Looking for a Smart Phone Opinions. Anyone have the Droid?

[Thanatos340 1]

I have to get a Smart Phone for work.
Has to be on Verizon/ Looking for opinions.

I was totally sold on the Android until I actually went and looked the phone. The huge problem I had was my eyesight sucks and is getting worse all the time (I should have listen when Mom said I would go Blind doing that). The Icons and Fonts were just too small. I had trouble reading them.

The inhouse droid Guru at the Verizon store came over and I asked him how to increase the font size. 45 minutes later and after he made 3 phone calls and searched the web... He still could not figure out how to make the OS Font bigger or increase the size of the icons. Finally he said, I am sure someone will come out with an app for the sooner or later.

Anyone have a Droid?? Can you change the Default Font size for the OS?

Anyone have any other suggestions for a Good Smart Phone on Verizon?

[d_squared431 0]

PM gawain and I am sure he can answer all you cell phone questions.

TPM Sister#130ONTIG#1
I love vodka.I love vodka cause it rhymes with Tuaca~LisaH
You having a clean thought is like billyvance having a clean post.iluvtofly

[pilotdave 0]

I have a droid... don't see any way to increase the font or icon size. Can't find an app for it either.

Might not work for you, but I'm loving mine.

Dave

[jtnesbitt 0]

I just had the same dilemma and went with the Storm2. Took a little getting used to because i came from a windows smartphone but i love it. It's way easier to use, and simpler than a windows smartphone, you just have to unlearn some things.

"If this post needs to be moderated I would prefer it to be completly removed and not edited and butchered into a disney movie" - DorkZone Hero

[Thanatos340 1]

Quote

I have a droid... don't see any way to increase the font or icon size. Can't find an app for it either.

That sucks. I really wanted one but not much use in buying a smart phone that I cant read.

I did some looking myself and found that this is indeed the case. Basically, If your vision is less than perfect, the droid is not for you. An App called Spare parts

What really sucks is I looked at the Driod side by side with the HTC Pro Touch Two, The Pro Touch 2 was crystal clear to me (Bigger Fonts and Larger Text that was easily readable even without my glasses.) But the Pro Touch 2 runs Windows Mobile 6.1 (Not even the latest 6.5) and Windows Mobile sucks.

Looks like I have to choose between a good OS that I can not read or a Lousy one that I cant.

[Gawain 0]

Quote

I have to get a Smart Phone for work.
Has to be on Verizon/ Looking for opinions.

I was totally sold on the Android until I actually went and looked the phone. The huge problem I had was my eyesight sucks and is getting worse all the time (I should have listen when Mom said I would go Blind doing that). The Icons and Fonts were just too small. I had trouble reading them.

The inhouse droid Guru at the Verizon store came over and I asked him how to increase the font size. 45 minutes later and after he made 3 phone calls and searched the web... He still could not figure out how to make the OS Font bigger or increase the size of the icons. Finally he said, I am sure someone will come out with an app for the sooner or later.

Anyone have a Droid?? Can you change the Default Font size for the OS?

Anyone have any other suggestions for a Good Smart Phone on Verizon?

You can change the font size on Blackberry devices. The Droid is a very capable device, but the Android OS does nothing for me. Plus the keyboard on that thing is garbage. Beyond that, the Android OS has a lot of neat "wow" features, but it doesn't capture me.

If you aren't afraid of touch screen, or want a usable keyboard, the only options are the WinMo devices (like the Touch Pro 2) or Blackberry. The TouchPro2 has a huge, usable keyboard, and HTC does a good job with their TouchFlo interface, but it's the same tired Windows environment underneath. I do not know about adjusting font sizes on Windows Mobile devices. The Opera Mini and Mobile Explorer browsers are very good. Messaging does not seem intuitive (to me anyway).

Blackberries allows different font sizes and types, and they are still unmatched in email and messaging capabilities. Their native browser is lagging though. The BB Storm2 (9550) is a very capable device. While fonts are adjustable, the keyboard font is static. The icons are huge depending on the theme you use on a BB. There is a new BB Tour2 coming out sometime in the early spring (9650), but if you want maximum screen size, the Storm is your ticket, and worth checking out.

I suggest you wait until the 25th, and also look into the Palm Pre Plus, and Pixi Plus which will be out on Verizon. The WebOS is really nice. I do not know if font sizes can be adjusted or not. If you don't want to wait, you can play with one or both at a Sprint store. I don't know about font settings, but it is worth a look either way.

I am not objective mind you. I think Blackberries rule the roost. They have their weak points, but they can do all the social stuff, and get down to business in a way that the other devices just can't touch. However, if you want a large screen, and large keyboard, the TouchPro2 will serve you well. If you aren't adverse to the Windows Mobile environment (which is nothing like Win7), you should have few issues with it. If I sold you on the BB, but you don't want to share space with the touchscreen keyboard, the Tour 9630 or Curve 8530 are also quite decent. Of the two, I'd probably get the Tour, but again, a new one is coming out later this year.

Plus, if you got a Blackberry, you could join our little DZ.com Blackberry Messenger group too!

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Zenister 0]

Love mine. Typing this on it now. Will have to check the accessability options to see if there are font adjustment options. I'd be extremely surprised if there are not, but if that is the case I'm sure it will be addressed via apps/software update.

Keyboard both physical and virtual has a learning curve but apart from patience while you learn it by no means sucks. Most haters I've run into simply don't want to adjus from what they are already used to..

It is a major step up from the treos I had prior and absolutely smashes the blackberry corporate forces me to use as well.

Am very impressed with it,wary a bit of Google's information overlord approach but it is an excellent digital assistant IMO overall.

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[d_squared431 0]

I knew you would know the answers...

TPM Sister#130ONTIG#1
I love vodka.I love vodka cause it rhymes with Tuaca~LisaH
You having a clean thought is like billyvance having a clean post.iluvtofly

[warpedskydiver 0]

Check out the Delta II keyboard on the droid, hurry while it is still free

over 10k downloads so far

[Thanatos340 1]

Quote

Will have to check the accessability options to see if there are font adjustment options.

According to all the Android Forums I visited, There is no way to change the font size for the OS. There was an App called Spare Parts that helped with android 1.1 but quit working for 1.5 and later. Many people complaining about this loudly.

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Android+Market/thread?tid=3b4aec20efc36c87&hl=en

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Android+Market/thread?tid=3b4aec20efc36c87&hl=en

http://community.vzw.com/t5/Android-Devices/DROID-Font-Size-Issue/m-p/143759

Unfortunately this is a deal killer for me (and should be for most people over 40).

I dont like the Blackberrys for pretty much the same reason. My eyesight sucks and I cant read the tiny keyboard on those things. Typing with my thumbs will take some getting used to and I need to be able to see the letters on the keyboard. Also I hate giving up half my screen for a keyboard when there are other phones with a slider Keyboard and you get to use the entire screen. The Storm2 with a slider keyboard would be great but it does not exist.

the keyboard on the Pro Touch2 looks great. Very easy to read and use. But the dreaded WinMo OS.

Keyboard on the Droid, Not as good but readable. Too bad you cant read the fonts on the screens. Makes the devise useless. (Also what the hell is the point of that Thumb rocker thing on the keyboard on a touch screen phone?? Complete waste of real-estate in my opinion.

Uggg.

Actually my dream phone would be the Pro Touch 2 Keyboard on Motorola Droids processor running Android 2.5 (Where they allowed you to increase Font Size) or a Storm 2 with full slider keyboard.

[d_squared431 0]

If you wear glasses you can see the phone better.

I am upgrading to the storm 2 in a few weeks. I can't wait! I want that touch screen. I currently have the curve and like it but the ball gets stuck.

TPM Sister#130ONTIG#1
I love vodka.I love vodka cause it rhymes with Tuaca~LisaH
You having a clean thought is like billyvance having a clean post.iluvtofly

[Gawain 0]

Quote

Quote

Will have to check the accessability options to see if there are font adjustment options.

According to all the Android Forums I visited, There is no way to change the font size for the OS. There was an App called Spare Parts that helped with android 1.1 but quit working for 1.5 and later. Many people complaining about this loudly.

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Android+Market/thread?tid=3b4aec20efc36c87&hl=en

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Android+Market/thread?tid=3b4aec20efc36c87&hl=en

http://community.vzw.com/t5/Android-Devices/DROID-Font-Size-Issue/m-p/143759

Unfortunately this is a deal killer for me (and should be for most people over 40).

I dont like the Blackberrys for pretty much the same reason. My eyesight sucks and I cant read the tiny keyboard on those things. Typing with my thumbs will take some getting used to and I need to be able to see the letters on the keyboard. Also I hate giving up half my screen for a keyboard when there are other phones with a slider Keyboard and you get to use the entire screen. The Storm2 with a slider keyboard would be great but it does not exist.

the keyboard on the Pro Touch2 looks great. Very easy to read and use. But the dreaded WinMo OS.

Keyboard on the Droid, Not as good but readable. Too bad you cant read the fonts on the screens. Makes the devise useless. (Also what the hell is the point of that Thumb rocker thing on the keyboard on a touch screen phone?? Complete waste of real-estate in my opinion.

Uggg.

Actually my dream phone would be the Pro Touch 2 Keyboard on Motorola Droids processor running Android 2.5 (Where they allowed you to increase Font Size) or a Storm 2 with full slider keyboard.

You indicated the desire to stay with Verizon, but you should see about looking into the Nokia N900. You'd have to activate it on T-Mobile. The screen on that thing is huge, and keyboard is three-row intuitive. It runs the Linux Maemo OS which is pretty slick. The downside is that it's an unlocked phone, and it will run you about $500.

One thing you may be overlooking though is the keyboard for all of these devices, you already know the layout (QWERTY), and really just need to find the one that suits you best. On my old BB 8800, I hardly looked at the keyboard while typing many messages because, like typing on a regular keyboard, it becomes intuitive. A touchscreen won't lend itself too well to that idea.

Having said that...is a smartphone a must-have? Or can it be a feature phone? The Samsung Rogue is a slider with a nice keyboard, and touchscreen. It's just not a "smart" phone. I don't know if the font sizes can be adjusted or not.

Get a Blackberry, install Vlingo on it, and say, "To hell with typing anymore!"

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[warpedskydiver 0]

Big Buttons Keyboard ™ featuring Delta II is available now on the Android App Store!

[Thanatos340 1]

Actually I will be paying full price for whatever phone I get. (Just upgraded my phone to an Alias 2 a few months ago so no subsidy from the phone company)

Yes, It does have to be a Smart Phone. Company is paying for it (and taking over my monthly bill which is real nice). My company is dropping our offices completely and going to Home/Virtual Offices. A Phone that can handle Email, Group Calendar and other office stuff is required. Budget is not really the concern at all. Just want a phone that is usable.

I wanted to stay on Verizon because of the coverage.

Looking into the Nokia N900 now. Thanks.

[Zenister 0]

Guess I'm blessed with good eyesight I have no issues reading anything on the Droid (in fact I love the aldiko reader and websurfing in landscape mode. I can read incoming msg and gmail with it on my desk in dock mode while I work) I prefer the virtual keyboard over the physical for its autocomplete functions (no idea why that wasn't an option with the physical)

While switching to typing with the virtual keyboard took a week or so to adjust I'm as fast now (or faster due to autocomplete) than I was on the Treo, and screen realestate when replying is a non issue for me..watching videos on the Droid screen is a joy and even the speaker sounds pretty good as a music player on a hard surface. The spas is pretty useless so far but beyond that I'm very pleased with it, and the single point access to Gmail, facebook, YouTube and browsing, not to mention maps and navigation is brilliant. I could link it to corporate email as well but prefer to keep that seperate at the moment as I just don't want work that integrated into 'real life's

Overall I am very happy with it..enough I will probably get a second to root and play with the sdk later this year.

Edit autocomplete does get me from time to time spas above should be dpad but was typing to fast and missed it..but you can set custom dictionary and it even learns your commonly used words (as well as pulling names from you contacts...nice not to have to type long strings everytime)

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[ltdiver 3]

Rumor has it that the iPhone will be Verizon friendly later this year. Can you wait that long?

http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/01/19/verizon-iphone-4g-will-january-27-release-more-details/

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[Gawain 0]

Quote

Rumor has it that the iPhone will be Verizon friendly later this year. Can you wait that long?

http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/01/19/verizon-iphone-4g-will-january-27-release-more-details/

ltdiver

God...not the iToy again...AT*T and Apple can keep each other...in bed...

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Gawain 0]

Quote

Actually I will be paying full price for whatever phone I get. (Just upgraded my phone to an Alias 2 a few months ago so no subsidy from the phone company)

Yes, It does have to be a Smart Phone. Company is paying for it (and taking over my monthly bill which is real nice). My company is dropping our offices completely and going to Home/Virtual Offices. A Phone that can handle Email, Group Calendar and other office stuff is required. Budget is not really the concern at all. Just want a phone that is usable.

I wanted to stay on Verizon because of the coverage.

Looking into the Nokia N900 now. Thanks.

While you'd have a trade off in coverage in some remote areas, you can enable IP calling via Skype etc., but does not have UMA.

Vlingo is available for all the major device manufacturers, and I've read really good things about it. I've not tried it myself though. Shop carefully. If the device is going to be tied in with your company's exchange servers, and if they have a Blackberry Enterprise Server, then I hope you'll give further consideration to RIM's line-up, the synching is continuous, and nearly instant - it works that well.

If all else fails...there's the Jitterbug....

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Thanatos340 1]

Finally Took the plunge and bought a new phone last week.

Went with the HTC Touch Pro 2.

With-in two hours of getting it home, I had it unlocked and was loading custom Roms. I am in Geek heaven with this thing.

You can Hack, Tweek and Modify absolutely everything.
I even had the Android OS running on it for a while (Still some things not quite working but the XDA guys are working on it).

The Latest ROM I have on it has WinMo 6.5, LEO Sense 2.5 and MaxManilia. Left the Radio stock for right now but plan on playing with those mods this weekend.

Great Keyboard on this thing, Stunning graphics and no limitations on what you can do with this thing. Between XDA, PPCGeeks and others... a solid developer community.

Loving my new toy so far.

[Tiger6513 0]

I have the Droid, it's an awesome phone. the font size and the buttons seem fine, but my eyes are are only 27 yrs old. I have had to get 2 new phones since I purchased the original in October. The first one had a glitch that would cause it to randomly shut off at least 2-3 times a day, So Droid 2 worked very well for a long time then the microphone started acting up, I could hear people but they said it sounded like I was talking through a pillow. So here I am with Droid #3 and I have no complaints. The phone is solid and aside from my bad luck I won't give up on it. btw the 5mp camera (not bad for a phone, little slow but just stay steady and shoot slow moving objects lol) and the great screen resolution make shooting/sending /viewing pics really easy.

Have fun with your new tow!

Travis Roy Foundation. At very least its a tax write off