• 20Jul

  Which Phone Should I Buy? Make it Do This! Edition

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  Last time around we looked at the current wave of Summer Smartphones and listed some features, pros, and cons for each one. This time we'll slice and dice today's mobile tech offerings from a different perspective: You want something that can do this? Then buy that! Sounds easy enough, huh?

  You Want: The best cameraphone out there.	Then Buy: Apple iPhone 4G (AT&T) Forget megapixels, it's all about image quality. Megapixels only matter if you're actually making prints from your photos, and if you're worried about that you should be carrying a real digital camera, anyway. That said, the new iPhone delivers when it comes to still and moving images. Five megapixels is plenty of image to share via Email and social networking, Apple finally added a flash to their neato touch-to-focus system, and the camcorder delivers the best 720p HD video on the market right now. Plus, now you get that front-facing camera for super awesome self-portraits. In a few months Nokia's N8 may dethrone iPhone 4 for the cameraphone crown. But not yet. iPhone 4G Product Hub »
  You Want: Everything. Except commitment	Then Buy: BlackBerry Curve 8330 or Motorola i1 (Boost) -OR- Samsung Vibrant (T-mobile) You don't actually have to sign a two-year contract to get a smartphone, you know. You only have to sign the multiyear agreement if you want the cheaper, subsidized up front price on your new gadget. But if you're willing to take last year's model, or put up more cash up front, you can have your cake and eat it, too thanks to Boost's small but growing smartphone lineup and T-Mobile's Even More Plus plans. Boost offers the BlackBerry Curve 8330 for $199 up front and $60/month, contract free, and the Android-powered Motorola i1 for $299 up front. That BlackBerry's a pretty good deal if you want smartphone functionality and BlackBerry power and don't mind getting a slightly old model. T-Mo's Even More Plus plans offer great monthly value, no annual contract, and access to newer, shinier devices - and more of them. The catch is that you'll pay more up front. Samsung's new Vibrant - T-Mo's Galaxy S device - is a super whiz-bang Android phone with a gorgeous display and wide array of features. You can buy a Vibrant through T-Mo for $499.99 up front, which is quite a bit more than the $199.99 it'll run you with a two year commitment. BUT ... You'll pay $20 less per month for service, and you can drop your service (and sell the phone) at any time with no penalty. And if you do wind up staying with your Even More Plus plan for the whole 24 months? You'll have saved yourself a few bucks versus having gone with the subsidized plan to begin with. Do the math - it's true! Samsung Vibrant Product Hub »
  You Want: Smartphone + Internet for your laptop (minus) Breaking the bank	Then Buy: Palm Pre Plus (Verizon) For as long as they keep offering it, Verizon's Palm Pre Plus is a great smartphone with a killer hidden deal to sweeten the pot: Free Mobile Hostpot service. Yup. Since Palm's Pre and Pixi phones were hamstrung by a less-than-stellar launch on Sprint, the public lost interest in them and by the time Sprint's exclusivity ran out and the phones got picked up by Verizon, nobody was buying them. So Palm and Verizon threw in free Hostpot service, a $20/month value, in an attempt to boost sales. Sweet! Now that HP's gone and bought Palm, there's life left in the webOS platform, and Verizon's Pre Plus refined the original Pre's design with a few minor design tweaks that really help usability. And webOS is a great platform. So you get a good smartphone on a not-dead platform with free mobile tethering on Verizon's 3G network. Works for me. Don't like the Pre Plus? The deal's good on Pixi Plus, too, for as long as it lasts. Palm Pre Plus Product Hub »
  You Want: Power, not size	Then Buy: HTC Aria (AT&T) - OR Sony Ericsson X10 mini (Unlocked) My favorite thing about this new trend towards oversized smartphones like Droid X and Evo 4G? The fact that someone had the good idea to make tiny phones trendy, too! HTC's Aria packs the same Android/HTC Sense operating system found on Evo into a pint-sized package that slips into a pocket or purse without a second thought. While the device suffered from a weak battery when I reviewed it, it should get all but the heaviest power users through a day's use before a recharge is needed. And you'll get the full Web, a media player, and the flexibility of Android without having to carry a "phone" that looks more like a small computer. SE's X10 mini is even smaller than Aria, what with it's 2.55" screen and all. In fact, Sony Ericsson calls mini the smallest Android phone in the world, and I've got no reason to doubt them. While X10 mini runs an older version of Android (1.6), its dressed up in a very clever custom interface perfectly suited to one-handed - and one thumbed! - use. Power users will likely pass X10 mini over, but for the fashion conscious person who wants to make a statement while checking Email and Websites on the go, this a very cool little smartphone. And you get a capable music player and 5MP camera with flash, to boot. HTC Aria Product Hub » Sony Experia Product Hub »

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• 20Jul

  Aaron’s Nokia E73 Mode review (T-Mobile)

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  Overview

  What's Good: Build quality is fantastic for a mid-range smartphone; front-facing camera (though video calling isn't supported); excellent reception and battery life.
  
  What's Bad: Symbian is long in the tooth and isn't as media-centric as its competitors.
  
  The Verdict: While the software is a bit long in the tooth, the Nokia E73 is a great messaging device, and is worth considering.

  Introduction

  

  Despite the summer flood of high-end smartphones, there's a market out there for those that want mid-range devices.  With a nice QWERTY keyboard, it's great for those that e-mail and text message on a regular basis, and the 5.0-megapixel camera isn't too shabby either.  What's more (spoiler alert), the reception and battery life are incredibly good.  At $69.99, the Mode goes up against quite a few featurephones in T-Mobile's lineup, making it a decent bang for the buck for someone who doesn't need every feature available to man.

  Design & Features

  

  Offering a 2.4-inch QVGA display, 5.0-megapixel camera, VGA front-facing video camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, and HSDPA connectivity, the Mode comes in at 4.48 inches long by 2.30 inches wide by 0.4 inch thick, and weighs 4.5 ounces.  It's thin and sleek, but the metal form factor makes it slightly heavier than other devices in mid-range category.  I spent several weeks carrying the device in my pocket, and never felt as if the Mode was too heavy or bulky.

  
  
  The left side of the phone contains the microUSB and microSD card slots, while the volume rocker and voice command button are on the right side.  The power/lock button and 3.5mm headphone jack are on the top, and the camera and speaker are both located on the back of the device.  In a world of plastic smartphones, I've been exceptionally pleased with the metal build of the Nokia E73.  With plastic comes issues with creaking, bending, and build quality issues in general.  The exterior build quality of the E73 is fantastic, and the overall weight of the phone is just enough to where I feel comfortable carrying it without fear of breaking it.

  Usability & Performance

  

  Those that text message or e-mail frequently will be pleased with the full QWERTY keyboard on the device.  When comparing to a BlackBerry (Bold 9700, to be exact), I found the keys to be a bit squishy and less tactile.  Like Nokia devices of the past, the "Z-M" row is also centered to the left, throwing off those that are used to the typical QWERTY layout.  After weeks of using it, I was still hitting the comma and period keys when I was trying to hit the "N" and "M" keys.  I also noticed a slight lag, present only when I was typing at my fastest speeds.  It wasn't a huge issue - I just slowed my typing slightly - but those that message regularly may find it frustrating.  I didn't care for the way the navigation keys were positioned either.  Instead of the separate keys found on the E71, the E73 uses one piece of plastic to define two buttons.  I found myself avoiding the shortcut keys, opting to use the menu instead.

  
  
  The Mode offers S60 3.2, but unlike the carrier-bloated software found on AT&T's Nokia E71x, the E73 Mode is relatively untouched, save for a few T-Mobile specifics like Visual Voicemail and TeleNav.  The overall user interface (and software itself, for that matter) is antiquated, but it performs most of the tasks that its competitor does.  The web browser works reasonably well and is based on WebKit architecture.  As someone that's used to pinch-and-zoom and other user-friendly gestures, it's not a browser I could use for an extended period of time.  Still, it should work well for casual web surfers.

  
  
  The Mode offers a 5.0-megapixel camera, and in my testing, pictures came out well.  I took the device out one evening, and was pleased with the low-light picture quality.  In a neat little addition, the flash doubles up as a light that can be turned on and off via the space bar.  Editing options include video mode, scene modes (automatic, user defined, close-up, portrait, landscape, sport, night, and night portrait), flash mode, self-timer (2-20 seconds), and sequence mode. 

  
  
  The Mode shines in the call quality department.  In testing the unit in the Charlotte area, callers told me that they could hear me well.  Signal strength is exceptionally strong on the E73 - in an area where I usually have no T-Mobile service, the E73 held onto one bar of service and maintained a clear connection.  The earpiece on the Mode is loud, and reminds me of the clarity from the original DROID.  In call quality tests, my callers said I sounded fantastic, with some unable to tell that I was talking on a cell phone.  When placing the phone on speakerphone during a visit to my local coffee shop, I was able to hear my callers well, despite a loud crowd waiting in line.  They immediately noticed the noise of the shop, but were able to hear me.  I paired one of my Bluetooth headsets to the device, and it connected without any major issues.

  
  
  The E73 packs a 1,500 mAh battery with estimated talk time at Battery life is spectacular.  In an age where smartphones have trouble making it through a typical day, the Mode made it a day and a half with moderate use including calling, e-mailing, web browsing, use of data-heavy applications.  In my unofficial side-by-side testing, overall battery life is better than most Android devices I've worked with, and slightly better than the iPhone 4.  That being said, it's free of widgets and other things that drive battery life down on Android devices, so it's a tradeoff between features at the expense of battery life.

  Conclusion

  

  When compared to the recently launched Samsung Vibrant or other competitors like the EVO 4G, iPhone 4, or DROID X, the E73 can't compete.  But it doesn't have to.  In reality, the device (and its $69.99 price tag) is targeted at the low-end, first-time smartphone crowd.  It's a fantastic follow-up to the Nokia E71, and perhaps more importantly, it's the first non-bloated E Series device that's available from a US carrier (E71x need not apply).  Sure, S60 is a bit long in the tooth and can be frustrating for someone coming from a media-rich OS like Android, webOS, or iPhone, but it gets the job done.  Bottom line - if you're looking for an inexpensive, well-built smartphone, you should check out the E73 mode.

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• 20Jul

  Verizon: DROID X users are sucking down 5x more data than others

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  Even though Motorola's DROID X has had a few issues since its launch last week, the device is using more data than anything else on Verizon's network.  Speaking about the increase in data usage, Verizon's business development executive director Jennifer Byrne said that “On Droid X, we’re seeing something like 5x the data usage of any other device.”  When it comes to Verizon and Android as a whole, the carrier has definitely been feeling the love for the little green robot.  Byrne drove this home, explaining why the carrier's relationship with the Android platform:
  
  “While we may have had the first app store, GetItNow, we’ve learned a lot, with the watershed being the iPhone. It’s a drastic change from the walled garden stage to the open approach. It’s been a very big shift.” Verizon has “embraced” it, Byrne said. “We’ve seen a tremendous response - so its validated the decision.”
  
  The DROID X hasn't been out long, but Verizon customers are definitely getting cozy with the device.  It's not surprising that the carrier has seen a 5x increase in data usage considering the widgets on the DROID X and Android in general.  Smartphones are becoming more popular, and those devices are sucking down more and more data, as AT&T can certainly attest to with the iPhone.  I just hope that when LTE and tiered data plans roll around, the carriers are generous with their pricing and plans.

  Via Android Spin, paidContent

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• 20Jul

  Apple posts Q3 earnings reports, breaks most of its sales records

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  Apple has been getting some bad press lately thanks to the iPhone 4's various issues, but their Q3 earnings report should help raise investor confidence in the company.  Today Apple released their earnings report for Q3 2010, ending on June 26th, and the numbers are certainly impressive.  The company posted a record revenue of $15.7 billion for the quarter with a net quarterly profit of $3.25 billion, up from revenues of $9.73 billion and profits of $1.83 billion one year ago.
  
  When it comes to product numbers, one of the most interesting things is that Apple managed to move 3.27 million iPads, nearly surpassing the 3.47 million Macs sold in the same time frame.  The number of Macs sold represents a 33 percent increase from one year ago and is a quarterly record for Apple.  The iPhone also saw an increase in sales compared to last year, up 61 percent, thanks to the 8.4 million iPhones sold.  That number includes the first couple of weeks of iPhone 4 sales, as well.  Finally, we have the iPod, which was the only product to see a decline in sales.    iPod sales shrank eight percent from last year, with 9.41 million units sold.
  
  While there has been some doubt surrounding Apple with the iPhone 4 and "Antennagate," these sales numbers go to show that the company is still going strong.  Sure, the iPhone 4 is just barely a part of the above numbers, but customers have shown that they're willing to use a case with the iPhone 4 and that the pros of the device outweigh the cons in their minds.  As for the iPad, I won't be surprised when the Q4 numbers are released and the iPad ends up surpassing the various Mac computers when it comes to sales.  Macs may have many various devices and are continually growing, but the low price, portability, and app selection of the iPad make it a very attractive product.  After reviewing these numbers, one thing is for certain: Apple is basically printing money.
  
  Via Apple

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• 20Jul

  Rumor: Motorola Droid 2 launching August 12th

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  We've heard in the past that the Motorola Droid 2 may be launching August 23rd, and while that rumor is still standing strong, we've now heard that customers may be able to get their hands on a Droid 2 even sooner.  Engadget has received a tip from a "trusted source" that the Droid 2 will be launching as early as August 12th, although it will only be a soft launch of the device.  This way, Android fans would snag a Droid 2 even earlier and Verizon would kick off the major advertising campaign 11 days later on the 23rd.  The Droid 2 rumors don't end there, though.  Engadget is also reporting that there will be a Star Wars edition of the Droid 2 featuring a white R2-D2 on the back of the device.  It's not clear if the special Droid-ified Droid 2 will launch at the same time as the normal device.  If they are released at the same time, potential customers are going to have a very tough choice on their hands.
  
  Motorola's Droid 2 is definitely a highly anticipated handset.  The huge sales of the original DROID combined with the fact that quality Android phones with a physical QWERTY keyboard are still tough to come by will probably make the Droid 2 a big seller.  An R2-D2 Droid 2 would only serve to increase sales, especially considering how rabid Star Wars fans can be.  I know I'd buy one!
  
  Via Engadget

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• 20Jul

  Some DROID Xs experiencing screen problems

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  Few major phone launches go off without a hitch, as the iPhone 4 can certainly attest to, and now Motorola's DROID X can join the "Rough Launch" club, too.  Along with the shortage issues we reported on earlier, some DROID X owners are reporting problems with their screens.  The issues are either graphical or electrical and can cause rapid flickering and vertical banding of the X's gigantic display.  Some users have been able to get their defective units replaced by Verizon, with the carrier saying that this may be a common problem with some batches of launch day DROID Xs.  Check out videos of both problems below.
  
  As I said earlier, few phones launch without experiencing some sort of problem, and the DROID X is no exception.  These issues definitely need to be addressed by Verizon, Motorola, or both.  Hopefully Verizon is correct when they say that this was just a small problem with launch day handsets.  If your DROID X is having display complications, I'm sure Big Red will replace your device with no questions asked.  With that said, are any of you out there having screen problems with you shiny new DROID X?
  
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  Via Engadget

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• 20Jul

  Adobe FlashTime brings more video chat to Android

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  Sure, you've heard of FaceTime, Apple's new video calling feature on the iPhone 4.  Have you heard of FlashTime, though? No? Judging by the name, I'm sure you could guess who is responsible for this new video chat client.  Adobe has created some demo software called FlashTime, which is a peer-to-peer video chat client for Android users.  Qik is already available for would-be Android video chatters, but this is Flash!  Adobe wants to show everyone how easy Flash is to use and port to other platforms.  Don't get your hopes up about using FlashTime, however, as Adobe's Mark Doherty has pointed out that the company has no plans to actually release the chat client and that FlashTime is simply a placeholder.
  
  It's been a while since we heard anything about the little war between Apple and Adobe, but now the Flash proponent has taken a small jab at Apple and its FaceTime client.  I would be surprised to see Apple make any sort of response since this isn't really an attack on Apple or anything like that.  Still, it would be cool to see Adobe release FlashTime at some point in the future.  It would also be great to see their client play nice with Apple's FaceTime, but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one.

  Via Engadget

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• 20Jul

  Nobody knows what Android means and nobody cares

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  I go to this one cafe a lot. Like any good neighborhood spot, it has its regulars. I'm a morning regular and so are a bunch of other folks I recognize there, including these two guys who usually sit outside and I sometimes exchange "What's up?"s with. 

  So this morning I'm walking by and they're sitting outside and we say What's Up. And we get to chatting and the one guy says, "Hey, wait, you're the guy who was on TV talking about the iPhone, right?"

  "Yup, that's me." And I explain to him what it is that I do for a living.

  "So can I ask you a question?" 

  "Sure," I say.

  "My buddy here has a Droid. And whenever I send him photos he can't save them. You know how to do that?"

  I look down to the table in front of the guy's friend. He's got a G1 in his palm and he's opening up his SMS/MMS messages for me to take a look at.

  "Which Droid do you have?" I ask, knowing the answer but curious to hear his response.

  "The first one," the guy's buddy says, holding up his brown G1.

  Nobody knows what Android is. Nobody aside from phone geeks and marketing people. Everyone knows Droid, nobody knows Android. Droids are Verizon's domain, but this guy has the original Droid, a G1 that runs on T-Mobile. You know who wins in this scenario? Verizon wins because they actually sell "Droids." HTC sorta wins because they made the G1 and now they make a few Droids for Verizon. Google wins because at least for now they continue to always win.

  But everyone else who makes and sells Android OS devices loses. Because when Jim, the guy from the cafe, goes into an AT&T or Sprint or T-Mobile store he's not going to ask for "an Android OS smartphone." He's going to ask for a "Droid." And while there's a decent chance he'll get a sales person who can explain what "Android OS" is and show him a delightful T-Mobile myTouch or a lovely Samsung Intercept, there's also a decent chance he'll get an AT&T/Sprint/TMo rep who says, "Oh, I'm sorry sir, we don't carry Droids." Because, well, they don't. Only Verizon carries Droids.

  You know how you know all about Android and webOS and such because you read awesome tech sites like this one? Well, most people don't. Most people watch TV and read magazines and see billboards and that's how they get their info on which new smartphone to buy. And for every ad for any individual Android device that they see, they see at least two for "Droid." Droid, Droid Incredible, Droid X, it doesn't matter: It's all Droid. Droid is catchy, Droid is easy to remember, Droid Does, blah blah blah. 

  That's good marketing. That's why Jim's buddy has a Droid, and not a T-Mobile G1 with Google, as it was actually called when it launched a few years ago, well before anything was actually called "Droid."

  And that's why nobody knows what "Android" is and nobody cares. It's Droid, baby, Droid. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, I hope you're training those sales people to show would-be customers what Droids you've got in stock when they walk into a store asking for them. 'Cause if you're not, the folks over at Verizon will be more than happy to.

  UPDATE: Yes, I showed him how to long press on photos in received MMS messages and save them to his SD card. Thanks to everyone who asked.

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• 20Jul

  Nokia searching for new CEO to replace Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo

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  While Nokia is still a major player in the cell phone industry thanks to large sales numbers overseas, it's no secret that the company has had a hard time keeping up with others in North America like Google and Apple.  If a Wall Street Journal report is true, Nokia may be looking to revive itself with an executive shake-up.  WSJ believes that Nokia is searching for a new Chief Executive Officer to replace Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo.  The reason for the change is believed to be both investor confidence and the company's falling stock prices.
  
  Nokia has definitely been struggling to keep up with devices like the iPhone and DROID recently.  While the company's new N8 may help to reverse the trend, it's not going to be able to bring Nokia to its former glory on its own.  Hopefully a new CEO will help to breathe life into Nokia and help them to better compete in the rapidly changing U.S. mobile market.
  
  Via Engadget, Wall Street Journal

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• 20Jul

  Motorola DROID 2 to ship with Android 2.2?

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  With a rumored August release date (August 23rd, to be exact), the Motorola DROID 2 leaks are arriving in full force.  To that end, the gang at Droid-Life was able to score some new information about the replacement to the tried and true DROID.  According to their tipster, the device will ship with Android 2.2 and Motorola's toned down version of MOTOBLUR (just like the DROID X).  The DROID 2 was said to be "more responsive" than the original device, thanks to the 1 GHz processor and improvements in Froyo.  They went on to praise the quality of the new QWERTY keyboard, and claimed that the overall build felt a lot like the original DROID.

  So there you have it - a few important questions answered.  With August a few days away, have your eyes migrated from the DROID X to the DROID 2?

  Via Droid-Life

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