Smartphone/PDAPhone Advice

[BigDPW]

I currently own a Motorola RAZR phone and an HP PDA. The phone is fine and the PDA is getting old and less reliable. This summer I will be moving and joining an orthopaedic practice and figured it would be a good time to combine my PDA and my phone into one entity since they seem to be so popular, reliable, smaller now than 4 years ago.

I primarily use the PDA for calendar and epocrates (medical/pharmacy software). I occasionally use it for email and web surfing but not as often as for the work related stuff. I have never used text-messaging with my phone or camera stuff. I basically use the phone only as a phone and the RAZR works well for that.

My goal is to get a small manageable PDA/Smartphone to carry on my belt or in my pocket at the new job that has a QWERTY keyboard on it.

Any advice about which to get? Should I get a PDA phone or a Smartphone and what exactly are the differences? Should it have a touch screen or not?

I have browsed briefly but don't know alot about the phones I have been looking at (Motorola Q, Blackberry, Treo) but I am open to any suggestions/advice.

[Cringer]

The wife has a Treo 700p she has been real happy with. It is a little bigger then I would like to have though if I were to get something like that. Not exactly a pocket phone unless you have good size pockets. On a belt clip is doable though.

Remember when you look at Treos that they have the ones with the Palm operating system and the ones with Windows. SOme people prefer one over the other.

That is about all the help I can give out, I am no longer an expert.

[DaddyTorgo]

HTC Mogul or a HTC Touch

If you're using them for business, despite what Apple wants you to believe, you really can't beat WindowsMobile, even given all of it's issues IMO.

[Flasch186]

My Palm Windows crashes and acts weird all the time. I havnt used the Palm OS in a long long time so I'm not sure which is better but my 750W sometimes I want to throw. I have reset it a few more times than I would've liked.

[jeff061]

I have a Q, pretty basic, does what it does well. Nice and slim. But nothing fancy. I do like the full keyboard, I'm not a wiz with a numpad so it's much appreciated.

I have the newer Q now, whatever they call it. Runs Mobile 6 vrs the 5 on the original. Too be honest the differences in the software is negligible, but physically it's better put together and much more comfortable to hold.

[Arles]

I have the HTC Touch and love it. There are some nice utilities that make it perform like the IPhone in some areas. It's very stable, light and easy to use.

[oliegirl]

I have the Blackberry Curve and LOVE it. I've never had to reset the software, it's very easy to use - the hardest part was getting used to the trackball, but now that I'm used to it I love it so much more than having to use a stylus. Tons of apps are available for it, and Blackberry itself has a great support/knowledge base online...blackberryforums.com is a great one, as is crackberry.com. I used to have a Treo and hated it, very unstable environment and the keyboard was awkward.

[lordscarlet]

The HTC line is good. I love my iphone, but if you have a windows app to install, iphone is obviously not for you. I would argue it is suitable for business (compared to windows mobile, maybe not compared to a blackberry), particularly with the new apps coming up, but if you have a specific application you use for your industry you'll need a windows mobile phone.

[AZSpeechCoach]

I heartily concur with oliegirl. My Curve has been amazing.

[stevew]

If you need enterprise email, I believe that it may limit your options. I have a blackberry, but it doesn't have the full qwerty, I'd suggest the Curve like others have, simply cause it's on more carriers. If you have sprint, the Mogul looks pretty amazing as well.

I'd actually ask around the office, and see what some of the other guys are using at the practice. Simply cause it might be better for your specific situation.

[JeeberD]

My little ol' Palm Centro certainly gets the job done...

[Emiliano]

I second the BlackBerry Curve as well. I've been a Palm and Nokia user for years, but I gotta admit you can't beat the simplicity of the BlackBerry. I've been using it for a month now, and I'm very satisfied with it. Frankly, I was really surprised by the audio quality, which is always a question mark on smartphones. Push e-mails and web browsing are really fantastic with it, you'll learn to use 'em.

Anyway, my advice is to check if the software you have to use will work with the BlackBerry. If you need a full QWERTY, you could also consider the 88xx series, slightly bigger, no camera, more "professional" look.

[Icy]

I just bought an HTC Dual touch and it's awesome. It runs windows mobile that is compatible with mos tof the software available. It's smaller than a PDA, exactly same size than my old motorola cell phone so it fits in my pocket while having a big screen enough for PDA usage. It has a QWERTY keyboard (make sure about it as there is also a version wih the standard cell phons one).

Here is more info and pics:

http://www.htc.com/us/product.aspx?id=8812 (http://www.htc.com/uk/product.aspx?id=8812)

[sterlingice]

My little ol' Palm Centro certainly gets the job done...

I love my Centro, too. :)

The downside is that you have to go with Sprint to get it.

SI

[JeeberD]

I thought that AT&T supported the Centro as well?

[sterlingice]

Maybe they do. I thought it was a Sprint exclusive, tho. But I could be wrong.

SI

[Klinglerware]

I thought that AT&T supported the Centro as well?

Yeah, there is a version out for AT&T and Sprint. You could probably get an unlocked AT&T version phone and use it on another GSM carrier like T-mobile, if you are so inclined (but if you are going the unlocked route, you might as well get a better phone).

[Klinglerware]

Dola - I'm not bashing the Centro. The Centro is attractive because the carrier subsidy gets it to a very attractive price point. But with that said, if you are not going to go through a carrier to buy a phone, with the expense you are going to incur, you might as well get a phone with a bigger feature set/nicer specs...

[Scarecrow]

My little ol' Palm Centro certainly gets the job done...

+ Eleventy Billion


Especially after the iPhoneImitation (http://iphoneimitation.en.softonic.com/palm) hack

[sterlingice]

But I like Palm OS (and I decided against a data plan) :)

SI

[BigDPW]

I second the BlackBerry Curve as well. I've been a Palm and Nokia user for years, but I gotta admit you can't beat the simplicity of the BlackBerry. I've been using it for a month now, and I'm very satisfied with it. Frankly, I was really surprised by the audio quality, which is always a question mark on smartphones. Push e-mails and web browsing are really fantastic with it, you'll learn to use 'em.

Anyway, my advice is to check if the software you have to use will work with the BlackBerry. If you need a full QWERTY, you could also consider the 88xx series, slightly bigger, no camera, more "professional" look.

Looking at the 88xx Series and the Curve Series they both look to have full QWERTY right. I want to make sure I am not missing a difference there between the QWERTY feature on the two...

Also thanks for all of the replies so far!

A couple of questions:
- Can I check any email account (yahoo, my ISP account, etc) that I want with a blackberry or does it have its own account that I have to access and use?
-Any thoughts about which phone will give me the best reception/coverage/sound quality between the blackberry, Q, and Treo?

[BigDPW]

Also are any of these wi-fi compatible so I can sync it at home/work without having to dock it?

[oliegirl]

Looking at the 88xx Series and the Curve Series they both look to have full QWERTY right. I want to make sure I am not missing a difference there between the QWERTY feature on the two...

Also thanks for all of the replies so far!

A couple of questions:
- Can I check any email account (yahoo, my ISP account, etc) that I want with a blackberry or does it have its own account that I have to access and use?
-Any thoughts about which phone will give me the best reception/coverage/sound quality between the blackberry, Q, and Treo?

I have 3 email accounts set up through push email on my curve, messages are automatically sent to my curve, and I can reply, create, etc...all from the pda. When you delete, you have an option to delete just on the handheld, or on the handheld and your mailbox. You will need a data plan if you are going to set up email as it does go through the internet to get the messages, but BB has the reputation for being the best when it comes to mobile emailing, etc.

Definitely check the medical software you mentioned and see if it's available on Blackberry.

As for syncing, I use Google Calendar, they have a download that will allow you to sync your calendar wirelessly, I haven't connected by BB to my laptop in weeks. Google also has a killer GPS download that is free. I used it the other day in an area I had never been in before and it worked flawlessly, very accurate directions as far as how far between turns, etc...

When I had my Treo I found it very clunky, and just not a very user friendly phone. I get much better reception and call quality on my BB.

I can't recommend BB enough, as an admitted gadget junkie I've tried a lot of pda's and BB is by far my favorite. We have AT&T and my unlimited BB data plan is $30 a month, well worth it if you ask me.

[Cringer]

I thought there was a more recent thread on this stuff but I can't find one.

I am probably looking at getting the Sprint version of the Palm Pro, just wondering if anyone has given this a shot yet. The unlocked one has been out for a while, but the Sprint version just came out last month I think, and from what I read has a faster processor (400MHz to 528MHz now) and more user memory (from only 100 MB to 300 MB now). The only real competition for me would be the HTC Touch Pro, and if anyone has that give me your thoughts. I want the Windows OS, since the ability to open and edit Office docs is something I want.

The Pre is out of the question for me I think. No Windows Mobile Pro 6.1, and just looking at that keyboard slide out and how close the top keys are to the edge makes me think I wouldn't get my big fingers any where near them. My wife is planning on getting one though, but she may change her mind with no Windows on it.

[GreenMonster]

I have a Diamond on Sprint, and I love it but I am a bit of a cell phone geek. I would have gotten the Pro had I been able to wait another 1.5 months for the hardware keyboard. The stock roms on the phone leave some to be desired but you can find almost any program you want. I actually run a custom rom with Windows Mobile 6.5 which isn't due out for a little while still.

Since you will be doing Office documents I would get the Pro, more power, better keyboard, and all the Windows Mobile goodies. PM me if you have any more questions, I know entirely to much about Sprint phones.

[AZSpeechCoach]

Mrs. SpeechCoach had been making some noise about using her long overdue upgrade to get a Blackberry. When we went to the T-Mobile store, I thought she was going to get a Pearl Flip. She went with the Curve 8900. She now has a better phone than I do. Here's the question: Would it be ethical of me to swap sims while she sleeps? At the worst, the Blackberry Onyx with 3G hits T-Mobile before the end of the year, and I can upgrade then.

[Cringer]

I think that is up to your wife. ;)

[Klinglerware]

Mrs. SpeechCoach had been making some noise about using her long overdue upgrade to get a Blackberry. When we went to the T-Mobile store, I thought she was going to get a Pearl Flip. She went with the Curve 8900. She now has a better phone than I do. Here's the question: Would it be ethical of me to swap sims while she sleeps? At the worst, the Blackberry Onyx with 3G hits T-Mobile before the end of the year, and I can upgrade then.

Yeah, it looks like T-mobile will be filling out it's roster of 3G phones as the year goes on. There are some nice ones coming soon...

[Cringer]

Anyone getting the Palm Pre? I still have not upgraded my phone and this will be considered now I guess. I was going to get the Pro, but the fact that WinMo 6.5 should be out by Fall and Palm won't give an upgrade for it kind of turns me off to the Pro for now. I think I am now into 'wait and see' mode for Sprint phones. The HTC Touch Diamond2 will hopefully be released before summer is over, but if they don't announce something soon I may forget about it and go with a Pre depending on how that ends up looking. Either way I won't jump into Pre just because the timing is off and I would want to wait a couple of weeks so I don't get screwed on changing my plans mid-billing cycle.

What I find interesting about the Pre is this backlash that seems to have surfaced lately online and in news stories. Some of it seems very biased, too. Trying to pick on things that make no sense to pick on (ex. ripping it for no flash video support, which no device in production right now has and IIRC they said it would down the road.)

[rjolley]

I'm seriously considering a Pre as my next phone. I have a Diamond right now and while it does the job, I have too many issues with it running slowly and needing a reboot to get things working right. So, when I give up on it and move to a new phone, it'll probably be a Pre. Just need for the software to get there. From the previews I've seen, the new OS looks good.

[jeff061]

I read a review on the Pre. Feeling seems to be solid and worthwhile. Not near the hype level, but that would be damn near impossible.

I considered going after the Pre, my contracts been up for awhile and I am waiting for a phone I like. I think I'm still going to wait on a Android based phone that doesn't suck.

[ISiddiqui]

I'm thinking of either getting a Palm Pre or a Blackberry Storm 2 this fall when they both come to Verizon.

[Cringer]

I'm thinking of either getting a Palm Pre or a Blackberry Storm 2 this fall when they both come to Verizon.

Palm Pre won't be on Verizon until 2010 if it happens. After Verizon started trying to save themselves from customers jumping to Sprint (no other reason they would announce such a thing IMO), Sprint came out and said they 'have the Palm Pre through 2009.'

For the most part that confirms an exclusivity deal for 6 months (6-9 is usually Sprints normal deal from what I read), that puts the Pre on Verizon in 2010.

hxxp://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/29/verizon-bound-palm-pre-confirmed-by-sprint-spokesman/

[ISiddiqui]

Well, then January of next year then. 6 months isn't much.

[Cringer]

It's not long, no. For me though it would be, I really need a phone within a couple months. My phone is acting weird sometimes now, I will need to upgrade plans no matter what phone I have in a couple of months, and I will need something that is much better then what i have for keeping track of contacts, texts, and accessing email and web pages. A Samsung Upstage doesn't cut it. I have used Sprint for 10 years now anyways, it's not like I need to switch for a Pre though.

[Voo]

I'm seriously considering a Pre as my next phone. I have a Diamond right now and while it does the job, I have too many issues with it running slowly and needing a reboot to get things working right. So, when I give up on it and move to a new phone, it'll probably be a Pre. Just need for the software to get there. From the previews I've seen, the new OS looks good.

I highly recommend you check out xda-developers - Xda-developers (www.xda-developers.com) for tips and upgrades for your diamond. Im currently running a wm 6.5 rom on my HTC Touch HD, and I'm pretty sure there are a few 6.5 roms for the diamond as well.

[rjolley]

Yeah, I'm on there from time to time to pick up things. I haven't tried 6.5, but I may be worth it. 6.1 has some issues that are annoying. Maybe 6.5 will iron them out. Any idea if there's a list of changes?

[JeeberD]

I'm going to get the Pre when I'm able...

[Cringer]

Ah, what I have been waiting for. This is an actual, nothing held back from the reviewer review. Unless the Diamond2 gets a release date announced over the next 2-3 weeks I will probably end up with a Pre now. This review is thorough and answers many questions I had about it. The negatives were either known (no SD expansion slot) or expected (Palm always has battery life issues) and keyboard size, and some negatives even have a chance of being fixed in firmware updates down the road (flash video and video recording). The positives are huge for what i am looking for in a phone right now though...

hxxp://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/palm-pre-sprint/4505-6452_7-33490473.html?tag=smallCarouselArea.0

Very long review so these are selected parts, read the whole thing if you want more as this isn't even half the review....

The tiny QWERTY keyboard isn't going to draw any praise, nor is the lack of an expansion slot. We're also disappointed that the Pre lacks some basic functions, such as video recording and voice dialing, though Palm has said these features can be added later through an over-the-air update. Battery life is also a concern, as the smartphone only lasted about a day on a single charge, which, in all fairness, is about the same as the iPhone. All that said, the Pre's "Deck of Cards" multitasking functionality and notification system are what make it special and they are areas where the Pre beats the iPhone or any smartphone on the market right now. In addition, personal-information management is completely changed (in a good way) with the Synergy feature.

We have to say the Pre's display is one of the main highlights of the phone. It measures 3.1 inches diagonally, so it's smaller than the iPhone's and some other touch-screen devices, such as the T-Mobile G1 (http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/t-mobile-g1-black/4505-6452_7-33283585.html) and the Samsung Omnia (http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/samsung-omnia-verizon-wireless/4505-6452_7-33399472.html), but what it lacks in size, the Pre makes up for in quality. The 24-bit color HVGA display is vibrant and sharp with its 320x480 pixel resolution. Images, text, and Web pages all looked amazing. We'd say it's on par with, if not just slightly crisper looking than, the iPhone's screen. The Pre's display has a built-in accelerometer so the screen orientation will automatically change from portrait to landscape mode when viewing photos, videos, and Web pages. The accelerometer is fast and changes pages without any lag. There's also a proximity sensor, which will automatically turn off the display when you lift the smartphone to your ear for a phone call.

We'll say it outright: the Palm Pre isn't the most intuitive device to use, at least at first. When you fire up the smartphone for the first time, there's a brief animated tutorial to familiarize you with the various gestures, such as swiping right to left in the gesture area to return to the previous page. The gestures are also illustrated in the quick start guide, but even so, it takes some time to learn all the various commands.

The first time you boot up the Palm Pre (which takes quite a while, by the way), you'll have to set up what's called a Palm Profile. It takes a few moments, but is worth the time, since it gives you access to several key services, including backup and restore settings, remote erase in case of a lost or stolen phone, and over-the-air updates. The latter will become important as Palm pushes out firmware updates that include new features and any bug fixes for the device.

E-mail delivery was almost instant (you can also set different retrieval intervals), and an action, such as deleting a message or moving an e-mail to a folder, is reflected on both sides whether you do it from the Pre or your computer. We were able to download and view attachments as well as send them.

With the e-mail set up, all relevant Calendars will also be synced to the Pre and brought into one calendar view via Synergy. Appointments are color-coded to help you differentiate between the different accounts. Alternatively, there is a drop-down menu from where you can view each calendar separately. Again, like e-mail, the synchronization of our Outlook and Google calendars was seamless. We also created new events from the device, which automatically synced back to our Outlook and Google calendars

With all the data that the Pre can handle, searching for items could be a cumbersome and tedious task, but universal search takes care of that problem. From anywhere on the phone, you can start entering a search term and the Pre will look through your contacts, applications, the Web, Google Maps, and Twitter. The feature worked well when we searched for contacts, businesses, and more general terms, but it's not quite as robust as the iPhone's search in that it doesn't search e-mail headers, calendar, notes, or the music library.

If there's one area where the Palm Pre holds the edge over the current iPhone, G1, and other smartphones, it's in its multitasking and notification capabilities. The much-talked-about Deck of Card feature works well, allowing you to keep multiple applications open and running in the background while working in another. Like on a computer, you can minimize and maximize tasks by using the center button and swiping through the various cards. In addition, the aforementioned quick-launch bar makes menu access and launching new apps a snap.

The limit on the number of cards you have open will depend on which applications you are using. The more memory-intensive ones, such as complicated Web sites, will take up more memory and consequently reduce the number of apps you can have open. A notification will appear if you've reached the limit and recommend you close other applications to open up memory. We got this alert twice during our testing period, and it was while we had several Web sites active and also had three or four other apps open, so you still get a good amount of multitasking. We even got up to 12 active cards at once.

We were quite impressed with the Pre's GPS capabilities.

The Pre's browser is quite good. Based on WebKit, it renders sites onscreen as you would see them on your desktop, and pretty quickly at that.

Overall, we were happy with the Pre's browser in terms of navigation and functionality, but there were a couple of misses. One was the lack of an onscreen keyboard. Without it, you can't type URLs or enter any text into relevant fields when you're viewing sites in landscape mode, so you'll need to switch back to portrait mode, which is annoying. Also, there's no Flash support at this time, so you can't view Flash videos within the browser. However, Palm announced (http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13970_7-10164745-78.html) its commitment to Adobe's Open Screen Project back in February and promised to bring the Flash 10 Player to its WebOS devices by the end of the year.

The Palm Pre has got a solid set of multimedia features....... It's not quite as slick as the iPhone's Cover Flow feature, but it works.

There are several methods for getting media onto the smartphone. First, the Pre has the capability to act as a storage device, so you can sideload music and video by connecting the smartphone to your computer via a USB cable and selecting the USB Drive option from where you can then drag and drop files.

the Pre also works with iTunes, so you can sync any non-DRM tracks (no videos) to the smartphone. There's some question about whether Apple will eventually put the kibosh on this, but for now, we're happy to report the iTunes synchronization worked and it was easy as pie (and yes, it worked with the most recent iTunes 8.2).

The 8GB memory cap really became an issue when we were transferring our music library.

While you can't purchase tracks from iTunes, the Palm Pre works with the Amazon MP3 Store, from which you can download songs over the air using your Amazon account. There is no support for Sprint's Music Store. Be aware that while you can preview and queue up songs for purchase on Sprint's 3G network, you must be connected to a Wi-Fi network to actually buy them and download them wirelessly. The iPhone 3G allows you download songs over Wi-Fi and 3G.

There are several streaming-video options on the Pre. There's a dedicated YouTube app right on the device and access to Sprint TV, which includes programming from a variety of channels, such as CNN, Bravo, Comedy Central, and Sprint Exclusive Entertainment. A select number of channels also offer live programming, and there is a Sprint Radio channel for streaming music.

The Pre's music sound quality was quite good. Needless to say, we're happy that Palm included a standard headphone jack........and while there are no audio settings or EQ presets, we thought songs sounded rich and we noticed a good amount of bass.

The Pre comes equipped with a 3-megapixel camera and an LED flash. The camera functions are about as basic as you can get......Picture quality (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11508_7-6385526-1.html) was quite impressive, though we thought otherwise at first. It takes a few seconds for pictures to render on screen, so immediately after taking pictures the photos looked extremely blurry. In reality, they were extremely sharp and colors were vibrant and rich, without any weird orange or grayish tones. Also, there was barely any lag from the time we pressed the capture button to the moment the photo was taken.

The Palm Pre App Catalog is still in beta and will only have about a dozen titles at launch.

We also like that Fandango and CitySearch used the phone's GPS to customize the app to pull in local theaters and other businesses. In addition, with Fandango, you can watch previews, buy movie tickets, and, once purchased, the Pre will create a calendar entry to block out that time--very smart.

All that said, we're disappointed by the sparse selection of apps........Palm has touted the fact that developers can create apps based on standard HTML, CSS, and JavaScript technologies as one of the advantages of WebOS; and developers will be given access to the features of WebOS, such as the notifications service, to use with their programs. We're sure the catalog will fill out in the coming months, but at this point, Palm's got a lot of catching up to do.

On our end, the audio was clear, with very little background noise. Voices sounded rich, not tinny or digitized as on some cell phones. Our friends also reported good results and more than once, we got an "I'm impressed" comment about the audio quality.

When we used the speakerphone, it didn't surprise us that call quality diminished a bit. Voices sounded slightly far away, and in louder environments, you definitely need to have the volume set at the highest level. The problem then is that audio can sound blown out. That said, we were still able to hold a conversation and our callers didn't even notice we had turned on the speakerphone during the call.

Battery life is an issue and probably one of our biggest concerns. The Pre comes with a user-removable 1150mAh lithium ion battery with a rated talk time of 5 hours and up to 12 days of standby time. While CNET Labs is currently conducting its series of battery drain tests (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11288_7-6634891-7.html) on the Pre, we managed to get in one talk time test and the Pre met the claimed 5 hours.

Also, Palm acknowledged a problem in which the AIM client is drawing power, especially for users with a lot of buddies, and said it will issue a bug fix. We're glad a fix is coming, but this is not exactly how you want to kick-start your product launch.

The Palm Pre's sales package contents are similar to the Palm Treo Pro. The smartphone ships with an AC adapter, a Micro-USB cable, a wired-stereo headset, a soft-protective pouch, a recycling envelope, and reference material.

[Cringer]

Well, then January of next year then. 6 months isn't much.

6 months might not even be correct now I guess.

Hesse, however, told technology website CNET News on Friday that Sprint's exclusive U.S. deal to sell Pre went beyond the end of 2009, dismissing the notion that Verizon could have the phone in just six months.

I would guess they have it for nine months based on that, but who knows. I am not sure why it's a big secret? If it was for longer then a year though you would think Sprint would scream it from the roof trying to get people to come over from other providers.

[FBPro]

Curve has far fewer problems than any other smartphone and can do just about anything you need one to do.

[stevew]

They finally released another firmware for the Storm. I love this phone personally. I don't think any piece of hardware is gonna be perfect. But I bet if the storm 2 reduces some of the flaws of this device(limited app memory and slowish processor) it is gonna be a winner.

[GreenMonster]

Yeah, I'm on there from time to time to pick up things. I haven't tried 6.5, but I may be worth it. 6.1 has some issues that are annoying. Maybe 6.5 will iron them out. Any idea if there's a list of changes?

xda is mainly a GSM developer site for CDMA you want to check out ppcgeeks. I have a Diamond on Sprint and I have been running 6.5 roms for a month or two now. Every release gets better, 6.5 has a lots of new and updated features along with much better battery life. I really like the Titanium start menu, its pretty sweet when you get all the panels the way you like.

[rjolley]

Yeah, I'm thinking about trying one of the ROMs. I usually don't messed around with them, but I figure I can try it out.

Is it pretty easy to do?

[GreenMonster]

Yeah, I'm thinking about trying one of the ROMs. I usually don't messed around with them, but I figure I can try it out.

Is it pretty easy to do?

The 1st time you do it, you may be a little nervous but the directions are really good. After you do it once or twice, the only thing that stops me is the time it takes to set it up with all my programs and settings and stuff although there is great auto installer that I have just started using. I usually use Mighty Roms, but his 6.5 isn't the best yet I would say try DryBonz or IndiaGroove. After using a custom rom you will never want to use a stock rom ever again..

[dervack]

I plan on getting a Pre in the next couple of weeks myself.

[Voo]

The 1st time you do it, you may be a little nervous but the directions are really good. After you do it once or twice, the only thing that stops me is the time it takes to set it up with all my programs and settings and stuff although there is great auto installer that I have just started using. I usually use Mighty Roms, but his 6.5 isn't the best yet I would say try DryBonz or IndiaGroove. After using a custom rom you will never want to use a stock rom ever again..

Also before you do it, you may want to grab a backup utility like ppcpimbackup so you can import your contacts and messages on the new rom.

[rjolley]

Thanks for all of the info. After a bit of work to get the phone unlocked (issues with the newest ROM from Sprint), I got the HardSSPL installed, then the Unlocker, then, finally, Groove 5.

So far, I like the eye candy of 6.5. I'll put it through it's paces over the next couple of weeks to see if things perform better. Just need to install SensorLock, gAlarm, and that free Texas Hold 'Em, and it'll be all set.

Thanks again

[Cringer]

Apple throws a punch to the gut of Palm I guess. New iPhone 3G S comes out June 19, although a few of the new features of the 3.0 OS won't work until end of summer at earliest because of AT&T limitations.

-The current iPhone 3G drops to $99 today. That hurts Palm Pre.
-New iPhone has voice call (and iTunes control) and video. That hurts Pre
-Oh, and for the losers who don't know where north is, a compass.
-Other features I didn't find as big deals, though I might be forgetting something.

[Cringer]

Oh, and the phone is overall faster at everything I guess.

[Scarecrow]

Apple throws a punch to the gut of Palm I guess. New iPhone 3G S comes out June 19, although a few of the new features of the 3.0 OS won't work until end of summer at earliest because of AT&T limitations.

-The current iPhone 3G drops to $99 today. That hurts Palm Pre.
-New iPhone has voice call (and iTunes control) and video. That hurts Pre
-Oh, and for the losers who don't know where north is, a compass.
-Other features I didn't find as big deals, though I might be forgetting something.

What helps Palm Pre - it's with Sprint. Here the comparison for my family:

Sprint
-3 lines (all with Palm Pre's)
- Unlimited data on all 3 lines
- Unlimited text on all 3 lines
Price per month: $119.99 ($149.99 + 20% work discount)

AT&T
- 3 lines (only 1 can have an iPhone)
- Messaging Unlimited for families
- Data plan for iPhone / PDA Personal
Price per month: $199.98

So, my choice is to make my family happy by giving them each a Palm Pre and saving $80 a month, or being handcuffed by AT&T by only getting 1 iPhone and paying an extra $2,000 over the life of the contract.

[GreenMonster]

Thanks for all of the info. After a bit of work to get the phone unlocked (issues with the newest ROM from Sprint), I got the HardSSPL installed, then the Unlocker, then, finally, Groove 5.

So far, I like the eye candy of 6.5. I'll put it through it's paces over the next couple of weeks to see if things perform better. Just need to install SensorLock, gAlarm, and that free Texas Hold 'Em, and it'll be all set.

Thanks again

Let me know how you like India's rom, I using the 6/5/09 Build. It should be a huge upgrade if you have just been using the stock Sprint rom..

[Cringer]

What helps Palm Pre - it's with Sprint. Here the comparison for my family:

Sprint
-3 lines (all with Palm Pre's)
- Unlimited data on all 3 lines
- Unlimited text on all 3 lines
Price per month: $119.99 ($149.99 + 20% work discount)

AT&T
- 3 lines (only 1 can have an iPhone)
- Messaging Unlimited for families
- Data plan for iPhone / PDA Personal
Price per month: $199.98

So, my choice is to make my family happy by giving them each a Palm Pre and saving $80 a month, or being handcuffed by AT&T by only getting 1 iPhone and paying an extra $2,000 over the life of the contract.

Oh yeah, I like Sprint and I am really happy with how the Pre has been reviewed and what it will do for me once I get it. The iPhone means nothing to me as long as it is on AT&T only, except I get to here people talk about how many apps they can get and use one at a time. In all fairness though, overall the iPhone is probably the best phone (the new version coming out anyways, I would argue the 3G being better then the Pre). And for people who were looking to upgrade and thought of iPhone as the top level phone and may have leaned a little towards the Pre when it came out, were quickly drawn back to the iPhone by a $99 version. That was the big sucker punch to Palm I think.

The iPhone still doesn't have multi-tasking though. Pre will have that over them for at least a year. And the Pre will improve over the next year with software upgrades. They are determined to get flash video going on it, they have said they can provide video recording with an upgrade, and something else I am forgetting.

[stevew]

When they say that the iPhone doesn't multitask, that means that I can't surf the net, make a phone call, send a text or an email, or play a game at the same time? Like if I'm typing a email, and the phone rings, I lose that email?

Or is it that I can't run AIM and a game at the same time?

[Cringer]

When they say that the iPhone doesn't multitask, that means that I can't surf the net, make a phone call, send a text or an email, or play a game at the same time? Like if I'm typing a email, and the phone rings, I lose that email?

Or is it that I can't run AIM and a game at the same time?


The typing an email and losing it when the phone rings is actually a service provider thing from what I understand. Writing that email is done while on a data connection, the phone call is on a voice connection. Some providers (like Sprint) don't allow data and voice connections to be made at the same time. Really it is one of the few true problems with Sprint IMO.

I may be wrong but I think the iPhone can do that because AT&T allows data and voice to be run at the same time.

Multi-tasking is having multiple apps open at the same time and being able to switch between them. Music playing, type up an email, check for something on the internet to double check what I wrote in my email, quickly buy my movie tickets in Fandango, and check my calendar and whatever else I can think of. People have had the Pre running up to 10-12 things at the same time. Though certain apps will hog more memory and then you may only get 3-4. You can switch between them, like you do on a computer. The iPhone is one app at a time.

[rjolley]

Let me know how you like India's rom, I using the 6/5/09 Build. It should be a huge upgrade if you have just been using the stock Sprint rom..
That's the version I'm using. There's a new one out, I believe.

So far, I like it. The only problem I had was with the camera having a black screen instead of what I'm aiming at, and the weather app trying to stay connected and draining my battery quicker than I'd like.

Otherwise, it's a nice upgrade. I'll have to tinker around with it for awhile, but it's definitely been worth it.

[GreenMonster]

That's the version I'm using. There's a new one out, I believe.

So far, I like it. The only problem I had was with the camera having a black screen instead of what I'm aiming at, and the weather app trying to stay connected and draining my battery quicker than I'd like.

Otherwise, it's a nice upgrade. I'll have to tinker around with it for awhile, but it's definitely been worth it.

You can change the settings on Weather to get the weather at different intervals or manually. I only get the forcast like every 12 hours but the weather every 90 minutes, so I have about the current temp. I just tried my camera, it seems to be working fine..

[rjolley]

You can change the settings on Weather to get the weather at different intervals or manually. I only get the forcast like every 12 hours but the weather every 90 minutes, so I have about the current temp. I just tried my camera, it seems to be working fine..
If you set it to every 90 minutes, does it disconnect the data connection? That seems to be the drain on power.

Yeah, not sure what it is about the camera. I've seen some posts about it on ppcgeeks, but no solution, and India says he saw the issue before, but not now. I don't use the camera enough for it to be a showstopper, but it is annoying.

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm upgrading my 4 year old phone. Wife loves Verizon and doesn't want us to switch. Anyone have thoughts on the new LG enV Touch vs Samsung Omnia vs Blackberry Storm (I've heard/read the most feedback on the Storm and it seems very divided.)

[GreenMonster]

If you set it to every 90 minutes, does it disconnect the data connection? That seems to be the drain on power.

Yeah, not sure what it is about the camera. I've seen some posts about it on ppcgeeks, but no solution, and India says he saw the issue before, but not now. I don't use the camera enough for it to be a showstopper, but it is annoying.

I am sure it does, it hasn't been a drain for me since I changed it from the initial settings.

I am really digging 6.5 with the new start menu, and the new today page. It will really get cooking now that the SDK is out..

[Voo]

I'm upgrading my 4 year old phone. Wife loves Verizon and doesn't want us to switch. Anyone have thoughts on the new LG enV Touch vs Samsung Omnia vs Blackberry Storm (I've heard/read the most feedback on the Storm and it seems very divided.)

I've heard a lot of good things about the Omnia, but Im pretty sure there is an Omnia 2 coming out soon.

[AZSpeechCoach]

I'm upgrading my 4 year old phone. Wife loves Verizon and doesn't want us to switch. Anyone have thoughts on the new LG enV Touch vs Samsung Omnia vs Blackberry Storm (I've heard/read the most feedback on the Storm and it seems very divided.)

If you can hold out for a little bit, you'll have the Blackberry Tour as an option. The Tour is like the Bold in a smaller form factor. The Storm 2 is also coming out at some point this year. Previews say it fixes many of the original problems.

[stevew]

I'm upgrading my 4 year old phone. Wife loves Verizon and doesn't want us to switch. Anyone have thoughts on the new LG enV Touch vs Samsung Omnia vs Blackberry Storm (I've heard/read the most feedback on the Storm and it seems very divided.)

I'd wait a few months till the Storm 2 or Tour come out from Blackberry. Otherwise I'd probably go with the Storm over the other two there. But I may be biased.

You either love the touch screen on the storm, or you don't. It's pretty dividing.

[Cringer]

For the second time in three days I am going down to get a Palm Pre, though this time we are told 100% they have them in and one saved for me. About stinking time, been actively trying to find one for a week now.

[Cringer]

Have had the phone for about 18 hours now, and I am in love with it. Take it with a grain of salt because this is my first smartphone, not too mention I have even had the internet and texting turned off of my previous phone for the past 18 months or so, until now. Still, very impressive phone, such a gorgeous screen, fun to use. I am very impressed. Hell, I already prefer running Pandora over my phone then over my computer while sitting here. it just works better even if not on wifi connection. I need to get some mp3s on there this weekend. The camera is great, and takes pictures much faster then any phone we have ever had in our family. I am very surprised by the keyboard. I have large fingers, and I have found it no problem typing with even my thumb. I bold it because I am actually very happy with the keyboard when I went in thinking I would have to adjust over time.

The wife got one as well, which surprised me. Her review would be more critical I think, but she is also one who doesn't like change in certain areas of her life. That is why I was surprised she got the Pre instead of the Pro like she had planned. Anyways, she has trouble adjusting to the tough screen, mainly because on her Treo she has always used her nails on the screen, this requires skin touching. She has also had a couple little "hmm, problem?" moments, and if she has anymore I will get her to take it down and exchange it for another one. Overall she seems to like it, but she hates having to adjust to something new like this.

edit: we will probably be getting an extra battery.

[JeeberD]

Keep me up to date on how it goes, Cringer. I have a friend who works at a Sprint store and she's advising me to wait a few months before buying one so that all the bugs get worked out. Of course, I have to wait a few months anyway because I'll be buying it through my sister, who is a Sprint employee, but I'm still curious to see what might pop up for you...

[Cringer]

Posting with the Pre now. Jeebs, I would say this thing will be even better in a couple of months. There are already rumors of another OTA update in a week or two, solid rumors I guess. Them enabling video recording is part of that rumor.

[JeeberD]

Sweet, good to know.

And how's the battery life? I noticed you said you'll be getting an extra battery, and battery life was one of the main issuess my friend mentioned. I work 10-12 hour shifts regularly I don't want my phone dying on me every day.

[Cringer]

Honestly, I can't give a solid opinion of that just yet. Give me a few days, a week, and I will know better. I say that because since I got it I have been on it non-stop it seems. Adding what I want, setting things up, or mostly playing around. Non-stop use, I could probably drain it in 5 hours. At work 10-12 hours, I would guess at this point you might be fine depending on how much you use it. Plus they already of what are supposed to be some good power saving tips that I have ignored, because I know for the most part I will be able to charge it right now. Turning off wifi/bluetooth when not needed, lower how often it checks for email, that sort of thing. I have been mostly at home, so I have wifi on, email coming through instantly, basically everything to eat up power. :D

But, I say I will be getting a battery just because I know at some point it will be useful, as opposed to phones I have had in the past where I wouldn't care. There is already an extended battery out, and that same company will be coming out with an even bigger one, which only adds a couple millimeters to thickness.

[Cringer]

Whores at Palm (a.k.a. me getting what I deserve for buying in the first month)!

The Pre is being dropped to $150, and the Palm Pixi was announced tonight. The Pixi is basically the new Treo Pro/Centro to me, not a slider. Has 8GB of storage, slightly smaller screen then the Pre, WebOS of course, and is pretty dang thin looking. Thinner then the Pre of course, 10% thinner then the iPhone 3G S, and 20% thinner then any Blackberry (so Palm says). The odd omission was wi-fi, kind of to prove it is the cheaper version I guess. They said it would be out before the holidays, no price but everyone assumes $99. Looks like a nice phone, though I have learned to love the wi-fi connection with the Pre. The Pixi processor power wasn't announced, but I guess it is clearly weaker then that of the Pre (so not as many cards/apps open and running at once).

[fantom1979]

Palm's intro video for the Pixi:

http://palm.cdnetworks.net/pixi/pixi_intro_final_spec_h264_640x400_750.mov


Image:

http://www.palm.com/us/assets/images/products/phones/detail/pixi/gallery/gallery-pix-01.jpg (http://www.palm.com/us/assets/images/products/phones/detail/pixi/gallery/gallery-pix-01.jpg)

[sterlingice]

After a couple of years in the desert, Palm has just come roaring back this year in a big way. I'm happy for it as I've always liked the PalmOS

SI

[Danny]

Ok, so I am looking for one these devises. I also need a new phone, so if it can be both a phone and serve the function I need then the better. I need an exceptional calendar/scheduling feature. It has to have detailed, easy to view, easy to setup daily events, reminders, alerts, etc... Also a good contact feature would be good too. Any suggestions?

[stevew]

Might be a good idea to list your carrier of choice.

[ISiddiqui]

True... because that makes a large difference.

I'm on Verizon and just got the Blackberry Tour. Think its great for calender/scheduling features and syncing to your outlook or Google Calender.

It's also VERY GOOD as a phone. I've had people be impressed by the call quality (and even speaker quality).

[GreenMonster]

If anyone is in the market for a Sprint HTC Diamond let me know, I don't think I am going to be able to not by a Touch Pro 2.. So far I have stayed away, but I am not sure I can much longer..

[rjolley]

Not sure which phone I'm going to move to next. I have a Diamond and with the ROMs, it's like having a new phone whenever I want.

Right now, it's between the Pre and the Pro 2, though the Hero looks interesting as well. I may just wait 6 months or so and see what new phones roll out, seeing as Palm just announced a new one and HTC may bring new their phones over.

[Danny]

I'm with Verizon now, but I am ok with at&t as well though keeping Verizon is the easiest.

[GreenMonster]

Not sure which phone I'm going to move to next. I have a Diamond and with the ROMs, it's like having a new phone whenever I want.

Right now, it's between the Pre and the Pro 2, though the Hero looks interesting as well. I may just wait 6 months or so and see what new phones roll out, seeing as Palm just announced a new one and HTC may bring new their phones over.

I love custom Roms, they are the main reason I stay with Windows Mobile phones. Right now I am really digging Windows 6.5, my home screen is just how I like it now, with access to everything I use..

[stevew]

Verizon has bogo deals running on Blackberry this month. 2 phones run about 160ish a month though. But you can probably be a good husband if you get her a cool phone

[Danny]

Can I get the second phone without signing a new contract? My wife has a long time left on her contract, but if she could use the phone on her current one with just adding the Internet that might be better.

[stevew]

No idea. But I know they were cool with us going to a BB even though we had time on the contract. It might be better to see what happens if she upgrades and adds you to her account.

[Cringer]

Sprint appears to be in full attack mode to try and stop the bleeding of losing customers.

They have added a new feature to their Everything Data plan. This is their unlimited data/sms/mms plan that has 450 anytime minutes ($69/mo) or 900 anytime minutes($89/mo). Any Mobile, Anytime feature adds free minutes to any mobile phone, any time of the day. Any mobile phone means any, as in phones on other networks.

hxxp://anymobile.sprint.com/

Doesn't help me though, we both already have the Simply Everything plan with unlimited everything for $99 a month. Over 3000 minutes between the two of us and a week left in our billing cycle, so it's worth it.

[Danny]

Ok, so the soonest I can upgrade with Verizon is in a month. The current cancellation fee is $85. So basically there are my choices

Wait a month and then upgrade getting the Blackberry Tour for $150

Or

Switch my provider to At&T, get a refurbished Blackberry Curve 8900 for $10 and pay the $85 cancellation fee

I kind of do need the phone now and like the fact At&T has rollover minutes.

But also not sure if the Curve 8900 is as good as the Tour, any recommendations?

[DaddyTorgo]

Sprint appears to be in full attack mode to try and stop the bleeding of losing customers.

They have added a new feature to their Everything Data plan. This is their unlimited data/sms/mms plan that has 450 anytime minutes ($69/mo) or 900 anytime minutes($89/mo). Any Mobile, Anytime feature adds free minutes to any mobile phone, any time of the day. Any mobile phone means any, as in phones on other networks.

hxxp://anymobile.sprint.com/

Doesn't help me though, we both already have the Simply Everything plan with unlimited everything for $99 a month. Over 3000 minutes between the two of us and a week left in our billing cycle, so it's worth it.

i'm on Simply Everything too, but now that there's no longer TCB I could seriously use to downgrade, as my actual time on the phone now is miniscule.

i just need to get around to doing it.

[stevew]

Ok, so the soonest I can upgrade with Verizon is in a month. The current cancellation fee is $85. So basically there are my choices

Wait a month and then upgrade getting the Blackberry Tour for $150

Or

Switch my provider to At&T, get a refurbished Blackberry Curve 8900 for $10 and pay the $85 cancellation fee

I kind of do need the phone now and like the fact At&T has rollover minutes.

But also not sure if the Curve 8900 is as good as the Tour, any recommendations?

I'd try to get a bold personally, if I were going the ATT route. Check and see if Walmart(believe it or not) might have it cheaper than the ATT store.

[stevew]

dola-
Amazon.com: BlackBerry Curve 8900 Phone, Black (AT&T): Cell Phones & Service (http://www.amazon.com/BlackBerry-Curve-8900-Phone-Black/dp/B002AKKJWM/ref=pd_cp_cps_1)

New Curve 8900 for 1 cent, free activation if you do it today(sept 28). Thats like 35 bucks you save.

[Danny]

Any reason for the bold over the curve? It seems the primary advantage the tour/bold has is the 3g network and being slightly more powerful hardware wise.

[Danny]

Just noticed I can get the tour from amazon for $49 with a 2 year plan to Verizon wireless. So would it be possible to order this and get my number switched to this new phone and cancel my current membership. This way I pay the $49 +85 cancellation fee, but that is still less than the $149 tour price straight from Verizon.

[Danny]

Scratch that, I called them, not possible. They do have a blackberry bold with At&T for $90 though, so it would be $175 with my cancellation fee. So is the bold as good or better than the tour?

[jeff061]

I've briefly used the Tour and the Bold. The Tour is really a smaller form factor Bold for the most part. I liked the Bold better, the keyboard is damn near perfect. Tour is to compact and the keyboard suffers.

If I was going to get a blackberry right now I'd get the bold. I'm holding out for the Pre in January.

[stevew]

Cancel your contract and have your wife add you? I think you can get promo pricing for a second line.

If you haven't gone into a store I'd also try that. Or go see someone else. Rules get bent When a salesperson sees a commision.

[Danny]

Not possible, my wife is still on her parents phone contract paying $20 a month. If the bold is better I don't mind going with that for $180 from At&T instead of the Tour from $150 from Verizon.

[ISiddiqui]

If you are going with the Bold, wait for the Bold II (coming in November) which has a track pad, faster internals, 3.2 megapixel camera, etc. Of course the Bold II has a Tour like keyboard (as most people seemingly prefer the size of the Tour).

[Danny]

Can't really wait until November, plus it will probably cost an extra $200 and I don't need the better camera.

[dervack]

Trackpad is better than the trackball, imo.

[Danny]

Ended up waiting and just got the new Bold 9700 that was released. Haven't had much time to play around with it, but so far it is awesome!

[ISiddiqui]

See, waiting is good ;).

[Cringer]

Can't really wait until November, plus it will probably cost an extra $200 and I don't need the better camera.

Ended up waiting and just got the new Bold 9700 that was released. Haven't had much time to play around with it, but so far it is awesome!

Did you mean November 2010 in that first post? I am pretty sure it is December, though I could be wrong. Time flies eh?

Speaking of time flies and phones, I find it hard to believe I have had my Pre for almost six months now. I am at an odd intersection of "still feels new" and "been long enough they should have fixed a couple of these small problems by now." Love the phone and maybe the only thing I could think of having over it right now is an Android phone, though Sprint doesn't have one that blows me away even with the Hero now. Still, with monthly updates from Palm and now up to webOS 1.3.1 (soon to be 1.3.5) there are several things Palm needs to get off their ass about and correct.

1. This phone has a GPU that is not used, at all. They are supposed to enable it (allegedly) which would make the phone faster. The phone is fine but more speed is welcome and I would like to see this done.

2. Still waiting for video recording ability to be flipped on.

3. You have a memory limit for how many apps you can have installed (supposed to be fixed in 1.3.5 update) which is a bit annoying.

4. Their SDK needs to be improved (or so I hear), because of the 500 apps in the catalog there is not one I am interested in paying for so far.

5. European owners are getting screwed on the app catalog with only 100 apps if they are lucky. I don't live there though.


The good:

1. Multi-tasking on this phone rocks. Use it ALL the time now. Email open, notes open, task list open, phone dialer open, Evernote open all at the same time, flipping back and forth. Couldn't be without it now.

2. Modding the phone is super easy. The community for this phone has done excellent things. I can change complete themes, add things (I have roughly 30 "patches" installed changing things from number of icons per row in the app menu to how my pictures files are named). All of this is done through an app installed to make the changes. Simple to uninstall when upgrading the OS too. Love this part, big time.

3. Web browsing is a pleasure with this phone. Email is great (for me, I know some might complain how it handles certain things). In fact I check three of my five email accounts only with this phone and never on the computer.

4. Having four calendars synced up is nice.

5. Just a great camera for a 3.0 megapixel(though I do wish it had focus like the iPod 3Gs has), use it for work pictures even. The focus problem only comes into play on very close shots.

Overall, wouldn't give up the phone, though if they don't speed along the OS some over the next six months then I may end up seeing an Android phone on Sprint I like.

[Alan T]

I just got a new Blackberry Bold 9000 for work, and I like it much more than the old Curve 8300 that I had. The Bold fits better in my hand, feels better and is much much much easier for me to type on (I have fairly large fingers/hands).

Obviously the applications all run faster/smoother, and I'm in love with the wifi connectivity that allows me to watch my slingbox (television) around the house on it (or in various wifi cafes anywhere I go).

[rjolley]

Cringer, did they get SprintNav over to the Pre?

I'm up in the air about which phone I'll upgrade to. Currently, it's between the Pre, the Touch Pro 2, or the Hero, although Samsung's new phone looks good too.

I may just wait 3 months and see what's new on the horizon for phones. I'd love for the HTC HD2 to come to Sprint.

[JeeberD]

I'm not Cringer, but yup, the Pre has Navigator...

[Danny]

Did you mean November 2010 in that first post? I am pretty sure it is December, though I could be wrong. Time flies eh?


hehe, yeah, managed to gut it out waiting. It was tough though as my old phone was on it's last legs. And I ended up getting the Bold 9700 for 10 bucks, so that was nice.

[Cringer]

Cringer, did they get SprintNav over to the Pre?

I'm up in the air about which phone I'll upgrade to. Currently, it's between the Pre, the Touch Pro 2, or the Hero, although Samsung's new phone looks good too.

I may just wait 3 months and see what's new on the horizon for phones. I'd love for the HTC HD2 to come to Sprint.

As Jeebs said, it's on there. SprintTV is pretty nice as well as far as Provider installed apps go. The NFL app is forced on as is the NASCAR app. I like the NFL app, but have a patch installed that basically makes the NASCAR app invisible (since you can't take it off).

[rjolley]

One thing I do like about the HTC devices is the ability to install different ROMs. I could do without that, though, for a solid phone with a good set of apps.

[Danny]

The keyboard was the most pleasant surprise for me. I have large hands and the keys are so tiny, but it works :)

[Samdari]

Has anyone gotten a droid?

[gstelmack]

This is not the droid you are lookin for.

[Dr. Sak]

Has anyone gotten a droid?

I have one.

[Samdari]

I have one.

You like it?

I asked the wife for one for Christmas, she said she did not want to do the paperwork, I should go get it myself (note: she usually complains when I buy stuff myself and its not available to her as a gift idea. Make up your mind, woman.).

[jeff061]

Love my droid. Tethering off it now. No monthly fees, done right. Screen resolution is crazy.

[Samdari]

No monthly fees, done right.

What's do you mean by this?

[Dr. Sak]

You like it?

I asked the wife for one for Christmas, she said she did not want to do the paperwork, I should go get it myself (note: she usually complains when I buy stuff myself and its not available to her as a gift idea. Make up your mind, woman.).

Love it. A little thicker than the iPhone but it feels like it is built solid. It doesn't have the apps the iPhone does but it has all the major ones. I got the one with the pull out keyboard but you can also have a touch screen one on there too.

[jeff061]

What's do you mean by this?

Means if you buy PDANet for Android you can tether without getting charged by Verizon. Just uses the data plan you already have.

PdaNet -- USB Tether/Bluetooth DUN for Android (http://www.junefabrics.com/android/index.php)

[Samdari]

Means if you buy PDANet for Android you can tether without getting charged by Verizon. Just uses the data plan you already have.

Which data plan do you have?

I am actually confused by the data plan issue. Does Verizon charge extra once you go over a certain cap (5GB? 10GB?).

[ISiddiqui]

No. Unlimited Data Plans on Verizon

[jeff061]

No. Unlimited Data Plans on Verizon

Not really. They call it unlimited, but they charge you after 5gb, not sure how they get away with that. Another 10 or 15 bucks gets you true unlimited.

Though I have to imagine its damn near impossible to pull 5gb a month through your mobile. Even with heavy tethering.

[jeff061]

I just have the standard smart phone data plan, btw. Nothing special.

[Scoobz0202]

I have the Droid and really like it as well. The Android Marketplace is getting new, great apps every day. I really like the potential of the phone. This is my first smart phone, as I am coming from a Voyager. But it's nice to know that my phone will more then likely only get better with over the air updates in the two years that I have it.

[Flasch186]

any must have droid apps, I just got one yesterday. bye bye blackberry storm.

[terpkristin]

Time for TK's pet peeve number 1 about the Android store: can't see what's in it unless you have an Android device. But now that I'm considering an Android device, how am I going to know if all the apps I want are available UNLESS I can see before I buy? :(

Sorry, I know nothing about Droid apps but I always recommend the TED app. I am a fan of the TED conference talks, if not the pretentiousness that TED in general seems to have.

/tk

[Scoobz0202]

any must have droid apps, I just got one yesterday. bye bye blackberry storm.

Um. I have mine out and Im looking down my apps list and here are ones that jump out at me:

The ones I would say are must have are:

- Home++ (#22) Or any homescreen changer. Most allow you up to 7 or so home screens

- Handscent SMS (#14)

- Astro File Manager (#17)




1. More Icons Widget - Instead of having one widget/shortcut in a "box" you can fit up to 4 shortcuts in that one block. Excellent way to cram as much shit on one screen :)

2. FeedR - I went down my favorites list and checked out all the sites I check daily and all my favorite blogs and what not and added them to my FeedR. Great way to keep up to date to all your sites when your on the go.

3. Pandora - Self-Explanatory. Have an ipod jack and then have it charging so it doesn't drain batter and makes the car ride great.

4. Wapedia - Mobile Wiki

5. Battery Left Widget - I've found the battery icon is very sketchy. It goes from 80-60-40-20-0. That's a damn big gap. You install this and it takes about a week or two to fully calibrate but when it is it is very nice to have. Tells you how much battery you have to the exact percent, how many hours you have left on that charge, and its estimated time it will die.

6. Calvin and Hobbes - Cmon. Everybody needs a Calvin and Hobbes comic every day.

7. Not Call Log - One thing I didn't like about the droid is that after an outgoing call it sent you to your call log. This little program lets you designate where it goes. I have it set to the home screen like it should.

8. Seesmic - If you have a twitter account this is a very good twitter app

9. Beautiful Widgets - Has some handy widgets like a toggle bar for wifi.

10. Listen - Podcasts

11. SNesoid/GENoid/NESoid - Emulators for Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and Regular Nintendo

12. Ebay - Self-Explanatory

13. Movies - Flixter has this app. Great way to check what your local theatres showtimes are.

14. Handcent SMS - I use this instead of the default text messenger. The program is not much different then the stock one, but it has a handy feature that allows you to view and respond to a text message without having to unlock your phone and go to the program.

15. Dolphin Browser - I have had this for awhile. I liked it better then the stock, but I have heard the stock browser is improved. Also, Firefox is developing a browser so when that comes out and then when Flash comes out then I will be going to the Firefox browser.

16. Missed Call - Allows you to change the color of the LED lights. Can have a certain color blink for text message, missed call, emails, etc. I think I just set the LED color in the Handcent SMS instead of using this but I do use it to change the color for emails and missed calls I believe.

17. Astro File Manager - The biggest problem I have run into with the droid is there is not a real file manager. This fixed that. Take a few minutes to figure it out. At first it will look confusing and unorganized but once you get used to it you will come to love Astro.

18. CalWidget - Have a widget on one of my screens to see my agenda.

19. Mobile Defense - After you take the five minutes to set it up it disappears from your phone but it always runs in the background. If you lose your phone, or it is stolen, you can go to their website to track your phone down.

20. Live Scores - the best app I have found for sports scores.

21. ShopSavvy - Ability to scan barcodes and to price match online when you are in a store.

22. Home++ - Totally changes the UI of your phones homescreen. Really like it. As with any new program sometimes there are slowdowns or glitches but it just looks fucking great.

23. The Weather Channel - Yep. Nice little widget on my homescreen to see the current weather.

24. MotoTorch LED - Turns your flash into a flashlight.


I don't know any really good forums for android but I found these on google when I first got my phone. I frequently check them, especially their android applications sections, for any new developments or applications.

hxxp://androidforums.com/

hxxp://www.droidforums.net/forum/

[stevew]

I'm praying something cool will be out in November when I can upgrade. Right now I would get the palm pre plus.

[Flasch186]

thanks for taking the time!

[cubboyroy1826]

Okay it is upgrade time for me and as a Verizon customer i am going between the Blackberry and the Droid. I am a basic user for business and need to be able to receive emails when i am away from the office as well as have internet access. I am not sure just how much true surfing i will need or what other apps will be needed since i am coming from a basic phone. Any thoughts?

[Flasch186]

Well I had the storm 1 and I can tell you that the droid browsing is far better than the experience I had browsing on the Storm. Droid doesnt sync well with Outlook out of the box, I had to set my gmail account to check my Outlook for me and have those emailed fwd there for my phone to then pick them up. It works seamlessly through that but it was a few hours to figure that all out.

[Klinglerware]

Okay it is upgrade time for me and as a Verizon customer i am going between the Blackberry and the Droid. I am a basic user for business and need to be able to receive emails when i am away from the office as well as have internet access. I am not sure just how much true surfing i will need or what other apps will be needed since i am coming from a basic phone. Any thoughts?

If you absolutely require push business e-mail, you will probably be better off getting a phone with an OS that your IT department will officially support (usually WinMo or Blackberry). WinMo has been much maligned, but it looks like they have cleaned up their act with an updated OS and some nice looking phones on the horizon.

But, to Flasch's point, you can still make it work with something like Apple or Android either via webmail, your own hacking/cobbling together a solution, or "unofficial" IT support...

[stevew]

I got the Pre Plus. Anything that I should rush to download? (verizon obviously)

[dervack]

slacker radio.

[MacroGuru]

Ok...

I am going to be stepping away from Apple and my iPhone.

Right now I am looking at three phones (I am with AT&T)

HTC Inspire (Droid OS)

HTC Surround (Windows Mobile 7)

Samsung Focus (Windows Mobile 7)

Right now I am really digging on the Windows Mobile OS...they have made major improvements..

Anyone using any of these..

[MacroGuru]

I bought the HTC Surround this week, Windows Mobile 7 is amazing.

I have ran with an iPhone for the past 2 years but I am telling you this right now...I do not miss the phone one bit.

I have almost all the apps I have used on the iPhone with WM7.

FB and Social Media Integration is wonderful.

The only negative is the app support isn't there like it is for the Apple, but I think it will..

Right now, I am not missing my iPhone.