Android Phones?

wintermute

wintermute

Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
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My (T-Mobile) Blackberry's crapping out and T-Mobile has ridiculously awesome voice/text/data plans out right now, so I'm thinking about switching over to an android phone. Anyone has any experience with these things? It looks like the current top-of-the-line models for T-Mobile are the T-Mobile G2X, Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile myTouch 4G, HTC Sensation 4G. As I understand it, the HTC and the T-Mobile (a rebranded HTC) have the most complete package, with a fancy HTC UI, while the G2X has the most stripped down feel with a stock Android interface. Anyone have any of these and have anything to say about the practical aspects of them? I'd be using it primarily for phone calls, e-mail, surfing, music. At one point in my life I think a more stripped down device would appeal to me more since I could customize it now, but now I'm too old and busy for that game.
 
I have had an LG Ally Android for almost 2 yrs. I love the Android OS. I am in my 60's and my friends make fun of me but when I'm on the road visiting family and I'm the 1st one up, I can catch up on my local news and world news. I should point out that my son helped me set it up. I have Verizon service and will upgrade my Android in April.
 
Android=AWESOMENESS. NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT. And if your interested, check out http://forum.xda-developers.com/ for info on Rooting and flashing custom ROMs. Ask any questions you have in the General forums. The
users there are exceedingly gracious and helpful. :D
 
I really dig my HTC Thunderbolt. As compared to the iPhone OS, I really find the Android system to be much more to my liking.
 
I don't think the stock android OS is any more simple to use than the customized versions. They are just different solutions to the same problem. In many cases the carrier's customzations can be disabled.
I'm personally picking up a Samsung Galaxy S II when it is released later this month.
 
Another vote for: Go for it!

I cannot speak with regards to a Blackberry. My first smart phone with T-Mobile was an HTC Touch Pro 2. I was excited when I first got it but it really is a POS. It runs a version of Windows Mobile (I forget which one). It's slow to start up if it has been turned off, something like 3-5 minutes. I remember it would lock/crash quite a bit, and I never liked the browsers that were available for it.

I recently decided to try my first Android phone (G2) and I could not be happier with it. Starts up in ~40 seconds and I've had no real issues with it other than the battery sometimes not lasting as long as I would like. Maybe another minor annoyance is not being able to "Mark All Read" on the stock email program (have to individually go in to each one, or select each email via a check in box and mark as read. Sort of the same thing with the Delete folder as you cannot "Delete All" or empty the folder, but instead must delete each individually. I believe there are 3rd party programs that would take care of this. The stock browser is much better than what was available for the Touch Pro 2.
 
I use one for work. It's an awesome phone, easy to navigate and pretty straight forward. The one thing that I will say is that T Mobile service is the worst ever, its network is horrible in most of Arizona. I currently use the Incredible 2, and I have not had any problems with it at all, and I'm on the Verizon network. No dropped calls, no firmware glitches, all good so far.

One thing to note, if you use Exchange mail like T work or something, you will need to buy Touchdown. It allows MS Exchange to sync, otherwise you are SOL. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail all work really well.
 
Android is a great OS. I usually recommend getting the best phone from whatever carrier you prefer. In this case I'd get the Galaxy S. If you're already on T Mobile and are happy with their service in your area there's no reason not to stay with them. Having a phone that's basically a pocket sized computer that's always online is very handy, and fun.
 
I have an Android phone and I'm happy with it. I think the iphone still has the edge from a music point of view with itunes, and there are more apps available for iphone, but android is good.

Stripped down android is quite basic, the manufacturers add a lot into the base OS around the music player and camera functionality when they customise it.
 
I have the droid x from Verizon.. love my phone. the droid OS to me is the way to go compared to the Iphone. much more free apps and etc..
 
While there may be more "free" apps for Android there are many more quality apps on iOS. I moved from Android to iOS when Verizon got the iPhone, and I must say I will not go back to Android. Android has a problem with quality control in the market, as well as their software updates. They don't tend to do enough testing, then release a new version of android that has more problems than the old version. Yes, Apple may do the same, but they are a lot quicker to resolve the problem. I had the Droid X and when I got the newest update, my phone would restart itself, not make calls, and the batter life was abysmal. I payed straight up for a new iPhone, and have had ZERO problems with it. Its fast, always connects calls, and the build quality is second to none! It will take a really updated phone to bring me back to Android. And fanboys, please, if you have never used the iPhone, keep to yourself. I was a big proponent to android against apple, but it just doesn't hold a candle to the refinement of iOS. Instead of fixing problems the just make things prettier with the Droids...

/Rant
 
In a perfect world, I would choose the iPhone over an Android phone, but AT&T's and Verizon's rate plan leave ALOT to be desired compared to T-Mobile and T-Mobile definitely has great service everywhere I go. Thanks for the help, hopefully it keeps on coming. As far as rooting - what's the point? If I'm happy with the UI (seems like HTC's is pretty popular, even with somewhat hardcore users), is there any other benefit? I can see having access to the root having plenty of negatives as well - rootkits and such.
 
There are benefits to rooting. Rooting gives you superuser access to the ALL of the phones features. It really opens up the phone for you. Forgot that you were on TMo, I wouldnt have gone on the iphone rant. But the T-mobile android phones are all excellent. Its a nice upgrade for sure.
 
wintermute said:
My (T-Mobile) Blackberry's crapping out and T-Mobile has ridiculously awesome voice/text/data plans out right now, so I'm thinking about switching over to an android phone. Anyone has any experience with these things? It looks like the current top-of-the-line models for T-Mobile are the T-Mobile G2X, Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile myTouch 4G, HTC Sensation 4G. As I understand it, the HTC and the T-Mobile (a rebranded HTC) have the most complete package, with a fancy HTC UI, while the G2X has the most stripped down feel with a stock Android interface. Anyone have any of these and have anything to say about the practical aspects of them? I'd be using it primarily for phone calls, e-mail, surfing, music. At one point in my life I think a more stripped down device would appeal to me more since I could customize it now, but now I'm too old and busy for that game.
Click to expand...

Dear Mr. The Stig,

I've been a T-Mobile customer for quite a few years now, and have been fairly happy with them. I had a Samsung Behold semi-smart phone for a couple of years, which was fun in some ways. This past spring I stepped up to a Galaxy S 4G, and I really like it. Just like a computer, it will be slow at times, will require rebooting, and will annoy you. That being said, I have a whole slew of cool apps on it, and use it all the time for all sorts of things.

Music: Paid the $4.99 for PowerAmp, and have a lot of control over my music. Good app.

Maps: Built-in GPS receiver does a good job of locating me, and I use the map for stores/restaurants/etc wherever I am.

Movies: I put tv shows and movies on my phone, and watch them while I'm on the treadmill with a bluetooth headset. Very entertaining - very easy to keep with me. Genuine lifesaver while sitting with the kids waiting for a table at the restaurant -- they can watch a bunch of different movies/shows I have on there.

Cool apps I've found:

Google goggles -- find out all sorts of info about most anything, just by taking a picture of it.
Disc golf finder -- has maps of disc golf courses, and lets you keep track of where you are with the GPS location.
Coffee fix -- find a Starbucks near you, anywhere you are. (Basically, phone says "Look up!").
Building -- find cool/interesting buildings and structures near you.
Droid48 -- excellent emulator for the HP48GX RPN calculator.
Dictionary -- useful for showing your friends how they're wrong when they say "electronical".
SwiFTP -- FTP server on phone -- good for sending files at the office, if you don't have a cord.
Bank Of America -- great for online banking (helps if you use BofA).
Handcent SMS -- odd name -- great app for texting. Translates speech into text.
c:geo -- free geocaching app that works well.
Beyondpod -- I'd never listened to podcasts, but now find them a great way to avoid the insanely boring drivel that pours out of my radio whenever I accidentally turn it on.
Droidiris -- great way to look up images in a theme, and see them on a big long wall.
Movies -- look up movie times, ratings, locations.
Yelp -- find good restaurants/bars/attractions near you, wherever you are.
Shopper/Red Laser/ShopSavvy -- scan bar codes on items at ye olde grocerie, and find out you're paying a lot more than you would at the Super-Mega-Gigantor-Mart down the street. Buy item anyway.

I've not used an iPhone, so can't compare it to the Android OS. For what I've done so far, Android has been great.
 
Thanks Mountain Man! It's nice to have a head start with these things. Should be picking mine up sometime this week.
 
Dumped my iPhone after two years and got a Samsung Galaxy S and never looked back. Couldn't be happier.
 
Thought it might be worth a mention that T-Mobile is fixing to get bought up by AT&T. I have had T-Mobile in the past and have been very happy with them. I have Sprint now and just got my first Android and an iTouch (IPhone without the phone) around the same time. I am super happy with the android. I have a HTC Evo 4G. It really is like carrying around a mini PC. Just an awesome device. I do like some of the Apple apps but not enough to be disappointed with Android. Can't go wrong with them.
 
Liveitloud said:
Thought it might be worth a mention that T-Mobile is fixing to get bought up by AT&T.
Click to expand...

Hence my rush to re-up. The gov't can make a go/ no go decision as early as 9/21. I want to get locked into a T-Mobile pricing structure 2-year contract before then.
 
wintermute said:
Hence my rush to re-up. The gov't can make a go/ no go decision as early as 9/21. I want to get locked into a T-Mobile pricing structure 2-year contract before then.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. I really hate to see this happen too. T-Mobile is a good company. Once AT&T gets it I'm afraid the good service and price point will suffer. Could be wrong though. Had AT&T at one time and was unimpressed.
 
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