TDG: It's a great time to be a phone geek. Those little mobile magic boxes have evolved from a distant voice throwing device, to an all singing all dancing life long friend and guide. I wouldn't say I couldn't function without a phone, but living without mobile data as I currently do (living over seas for a few months and not splashing out for the pricey tourist data packages), I certainly feel the loss.
A phone upgrade then is a big decision, and this year I think it's the toughest choice yet because frankly, they're all just so awesome.
For my part, I'm firmly caught in the Google ecosystem, so Android gets an early head start on other OS's, but even if we ruled out iOS and WinPho at such an early stage (which I don't), there's a huge range of 'droid handsets to choose from, and the current King of the hill has to be the recently released HTC One X.
HTC's new flagship phone is bringing the spec, with 4 cores (or technically 5), generous internal space, NFC, a gorgeous screen, and Ice Cream Sandwich flavoured Android. All this, along with HTC's superb and distinctive design, their durable, solid feeling handsets really deserve their reputation as being the best build quality of any phone.
Now this is a big phone. It's going to fill your palm and certainly you shoud get used to hearing, "Hey! Is that a smartphone in your pocket or are you just.. oh... it.. it is your phone. Sorry." 4.6" screens might be too much for some, but many others say that bigger is better, and you're certainly have a better user experience for the extra space.
NFC (near field communication) is worth pointing out too. If the phone has 'NFC', it can communicate with other devices by brushing them against one another. Okay it's not in full swing yet - but expect it to start coming out as a payment method in most high street stores (it's in some now, especially coffee shops and fast food), as well as a way to effortlessly pass files and share web pages with friends when you're in the same physical space (no more "It's probably easiest if I email you the link/photo/file!" when you're sat in the same room). I can see a lot of apps using this tech in innovative ways in the next 18 months, so if you're going to get a new phone - might as well get that NFC chip in ready!The only rival the OneX really has is the Samsung Galaxy S3, but while it has been revealed, it's not yet available to buy, so I'm leaving the crown on the OneX until it is.
Once released though, will the S3 take the lead? It's a toughie. Samsung aren't synonymous with the same level of quality that HTC are. Their phones are often accused of feeling 'cheaper' and 'plasticy'. I've nothing against plastic myself, and the lighter, thiner bodies seem like they should be counted as plus points, but I find myself in a minority here, and I know several people who've had one problem or another with their Samsung handsets.
Appart from the shell though, there's no much in it the average user would care about. The S3's screen I'm sure is awesome (though pentile I understand? Seems odd to me but I also heard that it's still awesome owing to the AMOLED so not to worry), and for anyone counting, 0.1 inches bigger than the OneX. It's also packing NFC, and, unlike the OneX, the S3 has both a micro-SD slot and a removable (and therefore replaceable) battery, which is a killer feature for any phone in it's end game months. It seems strange to me that the S3 would have these, but the OneX doesn't, as HTC have aways been big fans of the SD slots and removable batteries.
You also get a bunch of bespoke apps and software features, including an AI assistant called S-Voice (much like Apple's Siri), Pop-up Play (watch video in a thumbnail while you browse the web, answer a txt, or whatever you want to do behind it), Smart Alert (if you miss calls and txts all from one number, it will vibrate when you next pick it up to make sure you realise you've missed an important call), and, it watches your eyes when you're looking at it so it knows you're reading the screen and not to time out and switch off while you're doing so. Clever stuff if you ask me, and then they've ripped off a bunch of stock Android features and re-branded them as their own as well.
The only thing is, the S3 is a bit more pricey, even for the base model with lowest internal capacity.
But it's not all about Android! @Vaul and a few other friends of mine have been eyeing up the Lumina 900. This seems like insanity to me, and please understand I say that with just as much nostalgic fondness of Nokia *and* as a loyal supporter of the Windows OS and even smart phones al the way back to the turn of the millennia. I can even see a hope for the platform if Windows8 and Xbox really start leveraging some killer features into WinPho that no other mobile OS can get as seamlessly. But we're not there yet, and in the mean time, the WinPho world just ins't as developed as Android and iOS. Why then are my friends considering this? Perhaps value for money, and just to try something different and new? @Vaul responded...
@Vaul: http://www.nokia.com/gb-en/lumia-free-monster-headphones/?intc=na-fw-ilc-na-monster_teaser-na-home-gb-en-1320720
They're throwing in a pair of £200 value headphones (actually retailing at £160) with their lumia 800 and 900 mobes.
Does this make it any more tempting? Apparently the lumia is nice, and the windows phone OS is coming along somewhat. Maybe it's still not a match for the newest androids, and it seems odd to me that the Nokia is even tempting me. But it is.
Still, maybe it's just that EVERYONE has an android phone now. >.<
I miss the days when it was just me and you ^_^
@TDG: So ok, free headphones and I will admit the times I've used WinPho, it's been slick and fun. I'm not going though - at least not for one more round, I'm afraid I'm just an Android boy now. But I do admire the value for money in that deal - both the OneX and the S3 are a hell of a cost. Ok here's my curve ball - consider, the Samsung Note. I'm currently in Hong Kong, and the Note is huge over here (not only proportianlly given the smaller hand size of your average chinaman), and they score well into the majority models you see on the street, perhaps equal to the iPhone and second only to the Galaxy S2.For those who don't know, the Galaxy Note is a big beast. It's a full 5.3" screen, but it's still just in the phone, not tablet category (unlike it's bigger brother, the Galaxy Tab). It's been around a while now, and it's not rocking the same powerful processors that the new top end phones are (and if I'm honest - load it up with enough widgets and the UI will trail a little), only some version of it (seems to be the LTE models) are packing NFC goodness (although in many cases it appears the functionality is locked down - so it's worth checking on this point before you buy - shop around - the working ones are out there!) and even then, without a security chip that will make Googles secure payment system work, but it's got great battery life, and a few unique tricks the others don't have, most prominently (other than the screen), the S-Pen, a precision stylus that docks in the base of the device and can detect and respond to different touch pressures. Complete with a bunch of apps that make use of that and a customised UI... I think it's got a place, especially for professionals and commuters.
But is it too big? My thinking is.. at a certain point, a phone reaches the size where it shows in tight trousers, and prevents you making sudden athletic manuveours or cool spinny kick moves against potential Agent Smith attacks. The S3 and OneX both cross that line, and once you've crossed it, why not go the whole hog and just go Note? You get a smidgin more space, great battery life, and a precision stylus. While not top, it's spec is still solid, and it is much cheaper than the new boys. So here's my question - what about keeping your old phone (in my case the HTC Desire) and buying a Note. Use the Note for daily use, especially office etc... getting a great user experience while wearing your suit or coat, and then switch to the old phone when you're going out in skinny jeans or climbing a mountain, or doing something where the Note is just a bit too big. How about that huh?
My other question, should price not really be a factor... when do you reckon there'll be a Note2?
@Vaul: I.... think I saw somewhere a post about the Note2. From memory it would be christmas? Maybe? It could have been a rumour site ofc.
I don't agree. I think that the size of the OneX and the S3 is the limit. The surface area of it isn't such a big deal in the trousers, it's all about the width. I think you could still do a spinny kick with an S3 trousered. I however don't do spinny kicks. My favoured actions include, occasionally sprinting across the road in front of angry traffic, sitting for long periods of time, attempting to touch my toes and assaulting my flatmates with simple jabbing finger attacks. So I don't see that my movement will be impaired. The OneX and S3 size can be weilded monohanded, and I think that's where the note breaks down a bit for me. But... each to their own. The GREAT thing about android is that there is variety and strength in diversity (as well as developer nightmares).
TDG: You might be right there, certainly about your tendency to jab your flatmates. Well the S3 is still a week or two from being available, and before I make any decisions I plan on holding one in my hand. I have to say, my plea for the Notes cause aside, I'm leaning to the OneX. And one thing we've not mentioned at all of course is the option to wait and see what the iPhone5 brings - sure to be pretty damn exciting and I wish it was out in time to be in this blog lineup! If I had to make a guess on the iPhone5, I think we'll see a bigger screen on it too. Apple have surely seen the successful trend of these Droids, and the older iPhones now feel positively claustrophobic against everything from the S2 upwards. They might not go as big as the rest, but they'll widen a smidgin, and take the screen higher and lower into the speaker and button area to get that extra diagonal inch I think. But seriously who knows, and there's rarely a point in guessing with Apple so I'll wait and see!
In the mean time, we're done here folks, hope you get the phone that's right for you!
__
Phil. (and @Vaul !)
Read. Comment. Subscribe.
UPDATE: So I was so wrong about the Galaxy Note. While I'd done a fair bit of reading on the OneX and S3, the Note I was only aware of details from shop display models and seeing it used around Hong Kong. Turns out it does have an ICS update now, and, if you get a late enough version (may only be the LTE models) it'll also have NFC (though no security chip with that so unlikely to support Google Wallet). Ive edited the post above to reflect these changes.
