Well said, competition is wonderful. It makes everyone stay on their toes & do their best work. I would like nothing better than to see Apple go about creating their very best device for the next iPhone.
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[Merged] Samsung Galaxy S / Captivate Android Phone
- Thread starter MattG
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Well said, competition is wonderful. It makes everyone stay on their toes & do their best work. I would like nothing better than to see Apple go about creating their very best device for the next iPhone.
Honest question here. As an owner of an iPhone 4 and Droid Eris (almost got a Captivate)
What exactly is so exciting about Android?
To me it just feels like a slow, unpolished version of iOS.
Maybe because I don't want to spend hours tinkering and rooting and doing whatever else people seem to like doing. But out of the box, what major feature of Android makes it exciting?
I've messed around with my Eris and the Captivate for a day. I guess I just don't see what the big deal is?
Not saying iOS is exciting either, but it's certainly more polished and intuitive.
What exactly is so exciting about Android?
To me it just feels like a slow, unpolished version of iOS.
Maybe because I don't want to spend hours tinkering and rooting and doing whatever else people seem to like doing. But out of the box, what major feature of Android makes it exciting?
I've messed around with my Eris and the Captivate for a day. I guess I just don't see what the big deal is?
Not saying iOS is exciting either, but it's certainly more polished and intuitive.
Well, let's all agree that all mobile OSes are rather primitive (compared to desktop counterparts). It's rather hard to get overly excited about any of them. But I do not agree that Android is slow. Just check this video comparing iPhone 4 and Captivate. It appears that even in stock configuration Captivate is faster on many/most tasks. And this is with Android 2.1. Once Captivate gets Android 2.2 it should be much faster.
Captivate was faster at some things. However run android for a while and it begins to chug, unless you babysit it with a task manager. Even then on my Eris programs I don't even use start on their own after quitting. Eris is slow though. Captivate had delays going back to the home screen and exiting apps, but that seems related to Samsungs tacky UI. I just would love stock Android to be the default. Enough with all the skins, even Sense.
Browser was faster on Captivate. 2.2 would be a good time to revisit performance just sucks owning a phone and not really being sure if you'll get the latest and greatest.
Especially with Sammy. 2.2 will most likely come to Captivate like they said but when? Not to mention 3.0 is looming and there has been no mention if that will be released for it.
I'd still really like to find a nice used Nexus One for AT&T but can't.
My humble impressions
I am a smartphone addict. Currently have the iphone 4 and an Windows Mobile Touch Pro 2. I had the captivate for 1 week. I really wanted to like it but ended up returing it. I spent quite a bit of time with it, rooted it and applied all sorts of hacks to make it fit to my likings.
Issues:
Software:
1. Android 2.1: It is not ready for primetime. Exchange support is spotty even with 3rd party add-ons such as TouchDown. Sometines calenders would not synch, sometimes contacts. Synching with touchdown would at times take 10min to complete.
I had major problems with lagging. Sometimes the screen would not respond for 10-20 seconds. I followed suggestions from other user about installing LauncherPro and disabling TouchWiz and live wallpapers. I only helped it a little bit, and what is the point of having options like live wallpaper if you can't use it.
What I did like are the google specific optimizations. You can control almost anything with voice (although that sometimes can be spotty in terms of recognition). With google voice, you can call driectly from your contacts on your phone and it automatically connects with google voice if you call internationally.
What I like as well is that you can modify anything and everything on Android especially if rooted.
Looking forward to an iphone4 jailbreak.
Hardware:
1. Screen:
I don't know what the hype is with Super Amoled. The colors are nice, but everything on the Samsung screen seems grainy. After using the iPhone4 with its HD screen resolution, it is hard to accept anything less.
2. Buttons: the capacitative buttons are awful - often would not respond. Don't stay lit so you have to randomaly press a button in the dark.
3. Battery: battery life was awful. I spent hours on various forums (fora?) researching this and applying all types of different hacks (etc. JuiceExtender) with no avail. Final straw was my battery dying mid-day one day after intermittent use - was close to smashing it against the wall.
4. Structure: The phone feels cheap. It feels plastically, not like a high-end phone. iPhone 4 and Evo 4G are much nicer in that regard. Also no flash and no front camera are minuses.
Android platform definitely has potential, but it is not quite there yet. Intersting to see what 3.0 brings. I am also looking forward to WM 7 coming end of this year. Until then, my iPhone 4 will be my primary device with my TouchPro2 as backup.
I am a smartphone addict. Currently have the iphone 4 and an Windows Mobile Touch Pro 2. I had the captivate for 1 week. I really wanted to like it but ended up returing it. I spent quite a bit of time with it, rooted it and applied all sorts of hacks to make it fit to my likings.
Issues:
Software:
1. Android 2.1: It is not ready for primetime. Exchange support is spotty even with 3rd party add-ons such as TouchDown. Sometines calenders would not synch, sometimes contacts. Synching with touchdown would at times take 10min to complete.
I had major problems with lagging. Sometimes the screen would not respond for 10-20 seconds. I followed suggestions from other user about installing LauncherPro and disabling TouchWiz and live wallpapers. I only helped it a little bit, and what is the point of having options like live wallpaper if you can't use it.
What I did like are the google specific optimizations. You can control almost anything with voice (although that sometimes can be spotty in terms of recognition). With google voice, you can call driectly from your contacts on your phone and it automatically connects with google voice if you call internationally.
What I like as well is that you can modify anything and everything on Android especially if rooted.
Looking forward to an iphone4 jailbreak.
Hardware:
1. Screen:
I don't know what the hype is with Super Amoled. The colors are nice, but everything on the Samsung screen seems grainy. After using the iPhone4 with its HD screen resolution, it is hard to accept anything less.
2. Buttons: the capacitative buttons are awful - often would not respond. Don't stay lit so you have to randomaly press a button in the dark.
3. Battery: battery life was awful. I spent hours on various forums (fora?) researching this and applying all types of different hacks (etc. JuiceExtender) with no avail. Final straw was my battery dying mid-day one day after intermittent use - was close to smashing it against the wall.
4. Structure: The phone feels cheap. It feels plastically, not like a high-end phone. iPhone 4 and Evo 4G are much nicer in that regard. Also no flash and no front camera are minuses.
Android platform definitely has potential, but it is not quite there yet. Intersting to see what 3.0 brings. I am also looking forward to WM 7 coming end of this year. Until then, my iPhone 4 will be my primary device with my TouchPro2 as backup.
You own an android device and you don't know? How about the fact that Google Maps smokes the version on the iPhone? More options, capability to search nearby easily, throwing on different layers to see traffic conditions, voice guided navigation to your destination, etc. all seamlessly interwoven. How about voice to text? How about push email that actually works? You don't really own an android device do you?
Clearly you've never even picked up a Captivate. I actually own one. It is neither grainy nor pixelated. Doesn't matter if it's pentile or not. A pixel per inch is a pixel per inch. I've seen your posts over at android forums and you're trolling there like you're trolling here.
Playlist do not show up with either Missing sync, or using doubletwist (only the last synced playlist showed up). It has to do with the onboard flash memory, and I tried to use a 32DG Micro SDHC card also. After (finally) loading music (without all playlist) the built in music program refused to recognize the "artist" tab- on two different Captivates- so it went back, and I'm back on iPhone 4 with every playlist syncing and Genius playlist available too..
The one advantage of the built in Captivate music program was the simulated 5.1 sound through headphones- But I can't live without fast, reliable playlist sync.
I also agree that the Samsung bottom menu buttons were not responsive sometimes, on both phones I tried.
I'm speaking from experience with the devices I've used. I'm a long time member here and basically you are the one full of crap. Of course I own a Droid Eris, I could easily prove you wrong but you don't deseve my time.
Yes I have used the Captivate and it is grainy and not clear like retina as the poster above who had it also described. I have used the Captivate for well over 8 hours.
I have a Captivate now until my iP4 arrives and I must say the Android notification system is far superior to the overuse of pop-ups of iOS4. I would love to see Apple implement something similar to the way the Captivate works in terms of handling notifications.
I don't deserve your time yet you're replying to me? LOL. You are completely unobjective with android. I gave you an example of why android was better than iOS when you claimed it was just "a slow, unpolished version of iOS". Care to debate that or will you spew more nonsense about pixelated displays?
Sure you did. The Captivate will not have the same resolution as the iPhone 4. That is a given. HOWEVER, it is much better than the 3GS screen. And last I checked, plenty of people are still happy with the 3GS screen.
The retina is technically sharp, but it doesn't matter. Having a super high pixel density in a 3.5" screen that you hold 12" away at normal use is silly. There's a point of diminishing returns with pixel size and viewing distance. I have 20/20 vision and can't see pixels on the Captivate at normal distances. You must be special and have Superman eyes.
Could it be because the phone is very light? It's definitely does not feel cheap to me. Between these three phone Captivate is the only one with glass front and metal back. There is nothing plasticy about it.
That is a valid point. It is quite light, almost too light though. Keep in mind that this is of course very subjective and just my own personal opinion. What I forget to mention about the Samsung that I liked was having 16 GB of internal memory on board, more than any other Android phone out there currently.
Anyone know how the Captivate/Android email program compares to the iPhone's email program?
Email handling is important to me, and one of the things I like most about my iPhone is the way it handles all of my separate POP3 email addresses. I'm not really a big fan of Gmail, so I'm hoping that's not the only option with the Captivate.
Email handling is important to me, and one of the things I like most about my iPhone is the way it handles all of my separate POP3 email addresses. I'm not really a big fan of Gmail, so I'm hoping that's not the only option with the Captivate.
Well i have the Vibrant which is the same phone. I use Yahoo mostly. There is a Yahoo app in the market which works good.
OR
You can also set up email on the phone without an App and it is in the widget package that comes with the phone. On mine there is an icon that is called "add to Home". In there is a "shortcuts" section and in that is the email client to use for your email(s). You can set up more than one.
And of course there is a Gmail setup.
I have five accounts, Gmail & Yahoo since I use my Captivate for work & personal. It's better than my BlackBerry. Each day I'm liking this phone more & more. Rooted it's really fast & responsive. I must say I'm enjoying it as much as my iP4.
Us crazies using cloud storage must not be able to transfer anything either.
.. oh wait.
Your Eris is half as fast and doesnt have near the memory either. Captivate has 512 mb of memory but is only using 256 because Android 2.1 only allows for that to be used. The 2.2 Froyo upgrade will allow for the 512.
And if you dont like that you can customize many things with the Android system and you cant iOS4 or any Apple firmware then i dont know what would impress you since neither one is too exciting to you.
Im in my 2nd week with my SS Vibrant and it took a good week to really see the things it can do, appreciate the App store and some great Apps they have and i like it more each day.
Actually they have said it will get it. Said all the high end Android phones will get it and the Samsung Galaxy S types (Vibrant, Captivate, Fasinate, Epic) are part of that group.
And for those who are saying "they heard" or are just guessing that loading music in the Android is a pain, ...just go HERE, take a look, maybe read the "about" link and you can rest assured that isnt true.
Vegas, can you point out some specific examples? Like what you've customized, and the things you discovered it can do?
Also, I finally had a chance to play with a Captivate today and noticed it didn't correct my typing mistakes (like the iPhone does pretty darn well). Is there a way to make this happen on the Captivate?
Thanks...
If I've never seen an iPhone 4 screen, then the Captivate's screen wouldn't be bothersome at all and more like an upgrade from the iPhone 3GS. Once you use the iPhone 4 retina display, it's hard to go back. Plus, the Captivate it not worth the cost when I already own a Nexus One. Love browsing the web, checking the mail, and gaming on the iPhone 4, but I love everything else on Android.
Note: Tried the Captivate for 2 weeks. Screen size is perfect, super light (feels like a toy), but good build quality. I personally don't like TouchWiz and I'll never like any Android skin. I had GPS problems, but fixed it through browsing XDA and it's speed is slightly slower than the iPhone 4, but I'm sure Froyo will help it.
Note: Tried the Captivate for 2 weeks. Screen size is perfect, super light (feels like a toy), but good build quality. I personally don't like TouchWiz and I'll never like any Android skin. I had GPS problems, but fixed it through browsing XDA and it's speed is slightly slower than the iPhone 4, but I'm sure Froyo will help it.
Last week I broke down because of the proximity sensor issue and decided to exchange my iPhone 4 for a Captivate.
As soon as Best Buy gets more 4's in stock I am going to exchange back (hopefully for a fully functional 4)
I liked the Captivate, but it's just doesn't have it
It feels like a Goggle product, everything is there, but is seems like everything is still in beta... Nothing is polished.
One of the last straws for me was the internet browser, it just isn't there. Navigation isn't nearly as easy, sure the viewing area is bigger. However, if you want to hit the forward button, you have to bring up a soft menu. If you want to refresh, you have to bring up a menu, want to switch tabs, bring up a menu. It gets clumsy. The worst issue however, is complete lack of cursor control, there is NO magnifying glass, so if your in a text box (like this one) and somehow the text get shifted up, it is a complete pain in the ass to move your cursor back down, or to accurately place it at all for that manor. On top of that, scrolling is not as smooth and the pages don't seem to render as nice (or as faithfully) as they do on iOS.
As someone pointed out above, one of the nice features was the integration of Google voice search for almost everything (the Google voice search widget is very useful), and Google Nav is great. I think the Widgets are a nice option as well.
Some other things that stood out to me is that, outside of all of the sweet emulators, the market is a crap compared to the App store. Nuff said.
The screen was nice, I guess, the colors were great, but the screen is still not that great in sunlight, and its grainy as all hell compared to the Retina.
The lack of camera flash was a major disappointment, I was quickly growing to love it on the iPhone 4.
As far as the actual phone part of it, I didn't see how it was any easier to use or more functional. I think being able to put your contacts into "Groups" was really nice, and frankly, I am completely flabbergasted as to why they have not been added to iOS already... Outside of that, I like the way the favorites are set-up on the iPhone better, and swiping to call is nice, but I would MUCH rather have my cross platform swipe to delete gesture back. All said and done, if Apple were to quit be arrogant pricks and add a double tap and hold function to iOS 4 so we can quickly get to our favorites again, I would say the iPhone is hands down easier to use as a phone.
I haven't even gotten to the media, I think we know who has the edge there.
I think I can best sum it up like this, if the Captivate were my first smartphone, I would probably be blown away and super pleased with it. However, after owning the iPhone, it Android just left me wanting. In many ways, the Captivate feels like one of the "feature" phones I had before the iPhone, only with internet connectivity and some Google features tacked on.
Point is Android still FEELS LIKE A PHONE, while (to me) the iPhone feels like a mobile computing platform that happens to have phone functionality.
I know that sounds crazy given how Androids customizability makes it more "PC" like. However, I think people that get stuck on the fact that you can customize the platform, or it's more open, are missing the point. If that's what your looking for you can always jailbreak.
I am looking for the most useful handheld device I can get, and for the time being, that device is still the iPhone for me.
I will say one thing though, I felt great to own the Captivate for a week and get this out of my system, I think the platform will get there but I don't think it's there yet and I had to verify that for myself. I would recommend trying out both phones to anybody whose on the fence, it's the only way your going to be able to figure out what works for you. I do have a much greater respect for the Android platform now, after owning both you begin to see how ridiculous all this fanboy stuff is... They are both great platforms, and once you start comparing a nicer Android device like the EVO to the iPhone, I can see how many of the comparative aspects of the two platforms could come down to personal preference.
As soon as Best Buy gets more 4's in stock I am going to exchange back (hopefully for a fully functional 4)
I liked the Captivate, but it's just doesn't have it
It feels like a Goggle product, everything is there, but is seems like everything is still in beta... Nothing is polished.
One of the last straws for me was the internet browser, it just isn't there. Navigation isn't nearly as easy, sure the viewing area is bigger. However, if you want to hit the forward button, you have to bring up a soft menu. If you want to refresh, you have to bring up a menu, want to switch tabs, bring up a menu. It gets clumsy. The worst issue however, is complete lack of cursor control, there is NO magnifying glass, so if your in a text box (like this one) and somehow the text get shifted up, it is a complete pain in the ass to move your cursor back down, or to accurately place it at all for that manor. On top of that, scrolling is not as smooth and the pages don't seem to render as nice (or as faithfully) as they do on iOS.
As someone pointed out above, one of the nice features was the integration of Google voice search for almost everything (the Google voice search widget is very useful), and Google Nav is great. I think the Widgets are a nice option as well.
Some other things that stood out to me is that, outside of all of the sweet emulators, the market is a crap compared to the App store. Nuff said.
The screen was nice, I guess, the colors were great, but the screen is still not that great in sunlight, and its grainy as all hell compared to the Retina.
The lack of camera flash was a major disappointment, I was quickly growing to love it on the iPhone 4.
As far as the actual phone part of it, I didn't see how it was any easier to use or more functional. I think being able to put your contacts into "Groups" was really nice, and frankly, I am completely flabbergasted as to why they have not been added to iOS already... Outside of that, I like the way the favorites are set-up on the iPhone better, and swiping to call is nice, but I would MUCH rather have my cross platform swipe to delete gesture back. All said and done, if Apple were to quit be arrogant pricks and add a double tap and hold function to iOS 4 so we can quickly get to our favorites again, I would say the iPhone is hands down easier to use as a phone.
I haven't even gotten to the media, I think we know who has the edge there.
I think I can best sum it up like this, if the Captivate were my first smartphone, I would probably be blown away and super pleased with it. However, after owning the iPhone, it Android just left me wanting. In many ways, the Captivate feels like one of the "feature" phones I had before the iPhone, only with internet connectivity and some Google features tacked on.
Point is Android still FEELS LIKE A PHONE, while (to me) the iPhone feels like a mobile computing platform that happens to have phone functionality.
I know that sounds crazy given how Androids customizability makes it more "PC" like. However, I think people that get stuck on the fact that you can customize the platform, or it's more open, are missing the point. If that's what your looking for you can always jailbreak.
I am looking for the most useful handheld device I can get, and for the time being, that device is still the iPhone for me.
I will say one thing though, I felt great to own the Captivate for a week and get this out of my system, I think the platform will get there but I don't think it's there yet and I had to verify that for myself. I would recommend trying out both phones to anybody whose on the fence, it's the only way your going to be able to figure out what works for you. I do have a much greater respect for the Android platform now, after owning both you begin to see how ridiculous all this fanboy stuff is... They are both great platforms, and once you start comparing a nicer Android device like the EVO to the iPhone, I can see how many of the comparative aspects of the two platforms could come down to personal preference.
I have customized my SMS. i was using the one that came with it but i dont now. I use a program called Handcent SMS which does more and you can customize it for what type of bubble settings / conversation style you want to use and has many to choose from, what type of notification icon you and color you want to use. Font outgoing type and color, time and date font style and color, disable or enable smileys.
When you send a message you can set it to give a count to each person of how many texts you have sent to them, enable a sig to your messages, it has a custom user agent to spoof a phone as another device and it gives the option if you want delivery reports when you send a text and when you recieve a text, it gives a popup window with the text and options to listen to the text, send a text back with voice or swype and has the persons contact picture in it, get read reports after you have sent a text if you want, font type and color, two types of themes to choose from and you can add background from your phone/pictures or whatever.
There are more options and that is just for texts.
You can customize your browser. I dont use the default browser and there are a few other browsers you can use and each has its own customizations. Some more than others. The ADWLauncher Browser has a ton which include swiping from side to side or having your screen go up and down on your home screen for example. I havent used that enough to tell you many but you can also add a fifth icon in your rows horizontally and take some drawer rows away vertically to make room for a clock or something for example.
That browser is also fast.
Fennec Browser is on its way which is made by Monzilla who makes Firefox. It is in Alpha right now.
Just to name a couple of things you can customize.
As for correcting typing mistakes. I hated that on the iPhone. Always inserting words i didnt want it to. Typing text on the iPhone wasnt one of my favorite things about it. Swype does a great job of inserting the right word but if you dont hit every letter, it brings up words in a list you can chose from and pages to choose from.
LOL, says the guy who brought his iP4 back because of the proximity issue. iPhone 4 is also a china doll.
Using favorites is easy on the Captivate. I assume it is the same as my Vibrant. Just touch the "dialer" icon and favorites is at the top. Touch it and there ya go. Its up there along with your call log, and voicemail button.