As a non techie why would I go with one over the other ?
what's the difference between symbian and Android
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Originally Posted by len112:
“As a non techie why would I go with one over the other ?”
“As a non techie why would I go with one over the other ?”
More down to personal preference.
Symbian tends to be better on handling power (ie. tend to get better life out of a Symbian device than an equivalent Android), has real multi tasking. Android has a larger app store.
At the end of the day, you need to work out what you want from a phone, and see what meets your criteria.
Interestingly, the wikipedia article on smartphone OS's has some inaccuracies on Symbian - it supports voice recognition, audio playback covers every major codec, video codec support is currently the best of the lot (out of the box), it has turn-by-turn GPS included in the device.
Originally Posted by clonmult:
“the wikipedia article on smartphone OS's has some inaccuracies on Symbian”
“the wikipedia article on smartphone OS's has some inaccuracies on Symbian”
Can I suggest you consider correcting it?
as an ex symbian user and now an Android user u highly recommend u stay away from the newer symbian fones... if you choose to go symbian try to get a brand new Nokia N97... bu far the best symbian...
Originally Posted by John259:
“Can I suggest you consider correcting it?”
“Can I suggest you consider correcting it?”
Wish I could .... but no time on an evening, and daytime access is read only (someone at work must have been abusing wikipedia, and our IP ranges have been blocked)
Originally Posted by Hardstyler:
“as an ex symbian user and now an Android user u highly recommend u stay away from the newer symbian fones... if you choose to go symbian try to get a brand new Nokia N97... bu far the best symbian...”
“as an ex symbian user and now an Android user u highly recommend u stay away from the newer symbian fones... if you choose to go symbian try to get a brand new Nokia N97... bu far the best symbian...”
Thats about as wrong as you could possibly get.
The newer S^3 devices are leagues ahead of what you call "the best symbian".
I've owned and used both, and prefer Symbian (phone functionality is way better than android). And if anyone says that Symbian is difficult to use, I'll just have to try and video my 2 year old son using the phone - if he can use it, anyone can.
Another possible factor in making the decision is the range of apps available for each system, especially if you have any "must have" apps which are only available for some systems.
Originally Posted by clonmult:
“if anyone says that Symbian is difficult to use, I'll just have to try and video my 2 year old son using the phone - if he can use it, anyone can.”
“if anyone says that Symbian is difficult to use, I'll just have to try and video my 2 year old son using the phone - if he can use it, anyone can.”
That doesn't mean anything.
Find a 70+-year-old who can work one, then I'd be impressed.
Originally Posted by Pencil:
“That doesn't mean anything.
Find a 70+-year-old who can work one, then I'd be impressed.”
“That doesn't mean anything.
Find a 70+-year-old who can work one, then I'd be impressed.”
Mates mum has just got one, she's 70+, has no problems with it.
Honestly, its pretty darned easy to use.
Originally Posted by finbaar:
“"Best Symbian phone", a bit like "Military Intelligence". A happy ex Nokia 5800 owner here.”
“"Best Symbian phone", a bit like "Military Intelligence". A happy ex Nokia 5800 owner here.”
Not really ..... although yes, I gave away my 5800 when i first got it - the UX was terrible. By the time it came round to my getting a 5230, it had definitely evolved into something considerably more usable.
The N8 is easily equal to any iOS or Android device.
And I've worked in military establishments, and am way too aware of what constitutes military intelligence
I moved over from N97 Symbian to HTC Desire HD on Android, won't be going back. Symbian is moving forward but has a lot of catching up to do. If you want apps on your phone get android, with Symbian^3 things may be better but you need to see some reviews first.
Originally Posted by Hardstyler:
“as an ex symbian user and now an Android user u highly recommend u stay away from the newer symbian fones... if you choose to go symbian try to get a brand new Nokia N97... bu far the best symbian...”
“as an ex symbian user and now an Android user u highly recommend u stay away from the newer symbian fones... if you choose to go symbian try to get a brand new Nokia N97... bu far the best symbian...”
Dont bother with the N97. If that is the best Symbian then Symbian isnt very good at all.
Id say the N95 8GB was better. I kept my N97 for 6 months before I had to get rid. Had an iPhone 3G for a while and whilst there was nothing really wrong with that, my attention got drawn towards the HTC Desire HD which I now have.
OP, go to Android and don't bother with Symbian. They dont seemed to have produced anything worthwhile and the phones are just slow.
Originally Posted by clonmult:
“Not really ..... although yes, I gave away my 5800 when i first got it - the UX was terrible. By the time it came round to my getting a 5230, it had definitely evolved into something considerably more usable.
The N8 is easily equal to any iOS or Android device.
And I've worked in military establishments, and am way too aware of what constitutes military intelligence”
“Not really ..... although yes, I gave away my 5800 when i first got it - the UX was terrible. By the time it came round to my getting a 5230, it had definitely evolved into something considerably more usable.
The N8 is easily equal to any iOS or Android device.
And I've worked in military establishments, and am way too aware of what constitutes military intelligence
”
N8 as usable as any iOS or android device?
http://gizmodo.com/5653621/gizmodo-h...-nokias-new-n8
Originally Posted by MrKev:
“N8 as usable as any iOS or android device?
http://gizmodo.com/5653621/gizmodo-h...-nokias-new-n8”
“N8 as usable as any iOS or android device?
http://gizmodo.com/5653621/gizmodo-h...-nokias-new-n8”
Wow! I can't believe how slow the N8 is in comparison - do you think it was because of the operator?
The only reason I may go for Symbian again is that spb don't make software for Android yet. And I love their jigsaw puzzle game!
I think it's a bit of everything tbh, as they say it's totally unscientific.
Saying that there are points when it looks pretty annoying and definitely not the user (like having to rotate to landscape to type properly and there's one point where he's tapping several times to try and get the keyboard to appear)
Saying that there are points when it looks pretty annoying and definitely not the user (like having to rotate to landscape to type properly and there's one point where he's tapping several times to try and get the keyboard to appear)
Supposedly with the N8 you can plug the HDMI in, point the camera at the monitor/TV screen and then use your TV as a touch screen display.
OVI maps is meant to be great too.
I'm not that sure how exiting an instant response time is.
A bonus in the grand scheme of things maybe.
OVI maps is meant to be great too.
I'm not that sure how exiting an instant response time is.
A bonus in the grand scheme of things maybe.
Originally Posted by clonmult:
“Symbian ... has real multi tasking.”
“Symbian ... has real multi tasking.”
What do you consider Android has?
Originally Posted by MrKev:
“N8 as usable as any iOS or android device?
http://gizmodo.com/5653621/gizmodo-h...-nokias-new-n8”
“N8 as usable as any iOS or android device?
http://gizmodo.com/5653621/gizmodo-h...-nokias-new-n8”
Pretty much everything Gizmodo has done with regards to the N8 has been totally discredited. If you believe them, fine. But they're generally believed to have some of the most pro-Apple bias on the net.
Originally Posted by pi r squared:
“What do you consider Android has?”
“What do you consider Android has?”
Task switching. Symbian handles multi tasking like a desktop OS. Android doesn't.
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“Supposedly with the N8 you can plug the HDMI in, point the camera at the monitor/TV screen and then use your TV as a touch screen display.
OVI maps is meant to be great too.
I'm not that sure how exiting an instant response time is.
A bonus in the grand scheme of things maybe.”
“Supposedly with the N8 you can plug the HDMI in, point the camera at the monitor/TV screen and then use your TV as a touch screen display.
OVI maps is meant to be great too.
I'm not that sure how exiting an instant response time is.
A bonus in the grand scheme of things maybe.”
That is just a technology demonstrator at the moment, limited gesture support.
OVI maps is definitely a good satnav, and it is the only truly free satnav option out there at the moment.
Originally Posted by clonmult:
“That is just a technology demonstrator at the moment, limited gesture support.
OVI maps is definitely a good satnav, and it is the only truly free satnav option out there at the moment.”
“That is just a technology demonstrator at the moment, limited gesture support.
OVI maps is definitely a good satnav, and it is the only truly free satnav option out there at the moment.”
Have you not seen Google maps on Android? They don't charge for their turn by turn voice navigation services, they provide it freely.
Back to the OP's question...
Firstly, be careful with questions like this because amongst the general users on here who will give you a simple opinion are also Nokia devotees who will get upset when you question Symbian
The main difference that I think people notice between Android and Symbian in general is down to the user interfaces on both. Your average user doesn't care about the difference between multitasking, power management to the Nth degree and so on. Most people tend to go for the 'prettiest' device initially. And this is where Symbian really falls down compared to Android.
The interface on Symbian powered Nokias at the moment is feeling very dated when put alongside Android. Even more so when you put it next to an Android phone running HTC Sense. This appears to be a common opinion that rears it's head over and over again.
I'm not suggesting Symbian is hard to use, especially when we have 2 year olds tweeting 70 year olds from their handsets In fact most smartphones these days are relatively easy to use if you have the basic grasp of modern technology.
So to answer your question, as a 'non-techie' you are very likely to notice the feel of Android being a better day to day user experience than Symbian due to the graphic user interface. Have a play with one of the modern HTC handsets like the Desire or Desire HD and then have a go on an N8, you'll see exactly what I mean. While both will provide what a lot of people are looking for in smartphones the HTC device will do it a lot nicer.
Think of it this way, Symbian is Subo and Android is Katy Perry. Which one are you going to take home with you?
Firstly, be careful with questions like this because amongst the general users on here who will give you a simple opinion are also Nokia devotees who will get upset when you question Symbian
The main difference that I think people notice between Android and Symbian in general is down to the user interfaces on both. Your average user doesn't care about the difference between multitasking, power management to the Nth degree and so on. Most people tend to go for the 'prettiest' device initially. And this is where Symbian really falls down compared to Android.
The interface on Symbian powered Nokias at the moment is feeling very dated when put alongside Android. Even more so when you put it next to an Android phone running HTC Sense. This appears to be a common opinion that rears it's head over and over again.
I'm not suggesting Symbian is hard to use, especially when we have 2 year olds tweeting 70 year olds from their handsets
In fact most smartphones these days are relatively easy to use if you have the basic grasp of modern technology.So to answer your question, as a 'non-techie' you are very likely to notice the feel of Android being a better day to day user experience than Symbian due to the graphic user interface. Have a play with one of the modern HTC handsets like the Desire or Desire HD and then have a go on an N8, you'll see exactly what I mean. While both will provide what a lot of people are looking for in smartphones the HTC device will do it a lot nicer.
Think of it this way, Symbian is Subo and Android is Katy Perry. Which one are you going to take home with you?
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