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Former iPhone users.. are you pleased?
- Thread starter seigex
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- htc evo 4g
TexasAg03
Member
I never said I didn't get ANY dropped calls. What I mean is that it's not any more of an issue than it was when I was on Verizon in 2007. I hear more people complaining about Sprint in my area than AT&T in terms of signal strength.
You can believe me or not, I don't care, but that has been my experience.
EDIT:
I am seriously considering a switch to Android, but not for issues relating to dropped calls. There's a lot about the Android OS I find appealing and I take an even view of it and iOS. They each have strengths and weaknesses.
finndo77
Android Expert
couple of things not mentioned by others, first there are MANY apps that do this, and this one is far from the best; however "Linda Manager" will allow you to backup your Apps .apk file to the SD card under backup/applications, I had 206 apps installed on my Evo until I hard reset it this morning to fix something I screwed up and could not figure out how to undo. certain apps this function did not work with, I do not know if they were the sprint apps, or default google apps that come on the phone, but 185 apps successfully backed up to my SD card. the only issue I had after my Hard Reset with reinstalling is that because they were not downloading directly from the market place, the apps were not listed in the market when there were updates.
To resolve this I (was already using) used AppBrain, which is a web interface for the Android Market, and maintains a list of your apps, then on the Phone I was able to browse this list and touch "install" which launches the search page of the Marketplace AND auto-searches for the app by it's UID, so it is the only result, then you just touch install.
Now for the Paid apps you want to share between phones, you will just have to do the backup from the phone that purchased the app, then email or otherwise send it to the second phone and manually uninstall and reinstall the update if you wish to use it. If you think this method sucks, then remember this very important piece of information often forgotten these days... YOU DON'T NEED THE NEWEST VERSION OF AN APP. If the one you has works, and none of the bug fixes were affecting you, and none of the new features seem useful to you, then don't upgrade, it is really simple.
As for Mac integration, the Android phones have a hard time integrating with Macs, Windows Mobile phones have a hard time integrating with Macs, etc... It obviously has nothing to do with the phone. Format your computer and put linux on it. Then all your devices will work with your computer, Android, WinMo, iPhone, all good and you can finally get that piece of crap software, iTunes, out of your life forever!!
Keyboard typing issues? use SWYPE, you have to sign up for the beta, but most people get accepted within 2 days, especially if you are using the Evo, they need more testers on it. As far as I can tell, the app is way past a Beta stage, and far more polished than many full version apps.
As for not having any "dropped calls" my friend is a diehard Apple worshiper, he would suck steve jobs' toes if given the chance. He always says he NEVER has dropped calls, but almost everytime I call him the call gets dropped, my phone just says "call disconnected" I normally have at least half signal or better, and he always calls me back and acts like nothing happened. So, I never believe any iPhone user that claims they "never have dropped calls" you do not have to have an iPhone to experience this phenomenon. The issue is worse in large cities, because the tower cells are narrowly focused to only cover a small area, to reduce the total number of possible users per tower cell. Then when you move out of the field of reception of that cell and into another, but that cell has it's maximum number of users, you cannot connect, then your call drops while your phone tries to connect to another cell. that is the most common reason for ATT dropped calls, but sometimes the system just fails.
As for Sprint Signal strength, comparing that to ATT is like comparing Apples to a Space shuttle, the only thing they have in common is the fact you can see them, feel them, and smell them. CDMA networks do not work the same as GSM, go check it on wikipedia. In brief GSM heavily relies on signal strength for reception, CDMA works just as well with 1 bar as with 6 bars (my Evo has 6, my last sprint phone had 4, the one before that had 5...) my Evo can show ZERO bars and I can hold a conversation with someone and they won't complain or have any issues hearing or understanding me. Try having 1 bar on a GSM carrier and you will be lucky if every word you say makes it to the other person, let alone if the call doesn't drop. (your phone transmits at a lower power than the tower, so you might hear things well, but the other person won't)
To resolve this I (was already using) used AppBrain, which is a web interface for the Android Market, and maintains a list of your apps, then on the Phone I was able to browse this list and touch "install" which launches the search page of the Marketplace AND auto-searches for the app by it's UID, so it is the only result, then you just touch install.
Now for the Paid apps you want to share between phones, you will just have to do the backup from the phone that purchased the app, then email or otherwise send it to the second phone and manually uninstall and reinstall the update if you wish to use it. If you think this method sucks, then remember this very important piece of information often forgotten these days... YOU DON'T NEED THE NEWEST VERSION OF AN APP. If the one you has works, and none of the bug fixes were affecting you, and none of the new features seem useful to you, then don't upgrade, it is really simple.
As for Mac integration, the Android phones have a hard time integrating with Macs, Windows Mobile phones have a hard time integrating with Macs, etc... It obviously has nothing to do with the phone. Format your computer and put linux on it. Then all your devices will work with your computer, Android, WinMo, iPhone, all good and you can finally get that piece of crap software, iTunes, out of your life forever!!
Keyboard typing issues? use SWYPE, you have to sign up for the beta, but most people get accepted within 2 days, especially if you are using the Evo, they need more testers on it. As far as I can tell, the app is way past a Beta stage, and far more polished than many full version apps.
As for not having any "dropped calls" my friend is a diehard Apple worshiper, he would suck steve jobs' toes if given the chance. He always says he NEVER has dropped calls, but almost everytime I call him the call gets dropped, my phone just says "call disconnected" I normally have at least half signal or better, and he always calls me back and acts like nothing happened. So, I never believe any iPhone user that claims they "never have dropped calls" you do not have to have an iPhone to experience this phenomenon. The issue is worse in large cities, because the tower cells are narrowly focused to only cover a small area, to reduce the total number of possible users per tower cell. Then when you move out of the field of reception of that cell and into another, but that cell has it's maximum number of users, you cannot connect, then your call drops while your phone tries to connect to another cell. that is the most common reason for ATT dropped calls, but sometimes the system just fails.
As for Sprint Signal strength, comparing that to ATT is like comparing Apples to a Space shuttle, the only thing they have in common is the fact you can see them, feel them, and smell them. CDMA networks do not work the same as GSM, go check it on wikipedia. In brief GSM heavily relies on signal strength for reception, CDMA works just as well with 1 bar as with 6 bars (my Evo has 6, my last sprint phone had 4, the one before that had 5...) my Evo can show ZERO bars and I can hold a conversation with someone and they won't complain or have any issues hearing or understanding me. Try having 1 bar on a GSM carrier and you will be lucky if every word you say makes it to the other person, let alone if the call doesn't drop. (your phone transmits at a lower power than the tower, so you might hear things well, but the other person won't)
TexasAg03
Member
That is certainly a major issue for me. I use a Mac and if Android won't work with it very well, that may make my decision for me. I shouldn't have to change or install another OS just to accommodate a smartphone.
I know people have thrown around the 10% market share of Apple computers, but that is if you include enterprise data (where users typically have no choice). When only including individual home users, Apple's share is around 20% or greater. That's a significant share of the market for Android to ignore.
That part's easy. So are most other things.
Actually the Sprint network is the best where I live in the San Francisco Bay area...I called my sister and she said I sounded cleared today and I told her I dumped my iphone 3Gs and she said she could tell....plus my call did not drop like usual and I wasn't having to ask her if she understood me anymore...the "ipod touch pseudo phone'....um iphone 3GS is a horrible phone.
I love my new EVO!!! it is far superior to ATT/Iphone in call quality, performance, and many more aspects.
I love my new EVO!!! it is far superior to ATT/Iphone in call quality, performance, and many more aspects.
Upright
Well-Known Member
I gotta say I agree with you on this one. I would never go back to the iPhone but the iPhone version of gmail was lightyears ahead of google's version of their own product. I think google needs to totally revamp the gmail app,..there are times that I can't even click on a link in Android gmail. My suggestion to you is use K9 for you email.
DucatiDude
Well-Known Member
Two calls in two years? What have you been smoking?
Actually, it happens ALL THE TIME. AT&T retention dept called me today to discuss the issues I've been having. Four minutes into the call it dropped. I hadn't moved an inch. The guy called me back and the first thing he said was, "I know, I know. I'm very sorry."
Basically my calls last four minutes or less.
So actually, very common.
I have three days to decide between the EVO and the iPhone4. Three days.
JunBringer
Android Expert
I'll second that. Very common.
Yea what gives with Gmail on this unit. The funny thing is I can download attachment in Yahoo mail (other mail).
finndo77
Android Expert
That is why HTC included their own mail client, might want to try it, it even lets you do mail in landscape mode.
woofermazing
Well-Known Member
Coming from an iPhone 3G, I must say after waiting 2 hours at Best Buy, I'd do it all over again, all week.
This phone just tossed a giant middle finger to Apple.
Now it's not an EVO issue, but these game developers better the ball rollin' with porting over all their iPhone games.
I miss BeJeweled Blitz, Angry Birds, and about 20 other games.
At least I can play the alternatives for now.
That should be alot easier very soon. Unity 3D is about to release an android version of their game engine. Apple might throw a **** fit about that though, it might be another Adobe Air scenario.
del_the_funk66
Lurker
I love my EVO but there are some drawbacks. Battery life is pretty bad. To be expected with the beautiful AMOLED screen. There are lags when ending calls. I have had a few instances of spotty service. But that's not the phone. That's the network. I am desperately waiting for the 4g network implementation in Wisconsin. Preferably in Milwaukee. I have not once dropped a call. That to me makes the EVO better than any iphone... The sole purpose of a phone is to make calls. iPhone failed that one miserably. I dropped calls so often that I paid to get out of my iContract.... TPPPPPPP.... Apple and AT&T should sound that out phonetically...
4tunesmiles
Newbie
Opinion from a non-techy:
My first few days with my EVO were rough! Everything was so simple and intuitive on iPhone, and I looooved my 2nd Gen a lot. In fact, I called it my boyfriend., lol. EVO seemed hard at first. I just wanted to pick it up and check my calendar or text someone or play a fav game, not spend time figuring out how to do it. It was frustrating. Really, day 2 I was thinking I'd made a mistake and should maybe return it and wait on iPhone 4.
But I wanted the hotspot, and I wanted the better pricing plan of Sprint over ATT, so I hung in there a couple more days, and let me tell you, I've done a 180. Now I'm loving it, it just blows iphone out of the water. Yep, I've got a new boyfriend.
With this I have to agree though. Game selection sucks for the time being. What's up with all the kiddie games, Barbie Memory Challenge, Spongebob Jigsaw Puzzle, etc. Are there really that many 5 year olds wandering around with EVO's?
I miss Angry Birds! Someone mentioned a substitute, I tried Blow-up and it just wasn't the same, any other suggestions appreciated!
My other beef is when the EVO dims, starting to go into sleep mode, and you touch the screen to stop it, you activate whatever you touch. With iphone, first touch activated the screen only, and that makes a lot more sense. I can't tell you how many times I've been sent to a different screen away from what I'm doing. Wish and hope they change that. Or is there a setting or an app I can use to change that behavior?
My first few days with my EVO were rough! Everything was so simple and intuitive on iPhone, and I looooved my 2nd Gen a lot. In fact, I called it my boyfriend., lol. EVO seemed hard at first. I just wanted to pick it up and check my calendar or text someone or play a fav game, not spend time figuring out how to do it. It was frustrating. Really, day 2 I was thinking I'd made a mistake and should maybe return it and wait on iPhone 4.
But I wanted the hotspot, and I wanted the better pricing plan of Sprint over ATT, so I hung in there a couple more days, and let me tell you, I've done a 180. Now I'm loving it, it just blows iphone out of the water. Yep, I've got a new boyfriend.
With this I have to agree though. Game selection sucks for the time being. What's up with all the kiddie games, Barbie Memory Challenge, Spongebob Jigsaw Puzzle, etc. Are there really that many 5 year olds wandering around with EVO's?
I miss Angry Birds! Someone mentioned a substitute, I tried Blow-up and it just wasn't the same, any other suggestions appreciated!
My other beef is when the EVO dims, starting to go into sleep mode, and you touch the screen to stop it, you activate whatever you touch. With iphone, first touch activated the screen only, and that makes a lot more sense. I can't tell you how many times I've been sent to a different screen away from what I'm doing. Wish and hope they change that. Or is there a setting or an app I can use to change that behavior?
i guess both has goods and bads...
some of the games on iPhone is pretty darn good...time flies by when i play them.
evo has good features on cameras, video chat, screen size, exchangeable battery, and others aspects that we all love...but iPhone lacks on these...
both has battery issues but they are smartphones. numerous charging, this should be given...
on apps, iPhone does have more and not sure if anyone can try them all but if android market can catch up to app store, i think Evo has bright future..
overall, i am satisfied over iPhone...yay~
some of the games on iPhone is pretty darn good...time flies by when i play them.
evo has good features on cameras, video chat, screen size, exchangeable battery, and others aspects that we all love...but iPhone lacks on these...
both has battery issues but they are smartphones. numerous charging, this should be given...
on apps, iPhone does have more and not sure if anyone can try them all but if android market can catch up to app store, i think Evo has bright future..
overall, i am satisfied over iPhone...yay~
Any suggestions? This is something that everyone probably deals with. Is there a spot on the screen that you can touch but doesn't activate anything, just get you out of sleep mode?
dr g
Android Enthusiast
There are several ways to do this....
1. Use a short swipe to touch the screen. Screen wakes up but no icon will be selected. If you use an up-to-down motion the screen won't move either.
2. Touch between icons, so no icon is selected.
3. Press the back key, when on a home screen it wakes the screen but does nothing else.
4. When you touch the screen, move slightly right or left, if a scroll is slightly initiated, it cancels icon selection.
GadgetGator
Newbie
Not for long! Your wish has been answered and Angry Birds is coming:
Angry Birds is coming to Android this summer | Android Central
Wow .. you were right about the live wallpaper causing lag. I was running the aniPet Aquarium and scrolling through the apps page was choppy/laggy as all get go as was the multitouch pinch/expand. Turned it off and talk about a hug difference!
As much as I love the aquarium I think is is going to stay off and I will load it just to impress friends when showing off the EVO.
Now I just need to find somewhere to go to find a static background I like.
Dreamliner
Android Enthusiast
The BEST thing to do is download a ton of backgrounds (I downloaded over 150, perfectly sized) put them in a folder on your sd card.
Then, use a program like Wall Switch, to change the pic every half hour or so!
LOVE IT!
I know it may sound trivial, but little things like that really break or make a phone for me. Which was one of the reasons I swapped my EVO for an iPhone 4. There are about a thousand little details just like that where the iPhone does it in a way that makes sense to me. The longer I used an EVO the more I said to myself "Why does it do this?!"
Overall, I do miss the large screen, superior notifications, robust facebook contact sync, and most importantly Sprint's better network. But I guess you can't really ever have a perfect phone.