[News] LG's G2 named 2013 Consumer Reports top product

Well folks, by now you already have read about my love for LG's new flagship smartphone the G2 - and it looks like I'm not alone.  A recent article from Consumer Reports named the LG G2 a "brilliant smartphone" citing a "stunning 5.2-inch display and a battery that doesn't know when to quit."  I've raved about the G2 ever since I got one, and its nice to see that other folks are high on this device as well.  The Consumer Reports folks are no joke.  If you are in the market for a new phone, give the G2 a long look.  You won't regret it.

Source:  Android Authority

[Op-Ed] Why people (including me) love to hate Verizon

For a while now Verizon Wireless has been the only game in town where I live.  Back in the day, I tried T-Mobile and AT&T and their networks weren't mature enough at the time to compete from a voice and 3G data standpoint.  Then of course came the 4G LTE tech and the data usage explosion, which only widened the gap between Verizon and their competition even further.  By the time both other major companies (no one really uses Sprint anymore, do they?) leveraged enough funds to increase their network infrastructure, I was already happy with my grandfathered unlimited 3G to 4G data plan.  I mean, come on...unlimited is unlimited, right?  And then came the real deciding factor - both AT&T and Verizon decided to stop offering unlimited data packages in favor of tiered data, and my choice was made for me: if I wanted to keep my existing unlimited data plan, I was going to be on Verizon for the foreseeable future.

[Rumor] HTC to annouce One Max phablet on 10/15/13

The latest rumors are in - and its BIG folks...get it?  The latest phablet superphone is coming, and allegedly soon.  HTC seems poised to launch the XL version of their very well reviewed HTC One device on October 15th.  As this is just a few days away, we should be able to confirm or deny this very, very soon.

More...

Now that things are back to rocking and rolling again for the Two Tech Geeks, I just wanted to drop a quick line and say "thanks" to all the folks that stuck with us through our hiatus, and to let you know that there is plenty more to come.  Including, but not limited to:

• Fearless Predictions for 2014
• Two Tech Geeks look back at the Best of Tech 2013
• Verizon's honoring a website glitch that gives hundreds (perhaps thousands) of upgrades AND keep unlimited data plans
• More device reviews as fast as we get our grubby hands on them

We appreciate everyone taking the time to read our site.  We welcome comments as well - if you want the scoop on a smartphone or other device, or just want to get some more info on an article, feel free to comment and we'll do our best to answer your questions.

[Review] Beats by Dre Pill

While not a new device, and not technically a "smartdevice," I did want to give my thoughts on the Pill wireless speaker from Beats by Dre. This was a recent gift and something I'd had high on my wishlist for a while now.  If you are in the market for something like this (or if you aren't now, you may be soon) and want to know how it works, what it does, and whether its worth its $199 pricetag (on sale now for $179!), read on!

[Review] LG G2 (or how I learned to love a superphone)

Image courtesy of Droid-Life

At long last - the search is over.  Many of you will recall that I lamented over the lack of phone choices to replace my Galaxy Nexus (see the article here ) but I lament no more!  I have taken the plunge and purchased the G2 from LG, and honestly, I couldn't be happier.  What the heck? you may ask - as this device was on the short list of possibles and was discarded as being unsuitable for my needs.  Well - no one is happier to be proven wrong than me.  Let's take a closer and more in depth look at how LG's newest flagship smartphone won me over.

[Op-Ed] Why can't I find the right phone?

So - my wife and I have Verizon Wireless and our contract(s) are coming due right after the 1st of the year.  We both are grandfathered into unlimited 4G plans, so as we look to replace our phones, we are considering buying off contract to preserve this precious data commodity.  I have the Galaxy Nexus LTE on Verizon and as an Android enthusiast, I love it.  So when I'm looking at all the new phone tech that is coming out these days, I take careful stock of it.  And at the end of the day, I am stuck with one question:  why is it I can't find the phone I want to replace my beloved Galaxy Nexus?

[Op-Ed] A completely unbiased Android users opinion of iOS 7 - it sucks

Image courtesy of Apple.com

So...yeah.  I'm an Android guy.  Have been for a long time, and its still my current phone.  But as many already know, I DO own Apple products.  Yes, even me.  For all my bashing of their not really being a tech company more than a marketing company and not having had an innovation since the iPad first debuted, I do like and purchase (or ask for as gifts) some of their devices.  This puts me in a unique position: to be on the outside looking in.  No "iSheep" fanboiness here...I'm looking solely at how the device works best for me.  And I have to be honest - I wish Apple would have left my iPod touch the way it was before iOS 7.

Alive and kicking

Hey all...I know its been a while, but never fear - your favorite Two Tech Geeks are still around. As we all know, life is what happens while you're busy making other plans and a few real life issues have forced both of us to take a little hiatus, but look for more articles on the site soon!  (in fact, truth be told I'm working on 2 right now!)

If you have, thanks for sticking with us.  If you left, well...you're always welcome to come back anytime!

[Op-Ed] How wireless carriers are bringing about the "datapocolypse"

We, as smartphone fans and users, are moving into a very unique time in our history.  Mobile usage of smartphones (and other mobile devices like laptops and tablets) has increased the demand for mobile wireless broadband to astronomical levels.  Mobile carriers are providing this service to consumers, and are seeing profits skyrocket as users are removed from so-called unlimited plans onto more carrier friendly (and profitable) tiered data plans.  No longer do consumers need unlimited calling plans - they need bigger and bigger data packages.  This shift to mobile consumption of data by users on such a large scale and the incredible price gouging of consumers by voice and data providers is moving us towards a state of what I'd refer to as the "datapocolypse" -  where the demand for data is so great and the cost of getting it is so much that (as the saying goes) something's gotta give.

[News] Samsung debuts the Galaxy S4

Photo courtesy of Droid-Life

The waiting is over - Samsung's even on March 13th officially announced their newest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4.  While it isn't available on any carriers just yet, here are the official specs, direct from Sammy:

• Processor: 1.9GHz Quad-core processor or 1.6GHz Octa-core processor (depending on global region)
• Memory: 2GB of RAM and 16/ 32/ 64 GB User memory expandable through SDcard slot
• Display: 5″ full-HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080) display, with 441 ppi
• Connections: Hexaband LTE, HSPA+, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, IR controller
• Battery: 2,600mAh
• Ships with Android 4.2.2

The Galaxy S4 has a larger screen than its predecessor, while still managing to come in thinner and lighter.  From early reports, this true HD screen looks incredible with vivid rich colors and amazing sharpness and clarity.  This is sure to be a huge selling point with fans of Samsung.

[Op-Ed]It's the battery, stupid.

One of the motto's of Bill Clinton's successful Presidential campaign in 1992 was "it's the economy, stupid."  It was a reminder of what was really the most important issue to voters and what the election would ultimately hinge on.  In the fight for smartphone buyer's dollars, Android manufacturers(OEM's) need to learn "it's the battery, stupid."

Ask the average smartphone owner what the biggest complaint about their phone is, and you're going to hear "the battery life" at or near the top of the list.  For a long time poor battery life was a function of technological limitations.  But that's simply not the case anymore.  So why are OEM's still producing phones that can't easily make it through a full day?

[Rumor] Galaxy S4 to launch in black & white

Possilble Galaxy S4 render

The latest rumor as we approach the middle of the month and the launch date for the Galaxy S4 is that Samsung will be kicking off their new flagship with 2 colors - the staple white and black.  In addition, there should be 16GB/32GB/64GB variants, all available for purchase (at some point) - this is in addition to the expandable SD card slot already pretty much a done deal.  Will there be carrier exclusive colors?  Will we see Pebble Blue ever again?  Stay tuned for more details!

*Source:  Droid-Life

[News]Samsung set to announce the Galaxy S IV on March 14th, here's what to expect

On March 14th in New York City Samsung is announcing its new Galaxy S IV (GSIV) flagship smartphone.

Very little has been confirmed, so take this all with a grain of salt, but based on the latest leaks/rumors here's what to expect:

Samsung Galaxy S IV

Estimated Releaes Date: April 2013

Carrier(s): AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon

Price: $199.99 on contract

CPU/GPU: Quad-Core Snapdragon 600 @ 1.9ghz/Adreno 320

Screen: 4.99" SoLex LCD 1920 x 1080p

Camera: 2.1MP(Fr)/13MP(R)/1080p@60fps

Memory: 2GB RAM

Storage: 16GB/32GB/64GB
SD Card Slot: Yes
Battery: Removable/2600mah

[Rumor] Is this benchmark for the Verizon Galaxy S4?

A recent benchmark showed up for a smartphone with the device ID "SCH-I545" - this just may be the latest flagship from Samsung, the Galaxy S4.  The Galaxy S3 for Verizon bore a device ID of "SCH-I535" and several other Samsung smartphones have similar code names on Verizon as well.

As you can see from the bench mark, we'd expect this phone to sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a full 1080p display, and the Adreno 320 GPU.  The Samsung event is scheduled for 03/14/13, and no doubt it will be one of the most hyped events of the year for tech enthusiasts.

*Source:  Droid-Life

[News]Qualcomm RF360: The Holy Grail of LTE modems?

The Qualcomm RF360 is the modem we've been waiting for, the Holy Grail of LTE !  Why is that you might ask?  Because it's the first modem that covers all global LTE frequencies - 40 in all.

Why is that important to you?  The answer is that the RF360 would allow Google to make a subsidized Nexus, or Motorola X-phone that would work on any carrier's LTE network.  Google's goal of being able to free customers from expensive carrier contracts and offering cheap unsubsidized phones that work on any network may finally be a reality.



Google I/O starts on May 15th and the Motorola X-phone is expected to be announced.  Hopefully it will be the first global LTE smartphone.  Would it be too much to hope that Google sells it directly through the Play Store at the same price points as the Nexus 4?  Hey, we can dream, right?

EDIT: Apparently it won't be available in any products until the second half of the year, which may be too late for the X-Phone :(

[PSA]Beware the battery of the Sony Xperia Z

It's clear Sony worked hard on the Xperia Z.  The design is excellent and the hardware is top notch.  I thought Sony had a winner on its hands.  Then I read the review on Engadget yesterday and saw the battery rundown result for the Z.

For those that missed it, here's the result as compared to some other high end smartphones:

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD - 14 hours and 4 minutes
Apple iPhone 5 - 11 hours and 15 minutes
Samsung Galaxy Note II - 10 hours and 45 minutes
Motorola Droid Razr HD - 10 hours and 42 minutes
Samsung Galaxy S III - 9 hours and 2 minutes
LG Optimus G - 8 hours and 43 minutes
HTC One X+ - 7 hours and 32 minutes
HTC Droid DNA - 6 hours and 38 minutes
Sony Xperia Z - 5 hours and 35 minutes

Hopefully Engadget just got a defective unit, because otherwise unless you're planning to use the Xperia Z as a really nice paperweight you should probably stay away.

At least when the battery dies you can pretend it's a fish though

[Op-Ed]HTC goes big with the One and mostly succeeds

Yesterday HTC took the wraps off it's latest flagship smartphone, the One.  Will the One be the handset that turns around HTC's fortunes?  Let's dive it and find out.

The Good:

Design:
The design of the HTC One is nothing short of stunning and is in my opinion the best looking Android phone of all time.  Previously that distinction fell to the white HTC One-X, but the One is even better.  It features an aluminum unibody with injection molded polycarbonate accents and stereo speakers on each side of the screen.  It looks very apple-esque (I mean that in a good way) and looks extremely premium.  Suffice to say, I love the design.  The One is gorgeous.

[News] HTC One officially announced

The rumors have ended...HTC has launched their new flagship phone - the HTC One.  No longer the rumored "M7" device, this new smartphone really pushes the envelope when it comes to high end devices, from HTC or any other manufacturer.

This bad boy sports a 1.7GHz quad core Snapdragon 600 processor, 4.7" 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, and a generous 2300mAh non-removable battery.  Certainly nothing to sneeze at in terms of spec.  The edge to edge display and "zero gap" aluminum body are very cool, and in terms of design, HTC has a winner here.

[Rumor] HTC M7 to be released at "HTC One"

HTC's One X+ (but it could be the HTC One also)

HTC is getting ready to launch that flagship that's for so long been known as the M7 - until the latest rumor has surfaced. The latest news from HTC is that the new device could actually be known simply as the "HTC One."  This would put it in line with previously released devices like the One X, One S, and the One X+ - however; this might end up confusing consumers, as all these other devices were released before this newest one.

To top it off, the M7 most closely resembles the recently released Droid DNA, released on Verizon, and if Verizon gets the M7, its unclear why the Droid DNA would have ever been sold to begin with.  It's no secret that around here, the 2 Tech Geeks are puzzled by HTC's business strategies of late, most notably with the battery technology they put in their phones.  In any event, HTC has a long road ahead of it if they want to get back into the smartphone race...does anyone think the rumors of the M7 device are the way they do it?

*Source:  BGR

[Rumor] LG to push up launch date of Optimus G Pro?

In advance of the juggernaut that will likely be Samsung's Galaxy S4 launch, LG is rumored to be considering launching their new flagship, the Optimus G Pro, later on this month - probably near the end of February.  Why do this?  To hopefully steal the Galaxy S4's thunder, of course!  Well...its probably more along the lines of hoping to get consumers to purchase the not-unimpressive Optimus G Pro before they get wind of the GS4.  For a full spec sheet on the Optimus G Pro (OGP?), check out this article.

*Source:  Phone Arena

[News] Blackberry 10 announcements and recap *UPDATED*

Well folks - its finally here.  Its January 30th, and the new generation of Blackberry devices have been announced.  There's a lot of news about everything, and I'm trying to bring as much as I can, as concise as I can, in a relatively short and easy to read article.  I'll give it a whirl, but if you have specific questions, or are looking for live coverage of the event, give the folks over at BGR a click, as they are live at the event.  But for those of you that want a pretty solid overview of what's happening with Blackberry, read on.

[Rumor] Google to launch new Nexus 7 tablet

If you've read my review of the Nexus 7, you'll know I surely love it and think it likely the best Android tablet on the market.  It's been a very good seller for Asus (the maker) and Google as well...and it looks like its about to get a refresh.  The latest rumor from DigiTimes is that Asus is partnering with Google again to give us an updated Nexus 7, with perhaps an HD panel display, smaller side bezels, and an "upgraded version of Google's Jelly Bean operating system" - whatever that means.

Plunkett called this in one of his Fearless Predictions...it will be interesting to see if it comes true.  I'm sure we will know by May, in time for Google's I/O event.  Carry on Google and Asus!

*Source:  Droid-Life

[News] HTC hosting event on Feb 19th

What's HTC got up their sleeve?  We're not sure...but as noted here, we think it might be a new superphone they want to announce to the world.  That's just a guess, but it looks like HTC is going to host an event on 02/19/2013 to announce something, and the M7 (or whatever its final real name is to be) is probably going to make its debut then.  We've seen all kinds of rumors on this thing (see this and this to get caught up) and I for one am a little excited to see the "next gen" crop of phones that will likely start with the unveiling of this device.

*Source:  Droid-Life

[News] Apple no longer world's most valuable company

In what has been a reversal of fortune for one of the largest tech companies, Apple has lost the title of "World's Most Valuable Company" after falling stock prices reduced its market cap to below $414 billion - slightly under Exxon's market cap of approximately $417 billion.  Shares of Apple were trading under $450/share at the time of this writing, a huge tumble from the over $700/share price it saw around the time of the launch of the iPhone 5 last year.  This represents a drop of about 36%, just since September.

The stock plummet comes as market researchers and analysts are wondering where Apple goes from here in terms of product innovation.  So much of Apple's edge has been built on staying ahead of their competition...but now that Android handsets and tablets are seen as viable (and in some instances more cost effective) alternatives to iPhones and iPads, the profit margins for the Cupertino tech giant are not what they once were, even a few short years ago.  With new device launches possibly coming as early as March, it remains to be seen if Apple can return to its status as "top dog" anytime soon.

*Source:  USA Today

[News] Samsung reports $8 billion profit in Q4 2012

Looks like Apple isn't the only one making it rain stacks of cash.  A day after Apple announced giant profits and revenues, Samsung is doing the same - showing a gigantic $8 billion profit in the 4th quarter of 2012.  The reason:  the incredible sales of the Galaxy S3 smartphone and the Galaxy Note 2 smartphablet.  The profit alone represents a 10% quarter over quarter growth for Samsung's mobile products division.  Include the fact that Sammy is now shipping more smartphones than Apple and Nokia combined, its no wonder the company is enjoying record success.

[Rumor] Galaxy S4 coming in 2nd quarter 2013

Samsung's Galaxy S3

As we move forward into this new year, we are likely to see a slew (maybe even 2 slews) of "mega" smartphones unveiled - the first to come could very well be Samsung's Galaxy S4.  The latest rumor is that a big reveal might be coming in March, with the go-live sale date coming shortly thereafter in April.  This would be a fast launch by Samsung's standards, and would be great news in light of a somewhat disappointing CES earlier this year.

[Rumor] Galaxy S4 to sport Exynos 5 octa core chip

Recently, an AnTuTu benchmark showed up on the web for the Samsung Galaxy S4, and the microprocessor driving the whole show is the fabled "Octa-core" Exynos 5 (which features 4 high powered cores, and 4 lower powered cores, making 8 or octuple cores total).  As this processor was only previously reported to be in the Galaxy Note 3, this is excellent news for those looking into purchasing the next version of Samsung's already wildly popular Galaxy S series.

The full bench mark indicates the processor is clocked at 1.8Ghz along with the 8 cores (with only 4 being in operation at any one time).  This is some serious power folks.

*Source:  Droid-Life

[Rumor] Blackberry Z10 device specs leak out

In more Blackberry 10 related news, slides of the training manual for the Z10 have presented more details of the specs of the device, including a 4.2 inch HD display (1280x768), Snapdragon processor, LTE & NFC, as well as 16GB of internal storage.  Other goodies include 2MB of RAM, a 2MP front facing camera, and 8MP rear camera with a whopping 5x optical zoom.  A reported 1800mAh battery powers it all, and (as any who used the old school Blackberry knows) it should easily get the average power user through a couple days of usage.


The official RIM press conference is still scheduled for 01/30/2013.  A non-official photo of the all touch screen device is below.  Enjoy!

BB Z10 - courtesy of BGR

*Source:  BGR

[Rumor] Could this be the HTC M7?

Its early in 2013, and the rumors are now starting to flow like wine at a Bacchan revel - the latest is a supposed photo of HTC's new flagship smartphone, the M7.  Sporting a look that could mildly remind one of the earlier iPhone iterations, the latest pic from @evleaks shows some very interesting things about the new device.

[Rumor]Nexus 5 smartphone and Nexus 7.7 tablet to be announced at Google I/O?

Leaks this morning indicate LG and Google will announce a Nexus 5 smartphone and an upgraded Nexus 7.7 tablet at Google I/O in May.

The Nexus 5 is pegged to have a 5" 1080p screen, a Tegra 4 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 3MP front and 13MP rear camera, and 8GB or 16GB of memory.  How much will this set you back you might ask?  The leak indicates the price will continue to start at a mere $299 just like the Nexus 4.

The Nexus 7.7 is said to have a 1920 x 1200 HD screen (294ppi), a Tegra 4 processor, 2GB of RAM, and at least 8GB of memory.  Again, price is rumored to start at the same $199 price point as the current Nexus 7.

The leaks sound plausible and may help explain some of the comments made by LG Senior Vice President James Fisher last week.  If you recall, Fisher said "Through our collaboration with Google, we launched the LG Nexus 4 smartphone. This is the first of many devices to come from our growing partnership with this very selective company."  Considering LG can't even keep the Nexus 4 in stock, it seemed odd to already be talking about future products, but hopefully Fisher was referring to the Nexus 5 and 7.7.

Google is also rumored to announce Android 5.0 (Key Lime Pie) at Google I/O.  Who knows, maybe we'll get an upgraded Nexus 10 with the Exynos 5 octa-core inside too?  All I know for sure is May suddenly can't get here fast enough!

[Rumor] Canadian carrier reports strong BB10 pre-orders

With the end of the month rapidly approaching, and with it the BB10 device and software announcement, early feedback from Rogers Wireless in Canada is encouraging for the embattled company from Waterloo.  According to the report from Rogers, reservations began in mid-December for folks interested in purchasing the new Blackberry handset - and the registration numbers appear to be "strong" in Rogers opinion.  And more registrations continue daily.  Since no specific numbers for these pre-orders were given, it doesn't mean much.  But it should be encouraging to RIM fans.

Early reviews of the new BB10 operating system have been mixed, with some positives and some disappointments.  But for my money, I'm pretty intrigued, and would very much like to see if Verizon gets a new BB device.  And if I'd consider purchasing one, I'm sure that lots more Blackberry fans would too.  January 30th is the scheduled date of the RIM announcement...it can't get here fast enough!

*Source:  BGR

[News] Samsung reports over 100 million Galaxy S phones sold

FTW

Well...if anyone needed any more proof that Samsung is on top of the heap of global smartphone sales, here it is:  Sammy has reported that over 100 million Galaxy phones (Galaxy S, S2, and S3 included) have been sold to date.  Considering the original phone was solid, and the GS2 and GS3 have only improved upon this design, this probably shouldn't come as a shock to anyone.  The Galaxy S3 was a huge success, and by huge  I mean over 40 million sold in 7 months.

With the Galaxy S4 likely to launch here in the 2nd quarter of 2013, these numbers probably will continue to rise.  Could Samsung sell a billion of the Galaxy series phones?  Only time will tell.

*Source: Droid-Life

[Review] iPod touch (5th Gen)

Santa was very generous this year, and delivered down my chimney the black 64GB 5th generation iPod touch.  I have long desired the thinner, taller version of my old 3rd generation iPod touch, and this year the jolly guy in the red suit came through for me.  Well...it was actually my wife who came through for me, but I'm sure you get the idea.  As I mentioned in our Best of Tech 2012 article, the design elements of the new iPod touch are simply beautiful.  I got the very sinister black and grey colorway, and I'll delve a little deeper into some of the pros and cons of Apple's latest generation music player below.

[Rumor] More HTC M7 news

As we roll on towards CES, more and more info is coming fast and furious about the new HTC "superphone" - currently codenamed the M7.  As of now, contrary to earlier reports, the device will NOT have an aluminum unibody chassis, but will instead have a matte black one piece construction, similar to the current HTC Droid DNA look.  While a mildly disappointing (but probably Apple lawsuit avoiding) decision, its not nearly as disappointing as the other rumor - that the M7 will still feature dedicated softkey buttons.  Seriously HTC?  Since the debut of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on the Galaxy Nexus, the operating system has supported on screen buttons.  Not only does this increase functionality, but it allows for even more of the precious screen real estate to be dedicated to the screen itself.

Early versions of handsets that were already likely in production when ICS was released can be forgiven for still retaining these "legacy" buttons...but with the subsequent release of Jelly Bean after ICS (and the numerous updates since even that) there really isn't any logical reason for a smartphone maker to include dedicated buttons any longer.

More details as they emerge!

*Source:  Droid-Life

[Rumor] Could the next iPhone come in color?

Apple's iPod touch

Much like their iPod touch line, the latest rumors swirling about the interweb have it that the next generation of the iPhone (the so-called 5S) will come in multiple colors - not just black and white - for the first time ever.  Presumably the anodized aluminum chassis that debuted in the iPhone 5S will allow for the process to be ported from the iPod to iPhone line, perhaps even with different colors than are currently offered in the iPod by Apple.  We should know on or about June of 2013.  Who's excited for a shiny blue iPhone 5S?

*Source:  BGR

[Rumor] More HTC M7 info coming soon?

Now that its a brand new year, more rumors are starting to fly around about our favorite tech toys...most notably this new "M7" device from HTC.  The latest rumors have it that HTC might spit some game on their new device as early as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which will be held very soon.  As we'd covered in earlier rumors here this device could be HTC's next "superphone" boasting very cutting edge specs.  The only downer could be whether or not it hits the US and which carriers.  Stay tuned...

*Source:  Droid-Life