Please help me find an Android
January 20, 2011 8:57 AM Subscribe
Android/New Smartphone hunt. I live in Toronto, and I am not tied to any carrier- but want to avoid contracts. What's a decent-ish Android smartphone to look at? Looking to buy new or used, but not spend more than $300 if that is possible
Thinking HTC desire of Samsung Galaxy S or phones that are similar. Physical keyboard not needed, but solid multimedia is desired. Anyone who knows a good phone to look into, or a good way to get a decent used phone in Toronto- any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Thinking HTC desire of Samsung Galaxy S or phones that are similar. Physical keyboard not needed, but solid multimedia is desired. Anyone who knows a good phone to look into, or a good way to get a decent used phone in Toronto- any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Determining your smartphone based on the initial cost is sort of silly. Remember that the plan will cost you over 2 thousand dollars over its life.
posted by those are my balloons at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by those are my balloons at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you want to avoid ties, contracts, and enjoy a focus on "solid multimedia", and usually have WiFi access, consider this as a cheap Android alternative: an Archos 32 or 43.
Update to Froyo, install Google Marketplace with a simple hack, install Sipdroid, tie it to a free Google Voice number, and presto, free unlimited WiFi Android phone (Skype works too if you prefer it).
I use my little Archos 32 it for the 90% of the time I'm near WiFi (it's flawless with this), and use an ultracheap T-Mobile prepay cell tied to the same Google Voice # for the other 10%.
It's an awesome and untapped way to have a cheap, no-contract Android experience.
The only flaw is that there is no speaker (there IS a mike though), so an earbud is required.
posted by quarterframer at 9:49 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Update to Froyo, install Google Marketplace with a simple hack, install Sipdroid, tie it to a free Google Voice number, and presto, free unlimited WiFi Android phone (Skype works too if you prefer it).
I use my little Archos 32 it for the 90% of the time I'm near WiFi (it's flawless with this), and use an ultracheap T-Mobile prepay cell tied to the same Google Voice # for the other 10%.
It's an awesome and untapped way to have a cheap, no-contract Android experience.
The only flaw is that there is no speaker (there IS a mike though), so an earbud is required.
posted by quarterframer at 9:49 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
FWIW, the Nexus One that Kadin mentions is virtually identical to the original Desire you mentioned. The N1 has noise cancelling microphones (for talking in a noisy place), a physical trackball, and plain Android. The Desire has an optical trackball, a little more internal memory, and the Sense UI on top of Android. Oh, and hard buttons instead of soft. The N1 will offically get Gingerbread (Android version 2.3) any day now. If you want Gingerbread on a Desire you'd have to root and install an unofficial ROM or wait--possibly quite a long wait. But they are essentially the same phone.
posted by K.P. at 9:50 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by K.P. at 9:50 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you are looking to avoid a contract I would see if you can nab an Orange Sanfrancisco from someone in the UK. It is farily cheap (100 pounds) and has some good specs. It is easily unlockable for free over the internet and also eminently hackable.
http://orangesanfrancisco.co.uk/index.php
for more info.
Major downsides are only the availability to purchase in the UK and not being able to find a case for it easily.
posted by koolkat at 9:52 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
http://orangesanfrancisco.co.uk/index.php
for more info.
Major downsides are only the availability to purchase in the UK and not being able to find a case for it easily.
posted by koolkat at 9:52 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Consider an HTC Wildfire. Not as good as the Desire or Desire HD but far more affordable when bought contract free.
In addition, it's supported by the cyanogen mod community. This means that when HTC decide to stop providing updates then they will give you the software and tools to keep on going.
Finally avoid Samsung (gps issues and very poor release of updates) and Motorola (poor UI skin and mixed messages about their attitude to custom ROM upgrades).
posted by mr_silver at 10:58 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
In addition, it's supported by the cyanogen mod community. This means that when HTC decide to stop providing updates then they will give you the software and tools to keep on going.
Finally avoid Samsung (gps issues and very poor release of updates) and Motorola (poor UI skin and mixed messages about their attitude to custom ROM upgrades).
posted by mr_silver at 10:58 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
tie it to a free Google Voice number
Google Voice is not available in Canada. Even signing using a VPN won't work since this person is in Toronto and the only non-US area code on the planet that works for your forwarding number is 403, for us lucky people in southern Alberta.
An Orange phone will not be able to access 3G in Canada. 900/2100 European 3G phones are worthless on this continent, unless you want to run it over EDGE, which would be ridiculous.
HTC Desire and Galaxy S are very expensive phones- like $600+ at puremobile.ca, the best source in Canada for unlocked phones.
If you want a cheap but still modern android, how about the cute little Sony Ericsson X10 mini pro? You can get one for around $320, it has a 2.1 update out there, it has a full qwerty and it's adorable as fuck.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:04 PM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Google Voice is not available in Canada. Even signing using a VPN won't work since this person is in Toronto and the only non-US area code on the planet that works for your forwarding number is 403, for us lucky people in southern Alberta.
An Orange phone will not be able to access 3G in Canada. 900/2100 European 3G phones are worthless on this continent, unless you want to run it over EDGE, which would be ridiculous.
HTC Desire and Galaxy S are very expensive phones- like $600+ at puremobile.ca, the best source in Canada for unlocked phones.
If you want a cheap but still modern android, how about the cute little Sony Ericsson X10 mini pro? You can get one for around $320, it has a 2.1 update out there, it has a full qwerty and it's adorable as fuck.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:04 PM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
>> If you want a cheap but still modern android, how about the cute little Sony Ericsson X10 mini pro?
>> Consider an HTC Wildfire.
The OP specifically said: Physical keyboard not needed, but solid multimedia is desired.
That makes the X10 MiniPro, with its small battery, small screen, and sliding keyboard the exact opposite of what they want. The smallish size of the Wildfire might be fine for watching videos for some people (not me) but is probably going to be useless for a lot of games (if the OP includes that under the term "multimedia").
OP might want to look at finding a second-hand HTC Legend as wiki lists it as being the predecessor to the Desire. It doesn't have the processor or RAM of the Desire, but it has the screen size and runs 2.1 (with 2.2 coming in Canada soon apparently) and was made available through Virgin Canada and Bell (so I assume there are a few floating around after their owners upgraded). I don't see it on either Bell or Virgin's websites, but there might be a brick-and-mortar store still selling new ones for cheap.
posted by K.P. at 6:53 AM on January 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
>> Consider an HTC Wildfire.
The OP specifically said: Physical keyboard not needed, but solid multimedia is desired.
That makes the X10 MiniPro, with its small battery, small screen, and sliding keyboard the exact opposite of what they want. The smallish size of the Wildfire might be fine for watching videos for some people (not me) but is probably going to be useless for a lot of games (if the OP includes that under the term "multimedia").
OP might want to look at finding a second-hand HTC Legend as wiki lists it as being the predecessor to the Desire. It doesn't have the processor or RAM of the Desire, but it has the screen size and runs 2.1 (with 2.2 coming in Canada soon apparently) and was made available through Virgin Canada and Bell (so I assume there are a few floating around after their owners upgraded). I don't see it on either Bell or Virgin's websites, but there might be a brick-and-mortar store still selling new ones for cheap.
posted by K.P. at 6:53 AM on January 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
I can sell you my nexus one if you want. I stopped using it and wi probably be getting a company phone in the near future.
I have had it since it released last year in January and the only problem I have with it is the sound level. Even at max volume I don't hear it ringing 99% of the time. This is because it has one tiny speaker on the back which gets covered by the sleeve it came with. You could solve the issue by getting the new sleeves which have 2 holes (camera +speaker), I haven't because I haven't signed up for a new number yet.
It is unlocked so you can use it with whichever company you choose.
posted by glambo at 1:25 PM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have had it since it released last year in January and the only problem I have with it is the sound level. Even at max volume I don't hear it ringing 99% of the time. This is because it has one tiny speaker on the back which gets covered by the sleeve it came with. You could solve the issue by getting the new sleeves which have 2 holes (camera +speaker), I haven't because I haven't signed up for a new number yet.
It is unlocked so you can use it with whichever company you choose.
posted by glambo at 1:25 PM on January 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
The Galaxy S has a faster processor and more internal storage, but my understanding is that the processor really only makes a difference while playing games (not my thing), and the internal storage on the Nexus can be fixed via software that lets you use the additional SD card for this purpose.
Also there seemed to be more information out on the Internet on the N1, and one thing I've learned is that having hardware/software that's common enough to let you easily Google for solutions when it breaks is a very big advantage. Also, the N1's failure modes are well-known, so if you're buying a used one it's pretty easy to know what to look for. (Nonworking power button, dirt/dust under screen glass, stuttering trackball, dead pixels, worn or loose USB connector are the things I was advised to look at.)
A concern for me (which may not apply to you) is that T-Mobile here in the US blocks some Android phones, seemingly the models that have ever been sold/branded by T-Mobile, from being used on "non-Android" (read: cheap) data plans. I wasn't about to give those bastards one red cent more than I'm already paying, so that pushed me towards the N1, which isn't on their blacklist. It might be worth checking that the carrier you want to use isn't playing similar games. If so, that may shorten the list substantially.
But the T-Mobile issues, combined with the widespread availability of N1s on the used market, and the lower price they seemed to sell for compared to the Galaxy, pushed me towards it.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:19 AM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]