Now what android phone?

[Mide]

So since the Galaxy S series turned out to be a fiasco, I don't know what other phone is out there that has Android and is decent.

If I wasn't locked into a contract with AT&T I'd go with Verizon and a Droid X in a second but currently that can't be done.

I don't like having a keypad so the G2 is out so what else is there? An Aria is OK but it's a tad small and slow but that's about all I can see. Does some other good GSM phone exist but I'm missing it?

 

[s44]

For AT&T, you'll have to import an Australian Desire HD (or Canadian if/when that happens). It will be expensive -- probably more expensive than the ETF.

By "fiasco" I assume you're fixated on GPS. Everything else works.

 

[Mide]

Yes by fiasco I mean the GPS and on the Vibrant (I'm not sure about the Captivate of Fascinate), the buttons suck. But this could be a personal complaint.
*Main button on the side, very annoying, makes it feel like a BB
*4 "sense" buttons for main, back, etc need to be hit twice to light up then execute command if not lit which is around 5 sec after not being touched.

 

[s44]

*4 "sense" buttons for main, back, etc need to be hit twice to light up then execute command if not lit which is around 5 sec after not being touched.

This is just wrong. I've used both the Captivate and Fascinate and neither does this.

But whatever. Either import from Canada/AUS or pay the ETF.

 

[Kelvrick]

You can wait for the soon to be released Mytouch HD.

 

[dougp]

This is just wrong. I've used both the Captivate and Fascinate and neither does this.

But whatever. Either import from Canada/AUS or pay the ETF.

Sorry, but he's right with the stock ROM. The most recent 2.1 release fixes this, but it's beta only.

 

[Mide]

This is just wrong. I've used both the Captivate and Fascinate and neither does this.

As you probably know the three Galaxy S models are different, so it is likely that the Captivate and Fascinate don't do this. I have tried it on 3 Vibrants so I assure you that it does occur. The 4 soft buttons will black out before the touchscreen blacks out and you are required to touch the screen once prior to being able to activate a soft button if it is blacked out.

 

[s44]

Well, that sucks. Good thing I never had a Vibrant, I guess...

 

[Kanalua]

As you probably know the three Galaxy S models are different, so it is likely that the Captivate and Fascinate don't do this. I have tried it on 3 Vibrants so I assure you that it does occur. The 4 soft buttons will black out before the touchscreen blacks out and you are required to touch the screen once prior to being able to activate a soft button if it is blacked out.

Really? Only real issues I've had with my Vibrant are the GPS (decent but not great) and the battery life. I've never had any problems with the "sense" buttons not working...and that's with a SP on, too. I just tried to recreate the "issue" you complain about, and the sense buttons worked perfectly for me when they were blacked out, one touch and they responded (and with a screen protector on). Don't know why you would have a problem on "3 Vibrants"...it doesn't occur for me.

And I've come from a BB to the Vibrant, so the side power/sleep button is a non-issue for me.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

For AT&T, you'll have to import an Australian Desire HD (or Canadian if/when that happens). It will be expensive -- probably more expensive than the ETF.

By "fiasco" I assume you're fixated on GPS. Everything else works.

Or just get the Desire now. To me that's good enough. The Desire HD will take some time to hit in 850/1900 frequencies... especially at an affordable price. I remember the $999 HTC HD2s from Telstra... LOL.

 

[rudeguy]

As you probably know the three Galaxy S models are different, so it is likely that the Captivate and Fascinate don't do this. I have tried it on 3 Vibrants so I assure you that it does occur. The 4 soft buttons will black out before the touchscreen blacks out and you are required to touch the screen once prior to being able to activate a soft button if it is blacked out.

Just touch the screeen or volume key to get the soft keys to pop on.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I don't know if this is an option on other Galaxy S phones, but on my Epic you can keep the soft keys on longer by going into settings, sound and display, and changing the keyboard backlight duration to the same as the screen. That setting affects the soft keys, but it might not be available on other phones since the Epic is the only Galaxy S with a keyboard.

 

[Mide]

The closest thing the Vibrant has is "screen timeout" but that applies to the main touchscreen only it seems.

I made a vid on the issue. It is not as predictable as I recalled in testing but there still is an issue.

 

[Kanalua]

Maybe because I'm running Bionix 1.8...I'm thinking it may be more feasible for you to go with a custom rom first, rather than going with a new phone. It is easy to do, and the people over at the XDA forums are very helpful. I have tried recreating the problem you show in the video, without success.

If you are on AT&T and you want a decent "stock" phone, why not just get an iP4?

 

[Bateluer]

.

If you are on AT&T and you want a decent "stock" phone, why not just get an iP4?

Maybe he wants to make phone calls?

AT&T only has a few Android phones, the Captivate, the Aria, and I think some cheap Motorola Backflip variant. The Captivate is the only one worth while, and as you note, its flawed.

The holidays are supposed to bring several new high end phones though. The myTouch HD, the Incredible HD, Moto's Tegra 2 Super Phone, to name a few.

 

[Oyeve]

Maybe because I'm running Bionix 1.8...I'm thinking it may be more feasible for you to go with a custom rom first, rather than going with a new phone. It is easy to do, and the people over at the XDA forums are very helpful. I have tried recreating the problem you show in the video, without success.

If you are on AT&T and you want a decent "stock" phone, why not just get an iP4?

Same here. I could not reproduce the prob on my vibrant.

 

[rudeguy]

Maybe he wants to make phone calls?

AT&T only has a few Android phones, the Captivate, the Aria, and I think some cheap Motorola Backflip variant. The Captivate is the only one worth while, and as you note, its flawed.

The holidays are supposed to bring several new high end phones though. The myTouch HD, the Incredible HD, Moto's Tegra 2 Super Phone, to name a few.

Just a note:
There is no such thing as a myTouch HD now. Its going to simply be called the myTouch.

The problem is that you named off phones that don't work on ATT's network. I'm also confused by the fact that the OP keeps saying he is on ATT but is using a Vibrant.

IMHO, the G2 is the best all around phone out there right now. Native Froyo with no Sense, Touchwiz or other bloat. But again...it sounds like the OP is on ATT and we keep talking about Tmo phones. ATT doesn't want good Android phones. The Captivate is the only real option for an Android phone on ATT.

 

[Bateluer]

Just a note:
There is no such thing as a myTouch HD now. Its going to simply be called the myTouch.

The problem is that you named off phones that don't work on ATT's network. I'm also confused by the fact that the OP keeps saying he is on ATT but is using a Vibrant.

IMHO, the G2 is the best all around phone out there right now. Native Froyo with no Sense, Touchwiz or other bloat. But again...it sounds like the OP is on ATT and we keep talking about Tmo phones. ATT doesn't want good Android phones. The Captivate is the only real option for an Android phone on ATT.

Stop me if I'm wrong, but you can use the Vibrant on AT&T, but you're forced to use EDGE because the Vibrant doesn't have AT&T 3G frequencies?

 

[rudeguy]

Stop me if I'm wrong, but you can use the Vibrant on AT&T, but you're forced to use EDGE because the Vibrant doesn't have AT&T 3G frequencies?

I know its YMMV because they use different frequencies in different markets

 

[Mide]

I keep on saying the Vibrant and AT&T because that's what I got. I purchased the Vibrant because the market price of it is cheaper than the Captivate off of Craigslist or Ebay (Why the captivate sells for more is beyond me). I got mine from CL and unlocked it so that it would work with AT&T. And I do get a 3G connection.

 

[rudeguy]

I keep on saying the Vibrant and AT&T because that's what I got. I purchased the Vibrant because the market price of it is cheaper than the Captivate off of Craigslist or Ebay (Why the captivate sells for more is beyond me). I got mine from CL and unlocked it so that it would work with AT&T. And I do get a 3G connection.

OK great. You are in one of the market where that works.

G2 is my suggestion or myTouch in the future.

 

[Mide]

That new myTouch looks promising...at least it has the front-facing camera. I'm not going for the iP4 because buying that outright is $500+

 

[rudeguy]

That new myTouch looks promising...at least it has the front-facing camera. I'm not going for the iP4 because buying that outright is $700+

fixed

I'm loving my G2 and am curious about the new myTouch. Its looking like the myTouch will be skinned/sensed/bloated pretty badly. I wouldn't get too excited about that until its rooted.

 

[Raduque]

The Vibrant only works because it includes some of ATT's frequencies for 3G. I don't think any other T-Mobile phone has them - they will be limited to EDGE only.

As for the Vibrant's soft keys... no issues here when I was running JFD. Still no issues on JI6, which is the official OTA update.

 

[Mide]

Yeah that video is with JI6 installed. Perhaps I just have a defective unit.