Looking for Android smartphone advice

ianpwilliams

I currently have a Sony Ericsson W910i mobile phone, and a 32GB iPod Touch 4G. I was originally planning on getting an Android smartphone to replace the Sony Ericsson phone, and keeping the iPod Touch, but now I'm considering getting an Android smartphone to replace both the phone and the iPod Touch.

At the moment I use the Sony Ericsson for calls and texts (but it's annoying for calls alone), and I use the iPod Touch for the calendar, listening to mp3's of edited radio shows, and games (particularly Football Manager Handheld, but many other games too). But I hate the limitations of the iPod Touch, and the controlling nature of Apple (having to use iTunes to copy mp3's to/from the iPod, have to go through laborious processes to back up my iPod calendar etc), and I really like the sound of the open-source nature of Android.

So if I wanted to replace both devices, what kind of Android phone would I be looking at? These are the main features I want:

Calls - need to be able to hear callers clearly, even outside (although I would usually have my headphones connected anyway).

Texting - should be easy enough with a touchscreen smartphone.

MP3 player - very long mp3 files, so scrubbing feature essential. Some kind of basic EQ settings would be nice too.

Calendar - a calendar with the functionality of the iPod Touch / Microsoft Outlook one, particularly with the option of customization for repeating reminders (the iPod calendar unbelievably doesn't have the option of a weekday-repeating reminder).

Football Manger Handheld 2013 - I hear that FMH has now started becoming available for Android systems. Although I also hear rumours about how it may not be indefinite, due to piracy issues. Which is a worry. And is FMH on Android just as good as the iOS version?

Other games - I also want to be able to play some of the other great games out there e.g. the Bejeweled games, the Puzzle Quest games, strategy games in general, and maybe the odd action game too.

Backup - I want to be able to regularly back up my data (games, calendar data etc) to my PC easily, something which Apple really don't want you to do (how dare I want to have control over my own device).

Internet - This is another big reason for wanting to change. The W910i is all but useless for internet, and iPod touch needs WiFi. So I'm thinking I would like to buy an Android device outright, and then get a cheap rolling contract with unlimited free 3G internet. So any advice on a network would be useful too. I don't know why but T-Mobile seem to be quite good last time I looked, with their internet boosters etc.

I know that the HTC and Samsung series of phones seem to be very popular (although also very expensive at the top end), but I don't know about many others. I also don't know if I need a top-end phone or not.

Thanks for any help! Hopefully I can soon leave the ultra-controlling shadow of Apple, and step out into the sunlight of Android!

bengalknights

Personally i would go for the nexus from google as that way its quickly updated and does everything you want

ianpwilliams

Looks good, although it seems to be £500 on Amazon, and £400 on TechRadar's "Best Deal" link, despite the review itself saying £270. £270 I'm ok with, but £400-£500 is a little steep.

DUTR

ianpwilliams wrote: »

I currently have a Sony Ericsson W910i mobile phone, and a 32GB iPod Touch 4G. I was originally planning on getting an Android smartphone to replace the Sony Ericsson phone, and keeping the iPod Touch, but now I'm considering getting an Android smartphone to replace both the phone and the iPod Touch.

At the moment I use the Sony Ericsson for calls and texts (but it's annoying for calls alone), and I use the iPod Touch for the calendar, listening to mp3's of edited radio shows, and games (particularly Football Manager Handheld, but many other games too). But I hate the limitations of the iPod Touch, and the controlling nature of Apple (having to use iTunes to copy mp3's to/from the iPod, have to go through laborious processes to back up my iPod calendar etc), and I really like the sound of the open-source nature of Android.

So if I wanted to replace both devices, what kind of Android phone would I be looking at? These are the main features I want:Thanks for any help! Hopefully I can soon leave the ultra-controlling shadow of Apple, and step out into the sunlight of Android!

I was going to suggest that you go for an iphone as the ipod gets most use from your devices, then I saw your summary line.
I had a K850 before the Satio and now Xperia Ray, does all I require and more, the calender is linked with gmail if you require.

ianpwilliams

Yeah it just annoys me that I have to load iTunes (which I hate) just to copy mp3's from PC to device. And to back up my iPod calendar I have to back up my iPod calendar to iCloud, then share the calendar on ilCoud on my PC, then copy the share link, then replace the beginning of the link with HTTP, then download the file. All I want is to be able to connect the device as removable media, and copy!

Anyway, so yeah, I suppose I'm looking for £200-£300 for the Android phone, which should be doable really, seeing as most of my features aren't exactly demanding.

DUTR

ianpwilliams wrote: »

Yeah it just annoys me that I have to load iTunes (which I hate) just to copy mp3's from PC to device. And to back up my iPod calendar I have to back up my iPod calendar to iCloud, then share the calendar on ilCoud on my PC, then copy the share link, then replace the beginning of the link with HTTP, then download the file. All I want is to be able to connect the device as removable media, and copy!

Anyway, so yeah, I suppose I'm looking for £200-£300 for the Android phone, which should be doable really, seeing as most of my features aren't exactly demanding.

The budget is a good one, I couldn't recomened a single handset, but if the Ray would meet your needs then any in your budget price range will suffice, Samsung Galaxy Premier coming soon which pitches in between an S3 mini and S3.
Although the S3 is not so min and would do you nicely, only fall back you may have is the W910 camera is still good compared to today's standard phone cameras. The only reason I will be changing my Ray is for the xperia z or whatever they are going to call it , which is back to the 12mp camera, as for itunes, I prefer using the stock software to transfer files music etc, whether it be the Sony , HTC , Kies etc

ianpwilliams

So which ones are the ones where the Android software automatically gets updated? Anything from Google?

DUTR

ianpwilliams wrote: »

So which ones are the ones where the Android software automatically gets updated? Anything from Google?

Google handsets are called Nexus, those will more than likely always get updates 1st and contain no bloatware.

Samsung android handsets are called Galaxy
Sony android are called Xperia
can't think for the other brands that offer android devices.

Neil49

As you are used to Sony I've just had a quick look on the Sony website and they are selling the Xperia S, unlocked, for £279 including delivery.

Personally I would wait until the sales start and see what offers come along but this is a no hassle purchase direct from Sony.

ianpwilliams

Oh ok, so it sounds like all Android phones from Google, Samsung, or Sony would all get updated eventually, it would just be a matter of when.

And yes, I will definitely wait until the sales.

Bearing in mind the features I wanted, would I be able to go for a cheaper Android phone if I wanted to? I'm guessing that the most demanding feature would be Footaball Manager Handheld, and I wouldn't be surprised if even that depended more on the version of Android, rather than the phone itself, as it's hardly graphically demanding, more to do with memory, and processing data. Last time I looked, I really quite liked the look of the HTC Wildfire S, but I suppose that might be a bit dated now?

Rusty!

The only place 'selling' the Nexus 4 at the right price is the Google Play Store, however they ate sold or currently.