OT Android phones for work & Liesure

dav1

Can anyone here reccomend android for work and multimedia?

I have been looking at the HTC desire after using windows based phones for 3.5 years. It looks perfect on paper but I know little about how andoid is to live and work with on a daily basis.

Annoyingly there are no good reviews of the packaged quickoffice software, or is ability to use MS exchange. Do these work well on android based systems? Something I quite like on windows is the ability to turn e-mail off between set hours, but I cannot see it for the android client in online reviews.

Also would anyone know how capable the quick office software is? One feature I really need is advanced excel formulae and graphing on the mobile device, but the reviews are quite vague on this.

The other thing I am after is a GPS mapping app that I can use whilst out ojn the bike. Preferable something that will take .gpx/.kml files and display them on OS style maps (open cycle map works well on navicomputer whioch I have for win mobile) Is there anything that does this in existance?

Canny Jock

Can't really comment on Open Office, but I switched to Android from a Windows phone (HTC Hero) and it's superb, I've just ordered a Desire. The GPS mapping works well, I've tried a few programs and settled on Endomondo, which is free and did what I needed.

If you send me a spreadsheet and tell me what to do, I'll test it out for you? PM me and I'll give you my email address.

brownie1111

I've had an HTC desire for a month now.

Dav1 wrote:

Annoyingly there are no good reviews of the packaged quickoffice software, or is ability to use MS exchange. Do these work well on android based systems?

Exchange support is OK'ish, you'd be better off paying a one time fee of $19 for Touchdown, http://www.nitrodesk.com/TouchDown.aspx

Dav1 wrote:

Also would anyone know how capable the quick office software is? One feature I really need is advanced excel formulae and graphing on the mobile device, but the reviews are quite vague on this.

None of that functionality, Quickoffice is not an editor it's for viewing Office files only, http://www.quickoffice.com/quickoffice_android/.

Dav1 wrote:

The other thing I am after is a GPS mapping app that I can use whilst out ojn the bike. Preferable something that will take .gpx/.kml files and display them on OS style maps (open cycle map works well on navicomputer whioch I have for win mobile) Is there anything that does this in existance?

Yep, Orumaps, Trekbuddy, OSM, etc. there are loads however............battery life is pants and the display is very hard to read in direct sunlight.

However despite all of the above it is the best Smartphone I have used and no chance would I give it back. Depends what you want to use it for, sounds like it might not be suitable for you.

notsoblue

I have a HTC Hero and I'm very satisfied with Android in general. Can't comment on the spreadsheet features you're after, but in terms of GPS, I've found Cardiotrainer to be the best out there (though I haven't tried Endomondo, will check it out).

I primarily use Cardiotrainer for running but have used it to record rides. It plots your route using Google Maps and records the usual stats. Also updates you periodically with your time and pace using voice. It synchs your workouts with the server, and can automatically publish them to your facebook page if thats your thing. Definitely worth a look, its free. Oh, and it supports export to gpx/kml

Exchange integration is good, works fine. Android 2.2 apparently extends this so it supports additional remote admin features.

Something I would comment on is the update schedule. One of the reasons why I wanted to try Android was because its a pretty new and exciting OS, and I had (perhaps naively) expected to be able to update my phone with every new revision of the OS. The reality is a bit different, and it turns out that Android is a bit fragmented at the moment. If you have an older handset, and its branded by your telco, then you can sometimes have quite a wait before you can update. T-Mobile G2 Touch (HTC Hero) owners didn't get Android 1.5 until I think November last year, won't be getting 1.6 at all, and 2.1 was announced for the handset about two months ago and still hasn't become available. The delay is mainly because HTC has to adjust the Sense UI, and once they're done T-Mobile has to "brand" it. The only real annoyance about the delay is that there are certain updated Apps that only work with 1.6+, like for example Google Maps with Navigation etc... If you wanted to avoid that kind of scenario, then avoid getting a telco branded phone and just buy an unlocked handset.

Anyway, thats quite OT. In short - great phones, decent Exchange support (and will get better), Cardiotrainer is awesome, and get an unbranded phone if you're impatient!

lost_in_thought

Having very recently switched from Windows Mobile (Xperia X1i) to Android (X10) I would highly recommend Android. It's so much better than winmob, it really is.

I haven't used the office software at all so have nothing to add apart from that if the bundled software doesn't edit I'm sure you'll be able to download an app that does.

Sony Ericsson ship with a set of exchange software called Moxier that works well, although I've now switched it off again as work are abandoning their exchange server and I'm changing jobs!

As for navigation, as you'd expect from a google OS, the google maps functionality is excellent, and google recently ported the turn-by-turn navigation software for the older versions of android as a downloadable app rather than an add-on for google maps. It basically turns your phone into a sat-nav, it's really very good.

As far as battery life, my X10 will last 2 days with judicious use of an app-killer, which is about the same as the X1i did. When you first get it it'll barely do a day because of the intense techno-joy you will experience!

In summary, I'd say go for it. What's said above about versions of Android is true, SE are lagging on v1.6 as they're taking their time adapting 2.1 to their software thingies, but comparing even 1.6 to windows mobile is like comparing a lexus to a clapped out old escort that you have to switch on and off a lot in heavy traffic.

dav1

Im actuallyt about to switch from the X1i as well. Mostly frustrated with SEs lack of updates once the X2 appeard and the poor battery life.

So what wrong with the exchange support in 2.1?

All I need is the ability to sync contacts, send/recieve e-mail and appointment requests. Can it do all of these things?

lost_in_thought

Dav1 wrote:

Im actuallyt about to switch from the X1i as well. Mostly frustrated with SEs lack of updates once the X2 appeard and the poor battery life.

So what wrong with the exchange support in 2.1?

All I need is the ability to sync contacts, send/recieve e-mail and appointment requests. Can it do all of these things?

I had no problem with any of those things using Moxier on the X10.

I have no idea about exchange support in 2.1, as the X10 is not getting 2.1 until Q3/Q4.

If you go for the X10, it uses micro-usb chargers as opposed to the X1i's mini-usb but the battery is the same, so keep your battery!

I've not tried any other handsets yet, hence why I can only tell you about that one!

attica

I've got an HTC Desire and the Exchange support seems fine so far (I'm using the default app that it came with), contacts calendar and mail all working well. It also falls in line with the exchange policy to enforce a password.

I'm still in the above mentioned period of Technojoy and loving it, I doubt you'd regret getting one.

notsoblue

Just tried Endomondo, brilliant app! Nicer UI than Cardiotrainer...

nich

notsoblue wrote:

Just tried Endomondo, brilliant app! Nicer UI than Cardiotrainer...

I used to use this but found it wasn't calculating distance in miles correctly - is this still the case? It seemed to work ok in km.

Currently using MyTracks which seems to be the standard route logging thingy.

I also a couple of other GPS apps

Maverick - http://www.codesector.com/maverick.php
OSMap - http://www.pocketgamer.org/os-map