geekhack

geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: iMav on Fri, 18 May 2012, 19:02:08

Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: iMav on Fri, 18 May 2012, 19:02:08
I bought my daughter an LG Genesis (US760) and we have a couple of Android-powered Kindle Fires...but this is my first purchase as my primary mobile device.

Things that are important to me:
Battery life
Verizon Wireless service
hotspot capability
GPS
camera

Doesn't narrow things down too much (well, maybe the hotspot capability does).

I'll be doing my own research, but want to know what you guys think.
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: iMav on Fri, 18 May 2012, 19:11:00
Droid Razr Maxx, perhaps?
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: alaricljs on Fri, 18 May 2012, 19:16:41
As for hotspot, depends... you want wireless you have to root it, at least as of 6 months ago.  For that I use OpenGarden, simple and keeps track of your data usage.  

I'm quite happy with my Fascinate (yeah, I know it's almost halfway through the contract period, so old!  :lol:)  So I'd probably get the Nexus since Samsung has been doing nicely for me.
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: iMav on Fri, 18 May 2012, 19:22:40
Several phones available through Verizon function as a mobile hotspot (supporting up to 8 devices).  No rooting required.
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: cactux on Fri, 18 May 2012, 19:52:00
HTC one X with nvidia tegra 3
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: alaricljs on Fri, 18 May 2012, 19:52:01
Nice to see it takes VZW so little time to modify their practices these days, next Q for me would be how much extra you pay to actually use the feature.  Entertaining to see they added a new fee for upgrading your phone too.  $30 to upgrade your phone and extend your contract.  But they dropped the phone prices too, so what was the point?

Maxx definitely has the battery life, seeing as how it's a massive 3300mah battery.  Somewhat surprising considering it's the same size as the Nexus.
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: alaricljs on Fri, 18 May 2012, 19:54:09
cactux, that's AT&T only,
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: cactux on Fri, 18 May 2012, 19:57:55
^ you are right
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: iMav on Fri, 18 May 2012, 20:12:13
Price is not really a concern...it will be expensed.  ;)

The Maxx looks like it might be the one for me.  It can replace my Verizon MIFI as well and my iPhone.
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: harrison on Fri, 18 May 2012, 20:14:34
what's your timeline?  there are going to be 5 new nexus phones coming out in the next month or so, the samsung galaxy 3 is going to kick some SERIOUS ass.  i love my galaxy nexus and for right now, it and the S2 are great options if you don't want to dump a lot of money into a cutting edge phone (they've both been out for 6+ months now).  no matter what you do, make sure it runs ICS (android 4.0.3/4)
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: alaricljs on Fri, 18 May 2012, 21:32:30
Mine is expensed as well, but we have a locked contract.  The only way to get anything outside of on-phone data is to root it.  I find this funny because I've done a full work day via cell in under 100MB each way.
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: PixelVandalism on Fri, 18 May 2012, 22:09:13
I haven't come across an android phone that I can't make a hotspot with?
I'd wait for for a month or two. S3 looks like a beast.
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: keyboardlover on Fri, 18 May 2012, 22:39:17
I like my Droid 3...mainly because it has a real keyboard.

Battery life pretty much sucks on all of them.
Title: In the market for my first Android phone...
Post by: bionicroach on Fri, 18 May 2012, 22:53:48
As harrison mentioned, unless you're in a hurry to make a decision, you might want to wait a little while longer to see what Google does with the upcoming Nexus "flagship" phones:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/google-planning-multiple-nexus-devices-android-jelly-bean (http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/google-planning-multiple-nexus-devices-android-jelly-bean)

It's unclear at this point whether they will be Verizon compatible, though.  The current "Pure Google" version of the Galaxy Nexus is an unlocked GSM version for AT&T or T-Mo.