Now comes word that next week Samsung will announce the next great Android phone for Verizon (my carrier) and it’s the Nexus Prime. It will have a screen that is supposedly 4.5 inches. Like I said, I can’t imagine wanting a screen larger than my Droid X at 4.3, so 4.5 is really pushing the limits I think. At a certain point, it’s just too large for a cell phone isn’t it? At a certain point, you just want to to straight to 7 inches and call it a tablet. but your phone you want to keep smaller and lighter. I don’t see how pushing the cell phone screen larger and larger is helping anything.

I am still disappointed to not get at least a slightly larger screen for the iPhone but I think I will hold to my plan of moving back anyway for many of the reasons I previously outlined. iPhone 4S isn’t everything I hoped for, but it’s still a very good phone.

I’m not sure I like the name Smartbook but I love the concept. Apple will no doubt stake out the high end, which leaves lots of room at the lower end. In general, it’s going to be a very hot year for tablets with yet another possible tablet from Google.

If you have not been a believer in mobile wireless computing, time to wake up and smell the coffee. It’s an exciting future and it’s coming, fast.

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So here’s the problem with this. Two different pieces of hardware. The device is unlocked, which is great, yes, but I cannot take it over to t-mobile because it’s not compatible with their 3G. I need to get a different version of the phone. So, what’s the use in that?

I don’t think we’re going to see our way out of this wireless mess until all the carriers get on 4G LTE and we can truly have one set of hardware standards. Than, an unlocked phone will really mean something.

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Here is what I can report.

It’s fast, really fast, much faster than my iPhone 3G.

The screen is fantastic. Again, better than my iPhone 3G.

It’s simple and elegant. The most elegant phone, both in hardware and software next to the iPhone. Does it surpass the iPhone? Hard to say and it may just be a personal judgement call for most. But thank goodness, this is the first real, serious competition for the iPhone and it should get Apple scrambling to innovate and improve things on the iPhone. This will be great for customers.

Here’s my bottom line. For more technically savvy users who are getting tired of Apple’s maniacal control over the iPhone, the Nexus One from Google will be great. They will love it and it will sell well to this market. The geek cread on this phone is off the charts. For the mass audience who doesn’t know or care much about the inside baseball aspects of the market, they will likely be perfectly happy with the iPhone. What they will get unhappy about is the continuing problems with the AT&T network. If AT&T exclusivity does run out next year and Apple is able to open up to more carriers, I think AT&T is in real trouble. I do think Apple does need to distance themselves from AT&T as they are like a boat ancor that will bring the iPhone down eventually.

Android phones up to this point haven’t been exciting or interesting at all. The Motorola Droid was the first to change that and this Nexus One will move things along even faster. 2010 is going to be a fun year for mobile. It’s Android vs. iPhone. Game on!

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So it looks like the infamous Google phone is for real. I’m happy about this for several reasons. Most importantly, Apple needs the competition to keep them sharp. All the others, namely Palm and Microsoft, have fallen away quickly in the iPhone storm. Only Blackberry remains strong. But Android, after a slow start, is picking up serious steam and looks like they will become a strong number two.

I am also growing weary of Apple’s control issues. Controlling the entire end to end experience as Apple does have it’s benefits but is leaving me feeling a little constricted. I think I’m ready for a change and the Google phone looks like the first phone truly worth leaving the iPhone for. I wish it were on Verizon, though, as I’d love to stick it in AT&T’s eye at the same time. Yes, it will run on Tmobile but seriously, I’ve been on Tmobile. Not again.

If the iPhone is the “Jesus” phone, what is the Google Phone? John The Baptist?

Posted via web from David Jacobs’s Connected World