Advice on using a Android HTC ONE XL as a mapping and GPS device

A good answer Boobook. Very useful information. What phone did you buy to overcome the storage limits if the HCT One?
Kevin

Kevin. Well erh ahh, that is the $64,000 question that my wife keeps asking.

I loved the One XL because it is blue tick and a large screen, but I have quite a bit of music and maps. So my criteria is
Android, Large screen, Blue tick on Telstra, minimum of an avilable 32G and preferably 64G and / or external SD slot ( which the XL does not support). Currently that phone doesn't exist in Australia :-(

The real issue for me with the One XL was that despite being advertised as 32G has only 23.6G available to the user and is never expandable. The battery doesn't last long either. On the first point, Telstra agreed to let me out of the contract, but only after consumer affairs agreed that it should never have been advertised as 32G.

I bought a Motorola Defy + ( which I noticed Telstra just dropped to $99) as an interim and as my Bush / camping phone. It has a smaller screen and 32G external SD ( though apparently it will take 64G) but it's Next G reception is fantastic.

You can get a Samsung S3 with a whopping 64G internal and additional 64G SD but it has far too many reports and reviews of poor reception in the bush for me.

The HTC One X+ will be released in Australia in the next month or so. It has 64G and reportedly has 80% better battery life. It also has a 4.7" screen. Also Motorola are also about to release 2 - 3 new big screen models before xmas. Hopefully one or more of these will be blue tick.

The release of the Iphone 5 has spurred a bunch of new 4.7" Androids to be released overseas in the last month or so, and fingers crossed one will meet my apparently impossible spec.

In the mean time I am happy to live with the Defy+, it is great for camping being water resistant and quite tough, but it's a bit small and slow for my main use. It also has an unbelievable battery life.

I know there is always something around the corner but the products are now available overseas so it shouldn't be too long a wait........

Thanks Boobook. I am not surprised at your answer. I had decided to soldier on with my Telstra T165i and get a tablet with GPS and Wifi to use for navigation, books and access to the internet at hot spots or my wifi that travels with us in the van. I had in mind the Google Nexus 7. I had wondered about using a large screen phone to replace the T165i and use for moving map navigation as well. I will watch for new releases as I don't need to do anything until March or April next year. By then there may be a whole bunch of new goodies as you suggest. Like you I will keep watching.
Thanks again.
Kevin

Hi Boobook

quote "You can get a Samsung S3 with a whopping 64G internal and additional 64G SD but it has far too many reports and reviews of poor reception in the bush for me. "

I have two S2 and the S3...under the back cover there is a socket you can connect an external antennae to and then the signal reception is as good as any blue tick I have used...and I rely on a good signal because of where I live and travel........with the right antennae I have had 70km as the crow flys in flat terrain

I am very happy with mine in fact with the antennae connected it is as good as the old 411/412 Samsung blue ticks...

I have posted this in the past.... a seach should pull up all that I wrote on this subject

cheers

Thanks Bungarra, I am aware of the antenna socket on the S3, the Motorola Defy+ also has one, however you may or may not be aware that these are actually test ports, not external antenna connectors, and the connector is only designed to be used a small number of times. They are a fragile assembly with components subject to insertion and removal force directly soldered to the main board.

While some may be happy to take the chance, I would prefer to have a phone that is designed to have good reception as, is rather than something that's not fit for purpose or warranted for that use.

I am sure the S3 will have great reception if connected to the antenna and the back removed though.

Hi Boobook

Thanks and yes I was aware they are test ports and their fragiligity. What I can say is that I have used them extensively...maybe many hundreds of times with care and so far all good and no damage.

I am satisified that although placed there as test ports they are as firm and stable as any external port...but for some reason Samsung dont think their accessibility is a selling point on smart phones

As soon as the manufacturers realise there is a demand for a smart phone/ blue tick/ external port the better but dont hold your breath it is all about the majority rules and the city market with the mentality of "the majority is in good signal range all the time"......

Let's face it if it wasnt for Telstra and their country coverage those of us that live/ work /play outside the large population bases would still have no mobile access...I use Telstra but I hate them for many reasons ...all ongoing issues and attitude..but many of us have no choice because of the coverage they provide