Brief explanation: I was flirting with the idea of shutting the blog down or allowing it to simply wither on the vine. I even considered posting a message that all of my blogging will occur in a micro fashion either on Buzz or Twitter (@JonMallin).  However, I have decided to keep the blog live, allow guest bloggers to participate (Thanks Louis Parker and Nick Waye), and to personally update it on a infrequent basis. These are my thoughts on technology that I’ve had bottled up (get the joke?) for awhile with a focus on Google.

On to discuss Google’s game plan… TweetDeck was acquired by Twitter because it threatened Twitter. TweetDeck was and is the most-widely used third party vehicle and Twitter was the destination. The problem for Twitter is that TweetDeck was also a vehicle that drove people to Facebook and Buzz, though to a much lesser extent. If FaceMashSomething popped up tomorrow, a Twitter rival, TweetDeck could propel it to instant stardom. On the other hand, if Twitter acquires TweetDeck then it owns and controls a vehicle, an especially popular vehicle.

Today I had a somewhat similar random thought that might sound somewhat conspiracy-like. Google has created Chome browser and Chrome OS to move advertisements from the web and into the OS (banner at the bottom, pop-ups, etc.). Remember the fundamentals? Google is, at its core, an advertising company… plain and simple.  This would insure advertising revenue regardless of the websites people visit. Websites come and go. There was AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail, MySpace, etc. Websites tend to be short-term trends. What is intelligent about Google’s plan is that it would be immune to these trends. Facebook could beat Buzz/Google Me, Bing could become popular, Twitter use could skyrocket and guess what? If Google owns the vehicle, the OS it gives away for free, it has the ability to sell advertisers access to your eyeballs (remember, your eyeballs are Google’s primary “product”).

This is precisely the Android model.

So, Android = huge success by all accounts based on insanely fast widespread adoption.

Google owns the vehicle and it serves up ads through third party apps (note: in fact, no native Google apps have advertising banners AFAIK).

If they can move from handsets to desktops to other ways of catching your eyeballs, Google makes boatloads of cash.

If I’m correct in my thinking, Google should be patenting the heck out of an OS that overlays ads over internet accessed content or otherwise interjects ads into the user experience (brief pauses with animated ads or boot-up ads… whatever, patent it all). Furthermore, Google should give away computers. I previous wrote, “Chrome OS Netbooks — Hell Yes, Google Will Give away computers” back in December of 2009.  What happened?  Google beta tested a computer giveaway, the CR-48. The goals isn’t to sell computers. It never was. Every pundit who declares Google’s hardware experiences “failures” is an idiot. Google TV is a way to sell your eyeballs when you look at your television. Google’s web properties sell your eyeballs when you look at the computer. Google Android, YouTube… you get the point. The amount of revenue Google receives directly from the sale of a physical product is immaterial to Google’s plans. The only thing that matters is that Google win the vehicle war.

My belief is that Google may think it has nearly saturated some of its existing customers and maximized the value they can extract out of existing eyeballs. They now need new eyeballs. People who don’t have computers, smartphones, etc. If they give away computers, they may harvest up new eyeballs. Senior citizens and the poor are likely audiences.

This is not to say Google isn’t diversifying. Sure, it wants to serve up its productivity suite. But, I contend that line of business will be immaterial to Google’s revenue stream for a long, long time.

Google’s “master plan” is to be the vehicle through which your eyeballs travel. They’re not looking to pull money from your wallet by selling you a product. Instead, our eyeballs are being sold as the product and Google wants to make sure it is the largest, best eyeball store around.

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Click to Zoom, Image from DroidLife

ThunderBolt™ by HTC Available Beginning March 17

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced that the ThunderBolt™ by HTC, exclusively from Verizon Wireless, is available on March 17 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $249.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
Powered by Android™ 2.2, the ThunderBolt by HTC is the first smartphone to take advantage of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.  The ThunderBolt by HTC features the latest version of the HTC Sense™ experience, which offers enhancements including new personalization options, a consolidated e-mail inbox, and unique camera effects and filters.  The ThunderBolt by HTC is equipped with support for Google Mobile Services, including Gmail™, YouTube™ and Android Market™ with thousands of free apps.  Additionally, the ThunderBolt by HTC will feature 4G LTE optimized apps such as EA’s Rock Band, Gameloft’s Let’s Golf, Tunewiki and Bitbop.

Additional features:

·       4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area

·       4.3” WVGA display

·       8- megapixel rear facing camera and HD (720p) video recording

·       1.3- megapixel front facing camera with video chatting capabilities

·       Newest generation of the 1GHz Snapdragon processor

·       Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices

·       8 GB of onboard memory and a pre-installed 32 GB microSD card (Actual formatted capacity will be less)

·       Built-in kickstand for easy media viewing

With the ThunderBolt by HTC, customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package.  Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access and an Unlimited 4G LTE data plan is $29.99 monthly access.

Mobile Hotspot allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the nation’s fastest wireless network via an application available on the ThunderBolt by HTC.  Mobile Hotspot will be included through May 15 for no additional charge.  After May 15, customers may choose to activate Mobile Hotspot for $20 for 2 GB of data per month.  Customers can track their data usage by downloading the My Verizon app available in Android Market or by logging on to their My Verizon accounts online at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.

For additional information on Verizon Wireless 4G LTE visit www.verizonwireless.com/4glte. For more information about the ThunderBolt by HTC please visit www.verizonwireless.com/thunderbolt.  For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

No related posts.

Click to Zoom

I was able to kick the tires on the Xoom this past week. I found it to be a very good tablet and Android 3.0 Honeycomb is clearly a step in the right direction for Android. This product almost deserves two full separate reviews of the hardware and software but I’ll keep the review concise.

Likes

1. Hardware rocks. The tablet has a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 type of processor, a 10.1-inch form-factor (1280×800 resolution), 1080p HD playback capability, 5MP rear camera with flash, 2 MP front-facing camera (for videoconferencing, more than adequate), 720p video record capability, HDMI-out,WiFi / Bluetooth 2.1 support and 32GB internal storage and 1GB DDR RAM memory. The Xoom will be upgradable to 4G LTE on Verizon’s network and it will support microSD cards, in case 32GB of storage is inadequate for you. There’s more stuff inside like a GPS and accelerometer.  Basically, anything that should be in a tablet hardware-wise is in this tablet.
2. Honeycomb rocks, too. All those naysayers who say Google can’t create a good user-interface were proven wrong. As far as I know, this is the first operating system truly designed for tablets and only tablets. Sure, Ubuntu and Windows can support touch screens but they are really clumsy for a tablet. Apple’s iOS, while refined and polished, is basically the same software with the same capabilities you find on an iPhone or iPod Touch. On the other hand, Honeycomb is designed for the ergonomics of a tablet. Common keys like back, home, app switcher, wifi connector, etc., all appear along the lower edge of the screen (see picture) and they’re easily accessible at all times. Notifications along the bottom edge on the right work really well and can be cleared individually instead of the mass clear button found in prior versions of Android.
3. The hardware and software combine for an excellent, refined and polished user experience somewhat similar to an Apple product. Clearly, Google worked with device manufacturers like Motorola in designing Honeycomb, and it shows.
4. Google Apps were improved for the tablet interface.  Gmail, Calendar and YouTube work really well. For example, Gmail displays an index of inbox messages along the left-hand column and when a message is selected, the body of the message appears on the right of the index. This works incredibly well in landscape mode and it really improves productivity.
5. I didn’t use the videoconferencing feature but I imagine in the next couple of years, this will becoming increasingly common and a near necessity in the business world.

Dislikes

I would categorize these dislikes and others I’ve read on the web as relatively minor.

1. It should have launched 4G LTE capable. Shame on whoever blew that one. Maybe Motorola and Verizon should share the blame?
2. Some of the icons in Honeycomb are not quite as intuitive as one would expect. What does a file cabinet icon mean to you? Well, it means to Archive the message. While this makes sense, a file cabinet icon also may mislead some into believing that they would see a list of their tags (Google’s version of folders).
3. App development for Honeycomb wasn’t as advanced as I expected. There are some apps optimized for Honeycomb by large media companies like CNN, USA Today and so on but, generally speaking, the developer community is still focusing on Android phones and not Android tablets. Nonetheless, many Android phone apps work amazingly well on the Xoom. For example, TweetDeck was superb.
4. The price puts this product somewhat out of my reach right now.  Heck, I’m still performing surgery on a rooted nook color to make it usable but not everyone wants a fixer-upper or a product with inferior hardware like the nook color. Also, nook color supporters need to jump through hoops to use mobile data on the device through a nearby phone. Everyone has different price points or whatever economists would call it so decide for yourself if the Xoom is right for you.

Overall

This is clearly the best Android tablet on the market right now. The Galaxy Tab is nice but it seriously feels like a sluggish toy compared to the Xoom. You read that right. The Galaxy Tab feels like a toy now. Galaxy Tabs and Nook Colors might be great for pulling up a recipe in the kitchen but for video playback, recording and conferencing the Xoom is needed. Also, Honeycomb brings other improvements that make the Xoom a better tablet. In summary, it is a high-end device that performs like one but carries a hefty price tag. Think Ferrari of today’s Android world.

The big debate will be the Xoom vs. iPad 2. Frankly, I’m not an Apple guy and I’m not too fond of iOS or Apple’s App Store police. I haven’t really looked into the iPad 2 much at all so I’ll reserve judgment until I have a chance make an informed opinion. Stay tuned…

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Samsung Galaxy Tab (center) Img Courtesy of AndroidCentral.com

I supplemented my usual arsenal of technology with a Samsung Galaxy Tab this past week. My usual arsenal of technology consists of two large notebooks measuring in at just over 17″ each, a 10″ netbook and a 3.7″ Droid Incredible. The Galaxy Tab is Samsung and Verizon’s first Android tablet and the screen measures 7″ diagonal. After a week of use, I reached the conclusion that the tablet form is here to stay and the 7″ screen is appropriate, perhaps even ideal, for a tablet.

I was a little skeptical at first that I would like the Tab. Afterall, it’s an oversized touchscreen Android phone minus the actual phone. However, after using it for a few days I realized that the tablet form and 3G connectivity (on Verizon) are really attractive. The tablet form is ideal for information and media consumption. For example, YouTube on the Tab is a great experience. The 7″ screen is also great for reading your latest downloads via the pre-installed Kindle app. Text appears in a comfortable, readable font, unlike the experience on my 3.7″ phone.

While text input on the Tab is decent and Swype improves the experience, I prefer to generate content (which is a fancy way of saying “type”) on a netbook. The problem with most netbooks, however, is that they usually lack 3G connectivity. Being a slave to Wifi can be an inconvenience.

The Galaxy Tab is essentially an oversized Galaxy S smartphone like the Samsung Fascinate. The screen is 1024 x 600. It auto-rotates and does everything else you’d expect from a Samsung Android product. The phone runs Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz 3.0 interface which has some iPhone-like qualities to it. Unlike the Samsung Fascinate, the Galaxy Tab adds a forward facing camera for videocalling.

Not only is it great for commercial breaks during live television, I could also see the Tab having good practical application in the business world. The Tab comes with Android 2.2 Froyo preinstalled so this flap about Samsung not upgrading 2.1 devices to 2.2 is largely irrelevant to Tab owners. However, I hope that Samsung will push the Honeycomb Android 3.0 update to the Galaxy Tab. Honeycomb will not have any required minimum specs to run and it seems to offer, based on what little is known about it, an even better tablet experience.

I found the 3G experience on Verizon Wireless to be excellent. The Tab clearly has a better antenna than the HTC Incredible. This results in better connectivity and faster data speeds. While I’m comparing the two, the Tab offers a solution to the biggest complaint about today’s smartphones. Plain and simple, smartphone battery life usually stinks. I was able to squeeze more than two days of battery life out of the Tab with extremely heavy use. Speaking of battery, one complaint I have is that the Tab doesn’t charge off of micro USB like virtually all smartphones. Instead it uses a 30 pin connector which seems to be interchangeable with Apple iDevice chargers (didn’t want to try this out and risk blowing up the Tab).

Unfortunately, tablet specific apps are few and far between in the Android Market. While I found every Android app I tried to work well on the device, I was really itching for apps that would take advantage of the larger screen. Sure, Angry Birds is fun at 7″ but I was looking for more. Apparently Popular Science makes a tablet-optimized app but it is a paid app. One app I really liked on the Tab was the Pulse news reader/RSS reader app because it really works well on a 7″ screen and integrates with Google Reader, my favorite RSS platform.

Ok, so, you might be weighing the Samsung Galaxy Tab against the ubiquitous Apple iPad. While I can see both sides to the debate, I would choose the Galaxy Tab. First, at least in my neck of the woods (suburban Detroit), Verizon has much better coverage than AT&T. Second, “open” wins over Apple’s “closed” business model. I prefer to control my devices and not to have the device manufacturer dictate the entire user experience. (Disclosure, which is probably unnecessary: I’m long both GOOG and AAPL.) Third, I like the 7″ screen more than the iPad’s 10″ screen. 10″ makes sense for a netbook because it requires a physical keyboard that could not be easily undersized to less than 10″ diagonal. However, 10″ for a touchscreen is a little too big for my liking. The 7″ is more portable and seemed to fit comfortably between phone-size and computer-size.

My initial reaction to the Tab and all tablets was, “Who needs one of these?”  While I can’t truly say I need one, I walked away thinking “I want one of these.”

No related posts.

Tomorrow Apple and Verizon publicly tie the knot in New York City at 11:00 a.m. EST. Yes, the iPhone is coming to Verizon. Here’s the quickest summary of all of the credible rumors about tomorrow’s event with attribution and links.

The Wall Street Journal has been spot on with all of its Verizon iPhone articles and ran a piece two days ago with juicy details. Citing “people familiar with the matter” (translation: very reliable, trustworthy sources), WSJ broke the news that Verizon has indeed landed the iPhone and will announce it tomorrow, 1/11/11 at 11 a.m.  Note all the 1′s. Expect a world’s #1 best selling phone on the #1 carrier type of presentation. According to the WSJ piece, a Sanford Bernstein analyst predicts that Verizon could add as many as 10 million customers in the U.S. to its 93 million existing customers.

Fast Company notes that Gizmodo staffers have not been invited to cover the event, which suggests that Apple had some control over the non-transferable invitations. Remember that Gizmodo bloggers are the same folks who bought the lost iPhone 4 prototype, disassembled it and then blogged the hell out of it. FC also notes that well connected sources at AllThingsD believe Steve Jobs will be on stage with Verizon Communication’s President and COO.

Verizon has also been tweeting from Twitter for iPhone recently and presumably not on AT&T’s signal. :) This suggests to me that Verizon wanted this story to leak out ahead of the event in a planned way with leaks going to trustworthy sources like the WSJ and little scraps of evidence to back it up.

Consistent with earlier reports and common sense, the WSJ reported that the phone will indeed be a CDMA phone. This means don’t hop on eBay in the hope of scooping up a used AT&T iPhone and activating it on Verizon’s network. It won’t work.

One AT&T top officer remarked today that Verizon’s CDMA technology will produce lower data speeds than AT&T’s GSM service. Larry Solomon a mucky muck in Communications at AT&T stated: “The iPhone is built for speed, but that’s not what you get with a CDMA phone. I’m not sure iPhone users are ready for life in the slow lane.”  I’ve seen others make remarks that CDMA does not permit simultaneous voice and data traffic. I question whether this is a strong argument in favor of AT&T’s network which is heavily criticized, rightfully so, for dropped calls and weak signals in many markets.

What does this mean for Android? Well, some people who were wedded to Verizon are going to opt for the iPhone over an Android. Will this be enough to significantly slow the adoption of Android? I personally doubt it. If you are considering the iPhone vs. Android, I wrote about that one long ago.

What does this mean for the Verizon network? Verizon has long said that its network has the muscle to handle iPhone traffic. Apple Insider and some other sources are reporting that Verizon will, unlike AT&T, offer unlimited data plans on Verizon, probably priced at $30/mo. This could help land those 10 million new customers that the Sanford Bernstein analyst predicts will come to Big Red. How Verizon handles this surge in data could make or break Verizon in heavy-use markets.

Expect the blogosphere to erupt tomorrow with iPhone postings.

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It’s hard not to get excited about this great looking phone:

VERIZON WIRELESS AND MOTOROLA MOBILITY ANNOUNCE DROID™ BIONIC ON NATION’S FASTEST, MOST ADVANCED 4G NETWORK

New Android Device Combines Dual-core Processor with Fastest 4G Network for Unrivaled Mobile Internet Experience

LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today unveiled DROID^™ BIONIC, a powerful new Android^™ smartphone.

Packing a dual core processor with each core running at 1GHz, delivering up to two GHz of processing power, and 512 MB RAM, the sleekly designed DROID BIONIC smartphone with 4G LTE delivers a mobile Internet experience that’s up to 10 times faster than 3G.  This means consumers can stream their favorite music and the latest TV shows with unparalleled quality experience.  DROID BIONIC also races through loading of complex web pages and media that take advantage of Adobe^® Flash^® Player and HTML5, rendering graphics faster than previous generation single-core devices.

Motorola’s DROID BIONIC gives new meaning to the word “socialize” by delivering multiple ways for customers to stay connected.  With the device’s front-facing VGA camera and See What I See video feature, consumers can share experiences – either via Wi-Fi or 4G – with family, friends and co-workers. A rear-facing 8-megapixel camera also allows consumers to capture their favorite pictures and videos.

DROID BIONIC’s multiplayer gaming capabilities allow consumers to challenge friends to live peer-to-peer gaming, viewed through the device’s 4.3-inch qHD quality screen that delivers console-quality graphics.  DROID BIONIC’s HDMI connectivity also enables consumers to connect the device to their HD televisions to experience their favorite games, as well as purchased HD content, in full 1080p.  And for multi-taskers, DROID 4G’s Mirror Mode function enables simultaneous streaming of video to the TV and on the device.

As a fully featured work device, DROID BIONIC comes equipped with corporate email, remote wipe and data security and encryption capabilities IT departments appreciate.  DROID BIONIC also features productivity tools such as Quickoffice^® for document review and editing, full calendar management, one-click access to conference calling, and a full suite of Google applications and services.

“DROID BIONIC brings to life the speed and power of Verizon’s 4G LTE network, giving consumers an unrivaled mobile experience,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “Whether downloading movies in minutes, connecting with friends or co-workers through video conferencing, or blazing through the Internet, Motorola’s DROID BIONIC is what the 4G LTE experience is all about.”

“DROID BIONIC is the epitome of speed, providing consumers with instantaneous access to their personal and work content, anytime and anyplace,” said Alain Mutricy, senior vice president of portfolio and device product management, Motorola Mobility.  “By combining such a powerful mobile device with the performance and capabilities of Verizon’s 4G LTE network, we’re empowering consumers to define how they want to live their mobile lifestyles.”

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G network.  Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.

For more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwrieless.com/lte and for more information about Verizon Wireless at CES please visit www.verizonwireless.com/ces or follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/verizonwireless.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Media can access high-resolution images of Motorola DROID BIONIC in the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.)

# # #

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Android Market, Android, Google, Gmail, Google Calendar are trademarks of Google Inc. DROID is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. Used under license.Bluetooth is a trademark owned by its proprietor and used under license. © 2011 Motorola Mobility, Inc.

No related posts.

Admittedly, it’s been a long, long time since I last updated the Tech Bottle blog. It’s not that I’ve fallen months behind on technology.  I have been reading and interacting with tech enthusiasts but I haven’t been posting here.  A New Years resolution is to keep the blog updated on at least a semi-regular basis. Here’s what I’ve been doing and what’s caught my eye:

• I’m still a big supporter of Google Buzz. I think it is intelligently designed and well executed. I tend to read much more than I write on Buzz but I have been getting back in the swing of things. It’ll hopefully be rolled into the rumored Google Me service which apparently goes by the code name Google +1 now.
• I’m also liking Quora and Diaspora quite a bit. Quora is a Q&A forum of sorts. It’s like Yahoo! Answers, in a way, but Quora is populated with real techies and entrepreneurs.  Diaspora is the “open” alternative to Facebook.  Readers of my blog know that I’m not a big fan of Facebook. Diaspora has better privacy settings and it’s more intuitive to use than Facebook.  Quora is open to all but Diaspora is by invitation only (I think… I tried confirming but they are upgrading their servers… a much needed chore for them).
• I’m still running Ubuntu linux at home.  I am pleased to report that I haven’t had to boot Windows or virtualize Windows even once since converting to Ubuntu nearly six months ago. Oh, in Ubuntu I’ve been toying with MythTV which is pretty darn cool but difficult to set up.  I also revitalized a 333 MHz old Dell machine with 256 megs of RAM by installing Ubuntu. It’s usable but, well, not quite snappy enough for my liking.
• I’ve downloaded the Dell build of Chromium OS but I need to clean up and fix a USB stick to try it out.
• I’m eagerly awaiting the HTC Thunderbolt, which is rumored to be Verizon’s first 4G/LTE phone.Tell me this isn’t a great looking Android phone?  I have an upgrade saved up on my account.  The only thing that would keep me away from the Thunderbolt would be an encrypted bootloader that would make rooting and custom ROMing the phone impossible (or, at the very least, extremely difficult).
• Also in the mobile industry, I see RIM slipping further into irrelevance.  They announced a switch to a completely new OS built from an operating system designed for touchscreen GPS standalone devices. The new OS won’t be available for a long time (my guess, over a years… 2012) yet they’re still selling OUTDATED Blackberry OS devices like the Torch (major flop) to keep revenue going. Goldman Sachs downgraded RIM’s stock not too long ago. Oh, and RIM has a dual core tablet in the works that some are touting but others are already criticizing (mostly re: battery life).
• The CR-48 Chrome netbook looks great to me but I haven’t been able to score one. I’ve been reading about it on Buzz from those lucky few who received them.

That’s all folks.  Expect more in 2011.  Have a happy and healthy new year.

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--Google Plus Ate My Blog, Find Me There… --Google wants to kill your amateur blog… but that’s OK. --Google’s Game Plan: Google is not failing at hardware. It is succeeding at something else. --Google Plus: Stealth Mode to Instant Competitor?

Click to Zoom

In my ongoing efforts to review all of the top Android phones on Verizon, I schlepped around a Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate for a week. The phone I’m most familiar with is the HTC Droid Incredible, my own phone, but I am also familiar with the Droid X, another phone I reviewed. I found the Fascinate to be a terrific phone (and I’ll address the big Bing issue later) and comparable to the Droid X, which I believe is better than the Incredible.

I like:

1. The screen, the screen, the screen. Wait.  Did I only type that three times? The Fascinate has a screen that is simply mesmerizing. The quality of the screen cannot be overstated. Hold it next to the Droid Incredible or Droid X and you’ll see what I mean. It’s brighter and crisper than anything in the “Droid” line-up.  It’s sufficiently bright that fingerprints aren’t much of an issue on the Fascinate. It’s 4.0″ which puts it comfortably between the 3.7″ Incredible and 4.3″ Droid X.  It supports the same resolution as the others, 800 x 480. (Oddly, the Incredible has a screen manufactured by Samsung too but it’s not Super AMOLED.)
2. The touchwiz UI variant, like the phone’s form factor, is clean and slick. It’s polished like a veteran smartphone (read: iPhone-ish). It comes packed with widgets and the stock icons are very appropriate and differentiated from one another.
3. It runs on a Samsung 1 GHz Hummingbird processor. I didn’t run Quadrant scores but you can Google for results. Although this only comes with Android 2.1, the scores are outrageous. A rooted, overclocked Galaxy S scored over 2,500 in Quadrant’s tests while no other Android handset can break 2,000.
4. It comes with Swype, my favorite keyboard replacement, and a 16 GB MicroSD card.
5. The 5 MP camera also has a flash, unlike the GSM versions of the Samsung Galaxy S.
6. Battery life was good. I didn’t run a scientific stress test but it seems to be slightly below the Droid X and far superior to the stock Incredible. If you root the Incredible and run SkyRaider’s ROM/KingKlick’s kernel, the Incredible can do admirably and compete with the Samsung but most people don’t root their phones.

I Dislike:

1. BING… but it’s my opinion that this dislike is being overplayed by some. The phone’s default search and maps are Bing. Ok, what implications does that have if you want Google? Well, I downloaded Google Maps with Navigation from the Market and changed the browsers start page to www.google.com. It took all of five minutes. So, where did this leave me? The search button (which I never use on any Android phone) still binds to Bing and search widgets (which I also don’t use) do the same. Engadget reports that Bing is more deeply integrated in the OS and there are other ways that Bing interferes with the phone but I didn’t have any surprise Bing issues. Finally, all of this may be moot. Some are saying that the Android 2.2 Froyo update will allow users to change the default searches and maps back to Google.  I’d like to comment that Microsoft’s $500 million investment as Verizon’s default search provider seems to be a complete and utter waste of resources given how easy it is to avoid Bing. Finally, the Bingification of this phone makes me dislike Microsoft even more. Android is a product of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), which Google was instrumental in founding. Microsoft isn’t even a member of the OHA. It’s business model is antithetical to the principles behind the OHA. (Incidentally, I didn’t care for Bing Maps Navigation. The colors were strange and pinch-zoom was a little choppy.)
2. I would have preferred a granddaddy 4.3″ screen on this phone.
3. They skimped on the camera. Why only 5 MP?
4. Like every phone coming onto Big Red and all other U.S. carriers, the phone is loaded with tons of crapware. Please, give us Swype and dump the rest of the garbage, particularly if it is already available in the Market. Make it optional.

The Fascinate is a terrific phone that significantly exceeded my expectations. Anyone new to Android would absolutely love it. Same if you have an original Droid 1 or an Eris. If you’re already toting an Incredible, X or Droid 2, I would hold out for an LTE 4G phone which should arrive in most major cities early next year. Oh yeah, the screen, the screen, the screen. Visit a Verizon store and check it out. You’ll be impressed.

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--Samsung Galaxy Tab ~ Review and Recommended --HTC Thunderbolt, Verizon’s first 4G LTE Android Phone (a/k/a “My next phone!”) arrives March 17th [Confirmed]

Now, it’s official but we knew this was coming. This evening Verizon issued a press release confirming that the Galaxy Tab is indeed heading to Big Red. The Galaxy Tab features a 7″ 1024 x 600 touchscreen, Android 2.2 a/k/a “Froyo”, front and rear cameras and a 1.2 GHz processor.

This is Androids first formidable competitor to the Apple’s iPad.  It seems to out-spec the iPad in almost every regard (specs below). Assuming Google Books and Google Music launch in time for the Galaxy Tab’s debut and Verizon/Samsung price this right, the Galaxy Tab should sell really, really well.  The Verizon press release states that the Galaxy Tab will be released in the coming weeks. Great news for those looking for a good tablet.

Full press release:

click to enlarge

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--Samsung Galaxy Tab ~ Review and Recommended

I’m a big fan of Android and I’m excited to see Android alternatives to the iPad. While I’m not really in the market for a tablet and I’m satisfied with a netbook, I’ve been following the tablets in the Android blogs. JKKMobile put together a list of the top 10 Android tablets and it’s really well done. I particularly like that they clearly identify which tablets are coming with Google services and the Market and which aren’t (e.g., Archos tablets). If I were buying a tablet, I would pay quite a bit more for the tablets that are Google-infused and can download apps from the Market. In any event, here’s the link:

http://www.jkkmobile.com/2010/09/top-10-android-tablets.html

[via Cliff Allen on Buzz]

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I’ll begin by disclaiming that I’m not much of a podcast guy. I prefer to read or skim than purely listen. That said, I turned on Android Guys Thursday Night podcast last week and really enjoyed it. It’s all talk about Android devices and apps with plenty of humor thrown in for good measure. The podcast also features call-in segments with listeners.

Chuck Falzone, a regular on Google Buzz, participates in the Android Guys podcast. Tonight at 10 pm ET, Chuck will be talking about My6Sense with Louis Gray. My6Sense is a social media aggregator that supports Facebook, Twitter, Buzz and RSS feeds.  Sounds something like TweetDeck or Seesmic, right? Well, My6Sense goes one step further. It learns your behavior over time and organizes your aggregated stream according to your past behavior. In other words, it separates the wheat from the chaff for you. It is available in the Market under “My6Sense” and it is free.

To learn more about My6Sense and listen in on the Android Guys podcast (or download it later), go to: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/androidguys

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--Proto Podcast Mini: What do I think of Google+?

No, I haven’t given up blogging. The odd thing is that I’ve written very little this past month and blog visitors has steadily increased, driven primarily by my review of the Droid X. Here’s what is going on in my tech world.

1. I rooted my HTC Incredible before the OTA upgrade with Unrevoked3 and Unrevoked Forever (S-OFF). Following the root, I downloaded Titanium Backup and ROM Manager from the Market. ROM Manager is terrific and shows all the latest ROMs available for your device. I installed the SkyRaider ROM because I couldn’t get Cyanogen to stream music by bluetooth (known bug). While I get all kinds of goodies by rooting and running this ROM, what I particularly like about it is the Kingklik kernel which has dramatically improved battery life when combined with an app killer and JuiceDefender (UltimateJuice).  I also flashed the new antenna after flashing Froyo (S-OFF required). The best set of instructions I could find for rooting and ROMing an Incredible are at Jonamerica. That post includes all things root that you need to know, including how to make nandroid backups.

2. While I really like DropBox (please sign up; it’s free and I need referrals), I also signed up for Evernote which has some added features. The primary difference is DropBox is great for online storage (I drop APKs in there all the time and then install them on my phone through the app) but Evernote actually makes everything searchable, including voice notes. Evernote is a cloud-based journal of sorts.

3. I was granted access to Google’s App Inventor. If you are interested, you can sign up here. In a few hours, I was able to put together a paint program, a phone dialer, a whack-a-mole game and a trivia game.,. and I don’t know the first thing about programming. The online tutorials are awesome. You might want to check them out even if you don’t have access yet to Inventor because they’re easy to follow and you’ll have a head start. Here’s my buzz about App Inventor.

4. Semi-breaking news, that was announced on Google Buzz: My6sense released an Android app for social networking. It learns your behavior, I hear, which enables it to prioritize content.

5. If you haven’t seen my “Google, My Best Guess at What it Will Look Like” post, it’s generating a ton of traffic. While I could be way off, I think you might find it interesting.

6. Samsung is on fire lately. The Galaxy S is a smashing success and the Verizon variant will be released tomorrow. The Galaxy Tab is also generating a lot of buzz. Speaking of which, SamsungUSA is actually on Google Buzz. Follow SamsungUSA for product announcements.

7. Facebook has given me access to “Facebook Questions,” a new feature on the site. It’s much like Yahoo! Answers and should roll out soon.

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--Google wants to kill your amateur blog… but that’s OK.

I jumped the gun. Today Android 2.2 “Froyo” was pushed by Verizon to the HTC Droid Incredible. Well, I’ve been running it since Monday. I “rooted” (gained superuser access) my phone and installed a custom ROM that allowed me to run Froyo. At first, I was reluctant to root my phone but after thinking it through and doing some due diligence I decided to go ahead. I was particularly persuaded by the fact that the Droid Incredible can be unrooted if you used Unrevoked3 for the root. While I’m not exactly advocating that one root an Android phone, I think it is perfectly defensible. Here’s why:

1. Carriers have loaded up Android phones with tons of bloatware. These apps cannot be uninstalled without rooting a phone and they sometimes hog precious resources, thereby draining battery life. For example, the Droid X comes with Blockbuster’s app, CityID and a bunch of other (usually unwanted) garbage. The carriers can even push more crap after you buy the phone. On a PC, you simple format the drive and install a new OS or you remove application by application. On an Android phone, root is necessary to clean up the phone.

2. Android phones, sans the Nexus One, come with custom skins. Sense, Blur, TouchWiz, whatever. They’re deeply intergrated into the OS. Running Home Switcher with ADW.Launcher or LauncherPro might solve some of the problem but chances are good that your phone is infected with the manufacturer’s design. By rooting, you can install a custom ROM and many come in “vanilla” flavors. Sure, you can still run widgets and apps but you can do so the way Android was intended (originally) to be experienced.

3. OS improvements like Froyo are slow to be released by manufacturers and carriers. The approval process can take months which is eons in the mobile phone arena. By running a custom ROM, you can bypass the bureaucracy and run the latest, greatest iteration of Android. This is what prompted me to root. Mashable ran a pieces weeks ago that Android 2.2 was imminent on my phone. They predicted the 18th as the day it would drop. Well, it didn’t. So, I took matters into my own hands.

4. Wireless tether. This is somewhat more controversial but many custom ROMs allow you to create a wireless hotspot without paying your carriers surcharge. Is this “stealing”? Well, one could argue it is but, on the other hand, you’re paying for your data stream. If they wanted to impose caps or tier data plans, there is nothing stopping them. So, if they’re selling you a bucket of data, I’m not sure that a good argument can be made that it should only be consumed by the phone.

5. As a general principle, and this relates to the jailbreak iPhone debate, you own your hardware. When you buy a physical object, it is yours. Nobody can sell you a fork and tell you what you can and cannot eat with it. Maybe the sample principle applies to phones. Can a carrier arbitrarily restrict your calling? No. Or insist you run Pandora instead of Slacker? No. Why shouldn’t this idea of autonomous ownership apply to the OS as well?

6. Backing up apps. You (presumably) legitimately licensed your apps. Shouldn’t you be able to archive copies in case or emergency?

7. There are compelling, specific reasons why rooting is defensible. The battery life on the HTC Droid Incredible leaves something to be desired. If someone wants to undervolt and improve battery life with Overclock Widget or another app, root is required. Why should a carrier tell you exactly how fast your processor runs? This seems like garbage to me.

In opposition to root, some good arguments can be made, too.

1. A custom ROM runs the risk of compromising your security or making your phone unstable. While these paternalistic arguments are valid for some, if someone wants to assume those risks, they should be free to adventure. Custom ROMs are usually not well tested before they are released. It takes considerable research to determine which ROM to run. I chose SkyRaider 2.5.2 vanilla over CyanogenMod6, because I read bluetooth would work better with it. In this regard, xda-developers.com is an indispensable resource. Other measures can be taken to insure the safety of your data. Go with a reputable ROM maker. Maybe ask developers who they trust.

2. You can damage the hardware (though I’ve never heard of this happening by modding a phone). Well, there’s a solution to this. The carriers invalidate your warranty if you root your phone. Seems fair on some levels. However, some roots (like the one I did) can be unrooted. So, there exists a possibility you could root, damage your hardware, unroot and file a warranty claim. However, there’s a good chance that any hardware failure would have occurred absent the root. In any event, it’s debatable.

3. The carriers make money off of bloatware. Big stinkin’ deal. I’d rather pay an extra few cents per month to preserve battery life and maintain the autonomy of hardware I purchase.

All this said, I’m not advocating rooting your phone; I simply find it defensible. Before you root, you should consider that you run the risk of bricking your phone, being unable to receive official updates from your carrier or running into unanticipated problems. It wasn’t immediately clear that I couldn’t stream music by bluetooth with the Cyanogen6 custom ROM. I learned the hard way and needed to research the issue and adapt by installing another ROM. Make sure you have some technical skills and a stomach for problems before you root your phone.

I’m sure I’m glossing over some important points but, in any event, I’m enjoying my rooted SkyRaider 2.5.2 Android 2.2 Froyo Incredible much more than I was enjoying my Sense/bloatware Android 2.1 Eclaire Incredible. For me, the trade off was well worth it.

No related posts.

Here’s the latest round up on the Android 2.2 (“Froyo”) over-the-air updates coming to Droids.

• Motorola Droid 1 — Froyo is rolling out now in stages. The version of Froyo being distributed is sans Adobe Flash 10.1, which will be available as a download from the Market later this summer.
• HTC Droid Incredible — Mashable’s Ben Parr stuck his neck out and predicts a Wednesday rollout of Froyo. His post suggests that the version rolled out to HTC Droid Incredible’s will come bundled with Adobe Flash 10.1.  I want to point out, however, that I reached out to someone in-the-know at Verizon and the Wednesday rollout is UNCONFIRMED.
• Droid X — According to some clues in a Motorola help forum, it appears that the Droid X Froyo rollout will occur in September, not in late August as predicted.
• Droid 2 — The Droid 2 comes with Froyo installed, along with Flash 10.1. I’ve been kind of quiet on the blog but I was itching to write about the Droid 2. As successor to the wildly popular Droid 1, this phone will sell. It looks good but I’m disappointed to see that it has a processor < 1 GHz because there are rumors out there that Android 3.0 (“Gingerbread”) will require 1 GHz or better.

Froyo runs substantially faster than Android 2.1 (“Eclaire”) and brings many new features. Among them, wireless hotspots, USB tethering, and Chrome to Phone to push information from your computer’s Chrome browser right to your phone.

On the Droid Incredible, I would like to see improvements in the antenna, battery life and bluetooth capabilities. Even one of those three would make me a happy camper.

P.S. In case you hadn’t figured it out, “Froyo” stands for frozen yogurt.

No related posts.

It’s been awhile since I last told you what’s on my Android phone (here and here). I share with you the latest additions to my app collection which now totals 99 apps.  For the full list of apps on my phone, check out my app brain page at: http://www.appbrain.com/user/mallinj/apps-on-the-phone .  Titles of the apps listed below link to app brain pages.

ADW.Launcher

I just replaced LauncherPro with ADW.Launcher. Both beat the heck out of HTC’s Sense UI (which is likely to appear on HTC WP7 phones), but ADW.Launcher is simply more customizable and it’s open source. The icon grid pattern can be adjusted to support up to 8 icons by 8 icons per each of the 7 home screens. The screen can get a bit crowded but that’s the way I like it. ADW.Launcher can also be themed with various downloads that are available in the Market. Search for “ADW” to find the themes.

Caveat: One Google Buzzer pointed out that ADW.Launcher is more of a “power user” interface than LauncherPro and other launchers because it is so customizable. I tend to agree. For example, flipping the screen up reveals a hidden app shelf that is fully customizable. When the hidden app shelf appears, the buttons that ordinarily occupy the bottom line of the screen are concealed. You need to flip up again to return the phone to its normal state and re-hide the app shelf. For me, customization = good but for some others customization = bad (…but I’m an Ubuntu guy which might explain this).

P.S. Don’t forget Home Switcher which is required to switch your launcher.

SD Storage Card Widget and Internal Phone Storage Widget

These handy widgets display information about your use of SD Card capacity and internal RAM.

Facebook for Android – Updated

Seems like Mark Zuckerberg caught Android fever. Soon after he was rumored to get an Android phone, a new version of Facebook dropped. It looks good and shows photos on the main page from your friend stream.

Stonerview Live Wallpaper

Don’t let the name fool you. This live wallpaper is for stoners and non-stoners alike. It displaya high-configurable flurry of stars, squares, little Androids or other thingies. It looks much like a basic computer screen saver.

Alchemy – Game

This came by way of Google Buzz (thanks, Ryan IT Lab). Here’s the Buzz. It’s a highly addictive game where you simply combine “elements” to make new elements. Example: mix fire and water to produce alcohol. Mix worm and alcohol to make tequila. The game goes on and on and features 270 elements.

Advanced Task Killer

I switched task killers but lately I’ve been doubting the need for them based on some reading. In any event, my own experience suggests that they do prolong battery life but only marginally. It’s hard to tell.

Album Art Live Wallpaper Demo

This one is killing me. It looks awesome but it won’t work on the HTC Incredible. It is intended to display a collage of album art from the music on your SD card. You can choose how frequently it shuffles and the size of the album thumbnails.

If this app would work on my phone, I’d pay for it. I even tried installing the paid version but no luck. Returned the app for a full refund. Android FTW.

Listen [by Google]

Yeah, I’m a little late to the Podcast party but this is a Podcast player which works well.

Juice Plotter

Measures your battery over time. Good way to discover what usage drains your battery the most.

FeedSquares for Google Reader

This is a cool app that graphically displays your RSS feeds from Google Reader and an interesting and functional way.

MixZing Media Player

Installed and deleted this once. I just loaded it again today. It’s a feature rich media player that includes a graphic equalizer, gesture recognition and many other bells and whistles. I think 3 Cubed is more impressive looking but MixZing might best 3 Cubed in features. By the way, here’s the link to 3 Cubed, which isn’t easy to find in the Market or on App Brain: http://www.appbrain.com/app/org.abrantix.rockon.rockonnggl.

Hey, if there are any apps I should check out, leave a comment.

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--HTC Thunderbolt, Verizon’s first 4G LTE Android Phone (a/k/a “My next phone!”) arrives March 17th [Confirmed]

Boy Genius Report just posted the Verizon summer device catalog. Oddly, it lists the Droid X as “Coming Soon” (yeah, like tomorrow). The images are hard to make out but if you blow it up really big, it’s legible. Here are the specs for the Droid 2, which are somewhat underwhelming:

• Google Maps and Navigation
• 8 GB storage and 512 MB RAM
• Memory Expandable to 16 GB (really 32, but we’ll cut them some slack)
• QWERTY physical keyboard, (unnecessary)
• 5.0 MP camera
• 3G Mobile Hotspots
• Note: NO HD video capture. This probably requires better than a 5.0 MP camera.

The Samsung phones that are launching on a bunch of carriers will beat the pants off this phone. And, if you require a QWERTY physical keyboard, the Samsung Galaxy S Pro model has one.

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Google dropped a bomb today on the mobile app market… and Apple. It made App Inventor for Android available to the public, after one year of beta testing it in classrooms. It allows people who don’t know how to code (like me) to make Android apps. It’s entirely web-based and it seems that apps can access every feature of Android phones, including GPS, bluetooth, etc.

The primary area where Apple outshines Android is in app count and, arguably, app quality (footnote 1: better Google integration with Android tips the scales the other way for me). The past six months have seen the number of Android apps skyrocket. Current unofficial counts have reached 100,000. With App Inventor rolling out to the general public, I expect Android to approach Apple’s App Store count, roughly 225,000, within the next year (footnote 2: a much higher percentage of Android apps are free than the percentage of Apple apps).While many of App Inventor apps will be novelty items and unappealing apps, it looks like App Inventor is capable of producing some really powerful apps.

You must register through Google to gain access to App Inventor.

Here’s a video that illustrates how easy it is to program a basic app with App Inventor:

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Click to Zoom

I have been using a Droid X for the last three days. I’ve read the reviews that are out in the blogosphere and want to take a different approach. I’ll simply compare the Droid X with the HTC Incredible that I’ve used since early May. I’m very satisfied with the Incredible but ultimately I conclude:  While they’re both great phones, the Droid X is the better phone.

I wanted to compare apples to apples as much as possible. I had both phones running LauncherPro Beta for the home screen, instead of Sense UI (Incredible) and some form of blur (Droid X). I prefer LauncherPro Beta to both so this was a “real world” modification to the phones. I used the phones in similar settings to compare antennas and Wifi reception.

Hardware

Form Factor and Ergonomics — Both phones feel solid but the Droid X weighs in at ~5.5 ounces vs. Incredible at ~4.5 ounces. It’s not enough difference that you need to wear suspenders to keep your pants up but the extra weight is noticeable. The Droid X has a massive 4.3″ screen vs. the Incredible’s adequate  3.7″. This makes the Droid X a considerably larger phone overall (basically, Motorola and Verizon’s answer to the HTC Evo). I was asked on Google Buzz whether the phone fits comfortably in a pocket. It does. I found the larger screen easier to type and Swype on. (Swype is preinstalled on Droid X, a nice touch (pun intended).) Droid X has a dedicated camera button and physical Menu, Home, Back and Search keys, oddly in that order. The Incredible lacks a camera button and has virtual or flush Home, Menu, Back and Search keys. I like the feel of the physical keys better for those functions. The Incredible has an unnecessary optical trackpad that I almost forgot about because I use it so infrequently. Winner: Droid X, primarily due to massive screen size. Admittedly, this is a highly subjective assessment and some may prefer the Incredible because it is smaller.

Screen Quality —   Both screens are very responsive and do multitouch well. I couldn’t distinguish the screens based on responsiveness. To compare the displays, I loaded Beautiful Live Weather wallpaper on both phones. Side by side, the blue on the Incredible’s AMOLED was much deeper or richer than the “washed out” powdery blue on the Droid X. I initially concluded that colors on the Droid X were “washed out.” However, I crowdsourced an answer and Bud Gibson and Mark Richards on Google Buzz directed me to PC Mag’s comprehensive screen review. The review found that the Incredible oversaturates colors by 37 percent and the Droid X undersaturates by 6 percent, which means the Droid X has a more accurate display of colors. In fact, the Droid X has the most accurate display of colors of all of the phones tested, including the iPhone 4. Nonetheless, I showed the screens side by side to two tech-savvy people who both preferred the oversaturated Incredible. This whole issue may be somewhat of a red herring because of the shortage of Samsung AMOLED screens that are used in the Incredible; the later batches of Incredibles are rumored to have Sony TFT screens similar to the TFT screen used in the Droid X. Winner: IMO, Droid X for accurately displaying colors vs. AMOLED Incredibles. However, inconclusive because information about future Incredible screens is unconfirmed.

Antennas — The Droid X receives better signals than the Incredible. In the same location where my Incredible regularly drops calls, the Droid X did not. This was not a fluke; the results were repeatable. The Droid X also appeared to obtain stronger Wifi signals. Winner: Droid X.

Sound Quality — Both phones sound good and the ear pieces are loud. I don’t think a good argument can be made that one is better than another. Winner: Tie.

Battery — Battery technology really hasn’t kept pace with advances in smartphones. Battery life is probably the chief complaint about smartphones, excluding the highly-publicized complaints about the iPhone 4 dropping its signal. If I can make it through the day without a charge, I’m thrilled. The Incredible usually goes the 8-10 hours with light to moderate use. On my first full day with the Droid X, it went 12 hours with about 1.5  hours of heavy Wifi use and 0.5 hours of talk and still had more than 20 percent of its charge remaining. One reason could be that the Droid X has battery manager software baked into the OS. Also, the battery in the Droid X has more milliamps than the Incredible’s battery (1540 vs. 1300). Winner: Droid X by a large margin. Furthermore, for those requiring even more juice, an extended battery for the Droid X will be available.

Storage — Both phones have 8 GB internal and can support up to 32 GB on a card. The Droid X comes with a 16 GB card, whereas the Incredible ships with a 2 GB card (which I never received but I already owned a 16 GB). Winner: Droid X wins by a hair because the 16 GB card comes with the phone.

Other — The Droid X has microphones up the wazoo… I believe there are three of them. Frankly, I don’t know what they all do (one is noise cancellation but the purpose of the third is unclear to me) but there must be a reason for them. The Droid X has a HDMI output but it requires some type of adapter that doesn’t come with the phone. I have seen videos of the Incredible outputting to a flat screen but it was by standard video cables, not HDMI. Both phones have 8 megapixel cameras with dual stage LED flashes. I’m not a camera guy so I didn’t futz around with the cameras but the Droid X can record in 720P and the Incredible can’t. Some say a software update will enable it in the Incredible. Winner: Droid X because it has slightly more bells and whistles.

Software

Both run Android 2.1, contrary to early rumors that Droid X would launch with 2.2. The Droid X is expected to receive a 2.2 upgrade by late summer. That’s based on official word from Verizon. The best estimate on the Incredible was a statement by HTC that it will receive 2.2 before the end of the year. This may mean tomorrow or it could mean December 31st.

Stock UI — Sense UI might be a little better than Motorola’s blur. In any event, I recommend replacing almost every item that can be replaced on the phone, including the UI. You can read my recommendations here. Winner: They both lose to LauncherPro Beta. :P By the way, I noticed that on the Droid X there is a red indicator that highlights the cursor in text fields. This was helpful in locating the cursor and it continued to display even when I changed the UI. This is a nifty improvement.

3G Hotspots– Droid X can create a 3G hotspot to support up to five Wifi devices. The Incredible may get this feature by a software update. (This optional feature will cost $20 per month.) This feature is easy to use. You simply key in a hotspot password for the other devices and toggle it on. Winner: Droid X.

DLNA– The Droid X supports it and the Incredible doesn’t. This is a fantastic feature and underplayed by other reviewers. Digital Living Network Alliance is a trade organization that has created a protocol of sorts by which various devices can share media. For more information, the Wikipedia page is pretty good or visit DLNA’s page. You can play music from your Droid X on your computer  or vice versa. You can also transfer music wirelessly from one device to another if you are using the same Wifi router. PS3s and many other devices support DLNA (Wikipedia has a list) and I think you’ll be hearing more about this technology. Maybe we’ll have cloud-based music solutions later this year but until then DLNA streaming is great. Winner: Droid X.

Pre-Installed Apps — Both phones come with some bloatware that cannot be removed. Other than Swype, which comes on the Droid X, I would prefer not having any of the other apps on either phone. (You might find the Blockbuster app on the Droid X appealing but I didn’t.) Winner: They both lose because bloatware sucks. :P

Conclusion

I’m a satisfied Incredible owner but, all in all, the Incredible doesn’t seem to do anything better than the Droid X. That said, I’m not paying full retail to upgrade to a Droid X. If I had upgrade eligibility or if I were a new Verizon customer, I would choose the Droid X. Speaking of upgrade eligibility, check out this promotion: if your Verizon contract expires anytime in 2010, you can upgrade to the Droid X at the subsidized price, which is competitive at $199.

No related posts.

Here’s a spattering of what I’ve been reading about Android lately:

• There’s a Droid X scavenger hunt going on to help promote Verizon’s flagship device. Certificates for 21 Droid X Androids are hidden around the country. Clues are being posted to twitter @DroidLanding. The scavenger hunt runs from July 7 through July 15. [via Android Phone Fans]
• The HTC Desire, hugely popular in Europe, is coming to North America. It passed the FCC certification and will end up on one or more of the following carriers: Bell, Telus, Rogers, and AT&T. The Desire is quite similar to the Nexus One with the primary difference being an optical trackpad instead of a trackball. [via DroidDog]
• I’ve touted AppBrain before. It’s a terrific front-end for the Android Market that allows you to browse the market on your computer and then load up apps on your phone. You can also share your app lists with others. Here’s my list. Now, AppBrain supports pushing apps to your phone. You’ll need to install an app called Fast Web Installer.
• Adobe has been showing off Flash on the Droid X. Here’s the video:

[via Android Phone Fans]

• The HTC Incredible, my phone, is seeming more and more like yesterday’s news (though it has specs meeting the rumored Android 3.0 Gingerbread minimum requirements).  Not only is Verizon shifting its marketing from the Incredible to the Droid X, it is allowing customers who have ordered Incredibles but not yet received them to switch to the Droid X. I speculate that was done to appease those who are up in arms over the screen change on the Incredible. Future batches of Incredibles will have a Super TFT screen manufactured by Sony instead of the brilliant AMOLED screen made by Samsung. Basically, Samsung is hogging its 3.7″ screens for use in the Samsung Galaxy S which now has about a half dozen names and will launch on almost every carrier in some form. I’m being lazy with citations here but these stories were all well publicized. Many of them appeared in BGR.

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This is a two-parter, neither truly shocking. First, there will be no Nexus Two; the Nexus One is the end of the line for Google-sold Android phones for the foreseeable future. Second, the Nexus One was so successful that the Nexus Two is unnecessary. (You may be scratching your head in bewilderment at this point.) Here’s the quote from Eric Schmidt:

The idea a year and a half ago was to do the Nexus One to try to move the phone platform hardware business forward. It clearly did. It was so successful, we didn’t have to do a second one. We would view that as positive but people criticized us heavily for that. I called up the board and said: ‘Ok, it worked. Congratulations – we’re stopping’. We like that flexibility, we think that flexibility is characteristic of nimbleness at our scale.

While I didn’t predict that Google would nix the Nexus Two (there were rumors swirling that N2 would be a business-oriented Android device), I agree that the Nexus One was a smashing success. I wrote back in March:

[The Nexus One] set the bar by which other Android devices are measured. Google wasn’t looking to necessarily outsell the upcoming HTC Incredible, for example. I believe it was simply looking to protect the brand by demoing Android on well designed hardware and avoid regulating the ecosystem it has fought so hard to keep “open.” Think of the Nexus One as the model by which Android should be measured. That’s what Google wants you to do.

Viewed from this lens, the Nexus One was an overwhelming success. I have come across many enthusiastic Nexus One owners on Buzz who are evangelistic in their love for Android. The Nexus One was the prototypical Android device that propelled the platform forward. It comes as no surprise to me that Google is declaring mission accomplished.

[via IntoMobile]

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Soon the HTC Incredible will receive an update that enables mobile hotspots (see pic), allows video recording at 720P (a resolution of 1280 x 720), and changes to the boot animation. The update is also likely to patch some security issues, including the well publicized problem that a factory reset does not remove all thumbnails from the browser. Some have suggested that the grounding issue will be fixed which causes the screen to be relatively unresponsive when it in a car dock.

Solutions to the following problems would be helpful, though are not currently rumored to be included:

• Antenna issues. It may be possible to improve reception with an update.
• Short battery life. We can always hope, although I’m getting a day’s worth of use on one charge by running Advanced Task Cleaner Pro (free; Rating: 4.53/5.00). Phooey to those who say that task killers don’t improve battery life.
• Two bluetooth issues. With a Motorola T505 the phone (1) regularly disconnects from the bluetooth signal and (2) skips when streaming music while the phone is in motion.

In other good news, the HTC Incredible appears to meet the leaked system requirements for Android 3.0, which is expected later this year. Apparently a 1 GHz or better processor is required and at least 512K of RAM.

Also, if you suffered a painful wait to receive your incredible because of the shortages, you are likely to receive a $25 gift card from Big Red.

Here’s the teaser boot animation that Verizon recently leaked:

[via DroidDog via Phandroid]

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Released just in time to prevent some iPhone 4 converts, Verizon posted up a video of the upcoming Droid X. As of the time of this post, the video only has 332 YouTube views so we’re one of the first to get the word out about this video.

I’ve already written that I would opt for the Droid X over my the HTC Incredible. I prefer the larger screen and would use the wireless tethering. That post has generated significant traffic for this blog, more quickly than any other post I have written — approximately 500 views in the first few hours.

Enjoy the show.

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UPDATE: Now includes full Droid X press release at bottom of post.

UPDATE 2: Replaced by a hands on review of Droid X and comparison.

Soon Verizon customers will have a choice between two top Android devices, the recently released HTC Droid Incredible and the upcoming Motorola Droid X. Here’s my take: if you have pockets or a handbag big enough for the Droid X (4.3″ screen), it’s a better choice. If you want a smaller phone, the Incredible (3.7″ screen) is the way to go.

The Droid X has everything the Incredible has plus some goodies like 720P video recording and HDMI output. The Incredible has long been rumored to support 720P video recording using its 8 MP camera but it would, according to the rumor, require a software update. I don’t put tons of credence in rumors like this because if you look around there were rumors of FM transmitters in phones that never had them and other features that never materialized.

Also, the Droid X runs Android 2.2 while the Incredible has yet to receive an update from 2.1 to 2.2. PocketNow and Engadget have good coverage of the differences between the versions. Two primary advantages to 2.2, in my opinion, are the boost in speed and built in Wifi tethering.
UPDATE: Latest press release indicates that Droid X comes with 2.1 installed, contrary to rumors, but Droid X owners will receive 2.2 OTA in the second half of the summer.

Other than the differences previously mentioned, it would be difficult to distinguish these two phones. They run the same apps (both at 1 GHz) and the overall user experience would be quite similar. I think the bigger screen and Android 2.2 would tip the scales in favor of the Droid X for me. Nonetheless, I have been extremely satisfied with the Incredible.

JULY 2010: DROID X BY MOTOROLA LANDS On the NATION’s LARGEST & MOST RELIABLE 3G Network

DROID X Delivers More Browsing, More Connectivity, Personal HD Video and Enterprise Features – All on a 4.3” Widescreen

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless 3G network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), a pioneer in the mobile industry, today unveiled DROID X by Motorola.  DROID X does more with ultra high-speed Web browsing; a fast 1GHz processor; 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities; loads of memory; intuitive social messaging; Adobe^® Flash^® Player 10.1 ready; and access to Android Market™, which has more than 65,000 applications, along with a host of unique Verizon Wireless applications such as NFL Mobile, Skype mobile™, V CAST Video, EA Need for Speed Shift™ and more.

“Nine months ago, we made a commitment to our customers to bring the openness of Android to the Verizon Wireless network,” said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.  “Since then, we have introduced the top-selling Android phone in the marketplace today – the DROID by Motorola.  DROID X takes that commitment to another level with exclusive content, faster processing speeds, and, of course, the reliability of our network.”

Sanjay Jha, co-chief executive officer of Motorola and chief executive officer of Motorola Mobile Devices and Home business added, “Motorola designed DROID X to push the extreme limits of Android innovation, and enable you to do even more with your mobile device. We are breaking down barriers so that you can experience the Web the way it was meant to be and create, share and view content like never before, either in your hand or in your home. Enterprise users will also find DROID X appealing with features including push e-mail and live widgets for e-mail and calendar updates.”

DROID X gives customers a 4.3-inch high-resolution screen for viewing the latest movies and video from BLOCKBUSTER On Demand^® presented by V CAST Video, the newest addition to the Verizon Wireless V CAST application, which also includes access to favorite TV shows.  The DROID X video capabilities let customers capture spontaneous fun, combining a dual-flash, 8-megapixel camera, HD camcorder, as well as DLNA and HDMI connectivity to download, stream and share personal HD content.

DROID X customers will also receive Android 2.2 and Adobe Flash Player 10.1 with an over-the-air update in the latter half of the summer.  With the update, the Flash Player will allow mobile users to experience hundreds of sites with rich applications and content inside the browser, including games, animations, rich Internet applications (RIAs), data presentations and visualizations, ecommerce, music, video, audio and more.

“It has been an exciting time for Android momentum and global consumer adoption since the announcement of DROID by Motorola nine months ago,” said Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering for Google. “There are 160,000 new Android-powered devices activated daily and Android Market has grown to over 65,000 applications. Plus later this summer, Verizon Wireless and Motorola will update all the DROID by Motorola phones to the latest 2.2 software. For customers, this means great new features and improved browser performance. For developers, this will provide new tools such as cloud-to-device messaging and enhanced enterprise functionality.”

“We are excited about full Flash support coming to the DROID X and other devices from Motorola,” said Shantanu Narayen, president and chief executive officer of Adobe. “Flash Player 10.1, which is one of Adobe’s most anticipated releases ever, has been redesigned from the ground up to deliver the kind of highly engaging experiences that consumers now expect from their mobile devices.”

Once updated to Android 2.2, business customers will find DROID X offers the features that turn the device into a workhorse with support for both Exchange and Gmail™ for business. Corporate users can enjoy push delivery of e-mail; live widgets that stream messages to the home screen; filter widgets to differentiate work and home e-mail; corporate directory and Global look-up along with a unified calendar for Enterprise and sync with Google Calendar™.  Security protocols allow remote password control and wipe via Exchange server.

Pricing and Availability

DROID X by Motorola will be available at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning July 15 for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.  Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. In addition to subscribing to a Nationwide Talk plan or a Nationwide Talk & Text plan, customers will also need to subscribe to an Email and Web for Smartphone plan.  Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access. Email and Web for Smartphone plans start at $29.99 for unlimited monthly access.

Customers can add the optional 3G Mobile Hotspot service to their DROID X for $20 per month.  The 3G Mobile Hotspot allows customers to turn the phone into a wireless modem for up to five compatible Wi-Fi devices.  In addition, current Verizon Wireless customers who have contracts ending by December 31, 2010, can upgrade to any smartphone, including DROID X, without penalty.

For more information on DROID X by Motorola, go to http://phones.verizonwireless.com/droid/x/.  For information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

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Samsung will launch a mixed candybar QWERTY with a touchscreen, quite similar to upcoming 6.0 Blackberries. Currently named the Galaxy Q, I learned about this from Phandroid which picked up the story from the Korea Times. I can’t say that I can vouch for the Korea Times but this story is believable. Apparently, Samsung’s Blackberry-like Androids will launch in the U.S. by year end.

P.S. I am standing by my prediction that RIM will only survive the smartphone wars if it manufactures some Android devices.

You might also enjoy:

--Samsung Galaxy Tab ~ Review and Recommended

The Incredible is pretty amazing out of the box but it can be significantly improved. I particularly like that the core features of the phone can be improved upon and the apps below (ALL FREE) make the Incredible user experience much better. I’ll link the apps to their respective AppBrain pages. This is a follow up to the post I wrote entitled, “HTC Incredible can be even MORE Incredible… replace HTC’s Sense UI and use these Widgets.”

• Keyboard: Swype (not in the market, try http://beta.swype.com/), runner up ShapeWriter. I’ve touted Swype before. It allows you to drag your finger key to key to spell words. It dramatically improves typing speed. ShapeWriter is similar but not quite as good at matching words with swipes.
• Browser: Dolphin Browser HD. While the Android browser is very good and roughly comparable to Safari, Dolphin Browser HD is substantially better. It includes support for add-ons and themes, multi-touch (of course), RSS feed detection, tabbed browsing, a slick UI, bookmark sorting, gesture commands and user agent control.
• Email: K-9 Mail. This easily beats the Gmail app and the lousy Sense UI mail app. It’s open source and supports search, push mail (via IMAP), multi-folder sync, message flagging and refiling, signatures, bcc-self, configurable alerts and multiple identities per account (so, for example, you can send from more than one address from within Gmail).
• SMS/Text Messaging: Handcent. This is a real winner. Handcent can be highly customized. I particularly like that it can be set so a long press on the search key brings up Handcent Quick Compose from any screen.
• Home Screen: LauncherPro. LauncherPro gets updated almost daily (which is sometimes an annoyance with apps) but it gets better each time. It clearly bests HTC’s Sense UI.
• Music Player: 3 (Cubed). The 3D graphics alone make this a better player but it also can retrieve album art and it has some nice widgets to go along with the player.
• Video Player: Meridian Media Player Pioneer. There are others in the market, but Meridian is my favorite. I like the UI and it’s easy to FF and RW.
• Market: AppBrain App Market. The AppBrain front-end is a must have app
• Phone: Google Voice. While it’s more like an add-on than a replacement, Google Voice is worth a mention. I’m a big fan.
• Search: Gesture Search. This app belongs front and center on your main home screen. It searches the phone by you swiping out letters.

That’s it. I think I successfully replaced everything that can be replaced on the phone with better apps.

I’ll also plug DropBox which allows you to share a folder between your phone and computer(s). It syncs everything up for you and you get 2 GB of free storage and more for each referral you provide. Shamelessly, I’m looking for referrals to boost my quota. Click here to join DropBox for free.

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