questions about Android phones

Mousey

Ueber Meister Mouse
Joined
Sep 12, 2004
Location
Up$hitCreek
First off... all I've ever used a cell phone for is... well... a phone. I've never even sent a text. LOL But even the boss is beginning to send the occasional text, so ... welll... I may have to enter the 21st century. I'm trying to read up and learn about these iphones... or smartphones or whatever they're called.

It's time for cell phone upgrades at work. One employee is looking at the Samsung Stratosphere. The pricing is decent right now and not much more than a dumb phone. The other guys have all pretty much agreed on GzOne Ravine2's (with camera) , and me? -- I'm still on the fence as to sticking with a nice dumb phone with a physical qwerty for myself or *maybe* springing for the Stratosphere. I like to stick with only one or two phone styles when we get phones. Makes things much easier for me when it comes to keeping up with our plan and features and limits, etc.

Question: Can some of the apps that come preinstalled on these type phones be uninstalled? (I hate that they come with extra crap like new computers, do. LOL) I mean if it's something that will never be used, why should it sit there taking up space? Do they have options to turn the apps 'off' so they won't autoupdate or 'run' when not in use -- thereby eating up very limited download allowances.

Can an app be downloaded to a micro SD card (on my computer, for instance), then put the micro SD into the phone, and then installed? Or are apps all proprietary... like... we use Verizon -- would we only be able to use apps purchased from Verizon downloaded directly to the phone?

I know Verizon CS could probably answer these questions but... gawd... I hate waiting on hold.... LOL There will be long sessions with customer support when I've made my decision. I still may go back with dumb phones, but with qwerty's... I dunno...

Anything you guys can tell me about Android/smartphones.... advice on what to look for -- good or bad.... good apps... etc., would be much appreciated. Or... anyone have a link to a good forum on smartphones I can read through?
 
First off... all I've ever used a cell phone for is... well... a phone. I've never even sent a text. LOL But even the boss is beginning to send the occasional text, so ... welll... I may have to enter the 21st century. I'm trying to read up and learn about these iphones... or smartphones or whatever they're called.

It's time for cell phone upgrades at work. One employee is looking at the Samsung Stratosphere. The pricing is decent right now and not much more than a dumb phone. The other guys have all pretty much agreed on GzOne Ravine2's (with camera) , and me? -- I'm still on the fence as to sticking with a nice dumb phone with a physical qwerty for myself or *maybe* springing for the Stratosphere. I like to stick with only one or two phone styles when we get phones. Makes things much easier for me when it comes to keeping up with our plan and features and limits, etc.

Question: Can some of the apps that come preinstalled on these type phones be uninstalled? (I hate that they come with extra crap like new computers, do. LOL) I mean if it's something that will never be used, why should it sit there taking up space? Do they have options to turn the apps 'off' so they won't autoupdate or 'run' when not in use -- thereby eating up very limited download allowances.

Can an app be downloaded to a micro SD card (on my computer, for instance), then put the micro SD into the phone, and then installed? Or are apps all proprietary... like... we use Verizon -- would we only be able to use apps purchased from Verizon downloaded directly to the phone?

I know Verizon CS could probably answer these questions but... gawd... I hate waiting on hold.... LOL There will be long sessions with customer support when I've made my decision. I still may go back with dumb phones, but with qwerty's... I dunno...

Anything you guys can tell me about Android/smartphones.... advice on what to look for -- good or bad.... good apps... etc., would be much appreciated. Or... anyone have a link to a good forum on smartphones I can read through?

I have a HTC Desire HD which is great.

You can decide which apps you want to keep in most cases and the android market is full of great free apps.

If you do a search for android forum there a couple of excellent ones in the top 5 so its a personal choice thing really. I would go for a touch screen qwerty kb rather than physical...less buttons the better as if one breaks you're stuffed.

Good luck.
 
I felt like you regarding mobiles, Mousey...until I got my first smart phone.

Then natural curiousity got the better of me and I started experimenting, finding both fun and practically useful features and apps that I started using routinely and to good effect.

These multi-featured machines are also great for entertaining the grand kids when they're around :thumbsup: , and I've now augmented my techie tools with an iPad 2, which is even more fun, if a little difficult to get used to after being steeped so long in the Windows culture!

There's such a good range of devices available that we're all spoilt for choice, so its a matter of studying the attributes and reputation of each and seeing which most closely matches your circumstances now and in the immediate future. There's a ton of information out there and some really good products.
 
I'm in much the same boat as Jetset. Just got my first smartphone -- a Christmas prezzy! -- and I can't believe I've ignored them for so long. Mine's a Samsung Galaxy S2 and I love it to bits. Why? because it's a little computer in your pocket: ToDo list, calendar, email, weather, compass, maps (live and in real time!), pedometer, sky map, calculator, Google searches, music player, camera + photo editor + photo gallery, etc etc etc. You name it it can probably be done on your smartphone. The list is literally endless.

My last phone, a Nokia "kids phone", had a physical keyboard. My SGS2 has (of course) a screen-touch keyboard. Of the two the physical keyboard was a PITA and I was actually happy that someone stole the damn thing. Good riddance if you ask me.

AFAIK the pre-installed apps are there to stay, I've tried yoinking them and no joy. Apparently you typically have to "root" your phone -- hack out the existing OS and replace it with a warranty-busting "user" version -- in order to have total control over what is, and is not, on your phone. I'm not sure I want to go there.

The Android Marketplace is your friend, thousands of great apps and most of them for free (watch out for ones that have advertising included, they can suck away your phone's power and bandwidth). You look up stuff by keyword, find something you like, click "Install" and seconds later it is on your phone and ready to go. No SD card shuffle required, not even sure you could do it that way if you wanted to.

There are some superb Android forums out there, tens of thousands of forum members who have asked and answered pretty much everything there is to know about your phone. Find 'em, use 'em, be well. I'd suggest
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as a good place to start.

Be warned: smartphones are typically pretty power-hungry and tend to eat batteries. Under heavy use you can start the day with it fully charged and have a dead phone before you make it home in the evening. Learn the power saving tips for your phone of choice (usually means turning off Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, email "push", etc off when they are not needed). I bought the "extended" battery kit for my phone and I'm glad I did: 25% more power goes a long way and pretty much ensures that I don't drain it before the day is done.

Other questions? Ask away, or go talk to the real experts on those forums.

Good luck, have fun! Smartphones are the way the future was supposed to be.
 
I've gotta admit that the Smart Phone Market surprises me more and more each day. I have had my Samsung Galaxy S2 for a while now. It is easily the best phone I have owned - hands down.

It is a power and bandwidth hog, but I have a Charger at Home, in the Car and in the Office. I have a wireless network at home and that is connected to my BluRay / 3D Player and both Samsung HD Tv's and Home Entertainment system. The phone also works with the TV's I have and I can use it as a remote :p

The apps are awesome. I use the navigator often... Google Sky Maps and Apps for Hotmail, Gmail, Weather and News. Almost everything just like software for your OS on your Laptop / PC has a free version. The Android market is very open source and new apps are developed daily.

I would reccomend you get into it - Its current Technology and most of the functions assist me in getting the information I need easily. I use an uncapped internet connection so connecting to WiFi and downloading al the apps are not a problem. Most of them range from 2mb to 20mb but HD games can go up to 400mb ... The graphics are even as good as a Playstation 1 /2 on these phones.

@Max - I'm bias towards the Galaxy - Its a super Awesome phone - Enjoy it.

@Bryan - I have the CM app installed on my android - Two issues I encounter are that you can ONLY see New Posts and not the entire forum. The app also does not save your username and password so Its kinda annoying having to log in over and over again. One more thing is that you cant view pics....

Nate
 
Interesting story in my local newspaper this morning coincidental with this thread is a report of a guy who had his iPhone nicked whilst he was at the gym.

Unfortunately for the thief, this fellow was a smartphone-ophile who had all sorts of apps on his phone...and knew how to use them.

He took his iPad to the local cop station and showed them how he was able to track the thief (who turned out to be a cleaner at the gym) to within 2 meters of his location while he was still using his new found (but stolen) phone. The thieving bugger is now in jail awaiting trial.
 
All this stuff scares me. I know eventually I will have to learn (please God don't let anything happen to my phone in the next ten years!!!!) how to deal/cope with it all. I can text, take pics, send and end a call, what more do I need!?!? My truck has a GPS, I can't play games, text, drive and talk at the same time so why do I need all these functions? *sigh* Life used to be soooo simple...*;)
 
AMAZING COMBINATION

The APPLE IPhone is a miracle and with a SAMSUNG TABLET you will keep the whole world in your pocket,even a small pocket...(app store for IPhone and market for android,millions of apps...free).

The world is changing so fast,everything is too fast...
 
... why do I need all these functions? *sigh* Life used to be soooo simple...*;)

Can't argue with the "complexity of modern life" lament but I can offer a few examples of how smartphone stuff can help make that modern life pretty palatable:
  • Star Map: when my wife and I are out for walks in the evening I use the Google sky map to figure out which planet it is we're looking at in the night sky. Nerdy but nice.
  • compass and live maps: in a new part of town? Pull out your phone and you can see where you are, what direction you are going and where you need to go to get where you want. Marking places on Google Maps lets you see which of those are nearby (power window shopping!).
  • unlimited SMS/MMS: when I'm out doing a run to the bakery I can send my wife a photo of the deserts on offer and she can choose what she wants (I live in Paris, pastry selection is a serious business!).
  • sync to web: my phone can sync to Google Calendar (or others) so I can see my agenda for the day/week/whatever when I'm out and about without having to do anything special to get it. It's just there.
  • phone as pedometer: simple, effective, automatic stats, can even track (and remember) where you've been if you enable it to.
  • live metro reports. Basically traffic reports for public transit. Paris has a decent one, apparently London's is even better.
  • listen to audiobooks while you're doing the chores about the house.

These are just examples of things I've discovered in the two weeks of having my first smartphone!

No doubt many of these things are not new, other devices provide many of the same services. My point is that it's all there in ONE device which I find incredibly (and unexpectedly) convenient.

Like I said, love it to bits!
 
first impression.

The Android client is quick. Seems to work well. It doesn't seem to read the bbs tags, however.

It also has its own smiles. :cool:
 
Thank you all for your comments, and to Max for the link. Will check out the android forum this weekend.

Now I have to consider whether a 3g phone (maybe an LG Enlighten) is the better buy than the 4g Stratosphere as there is currently no 4g available in this area. In two years I'll be upgrading again anyway... hmmmmm.... And I still may end up with a dumbphone. I'm still researching.

Also, with all the great things these little doodads can do .... how is the PHONE on these things?? LOL Good clear sound and good reception is essential as this would primarily be used for calls to and from service techs out on jobs. Right now our dumbphones communicate nicely. The owner and service tech are going to get the ruggedized g'zone casino dumbphones with camera again. Been using them for years. Great phones.

Phone, phone, phone. It MUST be a good phone. I've been reading some reviews and people seem to like the two smartphones I'm considering for myself, but most oooh and goo over every sort of detail except how well the things work as phones! LOL
 
Phone, phone, phone. It MUST be a good phone.

Good point! :thumbsup: And at this point I have no idea how good the phone on the SGS2 is because my carrier is dicking me around and I have yet to get connected properly. In case anyone was wondering when Kafka wrote about the horrors of bureaucracy he could only have been thinking about life in France. Mon dieu, what a cluster****!
 
I've gotta admit that the Smart Phone Market surprises me more and more each day. I have had my Samsung Galaxy S2 for a while now. It is easily the best phone I have owned - hands down.

It is a power and bandwidth hog, but I have a Charger at Home, in the Car and in the Office. I have a wireless network at home and that is connected to my BluRay / 3D Player and both Samsung HD Tv's and Home Entertainment system. The phone also works with the TV's I have and I can use it as a remote :p

The apps are awesome. I use the navigator often... Google Sky Maps and Apps for Hotmail, Gmail, Weather and News. Almost everything just like software for your OS on your Laptop / PC has a free version. The Android market is very open source and new apps are developed daily.

I would reccomend you get into it - Its current Technology and most of the functions assist me in getting the information I need easily. I use an uncapped internet connection so connecting to WiFi and downloading al the apps are not a problem. Most of them range from 2mb to 20mb but HD games can go up to 400mb ... The graphics are even as good as a Playstation 1 /2 on these phones.

@Max - I'm bias towards the Galaxy - Its a super Awesome phone - Enjoy it.

@Bryan - I have the CM app installed on my android - Two issues I encounter are that you can ONLY see New Posts and not the entire forum. The app also does not save your username and password so Its kinda annoying having to log in over and over again. One more thing is that you cant view pics....

Nate

I have the same problem with mine, same phone same app so i now just visit the forum through the internet and i can see everything.
 
Just a quick update to close out the thread, in case some were wondering about my final decision after all your input. (thank you!)

I went with a dumbphone again. Chose the new LG Extravert, slide qwerty and a touchscreen. Spoke with Verizon support AND area Verizon stores. No 4G for this area for at least 1+ year.

I am not away from work or home desktop or my laptop for extended periods of time anyway. It is important that my cellphone be a phone above all else. 5gig of data for just my smartphone would cost our company $50 a month. Not that we're struggling, but we are having to watch expenses .... and as things are now, the smartphone (as much as I love electronic 'toys') is not a necessity.

I'll be come acclimated to touchscreen use with the new dumbphone. When it's time for upgrades in a couple of years, and if there's 4 G Verizon access in this area, then we'll be talking about this again. LOL
 

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