Poll: Who makes the best Android phones?

Several years ago, we asked our reader who they think makes the best Android phones. This year, we’d like to re-visit the survey and asked our readers the same question in the hopes that we see a different trend, considering that there are a lot of new global players.

Let’s dive in right away and jump into the poll below. You can also leave a comment to share and defend your choice. We’ll limit our choices to global brands so that even our international readers can join in.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

You may need to login to FB, Twitter or G+ in order to vote. You are allowed to pick a maximum of 2 brands.

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Poll: HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4?

Samsung and HTC have been very competitive with each other for the past years. HTC was like the king of Android back in the beginning with phones like the Nexus One & the Desire line, while Samsung is the successful challenger since they have managed to outgrow HTC in sales and volume through the highly popular Galaxy line.

HTC ONE SGS4

The battle has always been a close one, from the Galaxy S2 and the Sensation, to the Galaxy S3 and the One X. HTC might have found its refuge with the One but in order to win the market it will have to go against the other beast – the Galaxy S4.

The Galaxy S4 has been launched and priced already, with postpaid plans from our local telcos already available. On the other hand, HTC has been facing delays with its shipments and launches, reported to be caused by shortages in UltraPixel components.

But enough of that. Our review of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is out, and we have yet to look at the HTC One in full detail after it gets released in the 3rd week of May. Also, the price tags are already available; the Galaxy S4 will be at Php30,990 while the HTC One will retail for Php32,990.

NEW COMPARISON

Note: The Exynos Octa variant is also available through a higher gray market price.

So, we’d like to know. Will you go for the all-aluminum, UltraPixel-packing, BoomSound-carrying HTC One? Or the feature-packed heavy-spec’d plastic Samsung Galaxy S4? Let us know in the comments below.

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Are we ready for Wearable Technology?

We’ve been so engrossed with smartphones, tablets and several other consumer technologies. In fact, some of current tech seems to be overkill already – such as 1080p displays on a 5-inchsmartphone and multi-core CPUs in which platforms aren’t even fully optimized for yet. As time goes, manufacturers look to other elements to perfect and now they’re looking a good look at wearable tech; are we ready?

are we ready

Personally, I do want manufacturers to perfect the smartphone before they look elsewhere. I might have even said that next year could be the year of smartphone cameras as I really like the idea of HTC’s UltraPixel, Nokia’s PureView and Sony’s Exmor RS — they focus on quality/technology over just plain megapixel count (Google’s next Nexus phone is rumored to have a great camera as well).

Moreover, we feel like these companies are looking at something more as each one are confirming that they’re working on something else other than a smartphone or a tablet – specifically a smartwatch.

smartwatch

Samsung has already confirmed that they are working on a smartwatch, while companies such as LG, Apple and Google were reported to be working on one too. This isn’t the first time someone’s making an intelligent wristwatch, as gadgets like the Motorola MotoACTV and the Sony Smartwatch are already available for purchase now. Why the excitement then?

A recent report from analysts say that the time is ripe for smartwatches. If we make that a given, we still can’t deny the fact that companies aren’t only working on smartwatches – but also on other gadgets that you wear. Google already has Glasses for next year, and just recently, they just showcased a talking shoe. Over at the gaming zone, Oculus VR already has the Rift – a head-mounted virtual reality gaming device which is currently being funded and developed.

But let’s get back to the consumer. Do we really need a watch just to check on our notifications when we can just pull out the phone out of our pockets? Or a pair of glasses to take photos when you have a more capable camera lurking in your bag? Above everything else, would it appeal to 3rd-world countries such as the Philippines? Leave your comment and opinion below.

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Poll: What’s the best alternative to Google Reader?

After Google announced that it’ll pull the plug on its popular RSS reader/aggregator, it left millions of netizens scrambling to find an alternative to the popular tool. So is there really an equivalent, or better alternative to Google Reader?

Actually there are almost a dozen of viable replacements to Google Reader, probably even more. In fact, there are at least one or two great RSS reader in each platform, whether mobile or PC/Mac, and free ones if we may add. You just need to dig deeper and find one that suits your needs/taste.

rss

As for us, we’re using NetVibes on our PC and Reeder when we’re on our Mac. On our Android/iOS devices, we use NuffNang X (of course) and sometimes FlipBoard to get our daily dose of news from our favorite blogs. We’re not saying that these services are the best, but it gets the job done for us. So how about you, have you found a good alternative for Google Reader yet?

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Would you buy an Android Nokia?

It’s a fun idea to entertain, but will it ever materialize? Nokia, though continuing to sell, is no longer the company that it was before. One of my early articles asked if Nokia deserved a second chance for users, and it turns out many people still believe that it can stand again with its partnership with Windows Phone – not Symbian, not MeeGo… but did it ever close its doors on Android?

Nokia chose Microsoft’s platform because of its uniqueness. With Windows Phone & Lumia, they were indeed able to stand out among the crowd with the completely different interface and design.

I wouldn’t say bad, but I’ll use the term ‘slow’. Nokia had so many chances to redeem itself – in the form of the N9, the Lumia 800, the Lumia 900 and now the Lumia 920 (include the PureView 808 if you may). Look where Nokia has gone. Finally, they’re beginning to rise with stability, but it took so much investment for it to happen. Is Nokia to blame? Partly, Microsoft is slow as well.

The problem with shifting from Android or iOS to Windows Phone is the ecosystem and its apps. Microsoft has a YouTube app that redirects you to the browser (Google barely has apps for WP, which makes it hard for shifting, while iOS is well provided with Google apps). Search the Store, and you’ll barely find the apps that you need; all that under the fact that Windows Phone has been here for a while. I might even go as far as saying BlackBerry 10 might even beat Windows Phone to it – by getting the killer apps such as Instagram earlier.

Early January, Elop opened the possibility of a Nokia Android phone with the words “anything is possible”. Later that same month however, he restates that Nokia is still committed to Windows Phone and will try to combat Androids.

Tablets are another story of course. Nokia is said to be working on a Windows RT tablet due for MWC. Now, further news could support that, but another statement by Elop inspired a thought.

We would consider any option. It is important to note that the opportunity for companionship is something that any user is looking for. So, when you think about the Lumia 920, running on Windows phone, having a Windows tablet or PC or Xbox is something that will give us the opportunity to have a pretty integrated experience. Our first focus on what we look at is clearly in the Microsoft side, but we have made no decision or announced nothing.”

While Windows is obviously the place to look at for their tablets, Nokia hasn’t shut the door on Android as well. The company can make amazing hardware; I have no doubts about it, but even companies such as HTC, while dedicating their Windows Phone devices to Microsoft, which produces both Android and Windows Phone devices. Even Samsung has this with their Galaxy & their Ativ.

Nokia is putting all their eggs in one basket. I do personally think Nokia-Androids would sell. I see no reason why a Lumia 920 running Android won’t sell, considering the company’s hardware features innovative technology that no other company possesses.  Why can’t Nokia draw another line? Do you buy the idea of uniqueness as a selling point? Or is it really possible that they can top the charts once again with only Windows Phone?

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