New phones

[sobrique]

OK so it's coming up on 'new phone season'.
I currently have an N95, and am quite happy with it.

I have reached the conclusion that what I find I use is:
3G/bluetooth modem.
A bit of web browsing and email. (checking stuff like cinema/train times on teh move is awesome)
GPS - position + map = awesome. Some stuff supports 'geotagging' so you can get picture + location stored.
A decent calendar/to-do list - especially this one that syncs with google calendars. That's just plain neat.

I'm also thinking in terms of something with a touch screen, ideally the 'don't need a stylus' kind.

That narrows the field quite a bit to:
HTC Touch Diamond (Pro possibly? Bit of a brick though)
Samsung Omnia i900 (16G|8Gb)
The Jesusphone (iPhone)

The latter I've more or less crossed off, as I've heard there's kind of fundamental flaws with it - style is great, but content comes first, and the fact that it doesn't commmunicate well with other bluetooth devices such that I can use my laptop with it is a 'cross off list' flaw. (Besides, there's too many apple fanboys in the world)

So, whilst i have troddled around webshites, and seen reviews, it's sometimes hard to separate out hype from fact.
Hence this post - does anyone have experience with any of the above, and feel like commenting on suitability? (And ideally pointing out any 'deal breakers' too)

Currently leaning towards the Omnia, because I like the fact it can geotag photos. (http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_touch_diamond_vs_samsung_i900_omnia-review-262.php)

Comments

[xarra.livejournal.com]

For an Omnia review I found: http://www.tracyandmatt.co.uk/blogs/index.php/2008/09/09/samsung-i900-omnia-review

I've another 8 months to go on my contract - and of course no phones take full sized SD cards now anyway... Sigh...

[jorune.livejournal.com]

My contract with Orange finishes in December though I have a renewal window from mid September. I need a new phone as my current one is dependent on the centre thumbstick which drives the o/s and it's currently stopped working in one direction. If it wholly breaks then it will be time for either a new phone or reclaim the one I have lent to Alan.

So your phone post is timely. I think I shall wait until later in the year, perhaps towards December to see what comes out. The iphone is so full of promise and yet is flawed whereas Windows Mobile devices are flawed yet provide much.

Edit : There is also the HTC Dream featuring the Google Android o/s. There's a demo of it on youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arXolJrLVEg&feature=related

[ehrine.livejournal.com]

Rather then the HTC Touch Diamond, keep an eye out for the HTC Touch Pro. Basically it's the same phone with an added slid-out keyboard, an SD card slot, a flash for the camera and TV-out (should you care). Oh and a higher capacity battery.

I think HTC listened to some of the faults (lack of memory card slot being one) and fixed them.

It's certainly the phone I'm waiting on pricing information on.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Vodaphone are only doing that one on 'business rates' according to their forum. I'm not sure what the difference between being a 'business' and a 'non business' customer is, but ... apparantly it's a marketing decision.

I'd originally discounted it, as it's a brick:
102 mm (4.0 in) (h) 51 mm (2.0 in) (w) 18.05 mm (0.711 in)

Which compares to the Samsung:
112 x 56.9 x 12.5 mm

And the touch diamond:
102 x 51 x 11.5 mm


Although I suppose that compares to me current N95 at: 99x53x21 mm

[ehrine.livejournal.com]

Business rates are pretty much the same as normal, but are printed with ex. VAT prices as well as inc. VAT. Oh, they also do the multiple phones on one contract thing there.

Technically the phone I have from them atm is a "business rate" phone, but I quite happily got them to upgrade me to it last time.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Well, there's complaining on the forums about it. But ... are you actually on a 'business plan' and is it any different?
As far as I can see they have a £35 plan (quoted as exc. vat of 29 and someodd) which will do a free diamond/omnia (dunno about the touch pro as it's not available yet) but includes unlimited data (and either SMS messaging, or landline calling). Subject of course, to their FUP, but ... meh, it's not like I'm going to be doing P2P transfers on it or anything.

[ehrine.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but that's a deal for new customers. Upgraders don't get that good unless they can find a comparible deal elsewhere :p

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

http://www.vodafonebusinessshop.co.uk/Details-Phone-HTC-Touch-Pro-3037.html

Available, but only to business customers. £300 base cost, on a £35/month contract (which despite being more, would be aboue the same as my current, given SMS/data charges).

Which would be fine, but not if they won't let me.

Time to email vodafone I think.

[ehrine.livejournal.com]

http://www.tracyandmatt.co.uk/blogs/index.php/2008/08/22/htc-touch-pro-review

There's a few other odds and sods on the Touch Pro there. Damn thing is calling to me.

[ehrine.livejournal.com]

And another review

http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=reviews&id=1094

[shortcipher]

I have similar requirements, but refuse to buy a Windows device on principle. That leaves the iPhone, which is expensive and still presents a few issues for someone who doesn't own a Mac/Windows machine, or the HTC Dream, which I'll be taking a cautious look at as soon as it comes out. Currently I use a Palm Treo 680, with a separate Bluetooth GPS device for satnav. I use GooSync for calendar synchronisation, which is slightly clunky. I love the range of apps available for it though (about 25000) and the fact that I can write my own using a decent Linux-based toolchain.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

GooSync I use with my N95, and that's awesome. Don't like WiMo, nor do I like iPhone fanboyism.
But ... well, these seem to be the only options for 'finger mash keypad' phones out there at the moment.

[syntheticbrain.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I'm on a k810i with a pda in tow, but I'm thinking the x1 may be worth a look when it gets released...
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/specifications/x1?cc=gb&lc=en