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Hey All,
I'm having a very hard time deciding whether to get the HTC HD7 or the Samsung Focus and was wondering if any of you could help out.
I'm going to post this in the Samsung Focus Forum as well to get their side of things so I mainly want to know from the HD7 owner's side of the story.
HTC HD7
Large 4.3" Screen (the main reason I want to get it)
Really nice design - mainly screen (Focus has too much plastic around the screen)
16GB Built in memory with option to void warranty and upgrade
Kickstand which will be useful since there are no docks available.
Dual LED flash - not too important for me as I hear the HD7 camera isn't too great.
Heavier than the Focus - seriously, I do prefer a denser phone
Comes with free GPS Navigation Software.
Samsung Focus
Amazing 4" SAMOLED display (although it is smaller than the HD7). I have a Zune HD and the quality of that screen is amazing.
Design is OK, a little plasticky for my taste
Very light, this is an advantage (even though I prefer a denser phone) as it is less noticeable in your pocket.
8GB NAND memory which appears to be much, much faster than the HD7 with the option to upgrade to 40GB with a 32GB card without voiding warranty. 16GB is probably enough for me but 8GB is definitely too small.
According to reviews, has an excellent camera.
Now my decision is even harder because I will not be able to see the devices until I buy one as I live in South Africa and will be getting a relative to send the device out to me. I will be immigrating to the US in less than a years time so if I get the HD7 I will be going with T-Mobile and if I get the Focus I will be going with AT&T as my SP. (Is one better / cheaper than the other?)
I hope you guys can provide me with some information to sway me either way
Thanks,
Jonno
Hi Jonno!
I kind of understand how you are feeling right now because I was also in this situation and when WP7 launched on 11th October I wanted to buy the Omnia 7. It depends what you really need/want from a phone.
Personally , I am not into S-AMOLED screens because of the lower sharpness and I am also not too overwhelmed by having the guy next to me reading all my messages etc. Vibrant colors is cool but you'll get bored of this pretty fast.
The official micro-SD support one the most important advantages if you ask me and NAND is indeed faster BUT I also think apps are not yet optimised for HD7's memory and might see an update soon ,because let's face it, the hardware is there and it can help.
Also a larger battery the 1500 one but the S-AMOLED screen kinda compensates the bigger battery and good sAR values but honestly I wouldn't mind having a 1500 in my HD7
For me, when I pay big cash for a phone I want to have a good-looking one and I might refuse a bit better specs for a gorgeous design which HD7 clearly has.
So, if you want a phone that simply has the specs go for the Samsung, if you want a sexy phone with a BIG display go for the HD7.
P.S. Are you saying you will be buying it in an almost 1 year time ? Ouch , by then you will have a better OS and other devices as well
Hi yly3,
Thanks very much for that advice.
I'm not necessarily after the best specs, I just want to be happy with my decision and I will never be happy until I research all of the options and am sure that I know what I want to do.
Yeah, I'm not too worried about the viewing angles (would also rather have poor angles so that I have my phone to myself). I just noticed in the Focus videos that the display seems almost surreal - the visuals just appeared on the top of the device as if there was no screen.
I'm also wondering about the speed of the two devices. If I get a Focus I will most likely be adding a SD card to it anyway so it'd be interesting to know the performance changes when a card is added to the Focus.
Yeah, as long as the battery lasts me the whole day I'm fine. Will charge it at nights anyway.
I would like this phone to act as a bit of an ambassador for the platform as I'm not sure when it's going to be launched in this country.
Oh, and no, I will be moving to the States in a year but hopefully purchase the device before the end of the month.
S-AMOLED or not the battery will last a little bit longer than HD7's one. Although reading through Microsoft forums I saw that there is not much of a difference between the batteries, Samsung might win in standby mode or using the phone only as a phone.
About the cards, it seems Microsoft is on this one and recommends we wait for the "official seal of approval cards" from them for the best performance. When those will be available , there is no word yet , in my opinion somewhere in Q2 if you ask me but that's just a wild guess.
A small reminder is that the Samsung has slightly less RAM (512 vs HD7's 576) but I am sure it's not a deal breaker anyway ..
If this helps you with anything Bill Gates' phone is the Focus
Yeah, as long as the performance of the HD7 is not a problem, and from what I've read it isn't, then I don't really mind.
If you add a card to the Focus and fill it up I doubt the performance will be any better that the HD7. As MicroSD cards improve it may be possible to upgrade to faster cards anyway.
Does anyone have any experience on how much bigger the 4.3" screen is than the 4" screen? From the pictures it looks to be quite a bit smaller.
Since the big deciding factor is the screen display, please take the time to read this thread I posted regarding AMOLED color representation
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=840883
Also, watch some review videos comparing the two!
Here's a good one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTLfGbvNATA
Also, since the phones are so similarly spec'd with the main difference being the screen, you should focus (pun!) more of you decision on which carrier is better.
For example, where are you moving to in the US? ATT has a stronger signal in the northeast but tmobile is much better in the south and west coast. The 3g speeds also vary depending on your location and if you use a lot of mobile data, expect to pay more for ATT since they no longer offer unlimited data plans.
Overall, you can expect to pay about 10 dollars less for the same plan on Tmobile vs ATT.
But like I said, service and reception should be your ultimate deciding factor since both phones are almost identical and priced the same.
Good luck with your decision!
One thing that I must say about the Samsung Focus that most people leave out of their reviews is that the back of the phone scratches very easily. Compare it to the iphone chrome rim and you get what I mean. It's been a week since my friend bought his focus and the back has already shown some wear and tear and he pretty much babys his phone. So if you do plan on getting the focus make sure you get a case or whatever.
Also, if you are looking for an "ambassador" device, always go with htc since developers on xda focus more of their time developing on htc devices. I mean the HTC XDA II was the reason why this forum was created!
About prices: everything unlimited- Text, Minutes, & Data.
On T Mobile you ll be paying between $80-$90 a month. But 3g is spotty and indoor 3g sucks with T mobile and I live in south florida. Every time I call to complaint they say their working on it, and thats been for three years now.
On AT&T you will be paying between $135-$145 a month for same service.
only difference is At&T has 3G coverage in way more areas than T mobile.
and they dont have the indoor problem with their 3G.
I have till Monday to return my HD7 and Im still debating on what to do cause Im off contract already. I love the phone but what I like most is the OS, Microsoft has done a beautiful job. Still needs a little touch here and there but awesome start I think. I would love to get the samsung focus phone from AT&T but as you see the prices are way more, I guess thats the price you gotta pay for better service. and Verizon is just as expensive. Sprint is the cheapest but the W7 phone they are coming out with is to small for my taste.
yly3 said:
S-AMOLED or not the battery will last a little bit longer than HD7's one. Although reading through Microsoft forums I saw that there is not much of a difference between the batteries, Samsung might win in standby mode or using the phone only as a phone.
About the cards, it seems Microsoft is on this one and recommends we wait for the "official seal of approval cards" from them for the best performance. When those will be available , there is no word yet , in my opinion somewhere in Q2 if you ask me but that's just a wild guess.
A small reminder is that the Samsung has slightly less RAM (512 vs HD7's 576) but I am sure it's not a deal breaker anyway ..
If this helps you with anything Bill Gates' phone is the Focus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems that for cards right now, the ones to get are sandisk class2, those are the ones that people have gotten to work in the hd7s and the ones that are now coming out microsoft certified.
Jonno2343 said:
Yeah, as long as the performance of the HD7 is not a problem, and from what I've read it isn't, then I don't really mind.
If you add a card to the Focus and fill it up I doubt the performance will be any better that the HD7. As MicroSD cards improve it may be possible to upgrade to faster cards anyway.
Does anyone have any experience on how much bigger the 4.3" screen is than the 4" screen? From the pictures it looks to be quite a bit smaller.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mrroey said:
Also, since the phones are so similarly spec'd with the main difference being the screen, you should focus (pun!) more of you decision on which carrier is better.
For example, where are you moving to in the US? ATT has a stronger signal in the northeast but tmobile is much better in the south and west coast. The 3g speeds also vary depending on your location and if you use a lot of mobile data, expect to pay more for ATT since they no longer offer unlimited data plans.
Overall, you can expect to pay about 10 dollars less for the same plan on Tmobile vs ATT.
But like I said, service and reception should be your ultimate deciding factor since both phones are almost identical and priced the same.
Good luck with your decision!
One thing that I must say about the Samsung Focus that most people leave out of their reviews is that the back of the phone scratches very easily. Compare it to the iphone chrome rim and you get what I mean. It's been a week since my friend bought his focus and the back has already shown some wear and tear and he pretty much babys his phone. So if you do plan on getting the focus make sure you get a case or whatever.
Also, if you are looking for an "ambassador" device, always go with htc since developers on xda focus more of their time developing on htc devices. I mean the HTC XDA II was the reason why this forum was created!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely want to keep the carriers in mind. At&t will get you signal just about anywhere, but doesn't have the best 3g/4g network so your data may suffer.
Tmobile isn't as widespread as the others, but if you live in a city chances are you are good. I live in San Antonio and always have reception (hspa+)
Yeah i also need an advice. Thinking between Samsung Omnia 7 or HTC HD7
HTC HD7
-better design
-bigger screen
Samsung Omnia 7
-better screen
-better battery life
can anyone help me to choose?
Hmm.. It definitely seems like I'll be going with T-Mobile then as AT&T sound too be just a little too expensive.
Thanks for the link on the Color Reproduction, very interesting!
Also interesting to hear about the Focus scratching, I imagine they used too thin a plastic to make it terribly durable.
Since I'll be stuck in South Africa for another year, the carrier isn't too much of an issue for me right now and I will only be able to fully determine which is best once I've tried them out in the places I'll be.
The HD7 always stuck out as me as the phone to get and I think as I look at it, it's turning out to be the better choice.
Does anyone think it's better to hold off till later next year? Maybe better devices (dual core, etc)? Looks like quite a few more coming next year according to http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/how-htc-and-samsung-look-at-their-windows-phone-7-futures
But then again I can't wait until the next best thing comes out as there will always be some better coming out.
Thanks for all of the responses!
Regarding your concern about waiting another year for updated specs, you will feel the exact same way next year when your buying your newer phone. Think about it in the perspective of an iPhone user...they know for a fact that a new upgraded iphone is coming out in a year but nonetheless theres no talk about waiting another year to see what might be released whether its dual core or 10mp cameras.
The truth of the matter is technology will always be doubling in specs at an exponential rate so theres not point in waiting for a year cuz of course there will be better phones and hardware.
Ever since I bought my first G1, I always upgrade my phone in a year or sometimes less either due to better hardware released or just because I get bored easily. And after I buy the newer phone, I just sell my old one. At most i'll be spending about 100-150 to "upgrade."
For example. I sold my iphone 3gs on craigslist for 350 this summer and bought an iPhone 4 for 450 which was a pretty good deal. I then sold my iphone 4 for 500 and bought an hd2 for 250. And then I recently switched to the hd7 buying it for 450 with no contract.
So don't worry about holding off on buying a phone. They seem to improve at a faster rate than computers/tvs so its really not worth keeping around older hardware that grows more obsolete day by day.
Thanks for that.
Good to hear that you can sell them again for a respectable price.
One problem with technology is that very few people want to buy the old stuff if they have a choice so it's nice to know that it is not so for smart phones.
HD 7 for sure. The differences in AMOLED or whatever is not enough to make up for the sheer 4.3 inch size on the HD7. I loved it on my HD2 and told myself I would never go back to anything smaller. And I meant it. The HD7 is hands above as far as stylish looks and the "WOW" factor when you or someone else picks it up. Bottom line is, better looking phone with about the same performance across the board due to the OS just being that much more efficient.
Jonno2343 said:
Thanks for that.
Good to hear that you can sell them again for a respectable price.
One problem with technology is that very few people want to buy the old stuff if they have a choice so it's nice to know that it is not so for smart phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Last generation Android (Moto Droid, Nexus One, Desire) and iOS phones are usually in great demand since most people won't pay $500+ premium prices for the top of the line phones.
The majority of XDA community make up the small percentage of hardcore phone users that are willing to shell out however much for the newest spankn phones.
For your situation, as long as WP7 doenst end up flopping like the Palm webOS, you can expect the resell value of the HD7 to be pretty good in a year.
Had the same problem.
Solved, but wont tell you how
->> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=833140
So I do enjoy my Nook Color, but at the same time it can be a bit tiresome to tether on the go. I noticed Bell is now selling the original Galaxy Tab for $399. It also just so happens that I sold a spare phone I don't use anymore for $250.
I can get at least $200 for the NC in Canada, possibly $250. So it wouldn't really be costing me anything to sell the Nook and buy a new Galaxy Tab. And I don't have to pay for 3G data in months when I am OK with just wifi; but I can probably use PC Mobile to get unlimited 3G for $7-10/month.
So the advantages of the Tab include two cameras, faster processor, lighter weight, brighter screen, auto-brightness sensor, 3G radio, mic, audio input via headphone jack...
Disadvantages? Well it's not one of the new generation of tablets. Neither is the NC, but the amount invested in it (and thereby the expected depreciation) is smaller. And the NC has CyanogenMod support and generally more stable custom ROMs compared to the patchwork of mods I see in the Tab ROM forums.
Any thoughts? Should I go for it?
Interesting dilemma. First blush would be the major change would be 3G of course and if that's your "need" vs. "want" then the choice is obvious. Just my opinion, but I'd head over to the Galaxy Tab XDA area and poke around there and see how the users feel about their Tab.
I have the NC and the GTab. Enjoy both for different reasons really. Probably use the NC a bit more only due to ease of transport.
Overall, IMHO, the Galaxy Tab would be a lateral move. I'd wait and see what's coming (perhaps better hardware and HC) then make a move.....but that's me.
I agree with Skeeter, what is the GTab going to give you for an extra $200? And is it worth it? For some it may very well be, for others maybe not.
Personally I want a Xoom or a Asus Transformer, and for me "Mini HDMI out" is worth the extra cost. But for others, it's not =\
skeeterpro said:
Interesting dilemma. First blush would be the major change would be 3G of course and if that's your "need" vs. "want" then the choice is obvious. Just my opinion, but I'd head over to the Galaxy Tab XDA area and poke around there and see how the users feel about their Tab.
I have the NC and the GTab. Enjoy both for different reasons really. Probably use the NC a bit more only due to ease of transport.
Overall, IMHO, the Galaxy Tab would be a lateral move. I'd wait and see what's coming (perhaps better hardware and HC) then make a move.....but that's me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, the major change would be 3G. One extra detail is that I'm using my Nexus One on Wind Mobile right now with a super cheap unlimited text/talk/data plan. Their coverage has some gaps though, and text/talk roaming is relatively cheap but data roaming is pricey.
My spare PC Mobile SIM would have great cheap data coverage (until they decide to raise prices), but the same service would not be ideal for my daily phone usage because of that company's inflexibility with respect to long distance calling areas and lack of unlimited minute plans.
So I figure that the Galaxy Tab would be particularly good for trips out of my usual coverage area, and also that it would help reduce how much I toast my battery when tethering from the N1.
I also in fact have an opportunity to get a PlayBook at 50% off soon, but none of the models are launching with cellular radios yet for several more months. So I think I'll sit that one out for now.
cmstlist said:
So I do enjoy my Nook Color, but at the same time it can be a bit tiresome to tether on the go. I noticed Bell is now selling the original Galaxy Tab for $399. It also just so happens that I sold a spare phone I don't use anymore for $250.
I can get at least $200 for the NC in Canada, possibly $250. So it wouldn't really be costing me anything to sell the Nook and buy a new Galaxy Tab. And I don't have to pay for 3G data in months when I am OK with just wifi; but I can probably use PC Mobile to get unlimited 3G for $7-10/month.
So the advantages of the Tab include two cameras, faster processor, lighter weight, brighter screen, auto-brightness sensor, 3G radio, mic, audio input via headphone jack...
Disadvantages? Well it's not one of the new generation of tablets. Neither is the NC, but the amount invested in it (and thereby the expected depreciation) is smaller. And the NC has CyanogenMod support and generally more stable custom ROMs compared to the patchwork of mods I see in the Tab ROM forums.
Any thoughts? Should I go for it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure I get how it's tiresome to tether on the go? Are you talking about using a phone as a wifi hotspot or some more complicated way to tether? For me, no way it'd be worth $200 plus the cost of a 3g connection (even if on a month by month basis) to save the 5 seconds it takes to tether to my phone. It's literally unlock, tap 3g hotspot icon, hit power button on side of phone to shut off the screen and I'm done. Even if the 3g connection were free, I wouldn't shell out $200 to save that 5 seconds even if I had to do it 2-3 times per day...
Edit: I didn't see your roaming concerns. I don't have to worry about that as I don't go out of country and I have unlimited data in my phone plan. I guess it could be a PITA to swap SIM cards if you're roaming and you'd lose your phone at the same time, so it may be worth the $200 to get rid of that concern. But, I'd actually measure the impact (ie how often you actually roam and how much it'd cost to pay data roaming based on that) before deciding to spend the extra money.
Have you checked out the identity tab, it is basically the same as Galaxy tab except the screen resolution. and there is a very good review in znet.com
http://www.jr.com/enspert/pe/EPN_E201U/
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-ne...-froyo-tablet-with-android-market-access/1791
I guess that it may be a better deal than $250 nook color or $399 galaxy tab.
tyy10002 said:
Have you checked out the identity tab, it is basically the same as Galaxy tab except the screen resolution. and there is a very good review in znet.com
http://www.jr.com/enspert/pe/EPN_E201U/
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-ne...-froyo-tablet-with-android-market-access/1791
I guess that it may be a better deal than $250 nook color or $399 galaxy tab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know that you'd be happy with such a low resolution on a large screen.
No 3g, not much point. If I wanted to settle for lower resolution I'd go with the quad band 3G Dell Streak 7.
Sent from my Nook Color!
If I'm reading this correctly, it's not a lateral move financially -- because $250 of the purchase is already in cash from a spare phone you sold!
With that money you could choose to keep the existing NC and get a decent camera, GPS, and accessories. Or get a second NC. Or a decent smartphone with front camera. Or a whole lot of pizza.
In other words, I'm being of no help here at all.
xdabr said:
If I'm reading this correctly, it's not a lateral move financially -- because $250 of the purchase is already in cash from a spare phone you sold!
With that money you could choose to keep the existing NC and get a decent camera, GPS, and accessories. Or get a second NC. Or a decent smartphone with front camera. Or a whole lot of pizza.
In other words, I'm being of no help here at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hehe that's okay
My logic is more that I previously had a main phone (AWS Nexus One for WIND), a spare phone (for compatibility with 850 3G networks), and then also got a wi-fi tablet. If I make the shift, then I would be combining the tablet and the 850 3G device into one package.
I should probably be focusing more on post-grad employment than on how to shuffle around the devices I own without income =)
NC's display >>> Galaxy Tab's display.
After buying the Nook and finally experiencing a real tablet experience it left me wanting more...
I came to the conclusion that having a good tablet that was 3g enabled and could be used to make occasional calls would be ideal for me.
If it were me, I might lean toward the Galaxy..
Hi there! I am from the UK and am planning on buying the Galaxy Tab P1010 Wifi version. but i have read something on the internet that the Wifi version has a dumbed down/older-gen & weaker processor (i.e. the SGX530) compared to the 3G's SGX540. is this correct? or is this only in some countries or territories?
also, why the slower bluetooth 2.1 and not retaining the 3.0 from the 3G version?
I have rung and been told by Samsung UK themselves that they don't know (read: eother they don't care or know nothing at all) that the Wifi version has an older processor.
Can someone please confirm this with me.
Thanks.
Here in Australia they are trying to fob off the older wifi version to people for a really low price.And yes you are correct it does have a dumbed down version of the processor.
Personally I would leave well alone.
Sent from the depths of Hell using XDA Premium
Slower CPU/GPU combo, BT 2.1 instead of 3.0
The WiFi Tab can play 720p Video while the 3G can play 1080p. I think this is related to the CPU/GPU combo change. But i havn't tried the WiFi version myself, so i don't know if there isn't a way to play 1080p anyway. The 3G plays 1080p smooth (Hardware accelerated if the right content)
When i rung Samsung UK they were "trying to play down the rumour" and was always telling me stuff like "refer to the website" (which aren't updated always) and "don't believe what you hear on websites and people" and "models would differ from each country". duh! what were they trying to say then....?
It's just a disappointment as i plan to buy the Wifi Tab this weekend. they got hold of my number and they havn't got back to me.
So, is it true then that the Galaxy tab wifi has an older/slower/weaker processor for the UK and basicaly elsewhere?
can someone confirm or deny this please?
I sell these and do you know what do not know the cpu but will find out in the morning for you as my spec sheets also do not list the cpu on the wifi but they do for the gsm ... now that is bloody annoying.
Also Sammy do not claim that both will play higher than 720 but I know that have no issues with the wifi one that I have which to be honest prefer to the gsm one
alexgogan said:
Sammy do not claim that both will play higher than 720
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Click to collapse
Actually, turn around the box of a P1000. Says something about full hd and 1080p, while the P1010 has a nice 720p in that same spot.
Not to mention the P1000 does it with h264 video, while the P1010 does 720p only if in mp4.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk
I've got the P1010 and whilst I miss the whole rom flashing thing its still a Fab device - and lets face it, good and cheap for the wifi version. Had I of had a spare extra ₤100 I might well have gone for the P1000 but I wont let buyers regret kick in! As a standalone device its great.
Sent from my GT-P1010 using XDA Premium App
Will do when i get them in again today.... I just went to Samsung.com to see the specs... But that doesn't surprise me at all regarding how often they update the site.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Samsung has shown arrogance and insenistivity when it comes to their already poor customer support/after sales/tech support services.
Just sighting an example her. i sent my Galaxy Apollo a few months ago to Samsung for repairs and updates as it was , very slow, kept freezing, etc, after 2 weeks all they did was "flash2 the handset. nothing else. the phone stayed the same. rubbish service TBH.
how can a big company like Sammy get away with things like that. the website's not up to date, no dedicated disccusion forums site and so on....
on a brighter note i would still buy a Samsung Android phone over anyone else as they are still good when it comes to audio and video format support on higher-end phones....
Sorry didnt have a chance to read all the posts but yest the p1010 is not as good as the 3g version. I have the p101o and it is excellent for web/reading books/comics and is ok at the rest but no where near as good as the 3g version for games/videos.
But head on down to carphonewearhouse today and they are selling the 3g version for £250 (I got my tab for £150 on a special opening day offer and I think thats what it is worth) You will have to be quick for the carphonewearhouse offer as they are clearing a lot of stock.
.................................................. sorry posted wrong
CliveEP said:
I've got the P1010 and whilst I miss the whole rom flashing thing its still a Fab device - and lets face it, good and cheap for the wifi version. Had I of had a spare extra ₤100 I might well have gone for the P1000 but I wont let buyers regret kick in! As a standalone device its great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree. For my modest needs (internet radio streaming, music player, reading books, browsing the web, the occasional youtube video) it's been just great. We still don't have 3G out here in the boondocks, so this is filling the niche. Yes, Samsung sucks for downgrading the CPU and graphics chip. But I can't complain about the box. It does what I want it to do.
With the pouring rain behind (or rather on top of) me i went to Oxford Street and got myself the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3G version and according to the CPW salesman it was the very last one. got it for a bargain price of £250 from a high of £399 only yesterday. how do you top that?
With 2.3 coming and with a future Honeycomb/Gingerbread OS things should get brighter for the tablet. i hope.
I am about to upgrade my phone. Currently on a Touch Pro 2 and Xrom. This will be my first Android phone and obviously I am considering the Bionic. I know nothing about Android and since Microsoft seems to have abandoned the smartphone world and very few phones are on 7, it seems like a good time to make the move.
I have read the reviews, scoured this forum and it looks like the Bionic is everything it is supposed to be. I am a noob, just an old one, this phone is my b-day present to myself, will be 48 in a few days. I do have a few questions...
Is the Bionic really the shiznit phone or should I wait for a while for a better phone on the horizon?
I can get this phone for $220 bucks through Amazon or $250 through Verizon. Is there any reason to not get it from Amazon?
I am not quite ready to get into flashing new rom's on Android as I have a lot of learning to do first, but I hate bloatware. With the TP2 getting off the stock rom was a good thing, I can go two days on a battery charge, but is it as important with Android? I know the Bionic can be rooted and bloatware removed, but does it slow the phone down if it is left there?
Thanks in advance, this forum rocks!
I upgraded from the TP2. Couldn't be happier. Didn't have many problems with the TP2, but it's old and outdated. This thing is just a beast. You could wait for something better, but I decided that it was time. If something else comes out and I want it, I'll just use a different upgrade.
Thanks, actually I have had zero issues with my TP2 that I got right after it's release. I wasn't sure I wanted to give it up, but I will have it as a backup phone so that works out. My only apprehension is the Motorola phone, I swore I would never have another after the MotoQ that got replaced 4 times in 4 weeks before I demanded a Touch Pro 1 and Verizon coughed it up to keep me happy.
I like new and learning Android will be fun. I just don't want to go through what I did with the MotoQ, what a pc of crap that was. Motorola used to be awesome, but I haven't had a good Moto phone since the StarTac.
Regarding buying it thru Vz vs. Amazon....a couple things come to mind
1) Who has a better return/exchange policy? Vz has 14 days to return and $30 restocking fee. If the phone is defective in the 1st year I believe Vz would give you a Factory Refurbished Phone. How does Amazon stack up to that? Brick and mortar store gives you same day service, pretty important if you can't live w/out your phone.
2) Are you planning to get any accessories? I don't know if it's still going on but when I bought my Bionic with the HD Dock, the dock ended up being $54. Normally I get a corporate discount of 25% on accessories, but this must have been some other promotion. So you may want to shop your complete purchase and get a total out the door price.
I had some buyer's remorse initially with the Bionic but overall I love the phone. I came from the HTC Incredible. The colors were more vibrant on the Incredible, but the Bionic looks OK. Reds, blues, and greens all reproduce nicely, yellow and orange leave something to be desired tho. But if you spend any time at all outdoors, the screen on the Bionic is amazing...it's very visible outside, something I'm not used to with my Incredible.
So far my only serious complaints with the phone is the issues it has switching networks, this is a known issue as you're probably aware and should be fixed with an OTA. Also, I haven't heard this from anyone else so it may be an issue specific to my location, but I exchanged my 1st Bionic b/c the voice quality over 4g was horrible. I could hear fine, but others couldn't hear me very well. The new phone had the same issues so I leave 4G off unless I know I need it. It very well could be an issue with my being on the outer fringe of 4G reception but I'm not sure. When doing speed tests over 4G I was getting 20Mbps down and around 6-8Mpbs up...so it would seem like I have OK signal.
Testing the demo at the store the pentile screen was very noticeable for some of the things I wanted to demo on the phone. I still see it from time to time, but it doesn't bother me, the text is clean and crisp and easy to read so that's good enough for me.
I have a little heartburn over the HD playback capabilities. Being that the phone comes with an HDMI output and offers an HD Dock to connect to your HDTV, I expected a little more with HD playback. I was hoping to throw a bunch of 720P movies on an SD card for when we travel and be able to play back the movies at the hotel. However the only HD playback I've seen from the phone that's smooth is video shot thru the onboard camera. Now I'm trying to figure out how to convert my existing movies to playback better on the Bionic.
None of these issues were dealbreakers for me. I keep in touch with what's on the horizon as far as other devices and aside from 720p resolution screens coming out, there's nothing that's really going to make the Bionic seem outdated. The only other phone I considered holding out for was the Nexus Prime. I like the idea of a brick phone that's just a large touch screen and the function buttons are built in to the app instead of being phsyical buttons...but I'd rather wait until we have a plethora of Ice Cream Sandwich O/S phones to choose from...I didn't want to put all my eggs in Samsung's basket only to be left disappointed.
Also something else to consider regarding 1280x720 screen resolutions...all of Verizon's 4G phones have struggled with battery life, I'd have to imagine a 1280x720 screen is only going to eat that up faster.
I would recommend against the Bionic, but only because of the locked bootloader situation. Not being able to load what I wanted was the reason I left the iPhone -- I don't want to settle for a half-baked solution with a rooted-but-unlocked Bionic.
Overall, the phone performs well (with the exception of random data connection loss and battery drain). But, for $200 or more, I ought to be able to do with the phone what I want.
There is no difference in buying from Amazon or Verizon directly, except with Verizon you have 14 days to return it for a 30% restock fee, Amazon will let you have 30 days. After 30 days you get a refurb from Verizon for the remainder of a year.
I understand battery life, the TP2 I had to charge after about 8 hours until I went with a custom ROM. I don't see much that it can do that I want to do that I can't already do with my TP2, except a better camera and movie playback. I do take pics with my TP2, but I am not sure I would take or play many movies with the Bionic, so that isn't much of an issue. I have a real camera and blue ray players all over the house. I know I would miss my physical keyboard, and every new phone I have touched with a physical keyboard feels like lightweight junk and nothing has the solid feel I am used to. The current Droid phones from Verizon leave little to be desired, with the exception of the Bionic. At least I can say the Bionic has a good feel, I will just have to learn to type on the touchscreen. The screen is large enough that my fat fingers can, I demo'd the phone at a VZ brick and mortar. I will miss my Bing Navigation but can adapt to Google, my old 7 series BMW is not BT capable, but does have Navigation that works, though I am so used to my Bing voice app that I rarely use it. I may get the Nav cradle for the Bionic, it has some appeal.
As far as unlocked phones go, the current trend from Moto seems to be locked bootloaders. I do believe that the awesome people here will crack that code or Motorola will give it up. Though I don't really see much reason to upgrade, my phone is getting old and I am a tech junkie at times. I think the time is now.
I am still interested in other peoples opinions, your experience has value, at least to me.
Hi all - I've been planning to upgrade from my Infuse 4G to a Note for a while now, primarily because of the extra screen real estate (obviously), though I hear the battery on the Note is killer as well. The thing is though that the Note isn't available in the States, which means I'm looking at $700-$800 at least to get one. Typically I'd be okay with that, but these days more and more phones are actually making it over here, and I know there is a rumor that the Note will follow suit. I'd hate to spend $800 just to see it for $400 in a couple months. I'm thinking I'd rather get something like the LG Nitro for now, which I can get for $250, and then still get the Note when it hits the States for less anyway - and still probably spend less than getting a Note right now.
Anyway, I'm looking for some opinions... The fact that there isn't a thread for the LG Nitro here yet counts for something, but I'm sure there will be one soon enough. It looks like some of the Optimus drivers work for rooting, so I'm okay there. And I don't care about the stylus at all. So it really just comes down to screen - Super AMOLED 5.3", or super high pixel density 4.5"? And is the battery on the Note really that awesome?
If you want a Note, just use your upgrade to get something with high resell value (like an iphone), sell it, then buy the Note. Even if the Note comes to the US next year, you won't be able to get it for $400 if you use your upgrade now to get a Nitro for $250.
dscline said:
If you want a Note, just use your upgrade to get something with high resell value (like an iphone), sell it, then buy the Note. Even if the Note comes to the US next year, you won't be able to get it for $400 if you use your upgrade now to get a Nitro for $250.
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Click to collapse
I actually have two lines (one that I used in a wifi access point) that are available for upgrade. In any case, I'd rather stick with my Infuse than get an iPhone! That's a downgrade!
I'm not suggesting you actually use the iphone, just buy it, sell it, then buy what you really want with the profit. It's just a way of taking advantage of the subsidy without being limited to the phones they officially subsidize.
dscline said:
I'm not suggesting you actually use the iphone, just buy it, sell it, then buy what you really want with the profit. It's just a way of taking advantage of the subsidy without being limited to the phones they officially subsidize.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh. Well, I was looking for a replacement for my Infuse, for the next few months at least.
Anyway - I did pick the Nitro up at lunch. The screen is SUPER crisp, though it does suffer from the lack of contrast range of the Super AMOLED screen. So far I like it. We'll see how it goes over the next month.
It is also LTE, and I did some side-by-side comparisons, and it definitely loads up web pages faster (though that could also be the fast proc; I'm not sure).
if youre fine with gingerbread, i'd say grab the nitro. samsung already announced the note will be getting ICS. LG are normally slow to update their phones (look at the optimus 2x, only just got gingerbread quite recently).
on the bright side, the LG uses a 4.5inch IPS panel combined with a HD resolution. the combination leads to incredibly sharp pictures with quite vivid colours. i wouldnt mind giving one a go myself. the only major downsides with the LG are tiny built in storage and the poor battery life. but if you have a 32gb class 10 microSD card and charge your phone on a nightly basis anyway, that wont be an issue.
The Note's Amoled screen will definitely have burn-ins, maybe in months if you are a heavy user. The Nitro's screen won't have any of that problem since it's screen is LCD. One thing to consider.
The massive width of the Note is the only thing I don't like, and has me considering selling and switching to Optimus LTE (or Nitro HD if it can be unlocked). The Note's screen is beautiful, taking screenshots is super easy with the stylus or with palm swipe. If Note was 1280x720 it would not be quite as wide. I do love the S-Calendar and S-Memo apps, with or without the stylus, and Samsung's text message app is nice looking too.
9 Dec - Just saw Galaxy S II HD LTE specs. 1280 x 720, 4.7". This could be perfect. Would be much easier to handle one-handed. It is only 3 mm wider than S II, and actually 1 mm less than Skyrocket in width. If they would only add the S-Pen and its apps!
cushcalc said:
The massive width of the Note is the only thing I don't like, and has me considering selling and switching to Optimus LTE (or Nitro HD if it can be unlocked). The Note's screen is beautiful, taking screenshots is super easy with the stylus or with palm swipe. If Note was 1280x720 it would not be quite as wide. I do love the S-Calendar and S-Memo apps, with or without the stylus, and Samsung's text message app is nice looking too. Doesn't have Universal Inbox for Mail, which the Atrix 2 had - just found out that Optimus LTE does have Universal Inbox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah; I did pick it up yesterday and I was actually quite impressed with the Mail app. The only thing it is missing is that you cannot auto-sync folders other than your Inbox in Exchange accounts. BUT, I only need that for RSS feeds anyway, and I can always install another mail app for just RSS.
I am bummed though because while I could root it, I was having some problems with some apps and I used BusyBox installer to try to update BusyBox, and it broke my root! Now, I have superuser installed but it cannot actually authorize anything, and SuperOneClick can't do anything because it keeps trying to use the old BusyBox (I think). So I believe I'm stuck until someone comes up with some ODIN images...
SolusCado said:
Hi all - I've been planning to upgrade from my Infuse 4G to a Note for a while now, primarily because of the extra screen real estate (obviously), though I hear the battery on the Note is killer as well. The thing is though that the Note isn't available in the States, which means I'm looking at $700-$800 at least to get one. Typically I'd be okay with that, but these days more and more phones are actually making it over here, and I know there is a rumor that the Note will follow suit. I'd hate to spend $800 just to see it for $400 in a couple months. I'm thinking I'd rather get something like the LG Nitro for now, which I can get for $250, and then still get the Note when it hits the States for less anyway - and still probably spend less than getting a Note right now.
Anyway, I'm looking for some opinions... The fact that there isn't a thread for the LG Nitro here yet counts for something, but I'm sure there will be one soon enough. It looks like some of the Optimus drivers work for rooting, so I'm okay there. And I don't care about the stylus at all. So it really just comes down to screen - Super AMOLED 5.3", or super high pixel density 4.5"? And is the battery on the Note really that awesome?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're not dieing for the Note (Like I was haha), just wait until the price drops to $600.
DO NOT buy the AT&T N7000B, the Note that's coming to the states
Heres Why:
-The USA Note will have the 1.5ghz Snapdragon processor SoC, similiar to the T-mobile Galaxy S2 and the LTE Galaxy S2, which is even worse than the 1.2ghz Exynos in the Galaxy S2. The LTE Galaxy S2 or dubbed the "****rocket" by AT&T and the T-mobile Galaxy S2's users have reported laggy transitions, bad performance when gaming, and general slowness.
-AT&T LTE is probably the biggest marketing trap ever created. The people who want LTE think that the NEW LTE phone will be better, but they are generally worse (hardware wise). LTE from AT&T gives you decent speeds IF you live in one of the 9 cities that has AT&T LTE coverage. BUT... if you use too much data too fast, which is almost impossible to stop on LTE, you get throttled.
Then your download speeds on LTE are 0.05kbps
-AT&T and USA carriers have been found to put software that tracks your EVERY move on the device and they can see EXACTLY what you're doing. Big Brother is watching...
-AT&T is famous for releasing butchered versions of smartphones after incorporating LTE, so much so that developers for our OG Note will not be able to port over ROMS/Kernels. Basicly you're gonna receive no developer support. The AT&T Skyrocket section is so depressing that there are 2 developers, and the users are beginning to start paying for ROMS.
-AT&T bloatware... will hinder your device and sometimes you may not even realize what bloatware they have on your USA Note.
Well if that doesn't stop you from buying the USA Note, I don't know what will. While others read this, I'm going to think of a clever name to make fun of the USA Note with.
xAnimal5 said:
If you're not dieing for the Note (Like I was haha), just wait until the price drops to $600.
DO NOT buy the AT&T N7000B, the Note that's coming to the states
Heres Why:
-The USA Note will have the 1.5ghz Snapdragon processor SoC, similiar to the T-mobile Galaxy S2 and the LTE Galaxy S2, which is even worse than the 1.2ghz Exynos in the Galaxy S2. The LTE Galaxy S2 or dubbed the "****rocket" by AT&T and the T-mobile Galaxy S2's users have reported laggy transitions, bad performance when gaming, and general slowness.
-AT&T LTE is probably the biggest marketing trap ever created. The people who want LTE think that the NEW LTE phone will be better, but they are generally worse (hardware wise). LTE from AT&T gives you decent speeds IF you live in one of the 9 cities that has AT&T LTE coverage. BUT... if you use too much data too fast, which is almost impossible to stop on LTE, you get throttled.
Then your download speeds on LTE are 0.05kbps
-AT&T and USA carriers have been found to put software that tracks your EVERY move on the device and they can see EXACTLY what you're doing. Big Brother is watching...
-AT&T is famous for releasing butchered versions of smartphones after incorporating LTE, so much so that developers for our OG Note will not be able to port over ROMS/Kernels. Basicly you're gonna receive no developer support. The AT&T Skyrocket section is so depressing that there are 2 developers, and the users are beginning to start paying for ROMS.
-AT&T bloatware... will hinder your device and sometimes you may not even realize what bloatware they have on your USA Note.
Well if that doesn't stop you from buying the USA Note, I don't know what will. While others read this, I'm going to think of a clever name to make fun of the USA Note with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really don't care about the whole CarrierIQ stuff, and AT&T is actually getting a lot better about bloatware - you can uninstall all the crap they pre-loaded on the Nitro (though it's easy enough to freeze such apps anyway). Developer support would be a concern, and I happen to be one of those living (and working) in an area with LTE coverage - so the extra speed is ... well, something. But the processor change... why would they do that?
SolusCado said:
I really don't care about the whole CarrierIQ stuff, and AT&T is actually getting a lot better about bloatware - you can uninstall all the crap they pre-loaded on the Nitro (though it's easy enough to freeze such apps anyway). Developer support would be a concern, and I happen to be one of those living (and working) in an area with LTE coverage - so the extra speed is ... well, something. But the processor change... why would they do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, right now it's half speculation/half leaked reports. The general consensus that people have reached is that it's the Snapdragon.
As for why... I have come to believe that AT&T likes using Snapdragons primarily because they are cheaper to manufacture/or they receive a discount for the parts.
Ah, another detail I forgot to mention (you may already know this) but... LTE radios require extra space and that adds extra thickness to the phone, as well as changes the dimensions--not too much, but enough to make our OG cases unusable for the USA note.
xAnimal5 said:
Well, right now it's half speculation/half leaked reports. The general consensus that people have reached is that it's the Snapdragon.
As for why... I have come to believe that AT&T likes using Snapdragons primarily because they are cheaper to manufacture/or they receive a discount for the parts.
Ah, another detail I forgot to mention (you may already know this) but... LTE radios require extra space and that adds extra thickness to the phone, as well as changes the dimensions--not too much, but enough to make our OG cases unusable for the USA note.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T isn't the manufacturer, so I can't imagine parts cost is a factor. It's probably more likely a power consumption/radio interference issue.
Good point on the LTE thickness! I'll probably just enjoy my Note for now, and then when it does hit the States take that opportunity to check out the screen and form factor in person - make sure I really prefer it to the Nitro - and then order one from overseas...
I myself used the "if it comes to AT&T with LTE it's probably going to end up with a slower processor" argument as a reason to get an international unit now. But...
xAnimal5 said:
-AT&T LTE is probably the biggest marketing trap ever created. The people who want LTE think that the NEW LTE phone will be better, but they are generally worse (hardware wise). LTE from AT&T gives you decent speeds IF you live in one of the 9 cities that has AT&T LTE coverage. BUT... if you use too much data too fast, which is almost impossible to stop on LTE, you get throttled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand this. Assuming your data usage doesn't change (you still go to the same sites, download the same data, etc.), you shouldn't use any more data than you would on 3G. Now, if your saying that because you CAN download data faster an LTE, you COULD use more data and therefore get into trouble faster, that's hardly a downside of LTE. That's like saying you want a slower car because you get tickets in a faster car. That doesn't mean a faster car is worse, that just means you can't control yourself. Personally, I would MUCH rather have the ability to download faster, and get the same amount of data in less time. Here in Atlanta anyway, 3G is really bogged down, and when I'm at a crowded event I may not be able to get any service. I would love to have the ability to use the much less crowded spectrum. But if I have to get a slower CPU and less battery life, then it becomes less appealing.
xAnimal5 said:
Well, right now it's half speculation/half leaked reports. The general consensus that people have reached is that it's the Snapdragon.
As for why... I have come to believe that AT&T likes using Snapdragons primarily because they are cheaper to manufacture/or they receive a discount for the parts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think that has anything to do with AT&T. Even the Korean LTE Note supposedly uses the Snapdragon. Why would Samsung use someone else's CPU in their LTE enabled phones if their own CPU could do it? I don't understand why, but apparently the current version of Exynos just can't do LTE.
dscline said:
I myself used the "if it comes to AT&T with LTE it's probably going to end up with a slower processor" argument as a reason to get an international unit now. But...
I don't understand this. Assuming your data usage doesn't change (you still go to the same sites, download the same data, etc.), you shouldn't use any more data than you would on 3G. Now, if your saying that because you CAN download data faster an LTE, you COULD use more data and therefore get into trouble faster, that's hardly a downside of LTE. That's like saying you want a slower car because you get tickets in a faster car. That doesn't mean a faster car is worse, that just means you can't control yourself. Personally, I would MUCH rather have the ability to download faster, and get the same amount of data in less time. Here in Atlanta anyway, 3G is really bogged down, and when I'm at a crowded event I may not be able to get any service. I would love to have the ability to use the much less crowded spectrum. But if I have to get a slower CPU and less battery life, then it becomes less appealing.
I don't think that has anything to do with AT&T. Even the Korean LTE Note supposedly uses the Snapdragon. Why would Samsung use someone else's CPU in their LTE enabled phones if their own CPU could do it? I don't understand why, but apparently the current version of Exynos just can't do LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, from the reports I've been hearing from my friend with an HTC Vivid, he said that some of the bloat that ships with LTE phones auto-updates even if you have it turned off. If unnoticed over a long period of time, it stacks up.
Just for me at least, if I get LTE... I will probably hit 30gbs per month haha, so I might as well stick with Faux G.
I also researched the processor predicament as well. It seems the only chipset + processor that works with Quad-band phones with LTE are the Snapdragons. It's a shame though because Snapdragons are unreliable and give a studdery performance. I played with the ****rocket at my corporate AT&T store in NYC and it was extremely laggy compared to the model for the OG SGSII.
Exynos Chipsets just aren't compatible with LTE radios yet I guess. Oh well, if I get LTE, I'll get throttled after a couple of hours, so I'll stick with my OG Note.
There may also be the question of ICS for the USA Note. Depending on when it's released, it may not ship with ICS. If that's the case, USA Note purchasers will be held hostage waiting for AT&T to give them an update for it.
One big reason to get International version.
PHYSICAL HOME BUTTON.
The size of the Note makes it very hard to solely rely on the smallish recessed upper right power button. Especially one handed.
Exynos is also a good reason. And if it gets any thicker it would fee "too big" IMHO.
SolusCado said:
. . . I am bummed though because while I could root it, I was having some problems with some apps and I used BusyBox installer to try to update BusyBox, and it broke my root! Now, I have superuser installed but it cannot actually authorize anything, and SuperOneClick can't do anything because it keeps trying to use the old BusyBox (I think). So I believe I'm stuck until someone comes up with some ODIN images...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would start over, root with Chainfire setup.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
cushcalc said:
I would start over, root with Chainfire setup.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wouldn't I need a device-specific kernel for ODIN to do that?
Restore to stock before re-attempt root.
SolusCado said:
Wouldn't I need a device-specific kernel for ODIN to do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know about doing it with Odin.
I would follow dr.ketan's guide (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18978158&postcount=1):
"Now How I can revert back to Stock ROM/Unroot (In case of replacemet may i need)
I you have Just rooted only but not added CWM - Just Download this Extract - Execute - Rum Me unroot.bat
If You have Root + CWM - then first find out original stock kernel (zImage file)
Now place this file in zImage folder, n repeat procedure(Initial CFRoot Flasher), which you have done at time of pushing CWM by selecting I am rooted already
Now unroot with above said unrooting tool."
I would never get the Nitro myself.
-Development by the community will most likely suck for it
-The battery life is awful
-Average build quality
-Sub par camera for 8mp
-Not an amoled screen