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Aaron’s First Impressions: Samsung Captivate...

When it comes to the Android revolution, AT&T seems to have been left behind.  While the others were picking up superphones like the DROID Incredible, EVO 4G, and DROID X, Android enthusiasts on AT&T were forced to choose between the Motorola Backflip and the HTC Aria.  The HTC Aria is an excellent device and fits the bill for many, but it’s solidly entrenched in the mid-range market.

Enter the Samsung Captivate, AT&T’s first superphone, and the carrier’s third Android device.  Announced along with the other Galaxy S devices, the Captivate shares similar features as the Vibrant: 1 GHz processor, 4-inch “Super AMOLED” display, 16 GB of internal storage, and a 5.0-megapixel camera.  That being said, Samsung did a great job of making each model unique; while the Galaxy S line will eventually grace every US carrier, no device is exactly the same.

My first impressions of the Captivate are very positive.  The device is thin and light, like the rest of the Galaxy S series.  The overall design of the Captivate deviates pretty significantly from the original Galaxy S line – the device is tapered off at the top and bottom, and the battery door is metal.  As I’ve said before, my initial reaction to the design was somewhat negative, especially after handling metal and glass-encased devices like the Nexus One and iPhone.  After a few days of use, however, I was incredibly pleased with the build quality of the Galaxy S series.  Yes, they’re light and made of plastic (save for the battery door on the Captivate), but when holding the device there’s no give or creaking whatsoever.  It’s solid, but feels great in the pocket.

In typical AT&T fashion, side-loading applications to the device is blocked, so you’ll have to resort to the Android Market for your applications.  I’ve never felt the need to side-load applications, and I don’t see it as a negative for the average consumer.  But for Android enthusiasts, you may be swayed to non-AT&T branded device like the Nexus One.  Beyond that, you’ll find the typical AT&T software installed: AT&T FamilyMap, AT&T Hot Spots, AT&T Maps, AT&T Music, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Radio, Instant Messaging, and YPmobile.

I’ve spent the last 24 hours testing the device in the Charlotte metro area, and call quality has been strong across the board.  Signal strength tends to fluctuate regularly when idle (it’s jumping between three and five bars as I type), but call quality has been consistent.  The earpiece is as loud as the one on the Vibrant, and the speakerphone works well, with minimal distortion.  Data speeds have been mostly pleasant; in the most recent test (using the SpeedTest app), I obtained a download speed of 3,062 kbps and an upload speed of 372 kbps.  Sadly, my Captivate is still suffering from the GPS issue that’s plaguing select Vibrant and Captivate models.  The Vibrant’s GPS sprung to life the night before my video review, but I haven’t had the same luck with the Captivate.

Out of the four Samsung Galaxy S models, the Captivate is my favorite in the design department.  It’s fast, offers a beautiful display, and is easy to carry on a day-to-day basis.  It strikes a nice balance between the 3.7-inch devices like the DROID Incredible, and the 4.3-inch behemoths like the DROID X.  It’s available now for $199.99 after mail-in rebate and two-year agreement.

I love finding the minuscule differences between the Galaxy S models, and to that end, here’s what I’ve come across that differs from the Vibrant:

• Signal strength indicator has five bars instead of four.
• Notifications bar is a different shade of grey, and font color inside of it is white.
• Notifications in the bar aren’t “bubbled in” like the Vibrant.
• From what I can tell, you can add and remove home screens, but you can’t move them around like you can on the Vibrant.
• Only one font pre-installed (“standard font”).
• Out of the box, “Email” and “Browser” in the dock instead of “Contacts” and “Messaging.”

Stay tuned for the full review!

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Samsung Vibrant (T-Mobile) Review Pt. 2

Aaron reviews the Samsung Vibrant, the first Galaxy S device to launch in the United States.  1 GHz processor, 16 GB of storage, 4-inch Super AMOLED display, and Avatar!  Part 2 of 2.

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Samsung Vibrant (T-Mobile) Review Pt. 1

Aaron reviews the Samsung Vibrant, the first Galaxy S device to launch in the United States.  1 GHz processor, 16 GB of storage, 4-inch Super AMOLED display, and Avatar!  Part 1 of 2.

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Verizon users, not iPhones, consume the most mobil...

Is it a common belief in the tech world that when it comes to mobile data usage, iPhone users are king.  However, a recent report from Validas has proven that that’s simply not the case.  After analyzing 20,000 bills of wireless customers between January and May 2010, Validas found that Verizon users consumed 421 MB per month on average, compared to the 338 MB average of AT&T iPhone users.  Keep in mind that Verizon’s number doesn’t include data used by BlackBerry devices, which Validas excluded due to the way they compress data and the fact that they ”do not follow similar data consumption patterns to those of iPhones and other Smartphones.”

When it comes to heavier data users, Verizon also came out on top.  About 11 percent of Big Red customers use between 500 MB and 1 GB of data per month, compared to 5.6 percent of iPhone users that consume a similar amount.  Finally, the report found that although many people complained about AT&T’s new 2 GB data plan, only 1.6 percent of iPhone owners actually use that much data, compared to 4 percent of Verizon customers.

Another interesting statistic included in the Validas report is that the total number of smartphone owners in the U.S. that are signed up for a data package grew to 53 percent, up from 42 percent one year ago.  This news isn’t terribly surprising considering the rising popularity in devices like the iPhone and the DROID line of devices on Verizon.  More people than ever are switching to smartphones as they become cheaper and easier to use than ever before.  So, how many of you out there have a smartphone?  How much data do you use per month?

Via Ars Technica

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Apple: Jailbreaking may be legal, but it still voi...

Earlier today, the news broke that the Library of Congress had declared jailbreaking/rooting your mobile phone legal.  Afterward, everyone was wondering how Apple would react to the news.  Wait no longer, dear reader, as Cult of Mac has spoken with Apple PR about the issue.  Apple’s response?

“Apple’s goal has always been to insure that our customers have a great experience with their iPhone and we know that jailbreaking can severely degrade the experience. As we’ve said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably.”

Not surprising, but it’s still good to hear straight from Apple on the situation.  When asked if they would sue companies that publicly distribute jailbreak tools, Apple PR would only say that they haven’t sued anyone in the past.  So if you were planning on opening up your own jailbreak business, I’d hold off on those plans for the time being. 

Via Cult of Mac

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