Smartphone

[danetter]

I know this might not be to much of a budget related issue but I knew you guys could give me the info I need. In the next couple months we are going to be buying a home video security system to place around outside of our house. We have had issues with neighborhood kids. The more we say stay out the more they think they can keep doing. These are kids around the ages of 9-12 yrs of age. One of them has a cousin that lived in this same neighborhood and did the same thing when he was a teenager and my husband said something to his family and yep it got worse no better at all. This time we will have pictures to prosecute the parents as they have no idea what their kids are up too. I hate to do that but if the parents can't control their kids now at the ages stated above then what will it be a few more years from now.
Ok back to the phone, the security system we are looking at to buy can be used with a smartphone too. Meaning when we go somewhere we can view what is going on when we are not at home. Right now my husband has a company cell phone that is provided and paid for through the co. I have a tracfone. With me being at home all the time I have never really even looked into getting a cell phone under contract. We have decided if we go the smartphone route we will do away with our home phone all together. So I am trying to get info on what smartphone you all have and what you like or dislike about them. Which one is the best? Which one to stay away from?

TIA

 

[sam_gordon]

The two front runners are iPhone & Android. Iphones can only be used with iphones (of which there are 3(?) models). The Android OS is used by a lot of manufacturers on many different phones.

I have an Android and like it. Others like iphones. I've never used an iphone, but I'm told it's easier to use (not to say the Android is difficult... it's not). I do like Android has more personalization options and interfaces with Google Docs (big for me) directly.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

2nd time HTC phone owner on Android system. Love the google interface also... very intuitive, I think. Others in my plan have had trouble with Samsung phones. 3G is fine for our use tho 4G is the future.
I also have trouble causing neighbors.... come to find out it was the adults! They actually moved our vehicles around in our drive to set up a prank when we were away.... very bold! We live rural. We farm, We have multiple vehicles... thought we didn't have to lock - wrong!

 

[Bell30012]

If it doesn't have an apple on the back... it's just a phone.

After you prosecute the first teenager, the rest will get the message. I have a recording home security camera system. Someone entered my garage several times taking small tools and tampering with the ignition on my motorcycle. I invited the kid's parents over, showed them the video. I explained that the next time it happened, I'd give the video to the DA for prosecution.

The kid's father is a deputy. I was expecting him to give me a ton of grief and was even worried about being stopped in retaliation. But it appears that the parents solved the issue. I've never had another issue. Everyone in the neighborhood knows that I have cameras and they respect them (or fear them... but fear is a form of respect, right?).

 

[jedijill]

I use Alarm.com and have an app for my Iphone. I don't have video with my security system, I could easily add it and just pay the extra monitoring fees. I can set, disarm, check status on my alarm system via my phone.

HTH

Jill in CO

 

[Neesy228]

another vote for the iphone (you probably don't need the brand new 4S, but the 4 would suit you fine)...easy to learn, great to use and in a month or two you'll wonder how in the world you ever lived without one!

 

[kesha]

another vote for the iphone (you probably don't need the brand new 4S, but the 4 would suit you fine)...easy to learn, great to use and in a month or two you'll wonder how in the world you ever lived without one!

Yes! I love my iphone! I have the 4.

 

[arthuruscg]

Well for smartphones there are to major choices Apple and Android. Ignore Blackberry and Windows phones.
I suggest going to the store and playing with the various phones to find one you like.
Iphones only comes 1 way but Android phones come in various designs. I perfer Android phone because of the open phlosiphy.
Apple is in total control over their phones, and everything has to be done the Apple way.
Android is about user choices, there are alots of different Android hardware manafactures and each of them is different.
I wanted a physical keyboard and that is only available on Android phones, physical keyboards are not the apple way and you will never find one on an Iphone.

 

[pintamino]

Well for smartphones there are to major choices Apple and Android. Ignore Blackberry and Windows phones.
I suggest going to the store and playing with the various phones to find one you like.
Iphones only comes 1 way but Android phones come in various designs. I perfer Android phone because of the open phlosiphy.
Apple is in total control over their phones, and everything has to be done the Apple way.
Android is about user choices, there are alots of different Android hardware manafactures and each of them is different.
I wanted a physical keyboard and that is only available on Android phones, physical keyboards are not the apple way and you will never find one on an Iphone.

The good thing about the "Apple way" is it just plain works. Customization/open source is useless to me as a non-programmer of it doesn't make it easy to get things done. I had an iPhone 3GS, switched to a Droid Pro (with keys) and immediately couldn't wait to switch back. iPhone 4 user now.

Zero problems with the touchscreen keypad (easier to use than keys IMO, on it now) but if you want the other benefits of an iPhone with keys:http://www.boxwave.com/iphone-4-cases-and-covers/keyboard-buddy-iphone-4-case/bwpdd/pkz-twvc/

 

[Bell30012]

Running joke after all the RIM downtime... Q> What did one Blackberry user say to the other? A> Nothing!