Review: Action Launcher by Chris Lacey

This is Action Launcher. Right off the bat, this is one of the most interesting launchers I've ever used. There are a lot of very different, yet useful features that make this launcher unique so let's dive right in.

The actual home screens are not too much different than stock Android. Were you begin to notice the differences is in the action bar that is ever-present at the top of your screen. This bar is how you add to your home screens, search(Which for me brought up Google's Now's voice search), and one of the ways you can access your apps. 

Apps can be accessed one of two ways like I previously mentioned. You can either tap the Apps button, or you can simply swipe from the left edge of your display. Both of which open an alphabetical list of all your apps with a shortcut bar on the side to jump to the letter you desire more quickly.

Another major feature that separates this launcher from others is called Covers.

Covers are essentially folders with a twist, and they are indicated by small white squares.

The way they work is quite handy: either tap once to bring up the app that is pictured, or double tap to bring up a folder.

The two main points about this launcher, that I feel are most evident, are simplicity and speed. 

While this app is a bit unconventional, it is a fantastic alternative if you prefer smoothness to the cheesy animations of most OEM launchers. If you are looking for an intuitive, feature packed launcher then look no further. Action Launcher is available in the Play Store for $3.99 and is linked in the beginning of this post. If you'd like to know more about the developer you can follow him on Twitter and circle him on Google +.

So what do you guys think of Action Launcher? 

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3 New Phones Hit T-Mobile's Line Up

Awesome news today if you happen to be a T-Mobile customer; 3 new phones have hit the shelves:

The Nokia Lumia 810

The HTC 8X

The Google Nexus 4

Whether you're into Windows phone or Android, it's nice to have the option to choose between great devices. Especially when the holidays are right around the corner.

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Droid DNA: HTC Going Full-Force

HTC and Verizon held an event earlier today where they announced the Droid DNA. This is essentially the J Butterfly that launched over seas. Unfortunately this guy, like most HTC devices, is a carrier exclusive. Like I've mentioned in previous posts, I do not like carrier exclusives. I don't think they benefit anyone but the carrier, and that's only if folks are ready to jump onto their network just for a device. All that aside, it's a great device with great specs to boot. Most notably would be the 1080P resolution screen. A full list of specs can be found here. But once again HTC did not include a very large battery; it's only 2020mAh. The One X+ even has a larger battery. But I digress. 

The real selling point of this device is the price. It will be available on November 21st for only $199 on contract. At that price, it's hard to beet. 

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New Nexuses: They're Here!

The Nexuses are finally here! Starting today, you can now purchase any one of the 3 new Nexus devices announced on October 29th; the Nexus 4, Nexus 10, and the new flavors of the Nexus 7.

Which one are you picking up?

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Nexus 7: Customers Shafted(UPDATED)

When Google launched their Nexus 7 earlier this year it was welcomed with open arms. Unlike Amazon's Kindle Fire, the N7 came with the latest version of Android, 4.1 Jelly Bean, and some awesome specs to back it up. You got all this starting at $200. Before the N7 it was unheard of to have a budget friendly tablet that performed well. The N7 changed that for the better.

But there was one thing that a lot of people were concerned about: storage.

The baseline model of the Nexus 7 was $199 for 8GB, and for $50 more you could grab a 16GB version. That was, and still is a great deal, but there is no way to expand your storage. Google really wanted folks to buy into their content via the Play Store, rather than store it locally. In reality, the only profit Google makes from the N7 is through content purchased from them. They really just break even on the price of the hardware. 

Naturally most people were ready to shell out $250 for 16GB automatically. Then something changed. Not too long ago, rumors began surfacing of a 32GB Nexus 7 hitting the market. In fact, I wrote an editorial on this very subject and how displeased I was with the rumored pricing. Turns out the rumors were true. On October 29th, a midst the announcement of the Nexus and Nexus 10, a new flavor of the Nexus 7 was released as well. The 32GB model replaced the 16GB at $250, while the 16GB replaced the 8GB for $200. Not to mention there is now a 32GB version which also comes with unlocked cellular data for just $300. Still cheaper than the iPad mini. That's great, right? Google made(arguably) the best tablet available even better, right?  

Well, it's great for those who are just now looking to buy one for the holidays. It's not so great, however, for those of us that previously purchased one and now realize we could've saved money. I feel it's a bit unfair to do this to customers without any sort of compensation. Wouldn't you agree? Well luckily Asus is offering vouchers to anyone who purchased one before October 29th. If you live in the UK. And only if you got it directly Asus or Google. And you have to have proof of purchase. 

Well, at least they tried. 

UPDATE: Apparently Google, as per their pricing protection policy, is giving refunds of $50 to anyone who bought 15 days before October 29th. This is nice, but Google could do better.

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iPod Touch(5th Generation): My Full Review

Apple's latest edition to the iPod Touch line is easily the best iteration of the device yet. With previous versions the specs always seemed to fall short, and it really showed in day to day performance. Having owned a 4th and 5th Gen iTouch, the difference in performance is remarkable, and while the price is a bit high it was a great purchase; here's why:

Design and Display

Note: this iPod is my girlfriend's. This is not MY choice of wallpaper...

Everything about this iPod has been improved. Most notably is the display, which is now larger at 4" and is now Retina as well with 326PPI. Images are crisp and clear and there is zero pixelation even when completely zoomed in. 

The overall design of this device is beautiful. Gone is the old silver back that was notorious for scratching, and in is this brand new matte finished. I happen to have the Product Red version, it is also available in blue, pink, yellow, slate(black), and silver. 

Little touches like the reflective bezel and logo make this guy shine. 

All the buttons remain in the same places, while the new Lightning port replaces the 30-pin connector. Also new, is the Loop located on the back, which is essentially a wrist strap. What's nice about this is it is detachable and the small pit can be closed if you so desire.

Aesthetically, this is a gorgeous product. It's thin, light, and beautiful; nothing short of Apple standards.

Performance

Opening apps, gaming, and web browsing are all delightfully zippy on this guy. Areas in iOS 6 where it would lag on the previous generation are handled with ease on this one. Even with tons of apps open, it still flies. This is thanks to the dual-core A5 processor inside and 512MB of RAM. While this may not seem like a lot compared to most Android devices, you have to remember that iOS is not as recourse heavy. This has been a dream to use.

The only gripe I have about it is that some apps have yet to be updated to fit the larger screen. But that is not a problem with device itself.

Cameras

The cameras on this iPod are actually usable compared to the previous model they are much better. The rear camera is basically the same one found on the iPhone 4, while the front is a 720p iSight camera.

While they aren't the best, they are definitely usable for quick snapshots or video chat.

Battery Life

According to my girlfriend the battery life is good, but since this is not my personal device I have not been able to test it extensively. 

Pricing and Value

The biggest downfall of this guy is the price. With this new generation of iTouch, Apple has completely eliminated the 8GB model. The base model is now 32GB and starts at $299. This is a little steep considering you can get a 32GB Nexus 7 with cellular data for the same price. 

Conclusion

The price of this iPod may be a little high but it is the best iTouch so far. If you have the extra money and you want something that you can play games, consume media, and take advantage of the ecosystem with but aren't crazy about the iPhone, then this is going to be a great option. Though you can get "more value" with a Nexus 7, you get a much more portable and well crafted device in the new 5th generation iPod Touch.

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The 4th Generation iPad: A Scary Change For Consumers

No one really expected Apple to refresh the iPad at this past event; some people were even upset about it. The biggest complaint for most consumers is the buyer's remorse from the 3rd Gen iPad. Obviously it's a little frustrating to purchase a new product, only to find that a few months later it isn't new(pun intended) anymore.

But as pointed out by Techno Buffalo, this refresh creates a whole new issue for consumers: when is the 5th Generation coming? 

Apple is known for their reliable one-year launch cycle for devices. Folks have come to love this about Apple because, unlike Android, when you buy the new iPhone, it remains new for a least a year. With this latest iPad release, it creates a hesitation when buying because prior to this model, new iPads came in the spring. Now consumers have to wonder if they will continue that spring cycle, or a new fall cycle. So now not only is the preconceived life cycle of the iPad diminished, but I think that people will be somewhat scared to drop $500 on an iPad when a new version could be right around the corner. 

All that said, if you are happy with your current iPad and it does everything you need it to do, then keep it. If you have never owned one, or are still using the first gen model. then go for the iPad 4(yeah I said it). 

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Poll: Which Nexus is Your Nexus?

As you're probably already aware, Google bombarded is with the slew Nexus devices pictures above recently. I personally am excited for the Nexus 4 as I felt that Samsung really dropped the ball on the G-Nex. Don't get me wrong, it's a great device. But why isn't it as great as the rest of their products? Regardless of previous versions, the Nexus 4 looks awesome. I definitely be getting my hands on a Nexus 7 soon as well. As for the Nexus 10, I don't really need it. I am not a huge of the 10" form factor because I can't use it with one hand. This makes using the device in bed or something like that a challenge. But again, that's just me. 

Now I want to hear from you; which new Nexus are you most excited for?

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Rebate: A Cheap Ploy

Over the years smartphones and carriers a like have grown and evolved. Offering more power in the form of handsets, while offering better coverage and pricing from respective carriers. 

But there is one thing that hasn't changed: rebates. 

I'll be honest, I hate rebates. I prefer shopping at places like Best Buy where they do away with them. The reason I hate them is because carriers always seem to "lose" them, or they inform you that "you didn't provide the right info". 

Now you're probably asking yourself, Why do rebates still exist? Well in my opinion, they exist as an opportunity for carriers to make extra money handset you've already purchased. When you buy a device that's $200 after a $50 mail-in rebate, you're really paying $250 until you receive that rebate in the mail. More often than not, you never receive it. I've dealt with this so many times it's maddening. But carriers keep them in effect because they bank on the fact that you will either forget to fill it out, or you'll fill it out incorrectly, and after that is all said and done you are still required to wait at least 6 weeks before you receive compensation. By the time 6 weeks is up you've most likely forgot about the rebate in the first place, so you are oblivious to the fact that it never arrives. In my personal experience, these people never call you when there is an error in your forms. You have to call them to find out any information. Who would remember to do that after 6 weeks?

Now I'm not saying this happens to everyone, but this situation creates the opportunity for it to happen to anyone. So, why do have rebates again?

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T-Mobile Galaxy Note II: Missing The Best Feature

While I'm excited to finally see some awesome handsets hit T-Mo, I'm upset that one particular feature was stripped from the US variant of the Galaxy Note II. This feature being the multi-tasking that Samsung introduced with the Note 10.1, and perfected with the Galaxy Note II. 

Until this guy, Android has not had any type of true multi-tasking; it was more of just fast app switching. While you could come back to where you left off(in most cases), there was no way to run multiple apps. The international version of the Note II can handle it no problem, and the specs are the same on the US version. So why wasn't it included, Samsung?

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New Nexuses: The Rumors are Reality

Big news today in the world of Android! Despite Google's event being canceled due to the weather, a bevy of new Nexus devices were released today. Those devices were as follows:

The Nexus 10

The big news with Nexus 10 is that the rumors about it having a higher resolution than the latest generation iPad are true. This guy is rocking a 2560 x 1600 resolution, while the 4th gen iPad is 2048 x 1536. You can see the Nexus 10 shown off in this brand new ad of theirs:

Via Android Authority 

The Nexus 4

The Nexus 4 is everything we'd hoped it would be, and then some. It's absolutely stacked when it comes to specs with a 1.5ghz quad-core Snapdragon Pro cpu, 2gbs of RAM, Android 4.2 and more. You can read the full list of specs over at Android Authority. While you can get the unlocked 8gb version for just $300, this guy is coming to T-Mobile for $199 on contract! You can read that full story on TmoNews.

New Nexus 7s

All the speculation of larger capacity Nexus 7s has finally come to a head. The 8gb N7 is no more, it has been replaced by the 16gb version at $199, while a brand new 32gb will take over the $249 price point. Plus, you can now get an unlocked 32gb HSPA+ model for just $300. These are great values, but for people like me who bought the 16gb model for $249, it stings a little. Via Android Authority.

Google Wireless Charging Orb

Last but not least, we have this brand new Google Wireless Charging Orb. With this you can simply place your Nexus 4 atop it and it will charge. It is held magnetically, and for the right price, this could be a great little accessory. 

Well there you have it, that will conclude my wrap up of today's announcements. So, which are you most excited for?

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Android 4.2: Still Jelly Bean

Well folks, it's official! Android 4.2 has been announced and I'm happy to report that it's still Jelly Bean; just A New Flavor. Just like we thought, 4.2 includes new quick settings from the notification tray along with a slew of other useful features like a Swype-like style of text input. If you'd like to read the full list of features, click here!

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Nexus 10: The Good and Bad of The UI

Rumors of new Nexus 10 tablet have been sweeping the internet recently. The biggest differences with this guy are that the speakers are located on the front(which is awesome!) and the new 10" Android tablet UI. This post will discuss the latter. 

As pictured above, the new 10" tablet UI seems to be taking it's cues from it's little brother; the Nexus 7. But is that a good thing? Well, in my opinion, yes and no. Let's start with the pros:

Less of a Learning Curve

As you can see, Google is trying to unify their operating system across multiple devices. Much like iOS, you would be able to pick up any stock Android device and(if have any experience with Android) you'd know how to use it instantly. This is great for people that like to emerge themselves into an ecosystem, like myself. Basically, the differing factors would be size and specs when it comes to choosing a tablet. But I don't really like the new UI, and here's why:

Bigger Screen, Wasted Space

Thanks to these pictures from Android Police, you can see the new tablet UI vs. the old. I happen to prefer the old look and feel simply because a 10" tablet is not a one handed device. It's much more difficult to pull down a notification bar from the top, or reach over to the middle of the display to press an on screen button when laying bed or something of that nature. While I appreciate Google trying to make things easier for people to become accustomed to, the old layout is just easier to use in my opinion. Besides, I'm sure most Android consumers are intelligent enough to use a tablet.

So what do you guys think of the new UI? Is it much improved? Are you excited for the Nexus 10? Or would you opt out for some like the Transformer Pad Infinity, which runs Jelly Bean and mantains the current 10" standard?

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Google's Event: Canceled Due To Hurricane Sandy

Unfortunately Google's October 29th Event, where they were sure to announce new Nexuses, has been canceled due to Hurricane Sandy. Not much is known at this point, but this post will be updated when more info is available. Via TmoNews

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T-Mobile: LTE Is Coming

Brace yourselves, the LTE is coming! It has been confirmed that the newly announced Galaxy Note 2 has a dormant LTE radio. The fine folks over at AnandTech have discovered that the Note 2 is the same on AT&T and T-Mobile, say for the model number. This means that when T-Mobile eventually re-farms their network and launches LTE the Note 2 will be able to take full advantage of it. The guys and gals of The Verge  managed to contact T-Mobile directly, where T-Mo proceeded to confirm the findings and stated that the Note 2 will not automatically gain access to LTE when it's launched. This leads people to believe that LTE compatibility will be essentially unlocked with a future software update.

I don't know about you guys, but I think that this is great. Not only does this mean that T-Mobile will finally have LTE, but it also means that when buying the Note 2 you're buying a future-proof device. At least, as future-proof as it can get when buying an Android.

Via TmoNews

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The Newer iPad: Too Soon...

Along with today's iPad Mini announcement Apple also showed off their refreshed 4th Gen iPad. I'm to call it the Newer iPad. But this is a refresh that I'm far from excited about. Why? 2 reasons: 1. The new Lightning connector and 2. the 3rd generation iPad was released in April...of this year. It does include a few other new features including a faster processor, LTE, and it being available on Sprint, but I want to focus on the first 2 I mentioned.

It was inevitable that the Lightning connector would hit more devices. I had doubts about it being included in the iPad, simply because I did not think it would be able to power the large device. Apparently I was wrong. The new connector is more user friendly, but it isn't accessory friendly. By now, everyone is aware that you have to purchase a separate adapter that costs $30. 

But I think the biggest problem I have with this guy, is that it just came too soon. Like I said, the New iPad only came out in April, so everyone that purchased one now has an obsolete product. This kind of multiple releases during the same year strategy is huge problem I have with the Android platform. Hopefully, Apple doesn't continue with this type of marketing, as it really takes away from the magic of new devices.

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iPad Mini: It's Official!

Breaking news folks! The iPad Mini is official. No one saw that coming, right? But in all seriousness, this looks like a great little tablet. The only thing I'm not to keen on is the price. I think if they had stayed in the $250 range this would be a real winner. Not that the price will deter anyone from buying it. I mean, it's made by Apple. In retropec, pricing makes a lot of sense if you consider the fact that the 5th generation iPod Touch starts at $300. Even though the iTouch has 32GB of storage, it makes sense.

The 7" form factor is my personal preference when it comes to tablets, but for $80 cheaper I can get a Nexus 7. So, for me, I would choose the Nexus. But I happen to be a Android fan-boy, so to speak. This will appeal to a lot of people on the opposite side of the Apple vs. Android debate, though. This is awesome for those people who love Apple products and are familiar with the ecosystem, but want something smaller than an iPad. 

Among the other things announced were new iMacs, Mac minis, and, most surprising to me, another refresh of the iPad. This Newer iPad, as I like to call it, has a faster processor, LTE, and the new Lightning connector. I didn't expect to see the Lightning connector hit the 10" iPad, simply because I didn't think that anything smaller than the 30 pin connector would be able to power it. But since they found a way to do it, it was only a matter of time. 

So tell me folks: which of these, if any, are you most excited for?

For more in depth details, head on over to Techno Buffalo

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T-Mobile iPhone 5: Maybe...

What if I told you that the iPhone was coming to T-Mobile? Would you be skeptical? I don't blame you. This has been speculated numerous times in the past, and guess what? Still no iPhone on T-Mobile...

Magenta has actively begun to support unlocked iPhones, but that still means you have to either buy a much more expensive unlocked iPhone or get your unlocked. Speaking from experience, it's not as very easy task to accomplish. This option is far outweighed by the simplicity of picking one up at one of the other 3 major carriers for a subsidized price. 

Well that's all about to change! Maybe...

Analyst Nick Delfas believes that T-Mobile will offer the iPhone 5 in "early 2013". Whether this holds true remains to be seen. In my opinion, it doesn't seem very unlikely with Apple's history. The only time that the iPhone has launched later than the initially release was when it hit regional and prepaid carriers. T-Mobile is a national carrier, and that's why I don't see this happening. I don't know why T-Mobile still is not offering Apple devices, but if they were to start, I think it would be with the iPhone 5S. Expanding the iPhone market would definitely be a win for everyone involved and I certainly hope it happens. But like any rumor, we'll have to wait and see. 

What about you, folks? Would you happily pick an iPhone from T-Mobile? Would you go as far as switching carriers if T-Mobile began selling the iPhone?

Via - Techno Buffalo

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The iPad Mini: Does Anyone Care?

Apple has officially sent out invitations for an event being held on October 23rd. This will  undoubtedly be the announcement of the illustrious iPad Mini. But my question is, does anyone care?

There were leaks upon leaks concerning the iPhone 5 months before it was made official. This can be said for the Mini as well, but it just doesn't seem to have the same kind of hype behind. Millions of people eagerly waiting the release of Apple's 6th generation handset. But is anyone excited for the iPad Mini? It doesn't seem like it. 

Apple took the tablet by storm with the iPad, which has constantly been the #1 selling tablet since the first generation debuted in 2010. This, I think, is one of the reasons that people don't seem to care as much about the iPad Mini; most people already have an iPad. Don't get me wrong, people will still buy. There will be people that it will appeal to. Maybe people who want something smaller for their kids, or maybe people with smaller hands. In any case, if Apple makes it then people will buy it. But the question is not whether or not Apple will profit from this little guy, it's whether or not people are really excited for it, and frankly I don't really think they are.

But what about you? Are you dying to get your hands on the iPad Mini?

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The Next Nexus: About To Become Official

Google just sent invites to an event scheduled on October 29th. Obviously this has to be the announcement of the LG Nexus 4. But the question is, what else will be announced?

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Bigger is Better?: Specs, Screens Size, and Batteries

Today I wanted to write about 2 subjects that really irk me. First, I wanted to talk about upgraded devices launching in the same year as the original, which I touched on in this article. Secondly, I wanted to talk about the Bigger is Better issue that the Galaxy S III Mini brought to my attention. 

So like I stated above, one of the biggest problems I have with the mobile industry is when manufacturers flood the market with devices. But more so when companies launch a device with better specs than their flagship within the same year. Some examples of this are the One X+, 64GB Galaxy S III, and the rumored 32GB Nexus 7. Not only does this anger consumers, but it's a greedy ploy that manufacturers use to capitalize on the success of product by releasing the same product, only better. I can't stand when companies do this. It makes me want to switch manufacturers. But then Motorola took it a step further...

Good ol' Moto launched the Droid Razr M, Droid Razr HD, and Droid Razr Maxx HD. Now I can see the need for the Razr M, it has great specs and a great price point, unlike other devices that I'll address later. But having the Razr HD and then the Razr Maxx HD with a bigger battery and more storage for $100 more? That's just ridiculous. While I don't know the exact prices, I'm sure those components do not cost anywhere near $100. But I'm sure people will buy it. The fact is, most people who walk into a Verizon retailer would rather have a device with a bigger battery that can hold more media. In my opinion, they shouldn't have launched the Razr HD at all. I shouldn't have to shell out extra money for a bigger battery. It just doesn't make sense...

Next I wanted to talk about something that the recently announced Galaxy S III Mini confirmed; Bigger is Better. It has become an increasing trend to make bigger devices with better specs, while devices with smaller screens -usually around 4"- take a back seat in this department. In today's mobile world, it seems that if you want a smaller device you're going to get a slower processor, lower screen resolution, and a lack-luster camera. I don't understand this. Now I think Motorola made a huge mistake with the Razr HD and Maxx HD, but the Razr M is a great device with great specs for the price. But why should people have to sacrifice specs for size? They shouldn't. OEMs need to realize that if people are buying a smaller device, then it means -unless the price plays a part- they want a smaller device. 

Now these are just my opinions. I want to know how you guys feel. Do things matter to you?

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Rumor: 32GB Nexus 7

Normally, more storage is a good thing. That means more pictures, more music, and more fun! 

But not in this case. Why? Because the 16GB version launched a few short months ago, for the same price. 

This kind of market is absolutely idiotic. HTC and Samsung have both been guilty of this as well, launching the One X+ and the 64GB Galaxy S3 a few months after the original release. In my opinion, this has to be a cheap money grab. I can't think of any other reason why a manufacturer would launch a device with better specs right after their previous flagships. 

This, however, is infuriating for customers. I myself purchased a 16GB N7 just a few months ago. I wouldn't have been so inclined if I'd known that this was coming. I can only imagine the frustration of using an upgrade or opening a new line of service for a device, only to find out that  an(essentially) better version is being released. I just don't feel these kinds of things are fair for the customer. But what do you think? Do you care about more storage or better specs enough to shell out the full price for it? Are you content with one of the best devices on the market?

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Google Play: A Long Awaited Update

A new update to Google's play store was released for Android yesterday and with it came a host new features. But the 2 that found most important are thus:

A.You can remove apps from the all menu and B. backing out of an app to the all menu does not take you to the top of the list.

Thank God.

This feature should've been in the Play Store along time ago, but at least it's there now. 

If you would like to read up on the full list of features, or download and push this update to your device like I did. you can head over to Android Police and read their article.

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