Category: Mobile Tech

Samsung Galaxy Nexus Specs, Photos, and Initial Thoughts

At a press conference in Hong Kong, Samsung and Google unveiled the Galaxy Nexus — the first Google Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) phone. The Galaxy Nexus features a 1.2GHz processor, an HD Super AMOLED screens (1,280 x 720), zero-shutter-lag camera, and 4G connectivity (LTE or HSPA+). Check out the specs from the press release, followed by some product shots:

Network
HSPA 21Mbps/HSUPA 5.76Mbps 850/900/1900/1700/2100
EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
LTE version will be available depending on the region.
Processor
1.2 GHz Dual Core Processor
Display
4.65″ 1280X720 HD Super AMOLED
OS
Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich
Camera
Main(Rear) : 5 MP AF with LED Flash with zero shutter lag and fast shot2shot
Sub (Front) : 1.3MP for Video Call
Video
Codec : MPEG4/H.263/H.264
Playback : 1080p@ 30fps
Recording : 1080p Full HD Video@ 30fps
Audio
Codec : MP3/AAC/AAC?/eAAC?
3.5mm Ear Jack
Google™Mobile Services
Android Market™, Gmail™, Google Earth™, YouTube™, Movie Studio
Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D maps and turn-by-turn navigation
Syncing with Google Calendar™, Google? app
Connectivity
Bluetooth® technology v 3.0
USB 2.0
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4GHz/ 5GHz)
NFC
Sensor
Accelerometer, Compass, Gyro, Light, Proximity, Barometer
Memory
1GB(RAM) ? 16GB/ 32GB Internal memory
Size
135.5 x 67.94 x 8.94mm, 135g
Battery
Standard battery, Li-on 1,750 mAh

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The Galaxy Nexus looks fantastic on paper and the demo of the phone’s camera was impressive, but I’m concerned about the processor. A pair of friends at the event told me (via SMS) that the phone has the typical Android lag. I found that odd considering that Android 4.0 is supposed to support hardware acceleration. With that in mind, it’s interesting that Samsung didn’t list the processor type — specifically the GPU — on the press release. I wonder if it’s a slightly older GPU that’s struggling with the 720p graphics.

Having said that, my colleagues raved about the screen, saying that it finally brings Samsung’s awesome Super AMOLED screen tech to a higher resolution. I can’t wait to see how text looks on this baby! One of them loved the new camera interface, while the other preferred the iPhone 4S’ photo software.

The Android 4.0 demos at the presser were mostly impressive. I’m loving the new design and digging several new features. Although I have concerns about the GPU, getting the first Ice Cream Sandwich phone — one that’s guaranteed to get the last updates straight away — is terribly appealing. An excellent camera and a 720p screen are also enticing.

Any of you thinking of buying a Galaxy Nexus?

PlayStation Vita Launching on February 22 in America

Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that the PlayStation Vita portable videogame console will launch on February 22, 2012 in North America. The system is already selling well in Japan and is expected to be one of most popular holiday gifts in that country. With the Nintendo 3DS performing below expectations, Sony has a huge opportunity to do some damage in the handheld space.

Here’s a clip from the press release, followed by a poll and some images. Please share your thoughts on the PSP launch date and your plans for getting or not getting one.

Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) today announced on stage at the Web 2.0 Summit 2011 that the PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) system will launch in the U.S. on February 22, 2012. Available at major retailers for $249.99 (MSRP) for the Wi-Fi model and $299.99 (MSRP) for the 3G/Wi-Fi model, the PS Vita system will offer unparalleled interactive entertainment anytime and anywhere.

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus & Google Ice Cream Sandwich Live Blog

Kindly join me this evening for a live blog on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Google Android Ice Cream Sandwich launch. The live blog kicks off at 6:45PM and the presser starts at 7:00PM (Pacific Time). Your excellent company, witty comments, and sharp insights will help make the blog fun. Hope to see you then!

Motorola Droid RAZR Coming to Verizon in November

At a press conference earlier today, Motorola and Verizon introduced the Droid RAZR. The Droid RAZR is a Google Android phone featuring a Super AMOLED qHD and an LTE radio. In the official press release, Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha said, “We set out to design the best smartphone on the planet and delivered Droid RAZR which is thinner, smarter, stronger than any device on the market.”

Here are the bullet points from the press release:

  • Powered by Android™ 2.3.5, Gingerbread
  • 1GB RAM for a fast user interface and multi-tasking
  • 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p HD video capture and image stabilization technology for crisp and clear videos
  • Front-facing HD camera for video chat over 4G LTE, 3G or Wi-Fi
  • 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot capable so customers can share 4G LTE speed with up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices
  • Water repellent nanocoating protects the phone, and even the inside components, against everyday spills
  • Remote wipe, pin lock and government-grade encryption for email, calendar and contacts as well as voice and video chat conferencing
  • Use Quickoffice® to view, create and edit Microsoft® Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on your mobile device from anywhere at anytime
  • Bluetooth 4.0 low energy
  • 32 GB memory: 16 GB on board and 16 GB microSD™ card pre-installed (actual formatted capacity is less)
  • Powerful 1780 mAh battery

I’m dying to see the phone in person. While I’m sure it’s super light, I’m betting that the Kevlar and aluminum construction gives it a higher-quality feel than the Samsung Galaxy S II phones (cheap plastic = yuck). I’m also curious about how the phone feels in hand; the product shots make the RAZR look like it has a large bezel for a phone with a 4.3-inch screen. Lastly, I’m worried about the camera, which I understand is the same module found in the Droid Bionic; the Bionic does a lot of things well, but taking pictures isn’t one of them.

Those concerns aside, the Droid RAZR looks great on paper. Verizon LTE is fantastic and nobody else has introduced a phone with a Super AMOLED qHD screen (yet). Of course this could all be old news by tonight, when Samsung and Google unveil the Galaxy Nexus.

The Motorola Droid RAZR is available for pre-order on October 27, 2011. Orders will ship in early November, when the phone becomes available at retail outlets.

Any of you tempted by the Droid RAZR?

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Motorola Droid RAZR Image Revealed Early

The people at Droid-Life scoured the Motorola Droid RAZR (codename Spyder) teaser site and found a large image of the phone. It will be officially unveiled tomorrow at a press event being held by Motorola and Verizon. The Droid RAZR is purported to have a kevlar back, 1GB of RAM, a 1.2GHz processor (likely a new TI OMAP), Android 2.3.5, and an LTE radio.

While I’m intrigued by the kevlar construction, I’m disappointed in the industrial design. It’s pretty much the same design language found in the Droid X and Droid X 2. Since this is the reintroduction of one of Motorola’s most successful and well-known brands, I was hoping for a bold, new look.

What do you think of the Droid RAZR’s looks?

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus Live Blog Announcement

Here’s a heads up that I’ll be live blogging the Samsung Galaxy Nexus press conference featuring Google Android Ice Cream Sandwich. The presser kicks off on October 18, 2011 at 7:00PM Pacific Time. I hope a bunch of you join me so that we can watch the event together and make wise-ass comments. It’ll be fun!

CA Governor Jerry Brown Allows Warrantless Phone Searches

If I could smack California Governor Jerry Brown on the back of the head, I would. He pissed me off when he took away my Amazon affiliate income for several months. Now he has vetoed legislation that required police offers to obtain a warrant in order to search your phone. That creeps me out. The idea of a California cop — not nice ones like Ponch and John — being able to search my phone for nebulous reasons is creepy. Here’s more from Wired:

California Gov. Jerry Brown is vetoing legislation requiring police to obtain a court warrant to search the mobile phones of suspects at the time of any arrest.

Brown’s veto message abdicated responsibility for protecting the rights of Californians and ignored calls from civil liberties groups and this publication to sign the bill — saying only that the issue is too complicated for him to make a decision about. He cites a recent California Supreme Court decision upholding the warrantless searches of people incident to an arrest. In his brief message, he also doesn’t say whether it’s a good idea or not.

How do you guys feel about this practice? Are you comfortable with the idea of police officers searching phones of “people of incident”? Or are you wigged out that cops can see your naughty pictures and videos for vague reasons of suspicion? Do you favor safety or civil liberties in this case?

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Sprint and Verizon iPhone 4S More International Than AT&T’s

[Updated 10/13 3:37 PM PT] If you’re a world traveler that’s also an iPhone fan then you might want to considering picking up an iPhone 4S on Sprint or Verizon instead of AT&T. The iPhone 4S is SIM-locked on AT&T, while CDMA carriers Sprint and Verizon will allow customers to use foreign SIM cards. This allows globetrotters to enjoy cheaper data and voice rates in other countries. Here’s the deal from MacWorld’s Jason Snell:

There’s a new wrinkle that potentially makes the international-roaming experience better on Sprint and Verizon iPhones than it is on AT&T. Sprint plans to sell the iPhone 4S with its micro-SIM slot unlocked; Verizon’s will be initially locked, but if you’ve been a customer in good standing for 60 days, you can call Verizon and ask for an “international unlock.” (A Verizon spokesperson told me that this is Verizon’s standard policy for all world phones — it’s just the first time it’s manifested itself on an iPhone.)

As someone that enjoys hopping to different countries (you know, back when I had money), this makes the CDMA iPhone 4S models terribly appealing. When I travel, I always get a local SIM for those times you meet cute foreign chicks in a bar networking purposes. In the past, I’ve use an unlocked GSM phone for foreign use to ensure global compatibility and to not be annoyed by carrier bloatware that’s unnecessarily munching on data. A CDMA iPhone with an unlocked SIM slot sound perfect for world warriors (like Ryu).

The only downside is that the CDMA data rates on Sprint and Verizon iPhone 4S are much slower HSDPA rates on the AT&T model. For some people, domestic slowness is worth the international bliss.

Do any of you find the international capabilities of the Sprint and Verizon iPhone 4S appealing?

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[Update 8:59AM PT] According to Engadget, the Sprint version will not have an unlocked SIM slot. A Sprint rep told the site:

Our SIM does not come out of the device — I believe the same is true of Verizon’s iPhone but you would need to confirm that with them. Customers can sign up for one of our international rate plans and use this phone all over the world. When traveling internationally, there is a setting that must be turned on within the device to connect to GSM. The phone will work with a SIM that is provided within the device out of the box. International voice and data charges are on a pay-as-you-go basis and vary based on the country where the customer is using their phone; a list of rates is available at www.sprint.com/international.

Well that sucks….

[Update 10/13 3:37 PM PT] Sprint released a statement saying that it will unlock the SIM slot for customers in good standing. The SIM slot is shipping unlocked, but will be locked by a future software update. If you’ve been paying your bill on time, Sprint will then unlock it…again. That seems incredibly stupid. Just leave the damn thing unlocked in the first place! Anyway, here’s a clip from the statement:

Sprint’s policy is to have the iPhone 4S SIM locked to our network domestically and internationally. At launch, the International SIM will be unlocked. We do expect a SIM lock to be pushed to the devices shortly after launch. We will then allow existing customers in good standing to unlock the SIM for international use if needed in the future.

iPhone 4S Pre-Orders Top One-Million in 24 Hours

Apple has announced that pre-orders for the iPhone 4S have topped one-million units in the first 24 yours of availability. Despite journalists and analysts being disappointed in the product, the iPhone is more popular than ever. In America, this is the first time an iPhone has launched on three carriers at the same time — AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon.  Here’s a clip from the press release:

Apple today announced pre-orders of its iPhone 4S have topped one million in a single day, surpassing the previous single day pre-order record of 600,000 held by iPhone 4.

“We are blown away with the incredible customer response to iPhone 4S,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The first day pre-orders for iPhone 4S have been the most for any new product that Apple has ever launched and we are thrilled that customers love iPhone 4S as much as we do.:

Even though I expressed disappointment with the product launch, I had no doubt that the iPhone 4S would be immensely popular. It looks like a fantastic product and being on thee major American carriers is huge. Internet writers, particularly tech bloggers, are giving the product more heat than they ought to. The GPU on this thing is killer and the camera looks brilliant. Siri takes voice control, something that has been available on Google Android for years, to a game-changing level. The iPhone 4S is a great product backed by great marketing. The sales figures reflect that.

What do you think of Apple’s pre-order numbers with the iPhone 4S? Are they what you expected? Or did they exceed your expectations?

iPhone 4S 3.5-Inch Screen: Usability vs. Visibility

I’ve noted several times on this site that I think that the 3.5-inch screen on the iPhone is too small and that I greatly prefer screens that are larger than four inches. Recently Dustin Curtis wrote an interesting argument on why a 3.5-inch screen is ideal for most people. As an example, he compared the iPhone 4 to the Samsung Galaxy S II. His findings came down to usability vs. visibility. Here’s an excerpt:

Touching the upper right corner of the screen on the Galaxy S II using one hand, with its 4.27-inch screen, while you’re walking down the street looking at Google Maps, is extremely difficult and frustrating. I pulled out my iPhone 4 to do a quick test, and it turns out that when you hold the iPhone in your left hand and articulate your thumb, you can reach almost exactly to the other side of the screen. This means it’s easy to touch any area of the screen while holding the phone in one hand, with your thumb. It is almost impossible to do this on the Galaxy S II.

He definitely has a point in terms of usability, particularly one-handed usability. Most people don’t have Andre the Giant hands like RPadholics BigBlak and Slickyfats. For people like that, one-handed usability on larger screens isn’t an issue. For most people, it’s a compelling argument that a 3.5 inch touchscreen is easier to use than a 4.27-inch touchscreen like on the Galaxy S II.

The argument against 3.5-inch screens is visibility. It’s easier to see larger screens. A lot of my iPhone friends counter this point by saying, “I just hold my iPhone closer to my face and see everything just fine.” I suppose that’s an acceptable answer, but there’s also a comfort level involved. I have a few friends with BlackBerry phones that look like they’re making out with the things as they use them; they have to hold their Berries so close to their face that it looks silly and, more importantly, uncomfortable.

Then there’s resolution. In addition to making text and images appear crisper, higher resolutions on large screens allow for more data to be packed on a screen. That’s one reason I’ve been disappointed in Android phones with larger displays coupled with 800 x 480 resolutions and greatly looking forward to the proliferation of phones with large screens pumping out qHD (960 x 540) or 720p (1,280 x 720) graphics. Plus, the videos will look awesome.

Anyway, I wanted to get your take on mobile phone screens. How do you juggle the factors of size, resolution, usability, and visibility?

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