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[Doopliss]

So I'm thinking of diving into the murky world of smart phone ownership for the first time. Since I don't know how much I'll find myself using it I'm taking some other good sounding advice and getting one of the cheaper ones to see how it suits me then maybe get a better one next time around.

Anyway, the one I'm looking at is the galaxy ace which I can see on amazon for £173 sim free. I was planning on going with giffgaf's £10 a month unlimited internet type sim only deal.

One thing that I reckon is a good idea based on the random stuff I've been looking up is installing the cf7.. thing. rom? whatever. I believe as a requirement for it you need android 2.3, which I've read the galaxy ace supports, but on the amazon page there it says it comes with 2.2.

Does anyone know if indeed cf7 works on the galaxy ace? would I be able to just get an upgrade from 2.2 to 2.3 from the samsung site and then install cf7 from there?

Also, if any of you lot own or have owned a galaxy ace, any good or bad opinions of it? Most reviews I've read say it's pretty decent value for the money.

If you haven't already you should watch some video reviews on youtube, they'll give you a better idea of the experience of using the phone. ROMs are phone specific so you have to check forums for your exact model to see what's available and how well they work. Stuff that's on multiple phones like Cyanogenmod or MIUI are great on some handsets but bad on others.

Good call on going with Giffgaff, but the Galaxy Ace seems expensive considering its low spec. Good deals come and go, so unless you're desperate for a smartphone straight away I'd suggest keeping an eye on http://www.hotukdeals.com/mobiles/deals/hot for a while (actually, if you're ok with Windows Phone 7, the Lumia 710 for £150 deal a way down that page seems really great, assuming it's still available).

 

[The Faceless Master]

Would the touch screen still work? And might it not do more damage when I do finally get some money together to get it fixed which I will do at some point cos I'm assuming it'll cost less to fix than I'll get selling it

yes, the touchscreen will still work, and as far as doing more damage goes... you're only putting the tape on the glass, nothing else!

 

[The Faceless Master]

So I'm thinking of diving into the murky world of smart phone ownership for the first time. Since I don't know how much I'll find myself using it I'm taking some other good sounding advice and getting one of the cheaper ones to see how it suits me then maybe get a better one next time around.

Anyway, the one I'm looking at is the galaxy ace which I can see on amazon for £173 sim free. I was planning on going with giffgaf's £10 a month unlimited internet type sim only deal.

One thing that I reckon is a good idea based on the random stuff I've been looking up is installing the cf7.. thing. rom? whatever. I believe as a requirement for it you need android 2.3, which I've read the galaxy ace supports, but on the amazon page there it says it comes with 2.2.

Does anyone know if indeed cf7 works on the galaxy ace? would I be able to just get an upgrade from 2.2 to 2.3 from the samsung site and then install cf7 from there?

Also, if any of you lot own or have owned a galaxy ace, any good or bad opinions of it? Most reviews I've read say it's pretty decent value for the money.

oh yeah, why a galaxy ace instead of an optimus one?

 

[Steriletom]

How did you receive it exactly? Through text, email, ???

I went into the music app on my phone this morning to listen to some music and there was a message sitting in there inviting me to the beta.

try using the invite and seeing if it works

Been a little busy since receiving the invite but I just went to google music and it seems to be working. The bar showing the status of my upload has disappeared but I can already see "A Tribe Called Quest" up in the cloud. The music store doesn't work though as it still appears to be limited to the U.S. My work laptop is recognized as being from the states when I connect to the VPN, so that isn't a big issue for me.

Just pulled the status bar back up and I'm sitting at 4 of 800 songs uploaded. Man, this thing is pretty slow.

 

[kehs]

well to save money I dropped my smart phone (droid x), so its sitting here deactivated. My question is, how do I get rid of the voicemail icon on the notification bar? Since its deactivated I can't call voicemail, so what are my other options?

You should be able to change the voicemail settings under the phone app, that might clear up the notification.

 

[RoadHazard]

I wish I could get visual voicemail. There's nothing like that here. I just get a text to notify me, and then I have to call the voicemail number to listen to it. But maybe that's just the downside of carriers not being so all up in everyone's phone business here.

 

[Bboy AJ]

I wish I could get visual voicemail. There's nothing like that here. I just get a text to notify me, and then I have to call the voicemail number to listen to it. But maybe that's just the downside of carriers not being so all up in everyone's phone business here.

Use Google Voice.

 

[Pctx]

just rooted my Skyrocket today with SuperOneClick. Funny how it was.

 

[kehs]

I can't believe Google still hasn't updated Voice so it can use their own damned voicemail API in ICS.

 

[RoadHazard]

Use Google Voice.

There is no Google Voice outside the US. Or, well, there is, but it's not the same. All we can do is call from the browser (for pre-added credit). We can't connect it to our phones, etc.

 

[moojito]

oh yeah, why a galaxy ace instead of an optimus one?

I hadn't heard of that phone til I looked it up. I guess it's not widely available here in the uk. It seems to be the galaxy ace, wildfire s or the orange/zte phones in that price range commonly available. The orange monte carlo/zte skate looks really nice, but I'm a bit wary of having to unlock it.

 

[RoadHazard]

I hadn't heard of that phone til I looked it up. I guess it's not widely available here in the uk. It seems to be the galaxy ace, wildfire s or the orange/zte phones in that price range commonly available. The orange monte carlo/zte skate looks really nice, but I'm a bit wary of having to unlock it.

I had a ZTE Blade (the predecessor to the Skate) before I got my Galaxy Nexus, and it was a really nice phone considering its low price. The stock ROM wasn't all too great, but rooting the phone and flashing a custom ROM was easy as pie. I didn't have to unlock mine (I bought it unlocked), but from what I've heard that was very easily done too.

 

[Jayayess1190]

Galaxy Note is officially upstaged.

 

[Threi]

i welcome our 4:3 aspect ratio overlord

 

[Al-ibn Kermit]

Does no phone have a kickstand these days? Especially if you have a five inch BBW phone, I would think a kick stand would be appreciated..

 

[Divvy]

4:3 is going to make that so awkward to use.

 

[rozay]

Galaxy Note is officially upstaged.

what the hell is the point of this?

 

[bobbytkc]

what the hell is the point of this?

What was the point of a galaxy note?

 

[Kagami]

Galaxy Note is officially upstaged.

1024x768

Meh.

 

[Blackhead]

what the hell is the point of this?

Korean rivalry

Sidenote: is T-mobile USA still making any attempts to get the new premier phones or has the management given up on that battle?

 

[The Faceless Master]

Galaxy Note is officially upstaged.

QUALCOMM

 

[Good Job Bob]

Galaxy Note

$250 on Amazon

 

[BootlegSnackz]

Korean rivalry

Sidenote: is T-mobile USA still making any attempts to get the new premier phones or has the management given up on that battle?

The HTC One X (Edge, Endeavor, Supreme) is bound to end up on T-Mo since it lacks LTE.

Thing is, it's only got the 21 mpbs HSPA+ chipset ( I think T-Mo is up to 42 now)

Here's hoping that the specs can change for an AT&T version with LTE, if so, that'll probably be my next phone.

T-Mo has not been on the ball lately, it seems like they were really planning on being apart of AT&T so did not plan on any exclusives, I would look for that to change by end of year.

They just need to get LTE blown out already.

 

[moojito]

Galaxy Note

$250 on Amazon

That's ridiculous. If that was on over here (uk) I'd buy that right now. I don't see one here for less than $600.

 

[-MB-]

I think this oen comes with an AT & T subscription though, so not so cheap after all.

 

[sun-drop]

has this been posted?

http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/0...ent-and-how-apple-may-or-may-not-infringe-it/


nice ... pretty big cloud hanging over apple here if this comes through. and so it should ... moaning about how round some one's icons are or other such bullshit pales in comparison to the wholesale theft of an entire notification system.

 

[moojito]

On my travels I've come across this offer, an Acer liquid metal sim free for £130. It comes with android 2.3 and supports flash. I think that's pretty damn decent, and I'll most likely be going for that one myself.

 

[frankie_baby]

yes, the touchscreen will still work, and as far as doing more damage goes... you're only putting the tape on the glass, nothing else!

i'm not talking a few cracks though the bottom half of the screen is basically shattered into about 100 pieces, quite how its holding together i dont know

 

[Circle T]

Galaxy Note is officially upstaged.

4:3 ratio
1024x768 res
LCD display
Qualcomm'd
2000mAh battery

Yea, the Note has nothing to worry about.... yet.

 

[The Faceless Master]

i'm not talking a few cracks though the bottom half of the screen is basically shattered into about 100 pieces, quite how its holding together i dont know

even more reason to cover it, you're begging for splinters if you don't!

 

[Lonely1]

That's ridiculous. If that was on over here (uk) I'd buy that right now. I don't see one here for less than $600.

Qualcomm chipset, you aren't missing.

 

[Cudder]

I don't know whether to keep Pulse or Currents for my news. I love both, but Pulse is just faster at getting news to me.

 

[jayb]

I still prefer the good 'ol Google reader app for my news fix. I just can't get into pulse or currents for whatever reason.

 

[Cudder]

I still prefer the good 'ol Google reader app for my news fix. I just can't get into pulse or currents for whatever reason.

I've never used Google Reader. Maybe I should give it a try?

 

[Circle T]

I've never used Google Reader. Maybe I should give it a try?

Certainly not as pretty as Currents or Pulse, but if you want to get through a ton of news quickly, Reader is great. I've used it forever it seems, and it works great. When I'm on the go, I'll just star anything/everything I want to read later, and then just get to them when I'm on my computer. Works well for me.

 

[zoku88]

That's ridiculous. If that was on over here (uk) I'd buy that right now. I don't see one here for less than $600.

Well, that is the two-year contract price.

$250 on contract isn't too bad for a $750 phone, though.

 

[Cudder]

Certainly not as pretty as Currents or Pulse, but if you want to get through a ton of news quickly, Reader is great. I've used it forever it seems, and it works great. When I'm on the go, I'll just star anything/everything I want to read later, and then just get to them when I'm on my computer. Works well for me.

Why did Google even create Currents if it already had a tried and true news reader? Why not just update Reader, or combine them or something? Having two different apps that do the same thing is weird to me.

Just to be sure, these feed apps (Feedly, Pulse, Currents), are all RSS readers, just like Google Reader, right?

 

[smokeandmirrors]

Galaxy Note is officially upstaged.

Ew. That phone is an ergonomic mess.

Also running Gingerbread with a 'promise' for ice cream sandwich in '3 months'. LOL. Par for the course I guess.

 

[Circle T]

Why did Google even create Currents if it already had a tried and true news reader? Why not just update Reader, or combine them or something? Having two different apps that do the same thing is weird to me.

Just to be sure, these feed apps (Feedly, Pulse, Currents), are all RSS readers, just like Google Reader, right?

Pulse and Currents are more of something you would use to thoroughly READ stories in. They have more of a magazine style to them, and will show full articles and pictures. Reader, on the other hand, is more intended for browsing headlines, and quickly scanning articles for info. They are similar in overall idea, but quite different in usage.

Ew. That phone is an ergonomic mess.

Also running Gingerbread with a 'promise' for ice cream sandwich in '3 months'. LOL. Par for the course I guess.

And LG "promises" are like the worst promises when it comes to updates (LG Thrill/Optimus 3D still on Froyo, lol).

 

[Lazy8s]

With the battery capacity of the RAZR MAXX, the platform integration of the Galaxy Nexus, and the APE5R performance of the Honey Bee 101k, the design envelope for Android devices is being pushed in multiple significant ways right now.

It's a great time to be in the market for a new device.

 

[AndyD]

I may need to go play with a RAZR MAXX. My upgrade is ready with Verizon.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Pulse and Currents are more of something you would use to thoroughly READ stories in. They have more of a magazine style to them, and will show full articles and pictures. Reader, on the other hand, is more intended for browsing headlines, and quickly scanning articles for info. They are similar in overall idea, but quite different in usage.

And LG "promises" are like the worst promises when it comes to updates (LG Thrill/Optimus 3D still on Froyo, lol).

LG obviously skipping minor updates like GB and going straight to ICS with the 3D/Thrill

 

[kehs]

Will I get rape-raped if I use slide me? I rarely like to tie my persona/financial accounts with stuff, so I'm wondering if anyone has had any trouble of problems with slide-me?

 

[Ashhong]

Hey guys need a recommendation. Looking for a Android phone for T-mobile, that is small, no keyboard, and decent developer support so that I can install custom ROMs and such.

Should also have decent specs. Want it to last a while. Maybe OLED? Though not necessary.

 

[Circle T]

Hey guys need a recommendation. Looking for a Android phone for T-mobile, that is small, no keyboard, and decent developer support so that I can install custom ROMs and such.

Should also have decent specs. Want it to last a while. Maybe OLED? Though not necessary.

Does it need to be a new model? If not, how about the Nexus S?

 

[zoku88]

Hey guys need a recommendation. Looking for a Android phone for T-mobile, that is small, no keyboard, and decent developer support so that I can install custom ROMs and such.

Should also have decent specs. Want it to last a while. Maybe OLED? Though not necessary.

How small is small?

And what does 'decent specs' mean?

And how long do you want it to last?

 

[Ashhong]

How small is small?

And what does 'decent specs' mean?

And how long do you want it to last?

I guess about iPhone size. Decent specs...as in midrange specs? Not Nexus, but not super crappy. Just something that will get her by. Probably has to last at least 2 years. She's not a power user, wont really be using it much.

Galaxy S might be an option..though its kind of large

 

[Battersea Power Station]

Just went back to stock browser after having used Chrome for a week, and it's a much smoother experience.

It's faster, Quick Controls are a winner, there's more screen space, and I think fonts look better.

I love tab sharing and all that, but the pros don't outweigh the cons yet for me.

 

[Agentnibs]

Hey guys need a recommendation. Looking for a Android phone for T-mobile, that is small, no keyboard, and decent developer support so that I can install custom ROMs and such.

Should also have decent specs. Want it to last a while. Maybe OLED? Though not necessary.

exhibit 2

 

[Ashhong]

exhibit 2

Yea I looked at that too, though its similar in size to the Galaxy S, and I think the S is better specs no?