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G’day M8 (HTC One 2014 1st Takes)

Sitting here next to my keyboard is HTC’s brand new flagship phone, the One…wait, I thought, they already had a One, um..

Yeah, HTC didn’t get too fancy with the nomenclature, like calling it the One-2, or the One-A, or what have you, but just left it the same.  In fact they left a lot the same, the same awesome build quality, the same awesome boom sound speakers, same single piece aluminium, same ultra pixel camera.  But unlike the name, they did improve upon what made the original One great.

At first glance, you will be struggling to see that it’s an all new phone, but upon closer inspection, you will notice it just that much bigger, and that much rounder, which actually makes it a lot nicer to hold.  the rounded edges on the M8 makes it feel more at home in my hand, but at the same time, it feels like it will slip off, unlike the previous model, where the corners made it feel grippy.

I was afraid that with Beats and HTC parting ways, boom sound will be less ‘boomy’, but they improved on what should be a standard on all handheld devices.  I played a song one after another, and the M8’s boom sound speakers were more powerful, and sounded a tad more punchier.  I will have to do some more listening though, as Beats provided audio enhancements with headphones attached as well.

Now let’s move on the the camera.  The front facer, is now a 5 MP sensor, and should do nicely to all those that are addicted to selfies (self included).  The rear camera though, still remains a 4 UltraPixel, but with an added ‘depth’ sensor, which allows for post shot fun.  From the little I have played with it, it looks more like a gimmicky type thing, but w/ the API being out on the Google Play store, I am really excited as to what other developers can do with it.

To round out the phone, the extra bit of width actually made it easier for me to type and hold the phone a bit.  Sense 6.0 is slick, but I have not yet been able to dive deep and check out what’s new under the hood. Battery life has said to have improved some 40%, so I am hoping that it’s true. I still have to spend more time with this device, so look forward to my Half Assed Review.

I will be cutting and uploading some footage shortly, so look forward to that also. For now, enjoy some comparison shots between the M7 (old One), and the M8 (new One).

 

 

Android 4.4 – Kit Kat

As of this writing, the newest iteration of Android, version 4 dot Four or better known as Kit Kat is now available.  Well, sort of.  I still haven’t gotten the push for my Nexus 7.  It is on the newly available Nexus 5, which is available for all carriers that’s not named Verizon.  (seriously, WTF?! I am seriously thinking about moving carriers!).  Google Play editions of the HTC One, and GS4 should get the push shortly, as well as developers editions.  Nexus 4‘s should be getting them soon as well.  (again, Verizon does not have any of the dev. versions of the One and GS4, as well as the Nexus 4, seriously, WTF?!).  HTC made a bold announcement that it will try to get Kit Kat out to the One (that’s not a GPE or a DE) within 90 days.   I am so hoping that will come true, they did do good by shipping out 4.3 to all other carriers other than Verizon this past month, and well Big Red’s version will roll out at the end of November.  (again, SERIOUSLY!? why is Verizon holding back on all this stuff, seriously WHY!?).  Anyway, Kit Kat has a slew of new features, and even though it’s only a dot 1 upgrade, it’s still a significant upgrade.  The video below is from MKBHD.  He explains the top 5 features of Kit Kat, and then some.  Enjoy!

 

 

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HTC One – Month later (Update)

Back Side

HTC One – Month later

So it’s been a month since I’ve bought my HTC One, and it still brings me joy to use as it did on the first day.  The screen still looks incredibly clear.  Watching videos is still very much joyous. Switching back and forth between my old Galaxy Nexus and the HTC One, the difference is quite drastic.  It just pops more on the One. The Boom speakers still amazes me when I use it.  I’ve gotten a lot of positive comments on how the sound….sounds great, and as well as the screen. (more…)

iOS 7… Beta 2?

Already been using this iPhone for almost a month… I’ve gotten used to its innate quirks and undeniable flaws.
But that’s not what I’m here To complain about. In fact, I’m not even here to complain. (shocker, right?!?!?!) anyway. I actually want to inform anyone using an iPhone 5 for Verizon* and wants to beta test the iOS 7 beta 2, to actually go ahead and do it, so long as you don’t actually watch people’s Vine videos.
On the first beta, The features that I found most annoying were these 5.
1) Instagram wouldn’t load properly if you wanted to scroll back up.
2) After watching several Vines, the app would freeze and crash. Simply return home and kill the app to unfreeze it. Which was a bit of a bummer and inconvenience.
3) I can’t see the things people replied to on Twitter. Did Jimmy reply to this tweet or that? UGH
4) Google Translate (actual app) wasn’t working.
5) FUCKING BATTERY LIFE MAN oh and to go along with this the phone reboots (2 seconds really) which is also an inconvenience)

Alright, well, here’s how that list has updated in Beta 2.
1) INSTAGRAM WORKS!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!
2) Vine is destroyed and refuses to play videos. I cannot wait for Beta 3 to see if they fix this.
3) Twitter is still broken in this aspect.
4) Google Translate is still broken.
5) BATTERY LIFE IS IMPROVED TO NEARLY iOS 6 MAGNITUDE!!!! Still a bit horrendous honestly but it totally trumps Beta 1’s battery draining ass. Also it doesn’t reboot as much.

HOWEVER. I did find new bugs in Beta 2. Killing an app has an adverse effect on the wallpaper… Sometimes, not all, it removes the wallpaper leaving black nothingness. Also, I don’t know whether or not this is a bug, but in all iterations of iOS (including 7 beta 1) it was possible to view the big clock on the lock screen and double click to get to music controls. Now, iOS 7 Beta 2 has music controls permanently in place of the large clock. Inconvenient.
But some other improvements other than battery life are present. You can now swipe left on texting to see what time the messages were sent and received, which is a lot more sensible than 15 minute card time checks, which I do believe are still there for those too lazy to swipe.

Anyway that’s my observations on the topic. Feel free to leave comments about your findings!
*I am not entirely sure if these apply to the AT&T or int’l or any other iPhone build model, or if these apply to the iPads as well. Please leave a comment about these too!

At long last Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 for VZW Galaxy Nexus!

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Finally received the OTA for the next iteration of Android Jelly Bean, 4.2.2. Its been a week since it has been announced for Verizon Nexus handsets and several months since it has been released. I will have to play with it more but at first glance, loving the new improvements.

Did anyone else get the OTA?

Update: Here’s a list of the changes as released by Verizon

(more…)

Android 4.2.2 finally arriving to Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners!

Best-Android-4-2-2-Jelly-Bean-Custom-ROM-for-Galaxy-Note-2-ATT-Verizone-T-Mobile-International-N7100

At long last Jelly Bean 4.2.2 is finally being rolled out in phases for Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners. Its been some time since this came out and us Verizon folk were left on the outside looking in. Expect an OTA notification to come soon. I cannot wait. I’m going to be hitting that update button endlessly.

http://tinyurl.com/cprsqxh

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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.

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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