iPhone 4S Supplies Tighten

iPhone 4S Supplies Tighten  | Android Best Phone.

iPhone 4S

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Apple Inc. has instituted a reservation-only policy for iPhone 4S retail sales, hinting at a repeat of the smartphone's annual supply-and-demand mismatches.

On Monday Apple's revised how-to-buy page told customers in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, France and Germany that the iPhone 4S would be "available in store by reservation only." Buyers were instructed to select a retail store and check inventory after 9 p.m. local time before placing a reservation hold.

"When you come in, you'll choose a carrier and plan, and we'll get your iPhone up and running before you leave the store," Apple promised.

Carly Suppa, a spokesman for Rogers Communications Inc., said Tuesday that some of its stores are out of iPhone 4S handsets. "Customers looking for specific models are best to check with their local store to see what is in stock," she said.

Spot checks at stores in each U.S. time zone shortly after 9 p.m. last night found that the lower-priced 16GB and 32GB models were most often out of stock, while the US$399 64GB smartphone was more widely available.

In many instances, models were available in either white or black, but not both.

At 9 p.m. ET, the reservation system said the flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City was out of the 16GB iPhone 4S for both AT&T and Sprint, and out of the 32GB for AT&T. Verizon customers had their pick of all three models.

But inside of three hours all phones at the store were pegged as "unavailable."

The limited inventory of the 4S is not the first time Apple [Nasdaq: AAPL] has run short of a brand-new iPhone.

In 2010, Apple sold 1.7 million iPhones in the first three days after it reached retail -- less than half the 4 million it claimed for the iPhone 4S -- but still exhausted its stock. The outage prompted then-CEO Steve Jobs to issue an apology to "those customers who were turned away because we did not have enough supply."

The iPhone 4S went on sale Oct 14 at Apple's retail stores and other outlets in the U.S., the U.K, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Japan. Apple plans to roll out the phone in another 22 countries Oct. 28., and to a total of 70 by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Jared Newman of PCWorld U.S. reports that a handful of issues are causing problems for a subset of users.

Here's a rundown on some early iPhone 4S issues:

Siri Not Working

On Apple's support forums (and on Twitter), users clam that Siri, the iPhone 4S's virtual assistant, won't work. When asking a question, these users receive an error message saying that Siri "cannot connect to the network."

To fix this issue, Business Insider suggests first turning Siri off in the iPhone's settings, then going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings, and then turning Siri back on. Others say that enabling data roaming does the trick (although this can incur extra charges if you're overseas). But there's currently no sure fix for users who are having trouble--perhaps this is why Siri is still labeled "beta."

Slow Sprint Data

In the U.S. some Sprint Nextel users are complaining about slow data speeds on the iPhone 4S. One user claims that the issue is iPhone-specific, and reports faster speeds on a Sprint Samsung Galaxy S II (with 4G turned off), while another finds similar speed issues with Sprint's Evo 3D.

But this issue doesn't affect all Sprint users--Gizmodo's spot test actually finds that Sprint's network allows for faster downloads than Verizon (but not AT&T), and the fastest uploads of all three carriers. However, Gizmodo's survey of iPhone 4S users finds Sprint has the slowest average speeds. So far, Sprint hasn't addressed the matter. Hopefully this is just a temporary glitch and not a long-term network congestion issue.

App Issues

While not hardware-related, the launch of iOS 5 has caused problems for some apps. Google Voice, for example, had to be pulled from the App Store due to crashes. Instapaper now has problems with offline functionality for users whose devices are near capacity because of the way iOS 5 clears cached data. (That issue may end up affecting lots of apps with offline components, according to Instapaper developer, Marco Arment.) Most app-related issues should be fixed eventually, but it's unclear what Apple intends to do for apps such as Instapaper.

Read More

How to Choose an Android Smartphone

How to choose an Android smartphone

Android Smartphone

The mobile market is a brave and confusing new world. Buying an Android smartphone, for example, can be more complex than you'd ever imagine.

Let's start off by defining a smartphone. A smartphone is a category of mobile gadget that combines a phone and computer-like features, such as Web browsing.

It can also function as a camera, media player, GPS unit and more, depending on the apps you choose to download.

The term smartphone, however, is increasingly vague. Even low-cost feature phones, sometimes called dumb phones, offer many advanced options now. Smartphones, however, are generally set apart by offering large touchscreens and the ability to use apps.

Like a computer, smartphones have versatile operating systems. The two biggest in the U.S. are Apple's iOS and Google's Android. Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 is also making inroads. The latest "Mango" release adds a lot of excellent features like multitasking, Internet Explorer 9 and a significant speed boost on some gadgets. Still, WP7 has a ways to go before it becomes a threat to the other two.

Now, which Android phone should you buy? I have to say my first recommendation isn't an Android phone at all. For most first-time buyers, I recommend choosing an iPhone.

Don't get me wrong. Android is a great operating system, and Android smartphones are often top notch. However, they can get a bit complicated, so I don't recommend them for everyone.

For instance, it can be more dangerous to download Android apps. Apple has a well-regulated app store where it approves and monitors all the available apps. This makes it harder for hackers to slip malicious apps onto your phone.

With Android, the risks are higher. Google does have an official Android market, but Google polices it only loosely. And if you aren't careful, you can find yourself shopping at other Android app stores that have little or no quality control.

Now, Google's approach does mean that Android phones are more open. People who like control and tinkering with their phone love Android. However, for simplicity and safety, the iPhone is still the one to beat. Especially for newbies.

What if you're set on an Android phone? Then, there are plenty of models to choose among. You'll find multiple screen sizes and screen types.

You can get one with or without a hardware keyboard. Some manufacturers even throw in extra software goodies. Don't let all that noise confuse you.

What you most need to know is that you want to buy a phone with the latest version of Android's smartphone software. At the moment, that's 2.3 Gingerbread. All the other extras aren't that important.

For the hardware, choose whatever makes you comfortable. Go to a store and "test-drive" the display models. Is the phone easy to hold? Do you like the screen? Is it responsive to opening and switching apps? Do you prefer typing on a physical keyboard or on the screen?

Don't worry about storage sizes. Most Android phones let you use an SD memory card to add more space.

Double-check that the SD option is activated on the phone you want.

The salesperson will try to push 4G. Don't let that enter into your decision; it really isn't that big of a deal right now. Only buy a 4G phone if you actually like the phone best.

Know your price range going in. Most carriers offer lower-end Android phones, such as the LG Vortex, for free with a new contract. These are usually older phones running older software. I'd steer clear of them.

The mid-range Android smartphones, like the LG Enlighten, are $200 and under. These tend to be underpowered, so don't expect great performance with every app. However, they're fine for Web surfing, email and basic games and productivity tools.

The high-end Android models, like the Droid Bionic, generally range from $200 to $300. These will do everything but sit-up and beg. And I'm sure someone is working on an app for that.

If you'd like one of the more expensive models, go online to the provider's website. They sometimes offer Web-only deals, which will give you the best price. You can also find out if they have certified pre-owned units in stock. This option can save you about $50 to $100.

Read More

Android's branding paradox, and the fast track to commoditization

Android's branding paradox, and the fast track to commoditization

Summary: When your phone is no longer distinctive from the rest, what does it become? A commodity. That’s precisely what’s happening with Google Android devices, writes editor Andrew Nusca.

Commodity.

It is, perhaps, my favorite word to use in the technology world. It is the reality that consumer electronics manufacturers fear the most; the acknowledgment that despite all the millions of dollars spent on elaborate marketing, advertising and public relations campaigns, what they are offering is almost completely identical to what their bitterest rivals offer, too.

And worse, it’s constructed of parts made by other, more niche companies who own the intellectual property.

How does it feel to arrange but not create? (Answer: terrifying.)

When Google’s Android operating system was first announced, I and other journalists covering the technology industry warned that a forking OS — that is, offering different versions to the market at the same time by allowing vendors to customize it — would spell trouble for the growing platform. Despite this, the collective Google mobile presence has grown tremendously, though every product cycle it splinters a little bit more.

What’s the best Android phone on the market? Anyone know? (”Droid” something, perhaps?)

Our difficulty in answering this question is because, along with a forking OS, there is a forking brand.

(All this sound familiar? I wrote a similar column almost year ago. My, how things have changed.)

On one end of the smartphone spectrum is Apple’s iPhone: a single device from a single company on multiple carriers. Sure, there are multiple storage options, but the device is otherwise the same. Behind it is the previous model, priced to sell at a cut rate. It’s a very linear offering.

Somewhere in the middle is Research in Motion, who has designated model names (”Storm,” “Bold,” “Curve”) and customizes certain models to the carrier, denoting those with four-digit model numbers. If you’re a fan, you know them all; if you’re a casual onlooker, you recognize the model names. But not all models are available on all carriers, so there are more variables here than meet the eye.

On the other end is Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 and Google’s Android. Both use multiple vendors to make multiple models that are available on different wireless carriers. While the model offering of a single vendor combined with a single carrier is relatively linear (e.g. Motorola + Android + Verizon), the options are far more complicated as a whole. To be honest, I couldn’t name five current Android models without the nagging fear that some of them were already obsolete.

Verizon’s Droid lineup, the most noteworthy and memorable branch of the Android family, currently supports the Droid Pro, Droid Incredible 2, Droid X2, Droid 3, Droid Charge and Droid Bionic, manufactured by several vendors, Motorola and HTC. That list excludes earlier models still on the street, too: the original and second Droid models, the first Incredible, the first X, et cetera.

Even within the narrow constraints of the Droid brand — one carrier, one operating system — there are conflicting options for the consumer, thanks to multiple manufacturers, multiple technologies (3G vs 4G) and different naming conventions. Multiply that complexity across several carriers and vendors — and remove the benefit of the “Droid” branding — and it’s a wonder that customers can even remember which phone they even want. No wonder the iPhone is selling so well — it’s probably the only phone consumers can remember by name.

Since the beginning, Google has had a hands-off approach to Android — and despite a few toothless maneuvers with the “Nexus” sub-brand, it remains that way today. The problem: there are too many cooks in the kitchen. There are more brands fighting for your attention in your pocket today than there ever were stuck to the palmrest of your laptop.

To think we used to complain about a Microsoft Windows and Intel Inside sticker! Mobile handsets have seemingly adopted Spanish naming conventions: the Verizon Droid Bionic 4G LTE by Motorola Google Android smartphone. This isn’t paralysis by analysis; it’s necrosis by psychosis.

The irony is that all of these super-specific names only make the overall group less distinctive. It’s like mosaic — a lot of colorful little photos make up one grayish, brownish whole. As a consumer, your eyes glaze over. Your mind shuts off to the onslaught of detail. The phones begin to lose distinction and become precisely what all that marketing, advertising and public relations was supposed to avoid: commodities, thinly separated by screen size, novel feature or price.

In an effort to be the loudest brand on the device, the various companies involved in the making of your mobile device have drowned each other out. What’s left in your pocket: a commodity without a story.

another articles : Android Best Phone

Read More

The best Android phone

 The best Android phone is… I don’t know 

Summary: The selection of Android phones is large and is full of good smartphones that would make anyone happy. So why can’t I pick one as the best?

The Android smartphone playing field is positively huge, with quite a few handsets on the market with virtually every global carrier. The phones are by and large powerful handheld computers in addition to being good phones. The good selection in the market is a major reason why Android just keeps growing. This has a slightly negative effect, in that it is not easy to figure out which are the best of the lot.

Most smartphones, Android and otherwise, have good touchscreens powered by stout processors that keep things moving along nicely. Cameras on phones are largely quite good, and all of this utility is packed in handsets that are thin and light, making them easy to use.

When I look around at the vast Android landscape, I keep coming back to which phone has the killer feature that others lack. I don’t see one, as most Android phones are full-featured. While there is a lot of choice in Android phones, a good thing, I keep waiting for one phone to step up with that killer feature that sets it apart from the crowd.

My Nexus S 4G has NFC enabled with Google Wallet, which is not on many phones. It’s not a killer feature for me, though, as I haven’t even used it yet. I haven’t been anywhere that accepts Google Wallet for payments because not many businesses accept it yet. While a nice unique feature, it’s not a killer one for me.

I am not complaining as the selection of Android phones is outstanding. There are great Android phones with fast processors, big screens, and good cameras. But the geek in me wants a unique new feature that makes me want to go out and buy the phone that debuts with it. The desire for a special feature is going unsatisfied, and has for a while.

That’s what makes it impossible for me to name one Android phone as the best. There are a lot of good ones, but not one I would put at the top of my list.

Read More

Free Mobile EHR For iPhone, iPad, Android

Free Mobile EHR For iPhone, iPad, Android

Fast-growing ambulatory electronic medical records (EMR) vendor Practice Fusion has become the latest company to create mobile apps for its medical records software. At last week's Health 2.0 Conference in the company's hometown of San Francisco, Practice Fusion said that both Apple and Android apps are in private beta testing.

According to CEO Ryan Howard, the mobile apps will allow users to see patient charts, review test results, refill prescriptions, and conduct secure messaging sessions with patients. The native Android and iPhone/iPad apps will be free, like the company's core EMR product.

Howard said to expect a "mobile light" version with limited functionality within a month and a full public release early next year. "The expectation is really to redefine EMR," Howard told InformationWeek Healthcare, giving physicians the freedom to keep up with their practice and patients from anywhere.

Despite some controversy over its business model, Practice Fusion has been successful targeting an underserved market segment, namely small and midsize physician practices. Howard said that practices composed of fewer than 10 doctors account for 80% of the ambulatory EMR market, or about 2.5 million potential users, counting clinicians and office staff.

[Which healthcare organizations came out ahead in the IW500 competition? See 10 Healthcare IT Innovators: InformationWeek 500.]

Practice Fusion claims 130,000 users now and has built an anonymized database of 21 million patient records. Howard said that the user base handles 1 million patient encounters per week and that the company is adding 600 new users a day.

The core product is free to medical practices, supported by advertising. Howard said he thought advertising would be a problem for many physicians, until he realized that doctors are used to getting things for free from pharmaceutical companies, device manufacturers, and medical supply companies, though there has been a crackdown on pharma perks in recent years. "There is a slight sense of entitlement," he said.

At first, Practice Fusion charged $300 a month, then dropped the EMR price to free with a $50-per-month support fee. The product became totally free in 2007, though there is an option to purchase a version without ads. Few do, Howard said.

When Practice Fusion first announced the free product, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the company had cut a "deal" with Google and was "partnering" with Google's AdSense advertising network for the Internet search giant to provide the commercial messages.

Despite the headline-grabbing nature of the Google tie reported in both the Chronicle and in the Wall Street Journal, Google said that the arrangement was nothing special, just a standard AdSense arrangement available to any blogger or Web developer. That led some to question whether an EMR vendor could make a go of it based solely on AdSense revenue.

Last year, Practice Fusion announced a partnership with Dell to sell computers, scanners, printers, and networking hardware optimized for EMR usage to physician practices. Practice Fusion continues to deny accusations from some in the privacy community that the company makes a lot of its money by selling access to its rapidly expanding database.

"We have not sold any data yet," Howard says. Even so, he says that the aggregated records are "being used in a strictly de-identified way," in accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy regulations. To date, Practice Fusion has mined its database for quality reporting and public-health purposes, such as to identify patients affected by a drug recall or hot spots for outbreaks of the H1N1 virus.

Howard did leave open the possibility of monetizing the database in the future, but said that Practice Fusion would abide by all applicable regulations.

Not every application is ready for the cloud, but two case studies featured in the new, all-digital issue of InformationWeek Healthcare offer some insights into what does work. Also in this issue: Keeping patient data secure isn't all that hard. But proposed new regulations could make it a lot harder. 

another articles : Android Best Phone | Best Android Phone of 2011

Read More

Android still hot but many eyeing Windows Phone 7

Android is still the No. 1 choice of current and future smartphone owners, but Windows Phone 7 has been kicking up more interest among prospective phone buyers, says a report released yesterday by NPD Group.

Among all smartphone operating systems, Android generated interest among 63 percent of consumers, more than any other mobile OS, according to NPD's Connected Intelligence (PDF), a service that analyzes connected devices, access, and content. As just a single example, one-third of BlackBerry smartphone owners are eyeing an Android phone as their next purchase.

And though Google's OS has accounted for almost half of all smartphone purchases over the past three quarters, its continued dominance is by no means assured, notes NPD.

"Android is also experiencing continued competition from Apple's popular iPhone, as well as some nascent competition from Windows Phone 7," Linda Barrabee, research director for Connected Intelligence, said in a statement.

Among current and future smartphone owners, 44 percent are thinking of buying a Windows Phone 7 device, according to NPD's data. Despite those results, Microsoft still faces challenges trying to turn its latest mobile OS into a major player.

Almost half (45 percent) of consumers aren't even familiar with Windows Phone 7. And among the 50 percent looking to pick up a smartphone over the next six months but who have no interest in Microsoft's OS, most said they're just not aware of it. For example, 46 percent specifically said that they "don't know enough about it."

Microsoft also faces a market entrenched by other mobile platforms and ecosystems, as 21 percent of consumers not considering Windows Phone 7 said they have "too much time or money invested in another smartphone OS."

Noting that Windows Phone 7 has "a way to go before consumers really understand what it is," Barrabee said that "but with the right marketing mojo, apps portfolio, and feature-rich hardware, Microsoft could certainly improve its standing and chip away at Android's dominant market position."

Since its debut last October, Windows Phone 7 has run into a tough time going up against the likes of the iPhone and Android. A Gartner report from May showed Microsoft's OS at the bottom of the list in terms of worldwide market share. And an NPD report released last month still found Windows Phone 7 far behind Android, iOS, and BlackBerry with only around 5 percent of the market.

However, some analysts are expecting a surge for Microsoft's mobile OS over the coming years. An IDC report from March put Windows Phone 7/Windows Mobile in second place behind Android with a 21 percent market share in 2015.

Analysts and Microsoft alike are anticipating a boost in share courtesy of the company's partnership with Nokia. Microsoft is also busy prepping the next major update to Windows Phone 7, dubbed Mango, as part of its ongoing effort to counter the competition.

Another Articles.. Android Best Phone

Read More

Android OS Names: A Review of 'Delicious' Market-Changing Operating Systems

Android's latest OS, Ice Cream Sandwich is scheduled to release in late October and will debut on the Samsung Nexus Prime smartphone on November 3.

It is expected to revolutionize the entire OS, which has been in high demand and now powers a number of devices on several different wireless networks.

After a lackluster debut in 2008, the Android OS has since garnered a steady increase in popularity and currently accounts for 48 percent of the global market share, according to research firm Canalys.

In order to keep up with technology and constantly fix bugs, the Android OS has had a number of upgrades in just three years.

After the initial OS, G1, which was powered on the T-Mobile network and was not particularly popular, Android stepped up its game and began developing systems that were not only a techie's dream, but were also extremely “delicious” to speak of.

Since G1, each OS has been named alphabetically after a desert.

Like us on Facebook

Here is a rundown of Android's many tantalizing operating systems, as detailed by CNET.

Cupcake, 1.5, released in April 2009, introduced the universal search box, an updated Android Market, a camera and voice-to-text capability.

Donut, 1.6, released in September 2009, introduced the virtual onscreen keyboard, camcorder mode for the camera, stereo Bluetooth, home screen widgets and folders, copy and paste and search within the browser and direct upload to YouTube and Picasa.

Eclair, 2.0, released in October 2009, introduced multiple user accounts, a universal e-mail inbox, the quick Contact pop-up widget, saved SMS and MMS search, an updated camera, Bluetooth 2.1 and various keyboard improvements.

Eclair, second helping, 2.1, released in January 2010, introduced live wallpaper and five home screens as well as speech-to-text for any text operation.

Froyo, 2.2, released in May 2010, introduced a faster OS, USB and hot-spot support capability, an Android Market update, Adobe Flash 10.1, file uploading in the browser and increased Microsoft Exchange and Bluetooth support.

Gingerbread, 2.3, released in December 2010, introduced an updated copy and paste, WebM video compression support, NFC (near field communication) support, various camera updates and virtual keyboard shortcuts.

Honeycomb, 3.0, released in February 2011, introduced a tablet OS, 3D graphics support, browser, plane mode and UI updates, video chatting with Google Talk, full-screen-mode photo gallery and Bluetooth tethering.

Most Android smartphones currently run on either Froyo or Gingerbread while the Honeycomb OS specifically powers tablet computers.

Ice Cream Sandwich is speculated to either have the model number 4.0 or 2.4.1 and is expected to power both smartphones and tablets.

Another Articles.. Android Best Phone

Read More

HTC Vigor Might be a Threat to Motorola Droid Bionic

HTC's Vigor, which is slated to be released in October with its superlative specifications, is likely to up the ante against Motorola Droid Bionic.

While Motorola is still basking in the buzz that has been created with rave reviews, HTC has thrown down the gauntlet in the 4G LTE race, with rumors about Vigor doing rounds in different parts of the world.

The phone from HTC matches the features of Motorola Droid Bionic in every aspect. On the Verizon's 4G LTE network, HTC Vigor's key competitors are Droid Bionic, Samsung Droid Charge and HTC Thunderbolt. However, the surmised specifications of HTC Vigor and Droid Bionic easily dwarf the other two phones. Thus, HTC Vigor and Motorola Droid Bionic are expected to be the top superphones on the 4G LTE, making them a rather juicy proposition for buyers.

Here is a comparison between the two smartphones.

Size: Motorola Droid Bionic has 127.5 x 66.9 x 11 mm dimension and weighs 158.8 g. HTC Vigor's dimension has not yet been revealed. However, as it has similar specifications like HTC Sensation XE model, it is likely to come with a dimension of 126.1 x 65.4 x 11.3 mm and may weigh above 160 g like HTC Thunderbolt due to LTE chip support. Also, HTC Thunderbolt has a dimension of 122 x 66 x 13 mm.

Display: HTC Vigor 4G LTE features 4.3-inch 720 x 1280 pixels TFT capacitive touchscreen compared to the Motorola Droid Bionic's 4.3-inch 540 x 960 pixels TFT capacitive touchscreen display.

Input features: The input features found in HTC Vigor include multi-touch input method, accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate, proximity sensor for auto turn-off, gyro sensor and HTC Sense v3.5 UI. (Rumors also points to a new version of HTC Sense dubbed Sense 3.3). The Droid Bionic features multi-touch input method, accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate, proximity sensor for auto turn-off and touch-sensitive controls.

Memory: HTC's Vigor smartphone has 1 GB RAM which should be the highest for any latest HTC smartphones as most of them feature 768 MB RAM, also Vigor features 16 GB internal memory compared to HTC Thunderbolt's 8 GB storage. Motorola Droid Bionic has 16 GB storage, 1 GB RAM and 2 GB ROM support.

3G: HTC Vigor is expected to feature Rev.A up to 3.1 Mbps LTE support, similar to Motorola Droid Bionic.

WLAN/Bluetooth/USB: HTC Vigor will have Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot support along with Bluetooth version 3.0 with A2DP and EDR and it also features microUSB version 2.0. Droid Bionic has almost similar features but differs with Bluetooth version 2.1.

Camera: HTC Vigor has an 8-megapixel 3264x2448 pixels camera with autofocus, dual-LED flash, geo-tagging, touch-focus, image stabilization, face detection and instant capture features. The camera can capture videos 1080p at 30fps and has a stereo sound recording feature and comes with a secondary 2-megapixel camera.

Droid Bionic has an 8-megapixel 3264x2448 pixels camera with autofocus, dual LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection and image stabilization features. It can capture videos 1080p at 30fps and has a VGA secondary camera.

Operating System: Both the smartphones have the latest Android OS version 2.3 (Gingerbread) support.

Processor: Motorola Droid Bionic is the clear leader in terms of CPU speed for a dual core LTE phone until HTC Vigor came along. Motorola's phone has dual-core 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 TI OMAP4430 chipset processor.

HTC Vigor features 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. But it's unclear what chipset the smartphone will feature. The latest HTC Sensation XE phone features 1.5 GHz dual-core Adreno 220 GPU Qualcomm MSM 8260 Snapdragon processor which may make it into HTC Vigor too.

Battery: The battery found in Motorola Droid Bionic is Li-Ion 1735 mAh, giving a talk time of up to 10 h 40 min on 3G while with LTE 4G. Tests show the phone giving close to 8 hours support.

HTC Vigor battery size is a disputable one as few sources reveal a battery capacity of 1,620 mAh which popped up on Amazon Web site. HTC is surely going feature a higher battery capacity than Li-Ion 1400 mAh found in HTC Thunderbolt due to Thunderbolt's battery drainage issue. Meanwhile, HTC Sensation XE comes with Li-Ion 1730 mAh which can possibly be accommodated in HTC Vigor too.

HTC Vigor is expected to feature Beats from Dr Dre and the smartphone is being rumored to be named as Droid Incredible HD or HTC Thunderbolt 2. Some sources say it might be launched on Oct. 13. At the same time, other sources reveal that the phone named Vigor is coming out only a week later on October 20 falling in line with Apple's iPhone 5 launch.

Observers have speculated that the smartphone may have a price tag of around $250 or even $300 due to the 4G LTE capability of the HTC Vigor.

A special HTC event will be held in London on October 6. HTC Vigor unveiling falls in line with iPhone 5, Nokia Windows Phone and Google Nexus Prime. All these give an indication that HTC Vigor is expected to be the new flagship phone of the company.

Meanwhile, data revealed by comScore, analyzing the growth trends of the smartphone platforms across the five leading European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom), show that nearly 1 in 4 smartphone users in EU5 reported using smartphones running on the Google Android platform. Surprisingly, HTC leads in Europe while Samsung phones follow close behind. Similar trend is expected in the U.S. as well with the launch of HTC smartphones this fall.

Another Articles.. Android Best Phone

Read More

Almost Half of Owners to Ditch Android With Next Upgrade

Nearly half of Android owners want to move away from the operating system when they next upgrade, according to a report out today.

The survey, conducted by UBS, asked more than 500 smartphone owners worldwide and found that 45 per cent of Android owners want to switch, while just 11 per cent of iPhone users would consider moving to a different phone manufacture.Interestingly, only 39 per cent of HTC owners said they'd stick with the company for their next upgrade and a third of BlackBerry owners said they'd stick with the Canadian firm for the coming year, showing a significant fall from 62 per cent just 18 months ago.

This steep decline in Blackberry loyalty amongst owners suggests that the company is falling out of favour with buyers, perhaps as iOS becomes more suited to business securities, BlackBerries have lost their unique selling point of business-orientated encryption and security.

Retention of iPhones fell just six per cent over the same 18 month period.

According to the survey Android users are happier with their software than hardware, with 55 per cent of users saying they would stick with the software, but would try a phone from a different vendor next time.

Twenty eight per cent of Samsung owners, 25 per cent of Motorola and just 24 per cent of Nokia owners would stick with their manufacture of choice for the next upgrade.

By Alistair Charlton

Read another article... Android Best Phone

Read More