Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=Daseal;908477[B]]If you're looking for an android smartphone, I'd recommend waiting if possible. Very rarely is it a good idea to wait for "new stuff" because there's always something new and better around the corner. [/B](that's the story on how my desktop took about a year longer to build than first anticipated!) Within the next few months there will be some really great phones coming out.

When it comes down to it, you have to figure out what features are important to you and focus on those. Display? Camera? Service? Battery life? QWERTY vs Touch keyboard, etc. Once those are established it's easier to point you in the right direction.[/quote]

?? Did you mean [I]not[/I] waiting if possible? Usually my rule of thumb, being a tech guy, I don't purchase the latest and greatest cutting edge thing. I like to purchase what has been out long enough in order to gather enough data about the product to make a better decision. Not to mention that smartphones, tablets, computers, etc...all tend to have their bugs that need working out through customer contact.

As far as features go, I would like a phone with a good camera on it, both video and still pictures. I haven't had a touchscreen phone (I don't own a tablet computer as of yet either) and have only had one QWERTY phone, so my thoughts are touchscreen on the next phone to see if I'd like it better than the QWERTY. Certainly I would say battery life is what everybody would like to have in a phone, and I've read excellent reviews about the Razr Maxx in that regard. I hated the idea of my last smartphone (Blackberry Curve) having to be recharged at luch time, and charged again that night. I DO realize, however, this is common among smartphones, and probably more common depending upon what it's used mostly for.

The point is, I can't really say, outside of battery life, that the phone must have this or that, since most of those features were not present in the phone I currently have. I will say, since Verizon is offering double the data with 4G, I don't want to settle for a 3G phone with half the data limit.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=mredskins;908480]I think the Bionic is there for the waiters. IT is 100 bucks has 4g, dual processors and will be outfitted with Ice Cream Sandwich this year. That is a pretty packed phone for $100; should easily get yo uthrough the next two years.[/quote]

Actually, I can get the Droid Bonic off of Amazon Wireless for $50.

[QUOTE=Daseal;908477]If you're looking for an android smartphone, I'd recommend waiting if possible. Very rarely is it a good idea to wait for "new stuff" because there's always something new and better around the corner. (that's the story on how my desktop took about a year longer to build than first anticipated!) Within the next few months there will be some really great phones coming out.

When it comes down to it, you have to figure out what features are important to you and focus on those. Display? Camera? Service? Battery life? QWERTY vs Touch keyboard, etc. Once those are established it's easier to point you in the right direction.[/QUOTE]

Problem with waiting is:
IF you are a Geek then the next one is ALWAYS around the corner (Android 5.0 is going to rock your world)

If you are NOT a geek then the upgrades in the next cycle aren't going to mean as much as having a good phone now.

As is most 4g phones now and some 3g are going to go to ice cream sandwich by end of year.

Its the difference between always buying a new off the lot car or one that is a year old. The new may be great but the 1 year old will take you to the store also.


Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using Tapatalk 2

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;908489]Problem with waiting is:
IF you are a Geek then the next one is ALWAYS around the corner (Android 5.0 is going to rock your world)

If you are NOT a geek then the upgrades in the next cycle aren't going to mean as much as having a good phone now.

As is most 4g phones now and some 3g are going to go to ice cream sandwich by end of year.

Its the difference between always buying a new off the lot car or one that is a year old. The new may be great but the 1 year old will take you to the store also.


Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using Tapatalk 2[/quote]

Exactly. I like to think of myself as somewhat of a geek, but one who looks more at operating systems that are stable and have been out long enough to research plenty of info on it. A gearhead has to have the latest and greatest and usually has the bank account to do it. If I spend a couple hundred bucks on a smartphone, I want one that I know already has an established reputation, not to mention the most bang for my buck as far as features. Needless to say, whatever phone I do get will not be traded in in a few months. I'll use this phone no less than the two year contract, even if I decided in the end that I didn't like it. I kept my Blackberry for the whole two years, and downgraded at the end of my contract. I figured now, with my job, it's becoming more and more important to have internet access on the go. So hence, the smartphone shopping.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=skinsguy;908465]
I'm glad someone mentioned Amazonwireless, I can save a few bucks off of the phone from there, although I WISHED I was a new customer as those guys are getting a big savings off of the phone. Anyways, anybody else have the Maxx?[/quote]

I forgot to add that at the last minute i didnt go with Amazon. They didnt offer my old school text plan so i called verizon to ask if i upgrade with amazon can i change back to my old text plan right aferwards. They said why dont i upgrade with them, and i said because its 50 dollars cheaper on amazon.

They said we will give you 25 off, i said why not 50? They said its easy to give 25 off upgrades, but managers have to approve anything more than that.

Basically anyone who upgrades should get at a minium 25 off the "sticker" price.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

So, I went with the Bionic. Looking around, it seemed to be the best bang for the buck. Verizon has good coverage and, well, it just seemed like 4G was the way to go even if it isn't that big a deal RIGHT now. I'm gonna have the phone for the next 2 years so, given technology, it'll be outmoded fast enough.

The kids will just have to wear the same shoes for an extra couple of months.

Thanks for all the help everyone. It really is great to get advice from the wide range of users on the forum. I mean, you have the folks who really know their sh** and are heavy users all the way down to firstdown (who is booting up his IBM PS/2 as we speak). I got a pretty good idea of where I fit in on the spectrum and what made sense for me (I'm not a complete dinosaur, more of a neolithic/bronze age user).

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;908489]Problem with waiting is:
IF you are a Geek then the next one is ALWAYS around the corner (Android 5.0 is going to rock your world)

If you are NOT a geek then the upgrades in the next cycle aren't going to mean as much as having a good phone now.

As is most 4g phones now and some 3g are going to go to ice cream sandwich by end of year.

Its the difference between always buying a new off the lot car or one that is a year old. The new may be great but the 1 year old will take you to the store also.


Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using Tapatalk 2[/quote]

Software and hardware are two different beasts. Typically, I avoid many of the first gen OSes and let them get a bit stable. That said, any reasonable device can handle an updated OS. If you root/etc ROMS like CM that are built from the ground up will give you those new OSes.

The phones I'm talking about are hardware based. None of the individual technologies are that much different. They're bringing together a lot of components. Quick processors, quite a bit more RAM, beautiful displays -- but most importantly, they're improving battery life and unlocking bootloaders (well, not unlocking, but making it trivial).

Typically I say buy something established, but these are known technologies so they've hit their bumps, but they're coming together in a single device.

If battery life is the most important to you, I'd suggest staying away from 4G. It's a drain. I have a 4G phone and toggle it off a majority of the time.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=Daseal;908503]Software and hardware are two different beasts. Typically, I avoid many of the first gen OSes and let them get a bit stable. That said, any reasonable device can handle an updated OS. If you root/etc ROMS like CM that are built from the ground up will give you those new OSes.

The phones I'm talking about are hardware based. None of the individual technologies are that much different. They're bringing together a lot of components. Quick processors, quite a bit more RAM, beautiful displays -- but most importantly, they're improving battery life and unlocking bootloaders (well, not unlocking, but making it trivial).

Typically I say buy something established, but these are known technologies so they've hit their bumps, but they're coming together in a single device.

If battery life is the most important to you, I'd suggest staying away from 4G. It's a drain. I have a 4G phone and toggle it off a majority of the time.[/quote]

Which seems to point me back to the Droid Razr Maxx. Out of several reviews I've read on this phone and some of the others, the DRM seems to have outstanding battery life even with the 4G. But aside from that, I love the idea of being able to hook the thing up to my TV, stream stuff to the computer, basically have all the tablet features I'd need all rolled up in a smartphone. The BIGGEST thing I haven't heard yet is the how the clarity of the phone conversations are. When I had my Blackberry Curve, I could barely hear people at times, and at times, people couldn't hear me at all. I am hoping that was just a fluke problem with the Blackberry and not smartphone wide.

[QUOTE=skinsguy;908580]Which seems to point me back to the Droid Razr Maxx. Out of several reviews I've read on this phone and some of the others, the DRM seems to have outstanding battery life even with the 4G. But aside from that, I love the idea of being able to hook the thing up to my TV, stream stuff to the computer, basically have all the tablet features I'd need all rolled up in a smartphone. The BIGGEST thing I haven't heard yet is the how the clarity of the phone conversations are. When I had my Blackberry Curve, I could barely hear people at times, and at times, people couldn't hear me at all. I am hoping that was just a fluke problem with the Blackberry and not smartphone wide.[/QUOTE]

Bionic can do all that as well and you can remove the battery

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

i'll soon be making the jump from barbaric flip phone to smart phone. i usually use about 200 minutes/month, text a lot, and plan to use a lot of data. anyone know of any good plans? i'm looking for something cheaper/better than:

$35/month for 300min, unlimited text, unlimited data

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

Better than that? Hmm. I think that is pretty good.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=FRPLG;933916]Better than that? Hmm. I think that is pretty good.[/quote]that's where i'm leaning

htc one v for $160
and that plan $35/month

exactly $1,000 over 24 months, but no contract

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=los panda;933928]that's where i'm leaning

htc one v for $160
and that plan $35/month

exactly $1,000 over 24 months, but no contract[/quote]

Which company is that? Next year my contract is up, and since Verizon is about to give up unlimited plans for those of us that were grandfathered in, I am thinking about switching once my contract's over. I currently pay about 110 a month for my Iphone 4. Sounds like we use our phones similarly (I don't use a lot of minutes but I text a lot.)

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=mooby;933934]Which company is that? Next year my contract is up, and since Verizon is about to give up unlimited plans for those of us that were grandfathered in, I am thinking about switching once my contract's over. I currently pay about 110 a month for my Iphone 4. Sounds like we use our phones similarly (I don't use a lot of minutes but I text a lot.)[/quote]virgin mobile.

their iphone 4 goes for $550 (4s $650), but if you can jailbreak yours, i think you could use it w this plan. the next step up is 1200min + unlimited text + unlimited data for $45. the top tier is unlimited everything for $55.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

ordered the htc one v from amazon for $150.

anyone have an experience w screen protectors? the phone doesn't have gorilla glass, so i think i'm going to get a protector. hoping someone can speak on one that they have used, good news or bad.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

I ride buck naked with my phone, no screen protector and no case. That's just me though, I'm pretty careful with my stuff.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

WTF, I pay $98 a month...

How is the service with Virgin?

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=mattyk;935223][b]i ride buck naked with my phone[/b], no screen protector and no case. That's just me though, i'm pretty careful with my stuff.[/quote]

tmi!

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=jamf;935225]WTF, I pay $98 a month...

How is the service with Virgin?[/quote]i don't know yet, phone hasn't arrived/haven't started service yet. the reviews were all over the place. but the consensus was that it was decent (a lot of users cited the fact that it shares sprint's network).

i'm rarely going to use this thing outside of the los angeles area, and there were no complaints about coverage in this area. my coverage areas checklist included:
howard county, md
ocean city, md
los angeles, ca
las vegas, nv

works great in those areas, i feel confident. but it's probably not the carrier for someone who may do a lot of traveling. i'll report on my experience as soon as i can.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

anyone use a screen protector?

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=mooby;933934]Which company is that? Next year my contract is up, and since Verizon is about to give up unlimited plans for those of us that were grandfathered in, I am thinking about switching once my contract's over. I currently pay about 110 a month for my Iphone 4. Sounds like we use our phones similarly (I don't use a lot of minutes but I text a lot.)[/quote]

do you really need the unlimited?

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=FRPLG;935587]do you really need the unlimited?[/quote]

That is thing I have the unlimited and I come no where near the 3g plan benchmark. for most people it is a piece of mind thing but they really can do whatever with 3g's of data.


Shoot I even watch Netflix, HBO GO, etc... on my phone. Still don't even come close.

[QUOTE=los panda;935582]anyone use a screen protector?[/QUOTE]

Nope. All my phones have gorilla glass, though. IPhones do not.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=hooskins;935608]Nope. All my phones have gorilla glass, though. IPhones do not.[/quote]i wasn't going to worry about it if i had gorilla glass, but the htc one v doesn't have gorilla glass.

i want a screen protector that is invisible. i want to see them and touch them in the flesh. does best buy demo?

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

I have a screen protector and a shell on my Iphone. After a while my protector has gotten dirty but since my hands are dirty at work a lot I want it on there.

@Fireplug: It might be more of a piece of mind thing like mredskins said but I feel like I get a lot of heavy data usage out of my phone. I'm rarely at home anymore and I tend to look up a lot of things on the go. I'm not wayyyyyy up there but it does concern me. Next time I get a chance I'll look at my bill and check my data usage numbers against Verizon's new data rates.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=mooby;935627]I have a screen protector and a shell on my Iphone. After a while my protector has gotten dirty but since my hands are dirty at work a lot I want it on there.[/quote]do you remember what brand it is? are you happy with it?

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=los panda;935631]do you remember what brand it is? are you happy with it?[/quote]

Sorry man I don't remember what brand it is, I think I just bought it at Walmart or Target soon after I bought my Iphone. I know it came in a 3-pack though.

[QUOTE=los panda;935617]i wasn't going to worry about it if i had gorilla glass, but the htc one v doesn't have gorilla glass.

i want a screen protector that is invisible. i want to see them and touch them in the flesh. does best buy demo?[/QUOTE]

Are you sure? The reason I ask is because Corning, the maker of gorilla glass, does not allow for manufacturers to advertise if they have the glass on their phones or not. You may want to Google around a bit to confirm that. Plus if you've ever felt gorilla glass, you will know you have it.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=hooskins;935750]Are you sure? The reason I ask is because Corning, the maker of gorilla glass, does not allow for manufacturers to advertise if they have the glass on their phones or not. You may want to Google around a bit to confirm that. Plus if you've ever felt gorilla glass, you will know you have it.[/quote]yeah, the manufacturers do, so does corning.

htc says the one x has it
[url=http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-one-x/]HTC One X Overview - HTC Smartphones[/url]

htc says the one v does not
[url=http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-one-v/]HTC One V Overview - HTC Smartphones[/url]

corning agrees
[url=http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/products-with-gorilla/htc]CORNING® GORILLA® GLASS | HTC[/url]

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

it's at home waiting for me, what apps do i [B]need[/B] to try?

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

did anyone else see the Samsung add attacking iPhone 5 customers. I thought it was hilarious to see Apple portrayed as the parents at one point. Cracked me up!

[url=http://youtu.be/nf5-Prx19ZM]The Next Big Thing is Already Here -- Samsung Galaxy S III - YouTube[/url]

[QUOTE=CRedskinsRule;942968]did anyone else see the Samsung add attacking iPhone 5 customers. I thought it was hilarious to see Apple portrayed as the parents at one point. Cracked me up!

[url=http://youtu.be/nf5-Prx19ZM]The Next Big Thing is Already Here -- Samsung Galaxy S III - YouTube[/url][/QUOTE]

I just saw the ad! Way to go Samsung!

KCT - "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are!"

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;942968]did anyone else see the Samsung add attacking iPhone 5 customers. I thought it was hilarious to see Apple portrayed as the parents at one point. Cracked me up!

[url=http://youtu.be/nf5-Prx19ZM]The Next Big Thing is Already Here -- Samsung Galaxy S III - YouTube[/url][/quote]

Samsung has been aggressive in their marketing against Apple. I love it.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

has anyone here rooted their smartphone?

[QUOTE=los panda;944069]has anyone here rooted their smartphone?[/QUOTE]

I havn't...but I have friends that have....

I am actually on a a couple of Android forums...

If you want to root, I can hook you up with a couple places you can get some advice.

KCT - "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are!"

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=los panda;944069]has anyone here rooted their smartphone?[/quote]

I rooted my droid bionic. Main reason was so that I could get the free hotspot feature since I have unlimited data (I play ps3 online also) and think it's unfair verizon wants to charge me for this feature. I'm now also able to set my cpu speeds, take screen shots, and deleted all the bloat-ware.

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=kct1975;944121]I havn't...but I have friends that have....

I am actually on a a couple of Android forums...

If you want to root, I can hook you up with a couple places you can get some advice.

KCT - "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are!"[/quote]i'm thinking about it, i have a manual from phandroid. the main reason i want to do it is to be able to use my phone as a mobile hotspot

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=aircoryell;944197]I rooted my droid bionic. Main reason was so that I could get the free hotspot feature since I have unlimited data (I play ps3 online also) and think it's unfair verizon wants to charge me for this feature. I'm now also able to set my cpu speeds, take screen shots, and deleted all the bloat-ware.[/quote]very cool, that's why i want to do it. i also want to be able to mute the camera sounds.

how are the speeds when you're using it as a hotspot?

[QUOTE=los panda;944243]i'm thinking about it, i have a manual from phandroid. the main reason i want to do it is to be able to use my phone as a mobile hotspot[/QUOTE]

I was just going to suggest the Phandroid site

KCT - "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are!"

Re: Smart Phone Help
 

[quote=los panda;944251]very cool, that's why i want to do it. i also want to be able to mute the camera sounds.

how are the speeds when you're using it as a hotspot?[/quote]

With 4g I get around 13.6 mbps down and around 3.0 mbps up. Those numbers are good enough so I can play madden on my ps3 online with no lag and my wife can still surf the web on her tablet. It's a godsend when we travel by car and I can just fire it up in the car and let our son watch movies on the ipad.