[jamiesalter]

You've read the title so you can probably guess what's coming...which is better?

The plans for the new iPhone 3G S have just been released (clicky) which has been touted as "the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet", but there will probably be a considerable delay before it lands.

The Samsung i8910 HD has already been retailed in America and is currently on 'out-of-stock' status with Orange, although sim-free versions will be available from 25th June - just over a couple of weeks. Some see it as the ultimate youtube phone (being able to record HD video and upload straight to youtube) whilst other think it may be an iPhone killer (I know, very overused phrase). Click here.

The Palm Pre was released in America two days before the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (so on 6th June) and is a seriously interesting phone. It still difficult to say who will be offering it in the UK - some say Orange whilst others think O2. (See here). With ARM's new Cortex processor it may well be more powerful than the iPhone 3G S in terms of grunt, but this is speculation. Clicky.

So...completely forgetting which providers are offering which phone and leaving price aside, which phone would you choose?
Love to hear your thoughts.

[RobM]

In the nicest possible way.... how on earth do you expect people to give comparisons and experience on phones that have not been released yet or are not readily available?

[Embarker]

Well i'll pretend they are all out and I can choose one now

IMPOSSIBLE TO CHOOSE

love the keyboard in the N97, the HD of the samsung and the "apps" for the i-phone.

Edging towards the Samsung

[jamiesalter]

Originally Posted by RobM83

In the nicest possible way.... how on earth do you expect people to give comparisons and experience on phones that have not been released yet or are not readily available?

The only reason I ask is I'm looking for a new phone like, I guess, quite a few others at around this time. It seems that many on these forums have already experienced the Samsung and since the Palm Pre has already been released in America its not a long shot to assume someone has already had a fiddle or two. True, it would be unlikely for someone to have used the iPhone 3GS already but as its pretty similar to the original iPhone, those who have experienced the 'old' iPhone and the samsung or palm pre could make very valid contributions to the thread. And I know for sure that my general mobile knowledge is fairly limited - so even those with no hands on experience of a phone, but by just pointing things out from the spec sheet will be interesting.

Originally Posted by Embarker

love the keyboard in the N97, the HD of the samsung and the "apps" for the i-phone.

Edging towards the Samsung

Couldn't agree more with you more Embarker - the samsung is my current favourite but the iPhone's app store is so god damn good. Does anyone know if Samsung have a similar service to the Apple app store?

[sparky_123]

Originally Posted by jamiesalter

Couldn't agree more with you more Embarker - the samsung is my current favourite but the iPhone's app store is so god damn good. Does anyone know if Samsung have a similar service to the Apple app store?

Samsung Mobile Applications - doesnt look as extensive as the apple app store.

im stuck in the same boat as you, torn between the i8910 and the new iphone. im currently on o2 and my contract runs out on tuesday, so its pretty much perfect timing for an iphone! i also wouldnt need to change network and could hopefully keep my current contract (doubt it though!). the i8910 is very tempting though, the major thing putting me off is the audio on the videos, this apparently is going to be fixed in a firmware update but whether it happens or not i dont know.

i might actually toss a coin to decide!

[apolloa]

Ok, just to clear up the whole CPU thing. The new iPhone 3GS, the Palm Pre and the upcoming Sony Ericsson Satio ALL use the exact same CPU which is this one:

OMAP™ 3 Processors - OMAP3430

So its down to the software really and the features you want.

Link which outlines the specs of the new iPhone:

iPhone 3G S gets taken apart, CPU and RAM revealed - GSMArena.com news

EDIT:
Just to update, I have since read that the iPhone uses the Samsung CPU and the others uses the Texus Instruments one but they are the same CPU and GPU.
Here is a very in depth look at the new iPhone CPU:
http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3579

I am seriously going to be stuck between the Palm Pre and the SE Satio I think, the sample shots I've seen from the Pre's camera are bloody impressive! Especially for a 3.2mpx.

[JonnyBingham]

Others might not like me for saying this, but from my experience of the iPhone 3g I would say that's it total user experience is greater than the sum of its parts. I'm not an apple fanboy, although I admire the way they have really gone about designing the iPhone from the ground up and challenged pre-conceptions about the way we expect phones to function and respond to user input. From everything I've seen in videos, the Palm pre takes this user experience a step further. However it doesn't arrive til September and is limited to 8gb. the samsung has best specs but I'm not sure about it's software.

[apolloa]

Originally Posted by JonnyBingham

Others might not like me for saying this, but from my experience of the iPhone 3g I would say that's it total user experience is greater than the sum of its parts. I'm not an apple fanboy, although I admire the way they have really gone about designing the iPhone from the ground up and challenged pre-conceptions about the way we expect phones to function and respond to user input. From everything I've seen in videos, the Palm pre takes this user experience a step further. However it doesn't arrive til September and is limited to 8gb. the samsung has best specs but I'm not sure about it's software.

Bang on, I will be so stuck I think, I love the Satio but it runs the same OS as the Omnia and when you look at Android, iPhone, Pre, no matter how pretty the Symbian OS is made to look the others just look newer and fresher all the time. Even Blackberry's new OS looks brilliant.
I love Symbian I really do but with Symbian Foundation launching a new OS next year then software wise is the Omnia, 5800, N97, Satio really worth it?
Having changed to a Mac then I realised what 'user experience' actually meant.
It's the ONE thing Apple brought to phones, the technical specs were crap and still are in some respects but that user interface is revolutionary.
Does Symbian S60 version 5 offer that really?

[jamiesalter]

Absolutely agree. After doing more and more research my list of wants is changing. Here are, I think, the most important things a phone has to be to be perfect:
-An OS that isn't Symbian or Windows Mobile
-Be multitouch and responsive (so have decent grunt)
-Well built (ie I prefer the use of metal rather than plastic with no 'tacky' feeling)
-Have decent internet browsing (full HTML etc) and email
-Have an AMOLED display
-Have good media capabilities
-Have a community of hackers/app creaters that are very imaginative

At the moment you might say that the iPhone is a good choice but I unfortunately made a bet a friend that I would never get one as "there will always be better phones out there." A very stupid bet to make. Well I might finally concede and purchase one, although at the moment I'm strongly swaying towards the HTC Magic as I want a refresh before the holdiay season starts

[SibTiger33]

ooo

interesting

Part1 - Walkthrough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozIUvs3pPxE


Part2 - Walkthrough

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZBhrAKCtw0



now im even interested in the IPHONE!

damn apple


but i gotta say version 1 of the Palm Pre seems very very impressived based on the few reviews i've read

the only negative with the pre seems to be the battery life (same as the original iphone) but given that the the pre uses a removable battery its likely we may be able to get a higher capacity battery for it.


the new features on the iphone (or should i say the features that now bring it in line with all the other latest phones) seems very well implemented and have the great apple feel too it - i really like how the voice command works and creating playlists on the fly.


I've never been a fan of the iphone but i gotta say im very tempted.

if the pre gets released close to october than end of the year then i think ill be prepared to wait it out and get one
if the gsm version gets released at a good price then again i dont mind getting one (fcurrently the cdma version is going for about £400 - so expect £500+ for the gsm :-( )

[Noggin1980]

The lack of a flash with the camera is such a huge huge shame though and massivly reduces the times where the camera is useful.

[RobM]

Early reports on the Pre complain of poor build quality as well as poor battery life. A big let down for such a hyped phone.

[apolloa]

Originally Posted by RobM83

Early reports on the Pre complain of poor build quality as well as poor battery life. A big let down for such a hyped phone.

The build is a shame, it has some sharp edges but it is only plastic, the slide wobbles a bit and hopefully that will be made better by the time it reaches these shores. Some people have also had the volume switch fall out! But again I would blame first production run models.
As for the battery, I think it's the trade off you pay for a smaller device that is always on and connected. You can from what I've read though switch it all off, like email sync, auto back up to the cloud, syncing with facebook etc, and the people that have done this have managed to get 2 day's from it at least. But no doubt bigger battery's will be launched anyway.

[apolloa]

Hmm, I hate Apple I really do!! I read the news and watched the conference for WWDC and wow. Apple have TOTALLY NAILED one of my KEY features I use on a phone, namely TomTom. It's the best implication yet, God damn it!
It's making me to be tempted but is O2 any good? I would get one on PAYG, I've been happily with Orange for years so it would be a big change.
A decent camera is another thing I want, the new 3GS one does look good, but can I put up with it's size and can I put up with having to quit an application if the phone rings, then have to go back?
I like the Pre as well but I have a feeling it won't be offered on PAYG and is designed to be permanently connected to the web, which will cost lots on PAYG and will TomTom ever be launched on it?

I may have to go and have a play after Friday, I do have a Mac computer. hmmm. I MAY end up turning to the dark side yet, as RobM83 tells everyone all the time, I am seriously thinking what I want in a phone.

If I do take the plunge, is it better to buy the phone from Carphone Warehouse or an O2 shop? I prefer Carphone Warehouse.

Also need to bare in mind that VAT goes back up soon too.

[RobM]

Blimey... somebody pays attention to what I say? I should leave.....

In all seriousness, there is little to chose from between buying from CPW and O2. My iPhone 3G came from CPW simply because I drove past one on the way home and my car somehow found itself parked outside one day. No idea how that happened...

With regards to the Pre, I was desperately waiting for this to be launched and now it is, I'm avoiding it. The hardware seems poor and it seems a very clear version 1 product. Hopefully it will go the same way as Android with the second handset and version of the OS being a big improvement. If it does, I'll jump for it. But the Pre itself seems to be a disappointment from what I've read. I'm waiting to get my mitts on one to test though, so time will tell.

But in todays market the best device to feature as an all-in-one, does it all bar the washing up and bacon butties device is the iPhone. Android is as good in almost every single area, but the ecosystem and developer headstart that Apple have is an advantage if you want the likes of TomTom.

Grab yourself a PAYG O2 SIM and test the signal in your area before making the jump though

[apolloa]

Originally Posted by RobM83

Blimey... somebody pays attention to what I say? I should leave.....

In all seriousness, there is little to chose from between buying from CPW and O2. My iPhone 3G came from CPW simply because I drove past one on the way home and my car somehow found itself parked outside one day. No idea how that happened...

With regards to the Pre, I was desperately waiting for this to be launched and now it is, I'm avoiding it. The hardware seems poor and it seems a very clear version 1 product. Hopefully it will go the same way as Android with the second handset and version of the OS being a big improvement. If it does, I'll jump for it. But the Pre itself seems to be a disappointment from what I've read. I'm waiting to get my mitts on one to test though, so time will tell.

But in todays market the best device to feature as an all-in-one, does it all bar the washing up and bacon butties device is the iPhone. Android is as good in almost every single area, but the ecosystem and developer headstart that Apple have is an advantage if you want the likes of TomTom.

Grab yourself a PAYG O2 SIM and test the signal in your area before making the jump though

Thanks for the advice on grabbing an O2 sim, I'll have to try and get that. I agree on the rest too, like the Pre a lot but yes the software is very early, I have read of restarts too. Who knows, multitasking may be added to the next iPhone software too? I just need to check out the camera now. Will visit my Carphone Warehouse next week some point.

And yes I DID pay attention to whay you've said before LOL it's a case of ignore the pretty glittery newness of a gadget and decide if you'll ever use it or just admire it!

[RobM]

Speaking from my own, expensive and often pointless experience... it's very easy to get excited by shiny new things like the iPhone, spend a fortune buying them and then realise a month later that the novelty has worn off and you're left with a device that doesn't fit your needs.

My most recent example of this is the HTC Touch HD which is an awesome phone, but doesn't quite do what I need. It cost me £510 SIM Free, I sold it for not a huge amount of £300 less than a month later. That was an expensive lesson. Great device, just not right for me.

The Magic I have now suits me very well, the iPhone offers no more than the 3G I had (and loved) a couple of months ago. Yet I still have this desire to rush out and get one on Friday.

Must.... resist... the.....hype......

[Simba]

glad i found this thread as im in totally the same boat. contract is up in a few months and the competition is fierce.

i was reading up on phonearena.com and though the ratings are criticised quite heavily there, theres plenty of write up to get some impressions. the n97 gets slated and generally it doesnt appeal to me anyway.

i really love the i8910 based on the feature count - i mean its pretty immense! the more i look at the iphone compare to the samsung the more i think, what is the iphone all about and why is it so special. the palm pre seems to be on a level up to the iphone in terms of what you can do with it but the screen issues on launch models made me weary.

my thoughts are:

- i8910 offers tonnes of technical features that surpass its rivals and probably will for the next year or so considering the iphone and pre are big models. the downside being interface not matching the finesse of the 3gs or pre. the 8khz audio quality on HD video is pretty crap though.

- the iphone 3gs being interface slick, but low on the feature count.

- the pre very similar to the iphone in how good the interface is with 'medium' tech feature level.

i think im still swayed to the samsung as its a way more feature rich phone

[GSMGuy]

My 2p....

I am into my phones in a big way - and currently have the Nokia N96, as the N97 wasn't available when I upgraded in april on Orange (same number 15 years)

Now that Orange have confirmed that theyare not going to be doing the N97, as well as the horror stories I have seen with virtually every one having it's lens scrathed by the cover i normal use - And the fact that they have now discontined the N96 also, I find myself having to look elsewhere for my upgrade, which is due now...

So having looked at the reviews for the i8910HD, I am suitably impressesed..

So much so, that I am off to the Orange shop in 5 mins to see one, and most importantly, to make sure it is compatible with my line 2.. As a lot are not, and out of Oranges' 6.7 million customers in the UK, apparently there are only 132 of us that have a line 2....

Will report bac....

Mike

[GSMGuy]

Reporting back..

They let me play with a brand new one - Put my SIM in, line 2 support - Tick
STUNNING AMOLED screen - Tick
Responsive touch interface - Tick
Quality camera - Tick
UNBELIEVEABLE video quality - Tick
Build quality, nice and solid? - Tick

Mine will be here Monday, and it's the fastest S60 device I have ever used...

Mike