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Mobile Life

Apple vs Android

Sunday, 18 July 2010 19:02 Tony Evans

I wrote this back in December of 2009 as a note on FaceBook........

 

I'm really geeked up about this new phone from Google (Nexus One (built by HTC)). Reportedly, it will be sold directly from the Google Website starting in January for under $200.

But that's not what this note is about.

I'm tired of writers always calling new innovative smartphones "The IPhone Killer". Tired of people comparing every new phone to the IPhone. LEAVE THE FREAKIN' IPHONE ALONE!

Nothing is going to kill the IPhone. The IPhone is a GREAT product and it is going to appeal to a certain segment of the population. So is every other smartphone. 

I prefer smartphones running the Android OS (operating system). Phones like the Tmobile G1, Sprint Hero, or the Verizon Droid. For my non tech friends, the OS is basically the software that runs the phone and the apps on your phone. All phones have some type of OS. Some popular and some unknown.

To make a quick point (the A.D.D. is kicking in), people don't realize that the OS is the reason that a phone operates the way that it does. So, in reality, you are supporting the development/popularity of that operating system when you buy a particular phone.

Now for the big point:

Like with computers, the OS that will run on the most phones will become the dominate OS. So it will become the most popular OS. The Iphone OS is only licensed to run on 1 phone. Android is licensed to run on any phone that can support the OS. Hell, Google gives it away for free, so it saves manufacturers money on each unit that they make/sell. So, no one phone is an IPhone Killer. The flood of phones running the excellent and free OS (Android) will start to outnumber the phones running Iphone OS. It still won't kill the Iphone, but, it will eventually make it less relevant in the smartphone arena.

Kinda like Windows PC's and Mac PC's.... The IMacs are still great machines. It just won't run your Windows based software. So, if you really need a certain piece of software, you have to roll with the OS that supports it. That's going to be the same thing with your phone. If you need a certain app or apps that won't run on your phone OS, you will need to go with that particular OS that supports what you need. 

That's my reality of this situation! 

OK. I'm ready for the backlash. Apple, Google, and Microsoft fanboys, you now have the floor.....lol

Last Updated on Sunday, 18 July 2010 19:10
 

PrePaid Phone Tutorial

Sunday, 18 July 2010 18:16 Tony Evans

 

This past week, I decided to kick T-Mobile to the curb and get mobile phone service with no contract.

A Pre-paid phone.  *gasp*

It just makes sense! Why sign a contract with a company just to talk, text, surf the web on your phone? The quality is the same. My new prepaid is actually running on the same national network that I fired, but with a different company. I’m getting the same services but for $25 per month less and I was able to keep using my Tricked out Android Smartphone.

Life is GOOD! But, it was not easy! I had to learn some things.....

...things that I’m going to pass on to you. Just in case you decide to save a lot of money and go the same route that I went.
Regular Plans vs Prepaid Plans

Most people like regular plans because they get cool phones for not much money. The company eats the retail cost of the phone and ties you into a contract. Remember when AOL gave away free computers if you signed a 2 year contract. SAME THING! They make money on the service. If you cancel before the end of the contract, you pay early termination fees.

Prepaid plans are attractive because you get the service but no contract. You are free to switch carriers anytime you want. Plans are generally cheaper but the catch is that you pay full price for your phone. Phones can be expensive.

CDMA vs GSM vs IDEN

If you hate your carrier (that’s the company that you pay for mobile service) but LOVE your phone (like I love mine) then you are going to want to take your phone to another company. The main thing you will need to know is what type of phone do you have. Different phones run on different networks and those networks are not compatible.  So that phone is going to determine the prepaid  carrier that you can use. Those networks are CDMA (Verizon, Sprint), GSM (ATT. T-Mobile), IDEN (NexTel).

SIM Cards vs Flashing

Ok. CDMA phones can be  “flashed” to work on other CDMA networks. Flashing involves changing key phone settings to allow a phone to “switch” networks. Excellent for allowing high end phones to work on most prepaid carriers.

GSM and IDEN phones use “SIM” cards/chips. Basically, you replace the sim card in your phone with an sim card that has been activated on your new carrier. Your phone is now on the new network.
There is more to tutorial.....stay tuned...

 

Last Updated on Sunday, 18 July 2010 18:42