BHT is primarily an outlet for my tech-nerdness. It will mostly be tech news regarding cellphones, games, all that kind of stuff. It will also be where I post any and everything else that randomly catches my attention, music, news, fashion, etc. hopefully you'll like it too. Follow me on Twitter @Brownhandstech
Sprint is coming hard with super Android 4G handsets! Following the upcoming Evo 3D, Sprint will be dropping the Motorola Photon 4G that comes with a few more industry firsts! It is the first US global phone with 4G connectivity, the first Moto 4G phone for Sprint and the first Motorola phone with a kick stand! The Photon will have a 4.3" qHD display, 1GHz dual-core NVIDIA TEgra 2 processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage and Gingerbread (Android 2.3) as well as the newest version of Motorola's GUI skin MOTO Blur (Which could be a good or bad thing depending on your preferences). It also has a dedicated camera button, and USB and HDMI ports which should work with upcoming Moto docks and it has "enterprise-friendly security" features. The kick-stand is a "smart" kick-stand that automatically puts it into landscape mode, and it has a 8MP shooter on back with a VGA cam in the front for video chat. The Photon 4G is set to drop this summer!
The Photon will also be capable of HDMI mirroring allowing you to connect to your TV for gaming, videos and photo sharing. Check out the vid of gaming via HDMI mirroring below.
Looks like Sprint customers will have some great options this summer!
HTC's Verizon flavored Evo 4G, the Thunderbolt will be released this Monday February 14th and will bring with it the lightning fast speeds of LTE 4G. It is rumored to get 5 to 12 Mbps download speeds! Adittionally, it'll be packaged with a 32GB microSD card, Skype video calling and DLNA!! Check out the video un-boxing.
The keyboard equipped Evo that many have been waiting for has finally arrived and been out for a while now and I finally got my hands on one for a review! I really like this phone! As an Evo owner I immediately felt right at home. Albeit a home with less square footage, but bigger isn't always better. As the newest Evo the Shift holds its own. It's important to also understand where Sprint is going with the Evo as a product line. The Shift serves as the second phone in the new "Evo" line of phones, very similar to how Verizon has its Droid line of phones (Droid, Droid 2, Droid X, Droid Incredible). The idea is that a number of Evo phones may be introduced with varying form factors and hardware specs in the future.
I've discussed the raw specs before but in a nut shell the Shift takes the original Evo reduces the screen size from 4.3-inches to 3.6-inches, removes the front camera and HDMI port and reduces the rear camera from 8MP dual-flash to 5MP single flash, BUT adds a slide out physical keyboard and a snappier 2nd generation processor. Don't think of the two as one being better than the other but more of a trade off of features. Both phones are great and the newer processor should not only boost speed and graphics performance but should also reduce battery consumption. The differences between the 800MHz processor in the Shift and the 1GHz one in the OG Evo can be envisioned as water running through a pipe, where the water is data. The Evo has a more narrow pipe but pumps it through faster, whereas the Shift has a wider pipe and can pump the same quantity of water through slower or with less effort. These differences are somewhat noticeable side by side but not staggering.
The phone is a great alternative option to the Evo and if you really need a physical keyboard and or don't just have to have a front facing camera the Shift is a great choice; the keyboard slides out smoothly, has a great button layout and tactile feedback and the phone in general has excellent build quality. Check out the pics and my video review below.
So if you've been paying attention to the many new features manufactures are bragging about recently you have likely heard Gorilla Glass mentioned, but what is it? Well it's the new super strong glass that for obvious reason is being incorporated into many of the glass covered gadgets we love to drop and scrape the crap out of with keys, ink pens and other pocket shrapnel. This new glass is being introduced in new devices like the iPhone 4, Galaxy Tab, Dell Venue Pro and Motorola Droid and is able to take a very impressive beating.
Check out the videos to get a true idea of Gorilla Glass's strength. It's actually pretty amazing I would never try this at home though, but it definitely makes you think twice before wasting money on a "screen protector" for these devices.
Skype has already released their crippled Skype mobile Android app to all Android phones after a short exclusive term on Verizon Android devices. Unfortunately it came without video calling, you know, Skype's number one feature; but now they are ready to correct that problem and will be introducing a fully featured version of their app. There is likely to be a small catch however. If history tells us anything, it debuting on Verizon's upcoming 4G LTE, Tegra dual-core powered, 4.3-inch Droid Bionic, likely means that it will for at least a little while be a Verizon exclusive; and not because of any LTE related specifications, but because VZW has that kind of pull.
On the plus side I'm sure once the Droid Bionic is released hacking and porting that apps functionality over to other capable phones will be at the top of many developers to-do list and hopefully my Evo will be Skype video calling within days of its release! Either way video chat on any Android has to be good for all Androids eventually.... Now we wait....
Oh and I forgot to mention Skype's recent acquisition of Qik, the half baked video calling app thats installed on many video chat capable Androids, especially of the Sprint variety. This has to be a good thing for the spread of that new video calling functionality beyond the big red walls of Verizon. Lets hope that once that acquisition is completed all phones that come with a default install of Qik get the option to use Skype. I really wasn't feeling Qik at all... This is sure to take a chunk out of Fring's user base too I'm sure.
*UPDATE: It's looking like all of Verizon's 4G video chat capable phones will be running the new Skype! Hopefully this means hacking it will be even easier if it ends up being a Verizon exclusive.
Not too long ago I posted about a leak regarding Sprint's next big phone headed out this month. Well the new HTC Evo Shift 4G will officially be available January 9th for $149.99. Though many are thinking of it as a sucussor to the Evo, I'd say it's more of a sibling; similiar to the Droid 2, Droid X, and Droid Incredible on Verizon. It shows Sprint's decision to launch an Evo line of phones; a smart move in my opinion. I'm loving HTC's phones right now and Sprint's line up was definitely in need of more variety and another NON-SAMSUNG full qwerty Android device. I am not really feeling Samsung right now for a number of reasons (possibly an entire separate post), so a qwerty device from HTC is definitely welcome.
Not quite the "Evo with a Keyboard" I hoped it to be, the Shift ( as I am dubbing it) is still a really good phone! It basically takes the Evo, adds a keyboard and a newer snappier processor but reduces the screen and rear camera and removes the front facing camera. It's actually a lot closer to the the T-Mobile G2 (also made by HTC).
Looking at the Specs might draw a better picture:
HTC Evo Shift 4G
HTC Evo 4G (OG Evo)
800MHz Scorpion (Qualcomm MSM 7230) Processor
1GHz Snapdragon (Qualcomm QSD8650) Processor
3.6 inch LCD screen
4.3 inch LCD screen
4G
4G
512MB RAM
512MB RAM
1GB internal memory
1GB internal memory
Android 2.2
Android 2.2
5MP rear camera
8MP rear camera
X
1.3MP front facing camera
Physical QWERTY keyboard
X
*Forgot to add OG Evo has HDMI out. I don't believe the Shift does
At the end of the day the new Evo Shift 4G will definietely be one of the best phones on Sprint and right at the top of the Android class across carriers. Priced well at $150 too. Given my preference for HTC mainly because of their far superior software support and modifications, I'd definitely say it's between the Evo's for Sprint's top smartphone spot. HTC provides a more reliable stock route to Gingerbread ( Android 2.3), and has proven to respond to software bugs and glitches much more reliably than the Samsung alternatives.
Those of you smart phone veterans definitely remember not too long ago when Windows Mobile held a respectable share of the smart phone market and WinMo phones could be found on the high end of every carrier's shelf. But as time passed and innovation was completely ignored Windows Mobile became a stale, stagnant OS that was sustained primarily by its underground developing community.
Like many WinMo users I jumped ship and helped contribute to the swelling market shares of Apple's iPhone, Googles Android, RIM's BlackBerry and even Palm's (HP's) WebOS. Well now Windows is back to reclaim its position in the mobile phone arena. Beginning the end of October and early November Microsoft will unleash its new Windows Phone 7 devices. Capitalizing on the success of Windows 7, Microsoft has completely re-invented its OS for the mobile arena!
The most impressive part of Windows Phone 7 to me, is the integration of many of Microsoft's various services; most notably, MS Office, Xbox Live and Zune. Microsoft seems to have put a lot of thought into making a seamless experience across all of its premier products and services. Utilizing what they call "hubs" user will launch into various apps, or interfaces to utilize the devices different functionalities. At launch Dell, HTC, LG and Samsung will provide devices which will initially be limited to AT&T and T-Mobile with devices coming to Sprint and Verizon in 2011. Check out these devices below plus a little info on the new OS.
HTC 7 Surround -- The 3.8-inch T8788 with slideout speaker for AT&T and Telus
HTC HD7 -- Schubert comes of age as a 4.3-inch HD2 cousin for T-Mobile and beyond
HTC 7 Trophy -- the 3.8-inch Spark headed to international carriers
HTC 7 Mozart -- another heavily leaked int'l player with 3.7-inch display
Dell Venue Pro -- 4.1-inch portrait QWERTY slider for T-Mobile we broke as Lightning
Samsung Focus -- AT&T's 4-inch Super AMOLED slate we broke as Cetus
Samsung Omnia 7 -- the i8700 is a 4-inch Super AMOLED jobbie for Europe
LG Optimus 7/7Q -- the E900 is the official 3.8-inch global workhorse
LG Quantum -- AT&T's 3.5-inch landscape slider first seen as the C900
HTC 7 Pro -- a 3.6-inch QWERTY slider for Sprint (2011)
Video tour of devices below:
Though I wont be jumping back on the Windows bandwagon any time soon, I have to say I am impressed. It will be interesting to see MS attempts to get back into the hands and pockets of consumers. I really like the AT&T U-verse integration with the ability to control and watch DVR'd content (free for existing customers $10/month for non-U-verse customers), Netflix, and Xbox Live integration. I welcome Microsoft's return to the smart phone arena; more competitors means more competition, which is all win for us consumers! The big question is will it be enough to persuade smart phone users to come back from Android and Apple land?
As of today VZW will begin rolling out the long awaited Android 2.2 Froyo update for HTC Droid Incredible units. Bringing a speed boost, wider app library, 720p video recording, mobile hotspot, and Flash 10.1 and other tweak and goodies to the Incredible. VZW has really done a great job with its Android devices and its good to see its first 1ghz super Droid get brought up to date. Better late than never right? if you haven't automatically been prompted to update yet go to menu/settings/system updates and start checking periodically. if its as smooth as it is on the Evo (which it should be) you will love the tweaks! Please share your thoughts after upgrading below in the comments.
The Droid 2 finally gets official and will go on sale Thursday August 12th for $199.99 on a new contract. Verizon's website will begin offering units tomorrow during an early pre-sale event. There is also a special edition R2D2 Star Wars Droid 2 that will be packaged with Star Wars goodies set for release in September.
The Droid 2 will surely be a success boosting the Droid into the arena with the latest Super-smartphones. Maintaining the original Droid's general shape, design, camera and screen size (5MP camera, 3.7" screen), the Droid 2 has a redesigned keyboard, 1Ghz processor, 8GB of built in memory plus a 8GB microSD card and Swype pre-installed. The Droid 2 will also come with Android 2.2 Froyo out of the box (flash support, plus hard keyboard equals lots of great FREE gaming)! For an additional $20/month Droid 2 owners will also be able to utilize Verizon's Wifi hotspot functionality on the Droid 2.
The best part of this whole ordeal for many current VZW customers is that Verizon will be allowing any customers whose contract ends by December 31, 2010 to upgrade to any smartphone, including the Droid 2, without penalty!!!! I'm sure many orginal droid owners (and Blackberry owners) will be jumping on this!
Verizon's new giant screen device the Droid X was released today. The Phone can be yours for $199.99 on a 2 year contract right now!Droid X is Verizon and Motorola's answer to the Sprint Evo 4G. Though it lacks 4G internet speeds and a front facing video camera it has comparable specs in every other category. The Droid X comes with 1Ghz processor, 4.3" HD screen with 854x480 resolution, an 8MP camera with 720p video recording capabilities and comes preloaded with Swype! The Droid X comes with Motorola's revamped version of MotoBlur over Android 2.1 but it has been confirmed that it will receive an update to Android 2.2. The device has 8GB built in storage and includes a a 16GB SD card for a total of 24GB of included storage. And for $20/month the Droid X can be used as a 3G hotspot for up to 5 other devices.
I was fortunate enough to snag the new Samsung Intercept a day early from Radio Shack and knocked out a quick video review and comparison to the Samsung Moment. My first impressions of the device are pretty good. Great physical improvements from the Moment and aside from our device having some minor issues recognizing button presses on the touch sensitive buttons, it seems to be much more like the quality you'd expect from Samsung. Check out the video to see for yourself.
Things just keep getting better for Android fans especially if you happen to be a Verizon customer. Verizon seems committed to providing the most extensive Android lineup with their Droids and this summer the Droid that started it all gets a sequel. The phone is said to launch August 23rd and will ship with Android 2.2 (Froyo) out of the box!!!!
The Droid 2 is very similar to its predecessor except for a few key areas; the processor will get a bump up to the industry leading 1Ghz Processor, and there have been some changes in the keyboard layout, mainly a new set of directional keys replacing the directional pad on the first Droid. There are also some aesthetic changes that kinda smooth out the front of the phone. Other than that its the same 3.7 inch screen and 5MP camera. Check out the video comparison below to see for yourself.
I've been causally mentioning the Droid X in other posts and tweets lately, well it just got all the way official. Verizon customers get your bread up, the new Droid X drops July 15th! Best Buy started taking Pre-orders TODAY!! The Devices will be $200 on a 2yr contract. I recommend getting at Best Buy too if you want to avoid those annoying mail in rebates. The Droid X WILL be Verizon's premier smart phone (at least for a few month's until the next Droid-whatever drops lol). iPhone 4 got another challenger ;) !
The Droid X has:
1Ghz processor = FAST!!!
4.3" Screen HD screen 854x480 resolution (Same size as the HTC Evo 4G!)
8MP Camera/Camcorder with 720p video recording with LED Flash
