So I went down to the local Vodafone shop to have a look at the HTC One X.
Where I was pleasantly surprised with the One S because it felt smaller in the pocket then the Nexus One, where it has a 4.3" vs 3.7" screen. The One X felt huge in the pocket.
The 4.7" screen of the One X means it isn't particularly "pocketable", I like the bigger screen while I'm using it but when carrying the phone in a pocket it is important that it fits comfortably.
This leaves me wondering, is someone going to make a quad core version of a One S size phone. I have said before that I want a top spec phone, just not a massive slate in my pocket.
I can imagine the SGS III will be similar in size and feel to the One X, the SGS III having a 4.8" screen will probably feel even bigger.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Useful data visualisation
Here is a good link to some useful data on ExtremeTech it really shows some good comparisons between phones.
Also I have had some more time with the HTC One S, comparing it directly my current Nexus One. If anything it feels smaller in the pocket the the Nexus One. Even though the dimensions are bigger, it is thinner and "disrupts" the pocket less.
I am going to take some time soon to go to the local vodafone shop and play around with the HTC One X it is significantly bigger then the One S and I expect that no matter how thin it is it wont feel the same size in the pocket as the Nexus One.
Now that I have had a really good play with the HTC One S I am happier about going up to a bigger screen size, as long as the phone is thinner. I would not have expected this.
Just a note, I was testing this in my hip pocket on my jeans. Walked around a bit.
Also I have had some more time with the HTC One S, comparing it directly my current Nexus One. If anything it feels smaller in the pocket the the Nexus One. Even though the dimensions are bigger, it is thinner and "disrupts" the pocket less.
I am going to take some time soon to go to the local vodafone shop and play around with the HTC One X it is significantly bigger then the One S and I expect that no matter how thin it is it wont feel the same size in the pocket as the Nexus One.
Now that I have had a really good play with the HTC One S I am happier about going up to a bigger screen size, as long as the phone is thinner. I would not have expected this.
Just a note, I was testing this in my hip pocket on my jeans. Walked around a bit.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
HTC One S
I have just had a quick play with the new HTC One S.
Quick thoughts:
1/ It is big but not too bad.
2/ Only takes micro SIM so that is a bit annoying but you can mod your current SIM to fit.
3/ Screen is just awesome; compared to my Nexus One, which isn't bad at all.
4/ The new Sense skin is not too intrusive, but then I haven't played with stock android 4.
5/ It is super thin and somewhat light, since I am used to the Nexus One.
6/ Seems very smooth in all the transitions that I tried.
Would I buy one? Well maybe, if my phone died, it is not too big. The price is not too bad...but since my phone still works fine. I will hold off. These are the first round of android 4 phones, there will be a few more coming soon.
Quick thoughts:
1/ It is big but not too bad.
2/ Only takes micro SIM so that is a bit annoying but you can mod your current SIM to fit.
3/ Screen is just awesome; compared to my Nexus One, which isn't bad at all.
4/ The new Sense skin is not too intrusive, but then I haven't played with stock android 4.
5/ It is super thin and somewhat light, since I am used to the Nexus One.
6/ Seems very smooth in all the transitions that I tried.
Would I buy one? Well maybe, if my phone died, it is not too big. The price is not too bad...but since my phone still works fine. I will hold off. These are the first round of android 4 phones, there will be a few more coming soon.
Monday, May 7, 2012
SGSIII Reviews
I have been reading a lot of reviews of the SGSIII, most note that even though it is 4.8" that it doesn't feel bigger then the SGSII. Not too sure about that, there are some significant differences in footprint between the two.
Well according to the spec sheets for the two devices:
SGSII: 66.1 × 125.3 × 8.49 mm
SGSIII: 70.6 × 136.6 × 8.55 mm
So the SGSIII is 6.8% wider, 9% longer and 0.7% thicker.
But in saying this the HTC One X, probably the closest phone on the market in spec to the SGSIII is: 69.9 × 134.4 × 8.9 mm, the foot print is in between but slightly thicker, for a given value of "thicker".
Another review said to stop thinking of these new phones as phones, start thinking of them as portable computers that have a phone app. I don't think I'm there yet, maybe after I get my hands on a One X or SGSIII, being roughly the same size, I'll change my mind. Probably not though.
Well according to the spec sheets for the two devices:
SGSII: 66.1 × 125.3 × 8.49 mm
SGSIII: 70.6 × 136.6 × 8.55 mm
So the SGSIII is 6.8% wider, 9% longer and 0.7% thicker.
But in saying this the HTC One X, probably the closest phone on the market in spec to the SGSIII is: 69.9 × 134.4 × 8.9 mm, the foot print is in between but slightly thicker, for a given value of "thicker".
Another review said to stop thinking of these new phones as phones, start thinking of them as portable computers that have a phone app. I don't think I'm there yet, maybe after I get my hands on a One X or SGSIII, being roughly the same size, I'll change my mind. Probably not though.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
SGSIII 4.8" Wow
Ok just a quick one, there are heaps of reviews of the SGSIII running around the net at the moment.
At 4.8" the new SGSIII just has to be eating the potential market for the Galaxy Note, does that 0.2" make the older Note more appealing to the people for whom size is king.
Maybe Samsung will release an updated Note (5.5" maybe 6" anybody). Where does it stop, in 2 years will we be hearing about the new SGSVI at 7"?
Well for what it is worth, I am still looking for a phone that has top specs and around the 4.0" mark. I may step up to 4.3" but I will need to get my hands on one to see how it feels in the hand and pocket first.
At 4.8" the new SGSIII just has to be eating the potential market for the Galaxy Note, does that 0.2" make the older Note more appealing to the people for whom size is king.
Maybe Samsung will release an updated Note (5.5" maybe 6" anybody). Where does it stop, in 2 years will we be hearing about the new SGSVI at 7"?
Well for what it is worth, I am still looking for a phone that has top specs and around the 4.0" mark. I may step up to 4.3" but I will need to get my hands on one to see how it feels in the hand and pocket first.
I love pricespy when I'm looking for tech stuff. You can filter all the available things in the category and ignore all the other stuff that doesn't meet your requirements.
I use it all the time when looking for phones and other things, like components for my new file server that I am planning on building.
It also lets me keep an eye on the price trends of the products I'm interested in, and there is a massive range of products on the site. From CPU's to washing machines.
Price spy -> mobile phone -> Android 4.0 filter applied: PriceSpy; Android 4.0
I use it all the time when looking for phones and other things, like components for my new file server that I am planning on building.
It also lets me keep an eye on the price trends of the products I'm interested in, and there is a massive range of products on the site. From CPU's to washing machines.
Price spy -> mobile phone -> Android 4.0 filter applied: PriceSpy; Android 4.0
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Specs and things
Must haves
1/ Android 4.x
2/ new Snapdragon S4 or Exynos 4 Quad or Tegra 3
3/ 1Gb min ram
4/ 16Gb on board + microSD slot
5/ qHD or 720p Res
6/ max 4.0" screen
7/ easily unlockable boot loader
Nice to haves
1/ Ubuntu for Android
2/ 8MP camera, though these are fairly standard now.
3/ Better then 3G, though I live in NZ so not much use here, but could be when I travel.
4/ Curved glass screen like the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus
The Exynos Chip: Android Central 1/ Android 4.x
2/ new Snapdragon S4 or Exynos 4 Quad or Tegra 3
3/ 1Gb min ram
4/ 16Gb on board + microSD slot
5/ qHD or 720p Res
6/ max 4.0" screen
7/ easily unlockable boot loader
Nice to haves
1/ Ubuntu for Android
2/ 8MP camera, though these are fairly standard now.
3/ Better then 3G, though I live in NZ so not much use here, but could be when I travel.
4/ Curved glass screen like the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus
One set of S4 vs Tegra 3: Android and Me
Another set: Droid life
Tegra 3 beats the S4 in a lot of things but I think the S4 is still a better design overall. May have to wait till for a little while before all my "must have" specs are met. By then the Exynos will have been out and properly benchmarked against the other two, and then we will see which is best.
The Ubuntu on android would be interesting, would be kind of cool to have a "full desktop experience" from a phone just by plugging it into some peripherals.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
My Current Thoughts
Well I have been using my NexusOne for almost two years now. It is a great phone except for the hardware fault that means the touch screen sometimes gets itself out of calibration. It is a little annoying but not something that was a deal breaker.
I liked the solid feel of the phone, it is a lot heaver then the current offerings. At 3.7" the screen seems small by the standards of the new top spec phones coming out. But I like this screen size, the problem is that all the new phones coming out consider this size to be in the lower end of the performance market....this seems strange.
I have had a good play around with a mate of mines Galaxy S (4.0"), and another friends Galaxy SII (4.3"), also with my brothers Nexus S (4.0" curved screen). I have also spend a little time with the newish Galaxy Nexus (4.65" curved screen). Admittedly after playing with the Nexus S I felt that the 4.0" screen wasn't too big, I think it is the slight curve that makes it feel smaller then it really is. The 4.0 flat screen of the Galaxy S is big in the hand, the 4.3" screen of the SII is just too big all around for my hand. I'm sure if you have huge hands then it would seem fine.
The next phone that I am eyeing is the HTC One S, but I'm having second thoughts because of the 4.3" screen, it has the specs that I want: Snapdragon S4; 1GB of RAM; qHD screen etc..Why couldn't they make a phone with the same specs available with a 4.0" screen preferably curved.
I may wait to see where the market heads in the next couple of months. I want a "superphone" i.e. a phone with the top specs available when I buy it, and I want it in a phone that will fit in my pocket easily.
I liked the solid feel of the phone, it is a lot heaver then the current offerings. At 3.7" the screen seems small by the standards of the new top spec phones coming out. But I like this screen size, the problem is that all the new phones coming out consider this size to be in the lower end of the performance market....this seems strange.
I have had a good play around with a mate of mines Galaxy S (4.0"), and another friends Galaxy SII (4.3"), also with my brothers Nexus S (4.0" curved screen). I have also spend a little time with the newish Galaxy Nexus (4.65" curved screen). Admittedly after playing with the Nexus S I felt that the 4.0" screen wasn't too big, I think it is the slight curve that makes it feel smaller then it really is. The 4.0 flat screen of the Galaxy S is big in the hand, the 4.3" screen of the SII is just too big all around for my hand. I'm sure if you have huge hands then it would seem fine.
The next phone that I am eyeing is the HTC One S, but I'm having second thoughts because of the 4.3" screen, it has the specs that I want: Snapdragon S4; 1GB of RAM; qHD screen etc..Why couldn't they make a phone with the same specs available with a 4.0" screen preferably curved.
I may wait to see where the market heads in the next couple of months. I want a "superphone" i.e. a phone with the top specs available when I buy it, and I want it in a phone that will fit in my pocket easily.
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