GREAT MARKETING & THE DISTURBING PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE “4G-CLUELESS”

Today I had an interesting conversation with my partner-in-crime Tim Largent. Not quite satisfied with the download speeds of his new iPhone 4S, he posed the question of whether or not the 4S is an HSPA+ compatible device.

This sparked a long discussion that raised some interesting facts about people’s general understanding of 3G/4G/LTE, and I have come to realize a few things…

I think an embarrassingly large percentage of people really have no clue as to what the heck “4G” service really is, and the reason behind this is the misleading marketing schemes that the big 4 telecoms put in people’s heads. I think the majority of smartphone owners are being bamboozled. Why?

First of all, I think 3/4ths of people that own “4G” smartphones don’t have any idea that they aren’t getting 4G service at all.

Case in point, the slick-talking reps at the local T-Mobile store had my wife bouncing off the walls with excitement when they sold her an HTC MyTouch 4G smartphone last winter. Sadly, she came to realize that her beloved carrier doesn’t even have 3G service in Central Missouri. We only have crappy dinosaur-speed EDGE coverage. As a side note, I dumped my wife’s T-Mobile service and purchased a Samsung Galaxy Skyrocket LTE smartphone for her in its place. At least she can operate her smartphone at 3G speeds now.

There are a lot of people buying “4G” smartphones from fast-talking sales reps who fail to mention that 4G service is nowhere near available, because the network has not been expanded to most areas as of yet. Sure, there are some lucky metropolitan areas that have an actual LTE 4G network up and running, but the majority of the rest of the country does not. Yet and still, the carriers advertise it like it’s everywhere. I think it is borderline consumer fraud to say the least.

What makes it even more complicated is the fact that AT&T and T-Mobile are calling their HSPA+ service “4G“, which is the same label given to LTE service. They claim it’s all about the speed capabilities, not the hardware, that makes the service “4G”. But again, phones are being promoted by sales agents without making it clear that most areas don’t even have HSPA+ available.

9 out of 10 times that I ask people if they know the difference between HSPA+ “4g” and LTE “4G”, people don’t even have a sliver of a clue. The carriers march right on, bragging about super fast download speeds, but they don’t put much focus on making this clear. As I’ve said before, I’d be happy just to have HSPA+ “Fake 4G” service in Jefferson City, let alone LTE 4G.

Something else that I really find disturbing is the situation with Verizon Wireless. They are selling iPhone 4S devices in record numbers. From my research, the AT&T version is supposedly capable of running HSDPA/HSUPA speeds of up to 14.4Mbps, not the full 21Mbps HSPA+ speeds that are advertised. But Verizon isn’t in the business of developing an enhanced ‘3.5G” network like AT&T. To the contrary, they are trying to ditch the entire 3G network by the end of 2013.

Verizon wants all of the smartphones sold on their network to be 4G LTE capable by the end of the year. But what about the millions of iPhone 4S devices being sold by the truckloads since the launch in October 2011? What will happen to all of the customers, numbering in the millions, that are left holding these devices? What will become of these phones once the switch has been made after the 3G network has been phased out?

The AT&T version of the iPhone 4S will still be able to run at respectable speeds on the enhanced 3.5G network this year and next year. This tells me that the market for used iPhones should still be a viable market well into the 4G LTE phase. But will this render the Verizon iPhones useless? I’d sure love for someone who is in-the-know to shed some knowledge on that.

Meanwhile, I think all of the carriers need to settle down and stop pumping out these commercials bragging and boasting of “instant downloads” that are so fast, they reach into the future before events even occur. The whole idea of this marketing scheme is laughable to say the least. I’ll bet you that Consumer Reports jumps into the picture before the year is out and issues a warning to uninformed buyers.

I don’t want to even get into the Sprint situation, which is even more muddy, with their “WiMax 4G” version of high speed service. It’s on the fast-track to being mothballed. Sprint knows that true LTE is the future, and they’ve already been in hot water with class action lawsuits in the past year for pushing their smartphones as 4G-capable and charging and extra $10 per month fee. We’ll save that for another day.

In the meantime, I guess ignorance is bliss. If people are happy to have a smartphone that has a “4G” sticker on the box and a fancy flashing 4G icon at the top of the screen, I suppose we shouldn’t rain on their parade and just leave them in their happy state. But hopefully more of the noteworthy tech blogs will bring this to the light of day and get people informed.

Maybe I’m off my rocker, and maybe I’m being a little picky. But if I can help someone save $200 and a wasted 2-year commitment to a device that could be rendered obsolete within the next several months, I’ve done my honest duty. My rant is done. I’ve spoken my peace.

Let me know what you think. How many of your friends remain clueless regarding all of this 3G/4G/HSPA+/LTE nonsense? I’m curious to know. If you want more information, be sure to check out my previous post “Fake 4G vs Real 4G – The Shootout Explained“, and “GSM And CDMA Explained In Simple Terms“. Enjoy!

Carlton Flowers
4G Whistle Blower

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

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SEASONS GREETINGS FROM THE CARLTON ZONE

Hi all! I just wanted to take a break from the family fun and food to say that I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

I hope you had time to spend with your family today. I had a great day myself. We got up early and attended a great church service at First Assembly of God Church in Jefferson City where pastor Lowell Perkins delivered a memorable Christmas message about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

After church, we packed up the gang (four wonderful kids) and headed home to exchange gifts and give thanks. We had an awesome time, and many laughs! My wife cooked the most amazing Christmas dinner centered around a bone ham and all the extras, and there’s plenty of cookies and junk food to guarantee 10 pounds of weight gain for the next week.

I think all of us took a nice long nap at some point during the day, but we’re all back up and buzzing around. Tonight we’ll take our traditional trip around town to see all the gorgeous Christmas lights in our favorite neighborhoods, and then I’ll get to enjoy the day off on Monday to sit around and be merry once more!

If you are traveling, please be safe, and I hope you have a wonderful time during the holiday season. I’m so thankful for all of you that participate in the blog. In fact, I actually miss you when you are gone! So get posting and let me know how your Christmas was, and share your New Year’s Resolutions if you would!

Carlton Flowers
Gadget Clause

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FEEDING AN OLD ADDICTION WITH A 3GS TURNED IPOD TOUCH

I have a fun little experience I thought I’d share with the gang. Last week, a fiend of mine blessed me with a broken iPhone 3GS. I replaced a couple of parts and turned it into an iPod Touch. Now I have my Samsung Galaxy S II and an iPhone with all my old favorite apps! It’s been a strange experience, though…

Now that I have had my Galaxy S2  for a month, it has warped my perception of what I thought “normal” was with screen size. When I pick up the 3GS, which by the way I loved so much more than my horrible iPhone 4, it seems like it went through a “Honey I Shrank  The Kids” experiment.

Was this phone actually this tiny when I was using it? I could swear it wasn’t this small. Turning it on and reading emails and looking at websites with the 3GS is a definite strain on my eyes. I don’t know how I did it before. I think my eyesight has taken a turn for the worse in the past year, so that might add to the effect. But it sure seems like it shrank on me.

It is nice to have some of my old favorite applications available, however. I paid for a few apps that are not available on Android as of yet, so that’s a nice thing. It’s also kind of nice to hear the old sounds that the phone gives off that are burned so deeply into my brain. Sometimes I just pick it up and swipe to open the home page to hear the “unlock” sound.

When I scroll through the apps and play around on the 3GS, it’s like going home. It is comforting and familiar. I can still navigate around iOS5 with relative ease. I’ll probably use the 3GS at home when the Galaxy is charging, or while I’m on the phone at the same time. I liked it so much that at first, I feared it would ruin my Android experience and cause a relapse.

Well, it didn’t…

First of all, after toying with the 3GS for a couple of hours, I started stumbling upon all the familiar frustrating things that made me switch to Android in the first place. Things like no text reflow in the browser, not being able to read the tiny screen, no haptic response, the clunky GMail app, apps disappearing and reappearing when I sync, not being able to “understand” iTunes, etc.

But even with the frustrations, it was still a calming soothing experience to have that little iPhone 3GS back in my hands, and everything was just so familiar, functional, and flowing. Because of that, I was worried that using the 3GS at the same time would ruin my Android experience and make it seem like a “cheap copy”.

So story continues… when I picked up my Samsung Galaxy S2, to my surprise, it was like opening up a big huge present on Christmas morning as a kid. Playing with the 3GS didn’t “ruin” my Galaxy experience. It only made it better. Staring at that bright, rich display was a night-and-day difference from looking at the Retina display for the past couple of hours. And everything was easier in Android.

Navigation on my Galaxy S2 is so much better than on the iPhone with iOS5. I have modified my home screens to where I can get to everything with relative ease. With iOS, scrolling past dozens of app screens just doesn’t get it anymore. Sure, you can jam everything into folders, but it’s just not customizable enough to match Android 2.3.4.

Texting is a big thing that jumps right out at me also. I have always loved the “feel” and spacing of the iPhone keys, and the responsiveness is awesome. But with the bigger Galaxy display, and all of the myriads of keyboard styles that you can switch to on a whim, the Android device is much better. Plus, I can even use my iPhone clone keyboard when I’m in the mood.

Overall, I’m enjoying having the best of both worlds. iOS5 runs just fine on my 3GS, and I can text other Apple device owners using iMessage, so that’s nice. I don’t know how much I’ll really use the 3GS, but it certainly anesthetizes me whenever I get the urge to scratch my old Apple habit.

But the biggest benefit is that it reassures me that I made the right decision to switch to Android. There’s no doubt about that!

Truly mixed up and loving it,

Carlton Flowers
Smartphone Double Agent

PRICE DROP ACTION ON GALAXY S II SMARTPHONES AT AMAZON!

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

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ONLINE FLASH GAMES – MY SECRET WAY TO UNWIND MY MIND

Okay guys and gals, I am always writing about gadgets and technology and business and all that other “serious” stuff, but right now, whilst I am in the midst of a fairly decent case of writer’s block, I’m gonna post about fun stuff. Today’s topic? Online FLASH-BASED (yes, the wicked Adobe Flash) games.

Here’s the deal… once in a while, I’m always surfing the net trying to find a decent Flash game site to relax my mind for a half an hour or so. It’s hard to find a legitimate site that doesn’t have all sorts of popups and malware. One of the best online Flash based sites with online games I have found to date is www.rocketgames.com.

I just spent 30 minutes playing a game that had me flying a WWII fighter plane on a bombing raid, and a racing a car through a city just like the classic California Speed, Cruis’n USA, and Daytona. Funny thing is, the Flash games you can play for free on your computer are like the top coin-operated games from 20 years ago.

I’m 44 years old, and when I was in high school and college (at Mizzou) the only place you could play decent games were at a place once called “Video Arcades”. Kids, you’ll have to do a Wikipedia search to find out more about these ancient locations that used to drain you of all your allowance or part-time job money. It’s remarkable how far we’ve come.

In the mid 1990’s, I used to actually pay money for games like NASCAR Racing and Demolition Derby on CD-ROM that you would load on your computer. It was nothing to spend $20 to $50 on such a game. So for people like me, it’s a real treat to blow off steam and play games that have the same graphics capability of the stuff you paid good money for.

Nowadays, there’s no such thing as a Video Arcade. The stuff my kids play on their XBOX 360 or Nintendo Wii are so far advanced and beyond the stuff we thought was such a treat to jam a quarter in, they wouldn’t even think of paying actual money to stare at a 500 pound upright video “console”.

But I digress…

If you want to play some decent flash games give this site a whirl. You can play all of the games on the front page without signing up for their premium service, and there aren’t any annoying popups to deal with. Nor will you be bugged to death with toolbars and pesky malware downloads (that I am aware of… haha). Rocket Games is a pretty cool site to check out.

So if you are bored stiff or in a complete brain-lock like I am at the current moment, go waste some valuable time and go on a bombing raid in a World War II fighter plane and see if that frees up your mind. There are even Flash versions of popular iPhone games on the site, along with plenty of other high-quality Flash games. Go check it out and have some fun. I know I will for the next few days.

Do you have a fun site that you’d like to share that has classic video games? If you do, I’d love to hear about it. I’m still searching for the workable Williams Electronics “Defender” game myself. I’d also love to find a good version of the classic “Asteroids” game that I spent so many piles of quarters on when I was 16 years old.

Jump on in the comments section and share some of your favorite sites so we can all be unproductive and revert back to childhood. It’s healthy. I’ll thank you for it later.

Carlton Flowers
Classic Video Game Nerd

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REVIEW – THE BIG SCREEN WIMAX VERSION OF THE GALAXY S2 BY SPRINT

I haven’t given much attention at all to Sprint’s version of the Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone which happens to be the only one to bear a custom name, the “Epic Touch 4G“. So let’s spend some time on this handset and I’ll give you my thoughts an my final recommendation.

I decided to give this a little bit of attention since I have had the chance to compare the Epic Touch 4G with my very own Galaxy S2, thanks to my friend Engineer Cliff at work. Cliff and I both happen to be gadget geek enginerds working at the same agency.

Right off the bat, the first thing you really do notice is the bigger 4.52″ Super AMOLED PLUS display on the Epic Touch 4G. Before I sat the devices side-by-side, I never would have thought there would be a significantly noticeable difference between a 4.3″ display and 4.52″. Well, there definitely is.

The aspect ratio of the screen is just a little bit different thanks to the larger display, which in turn does actually reduce the overall pixel density as compared to the SGS2. But I can’t say that my eyes are good enough to tell any difference or even the slightest drop in picture quality and clarity.

As the Epic 4G Touch definitely looks bigger than the Galaxy S2, and your grip will notice the difference too if you have small hands like I do. Reaching the top left corner of my SGS2 with my thumb (on my right hand) is just shy of impossible. It’s absolutely impossible for me to do the same on my buddy Cliff’s Epic Touch. But if one-handed thumb operation is not critical for you, it’s probably not going to be a deal breaker.

Besides not being able to stretch my short thumb across the screen, I do like the bigger display for viewing multimedia content. Plus, I do like the way my favorite tech blogs show up on the larger display. So it’s neither a negative or a positive. When it comes to optimal screen size, it just depends on your personal preference.

One of the obvious things that sets the Epic Touch 4G apart from AT&T’s Galaxy S2 is the data service. The SGS2 sports HSPA+ capability (where available) while the Epic Touch boasts its own “temporary” flavor of “4G” that they call WiMAX.

The reason I call it temporary is due to Sprint’s plans to upgrade to the somewhat standard LTE 4G (Long Term Evolution) over time. For more information on WiMAX and all of the other flavors of 4G service, hit this link to my prior article on “Real 4G vs Fake 4G – The Shootout Explained“.

As you can see from the map that I have snipped from the official website, Sprint is only offering WiMAX service in the major US cities at the time of this writing.

The coverage circles are a little bit misleading, because they would have you to believe that there is some amount of WiMAX 4G coverage in my stomping grounds, Jefferson City Missouri. We do not have coverage. You can only get the Sprint WiMAX 4G service in Kansas City and St. Louis if you live here in the land-locked center state of the Midwest.

At any rate, all that to say that the Epic 4G Touch would be a great choice if you happen to live in one of these major metropolitan areas that currently serves up the WiMAX-flavored radio waves to data-hungry smartphone addicts.

Taking a look at the insides of the Epic 4G Touch, you’ve got the same great Samsung Exynos 1.2GHz cpu powering the phone. That’s a great thing, in my opinion. Unlike the equally-sized T-Mobile version of the Galaxy S2 which has the slower (yet seemingly higher rated) Qualcomm 1.5GHz cpu, Sprint’s version matches the AT&T version with the superior processor. It beats the Qualcomm powerplant hands-down on all the performance benchmark tests that I’ve seen to date.

Battery-wise, the Epic Touch 4G might be superior. It has a 1800mAh lithium-ion battery as opposed to the 1650mAh unit sitting inside of the Galaxy S2. But the battery life might possibly be offset by the larger display on the Epic Touch. I haven’t read any reports comparing the length of charge, but I think 1800mAh is a very respectable battery size that is certain to give you good usability.

Everything else on the Epic 4G Touch is exactly the same as the Galaxy S2, such as 1Gb of RAM, 16Gb of internal memory, 32Gb of total memory when adding an additional 16Gb memory card, 1080p video rendering, 8Mp and 2Mp dual cameras, and the Android 2.3.4 operating system.

My final word on the Epic Touch 4G? It’s a definite buy if you are a current Sprint customer. You can’t go wrong. If you like the large 4.52″ display, you’ll still get great enjoyment out of this handset even if you’re not in the Sprint WiMAX coverage area. If you’re on the fence about this device, head to Amazon on the links below and grab it while the special holiday pricing is going on!

Are you a Sprint Epic Touch 4G owner? Do you have any tips, tricks, or stories to report to the CZ Blog about the performance of this smartphone? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Carlton Flowers
Samsung Galaxy Reviewer Extraordinaire

Get The Samsung Epic Touch 4G Android Smartphone (Sprint)

The Samsung Epic Touch 4G is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with Sprint! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

You’ll enjoy the 4.52″ of Super AMOLED Plus display greatness, plus the superior processing power of this 4G WiMAX-capable Android smartphone. There’s nothing quite like it!

Click the link to get your hands on this capable handset while the special pricing is available and while supplies last!

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MY GALAXY S2 ANDROID JOURNEY BEGINS, AND THE VERDICT IS…

I am completely, totally, wholeheartedly outdone! The Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone is everything I ever hoped it would be, and even more. I am 100% convinced of this in only 8 hours of constant use since purchasing this phone.

At 10:30am this morning, I got the notification on my iPhone 4… someone bought it for the low low price of $289, and that included the cracked screen, partially responsive home button, and all of my iPhone accessories & the original box. I was so happy, I could have let out a scream right there in the office.

At 11:30am, I went straight to the AT&T store, where I had previously gotten them to agree to sell me the phone for $50 cheaper than what they were asking for it (I asked them to price match Walmart). On the way, I was giddy and nearly uncontrollable. I could not wait to get my hands on the phone.

Even though I was totally beyond excited, I knew this would not be the the easiest of transitions. There would be things that I would miss, and there certainly would take some getting used to using an Android device after having an iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 for the past 2 years.

I arrived at the store and spent about 45 minutes of waiting time and demonstration time. When I walked in the door and was waiting in queue, I chatted with my friend Bern from work, and he found me to be quite entertaining. I told Bern that if I hadn’t sold my iPhone 4, I would have drop-kicked the thing straight through the AT&T Store window, and I would not have worried about broken toes.

Usually, it is a hit-and-miss experience when you visit cell phone retail outlets when it comes to being helped by someone who has real tech geek experience. Fortunately for me, attendant Frank was not only quite the smartphone expert, but he was also a Samsung Galaxy S2 owner himself. We spent a good amount of time talking, and he ushered me through some of the basic aspects of getting around Android and downloading some basic apps.

When I left, I was on cloud 9 (not to be confused with “iCloud). I did not take my eyes or my hands off of the phone for the next 8 hours. I even took it with me to Zumba fitness class and had it plugged into the wall 8 steps away from where I was.

My head hurts from trying to figure out how to do things in Android. I am still automatically and unconsciously on “Apple cruise control”. It has taken some real effort, and it can be frustrating. As time goes on, I’m getting better and better at typing and moving around on the phone.

Right now I am loving the Swype keyboard. It is my favorite. But the Samsung keyboard also is fantastic. I love the way it sounds and feels, and when you backspace, it gives you this squishy erasing sound that really makes it feel like you are destroying what you are deleting.

The voice command entry is fantastic also. I have had fairly good luck getting the device to understand what I am trying to input. I also downloaded and installed VLingo, but I have not had a chance to give it a test drive. I have been hearing good things about it, and I’m looking forward to giving it a try.

The display is remarkable. I was slightly discouraged the day before I bought the phone, because I read a really bad review of the Galaxy S2 on one of the tech blogs. The writer reported that the Galaxy S2 had the second worst pixel density of all smartphones, with its 800 by 480 resolution. After having this phone in my face for 8 hours, I have no idea what this guy is talking about.

My eyes are certainly not able to tell the difference between this Super AMOLED display and anything else that has a better screen resolution. In fact, this display far outshines my iPhone 4’s Retina Display. The blacks are richer and deeper, and the colors just simply pop. I don’t think my eyes will be able to appreciate something much better than this. I am 100% satisfied with the display.

Some of the things that I find frustrating the most would be getting used to typing in text, because I am so used to the spacing and placement of the iPhone keyboard. I still think that the iPhone layout is one of the best and most responsive of all smartphones. But that might be due to the fact that it is the one that I learned on. After sending thousands upon thousands of text messages using my iPhone, that is to be expected.

I am now in the process of downloading applications that I previously enjoyed on my iPhone, and quite a few new apps that I have found in the Android marketplace. I don’t think there are as many high quality apps in the Android Marketplace as compared to the Apple App Store, but again, this might be explained by the fact that I am used to Apple apps. But even if the Android Marketplace isn’t quite at the level of the App Store, I’m sure it will catch up over time.

The battery life is respectable. One thing that I noticed is that the Galaxy S2 smartphone takes quite a bit more time to fully charge than that of the iPhone 4. But this is not an issue for me, because I don’t go far without a charging cord of some type. I usually had my iPhone plugged in 90% of the time that it was in use, and I’ll do the same with the Galaxy S2.

The Galaxy S2 is very thin and light compared to my iPhone 4. It fits well in my hand, and it’s not too big. I love the extra size of the 4.3″ display, which seems to be the perfect size for me. The thinness is incredible, and it “sticks” to my hand when I grip the phone, unlike the super slick glass sandwich that I had with my iPhone 4.

Download speeds are also very respectable. I was getting decent speeds with my iPhone 4, and as I mentioned before, it was even out-performing my friend Tim Largent’s iPhone 4S. My average download speed on the AT&T 3G network here in Jefferson City was around 1.0Mbps, peaking out at 1.5Mbps on a good day. The Galaxy S2 is consistently charting at 1.2 to 1.4Mbps, and I am happy with that.

I’m not sure what the status is in Jefferson City Missouri with the HSPA+ upgrade of the 3G network. One thing is for sure, though, there’s no LTE coverage here and there probably won’t be anywhere in the near future. I would probably bet that the HSPA+ speeds will improve before we get LTE service. HSPA+ “Fake 4G” will work fine for me over the next year until I get a Samsung Galaxy S3, that’s for sure.

I had some mixed feelings about whether or not I should have waited for the Galaxy Nexus, but I’m solidly sure that the Galaxy S2 is for me. The rear camera is 8 megapixels as opposed to 5 on the Nexus, and the front facing camera is also better. Something else that disappointed me was the lack of an SD Flash card on the Nexus, so I’m not going to be hurting in that catagory.

I really needed to jump off of the upgrade vicious circle waiting game and just lock in on a device, so waiting around for the “next big phone” is something that would have kept me with my iPhone 4 and my Apple frustration. I’m glad to have finally stepped off the crazy train, and I’m ready to settle in on using this Galaxy S2.

My head still hurts from using this phone and getting used to a different system. It’s like learning a foreign language for the first time. It’s totally frustrating until the new language sets deep into your mind and becomes an unconscious thing. I might give this process about a week or two before I think my aching head will go away.

Overall, I’m feeling as if I have been liberated. There is so much that you can modify with the Samsung Galaxy S2 it will make your head spin off of your shoulders. For a computer hacker/programmer/builder like me, this is the only way to go. I have come to realize that the iPhone is more geared towards those that want immediate simplicity and mindless usability. There’s nothing wrong with that.

However, I found it quite interesting to hear a report from a fellow HTC Inspire user friend of mine that she had a hard time understanding how to tool around on the iOS operating system as opposed to her Android device. She stated that the Android system was much easier, simpler, and straight forward. The biggest thing she noticed was the ability to get straight to what you want to do without heading back to the home screen and selecting the setup icon to make changes. Again, this proves that what you learn on will become the easiest system in your mind.

I will have a lot more to say about this device, and there will be plenty of screen shots and videos that I will share as I get used to this Android smartphone. I’m glad to say that I agree 100% with my fellow Galaxy S2 owners on the CZ Blog that this is one incredible, spectacular device, and easily the best smartphone on the market at this time.

I’m going to go take a couple of ibuprofen tablets and let my head rest. We’ll chat more tomorrow.

Carlton Flowers
Android Assimilator

GET IT NOW –> $149 Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

Help support the CZ Blog and join and Android Army at the same time by purchasing your Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone through our proud partner Amazon Wireless!

Click the link above (or the picture to the left) to make the jump to Amazon where you can purchase your very own Galaxy S2 for only $149.

That’s $50 off from the current selling price at most retail outlets! Grab one while it’s hot, and congratulations on your choice to snag an amazing cutting edge smartphone! Click the link and go get it!

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THE PREPARATION PROCESS THAT SOLIDIFIED MY DECISION TO DITCH APPLE FOR ANDROID

Many months ago, I started contemplating getting rid of my iPhone once and for all and making the switch to an Android device. But I just couldn’t bring myself to a firm 100% decision point. I was stuck, paralyzed in indecision, hoping to be knocked off the fence one way or the other.

As time went on, I started leaning towards making the switch to Android, but I still was not 100% sure. But I finally felt comfortable enough to at least make the move only 2 days ago.

I decided to list my iPhone 4 on eBay to free up the necessary funds to purchase Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone. But the night that I had decided to list my iPhone, I got cold feet. I put it off for one more day. I figured this would be as good time as any to at least make all of the necessary preparations should I finally get up the nerve to make the move.

While I still wasn’t completely sure that I wanted to follow through and do this, it was the actual preparation process that has made me 100% certain that I am completely finished with my Apple iOS experience.

All it took was getting on iTunes (should be “iTurds”) and trying to synchronize the applications and information that I wanted to save, in case I decide to purchase an iPod Touch to still have use of what I had formerly purchased. Halfway into the process, I was ready to pull my hair out. And I don’t have much hair to yank out of my scalp.

I remembered how unintuitive iTunes is for my PC brain. It refreshed my memory of why I don’t ever run backups, sync my applications, or run new software downloads. iTunes has never made sense to me, and it probably never will. I’ll admit, I have a complete mental block to its use.

Nothing I did would work right. Either I would be in danger of replacing or deleting all of my applications, or the system would lock up and crash. All I can fit in my mind is “drag and drop”. Open a folder in one place, copy and paste to another. I can’t understand the seemingly complex “Apple way” to synchronize and backup my information.

Case in point, when attempting to install iOS5 to my iPhone 4, I get a message from iTunes that states “Updating to iOS 5.0 will delete all of the apps on your iPhone. To preserve your apps, apply this update on the computer where you sync them.” Does this make any sense? This is the same computer I just synced my iPhone to 5 minutes ago!!!

At any rate…

About a year ago, I quit trying to figure out how to get music and podcasts on my iPhone. Either I would delete the wrong files and add new ones, or I would go in circles and end up with nothing being copied correctly. I don’t so much as have one sliver of a clue as to how “playlists” and folders are supposed to work. I still don’t even know what a “Genius” is. I guess I’m just plain “Apple stupid”.

I have come to the conclusion that iTunes and the Apple interface are for those that learned the system from day one. It’s not something that a person who has been programming and maneuvering computer files since the DOS 6.22 days. I’m so ancient, I still know how to edit an “autoexec.bat” and “config.sys” file. Does it make any sense that I understand things like IRQ’s (interrupt requests) and manipulating registry files, but not iTunes? Not at all.

But again, it boils down to what you are used to. I guess the old phrase “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” applies to me when it comes to Apple products. I just can’t get those new “iTricks” to fit in my dusty old mind. It’s so counter-intuitive to me that it just makes me want to grind the teeth out of my head in frustration.

If I get through the process of backing up all of my information and resetting this phone, the iPhone 4 will be on eBay with a “Buy-it-now” price of $300 by 9pm this evening. The minute it sells, I’m heading to the AT&T store to get my Samsung Galaxy S2 and start the Android learning curve.

Maybe when I put an SD memory card in my Galaxy S2 and transfer music and PDF files for the first time, this stress-induced shooting pain in my neck will go away.

Carlton Flowers
iPhone 4 Punter

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WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST REASONS BEHIND YOUR IPHONE LOVE?

The Boy Genius Report website has an interesting story. It says that according to recent ChangeWave survey, 48% of people looking to buy a smart phone in the next 90 days say they want an iPhone.

Of the people who own an iPhone, 70% of them say they are “very satisfied” with it. Interestingly, only 50% of Android owners say they are “very satisfied”. Android smart phones seem to have caught up technologically speaking with Apple, and may have even gone a step beyond in certain aspects. So this has me somewhat puzzled over what it is that has created either what could be strong loyalty, or customer satisfaction.

I have had an iPhone for the past 2 years. I bought my iPhone 3GS in June of 2009, and I upgraded to the iPhone 4 one year afterward. I held out the first two years and passed on the iPhone 2G and 3G.

When I bought my iPhone 3GS, there was nothing on the market that could come close to it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the availability of high quality apps, and the intuitive functionality of the phone. I picked up on the operating system the minute I got it. It took no studying. I didn’t even crack open the users guide one single time.

A year later, after smashing the digitizer on my 3GS to smithereens and failing at my attempt to replace it, I bought my iPhone 4. I loved the flat back design, and nothing could beat the front-facing camera. Facetime revolutionized communication for my family. Several of us in different locations had the iPhone 4, and it brought us all closer together like never before.

I had considered the Samsung Captivate at the time, and I was very impressed with the display and functionality. It was slick enough that I could have made the switch to Android, but there was no front-facing camera! After having my iPhone 4, I would not consider life without it. Period.

A year later, and there are several things that I love about my iPhone 4. It functions well, has a ton of great app availability, and it is rugged. Sure, I have cracked the front display rather considerably, but the phone works fine after at least 10 drops to concrete and other hard surfaces.

The speed of the phone is absolutely adequate, and I’m getting super fast download speeds on AT&T’s 3G network here in the capital city of Missouri (Jefferson City). My speeds vary from 1 to 4 Mbps, fast enough that I rarely want to connect to WiFi, because it is usually a slowdown.

Another great advantage that I enjoy is the ability to surf and talk at the same time on the AT&T network. I’m lovin’ the heck out of GSM for that reason. I would not have it any other way!

I could add to the list and go on and on and on. But as much as I love my iPhone, there are a lot of things I’d love to see on the iPhone 5 that might not come to fruition. I might be making the switch to give Android a try, and come back to my beloved iPhone if it doesn’t work out. But that’s not what this post is all about…

I am astounded with the statistics of this survey. I’d like to know what it is about the iPhone and Apple’s iOS operating system that intrigues and attracts you. There are a few questions I am dying to ask, and I would love for you to share on this post and fill me in. Here are my three questions:

IPHONE QUESTION #1

Are you about to buy your first smart phone, and you are a part of the 48% currently eye-balling an iPhone 4 or iPhone 5? If you are, what is it that attracts you the most to the iPhone? Is it ease of use? The intuitiveness of the iOS operating system? The look and feel of the iPhone? Or perhaps the stability and longstanding developmental improvements of Apple’s flagship device?

IPHONE QUESTION #2

Are you an Android smart phone owner, and you have an Apple in your eye as you near your upgrade anniversary? What is it that has disappointed you with Android that has you attracted to the iPhone? Is it the system stability? Lack of crapware? Ease of use? Or perhaps the announcement of the iCloud service? What is motivating you to make the leap to the iOS “walled garden”?

IPHONE QUESTION #3

You are a current iPhone owner, and you are sticking with the home team on your next upgrade, be it the iPhone 4S, or iPhone 5. Maybe it’s even a $9 iPhone 3GS. What are the most important features of the iPhone that motivate you to keep your allegiance?

Let’s get some feedback rolling here. And feel free to throw in your input if you are a satisfied Android handset owner too. Heck… even if we have a rare Windows Phone 7 owner out there who wants to put in their two cents, jump on in and speak your mind!

We’ll revisit this topic again in a few months if and when we see the release of the next iPhone, the Samsung Galaxy S2, and whatever is in store from HTC.

Jump on in and share your thoughts! I’m looking forward to learning more about this!

Carlton Flowers
iPhone Psychologist

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IPHONE 5 WILL FEATURE NEW FORM FACTOR

The folks at Boy Genius Report are telling us that the next-generation iPhone will not be an “iPhone 4S”, but a full update of the flagship Apple smart phone.

During the winter and spring of 2011, most trusted sources reported that an edge-to-edge 4″ display and new form factor would be incorporated into the next iPhone.

But by May of 2011, the consensus was that Apple was going to go the safe route and put out a modified version of the iPhone 4, possibly the “4S”, before a major hardware change would be released. The 4S supposedly would take care of minor issues like the antenna problem and add a few new hardware improvements and new operating system, but still the same basic form factor.

Well it appears that the tide is swinging back to the original prediction of a completely new form factor and overhauled design.

Reports are popping up that the display will in fact stretch to the edges of the device, giving a full 4″ viewable area, plus the obvious upgrade to iOS5.

With the Samsung Galaxy S2 coming to all major US carriers with a 4.3″ display, and the current Samsung Infuse sporting a 4.5″ display, it appears that Apple has planned on a major upgrade all the while.

I seriously questioned whether or not Apple would keep up with its Android competitors while keeping with the current form factor and small 3.5″ display size. I wrote a blog post a couple of months back that I wondered if Apple would sit by and allow other manufacturers to pass them up before they release a truly revolutionary upgrade to the iPhone, with LTE capability.

I would almost guarantee you that Apple would lose considerable market share if they don’t break from the current iPhone 4 form factor and keep up with the trend of Android devices with bigger displays.

The more we use our smart phones for multimedia content, the more we will see the trend leaning towards bigger displays. I think the days of small displays on smart phones are numbered.

Even though Apple would certainly please loyal iPhone users with a complete overhaul, I still don’t believe that they will reign supreme over an above all other smart phones. There are just too many features that will not be included in the next-generation iPhone that Android smart phones will be providing.

That doesn’t mean that they will lose market share, however, because the draw to the iPhone is simplicity (in my opinion). Many iPhone users would gladly sacrifice certain features just to have their hands on a device that runs smoothly without operating system crashes.

I for one will still be jumping ship and giving Android a try when the new Samsung Galaxy S2 comes to AT&T as the “Attain”. It’s worth venturing away from the iOS ecosystem and taking a chance on something different.

One thing is certain, though… I will not be making any kind of switch until I see both the new iPhone AND the Samsung Galaxy S2, and test drive both devices.

What are your thoughts? Will Apple bring enough changes and improvements to keep you as a loyal customer? Or are you looking for greener grass? Share your thoughts!

Carlton Flowers
Smart Phone Frontiersman

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Today I am starting something new! I will be posting brief updates in-between my regular multimedia-rich posts.

In order to keep up with the current events in technology and business, I will be posting these short briefs to keep you informed of the recent events that I think are important.

I will still be putting out at least 2 blog posts with pictures, video, and podcasts, but this will bridge the gap.

There are so many events that break each and every day that I cannot keep up. It takes so time to make my regularly formatted posts that I miss out on sharing lots of cutting-edge info that I want to pass on.

Therefore, I will be posting a plain text-only article at least once (or more) per day to keep you up-to-date on breaking news and info.

I will also be using the quick blog posts to answer questions that I receive from my readers. I get great questions, and everyone needs to see the discussions that come forth as a result.

As usual, please feel free to share your thoughts!

Stay tuned,

Carlton Flowers
Your Trusty Tech Info Provider

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