I have had my HTC Sensation XE for about six weeks now and it pretty much updated to ICS out of the box, so I have no prior experience of older Android versions.
I felt prompted to write this as I'm probably typical of someone who has essentially used Nokia phones almost exclusively before moving into the Android arena and its touch screen mode of operation. This has certainly been a learning curve for me and not without much frustration and to a certain extent regret for having gone down this route.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not writing off Android as something which should only be attempted to be used by enthusiasts and techno geeks, but these devices are actually quite powerful portable computers and this comes with all the potential for technical and operational glitches just like any other computer, and in the first six weeks I have certainly had quite a few minor gremlins which were not insurmountable but just rather annoying and disappointing.
My son recently asked me what I thought of the new HTC One V and I said it looks like a great up to date slightly cheaper smartphone, but I told him not to go near it, purely for the reason that the battery was not removable. My main reason for advising this was the fact that this has been the only means I have had to correct any problems with my Sensation which more often than not has refused to ultimately respond to anything other than this "last resort" measure. The Android version of control-alt-del. How do people manage without a removable battery, let alone the advantages it has in addressing the vast power reserve many of these devices need, but more to the point, why should I have to jump through these crude hoops just to keep my phone operating smoothly.
A problem from the "so-called" terrible Symbian system on my last few Nokia offerings, would very very rarely need addressing by the battery removal technique, and yet here I am only six weeks into my first Android and I'm well practiced in this operation.
There are some good things though. As a portable source of information either via the internet or perhaps with a mapping app, this kind of device is a delight to use, and the screen, (apart from in direct sunlight), and it's associated swipe gestures make for a vastly improved user experience compared to technologies of past years. We no longer really need to carry a separate music player, camera for the odd snap and even video is very acceptable, but at the end of the day, for me anyway, the touch screen is also its Achilles heal.
I do hanker, even after such a short time, for a real keypad, and only the simpler numeric style keypad at that. I now send very few text & email messages from my phone because I haven't the time or inclination to keep correcting the constant mistakes. The voice recognition is black magic vodoo and does work fantastically well, but adjustments still have to be made, and the system does not make it easy. A device like the Blackberry optical trackpad to move the cursor directly where you need it would be a godsend. Even just a quick two or three word response as I walk down the street has become almost impossible, whereas before with one of the Nokias, an answer could be sent in a trice.
This could easily be the moans and grumblings of someone who is well on the wrong side of forty and is not entirely conversant with the Android way yet, but even my just out of their teens sons begrudgingly admit that a real set of buttons under the thumbs would be a welcome pleasure. Many of you will probably say go and use an iPhone, (probably heresy in these parts), which I perceive of as being a reliable phone, or just go back to a Nokia.
I personally feel that the progress of technology should bring with it greater user satisfaction and better reliability, but in the instance of my Sensation XE, it certainly isn't reliable and the user satisfaction is fragmented and definitely does not apply to the devices core use of making phone calls and sending messages. I'm rummaging in the drawer for my E75 at this very moment, and come to think of it, even the old Psion is becoming a rather attractive prospect.
(Stands back to take cover and await incoming flack)!
Regards
I felt prompted to write this as I'm probably typical of someone who has essentially used Nokia phones almost exclusively before moving into the Android arena and its touch screen mode of operation. This has certainly been a learning curve for me and not without much frustration and to a certain extent regret for having gone down this route.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not writing off Android as something which should only be attempted to be used by enthusiasts and techno geeks, but these devices are actually quite powerful portable computers and this comes with all the potential for technical and operational glitches just like any other computer, and in the first six weeks I have certainly had quite a few minor gremlins which were not insurmountable but just rather annoying and disappointing.
My son recently asked me what I thought of the new HTC One V and I said it looks like a great up to date slightly cheaper smartphone, but I told him not to go near it, purely for the reason that the battery was not removable. My main reason for advising this was the fact that this has been the only means I have had to correct any problems with my Sensation which more often than not has refused to ultimately respond to anything other than this "last resort" measure. The Android version of control-alt-del. How do people manage without a removable battery, let alone the advantages it has in addressing the vast power reserve many of these devices need, but more to the point, why should I have to jump through these crude hoops just to keep my phone operating smoothly.
A problem from the "so-called" terrible Symbian system on my last few Nokia offerings, would very very rarely need addressing by the battery removal technique, and yet here I am only six weeks into my first Android and I'm well practiced in this operation.
There are some good things though. As a portable source of information either via the internet or perhaps with a mapping app, this kind of device is a delight to use, and the screen, (apart from in direct sunlight), and it's associated swipe gestures make for a vastly improved user experience compared to technologies of past years. We no longer really need to carry a separate music player, camera for the odd snap and even video is very acceptable, but at the end of the day, for me anyway, the touch screen is also its Achilles heal.
I do hanker, even after such a short time, for a real keypad, and only the simpler numeric style keypad at that. I now send very few text & email messages from my phone because I haven't the time or inclination to keep correcting the constant mistakes. The voice recognition is black magic vodoo and does work fantastically well, but adjustments still have to be made, and the system does not make it easy. A device like the Blackberry optical trackpad to move the cursor directly where you need it would be a godsend. Even just a quick two or three word response as I walk down the street has become almost impossible, whereas before with one of the Nokias, an answer could be sent in a trice.
This could easily be the moans and grumblings of someone who is well on the wrong side of forty and is not entirely conversant with the Android way yet, but even my just out of their teens sons begrudgingly admit that a real set of buttons under the thumbs would be a welcome pleasure. Many of you will probably say go and use an iPhone, (probably heresy in these parts), which I perceive of as being a reliable phone, or just go back to a Nokia.
I personally feel that the progress of technology should bring with it greater user satisfaction and better reliability, but in the instance of my Sensation XE, it certainly isn't reliable and the user satisfaction is fragmented and definitely does not apply to the devices core use of making phone calls and sending messages. I'm rummaging in the drawer for my E75 at this very moment, and come to think of it, even the old Psion is becoming a rather attractive prospect.
(Stands back to take cover and await incoming flack)!
Regards
). You can even get some that do a T9 keypad if you prefer (though I thought the HTC keyboard had that as an option? Long time since I had one, so may be wrong). Not physical, of course, but may be something that works better for you.
