Due to delays in the n900 and the lack of software both in this and the Palm Pre application catalog I decided to purchase a HTC Hero.
There was some hesitation wondering if I could easily transfer my original HTC Magic software over where kind soles on Twitter indicated this should be easy.
I opted to get the sim free version from carphone warehouse. Setting the phone up took a couple of hours as I had over 100 applications to reinstall. Thankfully from entering my Google credentials the app market recognised what I had purchased and allowed me to download and reinstall the apps again.
Overall I am happy with the phone and find it a lot more responsive than the magic. This is no doubt helped by the additional RAM available for the Hero.
The other difference is the application installation space is smaller than the magic.
However the changes that HTC have done to Android including built-in exchange support and the sense UI make this one hell of a phone. Also the multi touch on the browser is great and really should be standard on Google Android now
Whilst ota updates are not supported yet, the current rom seems stable and it is good to see what Android can do when you give Android some track with which to accelerate by not being restricted by Google.
Long term there is potential but the snap dragon based Android phones are looking more appealing over the pre and n900.
Compared to the Hero these will certainly have some catching up and overtaking to do now the Hero has set the pace on that track.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Back to the Future - O2 Part II
As part of the excessive usage on unlimited web for O2 in addition to the text warning you get a letter. The letter was from the Credit and Risk department. I called them up to try and find out some more information and whilst it was a pleasant conversation the information again was conflicting to what I was told the previous week.
On this occasion I was told the make of phone was irrelevant and the fact that I was using my HTC Magic instead of the E75 I got on my new contract. The issue was still the amount of data that I had downloaded. If you can recall it had been 6gb the previous month where there was no issue. This month it was 1gb and this is what had triggered the cease and desist text and letter.
During my conversation I said I liked to manage my bill so I am not over using my allocated allowances. Bearing in mind the Internet is defined as unlimited web with an excessive policy where you cannot tether the phone to a PC, use VOIP or stream video/audio and download via P2P.
Before moving to unlimited web when I got a simplicity SIM I asked about download podcasts and was told it was okay to do this. Again I was encouraged to use the service even though I said I do use it a lot. Then, before I signed up for another 18 month contract to get the E75 I had the same conversation again and the answers were the same.
However, I am now being told that my downloading podcasts to listen at another constitutes streaming but they were not prepared to argue the technical differences between downloading and streaming. As you know streaming is either listening or watching a live broadcast. Whereas what I was doing was no different than downloading a file and using it a later date.
Also in the previous week I was told they had no high usage packages available where unlimited web was the highest they did. However now, they had 3gb for £15 and 10gb for £30.
Whilst I have changed my habits quite easily to reduce the load on their network from my usage by using other mobile broadband packages I have. For example I have just purchased a 3 Mifi with 5gb at £15 of which proves in itself O2 are not competitive.
I am of the opinion O2 need to wake up and realise they are selling smart phones of which can fully function and replace a PC. The Iphone, the Pre and many Nokias can do a lot more than the feature phones they are also selling. The customer care were surprised that I had managed 6gb on a phone without tethering and didn't appreciate what you can actually do on a phone.
Its a real shame as a network they have very good smart phones but neither understand what they are capable of, restrict what one can do with them on their network and then don't appreciate and really understand the technologies available. Since when did download an audio file to listened to a later date constitute streaming?
It makes me wonder if their network can actually cope with the influx of smart phones and as more people demand to be online all of the time.
When I hear podcasts (not streamed) of the USA where the networks either have all you can eat tariffs or you pay for 5gb and you can actually use this for video and audio streaming as long as you don't go over your allowance. I sometimes wonder if we in the UK are actually ahead of the pack or merely following.
For the interim I will abstain and not over use my allocation on the network as I do need access to the Internet. Its not that much of a problem as I used to do this before I moved onto web unlimited. But it really feels like a step back in time.
The day they offer a proper grown up tariff that is an all you can eat is when I will bite their hands off for it. However, as soon as my contract is up I will be shopping around for a sim only deal. I really only need data on my tariff because calls and sms can all be done over data. I also cannot wait for Google Voice to come to the UK.
But until this time comes I will wait to see if anything changes....
On this occasion I was told the make of phone was irrelevant and the fact that I was using my HTC Magic instead of the E75 I got on my new contract. The issue was still the amount of data that I had downloaded. If you can recall it had been 6gb the previous month where there was no issue. This month it was 1gb and this is what had triggered the cease and desist text and letter.
During my conversation I said I liked to manage my bill so I am not over using my allocated allowances. Bearing in mind the Internet is defined as unlimited web with an excessive policy where you cannot tether the phone to a PC, use VOIP or stream video/audio and download via P2P.
Before moving to unlimited web when I got a simplicity SIM I asked about download podcasts and was told it was okay to do this. Again I was encouraged to use the service even though I said I do use it a lot. Then, before I signed up for another 18 month contract to get the E75 I had the same conversation again and the answers were the same.
However, I am now being told that my downloading podcasts to listen at another constitutes streaming but they were not prepared to argue the technical differences between downloading and streaming. As you know streaming is either listening or watching a live broadcast. Whereas what I was doing was no different than downloading a file and using it a later date.
Also in the previous week I was told they had no high usage packages available where unlimited web was the highest they did. However now, they had 3gb for £15 and 10gb for £30.
Whilst I have changed my habits quite easily to reduce the load on their network from my usage by using other mobile broadband packages I have. For example I have just purchased a 3 Mifi with 5gb at £15 of which proves in itself O2 are not competitive.
I am of the opinion O2 need to wake up and realise they are selling smart phones of which can fully function and replace a PC. The Iphone, the Pre and many Nokias can do a lot more than the feature phones they are also selling. The customer care were surprised that I had managed 6gb on a phone without tethering and didn't appreciate what you can actually do on a phone.
Its a real shame as a network they have very good smart phones but neither understand what they are capable of, restrict what one can do with them on their network and then don't appreciate and really understand the technologies available. Since when did download an audio file to listened to a later date constitute streaming?
It makes me wonder if their network can actually cope with the influx of smart phones and as more people demand to be online all of the time.
When I hear podcasts (not streamed) of the USA where the networks either have all you can eat tariffs or you pay for 5gb and you can actually use this for video and audio streaming as long as you don't go over your allowance. I sometimes wonder if we in the UK are actually ahead of the pack or merely following.
For the interim I will abstain and not over use my allocation on the network as I do need access to the Internet. Its not that much of a problem as I used to do this before I moved onto web unlimited. But it really feels like a step back in time.
The day they offer a proper grown up tariff that is an all you can eat is when I will bite their hands off for it. However, as soon as my contract is up I will be shopping around for a sim only deal. I really only need data on my tariff because calls and sms can all be done over data. I also cannot wait for Google Voice to come to the UK.
But until this time comes I will wait to see if anything changes....
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