Symbian Vs. WinCE

shinku_sai wrote:I would like to get your opinions regarding what operating system is better... I have been using a HTC Tanager for the past 3 years now and I do believe that it is high time to upgrade my phone. I have been accustomed to WINCE now and the phone itself. Now I was wondering If I should go ahead and try Symbian. I heard that it is a very efficient system but is not as powerful as the WinCE OS. I was also told that there are not that many FREE applications you could get for a phone running the Symbian OS, as compared to the WinCE platform. I have also become accustomed to the websites that I visit regularly regarding WinCE apps. But I am keeping an open mind on which OS I should use next and more imprtantly which phone should I choose, as I am on a pretty tight budget of roughly $500 for a phone... I was considering the HTC C550 or C500. I heard that they now have processors running at 200MHz in them! That is pretty impressive for just a phone... I was also wondering if I get a symbian based phone, the hardware would definately play a role in telling me which phone I should pick. Basically I use a phone for calls, SMS, MP3 listenning and the occasionaly video watching. Oh and one last question, is easy to install codecs (video and audio) on a Symbian Based phone as is with the case of a WinCE based phone? I would greatly appreciate and view and opinions you could share regarding my issue, and would like to thank you in advance for them. More power and God bless.

Manuel

Ei Manuel,

Ive used a Tanager as well for 2 years. WinCE's customisability is definitely superior to any Symbian phone, hardware and stability sucks though. Im from the Philippines, (Im guessing you are, too...) My tanager came free under a post paid subscription, I definitely enjoyed doing a lot with it (although camera sucked as well) but after some time (too soon actually), the handset showed off its poor make and quality. The phone/OS freezes A LOT, too. If you can afford the more expensive WinCE phones (02 phones) then go for it... otherwise, if you're looking for stability (relative), go for a symbian phone.. analogy? Pentium vs AMD. Anyways, I got a 3230 as per my contract renewal.

Let me know what you think.

shinku_sai wrote:I would like to get your opinions regarding what operating system is better... I have been using a HTC Tanager for the past 3 years now and I do believe that it is high time to upgrade my phone. I have been accustomed to WINCE now and the phone itself. Now I was wondering If I should go ahead and try Symbian. I heard that it is a very efficient system but is not as powerful as the WinCE OS. I was also told that there are not that many FREE applications you could get for a phone running the Symbian OS, as compared to the WinCE platform. I have also become accustomed to the websites that I visit regularly regarding WinCE apps. But I am keeping an open mind on which OS I should use next and more imprtantly which phone should I choose, as I am on a pretty tight budget of roughly $500 for a phone... I was considering the HTC C550 or C500. I heard that they now have processors running at 200MHz in them! That is pretty impressive for just a phone... I was also wondering if I get a symbian based phone, the hardware would definately play a role in telling me which phone I should pick. Basically I use a phone for calls, SMS, MP3 listenning and the occasionaly video watching. Oh and one last question, is easy to install codecs (video and audio) on a Symbian Based phone as is with the case of a WinCE based phone? I would greatly appreciate and view and opinions you could share regarding my issue, and would like to thank you in advance for them. More power and God bless.

Manuel

Ei Manuel,

Ive used a Tanager as well for 2 years. WinCE's customisability is definitely superior to any Symbian phone, hardware and stability sucks though. Im from the Philippines, (Im guessing you are, too...) My tanager came free under a post paid subscription, I definitely enjoyed doing a lot with it (although camera sucked as well) but after some time (too soon actually), the handset showed off its poor make and quality. The phone/OS freezes A LOT, too. If you can afford the more expensive WinCE phones (02 phones) then go for it... otherwise, if you're looking for stability (relative), go for a symbian phone.. analogy? Pentium vs AMD. Anyways, I got a 3230 as per my contract renewal.

Let me know what you think.

maeglin_ph wrote:Ei Manuel,

Ive used a Tanager as well for 2 years. WinCE's customisability is definitely superior to any Symbian phone, hardware and stability sucks though. Im from the Philippines, (Im guessing you are, too...) My tanager came free under a post paid subscription, I definitely enjoyed doing a lot with it (although camera sucked as well) but after some time (too soon actually), the handset showed off its poor make and quality. The phone/OS freezes A LOT, too. If you can afford the more expensive WinCE phones (02 phones) then go for it... otherwise, if you're looking for stability (relative), go for a symbian phone.. analogy? Pentium vs AMD. Anyways, I got a 3230 as per my contract renewal.

Let me know what you think.

I much appreciate the information that you have extended to me. It was an eye opener for me. I have been talking to my friends as well and they have told me that the newer WinCE devices have a better, faster and more stable OS. I gave it MAJOR thought and i have decided to get the HTC SP3i. 😃
I just have one question for you... Why did you get a 3230? Don't you want to use the WinCE OS anymore? From your personal point of view which OS do you personally prefer?

shinku_sai wrote:I much appreciate the information that you have extended to me. It was an eye opener for me. I have been talking to my friends as well and they have told me that the newer WinCE devices have a better, faster and more stable OS. I gave it MAJOR thought and i have decided to get the HTC SP3i. 😃
I just have one question for you... Why did you get a 3230? Don't you want to use the WinCE OS anymore? From your personal point of view which OS do you personally prefer?

Ei hi! Well, personally, I prefer WinCE better. The availability of freeware and the customisability makes it a no-brainer choice for me. =) Unfortunately, like I said, HTC's handset is of poor quality and make. Id prefer a sturdier body except those handsets, like the O2 Xphone is out of my budget range. I got the 3230 under a retention plan, so there was minimal cash out on my part. If you can afford a non-HTC handset, like the 02 Xphone, then by all means, get a WinCE smartphone. =)

shinku_sai wrote:I much appreciate the information that you have extended to me. It was an eye opener for me. I have been talking to my friends as well and they have told me that the newer WinCE devices have a better, faster and more stable OS. I gave it MAJOR thought and i have decided to get the HTC SP3i. 😃
I just have one question for you... Why did you get a 3230? Don't you want to use the WinCE OS anymore? From your personal point of view which OS do you personally prefer?

Hey I have been doing some researching regarding handsets... I wnat to know what is the best phone fo my money, I found out that the XPhone II doesn't have a 1.3MP camera.... That can be a downer.... 😃 Well I honestly don't use the camera much but hey it could be an added bonus if there was a 1.3MP camera.😃 I have got my eye on a 6230i and it going for only 15,500!!!!! I think that is what Im going for. but then again there is ALWAYS the question of availability of applications for the phone. Do you possibly know any websties that offer free apps like phoneyworld.com and airfagev.com but for Symbian OS's? I believe that the mojority of the apps for the Symbian OS has to be bought!!!!!! Unfortunately..... 😃 Lastly, what are the good and bad points of your 3230? Please gie me a quick low down. Hey are you from Manila or some where else in the Philippines? Be patiently waiting for your reply. Thanks once again. Take care and God bless.

Shinku_sai

Hey I have been doing some researching regarding handsets... I wnat to know what is the best phone fo my money, I found out that the XPhone II doesn't have a 1.3MP camera.... That can be a downer.... 😃 Well I honestly don't use the camera much but hey it could be an added bonus if there was a 1.3MP camera.😃 I have got my eye on a 6230i and it going for only 15,500!!!!! I think that is what Im going for. but then again there is ALWAYS the question of availability of applications for the phone. Do you possibly know any websties that offer free apps like phoneyworld.com and airfagev.com but for Symbian OS's? I believe that the mojority of the apps for the Symbian OS has to be bought!!!!!! Unfortunately..... 😃 Lastly, what are the good and bad points of your 3230? Please gie me a quick low down. Hey are you from Manila or some where else in the Philippines? Be patiently waiting for your reply. Thanks once again. Take care and God bless.

Shinku_sai

shinku_sai wrote:Hey I have been doing some researching regarding handsets... I wnat to know what is the best phone fo my money, I found out that the XPhone II doesn't have a 1.3MP camera.... That can be a downer.... 😃 Well I honestly don't use the camera much but hey it could be an added bonus if there was a 1.3MP camera.😃 I have got my eye on a 6230i and it going for only 15,500!!!!! I think that is what Im going for. but then again there is ALWAYS the question of availability of applications for the phone. Do you possibly know any websties that offer free apps like phoneyworld.com and airfagev.com but for Symbian OS's? I believe that the mojority of the apps for the Symbian OS has to be bought!!!!!! Unfortunately..... 😃 Lastly, what are the good and bad points of your 3230? Please gie me a quick low down. Hey are you from Manila or some where else in the Philippines? Be patiently waiting for your reply. Thanks once again. Take care and God bless.

Shinku_sai

Yep, most symbian apps are not freeware. Unless you're into warez, which I don't recommend. I looked at 6230i's features, they're pretty much the same as 3230's except you have a smaller phone (and screen)... I like having larger displays. I'm not sure though if 6230i's mp3 playback is stereo. You might want to clarify that with Nokia.

What sucks about 3230?

1. Mono playback of Digital audio files. (mp3, aac, et. al) - Radio is stereo though.
2. Poor quality of Loudspeaker (compared to 6230 and Voyager) - sounds muffled
3. Incorrect proportions/aspect ratio of captured image (You have to download a freeware camera app to get better pictures)
4. NO volume setting for SMS alert
5. Changing Details in phonebook entries won't give you uppercase letters
6. Dust gets under the screen pretty quickly.
7. Symbian's phonebook (generally) doesnt have predictive functions like Windows Smartphone's.
8. If you use Microsoft Outlook to organize your contacts, which I do, Contact fields doesn't match with Symbian's phonebook details. Synchronization doesn't go that well.
9. There's a rather annoying beep before EVERY call and SMS alert. Which, I might add, cannot be disabled.
10. You cannot extensively customize themes compared with what you can do with a WinCE theme.
11. It restarts randomly (but HTC Tanager is worse). Tanager freezes sometimes when you receive SMS, so you restart your phone by taking out the batt, but then the message is lost. That is such a hassle. 3230, thankfully, retains the message even after a force restart.

Hmm, that's it for now... I've yet to discover other bugs in this phone. PM me if you want. All things being equal, I suggest you go for the 6230i instead of 3230. But if a WinCE phone with a 1.+ megapixel cam arrives, I'll definitely go for that. But right now, Im dreaming of a Nokia N91 for Christmas. Haha!

Yeah, Im from the Flips. Makati to be exact. Where ya at?

I am currently using both a Nokia 3230 and a HTC built SPV C500.
The Nokia wins when being used as a phone, the reception is better, the sound claroty is better.
The Bluetooth stack is far superior in the Nokia. Bluetooth in the C500 can be a nightmare to configure.
There are better freeware apps for Windows phones - apps like Betaplyer which are SUPERB for MP3 and film viewing.
The Nokia is better for ease of use.
The Nokia is a higher standard of build quality.
You cannot view and edit Microsoft Offiice documents properly on a Windows phone (how ridiculous is that)
The camera is good on a C500 - the camera is BETTER on the Nokia.
The C500 wins as a media device - playing MP3s etc and you can choose what headphones you use.
The Nokia wins when you want to use the media - C500 cannot play MP3 ringtones!!

Mark

This Symbian Vs WinCE really caught my attention here. So, does anyone like to say something between these 2 OSes?! 😞 Again, here is AllaboutSymbian forum. Therefore, may be 95% of the members are using Symbian OS devices. So,,... how to discuss? We may not know much about WinCE if we just using Symbian phones. :frown:

Personally, I will say Symbian is better than WinCE. In terms of pricing, WinCE phone devices are much more expensive. Well, about freeware. There are tons of them in the net. Just depending on you can find them. Moreover, with a little bit $. You can have smartmovie, UltraMP3, ProfiExplorer by lonelycatgames site.

One big advantage for WinCE to overcome Symbian for the moment. May be is the Skype!

I guess, there are so much more to discuss about. If anyone interested, please drop some lines. Yeah, much more.... about this. :icon4:

edifgrto wrote:This Symbian Vs WinCE really caught my attention here. So, does anyone like to say something between these 2 OSes?! 😞 Again, here is AllaboutSymbian forum. Therefore, may be 95% of the members are using Symbian OS devices. So,,... how to discuss? We may not know much about WinCE if we just using Symbian phones. :frown:

Personally, I will say Symbian is better than WinCE. In terms of pricing, WinCE phone devices are much more expensive. Well, about freeware. There are tons of them in the net. Just depending on you can find them. Moreover, with a little bit $. You can have smartmovie, UltraMP3, ProfiExplorer by lonelycatgames site.

One big advantage for WinCE to overcome Symbian for the moment. May be is the Skype!

I guess, there are so much more to discuss about. If anyone interested, please drop some lines. Yeah, much more.... about this. :icon4:

If you have read the posts carefully, most of us (in this thread, atleast) have used or are currently using WinCE AND Symbian Phones. I have used the Tanager for 2 years, the other, a C500 and the one who started this post used a Tanager as well, I believe. So I think our claims are pretty valid. The Symbian OS has its strength and is definitely a superior phone OS than WinCE. I guess WinCE tops Symbian with its customisability and familiarity. Freeware-wise, Symbian cannot top Windows-based mobile phones. Try visiting www.airfagev.com, www.coolsmartphone.com and smartphone.modaco.com and you'll know what I'm talking about. Microsoft has a long way to go when it comes to phones though, but some flaws can be attributed to the handsets.

To: maeglin_ph

Hey there!!!
Sorry for such a delayed reply. I feel very guilty about it. Thought I can't tell you how much I appreciate the support you have given me! 😃 Hey Im from Pasay!!! We are practically neighbours!!! Heheheh. Will you possibly be going to the AIRFAGEV 2nd Anivversary party this 25th? If you are going, let me buy you a drink... Nothing malicious involved, just want to show my gratitude... 😃 Hey do you have a username in Airfagev? Drop me a line. 😃 So till your next reply, take care and God Bless you.

Manuel

WinCe is still an on on-going development.... I love the OS and I personally don't like the Symbian OS as I love customizing my phone, Its what make my phone TRUELY unique!!! 😃 I know there are bugs here and there but I can EASILY overlook those negatives because the positives DEFINATELY overweigh the negatives... With Symbian it is so... How can I put it.... TIGHT!!!!!! all you can do with a phone with the Symbian OS is basically use the phone with whatever apps it comes with and can't tweak the phone... The hardware in those phones are GREAT.. I will give them that... But it seems like the OS limits the phones capabilities, which should not be... The OS should bring out the TRUE potential of the phone... WinCE MAXIMIZES the capabilities to a point where sometimes the phone may crash, but that is okay as you can know where the true limits of your phone is, it up to you to find out. So you have a lot of freedom. That is the greatest thing I love about the WinCE Platform. There are a number of things I can do on my Tanager that owners of a phone like the Nokia 7610/6600/6170/etc... could only dream of doing!!! And the phone is what... 3 years old!!! In anycase choice of phone is up to how the phone is to be used, MANY, MANY, MANY people have said that they don't like to use WinCe based phones as they are so hard to use and can be taught on how to use them.... What are they saying??? HARD???? Most of them are PROFESSIONALS!!! They spent about 4 years in college.... To learn how to use a phone based on the WINCE platform will take a few days.... THAT IS ALL... So what is so hard about using a WINCE based phone??? Anyway as I said the buyer should know what he/she wants in a phone before purchasing it... They should not get a phone just because it is in fashion or because it looks so good.... DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!!!!!!! With all this said, HAPPY HUNTING for all the prospective phone buyers out there!!! 😃 God bless and more power to you all!!! 😃

Manuel

maeglin_ph wrote:If you have read the posts carefully, most of us (in this thread, atleast) have used or are currently using WinCE AND Symbian Phones. I have used the Tanager for 2 years, the other, a C500 and the one who started this post used a Tanager as well, I believe. So I think our claims are pretty valid. The Symbian OS has its strength and is definitely a superior phone OS than WinCE. I guess WinCE tops Symbian with its customisability and familiarity. Freeware-wise, Symbian cannot top Windows-based mobile phones. Try visiting www.airfagev.com, www.coolsmartphone.com and smartphone.modaco.com and you'll know what I'm talking about. Microsoft has a long way to go when it comes to phones though, but some flaws can be attributed to the handsets.

Is "Microsoft Smartphone" the "Windows CE phone" actually?

Does this O2 XDA IIs Black a WinCE device? I like this XDA IIs very much!!!!

Thank you very much for your guide!

A couple of points to mention here - 99% of ALL Windows based phones are made by HTC. Only Motorola and Sagem have produced WinCE phones which aren't HTC designs. (the O2 XDA range you're talking about are HTC phones)

A lot of the comparison also depends on which version of Windows and which version of Symbian you're talking about. As far as Symbian goes, are you then talking about UIQ or Series 60 interfaces? All these things make a difference.

In my opinion, Series 60 is the best overall implementation, although Windows Mobile 2005 is catching up!

With introduction of latest Symbian OS v9.0,they seem to win over Windows Mobile,which have plenty of 'Memory Leak' and "Who Eats my RAM?" issues.Some more discussion required.