Narrowed my phone choices down to: iPhone, Blackberry Bold, and Samsung Omnia. Which one should I get?
November 29, 2008 8:07 AM Subscribe
Narrowed my phone choices down to: iPhone, Blackberry Bold, and Samsung Omnia. Which one should I get?
I've narrowed my next phone purchase down to 3 choices. My Verizon contract is up right now and I have some sort of upgrade (I'm not exactly sure how that works). I'm on a family plan now, and I'm looking to get my own contract on either Verizon or AT&T. I live in Washington, DC, so I will surely have 3G and good signal. I know Verizon is the only carrier out of the 2 that has signal in the metro tunnels. I haven't figured out if that's really a dealbreaker for AT&T or not.
My phone choices are:
1. Blackberry Bold - AT&T
2. Apple iPhone - AT&T
3. Samsumg Omnia - Verizon
I also just ruled out the HTC Touch Pro on either AT&T or Verizon but I might be convinced back into it.
What I'm looking for in this phone:
1. INTERNET
A good mobile internet experience is a must. I want to be able to look stuff up on the fly and catch some news when I'm bored standing in line somewhere.
2. GMAIL
I'm going to have a GMail account tethered to this phone.
3. CONTACT SYNCING
I have a Macbook Pro, so the iPhone might automatically be leading in this category.
4. TEXT MESSAGING
I believe I text more than average. How do you all like the touchscreen vs. full QWERTY for texting? I suppose it's personal preference, but I haven't had enough time with any of these phones to make a decision. It's probably a decision I'll come to after I own it for a month, unfortunately.
5. GPS
I don't need turn-by-turn, but I'd like for this phone to tell me what city block I'm on when I'm stumbling around the city looking for something.
6. TO-DO LIST
Ideally, I'd like to have a to-do list on this phone that would sync with one on my laptop or one on the internet (Remember The Milk, maybe?).
A few other points:
1. I don't want a Palm, Blackberry Storm, or LG Dare. Ruled these out awhile ago.
2. Won't be using this phone as a media player so that doesn't even matter
And can any of these phones use MP3s as ringtones?
I've narrowed my next phone purchase down to 3 choices. My Verizon contract is up right now and I have some sort of upgrade (I'm not exactly sure how that works). I'm on a family plan now, and I'm looking to get my own contract on either Verizon or AT&T. I live in Washington, DC, so I will surely have 3G and good signal. I know Verizon is the only carrier out of the 2 that has signal in the metro tunnels. I haven't figured out if that's really a dealbreaker for AT&T or not.
My phone choices are:
1. Blackberry Bold - AT&T
2. Apple iPhone - AT&T
3. Samsumg Omnia - Verizon
I also just ruled out the HTC Touch Pro on either AT&T or Verizon but I might be convinced back into it.
What I'm looking for in this phone:
1. INTERNET
A good mobile internet experience is a must. I want to be able to look stuff up on the fly and catch some news when I'm bored standing in line somewhere.
2. GMAIL
I'm going to have a GMail account tethered to this phone.
3. CONTACT SYNCING
I have a Macbook Pro, so the iPhone might automatically be leading in this category.
4. TEXT MESSAGING
I believe I text more than average. How do you all like the touchscreen vs. full QWERTY for texting? I suppose it's personal preference, but I haven't had enough time with any of these phones to make a decision. It's probably a decision I'll come to after I own it for a month, unfortunately.
5. GPS
I don't need turn-by-turn, but I'd like for this phone to tell me what city block I'm on when I'm stumbling around the city looking for something.
6. TO-DO LIST
Ideally, I'd like to have a to-do list on this phone that would sync with one on my laptop or one on the internet (Remember The Milk, maybe?).
A few other points:
1. I don't want a Palm, Blackberry Storm, or LG Dare. Ruled these out awhile ago.
2. Won't be using this phone as a media player so that doesn't even matter
And can any of these phones use MP3s as ringtones?
I know you ruled out the Touch pro, but what about the awesome Touch HD?
posted by Kai2 at 8:26 AM on November 29, 2008
posted by Kai2 at 8:26 AM on November 29, 2008
Response by poster: I know you ruled out the Touch pro, but what about the awesome Touch HD?
Isn't that thing around $600 or something ludicrous? Can't justify spending that much on something that goes in my pocket.
posted by decrescendo at 8:30 AM on November 29, 2008
Isn't that thing around $600 or something ludicrous? Can't justify spending that much on something that goes in my pocket.
posted by decrescendo at 8:30 AM on November 29, 2008
If you decide to go with AT&T, I'd go with the iPhone. It's cheaper by $200 and, I believe, has the same monthly cost as a Blackberry. The mobile web is stellar and Gmail within the mail app works well (there is always the mobile Gmail site which includes full email search, labels, etc). Since you have a Mac, syncing the iPhone will be much easier and simpler than a Blackberry, which will require a third party app.
I'd bet all the phones can use MP3's as ringtones. With the iPhone, you can make ringtones in GarageBand easily and on the Blackberry, you can set a media file to be the ringtone.
posted by madh at 8:32 AM on November 29, 2008
I'd bet all the phones can use MP3's as ringtones. With the iPhone, you can make ringtones in GarageBand easily and on the Blackberry, you can set a media file to be the ringtone.
posted by madh at 8:32 AM on November 29, 2008
Can't speak for the Bold or the Omnia, but I do love me some iPhone. Texting on a touch screen does take some getting used to, but once you've got the hang of it it's not a problem at all. And of course, it syncs perfectly with everything on the Mac... good iCal sync is pretty much a killer feature for me.
But the big draw of the iPhone is the App Store IMO. Nearly everything on there is a couple of bucks at most, and there is a solid glut of apps pouring in every day, to do just about anything you'd need to. Naturally, you can get apps for other platforms too, but the ease with which you can develop, distribute, and install them on the iPhone is spurring them on like I've never seen before.
For your purposes, there's a well-reviewed app called (I think) Todo, which supposedly syncs with Remember The Milk (although I can't check for sure right now). There's a ton of GPS related apps and also gems like *cough* Hexy, a sweet game I just released a couple of days ago. :-)
posted by theslarty at 8:35 AM on November 29, 2008
But the big draw of the iPhone is the App Store IMO. Nearly everything on there is a couple of bucks at most, and there is a solid glut of apps pouring in every day, to do just about anything you'd need to. Naturally, you can get apps for other platforms too, but the ease with which you can develop, distribute, and install them on the iPhone is spurring them on like I've never seen before.
For your purposes, there's a well-reviewed app called (I think) Todo, which supposedly syncs with Remember The Milk (although I can't check for sure right now). There's a ton of GPS related apps and also gems like *cough* Hexy, a sweet game I just released a couple of days ago. :-)
posted by theslarty at 8:35 AM on November 29, 2008
You can easily make MP3 ringtones for iPhone using Garageband. It takes, at the most, five minutes from selecting the song (it doesn't have to be from the iTunes music store, either) in your iTunes Library, dragging it into Garageband, and selecting the 15-35 section you want.
Regarding to-do lists, RtM works very well on iPhone, as does Evernote, which also can sync with their server.
Regarding sending SMS messages: after using iPhone's touch keyboard, I can barely use a normal mobile phone now. iPhone's keyboard is much easier to use.
Regarding Internet access, assuming you live near or in a big city (and not in a national park) you should get decent 3G and Edge reception. I've never had a problem with this in Cleveland/Akron, Columbus, or Cincinnati.
Another bonus is the app fring, which will permit you to make VOIP calls on Wi-Fi using Skype.
posted by vkxmai at 8:39 AM on November 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
Regarding to-do lists, RtM works very well on iPhone, as does Evernote, which also can sync with their server.
Regarding sending SMS messages: after using iPhone's touch keyboard, I can barely use a normal mobile phone now. iPhone's keyboard is much easier to use.
Regarding Internet access, assuming you live near or in a big city (and not in a national park) you should get decent 3G and Edge reception. I've never had a problem with this in Cleveland/Akron, Columbus, or Cincinnati.
Another bonus is the app fring, which will permit you to make VOIP calls on Wi-Fi using Skype.
posted by vkxmai at 8:39 AM on November 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: How is iPhone or AT&T reception in doors? I've heard some bad things about it. I don't want to throw down a few hundred dollars on a phone that I can't use in my apartment building or office building.
posted by decrescendo at 8:45 AM on November 29, 2008
posted by decrescendo at 8:45 AM on November 29, 2008
I'd recommend that you go with the iPhone. Here's why:
1. INTERNET
Unquestionably, the iPhone is the best portable device for the best out there. Trust me, once you start using it you'll never want to use another phone for the Internet. The zoom feature alone is a killer app.
2. GMAIL
Super easy to do on the iPhone. It even has an automatic Gmail set up option. The only downside is that unless you use mobileme, you won't have push email. However, you can have it automatically check as often as every 5 minutes. So I don't see that as much of a deal breaker (unless you're email obsessed).
3. CONTACT SYNCING
I too have a Mackbook Pro, and the iPhone contact integration is flawless. Also, if you have mobileme you can wirelessly sync your contacts (and iCal) over 3G. Pretty cool stuff.
4. TEXT MESSAGING
Text messaging on the iPhone is a breeze and has a very iChat type of feel to it. The only potential downside is the touchscreen keyboard. I used to have a treo and it took me about a week to get used to the iphone. But once I had it down its super easy. However I do know some people this is a pet peeve for. However, if you don't like the touchscreen keyboard at all then the iPhone (or Blackberry Storm or similar devices) just aren't for you.
5. GPS
This is very good on the iPhone. Quite accurate, fast and has nice integration with Google Maps. I use it constantly when I'm in Manhattan for street directions and occasionally for turn-by-turn while driving.
6. TO-DO LIST
You can now get Remember the Milk from the iTunes app store and it'll sync with your Macbook Pro. There are also dozens of other GTD lists and to-do lists you can download (free and paid) from iTunes.
... also, I wouldn't discount the media options. You might not use them right away, but it is awfully convenient to have access to podcasts, videos, music and streaming media on your phone while you're traveling, waiting in line, etc.
So yea, I'd say go with the iPhone ;)
posted by tundro at 9:08 AM on November 29, 2008
1. INTERNET
Unquestionably, the iPhone is the best portable device for the best out there. Trust me, once you start using it you'll never want to use another phone for the Internet. The zoom feature alone is a killer app.
2. GMAIL
Super easy to do on the iPhone. It even has an automatic Gmail set up option. The only downside is that unless you use mobileme, you won't have push email. However, you can have it automatically check as often as every 5 minutes. So I don't see that as much of a deal breaker (unless you're email obsessed).
3. CONTACT SYNCING
I too have a Mackbook Pro, and the iPhone contact integration is flawless. Also, if you have mobileme you can wirelessly sync your contacts (and iCal) over 3G. Pretty cool stuff.
4. TEXT MESSAGING
Text messaging on the iPhone is a breeze and has a very iChat type of feel to it. The only potential downside is the touchscreen keyboard. I used to have a treo and it took me about a week to get used to the iphone. But once I had it down its super easy. However I do know some people this is a pet peeve for. However, if you don't like the touchscreen keyboard at all then the iPhone (or Blackberry Storm or similar devices) just aren't for you.
5. GPS
This is very good on the iPhone. Quite accurate, fast and has nice integration with Google Maps. I use it constantly when I'm in Manhattan for street directions and occasionally for turn-by-turn while driving.
6. TO-DO LIST
You can now get Remember the Milk from the iTunes app store and it'll sync with your Macbook Pro. There are also dozens of other GTD lists and to-do lists you can download (free and paid) from iTunes.
... also, I wouldn't discount the media options. You might not use them right away, but it is awfully convenient to have access to podcasts, videos, music and streaming media on your phone while you're traveling, waiting in line, etc.
So yea, I'd say go with the iPhone ;)
posted by tundro at 9:08 AM on November 29, 2008
I can unequivocally recommend Blackberry Bold for all the things that you want to use your phone. When I first opened the box I got the sense that it was too big. After using it I will not give it up even if Steve Jobs knocked on my door and offered me a free iPhone and a bottle of Scotch.
All features work very well, browsing is good, screen resolutions is excellent, keyboard is a pleasure to type on. You will not regret it.
posted by london302 at 9:15 AM on November 29, 2008
All features work very well, browsing is good, screen resolutions is excellent, keyboard is a pleasure to type on. You will not regret it.
posted by london302 at 9:15 AM on November 29, 2008
If you want to sync to gmail, why not buy a T-Mobile G1?
posted by GuyZero at 9:18 AM on November 29, 2008
posted by GuyZero at 9:18 AM on November 29, 2008
I have been going through the same review/decision process and will watch this thread with interest. Datapoint: This review kind of scared me off the Bold.
posted by lonefrontranger at 9:31 AM on November 29, 2008
posted by lonefrontranger at 9:31 AM on November 29, 2008
I can't speak to the Samsumg Omnia or Blackberry Bold, but I've had an iPhone for more than a year now and I think it would actually meet your needs pretty well:
1. INTERNET: Safari, the iPhone's built-in web browser, can render most web pages in a way that was usable and readable most of the time. That might not sound great, and it certainly has some limitations, but in practice I think it does as good of a job as any mobile web browser on the market right now. I use it daily for an enumerable amount of things and I really can't imagine being without it at this point.
2. GMAIL: I use a gmail account with my iPhone, and it works great either through IMAP with apple's built in email application or though gmail's custom iphone interface in Safari.
3. CONTACT SYNCING: If you store your contacts in the OS X address book on your Mac Book Pro, the contacts will sync up perfectly on the iPhone easily and seamlessly. Other syncing options are also supported, such as wireless syncing to an Exchange or MobileMe account, but I know less about those as I just stick with the built in address book.
4. TEXT MESSAGING: The SMS app on the iPhone is not bad, and I find the onscreen keyboard to be perfectly adequate. If you go to an Apple Store to try the keyboard out, keep in mind that it will take some time to get used to and you'll get faster over time especially as you learn to trust to built in auto-correct system (just don't try to use a curse word with it!). It's probably true that you could type more quickly on a device that has a physical keyboard, but keep in mind the trade offs you make in screen real-estate for having the keyboard. What I've found is that I do vastly more consuming of content (emails and web pages) than composing of it, so to me the trade off of using an onscreen keyboard in exchange for a much bigger screen makes a lot of sense. YMMV.
5. GPS: I don't have one of the 3g iPhones with GPS, but my sister does, and from my experience playing around with hers it's adequate but not great. It's certainly no replacement for a dedicated turn-by-turn device in your car, but still very helpful if you are trying to navigate around a city as a pedestrian or trying to find your nearest pizza place.
6. TO-DO LIST: This used to be one the primary criticisms of the iPhone given that Apple did not ship a to do list manager with the when they released the iPhone originally. However, ever sense the platform has opened up to third-party developers the app store has been swamped with task managers. I currently use Things, but there are also dedicated iPhone counterparts for Remember the Milk and Omnifocus, as well as many many others.
Look, the iPhone is certainly not perfect (crashing in Safari, I'm looking at you!), and it isn't for everyone, but I think it excels at being a mobile Internet device, and if it does the other things you need well enough, I think you'll be happy with it.
posted by dyslexictraveler at 9:33 AM on November 29, 2008
1. INTERNET: Safari, the iPhone's built-in web browser, can render most web pages in a way that was usable and readable most of the time. That might not sound great, and it certainly has some limitations, but in practice I think it does as good of a job as any mobile web browser on the market right now. I use it daily for an enumerable amount of things and I really can't imagine being without it at this point.
2. GMAIL: I use a gmail account with my iPhone, and it works great either through IMAP with apple's built in email application or though gmail's custom iphone interface in Safari.
3. CONTACT SYNCING: If you store your contacts in the OS X address book on your Mac Book Pro, the contacts will sync up perfectly on the iPhone easily and seamlessly. Other syncing options are also supported, such as wireless syncing to an Exchange or MobileMe account, but I know less about those as I just stick with the built in address book.
4. TEXT MESSAGING: The SMS app on the iPhone is not bad, and I find the onscreen keyboard to be perfectly adequate. If you go to an Apple Store to try the keyboard out, keep in mind that it will take some time to get used to and you'll get faster over time especially as you learn to trust to built in auto-correct system (just don't try to use a curse word with it!). It's probably true that you could type more quickly on a device that has a physical keyboard, but keep in mind the trade offs you make in screen real-estate for having the keyboard. What I've found is that I do vastly more consuming of content (emails and web pages) than composing of it, so to me the trade off of using an onscreen keyboard in exchange for a much bigger screen makes a lot of sense. YMMV.
5. GPS: I don't have one of the 3g iPhones with GPS, but my sister does, and from my experience playing around with hers it's adequate but not great. It's certainly no replacement for a dedicated turn-by-turn device in your car, but still very helpful if you are trying to navigate around a city as a pedestrian or trying to find your nearest pizza place.
6. TO-DO LIST: This used to be one the primary criticisms of the iPhone given that Apple did not ship a to do list manager with the when they released the iPhone originally. However, ever sense the platform has opened up to third-party developers the app store has been swamped with task managers. I currently use Things, but there are also dedicated iPhone counterparts for Remember the Milk and Omnifocus, as well as many many others.
Look, the iPhone is certainly not perfect (crashing in Safari, I'm looking at you!), and it isn't for everyone, but I think it excels at being a mobile Internet device, and if it does the other things you need well enough, I think you'll be happy with it.
posted by dyslexictraveler at 9:33 AM on November 29, 2008
Response by poster: I have been going through the same review/decision process and will watch this thread with interest. Datapoint: This review kind of scared me off the Bold.
What does that review have to do with the Bold? It's all about the Storm as far as I can tell.
posted by decrescendo at 9:35 AM on November 29, 2008
What does that review have to do with the Bold? It's all about the Storm as far as I can tell.
posted by decrescendo at 9:35 AM on November 29, 2008
The resolution and screen area on the iPhone is pretty crucial for things like maps. When trying to navigate by it, you want some context, feeder roads, etc, and for that you seriously want all the pixels you can get. And for web browsing, it's the difference between only using the browser occasionally to painstakingly dredge out crucial information when you're desperate and a downright enjoyable reading experience. The Bold has a comparable resolution but the smaller display size means when displaying the same information, fonts will be half the size, which may put it below a usable threshold and require you to zoom more.
posted by George_Spiggott at 9:38 AM on November 29, 2008
posted by George_Spiggott at 9:38 AM on November 29, 2008
I have an iPhone and my significant other has a bold.
I win.
However she does come a very close second. I have been very impressed by the bold, but the iPhone just does so much more so much better.
posted by gergtreble at 9:42 AM on November 29, 2008
I win.
However she does come a very close second. I have been very impressed by the bold, but the iPhone just does so much more so much better.
posted by gergtreble at 9:42 AM on November 29, 2008
I know you ruled out the Touch pro, but what about the awesome Touch HD?
It's moot, since the Touch HD is not coming to America any time soon.
I don't own any of the phone you're interested in, but I can say without a doubt that a touchscreen phone is the best thing ever (I have an LG Vu). You don't have to scroll through menu items -- you just go and press on what you want. And typing is just as easy as having a QWERTY except you can have a bigger, easier-to-see screen. Pretty much every phone out there uses mp3 ringtones AFAIK (if you don't have a Mac you can use a program like Audacity to make your own -- and if you go with the iPhone, you can buy them on iTunes).
posted by puritycontrol at 9:43 AM on November 29, 2008
It's moot, since the Touch HD is not coming to America any time soon.
I don't own any of the phone you're interested in, but I can say without a doubt that a touchscreen phone is the best thing ever (I have an LG Vu). You don't have to scroll through menu items -- you just go and press on what you want. And typing is just as easy as having a QWERTY except you can have a bigger, easier-to-see screen. Pretty much every phone out there uses mp3 ringtones AFAIK (if you don't have a Mac you can use a program like Audacity to make your own -- and if you go with the iPhone, you can buy them on iTunes).
posted by puritycontrol at 9:43 AM on November 29, 2008
Nthing the iPhone. I have an older model and my husband has the 3G (he got it through work), and I agree with all the positive comments above about how easy it is, including syncing with the Macbook Pro. The GPS-lite (pre-3G) feature saved our bacon last year when we were unexpectedly forced off the highway by construction in Texarkana, Texas during a cross-country move with three crying cats in the back of the car; we've had even better luck with the full GPS on the 3G.
I'm using Zenbe for to-do lists because I split them with my husband, but you may not need to sync grocery lists with your spouse.
One minor caveat I'd offer about gmail: don't sync your contacts to gmail using the iPhone interface, because the gmail/Address Book/iPhone sync is bad at parsing double surnames. Martha Smith Jones will consistently be alphabetized as Jones instead of Smith.
posted by immlass at 9:45 AM on November 29, 2008
I'm using Zenbe for to-do lists because I split them with my husband, but you may not need to sync grocery lists with your spouse.
One minor caveat I'd offer about gmail: don't sync your contacts to gmail using the iPhone interface, because the gmail/Address Book/iPhone sync is bad at parsing double surnames. Martha Smith Jones will consistently be alphabetized as Jones instead of Smith.
posted by immlass at 9:45 AM on November 29, 2008
I was in the same boat: holding on to an old and creaking Treo 650, waiting for standards to settle down so I could choose between Palm, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Nokia/Symbian or WinMob. Robert X. Cringely came to my rescue with a very interesting article. I suggest you give it a quick read. Good luck.
posted by Cobalt at 10:36 AM on November 29, 2008
posted by Cobalt at 10:36 AM on November 29, 2008
The iPhone does everything you want, and it does it all awesomely. There isn't a good built in TODO list application, but you can download Zenbe lists for free, or a slew of other awesome todo list apps. I use things, and it's great. Typing on the touch screen is easy, and I got used to it very quickly. I can type quite fast with it now. So I think texting should work just fine. Syncing works perfectly, as does the GPS enabled Google Maps application.
posted by chunking express at 10:53 AM on November 29, 2008
posted by chunking express at 10:53 AM on November 29, 2008
Response by poster: Do any of you iPhone users have issues with dropped calls or call quality? Do you always sound like you are mumbling on the other end?
posted by decrescendo at 10:57 AM on November 29, 2008
posted by decrescendo at 10:57 AM on November 29, 2008
Response by poster: More importantly, the battery life on the iPhone sucks from what I hear.
Can anyone attest to this?
posted by decrescendo at 11:05 AM on November 29, 2008
Can anyone attest to this?
posted by decrescendo at 11:05 AM on November 29, 2008
Battery life is not great, but not particularly different than most smartphones I've used (Windows Mobile,etc) on the iPhone.
I've only ever had problems with calls when my iPhone 3g was jailbroken (hacked to allow 3rd party apps) or unlocked (via sim unlock). When I avoid both of those, it's flawless.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:10 AM on November 29, 2008
I've only ever had problems with calls when my iPhone 3g was jailbroken (hacked to allow 3rd party apps) or unlocked (via sim unlock). When I avoid both of those, it's flawless.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:10 AM on November 29, 2008
Response by poster: Battery life is not great, but not particularly different than most smartphones I've used (Windows Mobile,etc) on the iPhone.
I've only ever had problems with calls when my iPhone 3g was jailbroken (hacked to allow 3rd party apps) or unlocked (via sim unlock). When I avoid both of those, it's flawless.
Ah, interesting. I might want to jailbreak mine if I get one though. But I suppose I can cross that bridge when I come to it.
posted by decrescendo at 11:15 AM on November 29, 2008
I've only ever had problems with calls when my iPhone 3g was jailbroken (hacked to allow 3rd party apps) or unlocked (via sim unlock). When I avoid both of those, it's flawless.
Ah, interesting. I might want to jailbreak mine if I get one though. But I suppose I can cross that bridge when I come to it.
posted by decrescendo at 11:15 AM on November 29, 2008
I would agree the major negative of the IPhone is the battery life, especially when using 3g. The keyboard is awesome, I have no problems with it. Call quality is fine, but it really depends on what the AT&T network is like near your house.
I have to say that I find that map/modified GPS on the iPhone kind-of annoying. They definitely have some work to do with it.
But, other than that I love it.
posted by hazyspring at 11:22 AM on November 29, 2008
I have to say that I find that map/modified GPS on the iPhone kind-of annoying. They definitely have some work to do with it.
But, other than that I love it.
posted by hazyspring at 11:22 AM on November 29, 2008
I'm in a similar situation - I would get an iPhone if I could also get Verizon's superior service in my area (East and North Bay Area in California). Thus, stuck with Verizon my options come down to:
1) BB Storm
2) Samsung Omnia
3) Some non-touch screen phone and wait until there are better offerings.
Right now if I had to jump I'd buy the Omnia - too many bad reviews of the storm and I didn't like the lag when I tried it in person. It will likely improve with time, but that's a risk in terms of the time it will take and the degree of improvement. The Omnia has been well reviewed and has access to a similar amount of WM applications (relative to the iphone). The Omnia's camera's nice, but really, that's not why anyone's buying these phones.
Omnia's pros:
Speedy and relatively stable and functional operating system with features most people will need (other than BB mail functionality). Less laginess, somewhat smaller than the Storm. Also has good (adjustable) vibration response to keyboard inputs. Verizon's excellent network (in my area).
Omnia's cons:
$50 more expensive than the Storm, slightly less screen real-estate, different apps available relative to the iPhone but similar in the end.
Storm pros:
Cheaper than the Omnia, some people like the screen "click", BB functions. Verizon's network.
Storm cons:
Still $200, some people don't like the screen "click", not all the same apps as the iPhone, not as responsive as the Omina or iPhone. General bugginess and bad reviews outline the other reasons to reconsider it.
Other options include the LG Dare which gets quite positive reviews, but has relatively more limited functionality. If you're really only into a more touch screen-like phone for internet browsing, the Dare may be the better option for now while waiting for more competition to flesh out improvements among the current crowd (iphone, storm, G1, HTC phones, etc).
I think if you're still stuck between carriers, try finding out who has better reception in the larger area you travel in THEN consider which phones you prefer which that carrier offers.
Best luck!
posted by unclezeb at 11:50 AM on November 29, 2008
1) BB Storm
2) Samsung Omnia
3) Some non-touch screen phone and wait until there are better offerings.
Right now if I had to jump I'd buy the Omnia - too many bad reviews of the storm and I didn't like the lag when I tried it in person. It will likely improve with time, but that's a risk in terms of the time it will take and the degree of improvement. The Omnia has been well reviewed and has access to a similar amount of WM applications (relative to the iphone). The Omnia's camera's nice, but really, that's not why anyone's buying these phones.
Omnia's pros:
Speedy and relatively stable and functional operating system with features most people will need (other than BB mail functionality). Less laginess, somewhat smaller than the Storm. Also has good (adjustable) vibration response to keyboard inputs. Verizon's excellent network (in my area).
Omnia's cons:
$50 more expensive than the Storm, slightly less screen real-estate, different apps available relative to the iPhone but similar in the end.
Storm pros:
Cheaper than the Omnia, some people like the screen "click", BB functions. Verizon's network.
Storm cons:
Still $200, some people don't like the screen "click", not all the same apps as the iPhone, not as responsive as the Omina or iPhone. General bugginess and bad reviews outline the other reasons to reconsider it.
Other options include the LG Dare which gets quite positive reviews, but has relatively more limited functionality. If you're really only into a more touch screen-like phone for internet browsing, the Dare may be the better option for now while waiting for more competition to flesh out improvements among the current crowd (iphone, storm, G1, HTC phones, etc).
I think if you're still stuck between carriers, try finding out who has better reception in the larger area you travel in THEN consider which phones you prefer which that carrier offers.
Best luck!
posted by unclezeb at 11:50 AM on November 29, 2008
I've had some issues with call quality (mostly volume) with my first-gen iPhone, but many of them were resolved by a software update some time ago. The same update also seems to have improved my battery life dramatically.
I just asked my husband and he says he never has trouble with battery life or call quality on his 3G, and he uses his phone to call a lot more than I do. He did offer the caveat that he doesn't run 3G most of the time because he has crap 3G reception at both the office (south Austin) and our home (west Austin hills) and no trouble with EDGE. As noted above, 3G makes a dramatic difference to battery life.
posted by immlass at 11:59 AM on November 29, 2008
I just asked my husband and he says he never has trouble with battery life or call quality on his 3G, and he uses his phone to call a lot more than I do. He did offer the caveat that he doesn't run 3G most of the time because he has crap 3G reception at both the office (south Austin) and our home (west Austin hills) and no trouble with EDGE. As noted above, 3G makes a dramatic difference to battery life.
posted by immlass at 11:59 AM on November 29, 2008
Note that with the new iPhone software you can (finally!) turn off the auto correct, which actually makes texting much easier since "u" can type abbreviations "w/o" the phone correcting them!
posted by nicwolff at 12:48 PM on November 29, 2008
posted by nicwolff at 12:48 PM on November 29, 2008
Do any of you iPhone users have issues with dropped calls or call quality? Do you always sound like you are mumbling on the other end?
I'm a first gen iPhone user and I have not experienced the call quality to be any better or any worse then any of the previous GSM phones I had used with AT&T, which is to say that here in Boston I think it's a non-issue. Of course, YMMV depending on where you live and how good of a network AT&T has there.
Also, my understanding is there were some real issues with dropped calls when the second generation 3g phones first came out, but those issues have since been fixed by a software update.
More importantly, the battery life on the iPhone sucks from what I hear.
Actually, I find the battery life to be pretty reasonable given how big the screen is, and how much network traffic it's handling on both the cell network and over wifi over the course of a day (I have it setup with an exchange account, meaning that it constantly has a network connection open to my company's exchange server to enable "push" email and calendar events).
Of course it does not last forever and I do recharge it about every two days or so, but given how many different things I use it for (Cell phone, ipod, web surfing, email, games and RSS reading on the subway, etc) this seems pretty darn reasonable to me.
posted by dyslexictraveler at 1:34 PM on November 29, 2008
I'm a first gen iPhone user and I have not experienced the call quality to be any better or any worse then any of the previous GSM phones I had used with AT&T, which is to say that here in Boston I think it's a non-issue. Of course, YMMV depending on where you live and how good of a network AT&T has there.
Also, my understanding is there were some real issues with dropped calls when the second generation 3g phones first came out, but those issues have since been fixed by a software update.
More importantly, the battery life on the iPhone sucks from what I hear.
Actually, I find the battery life to be pretty reasonable given how big the screen is, and how much network traffic it's handling on both the cell network and over wifi over the course of a day (I have it setup with an exchange account, meaning that it constantly has a network connection open to my company's exchange server to enable "push" email and calendar events).
Of course it does not last forever and I do recharge it about every two days or so, but given how many different things I use it for (Cell phone, ipod, web surfing, email, games and RSS reading on the subway, etc) this seems pretty darn reasonable to me.
posted by dyslexictraveler at 1:34 PM on November 29, 2008
I have a first generation iPhone and had some trouble with dropped calls at first, but it appears that one of the upgrades took care of it, because it hasn't been an issue for a long time. Call quality is decent even though I live in the boonies and have at most two teeny bars on the reception-meter thing. I'm told that the clarity of my voice varies depending on the mic I'm using, so if you go with the iPhone and want to get third-party headphones pay attention to what reviewers say about the mic.
I have no issues with battery life, maybe because every night I plug the iPhone into a Logitech portable speaker/dock that charges the phone. The only time I ran out of juice was when I was travelling for three days and used the iPhone a lot to listen to audio books and music.
As others have pointed out, there are many to-do applications. I settled on Toodledo's app.
posted by PatoPata at 2:26 PM on November 29, 2008
I have no issues with battery life, maybe because every night I plug the iPhone into a Logitech portable speaker/dock that charges the phone. The only time I ran out of juice was when I was travelling for three days and used the iPhone a lot to listen to audio books and music.
As others have pointed out, there are many to-do applications. I settled on Toodledo's app.
posted by PatoPata at 2:26 PM on November 29, 2008
What does that review have to do with the Bold? It's all about the Storm as far as I can tell...
huh, you're right. CHRIST IMA MORON. nevermind.
for what it's worth 2 close friends I know that both have 3G iPhones say that many of the reported reception and battery-life issues were solved by the latest firmware update. so ymmv.
/still watching this thread with great interest as I'm also up on my Verizon contract and a mac owner.
posted by lonefrontranger at 3:17 PM on November 29, 2008
I've used both BlackBerry (Bold, among many others) and an iPhone 3G as my personal phone before for prolonged periods of time. I've used an Omnia for probably a couple of minutes total so I won't even comment on that. I'm also Canadian so I can't comment on your choice of carrier with any direct experience.
Here are my thoughts:
1. Internet
- The iPhone wins simply on ease of use. The Bold's internet experience is pretty good and you'll be able to get by with it, but you just can't beat a large touch screen for browsing the web.
2. Gmail (or email in general)
- BlackBerry wins. People are talking about ease of setup which is basically irrelevant. Even if you don't mind typing on a touchscreen the iPhone's core email experience is only passable . If the idea of this bothers you even a little bit, you need to think carefully about the iPhone. It drove me insane after about 3 months, at which point I switched my email back to my BlackBerry and felt a sudden calm come over me. The lack of copy and paste was probably the second biggest deal breaker for me next to the touchscreen keyboard.
3. Contact Syncing
- Currently iPhone wins. The BlackBerry/Mac synchronization story in general to this point has been a pretty miserable one. The rumor mill claims things will get better in the near future, hence the "currently", though I suspect that iPhone will always win simply because Apple makes both the phone and Mac OS.
4. Text Messaging
- BlackBerry. Again, the iPhone experience is passable, but it all comes down to the keyboard. Personally I hate it, and it's made even more infuriating by the fact that (as of 2.2) you still can't type in landscape mode within the SMS app.
5. GPS
- iPhone. BlackBerry Maps is terrible. You could go with the Google Maps app for BlackBerry, which is alright, but much like web browsing the iPhone's large touch screen really shines for this.
6. To-Do List
- I'm going to call this a tie. While the iPhone probably has more options (it has a much stronger selection of third party apps), if Remember the Milk is your service of choice then it doesn't really matter because there are clients for both. I've never used RTM so I can't speak to the quality of the apps.
Conclusion:
To me, it all comes down to how you feel about typing on a virtual keyboard. If it works for you and there's no problems then I whole heartedly recommend the iPhone based on your needs. If it doesn't and you find it frustrating, I'd also whole heartedly recommend the Bold. I know people who have no problem typing dozens of emails/texts a day on their iPhone and others who returned it after a week and went with a physical keyboard. It's a highly polarizing feature and you need to spend some time with it to be able to make a decision. By all means give yourself time to get used to it, but don't allow yourself to settle.
The iPhone and the Bold are both great devices with slightly different strengths. I think you'll be happy with whatever you decide on.
posted by saraswati at 3:38 PM on November 29, 2008
Here are my thoughts:
1. Internet
- The iPhone wins simply on ease of use. The Bold's internet experience is pretty good and you'll be able to get by with it, but you just can't beat a large touch screen for browsing the web.
2. Gmail (or email in general)
- BlackBerry wins. People are talking about ease of setup which is basically irrelevant. Even if you don't mind typing on a touchscreen the iPhone's core email experience is only passable . If the idea of this bothers you even a little bit, you need to think carefully about the iPhone. It drove me insane after about 3 months, at which point I switched my email back to my BlackBerry and felt a sudden calm come over me. The lack of copy and paste was probably the second biggest deal breaker for me next to the touchscreen keyboard.
3. Contact Syncing
- Currently iPhone wins. The BlackBerry/Mac synchronization story in general to this point has been a pretty miserable one. The rumor mill claims things will get better in the near future, hence the "currently", though I suspect that iPhone will always win simply because Apple makes both the phone and Mac OS.
4. Text Messaging
- BlackBerry. Again, the iPhone experience is passable, but it all comes down to the keyboard. Personally I hate it, and it's made even more infuriating by the fact that (as of 2.2) you still can't type in landscape mode within the SMS app.
5. GPS
- iPhone. BlackBerry Maps is terrible. You could go with the Google Maps app for BlackBerry, which is alright, but much like web browsing the iPhone's large touch screen really shines for this.
6. To-Do List
- I'm going to call this a tie. While the iPhone probably has more options (it has a much stronger selection of third party apps), if Remember the Milk is your service of choice then it doesn't really matter because there are clients for both. I've never used RTM so I can't speak to the quality of the apps.
Conclusion:
To me, it all comes down to how you feel about typing on a virtual keyboard. If it works for you and there's no problems then I whole heartedly recommend the iPhone based on your needs. If it doesn't and you find it frustrating, I'd also whole heartedly recommend the Bold. I know people who have no problem typing dozens of emails/texts a day on their iPhone and others who returned it after a week and went with a physical keyboard. It's a highly polarizing feature and you need to spend some time with it to be able to make a decision. By all means give yourself time to get used to it, but don't allow yourself to settle.
The iPhone and the Bold are both great devices with slightly different strengths. I think you'll be happy with whatever you decide on.
posted by saraswati at 3:38 PM on November 29, 2008
Also, as you may have been able to tell from my longwinded answer I'm obsessed with mobile phones and my job permits me to use many. If you have any further questions feel free to mefimail me.
posted by saraswati at 3:41 PM on November 29, 2008
posted by saraswati at 3:41 PM on November 29, 2008
I text a lot and i like to receive and send pictures over text messages (especially when I am in meetings and whoever is my girlfriend at the time shows me what is waiting for me at home).......with the iphone you wont be able to send media over text messaging that is a big drawback...second....you wont be able to do mass text messaging...I dont do a lot of that but i am surprised people dont mention it more often...
posted by The1andonly at 5:51 PM on November 29, 2008
posted by The1andonly at 5:51 PM on November 29, 2008
Re The1andonly:
with the iphone you wont be able to send media over text messaging that is a big drawback.
This is true, you can not send MMSs on the iPhone. You can however, take photos and email them to anyone (with the extra bonus that emailing is completely free).
you wont be able to do mass text messaging...
This is not true any more. Ever since a (semi-recent?) software update you can send text messages to multiple recipients on the iPhone.
posted by dyslexictraveler at 6:02 PM on November 29, 2008
with the iphone you wont be able to send media over text messaging that is a big drawback.
This is true, you can not send MMSs on the iPhone. You can however, take photos and email them to anyone (with the extra bonus that emailing is completely free).
you wont be able to do mass text messaging...
This is not true any more. Ever since a (semi-recent?) software update you can send text messages to multiple recipients on the iPhone.
posted by dyslexictraveler at 6:02 PM on November 29, 2008
An iPhone is a no-brainer for most people. It has a market-leading web and email interface (look at the Blackberrys, HTCs and Nokias looking to copy iPhone-specific interface features and haptic gestures as quick as possible, to varied success). And you'll get access to thousands of third-party applications to do all the things that the other phones can't and won't do.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:49 PM on November 29, 2008
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:49 PM on November 29, 2008
Any smart phone has exactly the features you're looking for, actually. My Nokia does, the same things, faster than any of the iPhones I've seen. Compared to my creaky old N95, my friend's new iPhone gets left in the dust in terms of speed (3.5G for Nokia), internet, wifi use, mobile media, etc. You can set up your software to initialise when you connect the phone in to your computer via USB or by bluetooth - my contacts, music, pictures and video all immediately update on my computer from my phone when I connect. Which, considering I have bluetooth constantly on, is whenever I put my phone down by my computer and accept the connection.
My gmail account is tied to my N95, as well as fring and facebook and emoze to push my email, etc. Sounds like a lot to fiddle with, but actually, it takes up very little space... and with the 10Gb of memory I have on my phone, I'm not that bothered, really.
My friend with the iPhone gave it back and got a N96 instead. Aside from the fact that the iPhone was slower and that the internet wasn't as fast on his iPhone as it was on even my 18 month old N95, the annoying iPhone thing of making you log in to a website to view sent pictures or to access any other multimedia message really put him off. I mean, isn't the point of sending something to your phone? That you should have it on your phone, and not on a website?
posted by Grrlscout at 1:57 AM on November 30, 2008
My gmail account is tied to my N95, as well as fring and facebook and emoze to push my email, etc. Sounds like a lot to fiddle with, but actually, it takes up very little space... and with the 10Gb of memory I have on my phone, I'm not that bothered, really.
My friend with the iPhone gave it back and got a N96 instead. Aside from the fact that the iPhone was slower and that the internet wasn't as fast on his iPhone as it was on even my 18 month old N95, the annoying iPhone thing of making you log in to a website to view sent pictures or to access any other multimedia message really put him off. I mean, isn't the point of sending something to your phone? That you should have it on your phone, and not on a website?
posted by Grrlscout at 1:57 AM on November 30, 2008
the annoying iPhone thing of making you log in to a website to view sent pictures or to access any other multimedia message really put him off
The iPhone does not require you to log into a website to view sent pictures or access messages.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:14 PM on November 30, 2008
The iPhone does not require you to log into a website to view sent pictures or access messages.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:14 PM on November 30, 2008
I'm going to ring in on the iPhone. Everything I have ever asked of this phone it has given me. Then the app store appeared and everything I never thought of wanting suddenly appeared. If you are using a Mac based set up then I would whole heartedly recommend the iPhone.
On each of your requirements I give high marks to the iPhone. I have never had an issue with battery life. It has never died on me before the end of the day- even when my kid is playing with the thing non-stop while waiting in Disney lines. Call quality was the same as Sprint, doesn't drop any more calls than any of my other cells in the past. The virtual key board took about a week to get use to, now I can pound out emails with out looking. My Gmail works every time I need it- whether I just go to gmail via the web browser or if I fire up Mail- no problems. I think you would be a pretty happy camper with the iPhone in your pocket.
posted by bkeene12 at 8:16 PM on November 30, 2008
On each of your requirements I give high marks to the iPhone. I have never had an issue with battery life. It has never died on me before the end of the day- even when my kid is playing with the thing non-stop while waiting in Disney lines. Call quality was the same as Sprint, doesn't drop any more calls than any of my other cells in the past. The virtual key board took about a week to get use to, now I can pound out emails with out looking. My Gmail works every time I need it- whether I just go to gmail via the web browser or if I fire up Mail- no problems. I think you would be a pretty happy camper with the iPhone in your pocket.
posted by bkeene12 at 8:16 PM on November 30, 2008
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posted by youcancallmeal at 8:21 AM on November 29, 2008