What's the difference between a flash and photo light on an SE handset?

pctech · Sep 11, 2011, 17:51:44

I know that the flash obviously flashes when taking a picture but some say they have a photo light rather than a flash.

I'm assuming this means that it stays on constantly while camera mode is active but presumably its dimmer than an LED flash?

Simon · Sep 11, 2011, 18:18:45

It's a 'manual' flash, so you have to turn it on to take a photo, then turn it off again. There's no auto flash. That's another reason why I wouldn't buy an SE.

Rik · Sep 11, 2011, 18:19:46

You mean you flash automatically??

Simon · Sep 11, 2011, 18:21:57

I don't flash at all with the iPhone! But I'd rather have none, than one I have to fiddle about with.

Rik · Sep 11, 2011, 18:23:09

Quote from: Simon on Sep 11, 2011, 18:21:57

I don't flash at all with the iPhone! But I'd rather have none, than one I have to fiddle about with.

I hope you don't feel deprived.

Simon · Sep 11, 2011, 18:27:34

Only of vast amounts of wealth.

Rik · Sep 11, 2011, 18:29:45

pctech · Sep 11, 2011, 18:30:32

I might just wait for the Arc S which has a flash and 1.4 Ghz Scorpion CPU and Qualcomm MS255T Snapdragon chipset.

Damn it's becoming like buying a PC.

Inkblot · Sep 11, 2011, 18:31:55

That's more powerful than a lot of PC's that I have had!

Simon · Sep 11, 2011, 18:32:39

What about the Samsung Galaxy II?

pctech · Sep 11, 2011, 18:36:20

I love the AMOLED screens but SIM free its over 500 quid which is of course pocket change to an iPhone owner

Simon · Sep 11, 2011, 18:38:04

Not to ones who buy theirs off eBay, it isn't.

pctech · Sep 11, 2011, 18:41:57

TBH Simon during my tenure as a mod on a mobile phone related forum (which is now falling into disrepair thanks for the inaction of the admins) I saw many instances of poor souls buying apparent bargains off fleabay only to find the phone stop working a week later because the seller had reported the phone as stolen.

Simon · Sep 11, 2011, 19:06:40

I may have been lucky, but I'm careful who I buy from, and have bought several phones off eBay with no such problems.

Gary · Sep 12, 2011, 08:29:49

Quote from: pctech on Sep 11, 2011, 18:36:20
I love the AMOLED screens but SIM free its over 500 quid which is of course pocket change to an iPhone owner

You can get an iPhone from the same price Mitch, do some research instead of assuming, and hating on Apple as usual...

Glenn · Sep 12, 2011, 08:45:15

Quote from: pctech on Sep 11, 2011, 18:36:20
I love the AMOLED screens but SIM free its over 500 quid which is of course pocket change to an iPhone owner

Sim free on Amazon £420

Technical Ben · Sep 12, 2011, 11:02:30

Even I knew they were not that bad. Hyperbole?

pctech · Sep 12, 2011, 19:32:03

Just clocked it after I posted.

As I've said before Gary, primarily I want a device that works well as a phone and all I hear from iPhone owners (and I know quite a few) is its great a computer but the phone side isn't so I'm not going to cough up 500 quid for something that doesn't do the basic function well.

Function is more important than form for me and besides as I was told Apple devices don't get problems do they.

To be fair my iPod has only crashed once in the three years I've owned it and the reset procedure worked ok.

Steve · Sep 12, 2011, 20:48:49

Didn't realise there was anything wrong with the iPhone as phone,I can only compare with Nokia,SE and Blackerry amongst which it compares very favourably.

Simon · Sep 12, 2011, 21:07:23

My iPhone has crashed a couple of times, and has dropped a call here and there, but so has every other phone I've ever used. There's no such thing as perfection - a lot of the time signal quality is to blame for poor performance (although, admittedly, some phones seem to hold the signal better than others, the BlackBerry Storm being the worst I've experienced), or, with smartphones, like any computer, they just go bonkers occasionally.

The iPhone is certainly not the worst I've used for call quality, and is certainly better than some, but I still haven't found one to beat the Nokia 6310i. The external sound and speaker quality of the last few SEs I've used has been abysmal, and the HTCs weren't much better, but the iPhone is on a par with the BlackBerry for that. I certainly wouldn't say that the iPhone falls down as a phone. You really need to take the blinkers off, Mitch, if you want a fair comparison of the market.

pctech · Sep 12, 2011, 21:52:10

I currently have the 6700 which is really clear call quality wise.

methinks I'm going to bite the bullet and go for the Desire S as HTCs seem to get rave reviews.

Joking aside there seems to be a lack of android knowledge at work because most carry iPhones and there one Blackberry user so trying to redress the balance a bit too.

Simon · Sep 12, 2011, 22:03:08

I'd have to have the Sensation.

pctech · Sep 12, 2011, 22:43:00

bit wide for me (I only have a small head)

Technical Ben · Sep 12, 2011, 22:44:28

You can go to the doctors for that.

PS In reply to Simon, not Pctech, oops!

pctech · Sep 12, 2011, 22:47:01

Simon · Sep 12, 2011, 22:50:14

Lance · Sep 13, 2011, 07:38:41

Can't say I've ever had a problem with the phone part of the iphone 3GS or 4 over the last 2+ years.

My wife has the HTC desire. It when wrong requiring to be sent back to HTC who were dreadful. Additionally, I don't like the system on the phone (having never used stock android I'm not sure how much skin HTC put on it).

Simon · Sep 13, 2011, 09:05:17

I think the new HTC Sense is an improvement on the old one, but it's still Android underneath.

Glenn · Sep 13, 2011, 11:03:11

Having used Andriod with and without the HTC Sense overlay, I prefer it without Sense.

Simon · Sep 13, 2011, 11:08:46

Really? I liked the Sense overlay on the HD2, but that was Windows Mobile. I've never used a 'naked' Andriod phone. I didn't think there were that many.

pctech · Sep 13, 2011, 20:37:01

Right, Desire S now ordered.

Simon · Sep 13, 2011, 22:09:44

pctech · Sep 15, 2011, 15:07:40

its been dispatched and should be here Saturday.

pctech · Sep 17, 2011, 19:12:15

Got my Desire S today and am really pleased with it.

Getting the back cover back on took a bit of doing though.

Simon · Sep 17, 2011, 21:01:50

Will expect a report later.

pctech · Sep 19, 2011, 09:18:35

Report so far, really terrific.

Have had to switch back to the telephone style keypad for the moment because my fingers are a bit too large for the small one that is preloaded.

Suggestions for alternative android keypads anyone?

Glenn · Sep 19, 2011, 09:53:21

Try using Swype, http://www.swype.com/category/about/ or one of it's clones, you don't need to be to accurate as you sweep around the keyboard.

pctech · Sep 19, 2011, 10:30:37

Chhers, will give it a whirl or should that be I'll seipe it.

Simon · Sep 19, 2011, 11:01:28

Did you type that on the phone?

Rik · Sep 19, 2011, 11:02:07

Pot, kettle.

Simon · Sep 19, 2011, 11:04:55

pctech · Sep 19, 2011, 11:08:37

Am currently sat at my desk at work so using my work desktop machine.

Have linked the phone to the work Wi-Fi though so can do some browsing from the kitchen.

Rik · Sep 19, 2011, 11:09:26

I tend to graze rather than browse in the kitchen...

Glenn · Sep 19, 2011, 11:48:00

Sue will kick you out, You're not allowed in the kitchen.

pctech · Sep 19, 2011, 11:52:26

I don't think you'd want to do much grazing in this kitchen.

I bring my own packed lunch because the place is a complete dump, thankfully the seating is quite a way from the sink and microwave area and I'm not cleaning the place up.

Rik · Sep 19, 2011, 11:53:33

Quote from: Glenn on Sep 19, 2011, 11:48:00
Sue will kick you out, You're not allowed in the kitchen.

I know, it's not a safe place with the speed at which she moves.

Lance · Sep 19, 2011, 12:36:46

Quote from: pctech on Sep 19, 2011, 09:18:35

Suggestions for alternative android keypads anyone?

Yep, rotate the phone

Rik · Sep 19, 2011, 12:43:17

Glenn · Sep 19, 2011, 13:39:19

If you want to search for apps from your PC, take a look at http://www.appbrain.com/

.Griff. · Sep 19, 2011, 17:48:44

Quote from: Glenn on Sep 19, 2011, 13:39:19
If you want to search for apps from your PC, take a look at http://www.appbrain.com/

Can someone else check the link Glenn posted for me?

I get -

Error: Server Error
The server encountered an error and could not complete your request.

If the problem persists, please report your problem and mention this error message and the query that caused it.

Rik · Sep 19, 2011, 17:49:56

Working fine, Griff.

.Griff. · Sep 19, 2011, 17:51:44

Same here now. Must have been a hiccup.

Rik · Sep 19, 2011, 18:19:51

Cold keys down the back of the computer.

pctech · Sep 19, 2011, 19:26:01

Quote from: Lance on Sep 19, 2011, 12:36:46
Yep, rotate the phone

Yep thanks, just remembered about the gyroscopic sensor.