| Forum Home | ||||
| PC World Chat | ||||
| Thread ID: 115624 | 2011-01-27 02:50:00 | Android OS for mobiles | John H (8) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1172834 | 2011-01-27 02:50:00 | Hi folks If you are using a mobile with Android OS, what do you think of it? Advantages over other mobile OSs? Disadvantages? If I buy a phone with Android 2.1, is it possible to upgrade to later versions? Thank you for any hints. John |
John H (8) | ||
| 1172835 | 2011-01-27 02:55:00 | If I buy a phone with Android 2.1, is it possible to upgrade to later versions? With some phones, yes. I don't own an Android phone but my understanding is that if the company that makes the phone chooses to make it updateable then it will be, but some manufacturers just don't bother. I know the Galaxy S is updateable now. |
Siobhan Keogh (16063) | ||
| 1172836 | 2011-01-27 02:59:00 | Depends on what phone you buy John - the only one that is EASY to upgrade, as soon as the upgrade is made public is the Nexus One. The other handsets are branded by the handset manufacturer (they often put crapware on, just like a new PC) and the OS for those handsets has to be "customised" again by the handset manufacturer before the upgrade can be applied - so there can be a delay. There are ways around this, but unless you are a phone OS geek.... On the other hand, Android: lots of free/cheap apps, a stable OS with no bugs (that I have come across anyway - unlike a certain Apple phone I used to have) and an easy to use interface. Definitely look at a phone with at least 2.1 installed though. Anything earlier is pretty basic and probably not worth buying. |
johcar (6283) | ||
| 1172837 | 2011-01-27 03:06:00 | The other handsets are branded by the handset manufacturer (they often put crapware on, just like a new PC) and the OS for those handsets has to be "customised" again by the handset manufacturer before the upgrade can be applied - so there can be a delay. This is the thing I can't stand about most Android phones! The manufacturer's bloatware which I usually hate. If I ever buy an Android phone, I'll be making sure it doesn't have any of that stuff. |
Siobhan Keogh (16063) | ||
| 1172838 | 2011-01-27 03:28:00 | You can remove it, but you need to root the phone. Geek required. Especially now that Google seem to be clamping down on the one-click root exploits that have been available... | johcar (6283) | ||
| 1172839 | 2011-01-27 05:22:00 | Thanks guys, I will check that out (upgradeability that is, and what bloatware is installed). I have been wondering about investing in a Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro, but I have only seen it on the 'net and will go into Vodafone to check out whether it is still of interest. At the moment, it is upgradeable to v2.1, and apparently that dealt with the negative issues that existed when it was v1.6. I don't know if it is upgradeable beyond v2.1. What are the advantages of Android over other OSs? Is it mainly the range of apps and the stability that johcar talks about? |
John H (8) | ||
| 1172840 | 2011-01-27 06:12:00 | Funny enough I was reading this article earlier today. www.techradar.com they rated the HTC as the best... The HTC Desire (www.techradar.com) has been on sale for over six months now, and remains the most impressive and technically adept phone on the market. This is for two reasons - HTC released a superb piece of hardware that obliterated the competition at the time, and has also managed to get Android 2.2 onto nearly every version of the phone out there. While users of other, newer phones fuss about with internet petitions in order to get their OSs upgraded to 2.2, the older Desire is already cutting-edge. A great screen, flawless in operation and powerful enough to stay relevant until the end of even the longest mobile phone contract. Its on my list Available locally for $605 |
Metla (12) | ||
| 1172841 | 2011-01-27 06:28:00 | The range of apps for both OS's is probably similar these days, but the main difference between these two is the price of the handset. Even my top-end Nexus One was $400 cheaper than the top-end iPhone... Plus, as a bonus, Android phones aren't tied to the crapware/bloatware that is iTunes. I had a 3GS from new for six months. It bricked on me three times in that period (recoverable, but annoying). Whereas my Nexus One has been the epitome of stable of the same timeframe - with two OS updates. Android OS phones have a far more customisable user interface than iOS. Metla's onto it - HTC make a damn fine piece of kit - I think Google may soon be kicking themselves by for having changed horses to Samsung for the "Nexus S". (Note I'm not mentioning Blackberry or the Windows Phone 7 OS at all - I don't rate them as serious contenders. The fight is going to be between Android and iOS. If HP had gotten their act together in time, WebOS might have made a good fight of it too, but the timing was wrong and they missed the boat, just like the other two.) |
johcar (6283) | ||
| 1172842 | 2011-01-27 06:51:00 | I was pretty well headed for an iPhone whilst in china (3GS) instead I bought a Galaxy S . Android is amazing . I was expecting some teething issues as I was used to iOS however it was very slick and smooth (running 2 . 2 froyo) . The super AMOLED screen is just beautiful, no jokes . even in sunlight it is amazing, whipping the apple retina display on the iPod touch . I have no experience with windows phone 7 but iOS had been reduced to the bottom of my pile of smartphones with the droid easily taking first place . the thing to watch for is because of all the different phones around there are reports of some apps running poorly on certain mobiles . The galaxy S is pretty powerful so as far as compatibility goes any similar device should hold you good . but then again, with any phone you should really get out and try before buy . I know some people really like droid but others can't stand it . Its like windows Vs mac Vs linux . The open environment on android is a great bonus . think of something, the market probably has it . from anti virus (AVG) to Zephyr (media app) . Swype with samsung is a godsend for touchscreen phones, I think that swype can be obtained from the developer (for non samsung devices) but i'm not sure . I was looking at an HTC but I decided to break my computing law of "big is good, big is better" because the desire HD was just huge! |
The Error Guy (14052) | ||
| 1172843 | 2011-01-27 06:58:00 | This whole OS upgrading and the other main reason was lack of hardware compatibility (docks etc) is the main reason I chose an iPhone over Android. I'm hoping that google will take over the OS upgrades, and that they standardise hard ware connectors (that EU common charging thing should sort that). I think I'll weigh up the iphone 6 and android at that point, and I'm hoping android will be a bit more "mature". Yes the itune bloat is a little annoying, but I fairly happily moved from winamp (which I've been using for 10+ years) to itunes without too many problems. But that's me. |
psycik (12851) | ||
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 | |||||