Who cares about 4G if the apps don't work?

[jayheartxo]

Thank you, thank you.

In all seriousness though, that was a legit question. Granted the odds of you using it were slim, I just know that earlier today it was supposed to have been released for Android, being that it was previously iPhone exclusive. I was curious about how it was carrying over.

 

[bnsteele5]

Grindr not working just right on Android?

LMAO

 

[jayheartxo]

D: Don't laugh.

 

[Nitros7]

I just downloaded the "release" version of an Android app that used to be iPhone-only. It doesn't work on my Incredible. I read a bunch of the reviews on the Android market, and I found two or three models where everyone's happy (the EVO 4G was one of them). On all the other phones, the app is either a partial fail or a total fail.

This really says something to me about the Android platform: App developers need to test on a huge array of models, and write specific code to take into account all the subtle--and not so subtle--differences between each one. The iPhone doesn't have this problem. You build an app for the iPhone, and you can be pretty sure it's going to work on any recent model because there are tight standards and you only need to support one UI.

I think this lack of consistency and standardization between Android phones discourages developers and harms both the quality and availability of apps. I'm now on Day 13 of my new Droid Incredible, and my number-one disappointment so far is that popular iPhone apps I was expecting to find haven't been ported to the Android yet (and in some cases, never will be). Also, many of the apps that have been ported just don't work very well or are only available on certain Android phones. I was particularly surprised to find out that I can't even take a screen capture on my phone without rooting it first. Really? I'm also not thrilled with any of the browsers I've tried so far, and I'm disappointed that there is no Android version of Scrabble.

So, my initial excitement for Android is waning. I think even if the TBolt actually hit the market tomorrow, I'd still stick with my one-year contract on the Incredible. Maybe in a year, things will look better. If not, I might end up with an iPhone 5.

Yup but what you going to do, buy a rehashed phone have fun with your 2 year old tech.

 

[danthman]

Yup but what you going to do, buy a rehashed phone have fun with your 2 year old tech.

Well, in terms of hardware, the iPhone is honestly pretty impressive IMO (or are you referring to my Incredible)? I think Android has an advantage in terms of giving tech savvy users endless opportunities to customize and tweak the UI, but there is a downside to this flexibility. That's all I'm saying.

 

[danthman]

Thank you, thank you.

In all seriousness though, that was a legit question. Granted the odds of you using it were slim, I just know that earlier today it was supposed to have been released for Android, being that it was previously iPhone exclusive. I was curious about how it was carrying over.

Note that I didn't say you were wrong

 

[jayheartxo]

Ho ho! The plot thickens. . . I suppose this is the part where my journalistic nature takes hold and I dig deeper.

Then I remember that I don't have a journalistic nature.

 

[danthman]

Ho ho! The plot thickens. . . I suppose this is the part where my journalistic nature takes hold and I dig deeper.

Then I remember that I don't have a journalistic nature.

Well, some usernames give away more information than others

 

[jayheartxo]

I feel as though we've gotten off topic somewhere.

I'm excited to see how this Thunderbolt and the 4G/LTE speeds combine with a wonderful OS to tackle what have previously been Apple exclusive apps.

Of course, I'm using a Samsung Rogue at the moment and have 0 experience with the Android OS outside of playing with some of my friends phones. Needless to say I've been jealous for a few years now.

 

[danthman]

I'm sure I'll be jealous of the TBolt when it finally debuts, but even the lowly Incredible is a *giant* improvement over my LG Dare (which I assume is in the same category as the Rogue). So, you won't be disappointed. To be honest, I know very few Android or iPhone users who aren't happy with their phone. Both do very cool things.

 

[jayheartxo]

I loved the Incredible when it first came out, I thought the design was brilliant and the hardware inside the device phenomenal. The only problem I had with it was the screen size. For a full touchscreen device I definitely want a lot more real estate in the screen department. Then the Droid X drops and my heart was won.

Now that 4.3" seems to be the standard, I'm in heaven. I think I might be holding out for the Samsung Stealth or the Bionic though. The LG 4G/LTE flagship isn't even on my radar. I was in love with them up until the last couple of months with my LG Chocolate, and that was a nightmare. Never again! The rogue replaced that device, and it's been a workhorse of a phone, never once breaking down on me.

Something about the design of the Thunderbolt is just off putting to me, at least in pictures. I can't wait to see them all in the store and play with them. :3 I think I'll go through and put Grindr on each and every one.

 

[danthman]

I loved the Incredible when it first came out, I thought the design was brilliant and the hardware inside the device phenomenal. The only problem I had with it was the screen size. For a full touchscreen device I definitely want a lot more real estate in the screen department. Then the Droid X drops and my heart was won.

The tradeoff, though, is bulk. I really do love the overall size and weight of the Incredible. A couple friends of mine have EVOs, and those things just seem huge to me. I'm sure a 4.3" screen would make touching certain targets on the screen easier, but I'm not sure there would be much advantage in seeing things on the screen since the resolution is the same.

Now that 4.3" seems to be the standard, I'm in heaven. I think I might be holding out for the Samsung Stealth or the Bionic though. The LG 4G/LTE flagship isn't even on my radar. I was in love with them up until the last couple of months with my LG Chocolate, and that was a nightmare. Never again! The rogue replaced that device, and it's been a workhorse of a phone, never once breaking down on me.

The reason I got an Incredible instead of waiting for the TBolt is that my LG Dare died. It was over two years old, but the battery was still in pretty good shape, so I thought it would last me as long as I needed. Nope. One day I go to make a call and it says "Service Required". The Verizon tech said it was done.

Something about the design of the Thunderbolt is just off putting to me, at least in pictures. I can't wait to see them all in the store and play with them. :3 I think I'll go through and put Grindr on each and every one.

Haha, I bet the Verizon employees will love you. From pictures, I really like the look of the TBolt, but as I said, it's gonna seem kinda big.

 

[jayheartxo]

I can't wait! I love phones with a good heft to them. I have an iPod touch, and typing anything on there is kinda sucky. Not terrible, but not an enjoyable experience either. I spend more time hitting the backspace key than anything else, and that's not cool with me. Mhmmmm. 4.3" with a slide out keyboard. I bet that'd be the heftiest damn cell phone since they first came out and batteries were the size of briefcases.

That sucks about your Dare. You should have begged for a replacement to hold you over til the new ones got in, but I guess as long as you ended up happy in the end. The summer before the fall when I got the Rogue my chocolate was getting replaced every other week.

I bet they will too. I can only imagine that injecting a little levity into their days will make life infinitely more enjoyable. Nothing says 'good time' like the #1 homosexual stalker app. You think they'll pose for pictures?

 

[danthman]

I can't wait! I love phones with a good heft to them. I have an iPod touch, and typing anything on there is kinda sucky. Not terrible, but not an enjoyable experience either. I spend more time hitting the backspace key than anything else, and that's not cool with me. Mhmmmm. 4.3" with a slide out keyboard. I bet that'd be the heftiest damn cell phone since they first came out and batteries were the size of briefcases.

That sucks about your Dare. You should have begged for a replacement to hold you over til the new ones got in, but I guess as long as you ended up happy in the end. The summer before the fall when I got the Rogue my chocolate was getting replaced every other week.

I bet they will too. I can only imagine that injecting a little levity into their days will make life infinitely more enjoyable. Nothing says 'good time' like the #1 homosexual stalker app. You think they'll pose for pictures?

They tried to sell me a pay-as-you-go phone...but by then, the TBolt had already been delayed a couple times from rumored release dates, and I didn't want to have a no-feature phone for "who knows how long", so I got the Dinc. I did go with just a one-year contract, though, so I won't be stuck with it forever if I start to get the itch for a bigger, badder phone.

-----

Good luck with that

 

[jayheartxo]

I don't need luck. If all else fails I'll just use my picture on all of them and flood the local Grindr scene for a little while.

Nice call on the 1 year contract. Did you get the NE2 discount or does that only count if you do a two year contract? And if that's the case does your NE2 still exist somewhere?

I have to say I'm a little jealous. I want an Android device.

 

[TreyDaPrince]

D: Don't laugh.

You're right, it's not funny and shouldn't be tolerated. I do no want to see comments like that again. It's very insinuating.

Sent from my INCredible phone

 

[danthman]

I don't need luck. If all else fails I'll just use my picture on all of them and flood the local Grindr scene for a little while.

Nice call on the 1 year contract. Did you get the NE2 discount or does that only count if you do a two year contract? And if that's the case does your NE2 still exist somewhere?

I have to say I'm a little jealous. I want an Android device.

You will be everywhere!

From what I understand, whenever you sign up for a new contract, you get a subsidized phone. If you get a one-year contract, it costs $70 more than if you get a two year contract. So, I payed $99 + $70 + tax. I think "New Every 2" is really just a slogan.

 

[jayheartxo]

Yes. I imagine I'll be famous in a place where fame isn't necessarily a good thing in no time. I digress, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Well, yea. The "New every two" is a slogan, but it's seemed to be a pretty literal one. I don't know, I've never really gotten an early upgrade or anything, but I suppose it does make sense. Although, I suppose in the end it really doesn't matter since it's going away once the people that are still entitled use them up. Hmmmm.

Hopefully VZW doesn't have this same mess in a year and you'll be able to upgrade in a timely manner from your INC.

 

[jayheartxo]

Side note: I just grabbed my phone to check something on my iPod touch. I'll be glad when the utilities of both will be housed in one device and I'll never have those moments again.

 

[danthman]

Yes. I imagine I'll be famous in a place where fame isn't necessarily a good thing in no time. I digress, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Well, yea. The "New every two" is a slogan, but it's seemed to be a pretty literal one. I don't know, I've never really gotten an early upgrade or anything, but I suppose it does make sense. Although, I suppose in the end it really doesn't matter since it's going away once the people that are still entitled use them up. Hmmmm.

Hopefully VZW doesn't have this same mess in a year and you'll be able to upgrade in a timely manner from your INC.

Now that I think about it, maybe New Every 2 is an *additional* discount on top of the regular discount you get for starting a new contract. I dunno. They said they checked for discounts and $99 was the price.

Hope you're right.