Android Phones

[Evil Cheese]

[quote author=Evil Cheese link=topic=5240.msg249918#msg249918 date=1342533502]
Anybody else upgrade their Galaxy S II/Skyrocket to ICS yet? So far I dig the UI enhancements and new features, but GPS seems to take longer to lock (I admit I haven't actually done much testing on this) and battery life gets raped worse than before when I'm in a an area with low reception (such as my office building) but that may also have something to do with LTE as well. I had to ditch TouchWiz for Nova Launcher though, as TW is slower and feels a lot more like Gingerbread than ICS.

update your modem
[/quote]
I used the official ICS update from AT&T/Samsung which means I'm running stock. I would assume AT&T/Samsung would include the needed modem update along with the OS update. If not, since I'm running stock I don't think I can install a new modem separately.

[zaneyard]

I'm unsure. I know that updating my modem sped up GPS lock times dramatically.

[kaese]

So I think it's time I get out of the dark ages and buy a smartphone of some sort. Androids seem like a good deal as I'm not too interested in the iphones (played with my mom's 4S on vacation; kind of meh towards the roundness of everything). I also dislike the Windows phones and how boxy everything looks in the phone (also not as many great apps as android/iphone).

I won't be using the phone for playing games really, more as a GPS for when I get lost driving (which happens quite often with the construction detours around the city) and maybe some other photoediting apps for fun.
I did some searching last night and found a few phones that I liked but they vary in price/specs and I'm not sure which one would be the best fit for my purposes.

LG Optimus 4X HD
Sony Xperia Arc S/NXTs

Suggestions welcome.

[at0m]

in before someone suggests the latest nexus

[HeK]

in before someone suggests the latest nexus

It is cheap, has the newest software, works anywhere in the world, fastest GPS and camera....

[kaese]

[quote author=at0m link=topic=5240.msg250004#msg250004 date=1342639018]
in before someone suggests the latest nexus

It is cheap, has the newest software, works anywhere in the world, fastest GPS and camera....
[/quote]

This one?
Sounds great, just wish it looked less like an iphone. So round.

[ainmosni]

I just got the Galaxy SIII, it's a bloody beast, quad core, gorgeous screen, nice design, great camera (with 0 shutter lag) and just great all around. The only downside is the Samsung's custom skin but that's nothing a custom ROM can't fix.

[zaneyard]

I'm going to go ahead and say no towards anything LG or sony.

Samsung and HTC make good phones. Not really sure what you mean about the nexus being round though. I don't usually like sharp edges pressing against my nether regions.

[Evil Cheese]

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Sony. They have some sexy designs even if the hardware specs aren't always competitive. Sure Samsung and HTC are the two big players in Android right now, but there isn't a lot of variation in their designs. It doesn't sound like she's going to be a power user anyway, so a quad core CPU and latest OS releases might not be amongst her priorities. If you are going Sony, I would definitely get one in the Xperia line. They're the latest and greatest Sony has right now and they have a nice range of models covering both entry-level and high performance.

[zaneyard]

I'm just talking about quality hardware. Samsung has beautiful displays and a really solid design.

[ainmosni]

I also wouldn't go for Sony, LG and even HTC (although the One X is changing my mind) not just because Samsung makes superior phones but also because they support the phone better/longer and are quite community friendly (which might be handy once support stops). Sony is kinda famous about just killing any updates on a dime and LG just doesn't seem "all in". HTC used to be the best but they have been failing badly on support for their previous generation, hopefully they'll change their tune with their new One line.

[zaneyard]

HTC recently stated that they are going to clean up their product line and move into the high end only. Unsure when that's supposed to happen though.

[ainmosni]

That already happened with the One series phone, no more wildgrowth of models, just three models per generation.

[HeK]

I really like the Galaxy Nexus...

[Luinbariel]

PS

There are four in that stack

[Cloud_9ine]

Probably upgrading Verizon phones tomorrow in our family plan. Thing is, we are grandfathered unlimited. That said, if their system works the way I think it does, we should be able to get discounted S IIIs while keeping unlimited data.

[zaneyard]

don't they give you 2 gigs? i use my phone quite a bit and i'm only at 300 megs.

[Cloud_9ine]

don't they give you 2 gigs? i use my phone quite a bit and i'm only at 300 megs.

I've been known to hit 4 in a month that I don't tether. And that's on 3G :I

[Versus]

yeah i barely use data on my phone...but if i tether, welp there goes my data

[zaneyard]

[quote author=zaneyard link=topic=5240.msg251285#msg251285 date=1344145699]
don't they give you 2 gigs? i use my phone quite a bit and i'm only at 300 megs.

I've been known to hit 4 in a month that I don't tether. And that's on 3G :I
[/quote]
Well then you better hope that grandfathered unlimited still exists. Otherwise there is sprint.