Which smartphone should i buy? Iphone or not????

biko wrote: »

Read this http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055514104

It's the old Mac or PC argument. Both are right and both wrong.
I've used Android, iPhone and Nokia smartphone and each has its merit and issues.
How about you spend 20 mins with your various friends' phones and try them out?
See what works for you?

I agree. And don't forget BlackBerry's

I'd also give Windows Phone 7 a look-in.

Personally, of the smartphones I've owned. My Windows Phone 7 is my favorite. HTC recently released a new one thats fairly cheap as far as smartphones go.

Another thing to remember is that the reason that the iPhone needs so many apps is because its deliberately crap at rendering regular web content so you need an app to render pretty much the same content.

I say this as an iPhone 3GS user for almost 2 years struggling with the same dilemma as you right now, what next, iPhone or alternative?

rookie76 wrote: »

Hi all,

I am currently thinking of getting a smartphone <snip>, radio/music and of course for making some phone calls now and then.

Thanks...............

Well the iPhone doesn't have a radio, so you should rule it out on that basis alone. (radio station apps use data, and to change station you need to close and open a new app, not exactly user friendly).

Personally I've gone iPhone 3g -> HTC Desire (back to the 3G) -> iPhone4 -> SGS II (back to iPhone 4 -> iPhone 4s.

For me the iPhone 4 works better. I've not found an Android browser that is as smooth, quick and nice to use as iOS Safari (iOS has hardware acceleration, Android does not). I use iTunes to manage all my digital content, so that works for me, it is seamless and easy. Android requires me to jump through too many hoops to do what I want.

I feel like an iPhone can be the only device you need in your pocket, with Android I still needed my iPod or laptop, media on either of the droids was not as enjoyable or easy to get on the device.

Finally, I found e-mail, keyboards and batter life on the droids awful. For me, Android did not tick all the boxes my iPhone did. Make no mistake the SGS II is a beast of a phone, but the 4s shows it a clean pair of heels, it is seriously slick and blazingly fast.

PogMoThoin wrote: »

You've just been sucked into the Apple ecosystem with your music still in iTunes. I hate iTunes, it's horrible, the worst POS software you could ever install on a Windows pc. And that jumping through hoops is called drag and drop, which on Android doesn't limit you to your own collection.

I'd agree the default Samsung Touchwiz email and keyboard is shíte, but there's no way you've tried every Android email client or keyboard on the market, there are literally hundreds. The choice is there to make what you want of Android

Maybe I have been sucked in, but to be honest, I like being able to purchase my music on my Mac and for it to appear on my iPhone or iPad automatically. The latest ebook I have downloaded is there on any of my devices, right where I left off and all the new TV Shows I have unwatched in my library are also on my devices. It's great for me, because I have better things to do with my time than worry what is on what device and what is not.

I want is a good experience, right out of the box. The iPhone delivers most of what I want, so Im a happy customer. I never found an Android e-mail client I got on with. iOS puts a dot next to unread e-mails, so it was much easier to tell at a glance what is read and unread. I know this may seem like a trivial thing, but small touches like this, replicated throughout the phone make a difference to usability.

For me an iPhone works best, but that is just me. For people who are as ingrained into the Google way as I am the Apple way Android can make more sense.

KrisW wrote: »

Yep. As PogMoThoin just said, I suspect you've not used iTunes on Windows. It stinks. It's slow, unreliable and it's a hog.

It's a lot better on MacOS X, but it's still slow, and it can become unresponsive very easily. I use it only as a music player.

What it does, the iPhone does very well, but it's not for everyone. Despite this, its fans can be a little bit excessive in their praise sometimes - it wasn't the automatic best choice when it came out, it still isn't now.

I've a Nokia N8 (which I wouldn't recommend until the new Symbian Belle software update is released for it, btw), and I wouldn't trade it for an iPhone, because iPhone can't do some of the things I use my N8 for regularly.

Ah right ok! You're suspicion is correct...I've never used iTunes on Windows, only on my Mac so that explains that I guess!

I actually have the N8 too, what drives me mad about it is the qwerty keyboard in landscape mode...not at all touch-friendly The camera is outstanding on the other hand though! I reckon I'll be throwing it up on ebay shortly.

For me, the downsides of the iPhone appear to be:
1) the crap ringtones they have on it - they're a dead loss in fairness
2) the super-short lead attached the charger - if I'm going to have to charge it every night then I want the lead to be long enough to reach my bed at least!
3) the overall look of the phone is just downright boring to me - it looks EXACTLY like all previous iPhones, the iPhone was pure class when it first came out but 4yrs later it still looks the same...YAWN!!!

PS I'm also considering the N9 - any thoughts on that??

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Android is never going to work right for you, Jobs made sure of that

I actually completely disagree with you on this. My iCloud e-mail, calendars and contacts all worked well with Android. Double twist was a good substitute for most of iTunes functions, and offered WiFi sync before iTunes ever did. I just didn't like they way my info was presented on the phone.

As I say, iOS works best for what I want to do with my phone, in all honesty other than the Market Vs AppStore most people will never notice a difference. I love the way my iPhone looks, the way it feels in my hand, the way it works with the hardware and software I already have, no messing, no fooling around.

Maental2000 wrote: »

Ah right ok! You're suspicion is correct...I've never used iTunes on Windows, only on my Mac so that explains that I guess!

I actually have the N8 too, what drives me mad about it is the qwerty keyboard in landscape mode...not at all touch-friendly The camera is outstanding on the other hand though! I reckon I'll be throwing it up on ebay shortly.

I installed Swype, which works well in portrait. I never use the keyboard in landscape mode, so can't comment. You don't have to do the "scribbling" thing with swype - you can also use it as a normal keyboard which is handy when you know the word you're typing won't be in the dictionary.

Unless you're desperate for something new right now, hang on to the N8 until the Belle release appears. All the whispers say a mid-November rollout, which is only a few weeks away.

For me, the downsides of the iPhone appear to be:
1) the crap ringtones they have on it - they're a dead loss in fairness
2) the super-short lead attached the charger - if I'm going to have to charge it every night then I want the lead to be long enough to reach my bed at least!
3) the overall look of the phone is just downright boring to me - it looks EXACTLY like all previous iPhones, the iPhone was pure class when it first came out but 4yrs later it still looks the same...YAWN!!!

1. and 2. are easily solved, though. 3 is a big problem. Apple are about to have their "Burberry moment", I think - where people suddenly realise that it's not an exclusive product anymore, and that having one doesn't make you look well-off. Personally, while I liked the 3GS, I hate the 4. It's really not product design to me. It looks nice in photos, but it's awkward to hold in the hand, which to me is a fundamental failing in a hand-held device.

PS I'm also considering the N9 - any thoughts on that??

I think it's a fantastic product, and if it was available on contract, I'd be using one now.
As it is, though, it'll be expensive (you'll have to buy SIM-free off contract), and you won't have a large selection of apps. The camera isn't in the same class as the N8's, but nothing is. N9's camera is about as good as the iPhone 4S's camera, but with accurate colour reproduction and better contrast. Browser is very good, and you can also put Fennec (mobile Firefox) on it, which is very good indeed. Apps are the N9's achilles heel, but it's a very techie-friendly device, which means a lot of small devs are likely to own one just for the "cool factor". Put an easily-programmable device in the hands of a few thousand techies, and you will get apps.

So, if you don't want to show off the latest app for this or that, and you're happy with the SIM-free pricing, go for it. Personally, I'm tempted to get one SIM-free myself, but I'm going to see a. how Belle works on my N8, and b. what the real pricing is, before I decide for sure.

Cheers for the detailed reply, you seem to know your stuff!

KrisW wrote: »

I installed Swype, which works well in portrait. I never use the keyboard in landscape mode, so can't comment. You don't have to do the "scribbling" thing with swype - you can also use it as a normal keyboard which is handy when you know the word you're typing won't be in the dictionary.

Is Swype an app on the ovi store or how did you install it?

Unless you're desperate for something new right now, hang on to the N8 until the Belle release appears. All the whispers say a mid-November rollout, which is only a few weeks away.

Good thinking, going to take your advice & wait. I'm pretty much a newbie to all this mobile OS updating thing...do I have to use the Nokia PC Suite to be able to update the N8 to Belle when it comes out? (I have my N8 unlocked)

1. and 2. are easily solved, though. 3 is a big problem. Apple are about to have their "Burberry moment", I think - where people suddenly realise that it's not an exclusive product anymore, and that having one doesn't make you look well-off. Personally, while I liked the 3GS, I hate the 4. It's really not product design to me. It looks nice in photos, but it's awkward to hold in the hand, which to me is a fundamental failing in a hand-held device.

Yeah, I'm very meh about it tbh.

I think it's a fantastic product, and if it was available on contract, I'd be using one now.
As it is, though, it'll be expensive (you'll have to buy SIM-free off contract), and you won't have a large selection of apps. The camera isn't in the same class as the N8's, but nothing is. N9's camera is about as good as the iPhone 4S's camera, but with accurate colour reproduction and better contrast. Browser is very good, and you can also put Fennec (mobile Firefox) on it, which is very good indeed. Apps are the N9's achilles heel, but it's a very techie-friendly device, which means a lot of small devs are likely to own one just for the "cool factor". Put an easily-programmable device in the hands of a few thousand techies, and you will get apps.

So, if you don't want to show off the latest app for this or that, and you're happy with the SIM-free pricing, go for it. Personally, I'm tempted to get one SIM-free myself, but I'm going to see a. how Belle works on my N8, and b. what the real pricing is, before I decide for sure.

I'm not a big app person really so it doesn't bother me and I like that for the N9 Nokia will be using a program called Nokia Link which is Mac compatible, rather than their PC Suite....I have it downloaded already!
But, I'm going to copy you here and wait and see what Belle will be like on the N8 first.

KrisW wrote: »

@Maental2000 -- if you've never updated, you may still be on the very first software version for your N8 (Symbian^3 PR1.0).

Tap "Call" on the home page, and dial *#0000# - what's on screen under "Release" and "Version"? (the latest release is "Symbian Anna").

Yes, you can get Swype on the Ovi Store, but unless your phone is running Anna, it will only work in landscape mode.

Nokia Software Updater is what you need to update the N8 from your Mac... it's not a final release yet, but it does work (I used it to bring my N8 up to Anna). Download from Nokia Beta Labs. You'll have to log in to get the download, but you can use the same username and password that you use on Ovi Store.

Release was PR1.0 & Version was 011.012 but I'm after updating it there through that Nokia Software Updater, thanks for the tip!

Going to have a play around with it now and see what I make of it