Perhaps becasue it's all subjective, and just that, an opinion.

Now with smartphones, there is no comparison. The iPhones are slow and tiny!

[Chadd 916]

Hey guys, let's leave the religion out of it and just stick to talking about phones? If I have to delete posts or lock the topic, at least one person (maybe more) is going to get a suspension.

[willharris7 4]

I got the regular 4, it was only $100.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Just updated to Android 2.3. COuldnt' find the way to do it on my phone...so I loaded Kies. Seems to have improved my battery life...which was my only major complaint with this phone.

I also now have a microphone icon on my text keypad...thought maybe it would bring up a speak to text function (obv.)...but it appears to do nothing LOL

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Just updated to Android 2.3. COuldnt' find the way to do it on my phone...so I loaded Kies. Seems to have improved my battery life...which was my only major complaint with this phone.

I also now have a microphone icon on my text keypad...thought maybe it would bring up a speak to text function (obv.)...but it appears to do nothing LOL

You didn't have the speech to text function before the update? And yes it does do the speak to text... seems like yours has a bug or something.

[Chadd 916]

You didn't have the speech to text function before the update? And yes it does do the speak to text... seems like yours has a bug or something.

Or neutered by the carrier.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I'm pretty sure there is a speech to text function...but I dont' recall a mic icon on the keyboard/keypad prior to this update.

[Jason Harris 31]

Hey guys, let's leave the religion out of it and just stick to talking about phones? If I have to delete posts or lock the topic, at least one person (maybe more) is going to get a suspension.

The thing that gets me, Chadd -- and it's something that is exacerbated by the anonymity of the internet -- is people don't seem to understand that it's different strokes for different folks.

The best way I can explain this is by saying that my mother is a very cool lady. Pretty much anyone who has met her has loved her. But I would cringe if I had to be married to a woman like her. However, rather fortunately for my siblings and me, she and my Dad were a great fit. Similarly, I'm quite confident people wonder what the Big D sees in me, but we both agree it's been a happy marriage for seventeen years.

We can go to the Equipment section here and find some people love CCM, while others love Bauer. And until they have one too many bad experiences, or until the prices raise too greatly, no one will convince them that what what they like is wrong.

And back to this phone thread, 200 million iPhones have been purchased, and it wasn't because of a perceived lack of quality. Conversely, as best as I can tell, over 100 million Android phones have been sold, and it wasn't because of perceived lack of value.

I understand this is a thread on a message board, so it makes sense that we might provide our version of the Ben Franklin T on why we chose a particular product, but ultimately it's no sweat off anyone's back what someone else buys, so why bother trying to convince them they made a mistake?

[shooter27 116]

What is the general opinion on the Droid Razr? I bought an original Droid X when it first came out and was massively underwhelmed both by the hardware and the Android operating system. So much so, I ended up taking it back within the 30 day grace period and going back to my Blackberry. I eventually upgraded to an iPhone 4 that just got stolen, so I need a new phone. But, given my experience with the Droid X, I'm hesitant to invest in a Droid phone. Thoughts?

[Race4LastPlace 31]

What are you looking for in a phone, and how well did you like the iphone? The best thing to do would be to goto a carrier store and mess around with all different models? As someone who uses and really love the droid x, I am interested in what left you underwhelmed. Android can be a tricky system. Unless you take the time to customize it to suit you, it can be lacking. While not as polished and user friendly as ios, for me its a much better operating system.

Personally, I would pass on the razr, due to it not having a removable battery and not being android 4.0 (yet, will be soon). Its still going to be a great phone, but The only phone I would consider replacing my droid x would be the Galaxy Nexus coming out next month.

[shooter27 116]

Generally I like my iphone. I miss how easy it was to type on the full keyboard with the bberry, but other than that I think the iphone is great. Really, I want something that I can use to make calls, send/receive emails and texts, get on the internet if I need something quick, have some decent apps/games, and once in a while watch NHL gamecenter (when I'm in a position where I can't watch on my computer). One of the things I really like about the iphone is the map app has real time traffic info, that to me is really useful living in LA.

I am interested in what left you underwhelmed. Android can be a tricky system. Unless you take the time to customize it to suit you, it can be lacking. While not as polished and user friendly as ios, for me its a much better operating system.

I think maybe this is what left me underwhelmed by Android. I'm not really someone who wants to get in and fool around with an operating system, I just want it to work well for me and Android seemed a bit...I'm not sure of the right word, maybe cumbersome...to me both in comparison to my bberry (at the time) and my iphone (now). As far as the Droid X itself was concerned, my two main issues were battery life (no matter what I did I couldn't get it to last more than about 6 hours, that was after the battery was replaced twice) and the fact that the phone was just huge, it barely fit in my pocket.

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

webOS is now open source. This may become very interesting, especially to those manufacturers who use Android but have to a) pay Microsoft and b) be open to litigation from Apple. Palm/HP's IP portfolio would protect them.

HP has said they will continue tablet manufacturing, but phones are out of the question for now.

[dangle 0]

Just got an iPhone 4S. I am not an apple fan boy by any stretch of the imagination, this is my first apple product.... Ever. My brother just got the new droid razr, which I used for an extended period of time before finally deciding on the iPhone. The screen clarity of the iPhone cannot be beat along with the crisp and precise scrolling. (IMO)

I did really like the big screen on the razr, which allowed for easy typing (I tend to fat finger smaller keys) I was ultimately looking for a phone that just works... No messing around with it, not much customization, etc. and this phone has been great so far. Battery life isn't great, but that seems typical with all smart phones

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Galaxy Nexus drops tomorrow on Verizon. Sad to retire the OG Droid, but this new phone is gonna rock.

[Trippingblue 1]

I just bought my first 4S. It's an Apple unlocked version, but I can't get the SIM card I bought here in Brazil (through Claro) to work. Every time I insert the SIM the phone searches for about 3 minutes and then says, "no signal":

Using my co-workers' SIM cards (both Brazilian through Claro/Vivo/Tim and international through Vodafone, Orange, and Rogers) work fine in my phone.

My SIM card works fine in my co-workers' phones.

I'm not getting any "bad SIM', "SIM card failure", "invalid SIM", or "no SIM" error messages. Matter of fact is I'm not getting any error messages at all.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[Chadd 916]

I've dropped more calls in the couple months with my galaxy than in a couple years with my Sony Ericsson. Phones

[goaliemanshark 6]

I just bought my first 4S. It's an Apple unlocked version, but I can't get the SIM card I bought here in Brazil (through Claro) to work. Every time I insert the SIM the phone searches for about 3 minutes and then says, "no signal":

Using my co-workers' SIM cards (both Brazilian through Claro/Vivo/Tim and international through Vodafone, Orange, and Rogers) work fine in my phone.

My SIM card works fine in my co-workers' phones.

I'm not getting any "bad SIM', "SIM card failure", "invalid SIM", or "no SIM" error messages. Matter of fact is I'm not getting any error messages at all.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I have not, sorry!

I don't think Modsquad is the best place to get advice on this? Perhaps call Applecare?

[EBondo 233]

Galaxy Nexus drops tomorrow on Verizon. Sad to retire the OG Droid, but this new phone is gonna rock.

My Mom picked it up. That thing is a BEAST. Absolutely needed to get the extended battery pack, and for 50% off it was a steal. Early Christmas present for her, lol.

[romdj 26]

The only thing I HATE about smartphones and all is the battery life that is....not good...to say the least. I'm a big iPhone enthusiast, but just because I sometimes have to allow my phone not to charge overnight, I think I'll have a blackberry just for that matter. And android really did make huge progress in the past 2 years from my perspective... But yeah, although RIM is in deep deep trouble, I think that bb is more "serious", reliable and practical.

[Chadd 916]

The only thing I HATE about smartphones and all is the battery life that is....not good...to say the least.

Unless I'm using my phone for constant calling and internet browsing the battery easily lasts all day. And even if I use it pretty much constantly it still last the better part of 8 hours or more. The batteries are pretty damn good.

[Race4LastPlace 31]

Well, I just downloaded Liberty 3 v2.0 rom for my Droid X. Very fast rom! surprised just how quick it is! not surfe about battery life yet, but it does have a few nice tweaks to it. Hoping a fully built Ice Cream Sandwich rom comes out soon.

So, Android users who have rooted, whats your favorite rom? Also, what are some of your favorite apps/widgets/ or little tweaks you have made to customize your 'android experience'?

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Well, I just downloaded Liberty 3 v2.0 rom for my Droid X. Very fast rom! surprised just how quick it is! not surfe about battery life yet, but it does have a few nice tweaks to it. Hoping a fully built Ice Cream Sandwich rom comes out soon.

So, Android users who have rooted, whats your favorite rom? Also, what are some of your favorite apps/widgets/ or little tweaks you have made to customize your 'android experience'?

On batter life: I snagged the extended battery for 25 bucks, plus after rooting and setting up some profiles in SetCPU, my battery can last me a day n a half with moderate use. Charging also takes about an hour to fill up.

I'm waiting for CM9 to put on my GNex. I used all their ROMs on my Droid. Very stable and polished.