I enjoyed your reviews. Regarding why you and others (including myself) have experienced Android OS "laggyness" in gesture response time, a few recent online Google + postings seem to offer detailed insights into this phenomenon.
Specifically, a posting by Andrew Munn "The Reason Android is Laggy" has gained some online buzz and can be read here. https://plus.google.com/100838276097451809262/posts/VDkV9XaJRGS
Prior to Andrew's posting, Dianne Hackborn submitted her opinions on "How about some Android graphics true facts?" https://plus.google.com/105051985738280261832/posts/2FXDCz8x93s
Granted, the above articles contain "lots" of information and some speculation but I have found them to be quite enlightening.
I change mobile gadgets at the drop of a hat, this year even more than usual. As 2011 draws to a close, along with it a full year of covering mobile tech for ZDNet, it is fitting to take a look at how my mobile gadgetry has changed throughout the year. Most of the gadgets I will cover are personal purchases I made during the year, along with a few I reviewed that made a distinct impression worth mentioning.
I will also pick the best mobile tech of the year from the lot of them, one of each device type. Flops aren’t safe in this recap, and I will note the two gadgets that share my title for flop of the year.
Smartphones
I get to try a lot of top smartphones through my work on ZDNet, and I see some good ones come through the revolving doors on my office. Seeing so many “superphones”, it takes a lot to get me to open my wallet and spring for one of my very own.
At the start of the year I was happy using my HTC EVO 4G on the Sprint network. While the 4G (WiMAX) was never a big factor for me, the thin EVO with the 4.3-inch display met all of my needs. That lasted until the Nexus S 4G came out and I traded in my EVO for the Nexus.
The primary reason behind my trade was to have a Google flagship phone so I would get major Android updates as soon as possible. This expectation was well met by Google, as the official Gingerbread came out after just a few months of ownership. The Nexus S 4G was even better with Gingerbread, which was a solid update over Froyo.
The Gingerbread update also brought Google Wallet to the Nexus S 4G. This is still the only phone in the U. S. that can use the NFC hardware in the phone with Google’s ATM service. I have used Google Wallet only once, to pay for a lunch in McDonald’s. There isn’t a lot of choice of venues that accept the PayPass service that drives Google Wallet. It was an interesting experience, waving the phone at the terminal to pay for my Big Mac. I haven’t felt compelled to try it again.
With Android 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) arriving on the Galaxy Nexus, I found myself hankering to give it a try. Getting yet another phone was not in the cards, so I loaded up a custom ROM with ICS for the Nexus S 4G. It is a sweet upgrade over Gingerbread, and I can’t wait to get the official upgrade so I can be all legit again.
See also: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on the Nexus S 4G (review)
This year my wife jumped on the iPhone train by picking up an iPhone 4 when it hit Verizon. She has loved the phone, and I found myself eyeing it from time to time as it is a nice phone. When Apple released its successor, the iPhone 4S, it wasn’t long until I hit Verizon to get one.
The iPhone 4S is a good smartphone, and a big part of that is the huge app ecosystem. I find apps to do everything I can think of, and some things I can’t. I have been pleased with the iPhone 4S, and continue to use it alongside my Nexus S 4G which I still own.
Related: Why I ordered an iPhone 4S; iPhone 4S: Day 1 with an Android phone owner
If I was in the market for a smartphone today, there is no question I would get the Galaxy Nexus. It is a fantastic phone, and the current Google flagship phone. It ships with ICS onboard, and has a big screen that looks great. I think I would bite the bullet and buy one off contract, though, and avoid the commitment.
