Thursday, September 13, 2012

AndroidGuys

AndroidGuys


Android handsets are still pacesetters in mobile industry

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 01:19 PM PDT

Looking to buy  a brand new smartphone and want to make sure you’ve got the latest and greatest technology?  You don’t want the new iPhone 5.  It’s a great product, sure, and will sell like hotcakes, but it’s not the definition of cutting edge.  Not since around Android 2.0 has Apple been able to stay out in front of other players and brag that they have the both the leading hardware and the best software features.

Before going further I should clarify that we try to keep a pretty open opinion of Apple, iOS, and the iPhone line.  We’re not big fans of their stuff, but we respect their game and the products they release.  That said, we couldn’t help but feel a bit relieved after all was said and done today.  Android enthusiasts can sleep well tonight knowing that we’ve still got the edge when it comes to mobile technology. No Android handset maker has to rush into the office tomorrow to figure out how to combat the iPhone 5.

Call us whatever name you want, but we found today’s big takeaway to be a thinner version of the iPhone 4S that also has a 4.0-inch display and 4G LTE connectivity.  In other words, two of the three things that people were hoping to get last year. In other, other words, stuff that we got all the way back in early 2011 with the HTC Thunderbolt.

We seem to recall hearing that the reason there was no 4G support in the iPhone 4S was that they did not want to sacrifice battery and consumer experience.  News flash – not much has changed on the carrier front over the last year.  So maybe Apple has come up with some new standard of battery or created something that allows for double talk time and standby.  Nope.  We don’t know the full details yet but Apple promises that the phone will have 8 hours of talk time or 4G LTE usage and up to 225 hours standby.   Contrast that with the Droid Razr Maxx HD some of the other newer Android models and it’s easy to see that Apple didn’t innovate on this front.

So you got a 4-inch screen there, huh? It’s cute, we like it. Did you happen to see our 4.0-inch stuff from 2010? How about the 4.3-inch, 4.65-inch, 5.3-inch, and 5.5-inch offerings we have enjoyed of late?
Take a look at some of the Android phones of 2011 and 2012 and you’ll see that many of them feature the 4.0-inch display size.

According to Apple, the iPhone 5 is the thinnest smartphone on the planet, something we’ve proven to be inaccurate inside all of an hour.  At 18% thinner than last year’s model, it sounds like things are getting to be paper thin!  Ask yourself, seriously, how much does that matter?  Wouldn’t you gladly go back to 10mm-12mm phones if you could get at least double the usage and standby?  Wouldn’t it be great if you could actually remove the battery and toss in an extended life unit in its place?  Nearly every Android on the market allows for this.

We were expecting to see Apple introduce NFC today and proclaim to the world that they have revolutionized mobile commerce.  Alas, the iPhone 5 does not feature the fast-emerging standard.  Even as retailers and service providers battle it out over who works where, we like knowing that we’re equipped for the tech.  Heck, we like the fact that we can tap to share things, pull up additional information, and other fun stuff.

It would be easy to point the finger at the 8-megapixel camera and assume that it’s just the same stuff that we’ve been getting all along.  To do that, however, isn’t totally fair.  To Apple’s credit, they have introduced some great technology and camera features that are serious improvements over the previous offerings.  On the other hand, HTC, Sony, and LG are hard at work delivering all sorts of wonderful camera delights of their own.

We could go on a bit about some of the other features such as the lack of removable storage, the beta status of Siri, or the new dock adapter, but it’s not worth it.  The key improvements that Apple touted in the iPhone 5 were not industry improvements, but rather steps up from the last iteration.  But, just as much as we’d like to point out every little feature or difference, it won’t make a bit of difference to the die-hard crowd.  Apple will keep preaching to the same choir and the fan base will grow here and there.  In the meanwhile, the general consumer is getting smarter and starting to really appreciate choice.  Choice in hardware, carrier, display size, batteries, and more.

 

Android handsets are still pacesetters in mobile industry was written by the way cool dudes at AndroidGuys. Follow at Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Popular PC time management game,Legends of Atlantis: Exodus, is now FREE to play on Android!
Features 50+ strategic levels, achievements, bonuses, power-ups, and more!


There are at least three Android phones thinner than the iPhone 5

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 11:07 AM PDT

Sorry Apple, you guys have a great device in the iPhone 5 but it’s certainly not the world’s thinnest smartphone.  While the 7.6mm thick body sounds incredibly thin and sexy, we’ve already found three Android smartphones that come in thinner.

We’re going to go out on a limb here and say that there will be thinner devices over the next few months.  That said, we’re pretty darn sure that a lot of you would happily add a few millimeters to your phone’s backside if it provided some added talk-time and standby.

Motorola, to their credit, has found a way to marry the two mindsets in the Droid Razr Maxx HD.  With a 3300mAh battery and more than one full day of usage promised, the Verizon handset still comes in at an incredibly thin 9.3mm body.

What did we miss?

Have you encountered another smartphone that we might have missed?

There are at least three Android phones thinner than the iPhone 5 was written by the way cool dudes at AndroidGuys. Follow at Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Popular PC time management game,Legends of Atlantis: Exodus, is now FREE to play on Android!
Features 50+ strategic levels, achievements, bonuses, power-ups, and more!


Comparing the iPhone 5 to the Droid Razr Maxx HD

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 10:36 AM PDT

Apple’s big, annual smartphone release, the iPhone 5, is out and ready for your consideration.  But, with so many other options available from Android manufacturers, should you look to Apple? Is the 4-inch display and 4G LTE version of what amounts to last year’s phone worth your money?

Here’s a quick head-head chart that breaks down the main hardware differences between the iPhone 5 and the Motorola Droid Razr HD.  Keep in mind that these devices are not sold strictly on the merit of hardware.  If that were the case, Android would own even higher market share.  No, consumers like to buy based on experience, features, and other intangibles.  To that end, Apple does quite well, however Android players are getting better all the time.

Battle of the 2012 smartphone

 

Apple iPhone 5 Motorola Droid Razr HD Maxx
OS  iOS6 Android 4.0
Display 4-inch 1136×640 4.7" 720p Super AMOLED HD
Processor A6 1.5 GHz dual-core
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 32GB
Expandable Storage microSD 32GB
Camera (rear)  8.0-megapixel 8-megapixel
Camera (front)   front-facing 720p 1.3-megapixel
Data connectivity  3G CDMA, HSPA+, 4G LTE 4G LTE
Battery  ??

8hr talk/225 hr standby

3300mAh

 

Weight 112 grams 157 grams
Dimensions 7.6mm thick  67.9mm x 131.9mm x 9.3mm
Other  NFC
Price 16GB ($199)
32GB ($299)
64GB ($399)

16GB ($_)
32GB ($_)

Early Consensus

We noticed that Apple spent considerably more time speaking about the new camera features, overall design, and tweaks to existing tech.  Of particular note is the fact that Apple glossed over the battery talk quite quickly.  With 8hr talk time, 225 hour standby, it’s not anything today’s top Android’s are not capable of delivering.  Still, Apple has definitely pushed forward with some of the tech that goes into the camera, games, and general user experience.

Existing Apple users who own a bunch of accessories will be required to buy an adapter so that they can plug in the iPhone 5.  Existing Android users can hop from device to device without worry of whether it will offer microUSB.

Motorola has slowly transitioned away from a heavy MotoBlur experience to something more “stock” Android.  We applaud the new devices and the secret sauce that makes them more consumer-friendly but still see room for improvement.

The biggest gripe we hear from people who have recently jumped to Android or other smartphones after years of feature phone usage is the battery.   It’s hardly ever “I don’t care for Android or Windows Phone”.

Until last year and the Droid Razr Maxx, most Android devices were lumped together as a good-and-getting-better experience.  Various handset makers have tossed in some software enhancements and apps to manage battery more effectively, but nothing monumental has happened in the four years of Android handsets.  Until the Razr Maxx.  Now, with the Razr Maxx HD and its 3300mAh battery we’re talking about standby times that approaches weeks.  The common complaint of “my smartphone doesn’t last all day” is a thing of the past.

Which one is right for you?

If you are here because you were seriously considering switching from Android to Apple, chances are good you’ve already made your mind up.  Having said that, the iPhone 5 is not the monumental step forward that tech-savvy folks might expect.  General users, however, will like the idea of a bigger display and faster data connection, even if it’s something Android users have enjoyed since 2010.

NOTE: Because of similarity, portions of this comparison were pulled from other posts.

Comparing the iPhone 5 to the Droid Razr Maxx HD was written by the way cool dudes at AndroidGuys. Follow at Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Popular PC time management game,Legends of Atlantis: Exodus, is now FREE to play on Android!
Features 50+ strategic levels, achievements, bonuses, power-ups, and more!


Comparing the iPhone 5 to the HTC One X

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 10:36 AM PDT

Apple’s big, annual smartphone release, the iPhone 5, is out and ready for your consideration.  But, with so many other options available from Android manufacturers, should you look to Apple? Is the 4-inch display and 4G LTE version of what amounts to last year’s phone worth your money?

Here’s a quick head-head chart that breaks down the main hardware differences between the iPhone 5 and the HTC One X (AT&T).  Keep in mind that these devices are not sold strictly on the merit of hardware.  If that were the case, Android would own even higher market share.  No, consumers like to buy based on experience, features, and other intangibles.  To that end, Apple does quite well, however Android players are getting better all the time.

Battle of the 2012 smartphone

 

Apple iPhone 5 HTC One X
OS  iOS6 Android 4.0 w/ HTC Sense
Display   4-inch 1136×640 (326 ppi) 4.7″ 720×1280 Super LCD (312ppi)
Processor  A6 dual-core 1.5GHz dual-core
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage  16GB 16GB
Expandable Storage  NA  NA
Camera (rear)  8-megapixel f/2.4 aperture 8.0-megapixel
Camera (front)   Front-facing 720p 1.3-megapixel
Data connectivity 3G CDMA, HSPA+, 4G LTE HSPA+/4GLTE
Battery  ??8hr talk/225 hr standby 1800 mAh battery8.5hr talk/302 hr standby
Weight 112 grams 130.4 grams
Dimensions 7.6mm 5.3 x 2.75 x 0.36 inches (8.9mm thick)
Other

DLNA

MHL

Price 16GB ($199)
32GB ($299)
64GB ($399)

16GB ($99)

Early Consensus

We noticed that Apple spent considerably more time speaking about the new camera features, overall design, and tweaks to existing tech.  Of particular note is the fact that Apple glossed over the battery talk quite quickly.  With 8hr talk time, 225 hour standby, it’s not anything today’s top Android’s are not capable of delivering.  Still, Apple has definitely pushed forward with some of the tech that goes into the camera, games, and general user experience.

Existing Apple users who own a bunch of accessories will be required to buy an adapter so that they can plug in the iPhone 5.  Existing Android users can hop from device to device without worry of whether it will offer microUSB.

While Siri has been updated for the new handset, it’s still something that users will have to “ask” to get to work.  Google Now, on the other hand, delivers relevant details without prompt, and learns over time, what the user is like and where they go.  Here’s to hoping for Android 4.1 in the near future.

Of all the Android players releasing phones on a regular basis, HTC is one who seems to be focusing on the camera.  As evidenced in the myTouch HD and Amaze 4G, the camera experience is much better here than in other models.  It’s not just a simple matter of megapixels and image size.  No, we’ve got to contend with

Which one is right for you?

If you are here because you were seriously considering switching from Android to Apple, chances are good you’ve already made your mind up.  Having said that, the iPhone 5 is not the monumental step forward that tech-savvy folks might expect.  General users, however, will like the idea of a bigger display and faster data connection, even if it’s something Android users have enjoyed since 2010.

All said and done, there’s enough “new” here to keep iPhone users coming back.  Sure, there’s more over on the Android side of the tracks but nobody is going to spend the money that Apple will to talk about it.  Well, maybe Samsung.

NOTE: Because of similarity, portions of this comparison were pulled from other posts.

Comparing the iPhone 5 to the HTC One X was written by the way cool dudes at AndroidGuys. Follow at Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Popular PC time management game,Legends of Atlantis: Exodus, is now FREE to play on Android!
Features 50+ strategic levels, achievements, bonuses, power-ups, and more!


Comparing the iPhone 5 to the Galaxy S III

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 10:36 AM PDT

Apple’s big, annual smartphone release, the iPhone 5, is out and ready for your consideration.  But, with so many other options available from Android manufacturers, should you look to Apple?  Is the 4-inch display and 4G LTE version of what amounts to last year’s phone worth your money?

Here’s a quick head-head chart that breaks down the main hardware differences between the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S III.  Keep in mind that these devices are not sold strictly on the merit of hardware.  If that were the case, Android would own even higher market share.  No, consumers like to buy based on experience, features, and other intangibles.  To that end, Apple does quite well, however Android players are getting better all the time.

Samsung, as many of you know, puts their own twist on the Android experience, calling it TouchWiz. While it’s not a stock Android UI, it more closely resembles the stuff that comes with the 4.0 “Pure Google” experience.  Along those lines, Samsung has integrated features, apps, and services into their flavor of Android that have become standardized across other manufacturers.  If you want to see what might be in the next release of Android, Samsung might be the one to watch.

Battle of the 2012 smartphone

Apple iPhone 5 Samsung Galaxy S III
OS  iOS6 Android 4.0 w TouchWiz
Display  4-inch 1136×640 (326ppi) 4.8″ Super AMOLED 1,280 x 720 (306ppi)
Processor  A6 dual-core 1.5GHz Dual Core
Memory 2GB RAM
Storage 16GB 16GB
Expandable Storage  NA Up to 64GB microSD
Camera (rear)  8-megapixel f/2.4 aperture 8.0-megapixel
Camera (front) Front-facing 720p 1.9-megapixel
Data connectivity 3G CDMA, HSPA+, 4G LTE 4G LTE
Battery ??

8hr talk/225 hr standby

2,100 mAh8hr talk/200 hr standby
Weight  112 grams 133.2 grams
Dimensions  7.6mm thick 5.38″ x 2.78″ x 0.34″ (8.6mm thick)
Other

NFC

Android Beam

S Beam

Price 16GB ($199)
32GB ($299)
64GB ($399)

16GB ($199)

32GB ($249)

Early Consensus

We noticed that Apple spent considerably more time speaking about the new camera features, overall design, and tweaks to existing tech.  Of particular note is the fact that Apple glossed over the battery talk quite quickly.  With 8hr talk time, 225 hour standby, it’s not anything today’s top Android’s are not capable of delivering.  Still, Apple has definitely pushed forward with some of the tech that goes into the camera, games, and general user experience.

Existing Apple users who own a bunch of accessories will be required to buy an adapter so that they can plug in the iPhone 5.  Existing Android users can hop from device to device without worry of whether it will offer microUSB.

While Siri has been updated for the new handset, it’s still something that users will have to “ask” to get to work.  Google Now, on the other hand, delivers relevant details without prompt, and learns over time, what the user is like and where they go.  Here’s to hoping for Android 4.1 in the near future.

Which one is right for you?

If you are here because you were seriously considering switching from Android to Apple, chances are good you’ve already made your mind up.  Having said that, the iPhone 5 is not the monumental step forward that tech-savvy folks might expect.  General users, however, will like the idea of a bigger display and faster data connection, even if it’s something Android users have enjoyed since 2010.

All said and done, there’s enough “new” here to keep iPhone users coming back.  Sure, there’s more over on the Android side of the tracks but nobody is going to spend the money that Apple will to talk about it.  Well, maybe Samsung.

NOTE: Because of similarity, portions of this comparison were pulled from other posts.

Comparing the iPhone 5 to the Galaxy S III was written by the way cool dudes at AndroidGuys. Follow at Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Popular PC time management game,Legends of Atlantis: Exodus, is now FREE to play on Android!
Features 50+ strategic levels, achievements, bonuses, power-ups, and more!


Might LG announce U.S. details for Optimus G on September 18?

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 06:47 AM PDT

If you’re one of those people who look to press images for clues as to potential launch dates, then you might expect LG to announce details for the Optimus G.  CNET believes that this could be the case, given the fact that LG has an event scheduled for September 18.  As to whether or not they provide U.S. information remains unclear however we certainly hope the phone comes stateside.

The Optimus G features a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core CPU, a 4.7-inch HD IPS display, 2GB RAM, a 2,100mAh battery, and NFC support.  In other words, all the stuff that makes today’s Android phones super awesome.

CNET

Might LG announce U.S. details for Optimus G on September 18? was written by the way cool dudes at AndroidGuys. Follow at Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Popular PC time management game,Legends of Atlantis: Exodus, is now FREE to play on Android!
Features 50+ strategic levels, achievements, bonuses, power-ups, and more!


Samsung may deliver Android 4.1 to Galaxy S II in November

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 06:19 AM PDT

Samsung may be gearing up to deploy Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to the Galaxy S II in November, according to new details.  It appears that once they wrap up the Galaxy S III update in October/Novemberthen Samsung will move on to the previous model.  Of course, this looks to be a general list with international models.  Our U.S. editions could be a few weeks later, if we’re lucky.

Samsung Denmark Facebook Via SammyHub

Samsung may deliver Android 4.1 to Galaxy S II in November was written by the way cool dudes at AndroidGuys. Follow at Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Popular PC time management game,Legends of Atlantis: Exodus, is now FREE to play on Android!
Features 50+ strategic levels, achievements, bonuses, power-ups, and more!


Google: Android eclipses half billion activated devices

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 05:56 AM PDT

Google has officially seen 500 million Android devices activated since the release of the G1 back in fall 2008.  According to Google’s own Hugo Barra, the monumental figure was achieved yesterday, September 11, 2012.  At a confirmed rate of 1.3 million devices per day, we figure it will be summer 2013 or earlier before we hit the 1 billion mark.  Crazy, huh?

Google: Android eclipses half billion activated devices was written by the way cool dudes at AndroidGuys. Follow at Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Popular PC time management game,Legends of Atlantis: Exodus, is now FREE to play on Android!
Features 50+ strategic levels, achievements, bonuses, power-ups, and more!


This Day in Android: LG announces first Android handset (2009)

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 05:00 AM PDT

Can you believe that it was three years ago today that LG announced their first Android-based smartphone, the LG-GW620? Seems like only yesterday (single tear from cheek). For reasons unknown, the handset didn’t even have a catchy name, just the strange model number.  Nevertheless, it was LG’s way of saying ‘Hello’ to Android.

Hardware-wise, LG told us that the GW620 would feature a sliding QWERTY keyboard and a 3.0-inch display, but beyond that everything else was still unclear.  Said to be aimed the younger generation, the handset was, at the time, rumored to have a 5.0-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and microUSB.  Yeah, not much, but that’s where things were at back then. To LG’s credit, the phone was tapped with an availability and launch of “…fourth quarter of this year in select European markets.”

The LG-GW620 will appeal to first-time smartphone customers by offering a new and different kind of user experience. Our objective is to provide a wide selection of smartphones to satisfy the diverse preferences of today’s consumers. This Android phone is just one of many smartphone models we plan to introduce worldwide in the years ahead.

We later learned that the “Eve” would come with a 528MHz processor, 150MB RAM, microSD expansion, and a 1500mAh battery.  Powered by Android 1.5 Cupcake, the LG smartphone would receive its last official Android build 2.2 Froyo some months later.  Rogers became the first carrier in North America to offer the GW620, selling it for $49.99 with a 3-year voice/data agreement.

Where are they now?

Obviously, LG is still in the game, and is continuing to pump out Android devices.  After toiling around the entry-level for a while with the Optimus One, LG got pretty serious and has become a leader in the smartphone game.  One only needs to look at the Optimus 2X, Optimus 4X HD, and the recent Optimus G for an idea as to some of the industry firsts and powerful devices that litter the resume.

Memories?

Did you or someone you know happen to purchase an LG GW620?  What did you think of the device?

This Day in Android: LG announces first Android handset (2009) was written by the way cool dudes at AndroidGuys. Follow at Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

Popular PC time management game,Legends of Atlantis: Exodus, is now FREE to play on Android!
Features 50+ strategic levels, achievements, bonuses, power-ups, and more!


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