How does Captivate compare to iphone

[know1]

You are right the GPS issue is not just your problem. However, there is a quick fix already posted even before you posted that it was a "problem" for you. Just take the 5 minutes to fix it and I wouldn't complain. What 5 minute fix does the Iphone 4 antenna issue have? (OHHH - cheap shot by me) Link below for the GPS fix:

http://www.androidcentral.com/quick-fix-gps-issues-your-new-samsung-galaxy-s-series-phone

Lag -- I don't know what you are talking about. It is SUPER fast.

Screen -- Iphone 4 pixels are better ... you can't see them as advertised ... galaxy S you can (if you have your eye an inch away from the screen -- I don't use it like that) I personally think the colors and vibrancy of the galaxy is better (maybe preference) ... and it is BIGGER (but not too big - Droid X).

3G -- ok, valid ... but I don't think I need that feature ... plus, I am sure this is not the "phone" so a future update or Rom might take care of it ... keep in mind this is potentially a two year purchase.

Battery -- ok ... but I think you are comparing an older Iphone to it ... and keep in mind the bigger screen. Galaxy S probably has shorter battery time (too lazy and don't care to do a huge test) ... but I think the Galaxy S battery is sufficient. I have not run out yet (in a day -- charge it every night by my bed).

My gripes ... I don't like the capacitive buttons (yet at least). I am also a former Blackberry user. I don't like how the lights of the buttons go away so fast ... and often I have to push twice, or I accidentaly push the wrong button, or there is lag (the ONLY place I have seen lag) ... maybe just make the screen bigger and make these fixed buttons on the screen (I never have problems with any lag on the buttons on the screen). The light issue should be an easy fix with a software update (I hope!) - maybe responsiveness too.

Also a technical gripe ... I can't get "PC Internet" to work when the phone is connected to WiFi -- oh YEAH ... this is a comparison to Iphone ... which can't do tether out of the box anyways ... nevermind (still a gripe though -- SOFTWARE UPDATE for that please!)

BIG Gripe -- the Samsung computer software for the Galaxy (Kies) ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are HUGE BUGS for it, especially with Windows 7. VERY unprofessional software. That being said -- keep in mind that you don't HAVE to have it ... the phone still connects and I have been able to do everything without the software ... but it definately has some huge issues to resolve. This is by far the BIGGEST and most RIDICULOUS problem ... but not the one that I would change first ... I would change the capacitive buttons first because this causes me the most real trouble on the most frequent basis (not THAT often).

Something else different (not a gripe) ... but the WEIGHT! SO DIFFERENT! The Iphone 4 feels like it is solid metal because it is SO HEAVY ... WHAT did they PUT IN THERE! Up to your preference -- to me, Iphone 4 (weight wise only considered) feels like a sexy tank while the galaxy feels like a sexy "carbon fiber" race-car -- it is MUCH lighter. I thought the battery was missing or something.

ALL of that being said -- I am definately a Galaxy S guy.

GPS - I've tried that fix multiple times along with a dozen or so other things I've seen on this and other forums. That fix doesn't really work. It may make a slight improvement, but using the wireless networks only to pinpoint a location a half mile off isn't GPS. Plenty of other people are saying the same thing.

Battery - this thread was a comparison. When comparing the two, the battery on the Captivate is worse.

3G - you may not think it's an issue for you, but it's not just a battery thing. I've been places where a call couldn't be made using 3G - even though 3g was available there - likely do to network overuse. Flip the phone to Edge - no problem making a call. It's a bigger issue than you realize.

 

[Joeybear23]

Really it comes down to personal preference.

If you want something that will do everything it claims, right out of the box, no customization required, then go iPhone.

If you want something that is a little less refined but is almost limitless in its capabilities for customization, then go Captivate.

My wife has the iPhone 4, I have the Captivate.

No point in arguing one way or the other.

 

[stepchild]

Well I got the phone and it's going to take awhile to understand and set it up. But I think the screen is beautiful.

I got one of my email accounts setup and it's working. sign in to Google account and got calendar events and contacts. Only contacts doesn't show groups. Not sure why not, but hopefully will learn.

So far I'm enjoying playing with it.

 

[prim8]

GPS - I've tried that fix multiple times along with a dozen or so other things I've seen on this and other forums. That fix doesn't really work. It may make a slight improvement, but using the wireless networks only to pinpoint a location a half mile off isn't GPS. Plenty of other people are saying the same thing.

Maybe you did something wrong? The fix worked fine for me right away. I haven't had a problem with it since.

Battery - this thread was a comparison. When comparing the two, the battery on the Captivate is worse.

I don't have any experience with the Iphone 4 but the captivate under what I would call heavy usage has lasted better than my 3GS did under the same uses.

3G - you may not think it's an issue for you, but it's not just a battery thing. I've been places where a call couldn't be made using 3G - even though 3g was available there - likely do to network overuse. Flip the phone to Edge - no problem making a call. It's a bigger issue than you realize.

If it's network overuse then the Iphones would have the same issue right? Presumably worse since their chipset and baseband are considered low end by most standards.

 

[Simba501]

GPS - I've tried that fix multiple times along with a dozen or so other things I've seen on this and other forums. That fix doesn't really work. It may make a slight improvement, but using the wireless networks only to pinpoint a location a half mile off isn't GPS. Plenty of other people are saying the same thing.

One fix won't work for every device. I was in the same boat, as I had tried many different sets of settings. I finally found one and now my gps is performing like a champ (previously wouldn't even lock on, only provided general network location). It's going to take patience and experimentation. Xda developers has a multitude of possible settings, I'd start there. Granted, nobody should have to do that (play around to fix gps), but I'm satisfied that it can be remedied.

 

[gspeed]

Well I got the phone and it's going to take awhile to understand and set it up. But I think the screen is beautiful.

I got one of my email accounts setup and it's working. sign in to Google account and got calendar events and contacts. Only contacts doesn't show groups. Not sure why not, but hopefully will learn.

So far I'm enjoying playing with it.

Congrats and welcome to the world of Android.

The contacts not showing groups is a known issue and we will find a solution soon to remedy this issue.

http://forum.androidcentral.com/t-captivate/24446-google-contacts-syncs-all-contacts.html

 

[gspeed]

Really it comes down to personal preference.

If you want something that will do everything it claims, right out of the box, no customization required, then go iPhone.

If you want something that is a little less refined but is almost limitless in its capabilities for customization, then go Captivate.

My wife has the iPhone 4, I have the Captivate.

No point in arguing one way or the other.

is it fair for me to say that the iphone4 is like a smartphone with training wheels?

 

[Simba501]

is it fair for me to say that the iphone4 is like a smartphone with training wheels?

Yes...I think that statement is dead on.

 

[stepchild]

Congrats and welcome to the world of Android.

The contacts not showing groups is a known issue and we will find a solution soon to remedy this issue.

http://forum.androidcentral.com/t-captivate/24446-google-contacts-syncs-all-contacts.html

Thanks and I look forward to the fix.

I agree with your statement on training wheels, as this is a little more difficult to figure out. I getting there, I hope, and enjoying the trip.

 

[l1ghtn1ng]

I returned my iPhone 4 and got the Captivate. I don't really see one phone being better then the other just different. I miss a lot of stuff from my iPhone 4, the build quality was top notch, the app store was so much easier to use and all apps just work better in my opinion, then finally I miss iTunes.

But I do like the Captivate and I won't be returning it, I have faith that within the next 4- 6 months many of those problems will be fixed. Also it's pretty cool being able to customize my home screens. When I power up my phone and unlock it I know it's my phone, I see what I need to see and know what I need to know.

Anyways both phones are great, where one phone fails the other succeeds and vice versa

 

[stepchild]

I returned my iPhone 4 and got the Captivate. I don't really see one phone being better then the other just different. I miss a lot of stuff from my iPhone 4, the build quality was top notch, the app store was so much easier to use and all apps just work better in my opinion, then finally I miss iTunes.

But I do like the Captivate and I won't be returning it, I have faith that within the next 4- 6 months many of those problems will be fixed. Also it's pretty cool being able to customize my home screens. When I power up my phone and unlock it I know it's my phone, I see what I need to see and know what I need to know.

Anyways both phones are great, where one phone fails the other succeeds and vice versa

I agree both phones are great in their own way. I also love the way you can customize the Captivate.

Right now it doesn't seem the apps compare to iphone apps. I have been trying different twitter apps and none are as good. But hopefully they will get there.

I still have my iphone and will keep it. But I will probably keep the Captivate also. They are on separate lines. So I am using both.

 

[know1]

Maybe you did something wrong? The fix worked fine for me right away. I haven't had a problem with it since.


I don't have any experience with the Iphone 4 but the captivate under what I would call heavy usage has lasted better than my 3GS did under the same uses.

If it's network overuse then the Iphones would have the same issue right? Presumably worse since their chipset and baseband are considered low end by most standards.

The other reason not being able to turn off 3G is a bigger deal than you think is that I live in an area that is right on the edge of 3G coverage. Therefore, when at home, it constantly switches back and forth between networks and burns battery doing that.

 

[malicenfz]

That is one feature that the iphone has thats better than the captivate, the ability to switch from EDGE to 3G

 

[BoBoCaptivate]

Hope you can get it to work

GPS - I've tried that fix multiple times along with a dozen or so other things I've seen on this and other forums. That fix doesn't really work. It may make a slight improvement, but using the wireless networks only to pinpoint a location a half mile off isn't GPS. Plenty of other people are saying the same thing.

Battery - this thread was a comparison. When comparing the two, the battery on the Captivate is worse.

3G - you may not think it's an issue for you, but it's not just a battery thing. I've been places where a call couldn't be made using 3G - even though 3g was available there - likely do to network overuse. Flip the phone to Edge - no problem making a call. It's a bigger issue than you realize.

I wanted to acknowledge your post on my reply. It is too bad your GPS does not work. The fix worked for me. I hope you get it to work.

Battery -- I agree with you that the battery does not last as long as the Iphone 4 and that you were doing a "comparison". I was just disagreeing with the "straight" comparison. It is kind of (not exactly) like comparing gas mileage of a sports car (Galaxy) with a luxury sedan (Iphone) -- maybe two different sports cars is a better analogy. Different engines and body weight will get you different gas mileage. Yes, they are both relatively close smart phones but the bigger screen will definately affect the battery life -- anyone should be kind of expecting that. But again -- I agree with you on your "facts". I just think they are tiny bit twisted in a way.

I can see how the 3G thing is a concern. However, it hasn't ever been an issue "for me". Obviously, this will be on a by-user basis. This can hopefully be fixed with a software update.