Virgin Mobile USA is running a 50% off Android phones sale today. Okay, I’m in. I love my iPhone 3G S but I’d like more internet than my current 30MB per month and I’d like my phone to be a driving GPS. Google has a terrific driving GPS app, so I’ll give Android a try again. I don’t care about the real keyboard on this phone, but I do care that it has Android 2.3 (good autocorrect on a Nexus S I’ve tried), compared to 2.2 (zero autocorrect) on the Optimus V non-slider.
I really should wait for a phone with Android 4.0, from some review I saw mentioned on DaringFireball.net, but I’ll give this a go today due to the fire sale.
The wife will try one as well, to replace her beloved Blackberry Curve. We’ll see how it goes.
What I expect to miss going from unlocked iPhone 3G S on T-Mobile prepaid to LG Optimus Slider on Virgin Mobile USA
Instapaper. But I think I’ll be okay with Instapaper on Kindle 3, iPad and MacBook Air.
A hard mute switch, for when I get to and leave the office, quiet environments, at bed time, etc.
Apple’s beautiful new iOS 5 notification system, which they ripped part of off from Android but did so much better.
I’m wondering
If the Android calendar app will suck
If the Android contacts/address book app will suck
If the Android 2.3 Gmail or built-in Mail app will be better than what I’ve seen in 2.2 and earlier versions of Android.
If the Android 2.3 on-screen keypad will be better than that from 2.2.
If the Android Twitter client will be any good
If there are any better Simplenote clients since I last tried Android for myself
I’m hoping that
I can set up Google Talk to transcribe my voicemails
There will be a decent SSH client for Android
Android 2.3’s text autocorrect will be awesome
Tasker will be awesome
There will be a good dictionary with derivations.
There will be a decent way to get music onto this thing.
It’ll be easy to find songs in the car so I can play what my daugther asks for from time to time
What I won’t miss
Inability to forward voicemail to GoogleVoice so they can transcribe my messages
Upgrade bullshit (waiting, long upgrade process) since I have to unlock my iPhone to use it on T-Mobile
Things. It’s a great todo list app which I own for iPhone, iPad and OS X, all purchased separately. Last time I went back to iPhone from Android, Things was part of the reason. But these days I don’t use Things at all. I use Simplenote for my todo lists. I haven’t opened Things (or OmniFocus) on any of my devices in months. Haven’t even thought about them recently, until today.
12 December 2011 update: I ordered an iPhone 4S (factory unlocked) late last week. I’m sending this phone back. It came the closest of any Android phone (considered along with the service and price thereof) of being something I could stick with. But Android 2.3 sucks hard in my view and I don’t want to deal with it. I want the excellent experience of an iPhone.
The only drawback of sticking with prepaid T-Mobile and an iPhone are no ability to forward my voicemail to Google Voice (bummer) and limited internet (30MB/mo.) The internet thing is mitigated by my TruConnect MiFi 2200 $4.99/mo + $0.039/MB mobile hotspot data plan.