All Things Android - Apps, Phones, Tablets - Discussion

Nice! That smartphone looks awesome!

 

The next phone I buy has that Hitachi screen that I'm sure I've linked to at some point in the past...

 

You know, LG are doing some smart stuff right now and little touches like this leave a really good impression.

 

Hitatchi 720p screen FTW.

That will be my next, next, next phone . First galaxy s2, then nokia wp7 then hitatchi screened phone in 2012

 

They said it would most likely be Q4 this year when handsets arrive on the market with the screen in question.

So between just having been given the Arc and the fact that we're only talking ~6 months, I think I can wait, maybe, hopefully.

 

I thought the screen was going into production this fall, and will be mainstream next year. Hope I am wrong.

 

Damnit, you're right.
Production starts in October ( assuming it hasn't been delayed by the tsunami etc), so devices are likely to start to reach the market at CES in 2012.

Well, if I do well in this SE Ambassador scheme, I could get to go to CES 2012...

 

I have another question : will the Xperia arc last for like 2-3 years? By lasting I mean being able to play games, apps, etc, and its durability?

 

Fancy Widget Pro is free on Amazon app store today.

 

The xperia arc will be able to do anything it was capable of doing at launch for as long as the hardware lasts. In terms of being future proof for games and apps 3 years down the road, probably not. Three years is a HUGE amount of time in the mobile phone world.

 

Thanks!

May I know what type of apps I won't be able to process/run?
I believe the only apps I will be running are aGPS, Twitter, Facebook, eBuddy, a couple of games and Google Earth.

 

Awesome! I've been using the free version for some time now, I'm going to go scoop that up right now.

I like Fancy Widget better than Beautiful Widgets, which I've recently uninstalled. They're both skinnable, but I just like some of the smaller details of FW better.

Nobody can tell you what you will or won't be able to run in the future, because it's not the future yet.

 

Awesome, thanks for the reply

Great read! Thanks!

Probably super high end games...they may run but not well. Who knows what the mobile landscape will look like years from now. You should buy a phone "for the now." but slightly future proofed, as you'll be locked in for two years if you're on contract.

 

That's why I love my VM plan...no contract at all and with the money I'm saving over more expensive contract plans, I may be able to save up to get the new Android phone that's supposedly coming out on VM this summer.

 

Ahhhh!!! I think I will only play Angry Birds-like games, something indie, stuff like that. I will only DL freebies, so yeah

I think the Xperia Arc is pretty "future proof". I saw a Xperia Arc vs the Atrix, and the performance of the Arc was amazing vs the Atrix! It was very impressive! The Arc gets around 1600 points in Quadrant.
And all these dual cores ( Optimus 2x, Atrix, Scorpion/Olympia, Galaxy S II ), are VERY expensive, and I would never be able to get them... Therefore, I believe the Arc is a good hybrid between performance, and amazing design.

Thank you for all your amazing help guys! Cheers!

 

There is no contract because no one in their right mind would sign a contract for the terrible phones they have.

 

Is there any way to text via internet/data on an android phone, using your same phone number?

 

You can tell we're a bunch of nerds around here when this is what passes for smack-talk:

 

They have a couple Android phones; the Samsung Intercept (the one I have) and the LG Optimus V. They're both 3.2" and relatively on the lower end of the Android spectrum, but Virgin Mobile is about low cost, not cutting-edge technology. The Intercept has gotten loads better since the 2.2 FroYo update, and the Optimus V ships with FroYo. Neither phone is "terrible".

They also have the Blackberry Curve, which is available on many other contract-based carriers. As for their non-smartphones, they're equivalent to those you'll find on any other carrier.

That said, there is a rumor that Motorola is making a significantly higher-end Android phone for VM, along the lines of a 4.1" screen, 1GHz Snapdragon, 5MP camera and FroYo. It would definitely be a step up from either the Intercept or Optimus V.

 

I disagree that neither phone is terrible. They are both terrible. Also, the 4.1 inch snapdragon phone you mentioned will be low end by the time it is released.

You are not going to be able to convince a bunch of phone nerds that cheap service is worth having a crappy phone. Obviously, we are willing to pay the more expensive prices for better hardware.

My point that no informed tech enthusiast would be willing to sign a contract for the phones on Virgin mobile remains true. That is why they have low end smartphones and month to month service. Your post re-enforces my point-- they are not about cutting edge, they are about cheap service. Hence the terrible hardware for a low cost.

 

^ Just pointing out here, Sprint offers the same phones. And people sign up for contracts to get them

 

While the Intercept might not be everyone's cup of tea, the Optimus One line of phones has been widely applauded by the press:

http://www.androidcentral.com/lg-optimus-one-review
http://mobile.engadget.com/2010/11/05/lg-optimus-t-and-optimus-s-review/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2380082,00.asp

For a entry level/mid-range device, they certainly aren't bad. Quite responsive, unskinned (or with minimal skinning on a few branded devices), hackable, and solidly built, they're a great value for someone who's just getting started.

Granted, high end users/enthusiasts like us might thumb their noses up at a phone like the Optimus One line, but we're not exactly in the target demo for it. It's intended for smartphone beginners: people who might be on their first or second device, as well as those who are willing to forgo having the latest and greatest in order to have a lower monthly bill. I see no shame in that. My friend (and fellow NBR member) Avanish11 is using a Optimus V right now. Granted he's coming from the world of BlackBerry, and an old one at that, but he's had no complaints.

I can easily see Virgin expanding their Android lineup beyond these two phones as more and more people realize that prepaid shouldn't carry as much of a "stigma" as it has in the past/right now. We can say that we get more phone choice (which is true) but I'd argue that those that can live with hardware thats not the latest and greatest on carriers like Cricket, Metro PCS and Virgin Mobile are some of the smartest people in the proverbial room.

Would I use the Optimus One/V/C..etc.: Personally, it doesn't fit my needs. The screen's a bit small at 3.2 and I need a keyboard desperately.

 

Reposting...

Anyone know of a way to text using internet/data using my same phone number?

 

why on earth would you want that...erm....google voice maybe..

 

dont wanna pay the fee to port my number

And because, im going to lower my plan to 1500 mins/texts combined to save money.

 

There are apps like WhatsApp that let you text via the data connection but I think they use a BBM-esque PIN system.

Can't think of anything else, sorry.

 

I haven't seen an app that allows you to text via data with your same number. Everything I've ever seen requires a new number that they provide.

 

Ah well, thanks for the suggestions

Ill have to just keep my usage as low as possible or deal with getting a new number for texting

 

Just a side note, I am curious to see how many posts out of your 7222+ OT have the " " expression in it. Im guessing a pretty high ratio

 

I roll my eyes alot

 

I just thought you were short and always looking up

 

lmao XD nah just sarcastic

 

Cool emoticons are cool.
We should petition for the android emoticons!

 

Unlocked HTC Legend for $150........to buy or not to buy, that is the question.

 

IMHO, I wouldn't. Though it has an AMOLED screen, its weak CPU and low-res screen make me say no. And its design is kind of... Strange...

But in the end, who am I to tell you what you should buy? It's your decision

 

My second contract is up for renewal it's the one my sister uses and pays for.
She wants a phone for internet usage.

She saw an advert for WP7 phones and is wondering about them but I reckon that Android is a better choice - the handsets are better value than the WP7 handsets over here.


Anyway, looking at £20/month contracts and I can get a Desire HD, Desire S or a Galaxy S for free.
It's 200 minutes, unlimited texts and a 250MB data bundle, which is my only concern...

 

It's not for me haha. I already have a Desire HD, just buying it to root then resell. I'd never buy it for myself. :laugh: I will decide once I see the ebay prices in a couple of hours. My Desire Z auction is going well so far.

I barely make it past 250MB myself. (out of 500MB)

 

The average over here that's offered on contract is 500MB, which apparently less than 5% of people exceed.

I really don't get what people in the US do on their phones that uses 2, 3, 4+ GB.

 

Neither do I. I don't watch many if any youtube on my phone, I use Opera browser with opera turbo on (compressed pics). In general I just check my email along with updates from my news feed. I might be able to see how to manage so much if I tether 3G everyday.

 

Still, whilst I'm not blasting through gigabytes at a time, 250MB is just low enough to concern me...

 

Yeah I'd definitely be less than comfortable with 250MB. Don't really like having to watch my net usage.

 

Just get a plan monitoring widget on your home screen and you won't have to worry about it.

Personally, my phone is my only source of Internet; I have no connection at home, so I really put my unlimited data plan to work. I've never really checked exactly how much I go through in an average month, though. But this month, it'll be at least 10GB, as I've downloaded the entirety of Portal 2 through Steam over my connection

 

I only have 100MB and im considering going down to 30MB

I could easily use GBs and GBs though if i could.

 

I could use loads as well if I went out of my way but not just through using my phone normally.

 

Under normal use im sure i could too. I would stream music alot, web browse alot, download apps, etc. I think i would use a few GB doing that.

 

Motorola promises unlocked bootloaders for future Android phones? (update) -- Engadget

If true, and take it with a large grain of salt: it's a company Facebook page....chances are 95% high that the people in charge of the Facebook page have no clue and just said it to appease the angry horde of Facebook users, I'll put Moto on my list for sure.

 

I would say 94.76%.

 

Quoted from the thread about the iPhone location data furore:

Also, I can't help thinking that this is some genius marketing.

 

Just gave this a read...

LINK

very interesting, dont think im going to use them anymore

 

WOW, you can OC your phone?!

Now THAT is something I WOULDN'T recommend lol.