Help x10 and desire. Help me decide.

[paulhdi]

Hi guys,

I joined here a few weeks ago when my other half got herself a htc desire. She's not really done much to the phone as she uses it for work etc.

I've been considering going on contract for a while now and I've narrowed my choice of phones to the desire due to its reputation, and the experia x10, due to having had se phones for the last few years, and love the cameras they come with. I've also seen the issues that some have with the camera on the desire, sighting the lens cover as the culprit.

I'm in the UK and on 3, and looking to get the phone from carphone warehouse so that the phone will be unbranded, like my c902 is.

I'm really interested in those of you in the uk that have done the upgrade to android 2.1 and how you've found it.

I'd be a little concerned if 2.1 is the highest version of android that the x10 will get, as i'll have this phone for 2 years.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Paul

 

[Beaker491]

Hi
Quite a few desires are having problems with network signal, 3g signal strength especially, which seems to be related to a radio frequency problem i believe, and thats put me off getting one
From looking at a few articles on the web, it's highly likely that 2.1 is the last update that SE will do for the X10, as they seem to be concentrating on the ANZU (X12) and the Playstation phone. I'd post a link for you if i could figure out how to

Hope this helps

Ian

 

[paulhdi]

Thanks Ian, I'd read the same about 2.1 potentially being the last one.

If it was going to get 2.2 I'd be way more inclined to get the x10.

I hadn't heard about the signal issues on the desire, but will see if the other half has noticed any, although to be fair, we dont get that great a signal in the house.

I must confess, I love the ability to customise the android system, and from what I've gathered, the apps you can use are limited by the version of android your phone runs?

Paul

 

[BingoRingo]

Get a Desire! I'm never going to be a SE customer again that's for sure, they don't care about us and they don't deserve any recommendations.

 

[blacktiger2610]

Hey if you have like basics in modding, or if your good in following instructions then go with the x10. With the latest firmware and little mods here and there its a good device. Email, web, multimedia, and the battery is good as well. Thats good for a 1gz 4'' device. The X10 is a good phone and it is getting better and better by the day with the help of its online community.

If you are uncomfortable with the above points then i suggest to go with the desire. Personally i do not like the looks of it, its too curvy and round.

 

[paulhdi]

thanks for the views guys.

I dont know how messing I'd do with the phone, unless I managed to get one that's unbranded, so I dont mess up any warranty on the phone for the 2 years I'm going to have to keep it.

Up until now, I've only had PAYG so not had a phone for 2 years. Had a k610, k770i and my c902 and touch wood, never had an issue with any of them, so kind of hoping the x10 would be as reliable.

With timescape, which I've read can cause the phone to be a little slow, so is there any way of shutting this off or disabling it so the phone runs quicker?

Thanks

Paul

 

[Beaker491]

Hi again

I think (but not 100% sure) the time scape and media scape are central and part of the core of SE's skin of android, and can't be switched off. By all means im sure someone can confirm or deny this for me . I'd assume 2.1 would speed it up a bit, but I must confess i dont own an x10 to tell you, its just the research im doing before i bite the bullet and buy an android phone used to have an iphone 4, and the only thing impressive about that was apple's customer service but thats another story.
Theres so much choice with android phones, im a bit stuck myself with what to get. Desire - reception problems. Desire HD - Dismal battery life for a relatively heavy user like me. Motorola Milestone - Poor in call quality. The list goes on. All android phones running the same version of android all have similar pros, but different cons, if you get me? It might be worth a look at GSMArena.com - GSM phone reviews, news, opinions, votes, manuals and more... if you haven't already? I (and alot of others) find their reviews helpful at least. I phone im waiting to be released is the LG Star. It looks interesting. That and the Google Nexus S.

Hope this helps, and sorry for going slightly off topic

Regards

Ian

 

[paulhdi]

nothing to be sorry about Ian, all info and knowledge greatly appreciated.

Will check out the reviews on gsmarena.

Paul

 

[GS9000]

I've basically own X10 now upgraded to 2.1 recently, but it doesnt come near close to the performance of my Samsung Galaxy S still in 2.1 as well. This is in terms of screen, process speed-lags, but being same android and having same 1gz processor and access to android market. However, the preference is up to you at the end of the day. Try to play around across the handsets, cuz they all have their own strength and weakness. If you can still wait, I heard new handsets with capability of more than 1gz processor are coming up next year, so why dont you just wait a bit since you will be looking into a contract anyway...

 

[ECBomb]

All depends on your taste. I'll give you a few pros and cons so you can have a better idea.

Pros:
- great camera
- best design of any phone i've seen in awhile. I love the matte case finish (only on the black one though, white one has a glossy finish)
- great online community (though I'm not sure how much support HTC phones have from its online community, only speaking on behalf of X10, and not in comparison to other phones)
- very easy/convenient to upload pictures onto Facebook (if this is something you care for)

Cons:
- slow software support (online community can offset this flaw, but since you did say you aren't looking to mess around too much with the phone, this is probably a negative for you)
- is quite laggy to its major competing phones (such as Galaxy S, Nexus One, iPhone, etc.) (but there's a custom ROM in the works that will make the phone MUCH quicker, though this requires you to mess around with the phone)
- lack of multi-touch (not a deal breaker by any means, but SE said they are coming out with a patch in Q1 2011 to deal with this issue)
- stock text messaging keyboard isn't that great (but 3rd party texting layouts such as the HTC IME will easily change that)


So the above are the major advantages and disadvantages. Everything else is pretty standard for an Android 2.1 device like apps support, calling, and messaging while maintaining a bit of SE uniqueness. Hope this helps you with your decision.

 

[gunny5821]

My 2 cents, get anything BUT the x10...

 

[paulhdi]

Thanks guys.

ECbomb, that was a great help. I'd probably start messing with the phone eventually, it's just the thought of killing it and having 23 months of contract left on it that concerns me.

I updated my old k770i to keep in the glove box of the car, and that removed the unlocking I'd had done to it. So at the moment I'm just getting my head around the whole process of patching it, which is a bit scary lol

The facebook thing isn't an issue for me, as I dont really use it. I do like the fact that the SE phones I've owned have had really decent cameras, and the issue that some are having with the desire lens cover inside the back of the phone cover causing issues is a concern. I just know that if i do as some people are doing, and buy a proper glass lens for it, I'll get some glue on the screen and screw it up in some way,leaving a mark or smudge in every picture i take

the phone I get will mostly be used for the basics. Texting, calls, probably some music and pdf's, and the camera is the main draw to the X10 for me.

The one update that the other half did like, was the flash light app. Is there anything comparable for 2.1?

thanks everyone,

Paul

 

[johnaachen]

Get a Desire! I'm never going to be a SE customer again that's for sure, they don't care about us and they don't deserve any recommendations.

get a desire.x10 is a joke

 

[ECBomb]

Thanks guys.

the phone I get will mostly be used for the basics. Texting, calls, probably some music and pdf's, and the camera is the main draw to the X10 for me.

The one update that the other half did like, was the flash light app. Is there anything comparable for 2.1?

thanks everyone,

Paul

If those are the essentials for you, then the X10 should be more than adequate. HTC is more of an eye candy and social phone if you ask me, and I have read that camera components are not their strong points of the phone.

Not exactly sure of the flash light app you are referring to. But I use "LED Light" from the Market (which is free) and it worked perfectly on the X10 on 1.6 and still works like a charm on 2.1. You can have it as a widget on your homescreen and all you need is to click it to turn the LED flash on the back of the phone on/off. Given that's what you're looking for rather than those stupid and useless flashlight apps which turns the screen white.

And I still don't get why all the hatred towards the X10. I'm sure everyone knew what they were capable of to begin with. Maybe they just had expectations that were too high to meet. Should probably go for an iPhone if that's the case.

 

[richardsilv]

HTC Desire HD battery is a complete joke I thought the x10 was rubbish but the desire is even worse

 

[paulhdi]

richardsilv,

I think the girlfriend's phone is suffering from the battery issue. I mentioned the charging trick to enhance battery life, but it still struggles to last a full day.

ECBomb,

yeah, the more I look at what I actually need from the phone, the more the x10 is fitting the bill. The LED app sounds just the ticket.

I was reading on the xda forum about some people actually deleting timescape to speed up the phone, while still having mediascape for pics and video etc.

Paul

 

[ECBomb]

ECBomb,

yeah, the more I look at what I actually need from the phone, the more the x10 is fitting the bill. The LED app sounds just the ticket.

I was reading on the xda forum about some people actually deleting timescape to speed up the phone, while still having mediascape for pics and video etc.

Paul

I deleted Timescape on my phone and phone works great still. The only thing that was messed up was that right after I deleted Timescape, some the files on my SD card (like my profile pictures of my friends, and some wallpapers) were deleted magically. No biggy as I just reinstalled them onto the SD card. Other than that, nothing wrong with the phone. But I do need to say that I don't have 3G so I can't say for that.

Don't delete Mediascape though.

 

[rais4uk]

Good morning all, ive had se phones for years,but changed to the desire its unbranded on voda network and am poitive its got 2.2 or it cud b me wishing it has! As a phone defo the desire, as a camera n music player go for the x10, me son has the galaxy s and he swears by it naturaly kids nowa days are more upto dste with techno. Good luck.

 

[Wisenos]

goin a part of most x10 user i'd recommend it
yes it's a bit "slower" due to timescape, but the phone was built right for the customer needs
yes SE were slow on updates, but again... for their first android phone
a 4" screen is rare on a "smartphone" true, big screen yes, battery eater: yes... but
the quality and look of the device is there
if i had to choose between those 2 with knowing everything i know about the 2 cell...
SE wins
honnestly, would you buy a car that has 20 more hp (a brand that just arise from nowhere) than another (wich the brand has worked as hell to build its name over the years)
might sound like i'm sold to Sony, but i know my x10 (not enough to crack it and do what ever i want with - but enough to know i prefer it to another)

i have 2-3 questions
does HTC actually make their own screen?... i don't think so
Sony?... they were (maybe still) if not the best TV manufacturer over years?
----------
does HTC has their own sound system?
Sony?: sound quality is there too (x10 might not be as loud as the desire "i don't know about that" but i know when i wear on my Sony earphone/headphone that my money is well spent)
----------
how about the digital camera?
Desire : 5 megapixel with autoflash out of the box
x10: 8.1 megapixel (sadly not a cybershot) wich needs a 3rd party camera software to have an auto flash, but again... they worked to build their name

--------------------
yeah SE customer service isn't a big deal, how's HTC?
might be the same

so in a heartbeat i'd recommend / buy again from SE without any doubts

 

[chris100575]

honnestly, would you buy a car that has 20 more hp (a brand that just arise from nowhere) than another (wich the brand has worked as hell to build its name over the years)

I'd just like to point out that HTC have been making phones for years, they started out as an original design manufacturer, a company that manufactures devices for clients who then put their own branding on. Several Palm, Compaq, Dell and Orange branded devices (to name a few) were actually made by HTC. They're not exactly new to the market.

 

[Tuttle]

A
- is quite laggy to its major competing phones (such as Galaxy S, Nexus One, iPhone, etc.) (but there's a custom ROM in the works that will make the phone MUCH quicker, though this requires you to mess around with the phone)

Do you have a source for that? I've never heard of that, but it sounds pretty great.

 

[slugpace]

Do you have a source for that? I've never heard of that, but it sounds pretty great.

read this thread over at XDA

X10 Custom ROM AOSP - xda-developers

between them, jerpelea and zdzihu are working on a custom ROM for 2.1 and getting 2.2 (froyo) onto the X10.

From reading the thread, the 2.1 is just about ready for you to flash and test, and 2.2 is just around the corner. We should all be grateful to these guys, they are doing an awesome job for us.

 

[paulhdi]

thanks for the link, will have to have a read of that thread. sounds very promising.

Paul

 

[brownang]

Wish I'd gone for the Desire now!

 

[paulhdi]

Wish I'd gone for the Desire now!

why's that mate, if you don't mind me asking.

paul