iPhone convert

[BurnyC]

Hey guys,

I have a dilemma that no amount of reading/watching reviews and playing with dummy phones in shops has helped - hopefully the magical internet will provide.

My main uses (besides the usual phone-based texting, calls etc.) have been for browsing on the go, navigation with G-Maps, email, music and some casual gaming. I've had my iPhone 3G for just over a year and a half, and it's served me well, but its getting a little scuffed/scratched (despite some careful ownership, the ocasional drop happens!

) and I notice the phone struggles with the latest games, and some apps it can't run at all as obviously the 3GS is a faster device, so feel it's time to change. I'm part way through a contract, so my option is an unlocked, sim free handset.

I'm torn between the HTC Desire and Motorola Milestone. Desire has top specs, and I love the look of the OLED screen combined with Sense UI. However, it's a little on the expensive side, reaaally stretching my budget, and I'm not sure about how well supported it will be regarding upgrades such as Android 2.2 onwards etc.

I actually quite like the look of the Milestone, and can pick one up with the dock (something I'd find useful) for much less than the Desire here in the UK. The keyboard isn't something that is a must, as I've gotten pretty good at typing on a touch screen. However, I've heard mixed reviews on the keyboard - I've looked at a dummy model in a shop, but obviously can't get much from that. It is pretty flat, and sometimes felt like I wasn't pressing the key, but that wouldn't worry me if it actually registers key presses etc. even if it doesn't feel like it - I don't have fat fingers and can adapt fairly easily so can probably cope, but it'd be nice to hear opinions on it. Also, whilst it's plain Android OS means in theory it's more likely to be supported, what's the likelihood of it being well supported with upgrades? Does it have the power to cope with newer versions of Android?

Thanks alot for any advice guys, sorry if my first post is a bit of an essay!

 

[chrlswltrs]

Hey guys,

I have a dilemma that no amount of reading/watching reviews and playing with dummy phones in shops has helped - hopefully the magical internet will provide.

My main uses (besides the usual phone-based texting, calls etc.) have been for browsing on the go, navigation with G-Maps, email, music and some casual gaming. I've had my iPhone 3G for just over a year and a half, and it's served me well, but its getting a little scuffed/scratched (despite some careful ownership, the ocasional drop happens!

) and I notice the phone struggles with the latest games, and some apps it can't run at all as obviously the 3GS is a faster device, so feel it's time to change. I'm part way through a contract, so my option is an unlocked, sim free handset.

I'm torn between the HTC Desire and Motorola Milestone. Desire has top specs, and I love the look of the OLED screen combined with Sense UI. However, it's a little on the expensive side, reaaally stretching my budget, and I'm not sure about how well supported it will be regarding upgrades such as Android 2.2 onwards etc.

I actually quite like the look of the Milestone, and can pick one up with the dock (something I'd find useful) for much less than the Desire here in the UK. The keyboard isn't something that is a must, as I've gotten pretty good at typing on a touch screen. However, I've heard mixed reviews on the keyboard - I've looked at a dummy model in a shop, but obviously can't get much from that. It is pretty flat, and sometimes felt like I wasn't pressing the key, but that wouldn't worry me if it actually registers key presses etc. even if it doesn't feel like it - I don't have fat fingers and can adapt fairly easily so can probably cope, but it'd be nice to hear opinions on it. Also, whilst it's plain Android OS means in theory it's more likely to be supported, what's the likelihood of it being well supported with upgrades? Does it have the power to cope with newer versions of Android?

Thanks alot for any advice guys, sorry if my first post is a bit of an essay!

Navigation is good on android, as long as you get a phone with android 2.0+

Gaming sucks on android compared to iPhone

If you like streaming music, android is about the same as the iPhone. If you put music on your phone, the music player on android sucks compared to iPhone

As far as updates to the OS for android it is anyone's guess. Once google has it ready, then phone manufactures and cell carriers make the changes they want and just update it when they feel like it.

 

[dvandam]

Gaming sucks on android compared to iPhone.

What do you mean that gaming sucks? Do you mean there's less games, they don't run as well, etc? I mean if they can get Quake 3 Arena to run on it, I figure it has to at least be DECENT in terms of power (although a lot of that can be attributed to the processor.)

 

[BurnyC]

The navigation is a big draw for me - the maps on my iPhone, whilst useful, don't provide navigation, have a compass feature etc. which makes it a bit of a hassle in busy places like London to keep stopping and squinting at the phone, trying to work out road names and which way I'm facing etc.

Gaming is something I thought was handled well by the Android phones? They're certainly powerful enough (my iPhone is starting to struggle with the latest games due to them being designed for the quicker 3GS), and the selection is growing all the time.

I do use my phone as an all-in-one device, so music would be on the phone. I admit the player on the iPhone is excellent (its an ipod touch with a phone after all), as long as it can play music fine with no problems, and have functional navigation I'll cope.

Fair point about the OS upgrades - is the milestones hardware up to newer versions of the OS, or is that not really an issue?

 

[Isthmus]

What do you mean that gaming sucks? Do you mean there's less games, they don't run as well, etc? I mean if they can get Quake 3 Arena to run on it, I figure it has to at least be DECENT in terms of power (although a lot of that can be attributed to the processor.)

He is right and there is no reason to be defensive. It's been pretty well documented that AT THIS POINT IN TIME, while there is a lot of potential for the development of high end android games, by and large they are simply not there when compared to the Iphone. Call it 3 years of development and being able to use the hard drive to store applications has allowed developers to build more polished and complex games for the Iphone. That said, as apple has gotten more restrictive, most developers have been saying that they will be introducing versions of their apps for android, so I suspect that the gap between the two platforms will narrow as more developers turn toward android and as android devices become increasingly more powerful (especially once 2.0 starts allowing application data to be stored in the SD card or on board storage.

 

[Bnice]

He is right and there is no reason to be defensive. It's been pretty well documented that AT THIS POINT IN TIME, while there is a lot of potential for the development of high end android games, by and large they are simply not there when compared to the Iphone. Call it 3 years of development and being able to use the hard drive to store applications has allowed developers to build more polished and complex games for the Iphone. That said, as apple has gotten more restrictive, most developers have been saying that they will be introducing versions of their apps for android, so I suspect that the gap between the two platforms will narrow as more developers turn toward android and as android devices become increasingly more powerful (especially once 2.0 starts allowing application data to be stored in the SD card or on board storage.

Well in defense to dvandam its not that gaming sucks but more lack of it on android as to the iphone.ANDROID is capable of game playing and that will get better in time,as for music i think android is good, you have have choices to choose from unlike the iphone that force you to use itunes.

 

[BurnyC]

Hmm, all valid points but it seems to come down to the fact that the phones are capable, but the games themselves have some catching up to do, but at least they ARE catching up. The OS is getting more and more popular and mainstream, so games will get better. Also, i'm only a casual game player, so feel sure there's something in the market for me

 

[Isthmus]

I'm not a huge gamer like I once was, and these days I prefer fun but more "simple/contained" games (think old school arcade games), than I do the elaborate immersive games many prefer today. Many of the current games for Android are right up my alley, though I wish that in some case they were rendered a bit more nicely. I did discover a curling game yesterday (as in the winter Olympics sport). I never fully understood the game before, but now I get it. The game rocks and it is surprisingly hard (and addictive).

 

[BurnyC]

Thanks for that reply Isthmus. I'd say I'm the same as you - I like games that are fairly simple, but fun (and addictive!), so sounds like I should be well catered for. I'll check that game out if I go Android too - I was always a bit confused by it but am always up for a fun game. What phone are you using by the way?

 

[Isthmus]

Thanks for that reply Isthmus. I'd say I'm the same as you - I like games that are fairly simple, but fun (and addictive!), so sounds like I should be well catered for. I'll check that game out if I go Android too - I was always a bit confused by it but am always up for a fun game. What phone are you using by the way?

Moto Droid running 2.1. Try playing the curling game with the most stones possible (8) and remember that the key to the game is that at the end of the game, you want to have more stones touching or inside the outer and inner circle between the other guy. there is a lot of strategy (to force moves), defense and offense played. it really is surprisingly hard, and often times, its the last stone that determines the outcome of the game. That plus you get to scrub the ice with brooms and give the stones english.

 

[BurnyC]

Haha, ahh I knew it was something to do with the stones hitting/being near something, always thought it was that ball thing, or am i thinking of bowls?!

How do you find your droid? Keyboard any good or is it the same as the reviews make out? Fast enough to keep up with games/apps etc. I assume?

 

[Isthmus]

Love the droid, but seeing all the stuff that is coming out I can't help but feel a tad envious. It's an excellent phone though and unlike the N1, it has not been affected by a bunch of QC problems. The keyboard is what it is. for some strange reason motorola made the keys flat, which removes most tactile feedback and makes them difficult to use if you have average man fingers. women or smaller men with smaller/sharper fingers seem to find it easy to use (my wife loves it). for me, it's only good for typing passwords and editing text. Thankfully the virtual keyboard is excellent (especially in landscape mode), and ever since the 2.1 upgrade it has gotten much more accurate than it used to be. the only issue I have with the droid is the onboard microphone. People are always telling me that they are having a hard time hearing me when we talk. the flip side is that the speaker is excellent (as is the hands speakerphone). Overall, it is extremely solid and I love it. The only major mod I've done is install DxTop,which makes navigating desktops much easier, plus it re-enables the horizontal screen rotation on the desktop (something which used to be enabled but was disabled when the droid updated to 2.01.), adds a second app drawer, adds an app bar, and doesn't require rooting the phone.