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So, I'm looking to upgrade my mobile, but I'm not 100% on what to get, so I'm open to any advice that peeps may have. I've been a Nokia guy for at least 5 years now, but the phones they're releasing seem very samey to me, and nothing much is growing. I've been eyeing up the D500, but I'm not 100% sure on it's capabilities. After seeing Rhythms phone, the SPV C500, I was very impressed, especially with his Star Wars clip. .gif) Ideally the only thing the phone needs to be is cheap (Pay monthly after all, so an initial fee should be low) and have some funky features and reliabe. No Sharps. Ever. Thanks for any pointers! |
New phone advice!
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Lutz 48,870 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 18 years ago -
itamae 10,213 posts
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Registered 19 years agoI'm quite happy with my Nokia 6230. Put in a cheap 1 GB MMC card and you've got a decent portable MP3 player. Apparently it can do a number of other tricks (bluetooth, photo/video camera, organiser, games, imode bla bla...), but I don't use those to be honest.
/is a mobile phone newbie -
Lutz 48,870 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 18 years agoYeah, I eyed up the 6230, but it's now a pretty old (ish) phone and I'm not very comfortable with the keypad.
Quick question about mobiles in general: If a phone plays MP3s, does this mean by default that you can have an MP3 as your ring tone, rather than a polyphonic? -
itamae 10,213 posts
Seen 1 year ago
Registered 19 years agoLutz wrote:
Well, my phone does MP3 ring tones. I've pledged not to get a mobile phone before I can have an authentic Bubble Bobble ring tone, and thanks to modern science my dream has finally come true \o/
Quick question about mobiles in general: If a phone plays MP3s, does this mean by default that you can have an MP3 as your ring tone, rather than a polyphonic? -
Lutz 48,870 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 18 years agoitamae wrote:
An MP3 player is essential then. I see a lot of mobiles are advertised as playing polyphonics and have MP3s. They should be under "true tone" TBH.
Well, my phone does MP3 ring tones. I've pledged not to get a mobile phone before I can have an authentic Bubble Bobble ring tone, and thanks to modern science my dream has finally come true \o/ -
ssuellid 19,142 posts
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Registered 20 years agoD500 has fixed memory - 80MB IIRC. Nokias are Meh. The SPV C500 is best phone ever. -
Lutz 48,870 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 18 years agossuellid wrote:
The D500 has 96mb IIRC, but either 80mb or 96mb either should be fine. For what I need (so far) I'm living on 64mb just fine.
D500 has fixed memory - 80MB IIRC. Nokias are Meh. The SPV C500 is best phone ever.
However if you do add videos etc into that then yes, I would need more.
The SPV C500 has really caught my eye.
Is it MP3?
Can it do true tone?
Can it connect to a PC ok? (So I can d/l from net and drop files onto the phone)
Edit: What's the camera like? (Does it have one?)
Edited by Lutz at 09:27:01 18-03-2005 -
ssuellid 19,142 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 20 years agoThe camera is ok. Not the best but better than most low res, VGA, camera phones.
Connecting to a PC is a piece of piss - its got a built in mini usb port. Just plug it in and use it like a flash drive. It also charges from usb - no need to carry a charger about if there is a PC at the destination.
It has WMP built in so can play MP3, WMA etc.
WTF is true tone? -
Lutz 48,870 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 18 years agorhythm wrote:
What's the tarriff? (Free mins, texts etc)
That C500 covers a lot of what you need:
Cheap (free to buy and then just £11.50 per month with mobileshop)
MP3 player. You can use them for ringtones and SMSs too (listens to Zelda "found item" SMS tone). You can also use midi files for ringtones too, so you can have that authentic Megadrive or SNes tune as a tone.
\o/
Just like mine then. I'd not be able to live without my TJ&E ringtone.
Divx player. I have a 256MB card in my phone (£20) and can store a full version of Sam and Max, 2 hours worth of music and either 1 episode of 24 or 2 of Family Guy, all at once. On top of that I've got a stack of photos I've taken, loads of extra games and numerous other applications on it.
Does DivX come installed as standard then?
If not, how do you go about installing stuff like that?
Texting/Email. It's got T9 and is supremely easy to use thanks to the uber-dictionary that fills in words before you've even typed the first letter.
meh, I don't like T9 so I'm not fussed anyway.
PDA. It's not just a phone - it's a very good PDA with a good phone attached.
So it's actually a PDA then? -
Lutz 48,870 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 18 years agossuellid wrote:
Bascially means that you can use an MP3 as a ringtone.
WTF is true tone? -
Lutz 48,870 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 18 years agorhythm wrote:
I don't understand... why would you want to use a phone to remote control a laptop that you're sat next to?
I've actually been well taken with Bluetooth too since I can now use it in conjunction with the USB adapter that came with my phone to remote control my laptop.gif)
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/Hugs Ngage
(Well, someone has to) -
Lutz wrote:
Tsk!
I don't understand... why would you want to use a phone to remote control a laptop that you're sat next to?
Because you can! \o/ -
Lutz 48,870 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 18 years agorhythm wrote:
Cool, but how long does that take? Is it fairly easy to do?
Yes, it's a PDA. Divx is covered by "BetaPlayer", a superb little freeware media player. You can convert DVDs to the res you need for the phone with "PocketDivxEncoder". This will convert downloaded films/TV or stuff you've ripped from DVD with DVD Decrypter
www.mobileshop.com is the lowest priced place so far....BUT....all the low priced contracts you'll see are by redemption. You pay £11.50 per month for 100 anytime X-net minutes. After 3 months that goes up to £23, but Mobileshop send you cashback cheques after 6 and 12 months to bring the total cost down. You get a pack of Bluetooth accessories (use them or sell them) with that contract and free texts for the first 3 months (you can bolt more on later, very cheaply)
I'd rather just get a £25 a month for a decent package TBH. 1010 Xnet mins is not enough. And I hate them redemption things, as I always forget.
If you want to go ahead after thinking about it, let me know. If I refer you to them, I get £20 (which I'd be more than willing to split, obviously)
No worries. Not fussed about a split mate, you're helping me out here and that's payment enough for me..gif)
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Divx conversion is quite fast for that kind of bitrate. I have a proggie which does it for a Symbian S60 player I use on my Ngage, and Mrs Retroid would get my to convert files to watch on her HP Jornada 720. A Handheld PC, true, but of a similar power (and same CPU type) as the CE-based smartphones like the SPV C500. -
Divx conversion is quite fast for that kind of bitrate. I have a proggie which does it for a Symbian S60 player I use on my Ngage, and Mrs Retroid would get me to convert files to watch on her HP Jornada 720. A Handheld PC, true, but of a similar power (and same CPU type) as the CE-based smartphones like the SPV C500. -
Lutz 48,870 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 18 years agorhythm wrote:
Right! Not a feature I'd use, but I understand why it would be handy.
I use the laptop to watch TV and listen to music - I plug it into the stereo/TV and set it going then close it. If I've ever had to change tracks, it's been a case of having to go to the laptop, open it up, find the mouse pointer etc etc. Now I can pause, play, skip tracks, change volume all thru the remote from the comfort of my armchair \o/ The next/last/current tracks are even displayed on my
phone! -
Lutz 48,870 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 18 years agorhythm wrote:
\o/
It's EXTREMELY easy to use. -
Mike_Hunt 23,524 posts
Seen 2 years ago
Registered 19 years agoIf you want a PDA based phone then go for the C500.
If you want a phone that meets all your requirements then go for the 6230.
I've got a 6230, no problems with the keypad (I can't type as quick as anyone), and the other features are pretty cool:
-Bluetooth (for seemless connection to my PC and car kit)
-MP3 player (1gig of memory = lots of tunes)
-Camera - only ever used for taking picture of a hot colleagues arse and some womans hair in a curry house (well it was *weird*))
-Video camera
-Small (most important feature to me)
Yadda yadda. The 6230 plays video clips too, but I'm personally not keen on watching movies on small screens.
Like I say, if you want a phone then go 6230, if you want an uber gadget then go for the C500.
[MH] -
ssuellid 19,142 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 20 years agoIMHO the C500 is a better phone than the 6230 as well. So ignore mr hunt. I use both on a daily basis. -
Mike_Hunt 23,524 posts
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Registered 19 years agoRyhthm - how do you shrink down the videos for your phone? I've tried doing the same for my PDA, but it's so much hassle I just can't be bothered!
[MH] -
Mike_Hunt 23,524 posts
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Registered 19 years agossuellid wrote:
Yeah, I hear you can talk into the C500 and people at the other end can hear you and everything. Amazing. Sometimes I wish my 6230 had such a powerful feature.
IMHO the C500 is a better phone than the 6230 as well. So ignore mr hunt. I use both on a daily basis.
/missing sarcasm smilie
I take my phone with my everywhere, which is why I selected one that met *my* needs, fitted into my pocket and didn't have a "portable carrier complete with wheels for ease of carrage" as a listed accessory.
[MH] -
Mike_Hunt 23,524 posts
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Registered 19 years agoHow long does it take to re-encode? I'm sure I've tried it and had some problem or other.
[MH] -
Mike_Hunt 23,524 posts
Seen 2 years ago
Registered 19 years agorhythm wrote:
How small is friggin' tiny?
Mike_Hunt wrote:
I take my phone with my everywhere, which is why I selected one that met *my* needs, fitted into my pocket and didn't have a "portable carrier complete with wheels for ease of carrage" as a listed accessory.
[MH]
Eh? Have you SEEN the size of the C500? It's friggin' tiny!
/doubts a PDA/Phone will be small
[MH] -
ssuellid 19,142 posts
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Registered 20 years agoThe C500 is a tiny bit bigger, a couple of mm at the most, in all dimensions. Its does everything the 6230 does and more. -
Lutz 48,870 posts
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Registered 18 years agoYeah, the SPV C500 is about 10% bigger than the 6230.
But I really don't like the 6230.
It's looking like I'm heading back into Orange County! -
ssuellid 19,142 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 20 years agoMike_Hunt wrote:
How small is friggin' tiny?
/doubts a PDA/Phone will be small
[MH]
So you are basing you opinion against something you have not even seen?
lol -
Tiny
If the Ngage didn't do so much that I wanted - like playing Stunt Car Racer \o/ - I'd be seriously considering a C500 myself. -
ssuellid 19,142 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 20 years agoSPV C500 is 108mm x 46mm x 16mm
6230 is 103mm x 44mm x 20mm. -
Mike_Hunt wrote:
Divx is fast at encoding anyway, but screen res also matters aswell as bandwidth.
How long does it take to re-encode? I'm sure I've tried it and had some problem or other.
100Kb/s works VERY well on my Ngage at 176x208 res, usually encodes about 3 times faster than real-time. Playback is smooth.
Should be about the same experience on the C500, except the Symbian player can't handle Ogg.
.gif)
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