Choice for phones

[durendal]

I see, so you really do need to be connected to the server, as the maps being loaded are real-time. That would explain the traffic updates, even though it's only available to a few select areas.

In a way, to use google map, you'd have to either spend really less due to free wifi, or an insane amount of money due to data connections to your carrier network, especially when you're overseas.

So your saying this is basically a mobile version of google earth?

Do you think there is some way to have the maps downloaded to you handset so you can use it offline? I'd imagine the current google map would be worthless to you when you travel since you really need a data connection to use it, unless the city you are in have free unlimited wifi.

I guess that would explain the 1mb file size when I tried downloading it.

Man, and I was so hyped when you mentioned how cool google map was. But then again, I guess this can be seen as a poor man's GPS, that is if you don't account for the insane carrier fees.

The good thing about this is that the maps are always updated, since it needs you to be connected all the time.

[*Jess♥]

I did try to download the map or to save the route that i had done. I couldn't find any way to do it.

i wouldn't say it's a poor mans gps. It sort of behaves differently.

also, i would say that if you aren't downloading the satellite images, and just getting the basic map view, It may not cost a lot.

it depends on your network service.

i do think it would be a good improvement to the app if it gave the option of storing your current route and the map sections needed for that route.

[durendal]

Well, I've been searching around and I've come across Nokia Maps 3, which I think might be useful to you. I think our phones are only preloaded with Nokia Maps 2, as version 3 is still on beta testing. You can download maps to your phone and use it for free. And I think what you need to pay for is the ability to navigate, which would be kinda useless for you. Perhaps you might want to try it out. I'll try to get my hands on version 3 when I get home.

Also, how do you find the separate Gmail client? I'm using the default email client of the phone to access my gmail and I'm not really that impressed with it, since the interface pretty much looks similar to the interface of the text messaging.

[*Jess♥]

gmail?

I don't have a gmail. I use hotmail.

I find the hotmail client effective for what i use it for. basically i may check my emails when i'm off my pc, but I don't exactly use it as a replacement. I still use my hotmail when i get on my pc.

I haven't relied on it for email yet so I don't mind. i don't know if the gmail client can connect to hotmail. i doubt it.

I did find a very good app called snaptu. it has bits for facebook and twitter. that's good for me.

it also has news, weather updates, tv guides and other things.

[durendal]

Oh, I though when you installed Google mobile, you also installed gmail. Anyway, I'm now trying to download Nokia Maps 3 (or Ovi Maps). I managed to find a crack that would allow me use navigation indefinitely.

I think this will be very useful to you since it has a complete map of the UK. Also allows you to get your position even without GPS using your network connection (much like google).

Just another question. Does your phone have a stop watch? Because I don't seem to have one in mine. This feature seems to be missing in some of the more modern phones.

[*Jess♥]

i don't have a stop clock. i never thought about that kind of feature really. i am sure there is a app to do it on ovi or getjar.com

that nokia maps sounds good.

do you need to have your phone hacked to do it?

edit:

I looked at maps 3.. it says it is incompatible with my phone device.

did it say that with yours? if so, did it work anyway?

[durendal]

That's strange. I went to the official website of nokia and had it downloaded there. I'm sure E63 is supported. Yup. it's there: http://www.nokia.co.uk/apps-and-services/ovi-maps/downloads-and-services

Since you won't be needing the navigation, you don't need an unsigned installer or hack your phone. (But yes, I hacked my phone). At first I installed the official version and it worked pretty well. Although it's useless for me since the map in our region is kinda less detailed. But it still works. I downloaded it because I needed the maps for the other countries (like China and Singapore). But I saw the map for UK and it has a whopping 156MB, 19.5mb for wales. So you'd expect a rich detail when you check the map.

[*Jess♥]

I don't have a usb cable so i can't get it from that page. i got it from the beta page. it said it was no compatible.

I tried it anyway but it never worked, it didn't even respond when i tried to start it.

I'll try this again when i get a data cable and memory card and when it is unlocked.

it is fortunate that the uk map is quite big. well nokia is European so I guess they put a priority on European countries.

[durendal]

My, that is one frustrations about the E63. You'd thought that being an multimedia phone they would also include a data cable. Doesn't even have a memory card correct? I guess they call this "E for Economy" for a reason. How about bluetooth? There's got to be some way you can use the pc suite. Don't tell me the package doesn't include a PC suite installer?

[*Jess♥]

no, it just came with the essentials.

I guess i could connect via bluetooth but I don't like enabling it on my pc. I can never remember how to switch it off again.

and it puts all these icons on my screen and stuff.

and yeah you are correct it has no memory card. it has a decent sized memory though so I am not too worried about that.

something like 120mb

maybe i'll try using bluetooth and all that stuff.

[durendal]

120mb may be big for an internal memory, but that just isn't enough for other storage. My phone comes with a 1GB memory, but it's barely enough for me. I use my phone as an mp3 player so imagine how much space it would require. Not to mention that the maps from nokia maps 3 eats up a lot of storage. China alone is already 500mb. But I guess this depends on each user.

[*Jess♥]

yeah you ar right, I don't use my phone for music, for example.

I have an mp3 player that is very light, very compact and very good at what it does.

i would rather run the battery down on that than run the battery on my phone so i have to charge it more often.

I think it work out more economic.

I think it depends on the person and how they use their phone as well.

actually depend on what phone we chose.

I chose the e63 which is very similar to yours, but it is more aimed at use as an organiser.

that is what i use my phone for, my phone is a communication device, a organiser and a information gathering device.

there are some people who use their phone for a media device and socialising. they use for media sharing and games also.

I don't use those features.

i saw some of those phones, they have touch screens. and the touch screen is mostly used for photo manipulation and media player control.

i would find it pretty useless because i have a mp3 player and i have a camera. my mp3 player is better than a phone. my camera is better than a phone.

I want to get larger memory anyway.

it is a little restrictive. I had to take some things off it. and the maps will certainly take a lot of space. I want to play around with the maps for sure.

[*Jess♥]

I downloaded and installed ovi maps today via bluetooth.

I really don't like it to be honest.

the fact that it works when offline is probably the best part but i would much rather use google maps when given the choice.

[durendal]

Well, compared to the OVI maps, Google maps is much more detailed, since the maps there are often updated. OVI maps is practically useless for my country since it lacks the complete details. But with an onboard AGPS, the google maps are practically useless on locations with no data connection. Another drawback for google maps is that it doesn't provide point to point navigation. I guess this solely depends on how you use the navigation system.

What about OVI maps that you didn't like. Is it the system menu, the map details, or just orientation of the map? Since my OVI map lacks details and google maps require data connection, I really can't compare with both in terms of usage.

[*Jess♥]

I don't really like the lack of detail at closer zoom levels. also, the controls seems really awkward.

the lack of GPS means that i cannot ask for directions on it. I cannot tell it to plot a course from point a to point b. or at least i have not found a way to do it. google maps will give me directions from point a to point b. I just tell it where from and where to and it draws a line on the map and also gives step by step directions.

I think i will wait until i have a larger storage before i experiment with it further. there may be a way i can tell it to plot a course from a to b.

quick edit,

i take it back, I just found a way to plot a course.

so the only reason i don't really like it is because of the lack of detail and the awkward controls.

[durendal]

Ah I see. Were you using the default map or did you download a map via nokia maps updater and then download the map to your phone? I'm sure I've read reviews from someone in the UK that the details are amazing. I mean, why would the UK map have around 150mb of data if it lacks details?

Also something that you might not like. You can only use the navigation for a limited time. After the free trial ends, you'd have to pay for the navigation. But you can still use the map, it just won't tell you how to get from point A to point B.

[*Jess♥]

it is odd because i don't even have a license for it.

it wouldn't update the license but it still runs. so maybe it will work forever

i don't know... it lacks detail in the satellite view, but i must admit the road shapes are very accurate. even if a road starts off wide and becomes narrow, it seems correct.

although i would wager that the large size of the data is due to the main cities such as london.

you will find a lot of detail in london but you won't get it in wrexham.

wrexham may be the largest population in north wales but is only big enough to be a small city if we ever get the status approved.

maybe i'm just unaccustomed to it.

I'll give it a chance anyway. I'll not dismiss it unduly.

i've been using google maps for years. it's bound to be my favourite.

[durendal]

I thought I'd revive this thread to rant about something.

Recently, my E66 suffered a crack in its LCD. So I was given a choice to either send it to an official nokia care center, or just a simple cell phone repair vendor. The cost is roughly around the same, so I opted to go the Nokia Care due to it's 90 days warranty. I left specific instructions that only the LCD be repaired, and not to upgrade the firmware or touch anything else. After 3 days I got a text message saying that my E66 is repaired. When I tried to claim my phone, I found out that my one-touch keys were no longer functioning. I refused to pay the service fee but the clerk insisted that since the phone has physical damage, some parts might be affected. I was very upset mainly because the clerk and I were talking in circles, and couldn't give me a satisfying answer. To make a long story short, I left the Nokia care frustrated and really pissed. Although the LCD was fixed, my one touch keys were no longer working. To think they have the nerve to call themselves "Nokia Care" when they don't even care about their customers.

After this incident, I'm thinking if I'll ever support a nokia phone again. Looks like the sturdiness of every new Nokia phone gets flimsier and flimsier. Starting with my 7110 which lasted 6 years, to my 6260 that lasted 4 years, now my E66 is only 2 years old. I'm clearly not happy with this.

[*Jess♥]

wow, that doesn't sound good at all.

so what are the one touch keys? is that just something that you set up in the menu?

i have to say s60 is not the best firmware i have seen, the menu is not very clear with different menu buttons being set up in a different options menu.

the main reason i got the e63 was because of the cost for the type of phone i wanted.

i would have got a blackberry if i had more funds to use.

[durendal]

The one touch keys are the dedicated keys in the front panel, similar to the 4 buttons beside your E63's navigation key. They're the Menu, Calendar, Contacts and Email. I always carry my phone in my pocket and this is the first time that the phone's LCD cracked. Probably because the E66 is a lot thinner than all of the previous phones that I've ever used. The biggest factor when I choose a phone is its sturdiness and it's ability to keep up with me.

I was also thinking of switching to a blackberry, but I can't seem to find one that suits my requirements. It's either they lack the components that I need, or doesn't look appealing to me. Besides, my phone can still do the basic functions, so getting a new phone isn't an option at the moment.

[*Jess♥]

so is it a case of the option menu items being missing, or that they were simply disabled?

because i realise that if my quick buttons weren't working, I would go into my menu and set them, but of course if that were the case then you probably already did that and so it was more of a annoyance than an actual problem?

[durendal]

I'm not sure, I've already toggled the settings for the keys. They just won't respond, be it short press or long press. It's the keys themselves that are unresponsive. But yes, it's somewhat annoying, since I can't use the task switching (like a windows alt-tab thingy by holding the menu key) because the menu key won't function anymore. The service representative at Nokia claimed that I need to replace the flex cable, which will entail additional cost for me. What really ticked me off was that I gave them my phone with all the keys working and when they return it to me, they're no longer functioning.

Later, when I was researching the schematics of the phone, I found out that the representatives at Nokia were BSing me. There is no way that the flex cable would be damage when changing LCD, unless they forced it open. And if the Flex cable were damaged, my phone would randomly turn off by itself.

Next time, I'm going for the unauthorized cell phone repairman. At least I get to see what is being done to my phone and I only have to wait for a few minutes to get it repaired.

[*Jess♥]

wow, that's kinda disgraceful that the authorised repair would do that.

[durendal]

Here it is again with me topic reviving. Well, please don't blame me as I'm currently very upset.

What is the source of my frustration? Well, this morning, since I was already running late, I decided to take a cab to work since I'm not allowed to drive my car due to the number coding scheme in place. When I got off the cab, I noticed that my left pants pocket was empty (place where I usually place my work phone). Tried calling the cab back but he just won't respond and drove fast out of sight. I couldn't even get it's plate number. Tried calling my phone with my other phone and nobody was answering. Figures, the cab driver must have taken interest in my phone and decided to pawn it. Crap. Just Craptastic.

Now I'm missing a phone and I'm too frustrated and distracted to concentrate on my job. In cases like this, you usually say goodbye to that phone, since chances of recovering it is less than zero percent. It's okay to lose the phone and sim card, but what is really vexing is the numbers in that phone that I will never recover.

Now, enough of my vents and time to get to the point of my post. Since this topic is about "choice for phones", I'm currently in the need to purchase a phone. Since my work phone was a cheapo phone (a nokia 2700 classic), I'm torn between buying another cheapo phone or a high end phone. Like I mentioned last time, I'm not too keen on buying another nokia phone, but since I'm too used to the nokia format, I'm having difficulty in switching to another brand. (Damn you Nokia). So, do you guys have any suggestions as to what phone I might get? Also, I'm automatically ruling out any form of Iphone since I really hate apple.

[ErutanXiku]

I've always been partial to Sony Ericsson and while I have a contract iPhone - only got it to experiment and test any Apps I may build for it...if I ever do - I still use my w850i as an mp3 player and as a backup.

I've had it since it was launched, so it's got a pretty good life and it's only starting to do weird stuff now, like switching itself off and forgetting it's position on the playlist, but these are intermittent. As for Nokia, I have a 6600 Slide that I gave to my brother, which seems to be doing fine, and an ancient 3100 (I think) that still works, but needs a new cover since it fell apart...

It all comes down to what you want from it really; but I'd tend to go for newer models for personal use and older ones for business or back-ups.