Looking for Android smartphone advice

DUTR

ianpwilliams wrote: »

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?

A colleague has the xperia P and I was surprised at how nice it is, I also have the HTC wildfire, my brother has the wildfire S which is much improved, as you have the Sony and ipod touch, lean towards the xperia P or above (the letters do not necessarily mean rank) , I have no idea about the football manager thing.
Pop to an O2 shop they often have working models on display, much as we could all talk about the devices, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

MillicentBystander

ianpwilliams wrote: »

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?

With the stuff you need to use it for, I would suggest that a budget of £200-£300 is probably too much! The Huawei G330 is apparently going to be available SIM free in the New year for just £100. This gets you a 1ghz dual-core processor, 4" screen (Gorilla Glass), 5mb camera, front camera, Ice Cream Sandwich OS, 4gb internal memory (expandable to 36GB by way of micro SD so fine for your music collection), almost identical benchmark as the iphone 4S, 2 year warranty etc etc. Why pay more when you don't really have to? :money: Just a thought.

ianpwilliams

Thanks, that does look like a nice phone! I must admit I would be tempted to get that, or possibly the HTC Wildfire S. Or there's the Samsung Galaxy Ace, or the LG Optimus One...so many choices.

preable

I have the galaxy s3 and i would highly reccomend it.

grumbler

ianpwilliams wrote: »

... £400-£500 is a little steep.

preable wrote: »

I have the galaxy s3 and i would highly reccomend it.

System

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:

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!

I would get the Nexus 4 as advised above (directly from Google for £240/£270) or the HTC One S which is great performance wise but also extremely thin and not as big as a lot of new smartphones, but has a nice clear 4.3" screen. Plus HTC Sense (HTC user interface) is amazing, unlike certain others *cough* Samsung TouchWiz *cough*

For MP3s, the default player is great (especially the HTC music app, and the One S includes Beats Audio equalizer) but I would buy an app called PowerAMP which has great eq customization

Very, very few apps/games you can get on iOS that you can't on Android (yes FMH will work on Nexus 4/One S)

For texting, yes it's like pretty standard on all phones, but I would recommend Swype, where you just swipe your finger over the letters and it works out the word, as opposed to typing

For backups, I use SMS Backup & Restore (free and does exactly what it says - I have mine set to run at 3am every night, and you can set it up to email you the backup if you want) but there is an app called MyBackup which will backup apps, contacts, call logs, etc..

I'm also on T-Mobile and coverage is great. Plus I have 750MB bandwidth, and about a week into my monthly usage, they send me a text saying I can no longer download or watch videos, but it still works anyway

DUTR

ianpwilliams wrote: »

Thanks, that does look like a nice phone! I must admit I would be tempted to get that, or possibly the HTC Wildfire S. Or there's the Samsung Galaxy Ace, or the LG Optimus One...so many choices.

I take it when you type ACE you mean Ace 2 ?

compare the two, the ace is certainly no replacement for your devices.

ianpwilliams

DUTR wrote: »

I take it when you type ACE you mean Ace 2 ?

compare the two, the ace is certainly no replacement for your devices.

Yes...probably. I really don't know much about these devices, which is why I'm asking here, and researching online.

I'm also not bothered about the device being really slim - in fact I prefer a nice big bulky phone (within reason) with a big screen. My iPod is currently wrapped up in a Griffin Survivor case, which makes it big and heavy, which is what I prefer.

DUTR

ianpwilliams wrote: »

Yes...probably. I really don't know much about these devices, which is why I'm asking here, and researching online.

I'm also not bothered about the device being really slim - in fact I prefer a nice big bulky phone (within reason) with a big screen. My iPod is currently wrapped up in a Griffin Survivor case, which makes it big and heavy, which is what I prefer.

My opod touch rarely gets any use (4th gen 32gb) I will save it until I get my next car which allows ipod input as I hate CDs) other than that my xperia Ray does all and worked out much better VFM. The only benefit of the ipod compared to the Ray is the volume output is greater, I don't know what the samsungs are like in comparison for audio output.

im-lost

I'd recommend something like the HTC SENSATION, slightly older phone now, but
still holds its own against newer phones.

£158 on amazon warehouse, is a steel for a fairly high spec phone.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HTC-Sensation-Free-Mobile-Phone/dp/B004Z4SJ78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2OAJ7377F756P&qid=1356257834&s=merchant&sr=1-1

It'll do everything you want, and do it well.

The HTC interface, known as sense is also a good starting point for those new to android,
HTC also IMO have the best build quality with their phones, aluminium and rubberised
cases make them feel sturdy, when compared to say the Samsung range, which feel too plasticky to me.

I'm a fan of the HTC devices having gone from HTC desire > HTC sensation. > HTC one s. And they have all felt I credibly well built.