Jump to content

Android Phones


deanb
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • 2 weeks later...

Anyone know of a good/decent Android phone with a hardware keyboard? It doesn't have to be full screen ala iPhone. It could be "blackberry-like" if there's one that's good.

 

HTC, Samsung, Nokia?

 

EDIT: Has to support the google play store!

Edited by eleven
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone know of a good/decent Android phone with a hardware keyboard? It doesn't have to be full screen ala iPhone. It could be "blackberry-like" if there's one that's good.

 

HTC, Samsung, Nokia?

 

EDIT: Has to support the google play store!

 

I swear we talked about this just a page or two ago!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm replacing my dad's Nokia E71. I was thinking Blackberry would be a nice replacement, but I like it to be open to (more) apps. Of course, Blackberrys would have apps too and it would probably support the "landscape" default orientation of the phone. I'm imagining Androids with blackberry form factors can run apps but you have to tilt the phone, plus the screen is small (my friend has one of these).

 

So addons are out of the question. Doesn't have to be a state-of-the-art phone. Doesn't have to be able to run games. Just enough app support to run productivity apps.

 

Maybe a Blackberry wouldn't be a bad choice...

 

Just in case anyone has anything in mind, or know someone who uses one...

 

Anyone know of a good/decent Android phone with a hardware keyboard? It doesn't have to be full screen ala iPhone. It could be "blackberry-like" if there's one that's good.

 

HTC, Samsung, Nokia?

 

EDIT: Has to support the google play store!

 

I swear we talked about this just a page or two ago!

 

I checked the previous pages! I didn't check this page! It was here though. Lemme check that...

Edited by eleven
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Well, since no super qwert phones are coming out anytime soon, my stepdad suggested the Galaxy Note 2. Spec wise, it pretty much destroys everything else on the market. I don't call people much so it should be fine despite its large size. Besides, I have a bluetooth headset. At its size (8.05cm x 15.1 cm), I suspect it won't be in my pocket. With a 15 hr battery life, perhaps it would be pretty sweet for the field.

 

I suppose its a good step to see if I like using tablets without actually getting one since it does come with a pen. Taking notes I suppose?

What say you guys? Is the Note 2 just trying to do/be too much?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've a Note. Love it. It's great for media, apps, all sorts. Pretty good at making Notes too weirdly enough... (hehehe). As far as size goes it's not an issue at all, though I guess depends if you make a habit of wearing skinnies trousers or not. It's quite nice for making calls on actually(though my previous phone was a wildfire, a bit too small in that regard). About the only major issue is the screen is larger and thus bit more of a battery drain than other devices.

 

The Note II has the side-by-side apps too I think which is neat. Reviews all round have been good (especially after they got over mocking the original Note)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

I don't know anything about Android's file system, so I just want to quickly ask, what can you do with the SD card on a Galaxy Note II? Without rooting of course. Just store media files like movies/music? Can you download or install apps to it? Can you save app data on it (from any app?)?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All of the above (to a degree. Some apps fon't and some app require saving to SD, like GTA3 with its 700MB extra files). Also can I suggest Solid Explorer as file browser of choice (especially on Note/tablets with the dual pane view). As a heads up though you'd be better off storing your apps in the app space, Loads a bit quicker, you can make use of widgets, and the apps aren't off while syncing to the phone. There's 2GB on the Note 1 which is plenty even with my habit of grabbing random apps I rarely use.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, no. There's no point, as mentioned you can install/move apps to SD card, so it's as big as your SD card is. I had a Wildfire with 125MB of App storage, but you could install a ton of apps since I had an 8GB MicroSD card.

 

And here's breakdown on my Note atm:

Screenshot_2012-12-16-18-07-01.png

 

Which on an individual app breaks down like so:

Screenshot_2012-12-16-18-10-41.png

 

So the 13MB is in the App storage partition, with the rest being on the SD card (this is common with a lot of larger games, most small games will be stored purely within App storage)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do they load/run at the same speed as usual from SD, or is it slower like on a Wii? (Somewhere between I'd guess? I know you'd need a sufficient class of SD card to be optimal.) I'd never heard of this... Right now my phone has 196 apps across 7.7 GB, but if I jailbroke, the unofficial apps I believe would install to spare space on the system partition - which is finite, but redefineable at the time of firmware flashing if you have a tool to customize it. Playing by the rules though, apps just use the same free space as any other user file on iOS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd say they run about the same. As noted I store all my apps in in the App "partition" on my Note except the large games, which have no choice in. The Wildfire they loaded about the same because it was slow anyway, but on initial boot up of the phone you'd have to wait a while before everything kinda figured itself out. It's flash storage, reads are going to be pretty damn quick.

 

Also I would say it's not so much a case of limited app storage, since the apps as noted can be shifted over to other internal and SD storage, but a case of a guaranteed minimum app storage. Since it's not sharing the space with your photos, music, downloads, cache, data etc your app space isn't going to be infringed upon by the fluff. (though yes that does limit the space for the fluff, but hey MicroSD cards)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

What FDS said. With Android you have the option of different launchers and choices. Want a phone that will get the latest updates and be optimized really well for them? Look for a Nexus. Want a phone with a good battery life? Samsung tends to be great at those. Phone with processing oomph and speed with arguably the best launcher? HTC.

 

Speaking of launchers/options that's the main reason I like Androids. If you don't like the way your phone's menu/interface looks like there are many options like Google store ones or online modded ones. Androids are best for customization and honestly just in general nowadays hence why so many are jumping on the Galaxy SIII bandwagon. Apple is still dominant on the tablet aspect though.

 

 

Speaking of phones: http://techland.time.com/2013/02/19/htc-one-smartphone-sports-revamped-interface-and-ultrapixel-camera/

 

HTC releasing new phone that is very iPhone-esque in its build. But as a current owner of an HTC phone I'd recommend that anybody interested wait for benchmark tests, especially those dealing with battery life as that especially tends to suck on HTC phones
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm loving my S3. Best phone I ever owned. Battery life is pretty good, especially if you turn power saving on when you aren't gaming etc. Some of the little features, like smart stay (screen stays on while you are looking at it) are really cool. NFC is underused. Wish that technology would hurry up and take off because what I have used so far is awesome.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...