Ok so I don't have a smart phone yet but am looking at some Android numbers. Haven't had anything to do with smarty phones to date but would like to take advantage of most basic functions, calender/sync and some apps.
I have always had a love/hate relationship with Mac.. mainly hate tho.
Next year I will have to use a Mac lappy for work.
Wassa scoop, will I be able to get a Mac lappy and Android phone to play well together? Or do I need to bite the bullet and get an i-clone.. er i-phone?
I don't wanna bar of i-tunes either BTW.
Options?
Android phones are largely independent of the computer so it doesn't matter if your computer is Mac, Windows or Linux if you have a Android phone. Each operating system will see the phone as a drive when you connect them.
My wife has an iPhone and I had a cheapo Android phone. If you are less technical probably go for the iPhone. However if you don't like iTunes don't buy an Iphone. If you go Android its probably best to go for a phone that doesn't have a company wrapper over the OS and also to get a phone that will run the latest version of Android.
GF - there's a sales rep at the Optus store in Whitford City shopping centre called Sam - young slim bloke with dark hair you might want to talk to... he's there Thursday nights and all day Saturday.
When looking for a smart phone for Mrs GPA he was by FAR the most knowledgable guy I spoke to. He's studying engineering at Uni and I did not ask a question that he couldn't answer in detail...
FYI we purchased a Samsung Galaxy II S (and later another for my daughter after she had a play with her Mum's).
I can get an iPhone from work but waiting to see if the Samsung's go on the corporate plan. I don't like the whole iTune sync BS.
Smartphone - iPhone. Android phones are way to resource hungry.
Tablet - andriods run rings around ipads
I think Macs in terms of hardware and most software are fantastic. What lets it down for me is itunes. I can't stand it.
For that reason alone I'd choose an Android as my next phone.
I got a HD2, a windows mobile phone, but the old good version of windows mobile. All the bells n whistles. I spent weeks/months setting up every little thing, uninstalling telstra crap, installing new apps, tweaking settings. Hanging out on xda-developers, learning how to mod it up.
Now I only use 4 things.
Phone.
Mp3 alarm player (I need a 5 minute song to get thru the fog)
Camera (for on the fly snaps).
Google maps.
The rest is totally wasted.
Sorry, that was a bit off topic. My vote is Android x 1000.
Keep in mind apple suuports all their products where as almost half android phones are not compatible with new OS within 12 to 18 months. There isnt many android phones that can run ICS. Where as IOS 5 even still works on the iPhone 3GS which is over 2 years old.
I use Android.
My phone does very cool stuff.
I like. 
Apple equates to itunes in my world and that makes me sh!t
I read an analogy some time ago that is pretty spot on can't remember the source but it went something like this...
iPhone and the Apple ecosystem is like one of those gated communities - everything looks nice, it's well maintained, there's no nasties but it's quite regulated
Android ecosystem is like the "downtown" region where anything goes, the boundaries are being pushed, it attracts some crazies along with those on the cutting edge but you want to watch out for yourself cause things can on occasion turn nasty
The iPhone is great. There are some great Android phones. All depends which one meets more of your needs.
Simple answer. If you don't want iTunes at all, Go android, you can't run iPhone without iTunes...
For all you guys that dont like iTunes. You dont even need itunes or even a PC/Mac to have an iPhone or iPad now with iOS 5. Just like android. Just turn it on.
Searching for the "best" phone is pointless. The phone by itself is just a paper weight.
You want a phone with a good set of apps and features that do what you want to do.
My "killer" apps are:
- downloading podcasts (Ted, Radiolab, comedy, ABC radio shows)
- Web for accessing weather sites and general browsing for Google, maps, public transport etc
- find my iphone as a backup personal tracker when paragliding (works really well for this)
I am perfectly happy with my iphone 3GS through the Telstra network. It does everything I want to do and integrates into my car for hands-free calls and control of music play back from the steering wheel controls.
We have even used it on a yacht in Bass Strait to get weather details when we missed the regular radio weather broadcast.
Spare batteries and accessories can be had for peanuts from ebay stores.
I have a cable to plug it into a TV or sound system so when we go away we can watch movies or listen to music or podcasts.
I have no problem with itunes. It does what I need it to do.
I have no real plans to upgrade any time soon. I guess a better camera and a flash would be good to have.
Wow!
Ta for all the replies folks.
Although Mac make funky-ish product (almost as well as they market it 
) I seriously loathe Apple's m.o. of excluding you from anything but Apple. I won't touch i-choons even with someone elsse's barge pole, so therefore it's Android/Windows.
As long as i get some sync and co-habitation between my work Mac lappy and the smart phone - all good.
@Flyguy, I use hotmail and hadn't considered Windows vs Android. Ta for the tip.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I can still access hotmail on an Android phone - just logging in - rather than updating 24/7?
Also, which phones are Windows 7 based?
In Android terms I'd be looking for a cheapo deal on a Glaxay S (not SII) as it should more than fit my basic needs.
) I seriously loathe Apple's m.o. of excluding you from anything but Apple. I won't touch i-choons even with someone elsse's barge pole, so therefore it's Android/Windows.
) I seriously loathe Apple's m.o. of excluding you from anything but Apple. I won't touch i-choons even with someone elsse's barge pole, so therefore it's Android/Windows.
Good call. HTC are the best android phone. The rest all need app killers & suck resoucres.
You can sync your iTunes wirelessly aswell & you can get your apps straight on your iPhone Dada. Think theres a lot of people here still very computer illiterate.
No wonder my job pays for all my new boards. Woo hoo
To be honest I'm not a fan of any of the new operating systems, require to much online all the time for the full experience.
iTunes isn't all that bad as long you don't mind getting everything through there and jail breaking it isn't too hard. It also has one of the "safest" app stores. The one thing I do like about apple is their integration is top notch which can't be said about any of the other OS's
Android seems to be the race for specs so as soon as your phone comes out it's old news. I'm also not a fan of the full el google experience - they make their money from search and stats just remember that.
If your getting a WP don't get one of the old devices, the newer ones are using faster processors and more ram. WP is also not quite finished, still needs some tweaks additions.
The biggest thing is to make sure it's what you want, once yo start down the garden path it's hard to get off because you invest money in that direction with additional apps.
