[lalaland]

It's quickly approaching upgrade time.

In the past I've been spoilt with new Android releases and often bought a handset sim free.

But now I'm approaching upgrade time I'm not seeing much in the way of new releases being promised.

I'm currently using an HTC Desire HD which is a good phone, but I want something with a forward facing video camera for video calls.

I'm tempted by the HTC Sensation, but wanted to know if anyone's aware of any other Android phones in the pipeline?

[duffman25]

there the new google phone coming
http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/new...g-galaxy-nexus and the new motorola
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Mot...ID-RAZR_id6026 2 amazing phones

Quote:

Originally Posted by lalaland

It's quickly approaching upgrade time.

In the past I've been spoilt with new Android releases and often bought a handset sim free.

But now I'm approaching upgrade time I'm not seeing much in the way of new releases being promised.

I'm currently using an HTC Desire HD which is a good phone, but I want something with a forward facing video camera for video calls.

I'm tempted by the HTC Sensation, but wanted to know if anyone's aware of any other Android phones in the pipeline?

[Mark in Essex]

My contract is coming to it's end next month and I've decided I want to go for an Android phone.

I'm prob going to wait until early next year when hopefully the Samsung Galaxy S3 is out and then compare it to the Samsung Galaxy to see which I prefer as I'm not 100% sure about the size of the Samsung Galaxy (not so much the screen, but the bezel round the outside, as it looks a bigger bezel than my HD2 one with the 4.3" screen).

[lalaland]

I really like HTC and since the Desire and Desire HD I don't know if I want to move away from the brand.

Anyone tempt me to another Android provider?

[wilt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lalaland

I really like HTC and since the Desire and Desire HD I don't know if I want to move away from the brand.

Anyone tempt me to another Android provider?

I suggest you take a look at the two phones previously linked, the Galaxy Nexus is, in essence, the 'Google phone' and is running pure Android without any manufacturer additions. It also has an amazing screen and you can be sure of getting new android releases fairly promptly. It is the first phone to launch with Android 4 out-of-the-box.

The Motorola Razr is incredibly nice looking and has some nifty features like motocast which looks fairly useful.

Both of these are being released in the next month or so.

[Presenter100]

I'm in the same boat. Upgrade end of January. I've look around A LOT! I have a HTC Desire at the moment, and the Sensation EX has better specs than the Sensation.

If you prefer the bigger screen and look of your Desire HD then there's the Sensation XL just about to arrive. It had it's launch a couple of weeks ago, and I'm sure it will be on most networks in the next couple of months. Only downside, which turned me off it was the lack of a memory card slot, so you are stuck with the internal memory only.

I love my HTC, and when I tried the Samsung Galaxy it felt a bit plasticy compared to the Desire.

Have a search on Youtube you'll see loads of "unboxing" and "first look" at these new phones.

[lalaland]

I'm not so sure about the HTC Sensation. I wanted that at first, but something just doesn't feel all that exciting about it compared to my Desire HD. As for the other 2 incarnations of it, I'm not keen on the larger one but the Beats Audio version looks ok.

For me HTC is a decent brand and I've loved my Desire and Desire HD. Both have been excellent handsets, but a lack of voice dialling and video calling annoyed me - especially when I was told by HTC's UK customer service that the Desire HD would come with a forward facing camera when I ordered my sim free version on just before release date!! :angry:

I love the GPS on the HTC Desire and Desire HD, it's extremely quick and reliable. I tend to use this every single day, so whatever I buy MUST have a GPS chip that's just as good as the HTC handset, or better. Gone are the days of me carrying round a separate Bluetooth receiver and I don't wish to return to them.

I like the HTC interface, but I'm sure I could get on well without Sense too. The sense.com features have never worked for me, so I won't miss them. I use the Swype keyboard, so I won't miss the HTC keyboard either.

I suppose the advantage of moving to a non-HTC handset such as the Galaxy Nexus would be that I don't have to wait forever for an upgrade to Android. While my Desire HD was upgraded to the later releases of Android it was after a lot of waiting and a few will they or won't they moments in the press. Very annoying when the later releases have improvements or features that interest you.

So at the moment I'm tempted to leave HTC and look at the Samsung Google Nexus.

The Motorola for me isn't going to happen. I've not seen a decent Motorola phone in a long time, so I'm not going to venture there.


On to the Google Nexus, questions:

1) Any idea on the GPS?
2) How long for Android updates generally on an unbranded version?
3) Does it support voice dial?
4) Does it accept user memory / SD cards etc?
5) Anything I'd miss from moving from HTC?
6) Can this be rooted?

[skimminstones]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lalaland

1) Any idea on the GPS?
2) How long for Android updates generally on an unbranded version?
3) Does it support voice dial?
4) Does it accept user memory / SD cards etc?
5) Anything I'd miss from moving from HTC?
6) Can this be rooted?

1) wont know until its released but should be perfectly fine. My galaxy s 2 locks on in seconds

2) With it being the google phone youll get updates as soon as andrid is updated. You wont have to wait for any carrier or manufacturer to add their bloatware to it first

3) as far as im aware it does

4) no, 16gb or 32 gb versions built in

5) only thing i missed from desire hd to my samsung was a little bit of "gloss" really and the htc keypad but someone usually ports that over onto most android phones.

6) im sure it will be rooted reasonably quickly after release. Phones always are.

[lalaland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by skimminstones

1) wont know until its released but should be perfectly fine. My galaxy s 2 locks on in seconds

Do you know what chip they use?

Quote:

Originally Posted by skimminstones

2) With it being the google phone youll get updates as soon as andrid is updated. You wont have to wait for any carrier or manufacturer to add their bloatware to it first

I presume this is the case for non-branded phones?

While I always get a non-branded phone I'm currently looking at tariffs and the usual suppliers are looking poor this year. I may have to get a phone from a network to get a better monthly deal which I suspect will mean I get a branded phone From experience with other phones I suspect this would mean I would have to use branded firmware?

Quote:

Originally Posted by skimminstones

3) as far as im aware it does

4) no, 16gb or 32 gb versions built in

Big shame that, but I suppose the 32Gb version would suffice. Are they both being released on the same date?

Quote:

Originally Posted by skimminstones

5) only thing i missed from desire hd to my samsung was a little bit of "gloss" really and the htc keypad but someone usually ports that over onto most android phones.

I could live without that if the phone itself is decent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by skimminstones

6) im sure it will be rooted reasonably quickly after release. Phones always are.

Some manufacturers appear to be trying their best to stop this though. The HTC handsets for example are getting harder and harder and eventually I suspect it will be either impossible or very long winded / risky.