Category: Mobile Tech

Sprint’s HTC Evo 4G and Verizon’s Motorola Droid X are two of this summer’s hottest Google Android handsets. I’m going to have them face off in a bloody, no-holds-barred competition (it’s like WWE Summer Slam…but with phones). I’ll be comparing their respective features throughout the next week. Even after a few hours with the Droid X, I see some areas where it beats out the Evo 4G. I also see some areas where the Evo 4G leaves it in the dust. Before I start a more detailed comparison, let’s have a modelling contest between these two fine phones.

After you check out the photos, let me know which phone you think is better looking.

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As you can see, the Droid X is longer and slimmer than the Evo 4G. No matter what, some people will claim that both of these phones are too big. I think those people are stupid.

Both phones have a soft rubberized back.

Some users will prefer the capacitive buttons of the Evo 4G while others will prefer the mechanical buttons of the Droid X. I prefer the feel of the capacitive buttons, but there are times when I accidentally hit them (especially when using the Evo 4G in landscape mode). Accidental button presses will not happen with mechanical buttons.

My dream phone would have features of the Droid X and Evo 4G. I tried to get them to reproduce to no avail.

Here are a bunch of pictures of the Motorola Droid X, Verizon’s upcoming Google Android phone. Like the HTC Evo 4G, this is a large phone with loads of great features. I’m going to be putting it through its paces over the course of the next week and will go over its features on a rolling basis. The review will wrap up just before the Droid X’s release on July 15, 2010. For now, check out these photos.

You see that little dot to the left? That’s one of the Droid X’s three microphones. In addition to the mic you speak into for phone calls, the Droid X has additional microphones for noise cancellation and changing the audio source for videos — very cool stuff.

There’s the “hump” that some people are worried about. It’s not bad at all. The phone slides into my pocket just fine. I don’t think it’ll be an issue for anyone unless you’re wearing super-tight jeans…in which case you probably have blood circulation problems that are a bigger issues.

The Droid X uses mechanical buttons instead of capacitive ones. It’s a matter of personal preference and there are advantages to both. After using the capacitive buttons on the Evo 4G for almost two months, they feel foreign but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.

There’s the third microphone, to the right of the headphone jack.

This side of the phone houses the camera button and volume rocker. The volume rocker feels fine, but I’m not digging the feel of the camera button. It’s a bit flimsy.

While I’m impressed by the phones build quality and style, I do not like this crevice around the battery cover. In the immortal words of General Akbar from Jedi, “It’s a dust trap!”

Tomorrow I’ll be posting my impressions after 24 hours with the phone (yes, sleeping with a phone counts as use). Stay tuned!

T-Mobile has done a decent job rolling out it’s high-speed HSPA+ network, but it only has one product that supports it — a USB connection stick. It looks like that will change in September. According to Light Reading, T-Mobile and HTC are teaming up for an Android “superphone” that takes advantage of the network:

T-Mobile USA plans to launch the first smartphone for its newly upgraded evolved High-Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) network in September.

The handset is understood to be the world’s first HSPA+ smartphone, and it will be the first phone that is made to handle T-Mobile’s upgraded 3G network with peak downlink network speeds of up to 21 Mbit/s. While that is the theoretical maximum speed, in the real world the data rates experienced on this smartphone will be closer to 10 Mbit/s.

According to several real-world tests, T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network is faster than Sprint’s WiMax network. While the speeds can be comparable depending on the conditions, HSPA+ has proven to be much better at penetrating buildings than WiMax. Although HSPA+ is often referred to as 3.5G, it can be more effective than 4G WiMax.

I think I’ll hold onto my T-Mobile account until the end of the year to see how it all plays out. Would any of you be interested in an Android phone rocking HSPA+?

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Samsung has been getting a ton of attention with its various Galaxy S Android phones and Korean competitor LG Corp isn’t happy about it. To strike back, the company has revealed details on its upcoming Optimus phones and teased an Android tablet. Here are some details from the press release:

LG Optimus One with Google offers the latest in Google mobile features and connects seamlessly to the world. Its ability to connect effortlessly to Google’s Android Market delivers an unfiltered and genuine smartphone user experience. Also, a convenient user interface and diverse multimedia options ensure a mobile environment that makes this device one of the easiest to use on the market.

The LG Optimus Chic caters to fashion aficionados with its tasteful design incorporating soft and smooth lines. The handset’s sleek curves set a new standard for smartphone design, challenging the perception that advanced Android devices need to appeal to a hardcore tech crowd to gain widespread acceptance.

Yes, this post was mostly written because I thought it would be funny to use Optimus Prime on the home page. The cute Korean models picture above was just a bonus. Seriously though, I’ve loved the design of past LG phones. The company’s use of brushed aluminum made for some handsome handsets.

The Optimus line is great news for the Android platform too; LG does reasonably well in America and is super popular in Asia. The Optimus line should help Android up its game internationally. I love that the Android market is getting crowded and competitive. The result will be more interesting phones to choose from. Go Lucky Goldstar!

Here’s a fun sizzle reel for Sprint’s upcoming Samsung Epic 4G, which is the company’s next Google Android phone that supports its 4G network. It looks like a pretty slick handset and I can’t wait to try it out! Check out the video (please) and let me know what you think (also please).

Google already has its finger in dozens of pies. It rules the Internet advertising and search kingdoms, while competing in mobile operating systems, VoIP, social networking, and more. If the rumors are true then Google is about to go head-on with Facebook and iTunes with Google Me and Google Music, respectively.

Google has attempted two major social networking projects that never really went anywhere: Orkut and Google Buzz. While it’s still supporting Buzz, the company realizes that it has to do more. Will the third time be a charm with Google Me? Perhaps…but I seriously doubt it can put a significant dent in Facebook. Maybe being a strong number two — and serving tons of targeted ads — is more than enough for the company.

I believe Google has a slightly better opportunity with Google Music. Although iTunes is immensely popular thanks to millions of iPod and iPhone sales, Apple has never been good at leveraging cloud computing. Google, on the other hand, has been great at it. There are rumors that there’s a cloud-based iTunes in the works, but I wonder if Apple can pull it off. While Google has a ton of work to do in order to match the elegant iTunes experience, at the very least I expect it to get the cloud part right.

What do you guys and gals think? Can Google compete with Facebook and iTunes? Or are Google Me and Google Music destined to fail?