The One Killer Feature of the iPad That Has Left Me Envious

I don't deny that the iPad is a great device. Everything Apple makes is an overall great product. The reason I went for Adam was Apple's locked down world of apps from nowhere other than the App Store. I want the freedom to do what I want with my device without shooting a hole in my warranty, but that is a discussion for a later time. I am hear to talk about the (in my mind) coolest feature of the iPad, GarageBand.

      Out of all of the hardware, iOS usability, paper-thin design, and Face Time all I want is GarageBand. It is just an app, but it is only available on the iPad. It has the perfect combo of fun and useful. Songs would be easier create than ever before. I could start a garage band. I have yet to find any app, on Android or iOS, that delivers this kind of musical ability. I will provide you with a review in the future specifically on GarageBand for iPad. Coming also in the future are iPad and Adam comparisons, iPad review, and other tablet related goodness.

AT&T Blocking HSUPA on HTC Inspire 4G?

     HSUPA is the uploading half of the 3G spectrum for those of you that are wondering, and apparently AT&T is blocking this simple feature on the Inspire. It was originally thought that the Ispire simply did not have the hardware for it, but new reports say that the capability is just be blocked by AT&T. The question is why on earth would you do that? Of all the things you could block.

Make a Phone Case From Masking Tape

 Did you ever feel the need for a case, but not feel the need for spending the money? With a little time you can just tape your phone back over for cheap protection. You could use duck tape for a classier look, but masking tape is easier to handle and my phone with still fit in my keyboard case. The curves are a bit tricky to get smooth. Masking tape also makes for a nice template to fill in the logos if you so desire.

   

Recap on Devices Released By HTC at MWC

     Here we are on the third day of mobile world congress. I would normally summarize the new devices, but Slashgear put together a nice article to do it for me, so here it is. All credit goes to Slashgear.com. You may notic several mentions on 2.4 Gingerbread. I haven't heard any official word on the differences, so if you you know the difference between 2.3 and 2.4 please comment below.
Slashgear:

We had quite a rush of HTC news live from MWC 2011 this morning, so here’s a recap in case you didn’t catch everything. Our very own Chris Davies got plenty of hands-on time with the new product line up from HTC including the Incredible S, Wildfire S, Desire S, Chacha, and Salsa smartphones, as well as the Flyer tablet. Other HTC announcements included an updated version of their HTC Sense, a new videochat app, new support for OnLive cloud gaming service, and their partnership with Qualcomm to develop multi-core devices.

The HTC Incredible S, is perhaps their least appealing device with an” inside-out” industrial style. Performance and features are similar to the previous Incredible , but notable differences include an added front-facing webcam that supports HTC’s new video call app as well as Mirror app. And the device now is GSM compatible. Check here for hands-on video and images.

The HTC Wildfire S is the company’s cheapest phone but the new model seems to be a huge improvement over its predecessor. It has found its own identity now sporting a more angular chassis and also stepped up to an HVGA display from its original QVGA display. However, it lacks a front-facing webcam and therefore cannot utilize HTC’s new video call app. Check here for hands-on details and images.

The HTC Desire S is their bestselling smartphone and has a chassis milled from a single piece of aluminum. The new model’s responsiveness is similar to its predecessor, the Desire, as it still uses 1GHz single-core Snapdragon, but now has added a front-facing webcam that supports the HTC’s new video call app and Mirror app. The production model will be running Android 2.4 Gingerbread. Check here for a hands-on video and images.

The HTC ChaCha and Salsa are the two new smartphones that deeply integrate with Facebook. Of the two, the ChaCha has the better hardware. The Salsa has the bigger screen but feels like a lesser build. It’s difficult to judge the software at this point because the demo units did not seem to have final software loaded. However, they did demonstrate that the integrated Facebook buttons light up when viewing something on screen that can be shared online. Actual production units with final software won’t be available until Q2 2011. Check here for hands-on video and images.

The HTC Flyer tablet introduces the use of stylus in addition to multi-touch with more focus on note-taking and content creation. The 7-inch tablet has a slick aluminum unibody with a matte-finish plastic. The build feels more solid than the Galaxy Tab, and also feels easier to hold. The Flyer features a newly updated HTC Sense on top of Android 2.4 Gingerbread resulting in an enhanced user interface. Check here for hands-on video and images.

Other announcements:

HTC announced that they intend to partner with Qualcomm to develop multi-core devices. However, no timeline or any specifics were presented on upcoming multi-core plans.

The HTC Video Chat app made for Android was demoed as loaded on the HTC Desire S and the HTC Incredible S. The app can be used with the front-facing VGA webcams on the HTC smartphones or on the 1.3MP camera on the HTC Flyer tablet. The app features a simple interface but it is unclear for now whether it is limited to devices within its own ecosystem like how Apple limits Face Time to its own devices, or if there is more flexibility.

HTC also demonstrated their new integration with OnLive cloud gaming on the HTC Flyer.

And, an updated version of the HTC Sense was announced that supports portrait and landscape orientations as well as high-resolution displays like the 1024×600 display of the HTC Flyer.

MWC's Stand-Outs Today

     There have been a slew of devices launched, detailed, and handled today. There is no possible way I could give you all of the details on all of them, so I will just name a few stand-out devices for now. Some push the limit while some just make you ask why.

     LG's entrants may be the devices that ask the question of "why?". The Optimus 3D is a super phone with dual memory and dual-core. It has a super large, but seemingly ubiquitous 4.3" screen with a special feature that adds a little appeal to it. The screen is stereoscopic which allows you to watch 3D without glasses. To get that 3D content it has dual 8MP, 1080p cameras on the back along with a single 2MP shooter on the front. The 7" Optimus Pad (G-Slate in America) also has dual cameras for 3D, but they are only 720p and the screen requires passive glasses to view 3D. The Pad will run Honeycomb and have a Tegra II processor.
    
     Acer has a new entry into the smart phone market that really pushes the limit as to what it will be called. The screen is a whopping 4.8". This thing reaks of Dell Streak, but the bezel seems to be a lot smaller than on other devices, presumably to maximize the portability. Another weird feature it has is the 2MP camera on the back and 8MP on the front. I certainly hope that was a mistake because that just seems stupid to put the goos camera on the front.It is still out for debate in whether it should be considered a tablet.

     The last device I will touch base on today is the Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0. Imagine a Galaxy S without any type of cell service and a five inch screen-ed variant. It's about time somebody other than Archos hit on the iPod Touch market.
      

MWC New Devices On Day One

     The new phones and tablet s are as follows (I may miss one or two):
-Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo
-Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
-Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
-Samsung Galaxy SII
-Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Yes, it's a stampede of "S" brands and uncreative names. Details after the break.

     All of the Xperia's have the same snapdragon processor, 3.7" display, and some variation of Gingerbread (I keep seeing 2.4 listed in the specs as opposed to 2.3).The Neo is the candy bar, while the Play has a thumb pad for gaming and the Pro has a full keyboard. The Neo and Pro have an 8mp camera, and the Play has a 5mp shooter. At this time I'm not sure about these or any other details.
    
     The Galaxt SII is a worthy successor to the original Galaxy S. For cameras, it has an 8mp on the back that's capable of full HD video, and a 2mp on the front for video chat. It has Android 2.3 with Touchwiz 4.0 to power the on board NFC sensor. Like the Tab 10.1 it is powered by a 1Ghz dual-core processor. The new Tab has specs similar to the Xoom with Honeycomb and all. Stay tuned for more news from Mobile World Congress.

Smartphones and The Elderly

    How do we live without our smartphones? They are there to help us do everyday things, and they are always with us. In general, we are a little too dependent on them. The majority of the nation isn't quite so lucky to have the gift of a pocket elf to tell them when to take the next step. No, the majority of the nation has a feature or, dare I say, dumb phone.

       Over the years, smart phones have become so easy to use that a small child knows how to flick through those photos without wincing. The iPhone may be the epitome of ease of handling. Your average flip phone, on the other hand, is generally a completely different story. Even the most technically minded of us have trouble from time to time on these simple creatures.

     So then I ask you this: Why do the elderly and completely computer illiterate have such hard to use devices.You may think that is a stupid question, but it really isn't. I'm sure you've been asked how to get to that silly, hidden voice-mail before. All you have to do is place those frequently visited apps right on the home screen so they know exactly where to look for them. Assuming they just use their phone for the basics, all of the apps will fit on one screen.

      A lot of that phone's potential is being wasted by doing this so they can get away with a super budget phone so long as it's easily customized and easy to use. You could get them the iPhone 3Gs or and LG Optimus for under $50. You will most likely be forced to have a data plan, so opt for the smallest amount of data possible and set up some type of service they could use (such as weather or email) so they aren't throwing away the money on data. This plan obviously isn't for everyone, but if you can set up and show them how to use the phone, this could be a viable option. They might get to exploring, and learn how to use it a little more towards its potential.

Nokia And Microsoft Together At Last

     It has finally happened. Nokia has a smartphone OS that isn't terrible or stuck in development phase. The announcement was made today that Nokia will be Microsoft's new partner with Windows Phone 7. This could be what Nokia needs to rise up from its slow demise. Windows Phone will become their main focus, but they aren't dropping Symbian or Meego yet. No hardware has been officially announced. It could get really confusing with three mobile OS's running around their labs. Nokia, as an innovator, is dead.

HP Announces New Web OS Line-Up

    HP bought Palm, but the only thing about Palm that's dead is the Palm branding. Today saw the unveil of three new Web OS devices; the HP Veer, HP Touchpad, and the HP Pre3. The HP Veer and Pre3 are the new smartphone entries, while the Touchpad is the much anticipated tablet. Specs after the break.

     Let's start with the HP Veer. The Veer is one of the tiniest smartphones available with a 2.6" screen and full portrait Qwerty. WebOS 2.2 runs its tiny heart which is also powered by an 800mhz processor. Hp said that it's aimed at bridging the gap between feature phone and smartphone. It has a nice amount of 8GB of storage, a 5 MP camera, and that speedy HSPA+ that everyone's been talking about.

     The next entrant is the Pre3. It's obviously a successor to the Pre and Pre2. Powering its WebOS 2.2 is a beastly 1.4Ghz processor. The screen got a boost to 3.6" and a resolution of 800x480. Like the Veer, it has a 5 MP camera at the rear, but unlike the Veer, it shorts a VGA camera up front. Aside from 8/16GB of storage, the other specs are mostly the same as the other WebOS devices on offer.

     Last, but not least, is the HP Touchpad. We have been waiting so long for this worthy iPad rival to appear. A 1.2 Ghz processor powers the WebOS 3.0. Oddly, there is no rear-facing camera; only the front-facing VGA camera. Along with these devices HP also said that WebOS would soon be coming to printers and PC's. Palm (or HP) is back from the dead.  

A Dual-Screen Phone... Really?

    For the first time I don't know what to think of this. I don't have a clue how people are going to react to this odd, shape-shifting wonder. The Kyocera Echo was released yesterday. It has two 3.5" screens that fold on top of each other, fold out to make a pseudo tablet, or make a tiny Toshiba Libretto style laptop. At its core, it has a 1Ghz Snapdragon and 1GB RAM. No front-facing camera or 4G for this thing.

     To have the honor of the first dual-screen phone, I would expect a lot more from it. The Evo was well worth the honor of the first 4G phone. According to a few hand-on demos, it isn't as fast as it should be. This phone needs some dual-core, video-calling, 4G love. The "tablet mode" that you see above puts the full size at 4.7". That makes it barely bigger than the Samsung Infuse. They should have made the individual screens bigger the iPhone size. 

     That screen break in the middle would throw me off. While most apps would be viewed across both screens, some cam have different functionalities for both screens or you can run two apps at once. Running two apps needs that dual-core. Give it some better specs, bigger screens, and a manufacturer (HTC preferably) that will give it OS updates past froyo and I might consider buying it.

Does 3D Really Make Sense In a Smartphone?

     3D is just awesome isn't it? We walked away from Avatar feeling a sense of inspiration and wanting more. The next answer is to put 3D in our TV's. Now you can have an awesome experience at home on a smaller scale. The weeks go by with you new TV, but you find that something is missing. You don't have any 3D movies to watch, and watching those movies gives you a headache. You slowly lose interest in that awesome gadget sitting in your living room, and go back to watching normal TV like everyone else. Will the same thing happen on a different scale?

     That nice picture you see up there is the supposed shot of the LG Optimus 3D. You think, "Wow. Wouldn't that be awesome to be able to watch 3D without glasses on your smartphone!". What do you do after the wow factor is gone? Eventually you would get bored of 3D on your smartphone. It's not like most people will watch a lot of movies on their phones. The only field where 3D would be relevant here is in games. I couldn't justify buying the whole package just to have one feature that I would use every once and a while. Heck, if I'm going to want 3D gaming, I just get a 3DS.