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Has been suggested that the HTC hd moblie is better for geocaching then the iphone 3 or 4.

Has any ony any thoughts on this?

Iam looking to getting started and as I need a new phone might as well get one that will do the job.

Unable to afford a phone and a GPS which I realise is the best bet.

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I've seen the 4 in action, running the Geocaching app and in a word, it's Rubbish.

 

It doesn't come close,to my Blackberry apart from being able to add logs whilst in the field a little easier.

On unplanned caches, my iPhone 4 is as good as any GPSr that I've seen. On planned caches, I take the 3GS... Which is awful, but then I don't use it for the find, I use it to save trees and for live logging, using a GPSr or 2 for the find. As a setup I prefer the latter, as even the free phones are expensive to replace... And beyond that it's no caching for a few days if dropped onto a rock... So there's no way I'd ever cache with just a phone unless it was for a quick driveby or short one on easy terrain.

Edited by NattyBooshka
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I've never bothered with 'smart' mobile 'phones... I still use on old Nokia that I've had for years.

However.... I was on a wine tasting / buying trip in Burgundy with my brother recently and we were sitting outside a bar in Dijon wondering where we were going to stay in Beaune the next day. "No probs" says he, frantically moving his fingers over the front of his phone and within a couple of minutes, he'd found us a hotel and booked the rooms. Brilliant!

My question.... sod geocaching, which phone is best for finding hotel rooms?

:ph34r: :ph34r:

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I've never bothered with 'smart' mobile 'phones... I still use on old Nokia that I've had for years.

However.... I was on a wine tasting / buying trip in Burgundy with my brother recently and we were sitting outside a bar in Dijon wondering where we were going to stay in Beaune the next day. "No probs" says he, frantically moving his fingers over the front of his phone and within a couple of minutes, he'd found us a hotel and booked the rooms. Brilliant!

My question.... sod geocaching, which phone is best for finding hotel rooms?

:ph34r: :ph34r:

 

that should be what app is best to find hotel rooms, the app depends on the phone, so your then back to what phone :P

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I've got an HTC Desire and with the c:geo app, you just can't go wrong. I've also invested a couple of quid (literally) on Locus Pro mapping where you can import data files and have a 'bleep' go off, when you come within a user defined distance of an unfound cache. Brilliant for when you have uploaded caches along a route.

 

The mapping on the HTC is brilliant (as it comes with all the Google map software). The GPS is a little tempramental on occasions but when its working, its as good as anything.

 

You can search, find, take a picture of and log caches on the go. The HTC got me started in Geocaching and I'm not disappointed at all with its performance. While I havent tried the iphone, I suspect the Android software will be better.

 

Mike

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I've never bothered with 'smart' mobile 'phones... I still use on old Nokia that I've had for years.

However.... I was on a wine tasting / buying trip in Burgundy with my brother recently and we were sitting outside a bar in Dijon wondering where we were going to stay in Beaune the next day. "No probs" says he, frantically moving his fingers over the front of his phone and within a couple of minutes, he'd found us a hotel and booked the rooms. Brilliant!

My question.... sod geocaching, which phone is best for finding hotel rooms?

:ph34r: :ph34r:

 

that should be what app is best to find hotel rooms, the app depends on the phone, so your then back to what phone :P

 

Good point.... shows you how much I (don't) know about 'smart' phones. Maybe they're not smart at all... it's the apps that are the smart bit!

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I've never bothered with 'smart' mobile 'phones... I still use on old Nokia that I've had for years.

However.... I was on a wine tasting / buying trip in Burgundy with my brother recently and we were sitting outside a bar in Dijon wondering where we were going to stay in Beaune the next day. "No probs" says he, frantically moving his fingers over the front of his phone and within a couple of minutes, he'd found us a hotel and booked the rooms. Brilliant!

My question.... sod geocaching, which phone is best for finding hotel rooms?

:ph34r: :ph34r:

 

that should be what app is best to find hotel rooms, the app depends on the phone, so your then back to what phone :P

 

Good point.... shows you how much I (don't) know about 'smart' phones. Maybe they're not smart at all... it's the apps that are the smart bit!

 

25 years ago, I used to explain to people, first think what you want your computer to do, then find the software that's best at helping you do it, then get the computer that runs that software.

 

I think that's still true, except that you'll be changing your computer every few years now.

 

For computer, read smartphone, for software read apps.

 

I got a Nokia 5800, because I decided that all I wanted to be able to do, was make phone calls, access the web, and use it as a wireless hotspot so I could use a laptop when I go away for a few days.

 

Apple ruled itself out, because the Apple store doesn't allow any app that turns your phone into a wireless hotspot. Joiku was the software I found that did allow that, and they all allow web access. So, I got the Nokia 5800.

 

If I were doing the same exercise today, I'd also consider Android (Apple *still* don't allow ...).

 

I don't use my phone for GPS *AT ALL*. Because a cheap PDA (about £80) plus a cheap bluetooth GPS (about £12) plus a cheap (£20) 16 gb CF card, gives me gps+cache pages+hints+last 20 logs+OS 1:25000 maps+OS 1:50000 maps, and although I do have a GPS app on the phone, I've never wanted or needed to use it. And I rather like the thought that even when I'm in a dead-phone area (which is sometimes the case when you're caching in the middle of nowhere), all that I've lost is the ability to google or phone home.

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I've never bothered with 'smart' mobile 'phones... I still use on old Nokia that I've had for years.

However.... I was on a wine tasting / buying trip in Burgundy with my brother recently and we were sitting outside a bar in Dijon wondering where we were going to stay in Beaune the next day. "No probs" says he, frantically moving his fingers over the front of his phone and within a couple of minutes, he'd found us a hotel and booked the rooms. Brilliant!

My question.... sod geocaching, which phone is best for finding hotel rooms?

:ph34r: :ph34r:

 

that should be what app is best to find hotel rooms, the app depends on the phone, so your then back to what phone :P

 

Good point.... shows you how much I (don't) know about 'smart' phones. Maybe they're not smart at all... it's the apps that are the smart bit!

 

25 years ago, I used to explain to people, first think what you want your computer to do, then find the software that's best at helping you do it, then get the computer that runs that software.

 

I think that's still true, except that you'll be changing your computer every few years now.

 

For computer, read smartphone, for software read apps.

 

I got a Nokia 5800, because I decided that all I wanted to be able to do, was make phone calls, access the web, and use it as a wireless hotspot so I could use a laptop when I go away for a few days.

 

Apple ruled itself out, because the Apple store doesn't allow any app that turns your phone into a wireless hotspot. Joiku was the software I found that did allow that, and they all allow web access. So, I got the Nokia 5800.

 

If I were doing the same exercise today, I'd also consider Android (Apple *still* don't allow ...).

sorry to correct you my friend, but the iPhone 4 can be a wifi hotspot... Without any app... It's done it by default for a year now.

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Pharisee is also right. What do you want your phone to to apart from geocaching/text/phonecalls? Who has the most apps? Right now, iPhone by a mile... Though this will change.

 

Windows beats OS X hands down... Unless all you want is video and sound, in which case OS X beats windows, chews it up, spits it out and laughs in its face. I chose OS X because I play with music. In terms of available software, windows wins... But in two niche markets, apple supply for free what costs hundreds on Windows.

Edited by NattyBooshka
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I use an HTC Desire. My friend uses an iPhone, don't know which gen. My battery far outlasts his (when running c:geo - the official Groundspeak app seems to drain more power for some reason). My Desire does the job as well as anything else I've seen and I wouldn't consider jumping ship as things stand. Thinking outside caching, I would suggest you consider the iPhone if you run a Mac at home, Android if you're a PC user. Battery power for either phone is a moot point really if you buy a spare battery or two.

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I use an HTC Desire. My friend uses an iPhone, don't know which gen. My battery far outlasts his (when running c:geo - the official Groundspeak app seems to drain more power for some reason). My Desire does the job as well as anything else I've seen and I wouldn't consider jumping ship as things stand. Thinking outside caching, I would suggest you consider the iPhone if you run a Mac at home, Android if you're a PC user. Battery power for either phone is a moot point really if you buy a spare battery or two.

Spare battery for iPhone? Where?!

 

The emergency chargers are unreliable in the extreme.

 

Microsoft really have messed up if the best option for windows pc (a mac is a pc btw) is android. The future is windows mobile vs iOS:

 

For the duration of your current/next phone contract though, android is a solid move.

Edited by NattyBooshka
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Spare battery for iPhone? Where?!

 

The emergency chargers are unreliable in the extreme.

 

Microsoft really have messed up if the best option for windows pc (a mac is a pc btw) is android. The future is windows mobile vs iOS:

 

For the duration of your current/next phone contract though, android is a solid move.

 

No idea - another reason to goAndroid then - I got two (non-HTC) spare batteries and a charger for them for around a tenner from Ebay and they all work fine.

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Spare battery for iPhone? Where?!

 

The emergency chargers are unreliable in the extreme.

 

Microsoft really have messed up if the best option for windows pc (a mac is a pc btw) is android. The future is windows mobile vs iOS:

 

For the duration of your current/next phone contract though, android is a solid move.

 

No idea - another reason to goAndroid then - I got two (non-HTC) spare batteries and a charger for them for around a tenner from Ebay and they all work fine.

Absolutely. If I wasn't Mac based because of my music, I probably wouldn't be on iPhone.

 

The current battle for smartphone supremacy is an interesting one, will the best OS/Phone win? Will it go off fashion? Technically, iOS should be bulletproof... in reality it isn't. The pressure to keep adding functionality keeps breaking it... but being a cut down OS X is should be stable... too many different app developers maybe?

 

HTC have made a good move, coming out into the open instead of making phones for others... HTC is a new and trendy brand, backed up by years of expertise... so they are a solid player whichever factor ends up winning the war. Apple's only real advantage is that they develop the whole thing... but even they have issues with manufacturers. Browser Wars had nothing on this one!

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I use the Desire HD and my boyfriend uses the HTC Desire, we both use c:geo and we also have a Garmin Oregon just in case. the only down side i have with the HD is that while it is brilliant for taking pictures and finding caches, if it's a sunny day you will struggle to see the screen (i am constantly fiddling with my settings). This is why i never leave without my Oregon just in case.

 

If you are planning on only going mobile i would definitely recommend the HD and the c:geo app is awesome.

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Although I'm still planning on a specialist GPSr purchase, I own an iPhone 3GS and I recently bought a battery pack (that doubles as a case for the phone) and to be honest I'm nearly getting a full day's caching out of it using the official app sparingly! Bought from Amazon for £18.99 it's a pretty good stopgap for someone like me on a bit of a budget. It actually charges the phone battery from empty twice over from one charge. I am still looking forward to the day that my Oregon 450t comes through the front door though...

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sorry to correct you my friend, but the iPhone 4 can be a wifi hotspot... Without any app... It's done it by default for a year now.

 

Well, this was announced March 2011, and I made these decisions a year os so ago. But I notice "However, iOS 4.3 Personal Hotspot depends on the Carrier that you choose like AT&T or Verizon. If you are using any of these mobile operators, then you have to pay around $20 extra to avail the option of tethering iPhone 4 to other devices."

 

With my Nokia, there's no added charge for tethering. £15/month is what I'm paying for my whole package, so that means my cost would double.

 

Or I could "jailbreak" the iPhone, and use an app to avoid the $20/month. But jailbreaking comes with other problems, I'd guess?

 

Is the $20 also charged in the UK, or is that just a US cost?

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I checked. Vodafone (who I'm with) would charge me an extra £5 per 500mb for tethering (I already have 1gb/month, and that would put my cost up to £20/month.

 

However, I have a Nokia, so I don't get to pay extra for tethering.

 

I really don't see why Vodafone charge differently for bandwidth used when it's used via an iphone and tethering. It seems to me just a way to milk the customer, based on the fact that the iphone tells the telco that it's being used as a tether, while other phones dont :-)

 

Still, it's good (for me) that iphone customers get milked - it makes the service cheaper for the rest of us!

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I haven't paid any extra... Tethering with the USB costs, or used to at least, even on the old unlimited data plans. I do pay considerably more than £15 a month, but I do make a truckload of calls every month!

 

Never jailbroken as I've never felt the need for an app I couldn't already get, and I don't pirate software. When I looked into it, each OS level had its own jailbreak... So one disadvantage would be having to wait to apply fixes, or lose access to apps while you wait for the new level to be jailbroken. This may have changed, looked at it 2 years ago.

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Further to my earlier comment, the GPS has now proved to be more than a little tempremental on my HTC Desire (and I have found many topics on forums that experience the same problem) and I have often been found in the middle of nowhere with no GPS on the phone. It's not because of tree cover, it just stops working. It's starting the wind me up so I wonder, with a dedicated GPS, are you virtually guaranteed a GPS signal?

 

If so, I may have to invest sooner than I expected.

 

M

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Further to my earlier comment, the GPS has now proved to be more than a little tempremental on my HTC Desire (and I have found many topics on forums that experience the same problem) and I have often been found in the middle of nowhere with no GPS on the phone. It's not because of tree cover, it just stops working. It's starting the wind me up so I wonder, with a dedicated GPS, are you virtually guaranteed a GPS signal?

 

If so, I may have to invest sooner than I expected.

 

M

More or less... Never failed to get "a" signal. How accurate it is varies... But my cheap £60 GPSr hasn't reported less than 35 feet of accuracy yet. Usually less than 15, occasionally less than 10.

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But my cheap £60 GPSr hasn't reported less than 35 feet of accuracy yet.

 

What make and model is that?

Garmin Etrex H (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/garmin-etrex-h-navigation-system-p108564)

 

Etrex series about to be updated though... New entry model will be eTrex 10... Not sure how good it is though.

 

There are better GPSr units out there... But you already have the paperless bit on your phone.

Edited by NattyBooshka
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