Thinking of getting a surround thoughts please - Surround General

I am thinking of getting the surround how is it I really think Windows phone 7 will take off tired of android and ios does it have good gps apps like navigon or tom tom like ios and Android has
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

I have had buyers remorse every since I got mine. Zune media player is the only good thing about wp7.

It does have good navigation apps in bing maps and gmaps. It won't have turn-by-turn until the mango update hits. I've enjoyed WP7, and I also have a Samsung Captivate.
Here is my initial take on the device:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/cell...2-ios-android-windows-phone-7-comparison.html
And here is my CNET review:
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones...essageID=10102772&tag=contentMain;contentBody
The surround was not my first choice in Windows phone. My dream WP7 was the Dell Venue Pro. When I pulled the trigger on the Surround, it wa only b/c the DVP was not scheduled to come to AT&T anytime soon. I was actually about to get a Samsung FOcus, but the Surround was available for $1 so I got that instead. It is not a decision that I regretted. HTC has the best WP7 phones. Even now that I have a Dell Venue Pro, I stil miss the HTC exclusive apps. The only con I have for the surround is the screen. If you are used to AMOLED and Retina displays the surround screen will look faded. The difference is like watching an SD tv once you're used to HD. The screen quality wasn't worth the price difference for me, though.

more info on WP7 navigation
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1071066

ycode90 said:
I have had buyers remorse every since I got mine. Zune media player is the only good thing about wp7.
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Click to collapse
I pulled the trigger and i really like the surround and windows phone 7 it is smooth i have always had a zune so now i have phone and zune in one i love it definately putting the inspire 4g on ebay i am going to stick with windows mobile can't wait for mango.

macjr82 said:
It does have good navigation apps in bing maps and gmaps. It won't have turn-by-turn until the mango update hits. I've enjoyed WP7, and I also have a Samsung Captivate.
Here is my initial take on the device:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/cell...2-ios-android-windows-phone-7-comparison.html
And here is my CNET review:
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones...essageID=10102772&tag=contentMain;contentBody
The surround was not my first choice in Windows phone. My dream WP7 was the Dell Venue Pro. When I pulled the trigger on the Surround, it wa only b/c the DVP was not scheduled to come to AT&T anytime soon. I was actually about to get a Samsung FOcus, but the Surround was available for $1 so I got that instead. It is not a decision that I regretted. HTC has the best WP7 phones. Even now that I have a Dell Venue Pro, I stil miss the HTC exclusive apps. The only con I have for the surround is the screen. If you are used to AMOLED and Retina displays the surround screen will look faded. The difference is like watching an SD tv once you're used to HD. The screen quality wasn't worth the price difference for me, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i did get the surround and like it and htc does make the best phones if you ask me i am not turned off by it not have amoled but it would be nice the camera is good and i like how smooth os is it definately has potential just needs more major apps i can't beleive my bank chase isn't even in the app store seeing that it is on all of the other platforms come on but i am sure it will come i do have a question is the dell better built than the surround or is the only thing it has going for it is the amoled screen what about size and thickness and speaker.

phonejunkie30 said:
I pulled the trigger and i really like the surround and windows phone 7 it is smooth i have always had a zune so now i have phone and zune in one i love it definately putting the inspire 4g on ebay i am going to stick with windows mobile can't wait for mango.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm new to Zune and I like it . The UI on wp7 is nice . I'm just put off by all the bugs and shortcomings . Ms should have waited to release it till it was at least as feature rich as the competition. I'll trade you a near perfect surround for the Inspire .

my inspire is already in ebay for sale
Sent from my HTC Surround using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

phonejunkie30 said:
i did get the surround and like it and htc does make the best phones if you ask me i am not turned off by it not have amoled but it would be nice the camera is good and i like how smooth os is it definately has potential just needs more major apps i can't beleive my bank chase isn't even in the app store seeing that it is on all of the other platforms come on but i am sure it will come i do have a question is the dell better built than the surround or is the only thing it has going for it is the amoled screen what about size and thickness and speaker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dell: 4.8" x 2.5" x 0.60" - 6.8oz
Surround: 4.71" x 2.42" x 0.51" - 5.82oz
I have not handled the Dell but it looks like a very nice device. But looks are not everything. The device has been plagued with issues since launch associated with the memory card and countless firmware problems. Users are still waiting for Dell to issue a firmware update. While some users have stated their DVP works fine, I wouldn't be willing to take the risk. Don't know about the speaker, but how can you compare anything to the Surround speaker.

Related

HTC Touch Pro 2, or HTC Touch HD?

Hey guys new member of the forum i will soon be getting a new phone and it will be either the Touch Pro 2 or the Touch HD. I'm not sure which one to get as i can live without a hardware keyboard which makes the device slimmer and easier to hold, but the question is what is the difference between the 2 phones? are they running the exact same software with the same features etc etc? if they operate exactly the same the HD looks nicer in my opinion, this will be my first time owning a windows mobile, will both phones get the same updates/custom roms. Other peoples opinions on these phones would be a great help, thanks in advance.
Sorry if this is not the correct section to be posting this.
If it was me, I'd maybe hold out for the HTC Leo, the HD's successor
Another thread which is kinda similar regarding people asking what to get after the HD maybe worth a read
thanks for your reply i will have a read of that, the issue is my contract runs out soon and the Leo doesn't yet have a release date and will be getting a new phone the day my contract runs out as i can't get through the day without my phone lol.
Isn't much difference apart from the qwerty keyboard, screen size, D-pad and camera. Generally everything else is similar. Check both the specs and read the wiki for both devices, have a look at the rom forums on both to see whats available.
It would most likely come down what you want, or what your looking for in a device. Basically personal opinion.
TP2 every day in the week.
thanks for the feedback guys. Well i prefer a slightly bigger screen and a slimmer looking phone and find the TP2 to be a little bulky, but if the software is the same this helps a lot as i like the look of the software from the TP2 which will be the same on the HD.
ArtieQ said:
TP2 every day in the week.
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Click to collapse
could you maybe give some reasons on your view on why this would be the best choice? Thanks
The HD .. Huge screen .. and um... rather slim and cute looking .. I have a black silicone suround for it and mirror suraface.... and a huge screen with a huge resoultion .. did I mention that?
dgattenb said:
The HD .. Huge screen .. and um... rather slim and cute looking .. I have a black silicone suround for it and mirror suraface.... and a huge screen with a huge resoultion .. did I mention that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huge screen, but huge screen means less pixels = less quality. TP2 got a huge advantage when it comes down to screen resolution vs. HD. And the TP2 got a keyboard and 4 hardware buttons you can actually feel.
ArtieQ said:
Huge screen, but huge screen means less pixels = less quality. TP2 got a huge advantage when it comes down to screen resolution vs. HD.
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Click to collapse
You're kidding, right? TP2 and HD both have WVGA - you're not seriously telling me that the pixel density on the HD is not high enough? I doubt you could even tell the difference between the two concerning DPI!
And I'd rather have a larger screen than a smaller one - even if the higher DPI would make a difference... What's the use of having a higher DPI on a smaller screen?
Hd is better in music as it has 3.5 mm audio jack which means better sound quality and also hd is higher in price (the only issue is that hd will not get wm6.5 officially from htc ) but i think it will but htc does not announce that to sell alot of the recent devices
hoss_n2 said:
Hd is better in music as it has 3.5 mm audio jack which means better sound quality and also hd is higher in price (the only issue is that hd will not get wm6.5 officially from htc ) but i think it will but htc does not announce that to sell alot of the recent devices
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Touch HD, although it is in for repairs at the moment, and would consider the TP2 but the lack of a headphone jack is killing me. I live in the US and have not had a chance to play with the TP2. I have AT&T which I am assuming will not have the headphone jack like the Sprint and Verizon (CDMA) model has, Lucky Bastards!!! Anyway, that is what will probably stop me from getting the TP2.
I am sure there will be other options with a headphone jack in the future since HTC has made it clear that most future devices will have them. TP3?? I think they are a little sore from the lashing they took for not putting it in the TP2 which is clearly a great multimedia device. Kida like buying some of the original flat panel tv's that didn't have a TV tuner or speakers. Kinda defeats the purpose.
Well I personally recomend the Touch HD (not only for the reason that I have it and I love it ) when I was choosing my device I was looking for the bigest screen on the market as I like browsing the internet a lot and let me say this BIGGER IS BETTER when we are talking about PPC's nothing can change that also you get a cool design that gets the "WOW" effect from anyone and your pants will not fall to the ground when you are carying it in your pocket.It really depends on the person but for me if I have two phones with almost equal specifications I'll go for the bigger screen even if it is 0,1 inches bigger than the other one.Leo is probably my next device but I heard great things about TOSHIBA's TG01 4.1 inch monster with 1ghz proccessor that's only 10mm thick if you can get your hands on that (it's available in some areas) I would recommend that.
If you are only using one phone I would get the TP2. As I already have the E71 for emails etc I ordered the Touch HD yesterday as a semi tablet.
if it were me, id let my contract run out, continue using the service with your old phone until Leo is released, then upgrade if your carrier runs with the leo, if it doesnt id then upgrade to the most expencive phone they offer then leaving it in its box id flog it on ebay an use the money to buy the leo...
just my thoughts

Any advantages/regrets?

When the Leo was announced, the very first thing many of us that had the Touch HD did was compare the specs and:
1. Say how nice Leo was
2. (Like many) Say no thank you due to the fact that the Leo was bigger,.with no lens improvement...that it did not improve enough on the HD to warrant an upgrade...
So...to those.that did decide to upgrade from an HD...any regrets? What are they, and what are some of the advantages over upgrading?
No regrets at all.
There were four things that annnoyed me about the Touch HD:
- no camera flash
- slow processor
- no real hardware buttons
- resistive touchscreen (mine was faulty and needed even more pressure)
All those things have been fixed on the HD2. No drawbacks.
Thanks. Just kinda thinking about upgrading as well, but it's like playing jumprope, where one second guesses their decision to jump in...
no regrets from me either, but was sad to sell my hd.
I changed from an iPhone 3G and could not be happier
No regrets at all, and trust me, bigger is definitely better in this case
Not at all
I'm coming from HD (Blackstone) as well but don't have any regret, even that i've really loved that phone. Everything's better on HD 2. I've been playing with the Blackstone after a month of owning the HD 2: it was paintfull slow and the screen was suddenly small . There are many more to compare but from my point of view is nothing to regret coming from HD to HD 2 (exept for the price). Go for HD 2
I've also upgraded from blackstone to leo and the only regret I have is that my wife doesn't like my old blackstone anymore. She drives me crazy to buy a second HD2 for her. Thats the only regret I have )
I 'upgraded' from an iPhone. Generally I'm happy but my two regrets are:
- Syncing music works better with iTunes/iPhone. If there's a cover on iTunes, you know it will end up on your iPhone too. Having too many metadata issues with Leo I'm afraid.
- Apple brags about the appstore for a good reason. It rules. Windows Marketplace sucks and WinMo 6.5 is ugly as hell and not built for fingers. Bring on WinMo 7 ASAP.
laserviking said:
I 'upgraded' from an iPhone. Generally I'm happy but my two regrets are:
- Syncing music works better with iTunes/iPhone. If there's a cover on iTunes, you know it will end up on your iPhone too. Having too many metadata issues with Leo I'm afraid.
- Apple brags about the appstore for a good reason. It rules. Windows Marketplace sucks and WinMo 6.5 is ugly as hell and not built for fingers. Bring on WinMo 7 ASAP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ugraded from iphone 3G also, and have to say the HD2 is better now that I know what I'm doing a little more thanks to the help on this forum.
I had all sorts of issues with the music software, and getting tags and artwork to transfer onto the phone. I re-ripped everything as MP3 rather than WMA or M4a, and transfered all music files sing the HD2 as hard drive rather than through data sync and all works fine now. Artwork transfers across 100% of the time. I use monkey media on my PC to add any artwork that WMP can't find
laserviking said:
I 'upgraded' from an iPhone. Generally I'm happy but my two regrets are:
- Syncing music works better with iTunes/iPhone. If there's a cover on iTunes, you know it will end up on your iPhone too. Having too many metadata issues with Leo I'm afraid.
- Apple brags about the appstore for a good reason. It rules. Windows Marketplace sucks and WinMo 6.5 is ugly as hell and not built for fingers. Bring on WinMo 7 ASAP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having no issues with syncing music through Windows Media Player or copying it by hand. All the album artwork, tags etc. are there.
While Windows Marketplace indeed sucks, this is not that much of an issue, because unlike Apple, Microsoft allows distribution of applications through other sources. In the end, I much prefer Microsoft's model. When you look at what Apple is doing with books on the iPad now, you realize they're really only interested in gaining full control over the distribution of all types of media and applications, in order to force people to buy their devices instead of any competing products. This is getting ugly...
Had a touch cruise, then went to the iPhone, back to HTC. no better decision

[Q] Did you buy HTC Surround?

Hi All,
Did anyone here purchase the HTC Surround? I'm seriously considering this phone over the HD7 due to its obvious better display... plus, i'm a huge sucker for good sound and granted that the phone doesn't have that much of a high standard output, but its reported to be better than most out there still...
So how do you think does it turn out? Is it worth it?
The main thing that i hate about this is the back cover... is it plastic? Easy to break? The other thing obviously is it not having in-ear headphones.
Regards.
Salman Khalid.
I bought mine yesterday.
The back cover is actually nice imo. It is a soft rubberized feel. Overall the phone feels really sturdy. That is something I look for in phones. If I have to throw it at someone, I want it to hurt and not break .
As for the sound quality, don't expect huge desktop speaker sound from it, it won't happen. But they are much better than any other phone out there.
And the surround does come with earbuds with an inline remote and mic.
teoami said:
If I have to throw it at someone, I want it to hurt and not break .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LMAO! Thanks for the response... i think i'm going to do eenie meenie miney mo on the HD7 and Surround and pick one of them!
I bought one Monday and it was shipped out today apparently from TX. I'm tired of the emulator and I'm ready for the real deal!
XeNoMoRpH1030 said:
I bought one Monday and it was shipped out today apparently from TX. I'm tired of the emulator and I'm ready for the real deal!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck with that... i went ahead and ordered the HD7 today and expect to have if by next week... Super excited right now!
Decided to go with that 'coz i wanted more of a business-use phone - not that Surround isn't one either, but HD7 just seemed to make more sense... So i guess... best of luck to all of us!
When it comes to business-use, I would think a full keyboard would be best, so the LG, Dell Venue, or the HTC that will eventually be on Sprint.
I bought the surround yesterday surprisingly. I was planning on the venue pro after the surround received less than stellar reviews, though it was actually going into the store and playing with one that made me decide to get it. The store also had a working focus, though the beautiful screen wasn't enough to pull me away from the better look and feel of the surround. Fortunately the screen doesn't easily slide. If there is one thing I will complain about on the surround is its viewing angle of the screen: if you look at it from 45* or so the colors look washed out but straight on it is fine. I'll have to see if that's enough to eventually turn me off of it, but ultimately it was the surprisingly good feel and the better coverage of at&t in my area that made the decision.
Just ordered mine on Amazon for $99, coming from a Hero. played with the surround and the focus and didnt like how cheap the focus felt, plus even though the screen is nice and bright, it didnt look as smooth as the display on the surround. cant wait to start modding this phone.
Canceled my order of the HD7... Found the Mozart at a shop today and totally fell in love with it! Ended up buying it... It's been a really good day!
msalmank said:
Canceled my order of the HD7... Found the Mozart at a shop today and totally fell in love with it! Ended up buying it... It's been a really good day!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is it a 3G Mozart? i can get one from Aussie with 3G 850 band, but it's about 800 bucks... i'm currently trying the Surround and - to my surprise - it's a pleasant surprise. i know that was a redundant statement. i will give it 2 weeks to see if it can displace my HTC Desire as a daily driver. i like having options and Windows Phone 7 is a viable option depending on your needs.. i know, that was a redundant statement as well.
Big Disapiontment!
Bought my Surround on monday on it's release. Will return it tommorow. Very disapointed. I was sure hoping for more out of Microsoft. The lack of a file system to work with, no external memmory, unable to sync outlook...I hated the IPhone because of ITunes. The Zune software might even be worse.....
fillmanw1 said:
Bought my Surround on monday on it's release. Will return it tommorow. Very disapointed. I was sure hoping for more out of Microsoft. The lack of a file system to work with, no external memmory, unable to sync outlook...I hated the IPhone because of ITunes. The Zune software might even be worse.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you bought this device on day 1 of its release and had NO idea it didnt have an accessible file system or external memory? WHY do you need access to the file system? Ive had WM devices since WM2003 and using the file system was just a necessary evil since there were no other integrated solutions to accessing the stuff you needed. Maybe you should return it because it doesnt come with a stylus too.
I am also interested in how people are feeling about their new phones? I'm (stuck) on AT&T and was deciding between this and the Focus. I previously owned an iPhone 4 and a Samsung captivate so I had grown used to the slim form factor and beautiful SAMOLED screen on the Galaxy-S line. Also, after reading some reviews on the Surround regarding the screen quality and viewing angles (poor black levels and contrast, poor viewing angles). However, I often find I disagree with reviews, such as in the case of my Focus where I particularly like the lightweight body and find the plastic body to look and feel classy and sleek, not cheap.
So TLDR; How are you are liking your Surrounds?
I'm pretty satisfied with the Surround overall the battery life sucks but it's to be expected. But I might have to go against the grain on the Focus vs Surround (screen wise). While I thought the brightness and viewing angles on the Focus was great the sharpness really bothered me. The AT&T store had the two of them side by side and once I noticed the pixel/grid effect on the Focus it bugged me to no end. I was just comparing the tiles on the home screen like the XBOX on both units and I could see a noticeable difference. Am I the only one that noticed it?
frost0044 said:
I'm pretty satisfied with the Surround overall the battery life sucks but it's to be expected. But I might have to go against the grain on the Focus vs Surround (screen wise). While I thought the brightness and viewing angles on the Focus was great the sharpness really bothered me. The AT&T store had the two of them side by side and once I noticed the pixel/grid effect on the Focus it bugged me to no end. I was just comparing the tiles on the home screen like the XBOX on both units and I could see a noticeable difference. Am I the only one that noticed it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went to the ATT store and only had a chance to play with the surround, and then decided on that because ive always thought HTC made the best phones and have always thought samsungs were cheap construction. I then read a bunch of reviews saying how great the focus was so i went back the next day and did the same side to side. When the sales associate came up and asked me if I had any questions I told her I was trying to decide between the phones and I was VERY picky, and I didnt like the screen of the focus. she said " REALLY?!?!" and I was pointed out how you could see pixels on the focus between the tiles and i drove me nuts. I also felt like the focus could be snapped in half, and actually like the weight and size of the surround.
I ordered the Surround when i got home.
i've been using the Surround for 3 days and here are my personal, unscientific observations:
the good....
- responsive
- simple, straight-forward OS
- nice, clear, easy to read screen
- outlook integration; simple email setup with Outlook 03 or 07
- good calendar app
- good call quality and volume
- loud ringtones
- great keyboard!
- 16 GB of onboard space
the not-so-good or, things i've gotten accustomed to with other phones that i'd miss with WP7
- no conversation view in email, no integrated inbox
- no contact lookup via phone dialpad
- limited customization (e.g., cannot use your own ringtones)
- no text reflow; zoom in/out increases the font size but you have to move the screen to read text in web pages and email (a biggie for me)
- small fonts in txt msg app
- no shuffle for play lists; it's only available when playing "all music/songs"
- surround is heavy relative to my HTC Desire
- 5 minutes max on screen timeout and screen lock
- no tethering app
- external speaker is wasted space; give me a keyboard or reduce the size of device
- no copy & paste
- *sigh* battery life; for me it was not good. i had 3.25 hours in calls on day 2 and it simply killed my battery.
now despite all the not-so-good stuff, i'm still planning to go with WP7, but it won't be with the Surround and i'll wait a few months before stepping back into the Windows Phone world. my ideal WP7 phone is the HTC Mozart; similar specs to the Surround (except for storage) but in a HTC Desire/Nexus One package. i'm not diggin the extra girth and size of the Surround.
i've been majorly spoiled by my HTC Desire, Nexus One, Android and the wealth of options that are available with that platform. so, in summary, kudos to MS for delivering a good foundation OS. at this point, i'm not ready for WP7. hope this feedback is helpful...
re: cortez.i 's post
I've only had it a few days but noticed so many differences from that and my Tilt 2. You mentioned " outlook integration; simple email setup with Outlook 03 or 07"
I'm trying my best to sync my Outlook contacts and calendar and have no idea what to do. I use it for work so I've become accustomed to the Outlook built in on WM 6.5, now it's gone on WM7. I like the phone but am fairly certain if I can't get fixes to sync my work mail and calendar I'm going to have to wait for a new ROM from the genius here before I use it as my #1 phone.
htc surround
All in all i have no complaints about the phone. There are some software bugz MS needs to work out, and they will. I had several bugz -Marketplace stopped working, my email quit working, I couldn't fix or update anything. So I hard reset the phone and connected to the computer and to my surprise the Zune software reinstalled all of my apps (in the background without my knowledge) and everything now works fine. All I had to do was reset my email and other personal settings.
cortez.i said:
i've been using the Surround for 3 days and here are my personal, unscientific observations:
the good....
- responsive
- simple, straight-forward OS
- nice, clear, easy to read screen
- outlook integration; simple email setup with Outlook 03 or 07
- good calendar app
- good call quality and volume
- loud ringtones
- great keyboard!
- 16 GB of onboard space
the not-so-good or, things i've gotten accustomed to with other phones that i'd miss with WP7
- no conversation view in email, no integrated inbox
- no contact lookup via phone dialpad
- limited customization (e.g., cannot use your own ringtones)
- no text reflow; zoom in/out increases the font size but you have to move the screen to read text in web pages and email (a biggie for me)
- small fonts in txt msg app
- no shuffle for play lists; it's only available when playing "all music/songs"
- surround is heavy relative to my HTC Desire
- 5 minutes max on screen timeout and screen lock
- no tethering app
- external speaker is wasted space; give me a keyboard or reduce the size of device
- no copy & paste
- *sigh* battery life; for me it was not good. i had 3.25 hours in calls on day 2 and it simply killed my battery.
now despite all the not-so-good stuff, i'm still planning to go with WP7, but it won't be with the Surround and i'll wait a few months before stepping back into the Windows Phone world. my ideal WP7 phone is the HTC Mozart; similar specs to the Surround (except for storage) but in a HTC Desire/Nexus One package. i'm not diggin the extra girth and size of the Surround.
i've been majorly spoiled by my HTC Desire, Nexus One, Android and the wealth of options that are available with that platform. so, in summary, kudos to MS for delivering a good foundation OS. at this point, i'm not ready for WP7. hope this feedback is helpful...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the Surround is only 1mm thicker than its twin the Trophy and 1mm taller. I wouldn't call that extra girth.
I don't post much but I've been a member for quite a while.
My wife surprised me with a new HTC Surround on 11-12. After a Hermes, Tilt and Tilt2 I was on the fence nut I have to say I'm pretty happy so far in light of its few restrictions so far. Hopefully the expected OS update in January will resolve that. If not, I'm sure someone on XDA will come up with the fixes.
At first I missed the file system till I realized I didn't need it. I too was a little upset with needing a Hotmail account to sync my contacts and calendar but I'm hopeful Windows Mobile Device Center will be updated shortly to accomodate the WP7 phones once the USB connectivity is fixed. Right now USB connectivity is limited to Zune. The January release is supposed to address USB tethering, maybe data syncing will be fixed with that as well.
I would like to see a proper youtube player like the Noonski version and a WiFi Router app.
All in all though, I'm very happy with how Microsoft has been careful to make this a smooth, reliable, and modern OS.

[Q] Dell Streak on Android 2.2 Froyo

Hi all!
Merry X'mas!
I'm contemplating the purchase of Dell Streak with the updated Froyo. Wasn't really sure if I should get it. Am also looking at HTC Desire and LG Optimus 7.
Dell Streak looks really good to me. But I'm worried about the size of the handset. It is good for web browsing etc but not sure if it's portable (cos I can't try putting the demo set into my pocket as it's locked to the display counter). And most reviews online are based on Android 1.6.
Could I seek opinions/advice from current users of the device, please? Is the device easily portable in the pocket (small size guy Asian jeans, pants)? How does it compare to HTC Desire? I heard that Dell Streak can't load the names of contacts when u use the dialing pad, is that true? Any other comments about the phone too?
Many thanks in advance!
Regards,
Anderson
It is true, when you dial #'s, the names containing those letters so not appear onscreen.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
ronj1986 said:
It is true, when you dial #'s, the names containing those letters so not appear onscreen.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info!
Can I also wifi-tether using Dell Streak as a modem for my laptop? Sorry, I'm new to Android OS, not sure if wifi-tethering is based on OS or hardware. Have only used Windows Mobile and Symbian OS.
Yes you can tether with it but you will need the Unlocked version in the states as AT&T will surely remove it from the official 2.2 once its released on the locked units. On the unlocked phones its on there by default.
As far as fitting in pockets yes it is a big phone and might be a little awkward when you sit down but standing up or walking around it is no problem. I have had a iPhone, and a Nexus One, have used a Droid, Captivate, and others....I like the the streak the best.
airanderson said:
Hi all!
Merry X'mas!
I'm contemplating the purchase of Dell Streak with the updated Froyo. Wasn't really sure if I should get it. Am also looking at HTC Desire and LG Optimus 7.
Dell Streak looks really good to me. But I'm worried about the size of the handset. It is good for web browsing etc but not sure if it's portable (cos I can't try putting the demo set into my pocket as it's locked to the display counter). And most reviews online are based on Android 1.6.
Could I seek opinions/advice from current users of the device, please? Is the device easily portable in the pocket (small size guy Asian jeans, pants)? How does it compare to HTC Desire? I heard that Dell Streak can't load the names of contacts when u use the dialing pad, is that true? Any other comments about the phone too?
Many thanks in advance!
Regards,
Anderson
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Click to collapse
I bought my Streak yesterday. And interestingly, its my first Android device too. It came preloaded with 1.6 however immediately got updated to 2.2 (absolutely easily) upon switching on, with SIM inside (FOTA)!!!
Well, size is a matter of personal opinion. Of course, you can not put this in your shirt pocket. The device is Beauty outside, and brains inside.
All is well with device, in terms of speed, stability, user interface, battery life and almost unlimited apps, however If you have been a winmo user all this while you MUST NOTE that unlike Activesync, here you DO NOT HAVE any GOOD SYNC option, which can SYNCHRONIZE your OUTLOOK- CONTACTS, TASKS, CALENDAR, NOTES and MAILS. However if this does not bother you, primarily I feel, Streak should be a good experience!!!
Hi Ron,
I see! I'm in Asia, seems like the telcos here don't lock the phones so the tethering function should be in there! Looks like the phone is portable!
Hi Ravi, looks like you are enjoiying your phone! I'm not too bothered about active-sync cos I am currently using Nokia E63 on Symbian. Nothing much for me to sync with my laptop cos would be using the SIM card for contacts.
How long does the battery last?
airanderson said:
Hi Ron,
I see! I'm in Asia, seems like the telcos here don't lock the phones so the tethering function should be in there! Looks like the phone is portable!
Hi Ravi, looks like you are enjoiying your phone! I'm not too bothered about active-sync cos I am currently using Nokia E63 on Symbian. Nothing much for me to sync with my laptop cos would be using the SIM card for contacts.
How long does the battery last?
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Click to collapse
No bro, I am not really enjoying my Streak and it is ONLY because of its issue of OUTLOOK synchronization which is an absolute must for me from my business point of view.
The battery life of course depends on so many parameters, including drainers like Wifi/Bluetooth/GPRS (3G), playing music/video/camera / phone calls/ screen brightness etc. However I can say that I am on 3G (switched on) ever since I switched on the phone, using wifi for about 30 min, in last 24 hours and no other major drainer, except few phone calls, however fiddling a lot with the device which means the screen has been on-- a lot, and I have not charged my phone, ever since I switched it on for the first time, ever-since I bought it that is now over 42 hours (of course I fully charged it, before first usage itself) and as I can see, i have more than 60% battery life still remaining. This is really good, for sure!!!
Hey Bro! That's a great battery life! My normal usage would comprise of 1-2hrs of web surfing and IM over 3G network, 10-20mins of talk, perhaps 50 SMS per day.
Have you tried taking photos and videos with the phone? Good quality?
I just got a dell streak today at best buy, so mine is the AT&T locked @ 1.6. Idk when exactly the 2.2 will come out for mine, but honestly for $99, I dont care.
I'm gonna give a little review of it based on my one day of ownership:
I've been an owner of iphone 3gs, nexus one, HD2, and still have my EVO 4G. Aside from 1.6, I'm really digging this phone.
the cons:
*the speaker phone is fine during calls, but cracks when I have the music on full blast (but not a deal breaker).
*the keyboard isn't that great for a phone this size, but there's a lot of keyboards out there in the market, so this isnt really a problem.
*camera is sub par to all of my previous phones (not a deal breaker)
*some may disagree with me, but HTC's Sense UI is better than Dell's Stage UI
*Other gripes are firmware-related, so once I'm able to update to froyo, it should be all good.
Pros:
*The battery seems to be better than my N1, HD2, and EVO, but I'm not sure if the firmware has anything to do with this.
*the screen is only .7 inches bigger than my HD and EVO, but its a HUGE difference. it truly is more enjoying to browse and watch movies with a bigger screen.
(keep in mind that on the 4.3 in screens, I can operate it with one hand, but this phone was designed to be used in landscape mode, so you really need two hands to operate it. feels like i'm holding a psp. kind of weird, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.)
*despite the huge size, the form factor of the streak feels good in the hand(s). Its unbelievably slim and sleek. not too heavy, but not too light where it feels flimsy.
*wow factor. immediately after I left the store my friends and family saw it and they were like, "DAYYYYUMMM!" Phone envy
Because its only dealt through few retailers, the streak is a rare gem.
*contrary to other reviews I've read online, the snapdragon processor has been very smooth so far and not spotty at all.
Overall, my main issues are with the 1.6 firmware which will all go away with 2.2 (I have froyo on my EVO, so I'm sure it'll be just as great if not better on the streak). The hardware (besides the lack of a 4G radio) is perhaps the sexiest.
My biggest concerns however, are the actual quality that the gorilla glass are reported to have, and the support that dell comes through with for the streak (pushed back release date/froyo update).
p.s. I forgot to mention, this phone should fit in your front jean pocket fine. but I wear a lot of gym shorts and track jackets that have wide pockets. because the streak is so long, its more likely to drop out of your pockets than other phones. this has happened to me already, but fortunately it only received a very tiny and hardly noticeable blemish.
Stage ui is horrible I just use launcher pro. The keyboard gets a nice upgrade with froyo as swype is bundled in. the camera is okay, just wish the hd video was better.
Sent from my Dell Streak
Hi Ray, thanks for the first hand comments and comparions on the Dell Streak. I had a go with the demo set in store, I think the Sense UI does looks nicer than the stage UI. And I'm kinda worried about the support as shipment was delayed once to the telco here. Do tell me more about the phone as you use it!
Is there any apps to load contacts' names while keying on the dial pad?
Hi Spectre, will go check out launcher pro! Sounds cool! Saw it appear a few times at the other threads!
Ravindra9 said:
No bro, I am not really enjoying my Streak and it is ONLY because of its issue of OUTLOOK synchronization which is an absolute must for me from my business point of view.
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Click to collapse
Setting up Outlook sync is trivial with android device, just sync directly with exchange server; set it up accordingly, similar as setting up exchange activesync in winmo handset; and rather than sync with PC. Like in winmo platform works as push based as well...
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk

As Dell VP enters its last half of life, what phone is next for you?

I was one of those that pre ordered the Dell VP way back in November 2010. By the time I finally got the phone, it became my primary phone for several months, before moving on to better hardware. I recently turned the phone back on and decided I preferred the Windows Phone OS to other platforms.
But, I found the DVP too slow and missing key items that similar primary phones had. I have an HD7 and I tried that too. But the HD7 hardware is close to 2yrs old if not more.
I eventually found a deal at T-Mobile for the Lumia 710 and purchased that. The deal was essentially a duh because it added nothing to my contract and cost $20US. Of course the 710 is low end hardware with 4g.
I've seen other new gen Windows Phone hardware out there.....
Titan
Titan 2
Lumia 800
Lumia 900
Radar
Ominas.
I was just curious, if you're staying with Windows Phone, what will your next one be?
Me, I have the Lumia 900 in site.
I REALLY like my DVP and I REALLY like WP7. There aren't any other WP7 phones out there that catch my eye so I'm going to stay put for the next 3-6 months.
I hope that Microsoft can find a way to get core apps like Pandora and services like VOIP to work like they do on Android/IOS. If so, I will have absolutely zero reason to go with another platform when it is time to upgrade.
BTW Alodar1, what runs slowly on your DVP?
Given the chance I would love to move to a Lumia 900 or a higher model from Nokia. The Titan II also looks interesting but I really dont like HTC so would probably not buy that. Also not really interested in owning anything from Samsung.
However as I am still on T-Mobile and am likely to stay here for the forseeable future I will have to stick with my trusty DVP.
bbowman said:
I REALLY like my DVP and I REALLY like WP7. There aren't any other WP7 phones out there that catch my eye so I'm going to stay put for the next 3-6 months.
I hope that Microsoft can find a way to get core apps like Pandora and services like VOIP to work like they do on Android/IOS. If so, I will have absolutely zero reason to go with another platform when it is time to upgrade.
BTW Alodar1, what runs slowly on your DVP?
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I moved from the DVP to android G2x and evenutally the Bionic. Both are superior hardware wise, having 4g and several other functions like wifi N, and more.
I knew that android was just a fad for me, and that became true when I saw the Lumia 900. But still...I'd never had a nokia and the lumia 710 provided me some exposure. the 710 is faster than the DVP data wise. Since data is the primary way I use the phone, it is important. There is a significant speed difference here both by wifi and on radio.
The integration of Mango is almost the same so thats not a problem. Getting used to people hub is the biggest thing to get used to, but I'm good with it now. Calendar and contact integration is good on most devices. The skydrive app helps with visuals there.
I found an app, Cloud Music that links with Skydrive and will play stored music there. Its a v1 app, but works ok on the 710. I used Google lattitude for connections with my kids....but its somewhat flaky, working when it wants to....so its no longer the draw for me. Though its pretty cute when I'm in the restaurant and my daughter pings me and asks what I ordered....
As for Pandora...MS has come out and said, they consider Pandora a competitor. So I doubt we will see resolution soon on that. For me, the starbuck app is more important. Its the #1 app I use on android.
Most WP devices, first gen, were old design and hardware. the OEMs simply did not invest in them. With Nokia on board and a potential opportunity slipping away from the grubby money hungry mobile operators, Windows Phone is seeing some of the love of up to date hardware. It won't go dual core , yet...but, the 710 is a nice device. Gives me great hope for the 900.
I too used to be an HTC fan. But recently I've stepped away. From the Sense rendition on Android to the WP rendition...its a disappointment.
has anyone looked at the Omnia's out there? The new ones???
alodar1 said:
I moved from the DVP to android G2x and evenutally the Bionic. Both are superior hardware wise, having 4g and several other functions like wifi N, and more.
I knew that android was just a fad for me, and that became true when I saw the Lumia 900. But still...I'd never had a nokia and the lumia 710 provided me some exposure. the 710 is faster than the DVP data wise. Since data is the primary way I use the phone, it is important. There is a significant speed difference here both by wifi and on radio.
The integration of Mango is almost the same so thats not a problem. Getting used to people hub is the biggest thing to get used to, but I'm good with it now. Calendar and contact integration is good on most devices. The skydrive app helps with visuals there.
I found an app, Cloud Music that links with Skydrive and will play stored music there. Its a v1 app, but works ok on the 710. I used Google lattitude for connections with my kids....but its somewhat flaky, working when it wants to....so its no longer the draw for me. Though its pretty cute when I'm in the restaurant and my daughter pings me and asks what I ordered....
As for Pandora...MS has come out and said, they consider Pandora a competitor. So I doubt we will see resolution soon on that. For me, the starbuck app is more important. Its the #1 app I use on android.
Most WP devices, first gen, were old design and hardware. the OEMs simply did not invest in them. With Nokia on board and a potential opportunity slipping away from the grubby money hungry mobile operators, Windows Phone is seeing some of the love of up to date hardware. It won't go dual core , yet...but, the 710 is a nice device. Gives me great hope for the 900.
I too used to be an HTC fan. But recently I've stepped away. From the Sense rendition on Android to the WP rendition...its a disappointment.
has anyone looked at the Omnia's out there? The new ones???
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Click to collapse
I just reread this and realized my thoughts may sound anti android. Not really. Its nice...but its extremely fragmented now...and hard to keep up with. I have a Xoom tablet with ICS. Love it. do MOST of my work on the tablet. But with the volume of android phones coming out....its a real mess...my opinion only....
Have you played with Windows 8? Just got an Acer W500 and waiting for the beta, personally looking forward to the final immensely. Love the integration of Metro UI and traditional Windows if I need it.
efjay said:
Have you played with Windows 8? Just got an Acer W500 and waiting for the beta, personally looking forward to the final immensely. Love the integration of Metro UI and traditional Windows if I need it.
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Click to collapse
I'veonly touched the rawest of builds. Nothing optimized and nothing on the tablet. I;m going to reserve judgement on the tablet. Traditionally MS has had a MS uber alas attitude for periphials. I hope that changes. I think a fully funtional Windows tablet...that works....is unbeatable. when I say...that works it means:
touch works as it should, not as a work around
smart choices with thumbdrives and other external storage
sync ability with devices
remote syncing
skydrive access that is smart, not the limited interface we see now.
If MS gives us a functional tablet and a flexible os....I think the android OS will dry up. I love the idea of open source, but....within in reason. How do you globablly support open source and maintain security and compatibility? Use Android and netflix for example....OS v2.3.3 won't run net flix...but 2.3.4 will, if its a certain device. But how about 2.3.7...etc??? Right now its a cluster and not getting better. ICS supposedly offers stability, but the fragmentation has started with that one already and its only a month old. MS has an opportunity to drive a stake here....if it gets it close to right.
The difference between Seven and Mango is a breath of fresh air. But, Mango was in the path of seven all along. Features that showed up in mango, were finished and ready to go before NODO...this is a long, well thought out process for windows phone....I hope they stick to their guns.
There really isn't anything that interests me much. I refuse to buy a phone without a physical keyboard and there are basically no good ones out/coming out soon that we know about. The Galaxy Note interested me due to its sheer size, but the PenTile screen puts me off. I hated my Nexus One PenTile screen and while the DVP's isn't as bad, I don't want to buy another device with a PenTile screen.
I don't know why you're complaining about speed. Everything is really fast even if it is really old hardware.
I bought the DVP because of the hardware keyboard and the amoled screen. In the past few months, I've opened the keyboard maybe 10 times... that's how much i like the on-screen keyboard in windows phone.
A hardware keyboard will not be in my next phone's future although a super amoled or clearblack display most certainly will. I'm also holding out until Apollo gets released hopefully bringing in new screen resolutions and other features like NFC and I'm leaning very heavily towards Nokia unless HTC finally releases a WP with a super amoled display.
I don't see how people prefer on screen to physical keyboards. Physical isso much more accurate and faster.
I hope TMOUS releases the Nokia Lumia 900, or as rumor says the 910 with upgraded camera. I am also a fan of the HTC Titan.
Either way, the stock OS is great and doesn't require much modification to do exactly what it was designed to do which is work.
holding out until microsoft fixes the orientation lock thing. then we'll see if nokia makes a keyboard phone.
weatherx said:
holding out until microsoft fixes the orientation lock thing. then we'll see if nokia makes a keyboard phone.
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Someone made a homebrew fix. It was published on the portal the other day. Sorry I don't have a link right quick. I have a headache and its making thinking and looking at a bright screen difficult.
jelliottz said:
Someone made a homebrew fix. It was published on the portal the other day. Sorry I don't have a link right quick. I have a headache and its making thinking and looking at a bright screen difficult.
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Click to collapse
yes, i saw that homebrew. problem is, it disables the accelerometer completely, rather than stopping the orientation switch, and requires a reboot to re-enable IIRC. this setting really should be a quick access setting (like volume) rather than having to go thru an app.
i'll be honest, about 1/3 of the time i slide the keyboard out on the DVP just to lock orientation.
petard said:
I don't see how people prefer on screen to physical keyboards. Physical isso much more accurate and faster.
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Totally agree, I think physical keyboard is more accurate and I have small fingers.
petard said:
I don't know why you're complaining about speed. Everything is really fast even if it is really old hardware.
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Click to collapse
Not complaining. Ever ride in a Mercedes, then go home in a low end KIA or something. You become spoiled....even though the Mercedes is out of reach. With data speeds on the G2x and the Bionic, and now the Razr series, the data speed is blazing. Since most of my time on a phone is indeed data related of some sort, its noticable. Not like the Mercedes which is out of reach $$ wise, getting a dual core, 4g, android beast is very affordable. And I got used to it. If I never tried it, I could be of a different opinion...but it did.
With that said, the 710 with low end hardware, does indeed close the gap, alot. I've seen the reports from the TItans and some other devices, which lead me to no longer concern myself with the dual core question. But simple 3g vs 4g is an issue, and so is WiFi N availability. Both of these leave the VP in second place.
But, the VP is old hardware now. Its not so bad that you have to update, now. But, in the next several months, you will do it....as a normal progression.
crav4speed said:
I bought the DVP because of the hardware keyboard and the amoled screen. In the past few months, I've opened the keyboard maybe 10 times... that's how much i like the on-screen keyboard in windows phone.
A hardware keyboard will not be in my next phone's future although a super amoled or clearblack display most certainly will. I'm also holding out until Apollo gets released hopefully bringing in new screen resolutions and other features like NFC and I'm leaning very heavily towards Nokia unless HTC finally releases a WP with a super amoled display.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, mostly. When the Dell was introduced, I had anHD7 in my hand. A Dell rep was at our work and pulled out the VP. INSTANT love affair. When he opened the keyboard...bing.....I was sold. During the entire time I used the Dell, I opened the keyboard ONLY to access the EM menu. Never did anything else. I eventually learned the feel of the phone and mistakes were rare. I was always impressed by Joe B's launch demo of WP7...with his wild typing...but it works...usually. But so does android and apple...but who cares.
I do know that MS is working on an NFC solution, and has been. I'll be interested to see what comes up....but for now that won't impact my next decision.
Regarding screen resolutions, I believe....MY OPINION ONLY, ... that first in MS's mind is the proper mix of resolution, speed, power overall, and battery life. Until they can master the issue of battery life, dual core and any other high power drains will not be part of WP. The Droid Razr MAXX was released today with a whopping 21 talk time claim. Of course, they doubled the pwer of the battery, so the efficency is the same as before....I believe MS is looking for efficiency improvements and not battery claim.
The truth is, I guess, I only purchased the 710 to see if I could handle a Nokia. I would not use this phone as my primary everyday phone. But, I now have faith in the 900, 910,930's I've seen reported by Engadget. Its better than even money I'll have 1 of these by June.
weatherx said:
i'll be honest, about 1/3 of the time i slide the keyboard out on the DVP just to lock orientation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, especially if I'm using it in bed at all.
I actually bought a used DVP a couple days back to replace my stolen iPhone 4 until something better comes along. So far, I'm actually a bit disappointed. Everything is great with the exception of the screen (stupid Pentile) and battery life.
I'm really looking forward to the Nokia Lumia 900, but until then, I'm not sure what to do. I suppose I can live with the screen for a couple months, but I don't know what to do about battery life. I really don't want to have to turn off push, but I also don't want to spend money on another battery when I'll probably replace the phone in a couple months.
I have been a DVP owner for over 1 year - switched from iphone 4 - and the Mango update breathed new life in to the phone - the lack of Internet Sharing is the only major problem I have with the phone given my 5 year old Palm Treo has this feature.
I recently cracked the screen on the DVP and was looking for a new option - I picked up the Nexus S and installed ICS 4 on it. Overall a great phone, ICS is complete and Android offers much more selection of apps and 'internet sharing' built in - you must spend a lot of time customizing as it is rather 'vanilla' out of the box.
Installed Swype on the Nexus S and it was decent - however, I am a physical keyboard guy and use the phone for work and email is the most important feature for me.
Long story short, after 5 days with Android I am back using the DVP with a cracked screen - as a business user I find the Windows 7 interface is much easier to "get in and out" for making a call, sending email, sms, webpage, etc. Also, I have ridiculously fast typing speed on the DVP keyboard, almost the same as a PC keyboard.
I am shocked that the portrait slider format is effectively dead - other than a BB Torch 9810 I haven't seen anything else on the market with a physical keyboard.
I would love to hear other people's experience transitioning from a physical keyboard, maybe I need to give it more time...
Also, if anyone has any rumors or just wants to make something up about a new portrait slider for WP7 or Android please post here...

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