Korean Job Discussion Forums

SMOE NSET · Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Location: Seoul

This phone was wicked when I tried it out at the COEX display kiosk and was sold after a few minutes of playing around with it.

Probably going to get one next week, almost bought one today. Went today and filled everything out but there was a complication so have to delay a week. Would this be a wise choice for my first smart phone? I'm about average when it comes to technology. Is there an online Korean store to purchase/download applications like the iPhone? I was going to ask but the complication occurred and I forgot to ask.

F.Y.I. Have someone with SK telecom sign you on their plan and you could save 400,000W. The salesperson said foreigners have to pay the full price of the phone (about 960,000W) but if you have a friend sign you on their plan, you only pay around 500,000W. *I have an E-2, might be different for F visas.

*This is only my experience and I know how each phone kiosk is different so don't take my word 100% but that is what they told me.

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

I played around with phone and really liked it too, but no camera in the front for video calling is a deal breaker for me.

Slaps · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Location: Sitting on top of the world

I've had the phone for a couple of days now and whilst I do like it, I'm gonna be taking it back and cancelling my plan.

The main reason is that the battery sucks. I'm very lucky to get 24hrs out of it, and to get that involves very light use (1 or 2 calls and a few messages, light internet browsing), no wifi or gps and the screen set on the lowest brightness. If I do the opposite of the above I'm lucky to get 8hrs! I know that smart phones have poor battery lives compared to dumb phones or crackberry's but that is just not good enough for me.

I have also had the phone crash on me a couple of times. Just switching itself off for no apparent reason at all.

Other things I don't like are a sometimes unresponsive screen and accelerometer. No pop up sms (I know there's an app for that) and a big big downer for me is that the paid app store is not yet available in Korea, only free apps. I was really looking forward to using apps like 'locale' but I just cannot get it in Korea, and we don't know when paid apps will be available here.

I do like the android os though. If HTC were to release the Nexus one or Desire in Korea then I would probably snap one up today. As it is, it looks like I either go without a phone for a while or get an iPhone, which I don't want to do when the next generation is only a few months away.

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

tatertot · Joined: 21 Oct 2008

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

SMOE NSET · Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Location: Seoul

Good idea, I think I will wait as well to see the online reviews. I just don't like the idea of having to sign a 2 year contract and knowing new technology will probably just come out next month and blow this one out of the water.

wuzza · Joined: 02 May 2003

SMOE NSET · Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Location: Seoul

I just read online from a current user that you only have 128mb of storage space for applications. Is this true wuzza?

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Is there an option to turn off BlueTooth? That can drain a battery.

I don't have an Motoroi, but I have an Iphone. If I am on the phone just messing around the battery will drain in like 3-4 hours. Even if I'm not talking or using the Wifi. On a long bus ride to Gangwon-do, I spent the entire bus ride just messing with the menu, checking my location now and then, looking for a few things on Wifi. I didn't do one thing for more than a few minutes. However, my screen was on the whole time just playing with the thing. The battery went from 100% to 5% in the 3 hours.

If you only use the Smartphone when you have to, the battery should last all day. Its when you are bored and you are just playing around with it to kill time, that the battery gets low real fast.

tirinal · Joined: 08 Oct 2007

wuzza · Joined: 02 May 2003

buylow sellhigh · Joined: 18 Oct 2005

- Android has two batteries, and the separate battery holder charger doesnt neet a gender to connect to a charger, which is convenient since my amoled has to have a gender for the phone and the charger/holder.
- One has the ability to turn off Wifi, bluetooth, GPS, Wifi triangulated GPS and 3G data service. Essentially, you can make it into a feature phone with the battery life of one. You can opt for either continuous 3G data service or a prompt to turn on 3G data service. Since I have wifi at my house, I just leave 3G off at home which saves battery. I have bluetooth off unless I am transferring files, I keep gps on only to find where my friends are, since you can see where your friends are on google maps... The display has an automatice brightness option which determines how bright to keep the screen and it is always plenty bright enough even when using this function.
- A big concern I have is that the internal memory wouldnt hold all my apps, but there is an app that allows you to store apps in the SD card and use when necessary, basically unlimited storage.

SLAPS mentions the crappy battery life, but there are plent f unobtrusive ways to extend the battery life, by habit and through apps.

SLAPS also makes a very good note that android only allows free apps in Korea and most other countries, but there is an incredibly easy work around. Why not just get all your apps for free? I think good app developers should be compensated for their work, but if the powers that be simply do not allow one to pay for an app, than just download it for free. Every paid app is available on the internet, and are not hard to find, you tube "how to get free android apps'. Because the app sizes are so small, downloading an app takes less than 10 seconds, getting it into your phone via the desktop tether takes about 3 seconds, installing it on the phone takes another 7 seconds... 20 seconds for any paid app you want for free, rather than that being negative for SLAPS, I consider this to be a huge positive.

The phone is android 2.01 and the korean blogs are saying that it will update to 2.1 this month which would put it on the latest OS. 2.01 isnt a slouch either though, not many android phones even come with 2.01. There are still android phones coming out with OS 1.5! Samsung is also coming out with an android phone, but I would much rather trust the makers of the droid than Samsung's rushed product entry since they really dont have anything to compete with Iphone and Android. Honestly, I have used an Iphone before, and they work smoothly with no hiccups, but no flash? no multi-tasking, having to let every media file go through itunes and convert movies to their codec? no thanks, i will just plug my motoroi into my computer and click and drag what i want/

I do have a couple gripes.... but then i think about the XENON flash and all is forgiven. HDMI output is cool, but i have only used it once, on my 120" projector. I have way too many computers and PMPs for this to be of much use, but it could be handy while travelling. 8mp camera is great both in still shots and 720HD video and everything is integrated after you take a picture or video, the next prompt is if you would like to upload it to facebook or youtube... Quality phone all around.