In this video we compare two of the best smartphones on the market right now, the Motorola Droid X and the Apple iPhone 4. See how they stack up to one another.
When Will Verizon Get The iPhone 4?
August 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
It seems like every couple of months there is a rumor saying that Verizon will be getting the iPhone soon. Then it turns out to be hogwash.
However, lately it seems like more and more evidence is mounting that Verizon will indeed be getting the iPhone in the early parts of 2011.
As far as evidence goes, the first comes from a report from Bloomberg saying that Verizon would be releasing and iPhone in January of 2011. Most of the time reports come from bloggers, not credible news sources.
Now it’s looking like there’s some physical evidence that these devices could become a reality with a recent report saying Apple has ordered millions of CDMA chips from Qualcomm. CDMA is the technology used by Verizon Wireless (and Sprint) while the current iPhone 4 and all models before it have relied on GSM technology which is the technology used by AT&T (and T-Mobile and the rest of the world).
It’s far from a sure thing and I wouldn’t hold my breath or start waiting in line at your Verizon store for the iPhone 4 to make an appearance but it sure seems like there a little more to this story than just a rumor.
If I learn any new evidence, I’ll be sure to post it here for you.
Update August 16th: Here’s a new report that seems to hint that the iPhone 4 may be ready for field testing on Verizon.
The iPhone 4 Coming To Verizon Soon???
The Easy Way To Jailbreak the Iphone 4 (safe too)
August 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I think one of the things that in the past has stopped a lot of people from jailbreaking their iPhones is that it was a somewhat complicated process.
Now there’s a safe and easy way to jailbreak the iPhone 4.
Just go to JailbreakMe.com and follow the instructions – it’s really that simple. Keep in mind that you can restore your iPhone 4 to it’s original settings by using iTunes so there really is very little danger here but as always the disclaimer is that jailbreaking your iPhone does void the warranty.
So why would you want to jailbreak your pretty iPhone?
Well, you can get an app ($4, but free to try) called My3G that allows you to use Facetime over 3G so you’re no longer limited to using Facetime only when you have a WiFi connection.
And if you’d like to create a wifi hotspot with the iPhone 4, just get MyWi 4.0 ($19.99) and you’ll be off and running.
Just check out Cydia to see all the apps that become available to you should you decide to free your iPhone.
The White iPhone 4 Will Finally Start Shipping… Just Not Yet
July 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
If you’ve been waiting with baited breath for the release of the elusive white iPhone 4, then your wait is almost over. Steve Jobs announced today that the white iPhone 4 will start shipping at the end of July.
Update 7/23: The white iPhone 4 is proving to be a bit of unicorn (i.e. it doesn’t exist) – Apple is now saying that it has been delayed again although now they’re being quite vague about when it will ship saying only that it will ship sometime later this year. While speculation is running rampant as to why with folks claiming that they’re having production issues and others saying that they want to fix the antenna issue before shipping them. No matter the reason though, it’s a disappointing day for those anxiously awaiting the mythical white iPhone 4.
White iPhone 4
How To Get Your Free iPhone 4 Case
July 16, 2010 By 1 Comment
In response to complaints about the iPhone 4 having antenna issues when you hold it a certain way, Steve Jobs has announced that anybody who buys an iPhone 4 until September 30th will get a free iPhone 4 bumper case to go along with it. For those who purchased a case from Apple already, they’ll get a refund automatically.
That should fix most peoples’ antenna issues.
If you already purchased the bumper case from Apple, they’re automatically giving refunds and you should see the credit post soon.
If you don’t already have a case, here’s how you get one:
Visit the official iPhone 4 Bumper case program page from Apple or download the iPhone 4 Case Program App from the App store. Then just follow the on screen instructions and your case will be sent to you free or charge.
Note: For those who already purchased an iPhone 4 case from a third party or on eBay, you unfortunately don’t qualify for a refund from Apple.
What do you think -- is this a satisfying solution for you or should Apple be doing more?
How To Jailbreak The iPhone 4 – Guide – Tutorial
July 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The latest iteration of Apple’s iPhone 4 has proven to be the most difficult of the iPhones to jailbreak yet.
However, that hasn’t stopped people from trying, and persistence has paid off. The iPhone 4 has been jailbroken.
I’m just going to give you the links on how to do it here since I don’t want to take credit for someone else’s work:
- Planetbeing Unlocks iPhone 4
- iPhone 4 Finally Jailbroken
- Reliable iPhone 4 and iOS 4 Jailbreak
- Spirit Jailbreak coming to iPhone 4 and iOS 4
Advantages of jailbreaking the iPhone 4
If you’re not sure if jailbreaking is a good decision, here are some of the advantages (and the main disadvantage) to jailbreaking your phone.
Jailbreaking the iPhone 4 (elusive white iPhone 4 shown)
The big advantage to unlocking the phone is that you no longer are at the mercy of Apple’s App Store telling you what you can and can’t install on your phone. In the past this has included tethering, multi-tasking, and being able to easily change settings. The new iOS 4 has fixed some of these issues, but there are still plenty of apps out there that you won’t find in the App Store that you can install on a jailbroken iPhone, like wi-fi synching.
The main disadvantage of jailbreaking is that it voids the warranty of your phone and there is a real risk of “bricking” the phone – i.e. permanently disabling the device. This can happen on any phone you try to unlock, not just the iPhone.
10 Must Have iPad Apps
July 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I haven’t talked about the iPad on that much on this site other than to say it can be used to be the ultimate large screen gps device.
Today, I’m going to talk about other must have apps for the iPad since I’ve already done it for Android and the iPhone.
Again, I don’t cover games and don’t consider any game, no matter how cool to be “must have” but you’ll find plenty of other people talking about iPad games if that’s your thing and I’m also not doing magazine issues.
- Air Video – If you want to stream media (like video) then get this app. You can stream videos from your Mac or PC without having to convert them to an iPad friendly format or without having to store them on your iPad locally. (free)
- Kindle – Sure, Apple made a big deal about iBooks and everybody said it was going to kill the Kindle. Well, Amazon doesn’t really care about selling Kindles – Amazon wants to sell books. And Amazon has a lot more books available for it’s Kindle format than Apple does with iBooks. Also, the Kindle app can share books between your desktop, iPhone, iPad and Kindle. (free)
- Epicurious – Not sure what to make for dinner tonight. Give Epicurious a whirl. With thousands of recipes to choose from and some mouthwatering pictures, you’re sure to find something that will appeal to your tastebuds.
- Netflix – With the Netflix app you can stream Netflix movies directly to your iPad. A great way to watch movies while you’re traveling or anywhere when you’re not in your home or apartment. Heck, use it on your lunch break.
- Pandora – Yes, the iPad, like all Apple products, has tight iTunes integration but Pandora is still the best app for discovering new music. (free)
- CoPilot Live HD – GPS navigation app built specifically for the big screen on the iPad. ($29.99)
- Weather HD – I remember the first list of “must have apps” I ever read and it seemed like every single one of them had a weather app. I thought it was silly. I just didn’t realize how convenient it was to always know what the temperature was outside. And Weather HD is probably among the best as it’s built specifically for the iPad and really takes advantage of that big screen. (free)
- Newsy – Keep up with the latest world news stories in video format with this app. (free)
- GoodReader – The best available way to manage documents and files. It connects to Box.net, Google Docs, FTP Servers, Dropbox, local computers, and can download files from the web. Also a terrific PDF reader. $.99
- The New York Times Editor’s Choice – If you’re looking for that newspaper look and feel, then this is the app for you. You get access to selected New York Times news stories (and NYT writers are cream of the crop) with this iPad app. (free)
iPhone 4 Repair Guide – Shattered iPhone Screen Repair
July 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment
So you’ve gone and done it, you broke your iPhone 4?
Well, you’re probably not SOL even if what you did isn’t under warranty (as long as it’s not wet, if you dropped it in the toilet bowl, then yeah, you’re screwed).
iPhone 4 Repair Guide - Photo Courtesy iFixit
But if you broke the front screen, shattered the back screen, need to fix the camera, or just want to replace the battery on your iPhone 4, these can all be done from the comfort of your home all for a lot less than the cost of replacing your iPhone 4 ($599 for the 16GB or $699 for the 32GB version).
If you’re handy with a screwdriver, tweezers, and paperclip, then check out this do it yourself iPhone 4 repair guide.
If you’d rather leave it to people who know what they’re doing (this is what I would do), here are a couple places to check out:
If you need replacement parts for your iPhone, I’d recommend eBay or Amazon (I use Amazon almost exclusively these days but there are some parts that Amazon just doesn’t have)
How To Fix Your iPhone 4 Antenna Issues – Simple To Elaborate Solutions
July 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
As you’re probably well aware, the much ballyhooed iPhone 4 isn’t without it’s share of issues. It shatters far too easily for a cell phone, scratches, and hates left handed people.
Keep in mind the antenna issue doesn’t seem to be present on all phones, but it certainly does appear on a lot of them. I was using my friend’s iPhone 4 last night and despite my finest efforts of deliberately trying to put my fingers in the correct places to get the reception to drop, I got nothin’… not even a measily 1 bar drop.
However, if you are expereiencing these problems, here are some solutions you could try.
Scotch Tape
This is the simplest and cheapest of the solutions and many have said it works so if you don’t mind putting a little bit of clear Scotch Tape on your phone, this could fix you up for less than a penny. Just put a small strip of tape over the little black strip on the bottom left hand corner of the phone. The theory is that it will stop your skin from shorting out the antenna.
Get A Bumper
The standard Apple response has been to either get an iPhone case (the $30 bumper) or that there is no problem. While
Vapor4
The Vapor4 is an aluminum case that can solve not only the antenna issue, but will also make it a lot tougher to shatter your phone if you opt for the carbon fiber back plate ($100).
Magellan Toughcase
If you want to make your iPhone 4 nie invulnerable and waterproof to boot, then Magellan has the solution for you – the Magellan Toughcase. Though it costs as much as the phone ($199), and is targeted towards those who want to use their iPhone like they would a rugged outdoor GPS unit, it will certainly fix those pesky little screen shattering and antenna issues. It also improves GPS accuracy and gives you even more battery life (has a built in 1840mAh battery built in) so you do get quite a bit for all that cash.
If none of these solutions satisfy you, you could join the class action lawsuit, or take advantage of the 30 day return policy offered by Apple and AT&T and return the damn phone.
iPhone 4 vs Droid X – Best Smartphone Showdown
June 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Droid X vs iPhone 4
When the original Motorola Droid was launched in 2009, it was really the only worthy competitor the iPhone had. These days there are plenty of smartphones on the market many of them quite good but the title of best smartphone really comes down to three phones – the Droid X, iPhone 4, and EVO 4G.
I’ve already done an iPhone 4 vs HTC EVO 4G post so I won’t rehash that here, instead we’ll do a rundown of how the Droid X and iPhone 4 stack up against each other.
iPhone 4 vs Droid X
Processor
Both phones are fast… really fast! The Droid X features a Texas Instruments OMAP 1GHZ processor while the iPhone 4 features an Apple A4 1GHZ chip.
Display
One of the most obvious differences in the two phones is right here. Apple’s iPhone 4 has a 3.5” screen (small by current smartphone standards) but it uses their new “retina display” technology at 960×640 resolution which results in a gorgeous display. The Droid X, on the other hand, with its 4.3” screen makes the iPhone 4 look puny and while the display is good looking and sharp, it does run at a mere 854×480 resolution.
Memory
The iPhone 4 comes with either 16GB of memory ($199 with 2/yr contract) or 32GB of memory ($299 with 2/yr contract). The Droid X comes with 24GB of memory, but it can be upgraded by the user to 40GB of memory.
RAM
Both the iPhone 4 and Droid X have 512 MB of RAM.
Camera
I’ll say this now before we compare specs – in real world testing, pictures look to be of nearly equal quality. That being said, the Droid X has an 8MP camera with a dual LED flash while the iPhone 4 has a 5MP camera with single LED flash.
OS / Apps
The iPhone 4 runs IOS 4 while the Droid X will initially ship with Android 2.1 (will be updated to 2.2 shortly thereafter).
Which OS you choose is really up to you. You are granted a lot more freedom to do what you want with Android while the user experience is better with IOS 4.
As far as apps go, the Apple App store has over 225,000 apps while the Android Market has about 75,000 apps. For all intents and purposes, even though there is a large app discrepancy, at this point it’s a wash as to which is better – both have a ton of apps and if you want to do something with your phone, you probably can find an app for that on either marketplace.
One thing which isn’t in question here is gaming – gaming is vastly superior on the iPhone – there are more and better games available for the iPhone.
Carrier
For many, this will be the deciding factor. One is exclusive to the carrier many consider to be the best in America (Droid X – Verizon Wireless) and the other is on the carrier many consider to be the worst (iPhone 4 – AT&T). This is really up to you – some people don’t have problems with AT&T, some do. Where I currently live AT&T was hopelessly bad – Verizon has awesome coverage – in my hometown, neither is very good. Both companies have an evil streak, but Verizon does consistently score better than AT&T in just about every category.
One thing to keep in mind, both networks will let you test their network for 30 days before you are locked into two years with them. You can return your phone if you’re unhappy within 30 days with no penalty. My recommendation is to test it out and make sure it works to your liking before you’re stuck for 2 years.
Other
Each has a bunch of features you won’t find on the other.
The iPhone 4 has Facetime and a front facing camera for video chat. The Droid X has no such application and no front facing camera. It also has a gyroscope, which as best I can tell has no practical purpose other than to make playing games even more awesome on the iPhone.
The Droid X has true multi-tasking (the iPhone has quasi-multi-tasking), HDMI outputs, wi-fi tethering and soon will be able to display Adobe Flash.
Conclusion
Declaring a winner is really not easy here and really it comes down to preference. Plus I don’t feel like starting a flame war here on this blog. Anything involving Apple products seems to bring out people who feel like any slight on Apple is akin to saying Hitler tried to do us all a favor or that Jesus had it coming. Yeah, it’s that bad and I’m not falling into that trip.
Here’s the bottom line – they’re both spectacular phones. Get the one you like better – go play with each of them at the store before you buy.
Motorola Droid X Vs Apple iPhone 4
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