Phones etc

DonovanB · 2012-06-18T11:49:47+00:00

So what's a good phone nowadays? I've got a Blackberry Curve currently but I want a bigger screen. Also not keen to pay a span for over rated gadgetry and d...

Phones etc

Squonk

Nitebob wrote: I hear what you are saying Squonk, but I've had contracts since 1998...the BB, was the first phone ever I had to take in for repairs before being due for an upgrade, that, to me, sucks...

Yes the BB was slow, Yes it was cheap, After having this android phone, would I go back to BB...dunno ??? No use crying over spilt milk, I'm already paying for the handset...

Best to use Android while you can. Google bought Motorolla, Japanese government asked them to agree to keeping Android open to other makes for the next 5 years, after that, it might become Motorolla's exclusive OS...I will never have a Motorolla again..for sure

The thing is don't write off phones that were crap before. Motorola , HTC and even the early Samsung models have all improved significantly. Even the new Sony phones have rave reviews after they dropped Ericcsson!

Ask yourself what you need to do with the phone and then do some research.

guitarboy2828

Don, I agree with moving away from BB. As David said, they have their market... I'm certainly not in that market. I can't stand them. Everyone I know with one has sent them in for repairs, at least once. To me that is not cool! But, everyone I know that has one, enjoys them, that's good for them.

I have a Samsung S2. Decent phone, I like it for most things. It's a decent size too. I'm not sure why you'd want the note? Unless you REALLY want the bigger screen, I think it'd be a HUGE hassle. Trying to text while driving (I guess I shouldn't do that anyway) is a definite impossibility, I don't even know how comfortable one can hold that with one hand and answer it? I struggle with my GS2 because the answer key is in an awkward spot.

What do you want your phone to do? You say you want features? What features are you hoping for? I'll tell you want I love about my gs2:
Reading: Kindle is amazing on here, perfect sized fonts, I go through books quickly on here while waiting in ques, I love it.
Messaging: watsapp, sms, e-mail, etc is awesome on here. I have a gmail account and it syncs perfectly and because I'm often in meetings and on the go, this works great for me.
Calendar: My iPad, macbook and GS2 all sync together, which is great. I use the calendar a lot!
Facebook: yup, all my Facebook notifications come through and I can check them when I like ?
INSTAGRAM: yes, it is awesome! ?
Camera: I'm a photo kinda guy and the camera on the s2 is superb with some great apps to help it even further.
Games: I'm not too much of a gamer, but there are some fun one's if you wana play while waiting around or whatever.

Personally, I'd find the Note too big and unnecessary (I have an iPad for bigger stuff).

My data bill (and whole bill) is BIG... But I don't pay it, so I don't really mind. ?

DonovanB

I do a fair amount of web work, writing copy etc. not much imaging applications but I do little bits here and there.

That is all done part time so my dedicated machine at home is always far from me. Big screens are cool. But I might not go for the Note. It does look a bit too big.

I don't really see BB going away in a hurry in SA until data comes down in price.

Nitebob

Maybe I misrepresented my case...I don't like BB's because it didn't last and was extremely slow(at that stage didn't even have 3G, why even bother making that phone?!).Which is why I went for the Samsung S2 (S3 is out now by the way, with a quad core processor and a screen resolution so high, it comes with an HDMI port to connect to a computer screen)...much more web capable, even a soundcloud app for uploading and following, sharing etc. It's awesome...it's just the cost that ruffles my feathers....I had one of the first BB's and unfortunately in my case first impressions last.

DonovanB

My BB has been rock solid. Even after dropping it plenty of times it still stayed strong.

I think I might go for the S2 because the price is right and it matches 80%of what I'd like. Money talks though.

The S3 looks cool though. My boss has one. Although we can't make us of 4G yet and many of the features will be over the top for me.

epictring

I'm also due for an upgrade soon.

Either going for the Samsung Galaxy S III or HTC One X

DonovanB

Those who have iphones or android phones, how much data do you actually use and how do you manage apps that are data thirsty?

Sean

I use about 150mb a month on my Android phone. No downloading, but plenty plenty browsing, and occasional gps etc. I'm using a HTC Wildfire, I'm also due for an upgrade soon. I've never had a single issue with my phone, I don't know what I'll upgrade to, I have everything I need. Also sync calendars etc. Sms's and whatsapp messages get saved to my gmail account etc. My bill usually hovers around R200 a month.

epictring

Donovan Banks wrote: Those who have iphones or android phones, how much data do you actually use and how do you manage apps that are data thirsty?

When getting either an iOS or Android phone it is essential that you get a monthly data bundle, or your bills will go sky high even on low data usage - since the phone updates various processes periodically.

SnapcaseZA

Donovan Banks wrote:Those who have iphones or android phones, how much data do you actually use and how do you manage apps that are data thirsty?

I have a Samsung Galaxy S (first one), and I use about 50MB a month - but I'm on wifi pretty much all day (at home and at work) except when I'm out. So the 50MB is data I use when I'm OFF wifi! I turn off data usage (simple as enable/disable) when I'm out and its fine, hardly uses anything then. I'm on a topup R200 with a 25MB data bundle. Normally have about R50 left at the end of the month.

I use Whatsapp for messaging which runs all the time and works when background data is off too, and saves a butt load on messaging. I run Skype too when I'm out the office, and when I'm not on a skype call it uses a negligible amount of data. So apps I use that use data are, skype, twitter, facebook, instagram (when posting a pic), the native email app and gmail - off the top of my head. For browsing I loaded the Dolphin Browser which renders web pages really well, also allows for tab based browsing like Google Chrome.

If I was upgrading now, I'd get a Samsung Galaxy S3 in a heart beat (not the Note, the Note is too big, I like to be able to operate my phone with one hand, not be forced to hold it in one and navigate with the other). The HTC One X, and iPhones are HUGE contenders, but I'm an android and Samsung fan so I'd stick to them. BB is ridiculous, I have no clue why they are so big here in SA? The rest of the world is fast realising that fact.

Hope that helps.

DonovanB

SnapcaseZA wrote:BB is ridiculous, I have no clue why they are so big here in SA? The rest of the world is fast realising that fact.

well...

epictring wrote:
When getting either an iOS or Android phone it is essential that you get a monthly data bundle, or your bills will go sky high even on low data usage - since the phone updates various processes periodically.

There's your answer. Money.

I'm quite intimidated by the data charge. I'd hate to be tied into a contract that kills my pocket.

epictring

Donovan Banks wrote:
SnapcaseZA wrote:BB is ridiculous, I have no clue why they are so big here in SA? The rest of the world is fast realising that fact.
well...

epictring wrote:
When getting either an iOS or Android phone it is essential that you get a monthly data bundle, or your bills will go sky high even on low data usage - since the phone updates various processes periodically.
There's your answer. Money.

I'm quite intimidated by the data charge. I'd hate to be tied into a contract that kills my pocket.

Donovan if you look you'll find that most (Vodacom anyway) carriers offer the phones they know that are high on data usage such as the Androids and iOS phones with a 250mb data bundle p.month. I don't know if this is found everywhere but at least my agreement includes it which is a HTC Desire S.

Sean

Donovan Banks wrote: I'm quite intimidated by the data charge. I'd hate to be tied into a contract that kills my pocket.

I'm on a top up contract. So I buy data bundles when I need it.

DonovanB

Ja I've noticed the data bundles. Seems to be the way to go.

Sean with MTN? 8ta is impossible to buy data. Thankfully I'm not with them

Sean

Donovan Banks wrote: Ja I've noticed the data bundles. Seems to be the way to go.

Sean with MTN? 8ta is impossible to buy data. Thankfully I'm not with them

No, with Vodacom.

Nitebob

I am almost on one gig so far for the month...I have a 1.5gb bundle, I turn all synchronising off, turn GPS off...basically everything off, I just allow Whatsapp to synchronise...even email I refresh when I feel it is time...

My downfall is Youtube...mainly, and music downloads...

Squonk

SnapcaseZA wrote:
BB is ridiculous, I have no clue why they are so big here in SA? The rest of the world is fast realising that fact.

You need to understand that we are being ripped off in RSA for data bundle prices. The reason BB is so big here, is that you can browse the internet as much as you want, Twitter and FB all day long 24/7 and not be charged beyond the BIS rate that is worked into your contract price. This is hugely appealing for school children (and parents) as it is economically viable. and BBM is a big one, whatsapp does a similar job but it still light years behind BBM.

In the USA and UK, data is cheap, so BIS is not a that much of a cheaper option, this is why BB is dwindling globally, but not in RSA.

guitarboy2828

Don, I am home most of the day, so I'm connected via wifi, so maybe mine is not a good reflection. But, I never spent more than R100 on data (i thought it was a lot more, I spent A LOT on calls ?). I have everything to sync, i mean, EVERYTHING! Even when I've been out of my house for a few weeks, it is not that high. As long as I'm not watching youtube or streaming music, I'm okay. Most things like Facebook, twitter, etc, really don't use that much data!

shaundtsl

I am an iPhone fan. Whats also nice is with vodacom I get an sms when my databundle is almost up, then another when it is up. Then, I just switch off the cellular data usage which is cool, because at work and at home I am connected to a wifi network anyway.

Also, not sure how true, but apparently the android os cant handle multi track audio which means things such as garage band wont work on android, but I could be wrong and anyone who knows better is more than welcome to correct me.

Heath

i moved from the blackberry to the htc chacha , i am a pretty heavy user and generally burn threw a gig a month , thats 3 email accounts , whatapps , facebook , twitter and youtube .... but the biggest problem with any smartphone is battery life , i have to carry to batterys with me , but i do use my phone alot