Sprint: Samsung Epic 4G or HTC EVO 4G?

[riffjim4069]

When you hit a 4G area, I would really like to see what type of speeds you get.

I posted this in another thread...

I'm impressed with the phone...really, I am seriously impressed. Although I initially preferred the Epic's Super AMOLED screen and pull-out keyboard, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the EVO screen (huge and looks great) and I managed just fine with the virtual keyboard (and I haven't gotten around to loading Swype just yet). The one thing I really love about the EVO is the HTC Sense UI - it is wonderful. I pretty much set-it-up (80% or so) in a few hours and figured-out how to use 80% of the features just putzing around. Although my wife has an very high IQ, she is a self-admitted computer dummy who just doesn't like electronic gadgets. However, she loves the DVR and I will guarantee that she will want an EVO when she sees mine.

While the screen may not be quite as nice as the Epic, it's huge and I used it to watch America's Got Talent video via the YouTube app...looked very HD-like and filled the entire 4.3 screen. OK, it looked fantastic. I played around with Sprint TV some...decent content, but I wasn't all that impressed with the small video size.

Speed? If you're talking about 4G...well, I wasn't in a 4G area today. 3G seemed OK, but I didn't download the Speedtest app until much later and I am currently in a roaming area and connected to a Wi-Fi router. I am getting 18Mb down and 3.8 up on my laptop, but only 12.5 down and 3.8 up on the EVO - although I noticed the Speedtest guage only went to 10Mb so the different may be with the app. As far as how fast does the EVO operate? It sails! I probably had 25+ apps running at one time and I can moved quickly between menus without delay. This is one fast operating phone!

To be honest, I didn't figure out how to kill apps until I download App Killer...but later found how to do it via the Setting. I still haven't figured out all the ins-and-out and shortcuts, but there are few minor annoyances:

- I couldn't find a Hotmail or Windows Live app (doubt one will be available for an Android phone). Although I setup my Hotmail account, the GMail app was so, so, so much nicer...and I was used to using Hotmail/Windows Live on my old Win Mobile 6.1 phone. I will probably just autoforward all my Hotmail to my Gmail.

- There was no LinkedIN, SatelliteGuys or a handful of other of other site apps. I'm sure these will be available in time. I was going to download Tapatalk, but I'll just wait on the SatelliteGuys Android App. I was going to use PDA Mode but, to be honest, the screen is so large and so easy to manipulate that I'm just fine using the web browser for the time being.

~Happy Camper

 

[riffjim4069]

I simply cannot believe how well text to speech works. I'm simply amazed! In fact, im posting using text to speech right now. it may not work perfectly, but it works well enough for me.

 

[JAG72]

Nice to see you are enjoying the EVO. I thought it was a very nice for the time I had one. Now if Sprint would have been a better provider in my area, I might still have it today.

 

[Jimbo]

I absolutely love this phone. It is fantastic! im posting with the e v o in full screen mode using text to speech as I speak. although it is not perfect, it's not too shabby.

I don't use the text to speech to much, but when I have used it, it's worked very well. Not sure what it would do if it's not a quiet area when using it.

 

[Jimbo]

I posted this in another thread...

I'm impressed with the phone...really, I am seriously impressed. Although I initially preferred the Epic's Super AMOLED screen and pull-out keyboard, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the EVO screen (huge and looks great) and I managed just fine with the virtual keyboard (and I haven't gotten around to loading Swype just yet). The one thing I really love about the EVO is the HTC Sense UI - it is wonderful. I pretty much set-it-up (80% or so) in a few hours and figured-out how to use 80% of the features just putzing around. Although my wife has an very high IQ, she is a self-admitted computer dummy who just doesn't like electronic gadgets. However, she loves the DVR and I will guarantee that she will want an EVO when she sees mine.

While the screen may not be quite as nice as the Epic, it's huge and I used it to watch America's Got Talent video via the YouTube app...looked very HD-like and filled the entire 4.3 screen. OK, it looked fantastic. I played around with Sprint TV some...decent content, but I wasn't all that impressed with the small video size.

Speed? If you're talking about 4G...well, I wasn't in a 4G area today. 3G seemed OK, but I didn't download the Speedtest app until much later and I am currently in a roaming area and connected to a Wi-Fi router. I am getting 18Mb down and 3.8 up on my laptop, but only 12.5 down and 3.8 up on the EVO - although I noticed the Speedtest guage only went to 10Mb so the different may be with the app. As far as how fast does the EVO operate? It sails! I probably had 25+ apps running at one time and I can moved quickly between menus without delay. This is one fast operating phone!

To be honest, I didn't figure out how to kill apps until I download App Killer...but later found how to do it via the Setting. I still haven't figured out all the ins-and-out and shortcuts, but there are few minor annoyances:

- I couldn't find a Hotmail or Windows Live app (doubt one will be available for an Android phone). Although I setup my Hotmail account, the GMail app was so, so, so much nicer...and I was used to using Hotmail/Windows Live on my old Win Mobile 6.1 phone. I will probably just autoforward all my Hotmail to my Gmail.

- There was no LinkedIN, SatelliteGuys or a handful of other of other site apps. I'm sure these will be available in time. I was going to download Tapatalk, but I'll just wait on the SatelliteGuys Android App. I was going to use PDA Mode but, to be honest, the screen is so large and so easy to manipulate that I'm just fine using the web browser for the time being.

~Happy Camper

Do you find that much difference between a 4.3 and 4 " screen ?

I set up my home email on it, they require you to have the Gmail on the phone, though I don't use it.

Is there a SatGuys App coming ?

When you said your hooked up to a wifi set up, do you need to turn the 3 G off first ?
I figured that one out, when I hit the Wifi button it turned the 3G off.
Also, I have no 3G button, I have a 4 G and wifi, I'm guessing that if I'm in a 4G are the 4G option will be available.

Our phones are very similar, but not identical in the lay out.

I'm guessing, your Wife will want the Epic.

Edit:
Just hooked up to my wifi at home (8mg service) and my Epic just registered 7452 kbs, million times faster than the 3 G, then again, it 's suppose to be.

 

[riffjim4069]

I don't use the text to speech to much, but when I have used it, it's worked very well. Not sure what it would do if it's not a quiet area when using it.

I don't know, but I suspect the results wouldn't be too good. I speak slowly and clearly when using it, but it would probably suck if one were to speak quickly and/or have a heavy New England, Bronx, Southern accent or spoke Canadianese like they do in Detroit.

 

[digiblur]

Just picked up the epic...wow...this phone is awesome. Keep getting the install update screen...uh...no...I want to root and not sure if the update kills it.

 

[riffjim4069]

Do you find that much difference between a 4.3 and 4 " screen ?

Not really...but it's huge compared to my Mogul - and the phone is probably lighter too.

I set up my home email on it, they require you to have the Gmail on the phone, though I don't use it.

Yep, I'll still be using Hotmail but the Gmail app is nice.

Is there a SatGuys App coming ?

Yep, it's running late but should be released within the next 2-weeks from the folks at Forum Runner. It looks pretty slick.

When you said your hooked up to a wifi set up, do you need to turn the 3 G off first ?
I figured that one out, when I hit the Wifi button it turned the 3G off.
Also, I have no 3G button, I have a 4 G and wifi, I'm guessing that if I'm in a 4G are the 4G option will be available.

I'm not sure, but I've got my set to use the Sprint Network 3G/4G when a Wi-Fi network is not available.

I'm guessing, your Wife will want the Epic.

To be honest, she just wants a flip-phone that works. She still keeps her contacts in a Radio Shack electronic organizer (circa mid-90s) and has never used web or email on her HTC Touch. She has never liked the Touch (I don't blame her) and has shelved the two PDAs I doubt her over the years. I'm thinking the EVO/Epic will be overkill for her...just hoping she updates to something that's easy to use and throw that darn Radio Shack organizer in the trash.

 

[riffjim4069]

Just picked up the epic...wow...this phone is awesome. Keep getting the install update screen...uh...no...I want to root and not sure if the update kills it.

I think the update is supposed to correct problems with customers only being able to upload at 150Kb. Other than that...I have no idea. Why are your rooting the phone? Just curious. I was still very tempted to get an Epic today...

 

[Jimbo]

I think either way they are both very nice phones, I wanted the Physical keyboard as I was use to my previous one and my friend got the EVO and were both happy with them.

She uses her's alot more like you guy's probably do, I just play with mine, she does bills and everything with hers.

Difference being, this is my first experience with a Smart Phone. (I wanted to see what I was missing)
She's used a Blackberry for quite a while now.

 

[riffjim4069]

Another annoyance...

...I noticed the local news and radio stations I listen to all have iphone/ipad apps - nothing for the android yet. I'm sure this will quickly change since the android is outselling all the other smartphones.

 

[Jimbo]

I think the update is supposed to correct problems with customers only being able to upload at 150Kb. Other than that...I have no idea. Why are your rooting the phone? Just curious. I was still very tempted to get an Epic today...

What happens if you MISS an update, is there ways to get it again ?

 

[riffjim4069]

I think either way they are both very nice phones, I wanted the Physical keyboard as I was use to my previous one and my friend got the EVO and were both happy with them.

She uses her's alot more like you guy's probably do, I just play with mine, she does bills and everything with hers.

Difference being, this is my first experience with a Smart Phone. (I wanted to see what I was missing)
She's used a Blackberry for quite a while now.

If my wife wants a 4G phone I'll try to talk her into an Epic since I like a little variety.

 

[riffjim4069]

...I noticed the local news and radio stations I listen to all have iphone/ipad apps - nothing for the android yet. I'm sure this will quickly change since the android is outselling all the other smartphones.

Add to the list the Nexflix app...

 

[digiblur]

I think the update is supposed to correct problems with customers only being able to upload at 150Kb. Other than that...I have no idea. Why are your rooting the phone? Just curious. I was still very tempted to get an Epic today...

Because I bought it and want to do whatever I want to do with it. Same reason I never ran stock on my Mogul, TP, and TP2. Lots of cool stuff beyond stock.

 

[digiblur]

Man this is easy compared to WinMo

Rooted... backed up some things to verify root. Let first OTA take. Installed recovery software and booted into recovery mode and backed up.

Loaded new update.zip on SD card that is supposed to fix upload speeds. Installed via recovery mode. Working good!

 

[Jimbo]

Man this is easy compared to WinMo

Rooted... backed up some things to verify root. Let first OTA take. Installed recovery software and booted into recovery mode and backed up.

Loaded new update.zip on SD card that is supposed to fix upload speeds. Installed via recovery mode. Working good!

Now you'll never know just how good the phone really is.

 

[JAG72]

Now you'll never know just how good the phone really is.

Actually rooting your phone normally makes it better that it was before. There are many out there that make custom roms for the Android phones that remove most of the bloatware that Sprint and others place on them. The customized roms are more streamlined than the ones that are provided by the provider.

 

[Ronnie-]

Now you'll never know just how good the phone really is.

I agree with Jagz. He has made the phone better than it was. Much more you can do rooted than stock.

 

[Jimbo]

I agree with Jagz. He has made the phone better than it was. Much more you can do rooted than stock.

My thought was to be able to use what was already on it.
I thought that rooting it was only to put extra stuff on it.

Then again, I have never done anything like that.

What happens if you have to take it back for problems, don't they frown on this ?