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Cell phones: CNET Prizefight: Apple iPhone vs. LG Voyager
- 12/6/07 11:56 AM
This was the biggest hole in the review, from my standpoint
by nextcube - 12/7/07 2:18 PM In reply to: Should have included syncing and monthly cost by twestleyWhile the Voyager is given points for OTA music downloads (compared to Wifi-only downloads on the iPhone), it doesn't say anything about the number of songs at ITMS vs. VCast, or the price of those songs. What do ringtones cost at ITMS vs. VCast? Can I sync VCast songs to my computer at home? Can I burn them to CD? I can do both of those things with ITMS, but there's just no information about VCast's restrictions.
What about e-mail service support? The iPhone supports Yahoo! mail, GMail, .mac, AOL, IMAP and POP. The Voyager? VZW's site says AOL and MSN. Depending on which e-mail provider you use, this might be important.
MMS vs. e-mail? You have a choice - with VZW, pay extra for a messaging package ($5+/month) or pay $0.25/MMS message. AT&T - send that picture in an e-mail for free.
Is the navigation service free, or do you have to pay for it? (Note that VZnavigator does not use satellite-based GPS, but the terrestrial "assisted-GPS" cell-tower-triangulation system.) I couldnt' find the answer to that one on VZW's website.
Does the Voyager's address book store addresses? The iPhone's does; the Voyager's apparently doesn't.
Does the Voyager let you sync your bookmarked web pages with your computer? The iPhone does; this wasn't even addressed in the review, and VZW's web page doesn't answer the question.
Does the Voyager play Youtube videos? The iPhone does; this was also not addressed in the review and it's not answered at vzw.com.
How much storage capacity does the Voyager have built-in? Do you have to buy a separate SD card to copy music onto it from your computer? What software do you use to copy music onto it? Not addressed in the review; not answered on Verizon's webpage.
If anyone can answer these questions, please post. I'd actually like to know the difference, because it could help people make a better decision.
feature differences
by tsamson113 - 12/7/07 10:13 PM In reply to: This was the biggest hole in the review, from my standpoint by nextcubeHere are some answers to your questions. I may not have answered them all, but hopefully have provided some insight.
Music catalog: The last I heard, ITMS has over 5 million songs available while VCAST Music has over 2 million. Either way, I think that's plenty of songs to choose from either side. Verizon does have a pretty cool song ID program for free that allows you ID any song you hear and then locate it in the catalog as a song, or ringtone.
You can sync music to your PC with VCAST Music, and also burn CDs with the songs with the free program available online at
http://www.vzam.net/vcastmusic/
Email support on the Voyager, along with many of their phones, can be utilized with various applications. With Mobile Email, you can do up to 10 POP3/IMAP accounts. They include any ISP (like Time Warner, Comcast, etc) or web (like gmail, msn, yahoo...etc). There's also another application that you can download to check Corporate Email as well. I'm not sure if Apple has updated the IPhone to officially have the ability to sync with Corporate email.
GPS: Both perform GPS in different ways. Google maps is just like Google maps on the internet, satellite images, lookups, printed directions. VZNavigator is different in that it uses aGPS, as you mentioned, and because of that, it does give you real time turn by turn voice navigated directions (like TomTom, Garmin, etc) with free listing updates. The biggest benefit here is that while I'm driving, and I make a wrong turn or have to take a detour, VZNavigator will auto reroute me to my destination. Fee for VZNavigator is 2.99/day, or 9.99/month. Again, they aren't competing with Google Maps,Yahoo Maps, or Mapquest, but actual GPS services like TomTom, Garmin, or other mobile Navigation service.
http://products.vzw.com/index.aspx?id=news_going_details&appId=4754
Phonebook: No, the Voyager doesn't store physical addresses or sync internet bookmarks. The web browswer is specific to the device and isn't like IE, or Firefox. With the IPhone, you get a device with a similar OS and similar browswer = ability to sync favorites.
Youtube: The Voyager will play Youtube videos if you access the YouTube's mobile website at m.youtube.com since it doesn't support the tradional streaming online video.
Memory option: Not alot of memory on the device, but you can purchase microSD cards up to 8GB in storage. Software, storing songs, and transferring songs can be done with the software at the URL I listed in the beginning of the thread. Here's a link to their VCAST Music website:
http://products.vzw.com/index.aspx?id=music_vcast&lid=//global//features+and+downloads//music
Hope this helps.
Fill some your HOLES UP!
by iovix36 - 1/11/08 3:34 AM In reply to: This was the biggest hole in the review, from my standpoint by nextcube"How much storage capacity does the Voyager have built-in?" Well, you got me there Voyager has 300MB compared to iPhones 8GB or 4GB models. Oh..but wait technically the Voyager has "unlimited" memory storage via cheap microSD cards(note we use microSD not those old clunker SD cards you keep mentioning) 1GB can be found for under $13 and 2GB for under $23 at Frys Electronics. It also takes up to 8GB microsd cards when they are available. Plus when that iPhone goes bellyup dead via firmware update or dead battery. All those music, video, picture all files locked up inside the iPhone just waiting for an Apple technician to browse through your content. What happens if he finds something that could be embarassing say porn? naked pictures of your wife or girlfriend or both? or perhaps a movie file that you downloaded illegally thats still playing in theaters, or music that was not purchased through iTunes legally. You could be in some deep doo doo if he reports you. All that because you wanted to "unlock" your iPhone or the battery went belly up on you. See a Voyager user would not have to worry about that because his media is stored on "removable" memory tiny microsd cards. He simply pops out the card with all of his music, video, and pictures and does not have to worry about a Verizon tech browsing through his personal media files on his phone. If the Voyager battery goes dead well thats real simple we just buy a new one pop out the old one and replace it. We don't have to send the whole unit back in for a battery replacement. You asked what software we use to copy music. Uh...we don't need software we just drag and drop the mp3, aac, wma files from any computer folder straight to the "my music" folder on a formatted microsd card takes seconds to transfer files. We don't have to "sync" with Commander Steve Jobs iTunes and have his content shoved down our throats. Email its easy access Yahoo, GMail, Hotmail, MSN, AOL on the optimized web browser on the Voyager. I have not tried IMAP or POP email accounts with it but I'm sure they work too on the Voyager. The YouTube question the Voyager does play YouTube videos but for some reason they cut off at 29 seconds why I don't know. But who gives a **** about YouTube when we we've got LIVE MOBILE TELEVISION with 8 channels of high quality video to choose from! I can watch Leno, Letterman, FOX News, CBS News, NBC News, MSNBC, ESPN, Comedy Central, FOX Sports, Nickolodeon all for a paltry $15 a month well..well worth the extra price. Oh forgot to mention we also have VCast videos which has tons of content to choose from including local news clips for my area. Lets address another issue shall we Bluetooth support. You'd think Apple would get it right with iPhone specially with Bluetooth. Its sad when I see my iPhone pals walking around with limpwristed spaghetti wires connected to earbuds dangling from their ears plugged into their iPhones just to listen to music or watch movies. Yeah I have 2 pairs of juicy Bluetooth MOTOROLA HEADPHONES..the over the ear superb HT820s and the sleek in the ear S9 models. I set my Voyager on the counter go outside do some yard work. All the while playing my music WIRELESSLY to my Motorola Bluetooth headsets. Don't forget I can also take and receive phone calls too. Don't get me wrong I'm not slamming the iPhone it does have it strong points. The only 3 things that I see it has over the Voyager. First the Safari browser kicks ass I won't lie its the bomb. Voyagers web browser is a huge improvement over the enV model, but the ease of use does not compare. Second the ability to put 3rd party apps on the iPhone is a big plus. Verizon does cripple their phones in this regard. Third the wireless browser capability is nice feature on the iPhone, but then again its a necessity considering the iPhones ****** phone network speeds using GSM compared to Voyagers superior EVDO signals used for data. I'm not knocking iPhone completely I just don't have the need for that device with a phone attached. Now the iPod Touch is a completely different story and I would love to have one just for browsing the web for free wirelessly.
ok well....
by ser3232 - 1/24/08 11:32 PM In reply to: Fill some your HOLES UP! by iovix36I can't say I agree with your technician horror stories. You really think they have time to sit there and look through all your stuff on your phone. And even if they did, who are they going to report anything too? The apple police? ev do is better for now. With verizon and pretty much all other GSM's going to LTE in the future its going to be like comparing apples to apples.
Voyager Data Plans
by daisynsuch - 12/8/07 11:11 PM In reply to: Should have included syncing and monthly cost by twestleyFrom what I have heard the Voyager works with Vcast for $15 or Vcast Mobile TV for $25 which is on top of the calling plan. Either way the data package is pretty comparable to what comes on the Iphone.
Feature comparison
by dotdamri - 12/7/07 1:07 PM In reply to: CNET Prizefight: Apple iPhone vs. LG Voyager by KentGerman
I definitely think Visual voice mail and free google maps is practically more useful than having extended multimedia messaging. Why would i bother about messaging if i can email / use maps for free instead of using up mins for VZ Navigator.
Secondly i do think comparing iphone with LG Voyager at least without SDK being officially released is a little too early. Support for 3rd party apps and customized utilities will be key to achieving high adoption.
Navigation is simply a matter of getting used. Use the iPhone for a year and then try a keyboard it wont feel comfortable. People have using button typing for ages so of course they dont feel comfortable shifting. Considering this is so subjective this should not have been used as a criteria.
When u look at ease and simplicity of menu navigation iphone beats Voyager hands down. All they did was put the same clunky laborious menu navigation in a touch screen. Adding a QWERTY keyboard does not in any way make the menu navigation better.
My final take on this iphone is certainly more savvy for people who use it as an entertainment device, like buying something different and appreciate simplicity and elegance of design. LG Voyager on the other hand is an imitator which offers loads of features for people who are feature oriented, do not like big changes and are looking for alternatives to buying sleek, form factor type phones.
Take a deep breath...
by Ptenk - 12/8/07 11:59 AM In reply to: CNET Prizefight: Apple iPhone vs. LG Voyager by KentGerman
After reading this thread I see that some people are really passionate about their cell phones... They're just phones guys.
I own the Voyager now, but I'd like to try out the iPhone. I'm pretty disappointed in the Voyager lagging and the little quirks that it has (i.e. phone shutting off and restarting while I'm using the browser). And while the haptic feedback is a good thing to have, it got somewhat annoying for me especially having the phone vibrate everytime when you press anything on the touch screen.
Voyager features beat out Iphone.
by matrix2004 - 12/8/07 12:43 PM In reply to: Take a deep breath... by PtenkI also have the Voyager, its been about 2 weeks since i got it. I paid full retail plus the 8GB memory card, it came out to be over $600.00 I am shocked at how good this phone is. I've played with the Iphone, i know the UI on the Iphone is farrrrr superior than ANY phone on Earth. However, the Voyager UI is AWESOME. There are just too many features on the Voyager and that makes it better than the Iphone. I'm either on Vcast, watching youtube clips or the latest news or on the browser watching youtube clips. You can also stream internet radion stations on the voyager thru the Orb.com setup. I stream audio,mp3s,mpeg videos,pix, internet tv and my webcam too.I think this can be done on Iphone too. Then there's the mpeg videos and mp3s you can put on the 8GB memory card, then the SONG ID app which allows you to identify songs you don't know the name of by just holding the phone by the speaker of your car or home theatre or any radio and it tells you the name of the song and the option to e-mail the song name to any e-mail address. There's VZ Navigator(aGPS) which works very well, voice tells you where to turn,etc...AWESOME.You also have MMS for sending PIX/VIDEO messaging you take with the phone. There's IM...yahoo, aol, MSN live. There's a few different e-mail apps including one with voice readout of your e-mails.A Visual Voicemail like app is coming in 2008. The phone can also be used as USB mass storage unit to send PIX,VIDEOs,MOVIES or Data via a USB cable from phone to PC and vice versa. You can also use bluetooth to move pix onto the phone from PC and to print from the phone to bluetooth printer, also calendar sync via bluetooth.Of course there's also voice commands. The VCAST games are pretty good too. I have God of War,Sonic the Hedgehog,Time Crisis,Super KO boxing,Brothers in Arms 3, Madden 2008 and will soon have Guitar Hero Mobile. Ringtones you can make your self and put on your phone using BITPIM or by sending to your phone, you can also setup video wallpaper.Last but not least, is Mobile TV. This is basically, cable tv on your phone. Channels like MTV,MSNBC,Comedy Central. The picture quality is flawless but you do need the antenae at times or it will be cutting in and out. Keep in mind this is high quality, not streaming quality.
All the feaures i mentioned together with the intuitive touch screen UI and the Qwerty keyboard make this phone better than the Iphone.
iPhone clearly wins where it matters
by Brian24gc - 12/9/07 12:17 AM In reply to: CNET Prizefight: Apple iPhone vs. LG Voyager by KentGerman
This comparison missed a LOT of key features in areas that customers are looking for....I work for a carrier which I will not name, and have/have had the following smartphones/multimedia phones: Blackberry 7105, Blackberry pearl, blackberry 8700, blackberry curve, Nokia 3650, Nokia 7610, Nokia N90, Nokia 9300 Communicator, Motorola RAZR2 V8, Apple iPhone. My cousin has a Voyager and I have used it. He also works for VZW and was very quick to point out what he thought were its best advantages. VZW has the most coverage in my area but not the best QUALITY coverage, and that is very important.
First off, call quality depends on that particular carrier in that particular area. Look at the JD Power rankings for call quality, there are regions where AT&T is #1, regions where VZW is #1 and regions where T-Mobile is #1. Sprint, is kind of left out of that one.
Web isn't even mentioned in this comparison. How do you not mention one of the biggest features being sought after by young consumers, as well as one of 2 top PDA features (the other one i'll get to next)?? Web browsing on the voyager is just as poor as it was on the enV or any other LG phone. The iPhone is the absolute best browsing experience on a phone. Ever. Period.
E-mail - If you can even find it burried in the menus of the Voyager, it is slow, and painful to use. It has to connect manually to check e-mail, unless you set it up to auto check it in which your only option is once per hour. iPhone if you don't have push checks every 5, 10, or 15 min, and yahoo push gets it there immediately. Most of all its right in the main menu like all apps on the iPhone.
MMS - yes the Voyager wins here...for now, but I havea feeling Apple will have a software update shortly and will add MMS - there is already a 3rd party beta app for iPhones of the jailbroken variety that will send MMS messages.
Keyboard - as a former Blackberry user (7105, pearl, 8700, curve) and a Nokia Communicator user, I absolutely LOVE the iPhone keyboard. One handed operation is impossible on a full qwerty physical keyboard, but with iPhone i can very quickly and easily text one handed, and with the auto-correction i very rarely misspell a word. QWERTYs like the one on the voyager are impossible to text one handed. Also the touch screen on the voyager for texting comes up w/ a stanndard phone oriented T9 style keypad....what is that all about??? Not to mention that a quick view and reply is impossible when in some situations (e-mail, IM) you can't even use the touch screen and it says "open to continue."
Video - we all know the iPhone has no video recording. If you want video, the Voyager has great video. I personally don't miss it. I have a Nokia N90 which recorded the best video I had ever experienced on a phone, and in my 2 and a half years of using that phone, I recorded maybe 10 videos on it.
Tactile feedback. The buzz around the forums and blogs is that the Voyager is so great because it gives a small vibration as feedback when you hit a key on the touch screen. This is only my opinion, but not only is this useless - oh great it vibrated i hit SOMETHING - it doesn't let me know WHICH key I hit, only that I hit one of them, which the odds are pretty good of doing so on a FULL TOUCH SCREEN. It is also very annoying. Having the Motorola RAZR2 V8, it gives tactile feedback in the same way when you press a side key or the front touch sensitive music controls. Any time I hit those keys on the V8, I feel like someone is shaking my hand with one of those practical joke joy buzzer toys, and it is pretty annoying. Having experienced tactile feedback myself, I consider it an extra feature when the phone DOESN'T have it.
Finding contacts - much better as far as scrolling through and the double tap on the menu button to get the favorites list up on the iPhone.
Can someone tell me why a software "clear" button comes up once you go into any app or menu on the voyager, when there is a physical "clear" button on the front of the phone????
unlockig the phone - a button tap on the voyager, which could very easily be done accidentally by reaching into your pocket for something, unlocking the phone. Apple's sliding unlock solution is much more functional.
Quality - iPhone glass & metal very durable, very solid phone
Voyager - plastic & ......plastic, with a moving hinge...good luck if dropped
in my findings, iPhone crushes the voyager. Come February when the iPhone software development kit is released and legit 3rd arty software is churning out daily, iPhone will fulfil its true potential as the best mobile computing device on the market, which it currently already is, but just in case someone comes out with a better attempt than the enV-Touch.......i mean Voyager.
I agree with Brian24gc
by ctakim - 12/9/07 12:26 PM In reply to: iPhone clearly wins where it matters by Brian24gcHmm, I guess we can expect the Voyager to start outselling the iPhone based upon the CNet Review assessment. For me what misses the mark so badly about this shootout is that the iPhone is not a traditional smartphone. It doesn't try to pack as many different diffuse things as possible into one device. It is a mobile internet platform, music player, that also has a phone function.
I agree with Brian24gc and I've voted with my pocketbook. Although for those of you lusting after the Voyager, more power to you all.
Don't call this a contest
by grs1993 - 12/11/07 2:26 PM In reply to: CNET Prizefight: Apple iPhone vs. LG Voyager by KentGerman
No Wi-Fi, no multi-touch, poor memory, bad o.s., VERIZON
Yes, it's a contest
by SamNK - 12/12/07 9:10 PM In reply to: Don't call this a contest by grs1993iPhone - no 3g support, no memory card slot, no GPS, no physical keyboard, no MMS, no TV service, no stereo Bluetooth, built in battery and AT&T won't insure it so if you lose, you're screwed.
Voyager - 3g, microSD memory card slot (with cards up to 8gb), GPS, keyboard, MMS, VCast TV, stereo Bluetooth, user replaceable battery and you can get insurance for it.
iPhone needs software & hardware upgrade
by poweruser2 - 12/26/07 3:57 PM In reply to: Don't call this a contest by grs1993SamNK, you forgot:
iPhone - no cut & paste from web IM or email, no recording video clips, slower data/web connection over EDGE, no voice dialing.
iPhone is flashy but doesn't cut it for smartphone users that need more from their devices. An old Treo had more features than an iPhone but didn't display it as intuitively. People willing to give up features for flash will be paying for a new iPhone once Apple updates their hardware - typically within a year of the first generation product.
Some software enhancements can catch the iPhone up to many Voyager features. But a truly great iPhone will need new hardware - second gen iPhone.
iPhone needs software updates to allow cut & paste to/from IM email & web (years ago I used that on a Treo in email & web). Add video recording, voice dialing and the current iPhone could edge out the Voyager.
For iPhone to be the undisputed king it needs new hardware. iPhone should have a haptic feedback screen. Voyager has haptic screen and tactile feedback keyboard. iPhone has neither. Add 3G data support & more memory (32GB minimum). Hardware update along with the software add-ons would make the iPhone the best overall device.
I'll wait for the 3G version (after Japan gets their 3G version) coming to the US in Q3 or Q4 2008. MACWorld will bring a Feb '08 16GB or 32GB iPhone to keep the sales rolling. Typical Apple updates to appease new buyers until the next gen is released soon thereafter. Second Gen iPhone will have 3G, more memory & should have all the software updates from 3rd party vendors (pay Apple for all 3rd party products). Apple wont do Haptic feedback until 3rd gen iPhone.
more
by poweruser2 - 12/26/07 4:03 PM In reply to: iPhone needs software & hardware upgrade by poweruser2Forgot to add, it would be nice if the iPhone added a memory card slot, GPS, MMS, stereo Bluetooth & user replaceable battery. But most of that wont happen. Memory card & user replaceable battery wont happen. GPS is questionable except as a clunky 3rd party add-on device. Who wants something hanging off the bottom of their phone?
Haptic feedback
by Brian24gc - 1/24/08 11:47 PM In reply to: iPhone needs software & hardware upgrade by poweruser2poweruser2 said: "Apple wont do Haptic feedback until 3rd gen iPhone."
Or hopefully never....haptic feedback is the single most annoying and pointless feature. All it does is let you know you hit the screen, not which key you hit or function you invoked. If you need feedback to tell you you touched the input device which takes up the entire front of the phone, you probably shouldn't be using a SMARTphone anyway.
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