Android Mobile OS

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Here is an other difference with Android phones when compared to the iphone, and a point that often gets lost. Some android phones are lousy, some are ok, and some are really nice (iphone level). The fact that a phone is an android phone does not automatically make it nice.

No doubt. And just like some are okay paying more money for the comfort and reliability of a Mercedes, some are okay with the iPhone. Others are willing to put up with the quirks of an older Toyota Camry and just as willing to give up speed and some functionality of the iPhone to not be tied to a contract. I'm considering it. I can't/won't pay for that much power on a small screen when the iPad may serve me much better. I don't think I want to have both.

The iphone is a hardware and software package, so people kinda assume android phone are similar in that regard. The truth is android phones vary wildly, at there best they are as good as the iphone, but in others they are very poor. The actual cost of an iphone is $700, and the better android phone are not much less. My point? A $250 android phone is not going to be anything to write home about.

Are we talking about luxury cars and vacation homes or cell phones?

I don't think you need to convince anyone that the iPhone is better than a pay-as-you-go cell phone. But the fact that an Android phone is available is intriguing.

What is interesting is it is the iphone that has galvanized the idea of the hardware/software package in the mobile space, and I get the sense people transfer that onto the android platform. An other difference is that on android the carriers are able to make significant changes to the os.

You're right. And this could be the very reason that Verizon has taken so long to get the iPhone.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I've been looking at the Cricket Andriod plan - it looks real good to me. My contract won't run out for a few more months, though, and I think that's in my favor. It appears things are heating up in the smart phone market at just the right time for me.

[Valisha Trammell Hall]

I have had the HTC Evo android for a couple of months and love it. I am able to sync it with my itunes library, use voice texting, and it has free turn-by-turn navigation. Oklahoma City will hopefully have 4g soon and it will be even faster, although the 3g is really great already.

[Gary Creely]

No doubt. And just like some are okay paying more money for the comfort and reliability of a Mercedes, some are okay with the iPhone. Others are willing to put up with the quirks of an older Toyota Camry and just as willing to give up speed and some functionality of the iPhone to not be tied to a contract. I'm considering it. I can't/won't pay for that much power on a small screen when the iPad may serve me much better. I don't think I want to have both.

I don't think you need to convince anyone that the iPhone is better than a pay-as-you-go cell phone. But the fact that an Android phone is available is intriguing.

True, but what I am saying is I think the general public sees android and automatically think Mercedes. I agree an adroid phone at virgin prices is intriguing. Looks like a 400min plan with unlimited data would be like $35 a month. That same arrangement on att would be like $65 ($70 on verizon). However, since the iphone's release they have been allowing an upgrade ever year (works out to a $400 subsidy or $33 a month over a year) so if having a new phone every year is important the bottom-line cost may be more comparable.

For me I try to get a phone about every year because I use it so heavily by the end of a year or so it is pretty beat, and I love new gadgets.

[Ryan Scott]

I used to say who cares about all of this, but I'll just chime in, now that I'm locked into a Windows Mobile phone for the next two years, that the operating systems matters a lot. Granted, I was getting a free phone either way and maybe I still would have chosen this over the other option (a blackberry), but it's not good at all. I have to restart the thing four or five times a day just to get it to send and receive calls properly.

[Rich Schmidt]

I used to say who cares about all of this, but I'll just chime in, now that I'm locked into a Windows Mobile phone for the next two years, that the operating systems matters a lot. Granted, I was getting a free phone either way and maybe I still would have chosen this over the other option (a blackberry), but it's not good at all. I have to restart the thing four or five times a day just to get it to send and receive calls properly.

Ouch. Sorry to hear that. Must be frustrating!

My dad has a BlackBerry, as do some other friends, and they all seem happy with their phones. My dad had never had email on his phone before now. He likes it.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I used to say who cares about all of this, but I'll just chime in, now that I'm locked into a Windows Mobile phone for the next two years, that the operating systems matters a lot. Granted, I was getting a free phone either way and maybe I still would have chosen this over the other option (a blackberry), but it's not good at all. I have to restart the thing four or five times a day just to get it to send and receive calls properly.

I don't know that you'll be sorry you stayed in the Windows family. I've been using Windows Mobile for some time now, coming to the end of that contract. One thing about it, if you know your way around Windows there's no learning curve on the phone.

The Nokia we got for my wife, Jackie, is way too obtuse.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

I've been looking at the Cricket Andriod plan - it looks real good to me. My contract won't run out for a few more months, though, and I think that's in my favor. It appears things are heating up in the smart phone market at just the right time for me.

Scott, maybe you already saw this, but they announced a $149 no contract phone on Cricket.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Scott, maybe you already saw this, but they announced a $149 no contract phone on Cricket.

Thanks - actually, I'm locked in till after the first of the year. The way things are going that might be a good thing!

[Jeremy D. Scott]

For anyone who might be looking to get into Android, all the currently-available Motorola Droid phones are $0.01 on Amazon.com right now (with a 2-year service agreement through Verizon). Not a bad deal. (I'm still waiting though. )

[Ed DiSante]

Well--I have now had my Sprint EVO for 2 weeks and am absolutely pleased with it---I am learning how to use the touch screen efficiently and it is learning my touch. As for Sprint coverage I have never in now almost 7 years had any complaints. Here on the coast in Massachusetts I seem to have as good or better coverage as anyone else. Sorting out the apps has been a little confusing but I am learning how to find what I need (ahem--want)

[Jeremy D. Scott]

So I made a decision.

After months of "waiting," I'm letting the iPhone go. There are a number of reasons that today we settled on getting MyTouch 4Gs. I might not have imagined this a month ago. We had been saving up for the iPhone, but decided we'd much rather have iPads. Then we will have access to both iOS and Android. I didn't want to give up what I've become used to and really appreciate about the seamlessness of all the Google products that I use and my Android phone (not to mention Google Nav, which I find hard to beat for the price).

The clincher in this decision was some advice from Ryan: call T-Mobile (that's who I'm with) and ask for customer loyalty. I told them I was shopping around since our contract was coming up and wondered what they could do for me. They let us move to a cheaper minutes plan (with no texting) than we were on and yet keep our old data plan which isn't offered anymore ($25/unlimited). Verizon may somehow beat that with whatever plans they offer concurrently with the iPhone...but I doubt it.

I was going to get the Nexus S because I like the notion of getting Android updates without waiting for carrier approval and like the "stock" version of Android over the junk-ware that carriers put on the phones, but the 4G, the user-friendly experience for my wife of the MyTouch 4G, and a two-for-one deal right now for the phones was enough to make us bite. These price of these phones may go down even more after the holidays, but for now, we're happy. The phone is very snappy. I like it a lot (so far). So basically, we only spent $200 of the money we'd been saving for iPhones, and hopefully by February, we'll have saved enough for iPads instead.

Oh yeah, one other reason: we live 30 yards from a T-Mobile tower (in the chapel :-).

[Gary Creely]

So I made a decision.

After months of "waiting," I'm letting the iPhone go. There are a number of reasons that today we settled on getting MyTouch 4Gs. I might not have imagined this a month ago. We had been saving up for the iPhone, but decided we'd much rather have iPads. Then we will have access to both iOS and Android. I didn't want to give up what I've become used to and really appreciate about the seamlessness of all the Google products that I use and my Android phone (not to mention Google Nav, which I find hard to beat for the price).

The clincher in this decision was some advice from Ryan: call T-Mobile (that's who I'm with) and ask for customer loyalty. I told them I was shopping around since our contract was coming up and wondered what they could do for me. They let us move to a cheaper minutes plan (with no texting) than we were on and yet keep our old data plan which isn't offered anymore ($25/unlimited). Verizon may somehow beat that with whatever plans they offer concurrently with the iPhone...but I doubt it.

I was going to get the Nexus S because I like the notion of getting Android updates without waiting for carrier approval and like the "stock" version of Android over the junk-ware that carriers put on the phones, but the 4G, the user-friendly experience for my wife of the MyTouch 4G, and a two-for-one deal right now for the phones was enough to make us bite. These price of these phones may go down even more after the holidays, but for now, we're happy. The phone is very snappy. I like it a lot (so far). So basically, we only spent $200 of the money we'd been saving for iPhones, and hopefully by February, we'll have saved enough for iPads instead.

Oh yeah, one other reason: we live 30 yards from a T-Mobile tower (in the chapel :-).

Smart phones have really matured since the start of this thread. In terms of functionality of the OS both IOS and android are very fine. I would wait for the next gen ipad, I suspect it will have a camera.

I agree about Verizon not beating that price, in fact I suspect the Verizon iphone will cost more than the att version in terms of available.

[Craig Laughlin]

Hey Jeremy, have you used the genius button and if so how do you like it? I'm making a change and can't decide between the Verizon Droid X and the T-mobile My Touch 4G.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Hey Jeremy, have you used the genius button and if so how do you like it? I'm making a change and can't decide between the Verizon Droid X and the T-mobile My Touch 4G.

I've used it a little bit. The Genius button is basically the MyTouch's creative way to say "voice command." I imagine using it more when I've chosen how I will use the phone hands-free in the car. I'm sure it will be more useful then.

I'm sure the Droid X is a great phone (I think that may be what Mike Schutz has). But I am loving the MyTouch. It's really a disservice to their phone that T-Mobile has been marketing it as a "chick phone." It's useful for much more than video-phoning (which I haven't even tried yet, actually). Between the two phones, I think that both phones will have the same voice command capabilities. The Genius button just may streamline it a bit more.

As some of us keep saying, I don't think there is a "better" here - it's up to your personal preferences and capabilities (according to what the network will let you do - this may be item #1 in deciding which one). But if we assume all things (network & cost) being equal, I don't mind pointing a few things out. :-) The Droid X is not 4G. The MyTouch works on T-Mobile's HSPA+ ("4G"). They are both big phones, but the Droid X is larger and a bit bulkier (but it also means the screen is bigger). If you don't like a large phone, this might be a big deal. The Droid X's camera is 8.0 MP versus MyTouch's 5.0 MP (although no flash, which is on the MyTouch and very nice, I might add). I'm not sure about Verizon, but with T-Mobile and the MyTouch 4G, wi-fi calling is free (though it will deduct minutes). But this is great if your coverage is bad in the church building or your home (presuming that you have wireless in those places). I don't know how it would work out for you (depending on family plan, usage, data preferences, etc.) but for me, T-Mobile was definitely the cheaper option on plans (this was a main reason I decided not to wait for the iPhone on Verizon). The MyTouch is a newer phone, and perhaps this makes it a more likely candidate for future upgrades of Android (this was probably my biggest disappointment with my first Android phone...it seemed archaic pretty quickly...may not matter to a casual user).

There are other details between the two, but either way...they're good phones.

[Craig Laughlin]

Thanks Jeremy that is helpful. The more I look at phones the worse it gets which may mean that my use is at a low enough level that the differences won't matter a whole lot.

[Craig Laughlin]

Just read that the My Tough 4G does not sync to MS Outlook. Anyone know if this is the case? If this is the case it is a deal breaker for me. My whole life is in Outlook. One of the reason I was looking at Android based phones was the smooth connection between Google and Outlook.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Just read that the My Tough 4G does not sync to MS Outlook. Anyone know if this is the case? If this is the case it is a deal breaker for me. My whole life is in Outlook. One of the reason I was looking at Android based phones was the smooth connection between Google and Outlook.

1. I'm not sure why any one Android phone would not sync with Outlook when another one would. Either Android does or doesn't (there's got to be an app for that). It wouldn't make sense to me that the Droid X does and the MyTouch 4G doesn't.
2. Switch to Google Calendars. It's well worth it. I can't stress this enough.

My mother is forced to use Outlook because it's all ENC uses and she uses an Android phone (Evo), so I'm sure there's a way.

[Glenn Messer]

I have the Droid X. I have no idea what all it will do! I didn't buy the text package, but people keep sending them to me so I end up with some charges.

My biggest complaint is that it forces you to use a gmail account; I already had one, but it is not my favorite. Yes, I did set up the other email accounts on the droid, but it is a hassle to sync my droid with ms outlook which I like using. The only option I have for deleting gmail email on the phone also deletes it from the server so if I want it to show up on my office computer I have to archive instead of delete.

I'm sure much of this is because I don't take the time to sit down and play with the phone so that I can learn how to best use it; I don't have the patience. The 2nd day I had the X I was ready to take it back and reactivate my blackberry (I hated the keypad on the blackberry; like the one on the X much better.), but my wife reminded me that I felt the same way about the blackberry when I first bought it.

I may have to look into the tethering (?) for wifi service. There are times when that would be handy.

[Craig Laughlin]

Did a little more digging and Jeremy is right it is not just 4G but Android in general that has trouble. I'm kind of in this limbo land between using outlook on a personal basis and a professional use. Android seems to do okay with MS Exchange server which is what larger businesses use but that is big bucks so not an option. It will also do calendar but I use Outlook extensively and I want my contacts to sync as well. The church's e-mail is handled by Google so I'm guessing that will not be a problem. It looks like the only way to get the contacts is to upgrade our Google account to pro. This is $50 per person which not a huge chunk of change but enough that I can't ask the church to do it just so I can do cloud computing. I don't like it but this is probably going to be a deal breaker. Android is good, but looking like it isn't going to work for me.

What do you all know out the new Microsoft phones? - I'm guessing they integrate well with MS Outlook.

[Valisha Trammell Hall]

Did a little more digging and Jeremy is right it is not just 4G but Android in general that has trouble. I'm kind of in this limbo land between using outlook on a personal basis and a professional use. Android seems to do okay with MS Exchange server which is what larger businesses use but that is big bucks so not an option. It will also do calendar but I use Outlook extensively and I want my contacts to sync as well. The church's e-mail is handled by Google so I'm guessing that will not be a problem. It looks like the only way to get the contacts is to upgrade our Google account to pro. This is $50 per person which not a huge chunk of change but enough that I can't ask the church to do it just so I can do cloud computing. I don't like it but this is probably going to be a deal breaker. Android is good, but looking like it isn't going to work for me.

What do you all know out the new Microsoft phones? - I'm guessing they integrate well with MS Outlook.

I have the Evo 4G and sync both my google and outlook information (contacts, calender, and mail).

[Craig Laughlin]

I have the Evo 4G and sync both my google and outlook information (contacts, calender, and mail).

How do you do it?

[Valisha Trammell Hall]

Craig,

For email, I get my outlook mail (a POP3 type) forwarded to my gmail account. I did that through my gmail settings/accounts and import/Check mail using POP3, and adding my outlook information. Now my outlook mail is sent to my pc and my phone.

For my calender and contacts, I attach my phone to my desktop about once a week and sync using the "HTC sync" program that came with my evo. At first I tried to transfer my outlook calender and contacts to my google account and then to my phone, but all my reoccurring calender events were messed up and my contact info didn't transfer correctly.

I hope this helps and that I explained it clearly. It took a few days and some frustration to get it all working correctly.

[Steven Burton]

I am waiting till the hands free model that will also wash my car, do dishes, dirty clothes, and make me breakfast.

[Craig Laughlin]

I am waiting till the hands free model that will also wash my car, do dishes, dirty clothes, and make me breakfast.

I'm guessing that phone is out of my budget.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

It looks like the only way to get the contacts is to upgrade our Google account to pro. This is $50 per person which not a huge chunk of change but enough that I can't ask the church to do it just so I can do cloud computing. I don't like it but this is probably going to be a deal breaker. Android is good, but looking like it isn't going to work for me.

We upgraded to "Education" which is the same as Pro for free because we are a nonprofit. I assume that your church can do the same.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I have the Droid X. I have no idea what all it will do! I didn't buy the text package, but people keep sending them to me so I end up with some charges.

My biggest complaint is that it forces you to use a gmail account; I already had one, but it is not my favorite. Yes, I did set up the other email accounts on the droid, but it is a hassle to sync my droid with ms outlook which I like using. The only option I have for deleting gmail email on the phone also deletes it from the server so if I want it to show up on my office computer I have to archive instead of delete.

I'm sure much of this is because I don't take the time to sit down and play with the phone so that I can learn how to best use it; I don't have the patience. The 2nd day I had the X I was ready to take it back and reactivate my blackberry (I hated the keypad on the blackberry; like the one on the X much better.), but my wife reminded me that I felt the same way about the blackberry when I first bought it.

I may have to look into the tethering (?) for wifi service. There are times when that would be handy.

I also have a Droid X - haven't had it long enough to be sure about it, but so far so good. I put a shortcut to the actual Google Voice website for texting - since I have unlimited data, I use it (and only give people my GV number). When someone texts me, it shows up as an email on my Gmail account and as long as GV is open, I can see it there too.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

I also have a Droid X - haven't had it long enough to be sure about it, but so far so good. I put a shortcut to the actual Google Voice website for texting - since I have unlimited data, I use it (and only give people my GV number). When someone texts me, it shows up as an email on my Gmail account and as long as GV is open, I can see it there too.

Is there an advantage to using the website over using the app?

[Steven Burton]

See I want my next phone to have this option

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Is there an advantage to using the website over using the app?

The phone notifies you of new text and voice messages. It's pretty cool. Since I use my GV number for incoming calls and text I'm able to do away with my $5 a month text addon to my plan.

[Jon Twitchell]

The phone notifies you of new text and voice messages. It's pretty cool. Since I use my GV number for incoming calls and text I'm able to do away with my $5 a month text addon to my plan.

I don't think that was Jeremy's question... at least, it doesn't answer mine...

I understood you to say that you have a shortcut that takes you to the GV website. Why that, and not the app (which syncs in the background and does push notifications)?

[Rich Schmidt]

I don't think that was Jeremy's question... at least, it doesn't answer mine...

I understood you to say that you have a shortcut that takes you to the GV website. Why that, and not the app (which syncs in the background and does push notifications)?

Does the standard phone text messaging "app" on Android phones use the Google Voice number for your texts? Or is there a separate Google Voice "app" that Scott could be using instead of the Google Voice website?

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Does the standard phone text messaging "app" on Android phones use the Google Voice number for your texts? Or is there a separate Google Voice "app" that Scott could be using instead of the Google Voice website?

I use the Google Voice app. Like Scott, I don't pay for texting. The GVoice app is available free in the market.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I use the Google Voice app. Like Scott, I don't pay for texting. The GVoice app is available free in the market.

Somehow I misunderstood the question. Anyway, I'm using the app too. Works great.

I did have it uninstalled for awhile as I worked through some battery life issues, but that was a different problem that is now completely solved.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I've reinstalled an updated mobile style for NazNet ... you'll find it in the dropdown selector at the bottom of most pages. try it out.

[Randy Wise]

Galaxy S2

http://www.bgr.com/2011/01/11/samsun...c-gingerbread/

[Craig Laughlin]

Okay I drank the kool aid and got a MyTouch 4G through t mobile. Couldn't beat the price. We will see if I can adapt to the whole touchscreen/apps world. It seems pretty cool but at the store they could not get it to sync up with my mail account. We do our mail through gmail but they use our domain so my e-mail is xxx@Marysville-Nazarene.org but it is on g-mail servers. Anybody had any experience with this? -

[Craig Laughlin]

Okay I drank the kool aid and got a MyTouch 4G through t mobile. Couldn't beat the price. We will see if I can adapt to the whole touchscreen/apps world. It seems pretty cool but at the store they could not get it to sync up with my mail account. We do our mail through gmail but they use our domain so my e-mail is xxx@Marysville-Nazarene.org but it is on g-mail servers. Anybody had any experience with this? -

Figured it out! The folks at the store were setting it up wrong. (including tech support) I had to reset the phone that wasn't a big deal.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Okay I drank the kool aid and got a MyTouch 4G through t mobile. Couldn't beat the price. We will see if I can adapt to the whole touchscreen/apps world. It seems pretty cool but at the store they could not get it to sync up with my mail account. We do our mail through gmail but they use our domain so my e-mail is xxx@Marysville-Nazarene.org but it is on g-mail servers. Anybody had any experience with this? -

Figured it out! The folks at the store were setting it up wrong. (including tech support) I had to reset the phone that wasn't a big deal.

Welcome to the club! Sorry I missed your post until now, but glad that you figured it out. It's one of the greatest things I like about the phone - switching so quickly from personal to my church email.

Some things I've come to appreciate about my MyTouch 4G. These aren't aspects that are exclusive to the MyTouch, but it handles them very well:

• The FM radio. I'm surprised that I use it as much as I do. Many phone have it so it's not a unique perk, but I use it a lot.
• The camera, both still & video. It's nice to have a phone that can so quickly process photos and videos. I often take short videos of my children and email them to each one (we got gmail addresses for our children that they don't know about yet - we use them to email memories as they happen so they will be there for years to come...kind of our version of a baby book). I've also used the bluetooth to transfer videos quickly. Someday maybe I'll get a nice camera to be able to post to the photography forum, but for now, we're just trying to catch memories, not win awards.
• I've finally just gotten rid of the alarm clock next to my bed and am using the "night clock" on the phone. Has saved me some space.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Another feature I love is when I place my phone upside down during a phone call, it automatically switches to speaker phone. Love that.