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HTC Wildfire?


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Old 27-02-2011, 20:19
SJ_Mental
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My Mrs has one since before Xmas, It does it's job well for the price imo.
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Old 27-02-2011, 20:33
pi r squared
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Wifi scanning, gps, bluetooth etc are easily turned off from a control widget, as probably you know.
Turning your GPS off has no positive impact on your battery life, as unlike WiFi or Bluetooth it is not constantly 'polling' - it only activates when something (like Google Maps or Navigation) needs it, so you may as well leave it on all the time.

I've personally turned off "Always On Mobile Data" and "Background Sync".

Gone from 15 hours battery life to 3-5 days!
It's horses for courses I guess but the advantage of having my email pushed to me, and all the other automatic syncs that take place, far outweigh the "hassle" of having to plug my phone in when I go to bed. So long as the phone lasts a day, it doesn't benefit me if it lasts more than that.
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Old 27-02-2011, 21:18
frailfury
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Is Sat Nav free on this handset?

£159 is the cheapest I can find on 3. Not sure I can use an unlocked one as 3 use their own software to let you use msn and skype for free.
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Old 27-02-2011, 21:30
markrduk
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Is Sat Nav free on this handset?

£159 is the cheapest I can find on 3. Not sure I can use an unlocked one as 3 use their own software to let you use msn and skype for free.
The unlocked one should be okay, but make sure you install Skype and MSN via a link provided by 3 (not from the app store) to use them for free. Apparently three will give you the link to their version if you request it. (To be honest, unless you're planning on using video messaging over the 3G network a fair bit, this really doesn't matter and the 'non-free' version will still come out of your internet allowance)

You can use Google Maps as a free Sat Nav (but it only works if you have a data connection). I think there are apps that will cache google maps for use offline, or that use open source maps, but I haven't used these.

EDIT: I have found a link which lists the Sat Nav (paid for and free) options available on Android handsets, along with the pricing and a review. I have used the Copilot app and found it to be pretty good. The indication would be that the free ones are not that good (apart from Google).

http://mobile.jack-frost.co.uk/android_sat_nav_apps.php
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Old 27-02-2011, 22:26
jonner101
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Tempted to get this - what do other people think?

I want it for texts, emails, and internet mainly.
Check out the orange san francisco. Cheaper and it has a MUCH MUCH better display, which is what you need for internet browsing and emails.

Ive had the wildfire and the san francisco and the san francisco wins hands down. The display on the wildfire frankly sucks

It comes locked to orange, but its easily unlocked for free ( check out the forum on modoco ) and there are several custom roms you can get for it.
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Old 27-02-2011, 22:45
markrduk
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Check out the orange san francisco. Cheaper and it has a MUCH MUCH better display, which is what you need for internet browsing and emails.

Ive had the wildfire and the san francisco and the san francisco wins hands down. The display on the wildfire frankly sucks

It comes locked to orange, but its easily unlocked for free ( check out the forum on modoco ) and there are several custom roms you can get for it.
Bear in mind this won't be (officially) supported by 3 - being an Orange branded handset and all.That doesn't mean it won't work, but you might have problems with MMS functionality (although there might be workarounds). According to Modaco, it can be unlocked for $4 which is not quite free but pretty cheap nonetheless. You will still have the big 'Orange' stamp on the back though - I hear a sugar cube gets rid of these, if it bugs you, though I have never tried it myself!

Also bear in mind that using the custom roms (to remove the Orange branding and certain limitations) will invalidate the warranty on the device (although they might still fix it for free if it's a hardware problem not caused by you rooting it and installing different firmware - you can't guarantee this though.) Also be aware that this isn't exactly a trivial process (although I have done this on a number of Android handsets without issue) and is comes with disclaimers of bricking your handset (unlikely) if you don't know what you're doing.

Specs-wise the phones are very similar with a trade off between a better camera (5 vs 3.2 megapixel) on the Wildfire and better screen resolution on the San Francisco. Arguably the screen resolution is the more important factor.
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Old 27-02-2011, 22:56
frailfury
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I don't want the san fransisco. I want one from the 3 website.
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Old 27-02-2011, 23:56
jonner101
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Bear in mind this won't be (officially) supported by 3 - being an Orange branded handset and all.That doesn't mean it won't work, but you might have problems with MMS functionality (although there might be workarounds). According to Modaco, it can be unlocked for $4 which is not quite free but pretty cheap nonetheless. You will still have the big 'Orange' stamp on the back though - I hear a sugar cube gets rid of these, if it bugs you, though I have never tried it myself!

Also bear in mind that using the custom roms (to remove the Orange branding and certain limitations) will invalidate the warranty on the device (although they might still fix it for free if it's a hardware problem not caused by you rooting it and installing different firmware - you can't guarantee this though.) Also be aware that this isn't exactly a trivial process (although I have done this on a number of Android handsets without issue) and is comes with disclaimers of bricking your handset (unlikely) if you don't know what you're doing.

Specs-wise the phones are very similar with a trade off between a better camera (5 vs 3.2 megapixel) on the Wildfire and better screen resolution on the San Francisco. Arguably the screen resolution is the more important factor.
I unlocked mine for free. Why would there be any issues with mms or any network functionality on 3? surely just making sure all the network settings are setup correclty. When you are only paying £100 for the handset then official support ( which is normally useless anyhow ) isnt such a big deal.

For using the internet/email and games the San fransico wipes the floor with the wildfire, there is a good reason why it comes out top deal of all time on the hotdeals website. Even the gps seems to work better on the San Fran

Actually you don't need to change the rom to remove the orange crapware, but the San fran is particularly easy to root and mod compared to other handsets(especially the wildfire). Its also a doddle to restore back to the original orange rom if needed.
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Old 28-02-2011, 00:02
frailfury
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I hate the look of that one.
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Old 28-02-2011, 00:06
jonner101
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I hate the look of that one.
Fair enough but the low resolution screen makes the wildfire quite painful for internet/email imo
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Old 28-02-2011, 00:08
frailfury
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Fair enouth but the low resolution screen makes the wildfire quite painful for internet/email imo
Maybe the LG Optimus One then? Or the Sony X8?
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Old 28-02-2011, 09:17
markrduk
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I unlocked mine for free. Why would there be any issues with mms or any network functionality on 3? surely just making sure all the network settings are setup correclty. When you are only paying £100 for the handset then official support ( which is normally useless anyhow ) isnt such a big deal.

For using the internet/email and games the San fransico wipes the floor with the wildfire, there is a good reason why it comes out top deal of all time on the hotdeals website. Even the gps seems to work better on the San Fran

Actually you don't need to change the rom to remove the orange crapware, but the San fran is particularly easy to root and mod compared to other handsets(especially the wildfire). Its also a doddle to restore back to the original orange rom if needed.
I didn't say there would be any networking issues, but the MMS problem can result when the network doesn't recognise the phone type and over compresses MMS messages so they are tiny. There is a workaround that involves making the phone tell 3 it is a phone 3 do support (such as an iPhone) so MMS messages come through properly. It has nothing to do with APN settings etc.

The point is the OP has made it clear before - (see this thread: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1440911 ) they do not want to unlock, root, jailbreak or debrand a handset over warranty concerns. The iPhone is also very easy to 'unjailbreak' but they did not want to do it.

The 'support' thing sort of becomes a big deal if you have issues you can't solve because you will get a brick wall with any problems when you tell 3 you use that phone (even if your problem is completely unrelated to that fact).

The San Francisco is a great phone for the money, but I just don't think it meets the OP's needs.
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Old 28-02-2011, 09:41
darkthunder35
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Maybe the LG Optimus One then? Or the Sony X8?
My mate has an X8. It is a stunning phone for the money. Too the point I want one
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Old 28-02-2011, 11:52
frailfury
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My mate has an X8. It is a stunning phone for the money. Too the point I want one
Very bad reviews though.
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Old 28-02-2011, 17:47
frailfury
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I'm swaying more to the HTC Wildfire still....although it has no radio, and no java??
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Old 28-02-2011, 17:55
markrduk
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I'm swaying more to the HTC Wildfire still....although it has no radio, and no java??

It does both.
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Old 28-02-2011, 18:13
frailfury
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I read a review that said it didn't?

Will it be compatable with the latest version of Android and future updates?
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Old 28-02-2011, 20:46
simonb65
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I read a review that said it didn't?

Will it be compatable with the latest version of Android and future updates?
it definitely has an FM Radio, I use mine all the time

As for the version of Android, mine is on 2.2. I'm not sure if any more updates will be released for the Wildfire. Overall I'm very happy with it, as others have said the screen is its achilles heel but I can live with that for what it costs me.
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Old 28-02-2011, 23:16
frailfury
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it definitely has an FM Radio, I use mine all the time

As for the version of Android, mine is on 2.2. I'm not sure if any more updates will be released for the Wildfire. Overall I'm very happy with it, as others have said the screen is its achilles heel but I can live with that for what it costs me.
Does iPlayer work for you on your Wildfire?
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Old 28-02-2011, 23:30
alanwarwic
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Maybe the LG Optimus One then? Or the Sony X8?

Both have better screens than the Wildfire.
No real Flash on any though the wildfire has a limited 'lite' version supposedly.
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Old 01-03-2011, 01:50
frailfury
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I'm gonna go for the Wildfire I think.
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Old 01-03-2011, 08:42
markrduk
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See if you can have a go on one in-store somewhere - you can get a feel for it then. Only by playing with a live handset will you know how much the resolution 'issue' is an issue to you. If you're sure it won't though, go ahead!
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Old 01-03-2011, 17:00
unklesam
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Samsung Galaxy Apollo also looks pretty decent for £110-£120
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Old 01-03-2011, 17:44
frailfury
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I'll NEVER use a Samsung mobile again after having a Tocco. Useless phone and horrible.

Anyone else vouch for the Wildfire? Is it worth £159 from Three? I already have a contract with them and they gave me a retention offer - £4.99 = 600 texts, 2GB internet, 75mins.

So I would put my contract SIM in the PAYG phone.
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Old 01-03-2011, 17:53
markrduk
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I'll NEVER use a Samsung mobile again after having a Tocco. Useless phone and horrible.

Anyone else vouch for the Wildfire? Is it worth £159 from Three? I already have a contract with them and they gave me a retention offer - £4.99 = 600 texts, 2GB internet, 75mins.

So I would put my contract SIM in the PAYG phone.
As people have already pointed out, you can get yourself an unlocked version of this phone considerably cheaper (and it is possible to get the 3 version of MSN and Skype if you want it). Factor in the extra resale value of the unlocked version of the handset (or extra cost of unlocking before selling on) when you decide to upgrade next time and the price difference is even greater.

Only you know if buying the 3 version is the better option for you - I know it wouldn't be for me!
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