Android = the right choice?

[saddamhansson]

Hi y'all!

I'm planning to buy a new phone next week (last one got stolen), and I'm kinda thinking about an android one....

I've got three requirements:

-An easily manageble "to do"-list om the home screen (e.g stickynotes)

-A good calendar (which may or may not be able to sync with google calendar, no biggie!)

-Ability to sync my adress book with an online server (google sync?) every month or so...(That was two years' worth of contacts, damnit!!!)

Anyway, my question is this: Would an android phone really be the best choice for me?

I'm kinda on a tigt budget, and I've heard horror stories of Android phones/Iphones having to connect to the net every day or so...

But the only thing I really need the internet for is for syncing (the adress book once a month, the calendar every week or so), checking my mail now and then and for downloading the occasional app (e.g. stickynotes).


....So what do you guys think? Should I go for something simpler or am I simply making to big a fuzz out of the online costs?

Thanks for your advice!/saddamhansson

 

[gogol]

Oh yes, Android will do that fine.

And you dont have to connect to the net all the time. It is easy to turn off data connection and/or sync.

Hi y'all!

I'm planning to buy a new phone next week (last one got stolen), and I'm kinda thinking about an android one....

I've got three requirements:

-An easily manageble "to do"-list om the home screen (e.g stickynotes)

-A good calendar (which may or may not be able to sync with google calendar, no biggie!)

-Ability to sync my adress book with an online server (google sync?) every month or so...(That was two years' worth of contacts, damnit!!!)

Anyway, my question is this: Would an android phone really be the best choice for me?

I'm kinda on a tigt budget, and I've heard horror stories of Android phones/Iphones having to connect to the net every day or so...

But the only thing I really need the internet for is for syncing (the adress book once a month, the calendar every week or so), checking my mail now and then and for downloading the occasional app (e.g. stickynotes).


....So what do you guys think? Should I go for something simpler or am I simply making to big a fuzz out of the online costs?

Thanks for your advice!/saddamhansson

 

[AndroidSPCS]

No better choice than Android.

 

[Kronite]

It's the best mobile OS available at the moment, indeed.
Of there are other good ones, but with Android you can do basically everything the others can + more.

 

[grainysand]

Sorry to hear your last one fell victim to theft.

-An easily manageble "to do"-list om the home screen (e.g stickynotes)

Absolutely. Quite a range of choices, in fact, both free and paid, in any color or size.

-A good calendar (which may or may not be able to sync with google calendar, no biggie!)

Sync with GCalendar is pretty much standard, since most calendar apps on Android will draw from the built-in calendar. So yep, plenty. Many people like Smooth Calendar and Pure Calendar.

-Ability to sync my adress book with an online server (google sync?) every month or so...(That was two years' worth of contacts, damnit!!!)

Sync and everything's backed up to your google account. You can sync manually at will or have it auto-sync whenever you have a data connection. There's also an app that'll let you back up all contacts to your SIM card.

But the only thing I really need the internet for is for syncing (the adress book once a month, the calendar every week or so), checking my mail now and then and for downloading the occasional app (e.g. stickynotes).

Nothing better for this. Syncing calendar/contacts is integrated throughout Android, especially for a gmail user. There are even apps for syncing to google docs (never lose your notes ever again!).

Do you have a particular Android handset in mind?

 

[IOWA]

It's the best mobile OS available at the moment, indeed.
Of there are other good ones, but with Android you can do basically everything the others can + more.

No it can't. As much as I love android, that statement is completely untrue.

To the OP, what carrier are you using. In the states, you need a data plan to use an android phone.

 

[saddamhansson]

Grainysand:

That sounds super helpful, thanks!

...so, can you make sure that the phone only connects to the net/syncs you program when there's wi-fi available?

Right now I'm thinking about Tattoo, Spica or Hero...

Come to think of it, most likely Spica or Hero. I want some room for texting, and you can't use a pen for android phones (they've got capacitive screens, that is) right?

what was that about a "thank you-button"? =D

 

[lekky]

It is definitely the right choice for you, especially as you like such tight integration to the cloud, google makes sure all your info is backed up and easily accessible from pc, or your next android phone

 

[saddamhansson]

ahhh found it!

*just a little bit slow today* =D

 

[grainysand]

Grainysand:

That sounds super helpful, thanks!

...so, can you make sure that the phone only connects to the net/syncs you program when there's wi-fi available?

Yep, just go into settings and delete the APN, if there is any. If there isn't and you never enter your carrier's APN, then it won't be able to connect to the net by itself ever. Alternatively, if you do have a data plan and don't want to delete the APN settings, you can use an app called APNdroid to toggle mobile data connection on or off.

Come to think of it, most likely Spica or Hero. I want some room for texting, and you can't use a pen for android phones (they've got capacitive screens, that is) right?

The Hero's a fine device, but you may want to wait for the Legend, which is the Hero's successor but with upgraded hardware (aluminium body, faster processor and all). Can't use a stylus, no, though I think there may be capacitive styli available somewhere.

 

[lekky]

There are capacitive stylus (styli?) so you can get them if you want.