A phone to save us from our phones; Windows 7 mobile to the rescue.
Rumours for White iPhone Release
First Hands-on review of the RIM Playbook EXCLUSIVE The Downfall of Customer Service Battle of the Smartphones OPEN PLATFORM IN HIGH DEF An overview of the HTC Desire HD
The new HTC Surround 7
Y U
EDITOR/ PUBLISHER Brandon Sullivan
Putting diversity in a smartphone themed magazine was a bit of a challenge. Mainly because the only hands-on experience I have with a smartphone is with my BlackBerry Bold 9700. I have never owned an iPhone, Android or Windows phone, but managed to gather enough information based on the knowledge of others and thorough reasearch on each platform. In my own experience my Bold has done the job well. Aside from the daily hard restart and occasional screen freeze I have no complaints. Based on my extensive study without biased opinion I would have to say my next smartphone will be an iPhone. The easy interface and fast processor of an iPhone are the most appealing features out of all the contendors. Not to mention the universal usability of the phone. Don’t get me wrong, it will be tough to part with my BlackBerry. Features like BlackBerry Messenger make it worth it, but with new universal alternatives such as LiveProfile it makes BBM a little redundant. Without further ado, enjoy our debut, and while reading on through, leave feedback. Please do. - Brandon
Time to discover. EDITOR/PUBLISHER Brandon Sullivan EDITOR/CEO Brandon Sullivan GENERAL MANAGER Brandon Sullivan VICE-PRESIDENT, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brandon Sullivan SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Brandon Sullivan SENIOR ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Brandon Sullivan ONLINE EDITOR Brandon Sullivan ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Brandon Sullivan EDITOR Brandon Sullivan SENIOR WRITER Brandon Sullivan ART DIRECTOR PHOTOGRAPHER Brandon Sullivan GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGNER Brandon Sullivan PHOTO COORDINATOR Brandon Sullivan PHOTOGRAPHER Brandon Sullivan CONTRIBUTORS Liu Shinan, Devra Davis, Ph.D, Christina Bonnington, Bob Sullivan, Martin DesRosiers, Vlad Savov, Kyle VanHemert, Kevin C. Tofel, Mike Isaac COPY EDITING/PROOFREADING Brandon Sullivan
At the end of the road less traveled, a new adventure in learning awaits at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
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APRIL 2011
BEST OF THE BEST Android, Blackberry and iPhone are put to the test. It’s anyones game.
TRAVELING LIGHT
Going on a trip? Leave the extra baggage at home and take your phone.
22 16
DEFECTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE
06
HACKIN’ IT UP
14
CIVIL CELL USERS 20 DESIRABLE DEVICE 28 5 CLAIMS ABOUT IPHONE 5 (AND HOW THEY CAN’T BE TRUE) 34 DISASTER APPS 38 CELL PHONE ETIQUETTE 40 PLAYING CATCH UP 42 PLAYFUL TABLET 46
30 08
FOUR TIME CHAMP
iPhone 4 still on top of its game.
SHORT CIRCUITS We explore the age old question on cell radiation side effects.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 7
DEFECTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE
Article by Liu Shinan China Daily
I
bought a Motorola mobile phone last week. A few days later I found the sound of the phone was odd, like that of a radio not tuned properly. I went back to the shop and asked for a replacement, backed with the “three warranties policy”, which says that the customer can return a commodity if it is defective within seven days after purchase or ask for a replacement within 15 days. The salesgirl made a few calls with the phone and told me the sound was all right. I was not surprised by her answer but insisted I be given a new phone. Realizing that she had met a tenacious customer, the salesgirl said she could replace it provided I proved that the defect was “not the consequence of improper use”.
I was angered by the answer. How could one do anything to a mobile phone to cause sound distortion? A problem with the sound quality can only be caused by a malfunction of the audio-frequency magnifier in the machine. Obviously the
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 8
defect could not have been caused by my “improper use”. What’s more, there was no sign of physical damage to the phone. But she insisted: “I’m sorry, sir, it’s our rule. Look at these warranty terms on the back of the invoice where you signed your name.” Yes, I signed under the terms which state that any request for a refund or replacement should be accompanied by a certificate from the producer’s service center. I had no alternative but call at Motorola’s service center. There were a dozen or so customers waiting there. About 15 minutes later, it was my turn. A service woman tried my phone and told me it needs to be tested. The phone was then taken to a backroom. After another 25 minutes, my phone was brought back. The service woman admitted that the defect was caused by a glitch inside the phone. She signed a certificate and told me to go back to the shop to get a new one. At the shop they gave me a new phone “just taken from the
warehouse”. I asked for more units to choose from but was told it was the only one they had in stock. Responding to my doubts, they swore they were telling the truth. “Or you can come a few days later when more phones arrive from the plant,” they said.
I knew I had to accept what I was given, because I could not afford to waste more time on the matter. Though no fault of mine, I had to spend so much time and energy to enforce my rights as a consumer. In other words, I paid for Motorola’s mistake. Should the company compensate me for the time, energy and money (travel fare) I had spent? It should, but I doubt it, nor would any other manufacturer in a similar case.
But I still find I was unjustly treated. My wife said: “Be content with what you have attained. They’ve done their best to replace the substandard phone with a new one.” She may be right. Manufacturers today provide a much better after-sale service than in previous years. Consumers should feel content with the progress. But I still find I was unjustly treated. In the final analysis I had paid the cost for a company to make good a defective product. The final price I paid had been raised in fact. To be honest, I would not go to Motorola asking for compensation. Most other consumers would not either, for they know the time and energy they spend would far exceed the compensation they may get. However, something should be done to counter this unfairness. It was due to some customers’ fight for compensation years ago that led to today’s “three warranties policy” and the law on protection of consumers’ rights. Our legislature and government should take a fresh look at the warranties to make it more amenable to consumers.
Refreshing.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 9
SHORT CIRCUITS Article by Devra Davis, Ph.D., huffingtonpost.com
New studies explore the age old mystery to determine whether cell phone radiation is harmful to its users in the long term.
N
ew studies by the acclaimed chief of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, psychiatrist Nora Volkow show that just 50 minutes of cell phone radiation excites the brain. This important finding strengthens the need for a major research program on cell phones and health, for revamping approaches to setting standards, and for putting
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 10
warning labels on cell phones. Writing in the February 23 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, a team of researchers led by Dr. Volkow, found that cell phone radiation significantly affected brain function and metabolism of glucose -- the brain’s main fuel -- in those parts of the brain that received the most cell phone radiation.
These Findings Raise Serious Health Concerns
Cell Phones May Change More Than Just Glucose
Ronald B. Herberman, M.D., chair of EHT’s Board and a renowned cancer biologist and physician, indicated that this work offers an important clue about the ways that cell phone radiation can alter the brain and also shows why it is appropriate to take special precautions with cell phones today.
Previous work from Prof. Dariusz Leszczynski’s group at the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, published in 2008 in BMC Genomics, involved a human study where punch skin biopsies were taken from the forearm of 10 human volunteers who were exposed for one hour to cell phone radiation. The study revealed that the expression level of eight proteins was changed upon exposure, and two proteins were changed in all volunteers, suggesting that protein expression changes might occur in response to RF exposure.
“This stunning report indicates that even short-term exposure to nerve cells from cell phones can increase glucose in the brain,” said Dr. Herberman. “We know that increased glucose also occurs with infections and other inflammatory processes, and leads to the production of potentially damaging reactive oxygen radicals that can alter the ways that cells and genes work.” According to Lloyd Morgan, Senior Science Advisor to EHT, anything that disrupts the natural metabolism of such critical areas in the brain is worrisome. “The areas of the brain that had increased glucose in the JAMA study are involved in thinking, sensing and decision making, including repression of antisocial behavior,” he explained. Sharing Morgan’s concerns, EHT scientific adviser Richard A. Stein, M.D., Ph.D., said, “As glucose is the sole energy source in the brain under normal dietary conditions, and there is an absolute requirement for glucose during synaptic transmission in the nervous system, the results of the current study emerge as even more significant,” said Dr. Stein. “Of course, we do not know whether the changes in glucose metabolism represent the primary perturbation, or whether they occur secondarily, as a response to some other disturbance -- such as the activation of heat shock pathways, which was reported to occur by several independent groups in response to nonionizing radiation.”
Writing in the journal Nature Neuroscience last month, neurobiologists at the California Institute of Technology showed that very weak varying electric fields affect the thinking, resting or sleeping brain.
We Need Better Cell Phone Standards This new work, combined with studies carried out by Henry Lai, Allan Frey and others in the past three decades and documented in my new book, Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family (Dutton, 2010), reinforces the need for revamping our current approach to cell phone safety. Cell phone standards assume that no biological impact of microwave radiation from cell phones can occur without a detectable change in
temperature. In fact, this JAMA study used phones with a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of less than 1 W/kg for 50 minutes and found significant increases in brain glucose -- the sugar that provides the brain’s main source of energy. The current study shows, along with other studies, that there are additional concerns related to cell phone use, besides tumors. Tumors are just the tip of the iceberg, but their development is preceded by years of other biological perturbations that have profound medical relevance -- and this study confirms that significant biological changes occur after relatively brief exposures such as those that
take place daily with the world’s 5 billion cell phones.
Repeat After Me: More Research Is Needed Could the stimulating impact of cell phone radiation to boost brain energy explain some of the growing addiction many of us feel for our phones? That is one of the many research questions that should be addressed. Dr. Herberman adds that the JAMA study “should stimulate many biologists to perform in-depth studies to determine the consequences of such changes in nerve cells or other bodily cells in the region of the radiation. We need to develop a better understanding of how radiofrequency radiation might contribute to increased risk for brain tumors as well as other alterations in brain functions.” Dr. Stein echoes Dr. Herberman’s call for more research: One thing is certain -- the current study clearly reveals changes in a pathway that is essential for brain energy metabolism and synaptic transmission, and is intimately interconnected with other pathways that fulfill fundamental roles in biological systems. The Volkow study is an important contribution to public health. EHT is working with experts and governments in a number of U.S. cities and states, and in Finland, France, Israel and other countries around the world, to encourage a major independent research program on cell phones.
In The Meantime, Follow Safe Phone Practices While that research is being carried out, EHT encourages simple precautions to reduce microwave radiation to the brain and body, such as those recommended by EHT chair Herberman in 2008 and now endorsed by a number of governments and experts around the world. Phones should be used with headsets or speakerphones and not kept directly on the body, and children should take special care not to have direct exposures. EHT is not alone in this. Based on the
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growing evidence from laboratories and epidemiologic studies, two leaders of the WHO Interphone study on cell phones have recently broken ranks and are now calling for such precautions to be taken broadly. They note the growing biological evidence that microwave radiation from phones has impacts and that epidemiologic studies find increased risks of brain cancer after a decade of heavy use. Professors Elisabeth Cardis and Siegal Sadetzki have urged that it is prudent to reduce exposure by simple means at this time, ranging from using speakerphones and headsets to reducing call time and children’s use of phones generally. “There are now more than 4 billion people, including children, using mobile phones,” they write. “Even a small risk at the individual level could eventually result in a considerable number of tumours and become an important public-health issue...until definitive scientific answers are available, the adoption of such precautions, particularly among young people, is advisable.”
Reports Concluding That Cell Phones Are Safe Are Premature
exposure, which is consistent with the rest of the scientific literature. In criticizing this study, Frey points out, The authors analyzed data on brain tumors gathered before most of their study population owned a cell phone. Also, most of their population did not have a cell phone for more than five years. Thus, the authors knew or should have known, that if cell phones induced or promoted brain cancer, that their study would not have shown it. Yet they did the study and concluded in their paper that their study showed that there was no need for ... interventions to reduce radio frequency exposure from mobile phones’ that are used today. To conclude that cell phones are safe misreads the science and misleads the people.
A recent widely publicized piece in the journal BioElectromagnetics concluded that because the U.S. and U.K. do not currently have a brain tumor epidemic (from 1998-2007) and cell phones have been in use for a decade, therefore cell phones are safe and there is no need for precaution. Regarding this study, Allan Frey, a well-known expert in the field of bioelectromagnetics, noted the fallacy of the argument: It is well established in the scientific literature that generally a cancer is not seen until 10 to 30 years after the exposure to an agent. In addition, the radio frequency-biological literature shows that cancer is not seen until at least 10 years after the
phy & Photogra esign Graphic D
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 15
HACKIN’ IT UP
F
Article by Christina Bonnington WIRED
rom the results of the Pwn2Own hacking competition, it looks like Android and Windows Phone 7 are tough nuts to crack.
It took only two days for hackers to crack into the Apple and Blackberry operating systems during the three-day Pwn2Own tournament last week, while Android and Windows Phone 7 models were abandoned and left unhacked by the end of the contest.
used), ensuring that all contestants are working on the same version of each OS. Pwning and owning occurs if the hacker defeats the frozen version. If the exploit they used still exists in the current firmware, they are also eligible to receive a monetary prize. The 2011 Pwn2Own competition ran March 9 to 11. Vreugdenhil says many different factors determine how hard a target is to hack. There’s the safety of the software itself, the exploit mitigations that
Is this because their operating systems are more secure? Yes and no. “The survival of a target at Pwn2Own does not automatically declare it safer than a target that went down,” last year’s Internet Explorer Pwn2Own winner Peter Vreugdenhil cautions. The contestants who were lined up to beat the Android and WP7 devices in the competition withdrew for a variety of reasons. Pwn2Own, now in its fifth year, is a hacking competition divided into two areas: web browsers and mobile phones. This year, Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, Apple Safari 5.0.3, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome were the web-browser targets. In the mobile phone category, the Dell Venue Pro (Windows Phone 7), Apple iPhone 4 (iOS), BlackBerry Torch 9800 (Blackberry 6) and Nexus S (Android) were targeted. The OS and browser versions were frozen last week (so for example, Apple’s Safari 5.0.4 update was not
are already in place for that software, and then the amount of research that has already been conducted (which can speed up the process of writing an actual exploit). Firefox and Chrome web browsers were also left undefeated because contestants withdrew from Pwn2Own.
A PHONE TO SAVE US FROM OUR PHONES. PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 16
“Chrome has the advantages of having multiple exploitmitigation techniques that certainly make it more difficult to hack. As for Android, we see no particular reason why Android would be harder to hack than one of the other targets.”
Android’s survival was a bit of a surprise...
Safari, Chrome, iPhone, Android and Blackberry all use WebKit in their browsers, which means that they are all susceptible to exploitation through the browser -- and that’s exactly how the iPhone and Blackberry were attacked. Charlie Miller, a Pwn2Own veteran, worked with Dion Blazakis to hack the iPhone 4 in this year’s competition using a flaw in its Mobile Safari Web browser and a “specially-crafted webpage.” A team of 3 (Vincenzo Iozzo, Willem Pinckaers, and Ralf Philipp Weinmenn) defeated the BlackBerry Torch using a similar technique.
Vreugdenhil and other organizers were not surprised that the iPhone went down quickly. It has been a major target and a lot of research has already been done on that platform. Android’s survival was a bit of a surprise, since it is also a big target and had four contestants lined up. Although no device is unhackable, some factors contribute to a safer product. For those that are out to find the safest phone on the market, Vreugdenhil says you’ll want to compare features such as DEP (Data Execution Prevention), ASLR (address space layout randomization), Sandboxing, code signing and the ease with which software can be updated on the device.
So what did the contest’s organizers think of the outcome of 2011’s Pwn2Own?
Also Available
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“It’s hard Canadian and dope” - Mike Clattenburg
}
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 17
TRAVELING LIGHT
Article by Brandon Sullivan Protohype
G
oing on a week long road trip during my busiest semester in school is probably not the best idea, but here I am. No turning back now. It’s probably even crazier to not pack a GPS, laptop, iPod or camera. No, I’m not traveling as an empty-handed nomad. I’m driving from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador to Boston, Massachusetts and decided to leave my technology at home. Why would I bring any of that when my cell phone does all that and more? So here I am writing up this article. Notepad of choice? My BlackBerry Bold 9700; sporting a heavy duty durable OtterBox case. This little device is my gateway to work, play and my social at the same time. Once I finish it I’ll put the text in an e-mail addressed to myself
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 18
and fire it off. It’s small enough to become my temporary makeshift word processor while on the road. On a road trip you still want to keep in contact with friends and family back home. You know, brag about what you’re doing and how they’re not doing it; That kind of thing. I’m keeping in contact with classmates sitting in their new makeshift classroom complaining about how they don’t want to be there. Suck it up guys. I also take full advantage of my 3G with e-mails and Facebook before roaming charges apply once I enter the states. Texting and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) are simple, instant and free alternatives to long distance phone calls (depending on your smartphone plan.) Speaking of text messages, I just got one from my dad sitting up front reading “Hi it is me”. He’s learning. Cameras indisputably go hand in hand with vacations. No one is going to write a journal of their trip, (unless you’re me) you’re going to want to keep a photo journal of your trip. You want to make sure you keep those memories to show your friends and family what your trip was like when you get back. Bringing
your digital camera is just another case to carry; another battery to charge. So lets rule that out. What about disposable cameras? Well, you can buy those and pay to get them developed in hopes that your 24 pictures came out exactly as you like, or you can pull out your cell phone and use your built in camera to take as many as you want. Most smart phones are equipped with a decent camera with video capabilities. My Bold has a 5.0 megapixel camera and with the new OS6 I have many options for customizing each shot or just leave it up to the automatic feature if I please. With a 4 gigabyte MicroSD card I can take hundreds of snaps to record every moment. As demonstrated throughout this article, I’m anything short of shy with my camera’s phone throughout my trip. Not all smartphone’s have flashes with their cameras, but thankfully mine does. I downloaded a useful app called One Touch Flashlight V3 by The Jared Company that turns my LED flash into a constant stream of bright light that is useful for searching through my luggage when the lights are off in the hotel or during the late night drives, making the driver less distracted on the road. As for GPS, I downloaded another free app called GPS Tool. It gives you an accurate to tell you your exact longitude and latitude coordinates and your direction and speed you’re travelling. This is a helpful alternative without paying for a GPS reader. If you’re anything like me, you need your music on you at all times. Well iPods are out of the question. With almost any new phone you don’t need it. BlackBerry’s have a built in music app that acts as any mp3 player would. For my trip I loaded up 3 gigs of music to my 4 gig card and left one gig free for my pictures and text files. When it’s my turn to play music on Continued on next page
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 19
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 20
the trip I just plug in my phone through the AUX input in the dash of the truck. I also have the option to listen with headphones via the standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Energy consumption is a main concern with you’re using your phone for this many functions all day long. My charger is always with me when I’m driving but when I’m walking around the mall, hotel or just roaming around, it’s crucial to make sure I know just how much power to consume. For this reason I downloaded the free PowerBoss app from the BlackBerry App World, made by The Jared Company. It conveniently tells you the percentage of battery you have left, and to-the-minute “time left” based on what activities you use it for, such as: listening to music, talking, watching videos and surfing 3G. The battery status bar on the phone does a decent job of this, but when you’re on the go with your phone all day its better to have a more accurate indication of what you’ve got left. Leaving home the “essentials” is the best thing I could have done to enjoy my trip. It cuts my luggage down by a good quarter when you consider the size of my Nikon D90 camera, GPS, iPod and MacBook Pro. On top of that you have cases and charging cables. Leave the work at home and enjoy your trip; you’ll still get work done without it! My proof? This article.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 21
CIVIL CELL USERS
Article by Bob Sullivan msnbc.com
Less likely to talk at the movies, but still yakking at dinner.
A
pparently, cell phone users are answering the call from Miss Manners. A study released Tuesday by an industry group suggests Americans are a little less likely to yak on their mobiles in some public places than they were two years ago. But laws prohibiting use of cell phones while driving have had an even bigger impact on attitudes — fewer than half of Americans think talking while in the car is acceptable today, compared to 76 percent two years ago.
banning them, movies are thinking about banning them, and they’re saying, ‘Let’s police ourselves.’ ” But Carol Page, who operates CellManners.com, was skeptical of the survey
Cell Phone users seem to have nearly abandoned the idea of talking during a movie, the survey suggests. Only 6 percent said it was acceptable to yak while at a movie or in a theatre, down from 11 percent two years ago. “People are starting to self police,” said Delly Tamer, president and CEO of LetsTalk, an online wireless retailer that commissioned the study. “They’re seeing that restaurants are thinking about
And still, 28 percent don’t fret about talking at a restaurant.
Dare to be PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 22
“Personally, I do not see an improvement in cell phone manners. I really wish I did, but I don’t,” Page said. Irate victims of cell phone rudeness send in tales of frustration to CellManners.com daily, and the pentup animosity is still on the rise, Page said. “I think the survey shows how people respond to a survey. But how do they actually behave? I’m sure a lot of people don’t think it’s acceptable to talk in a restaurant, but do they do that? Yeah, I’m sure they do.”
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In fact, the survey supports Page’s idea that the general population is still split on
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the propriety of mobile-phone chatting in public places. Nearly half of those polled still think it’s OK to talk while on public transportation, and more than half felt comfortable calling home from a supermarket. And still, 28 percent don’t fret about talking at a restaurant. “People are saying ‘Look where there’s safety involved, like driving, I want to think more about it,’ ” Tamer said. “But guess what? People are also saying ‘If I’m in a restaurant or on a bus or in a supermarket, I want to talk. Leave me alone, I want to call my wife and ask what we need while at the grocery store.’ ” Those who talk while following nature’s call are equally undaunted: the survey indicated 39 percent say it’s OK to make a mobile call when in the bathroom, down just slightly from 47 percent two years ago. The survey comes just in time for the new school year and its accompanying debate about cell phones in the classroom. Some districts ban the phones from schools, but many have relaxed such rules since Sept. 11, when cell phones played a key role in reconnecting parents with their children. Just last week, the state of California lifted its statewide ban on cell phones at school, following similar measures approved in Maryland, Kentucky and Oklahoma. Still, the poll suggests students are getting the message about cell phone etiquette. Only 10 percent said it was acceptable to “talk on a cell phone while on school property, including classrooms.”
“We need kids to be able to call their parents,” Tamer said. “Cell phone usage shouldn’t be banned by laws or rules. It should be banned by people and etiquette.” The cell phone industry, which now has some 137 million paying customers in the United States, has a vested interest in keeping anti-cell phone laws off the books, and keeping cell phones in schools. According to the Yankee Group, one in three children aged 10 to 19 already have a cell phone. So the industry has reacted to steps by some government agencies to ban cell phones by marketing a substitute message of self-restraint. Page, who also favors etiquette over laws, thinks that message is getting out, but slowly. “I think there is increased awareness,” Page said. “People are more hesitant to use cell phones in a way that will draw attention to themselves. They don’t like getting that ‘cell glare.’ Now you can get a ‘cell glare’ simply by pulling out a cell phone.”
Class.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 23
BEST OF THE BEST
Article by Martin DesRosiers
With Research In Motion unveiling last week its latest flagship smartphone, the BlackBerry Torch 9800, as well as its new operating system, BlackBerry 6, competition in the mobile-device market has heated up for consumers and business users alike.
F
rom a business perspective, BlackBerrys have dominated the corporate world for the past decade. However, the tides are slowing changing due to the release of Apple’s iPhone and of course Google’s Android operating system, which being used by many mobile-device manufacturers. As a consumer and a business user, one must be thankful that we have the power of choice. It was not too long ago when Nokia and Motorola devices ruled the marketplace and smartphones weren’t really that “smart”. The question I keep hearing these days is “Which device is best for me?” In the end it boils down to your business needs. Whether you’re a road warrior or someone who is at their desk all day, each person has specific needs when it comes to a mobile device. My own personal evolution of mobile-device ownership started with a regular cellphone, went on to a Windows device, then to a BlackBerry, followed by an Android smartphone, back to a BlackBerry, and most recently ended up with an iPhone. I am going to summarize the top-three types of smartphones—BlackBerry, Android, iPhone—in an attempt to assist you with your purchasing decision.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 24
Android: The new kid on the block
Google’s Android operating system hasn’t been around for that long. It made its debut on the market on Google-branded hardware, which Google later retired, deciding to focus on the operating system. You can now find Google’s Android OS on devices from most of the top hardware manufacturers. By now you’ve likely seen the Droid commercials, which I’m sure have contributed to the rise in market share. Android prides itself on being open source and also boasts an extensive application store containing thousands of free and paid apps for your phone. 2010 has been the year of the Android thus far, as its smartphones are now outselling the iPhone and it recently surpassed BlackBerry as the number-one selling mobile OS.
Pros Google Apps: You have seamless integration with your Android smartphone. Android Market: Extensive application library rivaling Apple’s application store. Lots of bad applications, but lots of good. Choice of hardware: You can find the Android OS on a variety of phones. No other provider, outside of Research In Motion, offers such a vast choice of hardware.
Fragmentation: Because of its opensource nature, the platform as a whole feels disconnected. It’s hard to describe unless you use one for a couple weeks, but the term “fragmented” came to mind on multiple occasions. Because the Android OS can be found on various pieces of hardware, your Android experience will differ as you move from one Android-powered device to another. Continued on next page
Open source: This creates flexibility and allows vendors to develop platforms for their specific hardware. This approach will fast track the evolution of the Android OS and its acceptance within the market. ActiveSync: The Android OS leverages Microsoft ActiveSync for integration with corporate messaging systems. This is unlike the BlackBerry, which requires a server and software for full integration. Android has this out of the box.
Cons Battery life: The poor battery life of my Android device caused me to return it within a month. This comes down to the hardware but most devices aren’t sufficient for business purposes. Applications: Although extensive, there are hundreds of horrible apps that you must sift through to find something decent.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 25
iPhone: Sexy, trendy, versatile Apple’s iPhone made its debut in 2007 and has since gained a large share of the smartphone market once dominated by Research In Motion. Apple, from a brand loyalty standpoint, is one of the strongest in the world and has a dedicated fan base. Apple has introduced many innovative features in its smartphones and has redefined the mobile-device landscape, forcing the competition to evolve and play catch-up in many cases. Apple’s latest smartphone, the iPhone 4, recently hit the market, running the latest operating system, iOS 4. Unfortunately, the device has suffered a lot of bad press, mainly due to the hardware, but also due to the new OS causing older devices (3G and 3GS) to experience performance issues.
Pros Operating system: Apple’s mobile operating system is one of the best on the market. It is a little consumercentric but Apple has introduced many key features that cannot be found on other devices. App Store: The iPhone leverages a vast application store, which allows you to obtain apps for almost anything you can think of. The iPhone has a strong developer following, which leads to some amazing applications. Web browsing: Apple takes the cake when it comes to Web browsing on a mobile device. Safari does a great job of rendering most Web sites and the large screen definitely helps the experience. ActiveSync: Like the Android OS, the iPhone OS also leverages ActiveSync for integration with corporate messaging systems out of the box.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 26
Hardware: Just take a look at the latest iPhone 4 and you will be wowed by its slick look and feel. Cosmetically, it looks great and under the hood it is a powerhouse. Flexibility: The iPhone has successfully bridged the gap between your average consumer and your corporate user. Cons
Battery life: This is the biggest personal gripe when it comes to the iPhone. Unfortunately, you cannot remove the battery and over time it slowly loses its charge. From a business perspective, battery life is critical, and the iPhone falls way short. iTunes: I don’t know many people that enjoy iTunes. I, for one, find it cumbersome and non-intuitive, and having to rely on this application to manage my iPhone is a con. Durability: Unlike some other mobile devices, the iPhone is rather fragile. Reading and watching some of the latest iPhone 4 reviews would make me want to purchase a wriststrap with my phone. For example, the latest iPhone has chemically treated glass on the front and back of the device. Drop it from 12 inches up and say hello to cracks. Consumer-centric: The iPhone hit the market as a consumer device and over time made its way into the corporate environment. That being said, from the ground up it is designed for the consumer, whereas the BlackBerry, for example, is designed for the business user.
BlackBerry: Tried, tested, and true Research In Motion’s first smartphone hit the market in 2002. Since then, RIM has focused heavily on e-mail and corporate messaging, becoming the dominant player in this arena. Only recently have Apple and other smartphones made strides within the corporate environment, forcing RIM to evolve and upgrade their offering. Like Apple, RIM develops its own operating system on top of its own hardware.
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Pros Battery life: Overall, the BlackBerry provides the most optimal power consumption for the business user. Weeks of standby time, hours of talk time, and a removable battery all contribute to the BlackBerry taking the crown from a batteryperformance perspective. Operating system: The BlackBerry OS is one of the strongest platforms on the market. In my opinion, it has the best contact management, calendaring, and e-mail client of all the devices. It is built for the business user and has extras for the consumer. Durability: BlackBerrys are known for being rugged devices which can sustain the daily abuse of the workforce. Whether you’re a road warrior or jumping boardroom to boardroom, BlackBerrys are reliable devices. Productivity: With its renowned mechanical keyboards, the BlackBerry is perfect for the road warrior. You can pound out e-mails, SMS messages, and take advantage of multiple keyboard shortcuts to get the most out of your phone in an efficient manner. Hardware: Research In Motion, like Apple, produces great quality hardware that is also aesthetically pleasing. RIM also offers freedom of choice, unlike Apple; you can purchase many different BlackBerrys in different form factors.
Cons Applications: RIM followed Apple by releasing its own application store, called BlackBerry App World. The lack of applications and cumbersome interface lead to slow adoption. The latest OS, version 6.0, comes with App World 2.0 integrated within the operating system; it will be interesting to see if this makes a difference. On average, BlackBerry applications are also far more expensive compared to the iPhone and Android.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 28
Web browsing: BlackBerrys, in comparison to the Android and iPhone platforms, provide the weakest Web browsing experience. This has been recently addressed with RIM’s latest operating system. However, they are still playing catch-up in this area. Business-centric: The iPhone succeeds in bridging the gap with the average consumer, whereas the BlackBerry is still deeply rooted with the corporate community. To me this is an advantage, but many will see this as a weakness. The BlackBerry started as a corporate device, while the iPhone started as a consumer device. The iPhone seems to have had an easier time making its way into the corporate environment, compared to RIM’s battle of trying to make its way into the consumer market. Server software: To achieve full integration with corporate messaging systems, one must install BlackBerry Enterprise Server or BlackBerry Express. This adds another layer of complexity, management, and cost for a business. Recently, RIM released BESX, a trimmed down version of BES which eliminates the need to pay for the server licensing. It also can work with a BlackBerry Internet Service plan from carriers, eliminating the need for users to pay for expensive BES plans. There you have it, an overview of the top-three business-class mobile devices and platforms. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a perfect device, which means you will need to weigh the pros and cons when making your purchasing decision. Who knows? Microsoft may come out with the perfect device later this year, when it releases Windows Phone 7. On paper and in person, it appears to have serious potential.
DESIRABLE DEVICE
Article by Vlad Savov Engadget
T
his time last year, HTC had two Android smartphones for the mainstream: the 3.7-inch Desire, outfitted with the latest and greatest, and the 3.2-inch Legend, which was humbler in specs but offered the novelty of an aluminum unibody construction. After seeing that strategy pay off handsomely, the company’s come back in 2011 with a similar proposition. The 4-inch Incredible S is now the higherend device, while the 3.7-inch Desire S is the smaller, aluminum-shelled handset. Only one way to find out, right?
Hardware HTC is rightly proud of its aluminum unibody construction method. It goes beyond what other manufacturers do -- such as Nokia with the aluminumclad N8 -- by using just one piece of the lightweight metal, which is wrapped around the phone’s internal components and acts as both its case and frame. On the Desire S, there are a couple of plastic-covered rear compartments, one to accommodate the 5 megapixel camera, LED flash, and loudspeaker, and the other to permit access to the 1450mAh battery and SIM and MicroSD card slots.
Internals Delving inside the blue-hued aluminum
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 30
body, you’ll find Qualcomm’s extremely popular MSM8255 system-on-chip, which you may also know as the secondgeneration Snapdragon. In our Incredible S review, we took a look at its performance relative to the older 1GHz part and found it to be approximately 15 percent faster. In general use, the chip proves itself perfectly capable of handling Android’s demands, making HTC’s Sense UI look light and airy. 768MB is a generous chunk of RAM to include as well,
as it’s 256MB more than competitors like Sony Ericsson are bundling with this particular Snapdragon part.
Display
Life on the edge.
The Desire S makes use of the same Super LCD tech as the Incredible S, leaving us to only echo what we said of its bigger sibling. You get vibrant, well saturated images, which also benefit from excellent viewing angles. The only weakness is readability in direct sunlight.
Camera Aside from their divergent dimensions and construction materials, the biggest difference between the Desire S and Incredible S is in their camera sensors. It’s not always true that more megapixels equal better image quality, but in this case, the 8 megapixel imager on the Incredible S is markedly ahead of the Desire S’ 5 megapixel unit.
Software Both Android and the Sense UI adorning it will be familiar to you already, but there are a couple of fresh additions that merit discussion. It’s the exact same set of functions as you’ll find on the Incredible S, but relative to the Desire, it marks a significant upgrade in usability. Unless you were totally in love with that trackpad, of course.
Wrap-up The best way we can think of to summarize the Desire S is by comparing it to its nearest and dearest. It’s not novel, it’s not surprising, it’s just very, very good.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 31
FOUR TIME CHAMP Article by author unknown nytimes.com
PROTOHYPE // APRxIL 2011 // PAGE 32
In 2007,
Apple’s chief executive, Steven P. Jobs, introduced the iPhone, which instantly became one of the most talked-about consumer products ever. Thousands of customers lined up to be the first to buy the phones, which featured computing and Wi-Fi capabilities, along with a crisp, computer-like display on an innovative touch screen. Rivals rushed phones with similar features onto the market. Three years later, seeking to fend off intensifying competition from Google and others in the smartphone business, Apple in 2010 introduced a new version of the iPhone that includes a front-facing camera for video chats. The iPhone 4 became Apple’s most successful phone introduction yet and sales were expected to accelerate when Verizon offered its version of the iPhone. The long-expected arrival of the iPhone on Verizon ended years of exclusivity for AT&T and was likely to upend the smartphone
market in the United States. Consumer surveys suggested that demand for a Verizon iPhone is large, as many people have held off from buying an iPhone simply to avoid AT&T’s much-publicized network problems, which include spotty coverage and dropped calls. Despite icy temperatures in New York on Feb. 10, 2011, people eager to buy the new iPhone filed into Apple and Verizon stores. Many noted, however, that the stores seemed to have prepared for a much larger crush of customers than they received. The muted enthusiasm was in sharp contrast to the initial introduction of the iPhone 4 on AT&T’s network in June 2010. A Verizon iPhone could help sell millions
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 33
of new devices, continuing the iPhone’s strong momentum. It may also become an obstacle to the rapid rise of Android devices, most of which are sold by Verizon Wireless. While the iPhone remains the best-selling smartphone in the United States, many handset makers sell devices running Google’s Android software. Collectively, those devices outsell the iPhone.
The issue has been a topic of debate between Apple, which says it has the right to control the software on its devices, and technically adept users who want to customize their phones as they see fit.
A Verizon iPhone could help sell millions of new devices Verizon’s iPhone version will work only on the carrier’s current “3G” network even though the carrier has fired up a faster “4G” network in many cities. That super-fast wireless data network is available only to plug-in laptop modems for now, but Verizon will have smart phones for it by summer 2011. Verizon’s iPhone 4 has one feature AT&T’s does not: It can act as a portable Wi-Fi “hot spot,” connecting up to five laptops or other devices to Verizon’s 3G network through Wi-Fi. It’s a feature that’s been offered on other smart phones, usually for an added monthly fee.
An Issue of Control Apple likes to maintain tight control over what programs can appear on the iPhone — a task that became a little bit harder in July 2010, when the Library of Congress, which has the power to define exceptions to an important copyright law, said that it was legal to bypass a phone’s controls on what software it will run to get “lawfully obtained” programs to work.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 34
Apple has also said that altering the phones encouraged the pirating of applications, exposed iPhones to security risks and taxed the company’s customer support staff. But iPhone hobbyists say they simply want to have free range to use certain features and programs on their phones that Apple has limited or failed to offer. Can Apple win in an intensely competitive market against rivals that are openly licensing their software to scores of companies? It faces that challenge not only in phones, but also in the market for tablet computers, where the iPad is about to take on a similar set of rivals.
The stakes are huge, as the mobile computing market could prove to be larger than the PC market ever was. That leaves little room for error at Apple. The company must continue to create hit products, as a single misstep could give Android and other rivals an opportunity to make inroads and steal market share. Also, as the number of people with Android phones grows, Android will grow more attractive for app developers. For now, Apple’s App Store, with more than 250,000 applications, enjoys a large advantage over the Android Market, which has about 80,000. And those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Apps made for the iPhone tend to be of better quality, are more frequently downloaded and on average are more profitable for developers. But that edge may not last, especially as many developers fret about Apple’s tight control over the App Store. For now, the smartphone market is growing so rapidly that the rise of Android has not necessarily been at the expense of the iPhone.
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5 CLAIMS ABOUT IPHONE 5 (AND HOW THEY CAN’T BE TRUE)
T
he iPhone 5 is coming at some point… and that’s all that as of this moment is known for sure. But while many aspects of the fifth generation iPhone, from its features to its release date, are up in the air, some of the proposed claims about the iPhone 5 thus far simply can’t possibly be true. So in no particular order, but in the name of public service, here are five iPhone 5 claims which can’t be true – and why…
1
Article by author unknown
3
It’ll be made of carbon fiber: the iPhone 5 has been pegged as being made of anything from glass to metal, and anything is believable. But carbon fiber? Known for being lightweight and sturdy even at insanely thin levels, carbon fiber is also notorious for being bad for wireless reception – something we’ve confirmed first hand with various cases we’ve tested made of the material. Apple would have It’ll look exactly like to be crazy to give itself the needless the iPhone 4: Nope. headache of an iPhone 5 made of a material which interferes with phone reception. After all, the iPhone 5 is a phone.
It’s not coming til November: the release date for the iPhone 5 could come as soon as WWDC in early June, or it could be a late summer affair. Apple has done both over the iPhone’s history. But the notion that the February Verizon iPhone 4 release means the iPhone 5 will arrive late is flawed. At this point the vast majority of iPhone users are still on AT&T, and making them wait longer for the iPhone 5 just to assuage the potentially hurt feelings of those who just bought a Verizon iPhone 4 would be foolhardy – and it’s not how Apple thinks.
2
It’ll look exactly like the iPhone 4: Nope. After Apple used the same body style for both the original iPhone 4 and later the Verizon iPhone 4, that space on the bingo card has been used up twice. The iPhone 5 will need to look visibly different. The confusion here largely comes from the fact that some clown tried to pass off some old iPhone 4 cases as being “iPhone 5 cases” and went on to claim that said cases were evidence that the iPhone 5 will look exactly like the iPhone 4. We’re still laughing at that one.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 36
Summer 2011
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An acclaimed leaked photo of an early iPhone 5 prototype. We believe this is also fake.
It’ll have this or that geek-leaning feature: nope. Remember awhile back when some geeks made up the obviously false claim that the iPad 2 was going to have an SD card slot? They were hoping they could create enough of a popular groundswell for such a feature that Apple would then have to include it. Uh, nice try. Outside of the geekiest fraction of the population, no one cares about geeky features. And Apple isn’t about to mess with that by weighing the iPhone 5 down with nonsensical “features” which appeal to no one but the geeks. So any time you hear a story about the iPhone 5 having a feature which sounds like a geek’s wet dream, just ignore it – that’s all it is.
4
It’ll come on AT&T before Verizon: uh, no. Apple would see a revolt from the Verizon side if such a thing happened. Enough said.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 39
DISASTER APPS
Article by Kyle VanHemert Gizmodo
W
hen a natural disaster hits there isn’t a lot of time to gather supplies. Thankfully, you likely have an invaluable technological multitool in your pocket right now: your smartphone. Here are some apps you should have ready just in case. Disaster Readiness, iPhone, Android: A concise but thorough guide that tells you how to prepare for all manner of disasters, from floods and fires to cyclones and chemical spills. Want to
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 40
know how to recharge your phone without electricity? How to put together a primo disaster supply kit? Look no further. $1
Pocket First Aid & CPR, iPhone & Android: The official first aid app of the American Heart Association has extensive guides, many including video, covering how to administer CPR, how to treat various injuries, and how to dress burns, bruises, cuts and other types of wounds. Dan Wooley, an aid worker trapped under rubble during the Haiti earthquake, used this app to find out how to treat his compound fracture; if that’s not a a convincing enough testimonial, I don’t know what is. $4. Emergency Radio (iPhone), Scanner Radio Pro (Android): In the wake of a disaster, you want to have reliable information. Emergency Radio (iPhone) and Radio Scanner Pro (Android) give you access to a huge database of police, coast guard, fire, EMS, and transit radio across the country. $1, $3 respectively.
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Cell Phone
Etiquette
1.
When a Private Conversation Isn’t Possible. Intimate public settings such as restaurants, public restrooms, waiting rooms, hallways, buses, subways or anywhere a private conversation is not possible is a bad place for a cell phone conversation. To practice good cell phone etiquette, put the ringer on vibrate or silent mode and let the call roll over to voice mail. If it’s an important call, step outside or to a secluded area to return the call. If that’s not possible and you must take the call, keep your voice low and the conversation brief. Let the caller know you’ll get back to them when you’re able.
C
2.
At least one report indicates that while most people are annoyed by cell phone rudeness, most admit to engaging in it themselves. If you’re wondering what you can do to contribute to a more polite society, cell phone etiquette can be boiled down to 8 simple rules:
3.
ell phone etiquette involves following some simple guidelines of common courtesy when using a cell phone in public, designed to make public places more enjoyable for all.
Lights Out, Phone Off. Phones should be turned off in movie theaters, playhouses, observatories or any other public place that creates an atmosphere to transport the imagination of the audience. People pay good money to be entertained and a ringer breaks the illusion. Modulate Your Voice. Cell phones have sensitive microphones that can pick up a very soft voice while blocking out ambient noise. Yelling into a cell phone is not necessary. When people are nearby, be considerate and
e Hom t e Swe e Hom
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 42
keep your voice low, your tone unemotional and even, and your conversation private. Arguing or airing dirty laundry in public is very poor cell phone etiquette.
4.
Observe the 10-foot Proximity Rule. Maintain a distance of at least 10-feet (3 meters) from the nearest person when talking on a cell phone. No matter how quietly you speak, if standing too close to others they are forced to overhear your personal business.
5.
Keep It Short. Keep public conversations brief and get back to the caller when you’re not in a public place.
6.
Love the One You’re With. It’s rude to take a cell phone call on a date or during a social engagement with others. It’s also inconsiderate to take a call in the middle of a conversation. If the caller were present he or she
would likely wait to politely interrupt at a more appropriate time. Let the call roll to voice mail and return it later.
7.
Drive Now, Talk Later. Multitasking isn’t always a good thing. Some evidence shows that accidents are on the rise due to cell phone use. Most calls can wait until you’ve reached your destination, and if a call is upsetting or distracting pull over to have the conversation.
8.
Use Common Sense. Turn off your phone before a job interview, presentation, or boardroom meeting. Leave it off at funerals, weddings, or anyplace a quiet atmosphere is mandated, such as a courthouse, library, museum, or place of worship. Cell phone etiquette is just a matter of being considerate of others, which pays off for everyone. wisegeek.com
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PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 43
PLAYING CATCH-UP Article by Kevin C. Tofel gigaom.com
M
icrosoft outlined feature upgrades for its Windows Phone 7 smartphone platform this week at the MIX11 developer event held in Las Vegas. The next update, codenamed “Mango,” is planned for release this fall and will bring the IE9 browser, developer access to the camera and motion sensor, improved system performance and support for an ever so slightly wider range of hardware. Application multitasking will arrive in Mango as well, allowing for handset owners to run software in the background and transfer audio or video while other apps are running.
user interaction when they launched. And for the past few years, developers could leverage the sensors and cameras on these handsets as well. I almost hate to bring up this criticism because I did buy a Windows Phone 7 device out-of-pocket, just like some readers have. Truth be told, there’s a world of potential in the platform and in some ways a Windows Phone 7 handset is more fun to use than an iPhone, Android device or other currently available platforms. My issue stems around one of timing, even though I do agree that smartphone sales will continue to rise for the next several years. It just appears to me that while Microsoft is committing to stay in the high stakes smartphone game, it’s really not going all in. And that’s not going to get hardware partners jazzed.
I can’t help but think of how they compare to competing phones — from 2009...
It’s a good thing that the mobile handset market race is more of a marathon than a sprint, because although all of the Mango features will be welcome, I can’t help but think of how they compare to competing phones — from 2009 or so. While the iPhone didn’t gain multitasking until 2010, for example, Google Android devices had it in late 2008. Both Apple and Google devices arrived with generally decent browsers and solid
dhood Early Chil Education
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 44
I know the Windows Phone 7 fans will quickly chime in here to defend Microsoft, and I respect that. Just remember, that I’m a Windows Phone 7 owner too. And as such, I’m struggling to understand the lack of speed for these updates. I won’t get into the NoDo update that was delayed, but I’ll admit that it concerns me. Instead, I’m looking back to the Mobile World Congress event
from this past February. Some of the key Mango features talked about this week were actually shown off on Windows Phone 7 devices two months ago: multitasking seemed to work quite well in the demo as did an early version of IE9. Xbox Live and Kinect integration from the handset even worked. So what’s taking so long? Perhaps I’m being overly harsh, but the strategy of many months between updates just doesn’t seem to fit the reality of how fast the smartphone is maturing and that’s part of the reason Nokia has had to abandon Symbian: the company reacted too slowly to the market. Even giving Microsoft the benefit of the doubt, I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that not every Windows Phone 7 will see Mango by the end of the year, although I hope I’m wrong.
great. There just aren’t enough things that Windows Phone 7 devices do well enough to make them appealing to a wide audience, or if there is, Microsoft is holding back super sales numbers for reasons I can’t fathom. All I want to see is Microsoft better level the smartphone playing field by picking up the pace in making a good mobile platform even better.
Where will competitors be at that time and what new features will they have added? There’s sure to be a major revision of iOS to version 5 by then, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see most of Honeycomb’s features migrated over to the next version of Android smartphones too. Adding to the mix are HP’s handsets with the already capable webOS platform and the situation becomes even more challenging for Microsoft to stand out apart from the crowd. Yes, the Windows Phone 7 fans will cry out against me on this one and I empathize: some of the features on my HD7 are
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PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 45
PLAYFUL TABLET Article by Mike Isaac wired.com
RIM BlackBerry Playbook Tablets and E-Book Readers; $500 for 16 GB, $600 for 32 GB, $700 for 64 GB, Wi-Fi only.
T
he BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is a good looking piece of hardware.
Like the proto-humans in 2001: A Space Odyssey, you’ll be eager to touch the monolithic object’s black, buttonless visage. But once you do, things get a little more complicated. The PlayBook’s design exudes the same sense of finely honed “business chic” that Research in Motion has perfected in its BlackBerry smartphones. But the PlayBook’s software suffers from several missteps and oversights, especially in the drought of useful apps — the very things that have
Business ent Managem
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 48
made tablets such a hit — and the lackluster performance of Adobe’s Flash player. At a svelte 7.6 inches by 5.1 inches, the PlayBook is about the size of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, and considerably smaller than the Motorola Xoom and Apple iPad 2. That may prove bothersome if you prefer watching videos and gaming on a
larger screen. But in a trade-off for the small screen size, the PlayBook makes gains in portability. At just under a pound, long reading sessions don’t cause as much fatigue as they do with larger tablets, and the rubberized backing adds a pleasing tooth to the grip. You won’t be worried about dropping it on the floor of the bus. RIM is banking that those who bemoan the loss of screen real estate will use the tablet as a media hub for larger devices. You can drag and drop media files from your desktop to the PlayBook
Also cool: the ability to multitask with apps running on a peripheral display. the same way you’d move files to a USB flash drive. You can also transfer files wirelessly over your local network. Once the PlayBook is loaded up with movies, use the HDMI-out to connect the tablet to a television and watch everything in full 1080p on a 16:9 wide screen. On both the big screen as well as the PlayBook, videos look damn good.
Tip #35: Looking for signs when it’s time to upgrade.
And they sound good, too. The PlayBook’s two speakers flank the screen’s face horizontally, projecting sound outward toward your ears. The quality is surprisingly clear for the size of the speakers. There’s no tinniness or distortion, even with the volume cranked. There are no buttons on the face, but there are four along the top edge: a Play/Pause button, a two-way volume rocker and a Power button. They’re unobtrusive, though sometimes to a fault. It takes a noticeable amount of effort to push in the Power button, which is frustrating if you want to turn the screen on or off quickly.
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 49
In the absence of a Home button, there’s a new UI convention to learn: You touch the frame along the bottom of the screen and swipe up when you want to return to the home screen. Touch sensitivity is very responsive, and the swipe controls work great. Taking a note from Palm’s webOS, RIM brings multitasking to its QNX-based BlackBerry Tablet OS, letting you switch back and forth between simultaneously running apps. By swiping a finger to the side of the screen, you can jump from the YouTube video you were watching back to a paused game of Tetris, without having to return to the home screen.
the time the PlayBook ships on April 19. But the fact that a marquee feature is strapped with such stability problems so close to the ship date is troubling. Another glaring flaw is the PlayBook’s complete lack of native e-mail, contacts and calendar apps. Want those apps? Log on to your Gmail account with the browser. BlackBerry smartphone owners can access e-mail on the PlayBook after installing RIM’s Bridge app, which connects the phone to the tablet by Bluetooth, but we weren’t able to test this feature.
Also cool: the ability to multitask with apps running on a peripheral display. When the PlayBook is hooked up to an HDTV, you can watch video at 1080p on the big screen while browsing the web on the PlayBook. Or, you can show a presentation on a projector while swiping through your speaking notes on the tablet. Be forewarned of resource hoggery, though. Try running too many apps at once, and a low-memory notification will pop up in the left-hand corner telling you to cool it. The PlayBook comes loaded with 1 GB of RAM to protect against this, though on occasion when I ignored the warning long enough, my browser crashed. Move closer to the software level and things get even stickier. Two years may not have been enough. During a round of Plants vs. Zombies, gameplay bogged down whenever the animation got intense. Every time I tried to access a Flash game on Facebook, the browser crashed. Yes, every single time. Say goodbye to your well-tended crops, Farmvillians. RIM delivered several software updates during our tests, showing that the company is still ironing out bugs. Flash stability increased with each update, and may well be even more stable by
PROTOHYPE // APRIL 2011 // PAGE 50
If you don’t have a BlackBerry phone, you’re out of luck until summer, when RIM says a future software update will bring native clients to the PlayBook. RIM has announced that an Android app player will be available on the PlayBook, which should bolster the number of available apps. But any Android apps ported to the PlayBook must be vetted by RIM before they can make it into the store. Under casual use conditions, the PlayBook’s battery held up for close to eight hours, which is on par with both generations of the iPad. With heavy use of Flash-based sites (when they functioned) and 1080p video-watching, the PlayBook’s battery hung in there for an impressive 5½ hours. The bottom line: It’s a well-constructed device with great media-viewing capabilities, solid hardware specs and a price on par with the current tablet market. But with serious gaps in key areas like app selection and Flash stability, you may want to think twice before picking one up.
With a huge HD touchscreen, amazing speeds for gaming, apps, browsing and multiple device mobile Wi-Fi® hotspot* capability, the Android 2.2 powered HTC Desire™ HD will impress you.
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Helping Japan get back on their feet.
Boomdeyada, Boomdeyada
Our best smartphone sale yet. Phones starting from $0 .oo. Ends April 31, 2011
For every issue of this months Protohype sold, we will be donating 10% of each sale towards the Japan earthquake relief.
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79799
Regular Price: Discount Sale Price
$999.99 -$202.00 $797.99
Sale Ends: May 30, 2011
Panasonic 42" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV (TCL42D2) TCL42D2 WebID: 10144188 Across the gorgeous 42" display, everything you view will be must-see TV. With an Energy Star Rating of 4.0, complete with Energy Saving mode built in. FEATURES: • Full HD 1080p resolution • 120Hz Motion Picture Pro4 technology • 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio • HDMI, PC and memory card connectivity options You'll be amazed at the outstanding picture quality from your movies, games and shows on this LED LCD TV. In addition to the incredible power of Full HD resolution, 120Hz Motion Picture Pro4 technology produces razor-sharp images for fast-action scenes without colour trails, while the huge contrast ratio brings out the hidden details in images.
Tip #19: Know when to get SIRIUS.
Enjoy 100% commercial-free music plus talk, sports and news on your phone for only $8.99 a month.
APARTMENT FEATURES Top of the line bathroom fixtures DVD Player Wireless Internet Access Audio System Queen size bed Stainless Steel Appliances Flat Screen TV Double-pane Windows Central Air / Heating System Hard Wood Floors Microwave Toaster Coffee Maker Alarm Clock Tea Kettle Bed Linens and Towels Shower Shower with a Bathtub Shower Curtain Dishwasher
OVERVIEW Stunning 2 bedroom Loft with Gorgeous Designer Furniture near Union Square. Recently renovated, beautiful hardwood floors, entire floor layout, washer & dryer, flat panel screen, state-of-the-art-electronics, fully equipped kitchen, and much more. Just Blocks from Union Square, East Village, and Trader Joes.
BUILDING FEATURES No Elevator - Walk UpParking in same blockWasher & Dryer in Apartment
STEP ONE: YOUR IMAGINATION
ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS5