Prospects for an Android phone with great multimedia

[JHW3]

Everyone,

I am a relatively new owner of an HTC Magic. I used to have an iPhone, and I much prefer the open-ness and flexibility of the Android platform. As more apps become available, I think things will only improve.

However, for me, where the Magic can't keep up with the iPhone is in multimedia -- specifically, music. I actually use my phone as an MP3 player and e-mail client more than anything (I don't even have a data plan).

The iPhone had its limitations as a media player (some major ones) but I find playing MP3s on the Magic to be very clumsy -- there's the semi-proprietary headset connector, the app is a bit slow, sound quality isn't great, battery life when just playing MP3s is a bit low, and hardware-wise there are no "shortcut" buttons to change tracks, etc.

I would gladly "downgrade" to a phone with "worse" specs overall if the music (and to a smaller extent, video) playing experience was better.

Among the upcoming crop of Android phones, do you see any that are likely to provide a great Android-based multimedia experience -- maybe even hardware buttons to pause, play, skip tracks, etc.? And are there any prospects for an alternative (and better) Android music client?

Looking forward to your input!

[Fare]

You are begining to see more and more android hybrid devices, includings PMPs (http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/08/sony-building-android-based-walkman-and-pnd-for-2010-launch/) from Sony, tablets (http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/09/archos-to-release-android-phone-tablet/) from Archos and gaming devices (http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/01/android-based-odroid-handheld-gaming-concept-debuts-hurts-our-e/) from Hardkernel (?). You don't have this with iPhone because only Apple can play with iPhone tech where anyone can play with Android.

Of course, there's the whole if and when factor to these devices...

[omnibot]

if you purchase the iphone-like "lockscreen" app, it has an option to display music controls without even unlocking the phone, if that helps

[9a3eedi]

I switched from my PSP to my G1 recently for audio playback. I'm now using a bluetooth headsets.

The headset connector isn't really proprietary, a lot of other phones use the same style of a headset connector. But it is pretty annoying. But I dont have that problem after getting bluetooth headphones.

My experience is that while the interface is in my opinion "all right", audio playback in background just slows down the phone by a LOT. I think it's because there aren't any dedicated hardware decoding chips in the phone, and the phone CPU is underclocked to like 300MHz so that's a factor as well.

As for sound quality, I'm not an audiophile. Frankly I couldn't see any significant difference between different devices. Also, bluetooth headphones makes everything digital, though it compresses it a bit before transmitting to the headphone. But I still don't see much of a difference, if at all.

I can't comment on battery life thouhg, as I have a bigger battery :D You should get a bigger battery. totally worth every penny.

I'm sure once Sony Ericsson comes out with their android phones, we will be seeing something like that. Sony Ericsson is just waiting for more multimedia features in the android OS.. probably by Android 2.0. And you know how good Sony stuff is with multimedia.

[JHW3]

Thanks for all your comments. At this stage, I would be more than satisfied with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, hardware buttons that can be used to pause / play or advance tracks, and maybe better sound quality (my Magic seems to have a good deal of "hiss" that is very noticeable in quiet environments).

Time will tell, I suppose, but even without going to an Android-based PMP, is there any indication that some of the newer phones like the Motorola models will be more "media-optimized"?

[ggrant3876]

if you purchase the iphone-like "lockscreen" app, it has an option to display music controls without even unlocking the phone, if that helps
If your rooted you can get stericsons lockscreen for free. You just flash it like any rom. Does the music and several other options from the lockscreen.
http://relentlessaddictions.com/android/downloads/lockscreen-v0.5.zip

[9a3eedi]

Thanks for all your comments. At this stage, I would be more than satisfied with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, hardware buttons that can be used to pause / play or advance tracks, and maybe better sound quality (my Magic seems to have a good deal of "hiss" that is very noticeable in quiet environments).

Time will tell, I suppose, but even without going to an Android-based PMP, is there any indication that some of the newer phones like the Motorola models will be more "media-optimized"?

I'd say best thing you can do now is go for bluetooth headsets
1. No need to plug in anything
2. hardware buttons for changing tracks embedded in the headphone
3. no hiss: everything is digital.

there are also bluetooth "adapters" that just recieve the sound and act as a remote control, but you can plug in any headphone you want to it. Maybe its your kind of thing.

[Synergy]

I'm die hard audiophile. I won't listen to music unless its coming out of some big speakers or high quality head phones (I hate it when you can't hear any bass!). I just use my iPod for music. Its got more memory than my phone anyways.
Anyways, if you're a real audiophile and really care about the sound quality, just get an iPod nano. Thats what my friend did and what I would do if my iPod classic breaks. Apple actually does things right when it comes down to music players.