Change languageAs some users who know me, know I have a basic phone. However I am planning to upgrade majorly but the problem with all 3 major phones out on the market, I'm having serious trouble choosing.
I have friends who have the i-phone 4 and 4s who love the apps and general use of the phone, blackberrys with fiddly little buttons but decent battery and apps and androids with powerful software.
In a blind choice, i would like the Samsung S2 over i-phone 4 but since i'm inexperienced with smartphones, I am wondering if you guys have any of the above phones to help me make a choice.
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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kingjaime - 20-10-2011 19:02It's funny but they've come to symbolize the end of my interest in technology. A phone with camera/video, that's enough for me, if I can help it I don't plan to ever upgrade to these expensive and complicated internet-ready type phones...
(This is probably not much help I realize, ahem.)
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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patchtuesday - 20-10-2011 20:49
similar to kingjaime, I use barely any of the functions of my phone.
I sold the things for years and am constantly on my computer so it isn't technofear, just that I want a phone to be a phone.
Currently have a SonyEricsson Xperia X10.
Main reason was for the qwerty keyboard, as most phones are touchscreen only these days I think.
All the other stuff is there if you want it, and the Internet access was very handy for doing FID trainng while I was on holiday (and could actually get a signal).
The bonus is having the qwerty as a slide out, so it's a very compact phone as well.
Bottomo line, I'd look for something that covers what you want for calls and texts, and dip your toe in the extras as and when the mood takes.
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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wardillb - 22-10-2011 11:34
Blackberry 9700
Pros:
Full qwerty keyboard
Not touch screen :)
Great battery life
Fair selection of apps
Cons:
Quite large phone
Slow to restart phone
Buggy OS 6
BBM Network issues last week
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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ashleyhughes - 22-10-2011 12:59I'm the same logically, as long as it calls/texts and maybe bluetooth, camera and internet, I'm not too fussed.
@wardillb
I'm assuming blackberries are not what they are cracked up to be.
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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j-core - 22-10-2011 18:10
I'd always go for blackberry. In my opinion a phone is for calling and receiving calls not those expensive toys that just make life complicated and taking it with you a worry. Buy a cheap cell that serves its purpose. Save your money and buy a mini computer, tablet, or whatever you fancy. If you lose or break a normal cell phone you wont cry.
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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matttombstone - 22-10-2011 22:09I have an iPhone 3GS, with my 24 month contract up in January I've had a fair amount of usage and therefore have a good review of it. It's the best phone I've ever had. My friend had a 3G but got rid of it last year for a Blackberry and regrets doing it, having purchased a new 3GS off a friend of his. He also says the iPhone is the best phone he has ever had.
Here are the pro's and cons I think, and I'll also review my first thoughts on the new iOS5 after a week of using it.
iPhone 3Gs pro's
1)Large memory (16GB, over 100 apps, nearly 300 pictures, several minute or two long videos, 4 music videos, etc and still not even 25% full)
2)Email and browser right at your finger tips. A faster way to read your e-mails, no need to constantly login.
3) Reliable. There's a lot of mixed reviews about the phones reliability, I know my friends 3G's were quite unreliable, however, mine has never broken down. It has crashed and froze on numerous occasions, but nothing serious.
4) Quick charging. Around an hour or two plugged in to the mains can charge the battery from 5% to 100%.
5) A massive amount of Apps available. A few people in here say they're pointless, but why not have a phone that can do loads? Need a tom tom? There's an app that can turn your phone into a sat nav. Get bored on your commutes? Why not download a few games, quite a lot of the games are addictive and there's a massive range, from Call of Duty Zombies and sonic the hedgehog from the sega mega drive to Hangman and Sudoku. If that's not enough, there are other apps, Banking, Betting, apps to see your contract details and usage, Live TV (Not at home to see Man United Vs Man City? No probs, download Sky go and watch it whilst you're on the bus) and so much more, you can even use your phone to control your house lights, your TV and so on if you've got more money than sense.
6) Adjustable settings. Change your screen savers, change your ring tone, move your apps into a personal preference (Alphabetical, etc), even put apps into folders (i.e. Games A-C. Games D-F. Etc). Change how often passwords are required and whether in app purchases require passwords first. There's loads more.
7) Easy to use, there's nothing really confusing about the phone. If you've never used one before it'll only take about an hour to get to grips with the basics for the most untechnological person. Phone means phone, sub options such as favourites, keypad, voicemail and contacts, they're not hard.
8) Fully touch screen, when texting you get a touch screen keyboard in the same layout as a computer keyboard. QWERTYU are in the same order as a keyboard. People good at touch typing won't take long to adjust to touch screen touch typing. The touch screen is quite forgiving, windows 7 tablets are criticized for being too precise, the iPhone isn't as precise but works perfectly well.
9) After market accessories in their thousands. The iPhone is one of if not the most popular phone today, it's only natural that 3rd party companies try to cash in. Cases are plentiful, chances are you'll find a case you like. For example, I have a leather case with a couple of card holders and gives the phone an "executive" feel, a friend has one styled as a wallet and has several card holders. If they're not for you, there's rubber ones, plastic ones and so much more. You can get longer charging cables (For example, I have a 3m long cable which reaches from the bottom of my bed to the top with plenty more to give). Other gadgets include bluetooth, in car holders, car chargers, screen protectors, docking stations, FM transmitter and more. Look carefully enough and they're not expensive either, I got my case and charger from eBay, the case cost me £2.49 and came with a screen protector and the cable cost me £4.59. My car charger and (now broken) cable from ASDA cost me a tenner. Some stuff are cheap and obviously cheap, others are cheap but perform to a high standard. Pay cheap and expect cheap, if it performs better, you've got a bargain.
10) Durable. I've dropped mine several times, thankfully it's been in a case each time and I've managed to cushion the blow with my foot much of the time. The worst damage is a small crack on the back casing and the most minor and nearly unnoticeable scratch on the screen. But no problems with the phones performance and reliability as a consequence.
There are more pro's to the phone but I've highlighted some of the key points.
Con's to the iPhone 3Gs
1) Battery life. The battery life is a hit and miss, don't use the phone and it can last a couple of days, use the phone with high performing apps for a couple of hours and you'll soon need to plug it in. A nightly charge resolves any problems for morning use, a car charger is a good idea if you're using the phone often (As you will do when you first get it).
2) Apps can be slow. Some of the apps out there can be slow to respond for the first minute of use. They're more designed to be used by the iPads and the iPhone 4/4s. The phone will soon catch up, but after use the phone can seem slow for a minute or two, especially when calls or texts come through.
3) Draining the battery can make the phone take a long time to come back on. If you use the phone to the point it dies from battery drain, the phone can take an age to turn back on once plugged in. Most phones when plugged into the mains will normally turn on straight away, not the iPhone. It needs to charge a little bit first, but it can sometimes take a couple of hours plugged in the mains to get it to turn back on with about 15% battery. An hour later though and you'll be at 80+% if not at 100%.
4) Flash player can't be used with the iPhone. Apple won't allow Flash player on the iPhone, therefore using certain sites won't work properly.
5) Reliability. I've put this as a Pro as from personal experience, I've found my particular 3Gs to be reliable. However, I've got at least 4 friends who have or had an iPhone 3G or iPhone 4 and they've been less to be desired. Either I've been lucky or I've treat my phone properly, who knows. One friend got an iPhone 4 last October and had to replace it back in May as it wouldn't work.
6) Signal. Signal on the iPhone isn't as good as most other phone, it's hardly noticeable in some places, but in other places I've been sat with 1 bar of signal on 02 whilst a friend with a blackberry has had full signal on 02.
7) Phone. Sometimes when trying to ring someone the phone may take a long time to ring, or even fail the call. Either try again, leave it until it rings, or turn your phone onto airplane mode for 10 seconds.
There are other flaws, but I can't think of any right now that are obvious.
iOS5 quick review.
Those with an iPhone who haven't updated yet, do it. There's over 200 new features which are great.
1) iMessenger - New on iOS5 is iMessenger, similar to Blackberry messenger, however it's not an independent app with a pin. It's just text messaging, but those on iOS5 can text each other over iMessenger instead of text. The pro's on this is that you can use this instead of texts, so unless you've got unlimited texts on your contract (Much like me) you can use this as a great alternative. It does use your data though. You can use the service to send texts, pictures and videos free of charge, and it's completely automatic. You don't have to do anything, as long as you're texting someone on iOS5, it'll automatically send an iMessage, what's more it'll tell you that the message has been delivered (No excuses from your mates if they don't reply, the "I didn't get it" card doesn't work) and it'll tell you that your friends are typing a reply. If you don't have any data on your contract but have unlimited texts, no problem, iMessenger can be turned off.
2) New notification bar. Simply pull down from the top of the phone where the time is. It'll show you the weather, any notifications from apps, anything in your calendar within the next couple of days, etc.
3) Double tap home button on screen lock. Although this isn't new, it still functions much the same by bringing up the iPod. However, the slide to unlock bar is shortened to bring up an option to go straight to camera. You don't have to unlock your phone to use the camera either, sounds like a security risk, but to use any other features the pin must be entered. You can view the photo's you've taken when using the camera this way, but you can't go through your photo albums. Your porn is still safely hidden!
4) iCloud. Perhaps the biggest change of all. iCloud is a new service which acts like a virtual memory. It allows you to update your phone for the first time away from the computer, and allows you to back up your phone and restore your phone straight from the service. No need for a computer anymore, but it can still be used, and can be used as your only choice if you prefer. You can choose what gets backed up via iCloud, so if you don't want your photo's being backed up, don't worry, choose not to. Same applies to contacts, mail, calendar, notes, etc.
5) Slide to call back or reply. Those who haven't updated will know that when someone calls or texts you, it'll just be a notification on your home screen. With iOS5, it'll be a smaller notification and instead of having Friend A Text (3), friend B, missed call (2), the texts will remain individual, but the calls will remain grouped (i.e. Friend C missed call (4) and voicemail). It'll also have the symbol of a text message or phone next to it, slide it and it'll unlock the phone, allowing you to text the friend straight back, or if it's a missed call, it'll instantly start phoning that person back, no need to unlock, navigate and press the contact anymore.
There's a lot more to it, the OS runs faster, apps seem to operate quicker and more reliably. But as this review has turned into a college essay, I'm not going to allow it to turn into a university degree paper lol.
That'll give you an idea of the iPhone and it's current iOS5, if you want to know more, give us a shout and I'll explain some more. But that's a review of what I personally think is the best phone to have. But like everything, it may not be your cup of tea, and really depends on what you want from a phone. If you want a phone to be a phone, just text and call, stick to the one you've got, why spend money on a phone that can do more when all you want is what your current phone can offer? It's a waste of hard earned money.
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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jonatankillsii - 23-10-2011 02:03
I agree with those who said "I want just a phone"
In fact, last week I was in the office when a colleague looked at my Super LG KP265 and said "come on man, you need to upgrade your phone"
Why? I don`t need toys or anything else. I`m fully satisfied with calls and sms.
Also I have a personal issue with BBs. People gets really stupid when they got one!
PS: This is my beautyful phone (L)
http://www.clangsm.com/forum/uploads/monthly_10_2010/post-3041-1288465934.jpg
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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ade-pm - 23-10-2011 22:26I've had Blackberrys for the last few years and i've got to the stage i just want something i can call with so i'm using a very old Samsung not that i cant even pick up my email on :)
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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julenfer - 25-10-2011 14:21I have an android. The thing I like is that I can listen to the Spanish radio online while going to see la Liga in a bar. I've checked emails only twice in six months...and well also for the maps it showed itself to be handy, in order to take a last minute decision when having to flight and hire a car to a different destination than expected or just to find a place in the night (with no one around to ask). Then well, also in order to reading the press when waiting. This shows the potential they have to kill your free thinking-improvising, adventuring moments by giving more bits to your life....but it also rocks. And nobody who says he won't have one is really serious -hey king ;) -
I'd recommend Apple if you have more things with them or Android otherwise. That's how I took my decision at least...
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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tenebralis - 05-11-2011 13:28Get one of those nice neural-cybernetic implants... they're really cool...
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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wardillb - 07-11-2011 05:05
the implants are supposed to be with us in about a decade it seems. SOunds tempting, but not sure I would trust it to not upload the contents of my brain to a CIA database.
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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matttombstone - 07-11-2011 15:58If that was the case Wardy, some of the imaginations I've had whilst at work... I'd be locked up in a secure, maximum security unit for life lol.
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Re: I-phone, Blackberry or Android?
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ashleyhughes - 07-11-2011 19:38Thanks for the long post matt, i'll consider this when choosing :)
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