Tag: htc (Page 2 of 2)

      Motorola Devour is like the Droid’s weird cousin

      February 4, 2010 /

      Motorola Devour.Verizon and Motorola announced a new phone today. Called the Devour, the phone looks like a mini-Droid, or as my title suggests, the Droid’s weird cousin. It’s got a smaller display, a presumably smaller keyboard (yikes) and runs Anroid, albeit through Motoblur, Motorola’s odd Android distro.

      I would guess the phone is going to fall somewhere around the Droid Eris in terms of price. It’s not a bad phone for $100, but like the Eris, it seems like a waste for what you’d get if you spent another $99. I can’t for the life of me figure out why Motorola is so obsessed with the physical keyboard, either. The pad on the Droid sucks. It really sucks. Android’s software keyboard is just so much nicer, why not rely on that?

      If Motorola is your thing, you can get the Devour in early March.

      Mobile, News

      Google dogfood testing the Google Phone

      December 13, 2009 /

      The Google Phone from HTC.Earlier this weekend, tweets started showing up from Google employees about a new phone. The new phone. The Google Phone. I wrote about it last month, based on a report from TechCrunch that claimed we’d see it in early 2010. Google has given the phone, which is made by HTC, to wide array of workers to field test it, or as the Google blog calls it, dogfooding.

      From what few pics are available, the phone looks great. It’s got a sizable OLED screen, runs on a Snapdragon, and thankfully has no hardware keyboard. I’m not just excited about the hardware, though. Google has designed the entire experience here, something I’ve waited for them to do since Android launched. Sure, they’ve contributed on the UI for the G1 and the Droid, but this is the whole package, all from Google. They’ll be selling the device directly as an unlocked GSM device. That means T-Mobile or AT&T, to be released some time in early (likely January) 2010.

      One of the earliest tweets says this: “Google Phone = iPhone + a little extra screen and a scroll wheel. Great touch screen, and Android.” Is this really comparable to the iPhone, or is it something completely different?

      iPhone, Mobile, News

      The Google Phone is coming

      November 18, 2009 /

      Google logo.Yesterday I wrote a post about the Android explosion and the problems facing developers because there are so many different Android phones. Basically there is so much different hardware out there that developers have to spend time debugging instead of creating new features/apps. Today brings news of the one phone to rule them all, one phone to find them, one phone to bring them all, and crush their pathetic features under the full weight of Google R&D.

      I’m talking about the Google phone, a phone that has been rumored for months. Really, Android has been waiting for a flagship device. I thought the Droid was it at first, but pointless features like that crap keyboard made me think otherwise. Michael Arrington and the crew at TechCrunch seem to have the inside scoop on the phone, and they’ve been kind enough to share.

      The phone is basically Google’s vision of the perfect Android phone. As for features, there’s really not much to say other than that. From the sound of things it’s coming soon – think early 2010 – and will be sold both directly and through retailers. From the sound of things, it’ll be built by either Samsung or LG, though Arrington thinks it’ll be LG because Samsung already makes parts for the iPhone.

      The phone would bring up the issue of competing with customers for Google. Making its own phone means other manufacturers will be going head-to-head with the company that makes the software. A recent update suggests the Google phone might be designed for data-only voice connections, which might assuage some of those concerns. It would still require a carrier – TechCrunch’s source says Google is considering AT&T for now – but calls would only be made over a data connection.

      If nothing else, I’d be interested to see what Google considers the ideal Android phone. The Droid was good, but too many features felt like an afterthought.

      Source: TechCrunch (first article / second article)

      Mobile

      Can’t afford the Droid? Get an Eris

      October 31, 2009 /

      Droid Eris.It looks like Verizon will be launching more than one “Droid” branded phone on November 6th. According to a leaked document picked up at Engadget, the HTC Eris will hit stores the same day as Motorola’s Droid at $199 with a $100 mail-in rebate.

      The Eris is basically a rebranded HTC Hero, though in this case running Android 1.5 with the popular Sense UI. It’s a sharp looking phone, but the processor leaves a bit to be desired. Also, no word on whether Verizon will be pushing Android 2.0 onto this thing, so you could be missing out on Google’s free navigation app. Motorola’s Droid, on the other hand, gives you a physical keyboard, much faster processor, and guaranteed Android 2.0.

      For the price, though, it’s hard to go wrong. The regular HTC Hero costs $180.

      Source: Engadget

      Mobile, News

      T-Mobile’s Android Announcement – The myTouch 3G

      June 22, 2009 /

      T-Mobile myTouch 3GJust a few days ago T-Mobile unveiled the Dash 3G and gave a hint they’d be making a much more interesting announcement, one concerning Android, within a week. Why wait a week when you could announce your new Android phone on…Sunday night?

      The oft-rumored HTC myTouch 3G is now official, and coming to T-Mobile on July 29th. Customers can start ordering the new phone as early as July 8th. The phone will start at $199, the same price as the 16GB iPhone 3GS.

      The new HTC phone is essentially an upgrade of the G1, though it doesn’t sport the physical keyboard of the G1, relying instead on the Android 1.5 virtual keypad. The phone also has a 3.2 megapixel camera and offers support for 3G networks as well as Wi-Fi.

      T-Mobile is pitching the myTouch 3G against the iPhone by selling customization. According to Andrew Sherrard, VP of Product Innovation at T-Mobile, the iPhone has a “beautiful aesthetic, but you can’t change it.” With widgets, custom backgrounds, and the ability to learn user preferences, Sherrard believes the myTouch 3G is more than just a phone. “This is more than a product launch for us,” he said. “We want consumers to view this as an experience that we are creating for them.”

      The smartphone market is all about creating a total user experience. iPhone users love the App Store. Palm Pre adopters are in love with the new operating system. Will customization be enough to take people over to T-Mobile?

      Maybe not by itself, but it’s difficult to ignore Android, the operating system that sold 1 million HTC G1’s, the first Android phone from T-Mobile. The open source development base continues to grow, which means more features and more apps for an exploding customer base. Android is best positioned as an iPhone contender, and as more apps get developed, and more carriers consider Android devices, I think we’ll see Android continue to grow as the tech-savvy alternative to an iPhone.

      If there’s one thing I think T-Mobile could have planned better, it’s timing. They’ve known about this release for a while, so why not tell people, particularly with the iPhone 3GS launch. Plenty of folks have been waiting for that next best thing, and June marks the end of the first iPhone contracts. Why not pick up the folks who were ready to drop AT&T? Why not fight the Palm Pre/3GS in the open field. As I see it, T-Mobile could have snagged more than a few techsumers who weren’t thrilled with the G1 but might give the myTouch 3G a shot. Both the Palm Pre and the 3GS may have had enough features to lure those people into new contracts, contracts they’re unlikely to break so soon.

      Mobile, News

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