Disappointed

[Guest netdudeuk]

I’ve got an iPhone 3G with 3.1.3, reverted to because of the iOS 4 lag issues.

I’ve not had it long and moved on from a very trustworthy N95.

It was several steps forward and a couple back, with the iPhone having no video recording capability and a distinctly inferior camera. The one in the N95 should be considered legendary.

I had a go today with my new SF and it’s already lined up to go back.

I found the following -

• the 600 MHz processor seems to be clearly lacking. Scrolling through menus is jerky and the animated wallpapers (e.g. Nexus 1 and water) are not done well

• the screen is bright and sharp but for my older eyes, some of the text (e.g. the menu captions) is uncomfortably small to read

• when entering text into a message, the display would not rotate (either way) so there’s not much space to see the message (why leave the contacts list in view when you’re typing a message when you could just pick from a list and then close it ?) and the keypad is just too small for my fingers. I can type comfortably both ways on the iPhone.

And that’s just to start with. If it was a question of having an additional device, there would not be the question of going back a step when using the SF but the above points seem reasonable ones for arguing that the SF is not a good way forward.

Some will choose to disagree and the more constructive ones may have suggestions but that’s my honest opinion. I’ve been aching for such a device for a long time and this leaves me disappointed.

For those who may suggest that I’m trolling, you’d be wrong. I’ve got Eclipse and the Android development system installed along with App Inventor for Android. I’m an ex-programmer and have brand new Java and Android development books on my shelf. I like the hardcore appeal of the platform but it still has to do the job in hand.

[Guest JolyonS]

Fine you aren't trolling but I'm not sure what your point is.

Almost everyone here will either be happy with their SF phones or looking for solutions for particular problems.

What sort of responses would you like? If you don't like the thing send it back, I'm not an evangelist, I don't give a monkey's.

But if you are really asking for suggestions . . .

The processor is what it is - if in your opinion what it is is insufficient then there nothing much to be done - you might try one of the overclocked kernels, I suppose or have a go at turning off some of the eye candy but I wouldn't want to embark on an egg-sucking lesson with grandma.

We can't fix your eyes but ChompSMS or Handcent SMS might be able to adjust the text size in messages if that would help. The latter certainly allows the screen to rotate, I'm pretty sure the stock message app did too to be honest.

There are a variety of different keyboard apps - almost all comparable with the iPhone on-screen keyboard for basic typing and most are superior in their flexibility. I don't know which ones you have tried but I personally like the TouchPal keyboard that ships with the device, particularly for the ease of entering symbols - as someone who punctuates text messages and emails I find that really useful, but that's just me.

Animated wallpapers you'll have to ask someone else about - not sure what you are comparing them with (clearly not an old iPhone . . .) but they looked fine to be albeit utterly pointless.

Edited November 8, 2010 by JolyonS

[Guest meinnit]

Stick with your iphone :rolleyes:

[Guest netdudeuk]

Fine you aren't trolling but I'm not sure what your point is.

Almost everyone here will either be happy with their SF phones or looking for solutions for particular problems.

What sort of responses would you like?

If there are suggestions of how to overcome those issues then I'd be pleased to hear them and even get it out and give it a go.

[Guest deweylewie]

• the 600 MHz processor seems to be clearly lacking. Scrolling through menus is jerky and the animated wallpapers (e.g. Nexus 1 and water) are not done well

• the screen is bright and sharp but for my older eyes, some of the text (e.g. the menu captions) is uncomfortably small to read

• when entering text into a message, the display would not rotate (either way) so there’s not much space to see the message (why leave the contacts list in view when you’re typing a message when you could just pick from a list and then close it ?) and the keypad is just too small for my fingers. I can type comfortably both ways on the iPhone.

Menus are fine for me. They aren't 100% perfectly smooth but are pleasant to use. Live wallpapers are slow and will slow down home screen movement. edit: Make sure you're using launcher pro not the stock orange launcher, it's much faster.

Not sure what menu captions are?

My screen rotates (only left) while composing a text in the messaging app. Maybe stuck sensor... Does it work anywhere else?

Edited November 8, 2010 by deweylewie

[Guest ezablade]

I've not found it to be jerky or slow when scrolling through screens or menus. Try Launcher Pro for your launcher, seems smoother and faster than the default. Overall, I cannot complain about it's speed. Are you using the default Orange mess? (then again, only used that for 10 minutes, waiting for the unlock code, once that arrived and it was unlocked, the Modaco ROM was on and bye bye Orange.)

Animated wallpapers do slow it down, although, I can't see the point of them, so turn them off. I don't want to sit and watch the wallpaper, who does?

As for keyboard size, not sure what else you can do. The iPhone 3gs has a 3.5" screen, same as the SF. As the keyboards fill the screen width, can't see how they can be smaller? Try one of the many different keyboards available, there's links to them on this board, I've noticed I like some, not others.

Not sure why the screen didn't rotate when typing sms, mine does, using the default app.

[Guest JolyonS]

If there are suggestions of how to overcome those issues then I'd be pleased to hear them and even get it out and give it a go.

I was editing my original post as you posted this see there for some suggestions.

Just tried the stock messaging app with the stock keyboard and it does rotate - best suggestion there is check that you have not disabled screen rotation in the Orientation settings and try again.

I'm just not sure what you mean about the contact list being in view while you are typing a message; I've tried to make mine do that and it won't - any chance of a screenshot?

If camera and video recording are important to you I don't think any fiddling around the margins with the SF is going to make you happy. You didn't list it as one of your gripes but the camera on this device is crap. Barely good enough to read barcodes. What pushed you away from the N95?

*edited (some of the) typos

Edited November 8, 2010 by JolyonS

[Guest JolyonS]

Should add that I am also using Launcher Pro - not sure if it improves menu scrolling or not as I can't remember what the stock launcher was like.

[Guest netdudeuk]

Fine you aren't trolling but I'm not sure what your point is.

Almost everyone here will either be happy with their SF phones or looking for solutions for particular problems.

What sort of responses would you like? If you don't like the thing send it back, I'm not an evangelist, I don't give a monkey's.

But if you are really asking for suggestions . . .

The processor is what it is - if in your opinion what it is is insufficient then there nothing much to be done - you might try one of the overclocked kernels, I suppose or have a go at turning off some of the eye candy but I wouldn't want to embark on an egg-sucking lesson with grandma.

We can't fix your eyes but ChompSMS or Handcent SMS might be able to adjust the text size in messages if that would help. The latter certainly allows the screen to rotate, I'm pretty sure the stock message app did too to be honest.

There are a variety of different keyboard apps - almost all comparable with the iPhone on-screen keyboard for basic typing and most are superior in their flexibility. I don't know which ones you have tried but I personally like the TouchPal keyboard that ships with the device, particularly for the ease of entering symbols - as someone who punctuates text messages and emails I find that really useful, but that's just me.

Animated wallpapers you'll have to ask someone else about - not sure what you are comparing them with (clearly not an old iPhone . . .) but they looked fine to be albeit utterly pointless.

I've not taken the film off the screen. Would that prevent rotation ? I've checked the settings and rotate is enabled by default. I've not tried to rotate anything else.

[Guest netdudeuk]

Stick with your iphone :rolleyes:

I must be hard to please :huh: While the iPhone experience is very polished, it almost feels too polished. Know what I mean ? At the same time, things like iTunes do work exceptionally well.

I really like the hacker platform, something the iPhone isn't.

[Guest JolyonS]

No idea about the film.

If you switch the phone on, unlock it and then rotate the top round to the left does your home screen rotate?

[Guest netdudeuk]

Menus are fine for me. They aren't 100% perfectly smooth but are pleasant to use. Live wallpapers are slow and will slow down home screen movement. edit: Make sure you're using launcher pro not the stock orange launcher, it's much faster.

Not sure what menu captions are?

My screen rotates (only left) while composing a text in the messaging app. Maybe stuck sensor... Does it work anywhere else?

Menu captions - was referring to those little descriptions under each option

Didn't try anything else. I wonder if that film makes a difference ?

[Guest netdudeuk]

As for keyboard size, not sure what else you can do. The iPhone 3gs has a 3.5" screen, same as the SF. As the keyboards fill the screen width, can't see how they can be smaller? Try one of the many different keyboards available, there's links to them on this board, I've noticed I like some, not others.

Not sure why the screen didn't rotate when typing sms, mine does, using the default app.

Apple use more of the width. The keys really are bigger. Same goes with the dialler.

[Guest Azurren]

Live wallpapers work perfectly with Froyo (The only low end device that I know of which can)

Menus are smooth as silk with Launcher pro

Lag free with Froyo and Launcher pro (Without live wallpapers)

But then again.. I also don't see your point

If you want something that will beat your nokia and iPhone hands down then go for the higher-end "Designed to compete" devices

The HTC Desire Z

The HTC Desire HD

The Samsung Galaxy S

Or the nexus one

You can't compare a budget android device to an iPhone (Although it is better than all the older models)

Just as you can't compare a Kia to a Ferrari

[Guest malooga]

As the keyboards fill the screen width, can't see how they can be smaller- qouted off Ezablade

The iphone keyboard is much bigger as the screen is physically wider, i have an iphone and the San Fran and the iphone is vastly superior for typing on.

[Guest JolyonS]

Apple use more of the width. The keys really are bigger.

I'll have to take a ruler to my SF and my iPod Touch, I guess.

Doesn't feel like that to me.

[Guest netdudeuk]

But then again.. I also don't see your point

If you want something that will beat your nokia and iPhone hands down then go for the higher-end "Designed to compete" devices

The HTC Desire Z

The HTC Desire HD

The Samsung Galaxy S

Or the nexus one

You can't compare a budget android device to an iPhone (Although it is better than all the older models)

Just as you can't compare a Kia to a Ferrari

Galaxy S - was about to buy one when I read about all the alleged GPS issues.

The others were close to £470 or so the last time I looked. While I may be able to afford one, I'm not so well off that it would be easy to jusify such a purchase.

I can compare the two. That's what I'm doing now :rolleyes:

[Guest magicpork]

• the 600 MHz processor seems to be clearly lacking. Scrolling through menus is jerky and the animated wallpapers (e.g. Nexus 1 and water) are not done well

launch pro?

• the screen is bright and sharp but for my older eyes, some of the text (e.g. the menu captions) is uncomfortably small to read

there're more than enough free apps to adjust font size..and I find the default size is very confortable

• when entering text into a message, the display would not rotate (either way) so there’s not much space to see the message (why leave the contacts list in view when you’re typing a message when you could just pick from a list and then

I'm sure the stock message app allow rotating...either you have a faulty unit or you configured it incorrectly..try a factory reset..

As for keyboard...come on...they're hundreds of app for IME and keyboard layouts...

I've happily given away my 3gs to my cousin...SF is a lot more enjoyable...iOS is becoming so dull...

[Guest netdudeuk]

As the keyboards fill the screen width, can't see how they can be smaller- qouted off Ezablade

The iphone keyboard is much bigger as the screen is physically wider, i have an iphone and the San Fran and the iphone is vastly superior for typing on.

Yes, I think that the aspect ratio could be different. I put them side by side and the iPhone screen seems a little wider.

[Guest Freekers]

You are comparing an iPhone with the Blade.

That's like apples and oranges. Look at the huge price different mate !

Also, please do some reading. There are enough tweaks which makes the Blade a smooth device.

To start with: Change to Launcher Pro, up the VM Size to 32MB etc etc

[Guest netdudeuk]

You are comparing an iPhone with the Blade.

That's like apples and oranges. Look at the huge price different mate !

Also, please do some reading. There are enough tweaks which makes the Blade a smooth device.

To start with: Change to Launcher Pro, up the VM Size to 32MB etc etc

Yes. You're right. Maybe I'm expecting too much from a budget device. I know there's a huge bang for the buck with the SF.

Edited November 8, 2010 by netdudeuk

[Guest asim18]

You go from a £300+ iphone to a £99 phone? What the hell were you expecting? A miracle?

Sorry but, LOL!

Most ridiculous comparison of the year award goes to....

Edited November 8, 2010 by asim18

[Guest jasonXXx]

As the keyboards fill the screen width, can't see how they can be smaller- qouted off Ezablade

The iphone keyboard is much bigger as the screen is physically wider, i have an iphone and the San Fran and the iphone is vastly superior for typing on.

Iphone has a lower screen resolution thats why the keayboard looks bigger.

Also i was looking at buying a iphone 1st gen thats all i can afford but then i seen the blade its much better than the iphone 2g less then half the price and thats for a preowned iphone 2g lol

Edited November 8, 2010 by jasonXXx

[Guest Zefan]

That's like apples and oranges.

I see what you did there.

[Guest asim18]

I see what you did there.

Are you the Zefan? (from ocuk)