SE Satio or HTC Hero?

andyturner28 · 10-10-2009, 11:19 PM

Cant decide between these two. I have read that the camera on the HTC isn't that good at capturing action shots... is this true and how bad is it? The reason being is that i am a very keen mountain biker and we often session drop offs, jumps etc and take a lot of pictures and videos of each other to put up on our forum (www.sketchymtb.co.uk if anyone is interested

), so the camera and video capability is very important. I know the Satio has a better camera but i have heard a lot of good things about the Android operating system of the HTC and was keen to give it a try, but if the camera is THAT bad then i'll have to stick with Symbian on the SE.

NicolasB · 11-10-2009, 10:24 AM

If video is a priority then you should maybe check out the Samsung i8910 HD (which also runs Symbian, incidentally). It can capture video at 1280x720.

RobM · 11-10-2009, 12:07 PM

Make sure you check out online video examples before making a choice. Resolution is one thing, but quality is not dependant on resolution.

You can record crap quality at 720p and great quality at VGA. No one factor alone is going to make or break it, so either find a way of getting your hands on one as a demo or check out online reviews and clips.

andyturner28 · 11-10-2009, 12:52 PM

I've been thinking of getting the Samsung for ages, but a friend has a HTC and thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread, which made me think about the HTC Hero. I have also read on here that there is some issues with the Samsung's video recording... something about the sound being out of sink? I am also aware that cheap HD cameras can be worse than decent SD, as an example another couple of mates have helmet cameras, one a SD Panasonic bullet cam hooked up to a DV camcorder, the other an all in one HD camera, and the SD bullet cam is much much better. So this got me thinking about the Satio. Lower resolution but SE have always had decent cameras. So which is better between the Samsung and SE, as i think it is now between these two? Hmm decisions decisions...

theshabster · 12-10-2009, 11:33 AM

I'm in a similar position to yourself.

I was considering the HTC Hero, but the more I read into reviews, the more I felt that it wasn't quite what I'm looking for.

I've now decided to give the Satio a go, & if I don't like the phone I'll return it & wait for the HTC HD2 to be released (within the next few weeks).

andyturner28 · 12-10-2009, 6:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshabster

I'm in a similar position to yourself.

I was considering the HTC Hero, but the more I read into reviews, the more I felt that it wasn't quite what I'm looking for.

I've now decided to give the Satio a go, & if I don't like the phone I'll return it & wait for the HTC HD2 to be released (within the next few weeks).

Any idea what network the HD 2 will be released on? Dose the HD1 have a better camera than the Hero?

theshabster · 12-10-2009, 7:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyturner28

Any idea what network the HD 2 will be released on? Dose the HD1 have a better camera than the Hero?

HD2 is confirmed for Vodafone, T-Mobile & O2.

No confirmation as to whether or not Orange or 3 will be stocking the phone, but there's every chance.

Unsure about the camera on the HD1, but my guess is that the Hero would have the slight edge.

andyturner28 · 12-10-2009, 10:30 PM

You know, i am starting to think it might be better if i just stop being such a lazy **** and actually get my camera out now and then, and get the phone i really want. But it's such a faff having to take the Camelback off every time to get my brick of a camera out, and by the time i'm ready again everyone else has ridden off

Agh i'm going to go mad before i ever come to a decision. At least i have until the end of the month to decide.

theshabster · 13-10-2009, 8:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyturner28

You know, i am starting to think it might be better if i just stop being such a lazy **** and actually get my camera out now and then, and get the phone i really want. But it's such a faff having to take the Camelback off every time to get my brick of a camera out, and by the time i'm ready again everyone else has ridden off

Agh i'm going to go mad before i ever come to a decision. At least i have until the end of the month to decide.

Go for the Satio fella.

I like you, would like a decent camera on my phone.

I'd like it with xenon flash & a half decent lens - with decent VGA or HD video.

I'd also like it to be a decent smartphone.

Unfortunately there isn't yet a phone on the market that covers all of the above bases, but I'm hoping that the Satio will come close to sufficing my needs.

andyturner28 · 13-10-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshabster

Go for the Satio fella.

I like you, would like a decent camera on my phone.

I'd like it with xenon flash & a half decent lens - with decent VGA or HD video.

I'd also like it to be a decent smartphone.

Unfortunately there isn't yet a phone on the market that covers all of the above bases, but I'm hoping that the Satio will come close to sufficing my needs.

I am definitely swaying in that general direction. I have been happy with the Symbian S60 OS on the N95 and N97, but they were both a bit unstable. Do you know if the Satio version is any better?

theshabster · 14-10-2009, 8:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyturner28

I am definitely swaying in that general direction. I have been happy with the Symbian S60 OS on the N95 and N97, but they were both a bit unstable. Do you know if the Satio version is any better?

Too early to tell for sure, but initial reviews seem positive.

I'm going to order the phone & then trial it for a week or two - if I'm not happy with it, then Vodafone will allow me to return it.

andyturner28 · 14-10-2009, 11:32 PM

Right, had a go on a Satio in a Vodaphone shop today and wasn't that impressed. Looks really nice and takes good pictures, but it's basically the same as the N97 to use (hardly surprising given that they are both S60 OS) but i would just get board with it, so will definitely get a HTC. Now have to decide between the Hero or the HD 2 which i believe Vodaphoe and T Mobile are getting in towards the end of the month? Sooo, Google Android or Windows mobile???? Haven't used either so have no idea which is best. A mate uses his WM phone as a GPS with Ordinance Survey maps which he can use to plot routes off road and prefers it to proper Garmin GPS units, so that is very tempting....

theshabster · 15-10-2009, 8:07 AM

The Satio also has GPS.

In an ideal world, the HD2 would be running Android - but we don't live in an ideal world

I'd still personally opt for the HD2 - That's my backup plan if the Satio doesn't please when it's delivered later today.

andyturner28 · 15-10-2009, 10:59 PM

So in your opinion is Android better than Windows mobile?

Oh and i know the Satio has GPS, but as far as i know there is nothing available for S60 phones that allows you to use OS mapping, and to plot routes off road/in the woods etc, which is what i would like. Anyone know if you can do this on Android?

Jockster · 30-10-2009, 2:12 PM

In my opinion I would go for an Android device over S60 any day! The Satio does have a really good camera but the software is clunky compared to the Android platform on the HTC Hero and I've used both.

syko67 · 30-10-2009, 4:48 PM

I think there is something on symbian horizon (symbian app store) that was for off road mapping...not sure if it was just U.S. app though

andyturner28 · 30-10-2009, 7:10 PM

I'm gonna wait till the HTC HD2 comes out sometime in November and see what that is like. A mate who is a complete gadget freak is very excited about that one so could be worth waiting for. Am guessing it'll be expensive though?

RitchieTheBrit · 08-11-2009, 3:16 PM

Did you make your mind up in the end dude?

If only the Hero had a decent camera with flash and better video capture resolution, I would be sold, but as it is, I use my N95-8GB as a camera quite often, which is one of the things that attracts me to the Satio. I can install all my favourite Symbian apps, including my GPS software, but I am worried I will bore of it quickly. The Hero has a nice home screen, I think Android is the way ahead at the moment, and it is capacitive. The UI on the Sony is meant to be laggy as well, wheras the Hero is quite smooth. Also, the Satio is £5 a month less....

God, such a dilemma! I really don't want to carry a compact camera around, but other than that, the Hero is pretty damn awesome!

andyturner28 · 09-11-2009, 12:04 AM

I'm still trying to decide. I'm not the biggest fan of Symbian any more but i could really have done with a decent cam phone today. Done some bretty big jumps mountain biking at Swinly forrest and none of us had a camera to capture it

Oh well, next time i'm doing the bigger drops!

The S60 os was very flaky on the N97. Is it as bad on the Satio and i8910HD? Also dose the video recording actually look HD on the samsung? It has already been discussed that cheap HD cameras can be worse than decent SD....

syko67 · 09-11-2009, 8:30 PM

I have the Satio..its my 1st smart phone so I cant compare it with anything...if its laggy I havent noticed it..the camera for pics and vid is outstanding...could you not try 1 return it before times up and try the other?

aopchick21 · 01-12-2009, 8:52 AM

i got a Satio whereas my husband got a hero. I must say the HERO is better. Need to get one myself!

drunken_prozac · 04-12-2009, 9:08 AM

ok,

I have had the Satio and I now have the Hero (for 1 day)

You might be able to tell where this is going as I don't have the Satio now

If it's a camera you want then the Satio rocks, but it still isn't amazing if you are moving when taking pictures.
In the 1month I owned the satio i had the following problems + more I can't think of;

2 x all icons deleted off the screen (factory reset)
12 x contacts being deleted
900+ x internet browser crashing
2 x alarm not going off and the phone frozen (battery out job)
many many freezes and crashes
etc........

I was with three and their mistake made me able to send the phone back.
I emailed Sony 4 times with no reply. I have never had a problem before (5 x sony ericsson phones)
I think that they have taken Nokia's Symbian and put 'Sony' locks on it, then three have put 'three' locks on it, therefore everything is locked and doesn't work.

I recived the delivery of the HTC Hero yesterday and currently I am sat listening to last.fm, while browsing my facebook widget and getting email updates from my hotmail account automatically!
it has taken me about 3 hours to get used to the way the phoen works but it is amazing!

the camera isn't anything special but if you want a phone what works amazingly (so far) and almost every app is free thanks to android being open source, then the Hero is a class act!

I have intergrated all my contacts with email/phone/facebook, so if anyone phones me it tells me their latest status and i can see al their photos without even opening facebook, the same with twitter and flickr.
I was a bit concerened about the 'lag' everyone talks about but there is an update and my hero came with the latest software and has only frozen twice, but that was my fault trying to install 3 programs while forcing another to close, it froze for about 5 seconds, then was fine. I think that is impressive.

the screen is ultra-responsive unliek the Satio and everything runs sooooo smoothly!

I would reccomend the Hero to anyone who wants a decent phone/social networking tool/work phone
For a Camera phone I woudl look at something like the Samsung as the Satio just didn't cut it for me.

Darren

gwop · 04-12-2009, 10:48 PM

Satio has quite a few issues at the moment so i would hold out till the updated version comes back out.
Check with carphone warehouse as they stopped selling the older batch and are waiting on new batch from sony erricson

2003bluecat · 06-12-2009, 2:28 PM

Good little post there Darren, thanks. I'm interested in the hero and although the camera isn't said to be very good, I haven't heard (or read) a bad word about the phone otherwise

drunken_prozac · 06-12-2009, 6:36 PM

:o) well I am on my 4th day with the hero and getting on well.

The camera isn't amazing but the phone is awesome.

I am currently writing this on my hero and I will upload a photo taken on it in a bit (avforums won't let me do it from the phone). All web pages are rendered properly with full flash support the only issue I have had is the video codec support. No avi/3gp, but there is a player for free in the market. Also Android 2.1 should be released soon which should have built in players.

Oh, and the trackball comes in handy when scrolling through words in paragraphs.

Darren

2003bluecat · 06-12-2009, 7:42 PM

Brilliant! Any 'must-have' applications that you have come across yet that I should download when I get the phone? Just need to get rid of my n97 now

drunken_prozac · 06-12-2009, 8:15 PM

I have added 2 photos taken indoors in the kitchen, not good lighting.
I think avforums have compressed them though. not too bad quality.

App wise I have just had a play, when I have not much to do I just have a look through the store on the phone (online via pc doesn't work) and you can put it in 'top rated' mode.

so far the best/needed apps are;

Video Player - playing vid files
shazam - music search engine
ShopSavvy - scan barcodes and find nearest shops/cheapest online
Ringdroid - cut mp3's down to size for ringtones
Pkt Auctions eBay - ebay

Nimbuzz - VoIP, skype built in etc...
Last.fm - music on the move
beebPlayer - bbc Iplayer app
0870 - saynoto0870, enabled will change a 0800/0870 to a local number

a few others are
google sky map - tracks gps/compass and shows you the stars in real time
metal detector

One thing I forgot to add.... BLUETOOTH
It has it but like the Iphone it is for pairing with devices not sending files.
This will be fixed as there is an app but only works on the new 2.0 android, this will be fine when the hero gets 2.1 installed.

Facebook and twitter etc are all included but you can add more apps.
I was also impressed with how easy linking to my hotmail was, I did have to make a gmail account but that was for another app, can't remember which one tho.

Hope this helps, If you want the pics sent 'non-compressed' then let me know.

Darren

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drunken_prozac · 06-12-2009, 8:18 PM

sorry, dunno what I did....

2003bluecat · 06-12-2009, 9:23 PM

Cheers Darren, that's a great help.

I'm not put off by the camera at all, I've realised lately that what I always considered as a big necessity in a phone isn't that important as I hardly use the camera on my phone anymore. For me it's about how it works as a phone/web browser, and the n97 is not great at either

As for the apps seems like there is a few good ones there (I'm sure the information is here somewhere but it's a nightmare reading through hundreds of posts on some of the threads). Btw what colour do you have? Not sure what to go for as they all look ok (apart from pink

), but I'm leaning towards the white except for the concern of it getting dirty.

Those pics look pretty good tho, although I'm gonna have to go get some food now

drunken_prozac · 06-12-2009, 10:16 PM

I have the Graphite colour on Orange network.
It looks really nice and I wouldn't worry about the white as it is apparently Teflon coated on the white parts to try and stop any dirty marks sticking to the phone.

I have just had 1 problem with the phone, just before writing this....

I changed my name on my Hotmail account last night and didn't put my password in so I have received no emails today, once I re-input my password it synced and got 38 mails.... but there is no bloody 'mark all as read' on the htc email client... got to click through them and mark them as read one by one.... poop!

Apart form that, all seems well.

Hope I have helped you and don't forget, if you don't get on with it then you still have a 14 day return policy

Darren