Well la-dee-da. I finally bit the bullet so to speak and shelled out some cash for the upgrade of my life.I’m exaggerating, but it’s actually what it feels like after using this thing for the past two weeks.
However, I did not get the glory of glories, the iPhone 4. Oh that Great White Buffalo of the Mac fanboys and the average joe. I for one, only know of two people who have successfully purchased the iPhone 4. My brother is not one of those, and I’ve witnessed his daily routine since July 30 of calling (or harrassing) the hapless Rogers reps at the Scarborough Town Centre Rogers Plus.
I opted for an HTC Legend. That’s right. I went Android.
Anyone who knows me knows I’ve been wanting an iPhone for a very long time. Actually since they’ve been available to the Canadian public, I’ve coveted the aesthetic of the design and the convenience of the mobile web. But, researching the difference between each of the three (four, if you count Windows 7 upcoming release) big mobile OS, reviews and updates of Android were impressing me.
Why? Mostly because it was open. The hardware developed for the OS was also open. If I needed to replace a battery I could do it myself. If I wanted to replace the SIM or change carriers I could do this myself (iPhone users – correct me if I’m wrong here). It seems more nimble to be open source, where updates are much more frequent and needed changes seem to be executed in a much more expedited manner.
So far, the features (both hardware and OS) I like best are:
Operating System
1. No need to jailbreak. Android may not have as many apps in their marketplace, it’s quickly growing, mostly due to the fact that developers do not need to go through the approval hoops that’s required for the App Store on iTunes.
2. Multi-tasking. I’m sure my phone will slow down like any smartphone or computer over time, but right of the box this phone processes tasks at a cut-rate speed. Going from using the Twitter app, to texting to actually taking a phone a call was a snap.
3. Frequent updates to the OS. My phone came with 2.1 and there’s already 2.2 soon to be released.
4. Switching from WiFi to mobile data. I learned yesterday that you can’t simply turn off data from your iPhone or BB. Something I’ve taken for granted already.
To be honest, since I’m not a developer I don’t see much different now between the operating systems especially since Apple release the iOS4. But as I get more acquainted with the technology.
The phone.
1. The build of the phone itself. I love the single body, alumium design. it just feels so sturdy and durable, like I can drop then kick it down the other end of a subway and it have but a mere scratch (something which, I have actually done before to a phone. And it survived. That’s my benchmark for strength). This phone’s a tough little Tonka Truck.
2. UI. Love, love, love the UI of the phone. It’s intuitive, simple and easy to use.
3. Camera. TO many, the quality would be lacking, but the built-in flash gives pictures a neat, washed out quality that I happen to enjoy. Plenty of features, 5.0 megapixels. Don’t expect to replace your point-and-shoot with this phone though.
Some things I’d like to see improved.
1. Display in daylight. If you don’t have turned up to 11, it’s brutal to view in daylight. The brightness of the screen and colours become redundant. I frequently have to go indoors to see what I’m doing. If I don’t, I’ll destroy the battery.
2. Battery life. The Achilles Heel of smartphones. No special allowances on battery life here. Get into the habit of bringing your charger everywhere.
3. Redundant apps. Like all Android-featured phones, HTC has developed their own default apps like FriendStream and HTC Peep for Twitter. FriendStream worked well but quickly became redundant and I prefer Twitter’s own app to HTC Peep. It’s a bit slow, clunky and crashed frequently.
I’m just finding that I love this phone a lot, faults and all. I’m also loving having the web at my finger tips. Like Wayne and the Stratacaster, it was finally mine.
