It was usually a confederate of years ago when Verizon Wireless business complained they didn’t have sufficient choices when it came to cold new phones. Now it looks Verizon is the place to be for the ultimate as great as biggest in smartphones.
But what’s an normal smartphone consumer to do? It seems similar to any week, Verizon is adding a new “flagship” device to the offering. While Verizon member contend they have been simply perplexing to suggest business some-more choice, they’re additionally formulating a little confusion. In this Friday’s Ask Maggie, we assistance a singular reader get a hoop on what Verizon has to offer.
I additionally suggest a little recommendation on possibly we cruise it’s correct for Google
Android business to wait for for for for the new Ice Cream Sandwich refurbish to Android or not.
Ask Maggie is an recommendation mainstay which answers readers’ wireless as great as broadband questions. The mainstay right away appears twice a week on CNET charity readers a stand in dose of Ask Maggie’s advice. If we have a question, I’d adore to listen to from you. Please send me an e-mail during maggie dot reardon during cbs dot com. And greatfully put “Ask Maggie” in the theme header. You can additionally follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.
Decisions, decisions
Dear Maggie,
I’m a Verizon Wireless patron as great as I’m seeking to ascent my phone. I’ve been a prolonged time BlackBerry user for years, though I’m so finished with BlackBerry. And I’m ready for a many cooler smartphone. we do not have an devotion to Apple or Google, so we need a little recommendation on what to get. I’m disposition toward an
iPhone, though I’m wondering if there have been a little cold Android phones we should consider. Can we assistance me decide?
Thanks,
Undecided
Dear Undecided,
It was usually a confederate of years ago which Verizon Wireless business were singing the sadness since the conduit didn’t have any cold new phones. As a CDMA carrier, it wasn’t regularly initial on the list to get the ultimate as great as biggest devices. But since the genuine Motorola Droid as great as Verizon’s large pull in to 4G LTE, the conduit is on tip when it comes to removing the hottest phones on the market.
As a BlackBerry user seeking for a richer smartphone experience, I’d contend which possibly we go Android or iOS, you’ll approaching be happy possibly way. Since we appear open to possibly Android Apple, I’ve put together a discerning lie piece together with a little of the new phones which Verizon already offers as great as will shortly offer. By no equates to is this extensive list or comment of any phone which Verizon has to offer. But it will give we an thought of what’s out there as great as what will approaching be entrance soon.
Apple
iPhone 4S
While a little people were unhappy which the new iPhone 4S didn’t have a new pattern as great as lacked a little approaching features, similar to circuitously margin communications (NFC) as great as LTE, my theory is it’s still starting to be the hottest phone on the market. Apple already pronounced which it sole 4 million inclination in the initial weekend.
There have been still copiousness of facilities which creates this chronicle of the iPhone 4S an alleviation over the iPhone 4. In further to a faster routine as great as softened camera, the iPhone 4S additionally has the ultimate iOS 5 program regulating on it. Some of the cold facilities enclosed in this release have been iMessage, which lets we discuss with alternative iOS device users usually similar to we could with BlackBerry’s BBM. There’s additionally an softened rapt as great as simpler modifying of photos, usually to name a few.
But the many critical new underline on the iPhone 4S is Siri, the personal partner app. This smart debate approval app allows we to discuss it your phone what we need as great as Siri can find it for we or do it for you. For example, Siri can assistance find a circuitously sushi grill or it knows to remind we to call your mom when we home from work. Unfortunately, it can’t collect up your dry-cleaning. That charge still requires a real-life personal assistant. Darn!
Pros: Dual core processor, 8 megapixel camera, Siri
Cons: No 4G LTE (3G only)
Release date: Oct 14
Price: 16GB $ 199; 32GB $ 299; 64GB $ 399
Motorola Droid Bionic
Until this week, the Motorola Droid Bionic was the flagship Google Android phone for Verizon. It is the initial 4G LTE device which additionally has a dual-core processor on Verizon’s network.
But the Droid Bionic’s time as tip dog on Verizon’s network will be short-lived. This week Motorola voiced nonetheless an additional 4G LTE Android device, the Droid Razr. And Samsung voiced the Galaxy Nexus, the initial phone to competition the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS.
It seems bizarre which Motorola would release twin high-end inclination to a single side on the same conduit inside of usually a confederate of months. But Alain Mutricy, comparison clamp boss of product as great as portfolio government during Motorola, pronounced the association is innovating so fast which it needs to pull out new inclination as shortly as it can.
Indeed, partial of the Droid Bionic’s complaint is which it is months late. The phone was voiced during the Consumer Electronics Show in January. But after delays, it didn’t strike store shelves until final month. This gives the Droid Bionic, which is a excellent phone, a reduced window of accessibility prior to newer devices, such as the Motorola Droid Razr as great as the Samsung Nexus Galaxy strike the market.
Pros: 4G LTE, twin core processor
Cons: Doesn’t run the ultimate Android OS
Release date: Sep 2011
Price: $ 299.99
Samsung Stratosphere
The Samsung Stratosphere is partial of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S II line of Android smartphones. The genuine Galaxy inclination have been a extensive strike for Samsung. And this subsequent era of inclination is additionally approaching to sell well. The large great of this phone is which it’s the usually 4G LTE phone from Verizon with an tangible QWERTY keyboard. So if we have been shaken about giving up the earthy keypad of the BlackBerry, this competence be the phone for you. But usually keep in thoughts which a little of the facilities have been not as modernized as a little of the alternative Android inclination on Verizon’s network. For example, it doesn’t have a twin core processor. The camera is not utterly as great as the others. And it’s not regulating the unequivocally ultimate Google Android software. But it’s a excellent phone. And during $ 149.99, it’s additionally half the price of a little of the alternative 4G L TE phones offering by Verizon.
Pros: 4G LTE, QWERTY keyboard, comparatively inexpensive
Cons: Doesn’t await the ultimate Android OS, singular core processor, 5 megapixel camera
Release date: Oct 16, 2011
Price: $ 149.99 (after a $ 50 mail-in rebate)
Motorola Droid Razr
Thin is in. And which in a nutshell is what creates the Motorola Droid Razr cool. It’s the thinnest smartphone on the market. And the actuality which Motorola managed to additionally put 4G LTE capacity in to such a slim package is impressive. If you’re seeking for a phone which won’t import we down as great as fits simply in to your pocket, this is a great choice. Like the iPhone 4S as great as alternative tip Android phones during Verizon it has an 8-megapixel back camera with 1080p HD video constraint as great as design stabilization, as great as a front-facing HD camera for video chat.
The biggest downside of this phone is which it uses the somewhat comparison chronicle of Android, 2.3.5 Gingerbread. This competence not indispensably be a understanding breaker, deliberation which Alain Mutricy, comparison clamp boss of product as great as portfolio government during Motorola told me during the Droid Razr’s entrance out celebration in New York City this week, which it will approaching get the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS in the initial partial of 2012.
Pros: Super skinny 7.1mm (0.28 inch); dual-core processor
Cons: Doesn’t await the ultimate chronicle of Android OS
Release date: November
Price: $ 299.99
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus hasn’t been strictly voiced for Verizon Wireless. But it’s approaching which Verizon will be the initial U.S. conduit to sell the phone. And it could finish up on alternative U.S. conduit networks later. The biggest offered indicate of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is it will be the initial phone to await the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS. While it’s not as skinny as great as lightweight as the Droid Razr, the Galaxy Nexus is still flattering skinny during 8.9 mm (0.35-inch) thick. And similar to the prior chronicle of the Nexus device, the Galaxy Nexus has an NFC or circuitously margin communications thinly slice embedded, which equates to we can work Google Wallet to daub as great as compensate for things.
Pros: 4G LTE, NFC chip, dual-core processor, ultimate Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS.
Cons: 5 megapixel camera
Release date:Not voiced yet
Price:Not voiced yet
So which smartphone is right for you? That’s a difficult theme to answer. You pronounced we were disposition toward the iPhone 4S. And that’s a excellent choice. Apple’s iOS program creates regulating the iPhone unequivocally easy. And if you’re already an Apple iTunes user, it’s elementary to confederate the iPhone 4S in to your life. But keep in mind, which it will usually work on Verizon’s slower 3G network. All the alternative Android inclination I’ve listed for we will await the faster 4G LTE network. Some people have complained about battery hold up issues on a little 4G LTE devices, so this competence additionally be a regard for you. But exclusive which issue, the network speeds have been many faster on these inclination than alternative 3G smartphones, together with the iPhone 4S.
To assistance we have your decision, we asked my CNET colleagues for their opinions as well. CNET Reviews editors, Bonnie Cha, Jessica Dolcourt as great as Nicole Lee chimed in, as did CNET News comparison bard Roger Cheng. While many concluded the iPhone 4S is a great preference for a smartphone, they all additionally concluded which if you’re starting to go for an Android phone, we should wait for for for for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
As Jessica Dolcourt put it, “I similar to the Droid Razr, as great as we privately wouldn’t be astounded if in many ways the hardware is some-more exciting. However, Ice Cream Sandwich is the Galaxy Nexus genius in the hole as great as there’s usually no theme which it will be the many absolute Android phone on the marketplace when it comes out.”
Roger Cheng, who has been a prolonged time BlackBerry user as great as has additionally dabbled with a confederate of Android phones, usually not prolonged ago paid for the new iPhone 4S. He pronounced which if morality is what you’re seeking for, afterwards go with the Apple iPhone 4S. But if Android as great as all the whim hardware specs strikes your fancy, go with the Nexus Galaxy.
“If we paid for the Droid Bionic now, what would we be blank with Ice Cream Sandwich usually confederate of weeks later?” he said.
Of course, all of the new Android phones sporting Gingerbread currently will approaching get upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich in the initial half of 2012. But since how prolonged it has taken a little manufacturers to refurbish a little phones, it’s tough to envision usually when the refurbish will be pushed to these devices.
I goal this helps. And great luck!
Should we caring about Ice Cream Sandwich?
Dear Maggie,
I keep conference so many about the new Google Android Ice Cream Sandwich update. I’m meditative of removing a singular of the new Android smartphones. But what I’d similar to to know is if it’s unequivocally value it to wait for for for to buy a singular with the new Ice Cream Sandwich software. we know there have been a lot of new features, though should we unequivocally caring about these features? And which ones do we cruise have been the many important?
Thanks,
Greybeard1156
Dear Greybeard1156,
The new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich chronicle is a vital ascent to Android. It’s ostensible to combine the program which Google has grown for tablets with the program for smartphones. And since of this change, it has utterly altered the demeanour as great as feel of the user interface.
There have been tons of new facilities which have been combined to the Android OS as partial of this update. And CNET has already created multiform stories surveying a little of these new features. But we cruise we aren’t usually asking for a list of new features, we wish to know because we should caring about this update.
Indeed, that’s a great theme to ask. The gait of creation in the smartphone marketplace is increasing. Manufacturers have been churning out new inclination as great as program developers, such as Google, have been entrance out with new versions of their platforms. All of this can have normal users feel similar to they’re on a consistent ascent treadmill.
It’s not necessary which we buy a phone with the ultimate as great as biggest software, though the law is which with any new turn of innovation, Google seems to be creation the Android height simpler to use. It’s not usually the cold new facilities which have been added, such as the facial approval underline which allows we to tighten as great as clear your phone regulating a image of your face. But it’s additionally the tiny things, such as the capability to invalidate pre-installed apps which we do not wish to use, which creates the device simply simpler to use.
While program is important, we do not cruise that’s the usually reason to buy a sure Android phone. I’d suggest shopping the phone which fits your needs the best. Currently, usually a singular device, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, has been voiced with Ice Cream Sandwich pre-installed. But alternative phones will be removing it as well. And we design which the high-end Android inclination which have been entrance on the marketplace right right away with the Gingerbread chronicle of Android will be upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich someday in the initial half of 2012.
So which facilities of Ice Cream Sandwich do we cruise have been the many worthwhile? First let me begin by saying, there have been tons of new enhancements to Android with this updated chronicle of the OS. But here’s a list of the tip 5 facilities which we cruise have been the many important:
Facial recognition: This underline allows we to secure your phone by receiving a design of your face. And afterwards your phone uses which design to brand we when we try to record in to your phone. When we try to clear your phone, it compares your face to your design to brand you.
Improved Web browser: The new Ice Cream Sandwich OS has made easy Web browsing by permitting users to open tabs as great as supplement bookmarks. Users can appropriate opposite the add-on to tighten it, many similar to users could do with Palm’s WebOS.
Improved camera software: The new program has a”zero shiver lag” feature, which equates to we can take a singular design after an additional unequivocally quickly. And there have been additionally a lot of new photo-editing collection set up in to the camera app. The program additionally allows we to constraint snapshots whilst you’re recording video. And the breathtaking underline allows we to vessel your camera opposite a far-reaching area, as great as afterwards the program puts the print together in a singular prolonged breathtaking view.
Data operate monitoring: This underline lets we lane as great as guard your interpretation operate by app. And it warns we or can even cut we off from regulating interpretation when we strike a predefined level.
Disable pre-installed apps: Now Android users can simply get absolved of apps which they do not work as great as do not wish on their phones.
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