Which Phone to Buy

[Kevin Rector]

So it's time to get a new phone. My Droid (yes it's the original Motorola Droid) is getting old and acting "eccentric". It's a bit over two years old and has lived a hard and much-used life.

My quandary at this point is which phone to get. Should I stick with the Droid platform that I'm really familiar with and which has some GREAT features most notably fantastic Google integration and voice based turn by turn navigation. If I do keep on the Droid platform, which phone should I get (I'm on Verizon Wireless).

Or should I switch to the iPhone 4S which is a great phone with many other great features.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

So it's time to get a new phone. My Droid (yes it's the original Motorola Droid) is getting old and acting "eccentric". It's a bit over two years old and has lived a hard and much-used life.

My quandary at this point is which phone to get. Should I stick with the Droid platform that I'm really familiar with and which has some GREAT features most notably fantastic Google integration and voice based turn by turn navigation. If I do keep on the Droid platform, which phone should I get (I'm on Verizon Wireless).

Or should I switch to the iPhone 4S which is a great phone with many other great features.

This is aside from what Kevin is asking, but has anyone else with an Android phone lost the ability for turn-by-turn directions? I recently DLed an update to the Maps app and now when I ask for directions, it just gives me a "follow me" map.

As to the question, here's my continual conclusion for these situations: it's up to your personal preference and need. There...does that help?

[Cam Pence]

Samsung Galaxy Nexus 1.2 Gig dual core processor and Ice Cream Sandwich, simply put....its amazing

[Kevin Rector]

Samsung Galaxy Nexus 1.2 Gig dual core processor and Ice Cream Sandwich, simply put....its amazing

That's the one I was looking at, I can get it or an iPhone 4S 32GB for the same price. I'm looking for pros and cons of each. Do you own a Nexus? If so, what are some of the great features of it. Oh, and while I use google a bunch for various tasks, I use a MacBook Pro computer. So I can get great integration from either for different aspects of my workflow.

Oh, and Jeremy...no it doesn't help :)

[Randy Wise]

The Android platform and hardware is impressive. My chief concern would be security. (malware, trojans etc..) Maybe care of where and what you download can help but the openness of the platform works both ways.

http://www.livescience.com/11624-paranoid-android-googleos-platform-secure.html

[Cam Pence]

That's the one I was looking at, I can get it or an iPhone 4S 32GB for the same price. I'm looking for pros and cons of each. Do you own a Nexus? If so, what are some of the great features of it. Oh, and while I use google a bunch for various tasks, I use a MacBook Pro computer. So I can get great integration from either for different aspects of my workflow.

Oh, and Jeremy...no it doesn't help :)

I do but have messed around with them often. If you are super into apple, you might like the phone 4s, however the nexus is a more powerful phone. I am not sure how or if siris differs from google voice commands. I am a PC guy so my opinion is a bit biased :) also iii it matters to you the phone is not 4g

[Jim Chabot]

Do you get lost often?:smile:

I've used the nav feature a few times when I wasn't sure of exact directions and had forgotten the gps. I prefer the standalone gps because I can mount it over in the corner of the windshield where it's easy to see and hear.

You can use the iphone to integrate with propresenter with the remote app and I believe that the stage display app works on the iphone as well. Just sayin.

I've got a few months left before upgrade time and I'm wondering whether I should keep my current phone (Droid X) which has a big screen to match my old tired eyes. Or switch to the iphone and be apple all the way.

[Rich Schmidt]

Verizon's announcing some new Droid phones today at CES... so maybe one of those will fit the bill?

I enjoy my iPhone 4. (And I enjoyed my original iPhone before it.) I've never used an Android phone for more than a few minutes, so I'm afraid I can't help you compare the two.

Edited to add, in light of what Jim said: I just used my iPhone to remotely control ProPresenter this past Sunday when I didn't have a volunteer at the laptop for part of the service. It comes in handy. :)

[Shea Zellweger]

I would look for a phone designed for ICS. The features are just incredible. The new Samsung appears to be the leader of the pack, but there are rumours that Google will be releasing its own hardware some time soon. If it's a question of iOS vs. ICS, I can't help you there other than to say I prefer Honeycomb to iOS, and ICS looks like a vast improvement.

[Gary Creely]

So it's time to get a new phone. My Droid (yes it's the original Motorola Droid) is getting old and acting "eccentric". It's a bit over two years old and has lived a hard and much-used life.

My quandary at this point is which phone to get. Should I stick with the Droid platform that I'm really familiar with and which has some GREAT features most notably fantastic Google integration and voice based turn by turn navigation. If I do keep on the Droid platform, which phone should I get (I'm on Verizon Wireless).

Or should I switch to the iPhone 4S which is a great phone with many other great features.

The question is what are the most importan things you do with the phone.

If turn by turn is critical, then go with the android. If photo are then Iphone.

If you list you priorities it makes it easier to pick a phone.

I just purchased an unlocked android phone for some international travel, I will be interested how I like it. (Galaxy mini- about $150 unlocked from Amazon)

[John Reilly]

You need the "i" phone.

[Rich Schmidt]

If turn by turn is critical, then go with the android.

Just curious: Is that because it's free with Android? Because there are several turn-by-turn apps for iOS. (From what I read, anyway. I don't use it.)

[Kevin Rector]

So I ordered a 32 GB white iPhone 4S (the color was based on the fact that it would get to me sooner than a black one). Unlike the Droids, Verizon can't keep the iPhones in stock so it will be at least a week before I get my new phone. The Nexus with Droid 4 (ice cream sandwich) is really really impressive. But it's also HUGE - I had a hard time visualizing it fitting in my pocket. Whereas the iPhone is about the same size as my current Droid only a bit thinner. While the iPhone has a much smaller screen, that's a fair tradeoff for not having to carrying a mini-tablet in my pocket.

It was a very difficult and agonizing decision and I hope that I'm happy with it. As I said, I've been very happy with Droid up to this point. I'm also sad that I have to buy all new car chargers and the like.

I will be very angry if there is an iPhone 5 in like a month.

[Cam Pence]

So I ordered a 32 GB white iPhone 4S (the color was based on the fact that it would get to me sooner than a black one). Unlike the Droids, Verizon can't keep the iPhones in stock so it will be at least a week before I get my new phone. The Nexus with Droid 4 (ice cream sandwich) is really really impressive. But it's also HUGE - I had a hard time visualizing it fitting in my pocket. Whereas the iPhone is about the same size as my current Droid only a bit thinner. While the iPhone has a much smaller screen, that's a fair tradeoff for not having to carrying a mini-tablet in my pocket.

It was a very difficult and agonizing decision and I hope that I'm happy with it. As I said, I've been very happy with Droid up to this point. I'm also sad that I have to buy all new car chargers and the like.

I will be very angry if there is an iPhone 5 in like a month.


I would be curious what you think of the siri feature compared to the google voice comands

[Gary Creely]

Just curious: Is that because it's free with Android? Because there are several turn-by-turn apps for iOS. (From what I read, anyway. I don't use it.)

Yes, it is a good gps and free. The iphone apps typically require a subscription.

[Jonathan Hooker]

I recently got the droid razr and am loving it... It is thin, thinner than the iphone, has a dual core proc, has 4g in most cities, and is extremely tough (gorilla glass and kevlar)...

[Gary Creely]

and is extremely tough (gorilla glass and kevlar)...

Ah yes, Gorilla Glass, developed with and for the iphone.

As an admitted Apple fan boy I had to point that out.

[Rich Schmidt]

I recently got the droid razr and am loving it...

I'm glad you love it. I'd quibble with one part of your description, though...


It is thin, thinner than the iphone...

... except for the big bulge at the top. :)

[Gary Creely]

I will be very angry if there is an iPhone 5 in like a month.

The First 3 iphones were on about a 13 month product cycle, the 4S was 18 months. We are 3 months into the 4S so I think you are safe.

The 4S by the way is the 5th Generation of the iphone, so it will be interesting if the the next iphone would be the iphone 5.

Gen 1: iphone
Gen 2: Iphone 3G
Gen 3: Iphone 3Gs
Gen 4: Iphone 4
Gen 5 Iphone 4s
Gen 6: Iphone ?

[Kevin Rector]

It was supposed to take like a week for my phone to arrive. It came today (aka the next day). I've been playing around with it, and I think I'm going to like it. It seems you can do navigation with the built in google maps - it just doesn't talk which is fine for me really.

[Todd Erickson]

The iphone 5 will have a larger screen, which they couldn't get away with until Jobs died.

There was an interesting article on The Register recently about Android, and how it wasn't really an operating system, because every phone that comes out gets tweaked by the company that sells it on their network, so that it behaves very differently, and only in the way that they want it to. So there is a whole family of Android phones, and you have to be careful with each one about what is actually supported.

Whereas, if you want, as a telecommunications company, to sell the iphone, you sell it as is, or not at all.

I picked up a 3GS for 99 cents the other day. Liking it pretty well so far, and I use it for all of my podcast listening as well. I mostly only text on it.

[Rich Schmidt]

The iphone 5 will have a larger screen, which they couldn't get away with until Jobs died.

I'm curious: where did you get this inside information? :D

[Gary Creely]

The iphone 5 will have a larger screen, which they couldn't get away with until Jobs died.

Ah, No. The iphone 5 (or what ever they call it) will be very much how Steve wanted it. I guarantee all the major details of it were set before his passing. In fact it may be one of the last products that steve had a very large hand in designing. Also to think that the culture at Apple is to starting doing things differently than Steve would because Steve has passed is to totally miss who apple is.

After reading the 600 page biography of jobs I can say with confidence the next Iphone will be as close to what steve wanted as possible.

[Houston Thomas]

The iphone 5 will have a larger screen, which they couldn't get away with until Jobs died.



At the risk of turning this into an Apple-centric thread, I really hope Apple keeps a smaller size available. The size of the iPhone 4 is nearly perfect. The larger screened phones simply do not appeal to me. I don't want to carry around a tablet in my pocket. Nor do I want to wear cargo pants to accomodate my nearly tablet sized phone.

[Kevin Rector]

At the risk of turning this into an Apple-centric thread, I really hope Apple keeps a smaller size available. The size of the iPhone 4 is nearly perfect. The larger screened phones simply do not appeal to me. I don't want to carry around a tablet in my pocket. Nor do I want to wear cargo pants to accomodate my nearly tablet sized phone.

This ended up being the final deciding factor as I went back and forth between the iPhone and the Nexus. The Nexus was just too big.

[Gary Creely]

I really hope Apple keeps a smaller size available. The size of the iPhone 4 is nearly perfect. The larger screened phones simply do not appeal to me. I don't want to carry around a tablet in my pocket. Nor do I want to wear cargo pants to accomodate my nearly tablet sized phone.

I do believe the next iphone will have a bigger screen, however I do not know if that will translate into a significantly larger device. There is a fair amount of room on the iphone to accomodate a larger screen without a larger device.

[Zach Wingo]

The best thing about the iPhone is battery life and charging time. I can easily get 12-14 hours with normal to heavy use. If very light use i can easily get 20-30 hours. It charges at roughly 1% per 45-50 seconds so it doesn't take long to charge it. A few weeks ago I was doing a lot of work on my laptop and didn't use my phone much at from Wed. at 10am to Saturday at 4pm it went from 100% to 8% which is far better than any Android device.

[Gary Creely]

The best thing about the iPhone is battery life and charging time. I can easily get 12-14 hours with normal to heavy use. If very light use i can easily get 20-30 hours. It charges at roughly 1% per 45-50 seconds so it doesn't take long to charge it. A few weeks ago I was doing a lot of work on my laptop and didn't use my phone much at from Wed. at 10am to Saturday at 4pm it went from 100% to 8% which is far better than any Android device.

I have found the iphone charges at different rates depending on the amount of milliamps available on the USB. For instance my Ford sync will charge my iphone, but it takes forever. I have found as you mentioned with a powerful usb the iphone does really charge fast, it just depends on the milliamps available on the usb device. In my car I actually use a plug in charger rather than the sync in my car to speed up the process.

In a related note the ipad needs even more milliamps to charge at all, ironically the usb bus on my imac barely supplies enough power to charge my ipad- and it does it very slowly.

[Cam Pence]

Yeah but how about Blackberry,huh?.......huh?

[Zach Wingo]

In a related note the ipad needs even more milliamps to charge at all, ironically the usb bus on my imac barely supplies enough power to charge my ipad- and it does it very slowly.

Yeah, my iPad won't even charge on my desktop that's a few years old. It charges on my MBP but I almost always charge it with the supplied 110-->usb adapter and it charges fine but it takes probably 5 hours or more but I couldn't tell you because I only charge it when I'm going to be gone for a long time and won't need it. The bright side is as often or little as I use it, it lasts for probably 2 weeks on average.