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I've already Pre-Ordered, but having my doubts.

SaleenFiend

SaleenFiend

Android Enthusiast
So, I bought a Hero Outright, upgraded to the Evo. I've been an HTC fan since day one. Loved my EVO and have been through alot. The phone has always been great. I've ROM'd, Kernel'd, Rinsed, and Repeated.

Problem... I pre-ordered Friday and now I'm starting to double-think getting the E3D. I flashed to CM7 last night and fell in love with ASOP. I know alot about these phones, specs, and comparisons... but Im thinking about a Nexus 4G. (I don't know why)

I'm also wondering (after the spy shots today) about HTC's next Google Phone with Sprint. Is it a good time to buy a dual core 2.3 device that probably won't get Ice Cream Sandwich for a whole 6months after ICS release? Sense is a really large launcher and seems to be a little more restrictive and not really too much too it.

Wait for the next unlocked Google phone? Buy a Nexus 4G outright, now? or the E3D.


Please keep this to good strong pointed arguments no fanboy BS and help me keep my mind on the E3D! (or the other way around?)
 
You should know that GB has been around for the EVO for a long while through Cyanogenmod 7, and even before that, there were other roms based on it.

I doubt EVO3D owners will have to wait 6 months for ICS, unless you mean an official port, but if that's the case, why even run Cyanogen?

We'll likely have an ICS port within a month or two of it coming out, granted it won't be bug-free, but we'll have it, and it'll gradually become stable and completely functional.

You also mention Sense being a large launcher, again, you can replace it with an AOSP rom, just like you did with the EVO.

In a good bit of ways, I believe the Nexus S 4G is downgrade from what the EVO3D will be. I'd personally get the EVO3D or wait for the next Nexus phone.
 
CM7 on Evo is a sweet ROM. I thought I was always going to be a rooted stock ROM user until I tried the GB CM7. Now it's my daily driver.

Can't blame you for liking AOSP, but Evo3D should be fully rootable now that HTC has guaranteed the unlocked bootloader, so the option is still there.

Personally, if I were dead set on the Nexus line, I'd wait for the next one. It's a longer wait, but your Evo on CM7 is treating you well, right? :)
 
SaleenFiend said:
So, I bought a Hero Outright, upgraded to the Evo. I've been an HTC fan since day one. Loved my EVO and have been through alot. The phone has always been great. I've ROM'd, Kernel'd, Rinsed, and Repeated.

Problem... I pre-ordered Friday and now I'm starting to double-think getting the E3D. I flashed to CM7 last night and fell in love with ASOP. I know alot about these phones, specs, and comparisons... but Im thinking about a Nexus 4G. (I don't know why)

I'm also wondering (after the spy shots today) about HTC's next Google Phone with Sprint. Is it a good time to buy a dual core 2.3 device that probably won't get Ice Cream Sandwich for a whole 6months after ICS release? Sense is a really large launcher and seems to be a little more restrictive and not really too much too it.

Wait for the next unlocked Google phone? Buy a Nexus 4G outright, now? or the E3D.


Please keep this to good strong pointed arguments no fanboy BS and help me keep my mind on the E3D! (or the other way around?)
Click to expand...

I would ignore the spy shot of the pure screen phone. Copy the pic to your comp and look at it. Facing it, on the right side, the screen is not smooth. Right above the C of Techhog.com, the screen is about two or three pixels out of alignment. It looks like a 'shopped job.

With HTC stating they would unlock the phone, ASOP looks like as near a guarantee as you will get at this time. I think the E3D will get ICS as the EVO did within the first month or so when Froyo was released.

You can have the Nexus S now, a beefier phone in the E3D later or a new Nexus in what looks, but is not confirmed, to be Q4.

If you are truly satisfied with your EVO, I don't think waiting for a new phone would be much of an issue, unless you are just looking at having the latest tech right now. I myself have been waiting and I have a MyTouch 3G.

Heck, you can always return the Nexus/E3D within 30 days if you don't like it and return to the EVO. The choice is yours, but you have great options, IMO.
 
Though the 3VO will be my firstt android phone (pre-ordered Sat :D), and not at all versed in rooting, etc, lemme give you my 1/2 cent's worth. It seems to me that the main reason to get a NS4G is for vanilla android, w/o the bloatware. If you're going to ROM it anyway... The NS4G just seems a bit overpriced (on/off contract) for me for last years tech. That's just me. Just seems like you could get a WHOLE lot more phone for little/no more money. FWIW
 
Well, It's true. Unlike my E4G I will probably root within 5-10mins of owning the phone. I went 6 months of learning how to save my battery before I took the dive. (Best dive I ever took in the Phone industry, might I add) Now I can't Imagine not being able to Overclock and set profiles based on Screen Off/Battery/Charging, flash boot animations/splash screens, or theming.

I think HTC has great software and hardware. I've tried out Sense 3.0 (granted it was on a Kingdom Rom for our 1 year old and somewhat deficient phones for that Rom) and wasn't too impressed by the new features. Seems to have a little bit of additional bloatware with all the NEW HTC stuff (some came in 2.0)

I think it's just the instability that makes me nervous in a way. CM7 wasn't great when I was flashing nightly 5,6,7, ect... and It pushed me to Myn's Roms for a long time and I was kinda stuck not wanting to try anything else. Now after a lack of update I went back to ASOP and finally found the Koolaid everyone was drinking. Also, it's not secret HTC likes to 'limit' the phones abilities from the Carriers. I can't figure it out...

We probably will have CM right out the door and I'm willing to push through the problems as I'm not in a 4G area, don't really care for HDMI out much, Light camera user, and probably won't be toooo worried about the 3D (I guess those will be some of the light issues in the beginning)

In a way, I wasn't too upset about having to 'try' an SGSII if HTC was locked as I would like to experience the whole spectrum myself (I've played with Touchwiz and Blur but never really had them as a DD). Maybe I'm just looking to grow or learn more.

I think my fix will be the E3D and some Devoloper learning... I need to put Linux on my PC and learn my way around.

Any naysayers want to fuel my doubts...maybe it's the recent talk on Tegra 3, Q4 quad core phones... IDK I'm having a hard time shaking this feeling.

I need someone to take me under there wing and teach me what they can about these phones (deep stuff) I've got most of the common culture.
 
SaleenFiend said:
Any naysayers want to fuel my doubts...maybe it's the recent talk on Tegra 3, Q4 quad core phones... IDK I'm having a hard time shaking this feeling.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying this to be a naysayer, but do take this with a bit of salt.

IMO, picking up the E3D would be a perfect choice at this time if HTC is your preference and wish to keep until quads in HTC appear. The T3, quad core phone will most likely not be HTC as they tend to favor Qualcomm. Qualcomm, I believe, is still targeting Q1 2012 before any products show up with their quad cores. This only holds sway if you are set on an HTC product, though. If not, all bets are off.

Otherwise, I really believe the next Nexus, if it is to be quad core, will likely be an LG with one of their NOVA displays, or something similar, releasing at the end of this year. However, at this time, there is nothing but rumors to substantiate what I have stated here.

There is always a Next Phone. I feel your pain in this decisive process. I have decided on the E3D if it arrives here in June, if not, all bets are off.
 
Well, if people have been keeping tabs on me for the past day or so, I've been trying out big red. So far... I love the Droid X 2, but I hate Verizon. I also hate locked out bootloaders. I'll most likely be switching back to Sprint (I needed to hop off my fathers plan, I'll explain), even though Verizon has better coverage. As someone I admire said today (IOWA), what good is a better connection if you can't use it. I whole heartedly agree. Anyway, carrier tangent... where was I going with this... dual core! That's right. Anyway, with what I've seen in this Droid X 2, dual core is all we can handle for a good while in a cell phone. The X 2 doesn't even have an LTE radio, but just from watching videos, it can cook up temperatures in excess of 130 easily. My phone often shuts down from excess heat just off of the processor. Unless a qualcom dual core chipset is going to produce some kind of drastically reduced temperature output, I can't see anything above dual core even possible in a handset. Tablets, sure, but not phones in the immediate future. Just running music off of the X while I type this out my Evo, its idling around 98. Yowza. Yea... I challenge someone to make a dual core phone run cool.


Also, the X's battery, at the same size as the Evo, lasts MUCH longer. The Evo has a REALLY old snapdragon, lol. Still kicking though.


To explain, I've been on my fathers plan shelling allotments out my checks to pay each month. I decided to just save him the hassle and cut one of the last cords that come with leaving home. I've noticed all my friends on Verizon have had FAR better signal, both 3g and 4g, hell even 1x. So I decided to jump ship. Worst jump ever. I'm paying an extra $30 a month compared to sprint, and its for essentially more restrictions, a locked up phone, and better coverage. That's 1 for 3 on my strike list. Not to mention their incoming rooted users tethering nerf that's inbound. 1 for 4. I'm gonna stop by sprint tomorrow, if you catch my drift. ;)
 
SaleenFiend said:
So, I bought a Hero Outright, upgraded to the Evo. I've been an HTC fan since day one. Loved my EVO and have been through alot. The phone has always been great. I've ROM'd, Kernel'd, Rinsed, and Repeated.

Problem... I pre-ordered Friday and now I'm starting to double-think getting the E3D. I flashed to CM7 last night and fell in love with ASOP. I know alot about these phones, specs, and comparisons... but Im thinking about a Nexus 4G. (I don't know why)

I'm also wondering (after the spy shots today) about HTC's next Google Phone with Sprint. Is it a good time to buy a dual core 2.3 device that probably won't get Ice Cream Sandwich for a whole 6months after ICS release? Sense is a really large launcher and seems to be a little more restrictive and not really too much too it.

Wait for the next unlocked Google phone? Buy a Nexus 4G outright, now? or the E3D.


Please keep this to good strong pointed arguments no fanboy BS and help me keep my mind on the E3D! (or the other way around?)
Click to expand...

WOW dude If i didn't know better i'd think you jumped into my brain and posted this for me! I'm in the same boat you are! pre-ordered my evo 3d the very first day it leaked best buy was accepting. After flashing a Kings AOSP ROM a couple days ago I have had a complete change of heart. I never thought i'd like AOSP but flashed to try it out and was very impressed! i can imagine what it runs like on a fully functional phone like the Nexus S. there's so many other perks by going with the nexus like free wifi tether, instant google updates, pure google, no bloatware/crapware, better battery, better screen, and nfc chip.

HTC ends up getting replaced by a much better 3rd party launcher anyways by most of us hardcores, so sense is a non issue. While nexus users are rocking ice cream later this year, E3D users will be flashing buggy Roms trying to get Ice Cream on their phone. And an official release of ice cream will be 6 or so months later. just look at our evo's still rocking 2.2

on top of the benefits of going with a Nexus S Amazon has it on sale for $99
AmazonWireless: Samsung Nexus S 4G Android Phone (Sprint)


I've made my purchase and i'm very happy with it! Can wait to experience the true google experience.
 
cyaiphone said:
I've made my purchase and i'm very happy with it! Can wait to experience the true google experience.
Click to expand...

I've got a Nexus S 4G, and it has its perks, but it isn't close to being the most feature laden phone in Sprint's stable

The Evo3D will be Sprint's flagship phone, and with good reason.

Take a lot of pride in the fact that whenever you look under "Android Version" you'll be six months ahead of all other phones on the market because that is the number reason for getting a Nexus S.

A week ago I was debating if I was going to keep the Nexus S because the Evo3D is so well spec'ed and featured. Then I picked up an HTC Flyer and saw that it already was behind the curve in terms of updates. I instantly remembered why I wanted a Nexus S.

I still want an Evo3D, but it will mostly be for my wife, while I geek out with the Nexus S.
 
I'll geek out on a new Evo. Hooray for cyanogen! I get everything that makes a nexus s well... a nexus s with the hardware in an Evo. ;)

Even though it might be a month before it gets a stable build... that makes me sad panda... :(
 
I keep seeing people say the Nexus 4G can wifi tether for free as a plus. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the carrier determine if wifi tethering is free or not? I am unsure of Sprint's official position (I don't see a 'wifi tethering package' in the plans section on Sprint.com), but if Sprint allows wifi tether for free, isn't this a moot point? And if Sprint doesn't allow it, isn't using it without the package against the TOS?
 
To the OP, just remember that the purpose of nightly builds is simply to verify that all checked in code compiles. If you've done even a little bit of programming with compiled languages, you'll know that there's a difference between a compile-time error and a runtime error. There will be bugs aplenty. If you want a good experience, you want a release candidate (RC), or even better, a stable (production-ready) build. I only flash stable builds of CM7. Everything works.

Also, for those of you who are itching to root the E3D as soon as it's out... just a reminder: there might not be a root exploit out yet for the phone. Evo got a head start because it was released at Google IO ahead of the public launch. E3D won't have a head start. Plus, we still don't know what will be the state of the bootloader at launch. I suspect it will be unencrypted, but if not, we'll have to wait for an OTA.

As for CM7 being available for E3D, expect that to take some time as well, especially for the new hardware features like the shutter button and 3D. Those two features are custom hardware, and since CM7 uses AOSP, the kernel won't have instructions for these features. They'll need to be added manually and that takes time. They may release a version that has everything working except shutter and 3D, but personally, I'd wait till they get everything working before replacing the stock ROM.
 
jerofld said:
I keep seeing people say the Nexus 4G can wifi tether for free as a plus. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the carrier determine if wifi tethering is free or not? I am unsure of Sprint's official position (I don't see a 'wifi tethering package' in the plans section on Sprint.com), but if Sprint allows wifi tether for free, isn't this a moot point? And if Sprint doesn't allow it, isn't using it without the package against the TOS?
Click to expand...

Yes it does include for free because it is a feature that is automatically available in stock gingerbread. Sprint can't do anything about it because if they changed it it technically wouldn't be stock. I think they might as well take advantage of it and I remember seeing on some forum(can't remember if it was on here or not) that one time someone went into a sprint store wand was persuading a woman to get the nexus and was using the free wifi hotspot as a point to get her to bu.
 
Djblue11 said:
Yes it does include for free because it is a feature that is automatically available in stock gingerbread. Sprint can't do anything about it because if they changed it it technically wouldn't be stock. I think they might as well take advantage of it and I remember seeing on some forum(can't remember if it was on here or not) that one time someone went into a sprint store wand was persuading a woman to get the nexus and was using the free wifi hotspot as a point to get her to bu.
Click to expand...

A sales rep was saying that was a buying point? Or the forum go-er? I got curious and was skimming through the ToS. There is no specific mention of wifi hotspot, but they do say:

"you also can't use your Device as a modem for computers or other equipment, unless we identify the Service or Device you have selected as specifically intended for that purpose (for example, with "phone as modem" plans, Sprint Mobile Broadband card plans, wireless router plans, etc.)."

Also, if you go to the Nexus S 4G spot on Sprint.com, it does say it can be a mobile hotspot, with the additional $29.99 charge. So, while you are not getting charged for it (for now) and you probably don't get any pop-up dialogs telling you to get the additional package, it clearly isn't supposed to be free. It is against the TOS to be using wifi hotspot without the additional service fee. Sprint just doesn't appear to be enforcing it. I guess they don't see the harm in it if people use this feature, as long as they don't abuse it. And, in the TOS, they did say they reserve the right to throttle your data usage to a much slower speed if they find you are abusing your data privileges.

Another point: I don't know if Sprint is doing it, but those of us on Verizon discovered that Gingerbread records data usage. Specifically, it records data usage if it comes from tethering and that VZW can access that information directly from the phone. It may only be in VZW versions of GB, though. But this data monitoring did not exist in Froyo.

Again, this is just for general info. Just like how we warn people that rooting is legal, but voids the warranty.
 
jerofld said:
A sales rep was saying that was a buying point? Or the forum go-er? I got curious and was skimming through the ToS. There is no specific mention of wifi hotspot, but they do say:

"you also can't use your Device as a modem for computers or other equipment, unless we identify the Service or Device you have selected as specifically intended for that purpose (for example, with "phone as modem" plans, Sprint Mobile Broadband card plans, wireless router plans, etc.)."

Also, if you go to the Nexus S 4G spot on Sprint.com, it does say it can be a mobile hotspot, with the additional $29.99 charge. So, while you are not getting charged for it (for now) and you probably don't get any pop-up dialogs telling you to get the additional package, it clearly isn't supposed to be free. It is against the TOS to be using wifi hotspot without the additional service fee. Sprint just doesn't appear to be enforcing it. I guess they don't see the harm in it if people use this feature, as long as they don't abuse it. And, in the TOS, they did say they reserve the right to throttle your data usage to a much slower speed if they find you are abusing your data privileges.

Another point: I don't know if Sprint is doing it, but those of us on Verizon discovered that Gingerbread records data usage. Specifically, it records data usage if it comes from tethering and that VZW can access that information directly from the phone. It may only be in VZW versions of GB, though. But this data monitoring did not exist in Froyo.

Again, this is just for general info. Just like how we warn people that rooting is legal, but voids the warranty.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the confusion the sprint employee was saying it. I think it will stay free though I;m not sure if t-mobile also does the hotspot, but the Nexus S users have never been charged for hotspot. It is a developer phone so it should have all stock features.
 
Thefoodman52 said:
I'll geek out on a new Evo. Hooray for cyanogen! I get everything that makes a nexus s well... a nexus s with the hardware in an Evo. ;)

Even though it might be a month before it gets a stable build... that makes me sad panda... :(
Click to expand...

AOSP ROMS are very buggy. Even the ones that have been out for a year now and AOSP roms don't have everything working on them. I'm looking forward to enjoying true google with no hiccups and new software the moment it's available.

jerofld said:
I keep seeing people say the Nexus 4G can wifi tether for free as a plus. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the carrier determine if wifi tethering is free or not? I am unsure of Sprint's official position (I don't see a 'wifi tethering package' in the plans section on Sprint.com), but if Sprint allows wifi tether for free, isn't this a moot point? And if Sprint doesn't allow it, isn't using it without the package against the TOS?
Click to expand...

Yes, it's free. Remember GOOGLE releases the software for the Nexus and not sprint. Sprint can not modify google's software. Sprint does not push updates to the Nexus. That's all done by google.
 
cyaiphone said:
Yes, it's free. Remember GOOGLE releases the software for the Nexus and not sprint. Sprint can not modify google's software. Sprint does not push updates to the Nexus. That's all done by google.
Click to expand...

This does appear to be irrelevant. You do not get your data through Google, you get it through Sprint. Like I said in my second post in this thread, Sprint.com does say the additional $30 charge applies to the Nexus S 4G. It just appears that they just have nothing to enforce the charge because it comes pre-unlocked from Google. And they don't enforce it, nor do they seem to enforce it across the board. However, I'm sure if Sprint made a big enough stink about it, Google would change their wifi hotspot app. The CEO of Sprint said there was no intention of ending unlimited data in an interview not too long ago. So it just may not be a priority of Sprint's to end wifi tethering, at least in the near future.

For the record, I think wifi tether should be free, regardless. As long as people don't abuse their data privileges with excessive downloads and such, I don't see the problem with it.
 
cyaiphone said:
AOSP ROMS are very buggy. Even the ones that have been out for a year now and AOSP roms don't have everything working on them. I'm looking forward to enjoying true google with no hiccups and new software the moment it's available.
Click to expand...


Stock ROMS are very buggy. Even the ones that have been out for a year now and Stock roms don't have everything working on them. I'm looking forward to enjoying true google with no hiccups and new software the moment it's available.

Just as valid as what you said.
 
For those who missed it, we had the buggy rom argument yesterday in another thread.

Please move on or this thread is headed for the lock, as others do when things get too off-topic.

The question by the OP and others is simple - NS4G with the Google update advantage, 3vo with the HTC+dual-core advantage, or future other with the quad-core+whatever-else advantage?

My vote: 3vo with the battery and smoothness advantage, that's more important to me than the Google update advantage (I'm patient anyways), and as far as future quad-cores: bird in the hand worth two in the bush.
 
jerofld said:
This does appear to be irrelevant. You do not get your data through Google, you get it through Sprint. Like I said in my second post in this thread, Sprint.com does say the additional $30 charge applies to the Nexus S 4G. It just appears that they just have nothing to enforce the charge because it comes pre-unlocked from Google. And they don't enforce it, nor do they seem to enforce it across the board. However, I'm sure if Sprint made a big enough stink about it, Google would change their wifi hotspot app. The CEO of Sprint said there was no intention of ending unlimited data in an interview not too long ago. So it just may not be a priority of Sprint's to end wifi tethering, at least in the near future.

For the record, I think wifi tether should be free, regardless. As long as people don't abuse their data privileges with excessive downloads and such, I don't see the problem with it.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you're trying to say, really didn't say anything. My post was still correct

  • Nexus S has free wifi hotspot
  • Sprint does not push software updates to Nexus S therefore they can not block it
  • I'm sure Sprint and google already came to terms with this
  • Wifi hotspot on the Nexus S is FREE
 
cyaiphone said:
I'm not sure what you're trying to say, really didn't say anything. My post was still correct

  • Nexus S has free wifi hotspot
  • Sprint does not push software updates to Nexus S therefore they can not block it
  • I'm sure Sprint and google already came to terms with this
  • Wifi hotspot on the Nexus S is FREE
Click to expand...

And my post said it shouldn't be free, according to the TOS. Unless, of course, Nexus S 4G owners get a different TOS. I bet the NS4G gets away with it is because Sprint just doesn't enforce it. It's like driving over the speed limit. Just because you're driving over the limit and a cop doesn't pull you over doesn't mean it's legal.

But...whatever. If Sprint ever decides to lock down the tethering, I guess we'll find out.
 
Ok, with that, let's move on from the free tethering discussion - I think all solid data on this has been expressed in this thread from all parties.

Any more advice on which way to go? :) ;)
 
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