HTC Desire

[smilodon]

Well through a convoluted route I'm going to be getting one of these next week (stocks permitting). So I'll let you know how I get on.

[T-Bag]

Just had a play with my dad's one that arrived yesterday. Have to say I prefer the hero in a lot of respects. it's easier to hold the hero. The desire is larger and flat which doesn't lend as well to one handed operation. Though the chin doesn't lend itself as well to pockets as this does. Very thin and nice.

Uses the power button on top to switch on the screen rather than a choice on the front of the hero (my old htc phone did this so it's quite natural once you work it out, but was a little confusing the first time I tried to turn it on).
Biggest downfall of the phone is moving away from the microusb B cable to the even smaller usb b form factor used in the likes of the blackberry. I really like use of the standard cable that everyone I know has lying around over a much rarer cable that you'll then have to carry with you.

First impressions, design wise I like the flash and big screen but would prefer the chin of the hero. Dislike the charging port. Processor is faster, like the pinch zoom, but very little difference between android 1.5 and 2.1.

[smilodon]

Well I got my Desire yesterday. I noticed some of the observations T-Bag made about his dads phone. I've already used several versions of Android 2.1 on my Hero so I'm familiar with the OS. It's not a great deal different than the older versions. Just looking at the UI I think they could have called this 1.7 to be honest. I assume there were big changes under the bonnet, hence the move to version 2. The power/sleep button on the top is taking some getting used to as I'm always going for the button locational the Hero. The new USB connector is a pain I agree. However as I understand it this is the new standard that all hardware manufacturers are being asked to adopt, so ironically it's the Hero that has the none standard connector :g: Still means I have to go buy new leads for connecting it to a PC and charging it up in a car.

I'm not sure if faster is the right term for the Desire as things are now instant, so speed doesn't seem to be relevant. I tap or swipe or pinch and whatever is supposed to happen just happens. No lag at all, nothing. Installing apps is now super fast. I'm not using an app killer either as there's no point. In fact as understand it there never was a reason to kill apps as Android manages it's own memory requirements very well.

I got this phone for free but f I had bought this phone to replace a Hero (no I didn't steal it ) I might have wondered where my money went. The Desire isn't a whole lot different than the Hero in any very obvious way. Bit bigger, bit brighter, smoother and faster, with a better Market interface and UI effects.

However what for me at least is the big news, is that the Desire is better than the iPhone. It has all of it's strengths and none of it's weaknesses. The UI is equally as smooth and responsive. There are now 30,000 apps in the Android Market so I'll be well served with my 'Appy Addiction'. In every other way the Desire does what the iPhone does and more. It also does it simpler and without the odd quirks and limitations the iPhone imposes.

Possibly the only area where the iPhone beats the Desire is with games. The iPhone has a built in hard-drive and so can install bigger games with more 3D action. The Android phones are still limited to about 500MB for storage and unless you root them they will not run applications from the SD card. This means games have to be smaller and therefore there are very few 3D games of note on the Android platform.

I'm not knocking the iPhone, but as the benchmark against which everything else is measured it an important day when it is superseded by another procuct. It's a testament to Apple that it took over three years for everyone else to catch up.

[BrotherTobious]

I am a IPhone user and I am now out of contract and this has caught my eye.  But I am wondering how do you think it will stand up to OS 4.0 when they final introduce multi tasking to the Iphone?

[delanvital]

Well I got my Desire yesterday....

Well, that made me wait longer and stick with the Hero, perhaps waiting for the 4,3" 1GHz Evo to arrive in a European version :g:

[delanvital]

I am a IPhone user and I am now out of contract and this has caught my eye.  But I am wondering how do you think it will stand up to OS 4.0 when they final introduce multi tasking to the Iphone?

OS4 doesn't multitask quite as well as Android, still.

ââ,¬Â¢ Multitasking: It's here, finally.  It's handled with a simple task switcher: double click your home  button, and you get a list of running apps. Select, switch, done.  Multitasking is limited to audio streaming, VoIP and GPS apps, as well  as a few other allowances: they can finish specific, important tasks in  the background, for example. As far as non-music/nav/VoIP apps, those  can be suspended in the background, but not left running. (See below.)  Full details here.

Linky

I know they also state this:

Basically, what Apple has done is to solve all the complaining from  users who wanted to do several things at the same time. While this is  not 100% multitasking, in the traditional desktop sense, it's a good  thing. Consumers won't care about full multitasking if it really works  like this. It's all a matter of perception and being able to do what you  want to do, as fast as possible, while keeping the sense of speed and a  long battery life.

But I have a myriad of apps I run in the background. I basically use the phone as I would on a PC.

[BrotherTobious]

Thanks for the info Delen, I think the only thing holding me back atm is not actualy using the unit and my car stero system is set up for the Iphone

[T-Bag]

Use an iPod in your car, and your new HTC phone as your phone. Or if your stereo has USB you can mount the phone as flash memory and play that way.

The multitasking will be much better, as will the web browsing (Flash support etc). I have a stereo with iPod support but I'd never dream of an iPhone, just leave an old 80GB Classic in there instead.

[smilodon]

Yep I also can plug my Hero/Desire into the USB port on my car stereo. I also bought all my mp3 music from Amazon which is DRM free so I can simply drag and drop it onto the SD card in my phone and it plays fine. I'm not sure how easy it will be to move iPhone music onto an SD card?

[BrotherTobious]

It more that the headunit I got is already set up and is nicely all wired in etc.  And I do have access to USB etc but it wont be as good.

But it a choice I think it will really come down to when I have a play.  But thanks for the advice gents I will have to think on.

[Gandalf]

Well, mine has arrived

Looking fantastic so far and the speed! wow, so much more responsive than the hero, even with the custom rom!

Screensize is a lot nicer too, far more useable and the higher res makes web browsing a lot nicer.

[T-Bag]

Well, mine has arrived

Looking fantastic so far and the speed! wow, so much more responsive than the hero, even with the custom rom!

Screensize is a lot nicer too, far more useable and the higher res makes web browsing a lot nicer.

How are you getting to grips with the lack of "Chin" though?

[smilodon]

No more dropping my phone face down on the table that's for sure. However someone said to me today "Oh you got a iPhone I see?"

Now I feel all dirty :sideways:

[Gandalf]

How are you getting to grips with the lack of "Chin" though?

It's great, no problems at all. I've got a noreve leather case with it too so it's fully protected and really nice to hold

[smilodon]

it's fully protected and really nice to hold

That's what my girlfriend said about mine last night.