Tag: Not Reviews

Samsung has totally upped its game with its Galaxy S line of Google Android phones. With variants available on all four major American carriers, the Galaxy S line offers a strong choice to every consumer, regardless of their coverage situation. All four phones share the same roots — Google Android 2.1 with Samsung TouchWiz 3.0 and a gorgeous four-inch Super AMOLED screen — but there are differences between the various models. The Samsung Fascinate for Verizon is one of the better choices. I was very impressed with the phone’s look and feel, but there are some curious software choices and performance issues to consider. Let’s break it down!

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Build Quality: Although the Fascinate has an ample four-inch screen, it’s surprisingly thin and light. It’s so light that it’s easy to confuse for a display model. A big reason for the phones lightness is that its body is almost all plastic. It doesn’t feel cheap by any means — though it does look like an iPhone 3GS wannabe — but it doesn’t offer the luxurious feel of metal.

A lot of people feel that phones like the Motorola Droid X and HTC Evo 4G are too big to be pocketable. Those people will love the size and weight of the Fascinate. While I prefer having a larger screen, I acknowledge that most people will prefer the size of the Fascinate. It offers solid (if not overly impressive) build quality, feels great in your hand, and is easily pocketable.

The Screen: Most people will be dazzled by the Fascinate’s Super AMOLED screen. It’s just frickin’ gorgeous. The colors are super vibrant and the screen is bright. It makes TFT LCD screens look dull. There are some caveats though. Some colors — particularly reds and purples — are over-pronounced. TFT LCD screens are also easier to see outdoors. Although some colors aren’t reproduced accurately, I think most people will prefer the brightness of Sammy’s Super AMOLED screen.

User Interface: Going into this (not a) review, I was dreading spending time with Samsung TouchWiz. Version 2.0 was garbage. I’m pleased to say that 3.0 is quite good. It offers several little touches that make the Android experience smoother. I particularly liked having control of the WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth radios in the notification area. The music player is also much better than stock Android’s. Thanks to the phone’s potent CPU/GPU combo — which is currently the best in the business — everything ran smoothly.

That said, there were a few things I didn’t like. Having four icons stuck at the bottom is another iPhone feature that was borrowed. I don’t need to see those icons on all seven menu screens. I really don’t like that Bing and Bing Maps are the default choices for search and location. In fact, you can’t change the default search engine at this time (Verizon has claimed that this will change in future updates). All that said, I’m impressed with Samsung’s improvements to TouchWiz 3.0. It’s not quite as good as HTC Sense, but it’s as good as what Motorola has done with its Android customizations. (Of course my personal preference is vanilla Android for its speed and faster updates.)

Call Quality: The Samsung Fascinate’s combination of powerful hardware and smooth software allow it to do many things excellently. Making calls isn’t one of them. I found the call quality to be average. Incoming voices sounded a little tinny. The phone doesn’t have the noice-canceling wizardry found in the Droid X either. It’s not a bad phone for making calls, but if voice is a priority than the Droid X is a better choice on Verizon.

Camera: Samsung has been making some of the best camera phones for years, so my expectations were pretty high for the Fascinate. They were mostly met. Photos taken outdoors or with ample light were among the best I’ve seen from an Android phone. Indoor photos and low-light pictures were trickier. It’s easy to get nice shots when messing with the various settings, but quick shots taken indoors can result in poor photos. Unlike the Evo 4G, the Fascinate has one LED flash instead of two. This can make a big difference indoors…particularly when you’re drunk. Here are some sample photos (see if you can guess which ones were taken under the influence of wine and beer).

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Random Thoughts: After using Android 2.2 (FroYo) on the Evo 4G and the Droid 2, it was tough going back to 2.1. There were a few times when I thought, “What is this caveman crap?!?” I really missed having Flash too. Although Samsung has promised a Galaxy S FroYo update in October, who knows when a Fascinate-specific build will be submitted to Verizon and approved. Samsung has a bad reputation when it comes to updating Android (see the Behold II), so there is some cause for concern. However, I think the company has learned from its past mistakes. Hopefully Verizon leans on Samsung for a fast update.

Conclusion: This is the second-best phone in the Galaxy S line. Unlike the AT&T Captivate and T-Mobile Vibrant, the Fascinate has a camera flash and doesn’t suffer from the ridiculous GPS issues that plague its siblings (though it’s still not as accurate as other phones I’ve used). The Bing issue will annoy some users, but that should be getting fixed in the near future. The Fascinate isn’t quite as good as Sprint’s Epic 4G, which has a keyboard, front-facing camera for video chat, and WiMax connectivity.

For Verizon customers, the Samsung Fascinate is an interesting choice. I love the call quality and screen size of the Motorola Droid X, but I prefer the screen technology and UI of the Fascinate. They’re both excellent phones — it just depends on what your priorities are. If they happen to be a pocketable phone with a brilliant screen, wicked CPU/GPU, and a snappy interface then you can’t go wrong with the Fascinate.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions about the phone. If I didn’t answer them in the (not a) review then I’ll try to cover it in the comments section.

The Motorola Droid was the first Google Android phone to make a big splash in America. Its follow-up — aptly named the Droid 2 — is a worthy successor. While it has an improved keyboard and faster processor, Android hardware has come a long way in the last year. It’s a compelling choice for consumers that want Android and insist on a physical keyboard, but its radio and lag issues are bothersome (though fixable through firmware updates).

I’ve been using the Motorola Droid 2 (Verizon) for about a month and while it’s a very good Android phone, it has enough flaws that make it tough to recommend. Unless you absolutely need a physical keyboard, I think you’re much better off with the Motorola Droid X or HTC Evo 4G. Let’s see what the Droid 2 has to offer, where it’s great, and where it falls short.

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Build Quality: The Droid 2 is a well built phone, just like its predecessor. It has a solid feel and a bright 3.7-inch screen with an 854 x 480 resolution. A lot of people complained about the total flatness and practically useless d-pad of the original Droid’s keyboard. The Droid 2 drops the d-pad for a roomier typing area and uses raised keys for a better feel. The keyboard is much, much better than the original.

Interface: The Droid 2 ships with Android 2.2 (FroYo) out of the box. It also features the same 1GHz OMAP processor and UI customizations found in the Droid X. You’d think that these factors would add up for a snappy experience, but for some reason the Droid 2 randomly lags. Whether it’s shifting from screen to screen or launching apps, the Droid 2 isn’t as responsive as the Droid X. I completely expect this to be addressed in future software updates, but for now the Droid 2’s smooth performance is interrupted by a few random bumps on the road.

Call Quality: In terms of voice, the Droid 2 performed very well. It doesn’t feature all the noise-canceling wizardy found in the Droid X, but incoming and outgoing sound was very good. In fact, I’d say it’s even better than the Evo 4G for making calls.

Reception Issues: Here’s the Droid 2’s other issue — reception. In the same places I received strong signal with the Droid X, I sometimes dropped to EVDO 1X with the Droid 2. There were even a few WiFi hotspots that were impossible to connect to with the Droid 2. That said, I never dropped a call with the phone and the data throughput always seemed “normal” using Ookla’s Speedtest app. This is another issue that will most likely be addressed with a software update. For now, it’s potentially annoying.

Camera: For still pictures and videos, the five-megapixel camera on the Droid 2 is average at best. It’s outperformed by most top-notch models on the market. The Evo 4G, Droid X, and (especially) the iPhone 4 make the Droid 2’s camera look silly.

Random Thoughts: There’s no doubt that the Droid 2’s 3.7-inch screen is top notch, but after using the Evo 4G and Droid X extensively, it seems small. I’ve also become a Swype convert. The excellent input software is included on the Droid 2 and after using the keyboard long enough to get a good feel for it, I stopped using it in favor of Swype. Yes, there are some people that absolutely need a physical keyboard, but I think most people would be more efficient using Swype and working on a larger screen. With that in mind, I think most people would be happier with the Droid X than the Droid 2.

Conclusion: The original Motorola Droid was the hotness in late 2009. While the Droid 2 is a clearly improved version, the competition has gotten much better. It’s tough to recommend this phone, though there are some consumers that it’s great for — people that want to be on Verizon, want Google Android, and need a physical keyboard. If you can live without the keyboard and are willing to give Swype a go then I recommend the Droid X over this phone. If you’re willing to consider other networks, Sprint’s keyboard-equipped Epic 4G has a lot to offer. Don’t get me wrong, the Droid 2 is a very good phone, but its reception issues, lag, and small screen make it hard to recommend over similarly priced products on the market.

As always, if there’s anything I didn’t address in this (not a) review, please let me know in the comments section and I’ll try to answer your questions.

Ready for more details and opinions of the Motorola Droid X for Verizon? Of course you are! In the first part of my review, I covered this Google Android phone’s build, user interface, storage options, and call quality. This time around I’m covering its screen, keyboard, WiFi hotspot functionality, and software. Let’s get to it!

Screen
The Droid X features an ample 4.3-inch TFT LCD screen with a resolution of 854×480. The colors are bright and vivid. Text looks very clear. TFT LCD doesn’t have the color saturation of OLED — which some people love and some people hate — but it offers true colors and a screen that’s much more usable in daylight. While this screen isn’t as technically impressive as the iPhone 4’s “Retina Display”, the size makes it more usable on a few levels.

Having a large screen is fantastic for web browsing. You simply see more of the web page. It also helps with the virtual keyboard. Having more space makes typing easier for most people. For example, I can type faster and with less errors on the Droid X than the HTC Google Nexus One, which has a 3.7-inch screen.

The Droid X’s resolution is atypical, which is good and bad. In portrait mode, it’s taller and narrower than the comparable HTC Evo 4G. This is great for looking at web pages in portrait mode and more comfortable when holding the phone for calls. It’s not as great using it in landscape mode, but it’s not a huge problem either; it just feels like there’s a lot of wasted space when watching videos and web browsing.

Most people will love this screen. It’s big and beautiful…like Oprah.

Keyboard and Input
There are a few keyboard options on the Droid X. Most people will opt for the virtual keyboard. This phone has one of the best virtual keyboards I’ve ever used, mostly due to the screen size and partially due to the efficient layout. If you like haptic feedback while typing, the Droid X offers some strong vibrations.

The phone also has Swype pre-installed. This nifty program allows you to trace words as the CPU figures out what you want to spell. Check out the video above for an example. It’s a great system that some people rave about, but it definitely requires a learning period. With practice, I’ve seen people enter text faster on Swype than with a physical keyboard. It’s not my cup of tea, but I totally get the appeal and it’s great that it comes pre-loaded on the Droid X.

WiFi Hotspot
Verizon charges $20 a month for tethering and WiFi hotspot functionality, with a 2GB cap. This is cheaper but more restrictive than Sprint’s comparable offering (though it doesn’t have 4G speeds). Setting up a WiFi hotspot is a snap; if you know how to adjust settings on a router than you can set up a hotspot with ease. However, your speeds will vary by location. For example, I was barely able to crack .5MB down in my apartment, but easily hit 1MB in downtown Los Angeles.

The WiFi hotspot feature is a nice option to have, but completely unnecessary if you can get by with a wired connection on one device. There are a number of third-party programs like EasyTether and PDAnet that allow you tether without subscribing to an expensive plan.

Apps, Games, and Goodies
My thoughts on Android apps and games haven’t changed since I covered it in my Evo 4G review. Since new people might be reading this, I’ll give a brief overview. In terms of apps, the Android Market should have most of your needs covered. There are a wide variety of apps for all sorts of entertainment and productivity needs. In terms of function, the Android Market has almost everything the iPhone App Store has, but the selection isn’t as broad.

That said, there are two apps that are headed to Android but are testing my patience with their annoying wait times — TweetDeck and Skype (real Skype, not the BS Skype pre-loaded on the phone). For now I’m content with twicca, WordPress, Barcode Scanner, Foursquare, AIM, Facebook, Yelp, Pandora, Amazon, 3banana, GameFly GameCenter, Engadget, IMDb, Huffington Post, Amazon Kindle, Qik, and Speed Test on the Droid X.

Naturally, Google apps are best on Android than any other platform. Google Maps — with the free and excellent GPS Google Navigation, Google Voice, Google Goggles, Google Earth, etc., are brilliant on Android.

That’s it for part two of my Droid X review. As always, fire away any questions and I’ll try my best to answer them. Stay tuned for comments on the phone’s still image and video capabilities, complete with samples!

Related Articles

• Motorola Droid X Unboxing
• Motorola Droid X Review Part I: Build, UI, Storage Options and Call Quality
• Motorola Droid X Review Part III: Camera, Pictures, and Video
• Motorola Droid X Review Part IV: Battery Life, Miscellaneous Features, and Final Thoughts

So I’ve spent a little over a day with the Motorola Droid X for Verizon. To kick off my not-a-review, I’ll give you my first impressions of this excellent Google Android phone. Today I’m going to talk about the phone’s build quality, user interface, storage options, and initial impressions on call clarity.

Build Quality
The Motorola Droid X is a well-made phone. I really like it’s style and lines. The front of the phone is mostly glass, with four plastic buttons and two strips of rubberized plastic. It’s all wrapped by a metal band, which gives the phone some heft and adds to its quality feel. The back is all rubberized plastic and offers a good grip.

The phone has been getting a lot of flack for its reverse chin — the top of the phone has a noticeable bulge that houses its camera mechanism, which gives the Droid X’s otherwise slim form factor a funky look. The people that hate it are overreacting; it looks way more pronounced in photos than it does in real life. The phone is just as pocketable as the similarly sized HTC Evo 4G for Sprint.

One obvious side effect of the phone’s design is that it’s top heavy. I liked how the phone felt in my hands when making calls and using it in portrait mode. The balance takes some getting use to in landscape mode, but I suspect most users will adjust after using it for a few days. I do suggest being careful about where you place this phone. I left the Droid X and the Evo 4G side by side on the arm of my couch and more than a dozen times in the last 24 hours the Droid X took a dive because of its balance (that or it’s actually alive and prefers to sit on the couch instead of the couch’s arm).

Along with the original Motorola Droid, the Droid X is one of the most well-made Android phones available in America. The only minor nitpick I have is that the battery cover creates a lot of space for dust to settle. I hate dust.

User Interface
The Droid X uses a customized version of Google Android 2.1. It’s not full-on MotoBlur, which is a good thing. Blur is a great idea, but I don’t like how it has been executed and I really don’t like that it delays Android OS upgrades. The UI on the Droid X is close to stock Android, but with enough enhancements and widgets that make it a wee bit friendlier.

I’m a big fan of HTC Sense. It’s the best customized version of Android I’ve used. Compared to that, the UI on the Droid X feels a little clunky and inelegant. It’s not bad by any means, but it doesn’t add the smoothness and good looks that HTC Sense does.

If I had to choose between this customized version of Android and the stock model, I’d go with the latter. Vanilla Android is just fine and Motorola didn’t add enough enhancements to make OS delays worth waiting for. The good news is that Motorola has promised that Android 2.2 will be available for the Droid X in August, but after that who knows how long updates will take.

The UI on the Motorola Droid X is much better than what I’ve seen from Samsung, but not as good as HTC Sense.

Storage
One area where the Droid X trounces the competition is storage. The phone has 8GB built in, solely for Android apps. That’s more than enough for most users and I commend Motorola for being so generous with on-board memory. It doesn’t stop there though; the phone also comes with a 16GB microSD card for additional storage. Again, that’s more than enough for most people’s music, video, and photo needs.

Compared to the Evo 4G, which comes with 1GB of internal memory and an 8GB microSD card, the Droid X’s 24GBs of storage is massive.

Initial Impressions on Call Quality
Even though I’ve only had the phone for a day, I’m already impressed with the Droid X’s call quality. In my opinion, the Motorola Droid is the best Android phone in America in terms of call clarity. I’m 98-percent certain that it will be ousted by the Droid X. The phone has two noise-canceling mics that block out background noise. Just for the hell of it, I made some calls standing on the sidewalk of Wilshire Boulevard with dozens of cars and buses zipping by. My friends said that I sounded great.

Noise-canceling magic aside, my friends said that my voice sounded very clear. By comparison, they said I sounded a little louder on my BlackBerry 8900 but just as clear. Compared to the HTC Evo 4G, I sounded louder and clearer. As for them, they sounded great on the Droid X’s earpiece. However, there were some gain issues when the earpiece was turned up to its highest level. The good news is that if your hearing is decent then you’ll rarely need the volume turned up that high.

Remember, your results may vary. While the noise-cancelling microphones are undoubtedly a huge benefit on the hardware side, call quality greatly depends on how well Verizon works where you live, work, and play. I’ve only tested the Droid X in two neighborhoods in Los Angeles. So far, the results are fantastic.

That’s it for part one of my Motorola Droid X not-a-review. I’ll be testing out the phone’s other functions shortly, including photos, videos, additional call quality tests, and more. If there are any aspects of the phone you want me to pay special attention to, please let me know in the comments section.

Related Articles

• Motorola Droid X Unboxing
• Motorola Droid X Review Part II: Screen, Keyboard, and WiFi Hotspot
• Motorola Droid X Review Part III: Camera, Pictures, and Video
• Motorola Droid X Review Part IV: Battery Life, Miscellaneous Features, and Final Thoughts