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[Merged] Samsung Galaxy S / Captivate Android Phone
- Thread starter MattG
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Another thing that makes the Samsung interesting is that it uses Bluetooth 3.0 which does not draw a lot of power while idle so that you can always leave it on.
About the build quality, here is a nice little video about it: http://pocketnow.com/hardware-1/samsung-captivate-hardware-review-video
Tough choice this is going to be........
About the build quality, here is a nice little video about it: http://pocketnow.com/hardware-1/samsung-captivate-hardware-review-video
Tough choice this is going to be........
I would suggest you post on an android-user base forum to get more input as well. Believe it or not, Android users are as fragmented as their devices. You won't believe the kind of words that have been exchanged between Droid/Evo/Nexus One/Droid X...ect users about how the phones differ and how one is CLEARLY better than the other. Any kind of insult I've read here about Android phones from iPhone users is nothing compared to what I've read on some android forums.
So it'd be interesting to see their opinions as well. I think that Apple's competition is doing a great job of providing alternatives. Are they better than the iPhone 4? Not yet. Equivalent? In some ways yes. And at the rate that Android devices are being innovated, I believe that it'll surpass Apple in terms of raw technology. UI & experience? Maybe.
So it'd be interesting to see their opinions as well. I think that Apple's competition is doing a great job of providing alternatives. Are they better than the iPhone 4? Not yet. Equivalent? In some ways yes. And at the rate that Android devices are being innovated, I believe that it'll surpass Apple in terms of raw technology. UI & experience? Maybe.
maybe in the past they built cheap phones. i wouldn't say that stands today.
just remember Samsung is the company that pretty much made the A4 processor, and almost all Apple products contain a Samsung logo inside the device (memory for example)
One month with Android (Evo) and one week with the iPhone 4G, has left me on the fence as to which is best (OS vs. OS that is). Reading your comment and many, many more like it and now finally knowing what iOS and the iPhone are truly like in use, I have to say I do not agree with your comments. If I can find the right hardware combo in terms of features, design and quality; then I’m returning my 4G. So far it remains unknown to me whether or not the Samsung will meet my desires.
Yes iOS is smooth, fast, clean and pretty. BUT it is lacking so many features that I had considered basic. I have always read that the iPhone can do anything any other Smartphone can do but I have now learned that this is NOT true.
I am done with the Evo and its battery draining ways as well as done waiting for a replacement for my defective unit. But, the Evo can do things I can’t do on my iPhone:
1. Having an LED to alert me of everything from charging status, missed calls, sms, etc, is something you don’t fully appreciate unit you’ve not only had it but then lost it.
2. Being able to assign any ringtone to sms, mms, voicemail, email, missed calls and any other notification can’t be done with the non-jail broken 4G.
3. Nothing other than icons on the home screens is such a waste when there are so many useful items that could be using that space.
4. On the Evo, when I was on a call, I could view all call history I could also do one click and see ALL of the data on the current caller; everything from Facebook, to sms history with the caller, call history, emails and any other data specific to them. But with the 4G I can’t do any of the above, or even just view all cal history while on a call.
5. 4G can’t rename pictures, view the size and other picture info or move images around to different folders all from the phone. This is a Smartphone and some call it a mini computer but it’s lacking some simple basic yet useful features.
6. For years while I was on Windows Mobile, I kept hearing how horrible WinMo was because just doing things like turning on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth involved several steps/clicks. But what the uninformed didn’t realize is that on WinMo and on the Android Evo, you can place a toggle switch right on any of your home screens for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and just about anything else. But the 4G requires several steps just like all the complaints about WinMo. This makes NO sense to me at all!
This list goes on and on and it’s growing each day I spend with my 4G and try to do something new I was able to do on the Android. Yet I still do like how smooth, clean and beautiful iOS and the 4G are.
Last night I was driving about and I thought I would go to the nearest ATT store in the area I was in. On my Evo like I’ve done half a dozen times in the past; I would turn it on, press the search and voice button and then speak “ATT Wireless store” and 8 seconds later I would see a list of all the locations near me and could then click for directions or to call the store. Well maybe there’s an app for that but what I did on the 4G was to pull over, open Safari, type in the info and then scan through a list of the results.
The iPhone is great and anyone can learn to use it rather quickly, but I’m having a hard time giving up so much in terms of choices and options in not only what I choose to do, but how I choose to do it………
The Pentile subpixel used in Super Amoled is big turn down imo.
I own the Iphone 4 and I love it, I am however finding myself intrigued by the Samsung Captivate. I think it sucks there is no camera flash but in all honesty, I rarely use my phone camera and even more rare to use it in the dark.
Besides that, I do love me some iOS and the design of Apples Iphone. I don't have any issues (even though I can recreate the signal deal) though I do think Apple is being ridiculous. I'm also hesitant to give up the Retina display, but Super AMOLED is no slouch is it?
My work phone is a Droid Eris which is a poky sample of Android OS. I don't know, I think I'm just looking for someone to talk me out of the Captivate once and for all.
The phone comes out Monday and I have until July 23rd (my birthday) to decide.
Help!
I agree with this. I don't have any assumptions that the Captivate will provide all of of what many users desire, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. I'll admit that I own an HTC Incredible, primarily because I had to switch to Verizon for a variety of work reasons. Nevertheless, I'm quite happy with the whole user experience. It is similar to when I first got an iPhone 3G. Sure there were/are some minor problems, but it was refreshing.
Although the UI is was definitely different, and had a learning curve that was greater than iOS, it is nonetheless a worthy alternative.
I do believe that the competition is beginning to differentiate themselves and define what they believe a touchscreen smartphone should be. I'm excited to see what things are the pipeline for WM7 and android phones next year. Retina Screens? I think that soon they will all have ridiculously high ppi (like the megapixel wars) and we'll all benefit. Front facing cameras, sure.
Ultimately the OP needs to try both out and decide for themselves, whatever feels like the phone that would fulfill their needs.
Same boat as you here having gone the Evo route and now trying an i4. Very tempted by Captivate, although AT&T's restrictions on non-market apps is a bit off-putting (as is lack of flash and generally inferior camera, per the infosyncworld review). And ironically, as much as i want the non-market apps, the Apple app store feels a lot safer (kind of paradoxical, i know), which counts as a negative against the Capitvate in my view.
As for the voice search issue in your post (highlighted in the quote above), yeah this is one thing I sorely miss after returning the Evo. However, the Google app on i4 actually is a fairly good substitute and can be accessed with one click. Once the app opens, you dont need to click anything -- just bring the phone to your ear and google voice search gets activated. It gives you the search results just like on an Android voice search. The only shortcoming in my view is that on Android you can click on maps and get voice navigation, but on the i4 that's not possible since google voice nav is not available. Still, not a bad trade-off.
And that's a huge part of the appeal. Android is open & highly customizable. Unlike the closed tightly censored Apple ecosystem, Android is young fresh & new. By the time they've been out for as long as iPhones have today, they will be a cohesive powerhouse. This is the future that nearly all major handset makers are participating in. The synergy is amazing. Yet that said many narrow minded fearful people speak poorly of this young OS, they simply don't get it.
I am curious as to whether it really is any safer? I doubt that Apple even have any means to check for malicious code in the submitted apps.
Why would anyone want to own a piece of Samsung trash. When I had Verizon cell phone service I had two Samsung phones one which was supposed to be the top of the line cutting edge. Both were pieces of trash. Poor build poor operating system not working when needed. And in spite of the cased I bought for them always getting scratched up.
Add to this a buggy Android system and this is what you want? Have at it.
Add to this a buggy Android system and this is what you want? Have at it.
Oh my! Quite the double standard here!
Let me see:
Locked into iTunes apps is a benefit
Locked into Android apps is a liability?
Lack of flash is a benefit for iPhone
Lack of flash is a liability for Android?
Fascinating...
This sentiment sounds familiar coming from Apple fans. For years they pointed out that HP, DELL and other PC laptops are cheap compared to MBP. What they forget or omit is that while BestBuy would normally carry the cheaper models both HP and DELL always have laptops (like EliteBook and Precision) that are way above (in specs, price and quality) of anything Apple has to offer. Similarly Samsung offers full range of phones, many of them are indeed cheap dumb phones. So what? Samsung Galaxy S (and all its variants) offers better screen, better CPU, better GPU, more memory than iPhone 4. Not to mention things like video out, BlueTooth 3.0, USB port etc. Oh, and it's back panel is not made of glass (a very big advantage in my book)
My week with att has been pretty bad as far as the service goes. Many dropped calls and many more failed calling. I really do like the new iPhone and the screen is nicer than the my Evo screen as far as resolution goes but the smaller size is hard to deal with if you still glance over at the Evo (since boxing up the Evo, the iPhone screen is starting to look less and less too small).
As you stated, the devices that we'll see later this year and next year, are just going to be insane. I know one thing for sure, that is that if I do stick with iOS and the iPhone, by no later than early next year, there will be devices on both Android and WP7 that far out spec our current 4G's. Android 3.0 will support a much higher resolution and with that, I'm sure the rumors of HTC and others are going to become reality.
I'm really trying to choose which OS is the future for me because devices are going to come and go, faster than any of can keep up with.......
My first gen iPhone was nothing as nice as my 3Gs. Yet I didn't expect it to be perfect, not did I bash it. Android is young and will have the same growing pains. Funny how Apple gets special consideration & Samsung gets bashed.
Highly successful outside of the USA, the Galaxy S is in high demand. So much so that all four major US carriers clamored to ad it to their lineup. All racing to be the first to offer it here. Obviously they know the true excellence of this smartphone.
This is why I'm probably going with Android. Devices will come and go, but my OS and all my apps will always be usable. If I ever switch carriers, or upgrade to a better company, still usable.
I read an article 2 days ago, about the rooting method for the international Galaxy, working flawlessly on the Captivate. So having the Captivate unlocked in short order, will take care of the att restrictions for us. And for the flash, Im still not sure about this one. I know that the Verizon Fascinate does come with a flash and that version also looks best to me and Id love to be back on the Verizon network. Only problem is Verizon has released a launch date yet (perhaps the Droid X has the spotlight this month). Ive called Verizon stores and the toll-free number and they all have no idea about the Fascinate so they say.
Take a look at the pics in this link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=710405 and read the thread to get a better understanding as to why people are claiming that the Galaxy does fine without a flash due to the larger aperture and night mode.
Thanks for the heads-up and so Ill have to try the voice features of the iPhone now.
would also like to note that in some cases, the galaxy S outperformed the i4 in some benchmarking tests..
http://www.glbenchmark.com/result.jsp
http://www.glbenchmark.com/result.jsp
Good points to consider. And along the same lines, look at the huge amount of support Apple has in developers and accessory makers. But then again Google is no small one trick pony just visiting; they are here to stay and the support for Android is growing like a Malibu wildfire.
Minor observation; the iP4 is running thiese tests on a screen that is 60% bigger (in terms of actual number of pixels)...
I've been using the iPhone OS since it first came out. Had the 2G, 3G & 3GS. Jailbroken the The phone is fantastic, I was hoping the 4 would offer something greater than a screen and video calling. I've put off upgrading to look around for an Android, the Dell Streak and the Galaxy S (I'd rather get Original since it has everything) look awesome and both are AT&T 3G usable. I have played with froyo on the iPhone 3G and if it was 50% functional I'd totally wouldn't buy a new phone. Dual booting is awesome (I haven't erased Froyo since it doesn't cause any trouble for iOS) and 2.2 could be a sweet treat on the iPhone soon.
While I am extremely pleased with my iPhone4 (first iPhone for me) and am impressed by the quality and variety of apps available, I do miss the the freedom of configuring my phone the way I want to.
Granted, my issues and perceived shortcomings with iOS are mostly due to my inexperience. However, until I can get used to it (or my 30 days are up) the Android platform looks inviting. I'll be at the nearest AT&T store to have a glance at the Captivate.
Granted, my issues and perceived shortcomings with iOS are mostly due to my inexperience. However, until I can get used to it (or my 30 days are up) the Android platform looks inviting. I'll be at the nearest AT&T store to have a glance at the Captivate.
I just spoke to the local AT&T manager who said he would waive the 10% restocking fee. Sunday morning I'll probably be the only one waiting at the AT&T store for this phone.
I want to compare and contrast but make sure I have my hands on one if I like it. Good points for and against brought up in here.
I want to compare and contrast but make sure I have my hands on one if I like it. Good points for and against brought up in here.