New phone choice in conjunction with Model S

[widodh]

I'm due to get a new phone, my current Nokia N900 had it's best time.

While my Model S is still about 6 ~ 8 months away I'd better choose I phone which works best with the Model S. The answer probably is: "iPhone!" But I'm not a real Apple fan, I hate their old and new connector, I prefer Micro-USB for charging, since that's standard adopted by everybody, except for Apple.

I'd prefer not to buy an iPhone. IF I decide to buy an iPhone it will probably be a 4S, since the 5 is way to expensive for a phone.

However, I want to get the best experience in Model S and I'm looking for some feedback from users who know a lot of this topic, preferably Model S owners.

Anybody out there using a Android 4.0 device with the Model S? How does it work? Any missing features with Android? Or does everything just work?

Some insight on this would be great

 

[ElSupreme]

Get a Nokia Lumia 920 Win8 phone. I will in October when they come out. And we together can get Tesla to make a WinPhone 8 app. And I don't program but have the Win8 development app and it is EASY to make these apps.

I am the proud owner of a Nokia N8, the best phone by far, that I have ever owned. I am stuck on Nokia phones. They seem to have the best antennas and build quality (ok Apple build quality is equal, but their design is function FOLLOWS form, like having glass extend to the corners, on the 4S, of the phone so when you drop it you are almost 100% guaranteed to break your screen or back glass; and back glass?!?!? why?).

 

[dsm363]

The only platforms Tesla is supporting at start is Apple iOS and Androiid I believe so there is always the risk Tesla takes a few years to support Windows. I love the iPhone but have been a huge Apple fan for a long time and don't know anything about the Android phones.

 

[AnOutsider]

I too will be upgrading to the new lumia (or something in the win8 line by Samsung). I'm waiting to see what's going to be available on my carrier. If there are no good choices I'll either get the iPhone 5 or ride it out with my current phone.

We haven't heard much about text to speech lately in the S, but out of the box, windows phones read incoming text messages to you when connected via Bluetooth. I love that feature.

 

[SCW-Greg]

Let me generalize for a moment...

With one you tend to be a bit more of mechanic (hands-on), ability to fine tune everything. The other just works, is super simple, and does what you need it too, and if not, there are 50 other apps that might be more to your liking.

With one you're mostly inoculated from nefarious app programmers trying to pilfer your identity, or take your phone down. The other... app quality varies more wildly, and malware lurks if you're not careful.

With one, the programmers know what hardware they're creating for, and so UI tends to be more predictable, and bugs are fewer. The other, as a programmer, which screen res am I developing for (out of the 150+ differing current models floating around)? What's the hardware capability? What minimum standard to settle on?

With one, you buy a phone, and three years later, you're still supported, and nearly automatically upgraded all along the way to the latest OS and features. The other, 5 months later you're more likely to be left to manually find and seek out OS updates, as the manufacturer has moved on to the next latest and greatest.

Some people don't like a walled society, with no porn, but whats restrictive about 700,000+ apps? With the other, you do live in a truly free and wild west world.

Fragmentation is real, but then again many of my developer friends like the hands-on nature not found with Apple.

You know I used to be a tried and true PC guy, up and til just last year, when I (mostly) converted my main development to the Mac. And while I do still use and have two PCs in the house, I now have an iMac, 3 iPads, 4 iPhones, and 3 iPods too - most of which become hand-me-downs to the wife and kids. I still have my iPhone 1, and it works great (though no longer supported past iOS 4.3), my 7 year old son uses it everyday. But then again... I have to develop web apps on as many devices (each person on my team focuses on different device platform), so I'm not your normal user either.

My two cents.

Final note... Customer service in flatly unmatched with Apple. I can call my store and get one of the people on the phone to help within two rings. I brought back my two-day old headphones from my 4S all chewed up from our kittens, and Apple replaced it. I brought back an iPad because the wifi antenna was weakend (9 months later), Apple gave me a new unit. I have a new Thunderbolt display at another office, with some (I think) software issues, but Apple first suggested I get a new monitor to rule out the hardware, I mean who else who does that?

Edit: And then there's the Windows platform, looks promising, and is trying to be the hybrid of the two platforms. Will be interesting to see where Windows can take this in two years.

 

[spatterso911]

I too will be upgrading to the new lumia (or something in the win8 line by Samsung). I'm waiting to see what's going to be available on my carrier. If there are no good choices I'll either get the iPhone 5 or ride it out with my current phone.

We haven't heard much about text to speech lately in the S, but out of the box, windows phones read incoming text messages to you when connected via Bluetooth. I love that feature.

Siri reads your text messages too. I am really liking what Nokia is doing with the Lumia tho. Great looking phone with incredible specs. Win8 is loking far more polished too. Don't get me wrong tho. My iPhone 5 will be arriving next Friday, and I've already sold my 4S to cover the cost of the new phone.

 

[ToddRLockwood]

If you haven't owned an iPhone before, the new connector on the iPhone 5 is a non-issue. The iPhone is the device all of the other manufacturers are emulating. It is a fantastic communications platform with an unprecedented number of third-party apps. It's no accident that the first app shown by Tesla for the Model S was developed for the iPhone.

 

[contaygious]

I've seen android and iPhone work great so either one really.

 

[ahimberg]

I'm planning to upgrade from my Lumia 800 to a 920 (or 820, depending on carrier availability) when they're out. I'm totally up for working on a model S app for windows phone. (and I am a professional developer, have the windows SDKs, dev marketplace subscription, etc)

 

[jerry33]

The iPhone has been the best cellphone experience I've ever had. I don't see a compelling reason to switch. I would buy an iPhone 5 in an instant except for "No new toys until the Model S arrives".

 

[DrComputer]

I have an HTC One X (on AT&T) and it works great. It has a better screen than the Samsung Galaxy S III and costs less. I paired it with a beta S withough any problem.

 

[efusco]

I'd be concerned that the OEM Model S app may not be compatible, at least initially, with a Windows phone. I'm confident they'll have android compatibility and certainly iOS.

 

[jcstp]

if they use PhoneGap | Home they can make one app for 7 platforms

 

[widodh]

I have an HTC One X (on AT&T) and it works great. It has a better screen than the Samsung Galaxy S III and costs less. I paired it with a beta S withough any problem.

My main problem with the S3 and One X is the size, they are huge!

But from what I understand it shouldn't matter if you use a recent Android device or iOS phone.

Did anybody get the chance to try all the functions with Android?

 

[GSP]

If you are interested in maximum functionally with minimal size and weight, you really owe it to yourself to consider the iPhone 5. It is only 112 grams, and has 8 hour talk time or 10 hour video playback time. For people that like to tinker, jail breaking is available and 100% legal in the US (it is your phone, you can run whatever software you choose).

It will be expensive, but for something that will get so much use, it can really impact your quality of life. Very much like the Model S!

GSP

 

[Tempus]

I found this thread particularly appropriate since my droid 2 picked last week to keel over and die. I ended up going with the iphone 5 for my replacement. Sounds like from anecdotal comments that the iphone integration with the model s might be smoother than some android phones (issues w/bluetooth reported, etc) and as evinced by my interest in the car, i love new gadgets. .

Also, from verizon the price wasnt any different for me for the iphone vs some of the top of the line droid phones, and i very much enjoy the smooth feel of the ui in my wifes older iphone, and on my ipad.

Just my $.02 as i consider myself fairly objective in the droid vs iphone discussion, having owned products from both sides.

 

[KBF]

I am not someone who is stuck on a particular brand or platform. I used to be PC-only (because you could play games on them), and bashed Apple a bit. But I've pretty much switched to Macbook Pros for computing for their OS. Although Linux has a lot going for it; if I didn't have a functional Macbook I'd be tempted to switch. As for phones, I've used iPhones in the past, but more recently had a Sony Arc and now a Samsung Galaxy Note (big, but very functional for me). The myth is that Apples are easier to use, have better components, and are leaders in the tech. While this used to be somewhat true (IMO), the openness of the Android approach means that you can get a superior phone for less, and/or get a phone that suits YOUR needs best rather than what Steve Jobs and his successors think is best. For example, my Note has a pen. Jobs hates pens, and threw one to the floor in disgust since he believes all people are gimps with little dexterity. And one button is apparently best...

In reality, people find anything "new" hard to work with at first, but we quickly adapt to whatever we do on a regular basis. That's why Microsoft still exists as a company (business managers don't like to retrain people). I find Android much easier to use now (but not at first) because I have slowly customized it to what I like, and I'll keep tweaking it to become more functional for me. With Apple you will also keep adapting (more slowly) as they force you to change.

I have a lot more to say, but I have to run... What I recommend as another thing to consider is to look at the companies themselves and see which philosophies you like better. I think that Windows phones have potential, but it is not "there".

Disclaimer: I own Apple shares long, but because they have a profitable business setup. I do not own Google or Microsoft

 

[aviators99]

I'm getting the Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G on Wednesday when it comes out (Android 4.0). I will likely get my car a couple of months before you, so I'll let you know how it works. I expect it to work well for both hands-free and A2DP audio streaming.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

If you are not jumping on the iPhone bandwagon, I'd recommend this phone!

 

[Trnsl8r]

If you are not jumping on the iPhone bandwagon, I'd recommend this phone!

I like this one. Compatible? Must be.