Droid

Breaking My Phone.

This is my third Droid Incredible 2 by HTC. I have so many gripes with it.

A) Single core processor, so it lags like all hell.

B) 3G, so it’s a bit on the slow side.

C) The charging port is extremely fragile, and if you actually use your Dinc2, you will break it.

D) It’s stuck (as of now, and probably for the rest of its damned existence) with Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. (refer to my posts from before)

Now, my contract with Verizon isn’t ending for quite a while  (I’m eligible for an upgrade in May), and it really has been a terrible experience with this phone.

My phone died (became utterly useless because of charging port issues) twice in the first 10 months, and it has happened again, but that’s not the actual problem that is rendering this damned phone useless for a third (and hopefully, final) time.

This time, it just does not want to stay turned on, even with battery. I’ll be in the middle of composing a tweet or maybe texting someone, lock the screen and go do something, and then when I go to finish what I’d started, the phone screen would be black entirely, and I’d end up having to do hard resets (battery pulls).

Apparently, this is a problem with many HTC devices (which, of course, furthers my relationship with the Taiwanese company) such as the first Droid Incredible and the HTC Thunderbolt.

Safe to say, I’ll be steering clear of any HTC devices in the future (I personally don’t like the bulky Sense UI nor do I like how light it is compared to the darkness of stock Android).

At this point, I’ve highly considered suspending this phone line without billing (which is a period of 90 days, maximum of twice in a 12 month period, which would give me enough time to cancel this line) and add a new line with new two year contract and get that oh-so-beautiful Samsung Galaxy S III in black for $70 via Amazon Wireless.

My best option, however, is to graciously receive The Big Cheese’s old Droid Bionic (which, as you may know, he hates due to extreme bugs) and wait until my upgrade period begins in May so that I can pick up something like the ever anticipated Samsung Galaxy S 4, or if it is cheap enough, the Galaxy Note 2.

My worst case scenario would be to scour for an iPhone 5 for Verizon with a clean ESN (good luck to me, right?). Worst case because I really REALLY dislike iPhones. REALLY.

HTC and Verizon FINALLY Bring ICS to HTC Thunderbolt

It’s too late now, though.

The Thunderbolt, the first 4GLTE phone on Verizon, has always been a disappointment in the Android community. It’s processor was nothing to write home about, it’s connectivity issues were definitely something to complain about, and it’s bulky (and faulty) design made this phone one of the most hated in America.

It came out of the gates with Android 2.2, and only now in 2013 has it been confirmed to have an Android 4.0 update ready to roll out any time soon. At this point, 4.0 is 2 updates behind the second iteration of Android Jelly Bean, Android 4.2 (and it seems as though Google is prepared to launch Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie [or, and I’m dreading the name, potentially Kandy Kane] in the coming months at Google I/O 2013).

It’s been 5 months already. 5! The Thunderbolt (and it’s younger sister, the Droid Incredible 2) were promised to have gotten the ICS update by September 31st!

I think people have finally come to grips that HTC on Verizon has been a failure and have actually given up hope on both devices, leaving for newer, more premium devices on the carrier (or even on another carrier, or even worse, to an iPhone on another carrier).

–I am very much for Android. I am fascinated with how much better it is overall than other mobile operating systems; however when companies fail to appease the customer, it makes me very angry. HTC and Verizon have failed me in the department of customer satisfaction, and in the future, I shall not be purchasing from HTC. At the moment, I cannot do anything about being on Verizon (in fact I would not want to leave VZW because of how amazing their service is), but when upgrade time comes, goodbye HTC devices. I’m really hoping I can grab a SG Note II or an SIII, maybe even the GNex like The Big Cheese. And if worst comes to worst, if my mom sees that an iPhone 5 is on BOGO come upgrade time, iPhone 5 I shall settle.

Related articles

HTC Rant: Broken Promises

This is my second Android phone (owner of just about over a year, now), The Droid Incredible 2 by HTC. As a member of the red-eye family, you’d expect the phone to be top of the line, but no. The Droid Incredible 2, at release, was a disappointment. No 4G LTE, apparently HTC decided to give that to the Thunderbolt, a non-Droid phone, which also disappointed many. The feel of the Dinc2 is very premium and sturdy, but it IS a mid-range device, even with the Droid moniker.

Now, being a late adopter of Android, I’m not too disappointed with only having 3G, I don’t travel all that often, so I do get to utilize Wi-Fi, and Verizon’s 3G is no slouch with full service, even at rush hour times.

What DOES disappoint me, however, is Verizon’s (and especially HTC’s) broken promises. The HTC Droid Incredible 2 and the HTC Thunderbolt, after just over 1 year since the release of Android 4.0, still have not received the update to Ice Cream Sandwich. The update was promised by HTC and Verizon to be given before September 1, 2012. It is, at this very moment, November 5th, 2012. Still no update.

The Droid Incredible 2 being a highly capable phone for Ice Cream Sandwich, it shocks me that Verizon still hasn’t rolled out the update. The Incredible S (int’l version of Dinc2) has had the update since July!

I wish I had $250 to spare, then I’d go and pick up a Certified refurbished Galaxy Nexus by Samsung, just like The Big Cheese.

And with the recent release of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (also the name of Android 4.1), my phone is now three upgrades behind. Thanks, Verizon. Thanks a shit load.

Cell phone conundrum

Nexus 4
Photo courtesy of Google Play

So not having power and what not in light of what has happened in the north east coast of the US, I missed the announcement of Google’s next Nexus phone, the LG based Nexus 4.  Granted I only got into my first Nexus phone a few weeks ago (Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus), and even if it’s a year old (like a million years old in cell phone technology years), it feels very new, very quick, very modern, compared to my  Motorola Droid Bionic, which is only a few months older than the Galaxy Nexus, and I can see how it’s a special phone, being the first one to get any update on the Android OS landscape, and it is basically bloatware free.  It’s also vanilla Android, is as good as it gets (without skins) in terms of Android.  I’ve used Androids with one of HTC’s skins of Android, Sense 2, and Motorola’s watered down version of MotoBlur, and nothing beats plain vanilla Android.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus 
Photo courtesy of Digitaltrends.com

What am I getting at? Well, this version of Nexus will NOT have CDMA variants.  Meaning it will not come out for Sprint or Verizon wireless, the latter of which I am subscribed to.  It will only be out  for T-Mobile, and ATT, using HSPA+ speeds and not LTE.  I did some digging and it seems like Google had problems with the CDMA versions of the Galaxy Nexus, in terms of releasing the hardware, and rolling out Jelly Bean.  Pricing also plays a big part of it, the GSM variants can be sold for $300 off contract, as opposed to the CDMA versions costing $200 more. I got my Galaxy Nexus for $250 off contract, but it’s a certified refurbished unit.  Now, this poses a problem for me when it comes time to get a new handset.  I think I made a good decision to get the Galaxy Nexus.  It didn’t cost a whole lot, and it should last me another 10-12 months.

I was ready to leave Verizon, and perhaps jump to Sprint as they also offer unlimited data (I am still riding on my old unlimited data plan from way back in the day on Verizon Wireless), but I can’t even get the Nexus 4 from them.  I know there are other handsets out there that are just as capable, but, I don’t know, it feels like I have to do less work on Nexus, and it seems to get more support officially, and from the AOSP community.

Only time will tell on where I go from here.  I am really happy with my Galaxy Nexus, and it should keep me happy for many more months, and it shames my Droid Bionic ten times over.  Speaking of my old Bionic, it alone turned me off from getting any Motorola handsets in the near future.  Sure, Google owns Motorola Mobility, so we’ll see what comes out from that partnership.  It’s just funny, that the next Nexus phone is based off of the LG Optimus G, and not a Motorola handset (*CHEESECAKE NOTE! The reason that this is so, in what I have read and what I do believe, if I do remember correctly, is that Google did not want to give Motorola special treatment in the partnership when it comes to Nexus phones, after all, Android is open-source). Why I hate the thing is subject to another rant/post another time.

Motorola Droid Bionic
Photo courtesy of Amazon

Right now though, I do have other issues to think about other than what my next smart phone should be.  But it’s just something else to get my mind on, and a step to moving closer to normalcy.

Links:

http://www.zdnet.com/google-nexus-4-why-im-saying-goodbye-to-verizon-7000006636/

http://www.google.com/nexus/4/

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/02/nexus-4-review/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Nexus

Random photo of the day – October 17, 2012

More randomness, I mean totally random. I am trying to post stuff I’ve already shot before, and try to bring you newer shots. It’s a win win, since I really do need to get my head back into shooting, regardless of what camera I use, Cell phone, P/S, DSLR or otherwise.

Today I bring you some of the stuff that populate my desk. It’s typical in almost everyone’s desk, but, eh, it had some sort of colour combination or whatever. I thought it made for an interesting instagram shot.

image

Motorola Droid Bionic
Instagrammed

Random photo of the Day – October 12, 2012

My lunch from Terakawa Ramen, 23rd st. and Irving (or Lex.). It’s as good as it looks if not better. It’s a lot of food for $9.oo. A must if you are in the area.

Terakawa Ramen

Motorola Droid Bionic
Instagrammed

Random photo of the Day – October 12, 2012

So today is totally random. This was a little treat from our boss. Well the last of the treats, there was another apple pie and a caramel sundae that was already consumed before I took this shot.

Apple Pie

Motorola Droid Bionic
Instagramed

Random Flickr Photo of the Day: September 22nd, Cheesecake Edit.
Andy: The Conqueror by This Guy Patrick
Andy: The Conqueror, a photo by This Guy Patrick on Flickr.

Today’s photo of the day is brought to you by me, for your amusement, of course.
Andy the Android shows his dominance over Apple, and with the recent release of the iPhone 5, he is still showing some luster. Androids go!

Via Flickr:
Andy the Android is showing his dominance. He ravaged an apple and I couldn’t be any more proud.

Random Flickr Photo of the Day – September 17, 2012

Some months ago, I got to visit Vancouver BC, up in the pacific northwest. What a beautiful place. Weather was nice and cool, despite the rain. We got to sta in West Vancouver, and a few blocks away was the Lonsdale Quay. A market place if you will on a pier, similar to South Street Seaport in NYC.

It was very early in the AM, as we were still in Eastern Standard time, and the place was still empty. While checking out the views, there was this Tug Boat, just floating, waiting to be put to work that day.

At this time, I was just sort of getting into Instagram, and I snapped a photo with my Motorola Droid Bionic. I really like how the shot came out, and with Instagram’s filters, it gave the shot some sort of personality.

I have reservations about Instagram still, as it makes us photographers that slave at post-processing, editing to make our shot(s) how we want it to look, look easy. Gives everyone else the idea that it’s not that complicated.

Anyway, that’s for another time and rant to be discussed ina future blog (maybe).

Enjoy!

Tug Boat


Motorola Droid Bionic
Instagram

 

And a happy Monday to all!