Which Android Phone?

[yknivag]

I'm at that point in my phone deal where I can upgrade and I'd like to try an Android phone.

The only two I can have as an upgrade are the Motorola DEXT (UK version of the CLIQ) or the HTC Hero. Both are currently on Android 1.5 but both manufacturers have announced plans to make upgrades available to 2.0 so that's not a concern.

Obviously there are some immediate differences; the Hero is smaller and the DEXT has a slide out Qwerty keyboard. But I'm wondering if there are any other significant differences with how they'll behave with my Ubuntu PC? Will they both sync up?

At the moment, I'm leaning towards the Motorola for the keyboard (I've had touch only for the last 2 years and it can be frustrating).

Any one have any experiences to reinforce my view or challenge it?

Thanks in advance...

[j2rebel]

I would go with the motorola. I was in a similar situation, touch screen only, and having the issues that can come up is incredibly frustrating.

[yknivag]

Thanks j2rebel. I'm hoping to be able to run an ssh app and am thinking that the command line would not be so easy with a touch screen keyboard.

[Nburnes]

What about the Motorola Milestone?

Edit: NVM I need to learn to read :( I would just get the Dext then.

[yknivag]

The DEXT does appear to be the better phone. The "Big Brother" nature of MOTOBLUR worries me though - I'm not sure I want Motorola having access to all my contacts, usernames, passwords, messages etc and I'm having trouble finding any way of disabling it.

[Prospero2006]

I have the Nexus and I have a fair amount of experience with several Android models.

There is a great app for ssh called connectbot.

Touchscreen + ssh = hard to use.

If you are into irc or ssh through the phone, you'll want
something with a slide out keyboard. I never use connectbot
anymore simply because the touch screen is just a bit more difficult than the slide out keyboard for it.

On the other hand, the voice recognition built into 2.1 is great.
It's nice to be able to talk to the phone just about anywhere you can normally type and get a good quality recognition/conversion
to text.

Nexus is sweet.

[skymera]

My friend has the Nexus One. Android 2.1 :)

Really snappy, stylish and a all-round good phone.

If you can afford the price tag, get it.

[aktiwers]

Im gonna buy the Nexus one as soon as I get cash.

[yknivag]

I've heard good reports about the Nexus too, but the only ones carried by my operator that I can upgrade to are the Motorola DEXT or the HTC Hero.

[chucky chuckaluck]

I love my droid, but it's my first phone. Mrs. Chuckaluck loves her's too (not her first).

[madjr]

http://img.xataka.com/2009/09/dext_frontopen_spanish.jpg

sweet phone the dext

has touch screen too and 5mp cam

[helliewm]

I am guessing you are with Orange like me. The DEXT is lovely. You do not have to sign up to Motoblur if you do not want to you.

Its much nicer than the G1, my old phone.

You can root the Dext and put on a custom ROM too.

In this months Linux Format there is article about turning your android hone into a modem by installing Proxoid a web proxy server so you can actually tether your phone without rooting it.

When googling the Dext if you want to root it remeber its called the CLIQ in the US.

Both its camera and keyboard are excellent.

Helen

[yknivag]

Hi Hellen,

Yes I'm with Orange (but work for them so my choice of phones is slightly more limited). I'm glad that the Motoblur thing is optional, I'm not really sure I want Motorola (or anyone else for that matter) reading all my messages and statuses etc.

Very helpful to read a review from a UK user, so thank you for that!

I'm definitely leaning toward the DEXT...

Gavin.

[NCLI]

If you can't get the NEXUS or the Milestone, get the DEXT. I think the keyboard is probably worth it, though I prefer HTC phones.

[gnomeuser]

I own an HTC Hero, it is slow, buggy and generally not all it can be. I don't know the Motorola model but I would not pick the Hero.

If you have the option I recommend looking at the Nokia N900, it isn't Android but it is a lovely piece of hardware.

The reasoning can be found in my blog

[yknivag]

I've had a couple of previous HTC phones and not really been impressed with their hardware or software, which (along with the keyboard) is pushing me towards the DEXT.

It seems that the general consensus is the same here too which at least means I may be on the right track.

Anyone have anything negative to say about the DEXT/CLIQ before I sign on the dotted line?

[helliewm]

I have today got Proxoid on the Dext working so I can now tether without rooting.

However I will root it tomorrow. Just have not got round to it before no other reason than that.

NO nothing bad about the DEXT at all. If you like the G1 you will love the DEXT. The best way to describe it is a very slick G1, obviously its a Motorola and the G1 is HTC but they function very similarly.

It has a touch screen keyboard as well as the hardware physical one.

Its great now we can root it.

If you get one do feel free to contact me with any queries.

Helen

If you google DExt/Cliq you will see there is a group of Linux users rooting it, making ROM's. It does have a following. I really do love it its the best phone I have had.

One downside its battery life so I bought it a spare battery for the occasions I am away from home for long periods of time.

See my web site in my signature I am leading UK Privacy Campaigner so yes you can definitely switch Motoblur off.

[JSeymour]

I've handled both the Moto and the HTC. Liked the HTC better.

Jim

[yknivag]

Thanks everyone for your comments, will be a few days yet before I sign up so anyone else more than welcome to comment.

Helen, thanks especially for the clarification about Motoblur, that's really helped me.

[helliewm]

Let us know what you decide I have never met another UK DEXT user lol.

Helen

[amitabhishek]

Don't know much about the SSH part. But HTC Hero looks like a more polished device. Keyboard is surprisingly very accurate. In fact on my HTC Magic I use keyboard app. ripped from HTC Hero!

[herbertportillo]

I have a Samsung Moment. I think it's available in the UK on O2, I'm not sure. Here in America it's on Sprint. I like my phone. The only gripe I have with my phone is that it still has only Android 1.5, but it'll get upgraded to 2.1 in the coming weeks.

The other Android phone on Sprint is the Hero, but the American version of the Hero looks completely different than the Hero in Europe. It's thinner, the buttons are rearranged, there's no chin, but apart from that the hardware is the same. I have to say that I really liked the Hero. It works great, and I'd definitely recommend it. I chose the Moment over the Hero because the Moment has an 800MHz processor compared to the Hero's 528MHz, and I like a physical keyboard, but apart from that the Hero is a really good phone.

[herbertportillo]

I found a picture of the HTC Hero here in the U.S., if anyone cares to see how different it looks.

[iApex]

If I were in the market for a new phone, I'd probably go with the HTC Desire...which is basically a reskinned Nexus One.

I have an iPhone at the moment, but will be switching to the Android platform when I'm eligible for an upgrade.

[yknivag]

Let us know what you decide I have never met another UK DEXT user lol.

Helen

Hi Helen, I will certainly update when I make my decision.

Can you advise how you managed to turn off the Motoblur software? I only ask because Motorola say that whatever settings you use they always synch your contacts back to their server.

Which is a real shame...



Dear customer,

Thank you for contacting Motorola.

In response to your e-mail, we regret to inform you that it is not possible to disable the Motoblur service in DEXT. However, we would like to inform you that the data stored in our Motoblur servers are encrypted and noone has access to them.

If you are interested in an Android phone that does not upload your sensitive information, you could also check the Motorola Milestone which is available through Expansys and Carphone Warehouse and it does not have the Motoblur software.

For any further assistance or information please do not hesitate to contact us again, quoting your Customer Reference number. Should you need to contact our Contact Centre on 0870 901 0555 to discuss the matter further with one of our experienced customer service agents, please feel free to contact us anytime between the hours of 8:30am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

Kind regards,

Stavros

Motorola Mobile Devices Contact Centre (UK)

[jayg1169]

The Dext is a great phone BUT!
A word of warning my Dext has really bad battery life! I unplug the phone at about 7am and im lucky if its still going at 10pm.

Even the new battery manager hasn't helped.

[helliewm]

Firstly when I got the phone I was NOT interested in Blur at all. I wanted a phone that I could root/hack that was similar to the G1. I am really impressed with the DEXT its a lot nicer than the G1.

For me personally I really like a physical keyboard. I played with the HTC Tattoo which does not have a physical keyboard and its really not me. Hence why I got the DEXT and not the Hero.

When I looked at Motorola Blur you had to sign up on their website I never did.

Plus I do NOT to use any Blur stuff I use Twdroid, Facebook, Contacts apps, Messaging apps, K-Mail from the Android Market.

You can download separate apps from the Market that are independent of Blur and I think are better.

The other thing to do is root it which will totally get rid of all traces of Blur. As you will have a custom ROM. So no Motorola Blur at all.

In conclusion if you are looking for a phone that similar to the G1 that you can root/hack then the DEXT is it as is the Droid I believe. Just do not sign up to the Motorola web site and do you research on apps from the Market and remember you can root it which will completely remove all traces of Motorola.

Hope that helps, do get back to me with any more queries.

Helen

If you want a chat, about this, see my web site you can contact me on the mobile number listed for Press Enquires.

[yknivag]

For me personally I really like a physical keyboard. I played with the HTC Tattoo which does not have a physical keyboard and its really not me. Hence why I got the DEXT and not the Hero.

That's one of the things that's really swaying me towards the DEXT.


When I looked at Motorola Blur you had to sign up on their website I never did.

That's what my original research suggested and supported on the Motorola user forum (https://supportforums.motorola.com/message/116936#24127). However it would seem Motorola don't know about this, from the response they sent me (in my last post). I've never known such confusion over something so simple. Getting an answer out of Motorola seems to be as difficult as getting a yes/no answer from a politician!


Plus I do NOT to use any Blur stuff I use Twdroid, Facebook, Contacts apps, Messaging apps, K-Mail from the Android Market.

You can download separate apps from the Market that are independent of Blur and I think are better.

That's what I intend to do, much safer that way I think.


The other thing to do is root it which will totally get rid of all traces of Blur. As you will have a custom ROM. So no Motorola Blur at all.

There is indeed always that option, but I'd rather have at least the option to safely use the default ROM.


Hope that helps, do get back to me with any more queries.

I really do appreciate your help, Helen. Thanks!

[helliewm]

I am sure Orange are crowing about how many people have bought the DEXT due to Motorola Blur when in reality they choose it because it was similar too and a slicker version of the G1.

The Apps in the Market are brilliant there is no need for Blur. If you get the DEXT shout and I will check my phone for the actually names of the Apps I use.

Thinking about it I am sure the Information Commissioner would be interested in Motorola response to you. I am sure storing messages, contacts etc without consent is a breach of the Data Protection Act and intercepting communications data is a breach of RIPA. A criminal offence.

I will run this by Privacy Campaigning colleagues.

Helen

[whiskeylover]

Can someone explain this to me - if Android is open source, and the license allows anyone to modify whatever they want, why does Verizon frown upon rooting their Android phones? Why does it void the warranty? Aren't they violating any licenses by forcing you to not change stuff?

[yknivag]

Thinking about it I am sure the Information Commissioner would be interested in Motorola response to you. I am sure storing messages, contacts etc without consent is a breach of the Data Protection Act and intercepting communications data is a breach of RIPA. A criminal offence.

You're probably right. I'm not sure if I have the inclination to fight them though, lol.

[yknivag]

Can someone explain this to me - if Android is open source, and the license allows anyone to modify whatever they want, why does Verizon frown upon rooting their Android phones? Why does it void the warranty? Aren't they violating any licenses by forcing you to not change stuff?

Very good point, well made! However due to the fact that I work in the industry, I can't comment.

[helliewm]

Thinking I may email Motorola to get a similar response to you, then I can cause some trouble lol. I am very gobby about IT and privacy lol.

Helen

[M1ke]

...I am very gobby about IT and privacy lol.

Helen

Someone has to be - keep it up, please! Far too much complacency in this country, I fear for where it's headed.

I'm watching this thread like a hawk at the moment; I'm really interested in Android and I'm dying to try it out (Apple and the iPhone just don't gel with my increasingly open-source, liberty-loving leanings...). UK-based handset discussion with a nod to privacy just ticks too many of my boxes to ignore!

I've read some great reviews of the Motorola Droid (or "Milestone" to give it its UK name) and I'd love to get my hands on one, but it's proving difficult without shelling out nearly £400. Contract isn't an option for me at the moment so it needs to be SIM-free.

Does anyone know much about it? Are there any refurb sellers based here, perhaps?

[helliewm]

I have not seen any cheap Milestones. Yes I have been watching them with interest too.

The DEXT can be unlocked to any network and you can pick one up from ebay (UK) for around £200. I looked a few weeks ago when I was thinking of getting my Nephew an HTC Tattoo, its android too. The Tattoo on ebay is around £120.

Android phones can be unlocked. You can easily set up another mobile operator in Settings on the Android software. I did this on my G1.

Helen

[Maheriano]

I've tried both the Milestone and the Hero, the Milestone is complete pile of garbage. The user interface is nowhere near as snappy as HTC's Sense and they much more limited with certain applications. And they only have 3 home screens instead of HTC's 7. Motorola is incapable of making a friendly user interface so I ended up buying the Hero last week and have no regrets.

[sxmaxchine]

HTC magic is a great phone

[HappinessNow]

HTC Google Nexus One

[aysiu]

Can someone explain this to me - if Android is open source, and the license allows anyone to modify whatever they want, why does Verizon frown upon rooting their Android phones? Why does it void the warranty? Aren't they violating any licenses by forcing you to not change stuff? The open source license allows you to modify it. It doesn't require people who distribute one modification to cover under warranty any modifications that you decide to make.

Just think about.

Let's say I release a version of Android that I know works.

You root my version and install an app that overclocks the system to the point of burning out the processor. Then you complain to me that the phone is broken, and I'm supposed to cover that under warranty?

No. If you don't use my version, I can't guarantee your device will work. You use your version, you fix it yourself. It's the same reason Ubuntu has its trademark policy (http://www.ubuntu.com/aboutus/trademarkpolicy). If you're going to modify Ubuntu and release your own Ubuntu-based distro, better not to call it Ubuntu. They can vouch for the quality of Ubuntu. But if you modify Ubuntu and release something called "Ubuntu Awesome Edition," which you happened to load up with spyware, then it would damage the Ubuntu brand.

[whiskeylover]

The open source license allows you to modify it. It doesn't require people who distribute one modification to cover under warranty any modifications that you decide to make.

Just think about.

Let's say I release a version of Android that I know works.

You root my version and install an app that overclocks the system to the point of burning out the processor. Then you complain to me that the phone is broken, and I'm supposed to cover that under warranty?

No. If you don't use my version, I can't guarantee your device will work. You use your version, you fix it yourself. It's the same reason Ubuntu has its trademark policy (http://www.ubuntu.com/aboutus/trademarkpolicy). If you're going to modify Ubuntu and release your own Ubuntu-based distro, better not to call it Ubuntu. They can vouch for the quality of Ubuntu. But if you modify Ubuntu and release something called "Ubuntu Awesome Edition," which you happened to load up with spyware, then it would damage the Ubuntu brand.

Thanks. Your explanation makes sense.

[aysiu]

Thanks. Your explanation makes sense.
Glad my explanation helped.

Now, that said, I do think the warranty thing, apart from just a legal way to cover their bets, is a scare tactic. I rooted my Android device months ago and have loaded all sorts of roms on it, and I have seen no adverse side effects. The one overclocking widget I installed didn't actually overclocked my processor--it just maximized the CPU scaling to what the processor could really handle (by default, it's underclocked).

Usually, rooting your phone will do nothing to actually harm the phone itself.

[daverave999]

I'm just about to pre-order an HTC Desire...

[wheelweaver]

Got a Nexus one a few months ago. Very nice and (if I remember to switch to Sim only deal when my contract runs out) cheaper than an equivalent phone bout through a network.