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Hey guys. Just wondering if anyone feels sort of the same way as me.
I spent around $650 USD and waited 3 months (from when the official international UK version was released) to purchase the S2 from overseas. Now the phone is going to become released in the U.S.
A part of me feels sort of disappointed and excited, yet I should be very happy now that it is available here (finally!!!). I guess I just wanted a phone where it wasn't too popular in the states. A part of spending a large amount of money (with no binding contract to a carrier) gave me a sense of uniqueness in that I was "one of few" to actually have this phone. Also, the forums here are quite valuable with so many users that I feel like I am part of a special S2 community...but with the announcement of this phone in the U.S., it seems like everyone "else" (yes, all the "other" people... you name it, they've got it) would eventually have it. I guess you can't help but wonder how special your phone is, heh.
I suppose I like to have electronic devices that is rare. Thus, when someone sees you off the street holding a S2, their impression would be like "Woah. That is cool. What is that?" But I guess in a few months, people would be more like "Is that the S2? Here's mine, too. And all my friends have it!"
Anyone feel the same way, heh?
Cool story bro.
Sent from my Kyocera Echo.
Not much in a way, people still keep thinking it's an iPhone which makes me giggle lol. You still have the uniqueness factor since the phone looks physically different from the variants.
I'm pretty much like that too, I usually had the odd phone that nobody even knew the name. I always tell my friends about how iPhone is like a DVD player, everyone has one and knows how to operate it and I was thinking in the same line about the SGS2 since you can buy it off the cell company. This wasn't like that last year, you couldn't even find any android phones, we have a huge blackberry market and quickly diving. But the SGS2 is an android phone, that means you can have any UI, on iPhone you have iOS and works the way apple wants it to work and that's it, with the SGS2 it'll be different, you have TouchWiz as a default interface, and you can also have ADW, LauncherPro etc, you can even have MIUI on it, then it comes the millions of roms that we have and will have more coming as soon as SGS2 starts selling in the US. Now think about the people that are square headed that don't even know what ROOT is and don't even care about it, if they try to use your phone and you don't have TouchWiz it will be like a windows fan using linux, he/she will know is the same phone but won't be able to use it as easy as theirs. And you have widgets and all the customization on the different launchers.
I know what you're going tru lol
So to sum up, you chose a phone because you wanted to stroke your own ego with your "sense of uniqueness" and impress your "friends", and are now disappointed because other people will spoil your unique user experience by having the temerity to get a similar device.
Poor little thing. Just wait until the next Shiny New Thing, buy it, bask in your own smugness and find another forum to tell people how special you are.
I spent 750 with first original stock and it was worth every penny. The only thing that got my attention is the Samsung Note.
This device will easily last 2 years for the casual person and another 6-12 months with the tech geek.
Last I read over 3 million GS2 had been sold in Europe alone so I can imagine at least a couple hundred thousand were sold in USA despite not being on general sale there that's not to say people didn't buy them online and not taking into account the many more sold throughout the rest of the world so hardly a unique phone for the privileged few this phone has been Samsung's biggest selling handset to date and with good reason!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Of course the phone will become more popular as it gets released in more places. That's progress. Accept it.
Samsung have a winning phone on their hands; they'd be utterly stupid to not try selling it in every country in the world.
If you want something new, go and buy the Samsung Galaxy S 3 whenever it's released. (but accept that other people are going to buy it too)
SII already achieved a great level of admiration as after 3 months of release it's still the most wanted and popular phone people wanna hold. I believe it will have a record sales figure worldwide.
But OP- Poor thinking, shame on you.
intruda119 said:
The only thing that got my attention is the 7.7.
This device will easily last 2 years for the casual person and another 6-12 months with the tech geek.
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10 characters
B3311 said:
So to sum up, you chose a phone because you wanted to stroke your own ego with your "sense of uniqueness" and impress your "friends", and are now disappointed because other people will spoil your unique user experience by having the temerity to get a similar device.
Poor little thing. Just wait until the next Shiny New Thing, buy it, bask in your own smugness and find another forum to tell people how special you are.
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Took the words out of my mouth.
But hey, it's suckers like OP that I find easy to make money from.
I know how you feel. Its just a nice experience when you own a device that others have never even seen. I owned a Microsoft zune a few years back which wasn't released here in the uk. When I showed it to iPod user's they just said "wow is that a new iPod?" Although the galaxy s2 is wildly available in the UK there are still alot of people that don't know what they are, especially iPhone users. I've already been asked if it was an iphone5. I replied no its much better than one of those old iPhones. I'm then quickly followed by a confused look and a sharp reply of "iPhones are the best though aren't they?" So funny.
Logi_Ca1 said:
Took the words out of my mouth.
But hey, it's suckers like OP that I find easy to make money from.
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(uJelly?)
With all do respect, I absolutely love this phone. I just felt as with an increased presence in the States, it could potentially turn to something along the lines of an iPhone, whereby almost every user wants/or already has it. It's one of the things I dislike about Apple products is because of the all-too familiarity around here. Pretty much everywhere I go, I would see someone carrying an iPhone. Makes you feel slightly less exclusive. However, if it's a good product, then obviously everyone is going to get it.
B3311 said:
So to sum up, you chose a phone because you wanted to stroke your own ego with your "sense of uniqueness" and impress your "friends", and are now disappointed because other people will spoil your unique user experience by having the temerity to get a similar device.
Poor little thing. Just wait until the next Shiny New Thing, buy it, bask in your own smugness and find another forum to tell people how special you are.
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There is nothing wrong with a bit if pride and the desire to be unique.
Alazarin said:
(uJelly?)
With all do respect, I absolutely love this phone. I just felt as with an increased presence in the States, it could potentially turn to something along the lines of an iPhone, whereby almost every user wants/or already has it. It's one of the things I dislike about Apple products is because of the all-too familiarity around here. Pretty much everywhere I go, I would see someone carrying an iPhone. Makes you feel slightly less exclusive. However, if it's a good product, then obviously everyone is going to get it.
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Totally agree
Alazarin said:
(uJelly?)
With all do respect, I absolutely love this phone. I just felt as with an increased presence in the States, it could potentially turn to something along the lines of an iPhone, whereby almost every user wants/or already has it. It's one of the things I dislike about Apple products is because of the all-too familiarity around here. Pretty much everywhere I go, I would see someone carrying an iPhone. Makes you feel slightly less exclusive. However, if it's a good product, then obviously everyone is going to get it.
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I thought that individualism was one of the central tenets of American culture.
I don't see how it's a bad thing if the SGSII (or any other Android phone for that matter) becomes more popular. A larger install base means the platform is more attractive for app developers, and it's the quality and quantity of these quality apps that make or break a platform. This is just my opinion, but I feel that in this area, Android still has to catch up with iOS. I can't help but feel that I had access to a greater variety of good apps when I was on my iPhone 3GS.
Sparksltd said:
There is nothing wrong with a bit if pride and the desire to be unique.
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Being anti-conformist for the sake of being anti-conformist is a form of conformity in itself.
Alazarin said:
(uJelly?)
With all do respect, I absolutely love this phone. I just felt as with an increased presence in the States, it could potentially turn to something along the lines of an iPhone, whereby almost every user wants/or already has it. It's one of the things I dislike about Apple products is because of the all-too familiarity around here. Pretty much everywhere I go, I would see someone carrying an iPhone. Makes you feel slightly less exclusive. However, if it's a good product, then obviously everyone is going to get it.
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I think there is only one option left for you and it ain't a good one.
To be unique, buy a phone that doesn't sell well, meaning an ugly underpowered , crashing and medicore phone. Thats how you will be unique.
Thats the price you pay for wanting a top selling and great phone. In the end everybody wants a phone that is on top of the line.
Learn to live with it that you are not alone when you buy these phones.
When i see around me people with GS II then i know i probably made a good decision.
If i bought a phone that nobody has then its rubbish or insane expensive.
Logi_Ca1 said:
I thought that individualism was one of the central tenets of American culture.
I don't see how it's a bad thing if the SGSII (or any other Android phone for that matter) becomes more popular. A larger install base means the platform is more attractive for app developers, and it's the quality and quantity of these quality apps that make or break a platform. This is just my opinion, but I feel that in this area, Android still has to catch up with iOS. I can't help but feel that I had access to a greater variety of good apps when I was on my iPhone 3GS.
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True. Good point.
Hopefully, Samsung continues to make great quality products. IMHO, I'll take quality over quantity (or massive production of inferior products in order to just reach a certain quota) any day of the week.
You could look at it a different way...
Think about this, for a start not everyone will get or be in the position to get an S2. Instead of 'oh that's cool what is it' you might get people saying hey an S2 they are great aren't they? I have one and just put the latest xxx rom on it, have you tried it, take a look A full on conversation going about how good the phone is, while others around wonder why they don't have one of these phones.
I already have (here in Belfast Northern Ireland) been talking to a complete stranger and quickly set his phone up a bit better for him on the spot! He thanked me and said he is very new to android. I showed him my setup and he was impressed so I pointed him in the direction of xda.
So if you like it might not be such a unique club soon, but it will still be a chosen few only with a few more friendly members, don't you think?
MJ-12
My company is getting everybody iPhones and I was told that I could make the case for an Android phone. I made the case for the Note and everything was a go.
On the weekend I made a model of the phone - painted and with the proper weight. I did the same with the Streak (except minus the weight and painting) to make sure my pockets were big enough. I guess I built this one to get the rest of my team excited (they're also getting Notes).
But... as it turns out... the request has been rejected in the 11th hour. Looks like I'll be getting an iPhone.
Anyway, I'll always have my model...
Sorry to hear it got rejected
Very nice work on that model, though!
I'd have said, "oh, it's already been pre-ordered...might as well receive it, take a look for the 30 day trial and see what you think. It can always be returned within 30 days." Then show it to Management and a month later your entire company is using Android.
Honestly, though...there's a reason the iPhone does so well. It's a pretty nice device. You'll still want the Note, but at least you're not getting some 10-year-old-tech 14-oz "feature phone" (love that term).
I wonder what the rationale was for not giving Android a shot at this point?
p.s., cool model. I happen to have a metal external USB drive case that is essentially the exact size of the note minus maybe half an inch in length, so I put that in my pocket to approximate the feel of the Note. Seems like it'll be just fine, except for wrestling the thing out of a jeans pocket while sitting down.
well for the average personal user the IPhone does great but at my company I have had so many calendar sync issues with the IPhone I cannot even count. I have had zero issues with any of my android based phones. So I am not real sure about the validity of IPhone in the work place yet...
Nice.
Not sure what size company but I would've called someone at AT&T / Samsung and make them do the pitch or at least provide you with some marketing material.
Can you sell your company on the fact that the GNote will save vision plan cost? All that squinting at the iphone could cost some long term vision healthcare cost...which we call an unfunded liability! lol!
Nice model, did you make that on work time
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk
what slaydog said, mint model Too! talented.
We are in a remote office and have different needs than the rest of the company. I think that perhaps this was overlooked.
Although I'm not happy, there is only so much displeasure I can show.
slaydog said:
Nice model, did you make that on work time
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk
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Ha. I wish!
Edit: Ha. I was just cleaning up my lappy and I found a photo of my rudimentary Streak model. And yes... I was rocking the Limited Edition Black Tie Treo!
Now this story kinda choked me up a bit....nice model btw..
This is a video of the note reviewed by regular people on the street. Can't say I agree with them but here it is.
http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-57...-note-the-wrong-type-of-bulge-in-your-pocket/
Sent from the SuperStreak! ;-)
The people they interviewed actually seemed pretty open to it - more so than I would have expected. I was expecting more wide-eyed BGR-type reactions, but at least the woman in the middle of the video seemed like she wanted to keep it.
I was slightly surprised to see that both of the guys thought it was too big for a phone, when both of the girls seemed all for it. I still don't get the first guy's opinion that carrying two devices is more practical than one that can fit both bills quite well. Also, the second guy doesn't realize the hypocrisy in his opinion. He says the stylus is just one more thing to carry, one more thing to use, and doesn't like the idea of it; even though it is stored inside the device and you don't need to use it....hmmm? Then he goes to say that he likes carrying two devices around more so than the possibility of having both in one pocket-able design. Doesn't add up in my mind. I don't think I will ever understand the full power of the iSheep.
I think the girls are smart and realize the true potential of this device. They realize that they shouldn't care if somebody thinks their phone is huge, that it is still pocket-able, and it can be a very useful all-in-one device.
This is seriously the most bias review I have ever seen. He basically hates the phone because of the size and claims that it's not for anyone except Basketball players. Really?
Two local AT&T stores are currently sold out on this device. It's clearly selling. Zach should probably give up writing reviews and stick to opinion pieces.
http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/22/samsung-galaxy-note-review-the-smartphone-that-samsunged-samsung/
I've seen worse,
Is this the same review we discussed here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1495972
Edit: I see it has today's date. Guess he decided trashing it twice was better than once.
Yeah the initial review they did was pretty garbage, par for their site I guess, that's why I don't waste my time with them.
yeah the initial review was the "I've seen worse" lol
this is the same as seen in another thread. bgr are iphone fanboys anyhow.
unless you own an iphone there is no sense in even visiting that site..besides i think all the reviewwers there have freakishly small hands like the BK commercial..
Short man syndrome.
MrDSL said:
unless you own an iphone there is no sense in even visiting that site..besides i think all the reviewwers there have freakishly small hands like the BK commercial..
Short man syndrome.
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Careful with the short man syndrome stuff... I got some small hands, am a short man, and would not give up the Note for anything! Why would I? I can use a tablet with any problems, I should definitely be able to use the Galaxy Note...
you know i honestly wonder if apple pays for sites like that.
Oh I dunno...he did stick with that stupid "they'll laugh at you". And if you're a fanatic of wanting to easily do things with just one hand, maybe the Note isn't for you. But almost the entire review was him praising the Note. I think the only other thing he was critical of was he wished they'd made the screen more smudge proof like on the S2.
But he did say if you wanted a large phone that would attract attention or a small tab, then this was def the phone for you. So I'm not exactly how biased against the phone he's being like Geller or whatever his name is.
I will say that this phone does indeed attract attention. My high school and middle school students were freaked out when they saw it on Mon and Tues. And the fellow teachers all wanted to play with it. I had it at the gym and a lot of people that saw it came up and asked what it was. A large percentage of them really liked it and were thinking about getting one because of the large screen to browse the web, play games, and work with files, etc.
I think not being able to text neatly with one hand is well worth all the benefits of this phone.
drksilenc said:
you know i honestly wonder if apple pays for sites like that.
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I have seen strange things when it comes to competition in the market place.
That is all I am going to say....
codeworks said:
Careful with the short man syndrome stuff... I got some small hands, am a short man, and would not give up the Note for anything! Why would I? I can use a tablet with any problems, I should definitely be able to use the Galaxy Note...
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I meant no offense..
I'm believe the fact that I can't do a lot of things one handed easily as a bonus now. More times then not it simply stops me from using my phone when I really shouldn't.
Unfortunately, we are still living in an Apple world. It seems like more and more people are switching, and realizing that they've been duped into having a company tell them what's best for them. BGR is still under that company's spell.
This review wasn't nearly as bad as Johnathon's, but complaining about the size of smart phones nowadays is getting ridiculous. I could understand if it was an enormous brick, but it's more thin than the iP4.
Basically at this point, it does help to make a list of websites that are Apple-infested...and to avoid them completely. Obviously each click to their sites benefits them..so yeah.
I didn't bother opening the article...but seems like this other BGR guy also said no ones gonna buy the Note.
Based on 3 nearby at&t stores that I stopped by, they're currently sold out. When I asked them what kinds of people bought it, they said surprisingly iPhone people made the switch cuz they wanted the extra screen estate that's offered.
It really was a pretty fair review all the way up to the "size" paragraph. It will be hilarious looking back at the biased "journalism" of BGR and other iphanboi sites when the Note is finally recognized as a truly trendsetting device in about a year.
Sent from Tapatalk Pro on my Samsung Galaxy Note™, an AT&T LTE smartphone
this is exactly like the evo was a few years back. everyone thought it was massive. now its the standard
techntrek said:
Is this the same review we discussed here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1495972
Edit: I see it has today's date. Guess he decided trashing it twice was better than once.
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Exactly! I thought that his first post about the Note was ridiculous! He must have baby hands! That site is an iMachine anyway!
kiltedthrower said:
But he did say if you wanted a large phone that would attract attention or a small tab, then this was def the phone for you. So I'm not exactly how biased against the phone he's being like Geller or whatever his name is.
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He's still making fun of the phone/people that buy it with that statement. It's not even remotely a positive comment.
giantenemybird said:
He's still making fun of the phone/people that buy it with that statement. It's not even remotely a positive comment.
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Then I guess you missed his comments on how he got a fulls day use out of one battery charge and how gorgeous the screen was and how fast it was and how nice the hardware looked? He actually listed a lot of good things about the Note.
And I don't see where he actually made fun of a person using the phone. He said it would attract attention and that it was a phone made for a basketball player but he never insulted anyone that would buy the phone. I think he even said if you shrunk it down about 20%, so that would drop it back down to around the 4.3/4.5" mark. So he's not exactly against phones larger than the iPhone.
kiltedthrower said:
Then I guess you missed his comments on how he got a fulls day use out of one battery charge and how gorgeous the screen was and how fast it was and how nice the hardware looked? He actually listed a lot of good things about the Note.
And I don't see where he actually made fun of a person using the phone. He said it would attract attention and that it was a phone made for a basketball player but he never insulted anyone that would buy the phone. I think he even said if you shrunk it down about 20%, so that would drop it back down to around the 4.3/4.5" mark. So he's not exactly against phones larger than the iPhone.
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From his original "review" and his dumb comments on his twitter account, I honestly think he just threw in a couple of positives after taking so much heat for his original assessment so that he could look less biased. Just my opinion/theory.
I got mine as promised from T-Mobile this morning. I have been with Verizon since before they were Verizon (pre-Cingular days even) but lately the reception on my phone has been getting worse and worse at my house in Mar Vista, and in other places around Los Angeles, although the *LTE*has always been very good at my workplaces in Culver City and El Segundo...but not so much at home.
I've had a succession of HTC Rezounds for several years, and while it was a great phone, it was definitely showing it's age.
I've always liked Sense and HTC in general so when I started reading reviews on the One, it sounded like the phone I'd been thinking about.
Thing is, I have a grandfathered unlimited data plan with VZW, so I was waiting for *any* sign they were going to bring the One on before the end of the summer, but so far it doesn't look good ( and even if they DO announce it at the end of May, they are notoriously slow with this stuff).
I was hoping perhaps a newer phone would help my reception issues at home as well.
Last weekend though, I had the unfortunate experience of having a very important call get dropped, and I decided that was it. I would try another carrier (but keep the VZW account until I was sure of things)
Unfortunately, One's are scarcer than hen's teeth here in L.A stores, so I was forced for the first time to order a phone, sight unseen, just videos, pics and the like, a bit of a leap of faith.
T-Mobile had better, less restrictive deals than AT+T and I wanted to buy the phone outright in case things didn't work out I could sell it later on.
T-Mobile also had them in stock for new signers so that was also a factor. I was a bit concerned because AT+T had already started their LTE rollout, while T-Mobiles is behind and won't hit L.A. till early summer supposedly, but many forum posters were getting extremely good HSPA+ speeds in L.A., certainly better than I was getting at my house on VZW's true LTE anyway, so I went with them. Plus they could get to me by Tuesday.
So, today being Tuesday, it arrived as expected. Didn't get the car dock but oh well.
At first I was a little underwhelmed, the inevitable anticlimax when you realize it's not going to be shining like wet platinum as angels sing while you lift it out of the box, but merely another typical mobile device unboxing, cardboard, plastic, paper, etc.
I must say though that the packaging seems very minimal and eco-friendly, so kudos to HTC on that one.
So on to the phone. It is, in a word, serious.
When you pick it up there is not doubt that some very talented people spent a long time figuring out how to make this the most serious, thin, dense, slick piece of hardware you ever laid eyes and hands and ears on.
At first I was a little peeved because T-Mobile didnt have the black variant like AT+T, but now that I've got the silver/white one, I am glad I didn't get the black. It's elegant without being flashy, designed without being ostentatious.
Maybe not as much as the iPhone5, but pretty damn close in terms of minimalist aesthetic. And if you like metal baby, well this is the phone for you.
So, you take it out, no battery or sd card to put in like on every other HTC phone I've ever had. Kind of nice, I've never gotten anywhere near 32gigs anyway so who needs another slot.
The battery of course, is always a different story. But the 2300mh battery in the One puts on a good show, for most of the day at least. Certainly blows doors on the Rezound, who's battery
was never one of it's strong points anyway.
So, turn it on, set it up, same usual HTC setup stuff, nothing remarkable.
Sense 5. Generally, I like it. At first I was a bit pissed because things are very different in many areas, especially new menu UI's that are a little hidden if you don't know the drag-down-there-it-is trick.
But it only took an hour or two to figure it all out and most of it makes sense (ahh) in an evolutionary way. I'm still getting into the corners but mostly it's quite do-able.
Speed.
Many have used the word "butter". Many have also used the word "iPhone5". Probably because it's the closest any Android phone has ever gotten to the whisper-smooth, completely fine-tuned, hardware-accellerated no-lag wonder that is IOS on a iPhone5.
(before you light the torches, I have never owned an iphone or macbook and am not an apple person at all.) But any one can see that IOS has some serious advantages over the competition in that arena.
Until now.
So, yeah, it's smooth like butter, clean slick UI, and almost entirely lag-free; the only thing that made it stutter was a new tower defense game with heavy graphics and hundreds of on-screen enemies, but I think it would have made an iPhone5 stutter too.
Apparently HTC made a deal last year with Apple for something or the other, and now its looking like maybe it was for some butter. I do wish they had swapped the home and back buttons so my right thumb didnt have to reach all the way across the phone, but that's a relatively minor (right handed) complaint.
But hey, you say, what about the reception? At your house, remember the whole reason you went down this road? And what about at work?
Well, here's where it gets interesting.
When I got it this morning at work, I immediately ran a speed test and was disappointed to see it was around 1.1D .9U on HSPA+. My office in Culver City is a big multistory affair of the modern style, and the VZW Rezound gets good LTE data there, usually around 9-10D 2U. The One, not so much.
But when I got home, well, then the whole love affair really got going. Incredible reception, and data in the 15-20D 5U range! Now, this of course has something to do with the cell tower two blocks from my house that went up a couple of years ago, and which until today did me exactly zero amount of good apparently. Now I know who owns that tower, and it's not Verizon. So, the tradeoff for now is home vs. work, but its not contest because I need to actually HEAR and TALK to people first and foremost, and now I can.
I just want to emphasize that one of the things that makes this phone interesting is that IMHO it's different that most anything else Android coming out these days. The construction is, like I said, a serious affair. The tolerances are reasonably high. The metal has this curious sense of being tough and refined at the same time. The weight and size are, for my hands, just right.
It's heavy, but not too heavy. Wide, but not too wide.
It is, in the words of Goldilocks, just right.
Yeah, it's a Goldilocks phone alright.
I think I'll keep it.
I actually read the whole thing. Good job.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
thanks! The more I use it, the more I like it.
It is truly an amazing piece of kit, probably the best Android phone ever.
Nice thanks for the write up! I nice to hear honest opinions from someone who came from another network!
hm amazing review, JB gives it a thumbs up!
Great review - now I hope it comes to Verizon next week! I don't have the option of switching carriers and my Galaxy Nexus is showing its age.
RyanTX said:
Great review - now I hope it comes to Verizon next week! I don't have the option of switching carriers and my Galaxy Nexus is showing its age.
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I have seen no reviews on a Verizon version. It would go to the review sites before launch.
LTE just got turned on in Los Angeles, much sooner than I expected!
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
kiint said:
I got mine as promised from T-Mobile this morning. I have been with Verizon since before they were Verizon (pre-Cingular days even) but lately the reception on my phone has been getting worse and worse at my house in Mar Vista, and in other places around Los Angeles, although the *LTE*has always been very good at my workplaces in Culver City and El Segundo...but not so much at home.
I've had a succession of HTC Rezounds for several years, and while it was a great phone, it was definitely showing it's age.
I've always liked Sense and HTC in general so when I started reading reviews on the One, it sounded like the phone I'd been thinking about.
Thing is, I have a grandfathered unlimited data plan with VZW, so I was waiting for *any* sign they were going to bring the One on before the end of the summer, but so far it doesn't look good ( and even if they DO announce it at the end of May, they are notoriously slow with this stuff).
I was hoping perhaps a newer phone would help my reception issues at home as well.
Last weekend though, I had the unfortunate experience of having a very important call get dropped, and I decided that was it. I would try another carrier (but keep the VZW account until I was sure of things)
Unfortunately, One's are scarcer than hen's teeth here in L.A stores, so I was forced for the first time to order a phone, sight unseen, just videos, pics and the like, a bit of a leap of faith.
T-Mobile had better, less restrictive deals than AT+T and I wanted to buy the phone outright in case things didn't work out I could sell it later on.
T-Mobile also had them in stock for new signers so that was also a factor. I was a bit concerned because AT+T had already started their LTE rollout, while T-Mobiles is behind and won't hit L.A. till early summer supposedly, but many forum posters were getting extremely good HSPA+ speeds in L.A., certainly better than I was getting at my house on VZW's true LTE anyway, so I went with them. Plus they could get to me by Tuesday.
So, today being Tuesday, it arrived as expected. Didn't get the car dock but oh well.
At first I was a little underwhelmed, the inevitable anticlimax when you realize it's not going to be shining like wet platinum as angels sing while you lift it out of the box, but merely another typical mobile device unboxing, cardboard, plastic, paper, etc.
I must say though that the packaging seems very minimal and eco-friendly, so kudos to HTC on that one.
So on to the phone. It is, in a word, serious.
When you pick it up there is not doubt that some very talented people spent a long time figuring out how to make this the most serious, thin, dense, slick piece of hardware you ever laid eyes and hands and ears on.
At first I was a little peeved because T-Mobile didnt have the black variant like AT+T, but now that I've got the silver/white one, I am glad I didn't get the black. It's elegant without being flashy, designed without being ostentatious.
Maybe not as much as the iPhone5, but pretty damn close in terms of minimalist aesthetic. And if you like metal baby, well this is the phone for you.
So, you take it out, no battery or sd card to put in like on every other HTC phone I've ever had. Kind of nice, I've never gotten anywhere near 32gigs anyway so who needs another slot.
The battery of course, is always a different story. But the 2300mh battery in the One puts on a good show, for most of the day at least. Certainly blows doors on the Rezound, who's battery
was never one of it's strong points anyway.
So, turn it on, set it up, same usual HTC setup stuff, nothing remarkable.
Sense 5. Generally, I like it. At first I was a bit pissed because things are very different in many areas, especially new menu UI's that are a little hidden if you don't know the drag-down-there-it-is trick.
But it only took an hour or two to figure it all out and most of it makes sense (ahh) in an evolutionary way. I'm still getting into the corners but mostly it's quite do-able.
Speed.
Many have used the word "butter". Many have also used the word "iPhone5". Probably because it's the closest any Android phone has ever gotten to the whisper-smooth, completely fine-tuned, hardware-accellerated no-lag wonder that is IOS on a iPhone5.
(before you light the torches, I have never owned an iphone or macbook and am not an apple person at all.) But any one can see that IOS has some serious advantages over the competition in that arena.
Until now.
So, yeah, it's smooth like butter, clean slick UI, and almost entirely lag-free; the only thing that made it stutter was a new tower defense game with heavy graphics and hundreds of on-screen enemies, but I think it would have made an iPhone5 stutter too.
Apparently HTC made a deal last year with Apple for something or the other, and now its looking like maybe it was for some butter. I do wish they had swapped the home and back buttons so my right thumb didnt have to reach all the way across the phone, but that's a relatively minor (right handed) complaint.
But hey, you say, what about the reception? At your house, remember the whole reason you went down this road? And what about at work?
Well, here's where it gets interesting.
When I got it this morning at work, I immediately ran a speed test and was disappointed to see it was around 1.1D .9U on HSPA+. My office in Culver City is a big multistory affair of the modern style, and the VZW Rezound gets good LTE data there, usually around 9-10D 2U. The One, not so much.
But when I got home, well, then the whole love affair really got going. Incredible reception, and data in the 15-20D 5U range! Now, this of course has something to do with the cell tower two blocks from my house that went up a couple of years ago, and which until today did me exactly zero amount of good apparently. Now I know who owns that tower, and it's not Verizon. So, the tradeoff for now is home vs. work, but its not contest because I need to actually HEAR and TALK to people first and foremost, and now I can.
I just want to emphasize that one of the things that makes this phone interesting is that IMHO it's different that most anything else Android coming out these days. The construction is, like I said, a serious affair. The tolerances are reasonably high. The metal has this curious sense of being tough and refined at the same time. The weight and size are, for my hands, just right.
It's heavy, but not too heavy. Wide, but not too wide.
It is, in the words of Goldilocks, just right.
Yeah, it's a Goldilocks phone alright.
I think I'll keep it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I laughed. I cried. I bought a One.
Great review.
Happened yesterday in fact. My eyes popped while I was driving.