Battle of the Smartphones

[aggienaut]

   So I don't very well keep up with the latest in modern technology. Especially things like smart phones, of which new models seem to be coming out constantly.
   I had an android for work for awhile though and quickly became addicted to neurotically checking my email every five minutes.
   But I need a new phone anyway, my ancient artifact of a "dumb phone" seems to have speaker problems wherein I can barely hear anyone ever, and I suspect with a smart phone I might be able to download and play audiobooks off it or something -- visiting the library once a week is delightfully antiquated and all but it would be more convenient not to have to.
   And moreover, my parents have said they'd like to get me a smart phone for my recent birthday.


   In an attempt to figure out out what kind of phone to get I employed my favourite way of getting answers: posted the question as a facebook status.
   Unfortunately I still got a blizzard of different answers.
   To narrow it down then, I'm going to poll you fine technically savvy folks!

   I don't necessarily need the latest and greatest. Keeping in mind that I'd like the phone to last, I don't know, 2-3 years, and it'll inevitably be "not the latest and greatest" for 95% of that time, I'd rather go for the most cost effective option for reasonable value over the 2-3 year life of the phone. You follow?

Also my current carrier is AT&T

[Poll #1843494]

   See also, I know so little about these things it's probably comical. I'm assuming the gs2 someone mentioned is a "galaxy s2?"


And here's a picture of the recent solar eclipse as seen through the lenses of a sextant!

Comments

[beki.livejournal.com]

Android phones in general seem to work well. Droids are being surpassed and by my best guess, you won't be able to get batteries and what not in about a year. The good thing is that they seem to be standardizing the charger plugs. I've got a Bionic (my old smart phone wasn't really) I don't use a ton of apps, so I don't feel competent to advise you there.

What you get should really be based on what you want to use your phone for. Most folks use their phones for social media and email more than they do for actual talk time. If you expect to be checking email etc, see if you can get an unlimited data plan. Most cel carriers are phasing them out, but keep your eye out. If all you want to do is talk voice, see if you can get a not so smart phone. They don't make "stupid" phones anymore, so it might be hard to find one.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

I hardly talk on phones, and since my current phone has crappy speakers I can barely hear people on, I've been talkign to epople on skype when I can (even going so far as telling people I know have skype "hey can you call me back on skype?" when they call my phone). I do do a lot of texting though. With a smart phone I'll probably check my email and like said I would like to be able to DL audiobooks on it. Other than that I don't have much use for apps. I had a droid for work for about a year and the only "apps" I think I ever used were the yahoo mail app, the wells fargo banking app and.... yeah I think thats it. And those might not have been apps at all but just the browser squirreling certain cookies in my phone to make it work faster.