Zeroing In On The Spica
Posted: 21 May 2010
Those of you following my blog would know of my Android inclinations. I've become a sucker for Android ever since Donut. Being an open source idealist only increased my liking (and respect) for Android, and the tremendous growth that has taken place over such a short span of time. Today, Android 2.2 is officially announced, and it may just be the best release yet...My current cellphone, an ageing Sagem X6-2, has served me faithfully for over 4 years, all through college. And 4 years is an eternity in the cellphone industry today. Newer models are being manufactured everyday, fortunes rise and fall, takeovers happen overnight, and technology changes almost every few months.
What I will really miss on my Sagem X6-2 is the audio experience: the X6-2 was Sagem's audio powerhouse back in the day. I had chosen it because the audiophile in me still says that it gives pristine iPod-esque audio quality. And I have an iPod Nano 4GB, so I'm not making this up. In fact, if it had features like cover art and advanced sorting, I would considered sticking with it for a little longer.
But inevitably, I felt I needed a change. A big change. There was no doubt that I was going to go in for an Android handset. Everyone knows how I dislike Apple for their closed-ecosystem approach to everything they create. And the iPhone 3GS came to India barely a couple of months ago, almost a whole year after the US release. And Windows Mobile, well, just didn't cut it for me, despite the large app base and my inherent liking for Windows.
So Android it was. But this post-2009 explosion of Android devices didn't make my choice any easier. There have been many memorable handsets created, so these were the initial nominees. Let me say that my feature list would have to have:
- Kick-ass audio (so I wouldn't miss my old handset / iPod)
- Modding / customisation to the max (rooting / modding / theming)
- After-sales service
- Attractive design and lasting build quality
Price was not an issue (because geeks are suckers for gadgets).
Motorola Droid
The Motorola Droid is probably the best Android handset available in India at the moment. I had covered it in my article about the Android juggernaut. What really broke the deal for me was not the price. Well INR 30K is acceptable for the phone of this caliber, but I found out that the audio quality is by no means above-average. I was also informed by cellphone dealers that servicing for Motorola handsets isn't handled in Goa: the handsets are sent to Mumbai. That means a minimum of 1-2 weeks without a phone, incase I have to ever give it for servicing. Unacceptable. The Droid excels in all of my other criteria (for those interested).
HTC Legend
I almost bought this phone, only to be warned again that after-sales service in Goa is poor, as HTC do not even have an authorised distributor in Goa. Which is a damn shame, as this is a beautifully crafted handset, lacking nothing. And this holds true for all the other HTC Android handsets I was eyeing too. My only real issue with HTC had it been readily available is that the Sense UI customisation makes it difficult to mod/root or upgrade, and one has to rely solely on HTC for updates, (which are often delayed) reducing opportunities for experimentation. Otherwise INR 24K for this one is a steal. A solid stable handset with a jaw-dropping all-aluminium unibody design.
LG GW 620
The GW620 was one of my first targets. The plot went sour when I realised that it wasn't going to be getting Android 2.1. Which is a pretty big downer actually. Otherwise a pretty average handset, as I have realised now. Not much to ask for at INR 16.5K.
The Winner, Ladies And Gentlemen: Samsung Spica (GT-I5700)
I know I mentioned that price was not an issue, but I was shocked to find out that the Spica costs only around INR 12K. It so happens that GSMArena posted a review of the Spica, in which they rated the Spica up there with the best when it came to audio, largely due to the DNSe engine. I also found out that the Spica is getting the official Android 2.1 upgrade anytime now. And I happened to come across LeshaK and the community at over at Samdroid. With the Samdroid Kitchen in public beta, the only thing stopping you from getting to modding heaven is you. And with the Samsung service center 15 minutes from my residence, I will end this article by saying that the Spica is the handset I was craving for.
So where's the review and the photos, you ask? Well I haven't bought it yet, and I intend to do so before I turn 22 on 6 June. Once I get my hands on it, I will start a dedicated Android-related article series that will feature all my experiments, Android app reviews, mods, themes, etc. Let the games begin!
