to iphone or not to iphone?

caroline1973lefty

hey there just wondered if anyone could give me some general advice. i need a new phone cos my old handset is dying and am on a SIM only contract (out of contract) at the mo. don't really want to be tied to an expensive long term contract.

i mostly use my phone for making phone calls, texting, and listening to music (downloads). i'm quite keen to see if i can link spotify to a new phone though. i know i can do that on iphones but dunno about other phones?

i'm not even sure i'm that desperate for email and web access on my phone (have a netbook anyway), though i guess it could be handy - i'm a bit anti-tech/low fi in some ways and i hate it when my friends play with their phones when we're talking. any advice?

DUTR

Many smartphones support spotify/mobbler etc, the iphone is good, but not without it's shortcomings.
But yes go for one (don't be moaning about the price, they are pretty much fixed) .

Oscar_The_Grouch

I've got an iPhone 4 on order, but I think you'd be making a mistake if you bought one.

Your main wish is to have Spotify on the phone and be able to play music. Spotify quite kindly give you a list of the mobiles that they know will work with their system (clicky). This includes much cheaper (and probably better for you) handsets including the Sony X10 Mini and Nokia 5800; both of which can be bought for less than half the cost of an iPhone.

It seems that you don't want apps, games, gadgets and the like for your phone; you want a phone that does phonecalls, texts, music and a bit of internet now and then. Why waste your money on an iPhone if you're not going to use it?

I will use my iPhone for games, videos, music, phonecalls, texts, e-mail, internet and sat nav. I don't get on with the silly little earbuds, so a phone with a proper 3.5mm port is a must for me.

I know that there are cheaper phones that can do exactly the same thing (HTC Desire & Wildfire, Samsung Galaxy S and the new Nokia N8 to name a few) but I've wanted an iPhone for YEARS and for once have the funds to pay for it. I don't get the feeling you really NEED or WANT an iPhone, so I think you're best starting point is Spotify. Find a couple of phones you like the look of and then post back on here with their details (make and model) as well as details of your current network so that people can give you their honest opinions and make suggestions on whether you need to move to a new provider or not.

flyingscotno1

caroline1973lefty wrote: »

i'm quite keen to see if i can link spotify to a new phone though. /QUOTE]

One thing is to remember is I'm sure Spotify on mobile is premium £9.99 accounts not just the free ones just in case.

*Kat*

Yeah you have to pay a monthly fee for spotify *Sucks* Anyway, I resisted the iphone until Feb last year, then I had to have it. I looooove it, I have the 3G, though I would suggest 3GS, I don't like the iphone 4 shape :S

Guess I'll wait till iphone 5 comes out?!

Sid_Harper

I am currently using (not mine) an iPhone4 for the first time after years of loyalty to Nokia and SE, so I think I can be unbiased.

pluses: great all in 1 device, some innovative features, lots of great apps, responsive, 'cool', apps feel very 'integrated' with the phone

minuses: locked down and tied to apple apps (unless you jailbreak), poor battery life, you need the wifi, some things are simple but clunky (killing background apps, for example), no draft SMS, no message/missed call indicator, and they're not wrong about the footnote in the ads (about shortened sequences - could do with a couple of discreet shortcut buttons)

In a nutshell, I like it but I think it's no longer the groundbreaking superphone it once was, and I'm not sure I'd buy one given the premium you pay for what is essentially the cool factor. I played around with someone's HTC Desire and I really really liked it. So I guess it boils down to how much the 'cool' factor and unique features matter to you. The only 'unique' feature I can think of is the facetime - won't be long before that's cracked on other phones.

TiTheRev

Sid_Harper wrote: »

I am currently using (not mine) an iPhone4 for the first time after years of loyalty to Nokia and SE, so I think I can be unbiased.

pluses: great all in 1 device, some innovative features, lots of great apps, responsive, 'cool', apps feel very 'integrated' with the phone

minuses: locked down and tied to apple apps (unless you jailbreak), poor battery life, you need the wifi, some things are simple but clunky (killing background apps, for example), no draft SMS, no message/missed call indicator, and they're not wrong about the footnote in the ads (about shortened sequences - could do with a couple of discreet shortcut buttons)

In a nutshell, I like it but I think it's no longer the groundbreaking superphone it once was, and I'm not sure I'd buy one given the premium you pay for what is essentially the cool factor. I played around with someone's HTC Desire and I really really liked it. So I guess it boils down to how much the 'cool' factor and unique features matter to you. The only 'unique' feature I can think of is the facetime - won't be long before that's cracked on other phones.

I am a bit of an iPhone fan, so can claim to be a bit mroe biased than Sid, but he has missed a couple of tricks if his 'minuses' list is to be believed. Firstly, you can kill background apps easily, there is a draft SMS allowance (you just type it out and it saves it even if you close the SMS screen), no message/missed call indicator (mine shows how many calls I've missed, who from and not just once but twice(!), and the footnote in the ads (about shortened sequences) is correct, but you can create your own shortcuts to webpages...?

I'll be ordering an iPhone 4 soon, now my 3G contract is up...

Sid_Harper

Just tested the SMS thing (never really bothered me) but yes it does seem to hang on to the state as an app, but I can't be writing something and go to check another message without changing app, quitting messages, and then restarting. I'd like a "finish later" option on the new message screen.

How do you quit something quickly (without the double click, hold and wait, then hit minus?); takes way too long!

By missed call indicator I mean a flashing light or something. If I've left it somewhere, without touching it, I can't tell I've missed something without touching the phone.

Often the phone will buzz, but I have to go in and open the app via an icon. Say it autolocked while I was reading SMS messages. I click the button and it shows a missed call. So I unlock it - it's still in the SMS screen - I have to go back to the main menu then go into the phone app. Sure it's a touchscreen phone but it's a little convoluted to do some things that should always be "one touch" in nature.