Seeing two Motorola phones in the "best phones" article makes me feel like I'm in a time warp. I'm glad they're back, they make great quality handsets.
@Mr_Human: Yeah they fell apart, just less frequently than any other phone of that RAZR era. I mean, cast metal hinges, glass screens and laser cut metal keypads. What was made better than that, at the time? Not that Kyocera or LG crap. Possibly Sony Ericsson, they were good. I'd be happy to see them make a comeback as well.
@tande04: make a list of those inferior ways, please. if you are goint to drop a dump like that - back it up. Ah, and a .2" smaller screen dosnt count.
@tande04: That's not really true. The Cliq is equal or better than the G1 in every way. The only way I could see an argument for it being lacking is that so far, as far as I've heard, there's been no luck at getting root on it. That's really just a matter of time, though, and it honestly took a while on the G1 as well.
@Badongadoodle: I'll offer some input if you promise to never use the phrase "back up that dump" again. ;-)
The CLIQ (last I checked) was running Android 1.5, which means it's already a generation behind. It also disqualifies it from the GPS app. Additionally, the MOTOBLUR interface is a questionable advantage at best. From what I've seen, the Facebook/Twitter integration gadgets are less than stellar and only provide a chaotic view of your network.
I don't think the G1 is head and shoulders above the CLIQ....but I do think it has a little more dignity. If nothing else because it gets the Google Experience branding instead of MOTOBLUR. Sense and Rachael were good improvements on top of Android. I'm less than convinced that MOTOBLUR has such an advantage.
@Badongadoodle: I'll defer to OCEntertainment here and go further and point out just general build qualities. If Moto put out the best they have with the droid then the cliq is certainly the worst. Every review of motoblur has been less than stellar. The widgets add little but sluggishness. The cliq may have more memory but you lose most of it just with blur (not to mention battery life, which on the g1 has been pretty damn good since 1.6).
Then there are other advantages that are debatable but often pointed out.
5 row QWERTY
Dedicated call keys
Secondary pointing device
So the real question would be what does the cliq have that the G1 doesn't?
5.0 camera which is always a debatable inclusion.
Really though I wasn't really trying to say that the G1 is out and out better. Regardless of any other argument I'd say that everyone agreed that the G1 was a flagship phone for t-mobile. I'm amazed if anyone could really say the same for the cliq. Hell even t-mobile still pimps the MyTouch more then they market the cliq.
After having owned an iPhone and now owning a Droid, I'd have to say no to the iphone having the best user interface. If for nothing else than the beautiful shade.
This thread is going to become a total flame fest. Oh well. I have to say. You shouldn't count jailbreaking as a feature. You should weigh the merits out of the box. As far as the iPhone, you shouldn't have to jailbreak or hack a phone to gain functionality.
Everyone has their needs but I have to say, after my real world usage, it's, at the very least, a dead heat between the Droid and the iPhone.
After 3 weeks with the Droid I don't miss my iPhone AT ALL. My only plan for my iPhone is to unlock it and use a prepaid sim when I travel overseas (I'm pretty sure that's possible, if not I'm not too worried).
WTF? ... a jailbroken iPhone on Tmo? Oh well. TMo coverage is trash anyway.
@DustyButtā¢: I have a MT3G on Tmobile, and have no problems with coverage in the Chicago area, but I take it you're referring to nationwide coverage. I guess that's true. The fact that I got my phone, which is useable, but not the best, for $40 when I wasn't even eligible for an upgrade softens the blow a bit.
Honestly the CLIQ seems almost highway robbery at $100, compared with all the other Android phones out there. The more I see of the CLIQ, the less I like it. For myself, I can't stant the iPhone and I'd call an unlocked iPhone the best on T-Mo, if the CLIQ is its competition. The fact that it has 3G powers doesn't overshoot what the iPhone can do. Caveat: if the CLIQ is running Android 1.6, and thus qualifies for the new Maps app, then...maybe.
@OCEntertainment: T-Mobile's phone prices should always be followed by a *. Side by side the $200 Cliq looks [LUDA]crous next to the $150 Droid, but the phone is more expensive because the plans are so much cheaper. On Verizon an equivalent all-you-can-eat plan costs about $40 more per month.
@fryhole: Well, the CLIQ is actually $100 at the linked Wal-Mart site (if you don't mind dealing with the devil ;-)). But your point is well-taken.
The thing to consider, though, is network quality. I've been pretty happy on T-Mobile for the most part. I don't get that great 3G reception in my house, but my building can account for a lot of that. When I travel Atlanta, I get pretty good 3G reception most of the time.
However back when I was on Verizon and I took a trip around the U.S, I managed to get cell reception from underneath the Rocky Mountains. I traveled around 20 or 30 states, most of them drive-through states. I never lost reception. This may not be a typical need, but if you do a lot of traveling, or if you don't live in a (sub)urban area, that extra money may be more than worth it.
Well I read this as Google's making an Android phone through a mystery hardware manufacturer... What about the G1 and Droid, didn't Google guide the way for their birth?
I'm prepared to call bullcrap, google don't do hardware. Granted there's always a time for them to start but I don't think it's now. I think Google are more interested in keeping their hands clean and just nudging android phone manufacturers on to the right track with their hardware.
I've been with Sprint for awhile (out of contract now, so I'm supposed to get a discount...)
Is the Best Buy deal restricted to new contracts or does it include renewals? And if I got the phone via Best Buy, is it still possible to get a plan using Sprint Employee Referral or other such voodoo? #htchero
@Red_Flag:
I believe BB can't do employee referral accounts. You could always sign up with them and then change your plan- but that may be more work than it's worth. #htchero
@mawcs: Oh, bravo, Merriam-Webster. Because everyone knows that there is no such thing as fine print, exceptions, or ways to negotiate anything from corporate reps ever, and that all questions and disputes are always solved by a single screenshot of an offer, rather than contracts or paperwork of any sort. Bravo. #htchero
You asked a question, I answered. Sorry you don't like the answer; but if you felt that "negotiating" might get you the same deal, you might have said that in your original comment and save me the effort of being a smart-ass. #htchero
11:30 AM
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10:58 AM
Used to be there was no question you'd see the G1 on there but now admittedly its a little outdated and t-mobile insists on holding on to it.
Time to make something happen T-mobile.
11:01 AM
11:05 AM
What I was really getting at was that the Cliq is a far inferior phone to the G1 in most ways.
11:54 AM
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12:30 PM
The CLIQ (last I checked) was running Android 1.5, which means it's already a generation behind. It also disqualifies it from the GPS app. Additionally, the MOTOBLUR interface is a questionable advantage at best. From what I've seen, the Facebook/Twitter integration gadgets are less than stellar and only provide a chaotic view of your network.
I don't think the G1 is head and shoulders above the CLIQ....but I do think it has a little more dignity. If nothing else because it gets the Google Experience branding instead of MOTOBLUR. Sense and Rachael were good improvements on top of Android. I'm less than convinced that MOTOBLUR has such an advantage.
01:41 PM
Then there are other advantages that are debatable but often pointed out.
5 row QWERTY
Dedicated call keys
Secondary pointing device
So the real question would be what does the cliq have that the G1 doesn't?
5.0 camera which is always a debatable inclusion.
Really though I wasn't really trying to say that the G1 is out and out better. Regardless of any other argument I'd say that everyone agreed that the G1 was a flagship phone for t-mobile. I'm amazed if anyone could really say the same for the cliq. Hell even t-mobile still pimps the MyTouch more then they market the cliq.
10:55 AM
11:09 AM
Its the same thing its been from the beginning in most ways. Some tweaks here and there. People must love the flat icons.
11:56 AM
01:30 PM
Besides some changes in settings and other backend stuff what is the main difference between 2.0 and 1.6? Flat icons.
#tips
10:53 AM
10:30 AM
Everyone has their needs but I have to say, after my real world usage, it's, at the very least, a dead heat between the Droid and the iPhone.
After 3 weeks with the Droid I don't miss my iPhone AT ALL. My only plan for my iPhone is to unlock it and use a prepaid sim when I travel overseas (I'm pretty sure that's possible, if not I'm not too worried).
WTF? ... a jailbroken iPhone on Tmo? Oh well. TMo coverage is trash anyway.
10:45 AM
10:53 AM
Yes, Tmo national coverage is really bad for those who travel regionally.
10:12 AM
You really need an editor. The best smartphone on AT&T is a Jailbroken iPhone.
10:10 AM
Also: Droid for $150? Surprising and pleasing.
12:46 PM
12:57 PM
The thing to consider, though, is network quality. I've been pretty happy on T-Mobile for the most part. I don't get that great 3G reception in my house, but my building can account for a lot of that. When I travel Atlanta, I get pretty good 3G reception most of the time.
However back when I was on Verizon and I took a trip around the U.S, I managed to get cell reception from underneath the Rocky Mountains. I traveled around 20 or 30 states, most of them drive-through states. I never lost reception. This may not be a typical need, but if you do a lot of traveling, or if you don't live in a (sub)urban area, that extra money may be more than worth it.
10:07 AM
I'm pretty sure the Samsung M520 is the best phone you can get on sprint.
11:12 AM
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11/17/09
Is the Best Buy deal restricted to new contracts or does it include renewals? And if I got the phone via Best Buy, is it still possible to get a plan using Sprint Employee Referral or other such voodoo? #htchero
11/17/09
I believe BB can't do employee referral accounts. You could always sign up with them and then change your plan- but that may be more work than it's worth. #htchero
11/17/09
I'm not certain, but I think "new" means "new." #htchero
11/17/09
11/18/09
You asked a question, I answered. Sorry you don't like the answer; but if you felt that "negotiating" might get you the same deal, you might have said that in your original comment and save me the effort of being a smart-ass. #htchero