My Life With The Nexus One (or, How I Became a Rabid Android Fanboy)
It was almost like Christmas, and I was an 8 year old boy again. Only it wasn’t Christmas and this wasn’t a puppy I had found under the tree. It was just after Valentines Day and this was a brown cardboard box in my hands. This brown box was a gift from The Greatest Girlfriend In The World, and it was my drug of choice… a brand new gadget. But it wasn’t just any new gadget; it was a Nexus One. My HTC Dream had served me well for over the past 12 months, but like any gadget geek I was attracted to the latest and greatest new toy. Faster processors, better screens, more features… this is what keeps me up late at night reading blogs about the next big rumor just a split second before anyone else. For being over a year old, my Dream was in remarkably good shape. It still had the original screen protector on it and there wasn’t a single scratch on it’s surface. The cover for the mini-usb port was still dutifully attached, and there wasn’t a spot of dirt anywhere to be found on it’s pristine white surface. However none of this had mattered since I had heard the first whispers of the Nexus One… the rumored “Google Phone”. The device that would pack the kind of hardware that could finally utilize Android to it’s fullest extent. And now it was mine. My Nexus One has usurped my Dreams position in my pocket and become more useful than any other device I’ve ever owned. My constant companion, it has replaced my many other gadgets. No longer do I carry a PSP, an iPod, a phone, and a book in my backpack during my morning commute. I simply slip my Nexus One into my pocket and head out the door. If this device would dispense beer, I’d have no other needs. I originally purchased my Dream because of Android. I wanted something different and unique. I’ve owned smart phones for years (from my old Blackberry on through an MDA and a Wing) but Android offered something new to me: a truly multimedia experience that I could carry in my pocket and connect my social life while on the go. But even then, it was still lacking. The UI wasn’t quite what I wanted, it was slow, and it didn’t have enough internal memory to really be very useful. Don’t get me wrong, I still dearly love my Dream. But it comes as no surprise to me that Android didn’t hit mainstream attention with the kind of hardware that the Dream had when it launched. Sure, I rooted it and installed different ROMS trying to make it what I wanted it to be. But even then, the Dream still didn’t have the “OMGWTFBBQ” that I wanted it to have. That’s all changed due to my Nexus One. This machine is equivalent to a Cadillac XLR: pure beauty with a mean ass monster living under the hood. I feel as though I have joined a club… When encountering another Nexus One owner, we both readily whip out our phones to share any tips or tricks (did you know that speech to text recognizes supercalifragilisticexpialodocious?). I don’t see this camaraderie with any other type of device. Sure, while some would say that Apple/iPhone users share a bond, I’d go so far as to say that it’s more like a cult with His Holiness Jobs looking down from on high instructing his minions on what to do. I have made friends with people in other cities, states, and even nations… simply because of our shared ownership of this handset. Have I become what I loathe most? Am I the anti-thesis to the iPhone fanboys? The answer is a resounding “YES!” Thanks to the Nexus One, I will resoundingly defend Android on any blog, in any conversation, and during any circumstance. When I run into an iPhone fanboy it’s light versus dark, good versus evil, Jedi versus Sith. My pupils dilate, I begin to sweat, and the arguments move to the tip of my tongue. The only way I could become any worse is if I turned green, grew seven feet tall, and my clothes started to rip (Android SMASH!!). Thanks to the Nexus One (my Precious!!) my transformation is complete. Sure, it has it’s (few) flaws. But I will say, that no matter what I am doing (outside of a few activities *ahem* with The Greatest Girlfriend In The World) my Nexus One enhances it. A bastion of entertainment and knowledge at my fingertips, this is my constant companion. Now to figure out how to affix a keg of my favorite brew to it… Might We Suggest… Did Google Shoot itself in the Foot with Nexus One? Microsoft sure thinks so. In a quote from Microsoft’s Robbie Bach taken from Bloomberg, it seems the software giant thinks that Google may have bitten off more than it can chew. The Bach Quote fr…
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My Life With The Nexus One (or, How I Became a Rabid Android Fanboy)
Verizon Shows Us How Skype Mobile Works [VIDEO]
Verizon recently announced that they’ve worked out an exclusive deal to offer Skype Mobile on their Android handsets. Starting this month, the Droid, Droid Eris, and Devour handsets will come loaded with the “new” feature that allows for calls anywhere in the world without using minutes. Since neither Skype nor Skype Mobile are technically new, we’d understand if you already know how the respective services work. However, there’s a large segment of the population who have yet to learn of Voice over IP (VoIP). Verizon has taken to a cute little YouTube video to show us how their exclusive agreement stands to benefit current and potential Android users on the nation’s largest network. Never one to resist taking a dig at the iPhone, Verizon reminds us that “these phones can run more than one app at a time”. Might We Suggest… Verizon Details Skype Partnership Verizon and Skype made their joint announcement this afternoon in Barcelona and it stands to benefit millions of subscribers, including those with Android handsets. Starting in March, Droid, Devour an…
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Verizon Shows Us How Skype Mobile Works [VIDEO]
AndroidGals: Where are the Girlie Android Phones?
The first smart phone that I truly fell in love with was a Blackberry. I loved it so much that I never thought I would see the day that I would switch to another phone. To me, the Blackberry form factor was very female friendly. There were two big things that appealed to me as a girl; It came in a variety of different colors and I could also buy hard shell cases to change with my moods. The other was that it offered a full keyboard, with raised letters and great spacing. Women with acrylic nails know what I am talking about. Texting and writing emails were very quick and effortless. Near the end of my relationship with my BlackBerry, I started gettting some operating issues, and began to consider a new phone. Android had been out for a year and I was aware of the cool, new apps I wouldn’t be able to download if I stayed with BlackBerry. I would have switched to Android earlier, but there weren’t any “girlie” phones out there and I had some specific needs as well. The G1 was completely out of the question because the chin made it difficult for me to type. The soft keyboard of the G1 and myTouch 3G didn’t help because the screen is a capacitive display. My previous experience with a Windows Mobile phone (T-Mobile Wing) was nice because I could use my fingernails in place of stylus on the resistive screen. Along comes the Motorola CLIQ. This would be the most appealing phone that I could find with Android on it. I didn’t visit a store to try the CLIQ out before buying it because I didn’t want to over-analyze the phone and find features I didn’t like. I liked the idea of the keyboard without a chin and the camera was quite a step up from the one in my BlackBerry. After a few months, I can safely say that I am definitely not in love with this phone. Don’t get me wrong, I love Android. In fact, the apps are what have kept me from going back to BlackBerry. I feel like I am using a man’s phone. Call me picky, but I don’t like that it only comes in “Winter White” and “Titanium”. The phone is somewhat bulky and rather heavy. As thick as this phone is, I would expect more raised buttons or something easier for me to type quickly on. I know it sounds like I hate this phone or that I wouldn’t recommend it to others, but that’s not the case. It’s just not for me and my needs. I’ve looked around at other carriers and don’t see anything else that really appeals to me. I find the DROID to be downright ugly and lacking personality. I know all that it can do inside, but on the outside it is very box-like and cold. All of the Android phones I have seen so far have capacitive touch screens or don’t have a full keyboard. I remember seeing an upcoming HTC phone called the Salsa . To me, that’s the perfect design. At least from what I can tell in the pictures. It would be a step down in camera quality, but I’d give that up for the 4-row QWERTY keyboard, directional pad, and full touch screen. It looks just like a BlackBerry to me and I love that. For now, I will continue to put up with my Motorola CLIQ and wait for something like the Salsa to come along. In the meanwhile, I see a bunch of Android phones on the horizon that appeal to males and/or the uninformed. By that, I mean that I didn’t even know there were two types of displays – resistive and capacitive. I learned the hard way that not all screens can be tapped with a fingernail. I can imagine someone going to a carrier tomorrow to buy the “latest and greatest” and end up with something that doesn’t fit them like it should. Over time, though, this problem should go away as more carriers and handset makers put out new products with unique features and designs. I guess in the end, I just wish I had more choices as a female at this point. Android has been out nearly a year and a half and I feel like my demographics doesn’t matter. I’d love to sit in on some of these focus groups or test products for companies like HTC and Motorola. I think they could learn a thing or two about what us girls want in a phone. Talk Back to Me! Are there any other AndroidGals out there who feel like these companies aren’t speaking to them? What is it that you want or need in a phone? Are you happy with your Android phone or are you like me and just putting up with it? Might We Suggest… CLIQ XT to Run $129 with 2-Year Agreement T-Mobile’s next Android handset, the Motorola CLIQ XT is dropping with a great price attached to it. At $129.99, this marks the lowest debut price point for an Android phone on the nation’s fourth la…
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AndroidGals: Where are the Girlie Android Phones?
Average Samsung Phone Coming To Rogers
Samsung Galaxy Spica If the Samsung Galaxy Spica were the new kid in school, he/she would get made fun of for his/her out of date clothing and boring personality. While there has been much phone release news in the past few weeks, the Samsung Galaxy Spica is nothing to get excited about. As a community of highly informed Android owners we always want the latest phones with the best features, and therefore there isn’t a much of a chance that this phone will be making our wish list. On the others side of things this phone could be a great entry level phone for new comers to Android. It’s technical specifications are as follows: Android OS 1.5 3.2-inch touchscreen display 320 x 480 pixels 3.2 megapixel camera + video 800MHz processor 3.5mm headset jack speakerphone WiFi + A-GPS holds up to 32GB with a microSD 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery The phone will ship with a 3 year agreement price of $79.99 and an outright cost of $449.99. A release date is not yet known. Might We Suggest… Samsung Spica Announced For Russia Samsung has officially announced (Russian) the Galaxy’s sibling handset, the Spica. Previously known as the i5700 and Galaxy Lite, the phone has been presumed to be the little brother to the Galaxy….
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Average Samsung Phone Coming To Rogers
AT&T Motorola Backflip To Include Yahoo! As Default Search Engine
AT&T’s first Android powered handset, the Motorola Backflip , will use Yahoo! as its default search engine. According to a report by BusinessWeek, the Motorola Backflip will feature Yahoo! as the default search engine, although users will be able to manually change the provider to Google if they wish. Yahoo! Vice President David Katz commented, “We have a long-standing relationship with AT&T and more than 80 carrier partnerships around the world for our award- winning mobile-search experience. Mobile search continues to be a focus for investment and innovation”. The Backflip will be the first Android handset to not feature Google as the default search engine. Unlike the Nexus One, the Motorola Backflip is not a Google-branded device and therefore allows for deeper carrier customization. The Motorola Backflip will be powered by Android 1.5 and will feature a 3.1-inch (320 x 480 pixels) TFT touchscreen display, 5 mega-pixel camera with LED flash and auto-focus, video capture, and 2GB of memory (upgradeable to 32GB). The handset also includes a 3.5mm audio jack, 3G connectivity, and Wi-Fi. The Motorola Backflip will be available across the US from March 7th. [via businessweek.com ] For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides AT&T Motorola Backflip To Include Yahoo! As Default Search Engine
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AT&T Motorola Backflip To Include Yahoo! As Default Search Engine
LG’s LU2300 Superphone Due Next Quarter
Looks like LG is ready to start rolling out their Android-based superphones. Next up for the handset maker is their touch-only LU2300. Featuring a Snapdragon processor, 5 megapixel camera, Tv-Tuner, WVGA AMOLED screen and Android 2.1, it sounds almost exactly like a Nexus One. LG is also taking steps to preload a few applications on the handset for customers whereas in the past they left it up to the user. The LU2300 is due sometime in the second quarter. Other specs, including the memory, are unknown but we’re sure to see them trickle out before long. Source: MobileTechWorld via ubergizmo Might We Suggest… Rumor: A Pair of LG Handsets on Deck for Verizon One handset manufacturer who has been relatively silent here in the US is LG. Of all of the founding members of the Open Handset Alliance, their Android plans have remained the most secretive. Alt…
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LG’s LU2300 Superphone Due Next Quarter
Innocomm Reveals Ambitious Android Plans
Smartphone developer Innocomm Technology might be small when compared to players like HTC and Motorola, but their plans for Android are just as big. Around the middle of the year, the handset maker plans to drop their first of many Android-based handsets. Called the Shark, Iccocomm’s smartphone will be a high-end device with a considerably lower cost. Innocomm’s hopes are that wireless providers might be able to offer their handsets free with contacts. Our hopes are that this happens! Innocomm Skate Tentative specs include a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 8-megapixel camera with flash, GPS, 3G, HSPA, Wifi, and Bluetooth. The Shark will be also have a 3.5mm headset jack, a microSD card slot, and mini-USB connection. Also getting squeezed in will be an analog TV tuner with future versions expected to offer a digital tuner. Other handsets in the Inncomm pipeline are the Shadow, which features a 4.3-inch screen, the Gemini, and Scorpion. Previously, the company showed their Skate handset off at 2009’s MWC which sports “the World’s smallest 2.8″ smartphone based on the Android OS.” As of right now, the Skate has been pushed back due to changing the chipset inside. Innocomm has no plans to work with any other mobile platforms, even the recently unveiled Windows Phone 7. ” Windows is nice, but it can’t beat the price on Android. It’s free and the Google brand is already well known. Android is the only OS we’re working on .” Source: PC World Might We Suggest… Have Keyboard, Will Travel: Android Phones Capable of Using USB Keyboard.
Image Credit: Andrew de Quincey
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Innocomm Reveals Ambitious Android Plans
CLIQ XT to Run $129 with 2-Year Agreement
T-Mobile’s next Android handset, the Motorola CLIQ XT is dropping with a great price attached to it. At $129.99, this marks the lowest debut price point for an Android phone on the nation’s fourth largest carrier. Yet-to-be-announced, the handset is a touch-only device that was once known as the Zeppelin. It should be noted that while more expensive on contract than the G1, it’s $40 less if you buy it outright. The CLIQ XT will be $329 if you decide to purchase one without a service agreement. In fact, this will be T-Mobile’s least expensive Android handset if purchased alone. A quick rundown of specs peg the handset at 528 MHz processor speed, 256MB RAM/512ROM, a megapixel camera w/ autofocus and LED flash, and MOTOBLUR (Android 1.5). This marks the first handset from Motorola to feature their custom user experience on top of a touch-only handset. Also noteworthy, the CLIQ XT also features Adobe’s Flash Lite built in, giving the phone an improved web experience over other Android handsets. If you’re interested in picking up a CLIQ XT, they’re rumored to drop on March 10th. What do yo guys think of this handset and pricing? Are you swayed either way now that you know the costs involved? Might We Suggest… Listen Up! Podcast #39 is On Demand Our latest podcast, #39, is in the can and available for downloads and streaming. Joining me this week was resident AndroidGuy Sam Herren, Nick Gray (HTC Source), and Andrew Kamika (Androinica). Als…
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CLIQ XT to Run $129 with 2-Year Agreement
Minor G1 Update Happening Right Now
A minor update to the T-Mobile G1 started to trickling out late last week . Designed only to improve call performance, Android 1.6 update (DMD64) should be complete by the middle of March. All flavors of the myTouch 3G including the Fender Edition have already received this update. If you own a G1, look for your notification over the next two weeks. Might We Suggest… T-Mobile Announces doubleTwist for Entire Android Lineup As we previously mentioned, T-Mobile’s new myTouch 3G Fender Edition comes with a custom installer for doubleTwist multimedia sync. It gives the users ability to transfer media and music to and …
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Minor G1 Update Happening Right Now
Android Phone Prices Declining Quicker Than Expected
We don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of headlines we like to see. Thanks to a proliferation of handset makers and good ol’ fashioned competition, the prices of Android handsets is dropping faster than analysts and industry insiders expected. Take for instance the forthcoming T-Mobile Pulse Mini from Huawei. Announced at last week’s Mobile World Congress, the U8110 features a 2.8-inch resistive screen with stylus, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and Android 2.1 under the hood. When it arrives later this quarter for T-Mobile UK, it’s expected to sell for about £100 (US$155) unlocked. That’s over 54% less than the price tag that came on the original Pulse only a few months ago. Granted the screen size does factor in for most heavy users, the general public will likely fall in love with the price. Here’s a quick hands-on video courtesy of the guys at Mobile Burn . Are you a specs or price person? Do you gravitate towards a phone based off of one or the other? Might We Suggest… Video of T-Mobile Pulse in Action [VIDEO] The guys over at Engadget were able to play with the new T-Mobile Pulse and lucky for us, they recorded the experience. The video is short at just over 2 minutes, but it gives us a glimpse into how …
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Android Phone Prices Declining Quicker Than Expected
