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I recently had an AT&T Tilt die on me. Fortunately, I had warranty on it, so AT&T sent me a refurbished Pure. Its awesome and all, but now I am eligible for an upgrade on one of my lines. So, I'm planning on getting the Captivate from Amazon for $99, and sell the month old refurbished Pure on ebay or something.
What do you guys think? Good idea to swap a Pure for a Captivate? And would I be able to get around $100-200 for the refurbished Pure on ebay?
What about features? I know the Captivate has Android. Is it as customizable as WinMo? Anything I should keep in mind before I take the plunge?
Thanks in advance.
I used to have a winmo phone a couple years ago, and I loved how customizable it was, but then I got the iphone because it was skinnier perfermed a lot nicer and had a lot more features.
now im going to be getting a captivate because it performs better than an iphone and just as much customization (or more) then winmo.
I had an original tilt (tynt2) up until the aria came out. I had been running an android rom on it for a few months and decided to switch. 30 days after getting my aria I returned it to Best Buy and got the captivate on release day.
I am loving the switch. My android fulfills the work, personal, and entertainment needs my winmo just couldn't get.
I will be checking out phone7 when it releases but I am not sure if I will be switching away from android. I suggest you go for it. Experience something new!
Selling rooted captivate or will trade for att banded nexus one, I don't care if its a step down. I miss trackballs, and fastboot.
sent from a 42 node T.I. 89 cluster
Interesting. Its nice to see different opinions. Keep them coming. I need all angles before I make my decision.
If you on at&t the captivate its the best option. The only drawback I find over the iPhone its the appstore. The 3rd party apps on the iPhone are just way more Polish.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
That's why i kept my AT&T branded Nexus One. I mean I love my Captivate, but it just isn't there yet like the Nexus One and plus the dev community behind the Nexus is second to none. It will get there, but for the time being the SIM card with my unlimited data plan and main number is in my Nexus One again, but i wont be getting rid of my Captivate either. I wish i could take the two phones and frankenstein me a nexus two. Nexus One body style with the 4" super AMOLED and MaxTouch sensor, 1 ghz hummingbird and PowerVR, and best of all Vanilla Android with Froyo. I guy can wish can't he. Until then i am happy with both just not ready to retire my loyal Nexus One, but i feel that when i do it will be for the Captivate. We just need the end of September to hurry and get here bringing us Froyo and we need Samsung to hurry with a GPS fix while the developer community grows.
I bought the captivate on release day. I have to say it's a great phone but it wasn't for me. There are a few issues with the phone that should be fixed by Samsung soon (major is just gps) but other than that its a good phone, it's more technical thats for sure. I had to return it for an iphone 4 instead, music is a big role that is a factor for me when i purchase a phone and although the stock player was ok it was nothing compared to iphone. Thats one thing no one can beat apple in...media. There is also a little bit of lag (launcher pro takes care most of it). If you buy it I would suggest you root it and make sure to back up the At&t apps...i forgot to do that lol, good thing best buy doesn't check
The only problems i have are some software issues that i assume samsung will fix - things that their skinning affected - like not being able to dial a number in a calendar invite. Not a show stopper, but an inconvenience.
As for customization - it is more customizable then WinMo mostly. WinMo was more wide open you copied files and futzed with the registry, nothing would stop you. Android, you have to root first - so an extra step. But compared to the iPhone much easier to customize. Rooting after an update is much easier then jailbreaking.
As far as other comparisons - I like the captivate better then my iPhone 3G, and passed on the iPhone 4. I think the media player in the captivate is superiour to the iphone - the interface is nicer, and easier and sound is just as good if not better then the iphone. More video and music formats are supported too, and even though the screen may not have the pixels of the iPhone 4 it is bigger and better looking. Blacks are black and that is what i wanted.
Android is not perfect, but it is catching up to the iPhone fast. iPhone has at least a year jump on Android, but I think the feature list will put Android on top soon.
I haved had phones of every OS, and Android is my favorite so far - the extent of the widgets is amazing.
I switched over from a BlackBerry Bold 9000, phone is night and day difference. The call quality is better, web browsing, youtube and the screen is awesome. The only downside I find with the Captivate is the lack of push e-mail scheme except with gmail but the plus side is no more truncation and actually get to see all of the html e-mails like looking at them through thunderbird. I will add that I love Android over Palm, BB and Windows Mobile, I have not owned the iPhone but I dont think I can because I prefer the 4 inch samoled screen.
HTH,
Charlie
You probably know already since you've been doing research, but the compass and GPS on the Captivate are totally busted at the moment. Otherwise, it's a fantastic handset, and as customizable as you could want.
I got the Captivate on release day, and previously used a Tilt.
The Tilt was running the stock WinMo ROM for most of it's life, but I got bored and flashed Polymod's 2.1 ROM to it at some point.
That's what made me get the Captivate.
The Captivate beats the Tilt and Pure in nearly every way possible. I don't think you'll regret the upgrade at all.
My only complaint is that the battery isn't the best on the Captivate, but it's not a big deal unless you go multiple days without access to a charger.
I say go for it.
Thanks for all your opinions, guys. Yeah, I've been doing a lot of research, and am disappointed that the GPS on this phone sucks. Its not a huge deal breaker, but something to think about nonetheless. By the way, is the GPS/compass totally busted or is so-so?
I'm looking forward to the switch to Android, because I'm a programmer by heart and like to tinker with my devices, so iOS is out of the question.
My compass is completely busted, but my GPS is fine if I'm outside. It just takes a while to get a lock. Others have reported GPS being way off.
Sent from my Samsung Captivate.
ashoooo said:
Thanks for all your opinions, guys. Yeah, I've been doing a lot of research, and am disappointed that the GPS on this phone sucks. Its not a huge deal breaker, but something to think about nonetheless. By the way, is the GPS/compass totally busted or is so-so?
I'm looking forward to the switch to Android, because I'm a programmer by heart and like to tinker with my devices, so iOS is out of the question.
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I've never had an issue with the compass unless it gets too close to a magnet. a few figure eights in the air resets it.
The GPS is a software issue, and will eventually be officially fixed. It also seems to be a hit and miss for some people that could be due to bad phone batches, times of day, location, or a million other variables. There are a few GPS fixes currently floating around that should improve any GPS issues at least marginally. they do not fix the underlying issues, but do help mitigate them.
I am done with Samsung after this. This is the second Samsung smartphone that I have owned where after sale support is HORRIBLE.
I was wondering how many people feel the same way.
Is the Captivate your last Samsung phone?
Most likely the last. If it weren't for the screen and snappiness after the lag-fix, it would probably have been returned by now. After the lag-fix I'm fairly impressed with the speed of the device, just wish the blasted GPS would work like it does for iPhone, HTC and Motorola users. I feel cheated. Downloading new apps from Marketplace is another point of weakness for those of us in the land where 3G is nothing but a dream. There is a problem downloading apps on the Edge network, sometimes they start downloading right away and other times you got to walk away from the phone for a few hours and it'll download when it feels like it.
My wife has the Rugby II from Samsung and I'll be darned if that thing won't last for days without a battery charge. Amazing how long it manages to live without a battery recharge.
Abso-freaking-lutely
I thought samsung had gotten serious when it said it wanted to be the #1 smartphone manufacturer and they promised a strong commitment to software updates since they knew that their name was garbage in this arena. Well I bought a Captivate on release day and its been nothing but trouble ever since. Random reboots, GPS that's non-functional, etc. Then finally 2 months later they release a supposed GPS fix, that 90% of the people cant even install on their phones and it doesnt even fix the GPS, mine works worse now than before. And on top of all that now my digital compass is unusable, it always points 90-180 degrees in the wrong direction. On maps its funny, I'm driving one direction and it points behind me or perpendicular to me. And dont even get me started on the completely pathetic battery life. 12 hours on one charge is completely unacceptable. Iphone4's that are using the same CPU/GPU get days on their batteries. The S-AMOLED screen looks pretty good (not as good as the retina display, but better than just about anything else) but it is a total battery hog.
I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wish I had just gotten the iphone4, its so much better, its not even close.
argolfermd said:
I am done with Samsung after this. This is the second Samsung smartphone that I have owned where after sale support is HORRIBLE.
I was wondering how many people feel the same way.
Is the Captivate your last Samsung phone?
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This is my second samsung phone in 10+ years and my first smartphone from them
I'm actually complete opposite from you maybe because i haven't had any issues outside of the GPS and i'm more than willing to give them a chance to fix it. It's not like i'm using the GPS all the time for the fact that i live in nyc
If they can't fix the GPS to work like it should (like on the Nexus One, Droid, etc), then yes, this will probably be my last Samsung phone. They've screwed people over with the Behold too (atleast I think that was the phone).
HTC isn't known for great reception, but I loved my Nexus One and wish I wouldn't have sold it now.
Hardly. I've gone from an old Sammy flip phone, to the Blackjack, to the Jack, to the Captivate. Whole family is on Samsung's now, Flight, Impression, can't think of my daughter's at the moment. Love Samsungs!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
No, but only because of xda
If I had to rely on Samsung for support, then I would have voted yes. The JH7 update has been a fiasco. Without this forum and the dedicated work of designgears and clockworkmod, my phone would still be in an unstable state from the failed (at 100%!) installation. I'll be sending both of those guys some money to pay for the great support -- it's unfortunate that companies like Samsung and AT&T don't have a clue and can't provide the same level of service. Keep in mind that Samsung has full access to every detail of the hardware and software while our guys have done everything through reverse engineering. Incredible job!
Hurricane Andrew said:
Hardly. I've gone from an old Sammy flip phone, to the Blackjack, to the Jack, to the Captivate. Whole family is on Samsung's now, Flight, Impression, can't think of my daughter's at the moment. Love Samsungs!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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I never used a samsung smartphone before this one, but when I had regular flip phones, I wouldnt use anything other than a samsung, I loved them. Everytime Sprint came out with the newest samsung flip phone I'd run to get it, they are just excellent phones. Everytime I strayed from samsung to try a razr or LG, etc I always regretted it within a week and went right back to samsung. But I am utterly disappointed in this captivate. I am kicking myself everyday for not returning it within the 30 days to get an iphone. I kept holding out hope for fixes for most of its shortfalls and everyone keeps saying how open android is, well so far nothing. No fully functioning custom ROMs, no cyanogen, no AOSP, and you have to root and hack like hell to get any customization at all. Its no more open than the iOS, on that you have to jailbreak but then you can go to Cydia and there are thousands and thousands of apps and customizations you can load.
jason531 said:
If I had to rely on Samsung for support, then I would have voted yes. The JH7 update has been a fiasco. Without this forum and the dedicated work of designgears and clockworkmod, my phone would still be in an unstable state from the failed (at 100%!) installation. I'll be sending both of those guys some money to pay for the great support -- it's unfortunate that companies like Samsung and AT&T don't have a clue and can't provide the same level of service. Keep in mind that Samsung has full access to every detail of the hardware and software while our guys have done everything through reverse engineering. Incredible job!
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Exactly! POTD!
I love my Captivate, but only because it isn't stock. If I had to keep my phone stock, I think my satisfaction levels would go way down.
DKirk said:
My wife has the Rugby II from Samsung and I'll be darned if that thing won't last for days without a battery charge. Amazing how long it manages to live without a battery recharge.
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You do realize you're comparing a messaging phone to a smartphone right? No smartphone will consistently give you that kind of battery life with any kind of use.
Great Tech, GPS is ok at best./......my first android device, and i like it a lot.
I really like this phone, but if Samsung doesn't fix the GPS for current Captivate owners, I will never buy another Samsung product.
And, either way, I won't go with AT&T again either.
I had the iphone 3g, 3gs, and the iphone 4 for a few weeks. I also had a nexus one for a while. All great phones, all great GPS accuracy. I left my iphone 3gs for my Nexus One because of the voice to text, and the google navigation. The iphone 4 dropped almost all my calls. It went back fast. I went with the Samsung Captivate because it trumped my Nexus in a lot of ways. I did not expect this GPS issue when I purchased it. By the time Samsung had announced that the GPS issue was indeed an issue, I had already returned mine 3 times because the GPS would not lock. They announced a fix sometime soon in the future, so I stuck with it. I would gladly go with another android device if it was available for AT&T and was comparable to my Captivate. The only other device close is the Sony Ericsson X10. I am not going back to 1.6 and no multitouch.
Unfortunately this is the best Android that will work with AT&T's 3g network at the moment. Samsung built an awesome device, they just need to fix the GPS.
Yup, this is going to be my last Samsung phone.
Samsung is just too incompetent.
I had an HTC before this and it wasn't perfect and there were many vocal members that thought negatively about it. My fiance has an iPhone and is always complaining about it. When I look at Motorola threads I see lots of complaints.
I'm seeing a pattern here. No phone is perfect.
This is the best phone I've played with though. I rarely use GPS so that obviously doesn't affect my like/dislike of the phone. And from what I can tell most people are angry because of the GPS.
I can't honestly understand what the big deal is with GPS. Do people get lost that easily that they need to be looking at a GPS map every minute of the day? I'm sure for some jobs it could be a mandatory thing, but I'm just a little mystified at how many people are upset about GPS like their lives depend on it every day or something. Maybe I'm just lucky that I don't get lost easily, or can follow directions from mapquest?
I'm not trying to insult people with GPS issues, I just truly don't understand how so many people think the GPS issue is a deal breaker. Especially considering it will almost surely be fixed sooner rather than later.
And if people are upset about the update from Samsung not working... patience? I mean you're on the XDA forums posting, so you must have some experience here and know that when there's a problem with smartphones it gets fixed pretty quickly by the community you're a part of. So what's the rush to condemn Samsung for a buggy patch that'll probably be re-written soon anyhow?
This is my first Samsung phone. So far I'm pretty impressed. I had Apple 3G, RIM Blackberry Perl, Motorola Razor, Sony Erickson (forgot the model #) ect... So I had tried so many different brand in my years owning regular cellphones and smartphones. But so far, Samsung Captivate is the best among them all.
If Samsung would come out with a dual core or three core cpu, 4 to 5 inch monitor, front facing camera and 1080p video recording smartphone next year, I'll definitely get it...
I kind of knew that all OTA firmware updates from all major cellphone manufactures will have some kind of issues. That's why in the future, I will download the firmware and install the updates manually.
I agree with sschrupp. Ignoring the GPS issue, I've had no problems with this phone. I had iPhone before this, and I liked it, but not as much as I like this phone. Android satisfies the need to tinker and tweak (thank you XDA). The hardware is pretty darn good too. I get good reception here in the boonies of Kansas, the screen is gorgeous. ignoring GPS issues, I really like this phone.
sschrupp said:
I had an HTC before this and it wasn't perfect and there were many vocal members that thought negatively about it. My fiance has an iPhone and is always complaining about it. When I look at Motorola threads I see lots of complaints.
I'm seeing a pattern here. No phone is perfect.
This is the best phone I've played with though. I rarely use GPS so that obviously doesn't affect my like/dislike of the phone. And from what I can tell most people are angry because of the GPS.
I can't honestly understand what the big deal is with GPS. Do people get lost that easily that they need to be looking at a GPS map every minute of the day? I'm sure for some jobs it could be a mandatory thing, but I'm just a little mystified at how many people are upset about GPS like their lives depend on it every day or something. Maybe I'm just lucky that I don't get lost easily, or can follow directions from mapquest?
I'm not trying to insult people with GPS issues, I just truly don't understand how so many people think the GPS issue is a deal breaker. Especially considering it will almost surely be fixed sooner rather than later.
And if people are upset about the update from Samsung not working... patience? I mean you're on the XDA forums posting, so you must have some experience here and know that when there's a problem with smartphones it gets fixed pretty quickly by the community you're a part of. So what's the rush to condemn Samsung for a buggy patch that'll probably be re-written soon anyhow?
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I agreed with you. No cellphone is perfect, especially when they are made in China or other asian places... they bound to have some kind of defect or it will not last more than one year...
Wow you guys are crazy
This phone has been great, the best I have owned in years.
So the OTA update didnt work for you because you modified your phone from the original state? Boo Hoo. You cant expect a patch to work for your modified rom when it was designed for stock
yes If i can find a nexus one under 400 bucks this thing is gone tonight. i could care less about GPS since (call me old fashioned) i just look at what street to take but the fact that i have to wait until october for froyo id rather deal with edge on at&t then eclair and no CM
So the specs were released for the Samsung Nexus S and I am very disappointed.
1GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor
16GB iNAND flash memory
The AMOLED Screen should be nice, the only thing that is nice about this phone.
It is basically a Galaxy S with Gingerbread ROM. More internal memory.
It will be a nice phone, but I expected a dual core processor.
I hate non physical buttons as my N1 had lots of issues with them.
I honestly don't see myself upgrading to this phone...
No 4G, No Front Face Camera, and a Samsung built phone.
I will stick with my MyTouch4G and I think the rumors of developing for the G2/MT4G were gonna stop when the Nexus S was released were just that rumors. There will be development for it... but it will be to set up CM7 (Gingerbread) for older phones.
It has a front facing camera and has capabilities to run HSDPA
It does have the FFC, but no hsdpa+. I still think it fails. STILL NO LED NOTIFICATIONS EITHER!!
It does have a front facing camera. I was holding out on getting the MyTouch 4G for this phone. Now I'm still pretty torn on which I should get. This is really unsettling!
VDubLife said:
It has a front facing camera and has capabilities to run HSDPA
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Click to collapse
Ya I was wrong about the FFC but still no HSPA+.... that sucks...
I am very disappointed in this phone, and in Gingerbread. I was expecting a lot of wow in both and I don't see it. I'm not saying it won't have major speed improvements, but I thought GB was supposed to be a UI gangster =D. Oh well there's always next year (HoneyComb).
The Nexus S is simply a US version of the Euro Galaxy S with stock Android on board, NFC chipset, downgraded Bluetooth connectivity, no 720p video capture and no removable storage (no SD card). Compared to the MT4G it has less RAM (mt4g = 768mb nexus = 512mb), no hspa+ capability. So in my opinion the only upside to the nexus S is stock Android w/ up to date OS upgrades from Google, and 16gb of on board storage.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
I really don't get why they fingered Samsung to build the Next Nexus device. Maybe because they build phones like Apple.... With trendy advertisement and the illusion of awe. Lol. Only Apple can sell millions of people a 10 in pad that does nothing more than the average smart phone out there..
Avatar helped, didn't it? HTC makes great devices and they opt for "Quietly Brilliant".
sicdroid said:
I really don't get why they fingered Samsung to build the Next Nexus device. Maybe because they build phones like Apple.... With trendy advertisement and the illusion of awe. Lol. Only Apple can sell millions of people a 10 in pad that does nothing more than the average smart phone out there..
Avatar helped, didn't it? HTC makes great devices and they opt for "Quietly Brilliant".
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I think they went with samsung cuz of the near field chip. Google is said to be pretty excited about it.
itmustbejj said:
I think they went with samsung cuz of the near field chip. Google is said to be pretty excited about it.
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Yeah, NFC is a nice piece of tech and an advancement for sure... I wish them luck, but I know there is going to be a lot of pissed developers, modders, and just plain device users not having an SD Card. The whole point of Android and Googles revolution is the open freedom. What is next???? A Unremovable battery?
sicdroid said:
I really don't get why they fingered Samsung to build the Next Nexus device. Maybe because they build phones like Apple.... With trendy advertisement and the illusion of awe. Lol. Only Apple can sell millions of people a 10 in pad that does nothing more than the average smart phone out there..
Avatar helped, didn't it? HTC makes great devices and they opt for "Quietly Brilliant".
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Most big business transactions are done via a sealed bid process. It's quite possible that Samsung had the lowest bid and won the contract.
kgbkny said:
Most big business transactions are done via a sealed bid process. It's quite possible that Samsung had the lowest bid and won the contract.
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No doubt money was the motivation, which does surprise me. Google is not afraid to spend money. You would think as open as google is with their VERY FAT wallet, they would have not chosen the cheaply made plastic device as opposed to the metal and durable devices for their very own Nexus Series. I guess I just dream of the solid build of metal and glass we ask love on our MT4G, with a 4.3 screen, and no physical buttons.
I understand their reasons for the choice, I just don't understand the reasons of their choices. Lol.
sicdroid said:
No doubt money was the motivation, which does surprise me. Google is not afraid to spend money. You would think as open as google is with their VERY FAT wallet, they would have not chosen the cheaply made plastic device as opposed to the metal and durable devices for their very own Nexus Series. I guess I just dream of the solid build of metal and glass we ask love on our MT4G, with a 4.3 screen, and no physical buttons.
I understand their reasons for the choice, I just don't understand the reasons of their choices. Lol.
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It's quite possible that Samsung used the success of the Galaxy S series to seal the deal with Google. We all know about the serious issues with Galaxy S phones. However, they sold millions of units worldwide and have established brand recognition. I'm certain that Google took that into consideration when awarding Samsung the Nexus contract.
Moreover, it appears that Samsung used a different GPS antenna in the Nexus S than in the Galaxy S, and got rid of the RFS system. It's quite possible that Google had a lot of say in it. In fact, the replacement of the GPS antenna clearly suggests that the faulty GPS in the Galaxy S phones is a hardware defect.
kgbkny said:
It's quite possible that Samsung used the success of the Galaxy S series to seal the deal with Google. We all know about the serious issues with Galaxy S phones. However, they sold millions of units worldwide and have established brand recognition. I'm certain that Google took that into consideration when awarding Samsung the Nexus contract.
Moreover, it appears that Samsung used a different GPS antenna in the Nexus S than in the Galaxy S, and got rid of the RFS system. It's quite possible that Google had a lot of say in it. In fact, the replacement of the GPS antenna clearly suggests that the faulty GPS in the Galaxy S phones is a hardware defect.
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Samsung has established brand recognition within the android community...and it is not good. Specifically within the developer crowd, so it seems counterproductive to make a developer phone from a company that most developers have sworn to stay away from.
I think I made a right decision getting MT4 after I heard NS won't have memory card support and AMOLED.
Not Having a SD will make it difficult to MOD/Hack
I'm sorry but I love Google I've had every developer phone hated to sell my nexus one but the Nexus S is not spiking my interest at all. It is lacking toooooo much. Plus the MT4G has been upgrading pretty quickly it's already rooted and I know CM won't let us down on Gingerbread GO ANDROID
itmustbejj said:
Samsung has established brand recognition within the android community...and it is not good. Specifically within the developer crowd, so it seems counterproductive to make a developer phone from a company that most developers have sworn to stay away from.
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Agreed. Chalk me up as a member of the Android community who will not be buying any more Samsung phones. However, money definitely talks, and I'm sure that factor definitely came into play.
Samsung is a powerful consumer name so there's "cred" there. Also, Google may well not have wanted to put too many eggs in the HTC basket. You get a LOT better support from your vendors if they know they are not single source. So it may have had a lot less to do with unit cost and a lot more to do with reminding HTC they are not the only game in town (my opinions differ but I have to use the device, not write contracts with the vendor).
Overall the Nexus S is better than I would have expected from Samsung. Their "cred" comes with a lot of "consumer grade" baggage; I generally avoid their products. It is probably unfair at this point to call Samsung "cheap junk", but no one is going to accuse them of building high end equipment either.
Comparison wise: I waited about 7 months for project emerald, driving everyone around me only somewhat more crazy than normal in the process. I got the Glacier on the release date and cannot say a single bad thing about it. It is a worthy example of the ultra-high quality I expect from HTC.
I bought a behold the day it came out and dealt with its problems. I had a stock vibrant for 4 days when it started with its problems. I will never buy samsung again. Can't believe google allowed a company known for defects to produce their next flagship. Ill stick to my mt4g till something that actually beats it comes out.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
The Nexus S is very ugly, average specs, Samsung made and I'm not happy. I will keep my Nexus One, never sell it and guess I'll keep the MyTouch 4G.
PS - No SD card, no HSPA+, I can not believe no sd card. I always rave about the Nexus One to anyone who will listen, because of that I wanted the Nexus S real bad but I am a real nut when it comes to cell phones. I will probably figure some way of buying that damn thing anyways.
Hi everyone,
I'm a longtime lurker in these forums, and I'd love some advice on phone options.
I'm a Verizon Wireless customer, and for some specific reasons, have to stay that way.
My current phone is a Droid 2 Global. It's my first Android device. Previously, I had Windows Mobile, for phones and PDAs, dating all the way back to when it was called Windows CE.
I'm happy-ish with Android, and plan on staying with Android for now, but it's time to upgrade, and I'd like to do it while I can still stay on my grandfathered unlimited data plan (so anytime between now and the next 3-4 months).
I'd like to get a phone I'll be happy with for the next 2 years, so I'd like to have some future-facing features, like high resolution and NFC, in addition to enough RAM to run today's software and tomorrow's.
My current phone, the D2G, running the stock rom and the .629 update, is slow like a turtle moving through molasses. It once wasn't this way, and it's not overloaded with apps, but it's a situation I'd like to avoid in the future.
So, in my next phone, I'm looking for the following, and I can't seem to find a phone that has all of these features:
-removable, easily replaceable battery (so I can carry around more than one)
-global (GSM/HSPA) capability
-physical keyboard
-1 GB RAM or more
-dual core processor (or better)
-4G LTE
-ICS + moderately decent upgrade schedule for future releases
-NFC
-1280x720 screen
No phone matches all of these. The three phones that come closest are:
1. HTC Rezound: no physical keyboard or NFC
2. Samsung Galaxy Nexus: no physical keyboard or global capability
3. Droid 4: non-removable battery, no NFC, no 1280x720 screen
I travel internationally a couple of times a year, but not more frequently, so I suppose that I could just keep my current phone (the D2G, which is SIM-unlocked) for world-roaming purposes, and use it when I travel.
I've had a physical keyboard for a long time - my last 5 phones have had one, and I type much faster on it. I could give it up, but don't really want to.
I feel like NFC is a serious want-to-have, not for today, but for 12 months from now, when it'll be convenient and more common.
I want the higher resolution 1280x720 screen. I don't HAVE to have it, but when buying a phone for 2 years, it seems like it'd be foolish not to get it.
The other thing that tempts me is that it seems like we have phones with quad-core processors just around the corner - is it worth waiting a few more months to get one? My single core D2G was the fastest phone out there when I got it about two years ago, and now it's one of the absolute slowest - does it make sense to go dual core when quad cores are here?
---
Anyway, that's what I am thinking about. Can anyone provide some guidance?
Should I just bite the bullet and get the Galaxy Nexus, and travel globally with my slow-as-molasses D2G? Or should I saddle up with the Droid 4 and its sad screen, forget about replacing the battery, and live near a charger at all times? Or maybe just wait until something cooler comes out from around the corner?
Anyone?
Bueller? Bueller?
Wait a couple weeks for the S3 and either use your D2G for global use, or buy an incredible 2 or Droid 3 for global use on the cheap. Physical keyboard is worthless now, as screen sizes coupled with amazing auto correct software make touchscreen keyboards a breeze and an obvious choice.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
Would you take the SIII over the Galaxy Nexus?
Are the non-Nexus Samsungs much harder to root?
I honestly love the Nexus. It's sexy and snappy. I bought one for my wife. I don't think the SIII will be harder to root than the Nexus. Your call really. The SIII will be newer and the "it" phone for a while, but the Nexus is still very capable and is gonna be way cheaper right now. You can probably get a Nexus for about $100 on contract as long as you avoid corporate Verizon stores. They will rape you on price and give you **** service. Check Costco or Best Buy in your area. They'll be cheaper on both devices than a Verizon store.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
one thing I would say about the resolution is that its a bit of a marketing ploy.
once you start getting above WVGA resolutions unless you perch the device on your nose its quite hard to tell the difference.
Whats more important is actually the screen tech, I can promise you that a decent panel at a lower res will look a lot better than a cheap or average panel with a high res.
Will time make a difference? nope, not unless you become very short sighted and actually have the device on the end of your nose
To be honest id agree with you on the NFC thing, if your set on keeping it for a few years it would be worth it, but that's a relatively newish tech hitting the markets, might be worth holding back a few months until Q3 12 to see whats in the pipe line. A lot more NFC devices will be coming out, one of them is bound to tick more of your boxes....
just a thought.
Nexus is always a good bet...
Coming from Sprint, I don't really know about Verizon's phones..
However,
Physical Keyboards are a dying breed. Most of these phones will be bulky and have bigger batteries or shorter battery life.
Currently typing this on my Galaxy Nexus, I highly recommended this phone.
Yes, there are only soft buttons (sans the power and volume), but its definitely future tech.
Amazing resolution (the screen has mfc defects, but they're often overlooked)
LTE, HSPA, GSM
And I do believe it has a place for your SIM card (Sprint doesn't use sim cards, so I'm not sure)
The phones extremely thin, light battery, and has a nice feeling curved glass and battery cover.
Great battery life once you unlock it and flash a battery mod.
No complaints here
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Its all the same, nevertheless. I find nexus 6P more elegant and unique, thus the reason buying it because theres so many people with samsung devices, even low class people which just filters out its uniqueness and its price tag making it look worthless outside. What are your opinions? If your on Samsung S6/Edge/+, would you have the need to upgrade to an device such as Samsung S7?
EDIT :
I've posted an explanation as to what low class in this instance means. forgive me if it had you in any way, i was never trying to make any of you owners sad, its just that for so many, they have this phone and it just gets rid of its status 'elegant'. Elegant is ment to be beautiful, stylish. But when everyone has this 'elegant' phone, where does the definition exist of being stylish?
EDIT2:
I love the samsung edge because its invention of curve screen. I've even had friends give them to me to try for an hour or so. The thing is that, i don't like people having the same phone as me. I was about to get the nexus 5x but one of my friends got it, so i went ahead with nexus 6p. But that doesnt mean that i would get another new phone if someone else has the same phone as me because that would be regarded as wasting money.
I agree I'm in a bond my Samsung smartphone if I should get the new one must have something waw and cool and interesting
I got my Galaxy S phone to be different from everybody else.
Then I got my Galaxy S4/S5 because they were simply the best.
Samsung is neither unique or the best anymore so...
Nexus6p stands strong in Android market . I hope Samsung won't compete to beat n6P with bloatware and bla bla. Hail nexus6p
After living with the LG G4 for a couple weeks, I'll be sticking with Samsung, if for no other reason that I FAR prefer the Home/capacative buttons that Samsung offers compared to the on screen buttons that all the other major makers use. Plus, I like Samsung's screens the best, & they are always at or near the top in camera, performance, etc. Custom ROMs take care of the bloat. Now, Samsung isn't perfect, & I am very disappointed by their removal of SD & replaceable battery, which is why I'm still hanging in there with my S4, which I had planned to replace with the S6. It looks like the SD is coming back, which will be probably be enough for me to go with the S7. If the S7 had replaceable battery, it would be a slam dunk for me. Despite the G4 having those features, it's size & button arrangement (including the power & volume) made it an overall less preferable unit to me than my aging S4.
I agree with the OP, my next device will be a Nexus one.
Not going to upgrade/downgrade from the note 4. But it will interesting to see if Samsung has learned something and if they will put the removable battery and a micro sd card back into their phones.
But yeah real buttons will always beat out in screen ones
So no one have an issue with this person stating even "low class" people have a Samsung?...Obviously not.
Sent from my Z10 using xda premium
If you can afford it buy Galaxy S7 or just buy some chinese Android phone.
But I definitely like to have microSD card back on Galaxy S7
You sound pretentious and terrible. Just because a company sells their product successfully does not make them worse. They're still using top of the line, listening to consumers by reinstating the microSD slot. You're not special because you have money to buy better products. If you wanna be so "different" go buy an iPhone. You have the same mindset as an apple fanboy.
Like most phones, upgrading every year isn't very appealing because there's only so much that can be improved. I wouldn't upgrade from a Galaxy S6. But I certainly will from my S5 Sport!
II-DJ-Messiah-II said:
even low class people
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Really, low class? Well you are the Messiah so I guess everyone is low class to you.
I agree with some of you, I don't seen the point of upgrading every year, there isn't a big enough difference between each years models. I don't mind iPhone once they are jailbroken, I have an iPhone 4 that has been through hell and back with me and still kicking. I have been through a kyocera slide I got stuck in boot loop and bricked a HTC desire. Now have an LG G3 that I love and haven't had any problems. If your going from a device that that is a couple models older and is going obsolete then upgrade, but most of us don't have the money laying around to to by a new phone every year.
Have they even set a release date for the Galaxy D7 yet?
By low class, you have to understand that i am not defining those who have samsung as lower class. its your choice to have it or not. but the thing is that wherever i go, everywhere! people have got either samsung or apple in their hands and to me it feels like its just too many. it just destroys its elegancy and its price tag. i don't know how to explain but I hope i cleared some misconceptions
Not usually one to post, but you're not helping yourself any with your explanation. You still come off as elitist, shallow, and rather petty to be honest.
Who cares how many people have a phone? Are you going to tell me an iPhone isn't nice because millions of people have one? Or that the Galaxy series is suddenly not one of the best phones, simply because more people have it?
I dunno if this is going to be breaking news to you, but with contract subsidies and pricing offers and various discounts, even the most expensive of smartphones are a relatively cheap luxury item. With the modern reliance on cellphones, and mobile data, of course having a good phone is going to be something most people will spend a few extra dollars on. Is it really a newsflash that people want the best? Or did you not consider that most people are flocking to the Galaxy series, and the iPhone lineup, because they have a longstanding legacy of being two of the best, powerhouse smartphones available.
Furthermore.. elegance? Really? They're phones, not watches. They're consumption devices that have increasingly more and more uses.. not just little gadgets people get, to show off how rich or awesome they are. Only the geekiest of the geeks have a nerdgasm about how much more elegant their phone is than the average person. The rest of us standard model geeks would rather just enjoy our phones as the tools that they are, and try to find the one that works best for us.
Well done, ThePheonixChameleon. I totally agree, although what do I know, I'm an inelegant, low-class owner of a Galaxy S4, no less.
There is no need to get a Samsung devuce, because there is OnePlus out there...
I was a great fan of Samsung devices, and I'm still are. But now I have two OnePlus devices and I'm very satisfied with them. So I won't get any other device for now and the near future. :beer:
hella356 said:
Well done, ThePheonixChameleon. I totally agree, although what do I know, I'm an inelegant, low-class owner of a Galaxy S4, no less.
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Ehh, I just picked up my fourth rooted Galaxy S3 off Swappa. Still clinging to that antique, cliche phone.. with it's plastic case and inelegant awesomeness that made it the only phone anyone wanted of it's generation.
I currently own a Galaxy S5 Sport. Great phone, but the first thing I did was flash CM12.1, waiting for CM13. Touchwiz is a piece of ****. Samsung phones are so much better than one would think if you get rid of the garbage stock ROM. I'm not just speaking aesthetically, the performance is atrocious. It's so smooth and never hangs up now, also doesn't force close when trying to do something intensive and the RAM management is much better!
victor1g said:
'm not just speaking aesthetically, the performance is atrocious. It's so smooth and never hangs up now, also doesn't force close when trying to do something intensive and the RAM management is much better!
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Totally agree. I also had a SGS5 before I exchanged it with the OnePlus Two. I tried a lot of different Rom's. The very best I flashed on it was AICP. I was very satisfied with that Rom. Maybe you will try it out. :thumbup: