After trying 8 different Windows Phone 7/7.5 devices in the last year and a half, I have decided to compile my opinions on each and rank them from best to worst.
Keep in mind that these are just my opinions on devices I've owned based on the experiences I've had with each...yours may be different.
1. Samsung Focus S
Pros
Best screen available for a WP device
Excellent speaker and call quality
Thin, light, fast
Super easy to interop unlock and debrand
Has all available hardware that WP7 currently supports (apart from LTE)
Very fast HSPA+ connection (Faster than Lumia 900 and Titan's HSPA+)
Cons
Battery doesn't last as long as other WP7 devices
Headphones audio quality and volume isn't as good as some other devices
2. HTC Titan
Pros
Largest and good quality screen
Very good camera exclusive features and sound enhancements
Excellent build and speaker
Great battery life
Cons
Can't be dev/interop unlocked
Mediocre call quality/reception
Unlocked AT&T devices can't enable internet sharing on other carriers
3. Samsung Focus
Pros
Good OLED screen (pentile though)
Very easy to unlock and enable internet sharing for any carrier
Has custom ROMs
Great speaker and call quality
micro SD card support
Cons
Build quality is poor and feels cheap
Gen 1 device that is missing some features newer WP7.5 devices have
4. LG Optimus 7
Pros
Very solid and sturdy build
Very stable. Least bugs experienced.
Easy to dev unlock
Internet sharing update possible for most if device is flashed to a different region
Cons
Lackluster screen and speaker
Gen 1 device that is missing some features newer WP7.5 devices have
5. Nokia Lumia 710
Pros
Solid build
Exclusive Nokia apps make a difference
Call quality and reception are great
Custom ROM may be possible
Supports Tmobile AWS frequency and AT&T 4G
Cons
Questionable battery life
Missing some hardware features
Internet sharing not yet available
6. Nokia Lumia 900
Pros
Gorgeous hardware and design
Gorgeous screen
Exclusive Nokia apps make a difference
Call quality and reception are great
LTE support
Unique design
Cons
Buggy with software issues even after the patch update
Camera is terrible
Can't be dev/interop unlocked
7. LG Quantum
Pros
Has a hardware keyboard
Easy to dev unlock
Cons
Screen and speaker are poor
Unappealing design and hardware
Heavy
Gen 1 device that is missing some features newer WP7.5 devices have
8. HTC HD7
Pros
Custom ROMs
Easily unlockable
Cons
Poor screen
Poor build quality
Poor battery life
Gen 1 device that is missing some features newer WP7.5 devices have
If you are in the market for a Windows Phone 7.5 device and want the best device available, I would recommend the Samsung Focus S based on my experiences with multiple devices and hardware vendors.
I am aware that there are some interesting devices I've not yet used such as Dell Venue Pro, Titan II...and even the Fujitsu 32GB waterproof device, which may be a solid purchase as well.
Thanks for your opinion but it's very subjective... For example, what do you mean by (for Samsung Focus) "Build quality is poor and feels cheap"? I don't think so. Also, that sentence "Gen 1 device that is missing some features newer WP7.5 devices have"... Why don't you wrote about "low screen resolution" like some noobs here?
Another one: for Lumia 900 you wrote "Camera is terrible" what is completely not true. Lumia's 900 camera isn't "terrible" just regular (comparing with the other WP7 devices). If you expect something really amazing (like Nokia 808 PureView camera) - it's your personal problem)
P.S. I'm tried 6 of listed handsets and can't agree with you in many cases...
sensboston said:
Thanks for your opinion but it's very subjective... For example, what do you mean by (for Samsung Focus) "Build quality is poor and feels cheap"? I don't think so. Also, that sentence "Gen 1 device that is missing some features newer WP7.5 devices have"... Why don't you wrote about "low screen resolution" like some noobs here?
Another one: for Lumia 900 you wrote "Camera is terrible" what is completely not true. Lumia's 900 camera isn't "terrible" just regular (comparing with the other WP7 devices). If you expect something really amazing (like Nokia 808 PureView camera) - it's your personal problem)
P.S. I'm tried 6 of listed handsets and can't agree with you in many cases...
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If you look up most reviews on the Focus, they mention that Samsung focus feels plastic-like and cheap. For example -http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/samsung-focus-review/
And this was when this phone came out in 2010. By 2012 standards its build is downright poor. Feels like a toy and very loose compared to something solid like Nokia 900 or LG Optimus 7.
Gen1 device/missing features stands for missing front facing camera, HSPA+ and other features found on gen 2 devices hardware wise that gen 1 don't have. It is something one should consider in my opinion.
And compared to other WP devices, I found Lumia 900 as a point and shoot to be terrible. It can take decent pictures only when conditions are ideal. Low light shots, or closed quarters close up shots are worst I've seen on any smartphone for at least 3 years. I can post some test shots I've taken with the Lumia if you want to see what I mean...
Keep in mind I am not trying to argue with you.
I respect everyone's opinions, and am just defending my statements above...
I agree on the subjectivity. Battery life is very important to me so the Focus S would never be at the top of my list. But that is me.
1. Battery
2. Build quality
3. Screen quality(not size)
4. Camera
disolitude said:
If you look up most reviews on the Focus, they mention that Samsung focus feels plastic-like and cheap.
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I don't need to look up the reviews 'cause I own Focus; also, I'm working for company specialized in mobile platforms development so I do have an experience in handsets comparison! Focus isn't cheap; and build quality is OK. Try to define your "cheap" first. Right now I do have 5 handsets in front of me, on my desk: Focus, HTC Incredible, HTC Surround, Galaxy S2, and iPhone 3gs. Can't call any of these handsets "cheap" but Incredible has a "cheapest" look... Focus and Galaxy S2 are sharing the top place for me.
P.S. Today I'll try Lumia 900 camera by myself (brand new handset is waiting for me home ), you don't need to post your pictures (better I'll post mine)
nicksti said:
I agree on the subjectivity. Battery life is very important to me so the Focus S would never be at the top of my list. But that is me.
1. Battery
2. Build quality
3. Screen quality(not size)
4. Camera
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While I agree that there are different needs, I don't think there is a category rule you can use to determine the best device.
For me it's more of a combination of things and how it all comes together as an experience.
I think Nokia Lumia 900 would be my favorite device if it didn't have the software bugs it did. (Even after the update). It could meet all of your requirements, but with bugs its not a great experience...
Getting SMS notifications when they arrive and not having to check if your data is working every 30 minutes kinda overshadows the great battery, screen quality and build quality imo.
sensboston said:
I don't need to look up the reviews 'cause I own Focus; also, I'm working for company specialized in mobile platforms development so I do have an experience in handsets comparison! Focus isn't cheap; and build quality is OK. Try to define your "cheap" first. Right now I do have 5 handsets in front of me, on my desk: Focus, HTC Incredible, HTC Surround, Galaxy S2, and iPhone 3gs. Can't call any of these handsets "cheap" but Incredible has a "cheapest" look... Focus and Galaxy S2 are sharing the top place for me.
P.S. Today I'll try Lumia 900 camera by myself (brand new handset is waiting for me home ), you don't need to post your pictures (better I'll post mine)
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The focus does feel cheap. I have one and it just feels like plastic, which picks up scuffs and scratches like crazy. I'm betting he means "cheap" as in the materials used feel low quality and I agree.
red12355 said:
The focus does feel cheap. I have one and it just feels like plastic, which picks up scuffs and scratches like crazy. I'm betting he means "cheap" as in the materials used feel low quality and I agree.
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This is correct. Materials used and the way its put together makes it feel cheep to me.
red12355 said:
The focus does feel cheap. I have one and it just feels like plastic, which picks up scuffs and scratches like crazy. I'm betting he means "cheap" as in the materials used feel low quality and I agree.
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I've put silicon case and screen protector on my Focus at the very first week; and phone is in the perfect (like a brand new) shape now. Could recommend you to do the same for all your "looks expensive" handsets
P.S. However, I definitely should stop writing in "General" forum - people here listen to themselves only...
sensboston said:
I've put silicon case and screen protector on my Focus at the very first week; and phone is in the perfect (like a brand new) shape now. Could recommend you to do the same for all your "looks expensive" handsets
P.S. However, I definitely should stop writing in "General" forum - people here listen to themselves only...
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Some people may not actually want to cover up the design aesthetic of their phones. Sure, a silicon case will protect it, but it they may derive little pleasure from knowing that it's save vs. looking nice.
I prefer the look and feel of my Cyan Lumia 800 OUT of the included case. Yes, the case it nice, AND it's much safer to have the case on; but that comes at the cost of me enjoying its aesthetic less.
It's a gamble/tradeoff either way.
anseio, agree with you but it's definitely not a point to say "that phone is CHEAP". You know, I may give my brand new Lumia 900 to my two years old daughter playing in the sandbox. Guess how the great "expensive looking" Nokia will looks after half an hour? Worse than "the cheap"? I think so. And it's exactly my point.
Samsung Focus is a great handset; absolute champion in WP7 sales last year and phone definitely not "cheap".
anseio said:
Some people may not actually want to cover up the design aesthetic of their phones. Sure, a silicon case will protect it, but it they may derive little pleasure from knowing that it's save vs. looking nice.
I prefer the look and feel of my Cyan Lumia 800 OUT of the included case. Yes, the case it nice, AND it's much safer to have the case on; but that comes at the cost of me enjoying its aesthetic less.
It's a gamble/tradeoff either way.
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It should be a punishable crime to put the Lumia 800 (or 900) in a case.
red12355 said:
The focus does feel cheap. I have one and it just feels like plastic, which picks up scuffs and scratches like crazy. I'm betting he means "cheap" as in the materials used feel low quality and I agree.
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There is cheap and there is inexpensive. The Focus, which I too have owned, feels cheap. There is build quality and quality of build. The Focus seems to be put together very well but the materials used makes the overall feel.... seem cheap. I have an Omnia 7, which for all intents and purposes, is the same device. However it feels much more substantial. The same can be said about the DVP. With the gorilla glass and some metal, it feels like a solid piece of equipment. Spot on with the Quantum though.
sensboston said:
Samsung Focus is a great handset; absolute champion in WP7 sales last year and phone definitely not "cheap".
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I agree that the Focus is great. Hence why Focus is my favorite gen 1 device, despite the plastic feeling, hollow design...
fatclue said:
it feels like a solid piece of equipment
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Hmm, that the point! Someone wants a "solid piece of equipment", I prefer light elegant design with the brilliant screen But... One more time - you can't call phone "cheap" in this case.
Focus S is my device but I run with two batteries
I thought the drain was just me, so I picked up an extra battery. I think mine mostly is because of microcell when I'm not at work my phone last all day when at work 6~ hrs before I give it some attention.
You should try the Omnia7, I'm still rocking it and loving it
I'm going to bypass getting a new phone anytime soon and wait for the Apollo releases.
pLUSpISTOL said:
You should try the Omnia7, I'm still rocking it and loving it
I'm going to bypass getting a new phone anytime soon and wait for the Apollo releases.
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Sadly none of the carriers in North America have this phone. It did look like a very solid choice when it came out and I thought about importing it... Its essentially a samsung focus with better build quality so it should be one of the best WP devices around.
1st Focus= cheap? no way, maybe you haven't seen cheap, plastic high end phones...
Focus is the engine of the WP train...Maybe it squeaks a bit, but surely CAN take a lot of abuse and never show any signs of that, unlike the metal body of an OMNIA7. Have you seen how a supercar's body shatters upon impact? I bet that feels cheap too... Focus is still the KING of them all,just think about it :unlockable+sd card expansion+best battery life+Amoled screen , what else would you need from a 2 years old device ....
2nd. apart from the FFC, I see no diff from the 1st to the 2nd gen WP devices...I wonder who could tell what gen is a device from seeing and using just the touch screen.
I've also tested a lot devices, even handed some to my family and witnessed the results based on their demands, so here's my top ( I've only had the 900 for a few days but the battery is not impressive ): 1.Focus 2.Focus S 3. Omnia7 if you're kind to the brushed metal body.
htc9420 said:
1st Focus= cheap? no way, maybe you haven't seen cheap, plastic high end phones...
Focus is the engine of the WP train...Maybe it squeaks a bit, but surely CAN take a lot of abuse and never show any signs of that, unlike the metal body of an OMNIA7. Have you seen how a supercar's body shatters upon impact? I bet that feels cheap too... Focus is still the KING of them all,just think about it :unlockable+sd card expansion+best battery life+Amoled screen , what else would you need from a 2 years old device ....
2nd. apart from the FFC, I see no diff from the 1st to the 2nd gen WP devices...I wonder who could tell what gen is a device from seeing and using just the touch screen.
I've also tested a lot devices, even handed some to my family and witnessed the results based on their demands, so here's my top ( I've only had the 900 for a few days but the battery is not impressive ): 1.Focus 2.Focus S 3. Omnia7 if you're kind to the brushed metal body.
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Hate to burst your bubble, but the Omnia 7 does not have a brushed metal body, it is faux brushed polycarbonate (BTW, I own one). It has a metal bezel but that's it. The gorilla glass gives it its heft and thereby "feels" like a more solid device. Honestly, the most solid feeling device is the DVP. The lack of internet sharing (wi-fi) is what has kept me away though. My wife has one and I'm always on it when she's not using it.
Related
What do you guys think?
if you have the patience, wait and see. there might be more phones and ones which you like.
But what if nothing does? i cant wait ANOTHER WEEK. besides, if it gets announced next week, it wontbe out for a while.
CES is a few days away, you might as well wait at this point. What's the rush!
It's get updated to the newest version of WP7? I don't really expect any mind blowing devices from Microsoft at CES, otherwise there would be a leak or something by now.
rockstarar said:
But what if nothing does? i cant wait ANOTHER WEEK. besides, if it gets announced next week, it wontbe out for a while.
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Then why the hell are you asking us?
The DVP is cheaper than an HD2, and is a better phone in almost any way.
The only time I'd recommend getting an HD7 is if the person is on a budget (since it's in T-Mo stores you can do an installment on it) or they're ignorant and keep saying "but it's 4.3" dude!!!"
At that poing I figure the battle is lost and they should just do what they want to do.
I say get the DVP if you can, or wait for what's coming out at CES. I don't recommend the HD7. It's quality does not compared with most other WP7 devices...
I agree with N8ter, the HD7 isn't doing WP7 any favors. That said, I wouldn't choose the Dell either but rather go for either of the Samsungs or LG devices (model depends on where you live).
As for waiting until CES - sure you can wait, but like you said yourself, even if there is something amazing announced that's all it is - an announcement. Actual release would be a lot later in the year. Personally though, I don't think we'll see much improvement in terms of hardware for another 8-10 months. Microsoft (and OEMs) put too much time and effort into the 8x50 series to throw it all away so soon after release and start releasing the mythical dual-core handsets.
Realistically, I'm hoping for devices running the same SoC but with improved cameras and 32+ GB storage before the next real wave of devices, but I'm not really holding my breath for that either. The sad thing is that there are phones coming out now doing 1080p video whereas all the WP7 devices struggle (more or less) to encode (not to talk about decoding) even 720p with good framerates.
canadariot2312 said:
It's get updated to the newest version of WP7? I don't really expect any mind blowing devices from Microsoft at CES, otherwise there would be a leak or something by now.
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I agree, I don't think we are going to see anything mind blowing until the fall at the soonest.
N8ter said:
Then why the hell are you asking us?
The DVP is cheaper than an HD2, and is a better phone in almost any way.
The only time I'd recommend getting an HD7 is if the person is on a budget (since it's in T-Mo stores you can do an installment on it) or they're ignorant and keep saying "but it's 4.3" dude!!!"
At that poing I figure the battle is lost and they should just do what they want to do.
I say get the DVP if you can, or wait for what's coming out at CES. I don't recommend the HD7. It's quality does not compared with most other WP7 devices...
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dvp is not cheaper than the hd7, you can get it for 70bucks at walmart right now.
I know you hate the screen, but what are you basing this whole "dvp is better than the hd7" rant on?
Same OS running on less memory. Dell doesn't have the greatest track record on phones, and the dvp has been plagued by issues causing 2 delays.
emigrating said:
I agree with N8ter, the HD7 isn't doing WP7 any favors. That said, I wouldn't choose the Dell either but rather go for either of the Samsungs or LG devices (model depends on where you live).
As for waiting until CES - sure you can wait, but like you said yourself, even if there is something amazing announced that's all it is - an announcement. Actual release would be a lot later in the year. Personally though, I don't think we'll see much improvement in terms of hardware for another 8-10 months. Microsoft (and OEMs) put too much time and effort into the 8x50 series to throw it all away so soon after release and start releasing the mythical dual-core handsets.
Realistically, I'm hoping for devices running the same SoC but with improved cameras and 32+ GB storage before the next real wave of devices, but I'm not really holding my breath for that either. The sad thing is that there are phones coming out now doing 1080p video whereas all the WP7 devices struggle (more or less) to encode (not to talk about decoding) even 720p with good framerates.
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I say that if you are gonna get a new phone every year (most of us do), then on t-mobile you have 2 choices (for tmous anyways).
HD7: hd2 with wp7 on it instead of winmo, 16gb internal storage (via microsd).
DVP: physical keyboard, less RAM then the hd7, but I think the internal storage is nand so that is a positive.
I was ready to jump on the dell bandwagon, but the device has had so many problems just getting released, that I decided to go with what I knew (hd7).
Everyone bashes the screen, but when I show the phone off, I don't get any comments on the screen being washed out. I get, "wow, that's a big screen, no wonder you can watch tv and movies on it."
If you can get your hands on a dvp, then play with it and go with what you like. But Tmobile stores do not have them to try out and only the 2 MS stores in the USA have them to play with, otherwise you have to order online.
everybody says that, but the hd2 doesnt have 720p recording and it has a 65k color screen vs 16m on thehd7.
rockstarar said:
everybody says that, but the hd2 doesnt have 720p recording and it has a 65k color screen vs 16m on thehd7.
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Don't feel like going over the anatomy of touchscreens.
To the person talking about Walmart prices, don't be ignorant. Walmart prices are double subsidized and if u cancel the line you pay two etf fees (450 total).
You have to be dumb to think those prices are comparable.
Hd2 is 199 from T-Mobile. Dvp is $149 with contract from dell (16gb model).
Why I think its universally better is pretty obvious if you have read my other post. Don't feign ignorance in this thread. I'd hate to assault this one with mega-quotes...
EDIT: Also, the HD2 hardware supports 720p video recording, but Windows Mobile 6.5 does not. 720p recording was disabled in the hardware. So much for that... They use the same cameras. They even have the same pink tint bug that the HD2 exibited.
I don't think Windows Mobile 6.5 supported more than 65k colors. All three phones (HD2, Evo, HD7 use the same TFT LCD panel).
Good job thinking the differences were hardware differences instead of OS/System limitations, though!
EXAMPLE: The Omnia II was released with an AMOLED display that supported 16M colors, but since it ran Windows Mobile 6.5, it was limited to displaying 65k colors. Sound familiar?
Windows Moile 6.5.x on an HD2 = 65k colors
Android on an HD2 = 16M colors
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The HD7 is $100 from Best Buy. My girlfriend got one from there and loves it. It's a little lighter than the Venue Pro, a little thinner, has twice as much RAM, the same CPU, the same 16GB microSD storage, a better camera even with the red push, better flash, and feels much more solid in my hand than my Focus. The rubbery back is actually really nice on it. What are your specific complaints about the build quality?
What's the Dell's screen like outdoors? I know it's regular AMOLED rather than SAMOLED and those generally don't perform well in the sun.
Read the other thread where I made fairly extensive posts about it.
And the LCD panel on the HD2/Evo/HD7 has worse Viewing Angles than an AMOLED or SAMOLED screen, worse color saturation, and bad contrast as well.
It's not like I didn't carry around both my HD2 (as a media device, it can sync Zune Pass Subscription content) and Vibrant for months after I upgraded my phone.
There are comparisons on YouTube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTrmfc1It4E
Sorry, but there's no comparisons between those two display panels. You only need to watch the first 5 seconds of the video to see.
The Venue Pro is bound to weigh more because it has a slide-out keyboard, BTW, but it's easily one of the best constructed phones of 2010. The HD7, not so much (build quality is not on the level of the HD2, even).
The HD7 certainly doesn't have a better camera than the DVP, and the speakers on the HD7 is pretty bad.
N8ter said:
Read the other thread where I made fairly extensive posts about it.
And the LCD panel on the HD2/Evo/HD7 has worse Viewing Angles than an AMOLED or SAMOLED screen, worse color saturation, and bad contrast as well.
It's not like I didn't carry around both my HD2 (as a media device, it can sync Zune Pass Subscription content) and Vibrant for months after I upgraded my phone.
There are comparisons on YouTube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTrmfc1It4E
Sorry, but there's no comparisons between those two display panels. You only need to watch the first 5 seconds of the video to see.
The Venue Pro is bound to weigh more because it has a slide-out keyboard, BTW, but it's easily one of the best constructed phones of 2010. The HD7, not so much (build quality is not on the level of the HD2, even).
The HD7 certainly doesn't have a better camera than the DVP, and the speakers on the HD7 is pretty bad.
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First of all, the speakers aren't too bad. Coming from a Blackberry myself though, I see a huge difference. But compared to any other smartphone in the market at the moment they're average. I've yet to see a smartphone whose speakers make me say "wow!" Second, it never surprises me how much people suck on the teet of the "almighty" SAmoled screen. I have an Omnia II, I use Vibrants all the time and ya know what...SAmoled is not all that. You kiddies like to portray it as the end all be all of the mobile phone screen world but its not. In fact, I hate the damn screen on my Omnia II. It looks distorted and ****ty. If that's what you consider "better" than that's your ****. Not everyone wants cartoon colors for everything they see though. As far as viewing angles, you must be one of those people that watch a movie at 90* angle huh? Cuz that's probably the only way you could consider the SAmoled screens better. Better color saturation? Really? Refer to my cartoon colors comment. My Omnia II works fine but I just keep the damn thing because it runs important .cabs I need for work, other than that the "selling points" of SAmoled Samsung phones is wasted on me. The screen looks dim and colorful 90% of the time. Mind you, its not a horrible screen, but people overhyping it so much really makes me laugh. As far as cameras, I haven't seen DVP pics or video so I don't know how good it is, but it'd better be damn good because I've taken some damn nice pics with my HD7. Took a lot of messing with the settings and scenarios but it looks damn good. And I'd love to see what you mean by the HD7 having inferior build quality though. I guess not all phones can have the cheap plastic surrounding that the Vibrant has huh? Or the wiggly cheap feeling slide out keyboard on the DVP? Best constructed phones of 2010 LOL that's why it kept getting delayed eh? So what specific build quality issues are you referring to with the HD7 though? My HD7 hasn't given me one problem since I got it on launch day. Perfect buttons, perfect screen, the metal trim and kickstand have held up extremely well and the phone feels solid. So do tell what these issues are so I can run and trade in my HD7 for a plastic phone sir
eternalemb said:
First of all, the speakers aren't too bad. Coming from a Blackberry myself though, I see a huge difference. But compared to any other smartphone in the market at the moment they're average. I've yet to see a smartphone whose speakers make me say "wow!" Second, it never surprises me how much people suck on the teet of the "almighty" SAmoled screen. I have an Omnia II, I use Vibrants all the time and ya know what...SAmoled is not all that. You kiddies like to portray it as the end all be all of the mobile phone screen world but its not. In fact, I hate the damn screen on my Omnia II. It looks distorted and ****ty. If that's what you consider "better" than that's your ****. Not everyone wants cartoon colors for everything they see though. As far as viewing angles, you must be one of those people that watch a movie at 90* angle huh? Cuz that's probably the only way you could consider the SAmoled screens better. Better color saturation? Really? Refer to my cartoon colors comment. My Omnia II works fine but I just keep the damn thing because it runs important .cabs I need for work, other than that the "selling points" of SAmoled Samsung phones is wasted on me. The screen looks dim and colorful 90% of the time. Mind you, its not a horrible screen, but people overhyping it so much really makes me laugh. As far as cameras, I haven't seen DVP pics or video so I don't know how good it is, but it'd better be damn good because I've taken some damn nice pics with my HD7. Took a lot of messing with the settings and scenarios but it looks damn good. And I'd love to see what you mean by the HD7 having inferior build quality though. I guess not all phones can have the cheap plastic surrounding that the Vibrant has huh? Or the wiggly cheap feeling slide out keyboard on the DVP? Best constructed phones of 2010 LOL that's why it kept getting delayed eh? So what specific build quality issues are you referring to with the HD7 though? My HD7 hasn't given me one problem since I got it on launch day. Perfect buttons, perfect screen, the metal trim and kickstand have held up extremely well and the phone feels solid. So do tell what these issues are so I can run and trade in my HD7 for a plastic phone sir
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I'm not often a kissass but I'd like to give you a standing ovation.
z33dev33l said:
I'm not often a kissass but I'd like to give you a standing ovation.
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Thank you thank you. Far too kind. But somebody had to say it...
When u learn to use paragraphs I will read ur post. But I'm not sifting through that.
Also, do a post search and I'll see I'm no sampled fanboy. The hd7 screen is terrible. Dvp only has an amplest screen. L2read...
Also, Don't call me kiddie. I can get snippy, too.
Its no secret that the hd7 is the worst wp7 device, and no one cares about curve speakers. A bb bold 9780 has way louder and better speakers than an hd7.
As for the screen, the comparison I linked speaks for itself. Its a damn terrible screen...
The dvp's keyboard is not wiggly. You're grasping at straws. Don't confuse it with a g2...
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eternalemb said:
First of all, the speakers aren't too bad. Coming from a Blackberry myself though, I see a huge difference. But compared to any other smartphone in the market at the moment they're average. I've yet to see a smartphone whose speakers make me say "wow!" Second, it never surprises me how much people suck on the teet of the "almighty" SAmoled screen. I have an Omnia II, I use Vibrants all the time and ya know what...SAmoled is not all that. You kiddies like to portray it as the end all be all of the mobile phone screen world but its not. In fact, I hate the damn screen on my Omnia II. It looks distorted and ****ty. If that's what you consider "better" than that's your ****. Not everyone wants cartoon colors for everything they see though. As far as viewing angles, you must be one of those people that watch a movie at 90* angle huh? Cuz that's probably the only way you could consider the SAmoled screens better. Better color saturation? Really? Refer to my cartoon colors comment. My Omnia II works fine but I just keep the damn thing because it runs important .cabs I need for work, other than that the "selling points" of SAmoled Samsung phones is wasted on me. The screen looks dim and colorful 90% of the time. Mind you, its not a horrible screen, but people overhyping it so much really makes me laugh. As far as cameras, I haven't seen DVP pics or video so I don't know how good it is, but it'd better be damn good because I've taken some damn nice pics with my HD7. Took a lot of messing with the settings and scenarios but it looks damn good. And I'd love to see what you mean by the HD7 having inferior build quality though. I guess not all phones can have the cheap plastic surrounding that the Vibrant has huh? Or the wiggly cheap feeling slide out keyboard on the DVP? Best constructed phones of 2010 LOL that's why it kept getting delayed eh? So what specific build quality issues are you referring to with the HD7 though? My HD7 hasn't given me one problem since I got it on launch day. Perfect buttons, perfect screen, the metal trim and kickstand have held up extremely well and the phone feels solid. So do tell what these issues are so I can run and trade in my HD7 for a plastic phone sir
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I don't think you fully understand. Its more than just colors with amoled and Samoled screens. Every OEM is on the waiting list. HTC, Motorola, LG etc are all wanting these screens.
Dell camera samples, at the very least no pink tint:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10225139&postcount=13
In all actuality the AMOLED SAMOLED means nothing to me, I prefer the larger screen because I have massive gamer thumbs and therefor I go with the HD7. I'm not saying the focus isnt a better device in a lot of ways but for some of us it's just not right though it is awesome. I dont much like the lack of heft and the plasticky feel but meh. I wil also never trust samsung when it comes to updates again even though the manufacturer handles them now its still... shaky. The point is they have a windows phone 7 for every kind of user even with how few are released.
jeffgeno said:
The HD7 is $100 from Best Buy. My girlfriend got one from there and loves it. It's a little lighter than the Venue Pro, a little thinner, has twice as much RAM, the same CPU, the same 16GB microSD storage, a better camera even with the red push, better flash, and feels much more solid in my hand than my Focus. The rubbery back is actually really nice on it. What are your specific complaints about the build quality?
What's the Dell's screen like outdoors? I know it's regular AMOLED rather than SAMOLED and those generally don't perform well in the sun.
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Click to collapse
There's no point in debating with him. Every "point" he makes regarding the HD7 seems to be based solely on something he's read or a video that he's seen online...not on first hand experience.
Final Update April 6th:
I am wrapping up my ongoing comparison of the two devices, and to ebay goes my Samsung Focus.
Here is the final posting:
HTC Arrive vs. Samsung Focus - WP7 Not Yet Ready For Landscape Keyboarding
My conclusion is that both devices are great. My biggest disappointment with the HTC Arrive is not hardware related, but just the pains associated with an early mobile OS. I hope Mango will add more landscape functionality, and that Facebook will update their app to support the form factor.
_______________________________________________________________
Update March 28th:
I compare gaming on the two devices. This is the second to last update in this installment. There is a video this time to boot!
http://www.m-arcade.com/1/post/2011/03/hardware-htc-arrive-vs-samsung-focus-gaming.html
_____________________________
Update March 26th:
I compare the cameras.
http://www.m-arcade.com/1/post/2011/03/hardware-htc-arrive-vs-samsung-focus-camera.html
I ultimately concluded that I prefer the Focus camera thus far, but the Arrive is a pretty close second. Everyone has different taste, so I have plenty of side by side shots for you to judge for yourself.
___________
Initial impression: Impressed. This is an extremely nice slider phone, and while it has a little more heft and bulk than I prefer in a phone, the keyboard is a pleasure to use, and the device screams quality.
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Pictures and my complete thoughts at the link:
http://www.m-arcade.com/1/post/2011/03/hardware-htc-arrive-vs-samsung-focus-initial-impressions.html
I will be updating my blog with more comparisons throughout the weekend.
Focus screen looks wayyyy better imo.
I had the opportunity to play with an Arrive yesterday at a local Sprint store. I was unimpressed. Though it did seem to be of sufficient quality, the display is as small as the iPhone and the common LCD. If I were to accept a display that small it would need to be at least an IPS type or AMOLED. I would definitely go with the Focus. To me, there's no question or choice. The Focus is the better of the two.
MartyLK said:
I had the opportunity to play with an Arrive yesterday at a local Sprint store. I was unimpressed. Though it did seem to be of sufficient quality, the display is as small as the iPhone and the common LCD. If I were to accept a display that small it would need to be at least an IPS type or AMOLED. I would definitely go with the Focus. To me, there's no question or choice. The Focus is the better of the two.
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Rumor is that the Arrive has a SLCD screen, but the Focus is better nonetheless. Plus thickness and weight are other advantages of the Focus. The hardware keyboard on the Arrive is really nice, but landscape support is hit-or-miss. Oh, and one final consideration: the Arrive has NoDo today, whereas the Focus may not receive it (officially) for months.
-R
sketchy9 said:
Rumor is that the Arrive has a SLCD screen, but the Focus is better nonetheless. Plus thickness and weight are other advantages of the Focus. The hardware keyboard on the Arrive is really nice, but landscape support is hit-or-miss. Oh, and one final consideration: the Arrive has NoDo today, whereas the Focus may not receive it (officially) for months.
-R
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It does have an SLCD, and it looks great. The blacks are actually very good head on - not ever going to be on par with the Focus, but they are darn good. But I have noticed the screen does feel a little more cramped when playing games. I really feel 4" is a pretty ideal size, and believe it would have been nice to had that on the Arrive, but I don't think that is a deal breaker. The screen is nice, it just isn't a 4".
I would like to see more done with the keyboard. Like it would be nice if games allowed you to map buttons, that would be way slick.
sketchy9 said:
Rumor is that the Arrive has a SLCD screen, but the Focus is better nonetheless. Plus thickness and weight are other advantages of the Focus. The hardware keyboard on the Arrive is really nice, but landscape support is hit-or-miss. Oh, and one final consideration: the Arrive has NoDo today, whereas the Focus may not receive it (officially) for months.
-R
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Click to collapse
Aside from geeks, who the hell cares about the NoDo update? I can't think of a single thing that NoDo changes that makes it a must-have update. Sure, it's all welcomed updates to be sure but definitely WP7 is already a great OS.
I think geeks are always looking for the "new drug" known as (higher) version numbers. It's the same in the Linux world, everyone wants the new 2.6.38 kernel but 2.6.35 runs much faster and stable.
Edit: This wasn't intended as an attack on you personally, but from everything I read on here it seems people are way too obsessed over the NoDo update.
tiny17 said:
It does have an SLCD, and it looks great. The blacks are actually very good head on - not ever going to be on par with the Focus, but they are darn good. But I have noticed the screen does feel a little more cramped when playing games. I really feel 4" is a pretty ideal size, and believe it would have been nice to had that on the Arrive, but I don't think that is a deal breaker. The screen is nice, it just isn't a 4".
I would like to see more done with the keyboard. Like it would be nice if games allowed you to map buttons, that would be way slick.
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you'll never win this argument. Apparently, if you don't want your text fuzzy and your colors to look cartoonish, then you don't know what you are talking about.
On a side note, I'm glad that at&t is getting the hd7s. If nothing else interests me after the merger with t-mobile, at least I'll have that to fall back on.
nrfitchett4 said:
you'll never win this argument. Apparently, if you don't want your text fuzzy and your colors to look cartoonish, then you don't know what you are talking about.
On a side note, I'm glad that at&t is getting the hd7s. If nothing else interests me after the merger with t-mobile, at least I'll have that to fall back on.
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Yea, the super amoled display is the best on the market. I just hope a wp7 device gets the updated super amoled plus display this year.
ryude said:
Yea, the super amoled display is the best on the market. I just hope a wp7 device gets the updated super amoled plus display this year.
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like I said, its the best if you don't mind fuzzy text and over saturated colors...
Wife has a vibrant, and she would rather have the hd7 display.
nrfitchett4 said:
you'll never win this argument. Apparently, if you don't want your text fuzzy and your colors to look cartoonish, then you don't know what you are talking about.
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Click to collapse
Well to their defense, the general consumer doesn't mind/notice the fuzzy text, and love seeing the saturated colors. Everyone who has seen my Focus think its the best screen they've seen.
I personally think both have their advantages. But do keep in mind that soon AMOLED screens will no longer have the fuzzy text issue due to them moving away from the PenTile tech.
From my limited use thus far - Head on, I prefer the SLCD, but enjoy the broader sweet spot offered by the SAMOLED.
I think most phones with keyboard won't get 4inch screen. That makes the phone like a brick. Epic 4G is such a device...
amtrakcn said:
I think most phones with keyboard won't get 4inch screen. That makes the phone like a brick. Epic 4G is such a device...
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I do want said brick =)
but a vertical slide up keyboard k thanks
amtrakcn said:
I think most phones with keyboard won't get 4inch screen. That makes the phone like a brick. Epic 4G is such a device...
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Click to collapse
The Epic isnt even close to a brick. That thing is like toilet paper. Its keyboard is ass though >.<
Edit: Oh, by brick you meant the 4.0in screen! I thought you meant like the weight...I had to read the post below mine to figure that out haha
for the record and with using devices like the Pre Plus, EVO, EVO shift and iphone the Arrive is the best phone Ive used in a minute. The screen issue is a very small one, and most people dont care about that as much as everyone seems to keep complaining about. Samsung phones to me are cheap looking, and yes the screens are nice thats about it to me. Its about quality and the Arrive screams it. The screen size at 3.6 (ala iphone) is the biggest a mobile device is supposed to be. Get it mobile, I dont know where all this needing a brick in your pocket as being the thing to get nowadays, but if I need more realestate then what I have on my MOBILE! phone then ill get on a laptop, desktop, or tablet. My thoughts on the device is its the best WP7 on the market, perfect size, quality, the option of a full hard keyboard, and very fast.
I completely disagree in terms of the 'quality' you spoke of. Don't get me wrong the phones not god awful but the quality really is subpar. When you hold it you feel like you're holding a last-gen device because of the bulk and thickness and the spring mechanism in the phone always feels ready to snap. HTC doesn't have any high quality WP7 devices just yet. I hope the HD7s fixes that.
emaculant29 said:
Its about quality and the Arrive screams it.
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Those were my words!
z33dev33l said:
I completely disagree in terms of the 'quality' you spoke of. Don't get me wrong the phones not god awful but the quality really is subpar. When you hold it you feel like you're holding a last-gen device because of the bulk and thickness and the spring mechanism in the phone always feels ready to snap. HTC doesn't have any high quality WP7 devices just yet. I hope the HD7s fixes that.
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Click to collapse
Have you held an Arrive? I swear you must be handling a different phone. Because, when I saw pictures, I questioned it, but upon feeling and using it, I can only say it is top notch.
Yeah, I would have preferred a 4" screen. But as for keyboard phones go, it is the same thickness as every other one on market. It is pretty heavy though, which I can only attribute to the use of quality materials over the super light plasticy materials of my focus.
I admit that a keyboard phone is not my first choice of form factor, and if I could get a Focus with the case materials of my Arrive, I would - but that is not happening. As far as screen type (size aside) this is one of the best LCD screens on the market. So you can't fault it for that. You can prefer AMOLED tech, I understand that, but for LCD, the Arrive has a very nice display.
to each its own you know, but I will say this I test phones through my employment and in terms on the measure of quality this is by far the best landscape slider in the buisness currently. The bulk and weight is obvious, but compared to a phone quality it matches like the Iphone 4 it is only 4.2mm thicker then it. They also use the same metal componets from Foxconn, and the glass screen is as well identical. The spring mechinism has been tested by us as well to withstand a substantial amount of pressure without breaking, so no it hardly feels like it will break. Again understand all are personal opinions, but facts are facts.
tiny17 said:
Those were my words!
Have you held an Arrive? I swear you must be handling a different phone. Because, when I saw pictures, I questioned it, but upon feeling and using it, I can only say it is top notch.
Yeah, I would have preferred a 4" screen. But as for keyboard phones go, it is the same thickness as every other one on market. It is pretty heavy though, which I can only attribute to the use of quality materials over the super light plasticy materials of my focus.
I admit that a keyboard phone is not my first choice of form factor, and if I could get a Focus with the case materials of my Arrive, I would - but that is not happening. As far as screen type (size aside) this is one of the best LCD screens on the market. So you can't fault it for that. You can prefer AMOLED tech, I understand that, but for LCD, the Arrive has a very nice display.
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I own every U.S. released WP7 devices. The heft can't always be attributed to quality. I assure you the Focus' cheap plastic comes with a purpose, go drop both of them from about a 5 foot height (where most people hold their phones) and see which one comes out in better condition. The hardware for the Arrive truly is last gen even compared to all of the other WP7 devices on the market (surround aside), the keyboard was about the only redeeming feature on the device but the response from the keys felt cheap and when typing really fast it tended to randomly skip 3 or 4 letters in a row. They've come out with keyboard devices with form factor like the G2, why work backwards and re-release a device that was already outdated upon it's initial release? (TP2)
yeah ive come to the conclusion you just dont like the Arrive which is fine, but your statemnts are very biased, and not factual at all. So there really isnt much else to discuss with you in paticular. For everyone else I highly recommend this device if your on sprint, over all of these android devices out now, and coming like the Nexus S, and EVO 3d thanks.
thank god
i did not wait until arrive.
Discuss and inform, what is your favorite WP7 device thusfar. I have posted my opinions on the WP7 devices I've been fortunate enough to own thusfar. Feel free to add your input.
HTC Surround- Honestly the only WP7 device that I flat out dislike. The touchscreen is dodgy, the gimmick speaker is pointless, the device is bulky, it feels like a 1990's cellphone in your pocket, and it just feels cheap. The phone's only redeeming feature is the OS.
LG Quantum- My initial impression of this device was poor but after getting used to the keyboard there's not much to complain about on the device. The screen is a bit smaller than I'd like and a little washed out but LG's OEM specific apps make the device a keeper.
Samsung Focus- Before I tried the DVP this felt like the posterboy for WP7. The device is a little lighter than I would have liked but aside from that it worked astoundingly, apps load fast, sound is crystal clear, the SAMOLED display does amazing things with the homescreen on a dark theme, it's just generally a beautiful device.
HTC HD7- My first WP7 device and I thought it was great til I tried the Focus and the DVP, after using one of the higher quality devices the phones faults shine through from the milky whites to the slow loading apps all the way to the little errors that only some of the HTC devices seem to have despite the OS apparently being the same across all platforms.
Dell Venue Pro- Ahh, my baby, don't let the fact that there are some complaints about a number of the devices scare you off from this phone because it is without a doubt the best WP7 device released stateside. The AMOLED display has better whites than the SAMOLED and is just as good when it comes to darks. It just feels right in your hand from the ergonomic curvature to the laser-etched backing. This phone screams quality. My only complaint is the camera... I don't know why they put such a terrible camera on an otherwise flawless device, I can at times take clear pictures but with the slightest movement my pictures turn out looking more like modern art...
Samsung Omnia 7-
LG Optimus 7
HTC Mozart
HTC Trophy
HTC 7 Pro (Arrive)- I really want to like this device but it just feels extremely last-gen (Yes I know our processors are old blah blah blah) It's bulky, the spring mechanism feels ready to break nearly every time you slide it up, it's gut it's fair share of issues but overall it's usable though I fear for the spring. The keyboard is amazing on it and if you were a fan of the TP2 I whole-heartedly suggest this.
Voted for the HD7. The screen size was excellent and had a very nice image.
z33dev33l said:
Discuss and inform, what is your favorite WP7 device thusfar. I have posted my opinions on the WP7 devices I've been fortunate enough to own thusfar. Feel free to add your input.
HTC Surround- Honestly the only WP7 device that I flat out dislike. The touchscreen is dodgy, the gimmick speaker is pointless, the device is bulky, it feels like a 1990's cellphone in your pocket, and it just feels cheap. The phone's only redeeming feature is the OS.
LG Quantum- My initial impression of this device was poor but after getting used to the keyboard there's not much to complain about on the device. The screen is a bit smaller than I'd like and a little washed out but LG's OEM specific apps make the device a keeper.
Samsung Focus- Before I tried the DVP this felt like the posterboy for WP7. The device is a little lighter than I would have liked but aside from that it worked astoundingly, apps load fast, sound is crystal clear, the SAMOLED display does amazing things with the homescreen on a dark theme, it's just generally a beautiful device.
HTC HD7- My first WP7 device and I thought it was great til I tried the Focus and the DVP, after using one of the higher quality devices the phones faults shine through from the milky whites to the slow loading apps all the way to the little errors that only some of the HTC devices seem to have despite the OS apparently being the same across all platforms.
Dell Venue Pro- Ahh, my baby, don't let the fact that there are some complaints about a number of the devices scare you off from this phone because it is without a doubt the best WP7 device released stateside. The AMOLED display has better whites than the SAMOLED and is just as good when it comes to darks. It just feels right in your hand from the ergonomic curvature to the laser-etched backing. This phone screams quality. My only complaint is the camera... I don't know why they put such a terrible camera on an otherwise flawless device, I can at times take clear pictures but with the slightest movement my pictures turn out looking more like modern art...
Samsung Omnia 7-
LG Optimus 7
HTC Mozart
HTC Trophy
HTC 7 Pro (Arrive)- I really want to like this device but it just feels extremely last-gen (Yes I know our processors are old blah blah blah) It's bulky, the spring mechanism feels ready to break nearly every time you slide it up, it's gut it's fair share of issues but overall it's usable though I fear for the spring. The keyboard is amazing on it and if you were a fan of the TP2 I whole-heartedly suggest this.
Click to expand...
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wat bout htc mozart?
taruian said:
wat bout htc mozart?
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Hasn't been released where I'm at yet. I've only had about 5 minutes experience with the device but all in all I'm not impressed with HTC's line-up as a whole.
Focus now, HD7S later.
optimus 7... mmmm
Omnia 7 based on speed of memory and the most professional looking (IMO).
The DVP is great looking as well, but I couldn't wait around for it to be released.
I like the form-factor of my Focus a lot. I voted for that, on that basis alone.
In the US you really only have a choice of the Samsung Focus or HTC HD7 as arguably the best WP7 handsets and even then they're exclusive to a carrier. Europe definitely got the better phones!
drbuns said:
In the US you really only have a choice of the Samsung Focus or HTC HD7 as arguably the best WP7 handsets and even then they're exclusive to a carrier. Europe definitely got the better phones!
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Eh... DVP was 1000 times better than HD7
z33dev33l said:
Eh... DVP was 1000 times better than HD7
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You could definitely make an argument for the DVP. I feel the delays, hardware issues, and lack of availability sort of ruined it - for me at least.
drbuns said:
You could definitely make an argument for the DVP. I feel the delays, hardware issues, and lack of availability sort of ruined it - for me at least.
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Click to collapse
Eh, I'm talking comparing one of each side by side, you can definitely tell which is better based on the phone itself.
I am obviously biased because I own the device, but I voted LG Optimus 7 due to the following reasons:
-- Fastest WP7 phone because of the type of (16GB) memory it uses
-- Cheapest WP7 phone in the market when I bought it
-- Longest lasting WP7 phone with a 1500mAh battery
-- Hardware buttons ensure you don't accidentally press them
-- Excellent build quality, with an easy-to-remove metal back-cover
-- Gorilla Glass - mine survived a fall from 5.5 feet
tejazz said:
I am obviously biased because I own the device, but I voted LG Optimus 7 due to the following reasons:
-- Fastest WP7 phone because of the type of (16GB) memory it uses
-- Cheapest WP7 phone in the market when I bought it
-- Longest lasting WP7 phone with a 1500mAh battery
-- Hardware buttons ensure you don't accidentally press them
-- Excellent build quality, with an easy-to-remove metal back-cover
-- Gorilla Glass - mine survived a fall from 5.5 feet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Must agree here, I also have it.
I add
-- Hardware main WP7 buttons
Main minus, from the device point of view, like the only one:
Worse camera performance in difficult/dark light conditions (sharpness, colour is fine though)
I really love the Focus, but it's just my personal opinion.
Agreed on the Optimus 7 - it is built like a tank. Only complaint is the screen is a little blah compared to SAMOLED, but no surprise there. The hardware buttons are a big plus IMHO. Focus second. DVP is too big / heavy unless you really need a keyboard.
Sent from a phone
paperclips said:
Focus now, HD7S later.
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Sent from my SGH-i917 using Board Express
Another vote for HTC HD7.
Hd7 for me too, it might not be built out of the most amazing material or have the most vibrant screen, but this phone is straight up beautiful, the silver grills on the front really make it look nice.
you might as well have asked what phone do you have?.... close this pointless thread.
Had a chance to stop into the local Verizon store and view the latest gadget candy. I played with the LG Revolution, the Droid X2, the Pre 2 and the Trophy. I glanced at a lot of the other stuff as well and came out feeling the the Trophy is the nicest phone Verizon has to offer. It's very elegant and stylish and worked splendidly. HTC really knows how to make phones, that's all there is to it.
Install mango on it...it will impress you
The wife just got the trophy and it is a really nice phone. I prefer larger screens though.
Sent from my HD7 running Mango using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
I love wp7 but I think HTC phones will never be able to do it justice.
yea its a nice phone but they need to bring out a more feature filled phone with a front camera but until wp7 rolls out the mango update the trophy is one of the best wp7 phones
I'm using the Trophy myself. It's nice, but the camera isn't so great and the auto-brightness doesn't work very well. When taking a picture, it snaps the picture a split second after pressing the button. This is a pain in the ass when trying to take pictures of my kid who can't stand still, or anything moving.
I'm not impressed with HTC's lineup at all... I never was. Their battery covers are almost always slightly crooked (like the top edge where you open it might stick up, allowing larger pieces of lint, sand, or other particles to get lodged in there), their cameras aren't as good as Samsung's, and their auto-brightness sensors have usually been wonky (at least the ones I've used).
But, they're the only manufacturer with a WP7 device on Verizon so I had to get it. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a piece of crap or anything, but I definitely don't think it's the "best" Verizon has to offer. But that's my opinion.
ahorriblemess said:
I'm using the Trophy myself. It's nice, but the camera isn't so great and the auto-brightness doesn't work very well. When taking a picture, it snaps the picture a split second after pressing the button. This is a pain in the ass when trying to take pictures of my kid who can't stand still, or anything moving.
I'm not impressed with HTC's lineup at all... I never was. Their battery covers are almost always slightly crooked (like the top edge where you open it might stick up, allowing larger pieces of lint, sand, or other particles to get lodged in there), their cameras aren't as good as Samsung's, and their auto-brightness sensors have usually been wonky (at least the ones I've used).
But, they're the only manufacturer with a WP7 device on Verizon so I had to get it. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a piece of crap or anything, but I definitely don't think it's the "best" Verizon has to offer. But that's my opinion.
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Are you aware the camera button on all WP7 phones is dual level or dual mode? Half press focuses and full press snaps the picture.
Of course. But there is still a delay. It's not instantaneous.
Edit: I had a Samsung Focus several months ago before switching carriers. I don't remember the camera on that phone having the delay. That's why it's relevant to this post.
ahorriblemess said:
I'm using the Trophy myself. It's nice, but the camera isn't so great and the auto-brightness doesn't work very well. When taking a picture, it snaps the picture a split second after pressing the button. This is a pain in the ass when trying to take pictures of my kid who can't stand still, or anything moving.
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Click to collapse
Don't care what HTC phone you have, the cameras have never been great, yea, you could get pretty good but, never great.
HTC has never been known for to be a camera company, some of the upcomming phones SHOULD be starting to use Carl Zeiss lenses and things should be getting bettter in this department. Look up any HTC phone, this is a major compaint for it with most people.
If you got a HTC phone for it's camera, you will be dispointed.
Over all the Tropy is a nice phone, slim, fast and feature filled. No major bells and whistles here but, a good over all phone.
And the only WP7 device that Verizon wireless in the US has....
DavidinCT said:
Don't care what HTC phone you have, the cameras have never been great, yea, you could get pretty good but, never great.
HTC has never been known for to be a camera company, some of the upcomming phones SHOULD be starting to use Carl Zeiss lenses and things should be getting bettter in this department. Look up any HTC phone, this is a major compaint for it with most people.
If you got a HTC phone for it's camera, you will be dispointed.
Over all the Tropy is a nice phone, slim, fast and feature filled. No major bells and whistles here but, a good over all phone.
And the only WP7 device that Verizon wireless in the US has....
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Click to collapse
Yeah that's pretty much what I'm saying.
And I didn't want to wait for another WP7 device on Verizon. I like the soft, matte finish on it, but that's it. I wish the Trophy had the same style front glass as the HD7 (how it sort of sits on top of the plastic) but without the size. I think the size of the Trophy is perfect. If that new Nokia phone (the Sea Ray?) comes out as a CDMA device, I'm totally buying it. I don't care if I have to pay full retail, I'll save up for it. It's so nice.
ahorriblemess said:
Yeah that's pretty much what I'm saying.
And I didn't want to wait for another WP7 device on Verizon. I like the soft, matte finish on it, but that's it. I wish the Trophy had the same style front glass as the HD7 (how it sort of sits on top of the plastic) but without the size. I think the size of the Trophy is perfect. If that new Nokia phone (the Sea Ray?) comes out as a CDMA device, I'm totally buying it. I don't care if I have to pay full retail, I'll save up for it. It's so nice.
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It's a shame they can't...or won't...produce a phone like the ones in the early mock-ups that have been floating around for a long while. Those are just purely gorgeous.
If you want a good camera phone, look at the Nokia N8 on google.
N8 camera shots
MartyLK said:
...early mock-ups
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never seen them
ryude said:
If you want a good camera phone, look at the Nokia N8 on google.
N8 camera shots
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N9/Sea Ray is coming out and it has a 12mp Carl Zeiss. That's what we mentioned earlier. I have no interest in another OS right now. I'm all about Windows Phone 7.
N9 has Meego, "Sea Ray" is the code name for the hardware. They're releasing it with WP7 but it's only GSM.
ahorriblemess said:
N9/Sea Ray is coming out and it has a 12mp Carl Zeiss. That's what we mentioned earlier. I have no interest in another OS right now. I'm all about Windows Phone 7.
N9 has Meego, "Sea Ray" is the code name for the hardware. They're releasing it with WP7 but it's only GSM.
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Unfortunately, they've already compared the camera on the N9 to the N8 and it's no where near as good. I hope they use the same optics as the N8 for the sea ray.
I have been very happy with the trophy except for a few things.
I'm coming from what was basically an indestructable phone and that is the original moto droid. I never had screen protection or a case and there were no scratches. Gorrila glass is a must have. The 2nd day I had the trophy I ended up with a scratch on the screen.
Battery life. This is fixable with the 1800 mah battery you can find, but why ship the phone with such a weak battery.
storage space. This is an issue with most of the wp7 offerings. Yes it can be fixed but it's not meant to be fixed. I have a 32gb zune and guess what, I want all of that music plus apps on my phone.
3.8 is a decent size, although I really want a 4.3 inch.
Mango is a great upgrade even in beta, I've been keeping a list of things I hope they include or at least improve upon.
ahorriblemess said:
never seen them
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These are the ones I meant...
Oh yeah, I remember those. You don't think the N9 looks nicer? It's so much smoother and symmetrical.
ahorriblemess said:
Oh yeah, I remember those. You don't think the N9 looks nicer? It's so much smoother and symmetrical.
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The N9, N8 both look great, but I prefer the aesthetics of a phone like these mock-ups. They resemble the Samsung Focus a little bit in size and style and I love the styling of the Focus. However, I think I'd prefer these much more so.
MartyLK said:
The N9, N8 both look great, but I prefer the aesthetics of a phone like these mock-ups. They resemble the Samsung Focus a little bit in size and style and I love the styling of the Focus. However, I think I'd prefer these much more so.
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it looks like a focus made out of metal instead of plastic
Sorry for the dissertation, but this just seemed to never end once I started to write. Feel free to read as little or much as you want, and comment on any combination of thoughts found below. If you just want to skim, I tried to bold the jist of each paragraph, to give you a quick idea of what I am talking about.
Question: Does anyone really understand all the Nokia Lumia (specifically the 900) hype surrounding its release?
I just fail to quite understand why exactly this phone is supposed to be the WP7 savior (the same having been said for the 710/800, which you can't even buy yet, on the att website that is). Its been toughted as the first real windows phone, but I just don't see it.
From the outside looking in, its specs are basically shared with the Titan and Focus S, both of which will have been released for 6+ or so months before the 900 hits my shelves in the states. Same ish processor, RAM, storage, screen size, etc.
Now the camera is supposed to be superior, because of its designer, Carl Zeiss, and his optics technology. I have never heard of this fellow, and maybe he's the best thing since sliced bread for mobile platform cameras, and maybe the Lumia phone will have the best ever camera experience for a mobile, or maybe not, I have not seen any reviews yet so its still up in the air. My Focus S basically shares its camera with the Galaxy S2, which has been toughted as a fantastic phone camera, rivaling that of the iPhone 4S, and takes decent pictures IMO. So what if the Nokia Lumia 900 phone has a good camera, so do many other phones, and if you really want a good picture, you know you are not getting it from a cell phone.
I can't speak to its slightly different processor, I don't know if its any faster than the snapdragon in the Titan and Focus S, but I have not read anything, anywhere, that suggests that it should be. The proc runs at the same clock speed, and seems to share similar architecture, so I assume its probably about the same speed. There are lots of specifics that affect phone speed, and who knows what all in the Nokia may, but the Titan benchmarks slower than the Focus S, and has an overclocked proc., so go figure.
Its form factor is shared by the Focus S, as is its screen size. Now I will say that I do like the squarish figure. I enjoyed the feel of the Flash in my hand, and was disappointed the Focus S wasn't the same shape, but I know most people have different views on this, so I can't see it as a game changer either. I prefer the Focus S lightweight, flexing plastic feel, to the hard metal finish on the Titan, that to me feels like a brick. Maybe the polycarbonate finish of the Lumia feels better, maybe not. But I am willing to bet some people will like it while others will see it as plastic and cheap.
Its screen is AMOLED, what Nokia calls a ClearBlack. I hear its screen is supposed to perform better in direct sun light, but my Focus S looks fine to me. And hell, some people prefer the Titan screen to the Focus S any who, so again, nothing grand here.
Yes it will have certain Nokia only apps. But those who really want them already have them, so its really a moot point.
The only real bonus I see is the 4G LTE, as opposed to the current 4G HSPA+ that the 2nd gen phones have. But hell, I never get anywhere near the max throughput of my phone as it is, and rarely use it outside of WiFi because its just too damned slow. I don't see ATTs network magically becoming much faster over night, perhaps somewhere down the road, but who knows, probably not even ATT. Maybe this is a deal break for some people, but to me, carrier networks are still too far behind the speeds we expect to see and compete with our home networks from Comcast and Fios.
Now, knowing what I know about the Lumia, if I were to get a phone when it comes out, I would probably get the Lumia, over the Titan or Focus S, simply because its something new, Nokia is a good manufacturer, and I like the square look. But if Microsoft, or Nokia, expect people to flock and purchase this phone OOC, or instead of a high end Android or iPhone, I don't see their hopes and dreams coming true, unless someone just really wants the newest windows phone released, because nothing about it says anything other than "I am no different that the 2nd gen phones released last year.". If people did not want them then, and chose something else instead, they probably don't want them now, either.
Again, its basically a Focus S with LTE, but its being talked about as though its something grander and far superior to whats currently available. IMO, windows phones don't need specs like Android, my phone OS is faster than any other phone I tested, including the 4S and Skyrocket. But if they expect me to upgrade, and pay money to do so, they are going to have to give me more than an incremental upgrade, and really convince me that I am purchasing a superior, more advanced product, otherwise I will just save my money and stick with what I have got, which is pretty dern good.
Is there something I am missing? Am i the only one who just doesn't get it? Thoughts?
Oops, once again I accidentally hit the thanks button. oO Anyways.. I think it's not the specs that makes the Lumia (800 or 900) so compelling. It's just its design. Its look and feel (in your hands). Windows Phone looks totally different from any other mobile OS on the market. So does the Lumia (if you leave the N9 aside, that is ). It doesn't have the generic over and over reused look that Samsung und especially HTC devices use to have.
No. I think that pretty much covers it.
I think it is the long term strategy between Nokia and Microsoft that is the difference and not just the current product line. MS actions clearly tell the story that they are ready to sacrifice today for the right answer tomorrow.
dkp1977 said:
Oops, once again I accidentally hit the thanks button. oO Anyways.. I think it's not the specs that makes the Lumia (800 or 900) so compelling. It's just its design. Its look and feel (in your hands). Windows Phone looks totally different from any other mobile OS on the market. So does the Lumia (if you leave the N9 aside, that is ). It doesn't have the generic over and over reused look that Samsung und especially HTC devices use to have.
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i mentioned that a bit - i have never felt a similar nokia device, so I cant comment in its feel, but the look is appealing - if I were OOC I would get it, because I love the WP OS, and its the newest thing to get, but if I am an iPhone fanboy, there is just nothing special
On your bulletin about the Lumia 800 or 900 potentially feeling 'cheap... the answer is a very loud no.
I got the chance to man handle the Lumia 800 at a Windows Phone camp last November in Nokia San Diego and was awestruck at the feel of the device. You really need to hold in person to judge it, but most major editorial tech news site layers it with praise in regard to the design and feel of it. I haven't seen anyone even come close to calling it 'cheap'.
The Lumia 900 I played with at CES. They didn't have any on display to touch, but I convinced a rep to let me see his and again, same wow factor the 800 has.
However, I give the slight edget to the 800 since the display is curved and it really makes the device 'flow' in your hand.
Now, the spec argument is dead with any Windows Phone device. Looking at what device you can buy today, every Windows Phone holds its own very well against other smartphones in terms of everyday use. Yes, Android phones can do random CPU or GPU stuff faster, but when it comes down to using your phone WP rocks. See those videos by Ben the PC Guy to get an idea.
The reason why this device is expected to be the savior can be attributed more to the relationship between Microsoft and Nokia. It will be the first phone that the two push really hard here in the US. Sure the 710 has been out for a month, but the 900 will be so in your face that it will get people to stop and notice.
First, polycarbonate is not plastic.
Otherwise, form factor, screen, Nokia exclusive apps and games that NOT just anyone can get as you seem to think, I could go on.
@OP - The hype is that Microsoft/Nokia apparently think it's 2009. And they're extremely happy about this brand new game-upper of a device.
z33dev33l said:
First, polycarbonate is not plastic.
Otherwise, form factor, screen, Nokia exclusive apps and games that NOT just anyone can get as you seem to think, I could go on.
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Yes actually, it is plastic.
Polycarbonates, known by the trademarked names Lexan, Makrolon, Makroclear and others, are a particular group of thermoplastic polymers. They are easily worked, molded, and thermoformed. Because of these properties, polycarbonates find many applications. Polycarbonates do not have a unique plastic identification code and are identified as Other, 7.
Polycarbonates received their name because they are polymers containing carbonate groups (–O–(C=O)–O–). Most polycarbonates of commercial interest are derived from rigid monomers. A balance of useful features including temperature resistance, impact resistance and optical properties position polycarbonates between commodity plastics and engineering plastics.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids that are moldable. Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass, but they often contain other substances. They are usually synthetic, most commonly derived from petrochemicals, but many are partially natural.[1]
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic
gonintendo said:
Yes actually, it is plastic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic
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Polycarbonate is a plastic, however it is not to be confused with other more commonly used plastics derived from ethylene and propylene.
The properties and uses of a polycarbonate are so different from even a high density polyethylene plastic that it is hard to classify the 2 in the same category.
I bring up polyethylene and polypropylene because when people use the term plastic, typically they are referring to these. Not everyone has a degree in chemical engineering and a history in polymer chemistry, however I do and I find your comment ridiculous.
On a side note I do want to congratulate you on the ability to to use wikipedia. You just proved how good information used in the wrong hands makes ignorant people feel intelligent.
jz9833 said:
Polycarbonate is a plastic, however it is not to be confused with other more commonly used plastics derived from ethylene and propylene.
The properties and uses of a polycarbonate are so different from even a high density polyethylene plastic that it is hard to classify the 2 in the same category.
I bring up polyethylene and polypropylene because when people use the term plastic, typically they are referring to these. Not everyone has a degree in chemical engineering and a history in polymer chemistry, however I do and I find your comment ridiculous.
On a side note I do want to congratulate you on the ability to to use wikipedia. You just proved how good information used in the wrong hands makes ignorant people feel intelligent.
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The fact of the matter is that polycarbonate is a plastic. It's a great plastic for making a phone with, different from what's usually used, but it's still a plastic. What people refer to when they say plastic and how commonly used it is doesn't change that. It's like saying mercury isn't a metal because when people think of metals, they think of steel and aluminum. And pardon me for trying to back my claim up with evidence.
It may be a plastic...but is an awesome one for making a phone. It isn't like buying a cheap plastic phone.
Wow, this thread has gone sideways. I thought this was a valid question that I have even found my self asking.
Nice, but so what?
I personally am glad to see Nokia entering the market in the states again. I swore by Nokia phones when they were available. They are certainly a nice product, but there are other ones too. It is good to have another quality manufacturer still in the game.
At the end of the day, MS is strugling in the phone OS business and Nokia was strugling in the Hardware (and OS) business. Together, they garner significant press and attention from the investment community.
Together they make hype....
Simply put; the hype is self serving to win market share and clearly doing ok. There is no such thing as bad press, even a thread gone sideways.
N!njaDuck said:
Wow, this thread has gone sideways. I thought this was a valid question that I have even found my self asking.
Nice, but so what?
I personally am glad to see Nokia entering the market in the states again. I swore by Nokia phones when they were available. They are certainly a nice product, but there are other ones too. It is good to have another quality manufacturer still in the game.
At the end of the day, MS is strugling in the phone OS business and Nokia was strugling in the Hardware (and OS) business. Together, they garner significant press and attention from the investment community.
Together they make hype....
Simply put; the hype is self serving to win market share and clearly doing ok. There is no such thing as bad press, even a thread gone sideways.
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Agree with you on all but one minor detail, nokia has been consistently putting out really nice hardware since they finally ditched resistive touchscreens. (The N8 and onward, iirc). It was pretty much just their software that was holding them back. (And even then, there were and still are are symbian diehards.) The E7 specifically is one of the nicest looking and feeling phones I've ever seen. Before that, I thought it was impossible to make a phone with a landscape keyboard look nice.
z33dev33l said:
First, polycarbonate is not plastic.
Otherwise, form factor, screen, Nokia exclusive apps and games that NOT just anyone can get as you seem to think, I could go on.
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jz9833 said:
Polycarbonate is a plastic, however it is not to be confused with other more commonly used plastics derived from ethylene and propylene.
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Hmm... So it is a plastic?
Nokia = name brand. Known by us older generation as the very high quality almost unkillable phones of our times. I had an old nokia that i dropped in the snow once. I ran over it 4 times with my truck while it was out there. 4 days later i found it. Damn thing still was working. You couldn't read the display as it got cracked but it still dialed and answered calls.
Nokia is also known for innovation. I had a nokia that would do exchange, but wasn't a smart phone. The phone actually split into a keyboard so that half the querty was on the left side and half was on the right of the screen.
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/nokia-6800-unlocked/4505-6454_7-30532370.html
How many phones of that time did that? And look at the style of that phone. For it's time it stood out.
Most nokias were traded in, or donated in still working condition after you upgraded to the next.
So the sheer thought of a premium nokia handset that looks like the lumina 900 with Super plastic as you guys have pointed out, that doesn't feel like plastic, and clear black display - it frankly makes my generation druel (i'm 37). Don't get me wrong, i love my titan, but i would give it up for the nokia in a heartbeat even though i know i would be losing a replaceable battery and going a little smaller screen size wise then my titan's massive and awesome 4.7
Nokia also has all the contacts. They are one of the biggest phone manufactures to the globe. (note i didn't say smartphone). If they can bring windows phone to most of those customers, you are going to see it take off. In each country that nokia has released a new phone, so far sales have skyrocketed. Places are selling out.. Nokia is bringing marketing to the platform that was never attempted by other oems - like there life depends on it (which it does).
So that my friend is the hype - at least for me.
grimchicken402 said:
Hmm... So it is a plastic?
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ROTFLMAO......
This phone definitely doesn't feel cheap.
Something that Nokia has done very well is consider how the device will feel in the hand (not counting low-end phones). Every mid to high-end Nokia I've had has felt amazing and never ever cheap. And I've been buying their more expensive devices ever since the 7210 came out almost a decade ago.
The 800 is so solid and sexy. I don't mind the specs of the Focus S, but at the AT&T store they've had to tape the back cover to it because it keeps popping off with the security thingy glued to it. I also really really really hate the feel of actual plastic. Polycarbonate feels dense.
Wait til I post the results of my accidental "drop test". Was in the case and flew out of my pocket onto pavement, hit the corner near the audio jack, landed on the display and slid. There's a tiny nick out of the corner and a 1-2mm scratch on the glass, outside of the display. There are also a few tiny, tiny marks that look like small hairs that you want to blow off the screen that can only be seen while black and clean.
Needless to say, I was hoping that I'd have gone about a year before dropping the device... not 3 weeks, but am super impressed with how it handled the impact.
its good to get some input from some people who have actually had some face time with the devices
and I purposefully used the term "plastic" to describe its material composition, a. because I knew it was plastic, but more so b. because I figured it would stir debate over its feel and form factor.
so what it seems to boil down to is, its not so much the device or its specs, although by all accounts it looks to be the best WP yet, although not leaps and bounds better than previous offerings. its not so much its form factor, although it seems to be of high quality and feel. its more about the name recognition and marketing that should coincide with its release that should stir the market into finally recognizing the WP OS and its phones.
lets hope it works.
windows phone 8 will be cool-till then android baby!
Question: Does anyone really understand all the Nokia Lumia (specifically the 900) hype surrounding its release?
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I'm thinking its because it's hype. No one has used the device, and the current lumia users are having quite a few issues with their devices. That's not to say that Nokia and Microsoft isn't repairing the issues, but as far as first devices goes, you don't want to have many big issues. I think the main hype is besides the N8, this is the bonafide first Nokia phone that's getting a somewhat bigger push than any phone Nokia previously released
So what if the Nokia Lumia 900 phone has a good camera, so do many other phones, and if you really want a good picture, you know you are not getting it from a cell phone.
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very true, but if anything, people don't want to invest so much in "just a camera" and would prefer to consolidate when necessary. It's a futile argument I do admit, but its one many people have. It's also why the apple iphone camera painstakingly tries to get the best photographic experience for casual users
Its form factor is shared by the Focus S, as is its screen size. Now I will say that I do like the squarish figure. I enjoyed the feel of the Flash in my hand, and was disappointed the Focus S wasn't the same shape, but I know most people have different views on this, so I can't see it as a game changer either. I prefer the Focus S lightweight, flexing plastic feel, to the hard metal finish on the Titan, that to me feels like a brick. Maybe the polycarbonate finish of the Lumia feels better, maybe not. But I am willing to bet some people will like it while others will see it as plastic and cheap.
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I think most realize its polycarbonate, a totally different beast.
I reviewed the focus s and it was the first phone I did review. And sadly, I wasn't enthused, I wasn't impressed with it, and overall I just felt the device itself was mediocre. Especially with the brightness issue that the focus s had that wasn't on the focus flash - a phone I would prefer over its big brother any day of the week.
Its screen is AMOLED, what Nokia calls a ClearBlack. I hear its screen is supposed to perform better in direct sun light, but my Focus S looks fine to me. And hell, some people prefer the Titan screen to the Focus S any who, so again, nothing grand here.
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compare the screen to the focus flash and you will writhe in disappointment of the focus s screen in terms of brightness and contrast. Super Amoled+ has better and richer colors, but overall it just wasn't that great.
The titan screen while huge, wasn't much to write home about. For some reason, the bigger the screen on slcd on windows phone, the worst the quality gets. I am perfectly loving the htc radar screen because it is just leaps and bounds above the titan screen. Higher DPI, more color richness, definitely a great screen
Yes it will have certain Nokia only apps. But those who really want them already have them, so its really a moot point.
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I think apps are very important and a great selling point for any phone. And that matters to have more apps that many would find on competing factors. It's not a moot point in the eye of the average user who is used to using a plethora of apps
Now, knowing what I know about the Lumia, if I were to get a phone when it comes out, I would probably get the Lumia, over the Titan or Focus S, simply because its something new, Nokia is a good manufacturer, and I like the square look. But if Microsoft, or Nokia, expect people to flock and purchase this phone OOC, or instead of a high end Android or iPhone, I don't see their hopes and dreams coming true
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Agreed. Now tell that to some other wp7 users...watch a flame war spark
Again, its basically a Focus S with LTE
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little bit premature to say that considering you've never used the device. just saying