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Should I get Android smartphone?

M

Matus

Newbie
Hello,

<sorry for a long post>

I am new here and I am new to smartphones too. I have used Nokia 6610 for 7 (!) years (it still works, actually). The money I did not spend on phones went to photography;) Now due to job changing situation I have to take care of more calls, contacts, meetings ... , so a more capable phone is needed. And why not get a smart phone once the occasion allows :)

I am macbook user so an iPhone could look like logical choice, but the iPhone 4 is just too expensive and I am not sure whether it makes sense to get the 3GS today.

I have checked the possible OS on the market and narrowed the choice to either iOS or Android (HTC phones).

So - what I am after? Decent email access, calendar, synchronization with computer (macbook !), GPS, geotagging, music, videos, decent camera (relative to other smartphones) etc. [For the camera I do not care abut how many MPix, but how does the produced image looks.]

One point that may be relevant - I am located in Germany.

I would like to fit in price range around 300 euro (not more than 400). That is somewhere between HTC Desire and HTC Desire HD, or at a level of unlocked mint/unused iPhone 3GS with 16GB memory here in Germany.

So - if I may a few questions:

-> One of the things that I dislike about HTC is the small internal memory. What are the main advantages/disadvantages apart from the obvious - too little space for applications?

-> HTC question: Right now the EVO is not yet available in Germany - is it worth the wait (and higher price I guess) compared to HTC Desire?

-> general Android question: How it is with OS updates? I have read somewhere that it may not be possible to update the OS once new version is out.

-> Would you consider getting an iPhone 3GS in my situation? (I am not trying to start X versus Y thread)

-> Which devices would you advice me to look at?

-> What problems/limitations should I expect with different OS or models?

I would be thankful for any advices or directions or links.

Matus
 
The Desire HD is the European version of the Evo, so you dont have to wait for that to come out, it's already available. Updates can be tricky, but if you're getting an HTC, especially one like the Desire HD or Desire, you will have a likely chance at getting updates. The only phones with guaranteed updates would be the Nexus One and Nexus S.
 
As far as calendar sync I personally think Android is the king of it, I am assuming your a iCal user on your Macbook, you can have your iCal sync with your Google Calendar which automatically syncs to your phone, no need for a USB cable, which personally I think is a major advantage with Android, same with contacts, the major thing to remember about Android, it is all google based, you manage all your contacts with your Gmail account, same with your calendar. No need to carry a USB cable with you to Sync it all like you have to with the iPhone. (Yes I know you can have your Gmail account set as a exchange account on iOS and have it sync all your contacts.) But the one thing I love so much about Android, you login with one account when you get your phone, and your all set.
 
Thanks.

What makes me a bit uncertain is that while there is already Android 2.3 many phones with 2.2 or even 2.1 are being sold as rather new. It somehow feels weird to get a phone which does not use the current version of the OS. I understand that there are compatibility issues when new OS comes out, but I still would expect that updating OS should be like getting a new Ubuntu version when it becomes available.

In other words - to buy a phone with Android 2.1 gives probably little hope that I will ever be able to update to higher version - if the 2.3 is already there and yet the phone is not even compatible with 2.2.

On a different note - as first duo-core smartphones are being released - do you think it may make sense to wait for one of these? HTC did not announce any yet as far as I know, but I do not necessarily have to get a HTC.

Actually - what Android phone would you prefer? HTC, LG, Samsung, Google phones ... ?
 
The LG Optimus Chic (?) for T-mobile Germany seems really cool, and relatively affordable. Plus, it comes stock with 2.2, meaning there's a good chance for a 2.3 update or compatibility.
 
The sad part is when it comes to Android is, to get the Official 2.2 or 2.3 updates for your phone your relying pretty heavily on your Cell Provider and the manufacturer of your phone. But depending on what your needing the phone for, the basics of Calendar, Contacts and E-mail, it really doesn't matter what version of Android your running, and it should meet your needs, but if there are certain Apps you are having your eye on then having the newest OS is pretty important. But to get around the lack of support from the Manufacturer of the phone, you can always Root your phone and most of the developers for the phones have some form of the newest version of Android available.

Personally, just my two cents, I would stay away from a HTC phone till they can get there act together about battery life, I had a Eris, a few co-workers have had the EVO and the Incredible, I loved the Eris, and I know they love the EVO and the Incredible, but I shouldnt have to buy a extended battery to make my phone last all day. That is why I personally would go either Motorola or Samsung.
 
My suggestion is getting a HTC Desire HD. It's better than the iPhone.

In regards to your questions

-> One of the things that I dislike about HTC is the small internal memory. What are the main advantages/disadvantages apart from the obvious - too little space for applications?

Not really, it has 1.5G of internal memory BUT unlike the iPhone it has a Memory card, up to 32G and if you somehow run out your 33.5G, you can just buy another memory card. Unlike the iPhone that you're stuck with what internal memory you have. I think that 32G or even 16G is enough.

-> HTC question: Right now the EVO is not yet available in Germany - is it worth the wait (and higher price I guess) compared to HTC Desire?

If its Desire vs Evo, then Evo would win so it is worth the wait. But does Germany has CMDA? Since the Evo doesn't support GSM. With the Desire HD, it's just like the EVO, it some aspect it's even better. And I know that the Desire HD is the European/Asian version of the EVO.

-> general Android question: How it is with OS updates? I have read somewhere that it may not be possible to update the OS once new version is out.

I am not quite sure with this one, but I have read that you can update it to the lesser version if ever there is a new version of the OS. I am just not sure since I don't update my OS so far. I will just research more about it and come back to you what I find.

-> Would you consider getting an iPhone 3GS in my situation? (I am not trying to start X versus Y thread)

With the Sync with the Macbook thing, I would suggest the iPhone if that is very important to you. But with your memory issues and budget (32G iPhone is still very expensive) I still would suggest the HTC Desire HD. It has better specs as the iPhone 4 but is cheaper. I bought an iPhone 4 but traded it in for the DHD and I know I made the better choice.

-> Which devices would you advice me to look at?

If you really want any specs that you needed, you can use the phone finder here > Phone Finder

-> What problems/limitations should I expect with different OS or models?

You mean besides Android? Well Symbian (Nokia OS) is very outdated and you can't really customize it, same with the iPhone OS (iOS), compared to Android it is very restricted. Since anything is possible with the Android. I'm very happy with my phone.

I hope this helps :)
 
Dont get caught up in all the stupid newest os crap. 2.1 will be fine for your needs based on the op. You mentioned photography, so im inclined to say get a samsung. they tend to take good pictures(even my old 1.3 mp equipped slider did).
 
Desire HD is a far better phone than the Desire. CPU feels faster, HTC Sense feels like a generation ahead, and you get Froyo built in. The Desire HD has a lot more internal phone memory 1.5gb vs. 150mb of the Desire.

The Desire HD CPU sips less juice than than the Desire's CPU, mainly it has a 45 nanometer process build compared to the old Snapdragon's 65 nanometer process. The smaller the transistors the lower the voltage they operate and the less juice they use. Despire having only a 1200mah battery, on the field Desire HD's battery consumption appears better than the Desire's which has a 1400mah battery.

The Desire HD's SLCD screens seems to use less juice than the Desire's OLED screen, although the OLEDs are brighter and have deeper colors. When you have light or white colored screens on OLED, the corresponding greater brightness means more energy is also used. OLED is generally only more battery saving if darker screens and themes are used. But given Android as a media consumer, you can't avoid having bright screens.

HTC of late is good with updates. Also, the more powerful the phone, the easier it gets updates. Phones are like vessels. The larger the vessel, the easier it is to cram stuff in. That's why low and mid end phones are rare to have updates, and are often more delayed. Be assured, the more powerful a phone is, the easier it is to get an update. When it comes to updates, the Desire HD is a much better choice than the Desire. The possibility of a Gingerbread update on the Desire HD is much higher than the Desire.
 
Thank you for all your replies so far.

I would like to ask about Adroid phones to consider that would compare to HTC Desire HD. The US - EU matching is complicated as it seems that there are differences for given model are not only different names.

Anyhow - which models from LG, Samsung, Motorola or Google would you prefer to HTC Desire HD (which HTC EVO model it actually is in US?). And why?

It seems that Desire HD has a nice UI which brings some interesting features - how does this compares to other smartphones?

EDIT: Also - what are realistic estimates about the battery life? Most phones declarr about 300h stand-by and around 6 hours talk. On the other hand friend of mine who has HTC Desire says it must be charged daily. So - under which conditions the phones can reach the stand-by times?
 
OK, right now it seems that HTC Desire would be a reasonable choice - the HD seems a bit too large and also not very good with battery time.

So - updating my questions:

-> Which Android would you choose over HTC Desire - and why? (user interface, battery life, internal memory, stability ... )

-> If you have/had one - how do you deal with the rather small internal memory of the HTC Desire?
 
I worried about the size of the Desire HD but since I now have one it's not too big at all. Though I would not want it to be any bigger.

With HTC's track record of updates, it seems that each device gets just one major update plus some maintenance updates. The Desire shipped with 2.1 and now has had a major update to 2.2. The Desire HD ships with 2.2 and will very likely get 2.3. I think the prospect for the Desire to get further OS updates is very low.

I would not have any other phone over an HTC model right now. They are currently the best in my opinion.

Get the Desire HD - you'll not regret it.
 
The screen isn't really that big. It's only .6 difference from the iPhone 4. Remember the screen size is measured diagonally.

The battery life isn't really a problem, I can go a whole day with the battery while using it almost all day. You just have to know how to use it, like tick the USB Debugging.

Internal memory isn't a problem, because you get a 8GB memory card and apps doesn't take that much memory.
 
Thanks, but how do you find the battery life? It has smaller capacity than HTC Desire, but the screen is large. A review over at TechRadar indicates that it really could be a problem ...

Apart from the OS updates - do you see any other advantages of the HD model?
 
Android phones offer great value to the expensive iphone 4. Compared to iPhone, UI of Android seems to be infancy, but its improving rapidly. For techies, Android gives more control and power compared to iPhone.
 
Uh, actually I think its the other way around. I upgraded from a Desire and the battery life of the Desire HD is better. Like I said it last a day, sometimes 26-28 hours. The battery life problem is somewhat exaggerated.

Check this thread > http://androidforums.com/htc-desire-hd/257974-battery-life-enough-you.html

Lots of people agree that the batter life is sufficient.

Since the Desire HD is the sequel of the Desire, all in all it is a significant improvement over the Desire.
 
Matus, I am in the same boat as you and in UK. Unfortunately I have been looking forward to a new smartphone since mid-last year. So far, the only smartphone that works for me is the Dell Streak as I seldom make calls and more towards texting and syncing my meeting details through google calendar. That said, I like to listen to FM radio, the Streak does not have that. The next best choice would be the HTC Desire HD, which does everything well, but we here in Europe get the DHD and not the Evo 4G which US gets, which has bigger battery life, so thats out of the question again.

If I were you, I would wait for a few months, new phones are coming out with dual coare processors. Hopefully this will solve the battery life issue on these mobiles. The LG Optmus 2X should be arriving in Europe end of this month (already released in Korea). Samsung Galaxy S successor seems to be rumoured to make its debut in February at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (about 3 weeks time). Given the fact that Samsung releases its top of the line mobile mid-year, so does HTC with its original desire, I think its best to wait until about June. If Apple does not come out with something to replace the fragile iphone 4 (backscreen) and address the "antenna gate" issue I'd go with whatever smartphone that can last at least 2 days without worrying about charging. That says, who knows apple launches an iphone 4s or something-which will push down the prices of the current iphone.
Hope this helps (Still using my SE C510i :P)
 
Thanks for all the links - I quite like what I have read about the Desire / Desire HD phones. About the battery life in DHD - I am not sure. It looks like opinions differ - and not everybody who shares his/her experience also mentions OS version.

In general - being used to old phone - charging once or twice a week is what I was used to call "normal" :)

@ mystvearn - The Samsung Galaxy S is available in Germany already - it is price-wise quite comparable to Desire HD. Whether the new LG 2x will bring boost in battery life is yet to be seen. I will have a closer look at it. But for me the point is - it would be quite practical to get a new phone within few weeks ... If I were not too worried about the OS updates, I would probably go for the Desire now (as premature as this decision would be).

-> Anybody out there who would actually pic Google Nexus S or One instead of Galaxy S, Deisre HD or even the new LG 2x?
 
Ah, I forgot to put there, "successor" :P Galaxy S has been out for some time now.

If you get the Desire HD or Desire Z- those two mobile phones come with htcsense.com A website which you could use to backup your phone, find your phone if its missing, wipe out the data if lost. That is quite handy. Also, I'll stick to HTC as they are better at updating androids compared to other makers.

I still have 5 months before my contract is up, so I have loads of time. The Desire will serve you well-even without the htcsense website. Its cheaper now too.

Google Nexus S = Galaxy S without Samsung's skin and has a flash. I don't think anyone can give their verdic on LG 2X-too new.
Here is a good review about DHD:
HTC Desire HD review - Mobile Phone reviews - TrustedReviews
 
Only now I realized that there are 2 Samsung Galaxy S phones - the "i9000" and the "Giorgio Armany" (that sounds as good as "Leica M6 Royal wedding addition" .. :rolleyes: ..) Anyhow - the differences seem to be small - the later has large battery (1650 mAh), but does not have radio and is more expensive + some small differences (according to Samsung website). Which one did you mean? Both are available in Germany.

However the htcsence.com sounds like a good idea - is the service free for HTC owners? Having a phone backup sounds interesting to me ... Any experiences?
 
Matus said:
Only now I realized that there are 2 Samsung Galaxy S phones - the "i9000" and the "Giorgio Armany" (that sounds as good as "Leica M6 Royal wedding addition" .. :rolleyes: ..) Anyhow - the differences seem to be small - the later has large battery (1650 mAh), but does not have radio and is more expensive + some small differences (according to Samsung website). Which one did you mean? Both are available in Germany.

However the htcsence.com sounds like a good idea - is the service free for HTC owners? Having a phone backup sounds interesting to me ... Any experiences?
Click to expand...

Usually those fashion branded phones are a one off and cost a lot more than the standard. The Galaxy S does not have a flash, and I'd go for the Nexus S. I am a photographer too, but I tend to spend most of my time taking pictures with my C510 than my Prosumer camera. Can't go to functions with a prosumer or any huge camera without looking like a dork. ;)

HtCsense-unique and free to only HTC DesireHD and Desire Z. I have not tried it. Mircrosoft'ts Windows Phone 7 has that kind of function as well-fall all handsets using WP7 OS.
 
BTW, since the dual core smart phone is mentioned, I would say one thing. Since its the first generation of said dual core phones, you can't really expect much. Remember when the first touch screen came out? It isn't really that smooth and still has bugs in it. So I wouldn't go for a dual core phone yet unless it's a least year old technology.

HTCSense is awesome, although at first I didn't know how to use it :D

In terms of the Nexus S vs Samsung Galaxy I would have to go with the Nexus S.

Do you have friends that have any phone you want? You can get their input on it.
 
Good to know about the "free" htcsense.com I have checked the website, but did not learn much as I am not registered, so the list of functions remains unclear to me.

I agree about the first generation dual cores. The performance is yet to be seen.

For the Nexus S - indeed interesting, but not yet available in Germany - what makes price estimates problematic. I read something about 700 euro, but that sounds like a bit too much.

I was able to put my hands on the HTC Desire that my friend has - it's feels nice in hand the size seems just right. I will try the Desire HD in some shop soon, but I guess it will be just a bit too large ...

Please, keep you advices and opinions coming - it is really very helpful. I started to check the providers and tariffs - it is much less fun than choosing the phone ...

BTW - how many MB do you use per month (what kind of use) ? I have hard time to estimate how much I would need.
 
Matus said:
Good to know about the "free" htcsense.com I have checked the website, but did not learn much as I am not registered, so the list of functions remains unclear to me.

I agree about the first generation dual cores. The performance is yet to be seen.

For the Nexus S - indeed interesting, but not yet available in Germany - what makes price estimates problematic. I read something about 700 euro, but that sounds like a bit too much.

I was able to put my hands on the HTC Desire that my friend has - it's feels nice in hand the size seems just right. I will try the Desire HD in some shop soon, but I guess it will be just a bit too large ...

Please, keep you advices and opinions coming - it is really very helpful. I started to check the providers and tariffs - it is much less fun than choosing the phone ...

BTW - how many MB do you use per month (what kind of use) ? I have hard time to estimate how much I would need.
Click to expand...

You can only register on the htcsense.com website if you have one of those two phones. You can't find the DHD in UK for quite some time after launch. Even the mobile carriers website was out of stock. That was how popular it was. Good thing for me is that there are tons on ebay. ;)

Usually for people after having their first smarpthone for some time comment screen size ain't big enough :D

Nexus S is expansive in UK as well. Its not subsidised by the big mobile carriers and is sold exclusively by Carphonewarehouse. If history repeats itself, Samsung will anounce an even "badder" mobile just as HTC announced the Desire to trump the Google's (HTC rebranded) Nexus One. So hopefully a better handset than the Nexus S will come along.
 
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