OT:Smart Phones

[dbdynsty25]

Love the HTC One so far. The Android customization features is so much fun compared to iOS. Also the blink feed is very cool and the phone takes great pics especially under lower lights. So far I love my current combo, HTC for my phone needs and the iPad for the casual use at home.

That's definitely the way to go (I figured that out about 3 years ago, lol). Android for the phone and an iPad for your tablet. Best of both worlds.

[FatPitcher]

I ditched the Lumia 920 and got the GS4. I missed a real app store and Google Maps/Navigation (although I've been using Waze now) to the tune of about $700 after tax. Oh well. And there's only 9GB of available internal storage, and Google removed the ability to move apps to the SD card. Hmmm...probably should have waited for the 32GB model.

[dbdynsty25]

I ditched the Lumia 920 and got the GS4. I missed a real app store and Google Maps/Navigation (although I've been using Waze now) to the tune of about $700 after tax. Oh well. And there's only 9GB of available internal storage, and Google removed the ability to move apps to the SD card. Hmmm...probably should have waited for the 32GB model.

You use that many apps to fill up 9gb? And a nice rooting will bring back apps to sd card storage no problem. Thankfully Verizon is releasing theirs next week so unless we magically get AT&T LTE here In the next week then I might grab one.

[jLp vAkEr0]

I had a chance to play around with a HTC One..

Geez, that is some FINE piece of hardware...

Such a premium feel, specially compared to the Galaxy line.

Although the GS4 looks and feels less cheap than previous versions.

[10spro]

I had a chance to play around with a HTC One..

Geez, that is some FINE piece of hardware...

Such a premium feel, specially compared to the Galaxy line.

Although the GS4 looks and feels less cheap than previous versions.

Absolutely love it. The only thing I wish for so far is an update to Jellybean 4.2 and a longer and quicker battery charge.

[dbdynsty25]

Absolutely love it. The only thing I wish for so far is an update to Jellybean 4.2 and a longer and quicker battery charge.

If only HTC had a track record for upgrading their phone's software...oh wait they do. It's horrendous! That's a mighty big wish you've got there!

4.2's features just aren't that important to developers clearly as only Samsung w/ the S4 is releasing with that version. You're better off hoping for 4.3 which they'll probably announce this week.

[jLp vAkEr0]

If only HTC had a track record for upgrading their phone's software...oh wait they do. It's horrendous! That's a mighty big wish you've got there!

That's basically the only thing that keeps me from considering the HTC One for my next upgrade date (September).

Plus, who know's if there's a even more badass Android phone 4 months from now.

[dbdynsty25]

Plus, who know's if there's a even more badass Android phone 4 months from now.

The rumored Motorola X Phone is probably the only thing coming out in the near future that is going to be on the top of the Android spec list. It looks as though all of these vendors are going the "apple way" and releasing their one flagship phone each spring/summer and that's just the way it's going to be it appears. That said, Verizon is the one that's screwing up all of those plans by holding out on the S4 for a month and eventually this summer they'll get a version of the One also. They just couldn't release it right away because all of the DNA owners would be up in arms.

The good news about the HTC One is it's popular enough that Cyanogen 10.1 (Android 4.2.2) is already available for the unlocked GSM version, so at least the development community is on board. So stock Android will be available in no time for the carrier locked versions. Same as the S4. You really can't go wrong with any phones as long as you're willing to do a little legwork in the software department. LOL.

[Gangrel]

I'm debating on upgrading my Nexus S as it's so freakin slow now. They never should have put Jelly Bean on it, as sometimes it takes me a good 30 seconds to get into Google Now as an example. It just seems the OS has overloaded the horsepower....... I still might try Cyngenmod if there is one for the S, haven't really looked much.

However, I still have a "device balance" on the phone (welcome to Canada) so for me to get a 'deal' from Telus here in Canuckland, I have to add in $170 to whatever phone I get along with renewing the contract for 2 or 3 years......

We just picked up an SIII for the wifey a few weeks ago, and I really like that. Though I was considering just saying screw you to Telus and ordering a Nexus 4 direct from Google. (they sell them at Telus too, if I wanted to renew the plan, etc.)

I'm just wondering if 16GB of storage is enough, considering the SIII and SIV have more, and so does the HTC One. Heck, I could get a HTC One X+ with 64gb for $174 if I renew for 3 more years....

the new One and S4 are each over $300 if I renew..... not sure if that's worth it, though if I get an N4 I'm going to pay that anyway........

Decisions, decisions.

I'm rambling now, but the main point (the baby has fried my brain these days!) is wondering if folks with the N4 find the storage an issue. Currently on my Nexus S, I keep running into problems installing apps because the cache seems to keep filling up and I keep getting "insufficient storage" even though the phone says I have 100+MB free.

[dbdynsty25]

I actually prefer the One X+ to the N4...the N4 is a great phone, but that X+ is just awesome. If I still had At&t I'd probably still have that phone. That said, renewing contracts in this age of cheaper phones is a bad idea. 16gb is plenty of storage for me, but I don't load my phones with apps and music...I stream nearly everything. So if I were you, personally I'd get the N4. Buuuuuut...wait until this weekend to make a decision for sure. There's a chance there might be a slight revision to it (like adding LTE) announced this week. If there isn't, go crazy and order it. Renewing a contract, especially in Canada is bad.

[Gangrel]

. Renewing a contract, especially in Canada is bad.

Yup. But welcome to the country with no competition and stupid laws and regulations. Any smaller companies that started up to compete after the last spectrum auction is now owned by one of the "big guys" anyway......

Thanks for the tip to wait though, I will see what comes out of Google IO. I forgot that was even going on until this morning, lol.

[Gangrel]

Galaxy S4 with the "Nexus Experience" announced today at Google IO. However, a bit pricey at $649!

[dbdynsty25]

Galaxy S4 with the "Nexus Experience" announced today at Google IO. However, a bit pricey at $649!

That's how much all phones are retail, at least the high end ones that aren't N4s. I'll be getting one for sure. Less unlocking and rooting required and I was going to pay full price for a Verizon version anyway...now that AT&T LTE is going live in my neck of LA, I'll just pick this bad boy up and save a few bucks on a Family Share w/ the wife since she has to be on AT&T.

[jLp vAkEr0]

I REALLY hope they offer this phone at At&t stores (doubt it) so I can get it at upgrade price.

Just not in the mood to spend $650 right now, although this is now the phone to get IMO.

[dbdynsty25]

I REALLY hope they offer this phone at At&t stores (doubt it) so I can get it at upgrade price.

Just not in the mood to spend $650 right now, although this is now the phone to get IMO.

They will not. Since it's usable on At&t and T-Mobile...it's only through the Google Play store. There's nothing wrong with the At&t version, you just have to do 15 min. of legwork to get it to stock Android.

[jLp vAkEr0]

I REALLY hope they offer this phone at At&t stores (doubt it) so I can get it at upgrade price.

Just not in the mood to spend $650 right now, although this is now the phone to get IMO.

They will not. Since it's usable on At&t and T-Mobile...it's only through the Google Play store. There's nothing wrong with the At&t version, you just have to do 15 min. of legwork to get it to stock Android.

Well Tmobile did sell the Nexus 4, same one sold on the Google Play Store.

But it does makes sense for them NOT to sell it at their stores.

I know slapping stock is pretty easy, but can't beat having the real deal already cooking under the hood, no tweaks needed.

[jLp vAkEr0]

Well I've decided to get an GS4 or a HTC One next week.

I have access to a GS4 daily thanx to co workers, but the only interaction I've had with a HTO has been holding it on a ATT store with out access to unlocking it and playing around with it.

I've been reading a ton about the HTO last couple of hours and apparently some people are having issues with the capacitive buttons sometimes becoming unresponsive?

Can any owners around here attest to this or any other issues encountered?

[10spro]

Well I've decided to get an GS4 or a HTC One next week.

I have access to a GS4 daily thanx to co workers, but the only interaction I've had with a HTO has been holding it on a ATT store with out access to unlocking it and playing around with it.

I've been reading a ton about the HTO last couple of hours and apparently some people are having issues with the capacitive buttons sometimes becoming unresponsive?

Can any owners around here attest to this or any other issues encountered?

No issues for me on this department. Coming straight from years of iPhone, my only gripe with my smartphone is that it takes longer to charge it and the battery doesn't last as long as the iPhone.

[wco81]

Well I've decided to get an GS4 or a HTC One next week.

I have access to a GS4 daily thanx to co workers, but the only interaction I've had with a HTO has been holding it on a ATT store with out access to unlocking it and playing around with it.

I've been reading a ton about the HTO last couple of hours and apparently some people are having issues with the capacitive buttons sometimes becoming unresponsive?

Can any owners around here attest to this or any other issues encountered?

No issues for me on this department. Coming straight from years of iPhone, my only gripe with my smartphone is that it takes longer to charge it and the battery doesn't last as long as the iPhone.

What that suggests is that it's got a higher-capacity battery so it takes longer to charge but it's running down faster because of the bigger screen and probably other processes running in the background that drains the battery faster.

[dbdynsty25]

What that suggests is that it's got a higher-capacity battery so it takes longer to charge but it's running down faster because of the bigger screen and probably other processes running in the background that drains the battery faster.

Well thats just wrong. HTC has notoriously been bad when it comes to recharge times. Samsung is significantly faster...always has been. Just another reason to go S4 over the One in my opinion. But some people don't care about recharge times.

[jLp vAkEr0]

Just left my local Costco after finally being able to play around with the HTC One.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's my next phone.

They have it for $129 plus no activation fee but the guy told me to hold off until Tuesday since they may be receiving the black version.

Again the look and feel of the phone is only rivaled by the iPhone 4/4s/5.

[wco81]

Most phones use 1 amp chargers.

iPads use 2 amp chargers, which can charge up phones as well at a faster rate.

So a lot of third-party chargers or battery packs have 1 or 2 amp USB ports, or some combination of each.

According to these links, the Android phones have much bigger batteries:

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone+5 ... wn/10525/2
http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/05/0 ... advantage/

iPhone 5 - 1440 mAh
S III - 2100 mAh
HTC One - 2300 mAh
S IV - 2600 mAh

So 60-70% more capacity for the HTC One, which shouldn't take quite twice as long to recharge. But the drain rate is obviously different because of the size of the screen and the resolution as well as how the different software uses and manages the power.

[jLp vAkEr0]

Well I've decided to get an GS4 or a HTC One next week.

I have access to a GS4 daily thanx to co workers, but the only interaction I've had with a HTO has been holding it on a ATT store with out access to unlocking it and playing around with it.

I've been reading a ton about the HTO last couple of hours and apparently some people are having issues with the capacitive buttons sometimes becoming unresponsive?

Can any owners around here attest to this or any other issues encountered?

No issues for me on this department. Coming straight from years of iPhone, my only gripe with my smartphone is that it takes longer to charge it and the battery doesn't last as long as the iPhone.

Do a lot of apps have a black menu bar at the bottom?

Example:

[10spro]

It really depends on the app, Javy. Most of mine take the whole screen, but I know there are some where they show the three white dots prompting you to either close the app or simply set up the settings for that particular window. But again the screen is so beautiful, that you won't really notice it.

Also, there's a rumor that HTC One will have the Jellybean upgrade of version 4.2 in a couple of weeks.

[dbdynsty25]

It really depends on the app, Javy. Most of mine take the whole screen, but I know there are some where they show the three white dots prompting you to either close the app or simply set up the settings for that particular window. But again the screen is so beautiful, that you won't really notice it.

Also, there's a rumor that HTC One will have the Jellybean upgrade of version 4.2 in a couple of weeks.

All depends on the developer...but then again, if you buy a phone with the menu button on it, the S4, that doesn't happen. Another HTC downfall. Though with software hacks, you can make one of the buttons on the bottom your "menu" button if you want and it essentially eliminates that issue. And 4.2...meh...as long as you have Jelly Bean, you're good, unless you want lock screen widgets (overrated highly).

Either phone is awesome...I just can't stand how long HTCs take to charge, and the lack of a legitimate notification light is my biggest issue with it.