Social Networking:

Youtell
What? Really? Actually, yes. It’s a tough market to enter, but we think that newcomer YouTell actually stands a pretty good chance. Initially, the service seems very similar to the already hugely popular Formspring that has done extremely well this year. Like Formspring, people are able to give their opinions and feedback to you, however, it is done quite a bit differently. Instead of the user answering questions about themselves, he or she actually asks the question. Even better, you have to be a confirmed friend to answer. But here’s the icing on the cake, even though you know it is a friend responding, that friend is anonymous. Therefore you can get honest feedback that hopefully won’t branch out into hate like that which is seen on Formspring.

It not only seems safer, but more productive. There are also plenty of public categories including politics, technology, shopping, etc. Basically it has most things covered that anyone could ask about, whether it’s personal or public. We really look forward to seeing how they do in the future. thanks to dsinger- the person who works with this site, for creating this app so that would could self promote it.

Check out YouTell for more.

Devices:

It’s no secret that we love our devices. It is easy if you’re an Apple fan as there is already a great iPhone and it is the only iOS option, however, there are a ton of great Android offers.

Nexus 4
Though the Nexus 4 is technically already out, it is also out in the physical sense as well. Few have been able to acquire the latest and greatest from Google as orders on Google Play are backordered…and have been for awhile. It is easily the best Nexus phone there is with its fantastic specifications, new software, and lovely screen. We really look forward to trying one.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2
OK, bear with us here. It’s not out for everyone yet and we haven’t received ours yet. Backorders suck. That is not only our problem, but one for thousands of others. Pretty much every online retailer is out of stock and lots of people, including us, are very eagerly awaiting the phablet. Having used the Note 1 and being very impressed with the display and the S-Pen, the successor has our hands and hopefully pockets wide open with the promise of an improved, larger screen, faster processor, more RAM, and immensely improved stylus.

Software:
Basically anything that can run on Windows 8.
Seriously, there need to be more apps that are designed for the Windows 8 user interface. We love what we have seen so far, but there are still so few apps available! This applies most to Windows RT as those devices cannot run legacy Windows applications…so it is essentially a barren wasteland as of right now. Windows Phone looks pretty great in comparison, if that gives you a good idea. We absolutely love Windows 8 and the optimizations included, but before we can truly recommend it, the application selection has to rise a bit. Once that happens, there is no stopping our love for Windows 8.

Some may be quick to brush the Note 2 off as a niche device with little hope, but keep in mind that the original sold over 10 million units, with the successor now already at the 3 million part without the help of the United States.

For those wondering, the Note 2 packs quite a punch in its ginormous frame. Coming with a 5.5 inch Super AMOLED HD Display (of the non-pentile variety!), 2 gigs of RAM, a 1.6GHz Quad-Core Exynos processor, and Android 4.1 Jellybean, this is going to handle everything you throw at it and more for a while.

Most importantly – the Note 2 is going for $299 on contract for two years, a bit expensive, but reasonable considering all the power and screen real estate you’re receiving.

Picture from politco.com

It is this very reliance that we’ve built up on the carrier’s networks that has succumbed us to our current state as consumers. We’ve allowed for loose regulations to be passed and for the huge telecommunications companies to lobby for everything they wish for. They tend to win, too. It’s hard to imagine, but we let ourselves be brought here with empty promises. Sure, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and even Sprint have drastically improved their networks in terms of speed and coverage, but the truth of the matter is that as our coverage has grown, our personal coverage has been decreasing behind our backs.

The massive split of Bell long ago was a sign of improvement in this industy. We were seeing competition boom and smaller companies had a chance to attract themselves to consumers. They had to do right to get customers. And best of all – it was actually working. Consumers were winning as carriers fought to provide the best and the most service. As network capabilities improved with such innovations as Edge and 3G, we saw the entrance of smartphones that were actually smart. To go along with these revolutionary devices, carriers started offering things such as unlimited data as a promotion to join them. Nearly everyone offered it, and boy did people love it.

Unfortunately, a few networks became far stronger than the others, such as Verizon and AT&T. As they gained more power, they were able to improve their network and data speeds, but there was a catch. At the announcement of 4G LTE Development (Fourth Generation Network – Essentially it provides for much quicker download and upload speeds), things went very, very wrong. AT&T had offered unlimited data with the iPhone at launch, and soon enough, this gave the company an excuse that would soon be adopted by the greater portion of the industry. Carriers now became the victim, complaining of completely hogged up networks and the price that they paid for our unlimited data – and these complaints were filled with lies. Though it was true that the network was hogging itself up due to the massive sales of the iPhone, they adopted a different business strategy.

As I previously mentioned, the carriers used to compete by improving the capacity of the networks. Suddenly it appeared as if that was no longer a valid option. Instead of adding more towers, AT&T, for example, abandoned that project to pursue 4G. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately it didn’t turn out so great.

The network improved in that data speeds rised, so in esence, this somewhat contradicts what I previously said about them not improving their network. Well, they improved the technical specifications, sure, but they decreased their level of competition and customer satisfaction, the very things that got them this far in the first place. Suddenly there were ridiculous limits on data, and with the faster speeds, people can power through them in just a few more days. Even better – unlimited data was no longer offered. Those who already had it could keep it, but you could no longer actually purchase it if you were a new customer.

This meant that people became forced to pay for higher plans which cost a lot more money, which is truly unfortunate. It now seems as if companies are battling to see who can piss off the consumer the most. Carriers are starting to push people off their grandfathered unlimited data plans too in a sneaky manner. For example: AT&T only offers Facetime over your data network so long as you’re not on the unlimited plan. They want you to pay more and switch over to the shared data plans which offer considerably less data. It’s truly a shame how low they have dipped.

It’s amazing that we’ve allowed company’s that are supposed to serve us well and are such an essential part of our lives become so evil. There’s no doubt that something needs to be done, just no one knows exactly what to do. We’ve got ourselves in a tricky situation, and the greedy monster could only get stronger.

Picture from Barnes and Noble

The smaller tablet of the two, the Nook HD 7-inch, certainly has the specs of a winner. It has the highest display resolution of any 7-inch tablet, clocking in at 1440×900, which translates to 243ppi. Also on-board is a TI-OMAP 4470 dual-core processor running at 1.3GHz and a full (1)gig of RAM. Barnes and Noble has added their own skin over Android as expected, and despite the version of Android being Ice Cream Sandwich, performance still appeared rather choppy. B&N has stated the reason for that being its unfinished software. We’ll wait and see, I guess. It’s now up for pre-order as well, starting at $199 for 8 gigs and $229 for 16 gigs.

The bigger of the two, the Nook HD+, has a 9-inch display. This time, they’re setting their sights farther than the Kindle HD; they’re taking on the new iPad and the Asus Transformer Infinity. We’re looking at a 1920×1080 resolution display, clocking in at a very respective 253ppi. That’s pretty exciting. The company is also claiming to have really improved the display covering, hence removing the kind of glare that is present on the Kindle and the Nexus 7. Again, we’ll see. We’ve got the same processor here, only it’s clocked a bit higher. It’s the same TI OMAP 4470, just at 1.5GHz. The performance STILL seemed sluggish, and B&N is giving the same excuse. There’s the standard 1GB of RAM included as well. More excitingly, there’s a 6000mAh battery that is stated to give one 10 hours of reading of 9 hours of video. If the device can hold its own to those claims, we’ve got a battery winner. It’s up for pre-order through B&N for $269 for 16GB and $299 for 32GB.

Picture from Slash Gear

That doesn’t mean that they’re done working together yet, though. Samsung will be pumping out a ton of these chips due to the record-breaking sales of Apple’s new iPhone 5. It will sure be interesting to see what the next iDevice will offer in terms of processing chips considering the two companies’ ongoing disputes.

Picture from crave.cnet.co.uk

According to The Verge, Samsung is “looking into” the reports of this issue. If you own the AT&T GS3, or any carrier’s GS2 or GS Advance, you probably don’t need to worry too much, considering that the reports are just coming in. However, I’d be weary of suspicious links relating to anything Samsung.

We’ll keep you updated on this.

UPDATE: Samsung has already released an OTA update for the Samsung Galaxy S3 fixing the issue. No word yet on older devices, however, those rocking Sammy’s latest can feel safe!

Hardware & Design:
The One X is powered by Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon S4 processor along with 1GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, a 4.7″ Super LCD display, and a 1800mAh non-removable battery. Keep in mind that the back does not snap off like those of the Samsung devices, so you don’t have removable storage either.

The design of the One X is the greatest I have ever seen on a mobile device, bar none. The large display takes up the front of the device and is surrounded by a white or grey poly-carbonate bezel that curves under the screen giving it a really innovative and modern feel. Every part of the device feels like it’s just… “One” essentially. The materials blend perfectly into each other, and it’s really something that one has to see to believe.

On the back of the phone is the 8MP rear camera, some Beats and HTC branding, and some cleverly placed holes for wireless charging. Aside from the Beats branding (which I despise on any device), the back is very elegant. If it weren’t for the Beats branding presence, I would easily give the HTC One X a 10, at least in the design.

Display:
The One X rocks an HD screen (1280×720) like most other high-end Android phones now, but this one is very special. The Super LCD 2 technology really shines here. It’s closest competition is the panel on the SIII, which will be detailed in the next review. If you’re not one for the notorious over saturation of Samsung’s AMOLED technology, then this is definitely the best display for you. I actually like the AMOLED displays quite a lot, but this is pretty damned close. Many would argue that this is currently the best mobile smartphone display, and that’s the truth, depending on your personal preference.

Contrast and color reproduction were very, very good on just about everything. One of the real benefits, or actually one many, of LCD technology is the traditional RGB pixel layout. This means that text will appear sharper than that of AMOLED displays because it doesn’t add in an extra green sub-pixel. This means that one would have to try incredibly hard to see any pixelation at all or any rigid text. That’s pretty great. The LCD technology that the One X sports also allows for some fantastic viewing angles. You can see whatever is on your display until you actually cannot see your display. Colors just do not wash out, whatever you do.

The display is also fairly usable even under direct sunlight. I am pretty confident that it is easier to see than my old iPhone 4, but you still will have a hard time seeing some things here and there. I may just be particularly picky on this subject. Whatever the case, it’s usable and one should have no issue with this. Just don’t go outdoors expecting the quality that you see indoors.

Camera:
The phone has an 8MP camera with full 1080p video recording all running atop HTC’s Imagesense software. It sounds very impressive, and the results are pretty good. Pictures are very detailed and are sure to impress, at least for a mobile device. Videos, on the other hand, didn’t fare as well. I found that video recorded even in 1080p seemed to lack detail. Lighting was a whole other story, and the end is the same. Not pretty. If you’re looking for a camera, the phone will definitely do the trick. A video recorder? Look elsewhere. I’m certain that there are people who disagree and even I’ve seen better video performance from others on YouTube. The fact is that mine didn’t perform well, and that’s the one I am reviewing. You can see the video and the sample pictures in the Flickr gallery below. Don’t worry, soon we’ll have a better way (hint, hint).

Performance:
Considering that it’s powered by the Qualcomm S4 and a full gig of RAM, you’re going to get some pretty great performance out of the One X. Generally performance all around was very snappy, but there were a few too many hiccups, and sometimes they were pretty bad.

Sense is very pretty, but it adds a hell of a lot of bloat and takes up a lot of the phone’s limited RAM. It’s definitely better than it used to be, but its presence only hurt the phone’s performance. Swiping through home screens was only fair. Stutters were pretty common, even without the addition of live wallpapers or 3rd party applications. At that moment I knew that HTC already screwed themselves over. Next on the bucket list is the application drawer… Haven’t clicked it in a minute? Great. Next time you try to go there, be prepared for a two second delay before you see your applications. It’s not a huge delay, but when you’re paying for a high end smartphone, you expect snappy performance! It only gets worse too. Next on the list is the dreadful loading. Not the loading of applications, that was quick. The loading I’m talking about is something I have never even seen happen before on an Android device. Occasionally when I would quit out of an application with hopes of returning to my home screen, I was actually treated to a darkened background with a large loading symbol in the middle. This lasted a good 15-20 seconds. Not good. It happened time after time again as well.

So we all love the new multi-tasking in Android 4.0, right? I’m sorry again, but prepare yourselves… Part of HTC Sense is a different form of multi-tasking, and odds are you won’t love it. It is very pretty though! For those of you who have used WebOS, it is a card interface much like that, just much less useful! It WILL show your recent apps and let you revisit them. Here’s the bad part though: If you’re using an app like Facebook or Instagram, the app will just reload and you’ll lose whatever progress you have made with it. It’s enormously frustrating, to say the least.

Gaming and other applications all loaded quickly and worked great, just Sense screwed everything else up. I know the phone SHOULD have good performance, and does when not affected by the software. I will rate the two separately and accordingly.

Call Quality, Data Speeds, Speakers, & Battery Life:
Call quality was excellent throughout all testing. AT&T’s network in Los Angeles is pretty well covered. The only dropped calls I had were in very hilly areas. In general though, the One X performs admirably here! (Phew!)

Data Speeds! Yes! Another good area! AT&T’s 4G LTE is very quick and under utilized right now, so now is the time to use a 4G smartphone on their network. My download speeds peaked at 26 and hardly went below 10. Pretty good!

Speakers: Nothing to write home about, but nothing bad either. The speakers don’t pump out too much noise, but for what it is, it’s pretty high quality. It’s the in-ear action that HTC advertises though. Unfortunately they no longer provide Beats in-ear headphones, so you will have to deal with standard audio without them. The only real difference is a bass boost, or at least real difference I could notice. It’s really just a gimmick.

Battery Life: This was actually surprisingly good for a 4G Android device! I had no problems getting through a full day once I finally convinced myself to turn down the brightness. This was with some pretty standard usage, email syncing, web browsing, occasional gaming or video streaming. Don’t be fooled though, like any phone you will not get a days worth of continuous usage. I’d still keep that charger nearby, you’re going to need it when you get home.

Wrap-up:
This phone has SO much potential. I love it in so many ways, believe it or not. The design is impeccable and the performance should be incredible. Actually, scratch that. The performance IS good, under that crappy software. I will safely recommend this phone once it’s easier to unlock and install a stable custom ROM. With HTC Sense running though, I just cannot recommend this to anyone over an SIII, or even the new Atrix HD. HTC ALMOST has a winner. Just for that reason, this phone saddens me.

Overall: 7.4 / 10

Design: 9
Display: 9
Camera: 6.5
Performance: 8
Software: 4 (would be 9 without the crappy skin)
Battery Life: 8