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I (Derrick Chen) had the joy and honor of joining Tom Merritt and Scott Johnson (alongside Andrew Hoover of The Gmen Show) on FourCast. If you missed the episode, check the link below!

FourCast 64: Infinity Is Freaking Huge

Before I’m instantly discounted as an Apple hater, let me preface things by saying that I’ve been a huge fan of my iPod Touch. For a while, I actually used my iPod Touch as my “computer” for my trips to New York. I was rather vocal about my love for my iPod Touch as I used it to check my emails, watch my videos, take notes, and chat online. I used it very much the way the iPad is used now.

I’m 100% sure that if the iPhone had been on Sprint, I would’ve jumped on as an iPhone user. It didn’t and since I enjoyed Sprint (and definitely wanted to avoid AT&T), I never jumped on the Apple bandwagon and eventually ended up with Android with the HTC Evo. I liked my Palm Pre but I’m loving Android, especially as my second-gen iPod Touch continues to outdate itself. I find Android as the antithesis of Apple – openness, customization – I can tweak my phone to work exactly the way I want it. I can change my SMS program so I can get instant popups (which I can answer directly on) whenever I get a text. I can upload movies/videos on any computer via a standard USB. I have one-touch widgets on my homescreen to turn on/off settings such as Bluetooth, brightness, airplane mode, and WiFi (It takes three steps to do that on iOS). You get the picture.

So why would I want to consider iOS again? For me, it’s mostly games and the third-party app support. Sure, I got Angry Birds for free on Android, but I’m still waiting on a dozen other games that have yet to be ported. I’m still amazed on how I can get a solid version of Super Street Fighter 4 on my iPod Touch. I find myself turning to my iPod all the time, playing a quick game of Civ, SF4, SimCity, Madden, Solitare, or UNO. New games come in all the time and I have no qualms spending money buying them. There’s no doubt that when it comes to gaming, Apple blows Android out of the water. I’m also a big fan of the multimedia support as well – the iPod interface is great. It’s easy to use. I’m one of those guys who actually goes through the pain of labeling everything track allowing me to find music through genre, artist, album, or any other field – iTunes and iPod allows me to navigate without issue. For some reason the tags get jumbled up on Android. While Android’s got basic functionality covered, when it comes to entertainment (which makes up a huge portion of my time), Apple takes the cake.

Sounds easy enough then. So what’s the problem? Well the one thing that’s becoming an increasingly big concern is the way Apple screws its own consumers (quite literally in one case). Yeah, the Genius Bar and customer support is great and on a day-to-day basis, Apple seems to be there for its users, but when I take a step back and look its overall policies, there’s a very different picture. Led by Steve Jobs, Apple built this whole “I’m better than you” culture. It’s certainly a feeling I get from many of their most “passionate” of fans. And yet, it’s that same attitude that’s thrown right back at them when Steve Jobs tells iPhone 4 owners that they’re holding the phone wrong. Rather than address the issue at hand, Apple shifts the blame over. We’ve seen it with the iPad lock/mute switch controversy (finally addressed in iOS 4.3 with Apple returning the option to users) as well. The latest story comes from the “screws” that Apple secretly replaces with proprietary ones, which only Apple can unscrew. It’s a blow for consumers who may want the option of getting their devices fixed at a third party vendor.

Ultimately, that’s the problem for me; Apple believes that they know best, over their consumers. They remove options whenever possible and lock users to a pricey, highly controlled path of forced upgrade and proprietary items. During CES this year, some of my iPhone friends had to carry giant battery packs to recharge their phones. All I had to do was swap the battery – an idea that Apple is looking to remove in nearly all their products. While I can transfer files via any USB cable on any computer with my phone, Apple products require you use their cable on one specific computer (when it comes to syncing or upgrading). As much as some may argue about Android fragmentation, Apple’s iOS 4.0 “upgrade” made my iPod Touch so difficult (and buggy) to use that I made sure my parents iPhone 3G was not upgraded. Apple hasn’t done too much to support older-gen devices; you’re moreorless forced to upgrade. So where is this Apple love so many people talk about?

And so I’m stuck with the decision, should I get the new iPad (2) when it comes out, supposedly in Q2? I’m sure the iPad 2 will be an amazing experience; the things Apple does, they tend to do well. It’ll continue to receive the full support of third party developers with plenty of games, apps, and programs to choose from. I’ve already invested so much in iOS as well. It’s a very tempting proposition. But as I start thinking about the lack of widgets, the dated app-only menu/UI, the lack of customization, and most importantly, the questionable care from Apple, I’m taken aback to be 50/50 in my decision. Then again, it’s still a long ways to April; who knows what stories tomorrow will bring.

It’s official. Earlier this week, Nintendo announced that their new 3DS portable system will release on March 27 (US) for $249.

The successor to the highly popular Nintendo DS (and subsequent iterations), the Nintendo 3DS boasts their glasses-free 3D capabilities. How does it work? Long story short, with a smaller screen, the 3DS is able produce a 3D autostereoscopy effect. Since you’re most likely playing head-on, viewing angle isn’t as much of an issue and you don’t really have to worry about multiple people looking at the screen (as you would with TV). The 3D effect is option, however, as the system includes a slider to adjust the 3D effect.

Aside from 3D, the 3DS also offers several improvements including an analog stick, expandable SD storage, an accelerometer, and gyroscope. The menu system has been revamped, allowing for multitasking (switching out of games to apps) and easy access to the various programs in the system. There’s a 3D camera that allows you to take 3D pictures. Nintendo has also signed a deal with several studios to offer 3D movies.

A strong lineup of titles have been announced including Super Street Fighter 4, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries, Madden NFL 3DS, and the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. While we do see a few original games including Kid Icarus: Uprising, several titles are 3D adaptations of pre-existing games.

Source: Nintendo

The 3DS doesn’t come in cheap. It’s the most expensive Nintendo portable console thus far. The original Game Boy ($80) adjusted for inflation would still come in at around $158 according to Kotaku. Games are ranging in the $30-$40 range as evidenced by early listings on Gamestop and Amazon. While there are a some pre-loaded apps and offerings of cheaper games via Virtual Console, it’s still a hefty price tag. The Wii amd 4GB XBOX 360 cost less.

To add to the bad news, the 3DS will be region-locked. While most users won’t feel a difference, it’s a disappointment for fans of Japanese games and imports. Another big disappointment is its battery life. The initial DS listed 6-10 hours battery life (with the subsequent iterations all ranging from 9-19 hours), the 3DS is only expected to have 3-5 hours for 3D games, 5-8 for standard games. It’s definitely limits the portability of the system.

The 3DS is expected to sell well. Still, there seems to be enough limitations and concerns for me to hold off, maybe even ’til the first revamp of the system (which is expected in about 2 years given Nintendo’s track pattern). Between expensive games (many of which I already own), the iffiness about 3D (having tried it, I found it  fun but am hesitant about spending long times with it), and the short battery life, Nintendo will need to really show the value in the 3DS before I invest my dollars.

Source: CNET provided by Henry "Tapchus" Chu

Andrew Hoover and Aric Mellot of the Gmen Show share their thoughts on the Consumer Electronics Show. What were the hits and what were the misses? Tune in and find out!

Don’t forget to subscribe to us on iTunes with the link below and follow us on Twitter (Derrick at @derrickc82, Iyaz at @iyaz, Andrew at @Frontline99, and Aric at @PhatEmoKid). Leave a comment and check out the links to the show on the blog post.

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Show Links
CES 2011 Highlights: http://www.dxstuff.com/2011/01/10/ces11-highlights/

App of the Week
Google Translate (Android): http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-look-for-google-translate-for.html

Google Translate for Android

Google wasn’t officially at the show, but it still stole it. From the booths to the halls to the devices attendees were using, Google made its presence known.

Google's Android Honeycomb OS on the Motorola Xoom

2011 is dubbed the year of the tablets and CES 2011 was a clear reflection of that. Tablets of all shapes and sizes were found throughout the show. Yet aside from the Blackberry Playbook and the occassional Windows 7 slates, nearly all the tablets found on the show floor were running Android. In fact, CNET’s Best of CES Award went to the Motorola Xoom, the first tablet to run Android 3.0 (dubbed “Honeycomb”). Yet, the award seemed less about the actual hardware (from Motorola) than the operating itself. While previous iterations of Android have been made for smartphones, this new version is specifically for tablet devices. It certainly wowed the audience, making it a top pick among most tech and news organizations and a seriously contender against the Apple iPad.

Smartphones made a strong showing at CES as well. Yet, aside from the Windows Phone 7 phones at the Microsoft booth, most phones shown, whether by LG, Samsung, or Motorola were all running Google’s Android operating system. Again, one of the favorites of the show was the the Motorola Atrix, an Android smartphone that had the ability to dock into a laptop/desktop. It was this versatility that Android provided that set it apart from other leading smartphone operating systems, such as iOS. Even a quick poll of the showroom floor reflected a high share of Android smartphones (used by attendees) – a stark contrast from even a year ago.

Google even permeated into the television market, despite rumors of Google asking manufacturers to hold back on displaying Google TV. Sony, Logitech, and Vizio showed new lines of TV sets that would integrate with Google, whether it be with Google TV or a form of Android. YouTube, which is owned by Google, has become a staple item for widgets and apps in these new “Smart TVs” that were featured as well this year.

It’s clear that Google is looking to move further into the household, beyond the computer. Yet, Google operates very differently than traditional companies like Samsung, Sony, or Microsoft. Google is not a hardware manufacturer nor does it limit itself by a product line. Instead Google integrates themselves into the daily habits of each person, at home, at work, and in between through its software and services. As it continues to collect data, learning from the various behaviors and actions each person exhibits, it grows in its ability to spread even further into our lifestyle habits. What started as a search engine has already become an entertainment system (Google TV), translator of both different languages and voice-to-text (Google Translate, Google Voice), GPS (Google Navigate), and a guide for your next meal (Google Places, Google Maps). Who knows, maybe next year we’ll see Google spread to the rest of CES with Google refrigerators and Google-integrated cars.

At last: The iPhone comes to Verizon. We’ve heard rumors about it for years. It’s the only story with as many articles written about it as the Apple tablet. And now, it’s reality. So, do we still care?

The iPhone debuted on AT&T in July of 2007 and quickly and easily rose to unquestionable dominance. 2010 saw iOS forced to share its podium with the Android platform after Google’s ‘little OS that could’ had a stellar year. That stellar year was brought on almost single handedly by Verizon’s onslaught of Android devices and huge ad campaign that accompanied it. Talk to a non-techy person about phones -most of them don’t even know it’s called ‘ANdroid’. And how could you blame them? No other Wireless carrier has even approached Verizon’s level of Android marketing.

So why do we still care? Why does Verizon still care? They’ve managed to maintain a huge chunk of the wireless market without Apple’s ‘Jesus phone’. They will be more than willing to welcome AT&T users over to their much larger coverage area. They have the three major components in spades: The Best Network, A Great Selection of Android Phones and at long last the iPhone.

What does AT&T do now? I’d recommend they pray. But in more practical options, build out their Android options. Visual voicemail for fandroids would be nice. Also, push the hell out of Windows Phone 7. They and Microsoft have declared themselves premiere partners in this venture. It’s the one thing they have over Verizon at this point and they need to take advantage of that while it’s still the case. I believe WP7 has a strong future ahead of it and the 2 companies handle it properly AT&T can avoid a catastrophic loss of market share and Microsoft can grab a comfortable chunk of the mobile market.

I don’t think that we’re going to see AT&T iPhone users flock to VZW in droves. Many of us are hoping that the decreased strain on the network will help the situation. Only time will tell. I think there will a lot of people who walk into Verizon stores intending to buy an iPhone and walk out with one of VZW’s impressive Droid line up.
One thing’s for sure: with so much hype and anticipation surrounding this event, there will be no shortage of coverage along the way.

So there you go, iPhone’s officially coming to the Verizon network. Everyone rejoice because whether you’re an Apple lover or hater, it’s good news for everyone. The mass exodus from AT&T to Verizon will lighten the load off of AT&T’s strained network drastically improving service for existing consumers. With the death of exclusivity, competition should kick in, forcing service providers to offer better services and prices.

So if you’re a dissatisfied iPhone AT&T user or one that’s been holding out for the Verizon iPhone, the question is, is it worth getting when it releases 2/10? Well, ultimately it’s going to vary per person, but here’s a few things to consider before you make any drastic decisions.

2 – The Next iPhone: Apple tends to follow strict product cycles and timelines. The next iPhone iteration is slated for June of this year, about four months away from the release of the Verizon iPhone. While the iPhone 4 is a great phone, you might have an “outdated” product in only a few months time. If you’re all about getting the newest thing, it’s another reason to hold off.

3 – Network support: Verizon made some pretty bold moves, offering WiFi hotspot, which allows you to connect up to five devices. So not only will Verizon have to handle a flood of new iPhones on their network, these phones may be supporting several other devices piggybacking on their data network. In the meantime, AT&T’s service is expected to improve as users move to Verizon. Also, with AT&T’s exclusitivity agreement gone, there’s a chance that the iPhone may land on other networks, including Sprint and T-Mobile.

4 – CDMA: Since it’s on CDMA, it won’t be able to handle phone calls and data use at the same time. If you’re expecting to look up info or use data while calling, you’ll have to stick with AT&T. The device won’t be able to roam outside the U.S., where most other countries use GSM. The phone won’t be using Verizon’s 4G network, LTE either. While LTE is still limited to major cities, several phones have already announced that they will be working off the newer and faster network.

5 – Other Options: The iPhone is a fine phone with the largest app marketplace and support from third party developers. It’s incredibly easy to use and does everything it’s supposed to do extremely well. However, since the iPhone, there have been a fair amount of other phones that should be considered when shopping for a new smartphone. Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone 7 offer different designs, options, and capabilities that can trump the iPhone depending on the type of user you are. Especially in the heels of CES, it may be good to take another glance at the market before jumping to the iPhone.

The iPhone 4 for Verizon releases February 10th. Current Verizon customers can pre-order on February 3rd. It’s $199 for 16GB and $299 for 32GB but there hasn’t been any official word on plan pricing. Still you can expect many happy people a month from now.

One of the most popular games of 2010 made appearances across CES, including a non-digital board game.

Angry Birds on an oversized phone

Angry Birds on Atrix

Angry Birds Booth

Plush Angry Bird

Angry Birds: The Board Game

CES 2011 had plenty of tablets, TVs, and phones; but what were some of the showstoppers? Below are some of the top picks of this year’s CES.

Motorola Atrix 4G

What makes this smartphone unique is its ability to dock into a lightweight laptop/desktop computer. Once docked, a desktop UI interface loads while being powered solely by the phone. The phone itself is gorgeous as well with a 960×540 display as it ran on Froyo. No release date was announced though the phone will be supported on AT&T.

Motorola Atrix

Laptop Docked Atrix

Desktop Atrix

Angry Birds on Atrix

Razer Switchblade

As gaming has shifted to portable devices, hardcore PC gamers still find themselves locked down by high spec requirements and heavy gaming units. Razer’s new concept not only brings PC gaming into a light and portable device, the keyboard, somewhat reminiscent of the Optimus keyboard, shifts the key-specific LCD displays accordingly to the game (or program).

Razer Switchblade gets WoW'ed

Razer Switchblade

RIM Blackberry Playbook

The makers behind the popular Blackberry franchise came out in full force with the Playbook. While much smaller than the iPad, the Playbook still packs quite the punch. Not only did it handle multitasking smoothly (running video, webpages, gaming without a pause), the UI was easy to use.

Blackberry Playbook

Qi Wireless Charging

Fulton Innovation showed a wide range of practical applications for wireless charging. From recharging (Tesla) electric cars to heating soups to cereals and toys animated on store shelves, this new technology may bring about change from your desk to the store.

Tesla getting charged from mat below

Inductive Wireless Charging

Wireless Soup Heating

Box-front Integration

Motorola Xoom

CNET’s Best of CES 2011 went to the Motorola Xoom. The first tablet to use Android’s 3.0 Honeycomb. Honeycomb is made specifically for the tablet experience. Though limited to pre-recorded video, Motorola showcased their tablet, highlighting revised interfaces for Google Books, YouTube, and browsing.

Motorola Xoom

LG Glasses-free TV

3-D continued to reign supreme on the floors of CES. With the consumer backlash against the need for glasses, several companies revealed glasses-free technology. While these new TVs were still limited around three ideal viewing apots, it’s at least a small step in the right direction.

Glasses-Free TV

What’s so special about mobile photo sharing apps? Seriously, I’m asking. Eric Schonfeld listed mobile photo sharing apps as one of his “Seven Technologies That Will Rock 2011”. For the last 3 months on twitter: If a pic came from an iPhone, it had some hipster, faux 1960’s Kodachrome effect on it. I’ll admit it was kinda cool. …for about 15 minutes. It’s only art once, then it’s just how it is. Like how every girl buys a poster of Van Gogh’s Starry Night for her dorm room freshman year.

These apps have been popping up everywhere lately. Take Path, for instance. The hook for Path is that you can only share your photos with up to 50 people. Novel? Yes, but I can’t help but feel like there is something very high school-y about the whole deal. ‘Sorry, these pics of ironic occurrences are for my mustachioed friends in sweater vests and skinny jeans. Go look at 10MP, crystal clear photos on flickr with all the commoners’. Maybe it’s just the guttural reaction of a tragically uncool (and not in a loveable Hollywood loser type of way) band geek hating on the popular guy he never had a conversation with, but because he plays football and has a pretty girlfriend so he figures he must be a jerk, right? Well, maybe. I’ve found the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle.

Low-value added applications that challenge more established services typically burn up hot and fast. Look at Rockmelt, the newest attempt at an integrated social browser. It blew up in October with coverage on every major tech news site. I had to fend off hundreds of ferocious tech geeks for an early beta invite. I didn’t hear a word about it after that first week. Wanna take a guess how many are still using it? I’d wager not many.

Path is certainly not alone. One of my favorite Tech Crunch writers, Alexia Tsotsis, described newcomer Instagram, as “killing it” this past Halloween, which it did, nearly doubling its daily traffic. With such a glowing endorsement I figured this must be a breakthrough new twitter app. I immediately downloaded it onto my 3G turned iPod touch and couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss was about.

I’m still waiting. Instagram is a 3rd party photo sharing service, just like twitpic or yFrog, but with an added feature that allows you to add one of a handful of aging effects to your post. You do have the option to leave it as-is with no filter, although I’m not sure anyone else has ever noticed that. Don’t get me wrong, Instagram does what it does well. One of the few iPhone apps I ever paid for was Hipstamtic. I spent a lot of time trying to find the right mix of layers to create the effects Instagram does with one press. Job well done there. What Instagram doesn’t do is integrate with twitter. In order to post an Instagram photo you need to use their app. Not a huge problem, but it’s one more thing. In addition, the twitter posting feature is very basic, so no link shortening or looking up complicated twitter names. When you want to view a picture on Instagram you have to leave your app and open it in the browser. I don’t want another service to sign up for, I don’t need another password to remember or a profile to manage. I don’t need another social network. Especially not when I have full twitter apps that provide 90% of Instagram’s functionality built right in.

Since I went back to my 3G I’ve been trying to give Instagram another shot. I keep trying to remember to use it, but my brain just defaults to my Echofon or Twitter apps. That tells me I probably just don’t need something like this. What it does tell me is that the current photo sharing services need to get off their butts and make with the new features.

Instagram and Path specifically are in the early stages of development and have a lot of growing up to do. Right now it’s difficult for me to see these services surviving long if they remain free-standing applications. Their only differentiating features are easily duplicated by more established services and if those services have any brains they’ll get on that quick.

What do you think? Are you an Instagram faithful? A Path devotee? Tell me why I’m wrong. Point out what I’ve missed. Is there something deeper in these apps that makes them desirable to average users? Let me know in the comments or email me at thegmenshow@gmail.com or @thegmenshow.