Another "upgrading from the OSF" thread

[Guest Shahmatt]

A new crisis has now hit my life with my OSF touchscreen starting to progressively become unresponsive in certain areas.

Its the digitizer of course. New ones are available on ebay for about $20 or so.

I have been pondering over the value of repair over the possibility of upgrading to a new phone.

I think it is now fair to say that the OSF is getting dated. The hardware is the bottleneck here. My phone seems to increasingly find it difficult in dealing with newer apps.

But which phone to upgrade to? The OSF was a phone of great value in terms of hardware. But its successors from Orange (OSF 2 and Monte Carlo), though priced similarly, seem less value for money. I look at them and go meh! They are just evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

It feels as though existing OSF users are holding out for something different - perhaps a phone that can muster up a similar community with plenty of development and ideas? I guess the worst case scenario is that there may never be a replacement to the OSF in this way.

Anyway, I would like to know what you guys think is the phone that is likely to be the successor to the OSF. And if no such model gives you this impression, which phone do you like right now? and why?

In my few hours of research I've taken a liking to the Motorola Razr Maxx - splash proof like the Defy, humungous battery life, a big and sharp screen, and an unconventional design. Its a little pricey though. There seems to be a growing following over at the xda forums. So that's my 2 cents worth for now to start.

I shall probably go ahead and fix my OSF up anyway. There is no harm in keeping it as a backup.

Edited June 6, 2012 by Shahmatt

[Guest FrankieADZ]

I've gone from the OSF to the Huawei G300, you can get it for £100 & £5 for unlock code(no free unlock as of yet)

Can really tell how out dated the OSF feels for now.

[Guest redhawkuk]

People have been reported the speaker volume is really low, is that true or has there been some software update to fix this??

Also what processor does it have all the web sites I've visited say 1GHz but is that ARMv6 or v7??

Richard S.

[Guest Shahmatt]

The G300 has a fair community developing. But looking at the specs I get the slight feeling of being underwhelmed given the more expensive options out there.

For a 100 pounds it looks as though it can't be beat, but will Blade users spend a little more this time around for something else?

How do you like your phone?

[Guest matt4321]

People have been reported the speaker volume is really low, is that true or has there been some software update to fix this??

Also what processor does it have all the web sites I've visited say 1GHz but is that ARMv6 or v7??

Richard S.

G300 is ARMv7, correct me if I'm wrong but i don't think you can get 1GHz ARMv6 processors, all ARMv6 are sub 1GHz.

and +1 for the G300, looks like one hell of a device for its price, I may be getting it soon when my contract is up, although I just got a part time job so may be able to afford something with higher specs, none the less the G300 is the next blade IMHO

[Guest i am not a hacker]

Orange San Diego Definitely. For £200 You get:

1.6 GHz processor Intel Atom (highest cpu in the World for a phone)

1GB ram

16GB Internal Memory

1024x600 screen resolution 4.03 Inches

8MP camera that shoots 1080p video

http://www.gsmarena.com/orange_san_diego-4588.php (full specs)

ICS update available soon.

I am getting this. :)

[Guest shmizan]

where is that price advertised?

[Guest i am not a hacker]

Go onto orange, payg phones, at the bottom. It was released today so it won't be anywhere else.

£15 a month on contract.

http://shop.orange.co.uk/mobile-phones/san-diego-from-orange

[Guest shmizan]

nice find!

it seems the processor will be trouble though: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2182314/intel-claims-atom-chip-run-cent-android-applications

in short: it's not an ARM architecture CPU so not every APP will work on it. the figures are 70% (last week statement by Intel) to 95% (today's statement by Intel)

[Guest Shahmatt]

Orange San Diego Definitely. For £200 You get:

1.6 GHz processor Intel Atom (highest cpu in the World for a phone)

1GB ram

16GB Internal Memory

1024x600 screen resolution 4.03 Inches

8MP camera that shoots 1080p video

http://www.gsmarena...._diego-4588.php (full specs)

ICS update available soon.

I am getting this. :)

Looks pretty good. Is the San Diego originally a ZTE made phone?

Do we know if the ZTE Mimosa X or ZTE Era will appear as Orange branded phones at some point?

[Guest i am not a hacker]

Orange San Diego is made by Gigabyte.

I doubt the mimosa x will be an orange branded phone

[Guest FrankieADZ]

the speaker issue has been fixed via a firmware release. also here in the UK...Huawei UK have said that its getting a Full ICS release...not the reported demo version.

[Guest timmie897]

I also had an unresponsive touchscreen from time to time, but recently I replaced the digitiser and everything is working fine again. :)

[Guest Shahmatt]

Looking at the activity over at the G300 forum, it looks as though the successor to the OSF has been named!

I just worry about the relatively low resolution screen on it.

[Guest Davidoff59]

Shahmatt, have you actually had a look at a g300 screen or did you just read the specs?

[Guest jeddy1]

Looking at the activity over at the G300 forum, it looks as though the successor to the OSF has been named!

I just worry about the relatively low resolution screen on it.

a phone for £100 and you want high resolution screen??

ho give £380 for a huawei ascend D quad xl ;)

[Guest RussellS]

I've gone from the OSF to the Huawei G300 and I can definitely say that, in my opinion, it is the new San Francisco. I was always happy with the OSF and thought the screen was good but holding the two side by side the G300 is far superior in brightness and clarity.I have not looked at it and ever thought "I wish it was a bit higher resolution". I was so impressed with the G300 that I have now bought another one for my wife to replace her HTC Wildfire. Also, with the promised ICS update coming in the summer everything is quite rosy.

With respect to the Orange San Diego, I don't think that can really be compared to or classed as the new San Francisco as it is in a completely different price bracket being twice the price.

[Guest Shahmatt]

Well I like to judge display through pixel density. The OSF pixel density is greater than the G300. So obviously I am less impressed.

On the other hand the G300 seems to compensate in other ways.

Incidentally, does your OSF have an OLED or TFT screen?

[Guest jeddy1]

I am planning to upgrade also and i am thinking to get the Galaxy nexus or Huawei d quad xl (will be released in the next 3 months)

So the question is : Should i wait for Huawei or should i get the Galaxy nexus ??

The only thing i dont like on the Nexus is It doesn't support sdcard slot ..

[Guest RussellS]

Well I like to judge display through pixel density. The OSF pixel density is greater than the G300. So obviously I am less impressed.

On the other hand the G300 seems to compensate in other ways.

Incidentally, does your OSF have an OLED or TFT screen?

My OSF is a TFT screen.

I am just looking at google maps on both phones side by side with both on full brightness and I cannot see any discernible reduction in pixel density on the G300. Obviously, technically there is by virtue of the fact that you have the same resolution on a larger screen, but it really isn't noticeable. The larger screen really does make the phone more usable even though it is only slightly larger.

All in all, I still think the OSF is a good phone but I really think is has now been superseded by the G300 at the £100 price point.

[Guest Shahmatt]

My OSF is a TFT screen.

I am just looking at google maps on both phones side by side with both on full brightness and I cannot see any discernible reduction in pixel density on the G300. Obviously, technically there is by virtue of the fact that you have the same resolution on a larger screen, but it really isn't noticeable. The larger screen really does make the phone more usable even though it is only slightly larger.

All in all, I still think the OSF is a good phone but I really think is has now been superseded by the G300 at the £100 price point.

Alright, G300 it is then. Excellent excellent!

[Guest tcpaulh]

Got a G300 on it's way from very.co.uk for <£70 after using discount code 23EPW (from a magazine originally) and quidco. Had to sign up for a credit account to get the £30 discount but was able to pay by credit card.

Will probably give my SanFran to my daughter. No doubt I'll be back from time to time. Great community here in the blade forum. Hope some of you guys will come on over to the g300 forum ;-)