Recently, I had the opportunity to give the LG Nitro HD by AT&T a test run, and I wasn’t disappointed. This is an LG offering definitely worth taking a look at. The phone in general is pretty solid, and it carries most features you’d find in any “high-end” Android smartphone. This handset is no slouch when stacked up against the competition, with a 4.5-inch 1280 x 720 AH-IPS display, dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm APQ8060 processor and 1.3 front-facing / 8 megapixel rear cameras. Unfortunately, the device is a tad bit underwhelming when it comes to design. When your competing against the Apple’s and Samsung’s of the world, your design needs to be on point. It needs to stick out.
Even though the Nitro HD fails when it comes to a prominent signature design, it does have a remarkable 4.5-inch screen (which I accidentally called 4.3-inches in my review video) that really pops and comes to life. LG’s choice to outfit the Nitro HD with a stunning 1280 x 720 AH-IPS panel boasting 329ppi that bests Apple’s Retina display was an awesome move. I’m not a pixel geek but I would say the screen is proper, it renders fonts and icons with smooth distinction. The IPS (NOVA) display is supremely accurate when it comes to showing vibrant colors. Touch responsiveness was a little off, as I’d find myself tapping the screen on many occasions to get from one action to another.
In the video, I voiced my appreciation for the rubber-like back cover on the phone, it’s a modest addition that most reviewers don’t care to mention — but I care dammit! I was disappointed that I couldn’t test AT&T’s LTE network because for some unforeseen reason the review unit that came to me wasn’t activated. Trust, it was a WTF? moment for me. I then went to the software part of the handset which sports a user interface that resembles Samsung’s TouchWiz, and with that carried the usual bloatware (pre-installed) apps and widgets.
Well, that’s it. These were the things that interested me the most about the LG Nitro HD. One thing I try to do on this site is highlight the things that’s most important (in my opinion). The Nitro HD is a great choice on AT&T’s limited roster of smartphones, it’s the perfect handset to jump into if you have yet to experience the Android platform. That said, LG did itself a disservice by pricing the device too high at $250 with new two-year on contract. This isn’t a good price for customers, and honestly, LG isn’t a place to command such a hefty tag. The Korean-based manufacturer needs to put in more work when it comes to gaining people’s’ trust. After all, you need to crawl before you walk, right?
Recently, I had the chance to review the MOTOACTV by Motorola, a gadget hybrid fitness watch with phone capabilities powered by Android. I’ve written about this device on Androinica since it first was announced some months back, when the company held an event with the tagline: “Faster, thinner, smarter, stronger.” Even though I didn’t get to work out with the watch, the MOTOACTV lives up to its hype. This thing is nothing short of impressive, it can watch a user’s workout, and offer music tracks to keep those working out motivated. Also, that you not only can sink your Bluetooth enabled headphones, but your Droid phone via its Motoactv app to answer calls, sync contacts, and calendar notifications is remarkable.
I got to checkout the phone call feature more exclusively, as I put the Bluetooth connection through the test. I paired the ACTV to a Sprint Samsung Galaxy S II Epic Touch 4G (yes, the phone’s name is really that long), where I then went as far as I could to see how long the connection would stay. I came up with a range of 20-30 feet. Not bad.
One thing I noticed was the look of the accessories. Motorola sent me a bike mount, rubber wrist band, and sports arm band that all resembled something a man would wear. I let my fiancé who’s probably 5 foot 1-inch tall try the armband and she hated how it draped over her wrist. The wrist band is probably better suited for men because of how thick it is (you can see it on my wrist in the video).
That said, this watch is more of a niche device for fitness freaks, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The problem with this being a niche device is it alienates the casual Android user. It also cost a bit too much for my liking, with the 8GB model going for $249 and the 16GB for $299. Aside from that, it’s a cool gadget to own, and a definite conversation starter at your local gym. Check out my video to see the hybrid fitness watch in action.
Early today I recorded a demonstration of the Android Beam feature found on Google’s new mobile operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0). Beam is a futuristic concept that uses close-proximity data exchange powered by an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip-set. In laymen terms, the purpose of the feature is to transfer information from one phone to another seamlessly. So if you want a friend to see a cool app you downloaded or see map directions or even a website, Android Beam gets it to them. The way it works is by holding the back of the Galaxy Nexus to the back of another device carrying an NFC chip (like the Nexus S 4G I used in the video), then wallah! The information gets transferred.
In my opinion, this is the best way to share information with someone next to you quickly. Instead of looking over someone’s shoulder or emailing the thing you want the next person to see, you can simply beam it, and keep it moving. Checkout my quick demonstration of the cool Android Beam feature below.
When manufacturers take a risk when it comes to doing something that isn’t the norm I applaud them. Unfortunately, the LG DoublePlay is when stepping out of the box goes wrong. In this case the gist isn’t a knock on style necessarily but execution instead. We’re in an era where smartphones are becoming damn-near wafer-like in thinness, which has made handsets with a little bulk come off as hideous looking. Well, the DoublePlay more than fits the bill when it comes to bulky phones, but the question is: Does the mobile device give users a better social-networking experience?
First and foremost, when you stack the LG DoublePlay up against other T-Mobile phones like its kind; it seems thicker than the Sidekick 4G, Motorola Cliq 2, and myTouch 4G slide. There’s nothing pretty about this handset, in the video I recorded (below) I mentioned how the phone reminded me of a brick. The plastic shell surrounding the phone feels really slippery, like you can drop it at any moment. On the backside you’ll find a metal strip that serves absolutely no other purpose than being there for aesthetics.
Now lets move to another disappointment, the screen. The screen on the DoublePlay holds a mediocre a 3.5-inch HVGA (320×480 pixels) display, which isn’t as good as a standard WVGA resolution you’ll find on any typical mid-range phone. To put it in prospective, the DoublePlay screen is like a boom-tube (when compared to others), while a WVGA resolution display is like a cheap 19-inch flat panel TV you can buy from Walmart — the quality isn’t great, but it’s a lot better than a boom-tube.
The web browser experience was awful for me, I used it once and I didn’t use it again. When using the split-style keyboard, I found it more challenging to type for some reason; this could be do to the 2-inch screen placed in the middle. Now one good thing the 2-inch display gives you is decent multi-tasking, like access to text messages, music player, group texting, picture gallery, email, calendar, browser, and social+ app. You’d think with these capabilities it would enhance or refine the overall experience, but it doesn’t.
Another thing that irked me was the lack of a front-facing camera, which is ridiculous considering how many mid-range devices carry it. Over a month ago, I did a review on the Samsung Exhibit II 4G, which is a pre-paid mid-range device that packs a WVGA resolution display, T-Mobile 4G and a front-facing camera. Again, this phone is pre-paid and offered through Wal-Mart and it has better specs than the LG DoublePlay — need I say more?
With all seriousness, this is a good phone for a tween or teen looking to get their feet wet in the Android ecosystem, but if you’re a grown-ass man or woman you should look the other way for a device. Just keeping it real.
The iPad seems to get better by the day, with this MXL Tempo USB Microphone users can record vocals and other sounds while on-the-go. This is almost as good as the article we wrote last week about Griffin’s GuitarConnect Pro that gave guitarists/bassists the ability to connect their instruments directly into the iOS tablet. Now this is the sweet thing about the MXL Tempo, the mic is USB based and will work with both PCs and Macs. Here’s the catch – if you happen to have Apple’s Camera Connector Kit, you will be able to plug the MXL Tempo microphone directly into the iPad, which turns the tablet into a convenient tool for podcasting and chatting.
The MXL Tempo features a frequency range of 40Hz to 18kHz and sensitivity of -47dB (re 1 v/Pa). You can buy this bad boy for $79.95. Each buy comes equipped with a mini-mic stand, a hard mount adapter and an A-to-B USB cable. This and the GuitarConnect Pro would be the perfect gift for an artist who loves his music and iPad.
Griffin, an iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone accessory maker, released a awesome new device for musicians called the GuitarConnect Pro. This device allows the connection of an electric guitar, bass or other musical instrument with a 1/4-inch plug to hook-up to your iPad or iPhone. The way it works is by putting out an all-digital connection to the tablet, which allows the player to record directly with GarageBand and most of Core Audio apps.
Basically, GuitarConnect Pro with the help of your iOS device can turn your environment (wherever that may be) into a practice session that includes play and record functionality. This is crazy, Apple just turned their devices into the perfect tool for musicians abroad, but with that convenience comes a hefty price of $79.99(USD). Unfortunately, I’m not a guitar player so I couldn’t tell you how good the recordings sound. If you happen to jam on the guitar let us know if you’d pick this thing up.
For the last couple of years, T-Mobile has been pushing the myTouch brand with the help of HTC as its flagship device. This year the company went in a different direction with a change in strategy and manufacturer in LG. This new relationship has spawned two different myTouch’s with the separation of one letter, Q. The regular myTouch includes a slightly bigger 3.8-inch OLED (480 x 800) screen and a slimmer body that weighs only 3.7 oz. The myTouch Q offers a smaller 3.5-inch screen, but has an LED flash and QWERTY keypad. Both phones came out earlier this month at $79.99 with a 2 year contract. These devices have minor differences, but when you read and watch our video you should have an idea as to what device suits you better.
Features
LG myTouch
LG myTouch Q
Processor
1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon
1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon
Display
3.8″ OLED
3.5″ LCD
Resolution
480 x 800
320 x 480
OS
Android 2.3.4
Android 2.3.4
Dimensions
4.82″ x 2.46″ x 0.39″
4.76″ x 2.5″ x 0.51″
Back Camera
5-megapixel
5-megapixel
Front Camera
VGA
NONE
Video Recording
720p HD
720p HD
Flash
NONE
LED flash
RAM
512 MB
512 MB
Storage
2 GB internal storage/ 2GB microSD card included. Supports up to 32GB.
2 GB internal storage/ 2GB microSD card included. Supports up to 32GB.
Battery
1500 mAh
1500 mAh
Weight
3.7 oz (105 g)
5.64 oz (160 g)
When you open up both boxes you’ll find the usual amenities: user manual, terms and conditions, USB cable, AC adapter, battery, 2 GB microSD card, and the phones themselves. The features list above breaks both phones down to the very spec, and as you can see there isn’t much of a difference between the two. I’m not going to harp on minor features, so allow for me to talk about the feel of both handsets. When I put my hands on these devices they had a nice form factor and feel, which is a credit to LG. Like I mention in the review video, LG usually gets a lot of flack when it comes to shortcomings in developing its hardware. With the myTouch’s, the company came through with pretty decent hardware.
Now, one thing about me is the love I have for the simple things. A simple redesigning element LG added to the myTouch’s is placing the power/lock button, headphone jack, and the microUSB port on the top of each device. Why is this important you ask? Well, most manufacturers usually place the power/lock button on the right side of the device, which allows for right hand’rs to power the device on or off with a thumb press. This sucks because on the left side of a device is usually the volume rocker, which can get pressed occasionally from trying to lock your phone. This is an annoyance that could be avoided if all OEMs could just add the power button to the top like LG did with both phones here.
The Q has 4 capacitive buttons, which includes T-Mobile’s Genius button, while the myTouch only has three because it doesn’t come with the Genius button. Besides this key difference the myTouch Q sports an LED flash with its camera, while the myTouch doesn’t carry one. Again, these are some of the differences shared in the features chart above. When it comes to the user interface you’ll notice a custom skin that resembles what seems to be T-Mo’s Espresso. Also, the app drawer comes with three different layouts to display your apps, category, page and list.
All in all, these phones are niche devices for people who may want a touch screen or a keypad instead. They both are mid level phones that don’t offer anything game changing, but if I were a customer looking to transition into the Android OS either myTouch’s would be a good choice.
Checkout our video, so you can see the phones in a hands on review
In an iPhone-like way, Samsung is set to roll out a white version of its flagship phone, the Galaxy S II. Unfortunately, subscribers of T-Mobile will be the only people to get their hands on this device in T-Mo stores and online sometime during the holidays. The GSII is a pretty kick-ass phone, and it’s on all the major carriers in the U.S., except for Verizon. That said, the snowy version will most likely share the same specs as the current, black version:
