Team-BHP - Android Thread: Phones / Apps / Mods

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun (Post 3411233)

The only thing that worries me is how their new phones will be. Google innovated with the Moto X and brought us something new instead of just the usual specs war and after using the X for little over a week now, I think it's a brilliant phone. Google will still hold a 6% stake in Moto after Lenovo takes over, so let's hope this innovation continues.

From what I have heard Lenovo have little intention of retaining the Motorola name as a brand in phones and have acquired it only for its key technology and patents. Once the full integration takes place they will move only to Lenovo brand leaving all existing Moto phone owners in the lurch. Unfortunately India does not have any laws to protect users on minimum life cycle support and people will not be able to challenge them. The only fallback for users needing support after warranty expiry will be grey market and cannibalized parts at exorbitant prices.

Lenovo has very high ambitions and if there is one challenger even Samsung is scared of it is Lenovo. Product evolution and speed is one of the strong points of Lenovo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phamilyman (Post 3410766)

S3 has a far better camera. Else I would say the moto. some warranty > none?!

btw u arent getting a decent deal at all. i got an opened box "unopened" phone for just under 18k. i took the battery out of the case etc. While you get none in 13k for an year old phone.

Not a great deal at all.

Thanks phamilyman:thumbs up. That was indeed helpful. I have been researching and the phones that have surfaced on my radar are Lenovo S660 (good features, monster -3000 mAh Battery) and Samsung Grand Quattro. Couldn't find any reviews for the Lenovo as yet though. Maybe I'll just wait & watch - in no particular hurry as of now ! Who knows I might come across a better phone, after all all good things come to those who wait ( although, as a corollary "The Early Bird Gets The Worm !:uncontrol)

Thanks all the same !

Cheers !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Behemoth (Post 3410896)

Hi Ironhide,

A year old S3 may not be a good idea at 13K, as they are quite delicate. A price around 10K would be more realistic, as a new one comes for around 23K now.
On the Moto G, I don't have first hand experience but Motorola has kind of been floating between brands, first Google and now Lenovo and the Moto G is the last phone from the Moto-Google time. They are actually clearing all the stocks of their phones. Future continuity of support and service may become a challenge. It is a great phone but the future is uncertain for them.

With the way that phone prices are dropping nowadays, you could actually get a much more recent phone at a 15k price. Do see the S660 phone from Lenovo I suggested - it has good specs and great battery.

Regards,
Behemoth

Quote:

Originally Posted by phamilyman (Post 3410766)

Thanks phamilyman and Behemoth. I'm keeping a close eye on The Lenovo and Samsung series - just waitin' and watchin' (though not for long !)

Cheers!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironhide (Post 3412058)

Thanks phamilyman and Behemoth. I'm keeping a close eye on The Lenovo and Samsung series - just waitin' and watchin' (though not for long !)

Cheers!

I'll suggest to forget samsung at this price range. It's just got too much bloat and lag which overwhelms competent devices. Excellent specs mean crap if you don't get a smooth lag free experience. I've had two S3's, the second one got cm right away because I have no patience with Samsung bloatware!

Lastly unless you buy the lenovo k900 or so, you'll not get a lag free device like the Moto G. There's a reason it's the best selling device for Motorola. Ever. Heck, it's initial sales brought down the flipkart website.

Plus future updates need an active developer community. Check the lenovo models on that first. Often the Indian devices are not supported as well even for Samsung.

Got the S Duos 2, rooted it and threw some bloatwate out even before I started using it. The phone is reasonably ok for my wife's use.

Update about my xolo battery issue : we called up the service center on Wednesday evening and they promised that the battery will arrive on Thursday. But when we called up on Thursday to collect the battery, they coolly said it will take 1.5 months more to get the battery. However good the specs may be, we are not touching Xolo again even with a 10 foot pole.

--Anoop

Quote:

Originally Posted by theexperthand (Post 3412210)

Jesus, xolo needs to really get their act together. Seems like they diverted your shipment to someone else.

But why root the Duos right away? Why No interest in the warranty?!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironhide (Post 3410704)

Need some inputs here.. I need to choose between a used 1 year old well kept Samsung Galaxy S3 and a new Motorola Moto G.

Why not check out Grand or Grand Neo ?
I am a fan of large screens. Ever since my Grand was stolen in Feb, I am contemplating on buying the Grand Neo. Will make a purchase in a week or two.

Quote:

Originally Posted by theexperthand (Post 3408490)

Sure bro, will give it a try.
I positively hate the middle range phones from samsung and I have absolutely no expectations from S Duos 2 other than being able to play some music, talking pocoyo and play some videos - and oh, FB and whatsapp too. Since this will be used by my wife, there will be no question of multitasking. But still, I have plans to root and remove at least some of the bloatware - hope this will help to an extent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandsun7 (Post 3408772)

I had used S duos for a year and a couple of months before I literally threw it away! The stock ROM was very very laggy from day 1. Waited patiently for the warranty to expire and installed a custom ROM only to find that things did not improve even a bit.
But I did hear good reviews about S Duos 2. The specs are definitely a lot better than the original S Duos. Might not be a bad choice at all for some one who does not do much multi tasking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drsingh (Post 3409398)

The original galaxy S was grossly underpowered. The new galaxy S duos 2 has a Broadcom SOC similar to the galaxy grand.
It may be called a galaxy grand in a "mini" package with slightly lesser ram and 5mp instead of 8mp camera.
If you see the specs, Broadcom SOC has very good battery efficiency and uses the same image processor as the original NOKIA 41 mp phone.

Ok, so much mixed reviews for the Galaxy S Duos 2 !! :eek:
I placed an order for the same with Amazon, yesterday evening. Costed me 8435 INR.

This will be for my mother, aged 62 yrs !! She has been using a Galaxy Y for the last 1 year and has become an Android addict, if I may say so !! :p
Her uses are Whatsapp, Net Browsing, Facebook (may be, she will get an account soon !!), Watching Movies, Listening to music on Player and Radio. Last, not the least, Games - Those simple puzzle games.
How will it be for her ? My brother was trying to get her a Micromax Canvas something. Mom wanted a 'branded phone'. Hence the Galaxy S Duos 2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Behemoth (Post 3411408)

The post is true except for the patents. Google still owns the patents.
If Lenovo is prudent, they should retain the MOTO brand. Moto has tremendous brand recall.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Behemoth (Post 3411408)

Actually I have read the contrary. Lenovo is not a strong name in the mobile space and that is where Motorola comes into their strategy. They are actually planning on re-introducing the Motorola brand into China, Lenovo's biggest market. This strategy is similar to what they did with IBM and the 'ThinkPad'.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/12/54...a-few-quarters

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun (Post 3412617)

It is already #5 worldwide and growing very fast. Please see the attached report from Gartner.
http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2665715

(Anyway, I am not affiliated with Lenovo in any way and have no interests with them. My views are purely of an independent observer of the industry and as a user!)