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I am basically a new user to windows mobile. I previously had a blackberry 8900 but decided to switch to the touch pro 2 because of all the great reviews that I heard about it. So far I like the phone but i am not to thrilled about it at all. The browser is excellent as well as the screen but the phone seems to lag in many different areas. For whatever reason the phone seems to lag a lot and would get stuck on certain screens. The e-mail doesn't seem to come as quickly as my blackberry did;the facebook application actually was better at synching contacts and who refresh by itself on my blackberry;Also i keep getting these phantom messages that are basically just accumulating. Even after a hard reset the problem is still occurring. The only real problem that I had with my 8900 was the battery on it wasn't the greatest. I guess the purpose of this post is to really ask in your opinion why do you like this phone over other devices because maybe it does a lot a great things that I just don't know about. Thanks to all who partake in this topic.
Welcome to forums
Are you kidding?
Enter to a Nike store and ask a comparative between Puma and Nike...
What will be the answer
Um not at all...I wouldn't be asking and posting it on here if I was . If anyone can please answer my question please feel free to. Thanks
jgood1987 said:
Um not at all...I wouldn't be asking and posting it on here if I was . If anyone can please answer my question please feel free to. Thanks
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Click to collapse
What he meant was that the 8900 is more like the Dash 3G and isn't really in the same category as the Touch Pro2.
As for the lag, I really don't see it with mine. It really depends on how much you have running in the background, I guess. If it (the lag) is too much, you can always try flashing to one of the new WM6.5 ROMs.
My Exchange email makes it to my phone faster than it does my Outlook client on my computer.
The keyboard is immeasurably much better than anything on a Blackberry. I can't type accurately on a Blackberry because the size of my fingertips is considerably greater than the size of a key, so it's physically impossible for me to press one key at a time.
The screen is much larger (and I think higher-res) than a Blackberry. This is a big advantage if you want to play video clips, and makes web-browsing much more pleasant too - the high resolution is great for making small text legible. It's also good for some games.
The call quality is superb - loud, and clear, which is especially important for me because I'm partially deaf. I like the noise-cancelling and the lay-the-phone-face-down-to-switch-to-speaker features.
I like how tweakable it is, and I like the huge range of downloadable software.
I don't experience any lag with emails. Email from my work Exchange server gets pushed directly onto the phone almost instantly. Mail from my ISP is polled every 5 minutes, so there's not much of a delay. I don't get any phantom messages either. I don't use facebook, so I can't comment on that.
I think you may have some problems with your setup - perhaps even a faulty phone...?
Shasarak said:
The keyboard is immeasurably much better than anything on a Blackberry. I can't type accurately on a Blackberry because the size of my fingertips is considerably greater than the size of a key, so it's physically impossible for me to press one key at a time.
The screen is much larger (and I think higher-res) than a Blackberry. This is a big advantage if you want to play video clips, and makes web-browsing much more pleasant too - the high resolution is great for making small text legible. It's also good for some games.
The call quality is superb - loud, and clear, which is especially important for me because I'm partially deaf. I like the noise-cancelling and the lay-the-phone-face-down-to-switch-to-speaker features.
I like how tweakable it is, and I like the huge range of downloadable software.
I don't experience any lag with emails. Email from my work Exchange server gets pushed directly onto the phone almost instantly. Mail from my ISP is polled every 5 minutes, so there's not much of a delay. I don't get any phantom messages either. I don't use facebook, so I can't comment on that.
I think you may have some problems with your setup - perhaps even a faulty phone...?
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Click to collapse
It is a possibility it is the phone. Also as far as the call quality. The speaker phone isd beautiful but as far as the handset it sounds muffled and not as clear as my 8900. I don't like altering softwares to get something to work especially if something cost so much it should work perfectly right out the box. I will see what happens after I exchange this thing
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3933586&postcount=6
That is what we do on this forum mostly!!
Blackberry is not more than a junk, it is super junk
cgigate said:
Blackberry is not more than a junk, it is super junk
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you are entitled to your opinion but for the last year and a half i havent had any problems with the blackberry devices. It has done ever job that I needed it to do quickly and efficiently. Now as far as the question that i posted, which I thought was easy and didn't require or ask for any smart remark comments, was only really answered by Shasarak and ruinertt which i appreciate greatly. Like i said in my previous post I will try exchanging the device and seeing what is the outcome of it. Thanks again to those two individuals that I have listed above.
jgood1987 said:
Also as far as the call quality. The speaker phone isd beautiful but as far as the handset it sounds muffled and not as clear as my 8900.
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Click to collapse
That's certainly not been my experience - I find it very clear indeed. (The speaker phone isn't nearly as clear as the earpiece on mine, and doesn't go quite loud enough for my damaged hearing). Do you have the T-Mobile version of the phone? There have been a lot of complaints about the call quality on them - they seem to use different audio parameters from the stock version. (But this can potentially be fixed).
jgood1987 said:
I don't like altering softwares to get something to work especially if something cost so much it should work perfectly right out the box. I will see what happens after I exchange this thing
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Click to collapse
It's not just about tweaking the way things work, it's about adding entirely new capabilities that you didn't necessarily know you needed at the time you bought it. The TP2 is flexible in the same sort of way as an iPhone or even a desktop PC - it does all sorts of things.
You can't really compare the TP2 and the Blackberry. Two different things. Just flash a new rom and your problem is solved.
The muffled sound on T-mo versions is a recognized problem. There is a fix which only requires copying a file to replace another one. It is even available in cab format. You might want to try it as it does not require flashing or hacking. The rest, well, you've already gotten pertinent replies so there's no need for me to repeat them or be redundant. Good luck.
jgood1987 said:
I am basically a new user to windows mobile. I previously had a blackberry 8900 but decided to switch to the touch pro 2 because of all the great reviews that I heard about it. So far I like the phone but i am not to thrilled about it at all. The browser is excellent as well as the screen but the phone seems to lag in many different areas. For whatever reason the phone seems to lag a lot and would get stuck on certain screens. The e-mail doesn't seem to come as quickly as my blackberry did;the facebook application actually was better at synching contacts and who refresh by itself on my blackberry;Also i keep getting these phantom messages that are basically just accumulating. Even after a hard reset the problem is still occurring. The only real problem that I had with my 8900 was the battery on it wasn't the greatest. I guess the purpose of this post is to really ask in your opinion why do you like this phone over other devices because maybe it does a lot a great things that I just don't know about. Thanks to all who partake in this topic.
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Click to collapse
I am like you that came from a BB 8320 to the touch pro 2 which I waited 5 long months for. First, let me say that these phone comparisons are apples to oranges. I have been an avid BB user for 3 years starting with the pearl.
You are used to the speed at which the BB service pushes the emails, and the functionality of the BB. BTW, you can set the the time interval for your TP2 to check your mail boxes. I use the internet like crazy all day long, the BB is no comparison with this, TP2 hands down. The email, thats a different story but the TP2 is not far behind, like the BB I get my emails pretty fast. MYspace and Facebook I can not comment on since I do not like those sites.
I have similar issues with the lag but I will live with them. For the same reason I did not get the iphone; what is coming down the line for WM with 6.5 soon for the TP2 as an HTC upgrade and the cooked roms via Hardspl, the BB is no comparison.
My last WM phone was a motorola mdx-220 I believe, I still have it and I hacked the hell out of it!
Just give it some time, you will have to get used to a new platform like I am. Touchflo is good but it still has issues. Just wait for the upgades to come along or go back to the BB. BB has its issues too, especially with that 4.5v firm wear which constantly would crash my phone in the middle of a business call to reset. That used to piss me off!
Richard
jgood1987 said:
I don't like altering softwares to get something to work especially if something cost so much it should work perfectly right out the box. I will see what happens after I exchange this thing
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Click to collapse
If you like things to work straight out of the box buying this phone was a bad idea. Out of the box its a brilliant phone but somewhat sluggish. You really need to Flash HardSPL http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=550131 then take a look at some of the ROMs, I'd reccomend EnergyROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=547794 or Miri's http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=552643 or if you like WM6.1 like me, BXsteez's http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=550991
Enoy the tweaking, its the reason i buy WinMo.
BB push mail
I think the mail on BB is the fastest because the BlackBerry does Push Email...
I run both an 8900 and a TP2. I totally understand what you mean about the lag. I am fortunate to have access to all sorts of mobile devices but the Blackberry (for me) just works the best. Simple things like auto correction when you are typing. Easy capitalisation and a load of other features I now can't do without. I also think WinMo is crying out for a decent Twitter client.
I think the TP2 is the best WinMo device by far. It's fast and feature rich BUT my Blackberry remains my preferred and primary mobile device.
Luckily i have a Blackberry and a TP2 so i get the best of both worlds
My TP2 i use as my personal phone, i love its web browsing, keyboard for the heavy texting i do and all the smart little features like the WifiRouter.
Blackberry is just for seeing my emails as they arrive. I dont even really reply i just like to see them when im running around at work.
the_shamen said:
I run both an 8900 and a TP2. I totally understand what you mean about the lag. I am fortunate to have access to all sorts of mobile devices but the Blackberry (for me) just works the best. Simple things like auto correction when you are typing. Easy capitalisation and a load of other features I now can't do without. I also think WinMo is crying out for a decent Twitter client.
I think the TP2 is the best WinMo device by far. It's fast and feature rich BUT my Blackberry remains my preferred and primary mobile device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree about the twitter app....i havent found a good one yet
solsearch said:
The muffled sound on T-mo versions is a recognized problem. There is a fix which only requires copying a file to replace another one. It is even available in cab format. You might want to try it as it does not require flashing or hacking. The rest, well, you've already gotten pertinent replies so there's no need for me to repeat them or be redundant. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you know where this cab is located?
Right now i have a Blackberry Bold (9000) & i have had WM phones in the past...I have been looking at the new Tilt it i like the phone but i wanted to know a few things before i get it.
1. Will it be able to use the new WM7?
2. Is the phone any good when it comes to texting & emails?
3. What are the key features to this phone?
I have also saw that you can put Android on the phone. How does that run?
Sorry i just wanted to know a few things before jumping into the phone.
Thanks!
1. From what I've read, it will not be able to upgrade to Windows Mobile 7, but from what we've seen why would you want it anyway.
2. The keyboard is the best out there. Text and email is a breeze.
3. Best user community out there. Phone can do anything I need it to and if it can't someone will build something to enable it (Android for one)
4. Android is out there. I run it on my phone, but it is in it's infancy. check out rhodium android in the wiki to find what's working and what isn't.
I'm not an expert, just a regular guy that uses my phone for regular stuff. Good luck with your phone decision. Hope I was of some help.
jdotbakes said:
1. From what I've read, it will not be able to upgrade to Windows Mobile 7, but from what we've seen why would you want it anyway.
2. The keyboard is the best out there. Text and email is a breeze.
3. Best user community out there. Phone can do anything I need it to and if it can't someone will build something to enable it (Android for one)
4. Android is out there. I run it on my phone, but it is in it's infancy. check out rhodium android in the wiki to find what's working and what isn't.
I'm not an expert, just a regular guy that uses my phone for regular stuff. Good luck with your phone decision. Hope I was of some help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks alot for the feedback.
I think i will be going back to a WM phone... I have one more question i forgot to ask...???
1. How is the App Store?
app store sucks but as you know there are tons of wm apps that are scattered everywhere on the net
The TP2 will not get an official WP7 upgrade. The phone's processor is too slow, wrong button layout, and no capacitive screen. WP7 requires a capacitive screen (multi-touch) and a 3 button layout (including a dedicated "Bing" search button) on the front of the phone, and MS is being very strict about these requirements. Somebody on XDA will cook something for the TP2, but don't expect anything official.
If you use your phone heavily for work, the TP2 has a great speakerphone. I love the feature of just turning the phone over, and it switches automatically to speaker phone (with a hardware mute button!). Also, the ability to tether is very useful, if you travel frequently.
I wouldn't even worry about the WP7. I highly doubt this thing will be that great right off the bat. I'm not even intrigued by most of it. I highly recommend the tilt2 and you know that if you ever have problems, you always have this forum to fall back on. So much customization is possible with this phone, and that extent of customization for the WP7 will not be available for quite a while after those phones start coming out.
I think the tp2 is awsome but since i know there are a few WM device coming out right around the corner with snapdragon processors I would probably wait on them unless u need to get a new device asap.
redpoint73 said:
Somebody on XDA will cook something for the TP2, but don't expect anything official.
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Click to collapse
Do NOT base your decision on this or expect this. This will most likely not happen since it is a completely different OS and kernel and would require completely new drivers.
You might want to try one out before getting it. The processor in this phone is the same one that they used for the previous generation and that is just a higher clocked version of the processor used in the generation before. It is pretty slow and takes about 4 seconds to load a text message conversation. That is pretty slow for a bunch of text.
If the speed is acceptable, then its a pretty nice device.
petard said:
Do NOT base your decision on this or expect this. This will most likely not happen since it is a completely different OS and kernel and would require completely new drivers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wasn't that the case when Android came along though? But, I do agree that even if wtfomgwm7sp7 ever does get ported to the TP2, it won't be a pretty picture, kinda like that kid at the birthday party who tried to stuff the entire piece of cake in his mouth at once
petard said:
If the speed is acceptable, then its a pretty nice device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That actually sums it up quite well...the TP2 isn't quite the bleeding edge of whats available in smartphones today, but you just have to decide if that (minor) level of compromise is justified to you by getting the sweetest hardware keyboard there is, period.* For some it is, for some it isn't.
*pure, unqualified, unapologetic opinion
Sik96teG said:
I think the tp2 is awsome but since i know there are a few WM device coming out right around the corner with snapdragon processors I would probably wait on them unless u need to get a new device asap.
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Click to collapse
Well what is ATT next HTC WM Phone coming out?
http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/AT-T-carrier-c_14_3.html
burtonsnow8 said:
http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/AT-T-carrier-c_14_3.html
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Click to collapse
Well yeah but the only HTC phone is HTC Desire US and i like to have a full keyboard =/....
Well anyways i got the Tilt 2 = D
well, an idea of getting a Nexus One has bitten me, and it won't let go.
The explanation is the sluggishness of WinMo and the half-Gz processor in my Tilt2. The problem is that I know ATTs Nexus One has it's problems as well, like the color offset, etc..
The main selling point for me (and maybe Nexus' owners can persuade me otherwise) is the interface responsiveness.. Delays of 500ms+ are unacceptable for me.. I'm ashamed to admit it, but iPhone still has the best responsiveness for me. It's just so damn fast to respond to every to.
How is Nexus One in that department? Hopefully some owners can chime in...
P.S: don't tell me to try other ROMs, I tried them all. A week of syncing with exchange and gmail make any rom too slow for me. If it takes 1second+ to load an email - thats way too slow for me.
Only other thing I've heard of with the nexus one is the screen issues. Basically google has now stated that the nexus one is not a pocket phone due to issues with the screen when placed in your pocket (or constant pressure i'd assume).
You should give this a try to help you decide.
Response times are pretty impressive. Plus, you have to consider that it's running on an emulator on a device with half the specs of the Nexus One.
If you like Android and you want a reason not to get the Nexus One, that reason would be the HTC Desire. More RAM, Sense, optical pad, hardware buttons.
my friend got one days after I got my TP2. It all comes down to OS preference in the end..he does admit that he hates typing on the screen, but insisted he would never need a 'physical keyboard' lol..
I really don't see anything that phone does better (except for speed) than the TP2. I'm always 1-upping him w/ apps and what not..oh and you ever use or plan to use MSFT exchange, its an absolute nightmare on android. have to pay $20 for an app called touchdown. Want office? that'll be another $20 for a program by dataviz. add that to the cost of the Nexus One..
My advice to anyone will be tough it out with what you have now, save for a WP7S phone, b/c that is going to be revolutionary!!
I honestly can't blame you, I've personally considered "jumping ships" to Android, or just waiting for WM7 device to come out and buying that. The Rhodium's a beautiful device, but the Crapcomm MSM7xxx that powers it is piss poor, and not worth the money I paid for this device. It's rather disappointing to wait for things to load on my ~5 month old device, while my ~2 year old iPod touch and iPhone seem to load things just fine. If I had the money, I would play around with the idea of getting a nicer device, but I'm stuck until I get enough cash. If I were you and I had the money, I would at least consider the options of a faster/newer/better device.
@ohyeahar: Android isn't running in an emulator, HaRET restarts the device into Android after unloading Windows Mobile from RAM. While some performance enhancements may still be made, since it's not running emulated, the speed isn't as impressive as it seems.
DaveTheTytnIIGuy said:
...
@ohyeahar: Android isn't running in an emulator, HaRET restarts the device into Android after unloading Windows Mobile from RAM. While some performance enhancements may still be made, since it's not running emulated, the speed isn't as impressive as it seems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, thanks for correcting me. I'm quite clueless as to how you genius developers make Android run on a WinMo device...
i just get a hands on of nexus one from my friend. and its so so much faster than tp2. go get it now! i'm gonna receive my att version tomorrow and will use it as my primary phone and use tp2 for e-mails.
token2k6 said:
my friend got one days after I got my TP2. It all comes down to OS preference in the end..he does admit that he hates typing on the screen, but insisted he would never need a 'physical keyboard' lol..
I really don't see anything that phone does better (except for speed) than the TP2. I'm always 1-upping him w/ apps and what not..oh and you ever use or plan to use MSFT exchange, its an absolute nightmare on android. have to pay $20 for an app called touchdown. Want office? that'll be another $20 for a program by dataviz. add that to the cost of the Nexus One..
My advice to anyone will be tough it out with what you have now, save for a WP7S phone, b/c that is going to be revolutionary!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the good breakdown there.. problem is I see no good option for me in the future, besides, maybe, HTC Desire. WM7's interface, in my opinion, is f***king horrible. It barely covers 80% of the screen, hideous blue squares, pieces of titles... and I don't care for social networks or XBOX, as I use neither.
So WM7, so far, has put me in depression.
spirit32 said:
i just get a hands on of nexus one from my friend. and its so so much faster than tp2. go get it now! i'm gonna receive my att version tomorrow and will use it as my primary phone and use tp2 for e-mails.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds good, but emails for me are even more important than the phone itself. I live by emails and syncing with work's exchange server.
One of the main reasons I'm considering switching to android is how awesome gmail looks like.
In WM6.5 emails are horrific - any more or less formatter email, like a newsletter, will load 6-10 seconds, then lag like a dead donkey and will only display a small portion of the email. I still wonder how MS's email viewer even passed QC.
ohyeahar said:
Cool, thanks for correcting me. I'm quite clueless as to how you genius developers make Android run on a WinMo device...
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Click to collapse
Yeah I do have xdandroid on my tilt2. It's sluggish and not fast enough for 100% use, although I agree that it's amazing how they managed to make it work so well on a device it was never even intended for.
Just one word why not jumping over Nexus:
Keyboard!!!!!!!!!!!
The keyboard would be a big reason for me not too as well, that coupled with the fact that there are problems with screen not being true multi-touch, as you can see at the following locations
Code:
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/03/03/nexus-one-multi-touch-bugs/
Code:
http://phandroid.com/2010/03/03/nexus-one-multi-touch-severely-flawed/
From the info you've given so far, lack of keyboard issue aside, why not the HD2?
Well I asked myself about switching to Android as well. Biggest reason for me for not switching to android is synchronization. I refuse to use Google stuff and have my contacts and emails scanned by them. But not using Google brings up serious issues with synchronizing contacts and calendar from a Mac to your Android phone (i am not sure if Windows -> Android is any better). Other thoughts are that I already bought a lot of software for my WinMo phone and I'd have to buy it again for Android.
Another thing is KEYBOARD. There is no Android device with a nice keyboard out. I tried the Android port for the TP2, which is great, but the issues with synching remain.... So all in all, it's not going to be Android, as synching is killer for me.
I have tried the latest XDAndroid on my TP2 and it was easy configuring it to synch with my Exchange server. I just used the built-in Mail client.
Loconinja said:
I have tried the latest XDAndroid on my TP2 and it was easy configuring it to synch with my Exchange server. I just used the built-in Mail client.
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Click to collapse
Yeah same here actually.. i havent seen any problems with syncing with Exchange... unless someone has specific reasons why it's bad - I think it works just fine..
orb3000 said:
Just one word why not jumping over Nexus:
Keyboard!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meh... keyboard is not a huge issue for me..
DarkDvr said:
Sounds good, but emails for me are even more important than the phone itself. I live by emails and syncing with work's exchange server.
One of the main reasons I'm considering switching to android is how awesome gmail looks like.
In WM6.5 emails are horrific - any more or less formatter email, like a newsletter, will load 6-10 seconds, then lag like a dead donkey and will only display a small portion of the email. I still wonder how MS's email viewer even passed QC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you - I needed that laugh!
The Nexus One looks sweet and I'm sure it runs smooth and the OS is stable. I just don't like how you would have to pay for certain apps and the fact that it costs around 500+ dollars.
I was getting tired of my TP2 because I was constantly searching for a fast but stable ROM. I finally found it! It's the latest Energy ROM (21xxx) with sense 2.1. It's fast, leaves me with a lot of available ram and very stable! I've yet to encounter a bug/issue. I've also installed a few cabs to make it look nice and fresh. Why not try out the ROM and customize it to make it look the way you want it to look?
Almost forgot, gotta love the keyboard and tilt screen feature. Always amazes everyone I show.
tp2 to n1 to tp2 and going back to n1
i originally started out with the tp2, then got the nexus one to review. i didnt like the n1 for one reason no desktop syncing. wm did that so i switched back to the tp2. but i got a taste of a really good os in that short review. it was weird to use a phone that for the most part (not 100% but in comparison to wm may as well be) worked with little to no tweaking. for one month i had no issues with the damn thing. i thought i would miss the keyboard of the tp2 but i could actually type faster with the onscreen kb of the n1. the apps were nice and clean and the one time i did have a force close was due to the program being a beta build. anyway i came back to the tp2 because of the many programs i sync with on my desktop but in the back of my mind i was missing the smoothness, speed, and problem free os of the n1. i went through just about every damn rom on this forum trying toreplicate the feeling i had with the n1, and would always fall short. in the end, as of last thursday, i have placed my order for a new n1. after reading how wm7 has addoped this lock it down phylosphy i have finally lost all interest in wm and wp7. desktop syncing is no longer enough of an anchor for me after having experiencing a newer and refined os. I of course will keep an eye on wp7 when its released, but i just need a smooth, fast, and problem free phone without the need to do the developers job of tweaking it to work the way it should.
your basically looking for a desktop to fit in your pocket...my nexus one is nothing to brag about ,i can do the same things on my tp2...i just happen to fall in the trap with the hype...now i need my money back ...i just wasted my money on two phones
So... I really love Goog, and I DO like Android, but lately I've had this twitching to switch to a Pre Plus. There's things that I just like better about it.
Pros:
1) It's got a "prettier" UI
2) Multitasking ROCKS on the Pre.... (I feel it's better then Android)
3) Touchstone Charging ( DEF! Nice)
4) It seems a lot more polished in general
Cons:
1) Palm's current financial situation
2) Lack of Apps
What should I do? I know it's been asked before, but I read those threads and still undecided.
Help?
P.S. (I know I'm asking a Baltimore fan what he's favorite team is, but please try to keep fanboyism aside?)
Palm Pre and the WebOS are very pretty. But that's about it. It is now a severely outdated phone and even with Palm Pre Plus has bad hardware specs to current phones, especially the one in your hand (the Dinc). The Dinc and android are certainly customizable phones with an App Market that is growing at a substantial rate, it wouldn't make sense to switch to a phone that simply offers looks over usability. Since HP+Palm are in quite an odd position where they don't even release any new phones as of late, I just don't see the reasonsing to switch to a Palm Pre when you already have one of the best phones on the market right now.
Palm who?
I would wait to see what HP does with the company now that they own it.
More Specifically
TheWhiteBandito said:
Palm Pre and the WebOS are very pretty. But that's about it. It is now a severely outdated phone and even with Palm Pre Plus has bad hardware specs to current phones, especially the one in your hand (the Dinc). The Dinc and android are certainly customizable phones with an App Market that is growing at a substantial rate, it wouldn't make sense to switch to a phone that simply offers looks over usability. Since HP+Palm are in quite an odd position where they don't even release any new phones as of late, I just don't see the reasonsing to switch to a Palm Pre when you already have one of the best phones on the market right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing is, I already know all this (not offense to you at all) but the DINC does not have a cradle (I kid you not I have a LEGO cradle I made), so no easy charging, and the notifications in WebOS KILL androids which lets be honest are a very important part of a mobile system... I really wish multitasking was more intuitive, and finally, I hate having to use two different programs for email (corp and personal). These are really important things for me. If I could get all this in Android, it wouldn't be even a question, but I can't find apps or hacks to accomplish this. Been searching for a while now. I'm PRAYING that Gingerbread fixes all this
Well, ask yourself this.
Is going back to slower, older hardware and arguably lesser built phone worth it?
Can you honestly say that the Pre would make you that much more efficient, or with the CPU it has, get the job done any faster/easier?
Does it have the apps you would want, or are they available?
If HP pulls the plug, are you going to regret your decision?
Is there any app for Android that might make things easier for you to multitask?
TaskOS perhaps?
This is the stuff I would ponder before making the jump.
Mehhh, I'm not a fan of the palm devices at all. All they're doing is collecting dust at the Verizon store I work at.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
You are nuts. Android is so much better than palm. their are apps like quick desk and power control to help you get a better multitasking experience. You know android is moving up and palm is going down. by next year, android will dominate the smartphone industry and have twice as many apps. If you switch to Palm you will be sorry.
dreamersipaq said:
(I feel it's better then Android)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm thinking that questioning the ability of Android vs Palm is a symptom of an underlying problem...
Sent by the Grammar Police from my ADR6300 using the XDA App.
In a word, yes.
We agree: you're nuts.
dreamersipaq said:
The thing is, I already know all this (not offense to you at all) but the DINC does not have a cradle (I kid you not I have a LEGO cradle I made), so no easy charging, and the notifications in WebOS KILL androids which lets be honest are a very important part of a mobile system... I really wish multitasking was more intuitive, and finally, I hate having to use two different programs for email (corp and personal). These are really important things for me. If I could get all this in Android, it wouldn't be even a question, but I can't find apps or hacks to accomplish this. Been searching for a while now. I'm PRAYING that Gingerbread fixes all this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure that I hated the notification system when I tried my friend's Pre. The notification system on Android is MUCH better in my opinion. Multitasking in Android also couldn't be easier...all you do is hold the home button and you see your running applications. Also, if you don't want to use two different programs for email, don't! Just turn off Gmail syncing and setup Gmail in HTC Mail, it works fine!
OP, I'm going to be in the minority here but as a former Palm Pre (Sprint) owner, I'll tell you what I liked and disliked most about it.
pro's
-beautiful display, the UI is stunning
-itunes sync (at the time it was the only non-apple device to offer this)
-webOS sync to computer was easy
cons
-got the "oreo" effect after using the phone for 2 weeks, hardware wasn't sturdy
-battery life was treacherous, extended batteries made the phone look like a mix between a penguin and a stone (a stoned penguin )
-while multitasking was efficient, it lacked the on board ram to really do alot at once. The Verizon version doubles the onboard ram and storage.
-the sprint version didn't offer an sd card slot, I'm not sure if the VZW does
I turned my pre in for a HTC Hero (a sprint eris basically) and enjoyed the Hero alot more. Then I dropped Sprint and got the Moto Droid, and now the Dinc.
For a polished product, android even 1.5, pwnd webOS. webOS offered a viable alternative to android, and at least it's not Microsoft.
Berzerker7 said:
Multitasking in Android also couldn't be easier...all you do is hold the home button and you see your running applications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This could be better in Android if they let you scroll through more than just the last 8 programs (or whatever it is in 2.2 now). How hard could it be? You'd hit home, and swipe sideways to see more icons. At least they should give us the option of never having somethings show up in this quick launch menu. I hate holding down the home menu and seeing settings, testing, etc.
The Pre does a bit better job with card view, but overall the phone is pretty slow and the screen is too small for my taste.
It is really sad that you couldn't make this decision on your own. I bet your significant other dreads trying to find a restaurant when you go out. It's really a very easy decision, unless you have like a gadget hoarding problem or something. I'd go back to my eris before I'd get a palm device.
I’ve defected from Windows Mobile and the Rhodium over to Android and the HTC Desire Z (code name Vision). About a million years ago (late December, actually) Jackos asked that I write a review/comparison of the device, for which I am happy to oblige. Unfortunately, a newborn baby, holiday travel, and work travel have conspired to delay me from writing such a review. But I’m finally taking the time to fulfill the promise. Jackos thought such a review would be useful for those that are looking to upgrade from the Rhodium, so hopefully that is still relevant. Based on a recent thread, I would think so! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=949121
The move to a different OS was certainly something that I’ve been debating for some time. But as we all know (and possibly unwilling to admit), Windows Mobile is outdated and nearing the end of its useful life. Windows Phone 7 so far is a big disappointment to me. The OS seems very limited in many of the same ways the iPhone is, with reviews at various websites and comments by users verifying this notion. One article I read about WP7 was that the OS is not a good choice for power users. Android was looking more and more attractive to me. To me, it carries on the spirit of Windows Mobile in terms of customization. Things are not accessed quite the same way as Windows Mobile (there is no registry), but there is still tons of customizations, mods, and hacks available.
Being the owner of the Tilt (Kaiser) and Tilt2 (Touch Pro 2, Rhodium), I’ve become a big HTC fan, and wanted something similar, with a hardware keyboard. The Desire Z has a very similar form factor to the Rhodium, with a hardware keyboard, nearly the same screen size, and similar dimensions. I found out that Bell Canada released the HTC Desire Z in November, with 3G bands compatible with ATT's network. I decided to take the plunge. Not an easy pill to swallow, as an unlocked, unsubsidized device like this goes for a premium price of around $600 (and obviously not for everyone). But what the heck, its a been a good year, and I decided to get myself a Christmas gift. Of course, if you are in Canada, Europe, or on T-Mobile, you have access to specific versions for those locations and carriers at a much better price.
Let me tell you guys, this device is amazing. The build quality is excellent, the phone feels very high end, with most of the body being a gorgeous brushed aluminum, accented with some slightly grippy/rubbery “soft touch” plastic (also nice looking, and does not cheapen the appearance). The feel of the phone is much nicer, and seems more sturdy then the Rhodium.
The camera is 5MP with a LED flash, and yields somewhat better photos than the Rhodium. The screen is gorgeous. While the iPhone “Retina” and Samsung AMOLED displays get all the hype, the super LCD screen on the Desire Z is still very nice. Direct comparisons I have read rate it only slightly below the quality of the iPhone or Galaxy S displays. Touch response is excellent, and registers multi-touch very well.
Much has been said about this phone’s unique “Z Hinge”. See the Engadget review, if you aren't familiar with the Z-hinge: http://mobile.engadget.com/2010/11/25/htc-desire-z-review/
Some have complained about the phone not staying firmly enough in the keyboard open or closed position, or have expressed concerns of the durability of the hinge. Personally, I like the hinge and how it is designed to open easily with the flick of your thumb. But if you’re in doubt, you might want to play around with it in person before committing to buying the phone.
The keyboard itself is very good. But strangely, not quite as nice as the one on the Touch Pro 2. The the keys are slightly smaller (and one less row of keys), and do not have quite as much “travel” when pressing the keys. It feels like a slight step backward from the Rhodium, but still one of the best keyboards around. Having come from the ATT version of the Rhodium (which replaced the row of numbers with random symbols and punctuations), the missing 4th row of keys is not a big deal. But owners of other Rhodium variants will no doubt miss the number-dedicated row of keys.
Another piece of hardware that is strangely not as good as the Rhodium is the speaker. The speaker on the Desire Z is not quite a loud as on the Rhodium, but the difference is fairly minor, and most people will probably overlook this. The 3.5mm headphone jack is a welcome addition, and good riddance to adapters and special headphones that were needed on the Rhodium (at least the GSM version).
At the time of the phone’s release, this was one of the fastest Android phones available (although there is a new generation of dual core Snapdragons coming soon). Don’t be fooled by the fact that the CPU is clocked at 800 MHz. This is a newer generation of Snapdragon than the 1 GHz ones found on phones such as Nexus One and the EVO, with a different fab process and faster GPU also. The Desire Z benchmarks faster than those phones, as well as the Galaxy S, Droid X, and others. The CPU can also be easily overclocked to 1 GHz without over-volting and affecting battery lift; and much higher than that with over-volting.
Battery life seems somewhat shorter on the Desire Z compared to the Rhodium. I was often able to get 2-3 days on a change on my old Tilt2. On the Desire Z, I usually have to charge every night. I can maybe get through a day and a half; but at least a day with all but the heaviest usage. And to be honest, I’m using the phone much more than I did my old Rhodium, so that is a factor as well.
I've played around with Project Android on my trusty old Tilt2, so Android is not completely new to me. It took me a bit getting accustomed to where some things are located, but that is true with switching to any new phone OS. The OS is overall pretty user friendly. It just takes a little while to dedicate to memory where some settings and other things are located. And there is certainly a learning curve once you are ready for customizing/modifying. There is lots of new terminology, process, and tools to learn if you want to “root” (gain super user rights to access system files) and flash a custom ROM, or do other system modifications.
Knocks on Android for not being as "smooth" as the iPhone seem largely unfounded to me. The Desire Z is super smooth, and of course has tons of customization and functionality that the iPhone will never have. And if you coming from Windows Mobile, you are going to be blown away by the smoothness and stability of the OS. The only real performance weakness I’ve seen so far is switching from portrait to landscape on the homescreen, particularly when you have lots of widgets loaded.
Using the phone is a pleasure. Browser rendering is fast, with the stock browser working very well, and Flash enabled. I’ve been previously in denial that capacity touchscreens are a good thing, but multi-touch pinch-to-zoom really does make browsing a joy. Text selection (such as for cut/paste) is aided by a zoom feature that activates with a long touch on text, and also by the optical trackpad (which allows moving the cursor by single characters).
I already keep my contacts, email, and calendar on Google. So the Google integration is awesome for me. I just entered my Google login and password, and it synched all that stuff in a couple minutes. If you are not a Google user, things might be slightly annoying, as the OS will try to steer you toward creating a Google login. Google Navigation is built-in, and will give you point-to -point directions, with audio cues, and first person perspective. It works better than the tools on Windows Mobile such as Google Maps and Bing. It works so well, in fact, that I've often been using Google Nav instead of my Garmin Nuvi GPS unit in the car.
I knew moving to Android would open up a lot of software options, and in this I was not disappointed. There are tons of useful applications and games on the Android Market, and the list is constantly growing. Software developers have embraced Android, which is a refreshing change coming from Windows Mobile. Yes, there is a ton of fluff and junk in the Android Market. But most of the major applications you can think of have a quality Android version.
I’m not a developer. So I can’t comments on the development potential of this device and Android versus Windows Mobile. But so far there is pretty good developer support on the Desire Z. And many have claimed that developers will support this phone for a long time, as they seem to favor devices with a hardware keyboard. There are several stable custom Froyo (Android 2.2) ROMs available, including Sense and non-Sense options, as well as CyanogenMod (a popular and highly customized Android ROM). Gingerbread (Android 2.3, the latest version, just released) ROMs are in the works, with alpha/beta versions already available for testing. Personally, the stock ROM has been so stable and usable for me, I haven’t really been that tempted to flash a custom ROM yet, versus a Windows Phone, where a custom ROM is virtually a necessity.
I’ve babbled on for much too long. In short, if you are looking to upgrade from the Rhodium to something with a similar form factor, the Desire Z is highly recommended. Here’s a quick summary of the Desire Z versus my old Rhodium:
Pros
OS is light years ahead of Windows Mobile (smooth, stable, fast)
Awesome build quality, with a sturdy feel
Better display
3.5 mm headphone jack
Great selection of quality applications
Slightly better camera (5MP) with LED flash
Cons
Keyboard not quite as good
Speaker not quite as good (minor)
Shorter battery life
Z Hinge durability may be an issue
P.S.: If you like the review, please click the "Thanks" button below!
I really appreciated reading this review. I'm a Tilt 2 user, that hasn't found anything new out there to make me want to give up my Rhodium and I have the same feelings regarding Windows 7, so I'm very hesitant to give it a try. Android is completely new to me, but from what I've read, it seems like the natural progression for those of us on Windows Mobile.
I'm on AT&T, so I will keep a watch on this phone if AT&T decides to release their version down the road (but I won't hold my breath ). I've never used unlocked devices either so, unless they come down in price, I won't be experimenting with this model for a while.
Thanks again for posting this. I look forward to reading more about your experiences with this device.
Have fun!
Debbie
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed reading it. Well done, sir!
For a conclusion: Was it worth the money if upgrading from Rhodium?
DebbieNY13 said:
I'm on AT&T, so I will keep a watch on this phone if AT&T decides to release their version down the road (but I won't hold my breath ). I've never used unlocked devices either so, unless they come down in price, I won't be experimenting with this model for a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having finally lost iPhone exclusivity, AT&T seems to be starting to release some decent Android devices, such as the HTC Inspire (Desire HD variant). I'm skeptical they would release the Desire Z, but maybe they will release a future HTC device with a QWERTY keyboard. One can only hope.
If the keyboard is not an absolute requirement, the Inspire looks like a very nice phone. Larger display than the Desire Z, 1GHz processor (faster then the Z), and a slightly better camera. I've actually been finding myself using Swype more and more, and the keyboard less and less. So that has me rethinking the whole QWERTY keyboard thing, a little bit. Although I still use it from time to time for longer texts and emails.
BTW, if you like the review, please click the "Thank you" button!
Jackos said:
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed reading it. Well done, sir!
For a conclusion: Was it worth the money if upgrading from Rhodium?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're very welcome.
For me, spending the money was worth it. It was a lot of money to spend on a phone, but I absolutely love it. I tried to stick with WM as long as I could. But everything just works so much better on the Desire Z. I knew it would be a big improvement, but all my expectations were exceeded.
If you are in a market where your carrier offers this phone for a subsidized price, its a no-brainer.
Very nicely written
I have a TP2 now, also considering the Desire Z since it has a (rare these days) hardware keyboard.
Seeing how the DZ performs (especially when overclocked, wow!) does make me feel quite confident it's somewhat future-proof performance wise.
I do love the tilting screen of the TP2 very much, especially when I'm at the computer and using the TP2 for MSN or FB chat or something like that. Like having a miniature laptop
Have you ever missed the tilting screen of the TP2?
When my contract expires next month I can get a free DZ if I extend my contract.
I'll go to the T-Mobile store tomorrow and see if I can play around with one
ericino said:
Very nicely written
I do love the tilting screen of the TP2 very much, especially when I'm at the computer and using the TP2 for MSN or FB chat or something like that. Like having a miniature laptop
Have you ever missed the tilting screen of the TP2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally, I was finding myself using the tilt feature on the TP2 less and less. Lots of times, I found it easier to just slide the phone open, write a quick text, then close it quickly, without having to mess with tilting the screen up and down. But of course, this is a personal preference.
The only times I've been missing the tilt screen is while watching video. With the TP2, I could tilt the screen up, then place the phone down on a table to watch. HTC should have added a kickstand, like on the Desire HD. It would have been a very easy to add, and super useful.
Perfect review!
I'm also considdering the DZ, and the review almost answered all my question.
But I still have one question: What do you do if you want to navigate without being online?
So if you're abroad and don't want the rediculous roaming costs, how do you navigate?
I now use TomTom really a lot, and I don't know what to use when I switch to the DZ.
TomTom has all the maps on the memory card, is there a good replacement for Android? With regular updates?
ronh said:
Perfect review!
I'm also considdering the DZ, and the review almost answered all my question.
But I still have one question: What do you do if you want to navigate without being online?
So if you're abroad and don't want the rediculous roaming costs, how do you navigate?
I now use TomTom really a lot, and I don't know what to use when I switch to the DZ.
TomTom has all the maps on the memory card, is there a good replacement for Android? With regular updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a paid Android app called Copilot, which is supposed to be pretty good, and does what you want. But I haven't personally used it. There are others, as well.
Also, the Euro version of the Desire Z has a feature of the "new" Sense called HTC Locations, which has a 30-day free trial, than once you pay the monthly fee or buy a lifetime license, you can navigate using maps downloaded to the SD card. Unfortunately, Locations and the Car Panel were removed in the Bell Canada version of the DZ. Likewise, the T-Mobile G2 does not have it, as it is Sense-free. But the feature can be obtained by flashing the stock Euro ROM to either the Bell DZ or the G2. I haven't done this, and I have no idea how well Locations works in the US. But comments by DZ users in the UK and Europe indicate they seem to like it.
i too miss my tilt 2, especially the tilts sliding kb. thats why i come back to these boards every now and again.
i got an evo back in august. i never thought id get another smart phone without a keyboard since i have had the 8125 8525 8925 and tilt2. its been a much easier transition than i thought moving to a phone with a giant screen let alone switching to a different os
almost anything i could do with wm i cant do with android only better. android is way more reliable and the tilt2 was a touch underpowered.
as soon as someone comes out with a 4.3inch lcd with a sliding kb that will be my next phone
off topic, don't believe the hype about the evo battery being weak, i get 24-40 hrs per charge, average is probably around 30 hrs and that's with 2 weather apps, face book, 4 emails accounts and Google searches off and on all day with gps location and blue tooth on. i also have a stock rom, although its rooted.
btw tc excellent read.
oh and as far as gps, i too was curious about the navigation, google nav is the best gps nav app i have ever used, but it does rely on a cell phone data connection, i think it gets enough of the info cached ahead incase you loose signal but if it needs to reroute and you dont have signal you are dead in the water. so i went on to try a few stand alone gps apps and i ended up going with aura, it looks pretty and it works but i dont like it, but its a good backup to have incase i dont pay my bill, lol, or loose signal.
Redpoint i hate to rain on your parade, but i went and seen that you have quite a few threads some of which are here in the Pro Tilt 2 forums regarding this new phone you are in love with, why not go to the forum for that phone ?
here make it easier for you...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=594
Sorry the tilt is a great phone although it is getting dated, but that is no reason for what you are doing ....
F2504x4 said:
Redpoint i hate to rain on your parade, but i went and seen that you have quite a few threads some of which are here in the Pro Tilt 2 forums regarding this new phone you are in love with, why not go to the forum for that phone ?
here make it easier for you...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=594
Sorry the tilt is a great phone although it is getting dated, but that is no reason for what you are doing ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was specifically asked for a comparison between the Touch Pro 2 and the Desire Z; for TP2 owners who may be interested in upgrading. If it was a straight up review of the DZ only, and no mention of the TP2, I would agree with you. But as you can see from reading my review, I make ample comparisons and references to the TP2, so I believe its appropriate here. The DZ is also a very logical upgrade from the TP2 versus just about every other phone on the market, due to its very similar form factor and same manufacturer.
You said I "have quite a few threads" about the DZ. But this is the only thread I started. I posted a reference to this review on 2 other threads started by others. Those threads were started by users looking for an upgrade similar to the TP2, so that actually reinforces my decision that this forum is the correct location for the review/comparison.
I did debate it for a while (of where to post), and your comment is not unreasonable. But I didn't see the Desire Z the best place to post it. The huge majority of the users on the Desire Z/Vision forum already own the phone, and they don't need to see a review for it. If the moderators don't agree with my judgment call, they can move the thread.
And you linked to the forum for the Desire, not the Desire Z. They are completely different phones.
Considering what HTC 7 Pro has become, looks like the Desire Z is the only one phone coming from HTC to replace the TP2. What a pity!
I'll wait until something new comes out to replace my PPC. TP2 still does a great job for me.
Thanks again for the review.
potna said:
i got an evo back in august. i never thought id get another smart phone without a keyboard since i have had the 8125 8525 8925 and tilt2. its been a much easier transition than i thought moving to a phone with a giant screen let alone switching to a different os
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It true, with Swype, I actually find myself using the screen keyboard much more than I would have thought. In fact, for my next phone I may seriously consider one without a hardware keyboard . . . maybe. But I personally can't stand typing on-screen without Swype.
potna said:
oh and as far as gps, i too was curious about the navigation, google nav is the best gps nav app i have ever used, but it does rely on a cell phone data connection, i think it gets enough of the info cached ahead incase you loose signal but if it needs to reroute and you dont have signal you are dead in the water. so i went on to try a few stand alone gps apps and i ended up going with aura, it looks pretty and it works but i dont like it, but its a good backup to have incase i dont pay my bill, lol, or loose signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had that same thought about having a nav program that doesn't need a data connection, so I have a backup in case I am in an area with dodgy coverage, or for foreign use. I might check out something like Copilot, which is only $5 for the US maps (and interestingly $80 for Europe!).
I would like to thank you also for the comparison and ask you about what I haven't read elsewhere.
Is there ability for teleconferencing inDesire Z?
Besides the mentioned problem with the DZ's speaker there were a few times that the feature was (even more than welcome) life-saving while using my rhodium. That, and the Excel files editing.
Also, (a "pro-" feature, not mentioned elsewhere) what about video out?
Am I asking for too much?
Redpoint:
I too have made the upgrade, from TP2 to G2 (Desire Z). Your findings mirror mine almost exactly.
Just in case any one is curious, I'll add my 2 pence.
I still kind of miss the resistive touch screen (think gloves or stylus for precision), but the cap screen is über responsive, and as you said, multi touch is pretty sweet.
I do not miss the complete lack of development of applications for WM. At least at any corporate or popular apps level.
I do miss the great MS Office and Outlook integration. Android does play nice with Exchange, though.
FWIW: Tmo G2's do have a Office compatible suite that should work for docs and xls, but I didn't get a chance to use it. I flashed to a new ROM too fast
I still have the TP2, and will likely futz with it some more, but the G2/DZ is a worthy successor.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
calrification on pro2 vs DZ
Sir/s,
i would like to know if DZ has the following functionalities:
1. exchange sync of email, calendar and contacts.
2. when you download exchange email, is it in html format?
3. can DZ record 2 way voice call? (not via speakerphone)
Above are the features that im frequently using on pro2.