Help N97, iPhone, or HTC Magic

[sjdean]

Im on the hunt for a new phone. Having had Symbian S60 with the 7610, 6680, N80 and now N95, I have a nice comfortable platform.

But Im due for upgrade, and I don't know which direction to take.

However Im a bit iffed in that the interface doesn't feel like it translates well to touch screen with what appears to be an ugly tacked on keyboard interface.

However the N97 is still a major contender for me.

The iPhone, again, serious contender with brilliant designs, but again lacking in some of the things I take for granted on the N95, such as video recording, DivX playback, built in SIP Client, TV Out... The N97 is also rumoured to have an FM Transmitter...

HTC Magic however looks pretty sweet. Had a play with a dummy phone in the shop. Feels good and sold. The same sort of things that affect the iPhone seem to affect the HTC Magic... DivX Playback, SIP Client etc.

So I started thinking, what do I actually use?

Can the HTC check these?

• I know the HTC Magic has a virtual QWERTY, but does it have a virtual number pad for T9 text entry?
• Are there any GPS/Navigation programs available such as TomTom, Route 66 or Garmin? I have heard of AndNav2... Toughts?
• What is the video recording like? Is there an upper limit to what you can store?
• What's the inbuilt memory on the Magic? Can you hadd a memory card too?
• Does it have a SIP/VOIP Client (not Skype) for connecting to Asterisk? (I have heard of a Java app, but I think I want a proper app integrated into the device.
• Can you send MMS?
• Any "personal trainer" type apps, allowing you to record your routes that you walked/ran, speed etc, steps taken, calories burnt etc in the same way as Nokia Sports Tracker (have seen Buddy Runner - looks promising)
• Any news on DivX Playback?
• What are the music/video playback options like?

I think that's about it. I am pretty excited about the HTC Magic, and it looks so promising. Probably needs a few more things, such as DivX, Integrated SIP/Skype, GPS/Navigation etc for this phone to truly do it for me.

Cheers
Simon

 

[cred05]

I am a long time Nokia user. I switched from an N80 to my G1/Dream. You cant beat Nokia when it comes to being well rounded. Nokias hardware is well designed, and comes with great cameras with flashes, and just over-all quality. It definately has HTC beat in that department. Symbian is also a fantastic operating system, but I think it falls a little short when compared to Android. It is even more amazing that Android is still in its infancy, it just needs some time. Android is lacking some of the functions that you would expect to see in a smartphone, which nokia already has. But the things that andoid offers, and symbian does not, definately makes up for it.

I have not had a chance to physically look at the N97 (if its even out yet), and it looks great from what I've seen, but I really think that android is the way to go.

Right now the only 2 things I really miss is not being able to send files via bluetooth, and not being able to send BusinessCards.

 

[cred05]

• Does have a vitual number pad, and does have predicted text
• The GPS/Navigation programs still need some work last time I checked, but you are definitely able to find your way around with it.
• Video recording is good, and you are limited to the size of your memory card.
• Not sure about the Magic's built in memory, but I am sure it has an sd slot
• Not sure on theSIP/VOIP Client on the Magic
• You can send MMS
• There are personal trainer apps
• I have converted divx movies to play on my G1
• No complaints about playback.

 

[sjdean]

The N97 is due for release mid to late June in the UK.

You are right about Nokias being well rounded, but the recent inventions just strike me as uninspired with a lacklustre and dated interface that could be capable of so much more. Perhaps the "Wow" factor.

So do give in, over Nokias, what does the HTC Magic give?

Lack of Bluetooth is disappointing for me. Not too bothered about Business Cards, but the other one I thought of, is Microsoft Exchange connectivity.

Cya
Simon

 

[grimmy]

Had a play with a dummy phone in the shop.

I suggest asking to see the real thing, and have a go yourself. I was in a similar position and actually using it for a few minutes helped me with the decision. I was coming from the N95, which was falling apart so I decided I couldn't wait for an N97 or Pre (and news of the N97's processor and resistive touch screen also put me off slightly). I already knew Android was a great OS, but I have an iPod Touch so I was tempted by the iPhone. I didn't go for the iPhone in the end, because I have the iPod Touch which I use a lot for listening to music and podcasts throughout the day - having a separate audio player is definitely a good thing for battery life.

edit: MyTracks is a good alternative to Sports Tracker. It's developed by Google... YouTube - My Tracks

 

[sjdean]

Phone sounds mighty good, and thanks for the recommendation on MyTracks. BuddyRunner appears to be a little better, if not better, at least different.

Still think to be a world beater the phone will need...

Native DivX Playback
Integrated SIP/VOIP

Am I right in hearing the magic does not have Bluetooth? Also the MyTracks video is the second video I've seen (in conjunction with BuddyRunner) that appears to say a GPS lock takes a long time.

Sounds a bit iffy.

Cheers
Simon

 

[grimmy]

The magic has Bluetooth, it supports A2DP, but I don't believe you can natively send stuff via Bluetooth (contacts/files).

GPS locks take a few minutes on any device unless they have A-GPS (uses data connection to work out where the satellites are first) - the later N95 firmwares have this and also the Magic has A-GPS. I just tried to get a lock by my window, it took about 20 seconds from behind glass.

 

[pipopipi]

no, it doesn't have an alphanumeric T9 keypad yet, but i assume that in a short time an application like this is gonna be developed.

 

[ravens0ng]

Buddy Runner is definitely a top notch program! Records your route and uploads it to thier private website to keep a record of your workouts (this can be disabled for those concerned with privacy ). It also tracks your time, pace, and distance in the order you choose as well as estimating calories burned. Has audio indicators that you can customize by time, distance, or both. This is one of my favorite apps.

Also, the GPS seems to lock much faster after the 1.5 upgrade.

 

[sammrat-sms]

It depends what kind of requirements you have. Definitely I would prefer you to buy HTC magic.

 

[sergey]

I'm in the same situation as you- unsure of what phone to get, but right now I'm just playing the waiting game. N97, Pre, Magic, Samsung Android phones, and the new iPhone are all coming out soonish...

I'm leaning toward the iPhone but the high monthly fees, network capabilities, and the locked in battery are worries. The design, the number of apps (esp. for work), multitouch (esp. for browsing, it really is nice) are the features I love.

The HTC Magic looks cool, but history of horrendous battery life on the G1, and the 1970s level of memory to store apps internally with no easy way of storing/running apps worries me. The design, the cheaper monthly fees, cheaper initial cost, flash, and having a different phone from everybody else are what I like. It's got some work apps but not as much as the iPhone. I like the Samsung i7500 over the Magic for two reasons- 8gb memory and oled.

I'm relieved to hear that GPS is working quicker- I'm in NYC and google maps is ESSENTIAL to getting around since I just moved here.

The one big thing that annoys me about Android is the web browsing- on all the videos I see it renders the page in full screen and all you get is a corner of the webpage. The browser should render the page to fit the screen like mobile safari. Or at least render it with the magnifying glass view as default- I mean nobody is going to be looking at the upper left hand corner of a website. But when the Sapphire-Magic-Ion-Mytouch 3G comes out, I'm gonna have to drop by the T-mo store to check it out in person.

 

[farazpcc]

I will go with N97, big fan of nokia N series. Awaiting for it release in middle east. Iphone is also good. Don`t like HTC at all. If you are gaming and multi media fan then go for N97.

 

[AdamHC]

I'm thinking maybe get the iPhone if the specs which are released for the next one are good. Either that or the Magic. I would say the N97 but they've decided to use a resistive touch screen instead of a capacitive one. I have found resistive screens to be so much less accurate that capacative and capacitive ones just feel nicer when you touch them (sorta effortless, hard to explain). But then again it does have a hardware keyboard so I guess you wouldn't need to touch the screen so much anyway.

I was thinking I might wait for the next iPhone and get that if its good, and keep it for a while until Android is more developed and has more applications (and a better variety of phones). If the next iPhone's specs don't look to great then I'll just get the Magic.

 

[slarti]

The one big thing that annoys me about Android is the web browsing- on all the videos I see it renders the page in full screen and all you get is a corner of the webpage. The browser should render the page to fit the screen like mobile safari. Or at least render it with the magnifying glass view as default- I mean nobody is going to be looking at the upper left hand corner of a website. But when the Sapphire-Magic-Ion-Mytouch 3G comes out, I'm gonna have to drop by the T-mo store to check it out in person.

I have the browser on magic set to render pages to fit to screen so I'm not sure why the people in the videos you seen haven't.

By all the reports I've read the Magic has better battery life than the G1, but if you need to have GPS, wifi, BT all on all the time the battery won't last long.

The amount of memory on the device is fine. I've got lots of 3rd party programs installed on my Magic and still over 200Mb of free Ram, I then spent

 

[sergey]

I'm thinking maybe get the iPhone if the specs which are released for the next one are good. Either that or the Magic. I would say the N97 but they've decided to use a resistive touch screen instead of a capacitive one. I have found resistive screens to be so much less accurate that capacative and capacitive ones just feel nicer when you touch them (sorta effortless, hard to explain). But then again it does have a hardware keyboard so I guess you wouldn't need to touch the screen so much anyway.

I was thinking I might wait for the next iPhone and get that if its good, and keep it for a while until Android is more developed and has more applications (and a better variety of phones). If the next iPhone's specs don't look to great then I'll just get the Magic.

I'm with you.

The 3GS is a careful upgrade. It looks the same which is a bit dull now, but oh well. Nobody knows what the specs are yet. WWDC had all kinds of cool apps. So right now I'm leaning toward the 3GS, unless something happens before June 19th.

I'm gonna let Android cook a bit more I think... unless something crazy comes out on Android's side. I'm debating whether to wait June 24th (HTC's announcement) or just go with the 3GS on the 19th. Or maybe the Magic might pop up and cause havoc on my plans.

 

[jeff000]

I'm leaning toward the iPhone but the high monthly fees, network capabilities, and the locked in battery are worries. The design, the number of apps (esp. for work), multitouch (esp. for browsing, it really is nice) are the features I love.

Android has a much higher ratio of free to paid apps then the iPhone. And the number of apps is directly related to the length the phone has been available.
Multi touch is nice, but really I find browsing on my magic quicker, smoother, and more intuitive then the iPhone. That little ball and physical back button is a great idea, even for a touch screen.

Not to mention that Exchange support in Android (At least rogers version) being native is a huge plus for business users.

If the next iPhone's specs don't look to great then I'll just get the Magic.

Specs are out, and nothing really new, still no MMS. Camera is supposed to be better, but they cheaped out with the sensor so I am not sure how much better it will be. And storage, still built in like the battery. I like how I can go and buy a 16gb microSD card, or 5, or a 32gb and be on my way.
But mostly I hate how the iphone can not really do what it should be able to without jail breaking it.
And lastly, Apple is a bunch of ripoff artists.The plans for it are a good 30% more expensive then other smart phones.

 

[harsaphes]

Well the N97 keyboard is getting bashed in just about every review...something to think about...

 

[AdamHC]

Android has a much higher ratio of free to paid apps then the iPhone. And the number of apps is directly related to the length the phone has been available.
Multi touch is nice, but really I find browsing on my magic quicker, smoother, and more intuitive then the iPhone. That little ball and physical back button is a great idea, even for a touch screen.

Not to mention that Exchange support in Android (At least rogers version) being native is a huge plus for business users.



Specs are out, and nothing really new, still no MMS. Camera is supposed to be better, but they cheaped out with the sensor so I am not sure how much better it will be. And storage, still built in like the battery. I like how I can go and buy a 16gb microSD card, or 5, or a 32gb and be on my way.
But mostly I hate how the iphone can not really do what it should be able to without jail breaking it.
And lastly, Apple is a bunch of ripoff artists.The plans for it are a good 30% more expensive then other smart phones.

Yea, it was a pretty big dissapointment. I wanted to see it at least look a bit different. I hate the way Apple basically just makes their stuff sell by brainwashing people and acting like their shit is more awesome than it is. "Its the fastest iPhone yet". Did anybody actually expect them to make a new version which is slower? Seriously. And besides that it doesn't really tell us why its better than other phones, its not the fastest phone ever. Either way the new iPhone is still pretty good despite not being that much better than its previous.

The N97 looks great but as stated in the post above me, a lot of reviews are knocking its keyboard

I want to see a review that focusses on the keyboard and shows a demonstration of it in action. I really wanna like the phone.

 

[ManLike]

Also be aware that there are at least two more good Android phones coming to the US very soon. Both by Samsung, the i7500 and the Bigfoot should be out (hopefully in the US) before the end of the summer.

 

[harsaphes]

I had my N97 for one day and sold it.

 

[sergey]

Also be aware that there are at least two more good Android phones coming to the US very soon. Both by Samsung, the i7500 and the Bigfoot should be out (hopefully in the US) before the end of the summer.

I don't know about that one, Android waiting is frustrating in the US. Big news hits about a new Android phone. Months go by. The Europeans get it. More months go by. Rumors whisper of a US release. Then the phone passes FCC clearance. Vague statements are released here and there. More waiting.

I'm readying myself to see the Magic released in August. That's all I expect. If Android can do that, then Android will have had a blockbuster summer. I don't expect anything else from them.

That vague statement from T-mo, IMO was to try to get some media coverage along with the Pre and 3GS and make people on the fence wait. I'm predicting a August release- in line with the leaked roadmap info.

 

[paloverde88]

By the looks of it, I think the Nokia N97 is going to be a very thick phone. I mean when you look at G1 and the magic, you can see once you minus the slider, things look more sleek and the form is more elegant.
I am not a fan of sliders like Experia X1 and now the N97
The iphone, I thought is getting a little boring now, i think that os and the highly uncustomizable home screen, and nothing has changed in form for the new model just sealed its fate for me so I have moved on to the Magic.

I did not know it was that difficult to get android phones in the US. When I was there in dec at honolulu. every T mobile store seemed to sell the G1 and even some shops sell them unlocked.

I got my Magic just days ago here in Australia under Vodafone. I know Three will also be selling it later this month.