Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Loomis, Granite Bay - Placer County, California - Real Estate Blog - Souza Realty

Verizon Wireless Android Phones - Samsung Fascinate vs. Droid 2

After a week of experiencing the Samsung (Galaxy S) Epic 4G and Samsung Intercept Android phones on the Sprint Network, we switched back to our iPhones on AT&T because of the increasing number of dropped calls. Anyway, we did love the Android phones...but we will probably be switching to Verizon Wireless after deciding which model we want. Looking at the Android lineup, here are the key differences between the contenders we're considering:

SAMSUNG FASCINATE - $99.99

• Lighter at 4.16 oz.
• Thinner at 0.39 in.
• International 2G data roaming and SMS
• FM radio

One particularly annoying feature about the Samsung Fascinate is that its stock search engine is...Bing. Apparently, you can't even change it to Google, which is a complete surprise for an Android phone! It also doesn't have a slide-out keyboard, which I really enjoyed having on the Samsung Intercept.

DROID 2 - $49.99

• Android 2.2 OS
• Slide-out keyboard
• Longest talk time - 385 min.

The Droid 2 seems to have the edge right now, with its combination of price, Android 2.2 platform, slide-out keyboard and approximately 85 minutes longer talk time. Besides, it doesn't come "stuck" with the Bing search engine like the Samsung Fascinate. Not that I have anything against Bing (which I don't), but I'm just more used to Google. It's all about Google Juice, not Bing Juice!

Anyway, if anyone has a Samsung Fascinate or a Droid 2, I'd appreciate your input! :)

From iPhone to Android Phone - Week One

We've had our Android phones for a week now...Bob has the Samsung (Galaxy S) Epic 4G and I have the satin pink Samsung Intercept. The transition from the iPhone 3G to the Android phones has actually been very smooth and learning how to navigate the Android has been very intuitive and EASY. Here's a basic overview of our iPhone-to-Android experience so far:

• Phone: For me, the smaller size of the Intercept is a WINNER! Bob's Epic 4G is similar in size to the iPhone. It's very cool of the Android to display the photo of the person you're talking to while you're on the phone with them, instead of only when the phone is ringing on the iPhone. Hey, it's the details that count! :)
  
• Display: The Epic 4G is SUPERIOR to the iPhone in every way; the Intercept is noticeably smaller and also not quite as sharp as the iPhone. I'm okay with it because the pink Intercept is just so much PRETTIER than the iPhone. ;)
  
• Keyboard: I am SO loving my slide-out keyboard; Bob likes using the horizontal virtual keyboard.
• Reception: Lincoln and Loomis seem to have better reception with Sprint than AT&T, but Bob did drop a call on Cortina Circle in Roseville. Other than that, they seem about equal.
• Real Estate Apps: Android doesn't have Foreclosure Radar, Redfin or Trulia, but they have Zillow. Not a deal-breaker, but I would like Foreclosure Radar and I already told them. :)
• Other Apps: Craigslist Notification is great! Don't know if it's available on the iPhone, but I found it for the Android. Facebook on the Android is better; Solitaire on the iPhone is better.
  
• Browser: I just started using the Dolphin Browser and I like that all Google-stuff (Gmail, Picasa, Blogger, etc.) is readily available from the "Google" menu...I find it very convenient and like it better than the standard browser!
• Contacts: Android has an AWESOME contacts list!!! Not only is everyone's avatar displayed when you scroll through the contacts, but Android LINKS their Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Google accounts...and each contact has a History, Activities and Media tab!
• Camera: Our Androids have camera (Epic has 5MP and Intercept has 3.2MP) and video capabilities...the iPhone 3G only has a camera. Here are a couple of photos I took:

iPhone 3G - Photo taken with the Samsung Intercept Android Phone

Samsung Intercept Android Phone - Photo taken with an iPhone 3G

We're still on a 30-day trial period with Sprint, but so far, the Androids are keepers...especially when we're saving $80 per month AND getting 1600 minutes with free mobile-to-mobile (any carrier) and nights starting at 7pm vs. AT&T's 1400 minutes with free calls to AT&T mobile phones ONLY and nights starting at 9pm.

Sprint Android Phone - Samsung Epic 4G Review Video

This is a video review of Sprint's Samsung Epic 4G Android phone, which was released for sale on August 31, 2010. The Epic 4G (a Galaxy S phone) is Sprint's latest and greatest powerhouse Android phone and it has the most spectacular display I've ever seen...they call it their "Super AMOLED" screen.

The Samsung Epic 4G was Bob's choice of phone, when we decided to take advantage of the EPRP plan savings by switching over from AT&T. Since Bob has been using an iPhone 3G for the past couple of years, I think it should be somewhat of a smooth transition to an Android. We'll see...we just received our Android phones this afternoon! :)

Sprint 4G Coverage in Roseville, CA - New Android Phones (Samsung Epic 4G, Samsung Intercept)

We visited the Sprint Store in Roseville, California yesterday and...surprise, surprise...their new Samsung Epic 4G (which was just released for sale on August 31, 2010) was on 4G! Huh??? After reading about the 4G coverage areas online, I thought it was only currently available in Stockton, Modesto (and elsewhere) and "in the works" for San Francisco and San Jose. There was no mention of it coming to the Sacramento area, but there it was...4G coverage!

The HTC Evo 4G (pictured above left) has a very large screen and (of course) is a very large phone...with no slide-out keyboard. The Samsung Epic 4G (two of them are pictured above right) has a smaller screen but it's also a smaller phone than the Evo...and it has a slide-out keyboard. One more thing...the Epic 4G's display is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!

Samsung Epic 4G (as compared to my iPhone 3G)

• PROS: Amazing display, slide-out keyboard, swipe keyboard option, voice commands, 16MB Micro SD card included, front-facing camera, flash, video camera, built-in Wi-Fi for up to 5 devices (add'l cost of $30/mo.)
  
• CONS: $249 price tag + $10 more per month (for 4G?)
  

The only other Sprint Android phone that will be compatible with the 2.2 upgrade is the affordably priced Samsung Intercept (pictured below center, phone 5 of 7), which I thought was our only sensible option, until finding out that 4G coverage is on its way to the entire Sacramento area. Now I'm a little torn between the two...4G for $249 vs. Satin Pink for $99?

Samsung Intercept (as compared to my iPhone 3G):

• PROS: Stylish Satin Pink color, $99 price tag, slide-out keyboard, swipe keyboard option, voice commands, video camera, compact size
  
• CONS: Rev-0 (not Rev-A), smaller screen size
  

Sprint offers new customer a 30-day trial period, so we'll see how it goes when our phones arrive. I think Bob's going to change his to the Samsung Epic 4G...but for now I'm keeping my Satin Pink Samsung Intercept! :)