First and least important, T-Mobile launched the HTC HD2 today, and I got a chance to go check it out in person with a coworker. Looking at the specs, it looks awesome. 4.3", 480 x 800 pixel LCD screen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor (in non-tech terms: It makes it fast), WiFi, GPS, and a 5megapixel camera. Sounds awesome! Until you find out it's running Windows Mobile 6.5 with HTC's famed SenseUI, making it look pretty. But as pretty as it looks, it runs slow. Despite it's beefed-up processor and T-Mobile's small but impressive 7.2Mps HSDPA network, it failed in our very unscientific web browser tests against a T-Mobile HTC Nexus One and a Motorola Droid on Verizon. The other two devices were able to completely load sites in shorter time than the HD2 could even start to render pictures, even with the generally faster Opera Mobile browser. The screen is big and looks pretty damn nice, though not as nice as the AMOLED screen of the Nexus or the Samsung Moment. The best thing about the HD2 is that it comes with the full versions of both Transformers movies. Why? I have no idea, but it comes with 200% more Megan Fox than any other phone, which is always a good thing. Overall, I'd give it a 7/10. The camera and video are very nice, the screen is massive and good quality, and big enough on-screen keyboard to make up for not having a physical one, but it's too laggy with WinMo 6.5 when there are faster Android devices out for T-Mo. You can pick it up now for $200 with contract and $450 without.
Also, this week is Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association's big convention. There's been some big news so far. You AT&T fans should be happy to hear that you will be getting the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus soon, as well as another Android device made by Dell called the Aero. And for the maybe 3 people that care, Motorola is releasing the i1, the Nextel network's first Android phone running MotoBLUR. We know, big deal.
Here's the good stuff. If you've watched any TV and haven't skipped commercials with your DVR, you've seen the Sprint commercials hyping their 4G network, the first of its kind on the consumer level. For those who don't know, much like 3G (which brought us much faster internet to our phones), 4G is a term to describe 2 separate technologies, WiMAX and LTE. The specifics and differences between the two and how they work don't really matter here, both will be roughly 10 times faster than our 3G speeds now. Pretty awesome stuff.
Again, right now you can only find 4G with Sprint and only in certain areas that have WiMAX towers. But Verizon said today that you Big Red customers can expect your first 4G phone in the first half of next year. As for AT&T, they're not saying, so you may be waiting until 2012 (unless you're smart, but alas). T-Mobile guys, sorry, but there's really no telling, seeing as they have been slow on the uptake of having a solid 3G network at all. The best thing to come out of CTIA thus far regarding 4G though is the announcement of the first 4G capable phone. Introducing, the HTC EVO 4G:
Spec-wise, it's almost identical to the HD2, same screen size and resolution, Snapdragon processor. But the differences are what make this thing beastly. First off, it has 2 cameras. Yeah, 2. There's a monster 8 megapixel one on the back with flash and capable of recording 720p video. Then there's the 1.3 megapixel on the front. Can you say mobile video conferencing? And instead of WinMo, the EVO is running Android 2.1 with HTC's SenseUI, which is a big upgrade in my book. And since it's 3G/4G equipped, you'll be able to talk and surf at the same time, which will hopefully shut up AT&T's Luke Wilson. No pricing or exact arrival date is set yet, but it's coming this summer, and if I had to guess, I'd place it at around $200-$300 with contract.
No comments:
Post a Comment