Raymond Padilla

This Week’s iPhone-to-Verizon Rumor

The iPhone-to-Verizon rumors will never end. This week it’s The Wall Street Journal claiming that CDMA iPhones will hit Verizon in early 2011. If you’re keeping score, an analyst already said that three-million CDMA iPhones will be made at the end of the year. This was followed by Verizon’s CEO saying that the company won’t have the iPhone until its LTE network is ready for prime time. Here’s a clip from the WSJ article:

Apple Inc. plans to begin mass producing a new iPhone by the end of 2010 that would allow Verizon Wireless to sell the smartphone early next year, said people briefed by Apple.

The new iPhone would be similar in design to the iPhone 4 currently sold by AT&T Inc. but would be based on an alternative wireless technology called CDMA used by Verizon, these people said. The phone, for which Qualcomm Inc. is providing a key chip, is expected to be released in the first quarter of next year, according to the same people.

The reporting is kind of weak. Everyone has accepted that Apple is making a CDMA iPhone, but nobody has seen evidence of Verizon committing to it. It’s not like Verizon is the only CDMA carrier in the world. These phones could be headed to carriers in numerous countries.

Furthermore, Verizon’s CEO seemed confident that an LTE iPhone would be the better way to launch. I agree with that approach. As stable and reliable as Verizon’s network is, the 3G speeds are much slower than AT&T’s. For a lot of people (that don’t live in New York or San Francisco), it would be an inferior iPhone experience.

Then again, maybe none of that matters. Maybe the world is just like Xtra Normal suggests and people are all, “iPhone 4. I want an iPhone 4!” For the 90th time this year, what do you think of the latest iPhone-to-Verizon rumors?

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Double Fine’s Costume Quest Will Rock Your Halloween

Check out this excellent trailer for Double Fine’s Costume Quest for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. It’s a cute and stylish RPG with a Halloween theme and (seemingly) all the things you love about Double Fine. I’m super psyched for the game — I love the art style, I love RPGs, and transforming into a unicorn is just awesome!

Costume Quest will be available for download on October 19, 2010. Anyone else interested in this one?

T-Mobile Reveals WiFi Calling (UMA Light?) For Android

T-Mobile recently announced that it will support WiFi calling on select Google Android phones. Similar to the popular UMA feature found on its BlackBerry handsets, WiFi calling lets people use WiFi signal to receive and make calls, as well as receive and send text messages. Unlike UMA, WiFi calling for Android will not seamlessly switch to and from mobile signal to WiFi.

WiFi calling for Android has been confirmed for the upcoming myTouch and Motorola Defy. A friend of my attending CTIA has confirmation from an HTC rep that the feature will hit the recently launched T-Mobile G2. Here’s more information from the official press release:

The implementation of Wi-Fi Calling for Android smartphones brings a new solution to a fast-growing mobile platform and broader range of smartphones for consumers and business customers. Powered by Kineto’s Smart Wi-Fi Application, T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi Calling for Android smartphones will be ready to use out-of-the-box, providing the ability to make voice calls and send SMS from accessible Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) access points across the globe in addition to the connectivity available through T-Mobile’s mobile network. The application will also include a tutorial for the benefit of first-time users of the feature.

As some of you know, I am huge fan of UMA. It’s just a wonderful feature. It helps compensate for weak signal in areas with poor coverage or inside buildings. It’s a godsend for international travelers, as it lets you receive and make calls for “free” anywhere in the world. Not being able to hand-off signal isn’t a big deal for me, but it could be problematic for people that like to walk-and-talk or drive-and-talk.

As enamored as I am with the G2, it got exponentially more useful to me with WiFi calling coming in the near future. Hopefully it’ll come before my next international business trip!

Will.i.am’s Awesome “New Twitter” Video

Here’s an awesome video by Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas on the “new” Twitter. It’s pretty slick…despite its use of auto-tune. I love Twitter. I love the Black Eyes Peas (have to support Filipino-American Apl.de.ap!). Ergo I love this video.

Seriously, please check it out and let me know what you think.

#newtwitter

Adam Sessler’s Naked Billboard is Better Than Olivia Munn’s (Poll)

Yes, Olivia Munn is a physically beautiful woman, but I’ll take Adam Sessler’s naked billboard over Munn’s, thank you very much. As some of you know, Sess recently unveiled a billboard in Los Angeles for Gunnar Optiks. It’s quite the contast to Munn’s PETA billboard.

Yes, I realize that anyone reading this article that doesn’t know me will think I’m insane, but I have to support Adam and help combat my nightmare that Olivia Munn will become the biggest star in America. (In my nightmare, I’m her secondary personal assistant and spend the rest of my life fetching her lattes.)

[poll id=”77″]

T-Mobile G2 Review: Battery Life, Build Quality, and Performance

T-Mobile kicked off the Android frenzy in America with the HTC G1. Although that phone had its quirks, it was a glimpse of Android’s excellent future. For a while, T-Mobile was the premiere Android carrier in America, but Sprint and Verizon surpassed it with phones like the Droid, Droid Incredible, Evo 4G, and Droid X. The company is striking back with the HTC G2. This Google Android 2.2 phone features a rock-solid build and compatibility with T-Mo’s blazing HSPA+ network.

The first part of my review will cover this excellent phone’s build quality, battery life, software, and performance. If you’re the impatient sort, here’s a spoiler-free summary: I’m shocked that the T-Mobile G2 has become my favorite Google Android phone of 2010.

Build Quality
The G2 is built like a tank, with ample use of metal. It’s relatively small compared to recent Android releases, measuring 4.68” (L) x 2.38” (W) x .58” (H). The phone feels heavy, especially in contrast to super-light Samsung Galaxy S phones like the Verizon Fascinate. It’s definitely a matter of personal preference, but I think that most people would prefer the feel of the G2. Its heft and use of metal give it a luxurious feel. The G2 feels like a $500 piece of consumer electronics, while Galaxy S phones feel like display models.

One of the big hooks of the G2 is its slide-out keyboard. Instead of the customary spring-loaded slider, the phone has an unusual hinging mechanism. It works well. The keyboard slides out smoothly, without the harsh snap found on most sliders. The keyboard itself is very good, with nice spacing and three programmable buttons. That said, I preferred the feel of the Droid 2’s keys. I recommend trying it out in a store for yourself instead of listening to a guy that has sworn off physical keyboards in favor of Swype.

Software and Performance
The pre-release buzz on the G2 was that it would use the stock version of Android 2.2 (FroYo). It does not. The G2’s OS is very, very close to vanilla Android, but features like WiFi tethering have been removed and subtle usability tweaks have been added. Pretty much every Google Android app known to man has been pre-installed and you can’t delete any of them. The good news is that the OS runs smoothly and it will be easier for HTC/T-Mobile to bust out Android updates since it’s almost the stock version.

Android 2.2 is a nice step up from 2.1. The interface is smoother and features clever tweaks (I love how easy it is to switch between Gmail accounts in 2.2). The JIT compiler makes everything much, much faster. Although skins like HTC Sense and Samsung TouchWiz 3.0 add some nice usability features, most of them are not worth having to wait longer for Android updates.

As for performance, the G2 reminds me of WWE NXT season two’s Husky Harris — an army tank with a Ferrari engine. As you can see from the benchmarks I took, the phone flies. Some people were turned off by the phone’s “only” 800MHz processor — don’t believe the hype! It’s a newer version of Snapdragon that’s faster and more efficient. In real-world testing, it’s noticeably faster than the Samsung Fascinate running Android 2.1 (1GHz Hummingbird) and the HTC Nexus One running Android 2.2 (1GHz Snapdragon, first-gen) — apps launch faster, scrolling is smoother, etc.

Battery Life
This was the biggest and most pleasant surprise using the T-Mobile G2: the battery life rocks! The combination of a smaller screen (3.7 inches) and a more efficient processor really lets the phone last throughout the day. Using the G2 for the last week with my typical nerd usage (lots of browsing, tweeting, Foursquare check-ins, email, maps, etc.), I averaged 16.5 hours on the G2’s 1,300 mAh battery. There were even two days where I hit over 17 hours! Out of all the Android phones I’ve reviewed in 2010, the G2 has the best battery life by far.

Next Up….
That’s it for the first part of my T-Mobile G2 review. The next installment will cover the phone’s screen, HSPA+ speeds, voice quality, camera, and more. As always, if you have any questions about the phone, ask away!

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Google TV is Almost Here: Do You Care?

Several of my analyst and journalist friends in San Francisco are raving about Google TV. When it was unveiled at Google I/O, I thought it was cool and had lots of potential. My friends have proclaimed it the messiah, thinking that it’s a huge step in combating the dreadful service and awful prices of cable companies. I’m not so sure.

Don’t get me wrong. I hate cable providers (especially Comcast *snicker*), but I’m not convinced that Google can completely disrupt the market. Earlier in the year, it tried to change the way mobile phones were sold with the Nexus One. Partially due to Google’s poor execution and partially due to the stranglehold telecom companies have on the biz, it didn’t work. I can see something similar happening with Google TV. The big difference is that Google TV will have some longterm success thanks to powerful hardware and network partners. I just disagree with my friends that it will change the game.

Anyway, I want to know if you give a damn about Google TV. Is it a major step in changing the television game? Are you interested in the product? Are my friends in San Francisco smoking something funny? Or are they just getting geeked up because they live in the most awesome geek bubble in the world?

“Off With Her Hair!!!” Keira Knightley Gets a Bob (Plus a Poll!)

What’s with all these hot British movie stars chopping off their hair? First Emma Watson gets a pixie cut and now Keira Knightley gets a bob. She looks like Justin Keeling…a really pretty boy. I am so not digging this trend. I’m scared of what will happen next. Hopefully it stays on that side of the pond. If Scarlett Johansson gets a Mohawk then…I don’t know what I’ll do, but it’ll be crazy!

Ah screw it. Let’s have a poll.

[poll id=”76″]

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Coffee Talk #223: Do You Buy Complete Editions?

With Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Editions and Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete revealed in the last week, I’ve been thinking about “collected” editions of videogames. With DLC being so new, it’s a relatively new practice to offer a disc that contains the full game and all the released online content. It’s a great value, but I don’t think I’ll ever buy one. If I’m interested in a game, I’ll snatch it up before it gets old enough to be collected. Bundling it with a bunch of DLC and other goodies isn’t enough to push me to buy a game I wasn’t sure about, no matter the value.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the crap-ass Red Sox buying crap-ass Livepool, Intelligentsia’s Kenya Karimikui, or getting excited for an event in February 2011, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

With Dragon Age Origins: Ultimate Edition and Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete revealed in the last week, I’ve been thinking about “collected” editions of videogames. With DLC being so new, it’s a relatively new practice to offer a disc that contains the full game and all the released online content. I’m curious to see where these things go and how they’ll affect future bundles.

Complete editions are a great value, but I don’t think I’ll ever buy one. If I’m interested in a game, I’ll snatch it up before it gets old enough to be collected. Bundling games with a bunch of DLC and other goodies isn’t enough to push me to buy a game I wasn’t sure about, no matter the value. Besides, game prices almost always drop in a matter of months, so it’s not too big a deal to wait things out.

What do you think of these complete editions? Does the value appeal to you? Are there any that you plan on buying? Will this practice make you wait on buying a game?

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Review for Machinima

Here’s my Machinima.com review for Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light. Despite its flaws, it’s easily in my personal “Top 5” for 2010. It’s a delightful old-school RPG with an awesome job system (I love job systems!). Here’s a quote:

Aside from the annoying auto-targeting, I really enjoyed The 4 Heroes of Light. It offers an enjoyable adventure that lasts about 35 hours. If you want to tackle the game’s four optional towers, get every job, and level up all your gear then you can easily hit 70 hours of gameplay. A great job system and addictive level-up features make Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light an excellent value that old-school RPG fans will enjoy.

If you have a moment, please head over to Machinima, check out my review, and leave some comments. Thanks muchly!

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