Sorely tempted...

Simon · Mar 26, 2014, 10:36:15

http://www.htc.com/www/about/newsroom/2014/2014-03-25-THE-BEST-JUST-GOT-BETTER-INTRODUCING-THE-HTC-ONE-M8/

The inclusion of an expansion card slot could be the feature that draws me away from the iPhone 6. I just hope Apple follow suit, as the lack of expandable storage has become a real issue for me of late.

Gary · Mar 26, 2014, 11:54:53

I can never see Apple doing that. The thing with a mobile with fixed capacity memory is to always buy more than you need. HTC one M8 (oh I can here that as HTC One mate) looks nice, will probably get one update if you are lucky and come full of bloated rubbish, unless you get the Google Play version. Then if it goes wrong you have the horrible long wait for HTC to fix it. I noticed its been described as slippery, and I'm not sure the camera is going to be as good as some of the newer phones like the experia and Nokia's, or even the iPhone 5s which has remarkable low light imagery. Also the antennas embedded in that metal casing worries me no matter what tech they say they use.

Technical Ben · Mar 26, 2014, 12:10:39

"Zoe in the cloud"
Stop giving things random names and stupid brands Mr Manufacture. Ok? I know what Video is. I know what HD is. I have no idea, nor do I care what "Zoe" is... /Rant.

But all in all, expandability is cool.

Simon · Mar 26, 2014, 12:52:32

The point being, Gary, Apple's storage capacity is a total and blatant rip off. How come it costs an extra £100 per 16Gb of additional storage, when all they must be doing is inserting a bigger SD card, which probably costs them a couple of quid to manufacture (or buy in from China). I don't mind paying the extra for higher quality, but that is taking the piss.

Having said that, I'm not sure I want to go back to the 'complexity' of Android, so I'll definitely hold fire until we know more about the iPhone 6.

Gary · Mar 26, 2014, 13:09:14

I know its rip off but if you are buying a phone for a few years use you have to think forward and over the years the cost is not that great really. The camera reviews for the HTC One M8 are a bit hit and miss sadly. I'm staying with the 5s, phones are now very boring. I don't need a portable tea tray and as a possible new size screen id wait till the problems with the new screen got worked out in the 6S Air thingy or 7getyourwalletoutyoumug is released.

Lance · Mar 26, 2014, 13:43:20

I'll never get an HTC. My wife had a HTC Desire which went wrong. Took HTC an absolutely ridiculous amount of time to fix it and their customer service was non-existent.

Technical Ben · Mar 26, 2014, 18:11:54

Quote from: Simon on Mar 26, 2014, 12:52:32
The point being, Gary, Apple's storage capacity is a total and blatant rip off. How come it costs an extra £100 per 16Gb of additional storage, when all they must be doing is inserting a bigger SD card, which probably costs them a couple of quid to manufacture (or buy in from China). I don't mind paying the extra for higher quality, but that is taking the piss.

Having said that, I'm not sure I want to go back to the 'complexity' of Android, so I'll definitely hold fire until we know more about the iPhone 6.

At £100, I could have a whole 16GB android tablet. If it goes wrong? I'll buy another. Still can't burn through the same amount of cash as an iPhone though.

In all seriousness, it's horses for courses. I'm using an android because I can put stuff on a Memory Card and swap in/out. In the future, I may use the "cloud" more, so it would open up the possibility of Apple again. Though no doubt something else will change before then.

Gary · Mar 26, 2014, 18:27:13

Quote from: Technical Ben on Mar 26, 2014, 18:11:54
At £100, I could have a whole 16GB android tablet.

The HTC One M8 is £550 sim free.

Simon · Mar 26, 2014, 18:28:37

Which is not that far away from the cost of an iPhone.

Glenn · Mar 26, 2014, 18:39:37

£469.99 here

Gary · Mar 26, 2014, 18:41:18

Quote from: Simon on Mar 26, 2014, 18:28:37
Which is not that far away from the cost of an iPhone.

But wont get as many OS updates as an iPhone, houses for courses indeed. Personally I would not touch any of the new phones now, they just don't have anything to distinguish themselves from each other and now seem to be filling up with fitness apps and as the new big thing in a desperate attempt to sell themselves from the crowd, which themselves are doing the same thing half the time. I suppose at least you can use the new Samsung S5 in the rain which is actually useful.

Gary · Mar 26, 2014, 18:43:30

Quote from: Glenn on Mar 26, 2014, 18:39:37
£469.99 here

Not a bad price, shame about the awful camera though. Seems the bigger sensor and less megapixels are not working as intended.

Technical Ben · Mar 26, 2014, 18:43:47

Quote from: Gary on Mar 26, 2014, 18:27:13
The HTC One M8 is £550 sim free.

I know, hence I was not being serious. Though, sellotaping 32 1gb phones together, using special apps to share data across them as one bluetooth disk is strangely appealing...

As a real world example, either due to age/incompatibility or just software bugs, I could not transfer a song via bluetooth from my phone to my tablet the other day. So I just did it on a memory card and swapped it out between devices as I generally only use micro SD format. While the bug/incompatibility is a problem, I have a work around. It's devices that don't give me that option that I dislike. I'd rather not want to wait/pay for an upgrade (software or hardware) or have no option when things do go astray.

Gary · Mar 26, 2014, 18:50:46

Quote from: Technical Ben on Mar 26, 2014, 18:43:47
I know, hence I was not being serious. Though, sellotaping 32 1gb phones together, using special apps to share data across them as one bluetooth disk is strangely appealing...

As a real world example, either due to age/incompatibility or just software bugs, I could not transfer a song via bluetooth from my phone to my tablet the other day. So I just did it on a memory card and swapped it out between devices as I generally only use micro SD format. While the bug/incompatibility is a problem, I have a work around. It's devices that don't give me that option that I dislike. I'd rather not want to wait/pay for an upgrade (software or hardware) or have no option when things do go astray.

I never buy phones from operators, tbh mine has enough storage does what I need while it works, and fits into my coat pocket. Thats all I really need, now if it was waterproof that may help as you get soaked in a wheelchair when it rains, but that's the only feature i would ask for, all the gimmicky apps and gizmozs some phones have built in cause more grief than needed or eat battery life. Also with operator branded ones you get even more rubbish unless you want to get all technical on it.

pctech · Mar 26, 2014, 19:09:10

Simon

Might want to look here to see it 'in the flesh' so to speak

http://www.youtube.com/user/leodee/videos

Technical Ben · Mar 26, 2014, 19:57:00

Quote from: Gary on Mar 26, 2014, 18:50:46
I never buy phones from operators, tbh mine has enough storage does what I need while it works, and fits into my coat pocket. Thats all I really need, now if it was waterproof that may help as you get soaked in a wheelchair when it rains, but that's the only feature i would ask for, all the gimmicky apps and gizmozs some phones have built in cause more grief than needed or eat battery life. Also with operator branded ones you get even more rubbish unless you want to get all technical on it.

Actually, lots of companies seem to now offer spraying the phone/dipping it in protective sealant (too small to see layer, and probably NOT over the screen

). Hope it becomes more common/cheaper.

Simon · Mar 26, 2014, 19:58:58

Quote from: pctech on Mar 26, 2014, 19:09:10
Simon

Might want to look here to see it 'in the flesh' so to speak

http://www.youtube.com/user/leodee/videos

Looks nice, but I'm reminded that it's just another Android under the surface.

pctech · Mar 26, 2014, 22:15:37

Depends what you require I guess.

I'm beginning the think the smartphone is become like the PC market is, two main platforms slugging it out with only the chassis, memory and processor being different.

peasblossom · Apr 04, 2014, 18:48:20

https://phonebloks.com/en/goals What about this, at some point? (Can see Simon saying a firm 'no', by the way.) I still think it could be good.

pctech · Apr 04, 2014, 18:56:09

Nice idea but wonder what they will do about housing to make it look better as a load of blocks stuck together isn't really going to trouble Apple or Samsung now is it?

Perhaps there is a market for a build to order model for these, I expect Michael Dell would probably be interested.

Simon · Apr 04, 2014, 19:04:32

No.

pctech · Apr 04, 2014, 19:09:01

I have to say I was underwhelmed at the performance of the HTC Desire S I had.

Lovely build quality but it had terrible battery life and signal quality wasn't that great either, probably because they used very small antennae.

I like the look of the HTC One M8 but I wouldn't risk buying another SIM free, I'll stick to Samsung for the moment.