N00b Questions

[Guest Celtic67]

Sorry to do this, but I've been reading a few threads, trying to put together a few answers before I decide whether or not to buy a San Francisco. I've spent a few hours reading reviews & this forum, but I'm still not sure about a few things. I quite fancy the free headphones from Orange, so I'm running out of time to decide. Hopefully folk won't mind answering these idiot questions.

* If I put Froyo onto a SF, will I be able to get reliable GPS? I'll be buying new from Orange, so will be getting a TFT screen.

* If the Froyo ROM is based on an alpha, is a genuine release likely to happen? How about future Android updates? I know it's impossible to tell, but any clues as to ZTE's record so far might help.

* I'm currently using a Nokia 5800. I know Symbian is out-of-date, but the phone actually does a decent job. Has anyone moved from the 5800 to the SF and did you notice much improvement?

If it makes any difference, I'm an Android n00b, but perfectly comfortable performing software hacks, etc.

[Guest Azurren]

Sorry to do this, but I've been reading a few threads, trying to put together a few answers before I decide whether or not to buy a San Francisco. I've spent a few hours reading reviews & this forum, but I'm still not sure about a few things. I quite fancy the free headphones from Orange, so I'm running out of time to decide. Hopefully folk won't mind answering these idiot questions.

* If I put Froyo onto a SF, will I be able to get reliable GPS? I'll be buying new from Orange, so will be getting a TFT screen.

* If the Froyo ROM is based on an alpha, is a genuine release likely to happen? How about future Android updates? I know it's impossible to tell, but any clues as to ZTE's record so far might help.

* I'm currently using a Nokia 5800. I know Symbian is out-of-date, but the phone actually does a decent job. Has anyone moved from the 5800 to the SF and did you notice much improvement?

If it makes any difference, I'm an Android n00b, but perfectly comfortable performing software hacks, etc.

Yes GPS works well on Pauls Alpha 4 or Alpha 3 with a custom theme (Which includes the course positioning fix of alpha 4)

There will be a genuine froyo release.. But not for our model (SF) It can be ported but we will probably never get an Orange update

Nokia.. I can't speak for the 5800 but with Froyo UI lag is very rare

[Guest strat.minger]

Sorry to do this, but I've been reading a few threads, trying to put together a few answers before I decide whether or not to buy a San Francisco. I've spent a few hours reading reviews & this forum, but I'm still not sure about a few things. I quite fancy the free headphones from Orange, so I'm running out of time to decide. Hopefully folk won't mind answering these idiot questions.

* If I put Froyo onto a SF, will I be able to get reliable GPS? I'll be buying new from Orange, so will be getting a TFT screen.

* If the Froyo ROM is based on an alpha, is a genuine release likely to happen? How about future Android updates? I know it's impossible to tell, but any clues as to ZTE's record so far might help.

* I'm currently using a Nokia 5800. I know Symbian is out-of-date, but the phone actually does a decent job. Has anyone moved from the 5800 to the SF and did you notice much improvement?

If it makes any difference, I'm an Android n00b, but perfectly comfortable performing software hacks, etc.

I have moved frmo a 5800 to the OSF, last couple of weeks to be precise, the difference is night and day. The 5800 was trying to be a smartphone but was actually not. The OSF is so much more flexible, screen is better (size, reposniveness due to capacitive not resistive, actually looks better), and the support community is better to. Oh yeah, its android not stupid Symbian. :(

[Guest rayraven]

GPS works perfectly on the Japanese Jellyfish rom as well, and since they use the same base, i'm guessing Seb's de-softened rom too.

And apart from the FM Radio & Button back-lights not working, it's a stable froyo rom.

Edited December 29, 2010 by rayraven

[Guest emilao]

* I'm currently using a Nokia 5800. I know Symbian is out-of-date, but the phone actually does a decent job. Has anyone moved from the 5800 to the SF and did you notice much improvement?

I had a 5800xm, and other symbian in the past. I bought a SF not for limit of 5800: with it you can do everything, but a little bit worse than android. The UI is really more fresh and the capacitative screen is more usable with finger. If you use a google account to manage email, docs, calendar, etc. android is a great choise. Btw, nothing that you can't do with 5800...

If you want to try something of new, SF is a good opportunity.

In the beginning isn't easy to adapt, but is funny learn something from a nice OS.

SF pros: UI, gps speed, screen (mine is a OLED ;) ), web navigation, email client, google apps integration, more powerful WiFi

5800 pros: T9 unbeaten, OVI maps integrated, battery

(sorry for my english.. :()

[Guest Celtic67]

Thanks for all the really helpful replies. There's nothing wrong with your English, emilao!

I think that's all positive enough that I'll get my SF ordered. I have realised that the free headphones were in last year's Orange gift box though, this year is just a watch and some tat. I already have a watch.

[Guest xzyk]

celtic67, unless you've already ordered, you may want to buy via a cash-back site like topcash or quidco. I got 12pounds back from orange via topcashback. It could pay for the headphones you're after. :(

[Guest Celtic67]

celtic67, unless you've already ordered, you may want to buy via a cash-back site like topcash or quidco. I got 12pounds back from orange via topcashback. It could pay for the headphones you're after. :(

Thanks for that. I'm a regular Quidco user and planned on using that. Last I looked, they were offering £12 on the SF, but when I ordered today it said £16. Can't complain!

[Guest Eszed]

Just to encourage you still further, Celtic67, I am running Paul's 2.2a4 build and it is in every possible way much much better than Orange's stock ROM. Smaller, faster. Everything -- including GPS -- works perfectly. Today's news is that they've cracked the FM radio app! It works, and though the radio UI still has obvious room for improvement, the 0.3 release is already miles better than Orange's FM radio app. That just removed my last reservation about this phone -- it's brilliant!

Buy it, flash it, you won't regret it.