I am thinking about buying a smart phone and think I might be able to get a deal before Christmas.
I would like the phone to have internet access, have a camera in it (any MP is fine), have some word processing capability, Google Maps/GPS, and be able to send and receive email. Having some cool apps/features would be a nice bonus too. All in all, nothing beyond what I've been led to believe is pretty much standard on most phones out there.
I DO NOT want an iPhone (I'm not a crowd follower), so that leaves the HTC, Palm and Blackberry. The patriot in me says pick a BB, but after reading spec guides online, I don't know if it has everything what I want. My sister has an HTC Touch and it seems to have everything I want.
What do you have/want and why should I buy it too?
Tricks
CKA Uber
Posts: 18781
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:35 pm
Is the only reason you aren't getting an iPhone is because it's popular?
Scape
CKA Moderator
Posts: 14940
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:18 pm
The Iphone 3G 8gig I have is not as fast as the HTC loaded with android my brother-in-law picked up today. That thing is very fast and real easy to surf on as google basically wrote the apps and software. Iphone still has massive advantage in an ap store with over 100k apps compared to Androids just 10k startup so apple has a huge headstart and they are not about to squander it arrogantly. That being said now that Droid is about to go live Iphone at long last has some serious competition. I'd say if you don't like Iphone get a droid. I like the bb but frankly I see it going down in flames in the long run here. BB software is really lacking with the browser and software development and simple do not have the legs to stand vs Google or Apple. Even Nokia is in danger of folding because their N96 simply doesn't stack vs the new phones except for the camera and people don't buy the phone for that, it's an extra.
Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that I wanted cell service I would ditch my Iphone and get the Ipod and load on skype instead. The wi-fi is just that good but I still like the added abilities a SIM card gives the Iphone. Which really highlights any smart phone weakness, the support it gets from the carrier and we all know they suck. So make sure if you get one you have cover where you roam. GSM is big in wild rose country but the old CDMA still has a slight edge in certain areas even now. Telus and Bell have got the Iphone now and have begun converting their rate plans to handle the data hog that is the Iphone but they still are not matching Rogers plans feature for feature and penny for penny. Unless your an existing subscriber and are up for renewal with a decent plan Rogers still can beat them with little effort. If you do sign on they will demand a 3 year term. I hate rogers and their customer service but apple has been a rock star. Sadly my 1 year warranty is now up so I have to hope I never have to call Rogers up. I don't know how motorola will be with their droid but they have a lot of ground to make up.
That being said I still think the 3Gs is a better phone then Android because of the Ap store and Apple support when it comes down to it. Canadian cell carriers come in at a draw as a lose/lose/lose situation.
KorbenDeck
Forum Elite
Posts: 1696
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:22 am
I personally prefer Blackberry, the only thing iPhone has over BB in my opinion is its browser.
Tricks
CKA Uber
Posts: 18781
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:06 pm
And thousands of Apps.
acidcomplex
Forum Elite
Posts: 1482
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:42 pm
KorbenDeck wrote:
I personally prefer Blackberry, the only thing iPhone has over BB in my opinion is its browser.
Opera browser for BB , problem solved, and its free
acidcomplex
Forum Elite
Posts: 1482
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:42 pm
Tricks wrote:
And thousands of Apps.
and yet somehow it cant do flash, what a piece
does has some cool apps, most though are useless
Last edited by acidcomplex on Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
acidcomplex
Forum Elite
Posts: 1482
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:44 pm
I would go BB personally, I have had almost every BB evermade and they are by far the toughest "smart phone" there is. Currently I have the peral and Bold, both have been thorugh hell and back and just keep on ticking. besides, built in wifi and gps. same as ihomo
ASLplease
CKA Elite
Posts: 4239
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:56 pm
I have currenyly started to pay attention to smart phone and expect to buy one with in the next 6 months.
Also, I've come up with a way to use my current cellphone as a poor man's smartphone. I dont have time to post on this, but please check this thread in a day or two.
App stores in general currently have three advantages that trump Web browsers:
* they display apps more simply, * make it easier for customers to pay, and * make it easier to code for storage on the device itself.
But all app stores are not created equal. William Volk, CEO of iPhone and Android app vendor PlayScreen, breaks it down like this:
* Apple iPhone App Store:
The good news: Low friction, and even with less than 10 percent of the US handset installed base, it represents over half the mobile software sales. Many titles have sold over 100,000 units. A few over a million. Costs are very low to get into the market.
The bad news: Hyper-competitive. Size matters not. License only matters if you get it right. Users expect the quality and performance level of a $20 Nintendo game in a $0.99 cent title. Extremely complex marketing efforts required to get noticed. Don’t try to do a ‘topical’ title because Apple can delay or prevent publication. Power curve, top titles do most of the sales.
* Google Android Market:
The good news: Not crowded. No approval blocks.
The bad news: The very best selling titles may just be hitting 10,000 sales. Almost no users have opted into Google Checkout. Google MUST add operator billing.
* Blackberry App World:
The good news: Not crowded. Eighty percent publisher share (vs. 70 percent from Apple and Google). Adding operator billing to existing PayPal billing system.
CKA Uber 
