Any QWERTY keyboard phones on the horizon? - Epic 4G General

Now I have to say, I love this phone. It is incredibly cheap and I refuse to let go of it. But it is getting dated, despite it running CM10 fairly well. I desperately want to upgrade, but I want a keyboard. I can't stand typing on a touch screen.
I know Motorola has a couple phones with keyboards, but IIRC porting a Motorola phone to a service like Boost is all but impossible. Something about the instructions for doing a few changes on Motorola phones isn't programmed into Linux or something. I know Qualcom chipsets are easy to change things in the phone, but Motorola is weird.
So basically I'm hoping for something from Samsung, LG, or HTC that isn't dated as hell. A good phone that competes with the touch screen only phones. Anyone see anything new?

All that is out or will be available in the near future is the LG Cayenne and Moto Photon Q.

Just saw this rumor!!!
I so hope this is true, more, I hope it comes to Sprint!!!
Samsung Galaxy S3 with Android Jelly Bean and keyboard leaks?
October 23, 2012, 10:20 A.M., Tuesday, New York local time — Samsung is launching a new Galaxy S3 variant with Android Jelly Bean, and QWERTY keyboard?
Well it looks like Samsung is on the verge of adding yet another Samsung Galaxy S3 variant this year. Last week, Samsung unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, the smaller version of the popular Android handset with a dual-core processor and the latest version of Android, the Android Jelly Bean mobile operating system. Now, a new leak is suggesting that Samsung is testing a new Galaxy device that runs Android Jelly Bean mobile operating system too, but with a more unusual display resolution, 1280 x 672.
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DCRocks said:
Just saw this rumor!!!
I so hope this is true, more, I hope it comes to Sprint!!!
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:good: Nice find .... we may still have hope ... :fingers-crossed:

^ Holy ****! if this is true, it looks like the Epic family (current & past) will all be on a new device, in the same place again! I hope this is true. if it is, we will have THE BEST development community and members, hands down. Wish for the best!

DCRocks said:
Just saw this rumor!!!
I so hope this is true, more, I hope it comes to Sprint!!!
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This would be great! The LG Cayenne sounds cool too!
It's kind of upsetting though. When we look at the Galaxy S3, the US was given one with a dual core processor, while anywhere else had the quad core exynos processor. The LG Optimus G has me intrigued, but again...no keyboard. LG seems to release a lot of keyboard models though. Perhaps?
It would have been good news if I hadn't heard about the Optimus G just last week lol.

Just an update, they're now speculating that will just be a phone with a fold-able LCD screen. I had so much hope for this one!
http://www.sammobile.com/2012/10/26/samsung-to-introduce-their-first-foldable-touchscreen-device/

Looks like I'm going to be staying with the Epic for a while then. Photon Q with it's non-replaceable battery is a no-go for me, and the Cayenne doesn't look like that much of an upgrade from the Epic.
I feel a lot better about the Epic at this point in time than I did with the step-child Samsung Moment I had a year ago and I still haven't tried CM9 yet, still on TPR 2.1.

VaderSS said:
Looks like I'm going to be staying with the Epic for a while then. Photon Q with it's non-replaceable battery is a no-go for me, and the Cayenne doesn't look like that much of an upgrade from the Epic.
I feel a lot better about the Epic at this point in time than I did with the step-child Samsung Moment I had a year ago and I still haven't tried CM9 yet, still on TPR 2.1.
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Try it
Rocking cm9.1

http://m.androidcentral.com/lg-mach-coming-sprint-november-11-too
SMH....It looks like I will be holding on to "old faithful" until Sprint show me something that's worth upgrading to.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

it's the end of the line for high end keyboard phones. even the once mighty verizon droid # series has been overtaken by the droid razr...

jworkcoo said:
http://m.androidcentral.com/lg-mach-coming-sprint-november-11-too
SMH....It looks like I will be holding on to "old faithful" until Sprint show me something that's worth upgrading to.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
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Probably not what you want because the battery is embedded and there's no microSD slot or HWKB but the pre order for the Optimus G is on the sprint site. It has a 1.5 Ghz quadcore S4 pro with 2 gigs of ram and 32 gigs of internal storage. With a 13 MP camera and a 4.7" screen.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

VaderSS said:
Looks like I'm going to be staying with the Epic for a while then. Photon Q with it's non-replaceable battery is a no-go for me, and the Cayenne doesn't look like that much of an upgrade from the Epic.
I feel a lot better about the Epic at this point in time than I did with the step-child Samsung Moment I had a year ago and I still haven't tried CM9 yet, still on TPR 2.1.
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tmobile has Samsung Relay 4G which is Epic 2 and its 1.5GHz dual core... here's the link
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Samsung-Galaxy-S-Relay-4G_id7300

It also has a gig of ram, 8gigs of onboard storage, official ICS, and NFC
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

jworkcoo said:
http://m.androidcentral.com/lg-mach-coming-sprint-november-11-too
SMH....It looks like I will be holding on to "old faithful" until Sprint show me something that's worth upgrading to.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
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It's sad when you see a phone like that that is barely better in the processor department, and worse in camera and other departments.
Also nobody likes LG phones. I bought the LG Fathom years ago, which had a lot of promise but was ultimately ignored by the community. Samsung seems to be the modding phone of choice. Motorola you can't port to other carriers without being able to change ESN, which Motorola is difficult about. There are some current methods that were made in the last year, but I'm not confident they work %100.

I'm going to miss my physical keyboard as much as the next guy, but a lot of my friends have said that changing to a touch screen keyboard was annoying for a couple weeks and then they could type just as fast. Try forcing yourself to use the touch screen keyboard for a week or two, and see if you get over needing the physical one. That way you don't buy a substandard phone because it's the only one with a physical keyboard.
That being said, I really wish there were more choices with hardware keyboards.

alyptic said:
I'm going to miss my physical keyboard as much as the next guy, but a lot of my friends have said that changing to a touch screen keyboard was annoying for a couple weeks and then they could type just as fast. Try forcing yourself to use the touch screen keyboard for a week or two, and see if you get over needing the physical one. That way you don't buy a substandard phone because it's the only one with a physical keyboard.
That being said, I really wish there were more choices with hardware keyboards.
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i hate the feeling and my fingers hurt and just feel so weird i like the placement of my finger tips on the keyboard

XxLostSoulxX said:
i hate the feeling and my fingers hurt and just feel so weird i like the placement of my finger tips on the keyboard
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I agree. I used my girlfriend's galaxy S2 for a day. I wanted to kick a puppy. It's awful! With my Epic, I can do something, not look at the screen, and text. I'll be staring at the computer monitor at work while texting and my boss doesn't get mad.

Another 5 row QWERTY
There is another phone coming to Ting, a Sprint MVNO that is less expensive for many people.They do not subbsidize their phones.
I am currently running my Epic 4G on Ting testing their BYOD. Tethering even works won the stock ROM without any hacking!
Ting will soon be offering the LG Mach . https://ting.com/blog/device-update-lets-get-back-at-it/
For those who might be interested in Ting's BYOD, here is the latest update.
https://ting.com/blog/byosd-progress-report-and-wider-beta-launch-announced/
I know I am happy to be back on my Epic 4G again. I could barely tolerate the 3 row QWERTY I used when I first moved to Ting.

Get you hands on a note 2 and you'll forget about the keyboards. Big and easy with a 5th row. I'm a huge fan of the physical keyboard. I miss my epic, but don't let it hold you back. You do get use to the screen.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 2 using Tapatalk 2

Related

After The Vibrant What is Next??? The next phone debate!!

We can all agree that the Samsung Vibrant/Galaxy S is a really good phone and a really great phone when running a custom rom. My question is what is next for you guy, as far as phones goes. What new upcoming phone will you guys get in the near future?
So far number one on my list of my next phones is the LG Optimus 2x, but is that can when Galaxy S 2 and the rumored LG 3D phone is announces. Most likely I will go with the Galaxy S 2. Why you ask? 1. TOUCHWIZ, I think Touchwiz is the best thing that every happen to a smartphone. 2. Odin, Odin practically made the Vibrant unbreakable. 3. Super Amoled Display, I can never look at another screen the same again after seeing super amoled, plus the Galaxy S 2 is said to have Super Amoled Plus Display sigh crazy!!!
I too am leaning toward the LG Optimus 2X but would opt for the Galaxy S 2 if it was coming out in the next couple of months. Have not heard nor read any real timeline for the Galaxy S 2. I also really like Twiz. I have had some hard feelings toward Samsung but I also like Odin and how it makes the phone much easier(or more comfortable) to mess with. I had pretty much decided to never purchase Samsung again but upon looking at the overall picture I feel it is the best decision for me at this time. I had a MT4G and even though I got it rooted and flashed a nice rom I never really felt comfortable playing with it. Sent it back.. Nice phone though.
LG Optimus 2X is mine, I am simply waiting on it right now. But I will NOT buy any phone that does not have the operating system I want and wait for it to come out. If the Optimus 2X does not come with gingerbread, no dice. That way I can flash some cool custom roms just for fun not cos I need the new OS
Seems like I made the right decision to not but the Galaxy Tab, will be getting the G-Slate to go along with it the Optimus2X, scary crap but I am going to be an LG guy (minus the TV)
Edit, after much thought and playing around with phones, watching youtube videos of different phones etc etc, I have decided I will stick to Google phones, ie Nexus line of phones. I really do not need much more than the 16gig it comes with, I hardly use the bluetooth anyway, and it is still faster than the current flock of dual core phones out there now...yep nexus S is my next phone. Even the Nexus one is beating phones that are a year newer at performing basic tasks fast and efficiently
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0e5z6vvf0A&feature=related for eg for the Nexus S
Grant it, i've had hard feelings towards samsung, I'll probably end up with another samsung phone. If not, I would go back to being a Symbian Developer once again with custom Symbians for Nokia. I was, maybe still am, a Nokia die hard. I love their simplicity and all of my Nokia's lasted years.
And Samsung is the closest to what I like on a phone. Customizable, ease of use, and their hardware configuration is so simple and very nice.
So yah...
As much as I am a believer in budget is relative, buy it if you can afford it, I still don't see why anyone buys a phone cause its the "next big thing". Hype and marketing will always tug at the trendy or the ppl who are "in the know" harder then reality or common sense.
Examples span from the the galaxy s Series being released, the G1 being the iphone killer, and more recently the X2 being short of expectations per the review just put out by engadget. Now I'm not saying that the following examples didn't take a turn for the better, if not the best, but electronics and the future is almost an oxymoron. You usually are never using the final product, but more like beta testing for the next best thing. It's an endless trap of gratification vs. $/phone.
As I was one who has gone through the ranks of the G1 and a vibrant, and I Love my vibrant, but Ill still just wait till xxx phone comes out late this year and get it for free on a full upgrade after its been out for 6 months and has tons of roms and the kinks rubbed out of it, lol.
/talking myself out of buying another toy hahaha
I'm going to stick to vibrant and wait for multiple dual cores to come out. Then hit the Craig when the price is lowest :b dun really wanna switch again... went through so many phones in last 4 -5months.
Samsung highlight/ iPhone 3gs/ Samsung vibrant / HTC g2/ nexus one / mytouch 4g/ and back to vibrant again.. should have never abandoned the vibrant in the first place lol.
Learned mylesson. Don't buy the first batch
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
ndwgs said:
Grant it, i've had hard feelings towards samsung, I'll probably end up with another samsung phone. If not, I would go back to being a Symbian Developer once again with custom Symbians for Nokia. I was, maybe still am, a Nokia die hard. I love their simplicity and all of my Nokia's lasted years.
And Samsung is the closest to what I like on a phone. Customizable, ease of use, and their hardware configuration is so simple and very nice.
So yah...
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Sounds like you need a Nokia N8.
But i think im most likely gonna go with the Optimus 2x. That Dual-Core processor sounds promising.
they said the benchmarks on it are insane
http://www.intomobile.com/2011/01/31/lg-optimus-2x-star-dual-core-tegra-2-fully-benchmarked/
instead of spending my easily earned money on another phone when this current phone is perfectly fine, I am going to get some custom timberland boots!!
From what i have heard, performance increase is not that much with any phone that is not running honeycomb or higher. The OS can only utilize one core, so the main reason anyone would want to get the lg optimus should be for gaming, and lets face it, android games aren't that hw demanding or nice !!
serban954 said:
Sounds like you need a Nokia N8.
But i think im most likely gonna go with the Optimus 2x. That Dual-Core processor sounds promising.
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LOL, N8 is niiiccceee, especially it comes with Nokia Qt SDK for Devs, lolol... tempting.
Anyway, that's what i'm waiting for, a dual core, and simplicity.
Funny, I can afford to buy any phone anytime, that said i love this phone and am waiting for the same reason ndwgs said. Dual Core, my next buy will probably be the xoom tablet... then the Dual core, S2 or maybe Atris..... not sure
------BTW doesn't "TouchWhiz" sound like a condition you get from drinking to much beer ?
Haha yes! Lol
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Meh, as unhappy as I've been with the small amounts of great ROMS, and lack of Sense so far, I'm keeping this phone. Over the lasy year I've gone through six phones. Moto Cliq-myTouch-Blackberry Bold-iPhone 3G-myTouch-Vibrant. I was never truly happy with a device until this one. So I'll be waiting quite a qhile before getting a new one.
Either the Glaxy S2 or the HTC Pyramid. I can't wait for MWC to start
I will never buy a samsung phone again, but I heard that the nokia e7 is shipping now and the keyboard on that thing is gorgeous, not to mention the camera with dual led flash. If I were to buy a phone today it would be that one. I'd probably go through some minor flashing withdraw but I'd get over it.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
To the op try using this rom im using now http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=935799 its a suped up version of touchwiz ^^
and on the topic i would skip the lg 2x and prolly get the galaxy s2 for my next upgrade, mostly because i dont want a smaller screen. Hopefully by then they will solve the whole timely update problems, which they said recently while releasing the "official 2.2" <-(piece of sh*t btw) that they will work harder to provide updates on a timely matter.
Heh, I'm going to wait until the second wave of dual-core phones come out, probably by this holiday season. Why? They'll be more mature and ship with 2.4 stock, which is what you'll need to actually take advantage of those dual cores. And by then we'll know which chipsets have the best performance and battery life (Tegra 2 isn't all that impressive just yet).
ikevinnyii said:
To the op try using this rom im using now http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=935799 its a suped up version of touchwiz ^^
and on the topic i would skip the lg 2x and prolly get the galaxy s2 for my next upgrade, mostly because i dont want a smaller screen. Hopefully by then they will solve the whole timely update problems, which they said recently while releasing the "official 2.2" <-(piece of sh*t btw) that they will work harder to provide updates on a timely matter.
Click to expand...
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Yea I tried that rom. I realtor like it but what I did is I pulled out the theme, widgets and touchwiz and put then on top of kb1.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Kubernetes said:
Heh, I'm going to wait until the second wave of dual-core phones come out, probably by this holiday season. Why? They'll be more mature and ship with 2.4 stock, which is what you'll need to actually take advantage of those dual cores. And by then we'll know which chipsets have the best performance and battery life (Tegra 2 isn't all that impressive just yet).
Click to expand...
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Some have no problem getting 2 phones.
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sader2202 said:
Some have no problem getting 2 phones.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
True. I got a dinosaur phone and my vibrant. Nokia 6630 International Version and my Nex One.
Both i still use, beside my playtime/funtime/tester phone: the vibrant.
Speaking of which, when are you coming up with your Rom, Sader?
I see in your sig that you got a Rom coming soon?? I wan't to have a hands-on on that baby... No pressure. LOL

Points for new phone please

Had to post to fellow nexers. Lost my sexy nexy n am now in position to buy out right my next baby. Choices r evo 3d, g2x now (been waiting atrix, n evo. Its hard since I've waited so long for LG star/g2x. G2x has vanilla but rom changing either way. Thanks for n e feed back ^_^
via light blue yoshied magic
I'm torn between the G2X or the SGS2.
The Atrix eh. I think the dock is cool, but would never use it. I think motorola has the bootloader on lockdown like other models.
I like the Super Amoled Plus of the SGS2 but no Tegra means no Nvidia love. Also since most Honeycomb devices use Tegra, it might not be fully supported.
I was thinking that I didn't know if I could ever love another screen that wasn't amoled... but a coworker has a G2 and the screen is very crisp. Unless you are purposely comparing black levels, the SLCD might have the 1up.
Maybe we'll get lucky and the SGS2 will launch with a Tegra chipset. They said some markets will get them. Maybe wait and buy a Tegra2 SGS2? Best of both?
What ever Cyanogen moves on to, real talk lol.
Did you have insurance on the N1 or is this next purchase out of your own pocket?
I've never had a smartphone that wasn't made by HTC and I don't know if that will ever change. Still waiting for their next stock phone but if I had to get something now(well, soon anyway), I'd definitely go for the evo 3d. However, buying a dual core phone right now seems like such a waste. Gingerbread does not properly support it and you never know if and when these phones will get updates. I wish the nexus S hadn't been such a let down.. but I'll be happy with my N1 for a while longer
Thanks ALL for replies ^__^
@player911-not big on samsung but maybe. otimus 3d is another ive reasearched.thks!
@pew - lol
@system - no lost my n1 new years been with old magic since
@smaskell - i would be too =(
have discount and could get atrix & laptop dock for 700 outright and school with a laptop with no battery is really starting to sway me. I've SCOURED it's forums on XDA and can get a rom i'd be happy with already and the dock has some really good highlights (ex. opening your home XP pc in a window and fullscreen it for a specific program, etc.) I'd miss the .3" extra screen real estate but eh. No 3d like evo or optimus 3d, but it have to be at a certain distance and my television isnt 3d so no good there. atrix will mirror to my 73" hd tv. though Switch to att is a pill i'd have to swallow but employee line helps there ^__^ and it's lte will be backwards compatible so will just need a sim not a new phone (G'Luck verizon). Would like to have htc on tmobile but I cant wait for ever and i lost my nexus New Years so I've been relying on my htc magic since then =( may wait till april 20th to see what LG says this time but prob. biting the motorolla bullet tomorrow
I personally will never buy a Samsung smartphone, tablet or anything that recieves updates again. HTC's build quality demolishes Samsung anyways.
DanRo80 said:
I personally will never buy a Samsung smartphone, tablet or anything that recieves updates again. HTC's build quality demolishes Samsung anyways.
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Really? Since when? HTC's are the ones with the screens falling off and hinges that open when the device is tilted. I haven't heard of any 'build quality' issues with any samsungs?!
The only problem with sammy is the delay in receiving 'official' updates but who uses stock anyway?
The specs and features of the sgs2 out shine any phone on the market, the only thing it is lacking is a qhd res but that isn't important to most people, I mean who cares about screen res when you can 1080p output via hdmi.
What you should really be worrying about is which phone supports wiimote and can do full hdmi mirroring.
Wait for HTC pyramid supposing the rumors are true!
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App
phewizzo said:
What ever Cyanogen moves on to, real talk lol.
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Agree!
Actually, I'll make sure my next phone will be dev. community friendly... And I need a screen that wins against sunny days.
Wanted to chime in n say I freaking love my atrix! Just played with g2x and though great phone happy I didn't wait. This thing is sick. Dont really have time for nightlies n e more but miss all that great great dev love but wouldn't trade for n e thing. Love lapdock webtop n media screen. Did not think id be happy with moto or att for gods sake but I am^_^
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
DanRo80 said:
I personally will never buy a Samsung smartphone, tablet or anything that recieves updates again. HTC's build quality demolishes Samsung anyways.
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I guess that depends where you live. Galaxy S phones are getting Gingerbread now in Europe, whereas Desire users are still waiting, afaik
Sent from my Nexus One

If anyone cares

Was checking the best buy website today and the Sprint Nexus S phone now has an add to cart button.
When processing the purchase it gives an Estimated Arrival: 04/18-04/21/2011
I opened a chat with a best buy rep and was told:
you : Is a release date available?
Tech: The date is on 4/18/2011
Just an FYI for those who care.
I just chatted with a Bestbuy rep and she said that if anyone pre-orders it and is with a different carrier they will be eligible for the $125 rebate that Sprint is offering if it is done before the 16th.
We're getting dual core's this summer, you're better off sticking with the Epic. The nexus s 4g is the exact same, except for it's running gb and has an NFC chip.
Yeah of rather have the epic over the nexus s
Sent From My Evo Killer!
I'm holding out for CM7 on my Epic. I'm happy with the Epic for now. It has everything I need and some things I don't (keyboard). I'm not really looking to get back into Samsung unless it is a Nexus because its pure google. My girl wants one so will get one for her and get rid of her Epic, but as for me I agree about holding out for later this year.
Epic 4g> Nexus s 4g
only benefit is that its pure google and that chip oh and gingerbread
but i like my epic hardware keyboard better then those things
im happy with froyo and besides if people do but this phone it may make it easier to port new Android versions and stuff like 4g working on CM7 and what not.
davidrules7778 said:
Epic 4g> Nexus s 4g
.
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Not at all. If anything Epic = Nexus S, but there is no logical reason to consider it better.
063_XOBX said:
Not at all. If anything Epic = Nexus S, but there is no logical reason to consider it better.
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Hardware keyboard....
Best thing ever for emulators and gaming
also with all the fixes we have for the delay i am actually enjoying typing on it especially with my new epic i got yesterday, hardware is so much tighter then my old original epic.
davidrules7778 said:
Hardware keyboard....
Best thing ever for emulators and gaming
also with all the fixes we have for the delay i am actually enjoying typing on it especially with my new epic i got yesterday, hardware is so much tighter then my old original epic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a personal preference thing, I could argue that thinner is better, it certainly doesn't make one better than the other.
Yep to personal preference... if i could switch to the Nexus... in a heart beat will i ? HELL NO it's not worth the amount of money.... ill wait for a decent Dual Core
063_XOBX said:
That's a personal preference thing, I could argue that thinner is better, it certainly doesn't make one better than the other.
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too me, i think the epic has some of the best hardware and is the only top of the line phone with the hardware kb and for a keyboard phone i think it is so sexy and thin
compared to the moment, the tp2 tp1, i think a lot more people like having that keyboard, all my friends that have galaxy s variants hate me cause i have the hardware keyboard.
but your right it is a preference
mind telling me why you didnt get the evo if you like thin phones?
was it the screen and the hardware on the epic?
davidrules7778 said:
too me, i think the epic has some of the best hardware and is the only top of the line phone with the hardware kb and for a keyboard phone i think it is so sexy and thin
compared to the moment, the tp2 tp1, i think a lot more people like having that keyboard, all my friends that have galaxy s variants hate me cause i have the hardware keyboard.
but your right it is a preference
mind telling me why you didnt get the evo if you like thin phones?
was it the screen and the hardware on the epic?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know you didn't ask me but....
I Got the epic b/c of the processor and i didn't know the keyboard would wobble so much and kill a piece of me every time i touched the screen...
davidrules7778 said:
mind telling me why you didnt get the evo if you like thin phones?
was it the screen and the hardware on the epic?
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Click to collapse
I did have the Evo originally and it's still sitting in my drawer in the event I need a backup phone.
I switched for 3 Reasons.
The extremely poor GPU in the Evo.
It's weight vs. the Epic (or any SGS)
The direction HTC is going in.
XtaC318 said:
We're getting dual core's this summer, you're better off sticking with the Epic. The nexus s 4g is the exact same, except for it's running gb and has an NFC chip.
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Click to collapse
Are we getting dual core pure Google phones on sprint? Is the next Nexus close to the horizon and in dual core?
davidrules7778 said:
Hardware keyboard....
Best thing ever for emulators and gaming
also with all the fixes we have for the delay i am actually enjoying typing on it especially with my new epic i got yesterday, hardware is so much tighter then my old original epic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Emulators and gaming were cool for like the first week for me. Since then, not so much.
063_XOBX said:
I did have the Evo originally and it's still sitting in my drawer in the event I need a backup phone.
I switched for 3 Reasons.
The extremely poor GPU in the Evo.
It's weight vs. the Epic (or any SGS)
The direction HTC is going in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agreed.
i will be picking up my nexus 4g the day it comes out, why? i am going to be stuck in a contract for 2 years with it. there is no doubts in my mind, the sgx540 in the SGS lineup is hands down the best phone gpu on the market (check glbenckmark.com) in terms of overall benchmark gpu scores the nexus s is 4 slots down from the ipad 2 (you know that new dual core tablet thats been crushing everything in terms of speed) so as far as i see it i have a choice between the epic or the ns4g. the epic is a decent enough phone. i love hard ware keyboards, but i want upgrades for 2 years... ask anyone on the nexus forums if they regret getting a nexus device. im willing to bet 99.9 of them will tell you they love having 2.3.3
i couldnt care at all about nfc (yay non scannable qr codes... woopie..) but its more about the simple things. i very rarely run any stock rom, most of the time is cyanogenmod, i congratulate the devs on trying so hard to bring it to the epic but its still got a bit to go. i guarantee the nexus s 4g will have an official repo/build within a week of cm7.
now whats the worst part about nexus s 4g? the camcorder.. its locked at 480p due to hardware limitations, but i can get over that as i dont use my phone as a video camera. no sd card slot? nah ive owned cell phones before they used microsd, and i own an ipod.. so im kinda used to the whole concept of being stuck with a size, besides refer to above point.. no video means less space taken up by media. no i would have to say the worst part about getting a nexus s 4g is knowing that with gb out and hc being held off for tablets only.. that ice cream is a bit off and that means its gunna be a bit of a wait for me to get my next dose of android medicine.
P.S i know i cant be the only one hoping that moto gets skipped on the next nexus device and lg gets it
For those who are interested, I just got a 10% off coupon in the email from Best Buy. That means a 10% discount on preorders of. Nexxus S
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
I have this dumb habit of getting the cooler (in MY opinion) and more unique thing when I have a choice between it and something a little less cool but better supported. I own a Zune instead of an iPod, a Mazdaspeed3 instead of a WRX, I used to have an HPI RC car instead of an Associated RC-* that was gas powered instead of electric, and an Epic instead of an Evo, etc.
On one hand, I have never once wanted to kick the phone across the parking lot like I did with the Hero, but on the other hand, the Evo has more accessories that can be bought in brick and mortar stores, more custom ROMs including a more functional CM (much love, you guys really picked a whore of a phone to port to) and more fully functioning root apps.
I know in my heart that if I did get the Evo, I'd be kicking myself for not getting the far more powerful Epic. In this upgrade cycle I think I made the right decision to give Samsung another chance. I still don't trust them to the level of HTC (started with them back in the Titan days) but if they can make a hot-rod Google Experience phone then I'm definitely on board.
If anyone cares.
Top Nurse said:
For those who are interested, I just got a 10% off coupon in the email from Best Buy. That means a 10% discount on preorders of. Nexxus S
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that coupon is no good on contract phones.
That new EVO looks pretty sweet. I think I'm going to hold out for it. And for those of you that get your phones from Best Buy, you are better off going to a Sprint Store.

Is the Epic a dying breed of phone - a flagship keyboard phone?

It seems to me that looking at all of the new releases, with the possible exception of the Motorola Droid series (although it seems the Droid Razr is getting more hype), is the era of flagship physical keyboard phones dead?
It seems that the Epic 4G may be the last flagship keyboard Android phone that Samsung releases. None of the Galaxy S2 variants so far, nor any derivatives (such as the Note) have physical keyboards.
It's noteworthy that HTC hasn't either, with the HTC Desire Z/G2 being the last flagship (and the Desire HD was arguably the true flagship) nor have any of the Chinese phone makers. So far all keyboard phones of 2011 have been confined to largely mid-range devices.
We will see another keyboard phone. It sucks that many were dooped, myself and fiancee included, into thinking that sprints flagship phone would receive software kindness. I suppose I can't complain because we just received 2.3.5, but what about the people who bought this phone a week ago and will be ****ed for quite awhile? Money scamming samsung ****s. God bless our devs for turning death into new life.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Epic future
I agree that their should be more support for physical keyboards on flagship phones.
I was researching and It looks like the Epic will not receive an (Official) update to Android 4.0 ICS. Just look at how long it took to get the 2.3.5. Official update.
I agree, it's quite disappointing keyboard users are being abandoned across the board.
Although, I do remember a facebook post from Sprint a few weeks ago polling users where they prefer On-screen or physical keyboard...and almost everyone answered physical keyboard. What does this mean? I don't know..
Nonetheless, and like with anything, we must change with time. I'm slowly starting to use the on-screen KB more and more to prepare myself for the inevitable.
Verizon JUST released the Stratusphere 2 months ago. Almost an Epic clone. So no. When this one dies out (still actually a good seller) another will take it's place. This is probably why Sprint removed it from the EOL list, waiting on the next keyboard phone.
kennyglass123 said:
Verizon JUST released the Stratusphere 2 months ago. Almost an Epic clone. So no. When this one dies out (still actually a good seller) another will take it's place. This is probably why Sprint removed it from the EOL list, waiting on the next keyboard phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to mention the Captivate Glide for AT&T which also has a physical keyboard.
Neither of those phones are flagship phones though... for today's market they are both considered high-mid level devices.
My buddy is about to get a phone on Sprint, he likes a physical keyboard like myself, so we go down to the Sprint Store, to see what they had, and the Epic is by far the best with a keyboard, and it is over two years old... this is sad... Looking at the buzz, it doesn't look like a good one is coming down the line either. So he will probably be getting an Epic, and I will root and rom it like this one. Still a great phone, thanks to development...
saramon said:
My buddy is about to get a phone on Sprint, he likes a physical keyboard like myself, so we go down to the Sprint Store, to see what they had, and the Epic is by far the best with a keyboard, and it is over two years old... this is sad... Looking at the buzz, it doesn't look like a good one is coming down the line either. So he will probably be getting an Epic, and I will root and rom it like this one. Still a great phone, thanks to development...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not over 2 years old. Won't be 2 years old until end of August 2012.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Sorry, quite right... Still though, over a year and no followups in sight
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Motorola-DROID-4_id6431
pretty sure that's gonna be a flagship phone...
also it's the end of the year and ICS just released, the new quadcore phones are in the air, and also it's a lot easier to throw just a touchscreen on than a full qwerty keyboard that full works.
be patient.
Doesn't the captivate glide have a tegra 2? Its not exactly a flagship but its powerful
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
lys3rgic said:
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Motorola-DROID-4_id6431
pretty sure that's gonna be a flagship phone...
also it's the end of the year and ICS just released, the new quadcore phones are in the air, and also it's a lot easier to throw just a touchscreen on than a full qwerty keyboard that full works.
be patient.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's all well and good but I'm sure that will be a Verizon exclusive just like all the other motorola droids w/ a kb.
I think my next phone won't have a kb. Pretty sad when you have to hack the kb yourself to get it to work properly. There for awhile, I hardly ever used it because it skipped so much. Going back to the HTC Touch Pro's days, there has only been 1 (HTC Touch Pro 2) that worked correctly out of the box.
Rather have a thinner phone at this point.
Galaxy Nexus here I come!
I'm not sure the Droid 4 will bring anything new. Looks like just another dual core A9; like the Droid 3, which IIRC had an OMAP 4.
When the Epic was released, it was well, among the most powerful Android phones to get with the Hummingbird CPU and the most powerful on Sprint (despite what Evo fanboys like to say).
I was hoping for something like another Epic this year, maybe with an Exynos and an RGB Super Amoled screen, but with keyboard. The way things are going, it looks like 2012 won't be any better.
For 2012, I am hoping for a 720p Super Amoled (or that giant monster on the Note) with a keyboard phone and either a quad-core A9, or a dual-core A15. Apparently, Samsung is working on a quad core Exynos 4412.
Unfortunately...
I have to agree... there likely won't be another flagship/high-end Android phone with a keyboard released other than the DROID series (which is only on VZW). Every time I try to get used to using only the onscreen keyboard, I pull out the physical keyboard and realize how much better it is for me to use (especially on the longer messages).
There will certainly be some powerful phones with keyboards released in the future, but they likely won't be the most powerful/high-end/flagship devices like the Epic 4G was when it was released (see, as mentioned above, the Samsung Captivate Glide on AT&T).
For me, a physical keyboard is a requirement for using terminal programs (ssh). Not only do I get more screen area for the text, but it is easier to type out special characters (~, /, and \).
If I am sending an SMS or a short email, I use Swype.
I hope that there will be a Galaxy Nexus-ish phone that has a physical keyboard. If it comes out, that will be my next phone.
I like the physical keyboard for typing long things out or using a terminal app, but at the same time i hate how it takes away from the solid feel of the device and makes it a ton thicker.
umby24 said:
I like the physical keyboard for typing long things out or using a terminal app, but at the same time i hate how it takes away from the solid feel of the device and makes it a ton thicker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find the thin phones to feel fragile to me. I don't even like the epic without the case on it. Too hard to hold while you type. Feels solid in the case and just perfect to grip while typing.
I won't even bother looking at a phone if it doesn't have a keyboard.
When I originally decided to buy an Android phone back in June, one of the requirements for me was a good physical keyboard. At the Sprint store where I got it, there was one phone that was higher end, but it didn't have the physical keyboard, so I went with the Epic. I love the versatility of being able to use multiple software keyboards, and still slide out a hardware keyboard if needed. Since I'm always rooting and modding friends' phones, I use the software-only keyboards on them often, and most of the time it drives me batty not being able to silde out a real keyboard. ;-)
I swore I would never get a phone without a physical keyboard but I got the ET4G and the extra screen size makes it almost impossible to hit the wrong letter..especially in landscape mode. That being said, if they figure out a way to get a phone the size of the Epic Touch with a physical keyboard and keep it slim I would get it on day 1
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

What will be the G2/Desire Z successor?

Let me first say that we all know that the Desire Z is an amazing phone and still is. It's got a great camera, speed, screen, features, keyboard, sound, unlocked bootloader, etc. However at the current moment there isn't really a great successor to it in my opinion. And by successor I don't mean a true successor of course. Let's take a look at some QWERTY phones on the market:
MyTouch 4G Slide
http://www.gsmarena.com/t_mobile_mytouch_4g_slide-4018.php
It's basically a G2 with slightly better specs and a better camera. Not much of an upgrade.
Droid 3
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_3-4036.php
Last time I heard it had a locked bootloader so it has very limited software support. Definitely not friendly in that department. Specs are better than the 4G Slide.
Captivate Glide
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i927_captivate_glide-4071.php
I had high hopes for this one. It has a lot of improvements such as a AMOLED screen, slightly bigger screen, and similar specs to the Galaxy S2. However, it is somewhat of a downgraded Galaxy S2 considering that it came out just recently as it lacks LTE support and it does not have a higher resolution than the G2. However Samsung is friendly to the open source community. Oh also no LED notification (Ahh!).
So if I had to pick now it would be the Captivate Glide but I am not going to. I am hoping that HTC will make the G3 and put all their top tier specs onto the QWERTY phone like they did with the G2, including a bigger and higher resolution screen, LTE support, quad core CPU, etc.
Long live the G2/Desire Z!
Oh and yes the Droid 4 is coming out. From the looks of it, it will be a Droid RAZR but in QWERTY.
Droid 4 sure looks interesting but will it make it to Europe ah probably will, under the name Milestone. I like the way the 4 basic android buttons are still present, hope ICS wont kill them in the future phones.
Not going to change my phone for a while tough DZ works great, had it for about a year now. And i suppose it depends also if these phones will get MIUI rom . But i'm interested to see HTC make G3, not just yet tough, next summer maybe. within a year i hope.
i was caught by this statement "However Samsung is friendly to the open source community. Oh also no LED notification (Ahh!)."
is HTC not dev friendly? me? yeah. sucks. they left Desire series. that includes our Z.
anyway going back to the topic. i prefer the Glide.
No offense but the g2's camera sucks. Video recording is like 20fps in areas slightly less than ideal lighting conditions and stills require a steady hand and ideal lighting.
The Captivate Glide sounded interesting at first. But the more I read, the more I'm disappointed.
http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/20/review-samsung-captivate-glide-att/
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/samsung-captivate-glide-at/4505-6452_7-35033579.html?tag=mncol;rvwBody#reviewPage1
Sounds like crappy exterior build quality, and bad keyboard. And as the OP mentioned, no LTE. Really not much of an upgrade from the G2/DZ, IMO.
And the 1 GHz CPU on the Captivate Glide seems obsolete out of the box, as the high end smartphones are going to 1.2 GHz and higher nowadays.
Like everyone here mention Droid 4 is awesome I dont like sammy software as i myself had epic 4g it was buggy on input that physical keyboard wasnt even optimize for the software like on full touch screen galaxy line. As im more in love with stock aka pure google or vanilla phones. I would wait for htc to release the G3 before deciding to get another plus all the apps i want i can get. Their no point upgrading if android market is supporting our phones. I love droid when it was the first one because of vanilla experience unless moto change their way i wont get the droid 4. Droid 3 is awesome but i dislike both Motoblur and Sense ui referring to htc phone on that. I rather have touchwiz before both. But it your pick on what phone your getting.
i wouldn't go as far as to say the DZ has a great screen. it actually kinda sucks. so I think the next best thing will be ANY phone with a keyboard, better screen, better camera, will probably be HTC (or moto now that google is running things there) and at the very least just as fast (but faster probably and probably dual core). so..... the MT4GS? lol
Look like g1 got android 4.0 os lol wow not even the first iphone got 4.0 os apple is for losers .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19649295
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym4A82ft5pw&feature=player_embedded#!
Dell Hancock. Nuffsaid.
skinnyveganboy said:
i wouldn't go as far as to say the DZ has a great screen. it actually kinda sucks. so I think the next best thing will be ANY phone with a keyboard, better screen, better camera, will probably be HTC (or moto now that google is running things there) and at the very least just as fast (but faster probably and probably dual core). so..... the MT4GS? lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's better than the Super AMOLED-Pentile window screens they put on the Galaxy S phones.
mputtr said:
Dell Hancock. Nuffsaid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That one seems like vapourware. Wasn't it rumored like 1 year ago?
add119 said:
Look like g1 got android 4.0 os lol wow not even the first iphone got 4.0 os apple is for losers .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19649295
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym4A82ft5pw&feature=player_embedded#!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you even watch the video?
ICS runs like **** in it
iOS 4 and 5 would like run like **** on the iPhone 1 Gen
You honestly want to talk about android fragmentation?
Sure looks like we are in for a long wait until the next Scandinavian QWERTY Android is here. My DZ is still great though.
jrkr said:
Sure looks like we are in for a long wait until the next Scandinavian QWERTY Android is here. My DZ is still great though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah DZ rocks as long. Before i buy anything i probably wait for it to get MIUI. I don't like sense, not sure about motoblur/touchwiz, never used them. So i might even enjoy them.
Anyway i get the hardware i like and root it to get the firmware the way i like. I'd like to see G3 popping up in 9 months.
I honestly dont think the Htc g3 will appears for a while until t-mobile feel like making g2 users jump the wagon. Because mytouch slide 4g was the same screen size i didnt like that it had sense ui to be honest/.
Specs the mytouch 4g slide is better but i dont like sense ui, to me that not better in my opinion,if im going to root a phone i dont want to root it for Stock ui .
i want to have stock already just overclock it and use root explorer to delete the apps i dont like.
Whippler said:
Yeah DZ rocks as long. Before i buy anything i probably wait for it to get MIUI. I don't like sense, not sure about motoblur/touchwiz, never used them. So i might even enjoy them.
Anyway i get the hardware i like and root it to get the firmware the way i like. I'd like to see G3 popping up in 9 months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
---------- Post added at 09:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 AM ----------
Dude this is in alpha it show that iphone that say android cant run higher then 1.6 to 2.1 is wrong?
Im just saying i had g1 when it was 1.0 and update 1.1 in march 2009, update 1.5 in late may to june 2009. update/upgrade 1.6 os in early october 2009.
Google g1 was best phone that run all version of all time.
I dont think the nexus one will past beyond Ice cream sandwich and if it do android 4.5 os or 5.0 jelly bean will be it last update.
Same with phone from late 2010 Either Ice cream sandwich or Jelly bean will be it last updates also.
TrueYears said:
did you even watch the video?
ICS runs like **** in it
iOS 4 and 5 would like run like **** on the iPhone 1 Gen
You honestly want to talk about android fragmentation?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't like Sense, why buy HTC?
leobg said:
That one seems like vapourware. Wasn't it rumored like 1 year ago?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the roadmap was leaked a year ago. the hancock was slated for Q4 2011, but no news of it
http://www.infosyncworld.com/review...d-hancock-bet-on-android-ice-cream/11801.html
p.s vaporware was duke nukem forever. You need several years of broken promises to be considered vaporware. in duke's case, something like a decade.
costipl said:
If you don't like Sense, why buy HTC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because you can root the phone and put in CM/MIUI/insertROMhere? Most people simply like the build and spec that HTC offers.
Sorry for this gravedig, but are there any new possible successors? I don't think so right?
Roolio said:
Sorry for this gravedig, but are there any new possible successors? I don't think so right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wondering the same thing, as one of my kids might be in the market for a new phone, and they like h/w keyboards.
Sent from my Desire Z running CM7.

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