Friday, July 30, 2010

Android Customer Data Usage Higher than iPhone


AT&T has often blamed their poor network performance on the data sucking tendencies of iPhone users. However, a new report reveals that smartphone users on Verizons network, primarily Android based handsets, outpace AT&T in data usage by nearly 25%. The average Verizon smartphone user uses 450MB in data a month, compared to the average iPhone users usage at about 350MB a month.
The report also noted that the average Blackberry user only required about 50MB of data.

It is believed that reason that the Verizon user uses more data is because the Android platform attracts more geeks, and these users often user large amounts of data. This is compared to the iPhone user typically being casual users, owning an iPhone because, well its an iPhone. The iPhone is a status symbol to many, and has been established over the past few years, which is why the iPhone has more casual users.
The reason the Android platform attracts more of the geeky natured consumers is because the Android platform is completely open sourced, with very few restrictions as compared to the very restrictive iPhone.

So, AT&T. Why is your network so unreliable?

Motorola takes a shot at Apple

Motorola has taken a shot at Apple's iPhone in their latest marketing campaign, a likely retaliation to Apple claiming that all phones, including the Droid X, saving antenna problems if held the wrong way. Many affected companies have been taking shots at Apple lately, including Nokia, HTC, and Motorola. The ad campaign, which states, "No Jacket Required" has been the most publicly visible response.

It appears that Apple's attempt to cover up their own "antennagate" scandal has backfired, and now it has put all of the major smartphone carriers in a position to rip Apple.

Android 2.2 on Evo pushed back to August 3rd

Following up from a post made yesterday about Android 2.2 on the Evo 4g, Sprint has made a formal announcement and it appears users are going to have to wait just a few more days. The official release date for 2.2 Froyo on the Evo is August 3rd. That is now just 4 days away, so users can start anticipating obtaining the new operating system on their devices.

As this is an official statement from Sprint, the August 3rd date is fairly set in stone.

Leave a comment about what you expect from Froyo!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

HTC Evo 4g to get Android 2.2 Tommorow

According to a report from Engadget.com, the HTC Evo 4g is scheduled to get the update to Android 2.2 Froyo tommorow. This is big news for Evo owners, as this update will include many new features. The one downside to this update however, is that rooted users who use their device as a wifi hotspot for free using android-wifi-tether may not be able to continue their free hotspot capability, as Sprint is charging $30 a month for that service and is attempting to keep customers paying. This shouldn't come as a surprise, but for some this may be a dealbreaker.

Froyo 2.2 will greatly increase the capabilities of the Evo, and many will be looking forward to it.

Dell Streak Delayed


The Dell Streak, a tablet phone with a 5 in. screen, has been delayed. It was originally intended to be released "at the end of July" meaning it would have had to be released sometime this week, but now according to the Dell website, the Streak is now coming "soon"

This is very vague, and leaves people angry, wondering if it is coming next week, or possibly even later.

Pricing has also been anounced, starting at $300 with a 2 year agreement at AT&T. Unfortuanately, the device will launch running Android 1.6, but an update to 2.2 Froyo is coming.

Looks like everyone will have to wait just a little bit longer to get their hands on this device in today's ever evolving smartphone market.

HTC Evo Helps Sprint Gain Net Customers for First Time in 3 Years


Over the past 3 years, Sprint has lost more customers than they have gained. This year, Sprint has placed a focus on having a better image for their company, and it has helped tremendously. They have vastly improved their customer service, which has been a helpful contributor to this turnaround.


The main reason behind the turnaround however, was the HTC Evo 4G. This phone single handedly has helped put Sprint back in contention with the top companies AT&T and Verizon. And with the Samsung Epic 4G coming out soon, Sprints second 4G phone, it looks like they have no plans on slowing down anytime soon.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

HTC Evo shortages situation improved


Lately, the HTC Evo 4G has been plagued by shortages, namely due to problems attaining touchscreens. However, for those looking for the device, all hope is not lost! Local Sprint Stores are receiving shipments in increased frequencies, occasionally with shipments every day or two. This is great news, as it shows that HTC is finally beginning to resolve their supply problems.

I have personally found that if you call your local sprint stores, often they will tell you whether or not they have the Evo, and when they are expecting their next shipment. Feel free to leave a comment with your own experience!

Good luck getting your smartphones this summer!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Motorola Droid X delayed again

Once again as expected in this summer of smartphone shortages, the Motorola Droid X saw its orders pushed back until August. Customers looking to buy the device will have to wait until August 3rd before the orders would ship.

Those customers looking for a smartphone this summer should not expect things to get any easier in the next couple weeks.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Motorola i1 available from Sprint July 25th

Another first for the Android world: An Android phone that supports Nextel Direct Connect's push-to-talk service. The phone is expected to come with a 3.1 inch HVGA touch screen, 5 megapixel camera, and of course Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

The phone is expected to be priced at $149.99 after a $50 mail in rebate when it goes on sale July 25th.

Other things to note about this new phone: Construction is rugged, so if you need a phone that will not break easily, this is a good choice. Also, one negative aspect of this device, it comes loaded with Android 1.5, which is nearly obsolete. However, if you need a push-to-talk phone, this is a great choice.

Google calls it quits on the Nexus One

Yesterday, Google announced that it will be dropping its Nexus One Android based smartphone after only 6 months of being on the market. Consumers and developers can still presently buy the phone, but the next batch of phones available is expected to be the last.

The Nexus One was a device praised early on as being an iPhone killer and for the ability for consumers to by the phone unlocked for use on any carrier. Unfortuanately for Google, the fact that the phone was unlocked also meant that the phone had a high asking price. $529 in fact. For the average consumer, this was likely the cause for the Nexus One to never gain wide popularity.

Despite Google dropping this phone, Google is still planning on providing customer support for these users.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

CONFIRMED: HTC Evo 4G battery life fixed with OTA update

Initially, the HTC Evo 4G was reviewed harshly by users as having unacceptable battery life, but otherwise a great phone. Well there is some great news for Evo owners. It appears that the over the air update that was recently released has fixed the battery life problems. With this update, users can now expect their device to last up to a day and a half (expect more like 1 day, but much better than early reports with users stating 4-5 hours of moderate to heavy use).

With this update however, this helps the Evo pull ahead in the smartphone race, and this device is now clearly as good or better than the Droid X. The question now is, when is the Evo 4G going to be available again?

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Smartphone Showdown: Apple iPhone 4 vs HTC Evo 4g vs Motorola Droid X vs HTC Droid Incredible


This year has truly become the summer to buy a smartphone. So many great choices, but which one to get? Lets break it down in a summary here:

Apple iPhone 4 (AT&T): Ah, the ever so popular iPhone. This year, the iPhone has a bit more competition than in the past. The iPhone 4 comes in either 16gb or 32gb (not expandable), 5 megapixel camera, VGA front facing camera, and an impressive 3.5 inch retina display. The iPhone runs iOS4, and has access to Apple's App Store. The iPhone is powered by Apple's A4 processor (unknown clock speed, reports say 1ghz).
*There are reports of signal issues if held a certain way. Apple is giving away free bumpers to help issue.

HTC Evo 4G (Sprint): This amazing device has a spec sheet to dream of. The only phone on this list that can run on a 4G network, which makes its mobile hotspot feature (in which you can connect up to 8 devices) very useful and effective. It also sports a 8 megapixel rear facing camera, as well as a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera (useful for video conferencing). This device also has a 4.3 inch screen, and a speedy 1ghz Snapdragon processor. This phone runs Android 2.1 with HTC Sense. Other notable features include an HDMI port and a kickstand. It comes with 1gb internal memory, and an 8gb micro sd card (expandable up to 32gb).
*Many users report poor battery life, over the air update may have partially/fully fixed this.

Motorola Droid X (Verizon): This smartphone is very similiar to the Evo, with a few differences. To begin with, it has a 4.3 inch screen, just like that Evo, but it is thinner and taller (screen size is measured diagonally). The Droid X also has an 8 megalpixel camera, but no front facing camera. This phone features a 1ghz ARMv7 processor. This phone also runs Android 2.1 with Motorblur. The Motoblur software has been greatly improved, but HTC Sense is still superior. The Droid also supports a mobile hotspot feature for up to 5 devices. This device also includes an HDMI port. This phone comes with 8gb of internal memory and a 16gb micro sd card (expandable up to 32gb).
*Reports say it cannot be modified, hackers and power users will not like this.

HTC Droid Incredible (Verizon): This speedy phone has a 1ghz Snapdragon processor, an 8 megapixel camera, 3.7 inch screen, and has 8gb of internal memory, with a micro sd slot that supports cards up to 32gb. This smartphone runs Android 2.1 with HTC Sense. An overall impressive phone.

Conclusion:

Best Smartphone: HTC Evo 4G
2nd place: Apple iPhone 4
3rd place: Motorola Droid X
4th place: HTC Droid Incredible

In my comparison, the winner is the HTC Evo 4G. However all of these phones are great phones, and it really is up to personal preference. For some users, the Evo's lack of battery life (most likely will last 1 day at most) will make the phone impractical. However, with Apple's signal issues, and the lack of a front facing camera on the Droid X and Incredible, I feel confident that the Evo 4G is currently the best phone on the market. Please, let me know what you think!
Good luck getting your hands on any of these!

Apple to give free iPhone 4 bumpers/cases


Finally! In an effort to keep customers happy after complaints about the new iPhone's attenna problem, Steve Jobs announced that Apple would send free bumpers/cases to current owners and future consumers who buy the phone through September 30th.


The bumper solves a problem in which holding the phone a certain way resulted in the user causing a short in the attenna, causing a drastic loss in reception.


In addition, Jobs stated that unhappy iPhone users may return their undamaged iPhone within 30 days for a full refund. Apple will also give refunds to customers who have already purchased bumpers from Apple.


Hopefully for Apple, this solution will appease consumers and they will continue to buy the wildly popular iPhone 4.

Verizon's Droid X newest smartphone to experience low supplies

Verizon's newest addition to their lineup, the Motorola Droid X, is nearly sold out in some regions after the first day of sales, with the next available shipping date online July 23rd. However, the Droid X is currently faring better than competitors such as the HTC Evo 4G (Sprint), as the Droid X is still available to be shipped. Demand was expected to be high with this device, especially with the shortages with the Evo and with issues plaguing the Apple iPhone 4. Verizon has been doing its best to handle the demand, and has avoided any shortages caused by suppliers thus far.


As Verizon's newest addition to the Android family, the Droid X will one of this summers elite "superphones" and will continue to be talked about in the months to come as consumers try to get their hands on this exciting new smartphone.

HTC Evo still facing supply shortages


The HTC Evo 4G Smartphone (Sprint) has seen some huge demand since its early June release. Such large demand in fact, that once again the widely popular handheld device is out of stock at sprint and nearly every other retailer selling the device. Even Best Buy is out of stock according to their website, stating that shipping is not available for the item. As of just a few days ago, the exclusive to Best Buy white version of the device was still available, and with that model no longer in stock, the wait for an HTC Evo has caused frustration among customers and caused some to purchase the newly released Motorola Droid X (Verizon) or the Apple iPhone 4 (AT&T).

Customers are not the only ones upset with the shortage however, Sprint is equally upset. Sprint expected to have a larger lead on the 4g coverage race, but due to shortages for various parts, namely the touchscreens, of the Evo, Sprint is quickly losing that advantage. With no available phone to access the 4G network, few customers are able to experience the service.

Hopefully HTC finds a way to get parts suppliers to make more of the needed parts, that way customers will once again be able to get the hands on this hot device.

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