Archive for the ‘Hardware’ category

Verizon iPhone: UNICORNS!!!!

January 11th, 2011

Okay, so it’s finally out, Verizon now has the iPhone. And unicorns are flying around now apparently. Of course the blogosphere and the media are insane right now but I have also seen my fair share of complaints and I laugh at a good amount of them. Some of them even make me want to slap someone. Let me go through them.

Not GSM, can’t use all over the world: Okay, were you really expecting this? Verizon is CDMA, their phones work only in the US. Yes, they offer world phones, but did anyone really believe they’d make a “world iPhone?”
Not 4G/LTE: Apple will not update the iPhone in the middle of it’s life cycle to put 4G in the device. Maybe the next one in July will have it, but expecting a 4G iPhone to come out today was really far-fetched.
Can’t use data and voice simultaneously: Let me see. Anyone who would need this should know that CDMA cannot do this, it never has been able to and it never will. Why the hell would anyone expect the iPhone to suddenly let CDMA do this? It’s not about the phone people, it’s the network. In my life, I have probably had the need to do this maybe 4 times, and I’m a tech junkie! Maybe that’s me, but I still wonder how much people really need/care about this.
Verizon might install apps on the phone: I don’t think Apple would allow this. They didn’t allow it on AT&T….why would they allow it for Verizon? If they do, I’ll eat my shoe.

So those are really the fun ones I’ve heard. I’m sure there is someone out there who always uses data and voice, but then stay with AT&T! If you travel out of the country a lot, chances are you don’t have Verizon anyway. I believe that these complains are from people on AT&T fed up with them and they were hoping Verizon would swoop in and save them from everything bad about AT&T…and are disappointed that they can’t just get everything they want. So a message; stop crying. You’re never going to get everything you want, face it.

What everyone expected...

What will Happen Next?

How many people are going to jump the AT&T ship to go to Verizon now? I know of a few off hand that will as soon as they can. Honestly, switching carriers for a phone is just ridiculous. I always thought this, especially when everyone complained “Oh my god I can’t wait until the iPhone is on Verizon so I can finally dump AT&T!” My question, why bother have a cell phone on a network that doesn’t make you happy? Isn’t the point of a cell phone to have cellular service? If you switch providers simply for a phone, then that’s dumb. Switch because one has the features you want, or because one’s cheaper, you know..a good reason. If you’re going to leave AT&T now because you had shitty service and were just waiting for an iPhone to come to a better network, that’s even a good reason..that’s probably why most people will leave, but don’t complain when you can’t use your voice and data at the same time since you switched, that’s your own dumb fault for not knowing you can’t do it.

I also wonder how many Verizon Android users will hop over to the iPhone. I know this will happen (again, I already know of some people who are thinking of doing this), but I really want to see how many people will end up doing this. I myself have thought, “Humm, if a Verizon iPhone came around, would I go for it?” I do like the iPhone hardware and iOS is nice but I’m very happy with Android and I see very good Android devices coming out in the near future. I’m also used to it’s features and I know I’d miss some of them if I went to the iPhone. Only time will tell, but come August when I’m up for a new phone I hope to have a choice of some LTE Android phones or even an LTE iPhone.

Wrapping up, what does this change? Nothing much. People will still switch companies for a phone, and people will still not be happy with things they’ve wished for. Not a single person will get everything they want from their phone or network, and that’s the way it will be forever. I want a device that can work on CDMA and GSM and underground, but guess what? That’s not happening. Am I going to complain and call something I waited for a failure? No, because these are my wants, my needs. Cell companies and device makers don’t have an obligation to anyone. This iPhone hype was all created by the media. All of these wishes were created by the media. Verizon and Apple didn’t promise anybody anything, they simply said “we have an announcement” and that’s all it took for everyone to go ape shit and expect all of these things from the device, hell people didn’t even know it was actually an iPhone announcement until they said it. It could have been a Windows Phone 7 announcement! The fact of the matter is that you can’t always get what you want. Listen to the Stones, people.

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Posted in Hardware, Phones, Rant

Tags: cell phone Hardware iphone verizon VZW

My Experience with an iPad

January 5th, 2011

Happy New Years to all!

Now that that’s out of the way I present an update! It’s been a fun 5 months, and I’ve been busy and I really have not had much to write about in with technology ranting or whatever, but I feel the need to actually write something now. It might be funny to see me write about it because of my February post on the iPad, but I am writing about my experience with my iPad. Now you might ask “you said you wouldn’t buy one!” Well, I didn’t buy it. I won it at work back in September (see!). So after 3-4 months of using it I felt I should write something about it, so here we go.

When I first got it, I was excited (who wouldn’t be) but I found out quickly that I really had no practical use for it. Everything I would want to do with it on the road (send/read email, calendars, Facebook/Twitter, etc.) I can do on my phone. And what’s more, I can do those on my phone from ANY location as opposed to anywhere with wifi (this iPad is wifi only). I began downloading and installing apps and games and found that while a lot of the iPhone versions of apps and games are free, iPad versions aren’t. I’m cheap, so I don’t buy apps. A lot of the apps I wanted for the iPad also had free counterparts for Android, so I might as well use my phone instead.

I did find it useful at home when I didn’t want to take out the 17-inch laptop. I can check Facebook and Twitter without an issue (and the apps are usually better than using my laptop anyway) and watching Youtube videos on the iPad is great actually, much better than the site! I also use it to play Scrabble with friends. All of these are just secondary things that are just helping push my laziness even more, nothing totally useful for me at least. There are two apps I found particularly useful though; VLC and Remote.

Everyone knows VLC (and if you don’t…you SHOULD), it plays any video file on the iPad without having to convert it, and you don’t even need to sync your computer and iPad, you just drag the video into the VLC list in iTunes and it’s done. I found this great to watch downloaded video’s and ripped DVDs while witting around, just put a pair of headphones on and you’re good to go. I like being able to hand off the iPad to someone to show them Archer or something.

Remote is an iTunes remote control program. I can control my home desktop iTunes from the iPad from anywhere I get my home wireless signal. This comes in handy when you want to listen to music while you’re cleaning, or cooking, or in the other room. You can raise the volume, change and search songs, make palylists, etc. I also found it can wake a sleeping computer up to connect to the iTunes library. The only thing is that iTunes needs to be running on the machine for it to work of course, a very minor issue I think. I found this extremely useful during a party when I just left the iPad out and asked people make playlisst and add whatever they wanted to hear to the list.

So all in all, I do enjoy having the iPad but I still believe that it’s not something I need. It’s fun, it’s helpful, but for me it’s just not a real replacement for anything just yet. Maybe when I get a cable provider that utilizes it I will change my mind, but right now, not yet.

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Posted in Hardware, Life, Reviews

An Update from Motorola on the eFuse

July 16th, 2010

Holy cow, a third update in two days?!? Yep!

Today Motorola responded to all of the eFuse nonsense with something that makes the situation a bit better.

Motorola’s primary focus is the security of our end users and protection of their data, while also meeting carrier, partner and legal requirements. The Droid X and a majority of Android consumer devices on the market today have a secured bootloader. In reference specifically to eFuse, the technology is not loaded with the purpose of preventing a consumer device from functioning, but rather ensuring for the user that the device only runs on updated and tested versions of software. If a device attempts to boot with unapproved software, it will go into recovery mode, and can re-boot once approved software is re-installed. Checking for a valid software configuration is a common practice within the industry to protect the user against potential malicious software threats. Motorola has been a long time advocate of open platforms and provides a number of resources to developers to foster the ecosystem including tools and access to devices via MOTODEV at http://developer.motorola.com.

This is very good compared to bricking the phone. At least the phone can be recovered by the user instead of having to ship it to Motorola for a repair(not sure of the complete details and how warranty would work). I’m also happy to see that Moto responded so quickly to the public. However, this still does not sit well with me as Android was developed with developers and tinkering in mind. If I want to mess around with my device, why can’t I?

(Thanks to Tom for pointing this out for me)

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Posted in Hardware, Rant, Software

Tags: android software

T-Mobile, Big Red, Samsung, and Moto dump on the Open Handset Alliance

July 16th, 2010

Let me set the stage up for those who don’t know much background. In 2005, Android, Inc. (a small company in Cali) was acquired by Google. Android, Inc. was a start-up whose business was in developing software for mobile phones. In 2007 Google helped fund the Open handset Alliance (OHA) which is a consortium of several technology companies whose purpose was to develop open standards for mobile devices. Motorola, Samsung, and T-Mobile and among these companies. These companies should all be first in line to make phones more open and free, right?

Well…

Yesterday’s post has already shown us that Motorola should really rework some of their business practices, but it also puts them in a precarious position in the OHA by going against what the OHA is exactly trying to stop, carrier and corporate lockdown of mobile devices. Some even think that because of the eFuse Moto should be asked to leave the OHA, and I’m not entirely sure that they’re wrong in asking this. If they are supposed to abide by the OHA terms, they should. No deviations.

Now for another punch in the OHA/Android face, T-Mobile and Verizon are now installing “junkware” in their new Android phones that cannot be removed in most circumstances. The LA Times blog is reporting that, “the Droid X comes loaded with several nonstandard applications for Google’s Android, most of which cannot be removed” and that T-Mobile’s new Samsung Vibrant is also loaded with some extra apps that cannot be removed. What kind of apps are installed? Here’s a few snips:

Among the [Droid X's] so-called junkware is a Blockbuster video app and a demo for an Electronic Arts game called Need for Speed: Shift….The EA racing game, which provides limited functionality and a large button on the introduction screen urging players to buy the full version, can be removed…

Skype, which is included with other Android handsets Verizon sells, is a permanent fixture, as is a utility called City ID. The latter program provides location information about phone numbers on the incoming call screen. But it works for only 15 days before asking users to pay $1.99 per month…

The T-Mobile Vibrant phone from Samsung, meanwhile, has four of these extra apps staring you in the face.

One is the movie “Avatar,” permanently loaded onto the device…Another is a live video channel called MobiTV — good for only 30 days. The third is a link to install an EA game called The Sims 3: Collector’s Edition. The last is an outdated version of Amazon’s Kindle app.

There’s also Slacker Radio, which cannot be used before providing an e-mail address, and a button leading to Gogo Inflight Internet’s website, which includes a one-month trial for Web surfing (only on plans that provide the service).

Try as you might, none of these apps can be uninstalled.

That is an awful lot of software to load onto a phone that runs an operating system that is supposed to be “free” and “open” for it’s users. The fact that most of them cannot be uninstalled is the most enraging part. I’m also sure that these apps take up a good deal of storage space.

Samsung, Motorola, Verizon, and T-Mobile are completely going against the principles of the OHA which they are all (with the exception of Verizon) a part of. But I’d probably blame the carries more because in the end, they are the one’s with final say on what is loaded on their devices.

So, should all of them be asked to leave the OHA? I’d say that if they continue this trend then yes. The OHA should give them an ultimatum to stop and they should take it or leave. If the OHA fails to even deliver on that then what is the point of the OHA? If you’re not going to stand by one of your most basic principles then you have failed.

While I don’t think this is worse than the eFuse in the Droid X, it certainly is something that needs to be resolved just as rapidly. Putting a few small applications on a phone specific to your company is not really a problem, not allowing your customers to remove them is.

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Posted in Hardware, Rant, Software

Tags: android cell phone open source stupid Technology

The Droid X and the eFuse: Moto shooting themselves in the foot

July 15th, 2010

Last year I bought my first smartphone, a Motorola DROID from Verizon. This is my first Moto phone since I got a RAZR many moons ago and swore off Moto forever because of their shitty product. Now, I love my DROID, it does everything I need it to do and more, and I really think Moto got it right with the DROID (I also applaud Big Red for finally making their phones more open). Since the DROID came out Moto has yet to release another kick-ass Android-based phone; the CLIQ is a piece of junk so don’t say that. Verizon has released the DROID Incredible (an HTC device) which is also making the rounds as being an amazing phone, but people were waiting for Moto’s next DROID. The Droid X was to be the next amazing Verizon/Android/Moto Android phone but with its release something has popped up on the tech radar; the eFuse.

According to a source at My Droid World (and Motorola themselves), the Droid X has an eFuse chip installed in the device. The long and short of it is that Motorola has installed this eFuse in the new Droid X which checks the phone for the proper kernel, boot-loader, and ROM and if the proper software is not found it will automatically “trip a fuse” to corrupt the phone’s boot-loader forcing you to get it repaired and will most likely void your warranty. Oh and did I mention that the phone can ONLY be repaired by Motorola, so the Verizon Store won’t help you (well, they’ll ship it to them for you) and you’ll most likely end up pay for a new phone.

Why is Motorola doing this to their phones? According to the Motorola blog:

We understand there is a community of developers interested in going beyond Android application development and experimenting with Android system development and re-flashing phones. For these developers, we highly recommend obtaining either a Google ADP1 developer phone or a Nexus One, both of which are intended for these purposes. At this time, Motorola Android-based handsets are intended for use by consumers and Android application developers, and we have currently chosen not to go into the business of providing fully unlocked developer phones.

Now if I read that correctly, Motorola just told people to buy an HTC device (the Nexus One or a Google ADP1 dev phone) and not their product because their “Android-based handsets are intended for use by consumers and Android application developers.” So, the DROID was a fluke? Well…

When we do deviate from our normal practice, such as we did with the DROID, there is a specific business reason for doing so. We understand this can result in some confusion, and apologize for any frustration.

You’re joking, right? You deviated on the DROID for a “business reason” and now that everyone loves your Android-based phones, you’re going to change it? How stupid does that sound?

First, if you’re going to say you have a reason you could at least tell the people what that reason was even if it’s most likely about money. Secondly, why would you want to change something that has worked already? You know the whole “no fix if no broke” thing? The DROID was probably the best smartphone released last year because of it’s features and it’s openness. Taking one of those key selling points away is really going to piss people off. Also, not only is it frustrating, it’s just a punch right in the face of all the people who praised your phone for it’s openness.

What happens when (like the MyTouch 3g and G1, etc) the developers stop caring about a phone so much that they don’t release a new version of Android for it, when their phones are still capable of running them? Or if Motorola decides not to update the SenseUI on the phone and you’re stuck with whatever they stop with? Well, of course you’re supposed to buy another phone from them, but it probably won’t be a Moto phone if the eFuse is still there. But there are a lot of people want to get all they can from their device (I mean, you did pay $200+ for it!). So they’ll end up going the route of rooting a phone and installing a modded Android install and continue to be happy with your device. Does it change that fact that it’s still a Motorola brand phone? No, it just shows that your hardware still kicks ass 2 years after it was released instead of going to the bottom of the old electronics drawer or whatever.

I realize not everyone cares about modding their phones, hell it’s most likely a larger portion than the people who do care, but the issue is that Motorola is making it okay for a company to brick YOUR phone if they don’t like what you do to it. You know, the phone YOU paid for with YOUR money (which Motorola took of course!). A lot of people buy devices based on how much the company lets you tinker with the device after you buy it.

I’m almost positive that the phone will still be hacked, but this is going to cause a big backlash in the Android community against Motorola (and probably Verizon even though they most likely have nothing to do with it). A lot of Android folk are very pro-open-source and while the software is still “open” the hardware will strike you down if you try to change it.

While I won’t tell people not to buy a Moto phone again I will say that the Droid X will probably be a bad choice if you’re going to alter the base software or if you want the phone to last a long time.

The Year of the Geek