Smartphones

[Patr1ck]

I've had an HTC EVO 4G with Sprint since the middle of last year. I fell in love with having all this information at my fingertips. Not too long after realizing that all this power comes at a cost to the battery life, I bought an extended battery.

I'm always checking my email and browsing this forum, OS, even realgm sometimes and checking out spikednation, a youtube filter site. When my mp3 player breaks down, I can connect to my home computer through my phone and play mp3's straight from there, or just listen to pandora and their wonderful ads.

Even though I got pretty good at thumbing my text messages or any other text input, I can't go back after using Swype. Just slide your finger from letter to letter and it types out the word. If your lazy, you can just hit the voice to text button and say what you want to write, and it will convert it.

I have all the Angry Bird apps, including Rio, which is the best of all of them, imo. I have played games such as stellar escape, stardunk, spiderman, sandstorm, deathworm, contra 4, asphalt, and a few others. I don't think I am much of a serious mobile gamer since I rarely finish them. I guess angry birds makes it a bit easier since you can just load it up and play a couple levels at a time.

Netflix and now HBO GO provides plenty of movies and tv if I need some entertainment while I am out, especially since I can hook an hdmi cable up to my phone and play it on a tv.

Having an HD-resolution camcorder on it is really handy, as I can catch moments like this.

I find Android to be awesome as a platform, especially with all the custom ROMs. That's right. If a new phone comes out, there are chances that it's software features can be modded into a rom and you can put it on your phone. Don't like your manufacturers customization and bloated apps that you can't remove? You can go with a base android rom. I never went farther than rooting the stock rom. Everything on my phone worked the way I needed it. Any problems that came up were easily searchable and most often they were common, so others may have already found a workaround, or the manufacturer or carrier made an update.

This thing makes phone calls, too.

If you have a smartphone, whether it is an iphone, android, or a windows phone, what do you enjoy doing with it?

[The X]

I've got Android smartphone, HTC Legend. It does the job as far as phone calls, text messages, photos, video, Android apps. It's free on the plan I'm on, so can't complain.

I don't use the apps much, maybe Angry Birds once a month when I'm on train and I've forgotten my DS (Final Fantasy Tactics ). Aside from standard things you do with a phone (call, text etc), I do some internet browsing to check out bball websites & NLSC.

[Dc311]

Fuck smartphones.I am sticking to morse code.

[[Q]]

yeah I'm one of the few that haven't given into the companies trying to sucker you into paying more for smartphone plans. I still have my LG Voyager from like 5 years ago. it was one of the first touch screen phones. a lot of people make fun of me for it, but my phone does exactly what i want it to, so there are no complaints

[J@3]

I like the customization aspect of smartphones more than anything else. I have a Dell Streak, it's got the largest screen of any smart phone available and I try to make the most of it. Like for example I make new layouts for them, using all sorts of different apps I can basically make my phone look however I want UI wise and have it function perfectly still. This is what mine looks like at present, it's a work in progress though...



I need to make 2 more of them, pretty tiring process but the phone looks cool at least.

Also I've got Audiogalaxy and Emit. Audiogalaxy lets me stream my entire music collection from my PC over 3G, Emit does the same thing with my movies/tv shows

[benji]

My phone can't even really get on the internet. (Theoretically it can but why would I, it's slower than 28k and the screen is so small.) And I dislike texting. And hate using the phone even more.

I may be jaded because of my experiences with college students though. They like to stop in doorways or hallways to start texting or call someone. Or go "I can look that up!" then spend five minutes fiddling on the phone. But then again they spend all class using their Macs to look at thefacebook and twitter. And are just increasingly odd people all together, and young. It's like they get younger ever year even though I get older. And none of them seem to have watched Seinfeld when it first aired. Yet they can't look at the textbook in class to figure out the simple basic answer someone wants that takes all of reading three sentences, instead they all just sit in silence. Dumbfounded. And then they write books for exams summarizing everything in sight without answering the question.

Also, get off my lawn.

And what's the deal with seedless watermelon? Do they have them humping? And how do I tell what's fresh? I'm rolling melons down the aisle.

/Seinfeld standup

[Patr1ck]

At 5 inches, that is a mini tablet, Jae.

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[el badman]

I've had a HTC MyTouch 4G for almost a year now and I'm very happy with it. I wouldn't say I couldn't live without it like some peeps who literally spend all their time on their smartphones, but I gotta say it definitely comes in handy (typing thus from my phone right now).
I was one if those who felt like he would never give in to the hype and didn't need to go online from their phone, but I guess peer pressure and seeing what those things can do did the trick. I used to hate the very concept of texting, thought it was stupid as hell, but I eventually gave in to that too...The main drawback, besides the cost of the monthly plan, is definitely the battery issues. When I bought it, I never thought it was pretty normal having to charge the phone every day or every other day, which is really frustrating... But by learning how the phone manages its programs and using an app called Juice Defender, I now only have to charge it every 3 days if I don't make heavy use of it.

[Lamrock]

I got a Motorola Cliq 2. Needless to say, I was not knowledgeable at all about phones at the time.

[Andrew]

Nokia X6. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.

I still mostly use it for talk and text, as well as a bit of gaming when insomnia strikes. I will use it for web browsing or Facebook on occasion, that's kind of a novelty for me but all the same it is handy to have Internet access. The X6 is actually a music-centred model but I don't really use it for that at all, since I've got an iPod.

[shadowgrin]

I like my phones small or compact and durable enough to fit in one pocket along with wallet, with a reliable keypad, and a resistant screen that the phone doesn't need a casing to protect it from scratches. I like to travel light.
I hate using the phone for calls because of the usual weak reception, having to move like an idiot from one spot to another just to get a better and clear reception for calls.
I use my phone for texting, as a music player, decent camera and maybe to browse the internet when absolutely needed (Google Maps FTW!). I really enjoyed that Sony Ericsson.
But since that phone's screen gave up a long time ago what I have is some old phone that has a brass backplate which adds more weight to it (I have no idea why it's supposed to be that way) and built-in flashlight. Since it has no slot for a memory card, it's only use is for texting and as a flashlight. It's also dual sim but I find it's flashlight function as the best use of the phone.

[Patr1ck]

I use mine as a flashlight, too. The led flash for the camera is very bright, but it doesn't have the reach of a normal flashlight.

[Andrew]

Actually downloaded a free flashlight app for my phone the other day. Haven't had need for it yet but testing it out, it's fairly bright.

[Nick]

Man, everybody i know has a smartphone. I've still got a regular nokia mobile phone.

I was like 4 years late and didn't get a mobile phone til about 2005. And i probably wont get a smartphone for another 3 years.

But i still don't get the appeal yet. Here's the way i see it: I need a phone to make and recieve calls and sms's. I need to be able to do that for as cheap as possible. I have 0 interest to use the internet over a phone because the screen is too small and i spend enough time on it at home as it is. = no reason for me to get a smartphone.

[Andrew]

I only upgraded because it was available on a plan, a plan that cost me as much as I was already paying (actually less as it included $10 off for the first 12 months), with a slightly higher cap and 200 MB of data included. Had that deal not been there, I certainly could've waited to get one.

[Patr1ck]

Luckily, the company I work for offers a discount for my carrier at 18%. The moment sprint takes away unlimited data plans, I'm just going to flash my phone over to boost mobile. It's about 30 bucks cheaper, but I am not willing to give up 4g speeds, yet.

[[Q]]

so which is the best smartphone in terms of features and computing power?

[Patr1ck]

Either the iphone 4s, samsung galaxy 2s, motorola droid razr, or the htc sensation(htc evo 3d without the 3d). Those are the phones that probably have the most features/bloatware, and the most power/shortest battery life.

[[Q]]

so say hypothetically speaking, if i wanted a smartphone primarily for texting & apps, but nothing too crazy, what would be win your "best all-around" category?

[Patr1ck]

Well, pretty much anything android. It's so customizable, especially with all the custom roms out there.

I like HTC. They treat their customers well with plenty of fixes and updates. My evo 4g came with android 2.1 and got two operating system upgrades to 2.3. Custom roms can even have ice cream sandwich, or 3.0, the tablet os.

It won't hurt at all to go top of the line, because flagship phones get special treatment. It really depends on what you mean by all around, as that is basically what smart phones are.

Motorola might be something to look into since google bought it.

The first thing you should look at are the carrier plans. Find a carrier you like, check out a phone that looks good, then look on the net for reviews.

[J@3]

so say hypothetically speaking, if i wanted a smartphone primarily for texting & apps, but nothing too crazy, what would be win your "best all-around" category?

I'd probably go with the iPhone. I'd never use one again myself but if you're not planning on getting to deep into ROM's and rooting and all of that kind of stuff the iPhone will suit you.

[Andrew]

Seeing some of the apps my friends with iPhones have and considering some of the games that are released for iOS, I'd say iPhone as well.

[volsey]

I have had a Nexus One for a little over a year now that I bought on the used market, tried a few roms, nothing super beneficial from them so stayed with stock. Here's what I use mine for the most:

Google with a press of a button is hard to live without these days. Pressing the search button and typing, or holding down the search button and searching with voice (what is Siri?) no matter where I am really makes life easy.

My phone has replaced my iPod Classic, while it only has half the storage, with all internet radios it's a win.

LED flash light.

Soundhound for finding music and setting reminders to download.

Calender, agenda, timetable for classes, etc.

Calls, Email, Texting...

Taking notes, making checklists, simulated graphing calculator (really cool), camera for 'scanning' notes, navigation, the list just keeps going. Even a free phone on contract these days can outpower my phone, I don't understand how some people can live without them. That said Benji, I agree with absolutely everything you said. I hate feeling like an old man at the age of 20 because of other people my age.

I don't really play that many games on it, I HATE ANGRY BIRDS, and would rather read something on the net during times when other people kill time with those games. I mean honestly that shitty little game is making millions of dollars monthly based on ads alone? It's boring...

[[Q]]

It won't hurt at all to go top of the line, because flagship phones get special treatment. It really depends on what you mean by all around, as that is basically what smart phones are.

well, i mean like something that will last a bit longer on battery, if it means sacrificing in other areas

if i were to go smartphone, i think i would go android and not iphone because i've heard it's very customizable like you say plus i used to sell electronics so i don't think too highly of apple products. plus it's a bit trendy to buy an iphone and i don't feel the need to get one

btw, what's a ROM?

[Patr1ck]

A rom is basically the operating system, the ui, included apps, and it's features. So you can completely change the look, style, and functionality. I never did it myself, only rooted (access to system files)to get some extra sdcard read speed and add aac audio recording for the camcorder, since it came with crippled read speed and the camcorder captured phone call quality audio.