First Impressions

[Javeline4]

They are currently in the process of upgrading their network and their 3g will be superfast once completed. The Wimax is on the way out, so, don't look for anymore cities to be added. They are working on rolling out LTE with lightsquared, that's if the government and them can work something out. The $10 is for all smartphones now for a rich data experience..lol That what they say, but, it's because the smartphones consume more data. I just think they should roll the $10 fee into their price and stop saying it's a $10 add-on.

Yes, I agree completely about the $10 add on fee, should be all inclusive.

I'm salivating at the mouth at the prospect of LTE on Sprint.
Imagining Verizon's LTE+ on Sprint's price plan = sweetness.

 

[sophie999]

I'm salivating at the mouth at the prospect of LTE on Sprint.
Imagining Verizon's LTE+ on Sprint's price plan = sweetness.[/QUOTE]


Just as a side note. Just looked at the Sprint and Verizon Family Plans. Was shocked to find out that there was essentially no difference for me in terms of price for 4 lines (2 data and 2 voice). The only difference was unlimited data vs 2GB limit on Verizon. I remember looking at the same deal about 12 months ago, and the pricing difference was substantial. I could get 4 unlimited data lines on Sprint at the same price as 2 lines on Verizon! I think the price gap is shrinking pretty fast. Sprint is not that much cheaper, compared to even 1 year ago. Now it is all about unlimited date, which also will not last forever.

Nothing against Sprint though, just a fact of life..

 

[So-Low Da Don]

Just as a side note. Just looked at the Sprint and Verizon Family Plans. Was shocked to find out that there was essentially no difference for me in terms of price for 4 lines (2 data and 2 voice). The only difference was unlimited data vs 2GB limit on Verizon. I remember looking at the same deal about 12 months ago, and the pricing difference was substantial. I could get 4 unlimited data lines on Sprint at the same price as 2 lines on Verizon! I think the price gap is shrinking pretty fast. Sprint is not that much cheaper, compared to even 1 year ago. Now it is all about unlimited date, which also will not last forever.

Nothing against Sprint though, just a fact of life..

If it doesn't last forever it's gonna last a lot longer. That's the only thing Sprint advertises, if they got rid of that, Sprint would be a goner. They already took away annual upgrades, unlimited plans are the only thing keeping Sprint alive.

 

[cds0699]

I'm extremely happy, Samsung and Sprint really delivered on this one.

 

[rdillz]

The Epic Touch has been a pleasure to use so far. It makes the Evo 3d, with its heat, poor screen, and battery issues, look and feel like a joke.

 

[Sammael]

Day 2.


More in love with the phone now. The battery life seems pretty damn good to me, with intermittent usage with 4g ON, I got through the whole day easily. It seems the 4g quickly goes into sleep mode when no data is being transmitted so that seems to save on battery. Continuous 4g would likely eat through it much faster. I gave the gps a nice shakedown cruise today as well with the built in google navigation, works INCREDIBLY well. This was actually my first time using any kind of gps, and I just spoke the address and it guided me there with clear voice commands. Phone even started yelling at me to change lanes to make sure I would stay on course, and one time when I decided to go a different path it immediately adjusted course and rerouted my path based on changing location.


To most of you this is probably like hearing some country hick discovering something like light bulbs, but this really is new novel to me. Smooth, fast, easy. And I've barely scratched the surface of the capability of the phone.


I wonder when we'll have a way to wirelessly tether though? Sans the sprint hotspot for 30 dollars. Has the sprint version of the phone been rooted yet? Would the normal gs2 root work on this phone? Do we just need to wait longer to get that functionality?

 

[toolwarrior]

Day 2.


More in love with the phone now. The battery life seems pretty damn good to me, with intermittent usage with 4g ON, I got through the whole day easily. It seems the 4g quickly goes into sleep mode when no data is being transmitted so that seems to save on battery. Continuous 4g would likely eat through it much faster. I gave the gps a nice shakedown cruise today as well with the built in google navigation, works INCREDIBLY well. This was actually my first time using any kind of gps, and I just spoke the address and it guided me there with clear voice commands. Phone even started yelling at me to change lanes to make sure I would stay on course, and one time when I decided to go a different path it immediately adjusted course and rerouted my path based on changing location.


To most of you this is probably like hearing some country hick discovering something like light bulbs, but this really is new novel to me. Smooth, fast, easy. And I've barely scratched the surface of the capability of the phone.


I wonder when we'll have a way to wirelessly tether though? Sans the sprint hotspot for 30 dollars. Has the sprint version of the phone been rooted yet? Would the normal gs2 root work on this phone? Do we just need to wait longer to get that functionality?

In the past, you did not need to root to tether. You could download and app called Easy Tether or there was another one called PDA net or something like that.

How is the sound quality so far (being that we are on day 2 now)? I am a little concerned about the comments of "scratchy" on the earpiece and "muffled" on the speakerphone.

 

[jfenton]

In the past, you did not need to root to tether. You could download and app called Easy Tether or there was another one called PDA net or something like that.

How is the sound quality so far (being that we are on day 2 now)? I am a little concerned about the comments of "scratchy" on the earpiece and "muffled" on the speakerphone.

You seem to be rather concerned for someone who doesn't even have the phone. Do you base everything on other peoples whining and thought rather than your own experiences??????

 

[uminchu]

Yes, I agree completely about the $10 add on fee, should be all inclusive.

I'm salivating at the mouth at the prospect of LTE on Sprint.
Imagining Verizon's LTE+ on Sprint's price plan = sweetness.

The reason they don't include it in the plan is because they nail you for $10 for every new smartphone on your account. Got a 3VO or a Photon along with your shiny new ET4g? Did your spouse or child inherit an old E4g? They're ten bucks each.

Also worthy of note: if you bought an ET4g with the 30 day trial in mind, ie should the phone not work out as well as you'd hoped and decide to swap it for an iPhone next month, Sprint saw that coming. With no advance announcement, effective 9/16, they cut the exchange window down to 14 days.

 

[Androidalltheway]

I am definitely on the fence on this phone, for me though, the cheapest I can get it is $479.00, so now thinking I can get maybe $350.00 for my photon, and out that toward the epic touch.

 

[Sycobob]

You seem to be rather concerned for someone who doesn't even have the phone. Do you base everything on other peoples whining and thought rather than your own experiences??????

I'd hope he does. It's called research. Buying a phone without seeing what others think of it first would be stupid.

 

[Damar1979]

In the past, you did not need to root to tether. You could download and app called Easy Tether or there was another one called PDA net or something like that.

How is the sound quality so far (being that we are on day 2 now)? I am a little concerned about the comments of "scratchy" on the earpiece and "muffled" on the speakerphone.

Don't judge your desire for the phone based off of other people. If you like and can live with this phone, then get it. With the exception of how light this phone is (dropped it once due to misjudged grip), and lack of a kickstand... No other complaints about the phone. Its rather bitchin'!

 

[VGPOP]

Extremely happy with everything.

The only thing annoying was websites were coming as mobile, and someone posted a solution to this.

Extremely heavy use now (listening to music, surfing net, recording, taking pictures) and after 2 hours and 40 mins, 75% remaining.

 

[uminchu]

I'd hope he does. It's called research. Buying a phone without seeing what others think of it first would be stupid.

+1
Well, maybe not stupid exactly, but at the very least, unwise.

 

[Damar1979]

I'd hope he does. It's called research. Buying a phone without seeing what others think of it first would be stupid.

True story. But in the end it also boils down to personal preference.

 

[Damar1979]

In the past, you did not need to root to tether. You could download and app called Easy Tether or there was another one called PDA net or something like that.

How is the sound quality so far (being that we are on day 2 now)? I am a little concerned about the comments of "scratchy" on the earpiece and "muffled" on the speakerphone.

The sound quality on the photon is a tad bit louder. Other than that, nice quality!

 

[ronjon400]

how is the music streaming portion of the phone? i do alot of that.....i have an evo 4g now. dont really use the 4g option (no service on the road) drive a truck for a living and enjoy listening to bubba the love sponge on radioio.com via xiia live.

thanks for the reply in advance!

 

[Sammael]

In the past, you did not need to root to tether. You could download and app called Easy Tether or there was another one called PDA net or something like that.

How is the sound quality so far (being that we are on day 2 now)? I am a little concerned about the comments of "scratchy" on the earpiece and "muffled" on the speakerphone.

Not scratchy at all. As for the speakerphone, it sounds pretty loud to me, much louder than the evo 3d, but a bit shy of the photon. Still loud and clear though for the most part with one exception, if you cover the speaker on the back of the phone, there is a DRAMATIC reduction in sound, then it WILL sound muffled, because it is, literally.

My starter case I got from sprint the day of has a hole cut out for the speaker, if someone gets a case that covers the speaker though, prepare for a dramatic reduction in speaker volume, my finger covering it alone can reduce the sound what seems like 70%.


The most important part of the audio to me though is headphone jack quality, and I still need to test it out with a bigger range of media and music, but my preliminary judgment is that it sounds adequate, but not fantastic, does not seem to convey as much dynamic range on the sound compared to say, my desktop, but I'll do more tests later on. The reports about that on this phone seem spot on, I never heard the headphone quality of the original galaxy s, so I have nothing to compare it to, but that seems to be the only non top class aspect of the phone. I can live with that, but I won't when I upgrade a year or 2 from now. Top class (preferably cowon level) personal audio device quality is what I expect for a future upgrade, but the rest of the phone IS top notch.

This is the new baseline, a galaxy s ii class phone, that should be the future baseline for all future phone purchasers and competing manufacturers.

 

[Damar1979]

With the exception of the photon being a tad louder than the et4g, i think the et4g offers better sound due to better range and better options. Equalizer is better. Music app loads and plays on cue (photon music is visibly better...but freezes due to data for some odd reason).

 

[2strokenut]

They are currently in the process of upgrading their network and their 3g will be superfast once completed. The Wimax is on the way out, so, don't look for anymore cities to be added. They are working on rolling out LTE with lightsquared, that's if the government and them can work something out. The $10 is for all smartphones now for a rich data experience..lol That what they say, but, it's because the smartphones consume more data. I just think they should roll the $10 fee into their price and stop saying it's a $10 add-on.

WiMax is next generation WiFi for cities and no way is it on the way out. More cities will have to come online and WiMax will get better and better until WiMax2 comes around.

Yes, I agree completely about the $10 add on fee, should be all inclusive.

I'm salivating at the mouth at the prospect of LTE on Sprint.
Imagining Verizon's LTE+ on Sprint's price plan = sweetness.

There is no difference between LTE and WiMax besides software and build-out. LTE will not make anything faster.

 

[mcbtrain929]

when you turn the screen off, does the screen turn off "old television" style where the picture goes black and collapses to the middle like the Nexus S? a silly little detail, but i love that feature on any phone that has it.

 

[Sycobob]

It just goes black. The Photon has the nice animation.

 

[viber]

The Epic Touch from a "feel" perspective is a beast. Up until now the Nexus S was the only phone that felt lag fee, responsive, with an iPhone class user experiance.

The Epic Touch is buttery smooth, super responsive. It looks amazing, the screen is incredible, and overall user experiance is the best on any android phone.

It's this year's Evo by a huge margin.

 

[Lefort1]

It's this year's Evo by a huge margin.

Ditto, only the Nexus Prime (also made by Samsung) could steal the glory

 

[Drop Knowledge]

Got my Epic 4G Touch yesterday and am LOVING it. Had the Photon for 2 weeks before exchanging for this beast, and I haven't regretted it yet. I did like the Photon's version of MotoBLUR better than TouchWhiz 4.0, but that's an easy fix w/ a launcher (though I'm still using the stock launcher for now).

Showed off my phone to a few friends last night, one of which just got the Bionic on released day. He literally said the Epic 4G Touch made his phone feel obsolete already and said he could definitely see/feel the difference in the fluidity and speed of the SG II.

All in all, I'm thoroughly pleased w/ my experience so far. This is my first Samsung phone, so maybe I'll have some regrets down the line if they decide to ignore fixing bugs, updating, etc.; but for now it's all rainbows and unicorns.