Shopping for a new cell phone and...
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I have only ever owned an iPhone as far as smart phones go, so I couldn't really compare it to others. However, I just had a remote starter installed for my car and it has an app for smart phones, and the app for Android apparently has some features that don't work with the remote starter. Something to keep in mind. Also, I have heard nothing but good things about the new iPhone. The only potential negative is that there are two models for different carrier networks. However, I've only heard of one other phone that actually covers all the networks in one phone model (I forget what phone that was). If you do go with the iPhone, I'd get the unlocked version (not yet available) or one from Verizon. Apparently, the Verizon ones come unlocked (I've heard the term "gsm unlocked", but I think they only call it that because the LTE won't work with different carriers, since they are on different bands that are only supported by the other model iPhone), though you still have to commit to a 2-year contract. That means you can plug in a sim card from another carrier (e.g., AT&T), but you'll still have to pay for your Verizon plan. Still useful for some situations, such as if you are visiting another country and want to get a temporary sim there. Personally, I plan on waiting for the iPhone 5 to be available unlocked. If they only offer the so-called "GSM model" unlocked (the other is the so-called "CDMA model", even though it also supports GSM), then I may just get one from Verizon since AT&T reception sucks in my location.
AspDotNetDev wrote:
Also, I have heard nothing but good things about the new iPhone.
Light moves faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright, until you hear them speak. List of common misconceptions
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I've finally decided to get a smart phone (the hand crank broke on my old phone). I know next to nothing about touch screen phones. What OS do I want? Windows Phone? Android? What do you like?
XAlan Burkhart
I have used iPhone, Android and Windows Phone in past few years. And nothing comes close to an iPhone, never had any problems with it. I have 3Gs and it is still rocking. All the others have some kind of issues which will waste your time. biggest problem with the Android phones are the updated, even if you have phone capable of upgrade to next version, you will have to depend upon your carrier if/when they decide to give you update. Windows Phone is very nice, I would prefer it over Android (Android had highest issues among all three). But if you are planning to get Windows Phone, I would suggest you to wait for few months, in few months they are releasing Windows Phone 8, and all the current devices will not get the update (They will only get updated to 7.8). and have you ever took a look at Nokia Lumnia 920[^] ? you will even forget iPhone. And whatever phone you decided to get do not get HTC or Dell, always go for Samsung or Nokia. all my past HTC/Dell devices had soo many issues.
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I'm seeing a lot of good reviews on the iPhone. I'd also have to get it unlocked since my carrier (T-Mobile) doesn't offer it. Of the available phones, I'm leaning toward a Nokia Lumia 710 (Win Phone 7.5). I've seen a lot of online reviews but I'm hoping for some community input here and/or at FB.
XAlan Burkhart
Alan Burkhart wrote:
I'm leaning toward a Nokia Lumia 710 (Win Phone 7.5).
If you want Windows Phone, you should wait for WP8.
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I have used iPhone, Android and Windows Phone in past few years. And nothing comes close to an iPhone, never had any problems with it. I have 3Gs and it is still rocking. All the others have some kind of issues which will waste your time. biggest problem with the Android phones are the updated, even if you have phone capable of upgrade to next version, you will have to depend upon your carrier if/when they decide to give you update. Windows Phone is very nice, I would prefer it over Android (Android had highest issues among all three). But if you are planning to get Windows Phone, I would suggest you to wait for few months, in few months they are releasing Windows Phone 8, and all the current devices will not get the update (They will only get updated to 7.8). and have you ever took a look at Nokia Lumnia 920[^] ? you will even forget iPhone. And whatever phone you decided to get do not get HTC or Dell, always go for Samsung or Nokia. all my past HTC/Dell devices had soo many issues.
I've had good luck with Samsung. Currently using a Gravity II. Had a cheap Nokia years ago (before color screens) and it was reliable. I looked at a page for the 920 and it looks like a heck of a phone but I don't think T-Mobile offers it.
XAlan Burkhart
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It totally depends on what ecosystem you want to live in. I bought an iPhone 3 years ago and made the decision to store all my media in iTunes (I also bought the Apple TV). Since then I've grabbed a MacBook and have a couple of iPods and a couple of iPads and they all just work together perfectly. It's truly smooth. But if you run an Android tab, or prefer the Linux road then maybe an Android phone. If you have everything on a Windows machine, have an XBox, have a Zune collecting dust in a drawer, then maybe a Windows Phone 8. I used to be 100% Blackberry. Used to. That whole thing still makes me sad.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Chris Maunder wrote:
If you have everything on a Windows machine, have an XBox, have a Zune collecting dust in a drawer, then maybe a Windows Phone 8.
I have a Windows computer. No XBox - but I do still have 30+ games for my old Super Nintendo. It's indestructible. :)
XAlan Burkhart
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I've finally decided to get a smart phone (the hand crank broke on my old phone). I know next to nothing about touch screen phones. What OS do I want? Windows Phone? Android? What do you like?
XAlan Burkhart
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It totally depends on what ecosystem you want to live in. I bought an iPhone 3 years ago and made the decision to store all my media in iTunes (I also bought the Apple TV). Since then I've grabbed a MacBook and have a couple of iPods and a couple of iPads and they all just work together perfectly. It's truly smooth. But if you run an Android tab, or prefer the Linux road then maybe an Android phone. If you have everything on a Windows machine, have an XBox, have a Zune collecting dust in a drawer, then maybe a Windows Phone 8. I used to be 100% Blackberry. Used to. That whole thing still makes me sad.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Chris Maunder wrote:
It totally depends on what ecosystem you want to live in
Pretty much that.
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I've finally decided to get a smart phone (the hand crank broke on my old phone). I know next to nothing about touch screen phones. What OS do I want? Windows Phone? Android? What do you like?
XAlan Burkhart
So far I've had two "smart" phones: Samsung Intercept (Android) and Nokia Lumia 710 (Windows Phone 7). I find Nokia and Windows 7 to be much better for my needs. Perhaps if I was more inclined to install 3rd party apps my conclusion would be different.
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AspDotNetDev wrote:
Also, I have heard nothing but good things about the new iPhone.
Light moves faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright, until you hear them speak. List of common misconceptions
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I have used iPhone, Android and Windows Phone in past few years. And nothing comes close to an iPhone, never had any problems with it. I have 3Gs and it is still rocking. All the others have some kind of issues which will waste your time. biggest problem with the Android phones are the updated, even if you have phone capable of upgrade to next version, you will have to depend upon your carrier if/when they decide to give you update. Windows Phone is very nice, I would prefer it over Android (Android had highest issues among all three). But if you are planning to get Windows Phone, I would suggest you to wait for few months, in few months they are releasing Windows Phone 8, and all the current devices will not get the update (They will only get updated to 7.8). and have you ever took a look at Nokia Lumnia 920[^] ? you will even forget iPhone. And whatever phone you decided to get do not get HTC or Dell, always go for Samsung or Nokia. all my past HTC/Dell devices had soo many issues.
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AspDotNetDev wrote:
Also, I have heard nothing but good things about the new iPhone.
Light moves faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright, until you hear them speak. List of common misconceptions
Wow, this version of iOS comes with plenty of entertaining easter eggs!
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Wow, this version of iOS comes with plenty of entertaining easter eggs!
In all honesty, they're where google was five years ago. But they will catch up a lot faster than that. The question is just how the users are going to react on the downgrade in service, I doubt it's a deal breaker for many people. After all this is only done for Apples own sake, not the users.
Light moves faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright, until you hear them speak. List of common misconceptions
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So far I've had two "smart" phones: Samsung Intercept (Android) and Nokia Lumia 710 (Windows Phone 7). I find Nokia and Windows 7 to be much better for my needs. Perhaps if I was more inclined to install 3rd party apps my conclusion would be different.
A lot of it would depend on what one wants from the phone. I don't text a lot, but "need it when I need it." I don't need it for GPS navigation either. My primary needs are just voice and (because I travel a lot) a decent camera. I've missed some through-the-windshield images because my digital camera was turned off, and the zoom in my phone's 2mp camera is only 2x. My Gravity II's screen is too small for email and FB so I don't have data in my plan. That's one item I want to fix, since I don't always have time to drag out the laptop.
XAlan Burkhart
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I have used iPhone, Android and Windows Phone in past few years. And nothing comes close to an iPhone, never had any problems with it. I have 3Gs and it is still rocking. All the others have some kind of issues which will waste your time. biggest problem with the Android phones are the updated, even if you have phone capable of upgrade to next version, you will have to depend upon your carrier if/when they decide to give you update. Windows Phone is very nice, I would prefer it over Android (Android had highest issues among all three). But if you are planning to get Windows Phone, I would suggest you to wait for few months, in few months they are releasing Windows Phone 8, and all the current devices will not get the update (They will only get updated to 7.8). and have you ever took a look at Nokia Lumnia 920[^] ? you will even forget iPhone. And whatever phone you decided to get do not get HTC or Dell, always go for Samsung or Nokia. all my past HTC/Dell devices had soo many issues.
Rutvik Dave wrote:
All the others have some kind of issues which will waste your time
The iPhone had issues with the wire in the side and now it's got issues with mapping - and these aren't going to be quickly fixed. Android has bad market fragmentation issues, and a patchy history with carrier updates. Windows Phone has almost ne coverage with phone shops, and very little impact on shoppers because of poor marketing. So, they all have issues - including the iPhone. Time to take the tinted glasses off there - and I speak as someone who was contemplating a new iPhone right up to the mapping fiasco.
*pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington
"Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos
CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier
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AspDotNetDev wrote:
Also, I have heard nothing but good things about the new iPhone.
Light moves faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright, until you hear them speak. List of common misconceptions
Jörgen Andersson wrote:
Yah, but, if you have an iphone, yah, you don't have to go anywhere, because you've like already arrived, yah?
Either that or everyone wants you to stay far away from them
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I'm seeing a lot of good reviews on the iPhone. I'd also have to get it unlocked since my carrier (T-Mobile) doesn't offer it. Of the available phones, I'm leaning toward a Nokia Lumia 710 (Win Phone 7.5). I've seen a lot of online reviews but I'm hoping for some community input here and/or at FB.
XAlan Burkhart
I'll second waiting for win8 if you are going for a windows phone, though if they follow the current trend that one will eol in 9 months too.
Curvature of the Mind now with 3D
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I'll second waiting for win8 if you are going for a windows phone, though if they follow the current trend that one will eol in 9 months too.
Curvature of the Mind now with 3D
The reason for the short lifespan of the Nokia 900, 800, etc. is because Nokia took so long to get a WP7 product to market. That is going to change with the release of their WP8 products - I have even seen rumors on the Internet that they will release their Lumia 920 in less than a month, one week before Microsoft officially launches the WP8 OS. I have had my HTC Surround WP7 for almost 2 years and I am pleased with the OS after the 7.5 upgrade, but the person at HTC that decided to put surround sound speakers in a phone should be fired. Soren Madsen
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I've finally decided to get a smart phone (the hand crank broke on my old phone). I know next to nothing about touch screen phones. What OS do I want? Windows Phone? Android? What do you like?
XAlan Burkhart
I can't really compare it to any off the others but I'v got a WP7.5 and pretty happy with it. Seems (to me) to be faster than the others, only negative thing is the battery but that's more a hardware problem than OS I believe. I guess it all comes down to personal preferance.
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I've finally decided to get a smart phone (the hand crank broke on my old phone). I know next to nothing about touch screen phones. What OS do I want? Windows Phone? Android? What do you like?
XAlan Burkhart
I think its fair to say this is a very personal choice thing. I love my iPhone 4 - bit scared of 5 due to map issues as I use the gps a lot. I also love my wife's galaxy II Never used a windows phone so can't comment. My advice would be to list what you want it to do then check there really is an App for that before purchasing! Oh, and buy last years model!
MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
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I think its fair to say this is a very personal choice thing. I love my iPhone 4 - bit scared of 5 due to map issues as I use the gps a lot. I also love my wife's galaxy II Never used a windows phone so can't comment. My advice would be to list what you want it to do then check there really is an App for that before purchasing! Oh, and buy last years model!
MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
_Maxxx_ wrote:
I love my iPhone 4 - bit scared of 5 due to map issues as I use the gps a lot.
Given my line of work a cell phone GPS would eventually get me in a tight spot. I'm about to purchase a Rand-McNally GPS that includes truck route restrictions (low bridges, etc) in the maps. A little pricier than a "civilian" GPS but safer for me to follow.
_Maxxx_ wrote:
My advice would be to list what you want it to do then check there really is an App for that before purchasing!
In truth, I'm mainly just wanting a 4G phone. Beyond that I don't have many specific needs. A better camera would be good, although I've got my eye on a couple of sweet Nikons. In other words, all my toys need upgrading. :)
XAlan Burkhart