Android versions and NZ Telco's

Check our new Geekzone Price Comparison web site for electronics prices in New Zealand.

Forums › Android › Android versions and NZ Telco's

1 | 2 | 3

372 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 784521 20-Mar-2013 15:12
Why don't you just download a custom Jellybean ROM? Firefox users: It's called Fx, not FF! [Read FAQ#8] I recommend: Web Browser: Opera. Ad Filter: Ad Muncher. Portable OS: Puppy Linux. IM: Digsby. AntiVirus: Microsoft Security Essentials. Automation: AutoHotkey. Rescue CD: Parted Magic.

zANavAShi

118 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 784531 20-Mar-2013 15:24
jeffnz: Learn to flash it isn't that hard after initial nerves and it will open up the world of Android to you. My HTC Desire Z is outa warranty next month and I'm planning to give it a go when I get over those "initial nerves". I gotta have a slide out qwerty keyboard which sadly seem to have become a thing of the past, so I'll be squeezing the life outa this nifty wee handset for as many years as the Android Gods will shine upon her with kindness.

lchiu7

3435 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Reply # 784586 20-Mar-2013 16:40
Behodar: DarkShadow: Just import a Nexus 4. $410 for the best Android ever. Google's site is still geoblocked... is there a version with a decent amount of storage yet or is it still capped at 16 GB? Slightly OT but for some reason (I do use unblock-us on the router) on one of my PC's I can access the Google store and buy the Nexus 4. On another PC I can't - geoblocked. I haven't worked out why yet since unblock-us was not designed to get past Google geoblocking. System One: Popcorn Hour A200, PS3 (US 60G) dead and now replaced with a PS3 SuperSlim, NPVR running on Sempron 3000 (XP), Sony BDP-S390 BD player, Logitech Revue, Pioneer AVR, JVC 56" D-ILA 720P RP TV System Two: Popcorn Hour A110 , Oppo BDP-80 BluRay Player with hardware mode to be region free, Vivitek HD1080P 1080P DLP projector with 100" screen. Harman Kardon HK AVR 254 7.1 receiver, Toshiba HD-A2 HD-DVD player, Roku XS media player Check out my blog at lchiu.blogspot.com

bradstewart

Ex-Samsung Fanboy
3643 posts

Uber Geek

Mod Emeritus

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 784606 20-Mar-2013 17:19
d3Xt3r: Why don't you just download a custom Jellybean ROM? The U8180 doesn't have a GPU. Running 4.x on it really is not viable. Devices: Samsung Captivate (AT&T Galaxy S) and HTC One on Telecom. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.

d3Xt3r

372 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 784635 20-Mar-2013 18:00
bradstewart: d3Xt3r: Why don't you just download a custom Jellybean ROM? The U8180 doesn't have a GPU. Running 4.x on it really is not viable. Ah well, I guess it had outdated specs right from day #1. A much better choice back then would have been the HTC Desire - which he could have purchased on TradeMe for about the same price as an X1. I know for a fact that the Desire has no troubles running 4.2.2 on it. Moral of the story: Always go for an older flagship phone instead of a newer low-end phone. :) Firefox users: It's called Fx, not FF! [Read FAQ#8] I recommend: Web Browser: Opera. Ad Filter: Ad Muncher. Portable OS: Puppy Linux. IM: Digsby. AntiVirus: Microsoft Security Essentials. Automation: AutoHotkey. Rescue CD: Parted Magic.

zANavAShi

118 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 784662 20-Mar-2013 18:49
d3Xt3r: A much better choice back then would have been the HTC Desire - which he could have purchased on TradeMe for about the same price as an X1. I know for a fact that the Desire has no troubles running 4.2.2 on it. Any idea if the HTC Desire Z will run it OK too? Or have a link I can visit to search for more info please?

bradstewart

Ex-Samsung Fanboy
3643 posts

Uber Geek

Mod Emeritus

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 784664 20-Mar-2013 18:57
zANavAShi: d3Xt3r: A much better choice back then would have been the HTC Desire - which he could have purchased on TradeMe for about the same price as an X1. I know for a fact that the Desire has no troubles running 4.2.2 on it. Any idea if the HTC Desire Z will run it OK too? Or have a link I can visit to search for more info please? Getting off-topic but there are unofficial ports of CM10.1 for the Desire Z here. Devices: Samsung Captivate (AT&T Galaxy S) and HTC One on Telecom. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.

jeffnz

1020 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 784666 20-Mar-2013 19:03
zANavAShi: d3Xt3r: A much better choice back then would have been the HTC Desire - which he could have purchased on TradeMe for about the same price as an X1. I know for a fact that the Desire has no troubles running 4.2.2 on it. Any idea if the HTC Desire Z will run it OK too? Or have a link I can visit to search for more info please? start here don't get put off by it all, but to answer your question, yes it can run it and a few 4.2.2 custom roms available for it. Galaxy S3 Wanam 4.1.2

Wade

843 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 784745 20-Mar-2013 22:44	One person supports this post
Think of the poor people that are going to fork out plenty of hard earned cash on the shiny new Samsung S4 in a couple of months only to hear about Android 5.0's imminent release and then having to wait at least another 6 months for Samsung to release their version of 5.0, then waiting another 3+ months for their local Telco to release their localised variants, next thing you know the S5 is just around the corner :P, alternatively you can go the Nexus route and have the latest OS updated in a timely fashion but on last years hardware spec's... Its all just a big old vicious cycle, getting the ultimate software on the ultimate hardware is like chasing unicorns so how the low end can ever improve or catch up is beyond me!

crazed

Geek-a-fied!
360 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 784757 20-Mar-2013 23:09
Sorry guys, I'm not sure if I was clear in my OP as it was abit rushed, What I'm asking is why are these junk phones being sold in NZ when they are outdated and grossly underspec'ed from the start. When I brought it, I had no understanding of Android phones, other than what afew mates had commented. The X1 I brought back last year(Feb 2012 @ $249) after initially asking for a resonable droid phone that was "future proofed" according to the rep(Telecom) The phone works but really struggles with everything! even making a call can be painful. I'm thinking of attempting a flash at some stage, but again no idea what or how. CraZeD, Your friendly Southern Geeky Fellow :P

d3Xt3r

372 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 784765 20-Mar-2013 23:42
crazed: Sorry guys, I'm not sure if I was clear in my OP as it was abit rushed, What I'm asking is why are these junk phones being sold in NZ when they are outdated and grossly underspec'ed from the start. Why? Same reason why overpriced Apple products are being sold - there's a market for every sort of device (or in other words, there's a sucker born every minute). Especially given the fact that you could advertise that your $200 device can do everything a $1000 iPhone can, how can any newbie looking to buy a smartphone not resist an offer like that? Now don't get me wrong - my uncle has a Huawei Ideos as well, and at that price, for his needs - it suits him well. He doesn't install any apps from the Market and only uses the stuff that came with it. I just installed Viber and a couple of apps I felt would be useful and he's happy with the device - no complaints. At that price, it's a great bang for the buck - especially if you compare it to a similarly priced feature phone. Firefox users: It's called Fx, not FF! [Read FAQ#8] I recommend: Web Browser: Opera. Ad Filter: Ad Muncher. Portable OS: Puppy Linux. IM: Digsby. AntiVirus: Microsoft Security Essentials. Automation: AutoHotkey. Rescue CD: Parted Magic.

zANavAShi

118 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 784767 20-Mar-2013 23:43	One person supports this post
bradstewart: Getting off-topic but there are unofficial ports of CM10.1 for the Desire Z here. jeffnz: start here don't get put off by it all, but to answer your question, yes it can run it and a few 4.2.2 custom roms available for it. PS: sorry for the thread hijack

Oblivian

756 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 784768 20-Mar-2013 23:46
crazed: Sorry guys, I'm not sure if I was clear in my OP as it was abit rushed, What I'm asking is why are these junk phones being sold in NZ when they are outdated and grossly underspec'ed from the start. Supply/Demand People demand features for cheap, the tradeoff.. they hock VERY basic devices with those capabilities. Outside the box however, rather hopeless. As users will always try to do what their mate with an iphone or better handset can do. I had someone flick off their new Samsung Y within a month, after realising 512 usable system space (think nexus original) was not all it cracked up to be once you installed a few apps and ran out with no way to move to external SD. pats original SGS I9000 flagship running JB 4.1.2. CM 4.2.x was a bit too much for it. /edit... dammit d3xt3r beating me to the post button.

michaelmurfy

They see me trollin'
1598 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Telecom NZ

Subscriber

Reply # 784774 21-Mar-2013 01:02
Wade: Think of the poor people that are going to fork out plenty of hard earned cash on the shiny new Samsung S4 in a couple of months only to hear about Android 5.0's imminent release and then having to wait at least another 6 months for Samsung to release their version of 5.0, then waiting another 3+ months for their local Telco to release their localised variants, next thing you know the S5 is just around the corner :P, alternatively you can go the Nexus route and have the latest OS updated in a timely fashion but on last years hardware spec's... Its all just a big old vicious cycle, getting the ultimate software on the ultimate hardware is like chasing unicorns so how the low end can ever improve or catch up is beyond me! It's just like the iPhone though, you're buying a phone pretty-much out of date compared to the other Androids around, I cringe when I see a customer fork out $1029 for a 16gb iPhone 5 when for less you could get a SIII which for most people, is more than fine. Michael Murphy [Twitter] [Last.fm] [IPv6 Sage] Anything written up there is my own view on life, the universe and everything.

joker97

3916 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Reply # 784775 21-Mar-2013 01:10
Wait for sale. Bought motorola atrix 2 for 199 running ics during boxing day sales Or look for discount phones. Why dont yiu start a thread called cheapest ics or jellybean phone help please or something ... If telcos set out to rip you off well then dont buy any phone off them just take their $19 prepay sim and suck out every cent from them

1 | 2 | 3