4G Android phone megathread

[zenter]

I haven't had a case on my SII the entire time I've had it and it still looks brand new. I've dropped it a couple of times with absolutely no marks. Samsung makes remarkably durable phones.

This is truth. My Captivate and SGS2 are in virtually like-new condition. People complain about the "plasticky" feel/build of Sammy's phones, but the fact is they use high-quality (and very light) plastics that make their phones more pocket-friendly and durable than most.

 

[Trlicek's Whip]

Just got mine via Fed Ex =

 

[FL4WL3SS]

They also sent a pair of socks?

Also, that's the ugliest mousepad ever.

 

[glennhoffmania]

Awesome, thanks for the tip. I'm falling more and more in love with this phone every day, the Google Chrome browser is unbelievable. I look at my old Incredible and just laugh.

Anybody have experience with Diztronic cases? I'm thinking of getting this one, in blue. Any alternatives would also be appreciated.

I just got basically the same exact case for an Evo. It's fine, nothing great. I have two others as well and I'm trying them each out to see which I like best. For $10 it's worth trying.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

How is the S-voice Siri type thing?

 

[Orange Julia]

Is this still on? If so, do you have a link?

Dude. Seriously?

 

[zenter]

Dude. Seriously?

I have no idea how to interpret this reply. Their website makes no mention of such a promo for the SGS3.

 

[I am an Idiot]

How is the S-voice Siri type thing?

Haven't played around much with it, but when I did it really didn't recognize much correctly. Maybe it's just my diction. Who knows.

 

[Zomp]

Just played 18 holes of golf with the SkyDroid GPS on the entire time, used google talk, and checked facebook and twitter.

40% when I just plugged it in. I'd consider that heavy use, no? A GPS on for 4 hours?

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Yeah, that's impressive.

EDIT: I mean the 4 hour round - that battery life is cool too.

 

[Zomp]

Technically it was a 3:40 minute round but I wanted the phone to sound impressive.

 

[glennhoffmania]

I think I found someone who knows less about phones than me. Amirite, Eddie?

 

[zenter]

Dude. Seriously?

I have no idea how to interpret this reply. Their website makes no mention of such a promo for the SGS3.

I also have no sarcasm-meter today. Dammit, I want the SGS3. And my dang SGS2 is less than a year old.

 

[Orange Julia]

I have no idea how to interpret this reply. Their website makes no mention of such a promo for the SGS3.

I went to the store. It is an in-store cats-only promotion.

 

[zenter]

I went to the store. It is an in-store cats-only promotion.

No dog promos? Loki needs a 4G smartphone. His flip-phone is all gross and slobbery. He doesn't like iOS.

 

[Orange Julia]

Dogs don't need phones. They communicate by sniffing butts.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Cats are dumb, can we get this back on track?

 

[zenter]

Cats are dumb, can we get this back on track?

I'll play. Who is more interested in the Atrix HD than the SGS3? I haven't looked closely, but it looks comparably-specced* and is coming in at $100. I'm not a Moto fan, but...

* EDIT - Okay, a small step down, but at $150-200 less

 

[Trlicek's Whip]

I'm pretty clueless about smartphones too. This is my first smartphone to smartphone handover. I'm also going 3G to 4LTE (Incredible I to SIII).

Regarding what I'll keep and not keep once I deactivate the Incredible and activate my SIII, can someone clarify all this for me?

Keep:
Apps purchased via Google store/Play
Google anything (Gmail contacts, docs, etc)

Lose:
"Phone-only" contacts (a few stray numbers of folks I didn't add to Gmail)

And... if I backup my Incredible contacts to my SD card and then dump it onto a computer, that would be a way to eventually get it back onto the SIII, correct?

 

[TheGoldenGreek33]

Just got my SGS3. No more swype is a bummer.

 

[smastroyin]

Get SwiftKey, or, if you have some skill: http://galaxysiiitips.com/index.php/tips-tricks/125-swype-on-your-galaxy-s3

 

[jayhoz]

Seems like these dorks figured out how to get swype on the SIII

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s3/560155-swype-install-gives-parse-error.html

 

[TheGoldenGreek33]

Get SwiftKey, or, if you have some skill: http://galaxysiiitips.com/index.php/tips-tricks/125-swype-on-your-galaxy-s3

I did option two from that link and it worked no problem. Thanks!

 

[EddieYost]

I think I found someone who knows less about phones than me. Amirite, Eddie?

I'm not sure that's possible.

 

[TheGoldenGreek33]

Already having problems. I can receive text, but cannot send them. A quick google search tells me I'm not alone...

*sigh*

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

I've got mine and wife's Droid X (bought on the day of release - last time I'll stand in line for a phone!), and am weighing whether keep them around until Sept/Oct. or so for the Galaxy Note 2:

http://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/10253/20120710/samsung-galaxy-note-2-release-date-august.htm

I don't mind the size, and actually may use the notes feature for work. Plus, Jelly Bean looks amazing -- especially for the Google voice search/GPS/maps, where I've almost gotten myself killed a few times already trying to punch in addresses w/o stopping.

 

[glennhoffmania]

I got my screen protectors in the mail last night. When I took the old ones off our phones I didn't want to put the new ones on. It looks so much better. Plus they seem to cause issues. Like on the ette's, when she had a protector on and made a call, the screen didn't come back up when she took the phone away from her ear so she couldn't hang up- apparently the screen protector was blocking the sensor. So I read some stuff about whether you need a protector with gorilla glass and it seems pretty split. Are these things necessary? I'd rather not deal with them, but I will if it means not scratching up the screen.

 

[glennhoffmania]

I'm not sure that's possible.

This hurts deep.

 

[Caspir]

They are a waste of money, in my opinion, especially if you have Gorilla Glass. I dropped my SGII down five concrete steps and the isn't a scratch on it. I've never used one because they take away from the beauty of the screen.

 

[TallerThanPedroia]

My friend had a Droid Razr for less than two weeks and managed to put a crack in it right down the middle of the screen.

 

[glennhoffmania]

From what I understand, the key issue isn't dropping it. It's putting it in a pocket that has a little sand or something and that scratches up the screen. I never put it in a pocket with keys or something else, but dirt/sand is another story.

TTP, a crack sounds like something that a screen protector wouldn't prevent. I'm more worried about getting little scratches over time to the point where it becomes annoying.

 

[Fratboy]

GG33 and anybody else, i think you should be able to side load the Swype beta app from the Swype website.

TW for your phone contacts all you have to do is back them up with Verizon backup assistant and you're good to go. You should probably migrate them to google at some point, though.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Like I've mentioned before, I don't use cases or screen protectors and have no issues whatsoever. There isn't a single scratch on my screen and I've had the phone for 8-9 months.

 

[jodyreeddudley78]

I'm thinking of adding a case just to add some weight to the phone. It is crazy light.

I really don't think I'm going to add a screen protector, it is simply too nice.

 

[glennhoffmania]

I'm thinking of adding a case just to add some weight to the phone. It is crazy light.

I really don't think I'm going to add a screen protector, it is simply too nice.

I think this is where I'm at too. I'm still trying out cases and I like the idea that if I drop it I won't ding up the body or I can always change the case if it gets damaged. Plus you can get them for like a few bucks on Amazon. I don't want to take anything away from the screen though by using a protector.

 

[Foulkey Reese]

Finally installed Jelly Bean, and I just can't believe how fast and smooth it is. It's a really, really noticeable upgrade. Google Cards is fantastic.

 

[deconstruction]

They are a waste of money, in my opinion, especially if you have Gorilla Glass. I dropped my SGII down five concrete steps and the isn't a scratch on it. I've never used one because they take away from the beauty of the screen.

Is the SII's plastic body raised slightly around the screen? This is the case on the S, but not the case on the SIII. I've heard this's a reason why the latter is more prone to cracking when dropped on its face.

 

[smastroyin]

Encrypted bootloader, should have been paying more attention. If Touchwiz sucks I am basically fucked with this phone.

At some point I will get the final push to give the finger to VZW and just move to another carrier.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

I've never had any complaints about AT&T. I know everybody considers them second fiddle to VZW, but I have my Cell/Cable/Internet through them and am very happy.

Verizon is the devil's creation.

 

[jayhoz]

I've never had any complaints about AT&T. I know everybody considers them second fiddle to VZW, but I have my Cell/Cable/Internet through them and am very happy.

Verizon is the devil's creation.

LTE coverage comparison.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

No idea where you found that and why I should believe a map that someone drew circles on.

This is AT&T's actual coverage map.

 

[jayhoz]

There really isn't much difference between those two maps. Mine lists just LTE coverage which is the orange dots on your map. Here's Verizon's LTE map.

I have no love for Verizon, but their coverage is much better.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

I don't dispute that, I was just wondering why you posted a random picture that we have no idea where it came from.

Verizon's coverage has always been better, but that wasn't really the point I was trying to make. I've had zero issues with AT&T and am very happy with them, even if their coverage is just below Verizon's. AT&T's coverage is still really strong.

 

[jayhoz]

The picture is a screen grab from an app that purports to compare the two networks.

Given that this is a thread about 4G phones I though the comparison would be relevant to people in different parts of the country who are considering upgrading.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Fair enough.

 

[smastroyin]

Also, they are devilspawn. I agree with that.

 

[zenter]

LTE coverage map is a marketing win for VZW but is substantively less significant.

1) IIRC, Verizon has somewhat slower LTE. I can't remember what the difference is. Possibly due to load.
2) AT&T has much faster 3G and "4G" (HSPA+) than VZW's 3G.
3) AT&T's rollout of 4G is similar to their 3G and HSPA+ rollout - by and large, high-density populations first, and then descending to less dense areas. They were stupid by starting the rollout a full 2 years after VZW, but their rollout is slowly catching up.

Ultimately, if you're mainly in a big city or go to bigger cities, AT&T should be fine. If you go to a place with no LTE coverage by either team, AT&T is better because the 3G/HSPA ("4G") is faster. The key place where VZW has the advantage is the mid-sized cities (Spokane, Fargo, Buffalo, etc).

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

As a proud Droid 4 owner, I am disappointed but not surprised to discover that iPhone users have twice as much sex as us.

 

[Orange Julia]

I went to Tmobile today and got the Galaxy III (white) for $199. and they offered me a better rate plan, of unlimited everything, plus insurance on the phone, for about 87.99 plus taxes, which is about $8 less than what i was paying before for 600 min, free nights and weekends, unlimited data and text. I don't understand why it was cheaper but the dude said it was because they are trying to be more competative and keep customers.

Is there a market for my old Galaxy S phone? I just put ICS on it...

 

[SumnerH]

I got my screen protectors in the mail last night. When I took the old ones off our phones I didn't want to put the new ones on. It looks so much better. Plus they seem to cause issues. Like on the ette's, when she had a protector on and made a call, the screen didn't come back up when she took the phone away from her ear so she couldn't hang up- apparently the screen protector was blocking the sensor. So I read some stuff about whether you need a protector with gorilla glass and it seems pretty split. Are these things necessary? I'd rather not deal with them, but I will if it means not scratching up the screen.

I don't use one. My Atrix is about 18 months old and has one tiny scratch on it, probably from dropping it onto concrete or something. I carry it in my pocket constantly.