Android Phone help. - Printable Version

Android Phone help. - Printable Version

+- Southperry.net (https://www.southperry.net)
+-- Forum: Social (https://www.southperry.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=14)
+--- Forum: The Speakeasy (https://www.southperry.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=54)
+--- Thread: Android Phone help. (/showthread.php?tid=37408)

Pages: 1 2

Android Phone help. - Kalovale - 2011-02-05

Okay, I've been meaning to get one, but iunno. I figure I'd start off my search with a few recommendations.

Budget: $100~$200, give or take a bit.
Expectations: Apps. Lots of them. A screensize decent enough to display those apps. Add-ons aren't necessary, but a camera is always welcome.
Carrier: Currently in a T-Mobile family plan.

Preferences: HTC for manufacturer.
Also, I'd like to stay in my current plan. do I have to shell out 6 times as much money?

Thanks Southperry. If you need anything, I'll be updating asap.

Android Phone help. - Rob - 2011-02-05

http://www.letstalk.com/

Be my guest.

Android Phone help. - TaliaNCo - 2011-02-05

I would say to first look at what your current family plan involves, as most android/smartphones require a data package. (I'm not certain about T-Mobile's prices, but most carriers charge $20-$30 per month for a data package per phone) That should hopefully be a start in helping you choose. Good luck!

Android Phone help. - Kalovale - 2011-02-05

Uh, accidentally pressed out, I'm pissed and forgot what I was writing..

Anyway I have 2 questions:

1/ This pineappleer: http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?cell-phone=T-Mobile-G2-with-Google
Is it from Google? What does that mean regarding its OS "updatability"? I've heard of some manufacturers feeling more inclined to update their old phones' OS than others.

2/ This:
[Image: Kq6LJ.png]

(Adding a new line to a 3-existing-phone family plan)

What does that $99 mean? I'm aware that the T-Mobile retail price is $99 (after Instant Discount and Mail-in Rebate) WITH a 2 year contract. Does my already being in a plan with them mean I can buy this motherpineappleer and continue using my old plan (with a new line for my little bro) for $99?

I can't check the prices on the T-Mobile page itself, since only my dad's phone number can add a line, but I'll try soon enough.

Android Phone help. - Born2BeMild - 2011-02-05

I don't know much about T-Mobile, but when I added a line to a new plan(at&t), that all worked (the discount and mail-in rebate + two year stuff) I think it should work for you.

and that G2 is awesome, my friend has it and he lets me use it. I didn't like the face that the phone has five homescreens and you couldn't get rid of them, but that was easy to get around using an application called ADW.Launcher(lets you customize home screens)

there are a lot of applications, and games... lots. I use gameboy emulators.

Android Phone help. - TaliaNCo - 2011-02-05

You'll have to have your dad look to see if you're elligible for an upgrade. That's really the only way you can get that phone at the discounted price of $99.00. Of course, I just realized you stated that you'd be adding an additional line to you dad's existing family plan, so you should be eligible for the discounted price of $99.00.

Android Phone help. - Devil - 2011-02-05

HTC doesn't really have cheap (new) Android phones, but have you ever thought about:

Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 - (Jan 2011 - Android 2.2) - 180 Euro (should be cheaper with plan)
[Image: Samsung-GALAXY-mini.jpg]

Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 - (Jan 2011 - Android 2.2) - 280 Euro (should be cheaper with plan)
[Image: samsung_galaxy_ace_05.jpg]

Or wait for the Google Nexus S (Made by Samsung) - (Jan 2011 - Android 2.3) - 580 Euro (should be cheaper with plan)
[Image: samsung_nexus_s_p.jpg]

Android Phone help. - Kalovale - 2011-02-05

The thing is, I don't know what the 2-year-contract is, and I don't like it. I have a plan, why would I want to start a new plan/contract?

Thanks Devil, I'll have a look at them, but I'm not too fond of Samsung or any other manufacturer because of OS upgrade issues. It's already a gamble with HTC (and idk about Google) and unless convinced otherwise, I'll continue believing that the upgrades are, unsurprisingly, more beneficial towards the phone's overall performance than any other factor, including processor speed.

Android Phone help. - Born2BeMild - 2011-02-05

I can back up the Samsung stuff, still have my Captivate running 2.1

Android Phone help. - Kalovale - 2011-02-05

I have a question. "Adding a line" or "upgrading" are just pseudonyms for starting a new contract, right? The new line or the upgraded phone will still have to be using T-Mobile for 2 years. While I don't plan on upgrading my phone any time soon after this purchase, I still feel cheated from the misleading terminologies.

Android Phone help. - Born2BeMild - 2011-02-05

you answered your own question, yeah it's a pseudonym.

Android Phone help. - dpeterlin - 2011-02-05

Well adding a line is separate from upgrading, but both will involve an extension of your contract if you choose to have a phone subsidized by t-mobile. Adding a line will cost you more because you need to pay for the new line in addition to your old lines. Basically they give better deals to people just signing up rather than someone just upgrading their phone which is why what you see on the website is most likely not what you'll get if you're "just" upgrading unless you peach at them a bit. If you can convince your brother to take your old phone you can add a line and simply take his new phone, but if it's a family plan then you're stuck for another 2 years regardless and you'll still have an upgrade from your line on the account.

I'm currently on t-mobile and looking for the same thing, a new phone.

The G2 has currently drawn my attention for a few reasons. It has a real keyboard, my fingers are bigger and the touchscreen keyboards are just too clumsy for me. It has a newer version of android (not the latest anymore) but it is in a more stock form, not loaded down with all the crap that carriers put on some other models. It has 4g. This is a sticking point because if I do plan on having the phone for another 2 years (eclipsed this with my g1) i don't want to be stuck with a 3g phone the entire time, even if 4g hasn't been rolled out in my area yet it's just a matter of time and it will certainly be before 2 years with what they have planned for expansion.

In the end I'm waiting a few months for a new set of phones to come out. There are a few in the pipeline that look really promising to me. If I'm forking over 200-250 bucks I might as well wait on something I fall in love with.

Android Phone help. - Kalovale - 2011-02-05

I initially planned on cashing out $100 for the phone itself and $120 for the 2-year contract (adding a new line costs $5/month for my family plan), still sounds like a good deal to me. The thing is, when dad opened this line for me, he did not take any offer from T-Mobile (free or subsidized phone); I went to ask a T-Mobile retailer and the girl told me:
- I need to have my family plan contracted (which she checked and it was)
- I COULD ask the original office where my line was set up for confirmation that I didn't use the offer for opening that line, and get my phone there
- I need an internet data plan to buy the G2 at subsidized price

Now, if I could do this, it would mean a $10/month ($240 total) on top of the $99 to own the phone, which I personally deem impossible to afford right now, and it'll have to wait until I get a steady income. But that aside, $350 approximately for a G2 (PLUS phone plan and limited internet plan), do you deem it worthy?

Also, is it true that the internet plan is required?

EDIT: Seems like it's true, it is required for the Rebate.
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Default.aspx?features=48CC3997-D234-4683-8B5A-F026B9DB5528&uid=Shop_1_2#T-Mobile-G2-with-Google

Quote:Req’d for rebate card: 2-yr. agmt., new activation, and a Do More plan of $79.99/mo. or higher OR Web service of at least $9.99/mo.

Android Phone help. - Index - 2011-02-05

[Image: google-nexus-s.jpg]

http://www.google.com/nexus/#

This is Google's newest flagship device. It runs the latest version of Android (2.3 Gingerbread) for smartphones and since it's the phone Google now uses to develop the OS, it's most likely to be supported with new releases. Plus, it's already on T-Mobile, so I really wouldn't suggest anything else.

Android Phone help. - Kalovale - 2011-02-06

That does look tempting, an equal $350, and it seems more appealing somehow. And Index, aren't the manufacturers those who offer the updates to the OS versions made available? How would Google treat the Nexus S any differently if the update (what I presume) comes from Samsung?

Do you happen to have a FULL list of the requirements to be paying the subsidized $200 price for it? (specifically if there's any internet plan requirement)
As it happens for the G2, things seemed incredibly vague on T-Mobile's side until I found this:

Quote:For a limited time, when you purchase a T-Mobile G2 on T-Mobile.com or through 1-877-387-4324, you may qualify for a $300 instant discount and a $100 mail-in rebate card.

To qualify for the instant discount, you must activate the product on a new line of service with an Even More™ rate plan on a two-year service agreement. Even More™ Family Plans may qualify for up to five instant discounts.

To qualify for the mail-in rebate card, one of the following is required:
• Even More™ Talk + Text or Talk + Text + Web plan
• Even More Talk with Web service of at least $10/month Please see the rebate form for more details.

The rebate card form will be included with the phone and can be downloaded from http://www.tmobilerebates.com

Prices exclusive to T-Mobile.com or 1-877-387-4324. Tax and shipping charges (if applicable) are extra. This offer cannot be combined with certain other offers. Limited-time offer while supplies last.

Further about the G2:

Spoiler

Android Phone help. - dpeterlin - 2011-02-06

I needed the internet plan in order to have the g1, pretty sure the same is true for the g2 but looks like you've already come to that conclusion. Whether or not you can just cancel it I'm not sure but not having the internet kind of defeats the purpose of having a smartphone in my eyes. Without the ability to update/download new apps or have the apps you have actually do work for you just have a large phone with a pretty screen. Just my take on it though.

On another related note I stopped by best buy today and fooled around with the nexus s and it's a pretty damn nice phone. If everything else is equal (cost, etc) I'd definitely put that one in my pocket over the g2 despite lack of physical keyboard. Pretty sure it does not support 4g though, which brings us back to how long you plan on having the phone and whether or not the speed is a concern for you.

Android Phone help. - Kalovale - 2011-02-06

dpeterlin Wrote:I needed the internet plan in order to have the g1, pretty sure the same is true for the g2 but looks like you've already come to that conclusion. Whether or not you can just cancel it I'm not sure but not having the internet kind of defeats the purpose of having a smartphone in my eyes. Without the ability to update/download new apps or have the apps you have actually do work for you just have a large phone with a pretty screen. Just my take on it though.

On another related note I stopped by best buy today and fooled around with the nexus s and it's a pretty damn nice phone. If everything else is equal (cost, etc) I'd definitely put that one in my pocket over the g2 despite lack of physical keyboard. Pretty sure it does not support 4g though, which brings us back to how long you plan on having the phone and whether or not the speed is a concern for you.

Can I not use its wifi capabilities for the necessities? I can live without internet everywhere, for now, until I get money for it anyway.

If I can cancel the internet plan after the 1st month, my total payment for the phone is:
- $99 for the phone itself
- $120 for the 2 year contract of a new line to my existing family plan
- $10 for the first internet month, or 240 for the whole 2-year (which I don't see mentioned anywhere, just being assumed)
Totaling at 250ish dollars or 500ish dolla- F'uck that.

The Nexus S, on the other hand, is a hundred bucks above this for the core stuff:
- $199 for the phone itself
- $120 for the 2 year contract of the new added line
- $0 for the internet plan
Totaling at 320ish dollars.

So it all boils down to whether or not I can really cancel the internet plan after the first month, but it'll be the pretty damned same thing if both requires a data plan. Nexus = G2 + $100. Worth it?

Android Phone help. - Index - 2011-02-06

All smartphones, regardless of OS, manufacturer, or service provider, require some sort of data plan.
As for upgrade eligibility, this phone is different since it's the one Google itself uses. When Android 2.4 or further versions are released, this one has to be updated. Once the next flagship is released (not soon), it might not be the same story.

Buying an Android phone is always a risk.

Android Phone help. - Devil - 2011-02-06

Kalovale Wrote:Can I not use its wifi capabilities for the necessities? I can live without internet everywhere, for now, until I get money for it anyway.

If I can cancel the internet plan after the 1st month, my total payment for the phone is:
- $99 for the phone itself
- $120 for the 2 year contract of a new line to my existing family plan
- $10 for the first internet month, or 240 for the whole 2-year (which I don't see mentioned anywhere, just being assumed)
Totaling at 250ish dollars or 500ish dolla- F'uck that.

The Nexus S, on the other hand, is a hundred bucks above this for the core stuff:
- $199 for the phone itself
- $120 for the 2 year contract of the new added line
- $0 for the internet plan
Totaling at 320ish dollars.

So it all boils down to whether or not I can really cancel the internet plan after the first month, but it'll be the pretty damned same thing if both requires a data plan. Nexus = G2 + $100. Worth it?

If you can afford it, go for the Nexus S... it will be the new standard for Android OS... Smile

Android Phone help. - Kalovale - 2011-02-06

Looks like the Nexus is a considerable bit better than the G2 at every selling-point.
OS version, OS updatability, Processor speed, battery life, VoIP support, screen size, etc..

The only perks G2 does seem to have are: A physical keyboard, HSPA+, external storage (I could bring a whole movie collection with me anywhere in microSDs), bulkier (LOL, I don't like the feel of a platypus-like phone).

I'm very convinced not to get the Nexus S because of the additional hundred bucks (I simply don't have enough) and just go for the G2. The only thing that's stopping me is the G2's lack of OS update, which is the prime concern for Android.