Moved Blogs

Check out more of my blogs with the Cordless Core - the core for all things cordless. I've been writing there along with a few other writers and that's where I'll continue to blog.

PSA: lost your android phone?

Just today I got news that my brother lost his phone. This link (from the subreddit AndroidQuestions's sidebar) is a great resource, and I'll just leave it here.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/jbk0f/phone_lost_stolen_or_missing_calm_down_read_this/

Nexus 4 review

The Nexus 4 was essentially sold out for the first two and a half months, but I finally got my paws on one.

The design of the Nexus 4 borrows from a lot of different devices, but it all comes together quite nicely. You've got a glass back similar to older iPhones (although with a really cool glistening effect), the rounded top and bottom from the Galaxy Nexus, a hint of Optimus G, and the slight curve off the edge of the glass seen on the One X. Nothing looks out of place, and it's all sleek when seen together.

Google and LG made the phone feel good, although it doesn't feel great. That being said, it feels much nicer than any other $350 phone out there (the glass back really helps it feel sturdy). The back has been known to scratch easily, and is very slippery. I ordered a skin from DBrand.com that arrived the day after my Nexus 4 did, and it seems to be strong enough to protect it from scratches. A bonus with the skin is that I can leave it on tables knowing it won't slide off (which has unfortunately happened to others).

You've probably heard it everywhere else online, but the operating system is buttery smooth. Obviously - Jelly Bean is Project Butter for heavens sake. The only lag I've seen is from time to time when scrolling quickly through the widgets (in the app drawer) for the first time - and even then it was only for a millisecond. After the first time (say, scrolling back though) it's back to butter.

Some people aren't fond of the new 4.2 look - Google has oddly bolded some numbers while leaving others untouched at least with their clock app and digital clock widgets. The hour is bold, while the minute digits aren't. There might be a reason for it, bit I think its mostly just esthetics. There is also some red in the color scheme in the clock... Weird considering everything is greyscale and light blue everywhere. Is the big G teasing us with what Key Lime Pie will look like? I sure hope so, because I like this look.

Every app I use work great on the Nexus 4, and are all super smooth. I'd hope so - the quad core S4 PRO professor and 2GB of RAM better not take a break ever when the screen is on. Need for Speed, ShadowGun Deadzone, Dead Trigger and every other mobile game I play looked terrific (well...ShadowGun Deadzone wasn't perfectly smooth but I'll blame that on my internet. Mobile online multiplayer games tend to do that). Load times were quick, multitasking remained snappy even when lots of apps were open...if any of you think benchmarks are really useful, forget what you know. Compared to other quad core phones, the Nexus 4 doesn't benchmark very well, but it feels just as fast (if not faster) than any other phone period.

In the typical day, the battery lasted long enough. Some days I had 50% juice left when I put it back on the charger(extremely light use), other times I had to find my charger early. It really depended on the day-to-day usage. Just to give you some examples, one day I has the screen on for 3 hours and 45 minutes (including 2 streaming Netflix episodes that took 40 minutes each), 1 hour of screen-off audio, and light usage besides that. In 12 hours, it discharged to 15%. That's not bad at all, all things considered. It was tough getting to 4 hours of screen on time though, which is understandable considering the 4.7" HD display (that looks great by the way, even if the colors are a bit warm) and the 2100mAh battery.

Another day of battery stats: off the charger for 13 hours, mediaserver taking 20% of the battery (3h30m Keep Awake), Screen took 18% (3h screen on time), and netflix at 13% (1h CPU foreground) were the top 3 battery hogs. Wifi on all day, screen on minimum brightness, data on for a total of around 1/2 hour. Not too bad.

I ordered a case the day after I ordered the N4, and it still hasn't come in yet (good old eBay). I'm paranoid about dropping it mostly because of the glass back, even if it has a skin on it. It's such a nice phone, and I don't want to have to go back to using any other device (thanks for letting me use your old BlackBerry Curve Brad, but you can have it back now)

Pros: sharp, bright, crisp screen, fast processor, smooth interface, PhotoSphere, latest version of android

Cons: no expandable storage, no LTE, camera quality, battery life (usage dependent)

Overall, the Nexus 4 is an amazing phone. I'm going to give it a solid 9/10. It could have easily been 10/10, but the storage is small for some users, LTE would have been nice, and the camera could have been better.

[Accessory] DBrand Skin

I just applied the Titanium skin to the back of my Nexus 4. It fits perfectly, and really feels nice. I can't speak for the other skins, but the titanium one at least feels smooth when running your fingers down the vertical lines, and makes the back of the phone a bit less slippery (I still won't trust it on any slanted platform for fear of it sliding off). 

It looks really sleek and matches the color of the silver rim around the screen, which is also the same color as the volume and power buttons.

There are cutouts for the camera, flash, and speaker, as well as the Nexus logo itself - the rest is uninterrupted (it covers the LG logo, the small writing on the bottom, and doesn't add any DBrand branding either). About the Nexus logo - it looks really sharp. It is beneath the glass back, and as such looks noticeably deeper giving a nice depth effect. It still stands out as it's very shiny compared to the less shiny skin.

If I didn't just put the skin on myself, I'd think the back of the phone was meant to look as it does now.

I'd suggest a DBrand skin if your electronic is supported (iPhone 4, 4S, 5, Nexus 4 &7, Galaxy S 3, iPads as well as PS3, XBox and the PS Vita). 

DBrand is the self-proclaimed "Boss of vinyl skins" with the mission to "Save the world from inferior skins, one device at a time". I can vouch for this. You can find out more on their website, http://dbrand.com/index.php?main_page=index. 

Reddit apps for Android - the new kid on the block.

I've been redditing on different accounts for a bit over a year now, and Reddit has a special place in my heart. Obviously, Android has a special place too in there. It's really amazing when I found an app that bridges those two interests together.

When I installed my first Reddit app, I went to [Reddit News](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=free.reddit.news&feature=nav_other#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDYsImZyZWUucmVkZGl0Lm5ld3MiXQ..). The swiping gestures were neat, but eventually I settled down for the ultra-popular, feature rich [Reddit is Fun](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andrewshu.android.reddit&feature=nav_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDNd) (which I've herd is a /r/Android favorite). A few weeks ago I found one Reddit app to rule them all.

[Reddit Now Beta](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phyora.apps.reddit_now) has been my go-to Reddit app for nearly a month now, and I can't see myself switching back anytime soon for casual Redditing (it doesn't have all the features of Reddit is Fun yet, and I'll keep that on the side for now). When you open the app, you go to the Front Page tab. Scroll left and you'll get to My Reddits, scroll right to go to All, followed to all your subscribed reddits. Scrolling is smooth, and so are all the animations everywhere. Posts line up down the left 4/5 of the page, and the right 1/5 of the screen you get the preview of the edge of the post you have selected. It looks out of place at first, but I quickly got used to it and now it makes sense to be there.

To read an article, either touch on it, or touch on the preview (the right 1/5 of the screen) and drag to the left, uncovering the post. To see comments, grab the bottom bar (which has the up/down vote buttons and other information) and drag up. To go back to the subreddit and see more posts, grab the left edge of the screen and pull right, reducing the post back to the tall, slim preview it was before.

If you want to get rid of the "panel overlap" feature, you can do so in the settings (this is the preview on the right 1/5 of the page or so). This makes the app appear and act more like a traditional Reddit app (which could be for some people...not me though).

This app has less than 10,000 downloads, requires 1.1MB of storage, and android 4.0 and up. I really think it deserves some recognition. It's a very solid Reddit app, which looks amazing. It is missing more advanced features (mod options such as Reddit is Fun offers), but that's to be expected from a beta app. It's worth the free, small download. Maybe if you like it, you could suggest it to a friend!

Nexus 4 - first impressions

I've only had the Nexus 4 for 24 hours at the time of writing this post, but it's been long enough to give you guys an idea of what to expect from Google's baby.

The first thing I noticed when I unboxed it was that it really is a minimal design on the front - I'd describe it as a sleek slab of sophistication. Design is really important to me when I'm looking for electronics I plan to use for long periods of time, and the Nexus 4 really does it for me. The top and bottom bezel is the same size, the earpiece and front cameras are places far away from the screen, and the LED notification light is invisible until it's turned on.

The back of the phone shines in all the right places. The Nexus and LG logos shine, and in any well-lit area the shimmering effect on the back is noticeable. The only imperfections on the otherwise interrupted glass back are the speaker grill, and a slightly raised edge around the flash LED (oddly not around the camera itself).

The screen is sharp, and with really good colors. When you put it next to some other devices whites aren't quite as white (when compared to say an iPhone), but by itself you won't notice any discoloration at all. I'm still in the air about on-screen buttons...they are a novel idea, but they do take up screen space and get accidently pressed more often than either physical buttons or capasitive buttons (which are often placed further away from the screen).

Performance is amazing - I've only seen the Nexus 4 studder when in specific apps (I'll blame the apps...maybe the compatability with JB 4.2), and even when having many HD apps open multitasking was extremely quick. Loading apps was also the snappiest I've seen yet - thanks to it's quad core pocessor.

Getting down to the nit-picky: I've gotten used to having the headphone jack on the bottom of phones I've used, so I always pick it up upsidedown when I take it out of my pocket. It also doesn't help that there's hardly any physical features on the phone to distinguish front from back or top from bottom without looking at it. Already I've cleaned out the phone speaker on the front multiple times as it gathers all the lint in your pockets (on the bright side my pockets are cleaner than ever!).

I've got a case and skin in the mail as we speak, so I'm taking no chances. The Nexus has a slippery back, and I've herd many report it sliding off "flat" surfaces (such as a kitchen table) and shattering either the front or back glass.

Not that it means much, but my use yesterday started at around 11am, and after downloading all my apps and regular use after that it was at 15% battery when I went to bed at midnight. Not too bad considering the amount of downloading I was doing (about 10GB) and screen on time adjusting the settings to my preferences for all the apps I use often.

It's too early to give a solid verdict, but I've got really good feelings about the Nexus 4. It's the first LG phone I've ever used, and I am really impressed so far. With hardware like this, I wouldn't be surprised to see LG surpass some other major smartphone manufacturers!

Let me know what you think about the Nexus 4, if you want to see it do anything, or for anything else Nexus 4 related by commenting below, or send an email to QandAndroid@gmail.com. Also, check the new blog I'm starting (with the help of others) withing the next week. It's set to cover multiple mobile OSs. You can find the work in progress at http://corelesscore.blogspot.ca/.

Is the future of mobile based in gestures?

Yesterday RIM (now renamed just to BlackBerry) officially announced BB10, their all new OS. BB10 is based heavily on gestures...but even in android and iOS gestures are becoming more common. Often, the major "official" players (Google, Apple, Samsung and the like) adopt 3rd party features after they have been tried elsewhere. Think about it. Apple and Google (Google moreso than Apple) are big on acquiring companies that look promising and could add to their services, as opposed to innovate themselves. It's safer, likely cheaper, and just much easier. More developers are including gestures

Swipe, the revolutionary typing experience's feature was one of it's kind back in 2011. Then, in 2012, Swiftkey and Google itself added the option to use "flow", or "gesture" typing, turning the idea of taps into drags. Even the notifications on iOS and android involve gestures - drag down from the top of the screen. I know android best, and there are numerous examples of gestures there. Let's explore.

Nova Launcher has the ability to add gestures in it's settings menu, and quick launch an app based on a shape you draw on the homescreen. Dolphin Browser has had gestures for a wile now, letting you draw shapes or letters to quickly navigate to a certain web-pages (draw a "G" to go to google.com is the default one). SwipePad is an app that lets you drag your finger from a given corner or edge of the screen to open a "launch pad" array of apps, again using gestures to do so.

BlackBerry 10 is the first major player to fully adopt gestures, and I don't think it will be the only. Recently we saw Ubuntu show off it's mobile OS, which is also taking advantage of gestures.

More and more, it looks like the next big thing is already here - gestures. Both my parents have BlackBerry Playbooks, and the gesture system on there works well once you get used to it. Swipe up from the bottom to go to the homescreen which doubles as a multitasking page (recently open apps are previewed in the middle, and all your apps are a tap away at the bottom), swipe down from the top for settings/menu, swipe from the left or right to quickly switch through open apps, and swipe diagonally left/right from the bottom to go back/forward within an app. They work relatively well, and I'm really looking forward to seeing Gestures more often in the mobile world.

Nexus 4 - what a long strange trip it's been

Brief history for those of you who live under a rock: The Nexus 4 was first available on the Google Play Store on November 13, and sold out within half an hour. It showed it's pretty face again on December 3 (at least here in Canada), and then was unavailable since then. Until now. I'm happy to report that there is no longer a need to bash that f5 button any more - the Nexus 4 is still available more than 24 hours later, and doesn't seem to be going anywhere!

Because this is the most elusive device of late 2012 (and 2013 so far), I thought I'd let you guys in on it.

First of all, let's talk a bit about the price. $350 unlocked for the 16GB model. $300 for the 8GB (I wouldn't recommend this though unless you know for sure you won't use the storage). 

You get what you paid for...right? False. In this one case, you get much more than what you paid for...unless you can get a quad core HD 4.7" screen with a kickass design for less than $600. I haven't herd of anywhere. If you think it isn't great, have a look at the specs sheet. Also, just for fun, try to find one review that doesn't suggest the Nexus 4. If you find one, let me know. I'm curious.

That being said, no phone is perfect, and the Nexus 4 is no different. It has a glass back which isn't gorilla glass - meaning it will scratch. This glass back is also extremely slippery, even on surfaces you think will be flat. For these reasons, I've included some accessories I've taken note of. Also, unfortunately, Google left out LTE. And a removable SD card. And the battery isn't removable. And the camera isn't great. Let me explain.

The biggest flaw is the lack of LTE. Google has said that it left this out for 2 reasons: battery life, and freedom. Google didn't want to bow to any carriers specific LTE bands, and instead went with a GSM-only penta-pand phone which will work anywhere in the world (nearly). It isn't compatible with major US carriers besides T-Mobile and AT&T.

If you are at all interested, here is the official link. Because I just ordered one, I went around the InterWebz and found some accessories. I do occasionally drop my phone, but I don't want to lose my shiny Nexus 4 to a petty tumble. That's why I opted for a hybrid protection case - a hard plastic outer shell to absorb any drops, surrounding a soft gel inner case to prevent against scratches and to dissipate the force of any accidental drops. I only found a few cases that protect using this hybrid style, and I only found one that looks as good as the Nexus 4 (or close to it - the Nexus does look very sleek). Here it is, and for only $13 (+ around $10 shipping). 

If you want to protect the butt of the phone from scratches (it is glass, but not gorilla glass. There are reports of lots of scratched backs already) in a neat way, look no further than DBrand. They are about 1/2 the price of the case mentioned above, and come in different colors and styles. From what I've herd they're awesome, and even come textured (the leather feels like actual leather).
Update: My skin came in and you can find out more about it here

I'll give you guys more information once this gear actually arrives (scheduled to within about a week), but these are the most promising accessories I found in a good 2 hour search.

Are you considering getting a Nexus 4? Already got one? Let us know what you think in the comments!

The Floor is Yours

After the success of the first Companion Comparison, I'm going to open the floor up to you guys. I'll compare phones, tablets...any mobile technology (let's keep it somewhat modern though...). I can't say I know as much about other mobile OSs as I do android, but I've got experience with iOS and a a bit with Windows Phone as well. Anything is fair game!

To request a CC, comment below, tweet me (@QandAndroid), PM me on Reddit (QandAndroid), or email me (QandAndroid@gmail.com).

I'd also like to thank you guys for reading; I'm a huge phone geek and it's great getting response back knowing I'm putting my knowledge to good use!

Companion Comparison: Galaxy Note 2 or Sony Xperia Z

Your smartphone really is a personal companion. In this first "companion comparison", we're going to have a look at the similarities and differences between the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, and the Sony Xperia Z in hopes to help you find the right companion (you can thank Reddit user hhabib92 for this comparison).

I haven't held the Xperia Z personally. That being said, I've herd it's quite the phone (from numerous sources - not just one).

They are 2 very different phones, and the Note 2 certainly looks a bit 'last year', but still holds up quite well. Both have quad core processors (the Note 2 using Samsung's own Exynos processor clocked at 1.6GHz, but the Xperia Z's quad core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon PRO should beat the Exynos in most performance tests (software can modify performance slightly, and the Z isn't being sold quite yet).

The screens are what you look at every day, and there is a big difference. The Z packs 1080p full HD resolution into a 5" screen, whereas the Note spreads 720p over a larger 5.5". The Z has a ridiculous pixel density of 441PPI, while the Note has a much more modest 267PPI. To put this into perspective, the iPhone has 326PPI, the Samsung Galaxy S 2 (international model) has 217PPI, the Samsung Galaxy S 2 Americain variants have a PPI of 207, the HTC One S, and Motorola Razr line (non-HD) all have around 250PPI...so the Note 2 has a resolution roughly consistent with mid-range phones. Then again, you won't be holding it quite as close to your face in regular use...so you won't notice as much pixelation. The Z's screen is super crisp...the Note 2's resolution is very usable, but becoming outdated. Both also have different screen technologies, so if you like Amoled's over saturated colours, the Note 2 has that. Otherwise, generally the Xperia Z give off more natural colours.

The screen is only worth looking at while the phone has enough juice to power the screen though...and both phones should have quite decent battery life, although there is no doubt the Note 2's massive battery will help it last longer.

In the design department, the Xperia looks better (at least to my eye). It just looks like a sleep slab of superb awesomeness, made out of glass. The Note 2 doesn't look bad either, but plastic doesn't feel like glass. It also doesn't shatter as easily...in short, the Xperia Z looks nicer, but the Note 2 is likely more durable. Again, I haven't held the Z personally, so this is all going by what I've herd. Don't forget that the Xperia Z is dust proof, shatter proof, scratch resistant, and most importantly water resistant (1 meter for 30 minutes).

Software can never be underestimated on your phone. Sure, you can install custom ROMs on your phone, but you shouldn't have to (and 95% of android users don't anyways). I haven't yet really played around with a Sony phone (I've tried demos in stores numerous times), and it feels alright...nothing more. The UI almost looks cartoony (especially the home button icon). Personally, I prefer Samsung's TouchWiz UI. Yes, it is hated by some, but it does add a whole lot of added features and functionality. Also to be noted (see what I did there?), is that the Note 2 comes with the S-pen, a stylus built specifically for the Note. I mention this, because it actually does add to the phone in certain situations. Taking notes is much better with the S-Pen than with any other stylus, and it has a button that will allow you to do certain things faster (or better) than with any other stylus, or just your finger.

Let's wrap this sucker up. The Note 2 has better battery life, and generally better software (very important). Sony's Xperia Z has a slight edge on processing power, a better screen, and is more durable. Depending on what you value in a phone, either could be better...but for Mr. Average Joe, Sony's Xperia Z takes the cake.

Send your own Comparison requests to QandAndroid@gmail.com. Or, tweet me (@QandAndroid)

Motorola Razr V: Full Review

This post has been updated since now I've had enough time with the Motorola Razr V to give my full opinion.

Design

Lots of Motorola's devices feature a prominent hump on the rear top of the phone, and the V is no different. It feels like you are meant to put your fingers just under the hump so that you get even more grip, but the more I use the phone, the more I realize that it's just a way to keep the design great, and sticking ports, cameras and everything in one spot, out of the way. I like that.

The Razr is edgy - looking at it from the top you can see the 4 angled sides, and from there the top and bottom curve into another edgy looking back. The sides are more flat, which is nice because you can actually grip the thing. It isn't ridiculously thin like the original Razr - it has enough weight and thickness to it that it feels good.

The back cover isn't removable, and it has an interesting design pattern on the back with squares that make a V shape. Now I can understand why it's called the V.

On the left edge near the bottom is a hinge door that houses the SIM card and microSD card slots. To the right you find a very nice looking and feeling volume rocker, and everything else is up top. On the top part of the hump you get a power button on the right, headphone jack in the middle, and on the left is the microUSB port. On the rear of the bulge is the camera, LED flash, and speaker.

Overall it's a very nice looking phone, the sides are made of a soft-touch-ish plastic, but the back feels almost waxy. About the back - there were some imperfections when I first took it out of the box (a scratch, and there are some air bubbles forming under the waxy coating that are obvious manufacturer flaws).

Interface

I really like Motorola's UI (is it still MotoBlur or not?!), as it it mostly stock + more features (Motorola even went for the on-screen buttons). The lock screen is one addition Moto made over Google's own code - you have a volume/silent mode toggle in the top right, and 4 unlock options (phone, camera, texts, and unlock). I really do dislike always having my carrier name in the left notification area taking up precious room though.

Despite it's decent hardware, there is lag - sometimes major studdering. On the similarly specced Galaxy S 2, I didn't notice any major slowdowns. The V every once in a wile will cut down to  frame every 10 seconds while typing on it (if you have multiple apps open in the background)...it is the first phone I've used that requires you to close apps. I thought android has come further than that :(

Usability

Battery life was quite good, here are my findings (3 random days I decided to take screenshots):

Day 1:  15h38m discharging time, 3h48m screen on time, 10% battery remaining
Day 2: 14h33m discharging time, 3h17m screen on time, 15% battery remaining
Day 3: 12h2m discharging time, 1h34m screen on time, 60% battery remaining

This is really good. I'd consider that pretty heavy usage, and it never died on me.

The gaming experience is good, COD Zombies ran acceptably smooth - frames were dropped, but I'd expect nothing less from a phone that cost $350. Shadow Gun Deathzone ran a little laggier, and I blame my poor K/D on the dropped frames. Especially in online multiplayer games, a hint of lag means you could die. This isn't the phone for advanced mobile gaming.

Other

The V is chugging along with android 4.0.4, with a "future plan coming soon", whatever that means...As far as ICS goes though, it is generally pretty smooth. Jelly Bean would be amazing though. 

The vibrate on this feels much nicer than either the Galaxy S 2 or HTC One X - this is the first phone I've opted to leave haptic feedback on while typing.

Final Thoughts

The Motorola V is a decent phone, but I'd have a hard time recommending it. For an extra $50, you could get the Samsung Galaxy S 2. Or, if you can wait a month, the Nexus 4 is basically twice as awesome for the same price (though it's currently out of stock and has been for the last 2.5 months).

I'll give the Motorola Razr V an overall 7/10 (+battery life, screen, design. -frequent lag, slowdowns, occasional delay when interacting with the screen)

As always, fan-mail should be sent to qandandroid@gmail.com, and stop by either Twitter or Reddit to ask questions, get answers, and learn more about good 'ol Androidland (with the occasional other mobile OS).

Ghosts of HTC past, present, and future.

There has been news that HTC has lost 91% of its profit year over year, and so what better time than now to voice my hopes, and predictions for HTC in the future. To start, let's look where they've come from.

Beginnings

HTC started out strong, and was chosen by Google to make the first 'real' android phone, the Nexus One. It continued as a good manufacturer through mid 2011, but had some serious trouble in late 2011, and that trouble continued throughout 2012.

2011 - just past the peak

HTC released the Sensation around the same time that Samsung released the Galaxy S 2, following up their original Galaxy S (which was at the time one of the best android phones). Both were quite similar on the specs sheets, but the S2 was incredibly thin, light, and had an Amoled screen which was basically the best screen anywhere at the time. Samsung also marketed the crap out of the S2. Both were great phones, but this was the first time that Samsung basically dethroned HTC as the 'most premium' manufacturer.

2012 - downward spiral continues

In 2012, HTC released their 'One' series, which consisted of 3 phones - the One X, One S, and One V (highest end to lowest end). All 3 were good phones, and had lots going for them. For a good wile, the One X was considered the "King of Android", and had the best screen, best camera, a very fast processor and Beats Audio software, all wrapped inside a beautiful body...although it did suffer from battery life, and a lack of removable battery and SD card slots were not good. Samsung soon combated this with it's S3, which neared the One X's screen, camera, and all that without the compromise of LTE, battery life, removable battery, and lack of a SDcard slot. They also marketed a ton, and, well... the One X was pushed aside.

The One S and One V were also good phones, but weren't available on many carriers, and were generally swept under the rug and soon forgotten.

HTC surprised the world with it's Droid DNA (known as the HTC Butterfly in most markets), and it had a stunning IPS3 1080p screen, easily topping the One X's. However, it is only available on Verizon, and select other carriers worldwide. It also lacked expandable storage (capped at 16GB of storage). The launch of the DNA came up at a bad time too: sure it was the Christmas shopping season, but with all the other tech news that happened so recently, it was also forgotten.

2013 - hope?......nope

Now, looking to the future, what can HTC do to get out of this slump? Based on previous examples, HTC should add expandable storage, removable batteries, and maybe think twice about future versions of it's Sense custom UI (especially among the dedicated Android community, Sense isn't very well liked). I believe Samsung is on top of the mobile world right now because of a few things: 1) They market, and they market well. Their anti-iPhone ads were a big hit, and well made. 2) There is no reason not to get a Samsung phone. They include everything you could ever want - features, specs, choice of hardware, removable batteries, SDcard slots...if any phone has it, so does Samsung. 3) Public Perception. Lots of people now own Samsung phones, and that only helps them. The more people see Samsung phones, the more they think that it is a viable option.

I think that HTC can turn around and rise to their former glory, but I can't see them doing it in 2013 unless they make some major changes. HTC is blaming their lack of marketing for their current condition, but it will take more than just that.  A lot more.

Windows Phone

HTC isn't completely relying on it's android side though: it has a presence in the Windows Phone segment, too. In the days of old when WP7 was in, HTC brought some compelling phones, the Titan, Titan 2, HD7, as well as many others. WP7 wasn't really popular, and these didn't mean much to anybody besides the few that owned them. With WP8, HTC's WP lineup is becoming more significant, especially because Microsoft (maker of Windows Phone) has chosen HTC as the 'true flagship' of Windows Phone 8 (for WP7, that title was given to Nokia, maker of the infamous Lumia line). 

Even with Microsoft firmly behind them, the HTC 8X flagship phone is generally considered second fiddle to Nokia's Lumia 920 in many ways. It's other WP8 device, the HTC 8S is solid, however Nokia has more phones saturating the budget market with it's Lumia 820, Lumia 710, Lumia 520 and so on.

In conclusion

HTC is certainly in a tight spot right now. They used to run free, but now Samsung is squishing their Android phones, and Nokia is the "savoir" of WP...so they are between a giant and a God (figuratively speaking). HTC does do lots of good things, they just have to make a few very compelling changes to convince the general public that they are indeed "quietly brilliant". These changes are possible, they just have to get around to doing them, or convince consumers that they are putting their foot down, and that these 'missing features' are in their best favor. They need to pull an Apple.