If you where to buy a new phone... - Page 6

kennyc · 10-25-2011, 07:24 AM

Where are the results? Stupid hidden polls!

jj2me · 10-25-2011, 12:25 PM

Android for:
- big screen, 4.3" and above. Very nice compared to 3.5" and below.
- keyboard choices. I have big hands, and MessagEase, which is also great one-handed, solves this.
- the daily free app (normally paid) from Amazon.com.
- generally less expensive apps. I've only spent about $10 total in apps, and along with the Amazon daily free apps, have all the ones I want.
- neat free apps, like sipdroid for free VOIP (with a pbxes.org free account), or Tonido, for remote access to your PC.

Android Recommendations:
- get a large screen. I thought I'd prefer portability, but hardly use my 3.2" anymore compared to my 4.3".
- get at least 1GB advertised ram - Android can be laggy with less. iOS is generally a smoother experience; perhaps it's Android's memory-freeing algorithm that can bring RAM to less than 50MB sometimes even when it has more freeable RAM.

kennyc · 10-25-2011, 12:43 PM

I've yet to spend even a penny on apps and my DroidX and Xoom do everything I want.

tubemonkey · 10-25-2011, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

I've yet to spend even a penny on apps and my DroidX and Xoom do everything I want.

Same here. I don't buy apps. It's against my religion.

Still thinking about dumping my iPod touch for the Galaxy Player. It would compliment my Nook Color better by narrowing my apps to Android; which is more than enough for my needs.

chrisanthropic · 10-25-2011, 03:06 PM

The only app I've ever paid for was Clockworkmod Pro just to support the developer who makes installing custom roms/kernels/themes so damned easy. Other than that, I agree - free apps all the way!

The Terminator · 10-25-2011, 05:16 PM

Me too, I've never bought a app. Alas the Amazon free app of the day is only for US costumers

rollercoaster · 10-27-2011, 10:43 AM

Here is a great and much more eloquent article about the same issue I was trying to explain: http://t.co/tlXFsK2n

I love the android platform but this issue really causes me grief.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollercoaster

I think you misunderstood me. I did not mean the battery life but the life of a phone itself, which is affected due to android market(not the app market) fragmentation.

The birth of a droid goes like so:
1. Android OS dev community churns out new features that have new hardware needs.
2. This vanilla OS is then passed on to phone manufacturers who repack it with their own UI, features and branding. They also take the OS to the butcher table to fit it in the various kind of models they make.
3. These phones are then passed on to cellular carriers who again modify the manufacturer's OS and apply their own UI, features(more like feature restrictions) and branding.
4. Finally the user can buy the device and is very happy. Fragmentation is awesome till here.
5. The inevitable happens, the android dev community churns out a new version. This is where the pain starts. The vanilla OS is not usable by the average user, unless they are power users and have rooted their devices and are ready to debrand their device.
6. The new version then has to pass thru the drawing board of the manufacturer, who tailors it to fit the specific models and then it has to pass thru the cellular carrier's drawing board. This process takes a extremely long time. The manufacturer as well as the cellular carrier are both not very good or very fast at it and they dont like to spend money on it.
7. In the end, the user gets the update very late and doesnt like it. In addition it dawns on the user that very soon the manufacturer and the cellular carrier will stop churning out updates for their specific model. They are profit oriented corps after all. So a droid starts dying as soon as it is born.

An example: my HTC Desire. The latest HTC gave us is v2.3 on June 2011, It took HTC 6 months to churn out the update, vanilla release was on December 2010. HTC also stops supporting the device at that time.. This update is however not recommended for most users and wipes the phone, so officially it is stuck at v2.2 (the original version only). The hardware in the phone is however capable of running Android v4.0 which is the newest. But to get that on my device, I need to be a power user, root it, loose HTC Sense, wait for the community to port the OS to this device (which is very unlikely).

How old is this phone? Born on February 16, 2010 and died June 2011. 16 months. R.I.P.
How many major updates it received: 1 (v2.1 to v2.2).
HTC Desire akin to HTC Sensation at the moment. i.e a top of the line phone.

Google is working hard on trying to remove the manufacturer and the cellular provider from the OS-to-user pipeline. Experts call it one of the reasons for Google's takeover of Motorola. But alas I dont think it can be fixed. It is the nature of the beast.

There are many other aspects of market fragmentation. The second main one has to do with apps and their quality. An app developer is constrained by the lowest common denominator when developing an app or the app wont function on all devices. The dev also has to handle a variety of screen sizes, performances issues and individual quirks. Never mind the need for the dev to own a number of devices(most droid devs dont have that much money!) to test the app and the extra work hours needed to have the app perform 'ok' on all devices. So due to this fragmentation the life of a droid dev becomes unnecessarily harder and is only worsened by super fast OS updates, new hardware etc.

The result is a low quality app because the hands of the dev were tied behind their back!

Just for a comparison, see the iOS(apple mobile device OS) development. Apple guaranteeing that an OS update will work on all but the oldest models. There is a strict standard that the devs can rely on. There are high quality development tools available. The dev does not need to buy a bunch of devices to test the apps. The dev gets support from Apple. For all that they have to give up control and a larger profit share to Apple. It hurts but seems like the lesser of two evils.

Take my word for it. It is bad. or you can confirm by (re)searching online.

The Terminator · 10-27-2011, 09:36 PM

I don't think that is much of a problem. I don't care and I'm two releases behind (Gingerbread (I'll be getting that in an update. And Ice Cream Sandwich.)

vaughnmr · 10-27-2011, 11:06 PM

I guess I'm behind the curve on this one, why would the poll be hidden? I would like to see the reasoning behind keeping the results from everyone but himself.

wyndslash · 10-28-2011, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I'm about ready to get a new flip phone myself. What did you get?

sony ericsson Z310a. it's supposedly unlocked. all i really need is call and text. i've been using sony ericsson phones since forever.

jj2me · 10-28-2011, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollercoaster

Here is a great and much more eloquent article about the same issue I was trying to explain: http://t.co/tlXFsK2n

I love the android platform but this issue really causes me grief.

Grief in some ways. Somewhat compensated for as a user, when you realize you can get a great standalone PDA/bluetooth MP3 player/video player/game player/wi-fi VOIP phone for free, just by asking your friend or relative who upgrades: "Hey, since you're not using that old smartphone ..."

Not much need to buy MP3 players anymore, other than for reduced size or some special feature.

pagansoul · 10-28-2011, 11:10 AM

I've had a iPhone since the first day they were for sale. All my previous phones all I ever did is use them for calls because they were too much a pain in the a$$ to use for anything else but they were also cheap or free Nokia. I have over 800 apps on my home pc for the iPhone and don't really think about any other. I currently have an iPhone4 and saw no reason to upgrade to 4S. Next year my contract is up and I'm more interested on if I stay with AT&T or go to Verzion (note: I work for Verizon and would get a monthly $25 discont on usage but I would also need to buy a new phone).

ADuphily · 10-28-2011, 08:31 PM

Personal phone is android. For work though, in the last 3 years I've gone through blackberry, windows and currently iphone 4. Of those 3, the best performer was the blackberry.

Android FTW!!

Care · 10-29-2011, 10:54 AM

Android for sure! I like BB, can't stand Apple, but I adore my Samsung. I have bought a couple apps. Only one for my phone, Astro Player as it is awesome for audiobooks, and a couple for my NC (for rooting).

I understand what RollerCoaster is saying about the updates, but I don't think the majority of people care. Average users don't even pay attention to what they are running. And if some of the more knowledgeable users want an upgrade they will just root. I am running Gingerbread and I am happy with it.

Ryvyan · 10-29-2011, 02:32 PM

I'm getting an iPhone 4S once the initial problems get resolved. A little sentimental about my old phone (also Apple) though...

View Poll Results: Which would you buy?
IOS (Iphone)	Votes are hidden until this poll is closed
Android	Votes are hidden until this poll is closed
BlackBerry	Votes are hidden until this poll is closed
Windows Phone	Votes are hidden until this poll is closed
Other (Please specify)	Votes are hidden until this poll is closed
Voters: 212. You may not vote on this poll

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10-25-2011, 07:24 AM	#76
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	Where are the results? Stupid hidden polls!

10-25-2011, 12:25 PM	#77
jj2me Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 8820388 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, -350; Kindle 3 3G, DX, PW 2; various tablets	Android for: - big screen, 4.3" and above. Very nice compared to 3.5" and below. - keyboard choices. I have big hands, and MessagEase, which is also great one-handed, solves this. - the daily free app (normally paid) from Amazon.com. - generally less expensive apps. I've only spent about $10 total in apps, and along with the Amazon daily free apps, have all the ones I want. - neat free apps, like sipdroid for free VOIP (with a pbxes.org free account), or Tonido, for remote access to your PC. Android Recommendations: - get a large screen. I thought I'd prefer portability, but hardly use my 3.2" anymore compared to my 4.3". - get at least 1GB advertised ram - Android can be laggy with less. iOS is generally a smoother experience; perhaps it's Android's memory-freeing algorithm that can bring RAM to less than 50MB sometimes even when it has more freeable RAM.

10-25-2011, 12:43 PM	#78
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	I've yet to spend even a penny on apps and my DroidX and Xoom do everything I want.

10-25-2011, 03:06 PM	#80
chrisanthropic Fiend Posts: 148 Karma: 559930 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: none	The only app I've ever paid for was Clockworkmod Pro just to support the developer who makes installing custom roms/kernels/themes so damned easy. Other than that, I agree - free apps all the way!

10-25-2011, 05:16 PM	#81
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	Me too, I've never bought a app. Alas the Amazon free app of the day is only for US costumers

10-27-2011, 09:36 PM	#83
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	I don't think that is much of a problem. I don't care and I'm two releases behind (Gingerbread (I'll be getting that in an update. And Ice Cream Sandwich.)

10-27-2011, 11:06 PM	#84
vaughnmr Ebook Reader Posts: 605 Karma: 3205128 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas Device: Kindle 3, HTC Evo, HTC View	I guess I'm behind the curve on this one, why would the poll be hidden? I would like to see the reasoning behind keeping the results from everyone but himself.

10-28-2011, 11:10 AM	#87
pagansoul Fanatic Posts: 509 Karma: 1098204 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Earth Device: iPhone5, iPad Gen3, Kobo, Kindle Fire, Kobo Vox. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7	I've had a iPhone since the first day they were for sale. All my previous phones all I ever did is use them for calls because they were too much a pain in the a$$ to use for anything else but they were also cheap or free Nokia. I have over 800 apps on my home pc for the iPhone and don't really think about any other. I currently have an iPhone4 and saw no reason to upgrade to 4S. Next year my contract is up and I'm more interested on if I stay with AT&T or go to Verzion (note: I work for Verizon and would get a monthly $25 discont on usage but I would also need to buy a new phone).

10-28-2011, 08:31 PM	#88
ADuphily Coffee Lover Posts: 24 Karma: 119922 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle 3	Personal phone is android. For work though, in the last 3 years I've gone through blackberry, windows and currently iphone 4. Of those 3, the best performer was the blackberry. Android FTW!!

10-29-2011, 10:54 AM	#89
Care Aes Sedai Posts: 659 Karma: 46166 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Aura and Kobo Mini, had a Nook, NOOKcolor, Nook STR.	Android for sure! I like BB, can't stand Apple, but I adore my Samsung. I have bought a couple apps. Only one for my phone, Astro Player as it is awesome for audiobooks, and a couple for my NC (for rooting). I understand what RollerCoaster is saying about the updates, but I don't think the majority of people care. Average users don't even pay attention to what they are running. And if some of the more knowledgeable users want an upgrade they will just root. I am running Gingerbread and I am happy with it.

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10-29-2011, 02:32 PM	#90
Ryvyan I read what I want. Posts: 224 Karma: 372315 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Singapore Device: iPhone XS, iPhone 6, Kobo Clara	I'm getting an iPhone 4S once the initial problems get resolved. A little sentimental about my old phone (also Apple) though...