Only last week I had tweeted about how I really wanted to try out an Android handset to do a compare and contrast against the iPhone. I usually change my phone on a yearly basis, and my iPhone 3G is nearing its first birthday, so trying out an alternative is a great way for me to discover if I should stick with Apple or not.

Before I got my iPhone a year ago I had always been a huge Nokia fan, what changed my mind was trying out Jen’s iPhone (she’s an avid Apple fan, so of course she had one months before me) as I was simply blown away by the web browsing experience, something that previous Nokia smartphones (running the Symbian operating system) I had owned simply didn’t compare to.

First Impressions of Android

My first impression of the Android operating system is that it has definite similarities to Symbian – it’s highly customisable (like crazy customizable, it’s incredible), it’s more like a desktop environment where you are able to do things like create folders and install widgets, and you can run multiple applications at the same time. It’s also very much unlike Symbian because it runs exceptionally smoothly (at least on the HTC Legend), applications open lightening fast and it’s open source software so there are thousands of apps available for free in the Android market.

The big difference between my iPhone 3G and the HTC Legend is of course the ability to have multiple apps running, and it’s no surprise that yesterday Apple announced the ability to multitask in the next iPhone 3GS update (in fact it’s taken many of the great features of Android and applied them to OS 4), but the differences between Android and the iPhone don’t just end there.

Out of the box the HTC Legend just works. No connecting it to a computer, no software updates needed, no need to go register an account to start downloading new apps. The Android market is awash with amazing free apps that do amazing things – unlike the abundance of novelty junk you find in the iPhone App Store.

This is only my first day using the phone so expect more comparisons to come in a later blog post. Admittedly today I do miss some of my most used iPhone apps – like Tweetie, but I guess I just have to find the right collection of Apps for the HTC Legend to make it perfect for me.

What I have enjoyed about it so far though is the 5megapixel camera – the autofocus, a light flash and ISO settings make a big difference, I also love the radio (that actually works – unlike iPhone FM radio apps like Wunderadio that need a consistent 3G signal to run), and the ease at which you switch between apps – there’s practically no lag on this phone either, it’s so fast and it’s a joy to use. I thought I would dislike the physical keys underneath the touchscreen, after getting so used to just the one on the iPhone, but I actually really like them. The menu, back and search buttons all have corresponding actions within each app, them being there means it frees up a lot of screen space, especially when surfing the net. I am however finding it a little hard getting used to the touchscreen keyboard, but as with anything new I probably just need some practice.

I’m very much looking forward to seeing the outcome of this phone experiment, as I’ll be making myself use the HTC Legend for at least a week to make a truly informed decision about my next phone (it’s possible that I’ll stick with the HTC Legend itself). It’s just a pity I’m having some connectivity issues with Meteor, in the first day alone, three times I’ve had to force disconnection and reconnection of the phone from the network because of a loss of any signal, data or phone. I’m hoping they resolve this issue soon or I might have to unlock the phone and put my O2 sim into it.

However, much to my surprise they’ve removed their “walled garden” (see post) from Internet browsing on all 3 handsets. I’ve tested it and come to the conclusion that it’s not perfect, but it is very useful. Some sites redirect you to a PDA or Mobi version of their site, which is wonderful for legibility. The sites that don’t are squashed into your small screen, Bebo is difficult to navigate but is usable, to a degree. Some sites wont open at all, MySpace is completely inaccessible. Some sites are handset specific, YouTube will open but viewing the streaming video isn’t possible without Macromedia Flash Player, which doesn’t come as standard on most handsets. Overall I’m impressed with being able to type in practically any web address and being able to access it, and it’s reasonably priced.

There is an age verification system in place, for 3pay (pay-as-you-go) customers. You do have to be able to prove you are over 18 to access these features, which is understandable, as I did (for research purposes only of course) access pornography online with total ease. The only other downside (is age verification a downside?) is the fact that it’s not quite X-Series speeds, but it’s certainly not so slow that it will irritate.

In the post on X-Series I also mentioned my interest in getting a Nokia N73, but something else caught my eye. Infact, one genius feature completely won me over and I got a Sony Ericsson W850i. It comes bundled with TrackID, an incredible and extremely user-centered piece of software that records audio from the microphone (or built-in radio), takes a musical fingerprint and then connects to the Internet comparing the fingerprint to the Gracenote database. The software then tells you the artist name and song title, and seeing as it’s on a Three handset, you also have the option to download the song from the 3MusicStore – if it’s available, the Gracenote database has 2.5 million songs fingerprinted, 3MusicStore is only just approaching the 1million mark.

This software is something so wonderfully usable by myself and many others, Jen tried it in the Cinema and it picked up 90% of the songs she queried. I used it to find and download a song (that my brother was obsessed with) that featured in a Scrubs episode. TrackID has turned me from a hardcore Nokia user to a Sony Ericsson lover. The w850i is fantastic, I thought I’d be lost without symbian, but I’ve easily adapted and come to love the SE interface. As a music lover this is definitely the perfect phone for me.

X-Series is a sexy name for access to the “Internet” on your phone, or rather 3s version of the Internet. They have partnered with Skype, Yahoo!, Orb, Sling, Google, Ebay and Windows Live Messenger to bring features of these online services to X-Series compatible handsets. You also have FULL, free web access. There will no longer be a “walled garden” – if you connect to the “Internet” from any 3 handset at the moment, you’re only able to access a selection of mobile sites that are compatible with your phone, but the handsets due to launch on X-Series are highly sophisticated devices.

There is a massive interest in the Nokia N73, due to launch on the network sometime in January, I’ve got my eye on one of these bad boys. This will be the first X-Series handset launched, with the Sony Ericsson W950i following later. While most consumers I’ve spoke to are dying to get their hands on a Nokia handset with a 3.2 mega-pixel camera and Carl Zeiss lens, don’t be under any illusion that this is a “camera phone”, this is a truly portable multimedia and communication device.

With an X-Series handset you can check your e-mail, logon to Windows Live Messenger, make voice calls over Skype (currently limited to other Skype users), bid for items on Ebay and even use Google to search. You also can browse online, check your Myspace profile or your Bebo page. Your profile that you labored over for hours will still look a lot better when viewed on a pc screen though, as the Internet browser from 3 modifies webpages to look “better” on the handsets small screen, in order to improve legibility.

For all these features, you’d expect there to be a massive monthly fee, it makes sense right? Granted you’ll need to take out a 12 month mobile phone contract, as the service isn’t available on 3Pay, but the X-Series subscription is cheap and for a flat-rate monthly fee you have “unlimited bandwidth” (although there IS a fair usage policy, stating that 1gb is sufficient for each user).

In the UK the monthly fee for full services is €15 a month, or you can access services for €8 a month which excludes Orb and Sling only. Orb allows you to connect to your home computer, and Sling allows you to connect to your home television subscription (such as Sky Digital) both via your home broadband connection. These two features are probably the most impressive and yet the least accessible to non-geeks as they require a complicated technical setup (they’ll also drain the battery life out of your handset).

Overall X-Series sounds rather impressive, as the service hasn’t launched in Ireland yet I haven’t had the opportunity to test the above features out. As soon as I get my hands on my very own N73, I’ll post a full usability review. For now, there is a fantastic review of the UK version over on Digital-Lifestlyes.info.

Since my Sony crapped out on me (for no apparent reason – it just WONT play mp3′s anymore) I’ve been on the lookout for the perfect MP3 Player. At first, I was thinking of getting a Nokia N91 – which would combine every single thing that I wanted – Mp3 Player, Radio, 2mega pixel camera phone (the phone part is only slightly important!).

Unfortunately the N91 wont be coming out till sometime next year, and will carry a hefty price tag (probably about €800). I really dont want to be carrying around something that expensive with me every single day. I would be completely crushed if it was stolen or broken accidentally. Besides, my Nokia 6600 is still working, and as much as I crave buying a new phone (working in a phone shop makes me want to buy a better phone all the damm time) I dont really NEED to buy one. An Mp3 player is definitely NEEDED though (what will all the traveling I do!)

So, whats the problem? I hear you say. Well mp3 players are UGLY. Very ugly. The Apple iPod is very pretty, but I sell them, and I wouldnt buy one because I know how often the battery just dies on people (and can only be replaced by sending it away for a couple of weeks – and it will cost you about €100). The warranty is only 1year – so any other problems you have with your iPod, if they happen after 1year you’re screwed (and random things DO happen to iPods all the time). I got my brother a 15GB iPod when they first came out (in April 2003) and the battery is totally destroyed on it. What other electronics item DOES this? Practically speaking if you were going to spend €300/€400 on a new TV, but then you were told it would cost you 100 every 3years to keep it working would you buy it? Of course not.
iPods the Worlds biggest fucking scam. (even the accessories are riiculously priced – an iPod sock?! a SOCK!? €40! It’s a piece of WOOL you morons! stop buying this SHIT!)

What I really want in an MP3 player is something with a sleek look, a usable interface, good ergonomic button design, a radio, and some features of customisability that dont require me to spend money. When you say the words radio and mp3 player in the same sentence most people direct you towards Creative Zen which I agree are reliable products, with the absolutely paramount option of replacing the battery. The only problem with Creative Zen? Again, they’re ugly to the max. Every Zen Ive ever seen has made me recoil with disgust. At least that was until today…

It’s not available to buy over here yet (typical! it just came out 2days ago) but, this will be MINE. Its a beauty. And Ill be taking it in the GREEN please (it comes in white, black, green, blue and ewwww pink). The asking price in the States is $330. Bargain for a 30GB. Features wise its equivalent to the Apple Video iPod (with a longer battery life in video mode, however) except it comes with the usual Creative Zen features too radio, voice-recorder, and replaceable battery. It WILL be mine. Thank you Creative for finally designing something pretty for me.

*update* I was unable to purchase the 30GB (I couldn’t get it anywhere for months), and ended up buying the 8GB Creative Zen Micro Photo, I did get a discount, so I wasn’t too disappointed. I love my new Zen. The software it comes with is god awful though – don’t use it, try Winamp instead.