Phones Which new phone?

[Bodhi]

<sigh>

Does Android have 'proper' applications that you can do meaningful work on? No, they are apps, light applications with limited use on platforms with very limited processing power. Yes it has MXplayer but there is quite alot of stuff it doesn't play and even then you are reliant on a version that works on your ARM implementation without even addressing if the GPU is properly supported. x86 and Win8 will do away with that by having a more unified driver model unlike the fragmented mess that is Android. x86 coding is also the most widely used and understood on the planet, stuff like VLC/XBMC/MPC and a *billion other programs can be quickly and easily ported due to already using an x86 codebase and DirectX coded graphics.

As time goes on Android is only becoming more fragmented, apps only supporting Jellybean are already appearing and it is a problem that grows with every new release. With Win 8 Microsoft control the entire eco-system, much like Apple do with theirs, this offers increased compatability but also increased performance because they aren't having to support dozens of different flavours and versions. Then you have the Intel factor, they will have 22nm down to a fine art before anyone else in just a few months time infact, better still their 14nm process is already at a highly advance stage and will be ready for primetime in under 2 years, that will be at least 18 months before any other FAB owning chip maker on the planet. The smaller processes offer higher clockspeeds at lower power, in short order they will have mobile parts that obliterate anything ARM can have manufactured for them by 3rd parties. Yes there is x86 for Android and it works fine but we are all well aware that Intel and Microsoft have a huge agenda to keep x86 alive, their fortunes are very much tied together. Windows Phone on x86 is always going to be superior to Android on x86 for that reason, without Intel there could be no Windows and without Windows Intel would be a much smaller entity.

My point about Bluetooth keyboards and mice connected to my phone which is connected to my TV via mini-hdmi remains, it will most likely be the only phone platform with the possibility of real applications that business demands with the MS Office Suite. Now that Microsoft are in the phone and tablet business they are not going to share the crown jewels until they retain a serious share of the mobile market.

If you aren't excited then fine, I am not going to argue the point with you, each to their own. What I am doing is extolling the virtues of an x86 phone platform with high performance and a Windows based O/S.

Call me old fashioned, but if I want to get some serious work done in a situation where there is a large TV available, I will just hook my works laptop up to the big screen? And as my comapny uses Google for most of their internal systems, if I want to get some work done on the go there are plenty of Android apps which will suffice.

The rest is just Apple style blithering but without the shiny shiny. i.e what is the fucking point?

So no. I am not excited.

 

[cHodAX]

And those with no laptop or those than don't want a laptop or the expense of buying one? Those people who want a single tech item that does it all and yet fits in the pocket during the day but becomes a viable work machine at home? Don't tell me there isn't a market for it when the truth is that eventually all mainstream computing will be done this way. Good enough mobile devices with low power draw and a superb range of functionality. It has already started with the tablet market but the markups have meant that it has not caught fire yet. As soon as people can do everything they need on a phone it is going to be fucking huge.

As for google productivity apps, lol seriously? They are rotten, you cannot work with Office during the day and Google Apps at night, the compatability problems and lack of features are horrendous. Most bosses would laugh you out the door. MS Office is the defacto standard in business for a reason.

 

[Raven]

If sony had that he would be cumming all over his fingers by now.

 

[Bodhi]

And those with no laptop or those than don't want a laptop or the expense of buying one? Those people who want a single tech item that does it all and yet fits in the pocket during the day but becomes a viable work machine at home? Don't tell me there isn't a market for it when the truth is that eventually all mainstream computing will be done this way. Good enough mobile devices with low power draw and a superb range of functionality. It has already started with the tablet market but the markups have meant that it has not caught fire yet. As soon as people can do everything they need on a phone it is going to be fucking huge.

As for google productivity apps, lol seriously? They are rotten, you cannot work with Office during the day and Google Apps at night, the compatability problems and lack of features are horrendous. Most bosses would laugh you out the door. MS Office is the defacto standard in business for a reason.

Yep, that's why we use Office as well. However we also use Google Docs for collaboration, Gmail and Google Calendars instead of outlook. All of which mean I can "get some proper work done" on any device I choose, be it my works laptop (so was provided free of charge), the iPad (if I can be bothered to get it out the bag), the Tablet S or my phone. Would I want one device to do it all? No. That sounds like a shit idea.

 

[Bodhi]

If sony had that he would be cumming all over his fingers by now.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Probably not no. As it is still a shit idea, you aids ridden monkey fondler.

 

[soze]

One thing Bodhi is good for is putting your own fan boy status in perspective.

Having 1 device being a bad idea instead of 4 is pure madness other than the battery dying I can't see how 1 device that can do everything is not a better idea.

 

[Poag]

As for google productivity apps, lol seriously? They are rotten, you cannot work with Office during the day and Google Apps at night, the compatability problems and lack of features are horrendous. Most bosses would laugh you out the door. MS Office is the defacto standard in business for a reason.

Yep, they are the defacto standard. Because the people with the knowledge aren't those who make the decisions.

Those who make the decision are making it based on what they are used to. I dont use office at work. I use GApps, or OpenOffice due to MSOffice being a bag of shit.
Theres a 300 page document on my network drive, its critical, i work from it everyday while i'm testing this JSE feed. if i try to open it in office i can go the coffee machine...discuss some aspect of a feed, circle the office a few times then come back and it might have finished. GApps or OpenOffice...30 seconds..tops...dont believe me? I'll get Jup down here and he can look at it over my shoulder if that'll help.


And regarding an "all in one" device. They already exist. There are droid phones that are a phone, you can then drop it into the back of a laptop and it'll power the laptop, you can drop it into a docing station and all its docs are available on a PC. The reason people dont use a phone as a laptop is efficiency. Using a phoen to type is extremely inefficiant until you reach about 7" sizes, and even then a keyboard will still pwn you.

You are talking about something that already exists, it didn't take off due to people not wanting to put all there stuff in one bag. They want something that will keep all the devices in sync. So they can word process on a PC, work on the train home..and then while standing in the coffee shop...make a quick edit and send to document onto someone else. Thats what people want...and thats why everyone is trying to launch one that works properly. iCloud was awful. Skydrive is mediocre at best, the onyl one that works reasonable well is GDrive and even then when it first came out it was fkin dire. But its been around for the longest...so its fixed most of its faults.

When it first laucnhed I never got a word doc to import properly granted.
Nowdays, i never get one NOT import properly, or export.

 

[Poag]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/18/fox_iphone_laser_keyboard/


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH0NBeus1CQ


God damn it Americans...stop being so dumb! You're making the rest of us look bad by association!

 

[Bodhi]

One thing Bodhi is good for is putting your own fan boy status in perspective.

Having 1 device being a bad idea instead of 4 is pure madness other than the battery dying I can't see how 1 device that can do everything is not a better idea.

Ever heard the phrase Jack of all trades, master of none? And this has nothing to do with being a fanboy. Sony could make such a device and stick a BMW badge, I would still think it's a rubbish idea.

 

[MYstIC G]

Personally Merrifield is exciting. The OSes that run on it though I sincerely doubt will be limited to just Windows.

I see no benefit to Intel to continuing the "Wintel" partnership going forwards, Intel have got the goods and can get them everywhere, they don't need Microsoft anymore.

Merrifield Android phone please!

Also, who the fuck ever hooks their phone up to a TV?

 

[cHodAX]

Personally Merrifield is exciting. The OSes that run on it though I sincerely doubt will be limited to just Windows.

I see no benefit to Intel to continuing the "Wintel" partnership going forwards, Intel have got the goods and can get them everywhere, they don't need Microsoft anymore.

Merrifield Android phone please!

Also, who the fuck ever hooks their phone up to a TV?

No mate you need to look at the computing market as a whole. Something like 400 million x86 Windows boxes are shifted every year, it accounts for 90% of Intel's revenue and a sizeable portion of Microsoft's too. At every level they are tied together, server, desktop, client, laptop, ultrabook, netbook, tablet and soon to be phone. Where one succeeds they both succeed. Windows will dominate the business world for at least another 20 years purely because big business does not want to move away from a proven entity.

Hooking phone up to a TV? Well I do it with my tablet on a daily basis, be it working away or at home. For gaming and work. Bluetooth my PS3 controller and off we go.

 

[MYstIC G]

We disagree. I buy an Intel chip because it pisses all over the competition. No doubt that windows is the dominant OS but that's irrelevant to my point.

Intel doesn't need Microsoft, Windows is most successful but it's not the only horse anymore, the same as Microsoft introducing ARM tablets.

 

[Zenith.UK]

Personally Merrifield is exciting. The OSes that run on it though I sincerely doubt will be limited to just Windows.

I see no benefit to Intel to continuing the "Wintel" partnership going forwards, Intel have got the goods and can get them everywhere, they don't need Microsoft anymore.

Merrifield Android phone please!

Also, who the fuck ever hooks their phone up to a TV?

I've hooked my phone up to my TV to see if it will play properly. 1080p MKV played back without a stutter or dropped frame.

 

[caLLous]

I started using Google Apps about a month ago to keep a couple of spreadsheets with me and it's bliss. When it's all together as Google Drive (which I believe has just happened), and I can access and edit files from just about any device under the sun, I don't see any reason why I would be fussed about not having access to MS Office.

 

[old.user4556]

http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-wp-8x/

I like it.

 

[Lamp]

My Mrs old phone - the HTC Wildfire felt REALLY nice in the hand. It was quite weighty, lovely smooth kind of brushed steel copper stuff on the back, flat surface but nice roundy edges. Felt reassuringly solid. I still love holding it. If HTC brought out an Android phone better than the SGS2, and kept that heavier, but beautifully finished exterior, I'd be tempted TBH. Stick a large screen and a stylus on it, and I'm sold.

 

[old.user4556]

My iPhone 5 has arrived.

 

[caLLous]

I'm so jelly.

 

[old.user4556]

It jumped out of the box and pleasured me, hoovered my house and made me a sandwich.

 

[Ormorof]

i use google drive extensively, but at work the implementation and upgrade costs for any software (not to mention training + compatability with other apps) means the guys in the HQ making the decisions stick with what people know - Windows + Office - its used extensively in schools, unis etc all over the world and until that changes big business will stick with it

That said i dont doubt it makes much more sense to use opensource/cheaper software for smaller businesses where you can train all your employees in an afternoon sesh without this costing millions.

I currently have a HTC Wildfire and will be upgrading in coming months - I loved this little phone and am slightly worried about getting a bigger one as all the newer android phones look massive

 

[PLightstar]

I currently have a HTC Wildfire and will be upgrading in coming months - I loved this little phone and am slightly worried about getting a bigger one as all the newer android phones look massive

Theres plenty of options for you, of all shapes and sizes. Best thing to do is walk into a phone shop and feel all the phones.

 

[eksdee]

Got the iPhone 5 at work. Meh at best. A lot lighter, but otherwise I can't see a reason anyone would 'upgrade' to it.

 

[old.user4556]

My honest appraisal so far is thus:

- if you've got an iPhone 4S, don't bother unless you're an Apple cunt who needs the latest fanboy bragging rights.

- it is noticeably lighter and thinner than my iPhone 4. It's also bigger, without feeling bigger. Apple got that bit right by not making it wider.

- it's ridiculously faster than the iPhone 4 via Safari and how quickly pages take to load. That in itself is something that was night and day obvious.

- the camera is substantially better than the iPhone 4.

- the satin aluminium black is gorgeous, much prefer it to the gloss / stainless steel of the iPhone 4.

- the iPhone 5 is what the iPhone 4S should have been, this handset is about 8-12 months too late.

- it makes the Samsung Galaxy S3 look like a cheap fake from a Thailand market. You can keep your shiny plastic "too wide for most people's hands" shite.

If you've got a 3GS or 4, it's a worthwhile upgrade. It takes the best of those handsets and improves, but only in a subtle way.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

It jumped out of the box and pleasured me, hoovered my house and made me a sandwich.

I'm surprised it found the kitchen tbh.

 

[Raven]

My honest appraisal so far is thus:

- if you've got an iPhone 4S, don't bother unless you're an Apple cunt who needs the latest fanboy bragging rights.

- it is noticeably lighter and thinner than my iPhone 4. It's also bigger, without feeling bigger. Apple got that bit right by not making it wider.

- it's ridiculously faster than the iPhone 4 via Safari and how quickly pages take to load. That in itself is something that was night and day obvious.

- the camera is substantially better than the iPhone 4.

- the satin aluminium black is gorgeous, much prefer it to the gloss / stainless steel of the iPhone 4.

- the iPhone 5 is what the iPhone 4S should have been, this handset is about 8-12 months too late.

- it makes the Samsung Galaxy S3 look like a cheap fake from a Thailand market. You can keep your shiny plastic "too wide for most people's hands" shite.

If you've got a 3GS or 4, it's a worthwhile upgrade. It takes the best of those handsets and improves, but only in a subtle way.

Tell us about the fantastic map!

 

[old.user4556]

I can't, I tried using maps, but I got virulent AIDS and died right there on the spot.

Heaven is a wonderful place, Steve Jobs is here, he says "Maps LOL".

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Steve Jobs in heaven, now THAT'S a "LOL"

 

[old.user4556]

So I was saying that the Galaxy S3 was cheap plastic shite.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M5q5TRuAsY


That's bound to have both sets of fanboys foaming at the mouth. But... but! It's got FIVE GIGADERP CPUS... but...but...!

 

[Aoami]

im really glad i paid half the money of an s3 and bought an s2 a couple of months back. It does pretty much everything you could need from a phone and is way less ugly.

 

[Lamp]

I wouldn't fancy dropping my SGS2 from above my head! Don't think it would survive too well