About Brandon Sobotta

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Aug 17 2012

Think before you buy: here are a few phones not to buy now, and why

Are you planning to buy a smartphone sometime soon? Do check out our expert’s advice on what devices to avoid. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

For the last few months we have been publishing a monthly buyer’s guides for Android, things where hectic and it was hard to keep up. This month we are going with a new idea. If you do have questions on which phone to buy, refer to last month’s buyer’s guide because it is still relevant today! That being said, do read on. We have some phones out now that may seem like a good deal right now, but we have good reasons why you should avoid them (and help avoid buyer’s remorse).

4G Phones and Sprint

The term “4G” is thrown around now days so much it seems like it really has no official meaning. 4G speeds are basically whatever a carrier determines them to be. Over the last two years the carriers have used three forms of technology for their 4G networks. Verizon went with LTE, AT&T and T-Mobile used HSPA+ and Sprint went with WiMax. Verizon today is still going strong with their LTE, and AT&T is now incorporating LTE with their HSPA+. However, the problem for the purpose of this article lies with Sprint and their WiMax.

 

Sprint bet on WiMax for the future of their 4G service, much like Verizon did with LTE. Sprint quickly abandoned WiMax, though, and switched over to LTE. Sprint and its partners stopped expanding WiMax towers months ago, and the company is now lighting up their LTE towers. The problem is that Sprint is still selling the rest of their inventory of WiMax-based 4G phones. If you have WiMax in your area, these phones could possibly be a good deal for you, but only if you’re willing to have limited 4G service for the next two years of your contract.

The only phone I could find that Sprint is still pushing with WiMaX 4G is the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic Touch 4G (GS2). The GS2 can be found on Amazon, Best Buy, and Sprint; ranging from a penny to 99.99. While these prices may seem attractive, especially for a big name phone like the Galaxy S II, you will probably be better off buying its younger brother, the Galaxy S3 (which has Sprint’s new LTE service).

Low End/Cheap Android Phones

Avoid low end or cheap Android phones. This may seem like common sense, but with so many low end phones available, someone must be buying them. Low end phones are at the heart of what generally give Android a bad name. They are cheap for a reason: corners have been cut when these devices where being designed. Many of these devices have been built with low memory, small amounts of storage, cheap small screens, and tiny batteries. They often are on non-contract providers such as Boost Mobile or Virgin Wireless, or are commonly free (on contract).

In my experience with Android phones, I have found certain brands are synonymous with cheap, and generally should be avoided in most situations. Companies such as Pantech, ZTE, Huawei and Kyocera can all be lumped together in the do-not-buy list of low end phones.  Although some of these companies do have plans to release higher-end phones stateside in the upcoming year, it probably is better to be safe than sorry and not buy from them. While these unfamiliar companies are easy to spot and avoid, there are some bigger names in the business that do release  low end/cheap phones to the masses, these may be a little harder to spot. LG, Samsung also have low-end phones that are the same price as older flagship phones on the same carrier.

If you are looking for a cheaper Android phone there are plenty of them. First time buyers are more susceptible to get roped in to two-year contracts on phones that where outdated a year ago. If you’re looking for a cheap LG on Verizon, pick up the Lucid instead of the Enlighten (both a penny on Amazon with contract renewal), in this case the Lucid being a much better phone. If you’re looking for a cheap Samsung on AT&T get the Captivate Glide (for 49.99) is a much better deal than the Doubletime (for a penny). While prices are bound to change, it pays to shop around and do some research. Because picking up a low end phone and being stuck with it for two years is no fun. If nothing else, stop in at your local Best Buy, browse around and ask questions. They will be more than happy to help you find the best device in your price range, and they will often price match the online competitors.

Phones with skins? How about phones with bad skins?

Custom UIs (skins) on Android have existed almost since the beginning. At first they added features and uniqueness to phones that a company released. As time went on we started seeing skins actually causing more problems than they were fixing. Many phones became bogged down and difficult to use. As the basic Android OS has evolved and grown, the need for custom skins has become pretty much non-existent. That being said, most manufacturers today still put these customs skins on their phones.

Comparing all of the manufacturers’ skins, some are better than others. Companies such as HTC and Motorola seem to be toning down how deep their skins are integrated with their phones, while others like LG and Samsung are doing the opposite. From my experience and the opinion of people around me, the company with the worse integration of their custom skin is LG. It’s slow, clunky, and buggy. On the other hand Motorola has gone from having one of the worst skins with Moto blur, to it being toned down so much with the release of Android 4.0 that Blur almost doesn’t exist.  Along with these two companies are Samsung and HTC, both having their own approach to their skin. While Samsung is adding more and more features to their phones, it’s done in a way that is functional and elegant. HTC on the other hand is taking the road of less is more, much like Motorola.

Skins are a way of life with Android, but some are generally better than others. Although LG has made some headroom with their latest phone, all their previous phones have a terrible skin on it. The other big three of the Android world are fine, but the only real way to know if you like HTC’s Sense, Samsung’s TouchWiz, or Motorola’s Blur is to try them out for yourself at your local phone dealer or BestBuy.

Conclusion

It is an ever changing world for us and Android. To be happy with our devices we need to make the right purchase. Oftentimes our lack of satisfaction is due to a rushed purchase. I hope with the help of this guide, some hands-on time, and a little more research, you will be able to find the right phone for you.


NEXT: Hey, Manufacturers! Ten Months Later, Only 31% of Android Phones Have Android 2.3?
nokia-symbian-s40-1point5-billion-0 Nokia’s 1.5 Billion S40 Phones Number Is Irrelevant for Today’s Markets android-logo Ice Cream to Incorporate Honeycomb’s Best for Android Phones

This article, Think before you buy: here are a few phones not to buy now, and why , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


By Brandon Sobotta • android buyers guide, Editors Choice, Featured, Opinions • 0

Jul 16 2012

Android Authority smartphone buying guide: July 2012

Smartphone Buying-guide july

A lot has happen since we published our June’s Smartphone Buying Guide in this crazy world we know as Android. Verizon has seen the addition of a few new phones, something that was definitely needed, considering that Big Red’s last major launch was the RAZR MAXX back in February.

Also, the release of the Samsung Galaxy S3 across all carriers was probably the most notable happening since we posted the last edition of our buyer’s guide. So let’s get to it, and find out what are the best phones that potential customers can buy in July 2012.

Sprint and T-Mobile

Samsung Galaxy S3

This month’s recommended smartphone for both Sprint and T-Mobile is the much buzzed Samsung Galaxy S3.

The Galaxy S3 is the first Android phone to be released across all major carriers in the US with little difference between variants. This uniformity can benefit us in one way particularly, and that is with accessories. With so many identical Galaxy S3′s in people’s hands, there is a a great variety of accessories for you to choose from.

The second reason we recommend the Galaxy S3 is its camera. The rear camera on the S3 has an 8MP sensor, and features continuous auto focus, zero shutter lag, face detection, high dynamic range mode, burst mode, and more. The most stand out feature is probably the burst mode — the Galaxy S3 can take up to 20 photos at a rate of 6 per second, which definitely comes in handy for fast action shots.

Last is the software/user overlay. The Samsung Galaxy S3 comes with many unique software features that can make the user experience a pleasing one. Features such as S Voice (voice commands), S Beam (sharing feature), and eye detection (to keep the screen on while you’re looking at it) are all welcomed additions to stock Android.

Verizon

HTC Incredible 4G LTE

Verizon hasn’t had a major phone launch on its network since the Razr Maxx. This month we see two phones come to life on Big Red, the HTC Incredible 4G LTE and the Samsung Galaxy S3. We’ve already covered the Galaxy S3 for Sprint and T-Mobile, so let’s take a look at another great option that can be had on Verizon, the Incredible 4G LTE.

The Incredible line dates from all the way back in 2010, when the original Incredible was launched. With its smallish 4-inch display, the Incredible 4G LTE by HTC bucks the current trend of phones having increasingly large displays, which is good news for those who want an easy-to-handle device. Although the screen is smaller, the insides of the phone are worthy of its moniker. The Incredible 4G LTE has much of the same specs as the One X, HTC’s flagship phone on AT&T: a powerful dual core processor, 1 gig of RAM, and a great camera (although not quite up to par with the One X). For those of you looking for a phone that is a little smaller, but very much capable, the Incredible 4G LTE is the best choice for you.

AT&T

HTC One X

AT&T is the only carrier that kept the HTC One X in its original form (from the international version), perhaps because they realized there’s no point in changing a perfectly good design. That being said, it is kind of disappointing that HTC did not have the clout to release this phone across all carriers, like Samsung did with the Galaxy S3.

In my opinion, the HTC One X is the closest thing to “perfection” that a non-Nexus phone can get. It has great build quality, an amazing screen (that puts everything else to shame, yes even better than the Galaxy S3), and stellar specs. Much like the Samsung Galaxy S3, this phone has raised the bar for Android phones across the board.

Galaxy Nexus

All Carriers

Even with all the great phones mentioned above, it’s hard to forget about the Galaxy Nexus. Eight months have passed since the launch of the Galaxy Nexus, but this phone is still the flagship of all Android phones, and rightfully so. It has the most up to date Android software, an amazing design, and a large, high-quality screen. While it may not match up spec to spec with the phones mentioned above, it really is hard to recommend any other phone over the Galaxy Nexus, especially if you’re looking for the pure Android experience. And, with the release of Jelly Bean, Google has stepped up its game in terms of the user experience of Android. The interface has become buttery smooth (pun intended!) and the interaction with the phone itself has become more intuitive thanks to Google Now. To read up more on what Google Now is and the latest version of Android known as Jelly Bean, click here.

Rumored Phones

Currently there are two  phones on the radar that are of interest, the Droid RAZR HD and an unknown HTC phone.

Droid RAZR HD 

The Droid RAZR HD is believed to have a 4.6″ HD display, a 1.8 dual-core  CPU, and a SGX544 GPU. While none of these specs are official, they look in line with many of the other phones that have been released recently. For this phone to be successful, it definitely needs to launch with the same battery as the RAZR MAXX. If the demand for the Droid RAZR HD is anything like it was for its older brother, it is definitely going to be the phone to get when released.

Unknown HTC Device

Last on this list is an unknown HTC device with very impressive specs. What we know so far is that the device is going to have a 1080p display, is clocked at 1.5GHz, and possibly has an Adreno 320 GPU. If those specs are not impressive enough, benchmarks found at GLBenchmark show that this new beast absolutely crushes the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S3. Everything else I have read about this phone is pure speculation, but if true HTC might just take the lead in the Android pack once more


NEXT: Android Authority smartphone buying guide: June 2012
xl_Samsung_GalaxyS3_3 Samsung Galaxy S3 becomes Phone 4U’s best selling smartphone of 2012 in just 24 hours ATT-February-Buyers-Guide AT&T Buyers Guide: February 2012

This article, Android Authority smartphone buying guide: July 2012 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


By Brandon Sobotta • Android News, Android Phones, Phone Reviews • 0

Jun 9 2012

Android Authority smartphone buying guide: June 2012

Buying-guide june 2012

This month’s buyer’s guide brings something different to Android Authority.

We have rolled together all the US mobile networks in one place, and have selected only the best phones for you. We will also be covering rumored or soon to be released phones, in case what you find below is not quiet to your liking. Let’s kick it!

Verizon

Choosing a phone from Verizon for the June Buyer’s Guide was difficult. All Big Red’s top of the line phones date back from the end of 2011. That’s a stark contrast with the other carriers, who have new flagship phones on the shelf right now. Although the phones from late last year are no slouchers (I myself own a Rezound), it’s hard to compare them to the likes of the HTC One X or Samsung Galaxy S3.

With that in mind, unless you are fine with waiting about a month for the Galaxy S3 or the Incredible 4G LTE, I am recommending Verizon’s  Droid RAZR Maxx.

Droid RAZR Maxx

The Droid RAZR was released with much fanfare, and soon came under fire when the Maxx version arrived just a few short weeks later. Although it may not have been the best move to launch the Maxx so shortly after the original Droid RAZR, its release changed the game for Android phones as a whole.

Motorola’s sleek Kevlar-backed handset proved conclusively that a phone can be thin and have a high capacity battery. This gave many people a new standard which to hold smartphones by. Although the trend was not followed by other manufacturers, higher capacity batteries packed in thin devices are becoming more common.

Droid RAZR Maxx specs

  • 4.3″-inch Super AMOLED display (540 x 960)
  • Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • Dual-core 1.2 GHz
  • 1GB RAM
  • 8GB built in storage 16GB Card included
  • 8-megapixel (rear) camera
  • 1.3-megapixel (front) camera
  • Non-removable 3300mAh battery

AT&T

AT&T has stuck close by Samsung over the last year, with the launch of many variations of the Samsung Galaxy S2 (even if it canned the Galaxy S2 HD) and Galaxy Note.

With this in mind, I am recommending the HTC One X this month, but keep in mind that it is highly likely that the Galaxy S3 will be launched sometime by the end of June. One important thing to note is that the new One X has a LTE 4G radio, something that is semi new for AT&T. Since LTE’s launch by AT&T late last year, the carrier has been slow to expand its new 4G network across the US. So, even if you do have an LTE phone, odds are that, if you are not in a major city, you probably won’t be able to make the most of those blazing fast data speeds.

HTC One X

The HTC One X is the flagship of the HTC One series. The introduction of the One series was meant to unify HTC’s sprawling stable of phones into one straightforward product line. While this may have happened in the rest of the world, for those of us in the United States, it’s far from the truth. AT&T got the One X and Sprint got the EVO One 4G LTE, pretty much the same phone with a few cosmetic and design changes.

The HTC One X  has a 4.7″ display that is unmatched; watching YouTube, Hulu, or Netflix on this phone is sure to impress. The camera has a HTC ImageChip that gets you great shots even in bad light conditions, something that can’t be said for almost any other smartphone available today. AT&T’s One X also has the latest in software, with Android 4.0 ICS, something that few Android phone officially have. As you can see below, the rest of the specs of the One X are top of the line, meaning this phone should last you the full 2 years of your contract without a problem.

HTC One X Specs

  • 4.7-inch Super LCD2 display(720 x 1280)
  • Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • Sense 4.0
  • 1.5 GHz dual core processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 32GB built-in storage
  • 8-megapixel (rear) camera
  • 1.3-megapixel (front) camera
  • Non-removable 1800mAh battery
  • NFC capable
  • Beats audio

Sprint

Sprint, much like AT&T, has been slow with the adaption of LTE for its network. Fortunately for us, the blueprints are laid out and Sprint’s LTE network launch is right around the corner.

The HTC EVO 4G LTE  is about as future proof as you can get on Sprint. The only downside is that the LTE network will not be available immediately, or even in the foreseeable future, which might prove a deal-breaker.

HTC EVO 4G LTE

The EVO is a variation of the HTC One X on AT&T’s network, but is designed to be familiar to those that owned any of the previous EVOs. Its 4.7″ HD display is nothing short of  fantastic, putting my Rezounds 4.3″ HD display to shame in side by side comparisons. The high powered, battery-sipping S4 dual-core processor is another bonus, especially since the 2000 mAh battery is non-removable. Much like the EVOs from the past, this phone is sure to impress.

HTC EVO 4G LTE Specs

  • 4.7″ HD 720p Super LCD display
  • 1.5 GHz dual core CPU
  • 1GB RAM
  • 8.0MP primary camera
  • 1.3MP front-facing camera
  • Android™ 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • Beats Audio™, for authentic sound
  • Non-removable 2000 mAh battery
  • An easy-to-use kickstand

T-Mobile

HTC One S 4G

The last phone I am recommending in this month’s buyer’s guide is the HTC One S.

The One S is the middle sibling of the One series by HTC. Although it’s not as high spec’d as the One X, it’s by no means left in the dust by it. Much of this phone is on par with its big brother, and the only real noticeable difference is the screen. The screen  comes in at 0.4-inch smaller and at a lower resolution.

Some other notable differences include a smaller battery, less internal storage, and a different build material. Overall, these changes really do not affect the user experience, and, in for some users they might not be shortcomings at all (smaller screen, for smaller hands!) For those looking for the latest and greatest on T-Mobile’s 4G network, the One S is definitely the phone for you.

HTC One S 4G specs

  • 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED screen
  • Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with new HTC Sense™ 4.0
  • 1.5GHz Dual-Core CPU
  • 1GB RAM
  • 16 GB of internal memory
  • Built-in Beats Audio™ technology

Upcoming Phones

RAZR HD

The Droid RAZR HD (a.k.a. the Motorola Droid Fighter) is a device rumored to be coming out sometime this summer to Verizon Wireless.

The RAZR HD is rumored to have a 4.6″ HD display, a 1.8 dual-core  CPU, and a SGX544 GPU. The real question about this phone is if its going to have the same battery as the RAZR MAXX  (3300 mAh) or the more conventional battery found in the original RAZR (1780 mAh). To give this phone a unique twist that neither the HTC Ones or the Galaxy S3 have, I think Motorola will give it the larger battery.

The Five Nexuses


Next up on our list of rumored phones is the Google Nexus devices that are rumored to be launched with Jelly Bean (a.k.a. Android 4.1) later this year.

These five devices are likely to be a mix of phones and tablets created by multiple manufacturers that will be sold off contract through Google’s Play store. Very little else is known about these phones, but more details are likely to be announced later this month at Google’s I/O event.

Samsung Galaxy S3

The Galaxy S3 is scheduled to be released at the end of the month, coming to Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular. At this time, we have no release date, but it is likely to be near the end of the month. While its international cousin is sporting a quad-core processor, the American version will have a dual-core CPU with 2GB or RAM. These specs are game changing, and should make the Galaxy S3  a strong contender for your money.

Conclusion

June is going to be a very busy and exciting month for Android shoppers, with HTC finally releasing their flagship phones, and Samsung’s Galaxy S3 hopefully right around the corner.

As you can see, if your looking for a phone on any network, you won’t have to look far to find something of interest. With Google entering the picture as a distributor through the Play Store, things have become even crazier.

Last, if none of the currently available phones have enticed you, it’s likely that the rumored devices could likely be what your looking for.


NEXT: AT&T Buyers Guide: February 2012
xl_Samsung_GalaxyS3_3 Samsung Galaxy S3 becomes Phone 4U’s best selling smartphone of 2012 in just 24 hours ATT-February-Buyers-Guide AT&T Buyer’s Guide: March 2012

This article, Android Authority smartphone buying guide: June 2012 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


By Brandon Sobotta • Android News, Android Phones, AT&T, google nexus, HTC EVO 4G LTE, HTC One S, htc one x, Motorola Razr HD, motorola razr maxx, Phone Reviews, Samsung Galaxy S3, sprint, t-mobile, verizon • 0

Apr 15 2012

A Review of the Archos 10.1 G9 Turbo 250 GB – Android 4.0 ICS out of the box with bottomless storage

When I first heard of the Archos tablets with an actual built in hard-drive I was very skeptical. A few questions popped in my head about battery life, response time, weight, thickness, and stability. Would I feel this tablet jerking around in my hands as I do with a normal external hard-drive picked up during use? So many pro’s and con’s  popped up in the equation with the addition of such a feature over normal flash memory. To me the Archos 10.1 G9 Turbo is a very interesting concept, read on to find out if Archos pulled this off successfully, or is it just a gimmick?

What’s good:

The G9 Turbo had loads of storage space, a decent screen, a kickstand and Android 4.0, round that off with a $399 price tag and you have an awesome mobile media tablet.

What’s Bad:

The plastic feel of the tablet does not give it a solid feel. Also the battery life/charging speeds could be better, I found if I wanted a full charge I had to leave the tablet alone the whole time.

The short of it:

The G9 Turbo with Android 4.0 is an overall great tablet. Besides my few complaints with the build materials and charging issues, this tablet is a solid performer.

Specs

  • 1.2GHz OMAP4 dual core processor
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 10.1 inch (16:10) 1024×768 capacitive touchscreen,
  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with Google Mobile Apps Suite including Android Market
  • ARCHOS made multimedia apps for extra format and codec support including H.264 HP support
  • WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and upgradable to 3G via the ARCHOS G9 3G Stick (sold separately)

Video Review

Build Quality

Being the proud owner of a Motorola Xoom it is hard to compare any other tablet to such a quality build. When I first picked up the G9 Turbo it felt completely foreign to me, so I handed it over to my fiance who proceeded to tell me it felt good.  Over the next few days I adjusted to the feel, while never feeling quite as solid as the Xoom does, it felt good. The outer shell of the tablet is hard plastic. While the material is easy enough to hold onto and seems durable enough; an extra layer of rubber around the edges would do some good for extra grip, and added protection.  Overall the plastic does get the job done but does leave something to be desired.

External Ports/Design

This tablet was built with the idea of portable media in mind. This was first obvious to me when I see an HDMI mini port along with a kickstand. Both of these features worked well, especially the kickstand, since I could charge and watch a video at the same time without having to fumble around due to the placement of the charging port. The power button is on the top as expected the but volume rockers on the other hand seemed to be placed in an odd spot, it is on the “bottom”. When I first got my hands on the G9 Turbo I kept on confusing the power button and the volume rocker. I wasn’t familiar with the device and kept pressing the volume rocker to try turn it on. It was not till I tried watching a movie on the tablet that I realized why the audio was placed where it was. When flipped horizantal to watch a movie, the volume rocker on the “bottom” makes much more sense.

It isn’t to often that I am happy to see a feature missing while reviewing a device. This was the case when I first noticed that the G9 Turbo did not have a rear camera. Most times we find ourselves using our phones to take pictures in the moment, rarely do we find ourselves scrambling for our tablets.  On the other hand if they had omitted a front facing camera I would have been displeased. While the 720p front facing camera is not ground breaking, it is included for good reason (Skype). Everything else is as expected, speaker is on the back, and some Archos logos here and there.

Display/Speakers

As a portable media device, you would expect a decent audio and video experience, this brings us to the display and speaker. First off let me start off by saying that display reminds me a lot of my Xoom, and when set side by side I can see no real difference. The resolution of the screen is 1280 x 800 bringing us in at 150 ppi, now days this is pretty standard for the average tablet. This may leave you wanting when compared to the displays on the Transformer Prime or iPad (see high resolution IPS displays).  Overall while watching videos on the G9 Turbo they looked clean, and the colors looked spot on (no over saturation here). Although it may not be the best or newest screen technology, it looks really good and was easy on the eyes.

The speaker sounded good as well. Although it is placed in the back it was loud enough that I never really had to strain to hear what was going on.  If watching a movie or playing a game, for the most part I could hear what was going on. I would have preferred the speakers on the front, but it seems all to rare that a company actually does this. Fortunately with the kickstand open the sound normally will get reflected back at you. But if the situation calls for it you can always switch over to a Bluetooth headset, or headphones.

Internal Hardware

The internal hardware for the G9 Turbo is pretty standard for the average tablet these days. With a OMAP 4 dual core processor clocked at 1.5 ghz, and 1 gig of ram you shouldn’t have any problem watching movies, or checking your email. The G9 Turbo being based off the OMAP 4 processor ensures that you wont have any problem playing HD video content, something that can be a problem if using a device based off of the Tegra 2. This absolutely is a must being that the G9 Turbo has an HDMI mini port, since its core purpose is streaming movies to HD TV’s. Overall I am completely satisfied with the specs of the G9 Turbo for the price.

Software

Often times you find a bunch of unwanted software or a skin installed on your phone or tablet.  With the G9 there are some pre-installed apps on the tablet, but they can all be removed. The important thing here is that a few of them are actually useful. The ARCHOS made multimedia apps for extra format and codec support was extremely useful, it will definitely save anyone looking for out of the box movie playback a few bucks.

From what I have read (and my experience with my Xoom) is that new life has been found with the introduction of Android 4.0 (ICS). The heart and soul running the G9 Turbo is pretty close to untouched ICS as you can get. As you can see from the video ICS on this run very smooth. I credit this to the fact that ICS was designed from the ground up to run on the OMAP 4 architecture, something that defiantly benefits the G9 Turbo.

Memory (Hard-drive)

After being limited to at most 48 gigs of space at most on my Xoom or Rezound, I found the G9 Turbo’s 250 gb hard-drive refreshing. The thing is though how well does it work? Lets just say besides the thickness of the G9, I would have not even noticed it was there. Not once could I feel the tablet vibrating in my hand, or lag due to a large file being opened. After doing some research I found out why, the G9 Turbo uses a Momentus Thin Hard Drive. Well what does that mean? Archos website describes it as “Wanting to give users the best of both worlds, ARCHOS paired the Seagate® Momentus® Thin hard drive with a dedicated 2GB1 flash caching system. This ARCHOS engineered hybrid solution offered on all ARCHOS G9 hard drive tablets is designed to limit spinning and to keep the drive powered down when not in use, which will protect it when on the go as well as preserve battery life. These unique features combined with ARCHOS’ changes in Android to allow for hard drives means that your 250GB1 HDD feels like it’s an SSD.” Overall I came away very satisfied with the experience of the hybrid hard drive.

Verdict

When I first got my hands on the G9 Turbo I wasn’t so sure about it, the feel to me was off, and felt a little thick. After some hands on time with it though I really found its potential. With a massive amount of hard drive space, a kickstand, and some good media software I was ready to transfer all my media files over to it. The G9 Turbo isn’t perfect, but it is a great mid-range tablet; especially for those people looking to bring their media on the go.

Any thoughts? Let us know if you have any questions below!


NEXT: International giveaway of the ARCHOS G9 101 Turbo!
ARCHOS-G9-tablets ARCHOS Releasing Honeycomb Tablets Starting September 20 with up to 1.5 GHz CPU, 250 GB of Storage ARCHOS-G9-tablets Seagate, Archos Team Up for Low-Priced Tablets with up to 250 GB Storage

This article, A Review of the Archos 10.1 G9 Turbo 250 GB – Android 4.0 ICS out of the box with bottomless storage , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


By Brandon Sobotta • Android 4.0, Android News, Android Tablets, archos, Archos 10.1 G9 Turbo, Tablet Reviews • 0

Apr 12 2012

App Review – EyeEm

I was given the EyeEm app to review shortly before Instagram was released for Android. I had no idea what either were, but a crash course in photo social networking soon followed. What I quickly learned is that the world of amateur phone photography is huge, and that having the right app can make or break your experience. Does EyeEm have what it takes to keep you from uninstalling it for the latest and greatest?

Its hard to talk about EyeEm without comparing it to Instagram. But, after a short while with EyeEm, it’s become evident to me that the two are different beasts. It is similar to comparing Twitter and Google+. While Instagram and EyeEm are each centered around photos, the experiences differ based on how they expose you to the content. With EyeEm, I found it very easy to find and like a lot of interesting photos. I give credit to the User Interface (UI) for this app – they have done a good job.

User Interface

After getting setup (which is quick and painless), the first thing EyeEm let me do was pick some categories of interest I had. I chose boats, stairs, and subway. It quickly populated my albums tab with photos from those categories. After browsing through some of the photos in each album and finding some that I liked, it started suggesting some more categories based off my selected interests. Generally, the suggestions were spot on and many more photos of interest were found. The beauty of this was that even if you don’t have many friends on EyeEm, it will still find great content from the app which is something I have been having problems with Instagram.

Friends and more

The other three tabs along the top of the UI are “Friends”, “Popular”, and “Around you”. First, lets talk about the social aspect and finding friends. Since setup is as quick and easy as clicking Sign-up with Facebook, finding friends is about just as easy. As long as you have Facebook, and/or Twitter setup on your phone, finding friends from these social network is as easy. Just push “Find Friends” and then select one of the two social networks, or your address book and your are done. Then, you are able to browse and like anything your friends upload to EyeEm. “Popular” and “Around You” are pretty self explanatory.  ”Popular” pulls photos from what is currently trending, and “Around You”  pulls pictures anyone has uploaded in the general vicinity of where you are. Both are useful features, but I feel “Albums” really is the most useful feature of the three.

Photography

As mentioned above, phone photography has quickly become a very popular topic with the release of Instagram. EyeEm’s core principle is much the same, in that you take a picture, tweak it with some image filters and frames, and upload it to EyeEm (and to your favorite social network). Taking the picture is quick and easy from the main screen of the UI. Just press the camera button in the upper right corner and your their. Once the photo is taken, you can easily frame and filter the picture by swiping left or right (to scroll through the filters) and up and down (to scroll through the frames). Once done, hit the big check mark to confirm everything looks good. From there you can then tag the photo and upload it.  All my EyeEm photos are sorted based on how they are tagged in EyeEm, and this is based on location and photo catagory. When uploaded to Facebook, it creates it own album under EyeEm.

Simplicity

As difficult as it can be to figure out a new app, I found EyeEm very easy to get the hang of. This wasn’t because it’s dumbed down, but because the UI just makes sense and is very intuitive. Everything seems to be at your fingertips. When compared to Instagram, I was up and running much quicker. Also, the simplicity of finding new photos without having to sift through a barrage of popular content I’m not really interested in, was great too. It seems the creators spent a lot of time tweaking the UI so that experience of EyeEm is smooth, which was something that I greatly appreciated.

Community

While doing some research I found that the EyeEm community — much like Instagrams — is comprised of two phone ecosystems, Android and IOS. Although obviously not as large as Instagram, I found plenty of activity from other users in the comments and stream of new photos.  EyeEm has seemed to pick up a lot of steam in the last 30 days. It looks to me that some of the people who find Instagram to be over-hyped and/or over-saturated are looking for something with a little more functionality. Take that Facebook and your ludicrous one billion dollar buy of Instagram!

Verdict

My time spent reviewing EyeEm was a pleasant one. It brought me into two worlds; Instagram, and EyeEm. To be honest, at the end of the day I found the functionality, and simplicity of EyeEm to be something I could work with over Instagram. Will this be the case for everybody? Probably not, but if your looking for an Instagram alternative with some different features, this should definetly be your first stop.


NEXT: Say “cheese”! Instagram for Android nabs one million downloads in one day
Instagram-for-Android Quick review: Instagram for Android! Instagram-for-Android1 Facebook agrees to buy Instagram for $1Billion Dollars [Breaking News]

This article, App Review – EyeEm , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


By Brandon Sobotta • Android Apps, app reviews, EyeEm, photo • 0

Apr 8 2012

Enhanced Email – App review

Enhanced Email is an email client that offers a wide range of features and support to the average Android user.  Does Enhanced Email offer you something more then your current phone already has? Do other e-mail clients give you the same functionality for free? Is Enhanced Email worth the price? Keep on reading to find out if Enhanced Email is the right email client for you.

Features

  • Exchange 2003/2007/2010 SP1 (Activesync only, not Exchange WebServices)
  • Zimbra Collaboration Server
  • Novell Groupwise Server (Activesync must be running)
  • IceWarp Server
  • Just about every POP/IMAP server you can think of
  • Supported on Android 2.2 – 4.0

Some additional features include:

  • Backup/Restore accounts + settings
  • Full E-Mail search including message text
  • Custom font when sending messages
  • Sort your mail by: Date received, Sender, Subject, Unread messages, messages containing attachments, or by starred/flagged messages
  • Pinch to zoom when viewing a message
  • Disable syncing of deletes from phone to server (Exchange)
  • Growing support for many 3rd party apps that offers an amazing integration with apps/widgets you already love to use!
  • Combined Inbox view aggregates mail for all mailboxes into a single location!
  • Auto-BCC
  • Full HTML inbound/outbound
  • PUSH for Mail/Contacts/Calendar (Exchange only)
  • Ability to sync “ALL” E-mail option (Exchange)
  • Customizable account colors for each account
  • Ability to select/copy text
  • “Empty Trash” option makes emptying your trash folder 100 times easier/faster

Account Setup

Enhanced Email worked great with my school email account that runs off of Exchange ActiveSync. I had no problems setting it up at all, and it was quick and easy. For anyone who has ever had a problem getting one of their email accounts setup on your phone, this app could be the one for you. While reading through the description of the app, I found out why it worked so well without any hick-ups. It is because “Enhanced Email features Microsoft’s innovative Activesync technology and is licensed to use it from Microsoft, using the same license used by power houses Apple and HTC.

Widget

I have been using the ICS Gmail widget for a while now and have to say that I love the ability of checking my mail without having to open an app. Coming over to the Rezound, I was initially stuck with either the Sense email widget or the stock Gingerbread one. When Sense 3.6 with ICS was leaked I was in heaven once again with the Gmail widget. This all being said, I was truly disappointed at the widget for Enhanced Email. As you can see below, the widgets are icons that opens Enhanced Email, the same thing that dragging the icon to your home-screen can do.

Customization

Many other stock email clients seem to lack any sort of customization. Enhanced Email gives you full control of text and background color of both read and unread messages. While this does not seem like a big deal, upon initially opening the client, I felt it was a little too dark and gloomy for my taste. After some playing around, I found the settings where I could change the colors to my liking. I didn’t realize it before, but I discovered I really liked the ability to customize the colors of each account. This really helped me keep which account I was dealing with sorted in my head. Other options such as changing the signature, inbox check frequency, default account choice, and sync windows were all readily accessible and easy to change. Overall the customization was excellent.

Cost

Alright, first, breathe. Ok, let me get this out of the way right now. $10 is a lot to pay for an app. In the Android ecosystem of apps, games, and media, it is a well known fact that us Android users, are, well, rather frugal (cheap). That being said, is this app worth it? Simply put, yes it is. It does everything you could possibly ask for it do for, and more. For the money, it gives you access to all your email accounts in one simple place with all the features you could want and need. For the people who do not understand the benefits you gain from using this app, it may be worth it to look closer at the features that this app has to offer, because you might find that they would benefit you greatly (like I did after trying it out).

Compatibility

I had no problem running Enhanced Email on my Rezound with ICS which is something I have found that can be a problem often enough. On the compatibility list of devices in the Play Store, the only Android device it said it would not support is my Logitech Revue (not surprising). It seems like the author of Enhanced went to great pains to get Enhanced Email to run on most devices.

Verdict

Overall I found the Enhanced Email app to be an absolutely intuitive and robust email client. The only real drawback I found is the lack of a useful widget, which could be a deal breaker for some of you.  While the price tag may seem a little steep, I found Enhanced Email well worth the price considering its features and benefits.

$10 for an email is a lot, I know, but for those that rely on email, and need to stay organized on the move, it is money well spent. Recommended.

No related posts.

This article, Enhanced Email – App review , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


By Brandon Sobotta • Android Apps, app reviews, best apps, email, Email Apps • 0

Mar 29 2012

Game Review – Burger Joint

burger joint

“Watch carefully as ingredients fall from the top of the screen, and tap the plates to juggle toppings into just the right position. The higher you stack, the more points you’ll earn. Every level gives you access to more ingredients, so use your imagination and come up with the tastiest combinations possible.” Sounds simple enough, but Burger Joint will quickly bowl you over if you are not paying attention. It’s fast paced, challenging, and fun. While all that sounds good, can a few potentially rough spots ruin a fun experience?

Gameplay

Burger Joint is a cross between Tetris and Bejewled which ends up to be pretty challenging. When I first started playing, it was really easy to learn and really simple to level. As I got higher in the levels, more ingredients were added to the game-play and its difficulty quickly rose. Overall, I found the game controls were intuitive and responsive; my only frustration came from my inability to think quick enough to play beyond easy.

Graphics/Sound

The graphics and audio for Burger Joint are pretty simple. Although Skip and friends are cute and all, they definitely do not save your eyes from the average graphics. While average and simple graphics may seem bad, it did mean I could play the game on even my fiance’s old Hero. Audio is much the same. I did the same thing with it on Burger Joint that I do for most games, I turned it down after a few minutes. The audio drones on and repeats the same stuff over and over, so turning on my own music was the solution to this. Because Burger Joint is a Puzzle game, these factors really do not affect the game as it would in an action type of game; still they do kind of disappoint.

Issues

I came across a few technical issues with Burger Join. I had problems getting it installed on two of my phones. I found it was not compatible with ICS on my Rezound and Xoom. My fiance’s Droid 3 did not find the game in the market, although it is supposedly supported. The only phone I did have that I could install it on, was, as I said above, my fiance’s kids Hero.

Also I found I could not move the game to my SD card due to the application being copy protected. In general, this is not a problem for me, but if I am going to leave the game on the kids’ Hero I will need to move that 13 meg’s over to the SD card due to lack of space on the older device. The last issue I ran into was with the main menu of the game. For some reason (I think the ad), the bottom of the main menu was pushed off the screen. For the most part this was more annoying then anything else, but still it detracted from the overall polish of the experience.

Verdict

I had a hard time writing some parts of this review. The good is that, overall, I really did enjoy the game. Burger Joint was challenging, fun, and not to complex. On the other hand, this quirky puzzle-type game really had some rough spots. Beyond the graphics and audio being at best average, the technical issues really made it hard for me to fully experience what Burger Joint was all about. I do hope that, with time, the creators of Burger Joint will get this game running for all to enjoy it.

You can find Burger Joint on Google Play here.


NEXT: Game App Review: Madden NFL 12 by EA Sports
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This article, Game Review – Burger Joint , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


By Brandon Sobotta • Android Apps, android games, Android News, Burger Joint • 0

Mar 24 2012

AT&T Buyer’s Guide: March 2012

It’s been just over a month since we’ve last looked at the phones available on AT&T and a lot has changed. Most of the phones I recommended last month are gone off the list, but a few have remained. I am trying to cover most bases here, from people with athletic lifestyles to the business person. If you have any specific requests or questions, feel free to post them down below and I will do my best to answer them to the best of my abilities.

Samsung Galaxy note

 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4G

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4G came out near the end of last month which is why I missed it on my previous Buyer’s Guide. Let me just say this up front: this phone isn’t for everybody, but is well suited for the business person and the media fanatic alike. With a screen size of 5.3 inches, this phone is huge, so it’s sometimes referred to as a phablet (a phone/tablet hybrid). If you are looking for something to replace that 7″ tablet, or that 4.5 inch phone, or a device that can do the job of both, this is your phone. It has all the latest specs and its most notable feature is the 5.3 inch HD Super AMOLED WXVGA screen with a resolution of 1280×800. With a screen that size you will be able to watch movies in great detail and with great colors. Last, but certainly not least, is the battery which comes in at 2500 mAH. You’ll have no problem using all the features of this phone without having to worry about it dying in the middle of the day.

Specs:

  • 4G LTE connectivity
  • Android 2.3.6
  • 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
  • 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED WXVGA screen
  • 16 GB memory, expandable up to 32GB
  • 8-MP camera + Full HD 1080p video capture

HTC Vivid 4G

A phone from last month’s list, the HTC Vivid made it’s way to March’s line up.  Spec-wise, the Vivid is impressive, sporting technology that will (we hope) keep you in the game for the next two years. This phone is shipping with Android 2.3 aka Gingerbread, but the roll out for ICS has begun! It is available in black or white, so have your pick. While the HTC Vivid is one of the best phones currently available on AT&T, it does have its share of downsides. One of them is the battery, which is ridiculously small when compared to any other 4G phone out there today – it’s barely pumping out 1620 mAh. This is not such a big problem though, since it is can remedied with an extended life battery.

Specs:

  • 4G LTE radio
  • 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
  • 4.5 inch qHD (960 x 540) super LCD display
  • HDMI port
  • 1GB of Ram

Samsung Rugby Smart

For the outdoorsy among us, comes the Samsung Rugby Smart, an Android smartphone designed to take a beating. Beyond just being able to take a fall from your pocket (it’s shockproof), it can also be submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes (waterproof). Although the specs are not stellar, they should keep this phone alive and well for the life of a 2-year contract.  So, for those who often find themselves behind the wheel on their way out to a new adventure, instead of stuck behind a computer monitor or desk, this is the phone for you.

Specs:

  • 1.4 GHz single-core processor
  • 512 Ram
  • 5-megapixel camera
  • 3.7″  WVGA Super AMOLED display
  • 1,650mAh battery
  • 4 GB internal, external expandable up to 32 GB
  • 4G (HSPA+)

Samsung Captivate Glide

The Samsung Captivate Glide (SCG) has again made it to my list of phones this month. This is not because it is an amazing phone, but mainly due to a lack of good phones with slide-out keyboard as an alternative. While the SCG is, spec-wise, a surprisingly capable phone , it still leaves something to be desired (mainly a higher resolution screen). For anyone who needs a QWERTY keyboard, this will do the job; I highly recommend it over any other QWERTY on AT&T’s network. If you can live without the keyboard, I would strongly recommend picking the Vivid instead, due to its spectacular specs and features.

Specs:

  • 1GHz dual core processor
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 4″ (480 x 800) Super AMOLED screen
  • 4G connection (HSPA+)

Where to buy?

It’s hard to recommend where to buy your phone, because it all depends on your specific situation. Often, for new customers, I recommend buying a phone through Amazon Wireless. You get great deals without having to haggle with customer service, and the phone will be shipped right to your door.
If you are looking for a bricks and mortar store, for some face to face customer service or if you want to see the phones “hands on”, Best Buy will often match the price of Amazon.
Lastly, if you have been with a mobile carrier for an extended period of time, you can often get special upgrades, which they are willing to throw to keep you around, but this may take some haggling. As always, I recommend shopping around to see what is the best deal available to you.

Lastly

If you have any issue concerning the terminology in this guide, I suggest you check out this helpful article for a quick primer in mobile tech speak. Good luck!

NEXT: AT&T Buyers Guide: February 2012
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This article, AT&T Buyer’s Guide: March 2012 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


By Brandon Sobotta • Android News, Android Phones, AT&T, Featured • 0

Mar 19 2012

Jawbone ERA: Hands-on review

 

jawbone era

When the Jawbone ERA arrived at my doorstep, it caught me completely off guard: I completely forgot it was heading my way for a review. But after spending some time with it, I can assure you, I will not forget the ERA anytime soon. I’ve never really saw myself as one to use a Bluetooth ear piece, because I was always under the impression that they were uncomfortable and clumsy. Is this the case with the Jawbone ERA?

Video

Specs

AUDIO

  • NoiseAssassin® 3.0 with wind reduction
  • 10mm wideband speaker (HD audio)
  • Automatic volume control
  • Voice announcements

TECHNOLOGY

  • Built-in accelerometer (motion sensor)
  • MotionX™ technology
  • Dual micro-processors
  • Serial flash

POWER AND BATTERY

  • Up to 5.5 hours talk time
  • Up to 10 days standby time
  • Built-in rechargeable Li-ion polymer battery
  • Jawbone battery meter automatically displays on smartphone
  • On/Off Switch
  • Micro USB connector interface (charging and MyTALK)

SIZE AND WEIGHT

  • Length: 2.02 inches (51.3 mm)
  • Width: 0.57 inches (14.5 mm)
  • Height: 0.95 inches (24.1 mm)
  • Weight: 10.2 grams

BLUETOOTH

  • Bluetooth V2.1 compliant
  • Range up to 33 ft (10 m)
  • Support Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
  • Profiles Supported: Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) 1.2, Hands-Free Profile (HFP) 1.5, Headset Profile (HSP) 1.1
  • Supports Simultaneous Multipoint (two live audio connections)

Setup and Software

The initial setup was quick and easy. I had the Bluetooth active and the ERA paired and connected within a couple of minutes. On the other hand, getting the MyTalk battery meter app up-and-running was a little more time consuming. At first, I expected to just install the app and be over with it. This was not the case, because I had to use a computer to get the whole system set up. It was not difficult, though, the only snag being the fact that it’s not compatible with Windows 8, so I had to switch over to my Windows 7 laptop to get it running. Otherwise the process was simple and painless, and well worth it. Once the setup is complete, you can tweak the device’s voice and settings to your liking.

Hardware and Battery

The Jawbone ERA is a sleek looking device. Its black rippled design looks like it hugs the side of the face, and this is what it does. It comes with eight different ear pieces to get the perfect fit with your device. Four of them work with an earloop, and four of them just fit snugly in your ear. The ERA is made of plastic, but the device has a solid feel to it. Some of the earbuds are pretty difficult to get on, but I didn’t feel like I was going to damage it at all. The ERA package also came with an USB/outlet charger and a fancy carrying case. It’s always nice to have the option to charge through a USB port, for the times you don’t have immediate access to a power outlet but you do have access to an USB port. The battery life on the device was great — it had no problems lasting the full five hours of talk time advertised.

Sound Quality

The most important part of any Bluetooth handsfree is the sound, and let me assure that the ERA’s sound quality is excellent. I tried out the headset in a few different scenarios, and the ERA’s sound quality is top-notch in almost all situations. During phone conversations, it actually sounded crisper and clearer than my Rezound’s ear piece, which came as a pleasant surprise. When I was playing games (action-heavy or simple puzzle games), it sounded great, as well. For music, on the other hand, the ERA was just good — I could hear the whole range of acoustics, but the bass just wasn’t there. While I would not replace my iBeats for listening to music in general, I would replace them with the ERA in the situations when discretion is called for when listening to music.

Verdict

In short, the Jawbone ERA surpassed all my expectations. The ERA’s robust hardware and software features were more then I ever expected from it. Although I would’ve liked a little more simplicity when pairing the app with the head piece, the extra steps were not difficult by any means. Overall, I really loved the ERA, and it gave me a whole new level of functionality when paired with my Rezound.

No related posts.

This article, Jawbone ERA: Hands-on review , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


By Brandon Sobotta • Android News, bluetooth, hands-on, Handsfree, Jawbone, Jawbone ERA, review, reviews • 0

Mar 15 2012

Lenovo IdeaPad A1 7″ Tablet Review

IdeaPadA1-600x631

What’s good:

A well-rounded tablet for the price. The Lenovo IdeaPad A1 has everything you could need from a slate, including a decent screen, GPS, Bluetooth, and a front and back facing camera. It’s a fully-functional, ultra-portable, and very affordable tablet.

What’s bad:

The specs leave something to be desired. Almost all of the hardware and software on the tablet is from the top of the line phones of 2010. While, today, the A1 will do almost everything you want it, it’s definitely not future proof.

The short of it:

The Lenovo IdeaPad  A1 is a great entry-level 7″ tablet. Its lightweight, durable, and versatile. While there are other tablets out there with better screens, they don’t have half of the features the IdeaPad A1 has.

Video Review

 The Lenovo IdeaPad A1 7″ Tablet

Today’s tablet market is cut-throat. With low priced Android tablets such as the Kindle Fire cornering the 7-inch market, it can be hard for a company such a Lenovo to enter the scene. Lenovo labels the IdeaPad A1 the tablet that “Comes with everything. Except a hefty price tag.” But does that low price tag mean low quality?

Specs

The A1′s specs are not cutting-edge, but they are adequate for all intents and purposes. You will definitely be able to play Angry Birds or watch a movie on Netflix without any problems. If you are looking for something a little more cutting-edge, I recommend you look else where, but, remember, you will be paying for it.

IdeaPad A1 specs:

  • 1GHz Processor
  • 512 Ram
  • 2GB internal storage, expandable to 16GB
  • 3350 mAH battery
  • Assisted GPS
  • 7″ LED Display 1024×600 pixels (170 PPI)
  • Multi-Touch Display
  • 802.11 b/g/n Wifi
  • Bluetooth 2.1

Form Factor

When I first held the Lenovo IdeaPad A1, I noticed a few things right away. First it was light, weighing in at under a pound. My arms never felt fatigue from holding it, and sometimes, when I got absorbed by using it, I even forgot I had it in my hands. Next, was the IdeaPad A1′s shape. I really liked how the bottom and the top of the tablet take a different shape as you run your fingers across it. When holding it horizontally, this curvature on the top and the bottom of the tablet make the A1 easy to grip. Plus, the shape really complements the thin profile of Lenovo’s tablet. With other slates, I’ve felt them as being too thin, due to the form factor and build. This is not the case with the IdeaPad, because all the design elements come together nicely. I really appreciated the IdeaPad’s design when I watched a movie on a hours-long road trip down to Minneapolis — not once did I have to put it down or re-adjust its position.

External ports and controls

The IdeaPad A1 has all the standard ports and controls you would expect from any Android tablet – a headphones jack, a microSD card slot, plus a mic, volume rocker, and power switch on the top of the right side. While there is nothing special here, I am happy to note that the power switch is positioned in an appropriate spot, and I rarely hit it on accident. Overall, the IdeaPad A1 has everything you need to transfer media files from your PC to the tablet, and, of course, to listen to music through headphones.

Side

Screen/Speakers

The screen is considered by many to be among the most important parts of a tablet or phone, which is obvious when you consider that it provides the primary way to interact and consume content on your device. A slew of aspects have to be taken into account when gauging a display, including viewing angles, screen technology, pixel density, and others. Until the Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire came along, under-$200 tablets had long had a bad name, particularly due to their poor screen quality, which is something that, today, is no longer excusable. Everything about the screen of the IdeaPad A1 is OK. The viewing angles are ok, but when watching videos with my fiancee, I had to make sure I held it just right, so both of us could see. The resolution is identical to the Nook Tablet’s or the Kindle Fire’s, but the screen itself just doesn’t deliver the same “wow” effect. On another note, the touchscreen  did not seem to be quite as sensitive on the edges as it was in the middle, which, at times, made typing difficult. However, this was just an annoyance, and most of the times, the touchscreen was quite responsive.

Next, we have the speaker, which is located on the bottom-side of the tablet. I think that this positioning is much better than having the speakers on the back, like some other tablets do. It makes it much easier to listen to music or movies, without straining my ears. The sound is crisp and clear, but it does lack bass. If you are looking to get better range and sound quality from the IdeaPad A1, I would recommend picking up some nice earphones.

Battery Life

Like all portable devices, the battery life of the Lenovo IdeaPad A1 depends on what you are doing with it – the spec sheet says 6 hours of watching videos, 7.5 hours of playing 2D games or using an app, and 8 hours of listening to music. The battery is fairly capable, and easily lasted as long as Lenovo claims. You will have no problem watching a movie on the A1, as well as doing a bunch of other things, with a single charge.

Software

The software on the Lenovo IdeaPad A1 is nothing exciting, but this is a good thing. The OS is stock Android 2.3.4, with some very minor User Interface (UI) modifications.  These minor UI changes provide some extra functionality to the home screen, although, I would have liked to have the option to remove the launcher. I did install Go Launcher on the A1 after a day or so, customized it a bit, and got rid of the Lenovo launcher. On a good note, I found little bloatware on the Lenovo IdeaPad A1, and even that was easy to remove.

The Verdict

After spending some quality time with the Lenovo IdeaPad A1, the only thing I can say is that I like it, for the price. I recommended one to my mom when she was looking for a small tablet in the $200 price range. I would get one to let my kids watch movies during a road trip, and I would even consider one for myself, if I needed a tablet that is more portable than my Xoom. The bottom line — the Lenovo IdeaPad A1 is a solid and functional, even if not dazzling Android tablet.

No related posts.

This article, Lenovo IdeaPad A1 7″ Tablet Review , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


By Brandon Sobotta • Android Tablets, lenovo, lenovo ideapad a1, reviews • 0

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