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Android Hardware Thread - 2010 Edition

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so does android offer anything close to the itunes or zune experience? the next phone i get better have some easy media syncing and slick playback.
 
So I finally got my gf switched to T-Mobile
($89 per month)
from Verizon
($150 per month for same plan I got her at T-mobile)

She wanted to stay and get a Droid but, I talked her into going to T-mobile and picking up a MyTouch Slide (which isn't listed in the op). I have to say we both came away very very impressed, especially me who still has a modded G1. While on paper the droid is the better phone, the slide didn't feel much slower than the Droid was, it's fast enough that the difference was hardly noticeable. The phone has 512MB of Rom and 512MB of Ram, runs on Eclair I think and, Dragon's Naturally Speaking and Swype are both included and work surprisingly well. I haven't read the thread to know who else has one or what the consensus on the phone is but I'm getting myself one next week. I don't really see anything else coming with all that plus a real keyboard. I don't have time to post pics and everything but, this phone really is a HUGE upgrade from the G1. So if you are someone who is on the fence about getting one, just do it. Even 1 bar on edge is exponentially faster on her Slide than my G1 with 1 bar on 3G. The speaker is loud and crisp and easy to hear when navigating, and the overall sound quality is really good and this is coming from someone who owned a Glimmer which has better sound quality than most house phones. I swear this phone is just awesome, I really had no idea something that looked underpowered on paper ended up being right on the money in real world use.
 
^ The OP really needs updating. Droid Incredible, MyTouch Slide, and a whole bunch of others need to be added. And the banner is very ugly and I hope to fix it. Just don't have the time...

I've also always stood by the MyTouch Slide. It's a good little phone, probably T-Mobile's best at the moment (not counting the Nexus One.)

thirty said:
so does android offer anything close to the itunes or zune experience? the next phone i get better have some easy media syncing and slick playback.
Click to expand...

It'd be hard to approach the kind of fidelity that Zune and iTunes have simply because Microsoft and Apple both set out to do music the absolute best they could and by and large have succeeded.

For desktop programs, DoubleTwist works pretty well and comes off as iTunes-light. Songbird and some other programs also offer Android syncing, if that's what you're concerned with. If you're worried about content procurement (actually buying songs/videos), the aforementioned DoubleTwist also has Amazon MP3 built-in now. And around the end of this year, Google is launching a music-buying service that will sync songs seamlessly over-the-air to all your Android devices.

You're not going to have a good idea until you've used it extensively, but I will say this: I consider Zune to be pretty much the king of music playback at the moment, on PC and on the go. Android will not approach that for a while yet, however, it is making strides all the time. The developer community and Google themselves have been fantastic this past year filling in Android's various media holes, and with the launch of Google Music later this year, I can only believe that will be ratcheted up tenfold. As it is today, Android excels at playing back your music in a straightforward, no-frills manner (though third party apps can add some eye candy), and there are PC programs for purchasing and syncing media to Android devices.
 
thirty said:
so does android offer anything close to the itunes or zune experience? the next phone i get better have some easy media syncing and slick playback.
Click to expand...
Lol with you posting this everywhere

Isyncr will sync your music fast and seamlessly. Doubletwist sucks.

Cubed will play it with a zune like ui, especially the bored view mode
Btunes has an ipod ui
There are other music apps like mixing, but I stick with stock, its not bad and they'll be updating it soon anyhow
 
Luckyman said:
Samsung with current firmware gets pretty bad stalls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB1b0UrX9e0

Can't believe Samsung put it out like that. It has better specs than desire but desire will get more support from the community.
Click to expand...

In her actual review of the SGS, she informs us that after making that first video she got invited to the Belgian Samsung headquarters to try the phone with updated firmware, and it seems like the problems were pretty much gone (she says she saw one 1 second black screen - nothing like the 30 second ones she'd been getting with the older firmware). That's supposedly the firmware the phone will release with in Belgium (guess it's not released there yet?), so hopefully all owners of the phone will be able to take advantage of the update.

So yeah, I really have an itch for the SGS. I won't get one until I'm sure the GPS and 3G data problems have been fixed, but other than that it seems to be all kinds of awesome. And I actually happen to think the TW3.0 interface looks really nice (better than vanilla Android). Yes, it's an iPhone copy in many ways, but I don't see that as a bad thing. The reason I've never bought an iPhone isn't the interface (that's great), but a load of other things.
 
Jazzy Network said:
Doubletwist sucks. There really is no reason to use it when you can just drag and drop. I really don't understand how people can use it.
Click to expand...

I agree, I wasn't a big fan of it either. If you're a PC user I still say iSyncr is the best music syncing app. I personally like iTunes, mainly because of the ability to "check" songs that you want synced; iSyncr will sync your playlists and even transfer playcounts back to iTunes if you scrobble via Last.fm.

Though I guess some people hate iTunes on PC, I love it myself.
 
I used to sync when an iPod and iPhone, but the way I had my collection was a mess. Once I got my old Droid I updated my whole collection and now its really neat and I prefer it to syncing. The doubletwist app is a good music player though.
 
Any word on the number of Droid X's Best Buys are getting? I am #5 and have a week to get one before my 30 days with my other phone trial runs out.
 
I'm approaching the end of my contract and still tossing up between the (not yet released here) iPhone 4 and the HTC Desire. The more 'open' nature of Android kinda appeals to me, as does the option of expandable storage. Plus, the HTC would be considerably cheaper than the i4, from what I can see.

A few questions, then -

I use OSX - will this be an issue for using the HTC Phones? Most of what I've read seems to suggest you need a Windows machine for some stuff. Will OSX suffice for day to day usage? (copying files on, etc)

The HTC site also says the Desire can take up to 32gb SD cards. Is this a software or hardware restriction? I noticed that there are 64gb SD cards out, and while they are expensive, a massive storage option like that is really appealing - part of the reason I feel a bit locked in with the iPhone. I want more space :P Given it's over the limit, will it just not show up on the phone or not work at all?

Lastly... is choosing the Desire over an iPhone 4 a bad decision? :P
 
julls said:
I'm approaching the end of my contract and still tossing up between the (not yet released here) iPhone 4 and the HTC Desire. The more 'open' nature of Android kinda appeals to me, as does the option of expandable storage. Plus, the HTC would be considerably cheaper than the i4, from what I can see.

A few questions, then -

I use OSX - will this be an issue for using the HTC Phones? Most of what I've read seems to suggest you need a Windows machine for some stuff. Will OSX suffice for day to day usage? (copying files on, etc)

The HTC site also says the Desire can take up to 32gb SD cards. Is this a software or hardware restriction? I noticed that there are 64gb SD cards out, and while they are expensive, a massive storage option like that is really appealing - part of the reason I feel a bit locked in with the iPhone. I want more space :P Given it's over the limit, will it just not show up on the phone or not work at all?

Lastly... is choosing the Desire over an iPhone 4 a bad decision? :P
Click to expand...
I was on the fence between an iPhone 4 and an Android phone. I'm an OSX and mulit- iPod and Apple gadget owner. Still, I wasn't that excited about the design of the iPhone 4 or the notion of switching to AT&T. Ultimately, I settled on a Nexus One and I absolutely love it. No issues about using OSX with the phone so far.
 
Mercury Fred said:
I was on the fence between an iPhone 4 and an Android phone. I'm an OSX and mulit- iPod and Apple gadget owner. Still, I wasn't that excited about the design of the iPhone 4 or the notion of switching to AT&T. Ultimately, I settled on a Nexus One and I absolutely love it. No issues about using OSX with the phone so far.
Click to expand...
Great, thanks.
The iPhone looks great to me but I think i want a change and a bit more flexibility. I hate being locked to one computer to update music on my existing 3g, for example. My only other concern is that the Desire could be getting a bit old (in phone years ;) and I should wait for the next big release. Still, it's top of the list at the moment.
 
What provider is the Desire on? If you are gonna get an Android phone, might as well get a new one because a lot of the old ones won't have Android updates and only the new ones so far can upgrade to 3.0 (from what is rumored).
 
Jazzy Network said:
What provider is the Desire on? If you are gonna get an Android phone, might as well get a new one because a lot of the old ones won't have Android updates and only the new ones so far can upgrade to 3.0 (from what is rumored).
Click to expand...
It's on Telstra in Aus.
 
Deadly Cyclone said:
Any word on the number of Droid X's Best Buys are getting? I am #5 and have a week to get one before my 30 days with my other phone trial runs out.
Click to expand...
it depends on the store. some store will get more and some less. ur a number higher than me :P u should be safe
 
Hm, my friend is having an issue with his Incredible. During calls, no one can hear him, but he can hear the person just fine on the other end.

He recently put on a new case, could it be messing with the noise reduction microphone? I've gotta troubleshoot...
 
Husker86 said:
According to some of those standards I don't think we'll get a "true" 4G mobile network in decades :lol
Click to expand...

I agree. I'm simply saying when AT&T calls out T-Mobile, it's pretty disingenuous.

But yeah, I see what you're saying. That's why I don't have a huge problem with T-Mobile advertising "4G-like speeds", because, well...at the current point in time they aren't lying.
Click to expand...

yep
 
Fatalah said:
Hm, my friend is having an issue with his Incredible. During calls, no one can hear him, but he can hear the person just fine on the other end.

He recently put on a new case, could it be messing with the noise reduction microphone? I've gotta troubleshoot...
Click to expand...

I don't believe that the Incredible has a noise reduction mic. At least not that I've noticed. Did he try resetting it? Never had that issue before with mine... Though there was one time when I realized that when it was plugged into my car stereo, the sound came through the car speakers and not the phone. I had the car stereo volume all the way down, so I couldn't hear the person I was talking to. Took me a bit to figure it out.
 
Any Incredible or Eric users ever get this battery? I want a battery that adds power, but won't add any thickness to the back. Reviews seem pleasant for the most part, but I'd like a Gaffer to help out here.
 
Muerte_X said:
I don't believe that the Incredible has a noise reduction mic. At least not that I've noticed. Did he try resetting it? Never had that issue before with mine... Though there was one time when I realized that when it was plugged into my car stereo, the sound came through the car speakers and not the phone. I had the car stereo volume all the way down, so I couldn't hear the person I was talking to. Took me a bit to figure it out.
Click to expand...

I'm going to tell him to do a master reset of the phone. That means all apps need to be re-downloaded, but photos remain right?
 
Captain Blood said:
Where did you get it?
Click to expand...
I went to my local VZW just to check for DX demo, and I also inquire if they have a cases.

He showed me all the cases they have. They have the snap-on, holster, body glove, holster and case, and silicone.
I bought the latter. it even protects the buttons
 
Jazzy Network said:
Any Incredible or Eric users ever get this battery? I want a battery that adds power, but won't add any thickness to the back. Reviews seem pleasant for the most part, but I'd like a Gaffer to help out here.
Click to expand...

Is there a version of that for the Moto Droid?
 
bathala said:
I went to my local VZW just to check for DX demo, and I also inquire if they have a cases.

He showed me all the cases they have. They have the snap-on, holster, body glove, holster and case, and silicone.
I bought the latter. it even protects the buttons
Click to expand...
Does your local VZW have any kind of pre-order going on for it or are you just hoping to get there early enough to snag one before they sell out?
 
I for one look forward to purchasing mine on August 15th, if nothing better has been announced in the near future.

Didn't the iPhone 4 shit teach you not to buy at launch? Its not like it gives you any more usefulness because you bought it first.
 
Gallbaro said:
I for one look forward to purchasing mine on August 15th, if nothing better has been announced in the near future.

Didn't the iPhone 4 shit teach you not to buy at launch? Its not like it gives you any more usefulness because you bought it first.
Click to expand...
well I have to buy one since my iPhone 2G will be sold on the 18.

FYI: there will always be a new phone coming in the near future.
 
Nif said:
Looking good for US Galaxy S rooting: http://androidandme.com/2010/07/hacks/root-hack-for-samsung-galaxy-s-also-works-on-u-s-versions/

And their last 3D benchmark was pretty nice: http://androidandme.com/2010/07/news/galaxy-s-lineup-leads-the-pack-in-android-gpu-benchmarks/

Makes me feel better about getting Captivate this weekend. First smartphone, yay. :D
Click to expand...
I wish we have games to actually take advantage of this power :(
Google needs to start courting some game devs. oh wait they did zynga :S
 
First official look at the Droid 2 in the Verizon Summer Catalog. Pretty weak specs if you ask me. Barely upgraded from the Droid. I guess they are keeping the regular Droid simple while expanding with the X and Incredible as powerhouses. If the Droid 2 was more in line with the Droid X, but with a keyboard, it would be so much more intriguing. I seriously hope they don't plan on charging $200 for it on contract.
 
Jazzy Network said:
First official look at the Droid 2 in the Verizon Summer Catalog. Pretty weak specs if you ask me. Barely upgraded from the Droid. I guess they are keeping the regular Droid simple while expanding with the X and Incredible as powerhouses. If the Droid 2 was more in line with the Droid X, but with a keyboard, it would be so much more intriguing. I seriously hope they don't plan on charging $200 for it on contract.
Click to expand...
In line with the Droid X in what way? they both have the same processor and internal memory/system memory.
 
Paznos said:
In line with the Droid X in what way? they both have the same processor and internal memory/system memory.
Click to expand...

I agree. The only difference probably is smaller screen, and a 5 mp camera instead of 8. Will have to check out the keyboard to see the improvements that are made.
 
Any videos uploaded that were taken with the captivate? Would be nice to see a full comparison to the iPhone4.

Also does anyone know if the captivate has a real glass screen. My iPhone4 has done nothing but sit in my pocket and has a scratch already. My wifes 3g was in her pocket with keys and no scratches for 2 years.
 
Ecto311 said:
Any videos uploaded that were taken with the captivate? Would be nice to see a full comparison to the iPhone4.

Also does anyone know if the captivate has a real glass screen. My iPhone4 has done nothing but sit in my pocket and has a scratch already. My wifes 3g was in her pocket with keys and no scratches for 2 years.
Click to expand...

Look and be amaaaaaazed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CE8CjX7bMU&playnext_from=TL&videos=VLEXu4FAaqY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GhHs5mZ7g4&feature=channel
 
Trying to decide if I should get a Droid X or Samsung Fascinate, I'd be new to Android anyway I look at it. The fascinate doesn't even have a release date and with the droid probably coming out in August I don't think the fascinate will be here for quite some time. Plus I'm really tired of my blackberry tour. So what say you gaf, the Fascinate or Droid X?
 
NightHawk17 said:
Trying to decide if I should get a Droid X or Samsung Fascinate, I'd be new to Android anyway I look at it. The fascinate doesn't even have a release date and with the droid probably coming out in August I don't think the fascinate will be here for quite some time. Plus I'm really tired of my blackberry tour. So what say you gaf, the Fascinate or Droid X?
Click to expand...

If you ever want to root your phone, you might want to stay away from Samsung.
 
Since new phones are coming almost every 3 months, I'm going for 1 yr contract when I get my DX. 279 (MIR) for one yr not bad. Cancel my BB preorder
 
hermit7 said:
The Galaxy S is already rooted in Europe. Don't see why it wouldn't be rooted in the US.
Click to expand...



I haven't done much research into it but it seems like Samsung is going to stop at Froyo with the Galaxy S and then have Gingerbread on the the successor even though the Galaxy S is more than capable of handling it.
 
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