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Looking for advice on selecting a phone


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Old 12-02-2015, 13:01
smallmaj
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Join Date: Nov 2012
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Hi

I am looking for a mobile phone. I am overwhelmed with websites and high street shops. The problem is that I am more interested in a small set of apps, rather than the capabilities of the phone. So my plan was to identify the right phones and work backwards to a supplier.

The purpose of the phone is to replace my MP3 players. I rarely use a phone for talking, mainly texting. I have BT Openzone account so WIFI is my main data option.

A camera etc are all extras and even a simple camera will support me.

I want a phone that allows me to play MP3 and FLAC which are stored in folders on a Micro SD card. FLAC is not that important. I do not stream music. I want a phone that supports Audible with the audible files stored on the Micro SD card. I want a phone that works properly with BBC iPlayer Radio app (not all phones do).

Can anyone help?
J
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Old 12-02-2015, 13:06
Stig
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Micro SD rules out the iphone. There is an Audible app for Windows Phone, but it isn't very good. That leaves you with Android.

The next questions are:
Budget; are you buying SIM free or on contract?
Screen size: anything for 4 to 6 inches.
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Old 12-02-2015, 13:21
smallmaj
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I can go SIM free or PAYG.

I have a current phone which is for business but I may use that SIM.

I don't want contract, but if I was pushed, then I would settle for less that £10 per month.
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Old 12-02-2015, 17:32
Stig
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So, what screen size, and what's your budget?

The fact you are not paying on contract makes it a lot easier
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Old 12-02-2015, 21:41
oilman
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A good budget phone that will play BBC radio iPlayer is the moto g. I just tried it on mine and it worked fine. You would need either the 4g or 2nd generation 3g version to get SD card.

Easy to play mp3 files. I can't say about audible (books?) but I am pretty sure they would work.

You should buy an unlocked version.

It is hard to be precise as to what a good phone plan is but typically only 1 hour of internet radio at 128 kilobytes per second would use approx 75 MB. On the three 123 pay and go, this would cost 75p per hour when using mobile data.
Of course most of the time you would be using WiFi I guess.
However even if you only used it say 30 mins a day on 3g, it would use around 1gb or £10. If you used more than 30 mins a day on 3g, you would probably be better of on contract.
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Old 12-02-2015, 21:46
fmradiotuner1
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I have had the S4 and LG G3 both good phones have SD slots.
Though might be a bit more than you wanted.
I have always bought pre owned as saves on cost.
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Old 13-02-2015, 12:39
finbaar
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I would say a used GS4 with a new battery would be a good choice. Use Winamp as your music player and FLAC playback will be fine.
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