Well, my contract is up and I’m in the market for a new phone, but like usual, what do I take the punt on for the next couple of years this time? Do I stick with Android or make the switch to the expected and anticipated Apple iPhone 5?
I’ve had a varied phone history starting with an Ericsson flip phone (remember those), then moved onto a number of Nokia phones (didn’t everyone). Then the move to smartphones, from where, I’ve not looked back. So, my next couple of phones were based on Windows Mobile (now Windows Phone) and they were powerful, at the time, in what they could do. It was also Windows Mobile (I’m sticking with the old name as that’s what it was at the time and I can’t quite get my head around ‘Windows Phone’) that started the whole unlocking, and installing custom 3rd party ROM’s, something that still sticks with me today with Android. For example, with my Motorola Xoom, Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) has just been released here in the UK, but thanks to rooting, we’re running Jelly Bean and it’s the full official Google release, not a 3rd Party ROM.
But then if I want something easy to use, with limited customisation that just works, then the iPhone should be a no brainer. There’s no denying, the iPhone interface is much more polished and slick than Android, but Android offers so much more in terms of customisation.
I’ve not forgotten Blackberry or Windows Phone, they’re just not part of my selection process having used both recently. Windows Phone has without doubt moved on from the days when I was a user, but still not where I’d like it to be. As for Blackberry, it’s just too corporate for me. It’s great at what it does and I love BBM, but there are alternatives such as WhatsApp that works across all platforms such as iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry and even Symbian.
So, do play it safe and go down the iPhone route, or do I continue with Android and the fun of rooting, custom firmware etc.
Well, with the iPhone 5 pencilled in to be announced on September 11th, with shipping suspected to start September 21st, I think I’m going to sit tight until then and see what the iPhone 5 is like.
There’s also talk of 3, yes 3, new flagship Nexus devices on the horizon from LG, Samsung and Sony and possibly 2 others. For those that don’t know, the Nexus devices are normally running the pure Google experience of Android software without any manufacturer branding and generally get the latest and greatest software updates first. They’re also ‘top of the range’ devices running the latest hardware, so are the cream of the Android crop.
Seems like I may be spoilt for choice, but that’s not a bad thing. I’ll post back when I’ve made the decision. In the meantime, I’m just going to keep my ear to the ground on new devices and also look at network providers. But that’s another conversation for another day.
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