Confused newbie.

[Spikeywan]

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the forum, and new to the idea of phones that do more than voice and text.

I ride a motorbike to work, and it takes me an hour each way. So, I've decided to get myself something that'll play music.

Initially I was leaning towards an iPod classic, because of it's massive 160GB.

However, I'm in the process of ripping all my CDs, and it looks like I'm not going to need anywhere near that much space.

Cool, that means I could get an iPhone or an iPod touch.

However, I have reservations about the restrictions of Apple devices.

Someone at work's just shown me an HTC Desire, and it looks pretty good. I especially like the fact that it takes SD cards. I'm hoping that 32GB will be enough for a lifetime's worth of music (for me).

Bluetooth is a must.
Phone wise, I want to use my Adsa PAYG sim, cos I'm not a huge phone user, and wouldn't really use it for the internet.
WiFi would be nice in the pub, as would GPS, and an accelerometer.

I do really like the look of iPod's coverflow thing, though.

Oh, and if I'm going to shell out a few hundred quid, I might as well get the top of the range, so it'll last me a long time. I don't want to be changing every year. I had a Palm Vx for 10 years!

The more I look, the more confused I get.

Can anyone help me through the dense forest of options, please?

 

[Pop Korn]

I would stay away from the crapple products. You should get a droid product from big red. I recommend the Droid X.

 

[beenz]

I have no knowledge of English cell phone providers and have no knowledge of SIM cards, so I can't help you in that respect. In the states cell phones are locked to specific carriers (illegal in Europe if I'm not mistaking).

A plus with having SD Card storage is that if you end up ripping more than 32gb, you can always get another one, and swap them out if needed. However, you have to buy the SD Card (a 32gb costs $200 USD). Some phones come with an SD Card, but they can range in sizes. My HTC Incredible came with a 2gb card, while the Galaxy S comes with 16gb cards.

And there are a lot of options in terms of music players for Android. Some are paid, and others are free. More than likely, you will find one you like. Apple's coverflow is nice, but if you will be riding a motorbike around, are you really going to be looking at the screen that much? I'll admit that Apple has great hardware and software, but they lock everything down WAY too much and have no expandable storage. You can't even put music on the damn thing without installing their 70mb program (iTunes). With Android you just drag and drop.

 

[mpw]

...I ride a motorbike to work, and it takes me an hour each way. So, I've decided to get myself something that'll play music...

Bad idea from a safety POV, and almost certain it's illegal too!

...Adsa PAYG sim, cos I'm not a huge phone user, and wouldn't really use it for the internet...

Ditch your ASDA SIM, and transfer (you can keep the number if you want) to giffgaff (see giffgaff.com for details); it's the same price for calls, and the internet is free until at least December, after that it's still cheaper than ASDA.

...WiFi would be nice in the pub, as would GPS, and an accelerometer...

Depends on the pub, but many UK pubs are limited to WiFi 'b', and are crap, using your (now free giffgaff) HSDPA/3G is quicker than many free WiFi hotspots.

 

[Spikeywan]

It seems that the HTC Desire is the best phone out there, is that correct?

How does it compare to an iPod touch? My main use would be for listening to music. I would like to put a couple of films on it for when I'm stuck somewhere with nothing to do. Is it easy enough to rip a DVD onto it? What about putting music DVDs onto it?

As for GifGaf, it seems too good to be true. Is it for real?

Thanks.

 

[mpw]

...As for GifGaf, it seems too good to be true. Is it for real?

Thanks.

I've used it for a few months, and it's far superior(cost wise) than the PAYG Vodafone/Orange/O2 services I used before.

It's PAYG anyway, so if it's not for you after the first month or two you can ditch it, no strings.

I like the

 

[IOWA]

If you want something that'll play media well, I wouldn't go with an Android device yet. Have a look at Zune's and Zune HD's. Zune HD's also have HD radio tuners built in.

 

[mpw]

If you want something that'll play media well, I wouldn't go with an Android device yet. Have a look at Zune's and Zune HD's. Zune HD's also have HD radio tuners built in.

I don't think Microsoft have bothered to launch the Zune players in the UK yet. Get on a tube tomorrow and I would say that 90% of non-phone mp3 players will be iPods, I've seen one Zune in use since (US) launch.

 

[Member243850]

Hi there SpikedSwan!

A warm welcome to the Android Universe!

If you are interested in the Android os and want a media player all in one and prefer your standard phone then try the Archos 32 Media Tablet: (and yes it looks like it has bluetooth too! )

http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archos_32it/index.html?country=us〈=en

 

[Spikeywan]

Ooh! The Archos 32 looks very interesting. A lot cheaper than an HTC Desire, too!

I wonder when they'll be available in the uk?

 

[JohnShepherd]

Just got an HTC Desire, and loving it! The GPS navigation by google works great, and it's something you might enjoy if you're into motorcycle tours (I am). And you can even synch music with iTunes. I've been using an iPhone for over 3 years, and the Desire is a big step up imo...IF you really need navigation and all the other apps.

If you only want to listen to music on your bike, and make phone calls...just get the cheapest phone you can find, and get yourself an iPod nano. It's tiny (which is nice on a bike), and still holds more music than you'll probably need. Archos are nice if you also want to watch movies, not on a bike though

PS: What bike you riding?

 

[Spikeywan]

I ride a CBR600F, which is my best gadget to date.

The Desire looks great, but is very expensive. I suppose I've been seduced by features again, like WiFi connectivity, GPS, etc.

I have a perfectly good Garmin Zumo 550, which does my navigation and I have a perfectly good phone, too.

What I actually want is something that'll hold all my music CDs. However, I want the capacity to be able to add new ones as I go on, without having to remove anything. So we're talking a lifetime's worth of CDs. That's why I was initially looking at the iPod classic.

However, as I now play CDs through my TV (which sounds better than my stereo), I tend to buy music DVDs instead, so I'd like to be able to listen to them as well.

Then, for those times when I find myself stuck in an airport, it'd be quite nice to be able to watch a film, or music DVD. I'd put maybe 5 films at the most on it.

Stereo bluetooth is a must.

After that, I suppose anything else is just something nice to play with.

The only other thing that I really liked was the coverflow thing that iPods have, but I suspect that others will be copying that by now anyway.

 

[Member243850]

Wow i dunno about availiblity in United Kingdom dude.... i live in South Africa so i cud look if u wanted me to dude?

Keep well

Stinky Stinky

 

[Hrethgir]

I have a perfectly good Garmin Zumo 550, which does my navigation and I have a perfectly good phone, too.

Unless you just WANT a new toy, you don't need a seperate MP3 player. The Zumo 550 has MP3 player capability and Bluetooth connectivity, so you can listen to music, talk on a phone, and hear navigation via BT with everything you have.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=135&pID=414

SD card expansion makes it easy for storage and route sharing. Download routes to share with your riding buddies — even load mp3 files to your unit to enjoy tunes on the road.

 

[Spikeywan]

The Zumo doesn't do stereo bluetooth, the music quality isn't very good, I want to have a specific device for my entire music collection, and yes, I do want a new toy.

Thanks, though.

 

[lavi han]

During the summer vacation I work at a company called tvc-mall.They had a iphone 3g and iphone 4 to test products before they send consumers.I was the one to test every accessories of iphone, so I did know iphone 4.I think it is just a so called toy though a lot of people of not.When i play games I use my sony computer,and if that iphone 4 was mine,i would only use the phone and sms as well.A smart phone is not for me,then I think u should think which phone is just for u before buy