Thoughts on Android and Virgin Mobile (Part Two)

In in the first part of this two-part post, I summed up some of the positive points of the Android-powered LG Optimus V and the Virgin Mobile US voice and data networks. Now on to the criticisms: I wanted to originally write this follow-up post towards the end of the year, giving me a solid 6 months or so to test out the features, but after about 4 months my wife and decided to bail on our devices. As I mentioned in the earlier post, unless you live next to a tower, the Virgin Mobile (Sprint-powered) network is horrendous. Our entire apartment was a huge service dead zone. When we wanted to make or receive calls we’d have to step outside or press our faces and handsets to our dining area window. Didn’t make much sense in terms of productivity or sanity to keep the phones any longer, so a couple of days ago we bailed and went with AT&T… But, before I go any further, I should voice some of my complaints about Android and the LG device:

• The auto toggle between Wifi and 3G is flaky. If I was browsing or using an app that required a network connection (practically every app nowadays) using my Wifi, and put the phone down long enough for the screen to shut off to save power, whenever I would resume using it, it would automatically switch to 3G mode (on the off chance I could get a signal in my apartment) and not find my Wifi network to connect to. I often had to go to into settings and disable then re-enable the Wifi for it to scan and then connect to the network. Sometimes this wouldn’t work at all and I’d have to reboot the phone.
• The Gmail app could be slicker and more efficient. It took forever to sync and find new mail. You would think the native app would be a finer-tuned version of the Webkit web-app, right?
• Built-in email client phantom notifications while using IMAP. Better interface than the Gmail app, but persistent phantom new email notifications.
• Certain applications cannot be removed. Twidroyd and Poynt (among others) that could not be removed from the phone for whatever reason. Brought me back to the days of new PCs bogged down by bloatware.
• Running-processes related to apps not even running run anyway. This is probably more of a complaint about certain apps, but the inability to properly quit from a running application and thus ending all processes is an annoyance. Can slow down phone performance dramatically.
• Difficult to access dialpad mid-call. If you’re not wearing a headset (and thus exposing yourself to all kinds of brain cancer), the screen darkens until you pull the phone back down, and only then will it sometimes turn back on. Gotta have the right touch I guess…
• If the battery of this phone were playing multi-player Goldeneye for the Wii it would win the ‘Blink of an Eye’ award for shortest life. Seems to be par for the course though, when compared to other devices.

Overall, I’d place Android third among of the different mobile operating systems I’ve tried (behind iOS and Windows Phone 7, but above Blackberry OS). Granted, compared to other Android devices on the market, the LG Optimus V is considered entry level, but I’m not sure that serves as a good counter to my complaints. Certain functions like the 3G/Wifi toggling shouldn’t be as buggy as they are, and the Google-powered apps appearing on a Google device should be better alternatives to what you’d get in the web browser (at least from a user interface perspective). So, when we decided to ditch Virgin Mobile we went with a pair of Windows Phone 7-powered HTC Surrounds from AT&T. The phone has been out for close to a year now, but the price was right, and AT&T’s pricing plans are a cheaper alternative to Verizon. Why Windows you ask? I’d been doing some research these last few weeks, and based on what I’ve read about the upcoming OS update (Mango), WP seems to be a great alternative to the iPhone. And so far, I like what I’ve tried out. The user interface is slick, and easy to navigate. There aren’t a boatload of app choices, but I’m sure that will change over the next couple of years. If the partnership with Nokia is at all successful, I imagine WP will certainly have a chance at vying for the top spot in the mobile OS realm. Anyway, a full review in a few months time, to be sure.

Thoughts on Android and Virgin Mobile (Part One)

After several years of holding out, about 4 months ago me and the wife jumped on the smart-phone bandwagon and purchased a couple of Android-powered LG Optimus Vs through the Virgin Mobile network.

Up to that point, we’d been using old fashioned Motorola flip-phones through Verizon and a iPod touch to check email when we were away from home at a hot-spot. Needless to say, if you’ve ever been a Verizon wireless customer you know the service coverage is excellent, but like with most contract providers, the cost to own a smart-phone with a sufficient amount of minutes and bandwidth can be pricey. Hence, we chose Virgin: $25/month for 300 anytime minutes (no unlimited nights or weekends) but unlimited data and texting (NB. They’ve raised the price on this plan to $35/month for new customers).

Virign uses the Sprint network for cell and data coverage. There’s really no sense in sugarcoating it: if you live in an old building with thick walls, or outside a metro region, the service sucks. It doesn’t matter what their coverage map says, it’s at best an approximation. Sure, I might be sitting in my living room, near a window, with no tree coverage to speak of, not a cloud in the sky and still feel the hurt of absolutely no signal whatsoever. Yet, while rifling through Icelandic yogurt containers in the dairy section at the back of the Whole Foods I’m provided with spectacular five bar coverage. How is this possible?

Anyway, when those times arrive, when I’m lingering at some godforsaken Yankee Candle Company and can use my perfect reception to maximize the Virgin Mobile service and Android to fullest, I’ve been met with a mixed bag of pleasures and disappointments.

Android (we’re running 2.2, by the way) is a nice OS. The startup time on my device is faster than on my old Motorola. After booting, the apps I use most (Android’s web browser, Opera Mobile, Gmail, Email, Google Reader) load quickly. The OS is simple to use, and the learning curve was virtually nil (though we had some iOS experience with our iPod touch, and the concepts between the two are virtually the same).

Far and away the coolest Android feature is the Swype-powered keyboard that makes typing with a touch screen much more efficient than with the iPod touch (this may have improved with newer iOS versions, not sure), or any other smart-phone/mobile touch screen I’ve used up to this point.

The voice-to-text feature is also noteworthy, though it requires a network connection to function. The accuracy is quite good, even for somewhat obscure terms or place names. When I first tried it, I thought I’d be using it for everything, but that hasn’t been the case. That’s not to say it’s a novelty, it’s not, but I find it difficult to use when composing a text or email. Maybe users who frequently use voice-to-text programs on their desktops would be more comfortable here.

Criticisms to follow in part two. Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.