These are two high end smartphones that have very little in common.    Watch the video to see just how different and which one you’ll want to be carrying around in your pocket.

And if you’re really interested in delving into the differences between the operating systems themselves, I highly recommend watching my Ice Cream Sandwich vs iOS 5 video.

A few questions I’ll be tackling in this post:

Should you stick with the Android platform or switch to the iPhone?

Should you upgrade right now or wait a few months?

Should you stick to a 3G phone or upgrade to one of the 4G/LTE phones?

Best Android Phones To Buy Right Now

4 Phones Being Released in 2011 You May Want To Wait For

Keep in mind I’m writing this on June 27^th, 2011 so keep that in mind if you’re reading this at a later date.

Also, I’m going to assume you plan on sticking with Verizon since post is long enough without doing a pros and cons comparison of each carrier on top of it.

First things first – Android vs iPhone?

I remember when the rumor about the iPhone coming to Verizon was really gaining steam, a lot of people were predicting that current Android users would flock to Apple in droves.  Well, so far that hasn’t happened.  The company that has been hurt is Blackberry.

But now that you’re familiar with Android, does it make sense to switch and learn a new operating system?  Only you can ultimately answer that question, but I’ll give you a few ways to decide below.

Yes, iOS 4 (the iPhone operating system) is intuitive and easy to use and the operating system itself has a lot of polish.  However, if you’re already familiar with Android, you may find yourself having trouble finding some of the features as it’s definitely different.

You’ll lose a lot of the ability you currently have to customize your phone.   For example, I quit using the stock keyboard on Android over a year ago and right now have the Flex T9 keyboard (works a lot like Swype but with better word prediction) on my phone.

With the iPhone you get the keyboard they tell you and you can’t change it.  iPhone apps aren’t allowed to modify “core functionality” of the iPhone.  The same goes for SMS/MMS.  You get what Steve Jobs says you do and that’s it.

Personally, I find all the restrictions of iOS a bit constraining since I’ve used Android for nearly two years now and especially after I rooted my Droid, I don’t think I could switch to iOS.

You’ll gain access to the best games.   Gaming on the iPhone is a much better experience while on Android you have a more limited selection of games and a lot of times, it really depends on the phone you have and if it has gaming features like a built in gyroscope or not.

Also, the Apple App Store is larger and new apps tend to be released for the iPhone before they come to Android (if they do at all).  However, you’ll have to pay money for more of them as most of the Apps in the App Store cost money while most Android Market Apps are free.

So those are the things you’ll want to keep in mind…

Should I Upgrade Right Now Or Wait?  Should I Get A 3G or 4G LTE Phone?

This is a tricky question to answer based simply on the available phones and it’s even more tricky to answer when you consider that Verizon is discontinuing their unlimited data plans on July 7^th.  I’m still waiting on an official response from Verizon regarding how they’ll be “grandfathering in” those plans and if we’ll be able to keep them once we buy a new phone.  I’ll update this post once I hear back from the powers that be.

Update 1:  So far all I’ve been able to learn is that current users will be able to keep existing data plans, but no word yet on if Verizon considers 3G and 4G data plans to be the same thing or separate data plans.  I’ll keep working on them… stay tuned.

When I’m buying a new phone, I look at it the same way I do when buying a computer.  I know it’ll work just fine right now, but will it still serve me well a year or two from now.   So my recommendations are going to be based off what I think (in my humble opinion) will still be a good, reliable phone 2 years from now when you can upgrade again which is especially important now that Verizon no longer offers 1 yr contracts.

When it comes to Android, I recommend buying phones that are popular.  Popular phones are generally kept more up to date so you’re more likely to be running the latest and greatest of Android sooner.  Motorola has a pretty good reputation for keeping their popular Android phones up to date and HTC does as well (but only for their popular phones) while Samsung and others

If there were a Google Nexus phone for Verizon (the dual core Nexus 4G isn’t expected until November and nobody knows which carrier it’ll be on), I’d probably snap it up in a heartbeat, but alas, there isn’t.

Droid 2, Droid Pro, or Droid 3?  Android Phones With Keyboards

I know a lot of people who can’t imagine life without their slide-out keyboard but there are only a few Android phones that have them as most have gone to being touchscreen only.

If you can’t live without that keyboard, I’d recommend avoiding the Droid 2 and Droid Pro, and being patient and waiting for the Droid 3.  The other two phones are already a year old and lack the kind of hardware that will be able to run future version of Android.

Best Android Phones To Buy Right Now

If the keyboard isn’t a must have, the two best phones (3G phones I should say) for Verizon right now are the Droid X2 and the Droid Incredible 2.  I prefer the Droid X2 over the Incredible 2 since the X2 has a dual core processor a qHD screen (resolution nears that of the retina display on the iPhone 4) but lacks the now common front facing camera for video chat.

The Incredible 2 still runs a single core processor, has a 4″ display but has a front facing camera for video chat, and has a GSM antenna built in for global roaming capabilities.

Both phones have an FM tuner which you don’t find on a lot of phones, but sure comes in handy when you need it.

However, neither phone is perfect nor are either 4G LTE capable.  However, Verizon’s 4G LTE coverage isn’t expected to cover the same area as their 3G network until 2013… when you’ll be able to upgrade to a new phone anyway.

4G LTE Android Phones for Verizon

Right now there are three 4G phones for Verizon though all have their drawbacks – the HTC Thunderbolt, LG Revolution and Samsung Droid Charge.

As far as specs go, all are a bit underwhelming with their single core 1GHZ processors and while they all have big, 4.3” screens, they all suffer from limited battery life as the 4G antennas in the phones are notorious for sucking up juice.

Of course, the one benefit you get is knowing that if you upgrade before July 7^th, you’ll have an unlimited 4G LTE data plan – if you live in a current 4G coverage area, that might make it worth upgrading right now to be sure you’re locked in.  None of the phones are bad, but I’m not lusting over any of them either.  

Phones Being Released in 2011 You May Want To Wait For

While there is always going to be a “next best thing” in the pipeline when it comes to tech toys like smartphones, there are a couple phones on the horizon you may want to wait for.

The first is the one I’ve personally been waiting with baited breath to see since it was announced at CES in January 2011, the Motorola Droid Bionic.  It has been delayed from its initial May release date but Motorola is still expected to launch this beast of a phone in the summer of 2011 (likely August).

The Droid Bionic is a 4G LTE phone but also boasts a dual core processor, combining the best of both worlds of the phones mentioned above.

The other phone you may want to wait to see is the iPhone 5, which is likely being released in September.  Right now you’ll find plenty of rumors regarding this phone but it’s likely to be a dual core phone, running iOS 5 (which brings plenty of much needed upgrades to the operating system like a better notification system and wireless syncing), but unfortunately, it probably won’t be 4G LTE phone.   Still, you may want to wait if you haven’t made up your mind on whether to stick with Android or not.

So with all that said, what are your upgrade plans?  Upgrading sooner than later, later than sooner, or have you already upgraded?

Let me hear about it in the comments.

Have you been wanting to buy a portable handheld GPS or portable GPS navigator but just didn’t know quite what you were going to use it for?  You may even have friends who own one, but you’re still unsure?  These devices are great tools that provide a huge array of ways to get the most use out of them.   Take a look at some of the fun (and practical) ways to make the most of these fun GPS gadgets:

1.  Driving.  This is one of the most common and practical ways a GPS device can be used for especially with with mapping software. The software allows you to navigate to and from specific destinations by choosing the shortest distance, or fastest routes.  It can get you from one place to another and can even allow you to choose to avoid toll roads, avoid major highways, and have it recalculate to a different route than the one you are currently on.  Finding necessities like fuel and food near your current location are also added perks. Do you need to go to the restroom? Yes, just check your GPS and you can find the closest the restroom! Now how cool is that?

2.  Kayaking and Boating.  Using a portable GPS navigator in boating is beneficial to mark favorite fishing spots, a favorite landing point, a great scenic view that you may want to return to, or to navigate to and from your Kayak put in spot. Once you get out in the water, it is easy to loose your way as it all looks the same unless you have a land mark. A GPS unit will allow you to navigate back the exact same way you went out. Most of the GPS systems also have a Man Overboard feature. If by chance someone falls overboard or you loose equipment (fishing rods, etc.) you can mark the spot and go exactly back to the same location.

3.  Hiking.  A portable handheld GPS can be used in hiking to mark a trail head, a favorite location along a well-used trail, mark your campsite, trail tracking through the backlog, navigate toward previous marked points, and track your speed, distance, elevation, and much more. A GPS in the wilderness is almost a must and it can actually save your life. There are many stories of hikers getting injured on their journey and by being able to provide the coordinates of their location, rescue help found them quickly.

4.  In an Airplane.  Only for fun.  While flying commercial , you can track the distance to your destination, see how high you are flying, how fast the plane is traveling, and even where you are currently flying over.  Make sure to adhere to any regulations about portable electronic devices.

5. Geocaching.  A worldwide high tech  game of hide and seek, geocaching is a great hobby.  Players use their  GPS to find treasures, or geocaches, hidden by others with user-posted latitude and longitude coordinates.  This recreational sport has only been around for a short time, but is definitely growing in popularity. There are probably a few geocaches within only a mile or two of where you live!

6.  Vacation and Tourism.  While on vacation, a portable handheld GPS is a great way to visit places that may be of special interest, find local restaurants, and to mark places that you would like to remember, possibly return to, or recommend to others.  It’s also great for finding lodging and other amenities near your location, if you are traveling on a whim.

7. Biking.  The use of a portable GPS navigator is a great way to keep track of statistics like distance biked, how far to a destination, current speed, average speed, amount of time you’ve been moving, and amount of time spent stopped.  Whether you are a serious biker or a casual rider, this is a great way to keep track of your progress.

The possibilities are virtually endless for using a portable GPS navigator. These are just a few ideas.  Once you start using one, you’ll wonder why you waited so long, and how you managed without it.  There are many different styles, so you are able to get one that fits your needs and budget.

Special thanks to Taylor Gray for providing today’s post. ]]> http://gpsmaestro.com/handheld/feed/ 1