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Android Phone Advice

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BlakeySFC

Newbie
Hey Everyone,

Phone's coming up for renewal.

Currently have an iPhone 4S 32GB, and possibly looking to upgrade to an Android phone of some kind if the iPhone 5 doesn't get announced at WWDC 2012.

Anyway...I guess I'm in a kind of unique position...I don't have Wi-Fi/3g and don't own a PC (I have all Mac's in my house)....will I be able to get on with an Android phone?

I ask this because in my research I've found that unlike iTunes where you download apps to the computer, you can't do that on Android and have to download straight to the phone via Wi-Fi/3g, is there a way round this?

Also, will the battery life be as good as my current phone? Looking at the Galaxy S3, HTC One X, LG Optimus 4x HD and the Huawei Ascend D at the moment?
 
You don't have data streaming to your iPhone? How do you use it? I'm just confused that you would want a smartphone with no data coming to it. Or maybe I'm missing something.
 
dreadnatty08 said:
You don't have data streaming to your iPhone? How do you use it? I'm just confused that you would want a smartphone with no data coming to it. Or maybe I'm missing something.
Click to expand...

What I mean is that where I live is a 2g area with no 3g or wi-fi in place.

I use itunes at the moment to download apps to there, and then syncing with my iPhone, but as far as I can gather i can't do this on Android unless I drive down the road to get a 3g/wi-fi signal of some kind in order to download apps?
 
dreadnatty08 said:
Blakely, the one trick you can use is to go to GetJar. It's basically an online version of the Play Store where you can download apps (.apk's). Then you can transfer those files to your phone and install them. It is very limited and you won't be able to download anything that's paid.
GetJar | Mobile | Search Google Nexus S Apps
Click to expand...

Sounds like just the ticket.

I also have DoubleTwist and Kries down as iTunes clones which may help too...so with these 3 downloaded I should just about get on with Android hopefully :)
 
dreadnatty08 said:
Glad to hear. Have you decided on a phone yet?
Click to expand...

I've read/heard/seen alot of good things about the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X so they're currently in pole position for me.

I have to wait until July 14th for my upgrade though, by which time I think the LG Optimus 4xHD will be out, and the Huawei Ascend D Quad might be out in the UK which both look amazing too.

So got some tough decisions to make in the next 6 weeks by the looks of it lol
 
I assume you have a wired internet connection on your Mac (DSL/Cable)? If so, you can turn your Mac into a wireless access point (protected with a security key) and connect to it from your phone:

Enable Internet Sharing in Mac OS X to Turn Your Mac Into a Wireless Router

Tip: Depending on which version of Mac OS X you're running you might have the option to use the more secure WPA2 instead of WEP (which ironically is the only option on newer versions of Mac OS X). Otherwise, just turn off your Mac's wifi or the Internet Sharing when you're not connected to it to be on the safe side.
 
^ That's good advice. Following on from there, you can browse apps on Appbrain (it's linked to Google Play), & since you now have WiFi coming from your laptop, Appbrain can push the apps to your phone & sync other changes.

You'll need the Appbrain app installed on your phone, & also Fast Web Installer to allow Appbrain to push apps to you.
 
I am confused. How are you downloading your apps from Itunes? Do you use the internet on your macs? If so, how? If you have home internet, but not wifi, why not just get a router to make your home internet into wifi?
 
danaj said:
I am confused. How are you downloading your apps from Itunes? Do you use the internet on your macs? If so, how? If you have home internet, but not wifi, why not just get a router to make your home internet into wifi?
Click to expand...

I've got wired internet but no Wi-FI.

Just never really got round to getting a wi-fi router because of my lack of technical know-how. Just wouldn't know how to set it up and stuff I suppose.

Probably easiest for me to just turn my Mac into a wireless port as suggested above and download apps from Appbrain/GetJar or straight from Google Play I would think.

Also think I'm going to use Double Twist to sync all my music/photos etc. from my iTunes library
 
A WiFi router can be set up in 5min without technical know how (that's why there is a manual). Just plug it in, install the CD if it has one, open a web browser and go to the default address specified on the manual, enter your WiFi name and password, and you're good to go.
 
chanchan05 said:
A WiFi router can be set up in 5min without technical know how (that's why there is a manual). Just plug it in, install the CD if it has one, open a web browser and go to the default address specified on the manual, enter your WiFi name and password, and you're good to go.
Click to expand...

I tried changing my current router for a better wired one at one time, but I just couldn't get the internet to work with it so gave up.

I'm sure it would be the same story for me with a wireless router if I tried unfortunately :(
 
Think I've finally made a shortlist.

Either the LG Optimus 4X HD or the Samsung Galaxy S3 for me I think.

(Unless Apple announce the iPhone 5 at WWDC on monday! ;) )
 
WamsleyH said:
I'm just confused that you would want a smartphone with no data coming to it.
3.jpg
Click to expand...

I explained this up top ^^^

I don't want a smartphone with no data coming to it, what would be the point?

I use about 250-400mb of data a month.

I get 2g coverage at home, but no Wi-Fi and 3g so was worried about being able to connect to the Google Play store/Kries etc. but I've just discovered the internet sharing option on my Mac so that problem has been completely alleviated.

Obviously I use data like everyone else when I'm on the go I will download stuff via 3g/Wi-Fi hotspots but I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do anything to get apps whilst being at home (as I've only got 2g and it would take AGES), but that problems been sorted so its fine.

I've had smartphones for years, I just needed to figure out if certain things I can do on my iPhone wouldn't be possible on an Android phone because then I'd have to wait until September/October for the iPhone 5.

I'm just trying to figure out which phone to buy now.
 
BlakeySFC said:
Think I've finally made a shortlist.

Either the LG Optimus 4X HD or the Samsung Galaxy S3 for me I think.

(Unless Apple announce the iPhone 5 at WWDC on monday! ;) )
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that, let us know what you settle on :) I'm also waiting on the WWDC announcements and the Pebble Blue Galaxy S3 to be released (or grey as in some rumors).
 
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