[Podcast] Episode 18 is live - February's Rumor Roundup!

The newest edition of the Silicon Theory podcast is here, and its February and the rumors are flying fast and furious!  We take some time to discuss the newest phone from Huawei, rumors about phones from LG and Samsung, and give our takes on what we expect to see from MWC in a few weeks.  Download or stream it today, and be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to make sure you get all the newest episodes as they go live.  While you're doing that, be sure to leave us a 5 star review as well.

Thanks for listening!  Find the Silicon Theory podcast on - iTunes, Google Play Music, SoundCloud

[Podcast] Episode 17 - January Rumor Roundup

Yes - another episode of the Silicon Theory Podcast is uploaded and this time, its all about the rumors surrounding the new phones for 2017.  We talk offerings from Samsung, Apple, and others.  There is a lot going on, and the leaks are coming fast and furious but we take a look at everything that's relevant for those of you who are looking for new devices this year.  And man...there could be a great selection to choose from.

We explore all of that and more in the latest episode.  Be sure to subscribe on Google Play, iTunes, or SoundCloud to get all the newest episodes!

[News] Tech events next week

Lots going on next week in the world of tech, and here's a quick rundown on what you need to know...

Microsoft hosts an event on Wednesday, 10/26/16

What to expect...

Microsoft is expected to take the wraps off some new hardware, and coming just after Google's hardware event (and just before Apple's hardware event) their timing couldn't be better - if you're a Windows or Surface fan.  Some of the rumored devices include:

[Review] LG G4

With a change in carrier came a change in phones - for my whole family as it was to turn out.  I went with the Nexus 6P and haven't regretted it one bit.  Misses Tech Geek needed something with a good camera, good battery life, and had an SD card slot (since we knew we'd be using that good camera a lot) - we looked at a few options, but since she was using the G2, it made the most sense to get her the updated version, LG's G4.  Its not my daily driver, but I've used it enough to know what I like and don't like.  Does the G4 live up to the lofty expectations of its G2 and G3 forebears?  Let's dig in and find out.

[Review] Final thoughts on the G3

As you've probably already read (and, if by chance you haven't, you can catch up here on my 10 days with the G3) I've been using the latest flagship from LG as my new daily driver mobile phone.  I've really got nothing but great things to say about it, and to sum it all up, if you are in the market for a new smartphone, you should give the G3 a long look.

Having said that, I wanted to offer up a few final thoughts on the G3, especially for those who are ready to make the plunge and buy a new device soon.

[Review] 10 days with LG's newest flagship - the G3

While I’m not ready to give my full review of the “latest and greatest” Android flagship to hit the market, I have spent 10 days now with the G3 as my daily driver.  So what you will be getting in this installment from the Two Tech Geeks is more like a first impressions and mini-review, with a little more in depth info to follow in the coming days.  But for now, sit down and hold on - you are about to be taken for a ride by one of the most powerful Android devices to hit all the major carriers in some time.

Coming soon...LG G3 review

Greetings fellow fun (and tech) seekers!

Just a quick note that I have laid my hands on the Verizon variant of LG's G3 superphone, and I'll have a few of my thoughts up in a detailed review soon.  I'm going to take the weekend to play around with it, but so far so good.  This is a big device, but those of you who like/love the G2 (and other 5"+ screen phones) will probably want to give the G3 a look.

Stay tuned for more news...

[Review] LG GPad 8.3 tablet

Recently, chance and good fortune happened to land me a 1st generation iPad mini.  While very grateful for such a princely gift, I (of all people) had no use for such an Apple product.  So, armed with some courage and a good story, I found a local merchant that was willing to swap me out for my choice of Android tablet.  I had thought to find myself the proud owner of a 32GB Nexus 7 (2013) but at the 11th hour found myself going with the LG GPad 8.3 instead.  As those of you who follow this blog might know, I am rather fond of LG's most recent tech products (see my review of the G2 here) and thought to give their new tablet a try.  Is it as outstanding a product as their flagship superphone?  Read below to get my thoughts!

[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.

[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

[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!

[Op-Ed]Why can't anyone but Motorola put a big battery in a smartphone?

With the recent release of both the LG Nexus 4 and the HTC Droid DNA, one thing jumped out at me right away with these devices:  whats the deal with the small batteries?  I think that most people would agree the #1 complaint about modern smartphones is the battery life, especially now that 4G LTE is on board most devices.  One company has managed to solve this problem quite well (and has begun to advertise as such on TV lately).  So why can't any of the other hardware manufacturers put some thought behind answering this consumer gripe as well?  Perhaps it's because it would make the phone too bulky or heavy to the point of being undesirable?  Perhaps it's simply not possible with current battery tech?  Maybe another reason entirely?  Let's take a closer look at the new phones and one of Motorola's flagship devices and see if we can find out what's really going on. 

[News] Nexus 4 to go back on sale today

After some "issues" on launch day with getting the Nexus 4 phone sold to as many people who wanted it, Google has indicated that the new Android flagship phone from Google and LG is now back stock and will go back on sale to the consumer at noon Pacific time.

If you are an AT&T or T-Mobile customer and are in the market for a new Android device, this might be right up your alley.  For detailed specs on pricing and the device, go here.  For a link to the Google Play to buy this unlocked bad boy, go here.

*Source: BGR

[News] Video usage of Nexus products, with Android 4.2

Check out this video from the good folks over at the Verge, who got a crazy sit down with some of the key players at Google, showing off some of the great new features of 4.2 Jelly Bean and the new Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 products.

Its about 15 minutes long, but well worth your time.

*Source:  The Verge

[News] Nexus 4 device appears for sale on UK retailer website

Carphone Warehouse, a UK retailer, apparently knows something we Yanks here Stateside don't.  That being the Nexus 4 from LG will be available for sale through them on October 30th, a day after the Google Event on October 29th.  The website showed the phone and link, only to have it subsequently removed, presumably from all the attention.  A screen grab of the site (and phone details) appears below:

Hopefully the site's removal of the link is because they needed to fix info from one of the rumors we've heard about this phone - that it will come with only 8GB of internal storage, with no SD card expansion.  And you can get it an any color you want, as long as its black.  While the design of the device is strikingly similar from the front to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the internals are updated and the devices rear cover plate has a unique tiled look to it.  Since this will most likely NOT be offered on Verizon (no LTE capability is currently reported) will anyone out there on a GSM provider be looking at this as their next phone?

*Source:  Engadget

[Op-Ed]What are LG and Google up to with the new Nexus?

Later this month LG and Google will release their new Nexus phone.  The leaked specs are impressive.  The LG Nexus has a 4.7" 1280x768 IPS LCD screen, a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, 2GB of RAM, on-screen buttons, an 8MP camera and a fairly large 2100mah non-removable battery. 

Compared to the Galaxy Nexus it's a nice upgrade.  The screen is better, the S4 Pro blows away the OMAP 4460, it has more RAM, a better camera and a bigger battery.  On paper, it's everything a Nexus should be.  It even looks like the Galaxy Nexus.

LG Optimus Nexus

But the LG Nexus has a serious flaw.  Reports indicate it'll launch with only 8GB or 16GB of internal memory and no SD card slot.

The standard amount of internal memory on high end smartphones is 16GB, with 32GB and 64GB as options.  HTC announced the One X+ last week with 64GB of standard memory.  The Galaxy Nexus launched with 16GB or 32GB a year ago.

Launching a flagship Nexus phone in only 8GB and 16GB variants is a serious error.  Cloud storage is readily available, but internal storage is still important and 8GB won't get the job done.

The only logical reason to cut down on internal memory is cost.  Flash memory is the highest cost component in modern smartphones.  If Google's plan is to make a low cost flagship, cutting the internal memory would be the easiest way to do it.  Since the LG Nexus is based on the Optimus G, changing out the processor, screen, or lowering the RAM really wasn't feasible.  Lowering the amount of internal memory though is relatively straight forward and doesn't hinder performance.

Maybe Google's plan is to release an inexpensive unlocked phone that works on any U.S. carrier?  After all, the Snapdragon S4 has the LTE modem embedded in the system on chip and is compatible with all major U.S. carrier's LTE frequencies.  Could Google be planning to release an 8GB Optimus Nexus through Google Play that's compatible on any carrier for $299.99 with the 16GB model priced at $399.99?  If that's the case then Google will have successfully given consumers the option of a flagship phone at a competitive price without a carrier subsidy.  That would be a major accomplishment.

Hopefully this is the scenario that plays out, because otherwise launching a modern flagship phone with only 8GB of memory is a deal breaker.

[News]Are these pictures of the LG Optimus Nexus?

A reader over at xda-developers posted pictures to his gallery of a mysterious LG phone with a model # of LG e960.  Ladies and gentleman, the LG Optimus Nexus:

You'll notice the model number shows "Full JellyBean on Mako."  Historically Google has used code names relating to fish for their flagship phones which further lends credence to the images.

Here are the specs based on what has leaked so far:

LG Optimus Nexus
Release Date: November
Carrier(s): Unknown
Price: Unknown
CPU/GPU: Quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro/Adreno 320
Screen: 4.7" IPS+ LCD (RGB) 1280x768p
Camera: 1.2MP(Fr)/13MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 8GB/16GB
Battery: Non-Removable/2100mah
Pros: Top CPU/GPU available.  Flagship specs across the board including ram, camera, and screen. Nexus phone means non-encrypted boot loader and stock Android.  Nexus phones get updates as soon as they are available (unless you're on Verizon).
Cons: No SD card slot.  Internal battery.  Storage options are limited.
Outlook: The LG Optimus Nexus brings top notch specs, a non-encrypted boot loader and stock Android together in a tidy black package.  
Similar phones to consider: 
AT&T: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, HTC One X, HTC One X+, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III
Sprint: Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III
T-Mobile: Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III
Verizon: Apple iPhone 5, HTC Droid Incredible X, Motorola Droid Razr MAXX HD, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III

So, is everyone ready for an LG Nexus phone?

UPDATED - More pictures of the LG Optimus Nexus:

Final case design?

[Op-Ed]Rumored new Nexus program full of question marks and probably bad news for Verizon customers

Today Androidandme announced details of the rumored new Nexus program.  It's a fairly massive shift from how Nexus phones have been done in years past.

Here are the highlights:
1) In November Google will announce the new LG Optimus G Nexus alongside Android 4.2 (which might be another version of Jelly Bean or possibly Key Lime Pie).
2) Any manufacturer would be allowed to produce a Nexus device as long as they follow guidelines set by Google.  These guidelines include specific hardware and storage requirements.
3) Manufacturers would be allowed to include custom skins that would be managed through a new customization center.  This appears to be Google's version of a theme manager.

All in all, pretty exciting stuff, right?

The idea of multiple Nexus phones is an Android lover's dream.  The LG Optimus G is a flagship product in every sense of the word.  Will HTC, Motorola, Samsung and Sony try to one up LG and produce their own phones through the Nexus program?  I don't know the answer, but I'm eager to find out.

Total Nexus Overload!

I generally detest OEM skins, but as long as they are basically a theme and easily disabled they're fine.  Different skin options could actually be a cool feature depending on how the customization center is implemented.

One critical area that isn't addressed in the report is whether or not Google will require un-encrypted boot loaders to participate in the Nexus program.  Google needs to realize this is the single most important reason that people buy Nexus phones and needs to be a requirement.  The un-encrypted boot loader allows it to be unlocked so the user can load any custom ROM and kernel combination they select.  If the boot loader is encrypted the boot loader can't be unlocked so the user is not able to load custom kernels.  It is still possible to load custom ROMS through various XDA developed workarounds, but loading a ROM in this manner without the intended kernel has distinct limitations.  A Nexus phone is supposed to be the embodiment of Android's open source philosophy and coming with an encrypted boot loader would defeat the whole purpose.

It seems logical to conclude that the new Nexus phone(s) will be unlocked GSM units not tied to a specific carrier and sold through the Google Play Store.  This is probably bad news for Verizon customers.  Right now no modem exists that supports all the GSM and LTE bands.  Even Apple was forced to make different versions of the iPhone 5 in order to cover all the carriers.  Considering the way Verizon botched the Galaxy Nexus launch and its subsequent updates, it's not far fetched to imagine them being excluded this year.

Once again Google has stuck to its open source roots and the end result is very exciting for users.  As long as Nexus phones are required to have state of the art hardware, stock android, and unlocked boot loaders everyone wins.  As a Verizon customer I just hope not to get left out of the fun.  November can't get here soon enough!

[Special Feature]Holiday 2012 Smartphone buyer's guide

The next couple months are poised to be very exciting for smartphone buyers.  Along with the recently released iPhone 5 and host of other great phones already released this year, a number of flagship devices are on the way.  Here's a look at some of the devices broken down by operating system:

Android:

HTC Droid DNA
Release Date: November 20th
Carrier(s): Verizon
Price: $199.99 on contract
CPU/GPU: Quad-Core Snapdragon S4 Pro/Adreno 320
Screen: 5" Super LCD-3 (RGB) 1920x1080p
Camera: 2.1MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 2GB
Storage: 16GB
SD Card Slot: No
Battery: Non-Removable/2020mah
Pros: A 5" 1080p screen featuring a ridiculous pixel density of 440ppi.  Stylish design with typical HTC quality materials.  The S4 PRO is the most powerful CPU/GPU in the current Android universe.
Cons: Large for the average consumer.  No SD card slot.  Internal battery.
Outlook: The specs of the DNA are as impressive as any phone on the market.  The 1080p screen would be the first of its kind on any smartphone and the quad-core S4 Snapdragon CPU is one of the most powerful available.  The relatively small battery may be cause for concern however.
Similar phones to consider: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, LG Intuition, Motorola Droid Razr MAXX HD, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy Note II, Samsung Galaxy S III

HTC ONE X+
Release Date: November
Carrier(s): AT&T
Price: $199.99 on contract
CPU/GPU: Tegra 3+ 1.7ghz quad-core/ULP GeForce
Screen: 4.7" Super LCD-2 (RGB) 1280x720p
Camera: 1.3MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 64GB
SD Card Slot: No
Battery: Non-Removable/2100mah
Pros: Improved version of the already great One X.  The AP37 Tegra 3+ quad-core CPU is an upgrade from the dual-core S4.   The 720p Super LCD-2 is one of the best screens on the market.  Fantastic design with high end matte polycarbonate uni body.  Looks and feels premium.  Bigger battery.  Great camera.  More standard on board storage and any other phone (64GB).
Cons: No SD card slot.  Internal battery.  HTC ImageChip/ImageSource camera system doesn't produce better pictures than the competition (though still very good).
Outlook: The One X+ is the best looking Android phone on the planet.  It has a powerful quad-core Tegra 3+ CPU, a beautiful screen, plenty of on board storage and a great camera. Unfortunately the Tegra 3+ chip is still the 40nm variety meaning it runs hotter and uses more battery than other quad-core processors. 
Similar phones to consider: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, LG Optimus G, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III

LG Optimus G 
Release Date: November 2nd (AT&T), 11th (Sprint)
Carrier(s): AT&T, Sprint
Price: $199.99 on contract
CPU/GPU: Quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro 1.5ghz/Adreno 320
Screen: 4.7" IPS+ LCD (RGB) 1280x768p
Camera: 1.2MP(Fr)/13MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 16GB/32GB
SD Card Slot: No
Battery: Non-Removable/2100mah
Pros: Top CPU/GPU available.  Flagship specs across the board including ram, camera, and screen. Back cover is a unique polarized jewel pattern.
Cons: No SD card slot.  Internal battery.  Glass back is fragile.  No front facing notification LED.  Launching with Ice Cream Sandwich instead of Jelly Bean.  Historically LG's Android skin is among the worst.  LG doesn't always update their phones in a timely manner.
Outlook: The LG Optimus G has a super powerful quad-core S4 Snapdragon CPU, a high resolution 4.7" screen and a generous 2GB of RAM.  The only negatives are LG has a bad reputation for supporting their flagship phones and it's launching with Ice Cream Sandwich instead of Jelly Bean.
Similar phones to consider: 
AT&T: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, HTC One X, HTC One X+, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III
Sprint: Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III

Motorola Droid Razr HD and Razr Maxx HD 
Release Date: October 18th
Carrier(s): Verizon
Price: $199.99 (Razr HD) & $299.99 (Maxx HD)  on contract
CPU/GPU: Dual-core Snapdragon S4/Adreno 225
Screen: 4.7" Super AMOLED Pentile Matrix 1280x720p
Camera: 1.3MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 16GB/32GB
SD Card Slot: Yes
Battery: Non-Removable/2500mah(HD)/3300mah(Maxx HD)
Pros: Above average(HD), and insane(MAXX) battery life.  Premium materials including Kevlar back plate.  On screen buttons.  SD card slot.  Very good HD screen.  Radios and call quality are top notch.
Cons: CPU and GPU  arenslightly outdated compared to other forthcoming flagships.  Pentile matrix screen.  Ships with Ice Cream Sandwhich instead of Jelly Bean.  Verizon charges too much for both.
Outlook: If you need a phone that gets serious battery life, both the standard RAZR HD and RAZR HD MAXX are excellent choices.  Owners of the RAZR HD MAXX are reporting  they get multiple days on a single charge with 7+ hours of on screen time.  Verizon charges too much for both phones, but Amazon is currently selling the RAZR HD for $149.99 and the RAZR HD MAXX for $199.99.  Do yourself a favor and spend the extra $50.00 to get the MAXX.  
Similar Phones to consider: Apple iPhone 5, HTC Droid DNA, LG Optimus G, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III

Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Release Date: T-Mobile and Sprint - October 25th
                        AT&T - November 9th
                        Verizon - November 27th
Carrier(s): AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon
Price: $299 on contract
CPU/GPU: Exynos 4412 1.6ghz quad-core/Mali-400
Screen: 5.5" Super AMOLED (RGB) 1280x720p
Camera: 1.9MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 16GB/32GB/64GB
SD Card Slot: Yes
Battery: Removable/3100mah
Pros: Very large RGB Super AMOLED screen (Samsung's first non-pentile HD screen!).  Large removable  battery.  SD card slot support for up to 64GB.  S-pen functionality.  Excellent camera. Multi-window function is seriously cool.
Cons: Very large for the average consumer.  Looks like a very large Galaxy S III.  Physical home button.  Cheap feeling materials.
Outlook: The Galaxy Note 2 offers a powerful quad-core Exynos processor, the best Super AMOLED screen Samsung has produced to date, and a healthy 2GB of ram.  The S-Pen stylus and Note 2 specific software offers unique functionality.  The Note 2 is physically very large and not for everyone.
Similar phones to consider: 
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile: N/A
Verizon: HTC Droid DNA, LG Intuition

Sony Xperia TL
Release Date: November 2nd
Carrier(s): AT&T
Price: $99.99 on contract
CPU/GPU: Dual-core Snapdragon S4/Adreno 225
Screen: 4.6" LCD 1280x720p
Camera: 1.3MP(Fr)/13MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 16GB/32GB
SD Card Slot: Yes
Battery: Non-Removable/1850mah
Pros: Quality screen.  Unique, clean design.  SD card slot.  On screen buttons.
Cons: Smaller internal battery/mediocre battery life.  CPU and GPU slightly outdated compared to other forthcoming flagships.  Launching with Ice Cream Sandwich instead of Jelly Bean.
Outlook: The Xperia TL has a nice 4.6" RGB 720p screen, a 13mp camera, and a dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU.  The $99.99 price point is a pleasant surprise and makes the TL a solid value.  Anyone looking for a budget friendly smart phone on AT&T should give it a look.
Similar phones to consider: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, HTC One X, HTC One X+, LG Optimus G, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III

LG Nexus 4
Release Date: November 13th
Carrier(s): T-Mobile/Unlocked
Price: $299/8GB & $349/16GB
           $199 T-Mobile on contract
CPU/GPU: Quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro/Adreno 320
Screen: 4.7" IPS+ LCD (RGB) 1280x768p
Camera: 1.2MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 8GB/16GB
SD Card Slot: No
Battery: Non-Removable/2100mah
Pros: Top CPU/GPU available.  Flagship specs across the board including ram, camera, and screen. Nexus phone means non-encrypted boot loader and stock Android.  Nexus phones get updates as soon as they're available. 
Cons: No SD card slot.  Internal battery.  Storage options are very limited.  Won't work on Sprint or Verizon, and no LTE support for AT&T.
Outlook: The LG Optimus Nexus brings top notch specs, a non-encrypted boot loader and stock Android together in a tidy black package.  
Similar phones to consider: 
AT&T: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, HTC One X, HTC One X+, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III
T-Mobile: Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III

Windows Phone 8:

HTC Windows Phone 8X
Release Date: November 8th
Carrier(s): AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon
Price: $99.99 on contract
CPU/GPU: Dual-core Snapdragon S4 1.5ghz/Adreno 225
Screen: 4.3" Super LCD-2 (RGB) 1280x720p
Camera: 2.1MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 16GB
SD Card Slot: No
Battery: Non-Removable/1800mah
Pros: Fantastic Super LCD-2 screen with a very high 342ppi pixel density.  Unique and colorful design borrowed heavily from the Nokia Lumia line.  Solid polycarbonate body.  Beats audio integration.
Cons: No SD card slot.  Internal battery.  Thick compared to iPhone 5 and flagship Android products.
Outlook: The HTC 8X has a 4.3" 720p screen and the same dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU as all the competing WP8 flagships.  The design is similar to the Nokia Lumia 920 and appears to have the high build quality and solid materials that HTC is known for.  
Similar phones to consider:
AT&T:  Apple iPhone 5, HTC One X, HTC One X+, LG Optimus G, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III
T-Mobile: LG Optimus G, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III
Verizon: Apple iPhone 5, HTC DNA, LG Optimus G, Motorola Droid Razr MAXX HD, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III

Nokia Lumia 920
Release Date: November 11th
Carrier(s): AT&T
Price: $99.99 on contract
CPU/GPU: Dual-core Snapdragon S4 1.5ghz/Adreno 225
Screen: 4.5" PureMotion  HD+ LCD(RGB) 1280x768p
Camera: 1.3MP(Fr)/8.7MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 32GB
SD Card Slot: No
Battery: Non-Removable/2000mah
Pros: The 4.5" PureMotion HD+ screen looks fantastic and has Synaptic's new super sensitive touch technology.  The 8.7MP PureView camera is superior for low light photography and image stabilization and generally excellent.  Solid polycarbonate uni body with unique and colorful Nokia design language.
Cons: No SD card slot.  Internal battery.  Even thicker and heavier than the HTC 8X.  The gloss back looks cheap compared to the matte back on the Lumia 900.  Camera is great in low light, but only okay during the day.
Outlook: This is the flagship Windows 8 phone.  The dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU is the same as the HTC 8X and Samsung Ativ S, and is only outgunned by the quad-core Android CPU's.  The 4.5" HD screen is by all accounts excellent and is sensitive enough to be used with gloves.  Camera tests have shown superior low light ability and image stabilization compared to the iPhone 5 and HTC One X.
Similar phones to consider: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, HTC One X, HTC One X+, LG Optimus G, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III

Samsung Ativ S
Release Date: November
Carrier(s): AT&T and Verizon
Price: $199.99 on contract
CPU/GPU: Dual-core Snapdragon S4 1.5ghz/Adreno 225
Screen: 4.8" Super AMOLED (Pentile Matrix) 1280x720p
Camera: 1.9MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 16GB/32GB
SD Card Slot: Yes
Battery: Removable/2300mah
Pros: Much thinner body than either the 8X or Lumia 920.  Largest screen (4.8") of the group.  Has an SD card slot and large removable battery.  Excellent camera.
Cons: Lower quality (pentile matrix) screen and cheap materials compared to the competition.
Outlook: Essentially a WP8 version of the excellent Samsung Galaxy S III.  The 4.8" screen is the largest of the group, but the lowest quality due to being pentile matrix.  The camera is excellent and the battery is large and removable.
Similar phones to consider: 
AT&T: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, HTC One X, HTC One X+, LG Optimus G, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Galaxy S III
Verizon: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, HTC DNA, LG Optimus G, Motorola Droid Razr MAXX HD, Samsung Galaxy S III

Best Phones Already on the Market:

Apple iPhone 5
Released on: Sept 21, 2012
Carrier(s): AT&T, Sprint and Verizon
Price: $199.99 on contract
CPU/GPU: Dual-core A6 1.3ghz/Tri-core PowerVR543
Screen: 4" IPS LCD (RGB) 1136x640p
Camera: 1.2MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 16GB/32GB/64GB
SD Card Slot: No
Battery: Non-Removable/1440mah
Pros: One of the thinnest, lightest phones on the market.  Very good battery life.  Screen is top notch.  Excellent camera.  High quality materials and classic design.
Cons: Screen is small at 4" compared to other smart phones.  Non-removable battery and no SD card slot.  No notification LED.  Apple's iOS allows very little user customization compared to Android. Proprietary Lightning port means more expensive cables.  Android flagships have caught up in the specs and quality department.
Outlook: One of the best all around phones on the market.  Powerful while also very thin and light.  Excellent 4" screen and camera.  The best small phone available.
Similar phones to consider:
AT&T: HTC 8X, HTC One X, HTC One X+, LG Optimus G, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III
Sprint: LG Optimus G, Samsung Galaxy S III
T-Mobile: LG Optimus G, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III
Verizon: HTC DNA, LG Optimus G, Motorola Droid Razr MAXX HD, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III

HTC EVO 4G LTE

Released on: June 2, 2012

Carrier(s): Sprint

Price: As low as $49.99 on contract

CPU/GPU: Dual-core Snapdragon S4 1.5ghz/Adreno 225

Screen: 4.7" Super LCD-2 (RGB) 1280x720p

Camera: 1.3MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps

Memory: 1GB RAM

Storage: 16GB
SD Card Slot: Yes

Battery: Non-Removable/2000mah

Pros: The 720p Super LCD-2 is one of the best screens on the market.  SD card slot.  Looks and feels premium.  Excellent camera.

Cons: Non-removable battery.  HTC ImageChip/ImageSource camera system doesn't produce better pictures than the competition (although they are still very good).  Still on Ice Cream Sandwich, but Jelly Bean is rumored to be coming out soon.  Two-tone matte/gloss design is questionable and not as nice as the HTC One X on which the Evo is based.

Outlook: Based on the HTC One X, the EVO 4G adds a removable battery and SD card slot at the expense of design asthetics.  Although the phone was released in June, it still sports competitive specs.  Can be had for as low as $49.99 on contract (Amazon). 

Similar phones to consider: Apple iPhone 5, LG Optimus G, Samsung Galaxy S III

HTC ONE X
Released on: May 6, 2012
Carrier(s): AT&T
Price: As low as $49.99 on contract
CPU/GPU: Dual-core Snapdragon S4 1.5ghz/Adreno 225
Screen: 4.7" Super LCD-2 (RGB) 1280x720p
Camera: 1.3MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 16GB/32GB
SD Card Slot: No
Battery: Non-Removable/1800mah
Pros: The 720p Super LCD-2 is one of the best screens on the market.  Fantastic design with high end matte polycarbonate uni body.  Looks and feels premium.  Excellent camera.
Cons: No SD card slot.  Internal battery.  HTC ImageChip/ImageSource camera system doesn't produce better pictures than the competition (although they are still very good).  Still on Ice Cream Sandwich, but Jelly Bean is rumored to be coming out soon.
Outlook: The best looking Android phone available.  The One X is still competitive from a specs standpoint even though it was released in May.  Can be had for as low as $49.99 on contract (Target). 
Similar phones to consider: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, HTC One X+, LG Optimus G, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III

Samsung Galaxy S III
Released on: June 21, 2012
Carrier(s): AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon
Price: As low as $149.99 on contract
CPU/GPU: Dual-core Snapdragon S4 1.5ghz/Adreno 225
Screen: 4.8" Super AMOLED (Pentile Matrix) 1280x720p
Camera: 1.9MP(Fr)/8MP/1080p@30fps
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 16GB/32GB
SD Card Slot: Yes
Battery: Removable/2100mah
Pros: Large 4.8" screen.  Super thin body.  SD card slot and large removable battery.  Excellent camera.  2GB of ram.
Cons: Lower quality (pentile matrix) screen and cheap materials compared to the competition.  Still on Ice Cream Sandwich, but Jelly Bean is rumored to be coming out soon.
Outlook: The Galaxy S III is a great all around smartphone.  It has a dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU, a 4.8" 720p screen, 2GB of ram, an SD card slot and a large, removable battery.  Prices are currently in the $99.99 range (Amazon), but Sprint will be selling the Galaxy S III for $49.99 on Black Friday.  Other carriers will likely drop the price during the holidays too.
Similar phones to consider:
AT&T: Apple iPhone 5, HTC 8X, HTC One X, HTC One X+, LG Optimus G, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III
Sprint: Apple iPhone 5, LG Optimus G, Samsung Galaxy S III
T-Mobile: LG Optimus G, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III
Verizon: Apple iPhone 5, HTC DNA, LG Optimus G, Motorola Droid Razr MAXX HD, Samsung Ativ S, Samsung Galaxy S III

[Op-Ed]What is Motorola doing?

On September 5th Motorola announced their newest flagship phones the Droid Razr HD and the Droid Razr MAXX HD (along with the mid-level Droid Razr M).  Both have a dual-core S4 processor with an Adreno 225 GPU, a pentile matrix 4.7" 720p HD display (you can find my feelings on pentile matrix screens here), on-screen buttons, a kevlar back plate, 1 GB of ram, 32GB of internal storage, an SD card slot, and an 8MP camera.  The only difference between the two is the capacity of the battery (2500mah for the HD, 3300mah for the MAXX) and a very slight bump in thickness for the MAXX (9.4mm vs. 8.4mm).  Motorola didn't announce a release date and simply said both phones "will be out before the holidays."  As I sat at my computer watching the press conference all I could think was what is Motorola doing?

(Photos courtesy of motorola.com)

Neither phone is bad per se, but rather 6 months or so late to the party.  The HTC One X sports the same processor, a better screen, the same 1GB of ram, a better camera and was released back in May.  Ditto for the Samsung Galaxy S III except it has a pentile matrix screen similar to the Razr HD and an extra 1GB of ram.  It was released in June.  In essence Motorola announced flagship phones that were at best equal to what the competition had released 5-6 months earlier.

Motorola seems to be hanging its hat on larger battery capacity being the most important factor to buyers.  While this is indeed one of the most important factors for potential buyers, the days of LTE phones draining a battery in 4-6 hours like the HTC Thunderbolt are long gone.  The introduction of the 28nm Krait S4 processor with an integrated LTE modem on board has lead to a massive increase in battery life.  The One X and Galaxy S III both have no problem making it through a day of normal use.

Even if Motorola is aiming for the battery conscious buyer, why introduce both the Razr HD and the Razr MAXX HD?  The difference in thickness between the two is less than 1mm and most consumers probably wouldn't even notice.  Given the significant difference in capacity why would anyone opt for the Razr HD?  

Is this enough of a difference to justify two separate models?

(Photo courtesy of pocketnow.com)

The only reason I can think of is price.  My guess is that Verizon prices the Razr HD at $199.99 and the Razr MAXX HD at $299.99 on contract.  Why anyone would pay that for either when they could pick up a Galaxy S III for $149.99 or an iPhone 5 for $199.99 is completely beyond me.  That's not even taking into consideration options like the Galaxy Nexus for $49.99 or the forthcoming slew of amazing phones that will be out before the end of the year on Verizon including the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 ($299.99), the HTC Droid Incredible X ($199.99 or $299.99), and the LG Optimus G ($199.99) all of which feature superior specifications including quad-core processors, 1.5-2GB of ram and true RGB 720p or 1080p screens.

HTC Droid Incredible X

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

LG Optimus G

(Photos courtesy engadget.com)

Motorola doesn't make bad products, but they also don't make compelling ones.  Their history with consumers isn't great and they have some ground to make up in the reputation department (a topic for a separate article).  Their phones are solid and feature nice materials but they are constantly behind the competition in key areas like screen quality, ram, and especially cameras.  Packing huge batteries into their phones is novel, but isn't enough to battle the big boys.  The competition is fierce and releasing yesterday's flagship at today's price isn't the way back to profitability.