So I actually get a paycheck this friday, and I need to get a phone again - wondering what the best option is for a phone that's not going to be destroyed by bike commuting and possibly getting dropped a lot. Leaning towards an android phone just because I like google, but I'm not sure who has the best plans or the cheapest phones.

Any insight into the world of data-enabled phones? I would love to have the ability to SSH into servers with my phone from anywhere. Service and support and coverage are pretty big deals, too...

Thanks for any help! I don't even know what my budget will be until I actually see my check, but I think that I should be able to handle most plans, just maybe not this particular week because I also have to cover rent which is going to be 13 days late...

There was some discussion of smart phones over here a lil while ago

http://www.mplsbikelove.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=17466

I have a Droid from Verizon. I'm completely impressed with the Android OS and I'm glad I chose it over others including Apple's. The integration with your Google accounts is totally seamless. There are SSH clients.

+1

The other plus about the Droid, is that tethering is free and easy with the PDAnet app.

Whatever the phone, go to the tupperware aisle and get a food container just big enough for the phone. If you put a little bubble wrap inside, you can use it to store your phone while biking to protect it from water, bumps/crashes, etc. I do the same for my laptop.

The food container solution only costs $3-5 to protect the gadget. Custom made gadget containers cost $20-50.

Instead of starting yet another smart phone thread, Buuump.

To avoid a lengthy introduction and description I'll lay it out plainly.

Options for a company provided smart phone:
- Samsung Galaxy S3 (T-Mobile, renewing my current contract and receiving reimbursement and monthly stipend)
- Whatever Droid is tops these days (Verizon, on the company plan. Would require me to ride out the remaining 6 months of my current contract with T-Mobile)
- ???Other???

Intended uses:
- Talking on the phone.
- Surfing the web when I'm on the toilet.
- Using it as an MP3 player, GPS unit, and camera.
- Pretending to need it for normal day to day tasks at work.

Things I don't do:
- Pretty much everything except what is listed above because I don't know what phones are capable of these days. (Electrical engineers tend to not know a thing about actual technology.)

Thanks, and XXX OOO

Motorola Razr Maxx from Verizon. It's the shit. Stable, fast, GPS works well, takes excellent pics. The "Maxx" has battery life that beats pretty much every other smart phone out there. It's the first smart phone I've had where I'm impressed with the performance of the hardware.

Used to have T-Mo. It was fine. Not sure how their data speeds compare to Verizon's these days. Verizon works fine for me now. Data speeds are pretty good around here. (They were smokin' fast when I was in Washington, DC.) Coverage probs better than T-Mo.

Also, I still much prefer the Android OS over Apple's.

Do people still use Apple products?

If its a company bought phone, just get whatever the flagship Android phone is at the time, which right now is the Galaxy Nexus.

+4.1

Really wish that earlier this year I would have gotten the (older) Galaxy Nexus instead of the (newer, faster, higher-spec'd) Galaxy SII. You can count in getting OS updates days after they're released, instead of months, or never.

Buy it straight from Google, too.. You'll need to be on a GSM carrier like T-Mobile or AT&T, but since you didn't subsidize the cost of the handset, you can get a cheaper monthly plan (at least on T-Mobile you can, $10/mo cheaper.)

Here's the thing, when Google releases a version of Android OS, the manufacturers don't just start using the beautiful update. Instead they have to put their ugly skin, extra "features", and bloatware all over it. Samsung has Touchwiz, HTC has Sense, and Motorola has Motoblur. And this is before the carrier gets their hands on it and puts even more bloat on it. All this crap is fixable if you're willing to void your warranty, possibly brick your phone, and waste a lot of time. I did, and I'm very glad I did.

Also, long story short, Android nerds love the Nexus, so there's a really great user community out there.

Also, the Galaxy Nexus was released at the end of 2011. There should be a new round of Nexus handsets coming out in the next month or so.

Oh, and you can pay for stuff with Google Wallet with a Nexus. Just tap your phone at CVS, Gap, etc.



But no one buys a Nexus. They don't understand why they should. So... the Galaxy S III or the HTC One X+ are the top dogs right now, and as kn said, the Droid MAXX has great battery life, which is great.

ETA: also, personally I'd never go with a CDMA carrier like Verizon or Sprint, since GSM is much more common worldwide. So without regards to roaming charges or your current plan, if you travel around the world with an AT&T phone or a T-Mobile phone, you'll probably be able to get a signal off any tower.

After a talk with my boss I might be pushed to the very Droid kn recommended. It's kinda the obligatory smart phone for this place. They don't want to give me a stipend because they say it's confusing to add to my paycheck with taxes and fees and blah blah blah. One salesman gets the stipend because he's hooked on his adorable iPhone, but apparently the accountant complains about it A LOT.

But, knowing this place, there will be meetings for the next few weeks in which the powers that be debate whether I need a cell phone. Guaranteed, they'll call my personal phone at least once asking me to explain again why I need a work phone. Then they'll spend a few thousand in man-hours trying to figure out why I should have a $75/month fringe benefit.

Late to the party and might be pointless:



All of this ^ is very good. ASOP for the win. Plust the 'buttons' spin.

That said, I love my HTC One X. I'm sure if I got a S III I'd love it and you would too.

My vote is wait for the next Nexus device... the Nextus if you will. Seems like by the time the beuracrachine is done turning it's gears your contract will be up and the new hotness will be out.

Carrier opinion:

I love, love, loved Sprint. Best deal IMO. However, unlimted data is no good on a slow network. I jumped shipped to ATT for the $99 HTC One X and still feel good about it.

This is the best smart phone/starwars joke Ive ever seen. It is also the ONLY smart phone/starwars joke I have seen. (my apologies to those who have seen this on the holy FB.)

Ha!

Pic emailed to the Apple fanboy salesman.

I have no fucking idea how to work this thing.

Sent from my new Samsung Galaxy S3

hahahaha, pretty much how I felt when I got mine! Probably gonna return it and get an iPhone "5" after this weekend, methinks. While Android is cool and all, and the screen is HUGE, I dont need a "TV" in my pocket. I was pulling up a photo that lived on my iPhone 4 and while it felt tiny, I was able to do it one handed - something I have missed for the last two weeks of S3 ownership. I also just dont need to relearn an OS for my phone. I havnt had the time to sit down and figure out how to eliminate all the stupid redundant shit going on... not a fan of how every App has its own special place for settings... missing the iPhones consistancey in the interface, flawed as it may be.