Galaxy Nexus and RAZR aren't it, is the HTC Rezound?

[DisgruntledVirus]

So I was pumped for the Galaxy Nexus/ICS launch and thinking I would get that. Then the specs started to come out and it seemed kind of weak. Even the people in the Nexus/ICS thread who are going to buy one have even said, "yeah I want it, even if it's last years hardware." That doesn't really make me want to go get that phone even if it has ICS. Not to mention the question of if VZW will have it for sure, and if so if it's locked down.

Then there is the RAZR. It's looking to be a very sexy phone, although the design might not be ideal (apparently it's edges are kind of pointy, and we all know how AT thinks pointy things aren't sexy). However the largest issue is that is confirmed locked down, which I'm assuming is going to mean an encrypted bootloader.

So, the Nexus has the ICS and moddability (most likely) while the RAZR has the hardware and is a "sexier" phone. But neither have exactly what I think myself, and others, really wanted. Is the HTC Vigor/Rezound rumored out on same date as RAZR/Nexus going to be it?

A render of the HTC Rezound has just been revealed on an online store due to some of the device’s cases going up for pre-order. Just like the Sensation XE, the Rezound will also have red-glowing soft keys on the bottom of the device.

Specs wise, the HTC Rezound spots a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch screen, 1 GB of RAM, support for Verizon’s LTE Network, and a 8 megapixel camera in the rear. This device will also feature Beats Audio built-in.

The Rezound is rumored to be available November 10th for $299 on contract. We will keep you updated on the status of the HTC Rezound.

http://www.unwiredview.com/2011/10/21/htc-rezound-render-revealed-online/

 

[Red Storm]

I'm going with the Nexus because now that ICS has been shown/announced, I do not want to get a phone with hardware buttons that essentially become redundant/useless when updated to ICS. That could have been extra screen space (especially as I like to watch videos on my phones).

Between the Rezoud and the RAZR, I would take the RAZR because HTC is notorious for bad battery life.

 

[Dominato3r]

Are those Beats things actually good? They just look like a fad...

 

[poofyhairguy]

The RAZR also has "last year's hardware" as far as the GPU is concerned- it is the same as the Nexus.

And honestly I think "last year's GPU" when given the same resolution should beat the best Qualcomm (and therefore HTC) has to offer. Qualcomm's SOCs are terrible this year.

 

[s44]

Why does every HTC phone still look the same?

Are those Beats things actually good? They just look like a fad...

no

 

[alent1234]

Why does every HTC phone still look the same?


no

because they are. this is the new sensation xl or whatever that hit t-mo a few weeks back. HTC just played with the radio chips a little to get LTE in there

 

[shortylickens]

Why does every HTC phone still look the same?

Would you actually buy this?

Then quit crying about unoriginal cell phones.
Manufacturers make money, not art.

 

[Oyeve]

Why does every HTC phone still look the same?


no

Cuz they are afraid apple will sue.

 

[Anubis]

Why does every HTC phone still look the same?

id guess because most people dont really care what their phone looks like

 

[alent1234]

that's why HTC and apple are raking in the cash and motorola needed to be bought out. take a design and reuse it over and over again. compared to having every phone be a major project

 

[yh125d]

Most importantly, its buttons are in the right order

 

[runawayprisoner]

I think the problem with Android is that as soon as a new phone comes out, the older one becomes obsolete or at least it feels weak, laggy, not smooth, unresponsive, ugly, and all those kinds of things. I mean... regardless if it's "last-year hardware" or not, the Nexus and RAZR run dual-core chips, right? And they would run ICS as well. "Last-year hardware" don't have dual-core, or ICS.

In contrast, just look at the iOS camp. Even though the iPhone 4S has come out, the iPhone 4 doesn't feel old or weak.

 

[obidamnkenobi]

It has Sense; so no. Moto has Blur, so no. See where this is going?

 

[the DRIZZLE]

I think the problem with Android is that as soon as a new phone comes out, the older one becomes obsolete or at least it feels weak, laggy, not smooth, unresponsive, ugly, and all those kinds of things. I mean... regardless if it's "last-year hardware" or not, the Nexus and RAZR run dual-core chips, right? And they would run ICS as well. "Last-year hardware" don't have dual-core, or ICS.

In contrast, just look at the iOS camp. Even though the iPhone 4S has come out, the iPhone 4 doesn't feel old or weak.

Yeah Google and the hardware makers should really stop making Android better.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I think the problem with Android is that as soon as a new phone comes out, the older one becomes obsolete or at least it feels weak, laggy, not smooth, unresponsive, ugly, and all those kinds of things. I mean... regardless if it's "last-year hardware" or not, the Nexus and RAZR run dual-core chips, right? And they would run ICS as well. "Last-year hardware" don't have dual-core, or ICS.

In contrast, just look at the iOS camp. Even though the iPhone 4S has come out, the iPhone 4 doesn't feel old or weak.

RAZRs biggest issue IMO is the encrypted bootloader. It won't have ICS until March timeframe provided it's not delayed beyond that.

The Nexus issue is that it's last years hardware which could result in poor performance as the phone ages and more crap gets on it even if it's smooth now.

Also dual core phones started hitting the market right around the end of 2010 and first few months of 2011. They were announced more of late last year, so I should have said "last gen hardware." None the less, it's not current tech. Would you go buy a Sandy Bridge proc or the last generation proc if they were both on the market right now and roughly equal in price?

 

[Munky]

Does it come unlocked, and supporting penta-band HSPA? If not, I'm not interested.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

So basically, the Rezound is a Sensation 4G with 1GB of RAM instead of 768MB and the CPU isn't undeclocked.
The Sensation has the dual core 1.5GHz chip, thye just clocked it down to 1.2GHz to save on battery life.

 

[foghorn67]

Sounds like another HTC battery eater.

 

[Zaap]

It's looking to be a very sexy phone, although the design might not be ideal (apparently it's edges are kind of pointy, and we all know how AT thinks pointy things aren't sexy).

I'm befuddled by this. I don't get this trend to make everything 'roundy-round'. To me, it makes tech devices look more childish, cheaper, already dated... definitely not sexier.

I like at my DroidX- the (external) design was nearly perfect. The very edges are minimally rounded just enough to serve a purpose- not snagging in a pocket, but not enough to actually 'childify' the look of the phone.

The DX2 aside, I'd love it if they'd just keep the same body- which in my eyes is virtually perfect, and keep upgrading the innards. An edge-to edge screen in the same body would be the ultimate smartphone IMHO.

The Galaxy S2 gets it right too.

Yeah, I know it's all cosmetic and shouldn't really matter, but it seems the roundy-round stuff is bulkier and more plasticy than it needs to be as well.

I may end up with a Prime or something eventually- just I'll be looking at it for however long I'm stuck with it, wishing it didn't have quite as much of the roundy-round 'cutesy' childish/dated look to it.

Honestly, is there anyone that thinks the Prime isn't 'ever-so-slightly' like something your kid sister would use, vs. the sleek awesomeness of the would-be GT-i9250? And all it is is those silly, useless roundy-round edges.

Now THIS would have been near-perfection.

 

[nipplefish]

no

Thank you. I've been looking for some quantitative data as to what exactly "with Beats Audio" meant. I was 99% sure it was just marketing baloney but a small piece of me hoped that it might mean actual audio hardware improvements. Nope

 

[runawayprisoner]

Yeah Google and the hardware makers should really stop making Android better.

Well, hardware does get better, yes, but software doesn't seem to make older hardware any better.

It's like Android gets better only with hardware, and that's something I don't like.

...Also dual core phones started hitting the market right around the end of 2010 and first few months of 2011. They were announced more of late last year, so I should have said "last gen hardware." None the less, it's not current tech. Would you go buy a Sandy Bridge proc or the last generation proc if they were both on the market right now and roughly equal in price?

Well, but what's the current-gen hardware if this is the last? I'm not seeing anything beyond dual-core phones, unless... I'm not looking at the right device?

Also there is only Sandy Bridge now, so I'd obviously have only Sandy Bridge to choose from. When the next generation comes out, which doesn't look like today or next week, current-gen tech would drop in price, so I may still choose Sandy Bridge.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Well, but what's the current-gen hardware if this is the last? I'm not seeing anything beyond dual-core phones, unless... I'm not looking at the right device?

Also there is only Sandy Bridge now, so I'd obviously have only Sandy Bridge to choose from. When the next generation comes out, which doesn't look like today or next week, current-gen tech would drop in price, so I may still choose Sandy Bridge.

Check out the Nexus/ICS thread for that answer. The Nexus has the "last gen" GPU in it when there is a more current one out there. The CPU isn't anything above what phones were released with 6-9 months ago. In the mobile world things move fast, and there is new cpu/gpu every 6-9 months (or new architecture at least).

I realize there is only SB now, however my question was stated the way it was for a reason. If you have the last generation tech and current generation tech, are building a "reference" style phone like the Nexus, dropping a new platform on it (ICS), and have some minor price differences between the last gen tech and newest tech... which would you choose?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I'm befuddled by this. I don't get this trend to make everything 'roundy-round'. To me, it makes tech devices look more childish, cheaper, already dated... definitely not sexier.

I like at my DroidX- the (external) design was nearly perfect. The very edges are minimally rounded just enough to serve a purpose- not snagging in a pocket, but not enough to actually 'childify' the look of the phone.

The DX2 aside, I'd love it if they'd just keep the same body- which in my eyes is virtually perfect, and keep upgrading the innards. An edge-to edge screen in the same body would be the ultimate smartphone IMHO.

The Galaxy S2 gets it right too.

Yeah, I know it's all cosmetic and shouldn't really matter, but it seems the roundy-round stuff is bulkier and more plasticy than it needs to be as well.

I may end up with a Prime or something eventually- just I'll be looking at it for however long I'm stuck with it, wishing it didn't have quite as much of the roundy-round 'cutesy' childish/dated look to it.

Honestly, is there anyone that thinks the Prime isn't 'ever-so-slightly' like something your kid sister would use, vs. the sleek awesomeness of the would-be GT-i9250? And all it is is those silly, useless roundy-round edges.

Now THIS would have been near-perfection.

I don't want a rounded phone in the way of a cute bubbly phone. But the RAZR was stated in a review (Endgaget perhaps) that the sharp edges of it made it uncomfortable to hold. I.e. it has 90 degree angles instead of rounded/beveled edges which would make it more comfortable to hold.

 

[Bateluer]

So I was pumped for the Galaxy Nexus/ICS launch and thinking I would get that. Then the specs started to come out and it seemed kind of weak. Even the people in the Nexus/ICS thread who are going to buy one have even said, "yeah I want it, even if it's last years hardware." That doesn't really make me want to go get that phone even if it has ICS. Not to mention the question of if VZW will have it for sure, and if so if it's locked down.

A Nexus device will not be locked down, regardless of carrier. The Galaxy Nexus has been in enough hands for testing that this is a certainty. Second, its also shown up in every Verizon inventory system on the planet.

Edit - Also, confirmed that Verizon is getting the Gnex.

http://thisismynext.com/2011/10/21/galaxy-nexus-coming-verizon-this-year/

 

[Mopetar]

Why does every HTC phone still look the same?

It's cheaper and easier to manufacture phones that share a lot of common parts and design. If the HTC thinga-wazzit flops, they can divert parts to the HTC super-majigger instead of having a bunch of inventory that they can't actually use for anything.