Category: Mobile Tech

HTC Thunderbolt Preview Video

Here’s a preview video of the HTC Thunderbolt — the first phone on Verizon’s blazing LTE network. The Thunderbolt features Google Android 2.2 with HTC Sense, a 4.3-inch screen, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, an eight-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and…a kickstand! It’s a lot like the HTC Evo 4G for Sprint, but with updated parts (the processor and screen are better).

My initial Speedtest.net results were crazy good. I was getting download speeds over 11Mbps and upload speeds over 37Mbps. From what I understand, Speedtest.net is probably doing something funky with the upload test, so I’m not really buying those results. Still, the speeds are fantastic in terms of real-world usage — better than what I’ve been getting on Sprint’s WiMax network and T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network.

Check out the video when you have a moment and let me know if you have any questions about this hot new phone for Verizon. Expect a full review next week.

Coffee Talk #319: Do You Still Make Calls With Your Phone?

Unlike most of my friends, I actually use my mobile phone to make a lot of phone calls. That’s not too surprising considering that most of my friends are gamer geeks and/or tech nerds. I used to think that…

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, Big Blak’s birthday, Cappie Pondexter’s idiotic tweets about God punishing Japan, or your March Madness brackets, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Unlike most of my friends, I actually use my mobile phone to make a lot of phone calls. That’s not too surprising considering that most of my friends are gamer geeks and/or tech nerds. I used to think that their phone usage was weird, but it’s becoming more and more common — people are spending much more time using their phones for data rather than voice. Hell, at this rate we probably should stop calling them phones. They’re portable computers that also happen to make phone calls. (For the record, I think the term “connected devices” is one of the worst marketing concoctions I’ve heard in the last five years. I refuse to use it.)

I wanted to see how you guys and dolls use your mobile phones. Are you primarily data hogs? Do you burn through your monthly minutes? Do you use a ton of voice and data? Or is it usually much more of one? Over the course of a month, what percentage of your phone use is voice and what percentage is data? I’m really curious to see your comments for today’s Coffee Talk. There should be lots of interesting data points.

Tight iPad 2 Supply = Opportunity for WiFi Xoom?

Motorola has announced that the WiFi-only version of its Xoom tablet (Google Android) will be available on March 27, 2011 for $599. Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, and others will carry the tablet. Unlike the iPad 2, retailers have some flexibility with the Xoom’s pricing. Considering that the iPad 2 is tough to find (and should be for weeks), do you think the Xoom has an opportunity?

I believe that there are some consumers that will see the Xoom and think, “It’s like the iPad 2, except I can buy one now!” I also think that there are some consumers that are pissed off that they can’t buy an iPad 2 and will opt for a WiFi Xoom instead. Having said all that, I’m not sure these kinds of consumers will add up to significant sales.

On paper, a WiFi Xoom for $599 matches up nicely with a comparable iPad 2 model. In some cases, it offers hardware and software (OS) capabilities that the iPad 2 doesn’t have. However, it gets slaughtered in the apps department. It will be interesting to see if people are willing to bet on Android 3.0’s (Honeycomb) great potential with a Xoom purchase.

Most importantly, I want to know what you think! Does Motorola have a brief window of opportunity to sell a ton of Xoom tablets while the iPad 2 is scarce? Or will the iPad continue to be the only tablet computer that matters?

LG VL600 Review: Verizon LTE Modem is Blazing Fast

I’ve been spending time with the LG VL600 — one of Verizon’s 4G LTE modems. I’ve been very, very impressed with its performance, but there are a few factors to keep in mind. Before I get to those, let’s take a look at some speed results. I tested out the VL600 at four major American airports using SpeedTest.net. The modem was used on a Dell XPS 1330 running Windows 7. Check out the numbers:

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Ping: 57ms
Download: 13.46 Mbps
Upload: 8.17 Mbps

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Ping: 43ms
Download: 9.19 Mbps
Upload 10.6 Mbps

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Ping: 84ms
Download: 11.17 Mbps
Upload: 3.76 Mbps

Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Ping: 242ms
Download: 8.54 Mbps
Upload: 1.33 Mbps

Those are outstanding data rates for a mobile modem. In some cases — notably upload speed — they’re way better than what I get with my Time Warner Cable service at home. That’s extremely impressive.

The modem itself is relatively inexpensive. The full retail price is $249.99. With a two-year contract it’s $149.99. Verizon is currently running an online special that gets you the VL600 for $69.99.

My big issue with the VL600 is that Verizon is offering a 4G product but playing under 3G rules. There are currently two data packages available with the VL600: a 5GB plan for $50 per month and a 10GB for $80 per month (not including taxes and regulatory fees). Additional data costs $10 for every GB. With the speed I was getting, it would be easy to blow through the monthly allowance in a matter of days. Putting old restrictions on new technology is a bit silly and kind of defeats the point.

Another factor to keep in mind is that there are currently only two data devices available on Verizon’s LTE network. As 2011 rolls on, there will be several phones that use Verizon LTE. As more devices pull from the network, performance will likely degrade. I’m positive that if I ran the same speed tests in December 2011, the results wouldn’t be as good. Having said that, I’d still expect the speeds to be better than Sprint’s WiMax network and T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network (those results will be posted in another article).

From a hardware  and network standpoint, the LG VL600 is just all kinds of awesome. It’s easy to use and the speed results are incredible. I’m disappointed with Verizon’s service pricing for this product. It’s too restrictive and discourages users from taking advantage of the awesome LTE speeds. If you want great speeds in limited doses then this is the perfect product for you. Just watch your data usage. It’s way too easy to hit the data cap with the VL600’s mercurial speeds.

As always, please let me know if you have any question about the VL600. I’ll answer them as soon as I can.

More iPad 2 Lines Today

With new shipments arriving at select Apple Store locations today, gear heads lined up at New York and San Francisco stores for a second chance at an iPad 2. That’s pretty nuts. In an investor note, Ticonderoga Securities’ Brian White said:

The lines to buy the iPad 2 in New York City and San Francisco were again quite a spectacle this morning, a trend we believe will occur throughout the week. In New York City, three of the four stores already sold out of the iPad 2 in the first couple of hours this morning, and tickets were handed out at the flagship store to help people avoid waiting in line unnecessarily.

Additionally, the flagship San Francisco store opened an hour early and was also handing out tickets to a line of well over 400 people. Those at the end of this line were told the likelihood of getting an iPad 2 this morning were slim.

Launch lines are completely common, but four-days-after-launch lines are pretty remarkable. At this rate, I’m thinking about picking up a few units to flip on eBay. (I know you’re not supposed to do that, but I’m poor. Ha!) With the iPad 2 set to launch globally at the end of the month, it looks like supply issues will continue for a long time.

What do you make of the iPad 2’s initial success? Is it crazier than you thought it would be?

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Today’s Poll: Apple iPad 2 Launch vs. Nintendo 3DS Launch

The Apple iPad 2 launched last Friday and some analysts believe that nearly one-million units were sold over the weekend. Later this month, the Nintendo 3DS will launch and demand is expected to be similarly crazy. Which product will have the more impressive launch week? On one hand, the iPad 2 has a broader appeal since it’s a multifaceted device that offers excellent browsing, decent gaming, and fantastic media consumption. The Nintendo 3DS is also multifaceted, but its focus is on gaming. It also has the allure of 3D and a lower price point. Which company will sell more in week one? Take today’s poll and state your case (please)!

[poll id=”106″]

Insomniac’s Click Division Focuses on Mobile and Social

At SXSW 2011, Insomniac Games announced Insomniac Click, a division of the company that will focus on mobile and social games. Chief Creative Officer Brian Hastings called mobile and social gaming “a pragmatic necessity” in a recent blog post. It’s also telling that this announcement was made at SXSW instead of PAX East — a very shrewd move since the former draws a broad audience while announcing at the latter would have been preaching to choir.

Here’s more from Hastings on Insomniac Click:

Insomniac Games is proud to introduce our newest division: Insomniac Click. It is dedicated to creating new games for web and mobile platforms. Insomniac Click is an expansion of the company rather than a shift. With the exception of myself, everyone working in the group has been newly hired specifically for their expertise in this space. All our existing teams are still 100% dedicated to making unforgettable AAA console experiences with our proprietary blend of double rainbows and awesomesauce.

I’m thrilled about the move. I can’t wait to enjoy some Insomniac magic on the iPad 2 or on Facebook. Companies like Epic and id have raised the bar on mobile games, while BioWare is doing some fantastic work on Facebook. It’s fantastic that the companies we love on consoles are extending their reach to mobile and social platforms. They kind of have to…even though some people hate these platforms. Ha!

What do you think of Insomniac’s foray into the land of mobile and social gaming?

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Coffee Talk #316: Your Worst Launch Experience

I got to see the dark side of a big product launch as I was snapping pictures and getting quotes for a magazine article on the iPad 2 launch. At two Los Angeles Apple Stores, I interviewed a bunch of people that…

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, Sergio Martinez gunning for boxing’s pound-for-pound best distinction, Intelligentsia’s Anjilanaka Organic Bolivia, or the global impact of a nuclear reactor meltdown in Japan, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

The launch of a hot consumer electronics device always leaves thousands of people happy…and thousands of people disappointed, angry, or sad. I got to see the dark side of a big product launch as I was snapping pictures and getting quotes for a magazine article on the iPad 2 launch. At two Los Angeles Apple Stores, I interviewed a bunch of people that waited in line for hours and were not able to get the iPad 2 model they wanted. All of them were pissed off about wasting their time.

Even online shoppers were angry. When the iPad 2 launched a tad before 1:00AM on March 11, 2011, it had an estimated ship date of three to five days. After a couple of hours the wait increased to three to four weeks. People that were hoping to avoid lines at retail stores on day one now had the lovely option of waiting until April for an iPad 2. To be fair, I’m pretty sure that the estimated ship dates are being exaggerated so that Apple has some wiggle room. Additionally, new iPad 2 shipments should be arriving daily to Apple Stores, Best Buy, AT&T stores, Verizon stores, etc., so brick-and-mortar supply should be reasonable before April.

The bottom line (which is funny for Coffee Talk 3:16) is that while hundreds of thousands of people are happy with their new iPads, there are thousands of people that are pissed off with the way Apple handled the launch.

Out of curiosity, what was your worst launch experience? Did you wait in line for a PlayStation 2 or an iPhone 3GS? Did you scour online retailers to get a new console when stores were sold out? Or have you never had a launch experience since you were happy to wait until you didn’t have to jump through hoops to get product? Kindly share your worst launch experience in today’s Coffee Talk!

Coffee Talk #315: Mobile & Social Games Are Like X-Men

During my GDC 2011 networking (i.e. drinking and talking with people), I noticed an irrational hatred for mobile and social games. There was a small, but vocal, percentage of people I spoke with that hate…

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, crazy earthquakes and tsunamis, the iPad 2 launch, or legal issues derailing Floyd Mayweather’s career, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

During my GDC 2011 networking (i.e. drinking and talking with people), I noticed an irrational hatred for mobile and social games. There was a small, but vocal, percentage of people I spoke with that hate this segment of gaming for no good reason. They were spread over a variety of jobs in the business too — developers, publishers, marketers, journalists, etc. After one fellow mentioned that he didn’t know why he hated mobile and social games, I replied, “So they’re like the X-Men? You hate and fear them for no reason?”

Don’t get me wrong, if you don’t like mobile and/or social games, that’s fine. The negative feelings I encountered were much more active than that — as if these kinds of games hurt the business or they weren’t “real” games. I really didn’t understand the sentiment. Why waste energy on actively hating mobile and social games? Isn’t it easier to focus on the games you like instead of expending negative energy? It seems silly to me.

Just to check myself, I wanted to get your thoughts on mobile and social gaming. Do you actively hate them? Do you not like them? Are you excited by the new and exciting things they bring to gaming? Or are they just kind of there and you ignore them? Share your feelings like a Care Bear and explain your stance (please)!

Completely Fascinated by the iPad 2’s Smart Cover

It’s totally overpriced, but I’m completely fascinated by the iPad 2 Smart Cover accessory. Check out the video above and you’ll see why. The design is just very, very clever. The magnetic latch gives the Smart Cover a seamless feel. The way it folds into a stand for two different viewing positions — one for typing and one for watching — is a piece of brilliant design. Still, $39 for a polyurethane cover and $69 for a leather cover is a lot to pay for something that isn’t a full protective case…but I’m sure that won’t stop Apple from selling millions of these things.

What do you think of the Smart Cover? Are you as charmed by it as I am? Or do you think it’s a woefully overpriced accessory?