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How Big Is Too Big – Android Pushes The Limits With Nexus Prime

October 4, 2011 By

nexus primeSo, very interesting news today from Apple, as they take a half step with the new iPhone 4S instead of a more complete redesign of the hardware. The only thing I wonder about is the screen size. I have gotten used to my Droid X and it’s 4.3 inch screen. I do like the extra room but I will admit it’s about as large a device as I would want to hold as a cell phone. The rumors were that the iPhone would move up to a 4 inch screen; not as large as the Droid X but larger than the current 3.5 inch iPhone screen. This would have been a nice compromise and I was looking forward to it. Now, however, if I want to go back to the iPhone as I have been planning, I will be stepping down a little on screen size.

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.

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Surprise! Apple is a Mobile Device Company

September 11, 2011 By

apple cloudIn case you hadn’t noticed, Apple isn’t really a computer company anymore. Remember when they changed their name from Apple Computer to just Apple? Now a recent report says 70% of their revenue is non traditional computer related. We’re taking iPad, iPod, and iPhone.

A poplar buzzword lately is the post-pc era. As usual, Apple is the innovator and leads the way. Isn’t it appropriate for the company the originally launched the personal computer era in the first place to lead us into the next era? There is also an interesting concept of the “Internet of things” which I do believe we are moving toward. Apple geeks bemoan the deemphasis of the stalwart Apple operating system, OSX and the growing importance of iOS that powers the iPad and iPhone. For Apple, however, it will be iOS that will power the Internet of Apple things.

With Steve Jobs retiring, at least as CEO, many have wondered what is legacy will be. This is it, I believe; leading Apple into the post-pc era. With this transition, Apple should see a clear path to success for the next 10 to 20 years. The only question now is has Steve Jobs injected enough of his mojo throughout the company to keep them on track. Apple employees need to get themselves little WWSD bracelets. What Would Steve Do?

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Why I Am Going Back To The iPhone

September 2, 2011 By

iphone5I primarily changed from an iPhone to an Android phone two years ago not because I disliked the iPhone but to get away from AT&T and their terrible network. Now, my contract with Verizon is up and I can choose a new phone. Since the iPhone is not on Verizon as well, I have a real choice. Stick with Android or go back to the iPhone. I have a Droid X Android phone, which is fine enough, but I’m going back to the iPhone for a couple of reasons.

Media Management

The Android platform is terrible at managing and playing media. It always has been and I am shocked to this day Google has not vastly improved this feature. Syncing songs and podcasts with iTunes is no trivial matter and the media player application itself leaves so much to be desired. Third party apps help but there is nothing I can find that comes close to the grace and elegance of the iPod features built into the iPhone. Google Music helps a little, but that service wants to stream all your music and with stricter data caps coming to all wireless carriers, I don’t know how that’s going to play.

Apps

It’s all about the apps these days and which Android has made vast strides in the apps that are available, I have found a few that I am interested in that are iPhone only. Also, it appears to be that iPhone development is still getting more love than Android development. A company may have support for both platforms but they will almost always update the iPhone app first. The big double edged sword as well is Apple’s approval process for apps. Since Apple goes through everything with a fine tooth comb, iPhone apps are generally of higher quality, both in their look and feel as well as stability.

Accountability

Here is another double edged sword. Apple controls everything in their ecosystem from the hardware to the software, so they can provide a more seamless experience. Android, by definition, is fragmented. Different hardware all with different specs. Even the operating system is different as hardware vendors put their different skins and extras features on top of Android. No two Android phones work exactly the same. My Droid X, after upgrading to the latest Android OS had a nasty bug where it would randomly reboot itself in the middle of playing music or a podcast. Now who is responsible for this bug and who do I complain to? Google, Motorola, Verizon? With the iPhone, the buck always stops with Apple and they are very agressive about fixing bugs, especially one as serious as mine. I waited months for the bug to be fixed on my phone. With an iPhone, a bug that serious would have been fixed in days.

Carrier Control

With iPhones, the wireless carriers have very little if anything to say about what goes on the phone and how things operate. On Android phones, carriers put all kinds of bloatware and apps that you never asked for on the phone. Carriers also decide which operating system updates you will get and when. I am sick of carriers telling me what I can and cannot do with my phone. All iPhones come clean, with only the software Apple wants and virtually all iPhones get software upgrades at the same time and when Apple releases them. Part of this goes back to Apple’s control over the ecosystem as they can better ensure updates will work on all iphones. Every time Google updates Android, carriers have to update their special interfaces and that takes time.

Things I will Miss

Is there anything I will miss about my Android phone? Probably the biggest thing is the Google integration. Especially Gmail on the phone, which is great. Also, Android has the best sharing features I have seen anywhere. If you are sitting on a webpage or in Google Reader, the universal sharing interface that lets you use just about any installed app to share that content is second to none.

The timing couldn’t be better. My contract is up and the iPhone 5 is just around the corner. I’m coming home.

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Google Nexus One Available on AT&T 3G? [Rumormill]

January 3, 2010 By

via mashable.com

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.

Posted via web from David Jacobs’s Connected World

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AT&T Steps In It Again – Seriously

December 28, 2009 By
NEW YORK - JULY 11: A reporter holds the new ...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Many things shock me about AT&T and their behavior over the past year, but the one thing that shocks me the most is that the entire PR department has not been fired. It’s been one PR disaster after another. Here comes the latest, a report that the AT&T website has stopped selling the iPhone in New York. They have now given three completely different reasons for this, none of them making much sense. Basically they are simply coming across as completely inept. People have already been unhappy with AT&T this year, mostly for network quality and uneven 3G coverage, now this. How can you stop selling phones in America’s largest city and not have a planned message for the obvious questions that are going to come? This is PR 101.

The entire communications and messaging from AT&T has been so abysmally bad of late it’s hard to imagine this is one of the largest and most powerful companies in the world. The iPhone was an absolute blessing at first, bringing thousands of new customers to AT&T but now the iPhone has become a curse on AT&T. The iPhone is a world class cell phone, the first of it’s kind. I guess AT&T isn’t world class enough to live up to the challenge of supporting it.

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I Have Touched The Hand of God: The Nexus One

December 22, 2009 By

Ok, that was a little bombastic, but it was pretty exciting. I was fortunate enough to hold and play with a live Nexus One or The Google Phone last night.

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!

Posted via web from David Jacobs’s Connected World

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ZOMG The Google Phone Is “Like An iPhone On Beautifying Steroids”

December 13, 2009 By

via techcrunch.com

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

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