This is a blog about random things in my life. It could be anything from a review about something to some random opinion or thought I have. Take it all with a grain of salt.
7.07.2013
Smartwatches and what it really means to the average person... or at least what I think.
People just want something convenient. I always wondered why something so lack luster as the newer iPhones still sell so well. Then it dawned on me that people want ease of use. As phones become smarter the users stay the same. I bust my ass day in day out at a IT job that makes around me miserable. All I want my phone to do is work. But I carry a Samsung Galaxy Note II with a ZeroLemon battery, which BTW is fantastic, but it's like carrying around a brick in my pocket. Being Asian I always get, "Wonder why your phone is so big..." My reply is that I have to make up for my small eyes. It gets laughs and diffuses any potential anger issues that I have seething inside of me.
That's where the two preceding paragraphs come in... enter the smartwatch. I've been lucky enough to be able to afford gadgets and the smartwatch is currently far from being able to really affordable.
I currently own a:
MotoACTV 8GB
http://www.motorola.com/us/consumers/8GB-or-16GB-MOTOACTV/79070,en_US,pd.html
and a
MetaWatch (Hardware REV F)
http://www.metawatch.com/
and
This is on the way around NOVEMBER:
KREYOS
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kreyos-the-only-smartwatch-with-voice-gesture-control
The fun thing is that I no longer have to pull out my phone for any calls or texts. Using applications like Augmented Smartwatch Pro:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alk.k9
I get the most out of the limited hardware.
Functionally all the watches work the same I can get my notifications on my wrist. I never have to pull my phone out on that date or annoy my best friends by being on the phone all the time. Some watches even offer sensors and monitors to help with staying fit. Not that I use those features but it's nice.
Most people will see the novelty in the smartwatch, some might find benefit, some will hate it. However it is another option that most people don't even think about. Make you're own decisions but don't knock it until you try it and don't scoff at people when they do have one.
11.24.2011
HTC Amaze 4G @1 month
Hardware
Right off the bat the build quality is as my Nexus One was. Solid. I've got no creaking as some review have. In the hand the Amaze is a little hefty compared to the Nexus S but I'll take the heft with the solid feeling then the light with the creaking. I've even gone and put a lanyard that has a silver ring, one that you wear on your hand, on the Amaze. It looks absolutely silly but I like it. I'd take a picture but my main camera has always been my phone. hee hee. The only thing that has me a little worried is the headphone jack. Maybe because the phone is still new but when I plug in my Tte Isurus head phones it takes much harder push than I am used to. Still works fine. The camera/video buttons made me worry but with the fact that you have to hold them down for a few seconds took all those worries away. The screen is pretty good for old stuff, this something I wish HTC would get from Samsung. The screens on Samsung phones can't be beat right now. The Amaze screen doesn't suck but it could be better. Mind you the screen is still better than my Nexus One's AMOLED. Screen bleed is a problem that anyone using an LCD will have to deal with, well that's what I think anyway. I've got a little at the bottom of the screen and it's pretty noticible especially with Sense running. I'm sure even with Gingerbread you'd still have the same issues. The speaker is much better then most of the other HTC phones I've had over the years and is not showing any signs of failing like my Nexus S did. Overall the hardware is solid with some flaws that will bother someone who is OCD but not someone who's using it as a daily driver.
The real reason I bought the phone...42mbs HSPA+... I'm not going to say the thing is blazing fast. A couple of my buddies on Verizon's 4G LTE smoke my phones. I will say that for not truly having a 4G network the Amaze is actually pretty decent. I live in a semi-decent area. A new tower went up a few years back during the original "4G" roll out. On a consistent basis I get these measures from Speedtest.net Android App. Ping: 40-500ms (yeah I know it's all over the place) Down: 9-13Mbps Up: 1.5-1.7Mbps. This is a pretty good jump from my G2x which got half the numbers that the Amaze gets. I'm happy about it.
Battery wise not so happy. I don't think I've ever owned an Android phone that didn't chew batteries up like a crazed puppy. I already know it's because I never use WiFi and the apps on my phone. I've heard reports of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus GSM variant getting close to two days on a single charge with a 1750mah battery. Which begs the question is it software or hardware?
Software
I have never been a fan of overlays on top of stock Gingerbread. My first real taste was with TouchWhiz on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. It's nice but I'll take the stock flavor any day over an overlay. This goes for Sense as well. While Sense fills in many gaps the stock experience leaves out I'm not about flash. I don't care if it looks nice I just want it to work. Being that the stock experience is my personal preference, I'm very biased. I do however think just like TouchWhiz, Sense 3.0 make for a more comfortable user experience if you need the 'flare'. I'm still wondering when companies will actually give me the choice of using their overlay or the stock Android experience. I'm not a fan of rooting and ROMing phones. Mostly because I'm lazy and the bricked table on the floor next to me. However the benefits of rooting and ROMing come from the freedom and necessity that user want/need. Sense 3.0 in all respects took a little getting used to but I can see from an average Android users standpoint how nice the little touches can be.
The camera software is one of the best I've used. Nothing has beaten LG's original camera software on the G2x. The HTC software is still pretty badass. All the little options like changing the tone (Sephia, polorizing, etc) and aperture times are nice. They even went as far as to have specific setups for whatever you're shooting and the sensor does a good job at flipping the switch when needed. Overall I'm pretty excited that HTC has made improvements to the camera software. I used a Imate JAM which was rebranded as the T-Mobile MDA, that thing made me want to never use the Camera.
Minus the bloatware it's not too far off from a stock experience. Or I would have downloaded the apps anyway. Like Lookout Security and T-Mobile's own "MyDevice" and "My Account". I'll take it over what AT&T doles out... I still think Apple had a hand in making AT&T handicapping Android devices. Hence the reason why when the iPhone went to other carries that the Android device software didn't suck so bad you had to root and Rom it. I digress on my AT&T hate though.
Software wise very few apps have issues with the hardware. Trust me I've had all sorts of issues from an app not working to complete meltdowns. I like to try stuff out what can I say.
Overall
I'm happy with my purchase. Happy enough that I might pass up the Galaxy Nexus. If you read any of my Nexus S hate rant you probably understand why I'm hesitant. But most of it is because HTC did a great job with the Amaze. While the looks of the phone aren't super stylish the phone F@#$%^G works. I've owned appoximately 6 HTC phones. All of which have always disappointed me somewhere, the HTC Amaze doesn't. I left HTC to try Motorola, LG, and Samsung phones and yet here I am back with HTC. I have no reservations recommending this phone at all to anyone. Even a good buddy of mine who came from WinMo to the iOS to Android traded in his newly bought G2x for the Amaze after my recommendation. He's pretty happy with it too.
Sidenote
Interestingly enough while writing this and reading articles about the Galaxy Nexus I'm glad to hear that Samsung made the GSM variant work on both T-Mobile and AT&T's networks. Sad to see they went with the TI OMAP instead of the Exynos processor. Can't have it all. Knowing me, even against my own better judgement you might be hearing me complain about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus soon. :D
8.14.2011
Further with the G2x and Logitech Revue with Google TV
4.26.2011
A few days later with the new phone
So far I'm very happy with the G2x minus all the features I got used to using the Nexus S and gingerbread.
Just like the G2 its almost a stock experience. I will have to say there have been a few improvements like the camera having a ton more options, which is a great thing. Timers, panorama, and multi action photography are just to name a few. Honestly Google should take a queue from LG and use the camera setup. Even the video player is better even if LG only added a screen resizing and DTS option. Either way great improvements over the stock items.
I've been lucky to only have one known reboot as well. I haven't checked the screen bleed issue every one is having but I'm not to worried about it.
Size wise I'm still getting used to it. Even though the G2x is less than 1/2 an inch bigger than the N1, NS, and G2 its still enough that I notice. Not a horrible down fall just something I have to get used to.
So far so good. I'm definitely happy with the performance. Let's see what the HTC Sensation 4G brings to the table when it comes out.
4.20.2011
The new phone
I picked up a T-mobile G2x. I'm happy with it so far. It's fast and even though I'm back to Froyo it still is so much better than the nexus s. I didn't want to spend the money but it's been well worth it so far.
Kudos to T-mobile and LG for leaving an almost stock google phone. I'm hoping that the great usability of the phone holds up. Do far only one problem and it was cleared up with a restart and removing a troublesome app.
More to come later.
4.16.2011
New phone today
It was more or less a sign to go look at the LG Optimus G2X or the HTC Sensation 4G... but I'd have to wait another week or two. I could just switch back to one of my other Android phones but I lent my Nexus One to a dev buddy of mine. So now I'm thinking that I might jump ship back to the black flag of Windows Mobile.
I've messed with the phones and I'm impressed with the departure from the miniturization and general craptacularness of the good old WM2003-WM5/6 phones. Honestly if I wanted to use a Windows OS that was so watered down I would just turn my netbook into a phone. At least that way I could actually do some work on my 'phone'.
The only problem is how locked down the phones are. I don't know if I also want to deal with migrating a ton of data again to a new phone window or not. As easy as Google as made it, it's still a pain in the ass. Especially since the Nexus S forwent the memory card slot....
So here I am transferring all the 'SD card' data to my computer which will then be moved back to a real SD card which will then be put in whatever phone I decide to go with. If I end up with a WM phone I'll be once again buying a new memory card shifting data and wanting to hang myself by a noose in protest of the choices that some companies make.
Either way the Nexus S was given the benefit of the doubt since the initial Best Buy payment. What did I expect? Probably another piece of shining hardware like the Nexus One. Instead I got a fast looking crap car that really has failed to impress and has yet to make me glad I bought the thing.
Things have been pretty bad with this phone and the speaker going out was the last thing I needed to decide that I hate this thing and need a new phone. Unfortunately it's only bee 5 months since I bought it and I'd like to understand why Google would let a piece of crap like this represent Google. Did Samsung honestly think that people wouldn't notice that the Nexus S was a NFC using piece of garbage next to the Galaxy line?
I really do hope Motorola gets the next Nexus phone. They seem to be the only company trying to do new things. In my eyes Android saved Moto, and Moto is doing it damnedest to make the most out of it. My brother has a Droid X my sister in law has a Droid 1 and I have a Cliq. The Cliq wasn't anything special but it worked better than the Nexus S minus the speed. Moto brought out the Atrix, best idea yet. Now I wonder if someone at google has had the bright idea of taking the chrome netbook and making it do the same thing the atrix does when someone hooks up an android phone.
If my thoughts seem a little jitter let me point out to you that a 5 month old phone had a speaker malfunction and is the first phone I've had to hack since my Windows phones. Please don't tell me about warranties and such. the instant I rooted the phone and started messing with it my warranty went void. On top of that I really don't feel like dealing with Samsung or Best Buy.
Well the transfer from phone to computer is done. I'm going to start the transfer from computer to SD card. If you wondering why I'm going to do this, here's why. I've decided to back up the data so I can wipe the Nexus S and sell it or hand it off to one of the nice DEV guys on the XDA forums. I'd like to either recover some of the money I've lost on this horrible purchase and help out the community that has been more that a huge help over the years.
Either way I stink and need a shower. After that I'm off to find a phone. If all works out the way I think it will I might be hopping to WM or a new carrier since AT&T/Tmobile merger is something that will make me go to Verizon most definitely. Another blog for another day.
3.29.2011
Further nexus s reviews and pain from a bad tooth.
The nexus s is the first phone I've had to 'root'. I've owned about 6 android phones since the G1 came out. It is sadly the biggest disappointment since my HTC Kaiser/TYTN2. The OS is plagued with issues and the hardware is about as nice as the TYTN2. With the nexus 1 I never had to root and is still the best piece of hardware and software for its time. I lent to someone to develop android apps and even thought I barely use it anymore I still miss it. My guess is Motorola will get the next nexus and it'll be interesting to see what they do.
With the pending AT&T T-Mobile buyout I'm afraid I might have to switch to Verizon. Yes I hat AT&T that much. Long story for another blog post. However if you haven't noticed AT&T have a huge knack for effing up android phones.
Anyway the nexus s has been the biggest PITA. Usability is sub par and the craptacular setup has got me already searching for my next Android phone. I'm waiting for the next nexus phone. If it weren't for the small memory on the nexus 1 I would never even considered this piece of crap.
I'm a little PO'd at the moment cause I had a root canal last week and the pain has come back. With what I'm being charged for the service I don't want to go back until my next appointment this Friday. Nuff said.
Samsung has got to step up its game to keep up. The nexus