Upgrade to smartphone

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CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#76682 4-Feb-2011 23:32

Hi,

My father-in-law has a phone upgrade coming up and has a $300 credit with Vodafone to spend on a new phone. He currently uses a 3G Nokia which he is very comfortable with but would like to be able to receive emails when he upgrades. His main priorities in the phone are calling, texting, camera, email and ease of use. A GPS would be a nice bonus. I was thinking one of the cheaper android phones might be the go but from some quick reading the cheaper android phones may not be so great. Perhaps he would be better suited to one of the nokia phones that vodafone sell (the ones that look like blackberrys).He'd probably spend another $100 or so on top of the $300 if it was worth it to do so.

Any experiences that could help in this decision would be appreciated.

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3075 posts

Uber Geek

#435549 5-Feb-2011 00:20

CutCutCut: Hi,

My father-in-law has a phone upgrade coming up and has a $300 credit with Vodafone to spend on a new phone. He currently uses a 3G Nokia which he is very comfortable with but would like to be able to receive emails when he upgrades. His main priorities in the phone are calling, texting, camera, email and ease of use. A GPS would be a nice bonus. I was thinking one of the cheaper android phones might be the go but from some quick reading the cheaper android phones may not be so great. Perhaps he would be better suited to one of the nokia phones that vodafone sell (the ones that look like blackberrys).He'd probably spend another $100 or so on top of the $300 if it was worth it to do so.

Any experiences that could help in this decision would be appreciated.

The samsung Galaxy 3 (I5800) seems to meet what you need. I have that phone. It has 3G with extended coverage, GPS, SMS, Calling, 3.2MP camera that's pictures come out great, easy to use email and its android 2.1 with 2.2 coming out shortly I heard. I paid $387 at JB-HIFI but its $400 and something at Vodafone I think? Well worth the money I think. Pretty snappy too.

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#435568 5-Feb-2011 06:57

tardtasticx:
CutCutCut: Hi,

My father-in-law has a phone upgrade coming up and has a $300 credit with Vodafone to spend on a new phone. He currently uses a 3G Nokia which he is very comfortable with but would like to be able to receive emails when he upgrades. His main priorities in the phone are calling, texting, camera, email and ease of use. A GPS would be a nice bonus. I was thinking one of the cheaper android phones might be the go but from some quick reading the cheaper android phones may not be so great. Perhaps he would be better suited to one of the nokia phones that vodafone sell (the ones that look like blackberrys).He'd probably spend another $100 or so on top of the $300 if it was worth it to do so.

Any experiences that could help in this decision would be appreciated.

The samsung Galaxy 3 (I5800) seems to meet what you need. I have that phone. It has 3G with extended coverage, GPS, SMS, Calling, 3.2MP camera that's pictures come out great, easy to use email and its android 2.1 with 2.2 coming out shortly I heard. I paid $387 at JB-HIFI but its $400 and something at Vodafone I think? Well worth the money I think. Pretty snappy too.

+1 on that recommendation. Brought one for my wife and she loves it.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#435771 5-Feb-2011 23:07

Thanks for that. Is the Galaxy 3 the same as this http://www.vodafone.co.nz/shop/mobileDetails.jsp?skuId=sku9810017&voucherCode=&hardwareSkuId=&menuKey=mnit700029&selectedPlanSkuId=&selectedView=&selectedTab=technicalSpecifications&selectedPriceTab=&ignoreCartContent=

Seems to be the cheapest Samsung galaxy model vodafone sell.

tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#435777 5-Feb-2011 23:36

Yep thats correct. Most places on the internet refer to it as the Galaxy 3, but the 580 its its true name. http://www.samsung.com/nz/consumer/mobile-phone/mobile-phone/smartphone/GT-I5800DKAVNZ/index.idx?pag...=

A really good phone for its price.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#435796 6-Feb-2011 08:29

Be very aware of the resolutions of cheap android phones. A lot of them are just QVGA which means a lot of apps wont work. You'd want HVGA at a minimum. 480x320
THESE RESOLUTIONS MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO AVAILABLE APPS! (have to stress this to people that buy 'droids and then wonder why they can't get Angry Birds etc)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_display_resolutions

The Samsung people are recommending has slightly better resolution than the $200 Voda 845, but not up there with the $400 phones like the LG GT540 and the LG P500 which are both HVGA

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#435821 6-Feb-2011 10:09

I am fine with the smaller screens - depends how you fare. For driving I guess larger screens are better thou. But I got a Navman for that.

The thing with Android is that to establish a route, you need mobile data, I've been told the newer Google Maps are now offline but routing still needs a tiny bit of mobile data. There is 3rd party software but I am not sure how that works.

You mentioned Nokia, Nokia works without mobile data but it needs a subscription for many of its phones like $6 for 30 days or $20 for a year I think it is.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#435825 6-Feb-2011 10:17

The thing about resolution isn't about screen size (gt540 is 3" and P500 3.2"), it's about the availability of apps.. There's sweet FA apps (that I use, anyway) that will run, or even be available in the market for, QVGA.
Plus the benefits of being able to see a whole email, webpage etc.

LG phones come with NDrive, a completely offline nav app...

edit: BTW, I'm not trying to sell LG phones here, I have issues with my P500- dust on the screen.. and the customer support with a map problem on my GT540 sucked.. (I was told to ring because it was "a long process" after 2 emails, and then told on the phone that it was impossible, I couldn't get a map that had been deleted, but after 5 mins with another sdcard I fixed it myself)

Just be aware of the limits of resolution! A mate of mine wasn't, and didn't ask before he bought the 845, and then couldn't get the app he wanted from my phone because qvga wasn't supported (Maverick... gps app)

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CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#436161 7-Feb-2011 10:39

rayonline: I am fine with the smaller screens - depends how you fare. For driving I guess larger screens are better thou. But I got a Navman for that.

The thing with Android is that to establish a route, you need mobile data, I've been told the newer Google Maps are now offline but routing still needs a tiny bit of mobile data. There is 3rd party software but I am not sure how that works.

You mentioned Nokia, Nokia works without mobile data but it needs a subscription for many of its phones like $6 for 30 days or $20 for a year I think it is.

Oh I didn't realise there was a charge for Nokia email. Is that if you don't want to pay for data?

As for running apps, probably not a big deal in this case, as apps will be low down on the priority list. The samsung does have the advantage of wifi though. My in-laws will be going overseas later this year and wifi would be a handy option for them to get online. Is there a way of turning off data and just using wifi on android? I assume there would be.
Anybody used the sony ericsson X8?
The LG GT540 is a good price on vodafone? little bit supspect about LG phones as I've seensome pretty nasty ones, but running android I assume it would be much better.

trig42

5809 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#436169 7-Feb-2011 10:52

There is no charge for email on a nokia phone. I think they are talking about GPS - Navigation. Nokia do charge on some of their hones for GPS navigation (OviMaps).

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#436207 7-Feb-2011 12:08

CutCutCut:
rayonline: I am fine with the smaller screens - depends how you fare. For driving I guess larger screens are better thou. But I got a Navman for that.

The thing with Android is that to establish a route, you need mobile data, I've been told the newer Google Maps are now offline but routing still needs a tiny bit of mobile data. There is 3rd party software but I am not sure how that works.

You mentioned Nokia, Nokia works without mobile data but it needs a subscription for many of its phones like $6 for 30 days or $20 for a year I think it is.

Oh I didn't realise there was a charge for Nokia email. Is that if you don't want to pay for data?

As for running apps, probably not a big deal in this case, as apps will be low down on the priority list. The samsung does have the advantage of wifi though. My in-laws will be going overseas later this year and wifi would be a handy option for them to get online. Is there a way of turning off data and just using wifi on android? I assume there would be.
Anybody used the sony ericsson X8?
The LG GT540 is a good price on vodafone? little bit supspect about LG phones as I've seensome pretty nasty ones, but running android I assume it would be much better.

Not sure about Nokia email. I have a business phone model, the email client only works via 3G (mobile data) and it won't even ask you cos it's "push email", it downloads the headers and then when you open the email it downloads more. It's automatic notification like "text messages". It will only use 3G on my phone even when you are connected to a wifi network at home.

On my phone if you use a web browser you can use wifi or 3G, up to you and you just go to Gmail and check or whatever.

For other phones I presume the email client can be used via wifi - no experience though.

wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#436938 8-Feb-2011 19:07

Nokia sounds good, and apart from Nokia E series, I probably would recommend LG optimus one p500

Using P500 now, and bought my parents 2 Huawei Ideos.

MOBILE: Huawei P30
OTHER: Thinkpad E14 + Asus Vivobook + Intel NUC5i3 + A family of Raspberry Pi x 9 + Amazon Echo

CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#437088 9-Feb-2011 00:26

wanghou168: Nokia sounds good, and apart from Nokia E series, I probably would recommend LG optimus one p500

Using P500 now, and bought my parents 2 Huawei Ideos.

Yeah the P500 looks nice, unfortuantely vodafone don't seem to sell it. And I'm assuming the credit for the phone he gets will only be form vodafone store. They ahve the LG GT540 though. At $399, I haven't seen what the differnce is yet. They seem similar.
I'll have to do some more research into how email on your mobile entails as it's completely foreign to me. He'll just be wanting to access his xtra email but I'm assuming he'd want it 'pushed' to his phone when he was away from his computer.
How does the GPS work on these things? Do they need 3G? Or is it like traditinal GPS systems where you buy a region map?

wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#437118 9-Feb-2011 08:30

Nokia use Ovi maps, and LG use Ndrives.
No 3g or purchase is required.
NZ map and GPS software are preloaded onto the phone

Some of the small Vodafone retailer do sell LG p500, but dont think it is on their website.

MOBILE: Huawei P30
OTHER: Thinkpad E14 + Asus Vivobook + Intel NUC5i3 + A family of Raspberry Pi x 9 + Amazon Echo

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#437128 9-Feb-2011 08:43

gt540 resistive and comes with 1.6, 2.1 update not that good. P50 capacitive and 2.2

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#437339 9-Feb-2011 16:27

3G not required for Nokia phones. Yep. But you need to pay the subscription on some of their phones if you want navigation. If you don't pay it you can only see your red dot - your location and see as it moves around the map.

You won't be able to initialiate a search like go to Queens Street and then press "GOTO" because within 1 minute it would forward you to a page for payment if you not already bought and if you press cancel it shutsdown your GPS application.

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