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Just ordered a replacement Desire - the (not very good) speaker has got so bad, I think it must have blown - a definite Desire weakness - poor speaker. No idea how/why it happened - means re-installing all my apps and notes - bit of a pain!
just found out that the iphone 4 will be on 3 - my current network
I'm pleased - they seem to get a bad press, but in my experience I can get a signal pretty much anywhere, whilst other people on different networks are struggling.
means re-installing all my apps and notes - bit of a pain!
Replacement iPhone = connect to iTunes and say yes to restore.
All apps, contacts, data, notes and settings are restored. 🙂
The iPhone is no better in real terms than the Desire. The fact that the Apple hype machine is so well oiled is what makes the 4 so sought after. "This changes everything. Again." - Seriously Apple?
Yes, it has a higher resolution screen. Personally I can't see the individual pixels on an HTC Desire screen, so the fact that the iPhones is an even higher resolution doesn't hold much of an argument.
The camera is a definite improvement over the 3GS (let's be honest, it wasn't hard), but is still by no means up to the standard of other phones, currently on the market.
Voice calling - Phones have had this for years. The fact that FaceTime on the iPhone claims to have revolutionised it is quite laughable - iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 only, via wifi only.... Come on. Still, I'll concede that it does look pretty impressive when you actually find someone with the same phone, connected to wifi.
The A4 processor is no more capable and no quicker than the Snapdragon in the HTC Desire.
The multitasking on iOS4 still isn't 'true' multitasking.
HD Video recording and editing, but no HDMI output. What's up with that? The HTC Evo has it, why couldn't Apple include it?
Android will eventually (and it won't be long) offer the user a lot more choice with regard to apps. By choice I don't mean VOLUME, I mean CHOICE. Apple's arcane methods when it comes to app submission will come back and bite them in the arse when developers jump ship, because it's far easier for them to get their apps onto an Android device.
I'm not an Apple hater by any means - I've had a 3G and 2 3GS's and they were good phones. However there are better handsets out there. Perhaps the iPhone 4 will lead the way for a month or so, until HTC come along (read the reports about their new handsets due for release soon) and blow them out of the water.
I guess it all depends on whether your a style over substance, or substance over style person really. Most people (I'm not saying anyone on here, just most of the people I know or have seen) will just get the new iPhone so they can show it off to their mates down the pub.
I think, rather than saying "This changes everything. Again" the website should read "We've caught up. For now."
Although guilty of biting in the past myself, it does strike me that grown men arguing about 'my phone is better than your phone' is perhaps a little bit silly at best, and rather ****ing sad at worst....
Got to add another for Android phones.
I got my HTC Legend a couple of weeks ago and so far it has been brilliant.
We are a bit late to get new models here, so I know the Legend is one model behind now that the Desire is available in the UK, but I'm not complaining as it has revolutionised the way I go about my day.
. "This changes everything. Again." -Seriously Apple?
It's a bit strong yes. But you can't really deny that the original iphone brought massive changes to the mobile market and had a huge influence on subsequent phones.
Yes, it has a higher resolution screen. Personally I can't see the individual pixels on an HTC Desire screen, so the fact that the iPhones is an even higher resolution doesn't hold much of an argument.
Funny that because prior to the 4G, Desire owners were frequently heard to remark how much better the screen was 🙄
Also I see you ignore the better contrast and IPS (which gives better viewing angles).
FaceTime: yeah its bollocks int'it. Never seen the point of video calling to be honest. And AT&T would collapse completely if they tried 3G video calls which is why they did this stupid wifi thing. But the way it work is quite clever and intuitive in a very Appley way. (i.e. while already on a call you can just press a button to invite them to turn it into a FaceTime call).
The multitasking on iOS4 still isn't 'true' multitasking.
Yeah and there is no Task Manager or battery-killing widgets either.
no HDMI output. What's up with that?
No, weird omission, but it has Component Video output though, which is likewise capable of carrying HD.
Apps: hmm you may be right about developers there. We'll see.
I also wonder how long it is till the first malicious Android app?
Having Apple approve all the apps is a pain - but at least you know they are legit.
Style/Substance: no sorry. Maybe for some, but one-upmanship has **** all to do with my liking my phone. Most of my mates have iPhones, HTC or Blackberrys. I really couldn't care less.
GrahamS - sorry to jump in but an OLED display doesn't have viewing angles, so to speak. Essentially, if you can see the screen, you'll get the right colour regardless of the angle.
Fair enough. I retract that bit then. 😳
I apologise for my previous rant - I don't hate Apple, or the iPhone 4. In fact, I quite like the new model. I think the reason that grumpy buggers like me get so wound up with it is because Apple hype it up to be the best, the most groundbreaking device in the whole world, ever.....When it isn't. It just isn't.
But fair play to Steve Jobs et al, they never fail to create a frenzy whenever they bring out a new product, and good on them. I bet HTC etc would kill to have a marketing strategy like Apple's!
Depending on price, I might even buy a SIM Free one to use with my current contract, I can then compare the Desire and the iP4 side-by-side over a few weeks, and work out which one I prefer. The other one will go on good old eBay!
I've got a Nexus One (aka Google phone) and it's great, friends have iPhones and they're happy with them too.
The TaskKiller stuff is a bit misleading - I occasionally kill tasks to stop them draining the battery, not because performance is suffering. And I only bother to do that if I know I'm going to be out of reach of a charger for a while. (And this is also the main weakness of the iPhone and all big-screen smartphones - the battery life is pants.)
Get either, you'll not be disappointed.
I've got an iPhone 3GS and the things the need to sort out on the iPhone 4 for me are (and in this order);
1) Improve phone reception
2) Improve phone sound quality
3) Improve batter life
4) Multi-tasking
The lack of multi-tasking is only a very minor annoyance, but the phone reception and sound quality issues along with limited battery life significantly compromise it's primary duties as a phone!
is because Apple hype it up to be the best, the most groundbreaking device in the whole world, ever.....When it isn't. It just isn't.
...isn't that called marketing! 😀
means re-installing all my apps and notes - bit of a pain!
I take it you're backing up using MyBackup? Makes the whole reinstall much easier.
epicsteve: well you'll get mulyitasking on your 3GS when the new OS update is released.
As for reception: I've not really had an issue (O2), but apparently the metal surround on the new 4G is a BFO aerial so that would help if you are in a poor reception area.
...isn't that called marketing!
Yes - and very effective marketing at that. Like I said before, the other companies would kill to have a marketing strategy like Apple's. There are handsets out there that are every bit as good as the Cupertino Candybar, but will be nowhere near as popular.
Apple has a massive headstart in the popularity stakes because of their loyal fanbase (I'll refrain from calling them by their more popular term!). This is something that the other companies simply don't have at the moment, which immediately puts them at somewhat of a disadvantage.
epicsteve: well you'll get mulyitasking on your 3GS when the new OS update is released.
Sort of... Not 'true' multitasking as found in other handsets, but a million times better than it was before!
I think the iP4 is definitely up there with a couple of others at the moment when it comes to the "best" handset. How long it stays there for will remain to be seen.
The lack of multi-tasking is only a very minor annoyance, but the phone reception and sound quality issues along with limited battery life [b]significantly compromise it's primary duties as a phone![/b]
That's the thing. For me and I reckon, quite a few iPhone/Smartphone users/owners, being a phone isn't the primary duty. I agree that the iPhone isn't great as a phone - not great reception and the sound quality is only average and the ringer's too quiet and the vibrate is too soft but I can live with that. YMMV...
Cupertino Candybar
When I read stuff like this it makes me discount every other point you may have about the subject. Just sayin' ...
I'd best not call it the JesusPhone then...
;o)
I take it you're backing up using MyBackup? Makes the whole reinstall much easier.
Too late now - done a factory reset...! Saved all contacts to SD card and all pics and the like are on it too. I wish I'd known about this before....!!
Apple has a massive headstart in the
popularity stakes because of their loyal
fanbase
Actually I'm quite a big fan of Google too and a daily user of many of its products (Search, YouTube, Docs, Books, Calendar, Reader, Chrome). And I wasn't an Apple user at all until I got an iPhone.
I think Apple got a massive headstart purely because they were the first to really revolutionise the design of smartphones.
I think Apple got a massive headstart purely because they were the first to really revolutionise the design of smartphones.
Plus the fact they already had millions of loyal followers, thanks to their other products.
Cupertino Candybar
When I read stuff like this it makes me discount every other point you may have about the subject. Just sayin' ...
Ah well 😉
Plus the fact they already had millions of loyal
followers, thanks to their other products.
Yeah, no one had really heard of "Google" till they brought out Android. 🙄
google.com: 620 million visits per day
apple.com: 32 million visits per day
If only Google were a bigger company with more resources and an easy way to reach billions of people with adverts. Maybe then they could have had the advantage that Apple had. 🙂
Yeah, no one had really heard of "Google" till they brought out Android.google.com: 620 million visits per day
apple.com: 32 million visits per dayIf only Google were a bigger company with more resources and an easy way to reach billions of people with adverts. Maybe then they could have had the advantage that Apple had.
Yes, thanks for the sarcastic response there. 😕 (It's "bought", not "brought" btw)
Apple have a huge base of fans thanks to the likes of the iMac, Macbook, iPod, first/second/third gen iPhones etc. Google/Android does not have this to the same extent, in this area. Fair to say?
GrahamS - Apologies for the spelling correction. Being a bit of an idiot. No need for it really.
😀
Yes thanks for the pedantic response there. 🙂
Apple have a huge base of fans thanks to the likes of the iMac, Macbook, iPod, first/second/ third gen iPhones etc. Google/Android does not have this to the same extent, in this area.
Fair to say?
Apple is now building on past success. That is true.
But to suggest it is just because they have more "fans" than Google is wrong in my opinion. I would guess that more people generally use Google products every day than Apple ones.
(And no, I meant "brought", as in past-tense of "bring", not "bought" as in past-tense of "buy", but thanks for your concern).
Sorry GrahamS - I thought you were referring to when Google purchased Android in 2005 (I think?). My misunderstanding so I apologise. Again. 🙂
np. I posted my snarky response before I saw your withdrawal.
No handbags intended 😀
Graham... come on, you must know as well as I do the almost religious zeal of a large number of the Apple fans, which is why they tend to have the reputation they do and also why they gained the fanboi tag. Unless of course you too are caught up in the Jobsian reality distortion field... ;o)
And while Google is a massive company, you've got to agree that they do not tend to inspire a similar level of adoration in their fans.
A lot of the fans pushing Android are not doing it because it's a Google product, but because it's a free product, free as in speech that is. It's the same sort of group that have championed Linux for the last however many years. And while this group has it's fair share of zealots they tend to be obsessive about free speech and open source software more than anything else.
This is probably the biggest reason for a lot of the techie clashes about the iPhone and Android as the fundamental philosophies behind the two systems are just incompatable. iPhone is the model of a closed source tightly controlled environment, just like Mircosoft wanted but failed to achieve. Android is open source with all the good and bad that goes with it.
In the end, you pays your money and takes your choice...
Yep, that all sounds like a fair assessment funkynick.
Though I'm not convinced that the success of either Android or iPhone can be ascribed to zealotry alone.
They are, in fact, both excellent products in their own right.
Well my "new" Desire just arrived with a working speaker! All seems fine...
What about the iPad? That seems to be a product whose success is almost entirely bought about by zealotry! If anyone else had brought it out it most certainly wouldn't have been as successful as it has been.
So, I wouldn't discount the amount that Apple zealotry played in making the iPhone a success. But, it is also that same zealotry which lead to the creation of Android in direct competition to it. So without the Apple fanbois we'd certainly not be where we are today...
TBH the iphone IS very good - it's not just fanboyism.
What about the iPad?
Personally, the iPad isn't for me. I can see how it might be attractive to some people. Jake Humphrey uses one for his F1 script notes on the BBC - good idea because he can also access Twitter while he presents, so there is more of an interaction between the viewers and the presenters, which is a good thing IMO.
However, I can't help but feel that it's a bit 'gimmicky' in the most part, because at the end of the day, it's a netbook that has a smaller hard drive, no usb ports, no CD/DVD drive, no "real" keyboard, less memory, and much less capability when it comes to multitasking. And then there's the never ending Flash content issue.
The top iPad is £700 (off the top of my head). For this price you could get one hell of a good netbook (that won't be an awful lot bigger) that offers a higher spec and more capability, but just lacks the fancy touchscreen and nice interface. I'd go for the netbook, especially if I had a iPhone or other smartphone already.
When you consider that the iP4 has all of the capabilities of the iPad, PLUS a phone, PLUS a better screen, I just can't see the need for one..? Unless they bring out "iPad G2" sometime soon..!
battery-killing widgets either.
You've just bought into a weird apple publicity thing there. Until Apple implement something, it is 'battery killing', 'inefficient', 'slow' etc etc. Multi tasking was, back in the past intel processors were. I bet you at some point in the future, Apple will implement something similar to widgets, and suddenly widgets will be the best thing since sliced bread.
Widgets are great. If they are setup sensibly, they only update when you go to that home screen and look at them, meaning no major battery hit. At least the widgets I have on my desire do (mail messages, calendar, weather, facebook etc.)
Same as on the iPhone, you can set it to check every bloody thing for messages etc every 20 seconds, and it eats battery life. But that is nothing to do with widgets.
Joe
If anyone else had brought it out it most certainly wouldn't have been as successful as it has been.
Of course, but that is not just chance. People buying an Apple product know more or less that they will get a well designed (esthetics, hardware, software) easy to use product. That is the Apple brand that they have built up over the years. So in a new niche, people can be confident that they are not buying something that will turn out to be a useless faddish piece of junk.
*cough* Newton *cough*
Apple have fans and users - Google just has users...the vast majority of Google products are not designed for fans but for doing something (hence more people use them) - Apple kit tends to be designed to look good and appeal more than doing something - so most people who own an Apple product wouldn't consider themselves as simply users...
iPad isn't for me. Purely for financial reasons.
I can definitely see the attraction of it over a netbook though, even tho I agree that it is obviously less capable/flexible in many ways.
It's the same reason I often use my phone to surf instead of my netbook:
Pick up, instant on, surf, put down.
(versus: get out of bag, turn on, wait for boot, login, wait for Windows to start, start Firefox, get pestered by Windows/Firefox/AV updates, surf, shutdown, put back in bag)
It is just a much more 'casual' experience. A "digital magazine". Something you glance at while having a coffee.
I'd love a Windows 7 iPad equivalent - basically a full laptop but in tablet form (eg just cut off the keyboard). I do very little proper typing so it'd work well I reckon.
*cough* Newton *cough*
True, dat.
You've just bought into a weird apple publicity thing there. Until Apple implement something, it is 'battery killing', 'inefficient', 'slow' etc etc.
"Tips on Extending HTC Battery Life:
• Get rid of the large HTC widgets like bookmarks and FriendStream
• Turn off widget animation
• Use a static background rather than a live background
• Turn off auto brightness, set screen backlight at 10%
• Decrease screen timeout from 1min to 15 seconds
• Keep WiFi, GPS, 4G off until it’s needed. "
There are numerous other blogs with similar information so I don't think this is part of a cunning Apple FUD attack.
Thanks to all the contributors to this thread but I think it is time to close it. I am going to wait until the iPhone release and depending on cost, probably go down that route.
Cheers
George
Come on Graham... all of those apply just as much to the iPhone as to any other smartphone for extending battery life, obviously apart from those features that the iPhone doesn't have.
;o)
Agreed, but it was a direct response to Joe, who suggested that I'd fallen for Apple marketting FUD by believing the stuff about HTC widgets draining the battery.