Android apps/HTC wildfire

Iphigenia · 30-08-2010, 19:59

Didn't think I was a dinosaur but mobile phones seem to have got away from me. My last one was nicked, my back up one is so old (Motorola W377) I don't think anyone would bother taking it.

Now I'm considering an Android phone, maybe an HTC Wildfire, I don't think I could afford the Desire.

Apart from making calls and texts, I want to be able to
surf the web while on holiday (UK and Europe)
send occasional emails (ditto)
listen to music while I'm walking
use a walking gps while I'm walking

I don't understand apps ~ do you buy them or do some come free with the phone?

I've been told that some phones that advertize GPS, for example, it just means they have the capability of having a GPS app downloaded, not that it does it already.

I haven't seen the keypad of the Wildfire - is it qwerty? And, if so, the keys must be really tiny, is it easy to use for text/emailing?

Thanks for any help offered - I have done lots of research but not found anything that explains it simply enough for me.

Ta.

pi r squared · 30-08-2010, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iphigenia

I don't understand apps ~ do you buy them or do some come free with the phone?

A few come free with the phone. Then there is a Market, where you can search through the thousands of apps available. Some are free and some are paid for but the distinction between the two is very clear in the market.

Quote:

I've been told that some phones that advertize GPS, for example, it just means they have the capability of having a GPS app downloaded, not that it does it already.

GPS simply means the phone is aware of where in the world it is, so yes you will need an additional app if you wish to use it as a walking GPS. Google Maps (which comes with the phone) is okay for roads and such but for paths you will probably need another app.

Quote:

I haven't seen the keypad of the Wildfire - is it qwerty? And, if so, the keys must be really tiny, is it easy to use for text/emailing?

By default the keyboard is QWERTY, yes. The keys are quite tiny but the typing correction software is pretty excellent so you just need to hit roughly the right key and the software will sort it out. For example, if you actually typed "GWKKP", the phone will work out that you wanted to type "HELLO" (the keys are right nearby) and as soon as you hit Space, it will correct the word for you. It's neater than it sounds. Further, you can turn the phone landscape to increase the size of the keys. And further still, you can choose to have the keyboard as a traditional 1=ABC, 2=DEF, etc. where the buttons are a lot larger.

The phone will happily phone and text definitely in Europe and pretty much anywhere in the world (think they're quad band phones). If you want to surf the web in Europe using the phone's data connection rather than WiFi, you would need to enable "Data Roaming", and be aware this costs an absolute bomb.

Iphigenia · 30-08-2010, 23:02

Thankyou, I understood that!

So: the Wildfire doesn't have a keyboard, it's all on the screen?
and
In Europe, will it pick up wi-fi just like my netbook does?
Ta.

(When I get time, I Will go and view a real one in a shop! In the meantime - thankyou!)

pi r squared · 30-08-2010, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iphigenia

So: the Wildfire doesn't have a keyboard, it's all on the screen?
and
In Europe, will it pick up wi-fi just like my netbook does?

Correct on both counts

Most people grow to love touch-screen keyboards after using them for a little while but as you mention, it might be worth giving one a dummy run in a shop before you buy.

Iphigenia · 31-08-2010, 07:22

Brilliant, thankyou.

Nugsey05 · 31-08-2010, 07:44

I got an HTC Wildfire just over a week ago. It does take a bit of time to get it set up but it really is a cracking handset.

The onscreen keyboard is a little fiddly to begin with but you do get used to it very quickly.

Go for it Iphigenia. You won't be disappointed.

malaikah · 31-08-2010, 11:39

I have a Wildfire too. It's great! and just the right size too. I loved the Desire but it was just a bit too expensive and a bit too big in the hand.

You can also use not just the qwerty keyboard but also the t9 predictive style which gives you a larger key area to use for fiddly fingers and is nice and quick. The screen is very responsive. The only annoyance is that I can't use some of the apps that my friend can with his Desire.

Iphigenia · 31-08-2010, 14:46

Thanks everyone. Definitely tempted. Plus I can get it free on VMob, if I upgrade to £20 a month.

I was a bit anxious about the key board ~ although I have tiny fingers, I touch type on the laptop, and I'm assuming it's physically impossible to touch type with the "right" fingers on a 3.2" screen?

And, a couple more questions if I may:

I want to be able to use it for music/gps/etc with headphones: does the phone go in your pocket or hang round your neck? I have a tiny phone where the earphones are a kind of neckhanger/earphones combined.

and here's the big one:

I use one mobile for work and one for holidays. The Wildfire is such a fun tool to have, I want it to be my only phone. It's for holidays that I need to be able to get online access and the occasional call. I make a lot of calls on the other for work purposes.

Is there a way/an app whereby some callers are put through to a "sorry, she's away, ring this number instead" msg (without me hearing it ring), and other callers get through?
A holiday's not a holiday if you even know people are ringing you about work - but I do need to be able to leave a contact number if anyone tries.
I can't afford to pay £20 a month for something I can only use a couple of weeks a year on holiday.
I don't have enough of a social life (!) to justify one phone for me only, and one for work; plus, I'd like to use the all singing all dancing handset for work too.

I begin to suspect I need the wonderphone to do one too many wonders!

Ta.

Thinking it through: I need to be able to programme in a few numbers that definitely Do get through, and all the rest default to a bogoff message.

pi r squared · 31-08-2010, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iphigenia

I was a bit anxious about the key board ~ although I have tiny fingers, I touch type on the laptop, and I'm assuming it's physically impossible to touch type with the "right" fingers on a 3.2" screen?

Touch-typing is largely a no-go on a touch screen, (a) because of the smallness of it but (b) because of the lack of tactility - on a laptop, you can "feel" that you're definitely pressing a key and haven't hit two keys by mistake or missed a key entirely. On a touch-screen keyboard, this isn't so. Typing on a screen is a different skill and I tend to hold my phone in one hand and type with my thumb of the same hand, or in landscape mode I hold it with both hands and use both thumbs. On a normal keyboard I only ever use my thumb for hitting Space.

Quote:

I want to be able to use it for music/gps/etc with headphones: does the phone go in your pocket or hang round your neck? I have a tiny phone where the earphones are a kind of neckhanger/earphones combined.

The headphones that come as standard are normal ones. I don't know how heavy the Wildfire is but I would not wear my Desire round my neck as it weighs too much.

Quote:

Is there a way/an app whereby some callers are put through to a "sorry, she's away, ring this number instead" msg (without me hearing it ring), and other callers get through?

By default you can set certain numbers to go straight to Voicemail should you need them too. Fortunately I don't suffer from idiots ringing me so I've never tried this but others seem to suggest it works fine. However in terms of setting up a sort of "whitelist" that allows some calls through and blocks the rest, you'll need an app. I just did a quick search and a few jumped out but I don't really want to recommend any having never used one. However, something like Call Blocker Gold ($5.99) purports to have a "Never Block" list which allows calls through even if you block all the others. It would probably be worth having a play with a few different apps and seeing how they work and if they fit the bill.

Iphigenia · 31-08-2010, 18:15

Thankyou for taking the trouble to research that for me!

Hopefully I'll be able to create a space in my day tomorrow to go and get a feel

of one in the VM shop.
Thanks again.

DavidRobert · 01-09-2010, 05:43

And in the Android Market Place, you can buy a paid app and if you realise it's not what you want you can uninstall it and get a refund within 24 hours. Although you can usually tell if it's any good or not from the comments.

Iphigenia · 01-09-2010, 07:06

Ah, I didn't know that about returning paid apps, thankyou!

rwould · 01-09-2010, 11:54

Whilst the screen is smaller than the Wildfire I'd consider the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro. It comes with a pull out keyboard that is really easy to use and type with. Spec wise it's pretty similar to the Wildfire, although I do think the Wildfire touch screen is a little better, mainly due to the size and my fat fingers!

edgayton · 01-09-2010, 12:13

Just to add my twopence worth,

I've just got a Wildfire and I'm really pleased with it. Typing is fine. Android marketplace seems a little buggy sometimes but is generally very good.

I'm paying £15 pm with free phone on T-Mobile and vouchers for half price line rental by redemption so you should be able to improve on that £20 pm if you shop around.
Ed

Iphigenia · 01-09-2010, 15:33

Hm. I went to the Virgin shop in town to feel the instrument hands on. I liked it very much. However, the salesman was utterly obnoxious, he had clearly been a Virgin customer services operator in his home country, so I went to check out Carphone Warehouse instead.

Lovely man there, looked like an ace footballer out of Boys' Own Paper or something. He found me a good deal on 3, which gives a price for Units, which can either be minutes or texts, plus u/l internet. This is great for me, as I talk a lot but text rarely.

Only difficulty ~ computer says no! So, off to spend a few weeks checking out my credit reports. Sigh. Good job I hadn't already told VM where to stick their rolling contract!

LostFool · 08-09-2010, 17:39

Just got the Wildfire on Virgin today as an upgrade to a Samsung Tocco (which I hated) for my personal phone. So far I think it's great. Typing is much easier than the Tocco even after a few minutes, the UI seems very intuitive though it's going to take me some time to work out all of the features.

Just one problem so far - I have been unable to get the HTCSync software (3.0 on Windows 7) to work. The application just keeps saying "no device connected". Any suggestions?

30-08-2010, 19:59	#1
Iphigenia Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7,935	Android apps/HTC wildfire Didn't think I was a dinosaur but mobile phones seem to have got away from me. My last one was nicked, my back up one is so old (Motorola W377) I don't think anyone would bother taking it. Now I'm considering an Android phone, maybe an HTC Wildfire, I don't think I could afford the Desire. Apart from making calls and texts, I want to be able to surf the web while on holiday (UK and Europe) send occasional emails (ditto) listen to music while I'm walking use a walking gps while I'm walking I don't understand apps ~ do you buy them or do some come free with the phone? I've been told that some phones that advertize GPS, for example, it just means they have the capability of having a GPS app downloaded, not that it does it already. I haven't seen the keypad of the Wildfire - is it qwerty? And, if so, the keys must be really tiny, is it easy to use for text/emailing? Thanks for any help offered - I have done lots of research but not found anything that explains it simply enough for me. Ta.

30-08-2010, 21:35	#2
pi r squared Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4,185	Quote: Originally Posted by Iphigenia I don't understand apps ~ do you buy them or do some come free with the phone? A few come free with the phone. Then there is a Market, where you can search through the thousands of apps available. Some are free and some are paid for but the distinction between the two is very clear in the market. Quote: I've been told that some phones that advertize GPS, for example, it just means they have the capability of having a GPS app downloaded, not that it does it already. GPS simply means the phone is aware of where in the world it is, so yes you will need an additional app if you wish to use it as a walking GPS. Google Maps (which comes with the phone) is okay for roads and such but for paths you will probably need another app. Quote: I haven't seen the keypad of the Wildfire - is it qwerty? And, if so, the keys must be really tiny, is it easy to use for text/emailing? By default the keyboard is QWERTY, yes. The keys are quite tiny but the typing correction software is pretty excellent so you just need to hit roughly the right key and the software will sort it out. For example, if you actually typed "GWKKP", the phone will work out that you wanted to type "HELLO" (the keys are right nearby) and as soon as you hit Space, it will correct the word for you. It's neater than it sounds. Further, you can turn the phone landscape to increase the size of the keys. And further still, you can choose to have the keyboard as a traditional 1=ABC, 2=DEF, etc. where the buttons are a lot larger. The phone will happily phone and text definitely in Europe and pretty much anywhere in the world (think they're quad band phones). If you want to surf the web in Europe using the phone's data connection rather than WiFi, you would need to enable "Data Roaming", and be aware this costs an absolute bomb.

30-08-2010, 23:02	#3
Iphigenia Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7,935	Thankyou, I understood that! So: the Wildfire doesn't have a keyboard, it's all on the screen? and In Europe, will it pick up wi-fi just like my netbook does? Ta. (When I get time, I Will go and view a real one in a shop! In the meantime - thankyou!)

30-08-2010, 23:14	#4
pi r squared Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4,185	Quote: Originally Posted by Iphigenia So: the Wildfire doesn't have a keyboard, it's all on the screen? and In Europe, will it pick up wi-fi just like my netbook does? Correct on both counts Most people grow to love touch-screen keyboards after using them for a little while but as you mention, it might be worth giving one a dummy run in a shop before you buy.

31-08-2010, 07:22	#5
Iphigenia Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7,935	Brilliant, thankyou.

31-08-2010, 07:44	#6
Nugsey05 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire Posts: 195	I got an HTC Wildfire just over a week ago. It does take a bit of time to get it set up but it really is a cracking handset. The onscreen keyboard is a little fiddly to begin with but you do get used to it very quickly. Go for it Iphigenia. You won't be disappointed.

31-08-2010, 11:39	#7
malaikah Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Not far enough Posts: 12,248	I have a Wildfire too. It's great! and just the right size too. I loved the Desire but it was just a bit too expensive and a bit too big in the hand. You can also use not just the qwerty keyboard but also the t9 predictive style which gives you a larger key area to use for fiddly fingers and is nice and quick. The screen is very responsive. The only annoyance is that I can't use some of the apps that my friend can with his Desire.

31-08-2010, 14:46	#8
Iphigenia Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7,935	Thanks everyone. Definitely tempted. Plus I can get it free on VMob, if I upgrade to £20 a month. I was a bit anxious about the key board ~ although I have tiny fingers, I touch type on the laptop, and I'm assuming it's physically impossible to touch type with the "right" fingers on a 3.2" screen? And, a couple more questions if I may: I want to be able to use it for music/gps/etc with headphones: does the phone go in your pocket or hang round your neck? I have a tiny phone where the earphones are a kind of neckhanger/earphones combined. and here's the big one: I use one mobile for work and one for holidays. The Wildfire is such a fun tool to have, I want it to be my only phone. It's for holidays that I need to be able to get online access and the occasional call. I make a lot of calls on the other for work purposes. Is there a way/an app whereby some callers are put through to a "sorry, she's away, ring this number instead" msg (without me hearing it ring), and other callers get through? A holiday's not a holiday if you even know people are ringing you about work - but I do need to be able to leave a contact number if anyone tries. I can't afford to pay £20 a month for something I can only use a couple of weeks a year on holiday. I don't have enough of a social life (!) to justify one phone for me only, and one for work; plus, I'd like to use the all singing all dancing handset for work too. I begin to suspect I need the wonderphone to do one too many wonders! Ta. Thinking it through: I need to be able to programme in a few numbers that definitely Do get through, and all the rest default to a bogoff message.

31-08-2010, 16:27	#9
pi r squared Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4,185	Quote: Originally Posted by Iphigenia I was a bit anxious about the key board ~ although I have tiny fingers, I touch type on the laptop, and I'm assuming it's physically impossible to touch type with the "right" fingers on a 3.2" screen? Touch-typing is largely a no-go on a touch screen, (a) because of the smallness of it but (b) because of the lack of tactility - on a laptop, you can "feel" that you're definitely pressing a key and haven't hit two keys by mistake or missed a key entirely. On a touch-screen keyboard, this isn't so. Typing on a screen is a different skill and I tend to hold my phone in one hand and type with my thumb of the same hand, or in landscape mode I hold it with both hands and use both thumbs. On a normal keyboard I only ever use my thumb for hitting Space. Quote: I want to be able to use it for music/gps/etc with headphones: does the phone go in your pocket or hang round your neck? I have a tiny phone where the earphones are a kind of neckhanger/earphones combined. The headphones that come as standard are normal ones. I don't know how heavy the Wildfire is but I would not wear my Desire round my neck as it weighs too much. Quote: Is there a way/an app whereby some callers are put through to a "sorry, she's away, ring this number instead" msg (without me hearing it ring), and other callers get through? By default you can set certain numbers to go straight to Voicemail should you need them too. Fortunately I don't suffer from idiots ringing me so I've never tried this but others seem to suggest it works fine. However in terms of setting up a sort of "whitelist" that allows some calls through and blocks the rest, you'll need an app. I just did a quick search and a few jumped out but I don't really want to recommend any having never used one. However, something like Call Blocker Gold ($5.99) purports to have a "Never Block" list which allows calls through even if you block all the others. It would probably be worth having a play with a few different apps and seeing how they work and if they fit the bill.

31-08-2010, 18:15	#10
Iphigenia Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7,935	Thankyou for taking the trouble to research that for me! Hopefully I'll be able to create a space in my day tomorrow to go and get a feel of one in the VM shop. Thanks again.

01-09-2010, 05:43	#11
DavidRobert Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 656	And in the Android Market Place, you can buy a paid app and if you realise it's not what you want you can uninstall it and get a refund within 24 hours. Although you can usually tell if it's any good or not from the comments.

01-09-2010, 07:06	#12
Iphigenia Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7,935	Ah, I didn't know that about returning paid apps, thankyou!

01-09-2010, 11:54	#13
rwould Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 4,893	Whilst the screen is smaller than the Wildfire I'd consider the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro. It comes with a pull out keyboard that is really easy to use and type with. Spec wise it's pretty similar to the Wildfire, although I do think the Wildfire touch screen is a little better, mainly due to the size and my fat fingers!

01-09-2010, 12:13	#14
edgayton Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Lincoln Posts: 233	Just to add my twopence worth, I've just got a Wildfire and I'm really pleased with it. Typing is fine. Android marketplace seems a little buggy sometimes but is generally very good. I'm paying £15 pm with free phone on T-Mobile and vouchers for half price line rental by redemption so you should be able to improve on that £20 pm if you shop around. Ed

01-09-2010, 15:33	#15
Iphigenia Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7,935	Hm. I went to the Virgin shop in town to feel the instrument hands on. I liked it very much. However, the salesman was utterly obnoxious, he had clearly been a Virgin customer services operator in his home country, so I went to check out Carphone Warehouse instead. Lovely man there, looked like an ace footballer out of Boys' Own Paper or something. He found me a good deal on 3, which gives a price for Units, which can either be minutes or texts, plus u/l internet. This is great for me, as I talk a lot but text rarely. Only difficulty ~ computer says no! So, off to spend a few weeks checking out my credit reports. Sigh. Good job I hadn't already told VM where to stick their rolling contract!

08-09-2010, 17:39	#16
LostFool Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 59,737	Just got the Wildfire on Virgin today as an upgrade to a Samsung Tocco (which I hated) for my personal phone. So far I think it's great. Typing is much easier than the Tocco even after a few minutes, the UI seems very intuitive though it's going to take me some time to work out all of the features. Just one problem so far - I have been unable to get the HTCSync software (3.0 on Windows 7) to work. The application just keeps saying "no device connected". Any suggestions?

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Android apps/HTC wildfire