The iPhone 4 was launched today to eager, eager crowds. But how does Apple’s new smartphone compare against other phones that want a piece of the action? BillShrink has taken a look at the total cost and features from each of the current top phones of AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon.
And, as it turns out, the iPhone has the cheapest costs over a two year period.
Although Apple’s iPhone might be the cheapest under contract, it’s important to note that AT&T is the only provider in the chart above the restricts data. All the other providers have an option for unlimited data. AT&T provides 250MB for $19 and 2GB for $25. Want tethering? That’s an additional $20 per month.
There’s no denying that the number of complaints about the Nexus One’s 3G have been numerous. Now, after several updates, Google says “we are no longer investigating further engineering improvements”. Google feels that the patch they supplied took care of most of the problems, and you’re stuck with whatever bug you have now. In short: Google isn’t fixing your Nexus One connectivity problems anymore.
I’ve seen some recent speculation on this thread about an OTA to improve 3G connectivity and I want to give you an update on the situation. While we are continuing to monitor user feedback regarding the 3G performance on the Nexus One, we are no longer investigating further engineering improvements at this time.
If you are still experiencing 3G issues, we recommend that you try changing your location or even the orientation of your phone, as this may help in areas with weaker coverage.
Let’s face it, the Nexus One is a beautiful phone we would all like to use. The phone is already out for AT&T and T-Mobile networks and coming soon to Verizon, but it has no word for Sprint. That’s about to change. Just a little past a day after the announcement that the phone would work over AT&T’s 3G bands comes word from Sprint that they will be carrying the phone, and that a release date would be announced “soon”. Verizon still has to get their CDMA version of the Nexus One, but now we known that every major US carrier will sport the phone (probably at the same price) sometime this year.
Another unknown HTC phone cleared the FCC today, supposedly headed to Verizon with CDMA bands and a model number PB99100. While no one has any proof that this is the Nexus One, the fact that the Nexus One with GSM bands had a model number of PB99300 might mean you can pick up this phone at a Verzion store near you come springtime, but there’s been no word or official confirmation from the guys at Google, HTC, or Verizon.
Update: Neowin reports that a Google employee has told them that Google will host a press conference during the first day of the CTIA wireless conference (March 23), where they will introduce the CDMA Nexus One.
The Nexus One hit a milestone today, scoring both 3G issues plaguing the device, plus getting multi-touch on its browser and maps, among others. The update, which will be available over-the-air for Nexus One users, will not be instant. Some customers will be getting it today while more will get it within a week. Wait until you receive a message on its notification bar, download and install. It couldn’t get any simpler. Here’s a portion of the official release:
Starting today, Nexus One users will begin to receive an over-the-air software update on their phones. This update provides some great new features, and fixes a few problems that some users might have experienced, including:
Google Goggles: this mobile application will now be available directly on your device by launching it from your All Apps menu. Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web
Google Maps: the Maps application with be updated to a new version, Google Maps 3.4, which will include:
Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com – access your favorite places from your phone or computer
Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history – makes it easy to search for places you’ve searched for before
Night mode in Google Maps Navigation – automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving
Pinch-to-zoom functionality: devices will now include a new pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone’s Browser, Gallery and Maps applications
3G connectivity: we will provide a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones
It would be awkward to see what your saying to your phone censored, right? According to Google, no. CNET found out Google censors what you say into voice to text input feature, making common swear words into censored number signs. And as strange as it sounds, Google has excuse for it:
We filter potentially offensive or inappropriate results because we want to avoid situations whereby we might misrecognize a spoken query and return profanity when, in fact, the user said something completely innocent.
It’s good for taking precautions, but there’s no way to disable it. Google, that’s just wrong.
The two newest Android phones – the DROID and Nexus One lack multi-touch support in the USA, but if rumors are correct, the European version (to be launched on Vodafone) of the Nexus One indeed has multi-touch support. Read the rest of this entry →
Ah, Google employees. Always leaking out pictures, videos, and descriptions of the Nexus One. This time we have an exhaustive five minute walkthrough of the gorgeous device with a lame point and shoot camera’s video recorder of the custom Android 2.1 interface and the marketplace. There’s also pictures of the phone side by side with a HTC Hero and iPhone. Pictures and link after the jump. Read the rest of this entry →
The iPhone 4 was launched today to eager, eager crowds. But how does Apple’s new smartphone compare against other phones that want a piece of the action? BillShrink has taken a look at the total cost and features from each of the current top phones of AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon.
