My contract is up and I need a new phone
But I refuse to get an iPhone.

I think I have decided on the HTC Desire.
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 26 May 2010, 14:33, 3 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I want one
But my contract still has another year to run.
Deciding whether or not to go with the beta version of Cyanogen mod on my Magic so I can get some more of the funky features (and have a battery that dies in seconds)
( Tedium Alduce me to interlow myself., Wed 26 May 2010, 14:40, Reply)

I think the Desire runs a similar OS
I am a complete newb to Android though.. Can you run me through pros and cons?
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 26 May 2010, 14:54, Reply)

Desire runs 2.1 (with some modifications by HTC)
The magic is limited to 1.6, though Cyanogen has put out a beta which gives it a lot of the fuctionality of 2.1

Pros:
Does everything the iPhone does, but more customisable (animated wallpapers, many, many widgets)
So long as you dont mind having all your socialness go through google, will auto-sync email, contacts and calendar
No restrictions on what apps are approved, and able to get ones not on the official market
Apps can change anything on the phone (within reason on official builds, pretty much anything with your permission on some modded builds), making apps like Locale (changes phone settings based on where you are, time, and a couple other factors, for example can turn wifi on only at home) possible.
Generally cheaper than the iPhone

Cons:
Fewer commercial apps from big companies (mobile versions of mainstream games/board games notably absent)
Eats batteries (though 2.2, which comes out later this year (the Desire willl be auto updated when it's released) apparently fixes a lot of this)
Turning off the 3g helps a lot with this
Signal detection can be a bit ropey in places with good 2g signal but bad 3g signal
Google now own your entire life

Good review here: www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/04/06/review_phone_htc_desire/
( Tedium Alduce me to interlow myself., Wed 26 May 2010, 15:04, Reply)

The award for the most fitting username goes to:

(PsychoChomp, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:08, Reply)

says someone who makes excel spreadsheets of someone's moodswings...

( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:18, Reply)

people are more interesting than phones.

(PsychoChomp, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:19, Reply)

spreadsheets are not more interesting than anything.

( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:21, Reply)

And it was a really shit spreadsheet.
Really, really shit.

Tedium's post on the other hand I thought was quite useful as I'm on the look out for a new phone.

so ner.
(Applebite Uh! A cow!, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:36, Reply)

Man, cheers for that
I don't mind, google own my life and chew my balls most days. Unfortunately a lot of work contacts are on my gmail so therefore the drunk use of mobile becomes ever more dangerous.
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:08, Reply)

I think they'll be widgets on the iPhone next year, the lock/home screen is in dire need for an update.
It's the only software issue that is missing, as far as I'm concerned. 4.0 caters for more or less anything, I've been running the beta since it came out and it works very nicely.

I find android very unpolished, I like subtal gradients and brush-metal effects.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 26 May 2010, 16:09, Reply)

I mean, offically missing.
There are lockscreens with information on, in the jailbreak store, but that comes up with the issue that people can see your stuff.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 26 May 2010, 16:10, Reply)

Background processing has given me some amazing ideas.
And I agree with Apple for only just including it, it's not true background processing, which is a good thing, as that murders the battery.

I do hope they don't take out the ability to manually shut down apps when it comes out of beta.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 26 May 2010, 16:11, Reply)

Wiggy has the desire
he loves it.

I have to begrudgingly admit that it's pretty cool, but he runs the risk of becoming an iWanker by having it glued to his hand all the time, even when out on social occasions.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 26 May 2010, 14:53, Reply)

Yes!
On the hand hand I am boycotting the iPhone but you don't want to go too far and become an inverse iPhone wanker.
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 26 May 2010, 14:55, Reply)

It's avoidable
Though I do get the uncontrollable urge to get it out and start playing with it (ooh matron!) whenever someone takes an iPhone out
( Tedium Alduce me to interlow myself., Wed 26 May 2010, 15:05, Reply)

I think I will react similarly
About 75% of my mates are iPhone bumders so I wouldn't mind being able to take em down a peg or two..
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:09, Reply)

I just hate the whole lot
I don't mind hi-tech gadgets, but when I'm out in the pub and half the people are glued to their phones it's really antisocial and quite annoying. You'll try and have a conversation with them and they won't answer until they've finished googling the current temperature in Africa to settle a disagreement.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:19, Reply)

That is offensive
but generally me and my mates are quite open about that kind of thing. "Who the fuck do you think you're texting you cunt?" would be a typical enquiry.

(Because we're so cool and wacky and out there like that)
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:26, Reply)

There's one guy who's such an applefanboy
that he always has his iPhone out in the pub, but if you ever draw attention to it, he then insists on showing you something on the phone, thus making you an iCunt as well by drawing you away from the real life conversation. Sly.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:35, Reply)

I'm about as anti apple as you can get, I don't even own an iPod.
I have a lovely little Meizu instead.
As for my phone, I've got a third-hand, six year old motorola v3 brick that is on its way out, the speaker is shot and it sometimes decides not to let me in my inbox. But it's indestructible, I love it and it does everything I need to to, i.e. texting, ringing and the occasional picture taking. I see no need for an fancy pants shitePhone.
(Applebite Uh! A cow!, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:42, Reply)

Hello!
I've been waiting for you to appear, I've been fighting with Chompy and need backup haha.

I have a 2 year old Samsung that's really battered and doesn't do much, but I don't need it to. I don't even text that much. *feels old*
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:46, Reply)

Haha, I'll be your sidekick :)
I'll only be here sporadically though, I can feel THE FEAR for this next exam coming on.
(Applebite Uh! A cow!, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:57, Reply)

i had a v3
indestructible it was not.

granted, it broke while some cunt tried to steal it from me, but thats not the point
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:47, Reply)

Well it survived three years as the phone of a mechanical engineer
And I drop it/throw it/spill shit on it on a regular basis.
(Applebite Uh! A cow!, Wed 26 May 2010, 15:56, Reply)

Ignore the stigma of the iPhone, wait the 2-3 weeks for the next version anouncement and decide based on the features rather than the stigma.
Anti fanboyism is just as shit as fanboyism.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 26 May 2010, 16:49, Reply)