Related
Check this out:
http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=7676
You have got to admit he is right, when I didnt know which damn phone I wanted to buy (d2, hero, omnia pro, tp2 etc etc) I seriously considered the iPhone 3GS but having played around with it the only two things that stood out were the price of the thing and the app store and how easy it was to download apps (it was like the Xbox 360 marketplace!), the interface was pretty boring now (but back in 2007 when I first tried it I was like wow wow this is so cool!)
If Apple dont do something soon, they are going to lose out, in Europe I think HTC has began outselling Apple devices (with Nokia first) and now with Google Android devices I think they have some serious, if not overwhelming competition!
HTC all the way!
Apple has a built-in audience of macophiles, and on top of that, for the last 2 years they've also owned the OMG! SHINY! audience. The Shinies can't be held on to (nothing can be the shiny new thing forever) and the macophiles can't be lost. It's an interesting mix to carry.
I'm not sure there's anything they really can do to stay dominant (multitasking, UI overhaul, etc might be nice, but probably not going to really breathe life into the iPhone like the iPhone breathed into smartphones at launch). But they aren't going anywhere. They'll (eventually) come off an unsustainable high, find a plateau and then be a fixture.
I've never been a fan, and I've never owned an Apple product, but I'm impressed they flew as high as they did for as long as they did.
well you can fool people sometimes but you can't fool all the people all of the time! thats my quote of the day for apple. when iphone came out it without a doubt revolutionary. now the shine is quickly wearing off........... the whole platform, the way apple servers control everything and the way the have a hand in all that you do with your own bloody handset!
the latest blunder ........... Iphone 3GS 'they think you are the same'. thats the take off line on the advert ............ i say yes you are the same with a few extra apps which are widely available in the app store and for free on cydia/icy! yes folks it is a scam. there is no difference between the iphone 3G and 3GS. the camera is 3.2(not) - just been tweaked to take higher res photos and of course 16 and 32gb models only........... everything apple claim new about 3GS you can freely add to 3G model! they pulled out all the stops with creating the original iphone and alas it seems there is no room for going forward!
Hey Gforum, I posted this in Q&A Saturday & http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-4g/200765-question-day-get-evo-wait-something-better.html but am looking for more honest, experienced community feedback->market insight so I post it here now:
Amazon's current price is $99.99 (with new service plan+activation fee credit for up to $36 through 11:59 p.m. PDT October 18, 2010) & Sprint's ETF is listed at $200 through month 4 minus $10/mo prorate thereafter so I'm finally considering pulling the trigger on it but would appreciate some community feedback here.
The ETF is important since I want to know the exit strategy & potential total cost of ownership & have Wi-Fi available 90% of time so not sure that 10% MIA is worth $80+/month for 24 months (let's call that ~$2,000).
Frankly I would dump the EVO in a heartbeat when a handheld comes out with similar specs + projector (battery challenge yup yet I wouldn't be surprised to see a follow-up to the Samsung Beam soon).
Questions:
1) Order Question-Will Amazon let me enter Sprint Service Discount Codes & anyone care to share something better than 10% that is easy to use or must one call Sprint after order?
2) Is Wi-Fi reception still an issue for EVO?
3) Still SD card issues?
4) Video+Audio recording quality still questionable (compression codec issue-as photos seem quite nice)?
Is the following what I should expect or can it be improved:
HTC EVO Video test - Part I
HTC EVO Video test - Part II (Golden State Bridge)
HTC EVO 4G Camera Test - Part III (Front-facing camera)
iphone 4 vs. HTC EVO vs. Flip UltraHD video test
Smartphones HD Camcorder Video Samples (long)
Many Thanks,
Its a phone. Not a life changing purchase.
supchaka said:
Its a phone. Not a life changing purchase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it was just a phone, I wouldn't bother..
I'm looking for feedback on a handheld computer with carrier phone functionalty..
If Sprint wasn't requiring user to sign a 24 month contract costing owner thousands of dollars or it worked on many carriers it would be an easier call.
Thanks for the smile supchaka but I'm looking for a bit more market insight..
If you're looking for a phone that'll last you through the next two years I wouldn't get the EVO. Aside from having a large display and some nice features (HDMI, 4G, kickstand, FFC), it's a pretty dated device. The phone is almost half a year old, and even when it was released, the GPU was already old and out performed by it's peers. The camera is not that great either but then again HTC almost always lags behind with that.
There's no doubt that I'd recommend to wait; but if you're set on Sprint you might have to wait a couple of months before something high end comes out.
Award Tour said:
If you're looking for a phone that'll last you through the next two years I wouldn't get the EVO. Aside from having a large display and some nice features (HDMI, 4G, kickstand, FFC), it's a pretty dated device. The phone is almost half a year old, and even when it was released, the GPU was already old and out performed by it's peers. The camera is not that great either but then again HTC almost always lags behind with that.
There's no doubt that I'd recommend to wait; but if you're set on Sprint you might have to wait a couple of months before something high end comes out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what the critic in me is skeptical about hence ETF talk but I'm surprised not to see more options on the horizon..
I was hoping the camcorder quality could be improved upon by now.
Shouldn't we have heard more about devices to become available by the holidays as I'm not sure I want to wait another 3,4,5,6 months..
Appreciate the feedback,
As Martin Cooper said, today's cell phones do a lot buy don't do any of them well. Who's Martin Cooper? Just the inventor of the cell phone.
I figure if I need a video camera I'll get my video camera. If I need a real camera I'll get my SLR. My phone will do in a pinch.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
You are usually given a chance at least once a year to get out of the ETF. Just wait till Sprint changes some policy in the contract and you are given 30 days to walk out.
Sprint also offers the cheapest rates compared to the other big name carriers. Just open a a small savings at a credit union and save 10% of your bill. Go online and find a sprint referral link and you'll be saving 15%... if you know someone that works at Chase, then try to work with them so you could be saving 24%.
There will always be something better in the future. If you wait for the next big thing, you might hesitate and wait or the next thing to follow that.
As far as your other questions, I have never had SD problems, wifi problems, or any issues taking pics or video. If anything, my phone has become a great tool for me on my jobsite.
overclockxp said:
As Martin Cooper said, today's cell phones do a lot buy don't do any of them well. Who's Martin Cooper? Just the inventor of the cell phone.
I figure if I need a video camera I'll get my video camera. If I need a real camera I'll get my SLR. My phone will do in a pinch.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really buy that argument, the real appeal is that it's a convergence device.
surrealmethod said:
You are usually given a chance at least once a year to get out of the ETF. Just wait till Sprint changes some policy in the contract and you are given 30 days to walk out.
Sprint also offers the cheapest rates compared to the other big name carriers. Just open a a small savings at a credit union and save 10% of your bill. Go online and find a sprint referral link and you'll be saving 15%... if you know someone that works at Chase, then try to work with them so you could be saving 24%.
There will always be something better in the future. If you wait for the next big thing, you might hesitate and wait or the next thing to follow that.
As far as your other questions, I have never had SD problems, wifi problems, or any issues taking pics or video. If anything, my phone has become a great tool for me on my jobsite.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear you regarding its potential utility. While I would be on the watch for such an out of ETF I shouldn't count on it so I'll assume ETF worst case scenario. I should be able to add Sprint discount after purchase even if Amazon doesn't let me right ?
Now "Availability: Usually ships within 8 - 9 business days. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com." is kind of a bummer..
I guess the contracts don't mean much to me because I've been with sprint for as long as I can remember. I get an additional 20% off through my work so I'm not going anywhere. I have 5 lines and they all have different expire dates so I can grab a new phone pretty much whenever. Take an upgrade and swap the number. Also being a premiere customer they give you yearly upgrades on the primary line.
So I didn't take into consideration other peoples scenarios may not be the same as mine. I'm very grateful for that now because historically I haven't kept a phone for more than about 6 months
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
SMARTPHONEPC said:
I don't really buy that argument, the real appeal is that it's a convergence device.
I hear you regarding its potential utility. While I would be on the watch for such an out of ETF I shouldn't count on it so I'll assume ETF worst case scenario. I should be able to add Sprint discount after purchase even if Amazon doesn't let me right ?
Now "Availability: Usually ships within 8 - 9 business days. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com." is kind of a bummer..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wanna say, I get your in depth thinking about a purchase, but really you are just thinking to much into it. Like others have touched on, in a short time the Evo will be old news. The phone that takes its place will be old news by summer next year. Phone tech is what, 4 months now? Just do as a ton of us do, pick a phone that suits you best for the time being. Because you'll want the new device next year. I thought the sprint hero was bad ass last year. But the Evo this year is badass. Either satisfy your urge for awesomeness now, or wait a couple months and be the first with the new end thing.
Sent from my Evo
You can always wait for better product, or you can buy the Evo today and enjoy it now. It's just matter of preference.
My gripes are poor battery life, extra 10 bucks monthly fee, and poor glass adhesive on LCD (I had glass lifting problem, and got a replacement after 2 week usage), but what it can do still out weighs the negatives.
Yes, the Evo is 6 months old, but it still can do and look better than many recent models that's out there right now.
FYI, I glanced at Epic at the store when I bought Evo on 10/1, and wasn't sold at all since it was very close to Touch Pro 2's look.
Really the only thing that really holds back the EVO is the GPU. Even the original Droid outperforms it. To invest into that NOW, not mention the next year or two, is just not a smart move when you can wait a few more months for something that is more future proof. If it weren't for the GPU I'd be saying the same thing as the last two posters but... I can't.
Just FYI the above only really applies if and when you game on you phone. I have quake and the major gameloft titles, but I have to say in the end I personally would never buy a phone based on its ability to play games.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
If you're not a gamer, the GPU thing really makes little to no difference. Then again if you're really into games you'd probably use dedicated hardware for that, like a DS or PSP.
The only games I find myself playing on my phone are simple, but addictive arcade style games. Bejewled, tetris, angrybirds and solitaire for the most part. Hardly taxing on the GPU!
The big screen will still be big, even 2 years down the road. It will still be a great device for browsing the web, checking email and messaging, and the GPS functionality is top notch. I'm really not worried about the device being horribly antiquated too soon, and 4G is only just starting to pop up around here so my experience has been consistently getting better.
creyc said:
If you're not a gamer, the GPU thing really makes little to no difference. Then again if you're really into games you'd probably use dedicated hardware for that, like a DS or PSP.
The only games I find myself playing on my phone are simple, but addictive arcade style games. Bejewled, tetris, angrybirds and solitaire for the most part. Hardly taxing on the GPU!
The big screen will still be big, even 2 years down the road. It will still be a great device for browsing the web, checking email and messaging, and the GPS functionality is top notch. I'm really not worried about the device being horribly antiquated too soon, and 4G is only just starting to pop up around here so my experience has been consistently getting better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not only about games. How will the GPU hold up once Android gets more UI intensive (and it will)? I'd rather be on the safe side.
No matter what phone you get it will be outdated soon after you purchase it. What do you want from a phone. Evo does everything I want since it is rooted.
I do like 3D graphics but I currently don't really game on them. Honestly I haven't seen one engaging enough to hold my attention for more than a few minutes & if I did I'd still probably feel like I was wasting time (idle guilt)..
However I do like shooting videos which is the main reason I considered the iPhone 4 but in the end I vastly prefer the open customizability of Android & integration with google services not to mention larger screen (hopefully I won't regret its 16 bit color). I'll likely have to develop for both platforms.
Only reason I use an iPhone 3GS now is because it was a gift but I'm mostly bored with it. I gather most on these forums are not entirely bored with their EVO..
I do wonder how pervasive tablets will become and to what extent they will take over smartphone functionality..(at least an EVO still fits in a shirt pocket)
Award Tour said:
It's not only about games. How will the GPU hold up once Android gets more UI intensive (and it will)? I'd rather be on the safe side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you currently using an EVO? I do think there will be some cool market developments but unless there is news in the next 24 hours, I may not want to continue waiting.
BTW, Are the Sprint Taxes & Surcharges laughable? -Thanks
SMARTPHONEPC said:
I do like 3D graphics but I currently don't really game on them. Honestly I haven't seen one engaging enough to hold my attention for more than a few minutes & if I did I'd still probably feel like I was wasting time (idle guilt)..
However I do like shooting videos which is the main reason I considered the iPhone 4 but in the end I vastly prefer the open customizability of Android & integration with google services not to mention larger screen (hopefully I won't regret its 16 bit color). I'll likely have to develop for both platforms.
Only reason I use an iPhone 3GS now is because it was a gift but I'm mostly bored with it. I gather most on these forums are not entirely bored with their EVO..
I do wonder how pervasive tablets will become and to what extent they will take over smartphone functionality..(at least an EVO still fits in a shirt pocket)
Are you currently using an EVO? I do think there will be some cool market developments but unless there is news in the next 24 hours, I may not want to continue waiting.
BTW, Are the Sprint Taxes & Surcharges laughable? -Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm currently using a EVO, got it in June and will trade up once a new high end HTC Android (and maybe the WP7 TP7) phone hits Sprint.
Edit: This post illustrates the GPU gap between the EVO (Nexus One has the same GPU), it's competitors (PowerVR - Galaxy S shown here but Motorola uses a version that is inbetween the EVO and Galaxy S), and current HTC phones. Ask yourself if you want to get stuck with specs which are already WAY behind.
Award Tour said:
Yes, I'm currently using a EVO, got it in June and will trade up once a new high end HTC Android (and maybe the WP7 TP7) phone hits Sprint.
Edit: This post illustrates the GPU gap between the EVO (Nexus One has the same GPU), it's competitors (PowerVR - Galaxy S shown here but Motorola uses a version that is inbetween the EVO and Galaxy S), and current HTC phones. Ask yourself if you want to get stuck with specs which are already WAY behind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I played with an EVO on launch day for a couple hours, wasn't sold on it but I think it's significantly better now with updates+2.2 (except its camcorder output sadly).
That link was cool, would have liked to see how it ran on Nexus also but it appears better GPUs are coming to high end smartphones for reasons beyond gaming..
Are the Sprint Taxes & Surcharges -not- laughable then? No complaints about Sprint? Thoughts on WiMax->2 vs LTE?
I'm surprised there isn't more on the following (wonder if I could happily wait without more news):
Gorgeous, mysterious, EVO-ish HTC device headed for Verizon
HTC Desire HD heading to Verizon Wireless?
http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/verizon-scoop-extravaganza-motorola-venus-with-portrait-qwerty/
Desire HD looks nice (hope they don't omit the kickstand for USA):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9WbNkWQGxU&NR=1
Next gen EVOs coming soon-before new year-roadmaps-carriers-must know?
I am using the HTC trophy on Verizon. I went in to my local store and was asking about a charging cord (39.95 please), and i kid you not, the sales rep tried to get me to upgrade to an android phone. Im happy with my WP7, and have had android and didnt like it. So after telling the guy that i didnt need a new phone, i left. Now what upsets me is verizons lack of commitment to this OS. people want it, i want it, yet they only give you one phone (HTC trophy) with very low specs. My brother in law works for go wireless and his boss refuses to stock any WP& devices. And go wireless is essentially verizon. Thats is the companies stance on the OS. "no, no one wants that. Here, take one of these 45 android phones. They are way better. why? because they are android". Im so ****ing sick of all this verizon android basket. I dont want to switch to ATT to get a good device, but its making it look more and more probable with each passing day that verizon shafts the WP7 people. I know the kins didnt do so well, but thats verizons fault for requiring a data plan on a dumb phone. Point of my rant is this: i want something other than this trophy on verizon, yet they are making it so difficult to stay with them due to their constant hard on for android and their brief love affair with IOS. Another reason not to switch is i was grandfathered in to the unlimited data plan. Why must you make it so hard for me verizon!? I hate you, yet love your cell reception and unlimited data. Get more CDMA WP7 phones. How hard would it be to get that fujitsu number over here? not that hard i would assume. I would pay cash for that in a heart beat. Much like how i paid 400 some odd bucks the day the trophy came out for verizon.
/end rant
Amen, I feel the same way, if nothing is at least announced for Verizon by the end of 2011 I'll probably be going to AT&T because their phone line-up is better. It's a pity because I do like Verizon's service.
I'm not even asking for a new phone this year, I just want an announcement of a new phone. They're releasing so many Android phones per year, and they can't announce a new wp7 phone after half a year or so, it's kind of BS.
I emailed one of the higher ups at VW regarding this. I got an email and a call back from his assistant regarding my frustrations. Supposedly there will be new WP devices coming, but they wouldn't give a time frame.
Rumor on the net through a couple Nokia sites say that Verizon will be getting a high end Nokia WP, while AT&Crap and T-Mobile will be getting mid tier devices. I'm personally over HTC's battery life issues so I'm optimistic something better will be coming so I can finally make the switch from Android.
Do yourself a favour, if you see what you like on another carrier (at&t, Titan, Focus S, Focus Flash), check out the coverage and prices as best you can and if everything looks ok switch! Why sit around on a carrier that doesnt give you what you want, whether it be CS, coverage or the device you desire? Buy a prepaid phone, use it to confirm you will have coverage and if its a go make sure to tell vzw just why you are switching. Spread the word about your experience, and maybe in 10 years time they will pull their heads out of google's butt!!
That's probably because Verizon is Google's favorite carrier and gets more from Google than other carrieres do, just like Motorola will now be favored over other OEMs.
the deathstars cell service is awful where I live. Calls are always dropped, and the data plan is horrendous. If it weren't for those two things, I would have switched long ago. The only thing really keeping me with big red is the aforementioned unlimited data.
Sent from my mwp6985 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
wakka420 said:
I am using the HTC trophy on Verizon. I went in to my local store and was asking about a charging cord (39.95 please), and i kid you not, the sales rep tried to get me to upgrade to an android phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regardless of what platform he personally prefers, in the end, he wants to make money, and he wants you to upgrade right then and there, and there isn't another WP7 device for him to offer you... what else is he supposed to do? lol
As a sales rep myself, I would attempt to figure out what you want, and get you the device that suits you the best. I'm no Android fan, but if I find out that you like Android, there is little reason for me to try and get you to buy into a completely different platform, no matter how awesome it is. Since you have the only WP7 device on Verizon, there isn't much else he could have done except tell you to buy into a different platform.
But the general idea of your topic, I understand, and its most certainly saddening to see how the market treats underdogs (not only Verizon). Though, I think you'll find that once the dollar signs start shifting toward WP7, the tune of most sales reps will also shift. They go where the money goes.
But when the rep tells me WP7 sucks like its fact and not opinion, that's when I tune out. And its sad because I feel that his behavior reflects on veizons opinion of WP7 in general besides, how are you gonna make tons of cash on a phone OS when you only have one model that supports it? Of course your gonna make a boatload of money if you have 19 phones that all have android on them
Sent from my mwp6985 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
I agree in general that VZW has little to no interest or support for WP7 and hopefully this changes with time as I too have little choice for good reception and am grandfathered on the unlimited data.
Google, Motorola, and Verzon are The Three Stooges. I'm suprised so many people here seem to have missed that...
prjkthack said:
Regardless of what platform he personally prefers, in the end, he wants to make money, and he wants you to upgrade right then and there, and there isn't another WP7 device for him to offer you... what else is he supposed to do? lol
As a sales rep myself, I would attempt to figure out what you want, and get you the device that suits you the best. I'm no Android fan, but if I find out that you like Android, there is little reason for me to try and get you to buy into a completely different platform, no matter how awesome it is. Since you have the only WP7 device on Verizon, there isn't much else he could have done except tell you to buy into a different platform.
But the general idea of your topic, I understand, and its most certainly saddening to see how the market treats underdogs (not only Verizon). Though, I think you'll find that once the dollar signs start shifting toward WP7, the tune of most sales reps will also shift. They go where the money goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Blame yourself for the setup....going to the oem for charging solutions is a setup for fail.
Expecting a salesperson to backup an all but discontinued device (because you like it) is a second setup to fail.
Continuing to support that company month to month is the third setup for fail.
Vote with your money, and enjoy the device you want instead = win ?
Seems like the fowl taste WM and the Kin left in VWs mouth hasn't left pitty.
Sent from my SGH-i917 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
...then Verizon should've been smart and got the HD2 instead of the Kin !
Ok ohgood, let me clarify a few things:
1. I was looking at charging cables. Its not like I ran in, brow sweaty demanding a cable and willing to pay any price.
2.funny how a device that's Been out since early summer is considered "discontinued". Only reason it is could be because VZW deemed it so. Way to give it a chance.
3.maybe you should read why I'm sticking with VZW (great cell service and grandfathered into unlimited data). I'm sure I mentioned it above. Let me check...yep. I did.
So it's hard to vote with ones wallet when my other choice is a cell carrier that drops calls or gets no service in my area all together. Heaven forbid I would like to get a phone that isn't based on specs from a year ago. So, my point still stands. Google might as well buy VZW so they can just outright say "all android, all the time"
Sent from my mwp6985 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Oh and to add a point, I wasn't seeking an upgrade. I was just browsing,curious about data cables or whathaveyou, and when making small talk, he saw the phone and started off on "the facts" about why WP7 is awful. So he wasn't trying to find my needs. And I get they follow the money, but as I previously stated, of course your gonna make more money on an OS that has a carrier branded tv and radio spot, not to mention the wall sized posters of android phones in store. Yet every vzw store I've been to had the trophy for 2 weeks in a corner of the store where no one would see it. /end rebuttal
Sent from my mwp6985 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
wakka420 said:
Oh and to add a point, I wasn't seeking an upgrade. I was just browsing,curious about data cables or whathaveyou, and when making small talk, he saw the phone and started off on "the facts" about why WP7 is awful. So he wasn't trying to find my needs. And I get they follow the money, but as I previously stated, of course your gonna make more money on an OS that has a carrier branded tv and radio spot, not to mention the wall sized posters of android phones in store. Yet every vzw store I've been to had the trophy for 2 weeks in a corner of the store where no one would see it. /end rebuttal
Sent from my mwp6985 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I read that about lack of quality cellular service, its familiar to me. He's just using sales tactics that usually work for him, or possibly pointing out reasons other customers have cited for moving to iphone4. Prolly gets him a contract renewal or sale 9/10.
Thing is, no matter how uninterested you are in their hardware choices, you're supporting them month to month.
prjkthack said:
Regardless of what platform he personally prefers, in the end, he wants to make money, and he wants you to upgrade right then and there, and there isn't another WP7 device for him to offer you... what else is he supposed to do? lol
As a sales rep myself, I would attempt to figure out what you want, and get you the device that suits you the best. I'm no Android fan, but if I find out that you like Android, there is little reason for me to try and get you to buy into a completely different platform, no matter how awesome it is. Since you have the only WP7 device on Verizon, there isn't much else he could have done except tell you to buy into a different platform.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're a good sales rep. Honestly. My last experience with a rep at a VW store went more or less as follows. I walk into the store just to look around because I had time to kill. The rep walks up and asks me what phone I have. I tell him a Focus and that I am on AT&T and am not interested in buying anything, I was just browsing. He proceeds to tell me that my phone's OS isn't any good, and that AT&T sucks (I can't really argue very much with that, though) -- I should switch to VW and get a Droid because they are the best phones available on the market. I asked him if he had ever used a WP7 -- he hadn't, of course. That conversation ended right there and I asked him to show me a Moto Xoom, which is another story.
I picked up a Fire Phone during the Black Friday Firesale. I've given it a month to see if I could use it, but it spent the last week in my glove compartment. I just feel like FireOS is too limited. It's not any one thing, more like a bunch of small annoyances added up.
Pros:
Love the hardware
Integration with Amazon services is nice (Audible, Prime Video)
Most gapps work sideloaded
Cheap
Cons:
The whole OS is designed to sell you stuff. I don't like paying money (even just $200) for ads.
Doesn't feel like a true Android experience, even after sideloading Play Store and changing launcher.
At the end of the day, it's a phone I didn't use. I'd rather lug my LTE iPad mini around than use this phone. Even with a year of Amazon Prime ($50 since I'm a student), I can't really justify keeping it.
tanders12 said:
I picked up a Fire Phone during the Black Friday Firesale. I've given it a month to see if I could use it, but it spent the last week in my glove compartment. I just feel like FireOS is too limited. It's not any one thing, more like a bunch of small annoyances added up.
Pros:
Love the hardware
Integration with Amazon services is nice (Audible, Prime Video)
Most gapps work sideloaded
Cheap
Cons:
The whole OS is designed to sell you stuff. I don't like paying money (even just $200) for ads.
Doesn't feel like a true Android experience, even after sideloading Play Store and changing launcher.
At the end of the day, it's a phone I didn't use. I'd rather lug my LTE iPad mini around than use this phone. Even with a year of Amazon Prime ($50 since I'm a student), I can't really justify keeping it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason why I'm happy with it is because my sister wanted a phone and the max. she was willing to pay was US $125 for the price I got it for ($199 which includes a year of prime which I sold the other 4 slots for $25 a piece to people on a forum...) this makes the phone just $100 for that price you really can't go wrong, I'm running Google Play Store on it with Google Now Launcher.
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
swati770 said:
The reason why I'm happy with it is because my sister wanted a phone and the max. she was willing to pay was US $125 for the price I got it for ($199 which includes a year of prime which I sold the other 4 slots for $25 a piece to people on a forum...) this makes the phone just $100 for that price you really can't go wrong, I'm running Google Play Store on it with Google Now Launcher.
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad it worked out for you. It really was a close call for me. So far I'm really happy with the Moto G. It's not as snappy as the Fire, but it's so nice to have vanilla Android.
While I'm sure Amazon will go under because you returned the phone, I don't get this whole "selling you stuff" and "ads". While it's true we cannot root the phones and install and adblocker, I'm not seeing all of these "ads" you're referring to. The ad-supported apps are certainly functioning by providing ads so we can have the app for "free", but otherwise, these ads that you're telling us about don't seem to be there. Amazon hasn't sold me anything, although they certainly designed the phone to make it easy for amazon customers to purchase from amazon. Other than some free apps that didn't work, as not all apps will work with the Fire Phone, I really haven't experienced any of this horrible "selling" and "ads" that you have found.
That would be me!! lol. Amazon made me an offer I couldn't refuse -$159- I got the free year of prime- I paid for it last year by accident and ended up getting a lot of use out of it, so this made it easy. And the phone was $60 (after putting $99 towards prime), and I opened an amazon CC which gave me $40 in an instant credit- so this phone was $20 in the end!! plus taxes of course.
Before I pulled the trigger I looked to XDA to see where development was for this phone- and it looks like it is picking up and starting to move- so I will be getting this new fire phone tomorrow!!! I have to confess I have been using an iphone 5s (JB of course!) for the last year and a half and have been missing the challenge of rooting, romming, and making the best out of the hardware that is lacking due to poor software.
My plan is to put on the latest update and add google play market- leave it unrooted for now and see how it goes. But I am keeping my eye on beta CM11 and seeing how far it goes with CM 13 possibly in the future!!
@ggow- you seem to be very ambitious with this phone!!!! You are doing some great work and I am following your development closely :good::highfive:. I have never used safestrap before, but I may just have to give it a whirl. You make it very tempting
Why was I interested in this Fire Phone??? I bought a kindle 7 hdx last year and hacked that to run google market and it turned out to be a pretty great tablet that I also got a great deal on. It has the fire OS running along side google market with a great launcher running to swap back and forth. So kindle, instant videos, amazon music, and all the google apps too. It's specs were very close to the ipad mini and was a third of the cost. I gave it to my daughter to use in NYC running on att and she has had no complaints with how I modded it. And she is not very techy! :silly:
I am getting a little bored with my 5s and wanted a bigger screen- I passed on the 6+ since we are no longer getting subsidies and $850 for a phone seems ridiculous!! I don't know if 0.7 inches will make much of a difference, but for $20, I just had to find out
I have a Fire Stick TV also and I want to see how they work together. Very excited to receive this phone tomorrow.
Even after all the horrible reviews I read and watched on you tube!! Hopefully these modifications developed here will make it great!
Geez!!!! 75 views and no comments? Come on people- loosen up and let me know if you love your fire phone or hate it or Hate me cause I got it so cheap:silly: Please share your experiences with your Fire Phone. By now it's a year old, but still looks like a great phone for $60. I am basically a really cheap bargain hunter and wait for things to go on sale. This was really a good one.
Share what you did to make it a great phone! Would love to benefit from your experiences.:highfive: Do you love the Fire OS? Do you love the Market? Or CM11? Please share And I thank you in advance:good:
Great phone for the money. If throw yourself into the Amazon ecosystem the fire OS works quite well but I think only Jeff Bezos has done that so far. I'm using it with a custom launcher at the moment but when cm11 is final I might adopt it.
sashusmom said:
Geez!!!! 75 views and no comments? Come on people- loosen up and let me know if you love your fire phone or hate it or Hate me cause I got it so cheap:silly: Please share your experiences with your Fire Phone. By now it's a year old, but still looks like a great phone for $60. I am basically a really cheap bargain hunter and wait for things to go on sale. This was really a good one.
Share what you did to make it a great phone! Would love to benefit from your experiences.:highfive: Do you love the Fire OS? Do you love the Market? Or CM11? Please share And I thank you in advance:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you asked:
The hardware is incredible for the price. The antutu benchmark puts it slightly faster than a galaxy s5. However, the bells and whistles (extra cameras, 3D, etc) are irrelevant at best. -- The os is terrible. It works well enough but is far behind other smart phones' os. Also, Amazon's wish to completely control your "experience" gets in the way of good hardware. If you root and then add gapps and the google now launcher, the phone is better to use, but still feels wrong, especially when certain apps can only be added through amazon's app store. -- Finally, I'm still irked by the locked bootloader. It was at this stage I put it in the drawer to use as an emergency backup - or maybe a "mini-gamer" for kids.
Then came ggow and his work to bring CM11 to the phone. Thanks to him, I now use it as my daily driver. I have added Xposed Framework with a few modules, all my favorite apps, and the phone is great! The only annoyance is that there are very infrequent random google play services stops which quickly correct themselves leaving a msg that needs to be swiped away. This is no big deal and ggow might have this fixed by the time you read this. Ggow also mentioned bypassing lollipop (CM12) and looking to "M" for his next major upgrade. How this will happen with a locked bootloader I don't know, but all praise to the person who brought my firephone backed to life.
Enjoy your firephone.
I bought the Fire Phone 6 months ago (I think, don't remember), when it was $189 (and a year of Prime). Having a phone with those specs at $90 was a great deal and hard to refuse. Bought it, got it, and the first day of using it I was amused with how different it was from stock Android. I had a Nexus 5, which got stolen, and I wandered with a low-end phone until I bought the Fire Phone. The Fire Phone couldn't be more different from the Nexus 5, software-wise. I saw the lock screen, toyed with it and thought: "Wow, it moves depending on where I look it from, nice!" (my first lock screen was the one with the time made from the stars and the moon with below it) but also "Did Amazon really need 4 cameras just for that? It might drain my battery" and "Which real-world use could I give to this feature?"
Yes, it was nice to see how things moved thanks to the Dynamic Perspective feature, at least at first; then, like all novelties, my attention to it faded and eventually I disabled it. Having my battery drained wasn't worth for a feature I wasn't paying attention to and which the only real-world use I could think of was showing it to some friend to surprise them a for a little time. And because this phone doesn't have a removable battery, I couldn't afford to lose it for some gimmicky feature.
Then I saw the Carousel, which is the home screen where the most recent apps are shown, with the notifications below it. They were affected by the Dynamic Perspective too. I hated that dotted pattern they used for the Carousel, and then I tried to change it for, say, whatever picture this phone could've come with.
I went to Settings, and was surprised to see, first, that that annoying dotted pattern was there too, and then that there wasn't a way to change the wallpaper. I thought "Come on, it's 2015, every OS in the friggin' world has a way to change the wallpaper. It's the most basic form of customization. Even Apple (which I don't hate), with all that walled garden feeling, allows you to change the wallpaper." But Amazon's FireOS didn't (I haven't ever seen a Kindle Fire tablet). My phone shipped with version 3.6.8, and we had to wait until May to see such a basic feature with the upgrade to 4.6.1. I got annoyed by that, but there was nothing I could to about it.
I checked the pre-loaded games, which make heavy use of the same Dynamic Perspective. I half-liked the Planet Blocks game and played it for a while. After that, I forgot I had it and remained hidden.
Then I went to the Appstore to see what was new. I knew the Appstore didn't have any Google app, and understood it. Amazon had an equivalent to every Google app and, even though I didn't like how they looked, they got the job done, and that was what mattered. Downloading and installing was what I was used to, and updating was a breeze.
But I guess I missed some apps that weren't on the Appstore and was lazy to not sideload all of them. I needed to see good ol' Google on this phone, so I went to XDA and checked if there was a way to sideload Google Play Services. After all, underneath all the Amazon skin and no traces of Google, FireOS was Android at the heart (3.6.8 was based on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which was pretty outdated even then). There was a way to install Google Play Services, and there was a way to root the phone too, but only if you were brave (and foolish) enough to downgrade to 3.5.1 (it was a bad idea, because if you did that, there would be problems with the Amazon account registration and also some nasty overheating issue). So, I stayed with just installing Google Play Services. It went smoothly and finally got Google. With the Play Store I'd be able to download and install SwiftKey and maybe Google Now Launcher or Nova Launcher.
I got no luck with SwiftKey. It installed, but then you couldn't use it unless you activated it via ADB. After that, got SwiftKey. And about launchers, they worked, except for widgets (which weren't supported in FireOS) and the wallpaper (there was a way to change the wallpaper in Nova; you could choose the image, but it never worked; you had to like the black background because it was the only option). I checked other launchers, some supported widgets (not all widgets, but some) and some found a way to change the wallpaper. I stuck with Buzz Launcher, which made the phone look and work most similar to Android.
I hoped Amazon would sometime hear what users here at XDA (and everywhere else) had to say. The Fire Phone was a great piece of hardware, but its software was a bummer. People were trying to google it but all you could do was sideload Google Play Services. The bootloader was locked (and still is), and the Towelroot method for rooting didn't work for 3.6.8, so downgrading was the next stage for googling up the device. I remember seeing some guys here at XDA offering some money to the first person to unlock the bootloader, and some people sending a letter to Jeff Bezos himself to unlock it and then also a Change.org petition, taking the example of the HP TouchPad tablet (it saw new life after HP unlocked its bootloader, after which people flashed Android instead of the built-in webOS, becoming the second-most selling tablet of 2011). It never happened.
Then it was the question if the phone would ever receive a FireOS 4 update (based on Android 4.4 KitKat), given its lackluster sales. It finally happened on May, and came with very necessary changes to help customize the phone.
This new version would eventually be rooted via Kingroot, which is a very shady-looking app for rooting. It worked, and then there was a way to change it for SuperSU, a more reliable root app. With all the long wait, knowing a developer found a way to flash a ROM even with the locked bootloader was a relief. I flashed it as fast as I could. Now I'm using Cyanogenmod 11 and it's great (no trace of Amazon). It's still beta (the developer uploaded the first build just 4 days ago), but it works pretty well right now, and it'll only get better.
Now we can use a phone that has a great price and good specs with a great OS to match. To the people out there wondering if the phone is worth the price (right now it went back to $449 and comes with a year of Amazon Prime, with $99 alone, so the phone's real price is $350), no, it's not, you could get a OnePlus One at that price (which comes with Cyanogen OS), or a Moto X, or a Xiaomi Mi4, or many other great phones below $350 (and then if, and only if, you want Amazon Prime you can subscribe). When it gets a big discount, which happens from time to time (last one was this week and the price went down to $159), it gets more attractive (especially if you were going to subscribe to Amazon Prime). The phone has many gimmicky features which are really useless, uses an OS that is difficult to adapt to, and is overpriced most of the time (no wonder Amazon failed to sell it at launch at $199 with AT&T contact, or later at $649 unlocked, or now at $449), but may be a great deal when bought at discount (this week the real price of the phone was $60, and at that price you cannot get any smartphone off-contract) and if you're willing to tinker with the phone and flash a ROM (Cyanogenmod 11 is the only one right now, but might be more in the future), it makes a pretty good phone.
A quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU, with Adreno 330 GPU and 2GB of RAM, a 13MP rear camera and 2.1MP front camera, 1080p recording, 32GB of built-in storage and now the ability to flash Cyanogenmod 11 for just $60? I'd buy it.
Wow!! Great responses guys. I thank you for taking the time to offer your opinions and I really look forward to receiving my Fire phone
Got my Fire phone!!
I really like the screen- overall size of the phone is not really bigger than my 5s but the screen real estate is a little bigger. It's not so lite that you will drop it or so thin you will drop it either. When I use my 5s bare, I have a hard time hanging onto it. It's in a wallet case that I can get a good grab onto. I like a little heft to it and it does feel good in your hand.
I have the incipio folio case on this fire phone that I got for $10 from ATT online store. That was a really good deal. Also did a screen saver just because I like them and the protection from minute scratches they provide.
So, on my Amazon account it was registered to me and the free prime was added on. When I went to set up the phone it requires you to register again to your account and I got all errors that it couldn't be done at this time, blah blah blah. I researched it and apparently this was a big problem at launch too.
So I updated it to the latest of 4.6.1 (820) and tried again, same deal. It just wouldn't register. So I de-registered it on my computer, and tried again on the phone, no go. You can't use the phone without it being asso. with an amazon acct- no apps at all are usable, even the preinstalled ones. So I chatted online, they couldn't help me and wanted to have their Fire Team support call me back- but I couldn't at that time so I will deal with it tomorrow. I'll have to search this forum and see if there's any info about it.
In the meantime I got the google apps working so now I at least have a pretty good list of apps, but no amazon services working yet. I still have to add a sim card and check the basic call functions- since it is a phone.
The benefit of picking up a phone that is a year old is you guys have already tackled the tough parts of rooting, modding, roms, etc. I checked out this forum before purchasing and was pleasantly surprised that you just made the break through just this week for CM. I may have to check that out! I have the att Mega and that poor orphan phone is so crippled most guys just walked away. I Love it for it's 6 inch screen size. The iphone 6+ was in my thoughts but can't justify that price tag. My mega was a penny when we still did subsidies.
I thank you all for your perseverance and hard work and your stick-to-it-ive-ness:good: This could actually be a decent phone with all the modifications. I am hoping I can leave it as is and swap between the Fire OS and the Nova launcher. Hopefully I'll get it registered correctly tomorrow. It's nice getting back into android after apple. I like them both- but I do get bored.
*************************************************************************
So even though it is 3 am here, I just got off the phone with fire phone support and I was told it was a system wide outage and there are many people having this problem. They will get back to me!! I won't hold my breath here
**************************************************************************************************************
Talked again to amazon and I am "on the list" to have this registration fubar sorted out. She took additional info- my mac address on the phone specifically, and supposedly this will be fixed OTA magically. We'll see.
I do have a working sim in and phone calls work fine. I have issue with the tinny sounding speakers that are suppose to be stereo- Sounds terrible- especially with music clips ringtones. Pandora sounds bad too. I did read the reviews about the sound and it appears to be true.
******************************************************************************************
So Amazon finally fixed the registration problem OTA. I can now access my Amazon stuff. Problem solved.