I've
so far had three smartphones, and my contract on the third is due to
expire in a few weeks. I honestly can't wait to get off the Windows
Lumia 640 as the handset and operating system has many drawbacks,
particularly if you have memory difficulties but also for people of
any ability.
The
Windows mobile has an awkward operating system that makes it
difficult to find information, its store it lacks key apps like
Snapchat and ColorNotes, and also it's unlikely to have apps for
local businesses. Health restaurant Kettlebell Kitchen, in Manchester, has an
wards scheme that is run through the smartphone- provided, of course,
you're either on Android or iPhone. There's no Windows app. Other
apps, for instance mental health assistance tools (See Mind's list)
are also lacking on Windows. The web radio apps aren't as good as
Android's and Whatsapp has a sinister black background, in contrast
to Android's grey.
But
anyway, about memory. The advantage of a Windows phone is that
OneNote, the notetaking system, allows for the incorporation of
pictures with written notes, a huge benefit when you're- for
instance- photographing DJs and you can't remember who's who. Or
photographing anyone. Putting pictures into notes with text alongside
it has been a benefit that, as far as I was aware, Android's
Colornotes couldn't do. But Colornotes was easier to organise,
simpler to find your latest notes, or most recently updated.
The
Android system also didn't arbitrarily shut down apps as you're using
them.
That
said, I've found the Windows calendar easier to update and quicker to
set reminders on. These two advantages are all I can offer for
Windows phones, but then, it's been two years since I was on Android.
For all I know, Android has closed that gap.
What
was I on before? I started with an HTC Wildfire, a decent Android
phone for its time with a 5mp camera and a 3.2' screen. It was light
and compact, and did what I wanted. £20 a month for 1GB data. But
HTCs fell by the wayside, smothered by iPhones and the like.
After
this I stepped up and shelled out £27 a month for a Sony Xperia P,
another Android device with an 8mp camera and a 4' screen. This also
came with unlimited data, meaning, among other things, I could stream
whatever radio station I wanted. The key advantage of this: if I
needed information on something, no matter what time of the month it
was and no matter how much I'd streamed radio or video, I could still
go online. I never had to battle with dodgy TfGM public transport
wifi, I could get on the Meetup app (which is rated an adult site, so
transport companies wouldn't let you get on it) and I never had to
tether to upload videos, meaning there was no accidental forgetting
to do so and whacking out 3/4s of my data at the start of the month.
After
this, cutting a long story short, I ballsed up and ended up on
Windows. This is my final few weeks of this contract. I'm going back
to Android, and to Sony Xperias, as soon as possible.
But
which one? Look at the range.
If all 21 are on Android they'll have a similar setup to the Xperia
P. The only specific thing that strikes me as important is the
low-light front camera, available on the XA Ultra. As someone who hounds Z-list celebs in dark, overpriced nightclubs,
it's important that- if I can't get someone to take the pic, I can
get a decent selfie without sending myself and said-famous-person
temporarily blind. And I stress, important.
Other
than this, as long as all the Android apps are still available, and
as long as the camera is better than 8mp, It'll do for me. Question
is, which of these is best for holding info? And which is most
affordable? And where can I buy this outright and unlocked? And,
finally, which is the best sim-only contract? These are just a
handful of queries I have. I don't want to find myself, once again,
roped into a 24-month contract where I'm paying through the nose and
receiving very little in return.
I'll
return to this subject for the next #psychologysaturday blog post,
where hopefully I'll have made a decision.
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