Decisions, decisions.....

[ponz]

Hello Everyone,

I'm getting ready to take the plunge and buy my first smart phone. I'm half-assed technical savvy, but don't intend to use the phone for gaming or watching movies - at least not on a regular basis. Email, web surfing, talk-to-text will be the phones primary functions. My vision isn't that great, so I'd like a large screen.

From the hours of research I've done, I'm torn between the Samsung Galaxy S2 or the upcoming Galaxy Nexus. I'm an impulse buyer and it's taking every bit of strenght in me to wait for the Galaxy Nexus - ya know ICS and all that...

I need some opinions and suggestions please before I rope myself into a 2 yr contract.

"IF" I but the Galaxy S2 now, can it, eventually, be upgraded with ICS to be as functional as the yet to be released Galaxy Nexus??

Also - as much I hate the service; I'm with Sprint because of a pretty good discount thanks to friends that still work there...

Thanks,
Ponz

 

[chanchan05]

1. First smartphone, I'd recommend S2 simply because more things will be inbuilt and ready out of the box, while getting a Nexus would mean that you'll have to download more stuff for the usual features some phones have built in.

2. yes it will be eventually upgraded to ICS. And no, the Nexus is not as functional as the SGS2. By default, a Nexus phone will almost always be less functional out of the box as a manufacturer skinned device like the SGS2. Manufacturer skinned (all Non Nexus phones) will have more widgets and more apps out of the box than Nexus. Also, I dont mean carrier bloatware. I always buy phones direct from manufacturers, and there are just always more apps. And functionality for all high end Android phones are basically the same since they have access to most of the same apps anyway.

 

[ponz]

chanchan,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the termanology! Widgets vs Apps???? I'm pretty sure I know what Apps are, but widgets??

What is meant by rooting and Rom'ing ones' phone?

I've read horror stories about battery life. Example, some are saying that the app killer is actually a battery killer?!?!

Soo many questions I can't think of them all right now.

Ponz

 

[chanchan05]

Widgets are stuff on the homescreen to make it look good or show info. Think of them like the Gadgets on Windows Vista or 7. You can check this link out, basically they're showing off the homescreen designs they use with different widgets or wallpapers and icons:
http://androidforums.com/android-themes/4425-post-your-android-desktop-new-post.html

Apps are like programs. For example, a calculator app is well, a calculator. The SMS app is well, what lets you send SMS. A Notes app well, lets you take notes.

Rooting is getting Admin rights to the phone (edit system settings and programs). Flashing a ROM is installing a different version of OS, could be custom or stock official.

 

[indybail]

The battery life issue varies from phone to phone. I don't if there is any information out there about the Nexus but the Galaxy should be well documented. I have a Samsung Gravity Smart and it's like the Energizer Bunny compared to the Motorola Cliq it replaced.

 

[Bnice]

Remember with the Nexus you are getting the pure google experience if you get that phone.

 

[ponz]

Remember with the Nexus you are getting the pure google experience if you get that phone.

Would you please elaborate on that? If I get the SGS2 and upgrade to ICS that doesn't give me that 'experience?

Sorry to be so ill-informed,
Ponz

 

[chanchan05]

Would you please elaborate on that? If I get the SGS2 and upgrade to ICS that doesn't give me that 'experience?

Sorry to be so ill-informed,
Ponz

All phones that are not named Nexus will have manufacturer overlay interfaces. Things Samsung/HTC/SE/etc added which sort of changes the user interface a bit from pure Android, and adds certain options in some stock apps, changes the icons, etc. Some people prefer one overlay over another, others want it pure.

 

[John Redcorn]

It has nothing to do with what the op is asking but it may be worth note that a lot of low and mid range androids like huaweis, pantechs and some others are pure gingerbread with no sense or touchwiz type stuff going on.

 

[ponz]

All phones that are not named Nexus will have manufacturer overlay interfaces. Things Samsung/HTC/SE/etc added which sort of changes the user interface a bit from pure Android, and adds certain options in some stock apps, changes the icons, etc. Some people prefer one overlay over another, others want it pure.

Thanks,

How, if at all, do these overlays affect the performance of the phone? Do they slow it down, make for more difficult software upgrades, affect battery life...etc?

Also - If I jump on the GS2 NOW, and eventually uprade it to ICS - can it then become a pure droid with no overlays? I hope that wasn't a dumb question...

Ponz

 

[jerofld]

Thanks,

How, if at all, do these overlays affect the performance of the phone? Do they slow it down, make for more difficult software upgrades, affect battery life...etc?

Also - If I jump on the GS2 NOW, and eventually uprade it to ICS - can it then become a pure droid with no overlays? I hope that wasn't a dumb question...

Ponz

Usually, a phone's UI does not affect the performance of a device to the point that you would notice it. And a good UI would not hinder the battery too much (but all UIs take more battery, just some take more than others). Software updates take longer because the developers have to make their UIs compatible with the new software. Etc etc. But the user experience is better overall, for most people.

And no, it'll never become a 'pure android' phone, unless you're willing to root/jailbreak and install a custom ROM (meaning a custom build of Android) that is specifically designed to be a 'pure Android' build. Cyanogen Mod is the most popular one that is an AOSP (Android Open Source Project - but read 'pure Android') and the SGS2 is one of the devices the CM project supports.

 

[ponz]

Usually, a phone's UI does not affect the performance of a device to the point that you would notice it. And a good UI would not hinder the battery too much (but all UIs take more battery, just some take more than others). Software updates take longer because the developers have to make their UIs compatible with the new software. Etc etc. But the user experience is better overall, for most people.

And no, it'll never become a 'pure android' phone, unless you're willing to root/jailbreak and install a custom ROM (meaning a custom build of Android) that is specifically designed to be a 'pure Android' build. Cyanogen Mod is the most popular one that is an AOSP (Android Open Source Project - but read 'pure Android') and the SGS2 is one of the devices the CM project supports.

Thank you.
Is this something you would advise doing or is 'rooting' simply for those that like to tinker for tinkerings sake?

Ponz

 

[chanchan05]

Rooting allows you to overclock/underclock for better performance or battery life, and other tweaks. But for you who is a first time smartphone user, stick to stock ROM for now and get the hang of it before rooting. I've known people who got overwhelmed by their first smartphone.