My trusty Nokia 3120b just happened to die yesterday, the day my gTab arrived. Looking at all the different phones I could get free (or at very low cost) from my cell provider (AT&T), I thought I should get one which I could use to tether to the gTab so that I can have Internet service when I'm not in range of a WiFi signal.
There are many to choose from and I am quite bewildered. Blackberry Bold or Pearl, HTC Aria or Surround, some Pantechs and LGs ...
Does anyone have any advice or recommendations for choosing a phone which works well with the gTab? Or would any 3G phone with Bluetooth be okay? The only thing I have been using my Nokia for is phone calls and messaging (text and voice) so I've not got any other requirements.
Thanks in advance!
Most rooted android phones will allow tethering with the help of some add-on apps. Search the forums for more info on this, I don't know specific models that were successful.
I do know that current Gen blackberries are very problematic to get tethered through Bluetooth with the Gtab. There is an old thread somewhere here that discusses it, without a clear successful solution.
Without getting into OS wars, I'd probably recommend either an Android or iPhone. I personally love the free wireless tethering app (Available on any rooted android phone). I can set my phone in the best possible spot in my house, then be wherever I want with my tablet.
My advice, if you go Android, is to go with a phone that has at least 2.2 and at least 512 MB of ram. Other things to look for is if the phone has an unlocked/locked bootloader, if you choose to hack it like your Gtab. Do your homework, see what works for you!
Thanks y'all, that narrows it down to four phones. Much easier to compare than a dozen!
I have an se xperia X10 that works great with it.
GeminiShaman said:
I have an se xperia X10 that works great with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's one of my choices, but I was leery about the old version of Android which they come with. What do you think of it?
You can put 2.2 on it. I'm a bit leery of only 384 meg of ram, though.
The four were:
Sony Ericsson Xperia (refurb)
Moto Flipout (refurb)
Moto Bravo (new)
HTC Aria (refurb)
Of these, it looks like the Aria is the most workable. It has the 512 Mb and you can put liberated Froyo on it (2.2).
I like the style of the Bravo better, but the dev's for it are not up to the level of those for the Aria. :-/
You should check out Wirefly, you might find you have more options in the "free" category. I've picked up my past 2 phones from them.
Thanks, I will.
ETA: Wirefly doesn't do AT&T.
Related
The phone we all know and love, is still very much in use even for its age, and still yet there isn't any flip windows phone on the market.
Its obvious by the popularity of this forum and the age of the phone that there is a market for an updated phone like ours.
Are HTC missing an oppoortunity
Is there any way we can let HTC know this.
Good point - but all they'd need to do is bring a version out with more memory and a WiFi connection - my ideal phone...
Good camera might help too
Jemma xx
Totally with you on this one!!!
I would pay top dollar for a new WM 6.1/6.5 Standard phone with the same format/size/shape as the HTC StrTrk but with all the modern specs (Faster Processor, more Rom/Ram, 3G, GPS, WiFi).
I would happily communicate this to HTC / Other OEM's if I thought it would be worth it.
Derek :>
-
+1
I was recently supplied an HTC Touch Diamond by my work. After a few weeks, it went back in the drawer. I've gone back to my S301 (running WM6.1) exclusively. It's biggest failing is network speed. If there were a new version with 3G and a GPS I would grab it quick smart.
I would buy the star trek II in a minute, Windows mobile 6.5, 3G, and SDHC card support. The perfect phone.
But most people want cheap or keyboards.
+1 for a revised version
I keep 2-3 spares at home from Ebay as replacements. Still one of the best all time form factors, keypad response, etc... for any Windows Mobile device I've ever used.
Hi.
Amobil.no a Norwegian mobile-newssite realesed a lot of the specs for the upcomming HTC tablet, HTC Flyer, yesterday.
I won't write the whole article, but here are the specs known today:
HTC Flyer
Form: Tablet
Technologies: HSPA - speeds up to 14,4 / 5,76 Mbps, DLNA
Camera: 1,3 megapixels secondary, 5 megapixels primary
Communication: Skype pre-installed video conferencing
CPU / Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255
Storage/Memory: 4 GB ROM, 1 GB RAM
Skjerm: 7 inches, 1025 x 600 pixels, capasitive screen with stylus
Connectors: HDMI
Memory card: Unknown (presumed Micro-SD)
OS / User interface: Android 2.3 Gingerbread, HTC Sense adapted for tablets
Because I'm new here I can't post links to the news article...But if anyone could do it for me it would be grate
Here's the link: http://www.amobil.no/artikler/full_specs_of_htc_flyer_revealed/80837
And a new source confirmes HTC Flyer: http://www.amobil.no/artikler/new_source_confirms_htc_flyer/80880
Wow this looks pretty nice. More specs on the device would be nice. But I'm all for HTC devices.
Someone know's something about the price?
Pricing info
roar109 said:
Someone know's something about the price?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
price info link "Amazon Germany has revealed a 670 Euro price point – that’s just over USD $900."
Very nice device!
Any comparisons with Xoom?
The Xoom ( for purity ) or this seem like the only ones I am interested in... all depends on price though.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
I like the tablet and inovation htc has put into the software and hardware but the battery life is only 4 hours of video playback compared to other tablets like galaxy tab which is also 7 inch which is 6 hours and the bigger xoom and a lot of others which are 8-10+. That has really let it down for me =[. My bet the problem is the the processer is a hungry one for battery not like Tegra 2 and other types.
I can used like mobile phone?
A Dutch webshop also added the flyer to there products for €699.
It's a reliable site, and they have a pretty good relation with HTC.
However there is some false (HDMI connection) and some premature (2.4 ice-cream) info so I wonder how accurate the price is.
Well the OS does look totally different. I know its sense but its completely different
http://www.htc.com/www/product/flyer/overview.html
Scroll down to 3d fun at every turn. Given the processor I am really not gonna complain about battery life
TheGhost1233 said:
A Dutch webshop also added the flyer to there products for €699.
It's a reliable site, and they have a pretty good relation with HTC.
However there is some false (HDMI connection) and some premature (2.4 ice-cream) info so I wonder how accurate the price is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would also be VERY important for HTC to commit to Honeycomb otherwise, there is no way I would spend that amount of money on something that could be obsolete so fast...
If HTC tablet could have the sound quality of Cowon products, I would be all over this thing...
I thought HTC were joking when they said they're realising a tablet without Honeycomb. And that ugly sense. I mean it looks good on the phones, but on the tablets.
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using XDA App
I think it's smart. The XOOM won't ship with flash because it's not ready for Honeycomb. Also, Honeycomb isn't designed for stylus input.
The version of the OS is not as important as the features and the experience IMO. If the experience is right, then I am gonna have one!
wphoto2 said:
I can used like mobile phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can. It has Quad Band.
See: http://www.htc.com/www/product/flyer/specification.html
To follow up on the last post, does the Flyer do 3G on At&t? Thanks for the heads up on the voice option.
Does anyone think the price is a bit steep for a single core non-Honeycomb tablet as per previous postings?
I am looking to get a 7" tablet usable on At&t with 3g and voice in the next 3-4 months.
I ranked them as follows:
1. Acer A100
2. HTC Flyer
3. Viewpad 7.
What do you guys think?
footneek said:
To follow up on the last post, does the Flyer do 3G on At&t? Thanks for the heads up on the voice option.
Does anyone think the price is a bit steep for a single core non-Honeycomb tablet as per previous postings?
I am looking to get a 7" tablet usable on At&t with 3g and voice in the next 3-4 months.
I ranked them as follows:
1. Acer A100
2. HTC Flyer
3. Viewpad 7.
What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regarding 3G, i believe that will be there. But for AT&T that is another matter. The EU version will have it, but not sure what HTC is planning for AT&T 3G.
Regarding price, I have bought my devices from CLOVE; See: clove.co.uk/htc-flyer. Their price for HTC Flyer is GBP 466.
As far as final specs are concerned, I inquired from HTC about a HDMI output through the microusb and their response yesterday was.
.....................................
Dear g,
im afraid that we dont have any information on these devices yet, we are waiting for the devices to go to press before we can comment on them.
please keep checking the website for more information about these when we get it.
Sincerely,
Joseph
HTC
...................................
I was a bit puzzeled by this response, as I was speaking with HTC not some marketer out in WoopWoop ! Go figure !
Final specs will be known soon.
I think there are a few other great tablets that will be out soon. Like the Motorola xoom. Some people are saying that the Flyer cpu 1.5Ghz although fast is not as good as the Tegra 2 chip......which many new tablets are incorporating and many are saying the same thing, although all agree that the os and software may not be up to speed to fully take advantage of the Tegra 2 chip, but still produces fabulous results.
But what I like about the HTC Flyer is two things. One is the forum here at xda-developers. There is nothing quite like it. Secondly, relating directly to the device is the stylus application. I have seen several good videos on youtube on its functionality and I really like it for the kind of things that I am involved in. So, it's a unique feature that no one else offers. I will personally find it very useful.
However I really like what some of the other tablet manufacturers are doing with having a full USB port on the device as well as a HDMI port.......that's cool.
globalgpj, thanks for the info. Like you, I don't usually buy a device unless it is supported by XDA with custom ROM. I currently have the G-Tab with the newest TNT Lite ROM. It is fast and I love it. Without voice or 3G, I have to bring my phone to tether which is a bummer. I'll wait until summer when all the devices hopefully will be announced or released. Thanks.
wphoto2 said:
I can used like mobile phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunaltely it looks like this won't be possible.
I was looking for a replacement for my old X7510 - however without phone function - useless.
Dieter
can the htc flyer makes phone calls/ sms without internet . . sim card slot . .????
lookin forward to let go my hd2 for this flyer.
I've been lucky enough to snag a Viewpad 10e from Argos in the UK... Struggling to find any forums specifically for this pad though.
In a nutshell, its a great piece of hardware for £200 slightly let down by stuttery software. Very iPad like but with Android gingerbread.
Anyone else out there have any experience with this tab yet? Anyone know of any plans for it to get it's own forum/development community?
Cheers.
steviesteve78 said:
I've been lucky enough to snag a Viewpad 10e from Argos in the UK... Struggling to find any forums specifically for this pad though.
In a nutshell, its a great piece of hardware for £200 slightly let down by stuttery software. Very iPad like but with Android gingerbread.
Anyone else out there have any experience with this tab yet? Anyone know of any plans for it to get it's own forum/development community?
Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it a tegra 2 device? If so we all here would at least love a full working gingerbread rom.
No - sorry - its Cortex A8
Processor 1Ghz Cortex A8 Processor
OS Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
LCD Monitor 9.7” IPS LCD 1024 x 768 ; XGA
Brightness 400 cd/m2 Brightness
Memory DDR3 512 MB
Internal Memory 4GB
Band Wifi only
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth BlueTooth 3.0 and 2.1 + EDR compatibility
External Memory Micro SD card slot
I/O Interface Micro USB/ Mini-HDMI/ 3.5mm headset audio jack
Audio Stereo speakers/ microphone
Sensors G-sensor
Cameras Front: CMOS 1.3MP
Battery Li-Polymer 5400mAh
Charger 12V/ 2Amp
USB Micro USB
Dimensions 241.6 x 188.6 x 9.1 mm
Weight 620 grams
Accessories Power adaptor (with plugs), Quick Start Guide, 1Mobile Market QSG, Compliance information, Micro USB cable
Dude, return the tablet right now. Boycott viewsonic!
Its been over 24hrs with new toy now. Will be posting a review soon. I honestly like the look and feel so much that I'm selling my Galaxy Tab 10. I'll have some money left over as well cause the Viewpad is so cheaply priced. All that extra processor power is not needed for me, I basically use the tab for web browsing, a few notes, check the weather and the kids play angry birds! This pad is definitely suited to the job.
goodintentions said:
Dude, return the tablet right now. Boycott viewsonic!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto. For that price, you are better to go with a much wider support device like the Kindle Fire or Nook Color. Don't expect your new toy to get any substantial update to improve it beyond what it is now. The gTablet community has already been bitten by Viewsonic false promises. Your device will most likely had the same fate.
PS: a no name brand tablet from China can do all you want at an even lower price. Did you choose Viewsonic for the peace of mind of a name brand? Viewsonic don't make their own tablet. They outsource the manufacturing, the software and the support. All they really interest in is take your money.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk
Honestly, I was really impressed by the response I had recently from their support dept. I really like the device and I have been through a few to say the least. Seems like it could be quite hackable and I may just use it to learn some new programming skills myself! (If I can drum up some support). In my experience, every forum/thread has loads of people frustrated by lack of support from the manufacturers/resllers but for me, the point of these forums is finding help... Ill keep my fingers crossed that the OEM is discovered soon and after that finding some hacks should get easier.
Third warning about Viewsonic, their products suffer longevity shortfalls. I am now the 3rd person telling you they have the consumer integrity of a wombat. Don't hold your breath waiting for anyone to pick it up and think it will be differently. So many people got burned via the g tablet and it's abhorrent lack of updates from the manufacturer (which when it comes to things like drivers etc for future OS upgrades becomes a critical part of the equation) not many people who have been around the android block are going to make another purchase from Viewsonic so you could very well be alone for the foreseeable future in this purchase. I don't even like having a Viewsonic monitor on my desk at work anymore. Again, take what you are hearing at face value, Viewsonic + android = meh. I enjoyed my g tablet when i purchased it and it does almost all that I need but I hoped for more and have gotten less. Keep it if you like, but 6 months from now when you are looking at another tablet you are going to be hard pressed to find anyone to buy your Viewsonic. The poor reputation flags are there already.
Keep in mind, Viewsonic is the same company that came to XDA saying they wanted feedback and input from this community about the g tablet. That was spring of this year and not a single thing has changed. They did that one firmware update in April and since then it has been nothing but pushed changes that then get pulled back.
Keep it if you are happy with it, I just wouldn't expect anything in terms of a large community ever coming of one of their devices.
It's been almost a year since they promised they'd release an update. Every time I've asked them about update, the only reply I've gotten is "we're working on it." I dare you to find any report of a different response than that.
Viewsonic needs to go back to producing nothing but display monitors and projectors. This company is not ready yet to play with the big boys in the computing market.
US vs UK - not exactly the same...
The G-Tablet was a US only product?!
The Viewpad 10e is only in the UK so far..... 9.7" IPS panel for £199, 9mm thick looks good value to me if your needs are not too demanding
Cant get my 10e to play videos from iplayer, any idea as to why not?
I decided to try one...
Works on live streaming for me from the app but not the others, think it could be to do with the Flash player version, read recently about other tablet users having issues with bandwidth / setting local storage to 0...
Which app did you use, couldn't find one in the 1mobile app store that came on the device
rustyfishhook said:
Which app did you use, couldn't find one in the 1mobile app store that came on the device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BBC iPlayer 1.04 apk from the web. It still is only working for me with live TV, Flash version 10.3, Flash 11.0 wasn't working...
Will play around with the different versions in the office today
Ok so I now have the Viewpad 10e working with BBC iPlayer.
I used BBC iPlayer 1.0.4 & Flash 10.3.185.25
I put these into a zip file on 4shared, not sure if I am allowed to share the link or not..
Hello
I'm very keen on the Viewpad 10e myself. Has anyone tried out the multimedia side of it? it would be great t be able to play 1080p movies, etc. By the sounds of the 3D stuff that comes with it, it should be a decent GPU in it, would be nice to know how it does.
Custom ROM
Does anyone know how to install a custom ROM on the device?
Hi all
I'm thinking of getting one of these too. But I'm a bit concerened about the 'dated' SC A8 CPU and the dated OS?
Some of the things I will want to do on this is video calling using Skype (yes, I know there are other alternatives, but it has to be Skype) and playing DivX/Xvid movies and some .MKV movies. Could anyone tell me if it will be good enough? I am quite impressed by the dimensions and the screen, but if the specs can't keep up then I'm thinking of a cheap and chunky Tegra 2 tablet like the POV which is actually £10 cheaper and I'll put a custom ViewComb 3.2 ROM on it...
Any suggestions/opinions?
Does anyone know how to root the device?
Just got one for my daughter.
First impressions : well-made bit of kit with a great IPS screen. worth it for the hardware, I would say.
Moon reader pro is great on it, as is perfect viewer for comics and pdf's.
Can't get the video calling working for some reason. Anyone had any joy with this ?
Have tried Tango and Fring. In both cases, the FFC doesn't seem to switch on. You can see the the other person on it, but they can't see you.
Also, with Tango, the mic is switched off, and can't be switched back on.
Some sort of firmware shenanigans going on here. Had a quick chat with Viewsonic customer support just now, who will email me back.
Bit concerned by the negative comments on this thread !
Wanted the archos 101 as HMV were doing it for £129 , but just missed the boat, and then this came to my attention in Argos. Hope I haven't landed a dud !
Well, so far, have managed to get all her bits on it. Their version of market is a bit limited, but there is enough to get you started. Go launcher was a must, after having it on my Galaxy S2 phone, and it seems to cope ok. Formatted some of her films as mp4's and the shipped 'vortex player' handles them well.
Video calling would have been icing on the cake really.
Oh yeah, and whatsapp functionality, but there are ways around that I am looking into now.
Overall so far - promising.
Root and custom rom's would really maximise this thing's potential.
Oh yeah, and won't talk to my macbook pro over bluetooth- first device ever to do that.
Hi, I've currently been looking for a replacement to my Galaxy S (had it 16 months now) which is beginning to creak a bit due to its lack of RAM. Anyway, that aside it's still a great phone barring the recent official update but switching from Touchwiz to GoLauncher solved the issues.
Anyway, I saw this deal for the Atrix and lapdock. Basically want to know if it's worth it; I am looking at this from the perspective of a consumer who uses the smartphone casually. I was hoping to use the lapdock as a sort of netbook; browsing the net and playing videos, mainly on the couch or when I'm mobile/travelling).
So I guess the real questions are;
1) With Quad Cores becoming more prevalent this year, would it be prudent to get the Atrix at this price?
2) Has the lapdock had much software updates? I mean it uses firefox which I've abandoned on desktop in favour of Chrome. Also, issue reviews said that the browser was fairly sluggish.
Originally I was thinking of getting a cheap 7in Tablet (like the soon to be out Tab 2 7.0) and I know that they're not directly comparable to this lapdock (which doesn't have touch screen and no multitouch on its pad etc) but what are your opinions?
it really depends on how much work you want to put into it. out of the box it's a little boring and slow, but with for example nottachtrix + gentop2 it's pretty amazing. we have high hopes of getting an official ICS in q3 (i believe is the consensus) should that happen atrix will be viable for another year at least. as of now, i don't think webtop has ever been updated by moto. you need to rely on the community devs for upgrades and honestly these guys have come through in ways the official corp dev team never could.
example: unlocked bootloader =)
yeah, like the previous poster said, that's a little steep tho
Well, you have to bear in mind with British prices we ALWAYS get ripped off. Fact is the Atrix is still 300 pounds or more from most websites/stores so the fact that this comes with the lapdock actually makes it a "cheap" deal.
I will stress though that I intend to use the phone and dock for media consumption, I don't really need it to do work and hence I wanted to know if anyone else has had it for similar reasons.
Also in the UK a Galaxy S2 still commands about £380 so the Atrix would be 75% of its price or there abouts; I'm sort of leaning towards it but now that I realise that it doesn't have a webcam I think I'll put my money to a new phone (possibly a Nexus or the Note) as I want to use Skype to do video call. I still can't believe Motorola originally wanted to charge nearly 300 pounds for the lapdock... it's a screen with a battery, keyboard and two usb ports. You can get a netbook and charge for that... what were they thinking?
Great phone, don't count on the lapdock
Yo from London.
I've been using my Atrix (bought in US) back in Blighty for a year and its a great device. The way I think about it is this: Last year's high end phones effectively become this year's mid-range phones. So the Atrix is basically equivalent to a new mid-range (say £200-250) phone. I think you'd tend to pay about £50 less than you'd pay for a newly release mid-range phone though given the Atrix is pretty low-profile, older device.
But I think as a phone you can't fault it. The Tegra 2 is still up to snap and if you slap on a brand new ROM (I have Neutrino based on CM7, its awesome) it feels like a brand new device. The BIG advantage it has over a mid-range phone though is the battery life - REM MOTO put a big-ass battery in here. Add in a properly tweaked third party ROM and this thing becomes an absolute battle tank as regards lastability. Do not underestimate this!
The downside is the Atrix is probably coming to the end of its support life re: OS updates. As a rule of thumb you'd expect an android device to get the next one major OS update (Atrix has actually done OK as its gotten both Gingerbread and it'll get ICS - this was because it came at the tail end of the Froyo era). Getting a new mid-range phone means you should be OK for Jellybean but there is zero chance you'll get that on Atrix. It's up to you as to whether this is an issue. TBH I always skin with ADW Launcher EX so I'm pretty ambivalent as to the OS version. There is an argument that new OS updates haven't added anything meaningful since Froyo brough Flash support (ironically the one key ICS-exclusive app - Chrome - actually takes this away). I don't think my world would end if I couldn't get Jellybean - but that's your call.
The last issue is the Lapdock. TBH don't go out assuming the world on this one. Its sluggish and if you want to use third-party ROMs based on CM7 that will break lapdock support (you can mirror HDMI /w keyboard+mouse fine on CM7 now but its a bit of a kludge). If you're buying Atrix particularly for the lapdock functionality (rather than as a bonus feature) I'd think twice. The wildcard here is that its rumours ICS will rehash the lapdock functionality and make it native Android a la Transformer Prime. That would make me reassess the lapdock - but atm its only an option.
My advice would be to get the Atrix now as a daily driver. Its a great phone - as I said an absolute battle-tank in everyday use. The current mid-range field doesn't have much to recommend it so I think you will come in quids ahead.
All the best
Jonathan
Interesting view points there. I was only going to get the lap dock because it's included at Handtec and Expansys which feature the lowest prices online (from a reputable retailer) for a new Atrix.
I see the lapdock as "bonus", something I can use on a couch when I just want to do some net browsing.
I have a chance to choose as a gift between mediapad lumia 710 and wildfire s.
I don't want to go for the nokia, it's with wp7.5, and i already have an original wildfire for just about 1,5 years and has connection issues. Should I go for media pad? Is it worth?
I don't know this brand at all, is it trustworthy?
dark_fighter said:
I have a chance to choose as a gift between mediapad lumia 710 and wildfire s.
I don't want to go for the nokia, it's with wp7.5, and i already have an original wildfire for just about 1,5 years and has connection issues. Should I go for media pad? Is it worth?
I don't know this brand at all, is it trustworthy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to use it yourself then just go for it. If you want to sell it, depending on the country, probably Lumia or HTC are the better choices.
As for the credibility of Huawei, just Google it
Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2
You are comparing a 7" tablet with a 3.2" or 3.7" phone. You can find a spec comparison of the Mediapad and the Wildfire S here: http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4264&idPhone2=3777 You can also use the page for comparing the Lumina.
Besides their difference in size, there are also other significant differences, e.g. the Mediapad is more than three times the weight of the Wildfire S).
However: I just unpacked my Mediapad and it is an very nice device. Its built is solid and I like its feel (I had a SGT for a short time before. Didn't like it).
If you look for a tablet that size, go for the Mediapad. It offers a good value for the price (around 300€ in .de). If you look for a phone, probably the Wildfire or Lumina is the better choice.
Using the Medaipad as phone might also look a bit funny if you do not use a headset (maybe like this: http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/tablet-as-phone.jpeg?w=210&h=300)
As for the company, Huawei is a Chinese manufacturer, which is active in Europe mainly by providing infrastructure components for communication/GSM networks. They started to bring customer end-products to the European market some time ago and are set to drastically increase their market share.
From a consumer standpoint, I think they can be trusted the same way as aKorean or Taiwanese phone manufacturer. But maybe check for customer service in your area.
Cheers,
CS
Thank you very much for your replies. The fact is that I don't want a WP phone, as I am used to the android structure and interface, and also the openings that the android allows as an open-source os. I have never used a smartphone with an OS different than Android, and if wp are just like normal windows then it is for sure a no-go. And about Wildfire S... I don't know... I am using the original one right now, and from day first I wanted more performance, and this is one thing that wf's don't do. Also I have connectivity issues (signal and wifi) whatever rom or radio I used. And it is only 18 months old phone.
Amd yes I am going to use it as a phone too, to make calls and send sms's. One of my biggest concern is about moving with it around... Is it comfortable? (note, that I hadn't owned any other tablet in the past). Do you use/need a bag like a netbook/notebook?
dark_fighter said:
Amd yes I am going to use it as a phone too, to make calls and send sms's. One of my biggest concern is about moving with it around... Is it comfortable? (note, that I hadn't owned any other tablet in the past). Do you use/need a bag like a netbook/notebook?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. I'm in the U.S. and the Springboard (which is essentially the Mediapad) is not used as a phone (by T-Mobile)... mind you once rooted it could be used as such (sort of. you need only to read the questions of folks trying to get their rooted Springboard to work as a phone). I don't know that I would want to use a tablet like a phone. For starters while it is not as large as a 10 inch tablet, it still would be awkward holding it up to your face to talk. I just recently saw a Samsung Galaxy Note. It's a 5 inch tablet that works as a phone but even that looked weird size-wise holding it to your face. You would probably not look as weird if you paired the tablet with a bluetooth headset and use it as a phone that way.
This tablet is 7 inches and you could put it in a case that would make people think you are carrying around an ebook reader. Since it's 7 inches you wouldn't necessarily need to cart it around in a netbook case unless you wanted to. It fits nicely in other things although I would probably put it in a protective sleeve if I were going to put it in a messenger bag or purse.
Windows Phone isn't like your regular windows. It's a true phone ui unlike the old Windows Mobile which felt like a small desktop ui. Just go to YouTube and see it yourself.
Of course nothing beats the openness of Android, but in media pad case, you basically only got root instead of a full custom rom since Huawei haven't release the source code. Root only is good enough for me, since I mainly use root access for backup. Other people might be disappointed because they're expecting custom rom.
As for using it as a phone, I don't think the size is friendly enough for this tablet to be used as your main phone. Maybe as a secondary phone, definitely not as your primary phone. It doesn't have a phone speaker, thus you use it like you use speakerphone. of course earphone (and blue tooth? never tried it) is an option.
Portability wise, for me it's a bit too big to be carried comfortably inside a pocket (it does fit nicely into the back pocket, but I really don't want to sit while it is in my back pocket). I usually use a small bag to carry it around.
Of course I am not going to stick a 7" tablet in my face to speak and of course I will use a hands-free set (I am used to it, since my wildfire voice speaker is crap and I don't hear sh*t if I am outside).
With mediapad, fact is that it offers the performance of a high end phone in a much much lower price, and since I can choose it as a gift, I consider it very seriously...
But the big question is, will it last for let's say 2-3 years? I mean I don't want to get full of problems with it after 1,5 year making it nearly unusable like my wf is now.
An other question... Is it possible in HC to use it as phone? I know that it hasn't any dialer in it, but is it possible to speak using a dialer like ExDialer or TouchPal?
I heard you can downlad phone.apk and install..
just like that?
dark_fighter said:
just like that?
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Yes. Or you can install ICS rom which has built in dialer.