S/O POLL! What features are most important/used in a smartphone?

[sheryl]

You all have been helpful with helping me learn about Smartphones. Now, I'd like to know what "specific" features led you to buy your: Android, IPhone, Note. Please be very specific as I'm gathering this info. to help in my decision making process. Thanks again.

[DawnM]

Not on your list, but I am concerned about the OS (operating system). If it is old technology, it simply won't do as much. In Apple it is called iOS and in Android it is called OS.

[KungFuPanda]

I'm gonna put "other" because "Just buy a flippin phone already" was not a choice.

 

My decision making process went like this:

 

DH: Here's your new phone. ::hands me first iPhone::

Me: But my old one still works

DH: This is better

Me: OK

[Pawz4me]

Other -- Sturdiness/ruggedness of the device. All of them are rather delicate devices, but I went for what I viewed as the most durable (and got a good case!). 'Cause the bells and whistles and apps and operating systems don't matter if you drop the darn thing two feet onto thick carpet and it breaks.

[Ottakee]

I just went with the Droid Razr MAXX.......almost soley due to the battery life. I had a droid before and liked it. I was considering the iphone but battery life is very important to me as we are often in low signal areas and I didn't want to have a dead battery all the time or have to charge it up 3 times during the day.With this one I unplug it about 6am and plug it back in about 10pm and still have 30-50% of the battery life left.

[DawnM]

Awe, let her do her research.

 

I have much the same personality.....I analyze things to death because I want to make the right decision, or at least have all my facts together.

 

Dawn

 

I'm gonna put "other" because "Just buy a flippin phone already" was not a choice.

 

My decision making process went like this:

 

DH: Here's your new phone. ::hands me first iPhone::

Me: But my old one still works

DH: This is better

Me: OK

 

[Mom in High Heels]

I love my iPhone! I can do everything on it. It has apps, calendar, notes, mail, camera, music, etc., connects easily to my iTunes account (LOL! My autocorrect put iBoobs instead of iTunes! What is iBoobs?), can connect wirelessly to my computer (Macbook), can be updated without connecting to a computer, automatically syncs with my car when I get in, has decent battery life and...oh, yeah, I can make phone calls with it. :D

 

I would like a slightly longer battery life, but I use it a lot, so I'm not surprised it runs down quickly (even though I still think it's decent, considering how much I use it). If I get really desperate, I can always buy a case with an extra battery built in. When I'm in my car, I can connect it via Bluetooth, or I have a midi connector in my car that also connects to the iPhone (fortunately, the cable came with the car) and can charge it while still allowing me to play music and make phone calls through the car.

[sheryl]

Thanks all! I do appreciate this. Kung Panda, this got a smile from me. Well, I believe a smart consumer researches for a smart phone! ;)

[KungFuPanda]

Thanks all! I do appreciate this. Kung Panda, this got a smile from me. Well, I believe a smart consumer researches for a smart phone! ;)

 

 

Now you know why I'm not in charge of technology at my house. I don't have the patience for the proper research in this area.

[Pamela H in Texas]

There are some significant differences between Android and iPhone regarding texting and pictures. iPhone is better. I realize that technically, Droid is supposedly better. The camera is "better" for example. Well, better means CR@P to me when I can't take a nice picture, easily do what I want to with it, etc. I absolutely HATE both photo taking and texting/emailing on my Galaxy. Those are the two main things I do with my phone and I just want to do them WELL. As it is, my pictures are blurry and if you can read the text, it is because I spent an extra 60 seconds correcting every other word.

 

JMO. I don't care about any of the rest (though I do prefer a BIG screen).

 

ETA: Hey, since I'm venting about my phone (SGIII), I think I'll keep going :) The battery life stinks in relation to how my iphone 4 was. Additionally, 1/3 of the time, if I don't turn off the wi-fi/data overnight (the fix I was told to use), my phone, even with a FULL battery, won't make it through the night.

 

The music player is an issue for me also.

The thing takes it sweet time to open up when it wants to.

 

Supposedly there is nothing wrong with it. Well, that is even worse, IMO.

[Dahliarw]

Removable battery is huge to me. A battery will eventually wear out, especially if you don't care about the latest and greatest and want to use it for a few years, you probably will need to replace your battery. Otherwise you're stuck buying a whole new phone.

[sheryl]

Removable battery is huge to me. A battery will eventually wear out, especially if you don't care about the latest and greatest and want to use it for a few years, you probably will need to replace your battery. Otherwise you're stuck buying a whole new phone.

We found this out with my dh's new purchase. He bought a phone with a removable battery.

[KungFuPanda]

Removable battery is huge to me. A battery will eventually wear out, especially if you don't care about the latest and greatest and want to use it for a few years, you probably will need to replace your battery. Otherwise you're stuck buying a whole new phone.

 

We've NEVER replaced a battery and we tend to keep our phones for years.

[KungFuPanda]

Dp

[abacus2]

Other for me is camera. I never remember to carry a real camera; I want I nice phone one. Battery life and storage space are important too. I prefer android because I already use gmail and google calendar and prefer paying less for apps.

[sheryl]

In my next phone, I'd like: easy interface, app selections, good quality speakerphone, camera: still and video, removable batter, good battery charge............and what else can I choose?

[Forget-Me-Not]

Easy interface, camera quality and ease of use, availability of apps, voice-to-text, processor speed.

(I have an iPhone 5--ticks all the boxes and then some).

 

I wouldn't worry about battery. I also have an iPhone 4 that is 2.5 yrs old (my kids use it as an iPod touch now) and the battery is still fine, even with HEAVY usage. Maybe needs to be charged a little more frequently. I have changed the battery on exactly ONE cellphone (Motorola Razor) since I started using them over ten yrs ago, and that phone was so old I had trouble even finding a battery or it and I upgraded shortly after.

[sheryl]

Easy interface, camera quality and ease of use, availability of apps, voice-to-text, processor speed.

(I have an iPhone 5--ticks all the boxes and then some).

 

I wouldn't worry about battery. I also have an iPhone 4 that is 2.5 yrs old (my kids use it as an iPod touch now) and the battery is still fine, even with HEAVY usage. Maybe needs to be charged a little more frequently. I have changed the battery on exactly ONE cellphone (Motorola Razor) since I started using them over ten yrs ago, and that phone was so old I had trouble even finding a battery or it and I upgraded shortly after.

what is voice to text? also, my dh is concerned about the amt of data used. I really like the Samsung note 2 and once lowered (maybe when 3 comes out), I'd seriously consider buying it. Or, the Galaxy 3 (not 4). I just thought I'd have a lot of options with the note (phablet as Georgiana calls it) :). Watching Netflix, but then wouldn't I use a regular sized tablet or laptop for that (think vacation, etc)? Kindle - same thing. I'm wondering what I would use the Note for? Georgiana - your input. How can I justify buying a Note?

[athena1277]

Other: Camera quality. That's the reason dh upgraded my phone 2 years ago. I got to where I was taking all my pics on my phone and he wanted me to have better quality pictures.

[Dahliarw]

 

 

We've NEVER replaced a battery and we tend to keep our phones for years.

 

My HTC needed a new battery around 18 months. I made it last for 2 years until I could re-up and get my galaxy, but I had to charge it 1-2x during daylight hours. It was a pain.

[Farrar]

To me, interface (the OS, essentially) is above all. If I can't use it, what's the point of it?

 

The other thing is camera. It's the one feature that I think is worth paying more for.

[Forget-Me-Not]

 

what is voice to text? also, my dh is concerned about the amt of data used. I really like the Samsung note 2 and once lowered (maybe when 3 comes out), I'd seriously consider buying it. Or, the Galaxy 3 (not 4). I just thought I'd have a lot of options with the note (phablet as Georgiana calls it) :). Watching Netflix, but then wouldn't I use a regular sized tablet or laptop for that (think vacation, etc)? Kindle - same thing. I'm wondering what I would use the Note for? Georgiana - your input. How can I justify buying a Note?

 

Voice-to-text is what it sounds like. You can dictate a text message or note on your phone :).

 

Streaming videos will eat up your data faster than anything. Otherwise, you'll probably find that your data goes pretty far if you use wifi anytime you can. I have my iPhone and iPad sharing 1GB/ month and I have only gone over when I forgot to turn the cellular off/wifi back on on my ipad and watched some videos.

 

The kindle app can be used with no data connection at all as long as your book is already downloaded :)