Phones (again!)
supersonic
Posts: 82,708
Ready to upgrade my phone and contract with o2 next week. Looking to get the 25-30 contract option. But which handset? What would you get and why? I am really behind on phones nowadays.
Usage wise I need WiFi, and will browse the net quite a bit. I will use the camera for when I don't have my Fuji on me, and would prefer something half decent. Also will be used for music storage.
http://shop.o2.co.uk/mobile_phones/Pay_ ... all_brands
Usage wise I need WiFi, and will browse the net quite a bit. I will use the camera for when I don't have my Fuji on me, and would prefer something half decent. Also will be used for music storage.
http://shop.o2.co.uk/mobile_phones/Pay_ ... all_brands
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supersonic
Whatever you do, don't upgrade.
I've been using tech radar (the BR sister site) and come across this site:
http://www.buymobilephones.net/offers.php
HTC Desire HD: 500 mins, 5000 texts and 1g of data. £25 a month. Phone is free.
You'll never get that good a deal on the O2 upgrades! my 02 contract is up at the end of the month, and their offers are shite!!0 -
The Northern Monkey wrote:supersonic
Whatever you do, don't upgrade.
I've been using tech radar (the BR sister site) and come across this site:
http://www.buymobilephones.net/offers.php
HTC Desire HD: 500 mins, 5000 texts and 1g of data. £25 a month. Phone is free.
You'll never get that good a deal on the O2 upgrades! my 02 contract is up at the end of the month, and their offers are shite!!
I got the desire HD on T-Mobile from buymobiles last week. Fantastic phone with a huge screen and usual android greatness. Buymobiles do seem to be one of the cheapest.Too many bikes, not all fully built.0 -
T Mobile and Orange reception here is non existant, and 3 is terrible. Will be sticking with 02, but thanks for the links, some interesting stuff.0
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Like you what I want from my phone is a reasonable camera for when I don't have my 'proper' one to hand, decent internet, and a good media player.
I'm on Orange but also got a Desire HD last week - pretty decent camera (not quite on a par with something like the Nokia N8 but WAY better than the HTC Hero I moved up from) - big screen is great for web stuff and video (although it is a big-ish handset overall if that bothers you and the screen eats battery - buy a spare if you go for the Desire) - the Android/HTC music player is pretty decent too IMHO.
Of course, you also get Android running the show which is obviously great, and the HTC Sense overlay on it is a really good UI I think.
Biggest plus is that it's not an iPhone.
EDIT - just seen that the Desire isn't on the O2 list there - if you don't mind the old-fashioned OS then the Nokia N8 has a great camera, or the Samsung Galaxy might do the job if you want Android.
slainte 8) rob0 -
Will certainly look at that handset. Always had Nokias so the N8 appeals - but is Symbian now just too far behind and unsupported?0
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yeah I was tempted by the N8 for the camera...
The more of the review I read on tech radar, the less i wanted the phone
The Symbian seems to limit the phone
Now I did actually like the sound of the windows phone - Samsung Omnia 7. Its different, but sounds like it works well.
Unfortunately, some of the features are only accessible from a windows PC so i can't get one.0 -
Kind of ironic, was Symbian that sorta kicked off the 'apps' thing - I was getting stuff for my 6600 years ago. Then Apple, as they do, repackaged the idea and Symbian seems to have been relegated.0
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pHz wrote:
EDIT - just seen that the Desire isn't on the O2 list there - if you don't mind the old-fashioned OS then the Nokia N8 has a great camera, or the Samsung Galaxy might do the job if you want Android.
slainte 8) rob
http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mobile ... ance=false from £25pm
I'd say wait a month or two, they've just had one of those phone trade shows, few phones coming out this month and next. The current phones will most likely drop in price as well so you'd be able to negiotate a better deal.
If you don't want anyone to talk to you, the white iphone 4 is out soon0 -
Actually, NO, there is NOTHING that links the phone to Windows. It syncs ytour music and pictures via the Zune software, or with the phone connector for the Mac. That's it. There is no other link.The Northern Monkey wrote:yeah I was tempted by the N8 for the camera...
The more of the review I read on tech radar, the less i wanted the phone The Symbian seems to limit the phone
Now I did actually like the sound of the windows phone - Samsung Omnia 7. Its different, but sounds like it works well.
Unfortunately, some of the features are only accessible from a windows PC so i can't get one.0 -
yeehaamcgee wrote:
Actually, NO, there is NOTHING that links the phone to Windows. It syncs ytour music and pictures via the Zune software, or with the phone connector for the Mac. That's it. There is no other link.The Northern Monkey wrote:yeah I was tempted by the N8 for the camera...
The more of the review I read on tech radar, the less i wanted the phone The Symbian seems to limit the phone
Now I did actually like the sound of the windows phone - Samsung Omnia 7. Its different, but sounds like it works well.
Unfortunately, some of the features are only accessible from a windows PC so i can't get one.
you can't get Zune on mac, so I assume you lose some features/syncing.0 -
Nope, there's the windows phone connector software. Or something like that.0
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as far as cameras on phones go, i would say the n8 is as good as they get.
i cant see what the problem is with symbian, the phones will stll be a phone and works just like every nkia ever has, if folk like nokia, they will like the n8.0 -
Yeah, but music syncs through Zune at least?yeehaamcgee wrote:Nope, there's the windows phone connector software. Or something like that.
I hate having music that is arranged properly, so I don't want to drag and drop.
If i'm wrong then I might put the Omnia 7 back on the shortlist.0 -
sheepsteeth wrote:as far as cameras on phones go, i would say the n8 is as good as they get.
i cant see what the problem is with symbian, the phones will stll be a phone and works just like every nkia ever has, if folk like nokia, they will like the n8.
The only thing I don't like the sound of with Symbian is its completely locked...there doesn't sound like there is much user customisation... other phones just offer a lot more.0 -
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I'm almost certain that the mac software syncs your music from itunes or whatever to the phone. On Windows at least, it's really cool. I tell it to add some tracks to the phone, then whilst the phone is charging overnight, th ecomputer will send the music over wifi to the phone, so it doesn't even need to be connected. I'm led to believe it's pretty much the same for Macs.The Northern Monkey wrote:Yeah, but music syncs through Zune at least?
I hate having music that is arranged properly, so I don't want to drag and drop.
If i'm wrong then I might put the Omnia 7 back on the shortlist.
It is a very different way of working to most phones though, you may like it, you may not. The odd thing about it is that playing with one in a shop won't make much sense, it's only when you see one with all the contacts filled and stuff like that that it all "clicks". so you'd be best off finding someone who's already got one to show you.
Until it has your contacts and stuff, it doesn't seem particularly interesting.0 -
DO NOT get symbian.... Something Android and HTC would be my choice... Though Samsung have churned out aq few decent phones recently...I like bikes and stuff0
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yeehaamcgee wrote:
I'm almost certain that the mac software syncs your music from itunes or whatever to the phone. On Windows at least, it's really cool. I tell it to add some tracks to the phone, then whilst the phone is charging overnight, th ecomputer will send the music over wifi to the phone, so it doesn't even need to be connected. I'm led to believe it's pretty much the same for Macs.The Northern Monkey wrote:Yeah, but music syncs through Zune at least?
I hate having music that is arranged properly, so I don't want to drag and drop.
If i'm wrong then I might put the Omnia 7 back on the shortlist.
It is a very different way of working to most phones though, you may like it, you may not. The odd thing about it is that playing with one in a shop won't make much sense, it's only when you see one with all the contacts filled and stuff like that that it all "clicks". so you'd be best off finding someone who's already got one to show you.
Until it has your contacts and stuff, it doesn't seem particularly interesting.
hmm i'll have to do a bit more searching... I did find quite a few threads saying that the software/zune wasn't fully compatible with mac so I discounted the phone.
I had a go on one in a shop a week ago, it was interesting.0 -
Zune definitely isn't compatible with the mac, but they do have syncing software for OSX.
AFAIK, Zune is being rebranded soon, so maybe then they'll bring it to OSX then? I dunno though, It's mainly a media player (a very very good media player), and despite it being excellent, I just can't see any point in trying to compete with iTunes on the mac platform.
In fact, I think the phone sync software for the mac, will sync your itunes collection to the phone if you want.0 -
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Oh you can do that as well. That's how I do mine. There's a large phone icon on the bottom right in Zune, dump things on to that, and they will be sent to the phone. Either immediately if it's on USB, or when it's plugged in to the mains to charge if you do it over wifi.projectsome wrote:I never really see the point of syncing, I prefer to copy the files over manually. I find it to be just as quick and a lot safer imho. But failing that I'm sure there's 3rd party syncing software that'd work...0 -
yeehaamcgee wrote:
Oh you can do that as well. That's how I do mine. There's a large phone icon on the bottom right in Zune, dump things on to that, and they will be sent to the phone. Either immediately if it's on USB, or when it's plugged in to the mains to charge if you do it over wifi.projectsome wrote:I never really see the point of syncing, I prefer to copy the files over manually. I find it to be just as quick and a lot safer imho. But failing that I'm sure there's 3rd party syncing software that'd work...
But without the whole Zune thing, most if not all phones come up as a seperate USB drive.0 -
My HTC does need the Zune, or mac equivalent, but even if you just have random tracks spewed all over the hard drive (why people PREFER that way, I'll never know), it's ok, since zune just takes whatever folders you've got music in anyway. You could treat it as a colourful explorer window.0
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hmm i'll have a play... I'll get a Desire HD if I can't find anything else, but I want to make sure I try all options 1st.
yeehaamcgee
Do you have the Omnia 7 then?0 -
No, HTC Trophy 7.
I'm not saying "get it get it get it", I'm just saying you shouldn't discount it because you're on a Mac.0 -
yeehaamcgee wrote:No, HTC Trophy 7.
I'm not saying "get it get it get it", I'm just saying you shouldn't discount it because you're on a Mac.
thats exactly what i'm trying not to do!
But, I def don't want an iPhone 4 anymore anyways lol!0 -
Well I ummed and ahhhed about it, and in the end went for the cheapest contract I could get and a Nokia X6 lol. I questioned what I really wanted from the phone. Mostly texts, wifi, music and a get by camera - only make a few short calls, and have a landline.This does it perfectly so no point in spending more!
Tenner a month, free handset.0 -
not bad! see i'd want to do that but i'd really miss having stuuf on a phone that i dont use .... :?0
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Lol, I know phones are better than in the past, but every upgrade I have had a decent handset of the time, and contract, but the novelty is wearing off. So back to basics... saying that is not a bad handset for free!0
