Regular viewers of The Phones Show will know that I periodically run down my 'Top 5' phones in the world. Astute viewers will also have spotted that I haven't done one for a while. The problem is, as indicated by the headline above, that I'm having problems recommending a single phone or smartphone, let alone five of them. Things were simpler a year or so ago, I'd simply pick the Nokia N95 (or one of its cousins, the N95 8GB or N82) and that'd be the number 1 spot sorted. The phone world has moved on though, with greater variety, greater complexity and, yes, greater disappointments. Read on...
Read on in the full article.
Any news on when the E72 will be available? If I decided to go with that phone I'd probably have to get it on a contract - it'll be way too expensive when it launches!
I think that's what we've been trying to say for some weeks now , so well appraised! I still think it's hard to see past Android just now - when I pick up a Nokia now it seems kinda 'old fashioned' in many ways. Don't get me wrong - the OS has it's *much* more advanced aspects over 'the others' - take mature file management, media handling/delivery and camera goodness just for three - but it *so* lags behind 'the others' in the new 'connected' world we're now living in. From your list, my money's (maybe literally) on the Motorola DEXT/CLIQ as soon as poss. Love the keyboard. But no 'outside' (hardware) keypad (like 5730 et al) - yes I still do want everything. With cherries on. Bring on the Salmon SX1.
timsalmon wrote:I still think it's hard to see past Android just now - when I pick up a Nokia now it seems kinda 'old fashioned' in many ways.
So, at the moment what would you say your favourite Android device is? I like the look of the DEXT, but I'd rather see a more refined design - it looks unecessarily bulky.
How does the Samsung Galaxy shape up to the HTC Hero?
Steve,
Next time you make a claim about the iPhone, at least bother to do REAL research. You can multi-task with native apps, meaning the app stays open in the background so that it does not have to share the desktop. Second, the iPod app run in the background all the time. These two things are very easy to prove if you didn't trip over your "perceived" iPhone bias and Nokia love. Come on man, this is too easy for anyone to prove.
P.S. I am a Nokia man through and through but not to the point of apologizing for them when they are wrong. The N900 is on my list especially after playing with one.
sapporobaby wrote:Steve,Next time you make a claim about the iPhone, at least bother to do REAL research. You can multi-task with native apps, meaning the app stays open in the background so that it does not have to share the desktop.
It's only the iPod app that does this as far as I can tell.
Does Safari run in the background? Nope.
What about Maps? Nope.
Can you multi-task while you're on the phone to somebody?
Granted, the countdown timer in Clock does, but I think you're confusing push mail with mail running in the background.
Wot, no Blackberry Bold??
Best screen and keyboard on the market. Steve's anti-RIM bias is even more obvious than his anti iPhone bias.
The iPhone's iPod app multitasks, more misinformation here.
Everyone knows the iphone cannot do REAL multitasking. I think that's what he was getting at.
mikejaydavies wrote:It's only the iPod app that does this as far as I can tell. Does Safari run in the background? Nope.
What about Maps? Nope.
Can you multi-task while you're on the phone to somebody?
Granted, the countdown timer in Clock does, but I think you're confusing push mail with mail running in the background.
Just correcting the little bits of misinformation floating around...
Actually, iPhone runs Safari, Mail and at least Phone in the background most of the time. For example, if the Phone app is not open, you won't be able to receive phone calls or crash the phone 😊
You can see this happen when you jailbreak the iPhone and install Backgrounder, it will display a badge on top of the app icon, if it's running in the background and Apple's apps have the badge on them most of the time.
mikejaydavies wrote:So, at the moment what would you say your favourite Android device is? I like the look of the DEXT, but I'd rather see a more refined design - it looks unecessarily bulky.
How does the Samsung Galaxy shape up to the HTC Hero?
Favourite Android device has to be the Hero but if the G1 had a better battery, I reckon it would win. And a headphone socket 😉 As Steve said, the 'vanilla' Android devices are going to have a certain advantage I think. It wasn't deal-breaking to have to upgrade using a computer, but we've certainly now been so spoiled that we expect more. DEXT? Well I'll have to see it but I'd trade bulk for the perfect device anyday! Love the look of the keyboard - it looks almost Psion'ish (particularly the bottom row). Mmmm.
The Galaxy has too many questions around it's performance - battery life and camera it seems leading the list - to be taken seriously just now.
In actual fact, I've been amazed by the battery life on the Hero. Really quite stunning.
With Android or iPhone, every few months you get an upgrade to the newest and greatest version of the OS. With Nokia, you get built-in obsolescence. You see how only the biggest bugs are squashed on your phone, while model after model appear with all sorts of small, medium or large improvements. Cheaper phones with similar hardware as yours appear with improved diallers, web widgets, better media players, later versions of Java... Feature packs will be published, but you won't get them unless you throw your phone away.
I did like the 5800XM, but I got an HTC Magic and I am overwhelmed by its goodness. And this month it will get better, while the Nokia will always have something that is very close to the first-day version of S60 5.0.
@sapporobaby: I was talking about non-core-Apple apps. Yes, of course, the iPod app runs in the background, but anything third party that deals with audio, for example, gets killed stone dead the moment you do anything else.
@unreg-blinking-istered: no RIM-bias, per se. I just never see Blackberrys. And RIM's PR are useless. And the couple of times that I've played with a Blackberry properly, I was very underwhelmed by the circa-2000 OS. and interface. And most BB owners inherit their phone from their company, at least in the UK, it's not as if BB is a common choice for the High Street buyer.
For those that love BB though, I'm sure the Bold is a great choice, in terms of specs. It's just not for me. Sorry.
Just to clear up the iPod/iPhone thing; if you have it jailbroken and have BossPrefs installed, it's a basic task manager, and yes, Safari stays open in the background, as does Mail, iPod, Maps, Clock, and I believe Messaging on the iPhone, as well as a lot of third party apps, including some games, which is why they need resetting so often.
After selling my 5800XM for a variety of reasons, I got the T-Mobile G2 Touch (HTC Hero), and the battery life is fantastic, especially since so many applications stay open in the background, and it seems to get proper push e-mail and push calendar (as opposed to e-mails and appointments getting pushed every 15 minutes), and even now there's a nice variety of apps, and with the great line-up of Android devices coming up in the near future, I have a feeling Android Market is going to take off on a large scale (similar to how App Store did when the iPhone was portrayed as "revolutionary"😉. And I love the Hero, but the Motorola Cliq looks like the nicest Android phone coming up, and if I knew the T-Mobile Pulse was coming so soon I would definitely have gotten that instead...
@Steve,
Gotcha, but ALL Apple apps multitask. The thing is, they do not all share the desktop. You can go from Cal, to Mail, to Safari, etc... and they will pick up right at the keystroke. 3rd party apps are not allowed to do this because, yes, they can make things very un-pretty and crash the phone. I think as more and more developers create apps that adhere more to the framework of native iPhone apps, you will see a desktop sharing. Actually it is slated in iPhone 4.x so we will see what shakes loose.
I was running Fring, a third party app while I was playing the iPod section and it worked like a charm. When I tried to make a call, the iPod was muted, Fring called and the phone ran as normal. I really think you are a bit unaware of your facts. I mean this in all seriousness, if you want me to run some test for you let me know but to date much of what you have stated is simply wrong.
Unregistered wrote:With Android or iPhone, every few months you get an upgrade to the newest and greatest version of the OS. With Nokia, you get built-in obsolescence. You see how only the biggest bugs are squashed on your phone, while model after model appear with all sorts of small, medium or large improvements. Cheaper phones with similar hardware as yours appear with improved diallers, web widgets, better media players, later versions of Java... Feature packs will be published, but you won't get them unless you throw your phone away.
I did like the 5800XM, but I got an HTC Magic and I am overwhelmed by its goodness. And this month it will get better, while the Nokia will always have something that is very close to the first-day version of S60 5.0.
Well, let's be fair - the G1, it's said, will indeed get Donut, but that's it's lot - and word is that it'll struggle to keep up with it's diminshed RAM and other low spec. There are many G1 users out there who feel that *they* were used as a test-bed for Android (so it's not all just Nokia adopting that strategy and cashing in on the experience of early adopters).
Nokia has a clearly defined 'line' of 'upgrade' for *most* models and they seem to be Release/+1(+1.1)/+2(+2.1)/+3(+3.1) before they stop supporting them and move on in around a 2yr cycle or so. You could argue that development of features is *so* significant that they just *have* to move on because the hardware of 2yrs ago can't keep up. Isn't this also true of Apple? 3G iPhone users can't get hold of the goodness in the 3GS - so Apple expect people to buy the next model - *and* into the mix, O2 in the UK won't let loyal customers 'upgrade' to the 3GS unless they're within **one month** of the end of their contract (unless they pay their contract up in full) *and* then expect customers to sign up for another c.�900 deal!
As I've said, I'm becoming much less of a Nokia fan these days, but let's be fair. All these manufacturers are as bad as each other with top-end devices. I remember being very frustrated that Nokia wouldn't develop the E90 further - it still sticks in my throat when I consider I paid �560 for my first E90 - but you get over it and move on, buying into capitalism - or don't and buy yourself an Archos 5 and Nokia 2610 😉
I, too am overwhelmed by Android just now and was very tempted to get a Magic - just because it was Vanilla flavoured and not 'Hot Treacle Crumble' flavoured 😉 But didn't, because there's *so* much stuff round the corner that something else will appeal more soon. Incidentally, for anyone wishing to 'use' their Hero in Vanilla mode, you can - by downloading the free 'Home Switcher' in Android's Market.
For me Top 5 will be
N86
E72
Iphone 3GS
E55
Samsung i8910HD
I find it kinda weird to find a N95 8gb still in the list instead of the E90 commie.
Why actually? Or what would you write about the E90?
About the list, I think if I needed a phone out of that list, it would be the N900, but I would like to see that with an advanced battery, like they have for the N97 aftermarket.
Hi Steve. I totally agree with you, just wonder why you didn't mentioned the 5800.
I have the N97, and like it. But everytime I fiddle with my ex-5800 (now belongs to my girlfriend), I really thinkt that this phone is still top notch!
If it wasn't for the N900, which I will get as soon as it's released, I wonder if I would have gone back to the 5800, and ditched the N97... No no, but I REALLY still like the 5800, it's a damn good phone!
And I think that the 5800 still easily would made it to Top 10.
Samsung ARE providing firmware updates and support! Maybe allaboutnokia.com should also check out the news from non-nokia sites at times.
Good point Steve... well done. I have the same feeling... And meanwhile I try a lot, but return always to trust phone, and for me it�s N82🙄
Everything works, and works well... with a small screen:frown:
Palm Pre is doing great and will be released in Europe next week. If you have not heald one that is your problem. Ignornace is no excusie, just dont put it down.
E90 still rules! I'd still get it even if you let me choose between the N97 and the E90. Please bring out the E90 successor Nokia!
Is that really all you have to say about the Satio? Even if it does not have the battery you would prefer; as one of the few S60 5th Ed phones it surely warrants further critique and consideration than a single line?
PS They are not "around the corner - literally" unless they are somewhere on the street perpendicular to your's; they are figuratively around the corner. Unless you consider time non-linear of course 😉
Unregistered wrote:Palm Pre is doing great and will be released in Europe next week. If you have not heald one that is your problem. Ignornace is no excusie, just dont put it down.
I tried a Palm Pre out recently. After 4 and a half hours of literally nominal use the battery had fallen to 60%. After that I had a blast of the WiFi for an hour or so and made a call and it had halved to 30%.
I don't know if it was just a problem with the phone, but I've heard similar stories. The build quality is also questionable - I can say the same for some recent Nokia devices as well.
sapporobaby wrote:@Steve,Gotcha, but ALL Apple apps multitask. The thing is, they do not all share the desktop. You can go from Cal, to Mail, to Safari, etc... and they will pick up right at the keystroke. 3rd party apps are not allowed to do this because, yes, they can make things very un-pretty and crash the phone. I think as more and more developers create apps that adhere more to the framework of native iPhone apps, you will see a desktop sharing. Actually it is slated in iPhone 4.x so we will see what shakes loose.
I was running Fring, a third party app while I was playing the iPod section and it worked like a charm. When I tried to make a call, the iPod was muted, Fring called and the phone ran as normal. I really think you are a bit unaware of your facts. I mean this in all seriousness, if you want me to run some test for you let me know but to date much of what you have stated is simply wrong.
I'm sorry i'm not sure you understand what you're talking about. First, picking up where safari left off is not multi tasking. And the music player of course continues to play music. But try to run your online streaming music app and then recieve a new text message, and try to read the new text. Music stops. End of story, this is truly a poor experience, and that's what multi tasking is. Especially when the phone could easily handle simple streaming music app in the background. There are tons more critical examples like this that could be listed.
Just because apple made a few core apps pause themselves when switching away is not multi tasking at all. And you know this is exactly what steve was talking about. His facts were just fine.
The palm pre's build quality makes the n85 look like a vertu device. No joke, my friends who have a pre are on their 4th, 3rd and 3rd. Just terrible quality and unless you have needles for thumbs, no way you can find that keyboard usable
Of the latest Symbian phones, none would fulfill my needs substantially better than my current N82. Some have even worse features.
The N82 and N95 would up to par with the latest non-touchscreen Nokia offerings with merely an FP2 upgrade. I'd be happy to pay for such a thing, but I know it'll never happen. I hate this planned obsolescence trend.
-Nico
Some of you are absolutely IDIOTS.
The iphone has no real multitasking except for the music, hell even the TABS dont load unless your on the tabs in safari. It freezes everything and resumes, so people UNDERSTAND before you post.
Real multi tasking is a whole different idea, you cant open the youtube app, open a video, pause it, and wihle its loading check an email and ocme back.
Its not possible, with Nokias IT IS
You forgot to mention the Satio which will be released and available 12th October.
Symbian 5th Edition
3.5" screen
Arm Cortex A8 @ 600Mhz
12.1 MPx with Xenon and LED flash
AGPS
112 x 55 x 13.3mm
126g
+ The rest of the culprits found in high end smartphones
My top picks would be:
1. Nokia N900
2. Sony Ericsson Satio (Just for being the best camera phone to date. Just check out some pics taken by this monster and nothing really compares)
3. HTC Touch HD 2
4. Nokia E72
5. HTC Touch Pro 2
6. Nokia E55/E52
7. iPhone 3GS (I can't believe I put this in 7th. I hate iPhones but I have to be fair)
8. HTC Touch Hero
9. Motorola DEXT
10. Nokia N86
N97 doesn't make the list but the N97 mini is probably 11th 😉
N96 around 157th position. 😊