Just For Chris
Wednesday 31st October, 2012 15:33 Comments: 1
You'd think, after all these announcements from Apple, Microsoft and Google, I'd have posted something really geeky about the iPad Mini, Surface tablet running Windows 8 or the new Nexus phone. I haven't for a very good reason: none of them have excited me.
Okay, I take that back (a little bit). I'm tempted by the new Surface tablet, but that's mostly because I don't already have a tablet and the only touchscreen device I own is my phone (i.e. there's a tiny gap amongst the silly number of different physical/virtual devices I use). But it's a relatively expensive toy that I'll probably only use at home when I want to use something bigger than my phone to browse the web or Remote Desktop into another computer (and a cat looks comfortable in my computer chair, otherwise I'd use my PC with its wonderful Dell U2410 display). I'm meant to be a Microsoft fanboi, and even I'm indifferent to Windows 8 on a Surface device and not very interested in a Windows Phone 8 device.
I generally dislike Google (even if their search engine is the best), but I am glad I finally abandoned Symbian (and Sony Ericsson) for an Android phone last year. I was really hoping to wet myself with excitement over the new 5" Nexus phone; but it didn't happen. The new LG "Nexus 4" looks okay, but it's almost identical to the Nexus phone from last year (although the SIM free price through Google's store means I'm considering it anyway), and is only 4.7" diagonally (it is quad core, I might get a better mobile signal, it won't come with a scratch like my current phone, and the screen probably looks better). But it's not a 5" 1920x1080 display (like the HTC DLX). It's also not a 64GB model (like every other Nexus, it omits an SD Card slot), which would be nice for transferring files or holding my entire music collection. I'd seriously consider paying a lot more than £239 if I could get the HTC DLX as a Nexus device (I'm sure I can stick a stock version of Android, or perhaps CyanogenMod, over the top, but it'd be nice to get a flagship device), although it'd be nice if it came with a bigger battery (like the Note 2). I think a phablet, as they seem to be called, is what I'm after. Big enough to be useful, but small enough to fit in my pocket.
Then there's Apple. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of their devices (although the MacBook Pro always looks nice), but I think many people would agree that the iPhone 5 was the worst kept secret in the history of the iPhone. Not only that, it's barely any better than the 4S, and iOS6 is currently a step backwards if you need to use a map (I know, I know, you can still use Google Maps through a browser, and it should turn up on the App Store pretty soon). The iPad Mini appears to be a stop gap (the iPhone isn't big enough and the iPad is too big). You can tell it's a stop gap as it doesn't have a good display (I'd even go as far as saying "shit" resolution).
So what has interested me? Surprisingly, I'm a little bit tempted by a Kindle. I suspect this is because I'm fed up with trying to read books off my phone (although I found it interesting that I'm happy to flick quickly through a large number of short pages with large text, as there's very little eye movement and it's easier to hold than a book), especially as the backlight (on low) is still pretty bright even when I've gone for white text on a black background. If I had a phablet, I'm not sure I'd be so interested though. Did I mention I'd quite like a 5" phablet?
And on a somewhat unrelated note, how many people have noticed that instead of using their index finger to do things (like in the good old days), you're mostly using your middle finger? I use it all the time on my phone, vending machines, lifts.
Okay, I take that back (a little bit). I'm tempted by the new Surface tablet, but that's mostly because I don't already have a tablet and the only touchscreen device I own is my phone (i.e. there's a tiny gap amongst the silly number of different physical/virtual devices I use). But it's a relatively expensive toy that I'll probably only use at home when I want to use something bigger than my phone to browse the web or Remote Desktop into another computer (and a cat looks comfortable in my computer chair, otherwise I'd use my PC with its wonderful Dell U2410 display). I'm meant to be a Microsoft fanboi, and even I'm indifferent to Windows 8 on a Surface device and not very interested in a Windows Phone 8 device.
I generally dislike Google (even if their search engine is the best), but I am glad I finally abandoned Symbian (and Sony Ericsson) for an Android phone last year. I was really hoping to wet myself with excitement over the new 5" Nexus phone; but it didn't happen. The new LG "Nexus 4" looks okay, but it's almost identical to the Nexus phone from last year (although the SIM free price through Google's store means I'm considering it anyway), and is only 4.7" diagonally (it is quad core, I might get a better mobile signal, it won't come with a scratch like my current phone, and the screen probably looks better). But it's not a 5" 1920x1080 display (like the HTC DLX). It's also not a 64GB model (like every other Nexus, it omits an SD Card slot), which would be nice for transferring files or holding my entire music collection. I'd seriously consider paying a lot more than £239 if I could get the HTC DLX as a Nexus device (I'm sure I can stick a stock version of Android, or perhaps CyanogenMod, over the top, but it'd be nice to get a flagship device), although it'd be nice if it came with a bigger battery (like the Note 2). I think a phablet, as they seem to be called, is what I'm after. Big enough to be useful, but small enough to fit in my pocket.
Then there's Apple. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of their devices (although the MacBook Pro always looks nice), but I think many people would agree that the iPhone 5 was the worst kept secret in the history of the iPhone. Not only that, it's barely any better than the 4S, and iOS6 is currently a step backwards if you need to use a map (I know, I know, you can still use Google Maps through a browser, and it should turn up on the App Store pretty soon). The iPad Mini appears to be a stop gap (the iPhone isn't big enough and the iPad is too big). You can tell it's a stop gap as it doesn't have a good display (I'd even go as far as saying "shit" resolution).
So what has interested me? Surprisingly, I'm a little bit tempted by a Kindle. I suspect this is because I'm fed up with trying to read books off my phone (although I found it interesting that I'm happy to flick quickly through a large number of short pages with large text, as there's very little eye movement and it's easier to hold than a book), especially as the backlight (on low) is still pretty bright even when I've gone for white text on a black background. If I had a phablet, I'm not sure I'd be so interested though. Did I mention I'd quite like a 5" phablet?
And on a somewhat unrelated note, how many people have noticed that instead of using their index finger to do things (like in the good old days), you're mostly using your middle finger? I use it all the time on my phone, vending machines, lifts.
Robert - Monday 5th November, 2012 11:33 I think I've talked myself out of the LG Nexus 4. It looks like a nice device, but it's not a major improvement on my current Nexus, it has a sealed battery, and I'll need a new SIM (or I need to cut mine up). I'll probably buy myself a nice tablet instead (as I don't already have one). Maybe a Windows 8 Surface device (x86, so I can actually do stuff), or the cheaper 16GB Nexus 10 (with its high resolution display).