busted bones
Android Enthusiast
Liberty 2.0 almost bricked my friends droid 2. He switched over to MIUI and is much happier.
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Photon or Galaxy S2
- Thread starter snowcrash
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- motorola photon 4g
Liberty 2.0 almost bricked my friends droid 2. He switched over to MIUI and is much happier.
Yeah, I should have mentioned I'm not recommending this rom... I no longer have a droid x so I can't speak to how good (or not) this rom is. I linked to it simply because it has a change log that gives you an idea of the types of things the devs can do in spite of the in ability to change the kernel.
I had the Evo 3D and they wanted to charge me $35 restocking fee when I returned it. I went to 3 sprint stores and finally found one that said they weren't going to charge me but i haven't seen the refund post to my account yet. So no guarantees that you won't have to pay the $35 if you buy at a sprint store.
simcha
Android Enthusiast
toolwarrior
Well-Known Member
This might be a dumb question, but why did you test youtube at the store? I checked on quite a few work items at the store (youtube one of them) and I thought it was fine.
I do see the pixels and the screen door effect on the phone, but it doesn't bother me. What bothers me more about a screen is that when I take it outside, I can't read it. All my Samsungs have been *horrible* with that. Love the screen indoors but take it out and it's virtually unreadable for me.
We all have to decide what is most important to us. For me, I decided since I do use this phone for work calls, I needed good sound/voice quality. No one wants to deal with a business when you have to repeat yourself more than once due to craptastic call quality.
I also got so tired of waiting on updates for Samsung as well as not so good GPS, reception and quirky phones that are constantly resetting themselves.
I can't say that the SG2 will be a horrible phone, but after looking at the super AMOLED plus screen, it wasn't worth the wait. The screen is nice, but it's also fake looking colorwise to me. I wasn't near as blown away as I thought.
I also preferred the clipped corners with my small hands. So I decided what did feel good vs what looked good on paper.
Not one of the three big Sprint phones does it all, so really the end result is to pick what you find to be most important.
Actually I tested youtube at the store to see how good the volume was for media. I guess I'm not that picky about the display because the screen door effect just doesn't bother me (yet). I'll go back next weekend and take another look - mostly at photos. Quite frankly if it doesn't bother met for web browsing/videos/photos then i could care less if it exist.
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If the sg2 has good speakers and phone receiption like the photon then yea I'll probably go that route but I won't know for a few more weeks. I'm not claiming the photon is better than the sg2 or has no flaws; I'm just saying that it is good enough (for me) if sprint version of the sg2 turns out to be a dud or has flaws in areas that concern me (phone reception and clairty are very important for my usage).
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If the sg2 has good speakers and phone receiption like the photon then yea I'll probably go that route but I won't know for a few more weeks. I'm not claiming the photon is better than the sg2 or has no flaws; I'm just saying that it is good enough (for me) if sprint version of the sg2 turns out to be a dud or has flaws in areas that concern me (phone reception and clairty are very important for my usage).
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
MoPho..... I love it.....
Hahahaha... I 2nd that.
My phone is a bad MOPHO!...awesome.
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Concern over the display seems overblown. You don't have to read the spec; just go to the bloody store and look at one.
If display is the only issue then nothing beats first hand observation. My 2ct - having looked at the evo3d and photon in stores (as well as many other phones) I think the photon has a really nice display. Of course i'm gonna wait the 3+ weeks for the s2 to come out so I can compare it to the photon before making an informed decision (the evo3d already lost to the photon).
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Bootloader is another issue and it also concerns me; so I'm not ignoring that portion of your comment but if that is the deal breaker for you then just say so
I wrote that about the specs before the launch, so in-store wasn't. And I'm still seeing a LOT of talk about the display, from people who own it.
Bootloader isn't a dealbreaker alone, but on a device that I'm already on the fence about it can be. GS2 is getting amazing reviews around the world, hard to argue with those because of Samsung's mistakes in the past.
amelfl
Newbie
according to BGR the Sammy S2 is dubbed the Samsung Epic Touch 4G 
and it should launch in September....yea Sprint!
Sprint's Galaxy S II dubbed 'Samsung Epic Touch 4G,' launches in September
and it should launch in September....yea Sprint!
Sprint's Galaxy S II dubbed 'Samsung Epic Touch 4G,' launches in September
brushrop03
Android Enthusiast
I was going to get it regardless to play with it. 30 day return policy is always nice. And the reason I didn't really play with it at BBY was because I was there working from open to close.
And I agree get what's important to you. For me its really customizability video even though, honestly, i don't watch that much. But when I do, I would prefer better clarity than what the Photon is putting out. I'm not saying SGII will do this, but when it's released i'm definitely going to do a thorough comparison. I'm even thinking of keeping my Evo for a little while longer till something else comes a long.
One thing I don't see anyone really focusing on is build quality differences. I too was on the fence between SGS2 and MoPho. I loved my EVO, but just wasn't that impressed with the E3D. So I did all of the research I could on the MoPho and SGS2, and then went to look at it the MoPho on launch day (I'm Premier but won't buy a phone sight unseen). I love the look and feel of the MoPho, so I bought it. Thus far I'm loving it. But the build quality just feels superb. Yet I've read reviews on the SGS2 that say it feels really plasticky. Does that not bother anyone? I had tried the Pre out when it first came out, and build quality was the number one reason I decided not to keep it. It just felt cheap. Seriously just wondering if I'm a lone wolf in this one concern for the Sammy.
I agree, and I also have concearnes about the poor reception with the Samsung, there are threads all over saying that calls keep going to voicemail because the signal is not there. I am really likeing the Photon, battery is great, build quality is awesome, and signal is way better than my EVO 4G. Either phone is great, just in my opinion the Motorola has what I need
I gotcha on that now! I am not one to buy and return a lot. So I spend hours playing with technology before I buy. I was just at Sprint on Sunday and realized this was the phone when I spent over an hour just messing with it and loving everything I saw LOL
I admit I will do a comparison of the SG2 when it comes out too. I'm sure I'll know someone who has it or I'll go look at the Sprint store, I don't care. I just realized after owning Samsung, I won't buy again for a long time. It has all to do with my last phone and the cheap build quality as well as lack of updates, horrible ability to view screen outdoors, bad reception and over all quirky crap of the phone. I wanted to love the screens on Samsung for the SG2 but after seeing one in person I can't love it enough to get over my other issues.
I have spent time looking at the EVO and the MoPho side by side. My DH owns the EVO so I can easilyi do this and as much as I like. I think both the EVO and MoPho feel great.
I owned a Samsung before and even with gentle wear the keypad is cracking. This phone was going for $100 when I bought it (found it on sale for $80) so it wasn't the cheap of the cheap at the time - there were $50 Androids out. Looking at the Epic I feel the same way with how crappy the build quality is. So after looking at the Epic and seeing my old phone, I was scared of that too.
I so agree with you on the build quality of the Pre. Other than very much disliking the new Palm OS (coming from years of Palm use) the build quality sold me on not getting one. I wound up going to BB instead. Talk about good build quality. My phone looks awesome still - and it is a toy for my son
I feel much the same about the MoPho as I did about the BB - and build quality is the only thing I liked about the BB!I think the EVO feels fantastic too but the MoPho fit better in my hands so that along with call quality is why I went with the MoPho over the 3EVO.
Wolfedude88
Android Expert
While I like my Photon, I have always had the intention of switching to the GS2. I think the Photon feels a lot more plastic than other Motorola phones I have owned recently. I think it is just more of the front of the phone, or just the way it looks to me. Not saying it is bad, because I actually enjoy how light this phone feels.
But I don't expect the GS2 to be too much different in that factor.
All I know is we all win this year on Sprint. We will have the EVO 3D, Photon 4g, and GS2. I wonder if my wife will want my Photon or will she keep her 3D.
With all of these Android phones being released, it is a great time to be a customer.
But I don't expect the GS2 to be too much different in that factor.
All I know is we all win this year on Sprint. We will have the EVO 3D, Photon 4g, and GS2. I wonder if my wife will want my Photon or will she keep her 3D.
With all of these Android phones being released, it is a great time to be a customer.
Yup, just like what others said, the build quality is what sold me on the MoPho. It feels solid, the glass is true gorilla glass, even the edges of the screen is beveled. It gives the whole phone a really nice look and feel. The screen is so smoooth too. I think that is a characteristic of the GG. The volume and rocker buttons actually feel like buttons instead of mush. Oh and the kickstand is awesome! I use it every night as a bedside alarm clock.
Also the phone just simply works. The calls get thru and go out just find. Reception is great, no dead spots yet (evo had them at work). Speaker is LOUD and sounds fantastic. I actually have to turn it down when watching videos. The 3vo had trouble doing all of these. Yes, i would like to be part of the modding community but i still need a phone i can rely on. Mopho is it for me till the quad-cores come out ;-)
Oh and im still keeping my OG EVO. It makes a great media player
Also the phone just simply works. The calls get thru and go out just find. Reception is great, no dead spots yet (evo had them at work). Speaker is LOUD and sounds fantastic. I actually have to turn it down when watching videos. The 3vo had trouble doing all of these. Yes, i would like to be part of the modding community but i still need a phone i can rely on. Mopho is it for me till the quad-cores come out ;-)
Oh and im still keeping my OG EVO. It makes a great media player
I agree with you on that. I never had such an issue deciding on a phone before when I knew which type of OS I was going to use. I think it is awesome to have these choices! My husband just loves his regular EVO and probably will keep it unless something crazy happens to his phone. He does like the look of the 3D though. The Samsung is going to be a great choice. I like that there are three and each have their own great selling point.
Well what I really like from my usage of the moto phone at the store (I want to make clear that I don't own one) is the quality of the sound and phone reception seems very good from what i've read.
I'm not a buy with intention of return sort of person (seems dishonest and cost companies a lot of money) so I will wait for the gs2. I know the gs2 will be faster but if the phone side or speakers/audio does not match the photon I will go with the photon.
I really do prefer thin/light phones. Sigh sounds like it will be another 4 or 5 weeks until the sg2 hits the stores.
I'm not a buy with intention of return sort of person (seems dishonest and cost companies a lot of money) so I will wait for the gs2. I know the gs2 will be faster but if the phone side or speakers/audio does not match the photon I will go with the photon.
I really do prefer thin/light phones. Sigh sounds like it will be another 4 or 5 weeks until the sg2 hits the stores.
brushrop03
Android Enthusiast
I read somewhere the Verizon is going to have there's for sale around Sept 8th under a different name.
ScandaLeX
Wasn't Me
Never realized how much I used the kickstand until I no longer had it on the 3vo. I kept reaching behind it to flip it out. I mean....its an EVO regardless of 4G/3D. Its supposed to have a kickstand....right?
Damn shame its only a concept. If this were an actual phone, I'd get it in a heartbeat. I just like to hope something of this magnitude would be flawless!
This was worth a Phandroid tip!!!
HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!Agreed. For a second there I thought someone was trying to compare 55" LCP TV's! These are 4" screen phones for playing on and making calls. I dont need the "deepest blacks" hahahaha.
I'm also interested in knowing why there wasn't a huge buzz prior to the release. Seems the only news was a Pulse article talking about the big pow wow meeting between Sprint/Moto. If it weren't for forums (and I read a bunch of them), I would have been clueless. EVO 4G commercials were running constantly. Even EVO 3D had their share.
brushrop03
Android Enthusiast
The phone can be rooted using the HD Dock, but the bootloader remains locked and encrypted so no changing the kernel
CAMERA: The Photon has a pretty miserable camera. Maybe with an updated picture taking app it can be improved. I am seriously missing my Touch Diamond camera.
BATTERY: The GSM version of the GS2 seems to get pretty disappointing battery life in reviews. CDMA phones typically eat more battery than their GSM cousins so I'm not keeping my fingers crossed.
The Photon, however, easily powers through a day and a half with light gaming, SMS, etc (I can personally attest to this.)GPS: Great on the Photon. Likely resolved by now as it seems fine on the Droid Charge.
SCREEN: Yeah... the GS2 just wins this one. Super AMOLED Plus is dead sexy 24/7 in terms of sharpness and saturation. Although I will say that the RGBW qHD screen on the Photon is superb even in sunlight. It's tied with the Droid Charge in terms of bright light performance.