I have just recently started looking at small PDAs or whatever they are called these days. I was surprised to find that the iPod Touch is retailing for around $200, which I consider a reasonable price. I was also surprised that most Android devices cost a lot more than $200. The hardware specs on the iPod Touch are exactly what I would want, but I don't like Apple as a company and I don't like the iPod OS.
What would be a good Android equivalent to the iPod Touch? I don't care if it has phone capabilities or not. And I don't care if it's a well known brand or not. The following are my priorities, in order of importance:
1. Around $200 or less (critical)
2. Available in the United States (critical)
3. Android 1.6 or 2.0 compatible (critical)
4. Very long battery life (critical)
5. WiFI (critical)
6. Camera (critical)
7. Some sort of external memory card slot (critical)
8. GPS (nice to have)
9. Bluetooth (nice to have)
10. Accelerometer (nice to have)
Thanks for your help and suggestions!
Last edited by sb56637; December 13th, 2009 at 11:48 PM.
Well, as I said, I don't really care if it has a phone or not. I just don't want to pay for a feature that I won't use, and I don't want to spend a lot more than $200.
Last edited by sb56637; December 14th, 2009 at 12:23 AM.
;-) Not gonna happen. I dislike Microsoft even more than Apple.
Then what do you want? You ask for amazing battery life and less than 200?! Look smartphones are smart with a draw back and that's battery power you buy the phone pay 80 a month and you get a computer in your hands.
__________________
-----------------------------------------
iPhone fanboy's: Keep drinking that cool aid....
Android devices are surprisingly expensive. I expected them to be cheaper as they are competing with the critically acclaimed iTouch and iPhone. I personally would like to have an OS that lets me run more than 1 app at a time though.
Device(s): Motorola Droid-X
Running Tranquility 3.5
OC'd to 1.35mhz
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
archos is one of the few alternatives you have. I have a pre-android model and am pretty happy with it. If your looking for just a music player, you don't want an android phone, the media players on these things are one of the few aspects that are less than spectacular. The archos gets around it by dual booting android along with their own OS that handles the media part of the device.
I'm a believer in the archos (but it is not for everybody), you get one or two of the accessories and you have an extremely powerful tool. If you have any questions pm me.
Android devices are surprisingly expensive. I expected them to be cheaper as they are competing with the critically acclaimed iPod Touch and iPhone. I personally would like to have an OS that lets me run more than 1 app at a time though.
Android phones are just as expensive as any other smartphone, $200 dollars is a subsidized price that carriers set up so you don't pay an arm and a leg for the phone be greatful for it. the iPhone 3GS (32GB) retails for nearly $700, the nokia N97 is $700, and the blackberry bold is $660 unsubsidized while the motorola droid retails for $569 unsubsidized. No offense and I mean this in all honesty but please do some further research because you really don't want to come on here that uninformed.
Device(s): Motorola Droid, Froyo 2.2 FRG01 by Pete
Thanks: 0
Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by reznorfan0
archos is one of the few alternatives you have. I have a pre-android model and am pretty happy with it. If your looking for just a music player, you don't want an android phone, the media players on these things are one of the few aspects that are less than spectacular. The archos gets around it by dual booting android along with their own OS that handles the media part of the device.
I'm a believer in the archos (but it is not for everybody), you get one or two of the accessories and you have an extremely powerful tool. If you have any questions pm me.
There really isn't much for a music player to do, what else does the droid one need?
Sony was supposed to have a device out that was an MP3 player with Android on it. It was going to be the iPod Touch killer, but I don't know why Sony scrapped that idea.
The Zune doesn't have Android on it, so that is not going to work for the original poster.
Device(s): ASUS Transformer TF101
Evo Shift 4G
Epic 4G
Thanks: 1,169
Thanked 1,497 Times in 840 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by sb56637
Hi there,
I have just recently started looking at small PDAs or whatever they are called these days. I was surprised to find that the iPod Touch is retailing for around $200, which I consider a reasonable price. I was also surprised that most Android devices cost a lot more than $200. The hardware specs on the iPod Touch are exactly what I would want, but I don't like Apple as a company and I don't like the iPod OS.
What would be a good Android equivalent to the iPod Touch? I don't care if it has phone capabilities or not. And I don't care if it's a well known brand or not. The following are my priorities, in order of importance:
1. Around $200 or less (critical)
2. Available in the United States (critical)
3. Android 1.6 or 2.0 compatible (critical)
4. Very long battery life (critical)
5. WiFI (critical)
6. Camera (critical)
7. Some sort of external memory card slot (critical)
8. GPS (nice to have)
9. Bluetooth (nice to have)
10. Accelerometer (nice to have)
Thanks for your help and suggestions!
Im sorry, but I just have to say it. Some people just make me laugh. Seriously. I want a device that has a 2039489230MP camera and 6TB of memory and expandlable memory with Bluetooth that travels 8 miles and Wifi/WiMax and washes my clothes, does my dishes, cuts my lawn.... etc...
I mean seriously. Why is needing a camera on a MUSIC player critical? If you want a camera, buy a freakin camera with a REAL lense. Until they start sticking Nikon Lenses in camera phones it really doesnt matter how many pixels you have your still limited by the lense. And Very long battery life, and all those features is kind of contradictory. Not unless you really want to carry a 5lb battery pack? They don't need to make an android media device. IPODS and ZUNES and other standalone MP3 players will be obsolete in the next 5 years anyway. The way phones are progressing, you can even use an inactive phone as a mp3 replacement, and with more phones carrying the 3.5 mm Jack, it IS going to happen.
Im sorry, but I just have to say it. Some people just make me laugh. Seriously. I want a device that has a 2039489230MP camera and 6TB of memory and expandlable memory with Bluetooth that travels 8 miles and Wifi/WiMax and washes my clothes, does my dishes, cuts my lawn.... etc...
I mean seriously. Why is needing a camera on a MUSIC player critical? If you want a camera, buy a freakin camera with a REAL lense. Until they start sticking Nikon Lenses in camera phones it really doesnt matter how many pixels you have your still limited by the lense. And Very long battery life, and all those features is kind of contradictory. Not unless you really want to carry a 5lb battery pack? They don't need to make an android media device. IPODS and ZUNES and other standalone MP3 players will be obsolete in the next 5 years anyway. The way phones are progressing, you can even use an inactive phone as a mp3 replacement, and with more phones carrying the 3.5 mm Jack, it IS going to happen.
I bought the new Itouch to replace my old Ipod. Loved it. But for me it's a device to store and play my music. Downloading apps and checking my email on it was nice, but pointless without having a dedicated connection where ever I went. A week later I ended up buying the new Droid phone - So I can do everything the Itouch did, but can do it anywhere I want.
Might be an answer in a few months, if they make a 4" version.
Were happy with our 9" ASUS netbooks, they are are main systems now at home, bth out laptops are for sale.
;-) Not gonna happen. I dislike Microsoft even more than Apple.
Who cares? Brand loyalty is the insane, and saying that you aren't going to purchase XYZ product because of the manufacturer, regardless of whether or not it's a good product is ridiculous. Why don't you look at the iPod Touch or Zune HD as PMPs, not .... who makes them.
Device(s): Motorola Droid, Froyo 2.2 FRG01 by Pete
Thanks: 0
Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts
Brand does make a big difference. Buying a product from a company like Microsoft or Apple says you will need to invest a significant amount of time and $ in support of it down the road since their closed nature will prevent force you into that paid software upgrade cycle eventually.
I try to avoid supporting companies that practice business like Microsoft, Apple, Sony, ATT, etc and won't give them any of my $ unless they change their business practices or no other alturnative exists.
Cut back the demands; then it's actually what i'm looking for
Quote:
Originally Posted by sb56637
Hi there,
What would be a good Android equivalent to the iPod Touch? I don't care if it has phone capabilities or not. And I don't care if it's a well known brand or not. The following are my priorities, in order of importance:
1. Around $200 or less (critical)
2. Available in the United States (critical)
3. Android 1.6 or 2.0 compatible (critical)
4. Very long battery life (critical)
5. WiFI (critical)
6. Camera (critical)
7. Some sort of external memory card slot (critical)
8. GPS (nice to have)
9. Bluetooth (nice to have)
10. Accelerometer (nice to have)
Thanks for your help and suggestions!
keep 1,2,3,5,&7 nothing else should be critical because of the contradictions
also if it exceeds $200 a little it should be okay (but $300 is preferred max)
I'm sure interested in tablets and netbooks, my main issue is I want something that will run linux, maybe chrome os, or ubuntu. I wish to run everyday applications on it like second life, if a more featured second life application comes to android then linux wont be needed.
I bought a 32gb zune hd and a 32 gb ipod touch at the same time this year... I use both... both have their pros and cons just like anything else. The zune hd is def. made for people who want to be able to download a lot of music for a cheap price every month(zune pass 14.99 a month, unlimited downloads and keep 10 songs every month. So thats basically unlimited downloads every month and all your paying the price of is a cd.. and you get to keep 10 songs to do what you want with.) however all of its apps SUCK! and I think the major turn off for the zune is no built in speaker.
As for the Ipod touch... way more apps, way better web browser, ability to check your email, built in speaker, bigger screen, etc. The only downfalls i find with the ipod are no radio and no program like the zune pass... sure you have rhapsody but you have to have internet access to be able to listen to your library, because it streams your library and it costs the same as the zune pass.... however the major plus for ipod is itunes doesnt always force close on my lap top and it seems like the zune app force closes like every 15 minutes which is highly annoying...
so.... I hope this helps.... I would not get a zune if youre looking for a device that can do a lot of different things, because when it boils down to it... the only thing the zune hd is really good for is downloading and listening to music.
__________________
"Umm Redbull, could you please let go of my hand now?"
Device(s): Motorola Droid, Froyo 2.2 FRG01 by Pete
Thanks: 0
Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts
The problem with buying an ipod touch is well its an Apple product. If your not part of the whole Apple fanboy brigade then your not blinded by the whole Apple religion and realize their products are not all that great.
The problem with buying an ipod touch is well its an Apple product. If your not part of the whole Apple fanboy brigade then your not blinded by the whole Apple religion and realize their products are not all that great.
Exactly;
finally someone who understands that CrApple sucks
(at least Microshit gives us the updates for free!)
Also with the Zune Microsoft makes all the apps and barely advertises them
Whereas Apple advertises many apps as the main selling point calling it a "mini-computer" and "the ultimate gaming device"
No I'm not.
And I want to tell you what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit you are.
-Where's the Tylenol?
Device(s): Motorola Droid-X
Running Tranquility 3.5
OC'd to 1.35mhz
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by UniversityOfPi
So you're telling me an Archos 5 Internet tablet with Android doesn't exist
or was that aimed at him?
in whixh case used is an option
The archos android does exist. And from all indications it's pretty damn good now (spend about as much time on the archos forums as here). It was rough when it first launched, but after a few months being out it's seen a ton of archos firmware updates and gone from android 1.5 to 1.6.
It's a dual boot system, archos OS handles all the media playback (and it can play nearly every format (audio and video) that youv ever heard of. And then Android runs widgets, apps, net, other stuff. I have an older version before they started with Android, but hardware-wise it is nearly identical, and I love it.
About the only criteria it doesn't meet for the OP is that it doesn't have a camera, and it's a bit pricier.
The archos android does exist. And from all indications it's pretty damn good now (spend about as much time on the archos forums as here). It was rough when it first launched, but after a few months being out it's seen a ton of archos firmware updates and gone from android 1.5 to 1.6.
It's a dual boot system, archos OS handles all the media playback (and it can play nearly every format (audio and video) that youv ever heard of. And then Android runs widgets, apps, net, other stuff. I have an older version before they started with Android, but hardware-wise it is nearly identical, and I love it.
About the only criteria it doesn't meet for the OP is that it doesn't have a camera, and it's a bit pricier.
I'm just worried about support if it breaks
supposedly Archos has crappy support -and I'm bad luck for electronics; every new device I get dies within 6-12 months
It's a dual boot system, archos OS handles all the media playback (and it can play nearly every format (audio and video) that youv ever heard of. And then Android runs widgets, apps, net, other stuff. I have an older version before they started with Android, but hardware-wise it is nearly identical, and I love it.
.
how do you think it compares to a slate computer?
like for web surfing
Device(s): Motorola Droid-X
Running Tranquility 3.5
OC'd to 1.35mhz
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Web browsing my pre-android unit is solid, from the other guys I've chatted with that have the android, they say it's pretty awsome. Nothing IMO is going to replace a full blown laptop, but for quick tasks I don't have any issues with the Opera browser on mine (android version obviously does not use opera).
The real power of these units is unlocked with the additional purchase of a battery dock. It's a dongle-like thing that has a backup power supply, gets you about 1.5X the battery life. Also opens up the unit to act as a usb host (has standard usb plug on it), this allows you hook up additional hardware like usb keyboards and mice. When I need to take some notes in a pinch i pull out my collapsable keyboard and type. I'm also pretty into my photogrophy, plug the camera into the battery dock and dl all my pictures for storage and viewing on that hi-def 5inch screen, no need for a computer to take pics off the camera in the field.
Now, the main downfalls are the price and the support if something goes wrong. If you have a decent Best Buy near you that you can just replace the unit hassle free directly through best buy, great, if not, Archos will repair your unit, it's just pulling teeth to get a hold of anybody. Another potential problem is the bulkiness of the HD based higher capacity units. I'm a big guy so I don't have any issues, but if your a smaller guy or a chick, putting this thing in your pocket could be a problem.
I have had my unit for a year or so now and no problems (except that I REALLLY want the android verison now playing with my droid and seeing the OS in action). I use mine primarily as a media player, with 250gigs of storage, the ability to load free flash games off the web, that wonderful screen, and the file support that it has, I don't have problems recommending it to a fellow geek. If you don't like tinkering with your gizmos and just want something to work, this might not be your thing, but chances are if your in android forums that you like to tinker and customize anyway...
Last edited by reznorfan0; January 12th, 2010 at 08:49 AM.
Android alternative to iPod Touch for $200?
Cut back the demands; then it's actually what i'm looking for
