A Few Issues

[JC10380]

Let me just say this. I have been lurking around here for months, but this is my first post. I have researched these phones ad-nauseum. I know all the specs and such, just looking for some real world advice.

This is my first Android phone, and first smartphone of any kind. I had decided on the Droid 2, went into the store and decided to get the SF. I have gotten used to the touchscreen keyboard which I thought would be my biggest problem.

First thing, the call quality. I hate the back feed I get into my ear as I'm speaking on this phone. I know it's a known issue, but it's a phone, you think they would have got that right.

Second thing, Wireless and GPS issues. This phone will not stay connected to a wireless network. It loses the network after the phone goes to stand-by mode. GPS takes a while to connect, which I know is an issue.

Third thing, the size of the phone. I have a Verizon silicone case, and it makes it slightly larger, but not that much. Like I said above, this is my first smartphone, and I have had small flip phones forever. I am having a hard time getting used to this thing. It fits in my pocket, but is definitely noticeable. I'm a firefighter and I realize these phones are not meant to be rugged, but I need it to stand up to a little abuse. I am constantly worried about bumping into something and cracking the screen while it's in my pocket around the station.

Do I return this phone and get the Incredible due to it's size. I know it has battery issues, but I can get 2 days out of the Fascinate. Will I be able to get a day out of the Incredible? Is the keyboard much smaller on the Incredible, will I have trouble typing or swyping?

Just looking for some guidance here.

 

[KH29]

I have the silicone case and have jobs that are physically intensive as well. So I decided to purchase this case: Dickies Tool Bag Horizontal Cell Phone Carrying Case 09710V1 - Samsung Fascinate Cases & Holsters, Samsung SCH-i500

Received it the other day and it works great, plus the phone fits in it with the silicone case for added protection. It has a belt loop or you can purchase a metal clip separately. Like you this is my first smart phone and all previous phones were considerably smaller, so this worked well. I don't know about the Incredible though, can't comment on that.

 

[Chris3D]

Just looking for some guidance here.

The feedback issue is something that's set in the OS (it's called sidetone), so it's a safe bet that it *could* be adjusted. Whether or not anyone at Samsung or Verizon think it's an issue is another story. People have discovered where it's set in the OS, but no one has yet managed to figure out how to change it.

Hopefully it'll be toned down a bit when the 2.2 upgrade lands. This is one of the primary reasons I returned my phone - I found it so annoying, I wasn't willing to live with the phone for 2 years if it wasn't addressed in the update (which was going to land well after my 30 day return window).

Wireless turns off on purpose when the phone goes into standby to conserve battery life. You can change this in the settings, I believe it's in the wifi settings page, hit one of the captive buttons to bring up the menu at the bottom and go into advanced settings. It's under the wifi sleep policy.

GPS is an issue, no one denies it, and it's presumably being addressed in the 2.2 update.

Size, I hear 'ya. For me, the phone was at the very edge of what I would consider an acceptable size, and the 1/8 inch thick Verizon supplied silicon case didn't help. I ordered a thinner case for mine, but ended up returning the phone before I got it. The screen size is nice, and I think with one of the thinner cases, it'd be fine... still big, but acceptable.

So, of your concerns:

GPS will be fixed.
Wifi can be configured to be always-on.
Sidetone is anyone's guess.
A thinner case would help the size issue.

Don't know how much longer you have until the 30 day return policy expires, but the 2.2 update should be arriving fairly soon. If 2.2 fixes most of the stuff, I plan to buy another Fascinate. If not, I'm undecided. To me, the Incredible is the perfect size, but reports often claim it gets worse signal strength and worse battery life than the Fascinate, both of which were really, really bad on my Fascinate, so a phone where those things are even worse is simply not an option.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[andonakis]

Call quality is my only reason I may be switching tomorrow for the moto x. I can't take it anymore and its driving me crazing.