Switching from iPhone - advice requested

[budbay1]

So I'm thinking of switching from iPhone to either Xperia X10 or the Samsung Captivate but am a little hesitant. I have a couple questions I would like to ask and hopefully someone can help with, thanks in advance!

Xperia - is not multi-touch, how does this effect gaming? This would severely limit many of the games I have on iPhone, is it the same for android?

Captivate - what is the media player like? I use my iPhone's media functions almost all day - driving to work streaming via bluetooth, at my desk, and driving home. Not to mention while running (and using a fitness tracking app at the same time). Will I have a good experience doing all this with captivate?

Captivate - how does it get along with itunes & macs? I would really like to continue using itunes to download my podcasts and be able to sync up to whatever phone I get

Lastly - what's the general thought on which of these phones is better, I've researched online and it seems about 50/50 maybe 55/45 in favor of captivate.

Thanks!

 

[dan55]

hi there

ive just done the move from iphone 3g to htc desire - the desire is a nice phone for sure but it is still a bit of a culture shock when used to iphone

i cant answer your specific questions unfortunately as didnt use those features you speak of - sorry

good luck

cheers
dan

 

[baillou2]

I don't really use any of the functionalities you're asking about except for podcasts and music. I don't use itunes at all (can't stand it), but it's not necessary as I just download all my podcasts directly to the phone.

I use the BeyondPod app which is great. With one button you can update all you're podcasts. And of course delete whichever ones you want etc.

For music I use Player Pro which is awesome. WAY better than the music player on iphone.
Both of these are paid apps however, but they do have free versions you can try out, and they are worth the money.

As far as video I use the default and I use Rockplayer, both of which are good and basically just like the iphone version, with the exception that they will play many more formats. I just love dragging newly downloaded tv eps from my computer and pasting into my phone's sd card.
It's all pretty easy. No itunes necessary at any point. It takes a while to get used to the notion. Think of itunes as the middle-man. Well, you can get rid of him with android.

 

[maxnicks]

Excellent free Media Player apps available. Most notably WinAmp and DoubleTwist. With WinAmp you can sync to your computer playlist via WIFI. Real handy!

Welcome to the Android Fold. We're happy to see you leaving the Dark Side.

 

[marefin]

I switched the Captivate from an iPhone. So far I have no regrets what so ever. I got the Captivate right when it came out, but I did play around with the Xperia but in my opinion it doesn't compare with the Captivate. If you're into games, then Captivate is probably the best Android phone you can get period. As far as the media player, I just use the stock, tho people will say there are better options out there. But the stock didn't bother me enough to change. I don't really use the video player that much so can't say. But again with any Android you ALWAYS have options.

Also, there is a way to continue using iTunes with a Captivate (or any other phone for that matter). All it requires is for you to download this one software onto your PC. But after I loaded all my songs from iTunes to my Captivate, I've found it easier to just drop the music files on to my phone via USB link. And I do this mainly because I don't really use iTunes to listen to music or listen to music on my computer at all actually, nor do I buy music off of iTunes. Here's the link to how to sync iTunes with the Captivate:

How to sync the Samsung Captivate with iTunes - Know Your Cell MEX

Good luck and hope you make the right decision to leave the "Dark Side"

 

[snapper.fishes]

Not having multi touch will limit the amount of games you can play. I can list a few off the top of my head - heavy gunner, nova, air hockey (multiplayer mode), etc.

 

[budbay1]

boy oh boy! so I picked up and used a captivate for about 28 days and decided to take it in fora return and am I glad I did! I am loving the xperia so so so much more than I liked the samsung. the x10 is not perfect by any means but I really did not like the captivate and had real issues with it: feels cheap as hell
media management is pathetic
had to load you tube videos about 6 times to get them to play if they ever actually did play
used battery faster than any device I have ever used
email NEVER updated - even if gmail updated the other mail app never would show emails
can't see the screen in even a little sunlight
screen was OK but it wasWAY over saturated

am so happy I switch for an x10 even if at&t has not released 2.1 yet!

 

[dan330]

from one frying pan to another....
now you know the problem with x10..

sony is even worse than samsung in releasing updates for their phones.
i have not even heard if the x10 will be upgraded out of 1.6.

you might want to look to see if there is a custom ROM for it with 2.1 or 2.2...

 

[Member243850]

boy oh boy! so I picked up and used a captivate for about 28 days and decided to take it in fora return and am I glad I did! I am loving the xperia so so so much more than I liked the samsung. the x10 is not perfect by any means but I really did not like the captivate and had real issues with it: feels cheap as hell
media management is pathetic
had to load you tube videos about 6 times to get them to play if they ever actually did play
used battery faster than any device I have ever used
email NEVER updated - even if gmail updated the other mail app never would show emails
can't see the screen in even a little sunlight
screen was OK but it wasWAY over saturated

am so happy I switch for an x10 even if at&t has not released 2.1 yet!

Hey there dude!

I was thinking of getting the X10 myself so ja there is 2.1 out for it officially by Sony themselves but you need to wait for AT & T or watever they call themselves and download the update with TimeScape 2 for the Experia X10.

The 2.1 update brings 720p video recording (i think) with the update! Awesome hey?

Oh ja and multitouch looks like it is supported by the X10, i think you asked about that previously i was also interested in this too for my games

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyI0Q4cJsDg

 

[daniel101191]

from one frying pan to another....
now you know the problem with x10..

sony is even worse than samsung in releasing updates for their phones.
i have not even heard if the x10 will be upgraded out of 1.6.

you might want to look to see if there is a custom ROM for it with 2.1 or 2.2...

Sony have released 2.2 for all there xperia x10's. As stated above, it doesnt matter which network you are with, the PC suite will install it/backup automatically

 

[dan330]

^^^ well i stand corrected!

 

[budbay1]

from one frying pan to another....
now you know the problem with x10..

sony is even worse than samsung in releasing updates for their phones.
i have not even heard if the x10 will be upgraded out of 1.6.

you might want to look to see if there is a custom ROM for it with 2.1 or 2.2...

Hi - not sure I follow you. What is the problem with the x10 and what frying pan am I jumping into? I was well aware on purchase that it was running 1.6 and I am still way more satisfied with it than the captivate.

I will be putting 2.1 on it - I plan on giving AT&T until January to release, if not I'll take matters into my own hands.

As noted above, Sony may be slow at updating but they already have put out 2.1 it's just AT&T holding it back. But nontheless, as far as I am concerned the x10 is so much superior than the captivate the older OS is not even an issue for me (as of right now, who knows, that may change).

Regardless - I am happy to have jumped ship from iPhone. My friends (iPhone owners) can't really understand why I changed. I simply tell them that the iPhone isn't the end all be all so what does it hurt to try something else. They say b/c iPhone is best so I challenge them for ways their iPhone is better and aside from some games not available I always show them the same app doing better things (such as widgets) or different features the iPhone does not have. What's sad and does really make me want to call them "sheep" is when they say it doesn't matter. For example - I ask how many steps and how long to turn on wifi or bluetooth and then show them I just turn it on, response "well....it's not that big a deal to go through the menu to do it". It really is amazing that people wont'/can't acknowledge that there could be better ways to do things than the iPhone is doing!

 

[lordofthereef]

What's sad and does really make me want to call them "sheep" is when they say it doesn't matter. For example - I ask how many steps and how long to turn on wifi or bluetooth and then show them I just turn it on, response "well....it's not that big a deal to go through the menu to do it". It really is amazing that people wont'/can't acknowledge that there could be better ways to do things than the iPhone is doing!

FWIW one can turn these on and off on iPhone with just as few steps. You need to be jailbroken, but the people not willing to jailbreak should honestly stick to iPhone anyway. It is nice and plain and simple as stock and apparently that is what they want.

 

[ashykat]

As far as media sync goes, I prefer something a bit more lightweight than doubleTwist. I use iTunes and to sync music to my phone(s) I use salling media sync. There's a free and a paid version, be sure to check it out.

 

[takeshi]

They say b/c iPhone is best

Best is always highly subjective, regardless of topic. Anyone saying otherwise is either a fanboy or selling you something.

What's sad and does really make me want to call them "sheep" is when they say it doesn't matter.

What's sad about it? The reason best is always subjective is that what matters and what doesn't matter differs from person to person. Even among Android users we don't all agree or else we'd all be using the same device loaded with the exact same set of apps. Look around and you'll quickly see that's not the case.

It shouldn't be inconceivable that the iPhone is the best fit some and not for others. Feel free to replace iPhone in that sentence with any device out there.

it's just AT&T holding it back.

That's a big just. Effectively there isn't an update if the carrier hasn't approved and released it. That is, unless you're willing to root/mod and your device has a strong modding community. That is, if that matters to you (there it is again -- subjectivity).

 

[dan330]

What's sad about it? The reason best is always subjective is that what matters and what doesn't matter differs from person to person. Even among Android users we don't all agree or else we'd all be using the same device loaded with the exact same set of apps. Look around and you'll quickly see that's not the case.

in most cases you are right.

but what the person was saying how these friends of his.. would not admit somethings were done better by another phone.

example: going from point A to point B... there are 2 roads. He takes A .. you take B. You get there first every time, but he will not admit your road is better, because his way is blah blah blah.

 

[ashykat]

in most cases you are right.

but what the person was saying how these friends of his.. would not admit somethings were done better by another phone.

example: going from point A to point B... there are 2 roads. He takes A .. you take B. You get there first every time, but he will not admit your road is better, because his way is blah blah blah.

Although it's possible one of those cars used a quarter tank of gas and the other used a half tank.

 

[sremick]

http://androidforums.com/members/budbay1.htmlbudbay: was none of your iTunes music library DRM-protected?

 

[budbay1]

Very little of my iTunes library is actually purchased through iTunes. (most are either imported through CD or Amazon MP3)

 

[budbay1]

in most cases you are right.

but what the person was saying how these friends of his.. would not admit somethings were done better by another phone.

example: going from point A to point B... there are 2 roads. He takes A .. you take B. You get there first every time, but he will not admit your road is better, because his way is blah blah blah.

Thanks for actually reading what I wrote! I was not trying to debate what device is best, worst, etc. My whole point was people I know that did not give me any reasons as to why they were choosing iPhone and turning their nose up at Android (as I used to do). There's nothing wrong with iPhone and it's a great device, I am simply trying to show some people I know alternate options (keep in mind these are the type of people who would never even think to look at a board like this). Thanks!