Moto G has no LTE. Deal breaker?

Seeing as the Moto G has been released in emerging markets, the wait for a US launch becomes that much harder. In my previous article, I wrote that the Moto G is a game changer. Early reviews highly recommend the device due to its good quality, fast performance, and price. When the Moto G releases in early 2014 in the US, I expect a similar reception as well. Although there is a big omission in the Moto G that may affect the perception of the device and its sales. The lack of an LTE antenna is a big issue in a nation with robust and soon to be robust LTE networks on various carriers. With LTE being the new standard in wireless, this omission may cast a dark shadow on the Moto G as not being up to date and possibly being viewed as slow. But is LTE really that important and that much faster? Is it really that big a deal for the Moto G? I don’t think so and hopefully, after you read this article, you won’t either.

The Moto G is a Game Changer

On Wednesday November 13, Motorola announced the Moto G, a low cost version of its Moto X flagship. The phone consists of 4.5 inch 720p display, Snapdragon 400 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. Seems like a basic budget smartphone phone for 2013 but the price is what makes this device stand out. Starting at $179 for 8GB and $199 for 16GB off contract, this low cost Moto G looks to shake things up in a landscape dominated by $500-$600 smartphones.

Google likes to talk about the next billion devices for Android but the Moto G really shows the path to the next billion sold. The Google Nexus line has started a race to the bottom in terms of cost in order to get as many smartphones as possible in the hands of those that don't have one yet. And Motorola, now a Google Company, has made another big push for that ambitious goal.

There are a lot of drawbacks when buying a budget Android smartphone on a US carrier as they are less likely to get Android updates and are nowhere near as powerful as their flagship counterparts. Another option is buying an old flagship device but these are usually running old hardware, are probably done receiving updates, and just don't perform as well as they once did. The Moto G, on the other hand, looks to be a good balance of power and price.

Specifications

• 4.5 inch 720p TFT LCD Display
• Quad Core Snapdragon 400 Processor
• 1 GB of RAM
• 8 or 16 GB of internal storage
• 5 Megapixel Camera with LED Flash and 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
• "Android 4.3 Jellybean, the most up to date Android of any phone in its class, with a guaranteed upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat"
• 19 customization options in removable colored back covers
• 21 HSPA+ (NO LTE)
• 2070mah Non-Removable Battery, Motorola optimizations allow for 24 hour mixed usage

For $179, this a good combination of hardware and software. While you won't get the customization options that the Moto X has, a pure stock Android software experience on optimized hardware can really help this phone shine. Motorola wants to take a page out of the Moto X by making a phone that feels fast without high end specs and without hurting your wallet.

The big omission is LTE but since the emerging markets are the focus of this phone this omission is to be expected since LTE networks aren't as robust or even available. A US launch is targeted for January 2014 and it remains to be since if LTE will be added. This will be a great phone for those on a budget as this device will be available on both GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile and CDMA networks such as Sprint and Verizon. AT&T and T-Mobile both have robust 3G/HSPA+ networks that this phone can take advantage of.

"In the US, Moto G will be sold on Motorola.com, with no contract, no SIM lock and an unlockable bootloader for USD $179 with 8GB of storage and USD $199 for 16GB. Moto G will also be available through various carriers and retailers."

With a price this low, the smartphone race to the bottom heats up and hopefully those still on feature phones can make the jump to a seemingly quality product. Even though other companies are readying and releasing smartphones at the same or lower cost like Nokia and Mozilla, the Moto G has one thing going for it that those other products don't have. The dominant force that is Google Android and its many Google Services.

Source

http://motorola-blog.blogspot.com/2013/11/introducing-moto-g-exceptional-phone-at.html

Google Nexus 5 Review

After much anticipation and waiting, The Nexus 5 is available for purchase on the Google Play Store. The Nexus Line pushes the boundaries of what is considered to be a high end Android device while at the same time strives to keep the retail cost down. This unlocked behemoth starts at $349 and consists of some of the best specs we have seen to date. But is it any good? Is it worth dropping Verizon and heading over to AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint?

This is the Google Nexus 5.

Android Mini PC: The Next Tech Revolution?

After a Christmas delay, I'm back with another article! Thanks for reading my previous article on The Gingerbread Problem.

With streaming devices like the Roku, Apple TV, and Google TV set top boxes highly available, it seems that consumers have a lot of choice when it comes to consuming media. These devices allow users to stream and rent video from many different services but have very limited app selection, can be expensive, and each have their own drawbacks and limitations.

But what if I told you that was about to change? That there is a growing market in the tech industry just around the corner that can very well shape the landscape the way tablets did?

A device that has all the internals that a Android phone/tablet has but with no screen. What it does have is a HDMI output that allows it to connect to your existing HD television. All while running on the latest version of Android with a dual core processor and smaller than any set top box on the market.

The asking price?

A mere $60 USD.

This is an Android Mini PC. A device that makes your dumb HDTV into a Smart HDTV. A device capable of vast media playback and support for over 700,000 Android applications. An Android device without the screen.

A device filled with endless possibilities. 

The Gingerbread Problem

Android is becoming an unstoppable force in mobile phones all over the world. Over 1.3 million devices are being activated on a daily basis and shows no signs of slowing down.

But what if I told you that over 50% of active devices are running a version of the Android OS that is 2 years old? Considered ancient by technology standards.

That 50% of devices are two major software revisions behind and one behind that completely changes that way we view Android?

What if I told you that you can get a new iPhone (4S or 5) but it won't come with Siri, a better camera app, an enhanced notification center, and better performance?

This is a problem that new Android users are facing today if they don't look into what they are buying. While Gingerbread isn't as prevalent in phones in stores today, being stuck on a phone that won't be upgraded will result in the same problem .

But let's take a step back and see how and why this happened.

Minor Updates, Posting Articles, Happy Holidays!

I will be releasing minor updates to Away SMS within this week. Just bug fixes.

I have decided to create some original Android articles based on current trends, news, events, and features. The first will be The Gingerbread Problem and I hope to post at least 2 a week. These are meant to be informative and to help users on understanding Android. I will write about things that interest me and that I feel are important. I hope you enjoy it.

- Gus
Happy Holidays!

Minor Update to Away Sms

There was an issue loading the menu. The menu was deactivated for the time being. Re tested on Galaxy Nexus and Samsung Galaxy SIII.