Your Advice On SmartPhones
In March 2003 I paid £140 for a phone that they probably struggle to give away now. I still have that same phone!
Me thinks it's time to upgrade. While there's nothing wrong with my phone - battery life is still excellent and everything works as expected - I feel I'm being left behind by technology. Now that I'm a proper businessman with meetings, contacts and agendas I need a phone to fit the image. Well, okay, I just want a new toy.
What I really need though is your advice. If I walk in to a phone shop I know as much as the next man about what's available. Half the trouble is that I'm not sure exactly what I want/need. Here's my basic wish list:- Read and send emails.
- Internet Access on the move.
- Ability to sync information with Windows and/or Mac.
Having owned and liked Nokias for the last 5 or so years I am inclined to buy one of them. I'm open to suggestions though.
So, what should I expect of a phone nowadays and which is the best all-rounder?
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definitively the Nokia 6680, I own it for two months now and I'm very pleased.
Furthermore, The latest iSync upgrade added support for it.
hth !
Gaston
Personally speaking, I see a phone as just for making phone calls.
I carry a Nokia 8210 as my phone. It's ancient but it does the job. From that I use two other devices. A Sony VAIO as my main work machine. This is what I do all my on-site development on, as well as reading emails and other Notes/Web stuff.
And my biggie - a Psion 5mx. Again old tech stuff. But this syncronises my email, calendar, ToDos, and Journals entries (ok, it also synchs a whole slew of databases as well) directly with Notes. It allows me to surf (Opera) and it's small enough to strap to my waist, yet has a big enough keyboard and screen to let me do my job remotely (VNC to my WebServer for updates).
If you just want a new toy, then by all means spend the money and play. However I find most of these new "toys" limiting. Most notably in the input area. Too small a screen, and lack of keyboard (I hate graffiti type inputs because it totally fails to recognise my chicken scrawl handwriting).
First ask yourself, what do I use the most? Do you really need your schedule on your phone? Contacts for Phone number, most definetly, but this can be synched on most phones these days. Just because you *could* surf on your mobile, doesn't mean you will always need to use it on a regular basis.
Oh, one other thing which really annoys me about phones. The more tech features you add, the shorter the overall battery life. A friend of mine ended up dumping his brand new wizzy phone because after a couple of months it ended up that he would get less than an hours talk-time per day out of the battery. You don't want your phone dying just when you need to make that really important PHONE CALL.
If you are serious about email on the move then I would get a blackberry.
There is a mac sync product.
if you need occasional stuff then a nokia series 60 or better more will do. Althought the syncing is a bit pants.
I would avoid windows smartphones as they are pants/flakey.
just my 2c
Spug
Thanks Gaston I'll look in to that one.
Dragon. We're of the same thinking. I too think phones are phones. But I am supposed to be a web specialist. As such I feel the need to know at least something about all aspects of the web. In the same way I have a Mac on the premise that clients need sites developing for Safari I also sometimes might need to develope with PDAs/Mobiles in mind.
Thanks Spuggy. I was thinking Nokia 60* as well.
I've had a Sony Erricson P900 for a year. Can't live without it! Large touchscreen, caledar, to do, email, and a huge 3rd party product base.
Personally, I don't like Nokias. I don't know why. Just personal taste, really.
But I love my P900. A phone without buttons, just a large touchscreen, does look pretty darn smart.
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There's a new version out - the P910. Basically the same, but more memory, better screen, and a QWERT keyboard on the underside of the flip.
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I'm upgrading the the P910 soon. Wouldnt want anything else!
Hope that helps.
I'm with Scott on this one Jake.
I've got a Sonyericsson p910i and have had just about every other type of phone from Nokia to XDA, and to be honest, nothing quite fits the bill of 'best all-rounder' than the p910i.
I run a business that provides a Lotus-Notes based hosted product, and we use Notes for everything so I can assure you that compatibility is assured!
It picks up Notes email (I use the POP3 service on one of our Domino servers for simplicity), browse using Opera (which despite the screen limitations, manages to display most sites either directly or using the 'fit to screen' option), and of course the (free-of-charge) synchronisation software to manage my Notes-based Calendar & Task lists. Nothing else seems to do all of this whilst remaining small (have you tried to stick a Nokia 9500 or XDA in your pocket?), easy to manage and use.
Plus you can stick a 2Gb memory stick in it and have 1000's of MP3s to play on it.
The downside is lack of 3G compatibility, no Wi-Fi and relatively low-spec camera. I understand a new version of the phone offering all these features is out in Sept/Oct, but to be honest none of these are show-stoppers right now.
The P910i is starting to look like tempting. I'm only worried by Tyron saying:
"downside is lack of 3G compatibility, no Wi-Fi..."
What does this mean? How does it connect to the interent? I know little about all this 3G stuff.
P910 with GPRS does allow you to access the internet with the opera browser and the mochasoft telnet client even allows remote access to your domino console on linux.
If you are more into Windows, Qtek may a better option and this one has Wi-Fi, and propably better compatibility with your windows server through windows CE.
Not that I would trade it for my P910i, though.
Erwin. Excuse my ignorance, but what does using the phone with GPRS involve? Any additional hardware or subscriptions/payments/service-plans?
Just another one here...... My preference these days is the QTek S100. I had Nokia years ago, swapped over to Sony-Ericsson (almost a "must", living in Sweden) and now our office is swapping over to QTek.
The thing is that going to a client with an old phone and trying to convince them that you are up-to-date with the latest technologies....... don't think that will work. So we had a few PDA/Mobiles to play around with before we decided which "toy" we would buy. And the QTek S100 was the result. It has most of the things you want I guess and is quite small:
- bluetooth
- GPRS
- MP3 player
- Camera
- SMS/MMS/E-mail/IM
- ......
More info here :
- {Link}
- {Link}
Jake, for GPRS you need to pay only internet access. If you are able to connect through your phone currently, you should be OK. Do not know about any data plans in the UK, though. Here in the Czech Republic you pay a flat rate for Internet access (some 25 pounds a month) to get "unlimited" internet access (af you can call 48 kbps unlimited). Then there are some speed extensions (G3-like) which let you surf faster. But we have to pay extra for the Edge (GPRS extension, round 128-256 kbps). If P910 does not support Edge I would definitely NOT buy it (most latest Nokias do).
Cheers
If you choose a serie 60 phone, I recommend that you read this post from Russ :
{Link}
Jake -
Not sure if it's available in the UK yet, but I bought a Treo 650 last year and love it. I know they make GSM models, so it's quite possible you could get one that would work for you.
I've always been partial to Palm...
Sean
Hi Jake! Interesting timing, I just faced the same decision last week. I just wrote about it on my site, don't fall into the same trap I did.
You mentioned you wanted the phone primarily for email, so it doesn't sound like you are going to be using calendar that much.
My problem was that with a smartphone, you can't be ON the phone and still make an appointment with a calendar that resides on the phone. What do you, keep putting them on hold while you look up your schedule?
Anyway, it's not an issue for you if you aren't going to use the calendar, but I thought it was worth mentioning as a possible gotcha. :-)
Jake,
GPRS is the technology used for Internet access on the p910i. Basically it gives you slightly-faster-than dial-up speed and is charged by usage, rather than by time. Vodafone GPRS charges can be quite high (£2.30ish per Mb), and that is one of my main reasons for using POP3 email (low amounts of data transfer).
So, basically I pay around 30 quid a month for my tariff + call charges over my 'all-inclusive' allowance of 200 minutes + GPRS charges.
Jess - on the p910i you can definitely make an appointment in your calendar and look at email whilst on a call.
Ok, so you can't download new emails whilst on a call (because the sync process relies on GPRS which can't be used at the same time as making a call), but once the emails are downloaded, you can easily flick between all the different applications whilst speaking to someone.
Better still, the p910i has one of the best 'loudspeaker' modes I've ever come across - really good for impromptu business conference calls whilst in service stations etc.
Tyron, thanks! Sounds good and definately makes a world of difference, but not for me anyway. I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Of course, I can't blame the software OR the device for that... ;-)
Don't touch a Treo with a barge-pole - we have many at our company and we're constantly replacing them and they sound awful when you're on the phone to someone with one.
Actually come to think of it most smartphones sound rough when your speaking to someone using one - maybe it's due to the ergonomics.
I would say whatever you get - make sure it has bluetooth - you can use it to connect to your PC (not sure about Mac) and sync to calendars etc - even my Nokia 6230 manages that. Best of all you can have a proper hands free kit - personal or in the car - none of those anoying wires or cradles!
And just to add to the GPRS / 3G thing - you pay for data transfer - not time with both of these. The cost works just like minutes - you can have an allocation per month (paying for it of course - but getting a discount) or pay as you use it.
Hey Jake,
The problem that you're going to run into with the smartphones etc (along the lines of the Nokia series) is that you'll want more power than they can provide. I currently have a Blackberry 7290, and I really like it.
Having a Blackberry doesn't require the usage of a "corporate" BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server). In fact, now that I'm with a new company my 7290 doesn't connect into a "corporate" BES, but rather soley to Cingular - where I've configured it to grab and send-as my personal and business email accounts.
My biggest thing about BBs, is their lack of expansion. I want something that I can add things to. Now, if BB is not your thing, I would suggest going with a smartphone that has an integrated keyboard that's a "full-sized" keyboard AND has expansion capabilities. One device that I've been keeping my eyes on for some time now is the HP Mobile Messenger {Link}
This thing is sweet, but hasn't been completely "field-testing", and they're already talking of a rNext model in this class to include built-in wifi while ditching the SD card.
The price is a bit steep mind you for either of these, but the functionality and your ability to perform the basic in-the-office functions while pulling your bike off to the side of the trail really makes it worth it! ;-)
As far as software... check out Idokorro {Link} I bumped into these guys at LS2k5 and they hooked me up with a copy of their Mobile SSH client for my 7290. AMAZING software!!! Highly recommend taking a look at the Domino stuff ;-)
-Chris
> I can't walk and chew gum at the same time.
Jess - who do you think you are, Windows 3.1?!!!
DOS. If you want me to do something, you have to say it very clearly with no typos, and include ALL parameters with said task, otherwise I'm lost. :D
Yeah, no Wifi on P900. GPRS is good enough, though. I get on gMail and MSN Messenger through it, speedy enough.
Speeds are decent enough, and it works anywhere you get mobile signal. Best thing is, it's paid by use not by time. So you can stay connected to the Internet all day and it will only cost you if data downloaded reaches or exceeds any pre-paid agreement. And for Orange it's £1 a meg, I think.
Wifi would be nice, and I know a lot of people in the P900 community want it. Maybe an add-on module in the future? Or there could already be one. Or maybe a bluetooth-to-wifi converter?
P900 is great though. It's sturdy, too. I've dropped mine a few times on office carpets, absolutely no marks. The screen is tough too. Had it for a year, and I write with a fingernail when I'm in a rush, and there are only a few light scuff marks. The paintwork hasn't rubbed off, and it looks as good as it did a year ago.
The only problem with the p900/p910 is the size...its not massive but you certainly know its there - and your not gonna want to take a phone that size out on an evening! I went for the orange spv (c500) a year ago and is been amazing, its uses active synch to synch all emails with outlook, all appointments and all tasks. You can get all MS Office reader apps, Also has MSN messenger, web browser - either Opera or ie and best of all you can use TOMTOM5 GPS Satellite software which is amazing - goto coolsmartphone.com to read reviews. Also the lates version c550 was released today so youd be able to use it as an mp3 player! And the best thing it works as a phone and is a great size, similar to the nokia! My p900 has been dorment ever since the c500 purchase!
So the consensus seems to be that the P910i is the way to go?
But Jon complicates things with talk of the C550. Hmm, well, size/weight is an issue for me and they weigh up as follows:
SPV C550 Weight: 107g Dim: 108 x 45 x 18mm
P910i Weight: 155g Dim: 115 x 58 x 26mm
I've just had some bad experience with Orange though and that could put me off dealing with them. I'm with Vodafone now and I'm tempted to stick as I have a "premium" phone number I bought from them 4 years ago, which it looks like will be a pain to transfer elsewhere.
I think the next step will be to get in to some local shops and try them all for size.
Thanks to you all for you time and advice!
Gotta put in a vote for the Treo 650--I have an "unlocked" GSM Treo myself, and it's been great.
As for a vote from someone who's had the opportunity to try out several smartphones and gadgets, check out Volker from vowe dot net:
- "Farewell" - {Link}
- "Boys need toys" - {Link}
There's some useful smartphone advice in those posts, even if you don't go with a Treo. Hope that helps.
If looking for a smaller smartphone, check out Xplore M98 and M28. It's a palm based phone. Even have a clam shell palm phone (M98). Got the basic of everything except bluetooth and wifi.
Now I am confused. The Treo 650 sounds good but weighs in at 178g! I can only find it on the Orange website too. Going to have to go in to town and check them all out.
I've got friends who have the C500 and they think it is amazing. I've just ordered the C550 free on Orange Upgrade, which should arrive today. Finally moving away from Nokia. The beauty of these phones either the C500 or the C550 is the size, I don't like carrying around a PDA, but this gives me the functionality I need.
The only drawback is the lack of Sync with Lotus Notes out of the box, but you can get round this using Outlook connector for domino.
Bah, I say. The P900 is fine. It's not huge at all. It's not much bigger than other standard phones!
I take it everywhere - even on a night out. The wrist strap is good to loop around a belt-loop on jeans, and the phone is going nowhere, bu still at a good hand-held distance to use sensibly.
Sure, you know its in your pocket, but come on... for all the things it can do, it's not half bad! It's definatly not a brick.
Besides, who wants a flimsy little thing that will bend in to a curve every time you sit down?
I've been on Nokia's since my first phone (aside from a instantly regretted foray onto a T68).
However, I wanted a smartphone so went for a SPV C500 and I absolutely love it. I was very tempted by a P900 but I wanted a smaller phone that's not a chore to carry around.
The best bit is the amount of software you can get for it. The possiblilties are pretty well endless.
I've used Nokia 9300 for few months now. And I thinks it would be very useful to you too.
Phone has quite good web browser and wide screen shows webpages quite well.
Synchronisation to MS outlook calendar appointments and contact persons works fine.
For me this is very important, when with customers I can see (without laptop on hands) my calendar and schedule meetings.
And the size is the same as my old phone Nokia 6310i (only little thicker), so it's quite handy to take with.
There is also mp3 player, and realplayer fo videos. And you can find new hobby, Golf (the golf game is very good and while traveling you can spend hours playing golf :-)
If i have to find something bad for this phone, it's not very quick responding key strokes. If I type email or SMS very fast (on qwerty keyboard ;-) letters come to screen a little late. Also when I make choices on menu, phone seems to think littlewhile before executing choices.
And of course I have support Finnish craftwerk (it's made in Finland !!!).
OK, I took the plunge and called my current provider (Vodafone). After pointing out I'd been out of contract for over a year, with them for longer than I can remember and could get great deals if I left them they gave me an OK deal on the P910i. It should be with me tomorrow and I have 14 days to play with it and change my mind.
You could check the nokia 6630 too... Its 3g, its nokia and its smaller than the p910 as far as I know. Dont have qwerty but thats only for document kind of texts anyways or ?
Jake,
I would think that you would want to try the Treo 650. I am able to read most webpages and interact with most web pages which are built without much java.
Plus there are palm apps which can allow you to use the internet -- for ssh/telnet into other computers/servers, be rss reader clients, listen to shoutcast servers, etc
Besides having the ability to play movies (using MPlayer) and listen to music files (wma/mp3/ogg or real player). [Of course using a 1 GB SD card.]
And with the Sprint version of the Treo 650 the Dial-Up Networking via Blue Tooth can act as a modem for your computer/laptop.
What else would you need?
Ok here's a little twist to what you guys were saying what do you all think about the Siemens SX66 or the HP ipaq 6315 - yeah the ipaq might be a little slow but it has all the features you need and if thats the case what about the siemens. Has any one got any thing to say about this