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.

2013: predictions and dreams

2012 was a pretty good year overall for smartphones, but personally I'd like 2013 to be an awesome year. In 2012, it was mostly about the CPU - quad cores to be specific. One can't ignore the midrange phones, which now have dual cores (which was 2011's brand new technology). So how/where can improvement be made?

Predictions

Obviously there will be a race for 1080p screens (HTC is there already with the Droid DNA/Butterfly), and there are already strong rumors for the upcoming CES. I don't think 1080p screens are necessary, unless on tablets/ridiculous sized phones, but it's another number companies can advertise as "new!", "better!" and all that.

I'm guessing that there will be lots of 5" phones, following the trend of increasing screen sizes. It really started with Samsung's Galaxy S lineup. The original S had a 4" screen - larger than the industry's standard 3.5". The next in the lineup, the Galaxy S 2, also had a screen that was considered massive (4.3"). The Galaxy Note continued this trend, trumping the S2 with a 5.3" screen. The Galaxy Note 2 currently comes in at 5.5". I can't see phones going much larger than this at all in the future: there is a point where a mobile phone just isn't mobile enough due to it's massive size.

Dreams

I really hope that the major issue dealt with in 2013 is battery life. It got a bit better in 2012 (the S3 improved on the S2's battery life, same story with the Note 2 and original Note). Motorola really led the way with it's Razr Maxx phone (3300mAh battery in a somewhat average phone). They also have SmartActions, which is software that can adjust settings (GPS, wifi, data, flightmode, ring volume etc) based on your specifications (eg: 'when at home turn mobile data off' or 'go in silent mode between midnight and 7am'), which can save up to 30% battery if used properly (or so they say).

Another dream I have is that OEMs start paying attention to smaller phones. I frequent the subreddit /r/PickAnAndroidForMe, and there are lots of questions about a good, small phone. Lots of people really prefer a 4-4.3" phone as opposed to 4.7-5" phone. I realize that it's easier to make a bigger phone - things have more room to fit, but even just 1 top-tier phone that is 4-4.3" would please so many people.

Manufacturers seem to be scared to make a heavy, thick phone. I've held the Nokia Lumia 920, and it feels damn fine. It's hefty without feeling heavy - it feels extremely well built, and the weight seems to really add to the feel. It is also very thick, but it's curved so that it still feels great to hold. I don't know about the general consensus  but to me the iPhone and Motorola Razr are just too thin - nearing uncomfortably thin. When I hold my phone I want to have that feeling of "man, is this a beastly phone or what?". I may not the the typical user though.

I would really like to see consumers look into their purchase of phones more and rely less on advertising. I do like Samsung as a company (I am currently using their Galaxy S 2 as my daily phone), but HTC, Motorola, and even LG now make very nice phones too that are often overlooked. I have a good feeling that Motorola will turn around and become a more major player (thanks mostly to Google, the new owner).

HTC should really focus more on functionality than design. All of their recent phones lack a microSD card (which can be really useful), and a great battery. Sure, their battery is alright for light users...but I recently just sold my HTC One X because I couldn't even get 1 hour of screen on time in my average day. In comparison, currently on my Galaxy S 2 I've had the screen on for an hour, and its been discharging for nearly 12 hours. It is still at 40% battery which is really nice.

That's my wishlist for 2013. What's yours? Share the dreams by tweeting with the hashtag #2013phoneDreams!

Top 10 Smartphones of 2012

I've been busy (t'is the season and all that), but I'm back to do a 2012 wrap-up. Without further adue, I present:

The top 10 smartphone of 2012 (all operating systems)

10. LG Optimous G
LG really made a great phone with the G. They brought their hardware up to top-notch levels, same with software. Most consumers haven't (and still won't) noticed LG's emergence into the premium phone market - they have traditionally made affordable phones that honestly really sucked.

Key points: Snapdragon S4 PRO quad core processor, neat design.

9. Asus Padphone 2
Asus doesn't get near enough credit for their Padphones. Yes, they are really expensive - but you get both a beast phone, and a tablet in one. The Padphone 2 comes with an optional 'dumb tablet' that is useless until you put your phone into the dock. Once the connection is made, the tablet  uses the phone's brains to operate.

Key points: Snapdragon S4 PRO quad core processor, optional tablet.


8. Samsung Galaxy S 3
I honestly think that the S3 has been over-hyped. Yes, it is good all around, but it lacks anything to set it aside from the rest (besides its marketing which is stellar in comparison to other manufacturers). It has Samsung's plastic design, a decent processor, OK screen...the only reason it is on this list is because of TouchWiz. Many hate Samsung's UI, but none can argue it adds a ton of features.

Key Points: So many features (your gaurenteed to use at least one)


7. HTC 8X
HTC's flagship Windows Phone 8 device, the 8X is interesting. The design is refreshing, and is much thinner and lighter than the Lumia 920 - but about on par with the average flagship android phone. It has a really nice LCD2 screen, and is only 4.3" making it the smallest non-iPhone phone on this list.

Key Points: smallest flagship WP8 device, refreshing design, great screen.


6. HTC One X+
HTC had a good phone in the One X, but improved it with the X+. It has an amazing screen, great camera, but it suffers a bit from it's battery life. It is important to note that it comes with 64GB of internal storage, which means you get tons more storage for the price of the phone. This phone is also quite snappy with it's 1.7GHz Tegra 3 quad core processor

Key Points: huge storage, great screen, pretty fast.


5. HTC Droid DNA
The DNA hands down has the best screen on any phone anywhere. With it's 1080p LCD3 screen, it blows everything out of the water. It also has a great processor and camera, and one of the best designs of any android phone. It is held back by it's 16GB of non-expandable storage however.

Key Points: Snapdragon S4 PRO quad core processor, 1080p LCD3 screen, great camera.


4. Nokia Lumia 920
This 4.5" phone is the thickest, and heaviest flagship smartphone by quite a bit - but it doesn't feel chunky...it feels like the most premium well made device you've ever touched. It is super quick and has epic battery life (mostly thanks to it's WP8 OS). The physical and software designs are both top-notch, and this phone would be top of the list...if WP8 was caught up to Android or iOS (the app gap is still annoying).

Key Features: nice design, undying battery, feels premium, has all the benefits of WP8.


3. Nexus 4
LG did it twice this year: it surprised everybody with both the Optimus G, and the Nexus 4. Google made some sacrifices with the Nexus 4: it lacks LTE, and a microSD card slot. It also has sub-par battery life and also a subpar camera (although more than usable for most consumers). However, you know that if you buy the Nexus 4 you get a great processor, design, and you will be laughing at all your friend's android phones when they're running 2 versions of android behind you. Despite it's downfalls, it has enough going for it that it made it into the top 3.

Key features: timely updates, price, Snapdragon S4 PRO processor, stock android UI.


2. Apple iPhone 5
While many were disappointed with the iPhone 5, it is still an amazing phone. Sure, your going to pay top dollar, but you get one of the thinnest, lightest, fastest phones on the market. Everything "just works", and apps are plentiful and of very high quality. To some, iOS has become stagnant (every other OS had a major refresh recently, but iOS has mostly remained the same since 2007).

Key Features:  super thin, light, with a manageable 4" screen, fast, feels premium.

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 2
The Note 2 is a beast in every way. With a 5.5" screen, it's 1.6GHz quad core Exynos processor, all of TouchWiz's features...you can't call it anything besides a complete brute (unfortunately, that includes the price). As mentioned with the S3, TouchWiz has it's haters, and other UIs are set up much nicer. You can always modify it, but 80% of android users won't. There is nothing on a phone that is better than the Note 2. It's got one of the fastest processors, best battery life, cameras, biggest screen, and it's still relatively thin and light. Because nothing is better than it, it grabs top spot.

Key Features: massive screen, great processor, really good battery life, missing nothing.


If you'd like to complain about this list, you can email me at qandandroid@gmail.com, tweet me on twitter (@qandandroid), or bombard my inbox on reddit (qandandroid).

Smartphone Guide 4) Windows Phone

I want to make this 100% clear: WP 7 devices will NOT be receiving the WP 8 update. It runs off a different kernel, and isn't compatible (WP 7 ran off a really old kernel that didn't allow for HD resolutions or more than a single core processor, Microsoft decided to go with a kernel that doesn't have any limits we know of)

Windows Phone 8
Windows Phone 8 might not look like too much, but as they say, "life lives in the little things", and that sure holds true here. WP8 is very simple, yet still allows you to do what you want to do with your phone fast, and effectively. Take their "Smoked by Windows Phone" campaign for example. 88% of tests were won by the Windows Phones, and that was WP7...

Apps
Apps aren't quite up to snub when compared to Android or iOS, but if you are a smartphone noob, you won't even notice. The Market is filled out enough that it covers Have a look here if you are interested in WP apps.

Style
I haven't included style in the Android or iOS overviews, because they are what you'd expect from a smartphone experience. Windows Phone 8 takes a step away from the norm - and I think it works.

It's all about the simplicity with WP. On your homepage you have a vertically scrolling list of tiles that update, and can be sized to small, medium, and large. Each size will display different amounts of information: the smallest simply act as app icons, while the larger sizes display information relevant to the app (for example the messaging app will display the number of new messages when the tile is medium size, and it will display recent texts when it is large).

Every menu is amazing, and unique looking. They have giant headings up top that bleed off the edge, and by scrolling horizontally through the sub-headings you can reveal more letters of the heading.

Absolutely everything is ultra-smooth; just like WP7, WP8 makes even a "single core look like a Ferrari". The WP operating system is so lightweight with very few graphics to keep track of, it really makes the hardware seem better than it is.

Features
The features found on the phones will vary by manufacturer, with the Lumia devices having the most. Don't worry though: if you get one of the HTC 8 series or the Samsung Ativ, you still get Nokia Mapps which is very near on par with Google Maps, but adding neat features like augmented reality.

Overall
WP8 looks amazing, and is gaining traction. It may not be able to do quite as much as an android or have as many epic apps as the iPhone, but the design of each and every Windows Phone is stellar. You will get stopped and asked "what phone is that?", and you will proudly reply: "This is my Windows Phone".

Smartphone Guide 3) iOS

Up until very recently, the iPhone was the single most popular smartphone ever sold. It is very solid, and the most tried and true smartphone experience.

Tried and True

iOS hasn't changed much from when it was originally released in 2007, which is both good and bad. It's great because once you get used to it, you will always know exactly what's going on, and it is pretty easy to use to begin with. The downside: it is stagnant. There's not going to be the same innovation that other mobile operating systems are experiencing... Android saw a re-haul with android 4.0 list year, Windows Phone also just got a massive update to WP8 in the fall, and BlackBerry is also getting completely redone in early 2013. So iOS is pretty stable, and doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. Also, Apple controls both the hardware and software, so you won't have any weird conflicts between the hardware and software... Even better they are optimized for each other. If you used the 1.2GHz dual core processor found in the iPhone 5 on an Android device, it wouldn't be pretty. Another place where iOS really shines is apps. It has the biggest app selection (although android is quickly catching up), and has by far the highest quality games available for download. iOS is the best mobile operating system if you want a stable, get-stuff-done with no-nonsense in between.

The iPhone is the world-wide standard as far as smartphones go, and for good reason - it's simple enough to understand whether you are a Computer Science major, or a non-tech savvy grandparent. There are hardly any menus to get lost in, you can't mess up the software (unless you know exactly what your doing...but then it's nearly impossible still).

Apps

The Apple App Store has the widest selection of quality apps. Android typically has free apps, but there are quite a few that look like they are 8-bit games...If you are an app-aholic, iOS is certainly the operating system for you.

Updates

Windows Phone just screwed over it's users. Windows Phone 7 will not be up-gradable to Windows Phone 8. It won't happen...in order to upgrade to full WP8, you will have to buy a new phone. Android's updates are very slow, the fastest updates (besides the Nexus line) still take 3 months at least. 

On iOS, updates work like this: Apple releases the new update (next year will be iOS7), and then within a few days you will be able to update your software if your device is supported (Apple generally supports devices up to 3 years old). This is by far the best upgrade cycle, as it actually happens.

Strong points, Weak points

Strong: "It just works", tons of quality apps, one iPhone available worldwide (no confusion), the industry standard, amazing hardware (both build quality and materials), anybody can use it

Weak: Bare minimum customization options (only wallpaper), has become stagnant (or "stuffy" some say), Apple keeps you out of dangerous waters (by locking you into their realm of services and such).

Smartphone Guide 2) Android Overview

This is a continuation of a post done 2 days ago, the Smartphone Guide 1) Operating Systems. This post is specifically going into detail about android as a whole - yes, I will talk about specific phones eventually, but not today.

While some would argue Android is a "stolen product", it does everything considerably different than any other mobile OS out there, and is my personal favorite. I realize it isn't for everyone, but by reading this you should get a better idea if it's for you or not.

Extremely brief history:
- Developed by Android Inc (2003)
- Google bought Android Inc (2005)
- Unveiled (2007)
- first android released (HTC Dream, Oct 2008)

Now that the history is out of the way, let's talk about where android is today. Currently, over half of android phones are running software that is 2 years old... Sorry guys, let's go back to the history books.

Somewhat less brief history

(Stock) Android Software Release
- Beta (Nov 2007)
- 1.0 (Sept 2008)
- 1.1 (Feb 2009)
- 1.5/Cupcake (April 2009)
- 1.6/Doughnut (Sept 2009)
- 2.0/2.1/Elcair (October 2009)
- 2.2/Froyo (May 2010)
- 2.3/Gingerbdead (Dec 2010)
- 3.0/Honeycomb (tablet only, Feb 2011)
- 4.0/Ice Cream Sandwich (Oct 2011)
- 4.1/4.2 Jelly Bean (June 2012)

For the remainder of this article, I will only mention 2.3 and above, as the older versions a) have insignificant market share and b) don't reflect on the android of today.

Gingerbread was the first version of android to offer support for front facing cameras, but also offered noticeably improved battery management and user interface.

Honeycomb was the first (and only) UI meant just for tablets. It wasn't generally accepted, and in Ice cream Sandwich they merged the tablet UI with the phone UI.

Ice Cream Sandwich looked similar to Honeycomb, but with obvious enhancements. It had an overhaul of the UI, and is considered the biggest jump in UI for android. Android became more refined, looking sleeker, and this is when the "Holo" theme became prevalent.

Jelly Bean adds more features to ICS, and makes everything run much smoother (codenamed project butter). It also adds Google Now, Gesture typing, quick settings notifications, locks creek widgets and more.

So over 50% of android users have their device on Gingerbread, which is 2 years old. They've been missing major feature and usability upgrades not once, but twice. Why?

Android is open source, and it's manufacturers put their own custom UI on their phones. So when Google makes an update, the manufacturers take their time fitting it to all their phones.

Strong points, weak points
Strong: Customization options are everywhere, you have a massive choice in hardware, there is a handset that fits every budget, everything (including 3rd party apps) work together great, app selection

Weak: Updates, has a steeper learning curve than other OSs, different custom UIs mean different experiences, only the most expensive phones are really worth getting (low range phones especially have a generally poor user experience).

Nexus 7: the $200 tablet that could

Whenever anybody asks me what tablet to get, the Nexus 7 is always on the list - and yes, it is as good as you've herd...maybe even better.

For $200, you get a 16GB higher-than-720p resolution screen, a quad core processor, decent build quality, and an ultra-portable 7" size. What's not to like?

Design
The front of the Nexus 7 is almost bare (as per the usual Nexus design). You see the silver edge that looks somewhat like a 2-3rd generation iPod Touch, the 1.2MP front facing camera, and a vast black void. Around back it's almost as sleek: you see the prominent Nexus logo near the top, and at the bottom the smaller Asus logo just above the long, thing speaker grill. The back is made of plastic and is dimpled, but almost feels like cheap leather. Nice touch. The sides are almost non-existent, as they gently curve away helping it feel thinner than it really is. On the right side is the power button above the volume rocker, and centered on the bottom is the standard microUSB port.

Any minimalist would approve the design, and it looks great. Afterall, who wants to be distracted while on a mobile device?

Interface
It's a shame so few devices run stock android...it really is beautiful. You might not have all the bright colors of HTC's Sense UI, or the added functionality of all of Samsung's TouchWiz features, but there is enough pre-installed to get started with. If you do want to download a different email client, browser, keyboard or anything else, you still can on the Google Play Store.

Have you ever herd of "Holo design"? The Nexus 7 is all about that. All of the android settings and most of the default apps use the greyscale+light blue color theme, and it really does look quite sleek. Google has released holo as a guideline for apps, and it is slowly gaining traction. I know it sounds like blacks, greys and blues would get boring after a wile, but I can tell you that after using my Nexus 7 for 5 months, I've switched away from it only to come back, and embrace it further (this is my current homescreen). I might change my mind later though...but for now at least I really like the way it looks.

Multitasking is how it should be: in a vertically scrolling list, that opens apps right where you left off without any updating.

Notifications are great - scroll down from the top on the left side to get traditional notifications, or scroll down from the right to get the new quicksettings. Quicksettings is a group of settings that are the most useful and are displayed in tiles. You can a shortcut to brightness, the regular settings, wifi, battery, and bluetooth. You also have the screen orientation lock and airplane mode toggles. There is 1 empty space, which gets filled with whatever else is relevant (currently I have an alarm icon there).

Did I mention the Nexus 7 gets the fastest updates straight from Google? That might explain why it also supports multiple user accounts. Different users can download the same apps, and it has been coded so that you won't download the game twice - it recognizes that the app is already installed - yet different users can have different data (one account could have beaten Angry Birds, while another is stuck on the 3rd world).

The biggest upside to the interface is the updates: in 5 months of owning my Nexus 7, I've gotten the 4.2, and 4.2.1 updates. What other android device can say that they got 2 updates in 5 months? Only other Nexuses.

Usability
The Nexus 7 has been great in everyday use...the battery lasts a long time (I've gotten more than 5 hours of screen on time in a day: wifi was on the entire time, and total time was about 12 hours) which is better than average. the screen is pretty good overall (compared to other screens it appears slightly washed out, but by itself it looks find).

The Tegra 3 processor isn't all that some people have made it out to be. Don't get me wrong though - for a $200 your not going to find a more powerful processor, but compared to Qualcom's new upper-range dual core processors (found in the Nexus 10), the Tegra 3 doesn't do great. In all games it fared good, but did skip a few frames here and there. Overall a better gaming experience than either my Galaxy S 2 and HTC One X.

The main issue I found with the Nexus 7 was updates (ironically, it's my favorite features as well). When JB 4.2 came out for the N7, it was smoother than 4.1, but overall didn't work as good. For example, YouTube, Gmail, and a few other apps made from Google themselves were completely unresponsive. You could pull down the notification bar and press the bottom buttons, but the apps were locked up.

Conclusion
For any pricepoint, this is a great tablet. The $200 price tag is very nice, too. This has been rated very highly by users and reviewers alike, and sites like cnet and techradar have put it right up there as one of the best tech gifts this holiday season. If you get the Nexus 7 for yourself or someone special, you won't regret it.

Smartphone Guide 1) Operating Systems

This is going to be a series of blogs meant to bestow all the information I know upon you. By the end, you should have a good idea of exactly what phone is best for you, and have a good idea of how to use it to it's full potential. This article is all about Operating Systems, which is the best place to start.

Links to completed guides
Smartphone Guide 2) Android
Smartphone Guide 3) iOS
Smartphone Guide 4) Windows Phone 8

As far as smartphones go, there are a few major players: Apple (iPhone), Google (android), Microsoft (Windows Phone), and RIM (Blackberry). Each are very different, and have their ups and downs...but you'll realize this soon enough. Without further ado...

The iPhone excels as app selection. I know, I know..."but android now has as many apps as Apple". While that is true, the Apple App Store has better quality apps than Android. Mind you, you will pay for any good app on the App Store.

Android's biggest asset is personalization. You can change the keyboard, add live wallpapers, put widgets on your homsescreen, install apps from sources other than the Google Play Store...you can do whatever you want with your android.

Windows Phone 8 is the newest player, and it's all about sleek design. You have access to just enough options to make your experience nice, but focuses on simplicity and stunning designs. The menus all look amazing, every phone runs smooth, and the LiveTiles are a great way to present the homescreen.

BlackBerry has really gone through a rough patch, but BB10 (scheduled for Jan. 30, 2012) looks very promising. They are making an entire new line of phones, and are finally bringing their phones up to par with the offerings from any other smartphone. Currently, BlackBerry phones have small screens, subpar processors, and an outdated mostly-non-touch UI. I'm going to disregard BlackBerry for the remainder of this blog, because I don't want to confuse buyers with BB7 when BB10 is just around the corner.

Now that we all know the names of each, let's see how they compare for different users. Please note that this is a guide based on stereotypes (somewhat), and isn't a "1 guide fits all" sort of thing. In future blog posts I'll try to really narrow it down.

Casual users: The iPhone is the easiest to use. There is no way to break the software on the iPhone, and it's hard to mess anything up. When you install apps (Apple App Store only), they all go onto your homsecreen. If you want to search, scroll all the way to the left. That's most of the OS...Windows Phone 8 comes in a close second. It has some added more advanced options - when you install apps they are listed alphabetically in their own list. From this universal-app-list, you can 'pin' apps to your homescreen, and them re-size them to fit your tastes. There is a bit more customization here, but not as much as Android. Android comes last here, because of all of the different layers of complexity. When you install apps, they are hidden in your app drawer until you drag them onto your homescreen. But you can also download widgets, which are also found in your app drawer, but are all grouped last. There are lots more options, making for overall a more complex experience. Keep in mind - any of these are certainly usable, and even Android isn't too hard to get used to.

Average usage: I'm going to argue that Android is the best overall for the average user. It is pretty simple to get used to (should be a wiz at the everyday stuff in a week tops), and within the first month you've probably explored a few options that WP8 and iOS don't offer. After a year of owning your phone, you will look at iOS and WP8 devices and think "whoa - my phone can do way more than that". The iPhone comes next here, as apps are a big deal. Sure, you'll have to pay for all the good apps, but lots of them really are worth it. Android's apps are typically of much less quality, and Apple has a huge developer base loyal to them. Windows Phone is a close last - yes, they are getting many more apps everyday. Yes, they are growing faster than iOS. No, they aren't perfect. They're coming along fast, for for the average user the experience is still lacking.

Hardcore user: Androd is hands down the best Operating System for hardcore phone addicts. Hardcore users will have probably installed a whack-ton of apps, are using SwiftKey 3 Flow as their keyboard, using a Launcher (if they haven't ROMmed), and maybe even made their own widgets. You can't do this on either WP8 or iOS. Windows Phone surprisingly sneaks ahead of Apple on this one. You have access to a bit more customization, and discovering all the unique things to WP8, like Nokia's Mapping technology which can use the camera and gyroscope to see places of interest close to you, just by panning your phone around you...or taking videos and turning them into still pictures, with just 1 moving object. The iPhone lacks exciting features, and takes last place. After using your iPhone for a few weeks, you are a master. There isn't going to be anything groundbreaking to discover.

So in summary of Operating Systems, Android appeals to users who want more out of their phone, Windows Phone is great for the artsy type with its gorgeous designs and nifty features, and the iPhone is the rock-solid phone for users who don;t want to have to worry about anything.

Come back soon for the continuation of the blog-series, where I'll start talking more about the phones themselves and not just Operating Systems.

If you want to get in touch, you can tweet me on Twitter @QandAndroid, email me at QandAndroid@gmail.com, or see me lurking/posting/wreaking havoc on Reddit (username: QandAndroid).

My goal is to blog about 5 times a week here, so make sure you come back often!

Nexus explained

How many of you have herd of Google's own Nexus line of devices? They are beginning to be huge in the android community, but have some common misconceptions. First, let's look into the history of Nexus.

Nexus Devices

First exhibit: the Google Nexus One. Google teams up with an Android manufacturer to make a completely stock experience, and for the One, they chose HTC. It was originally intended as a developer device, as something that would be used primarily by developers, as a kind of standard to develop for.

The next room is labeled "Samsung", and is the largest in this Nexus museum. The first device in here is the Nexus S. It really pushed boundaries when it came out, and it arguably started Android's quest for giant screens. It was only 4", but in it's day it was a behemoth. The Nexus S has stopped getting updates (officially), and is currently on Ice Cream Sandwich

The Nexus S is followed by the Galaxy Nexus, which was the phone that started 720p resolution as a standard. The "GNex" is still currently getting all the new Jelly Bean (4.2) updates.

Nexus 4 is the first Nexus to be extremely popular among average consumers. It is leading the android pack in terms of processor speed, design, screen, and cost. It is just $300!

This year, we also got 2 Nexus tablets, the Nexus 7 (7", built by Asus) and the Nexus 10 (10", built by Samsung). The Nexus 7 is hugely popular, especially thanks to it's rock-bottom $200 price, Tegra 3 quad-core processor, and size. It's still too early to tell how popular the Nexus 10 is; all we know is that it's been out of stock on the Play Store since launch.

How are Nexuses different?

A device with the "Nexus" name has been designed in collaboration with Google, and will run the 'stock android' user interface. That means that you won't get any carrier-made bloatware, but you also won't get OEM tweaks (whether good or bad)...but every coin has 2 sides. Because Nexuses run stock android, when a new update is released, BAM - the Nexus gets it right away while OEMs take their time designing their UI to look or feel more like the new update. Also, generally Nexus devices cost less (the Nexus 4 costs $350 compared to other top-notch devices costing $500+, The Nexus 7 is $200 which is a much better bang for your buck than any other tablet. Even the Nexus 10 starts at $400 which is $100 cheaper than the iPad 3 and comparable android tablets).

Find me on Twitter, and you can personally ask me questions about the tablet line. You can find me @QandAndroid.

Alternatively, post a question in the subreddit /r/PickAnAndroidForMe, or email me directly at QandAndroid@gmail.com.