Best smartphone if there were no third party apps

[Oyeve]

Wasn't flash built into android 2.2? If so I would say android, if not then most likely a windows phone. I dig ios and all but my web needs are top priority.

 

[Red Storm]

Android hands down. Having Google Maps, Google Nav, Google Talk and Gmail just can't be beat by any other stock OS.

 

[bassoprofundo]

Like any discussion regarding smartphone choice, I think it depends on your needs. All things considered, for me, it's WP7 as it has a lot of bells and whistles baked right into the OS (social media integration, music recognition, QR scanning, Zune, WL & FB messaging) and it is the smoothest, fastest OS I've ever used.

However, if you're a heavy Google services user and or need the best stock GPS nav experience, Android would probably be your choice.

If you're invested in the iTunes ecosystem, are a Mac user, need Airplay functionality, etc., you'd probably swing Apple.

If you're a corporate user and want the best core PIM experience and/or a physical keyboard, then Blackberry.

I love having choices...

 

[Deeko]

I'd like to point out that it appears basically everyone is just supporting the platform they own or support otherwise.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I had an iPhone for years without apps (in fact I didn't really give a crap about apps until I got an Android device). So I vote iPhone.

 

[Red Storm]

I also forgot to mention that without the various file synching apps, that's another huge advantage to stock Android as you don't have to rely on iTunes or the Zune program to do really simple stuff like copy a file to your phone...

Actually, I don't think you can even do simple file transfers (not music or videos) with Zune or iTunes.

 

[Deeko]

I also forgot to mention that without the various file synching apps, that's another huge advantage to stock Android as you don't have to rely on iTunes or the Zune program to do really simple stuff like copy a file to your phone...

Actually, I don't think you can even do simple file transfers (not music or videos) with Zune or iTunes.

Conversely, you get built in SkyDrive support with Windows Phone, and iCloud support with the iPhone. Google Drive, at least so far, is not an included app.

 

[Red Storm]

Conversely, you get built in SkyDrive support with Windows Phone, and iCloud support with the iPhone. Google Drive, at least so far, is not an included app.

Ah yes SkyDrive, so at least WP7 has that. I've never really understood iCloud, as far as I can tell I can't use it like I do Dropbox and that's half the point of online file synching for me. But Android has local USB mode, and that's what I use most.

 

[Sheep]

You people are terrible with analogies

It's like rain...on your wedding day?

No apps would mean you're judging the phone solely on factors like battery life, screen size, and form factor, to which there are still dozens of correct answers depending on which factors are most important to you.

So...pretty much the same answer as which is better: iPhone, Android or WP7.

 

[TheStu]

It's like rain...on your wedding day?

No apps would mean you're judging the phone solely on factors like battery life, screen size, and form factor, to which there are still dozens of correct answers depending on which factors are most important to you.

So...pretty much the same answer as which is better: iPhone, Android or WP7.

They are excluding anything from the App Stores. So you are judging the system based on the merits of the baked in apps and the OS, as well as hardware factors.

 

[QueBert]

You said no apps, but can I buy music on this phone? if so iPhone by a mile.

 

[redgtxdi]

It's like rain...on your wedding day?

That's actually one that what's her face missed the target on. Rain on your wedding day is actually *good* luck. So much for the song, eh?

How about iPhone>all and everybody knows it but nobody will admit it?

 

[TheStu]

You said no apps, but can I buy music on this phone? if so iPhone by a mile.

WP7 + ZunePass. Unlimited music downloading that can be stored on the device, not streamed. $10/mo. And has the Zune marketplace.

 

[QueBert]

WP7 + ZunePass. Unlimited music downloading that can be stored on the device, not streamed. $10/mo. And has the Zune marketplace.

Zune has a much worse selection of music, and a lot of what both have, iTunes has special editions with songs you can't get anywhere else. I'd rather pay for 10 songs I want on iTunes than to be able to stream unlimited music and only have access to 6 of those 10 songs on Zune. But that's just me.

 

[Sheep]

How about iPhone>all and everybody knows it but nobody will admit it?

Unless you want a bigger screen. Or a physical keyboard. Or the ability to customize your homescreens the way you want without jailbreaking. Or BBM. Or Google Navigation. Or full integration with Google or Microsoft services.

Should I go on?

 

[shortylickens]

That's actually one that what's her face missed the target on. Rain on your wedding day is actually *good* luck. So much for the song, eh?

How about iPhone>all and everybody knows it but nobody will admit it?

I had one and turned it in after a weekend.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Unless you want a bigger screen. Or a physical keyboard. Or the ability to customize your homescreens the way you want without jailbreaking. Or BBM. Or Google Navigation. Or full integration with Google or Microsoft services.

Should I go on?

1) Physical keyboard: Out of the door. The latest flagship phones like the SGS3 and One X don't have it. Neither do last generation's winners like SGS2, GNex, HTC Sensation. Go one more generation back to the SGS1 and HTC Desire. Oh nope. Yeah, get that keyboard. You won't have a great phone though.

2) BBM? iMessage? Does that not suffice? And the integration is far better than that Google Messenger trash.

3) Why do you need to customize the hell out of your home screens? It's something Android users are used to, but just because a phone doesn't do it doesn't mean it fails?

You could go on and on about things an Android phone can do but the iPhone can't do. You could do it vice versa too. You listed features Android users are used to, but what about the best damn app store? The best damn pirated app store (Apptrackr/Installous)? The latest apps that people develop for FIRST before porting onto Android? The snappiest UI? Seamless video chat integration? With Android GTalk with video doesn't work with a bunch of phones. What about the best music player out there?

 

[Sheep]

REDACTED. Every counter-example you gave below is "wrong" because it's not how Apple does it? Only Apple's way is the right way and that no one could possibly want to use something not endorsed by the fruit company, am I right?

1) Physical keyboard: Out of the door. The latest flagship phones like the SGS3 and One X don't have it. Neither do last generation's winners like SGS2, GNex, HTC Sensation. Go one more generation back to the SGS1 and HTC Desire. Oh nope. Yeah, get that keyboard. You won't have a great phone though.

I couldn't care less about a physical keyboard, but guess what? There are Blackberry addicts who crank out tons of emails on their work phones and they do want a physical keyboard to do so. They might not have the slimmest phone in the world but that's a necessary sacrifice to get a physical keyboard.

2) BBM? iMessage? Does that not suffice? And the integration is far better than that Google Messenger trash.

Again, BBM isn't something I care about but it's something that has its loyalists. I'm not sure what's wrong with Google Talk aside from it not being an Apple product, in your view.

3) Why do you need to customize the hell out of your home screens? It's something Android users are used to, but just because a phone doesn't do it doesn't mean it fails?

Wow, the Apple kool-aid is strong in this one. I want to customize the hell out of my homescreens because I can get easy, instant access to information without having to open an app or click a widget to open the podcast I was listening to without having to scroll through a grid of apps?

You could go on and on about things an Android phone can do but the iPhone can't do. You could do it vice versa too. You listed features Android users are used to, but what about the best damn app store? The best damn pirated app store (Apptrackr/Installous)? The latest apps that people develop for FIRST before porting onto Android?

Now I know you're trolling considering the topic of this thread was "Best phone if there were no apps". Reading--it's fundamental even for Apple fantards. Every single example I provided fits with the question posed by the OP--hardware limitations of the iPhone as well as built-in software offered by other companies that people might actually...GASP...like!

You sure did the Apple Defense Force proud, though.

Let's not get too hot under the collar, I am sure we can leave the genitalia and personal attacks out of the conversation.

Moderator TheStu

 

[zokudu]

WP7 by a mile.

 

[redgtxdi]

What about Droid Razr Maxx simply for battery life?

If there are no apps, about the next most important thing I can think of that everybody deals with is how long the battery lasts in a given day. Then you get the fat screen too.

Without apps, that sucker would probably last a week. Heck, that would rival some of the old LG flip phones circa Y2K. (Friggin Jamdat friggin bowling all friggin day mother !@#$%~!)

 

[shortylickens]

Since there was no condition about hardware I'd say any extended battery you want is fair game.

 

[TheStu]

Seriously, if we are talking about best PHONE, if there are no apps, then we are looking at a dumbphone, battery life rated in the days, not hours, and simple to use.

If we are talking the best SMARTPHONE (and I take that as OS rather than a specific device) then I stand by WP7.

 

[shortylickens]

Seriously, if we are talking about best PHONE, if there are no apps, then we are looking at a dumbphone, battery life rated in the days, not hours, and simple to use.

If we are talking the best SMARTPHONE (and I take that as OS rather than a specific device) then I stand by WP7.

OP needs to reword his title. He didnt actually mean "no" apps. He meant no third party apps. Just what comes with the OS. Which is actually quite a lot depending on the platform. You can do a lot more with almost any smartphone than you can with a Nokia S60 using the Ovi app store.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Seriously, if we are talking about best PHONE, if there are no apps, then we are looking at a dumbphone, battery life rated in the days, not hours, and simple to use.

If we are talking the best SMARTPHONE (and I take that as OS rather than a specific device) then I stand by WP7.

If you use a smartphone like a dumbphone you can easily get days of battery life.

 

[TheStu]

OP needs to reword his title. He didnt actually mean "no" apps. He meant no third party apps. Just what comes with the OS. Which is actually quite a lot depending on the platform. You can do a lot more with almost any smartphone than you can with a Nokia S60 using the Ovi app store.

Right.

If you use a smartphone like a dumbphone you can easily get days of battery life.

At that point, just get the dumbphone then. Cheaper, lighter, simpler. There are days where all I think I need/want would be a well built dumbphone with a decent UI. A reasonable cost for data for when I want to look something up on the internet.