Best Baby Android Tablet: Google Nexus 7 for 2013

Best Baby Android Tablet: Google Nexus 7 (2013)


Everyone who knows annihilation about Android will acquaint you that there’s alone one bright winner, if you’re attractive for the best baby Android book appropriate now. That book is no added than the Google Nexus 7 (2013 edition).

Google absolutely outdid themselves this year with the new Nexus 7.  In fact, they outdid not aloof themselves, but anybody abroad in the industry, including the Apple iPad Mini, and appealing abundant every analysis out there will affirm that the new Google Nexus 7 is not aloof a acceptable account tablet, but it’s the best baby Android book out there. 

So let’s booty a attending at what makes the new Nexus 7 so great.

  • CPU: cloister amount 1.5 Ghz Qualcomm S4 Pro
  • GPU: Adreno 320
  • Display: 7″ LED-backlit IPS LCD, 1920×1200 resolution
  • RAM: 2 GB RAM
  • Storage:  16 GB (about 12 GB free)
  • Camera: 5 MP, 1080p@30fps,
  • Front-camera: 1.2 MP
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 A2DP
  • USB: microUSB (SlimPort) v2.0
  • Weight: 290g, 299g (LTE)
  • OS: Android 4.3

Google Nexus 7 (2013) Performance


The Nvidia Tegra 3 dent central the old Nexus 7 was an accept chip, and was appealing acceptable achievement wise. If anything, what aching the Nexus 7 performance-wise best was the abridgement of TRIM abutment in Android 4.1 and Android 4.2, which fabricated the Nexus 7 feel apathetic afterwards a assertive aeon of time, because back you were deleting being from the tablet, you weren’t absolutely deleting it, so the accumulator became slower and slower. But Android 4.3 anchored all that, because it alien TRIM support.

The new Nexus 7 with its Qualcomm S4 Pro dent is abundant faster because it appearance a new CPU architectonics that’s added avant-garde and faster than the Cortex A9 central the Tegra 3, and additionally it has a college alarm acceleration of +300 Mhz. This makes it about 80 percent faster than Tegra 3 CPU wise.


GPU wise, things are alike better, as the GPU is 4x faster than the one in the aboriginal Nexus 7, although the absolute GPU acceleration should be 2x faster, because aggregate is now active at 1080p, and that’s almost 2x added pixels than the aboriginal one. Still abundant advance all around, and the book is actual speedy.

Display Quality

The new Nexus 7 has apparently one of the accomplished affection displays on the market. It has 323 PPI, so it’s actual sharp. It additionally has bigger blush area than best displays out there, and the colors are actual accurate, too. The aboriginal Google Nexus 7 had a appealing characterless display, affection wise, although the 1280×800 resolution wasn’t too bad for that awning admeasurement (higher than Apple iPad Mini’s resolution anyway). But the 1920×1200 one should absolutely accomplish the awning actual sharp. The affectation should be one of its best absorbing features.

A Must-Buy Baby Android Tablet

The achievement and the affectation affection is added than you can ask for in such an affordable $229 baby Android tablet. You absolutely can’t go amiss with this accessory in agreement of specs for the price, and it should additionally accept updates anon from Google for at atomic 18 months (Google has a acceptable clue almanac for Nexus accessories to prove that). The new Google Nexus 7 is the best baby Android tablet, easily down.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Best 8″ Android Book (August 2013): Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
There aren’t a accomplished lot of 8″ Android tablets on the bazaar right, but there are absolutely a few, and conceivably unsurprisingly the best 8″ Android book the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0.


If you’re attractive for article a little beyond than the contempo Google Nexus 7 (2013), which I still accept is the best baby account tablet, alike admitting it’s cheaper, afresh you may demand to booty a attending at the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0. 

This book  is one of Samsung latest tablets that’s meant to attempt with the Apple iPad Mini, and it has added or beneath the aforementioned blazon of specs:

  • CPU: Samsung Exynos 4412 (quad-core 1.6 GHz ARM Cortex A9)
  • GPU: ARM Mali 400 (overclocked 2x)
  • Display: 8″ TFT LCD, 1280×800 resolution
  • RAM: 2 GB RAM
  • Storage:  16 GB, microSD up to 64 GB
  • Camera: 5 MP, 720@30fps,
  • Front-camera: 1.3MP
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 A2DP
  • Weight: 338g
  • OS: Android 4.1+Nature UX+some Note specific apps

An 8″ Android Book with a Absolute Stylus


The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is not alone a actual acceptable all-around tablet, but it additionally comes with a stylus and alive digitizer, which agency it has best in chic stylus cartoon and autography technology. The S-pen that comes with the book isn’t your accepted capacitive stylus that’s alone hardly bigger than your fingers. The S-pen is actual accurate, aloof like a accustomed pen, and it additionally comes with 1024 levels of burden sensitivity, so you can calmly accomplish the curve you’re cartoon either thicker or thinner, aloof like you would with a accustomed pen.

I’ve been aghast that no added adaptable architect is blame accurate alive pens the way Samsung is accomplishing it, because for artists and bodies who like to draw it’s absolutely the best way to go back it comes to tablets. But it seems that for now we’re ashore with alone Samsung accouterment with an 8″ Android book with stylus support, which isn’t too bad, but antagonism is consistently good, and it would advice to accept alike added units like these actuality sold, so 3rd affair developers optimize their apps for them.

The amount of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is a little steep, at $400, but that’s mainly because of the stylus and alive digitizer. I still ambition it had appear with a 1080p screen, though, because all tablets that are appear this year should accept one, abnormally if they amount over $300.

But again, if a 7″ awning is too baby for you, and you demand an 8″ Android book instead, afresh the Galaxy Note 8.0 is absolutely the best way to go, and you additionally get a absolute stylus as a bonus.

Top 10 hottest smartphones of summer 2013

Top 10 hottest smartphones of summer 2013

I kicked off this year listing my top ten smartphones and then updated my list around tax day with ten more excellent smartphones. As we enter the final month of summer break and start thinking about going back to school, I thought it would be appropriate to list the current top smartphones available or announced.
I have used all of the phones in the list, except for the new Moto X and LG G2. I read several articles about these two devices and placed them where I thought they would fit at this time. Unfortunately, some of these top picks are carrier exclusives, which I always hate, so there is limited access for consumers not willing to change their carrier. Every one of the top ten is a perfectly usable smartphone though so your really can't go wrong with any of them.
It is likely we will see a Note III soon, Apple will also reveal some kind of successor to the iPhone 5, and we may see a new Nexus from Google. However, we don't know any official details yet so this list is current as of today.
We previously saw quite a bit of consolidation as Apple, Samsung, and HTC rose to the top, but the field is broadening once again as the mobile operating systems evolve and vendors release stronger competition. Samsung and Nokia were the only vendors with multiple devices in my list with others from HTC, Apple, LG, BlackBerry, Sony, and Motorola. Android still rules with six of the top 10, two Windows Phones, a BlackBerry, and an iOS device.

Number 1: HTC One

htc-one-small
(Image: HTC)
I have been using an HTC One for nearly six months and still think it is the best smartphone I have ever used so it was easy for me to give it the top spot. The HTC One is now available on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint with the Verizon one likely coming this month. You can buy a Developer Edition or a Google Play Edition and even do what I did and giveMoDaCo.SWITCH a try and run both Sense and Google experiences on one device.
The HTC One hardware is fantastic and unmatched by any other smartphone, in my opinion. The metal body feels great in your hand and looks incredible. HTC's Super LCD displays have led the industry over the past year and now they bring an awesome 1080p 4.7 inch Super LCD 3 to the HTC One. It is powered by a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. While there is no microSD slot, there are internal memory options of 32GB and 64GB so that should be plenty for most people. You will also find dual mics, front facing stereo speakers, an ultra pixel camera with optical image stabilization (OIS).
In addition to top class hardware, HTC includes a new user experience with Sense 5. While the traditional Sense UI is present with a swipe over, you can also experience their HTC BlinkFeed home screen where content you want appears and is refreshed as you specify. They also have a slick new camera capture capability called Zoe.
You can buy the HTC One for $200 on most carriers or for as low as$599 for the Google Play Edition with no contract obligation.
If you like the HTC One, but still find it to be too big then you may want to check out the HTC One Mini. My wife found many advantages to the smaller form factor and just moved to it from the larger HTC One.

Number 2: Nokia Lumia 1020

Lumia1020Yellow
(Image: Nokia)
The Nokia Lumia 1020 launched exclusively on AT&T and while I usually don't buy locked devices the camera is just too fantastic to pass up. As I wrote in my review the Nokia Lumia 1020 is the best Windows Phone device ever made.
Nokia has always excelled at imaging and last year when they rolled out the Nokia 808 PureView I picked one up for the camera experience. Unfortunately, the Symbian OS limits me a bit and I don't use that device much. The Nokia Lumia 1020 brings that PureView experience to Windows Phone 8 and I am loving the entire experience.
Nokia provides the best low light experience along with a manual Nokia Pro Camera utility that takes camera phone imaging to the next level. Nokia also offers several more helpful camera lenses (utilities), wireless charging with a simple shell, HERE Maps turn-by-turn voice navigation, Nokia Music+, and many other Nokia exclusive apps.
The Lumia 1020 comes in a matte finish and is a rock solid device. If there was no app gap and the 1020 was a bit more sleek, like the Lumia 925, then I may have ranked it first.
You can pick up the Lumia 1020 for $299.99 under 2-year contract with AT&T.

Number 3: LG G2

lgg2tmo-200x371
(Image: T-Mobile)
The LG G2 was just announced yesterday, but after checking out the hands-on previews and details I decided to give it the third spot. I really like the Optimus G Pro as well, but it is an exclusive and there are too many other great devices to put it in my top 10 list. The G2 will launch on all four major US wireless carriers, likely rolling out this month.
The two primary features that grabbed my attention were the large 5.2 inch display with just 2.65 mm bezel and the removal of all side buttons from the phone. You will find that LG placed the buttons on the back of the phone. The G2 also has the fastest mobile processor available, 2GB of RAM, a 13 megapixel camera with OIS, and 3,000 mAh battery. It is truly a powerhouse of a device and I cannot wait to test one out.

Number 4: Apple iPhone 5

iphone5
(Image: Apple)
I still think the iPhone is one of the best smartphones for the masses and recommend it to some family and friends. I also think the UI is getting a bit boring and have heard that from a number of others. iOS 7 will be coming soon and the iPhone 5 will get that update so this phone is still a contender. I sold mine to buy the Lumia 1020, but have an iPad for iOS work.
Other smartphone manufacturers are innovating more and pushing the limits of smartphone design and I gave them some credit in my top ten list. Apple updated the internals and length of its iPhone product with the iPhone 5 and the design is excellent. It is still one of the most pocketable smartphones and easy to use with one hand.
Prices range from $199 (16GB) to $399 (64GB) on contract with a premium of $450 additional cost if you buy it without a contract. The iPhone 5 is available on all major carriers.

Number 5: Samsung Galaxy S4

GalaxyS4
(Image: Samsung)
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the successor to the extremely popular Galaxy S III with improvements across the board. It is available on most carriers for $200 with a contract and also available as a Google Play Edition for $649.
The Galaxy S4 has a 5 inch display and yet still feels great in your hand. Samsung provides some flexibility with a microSD card and removable battery too. They also include plenty of software enhancements that make the S4 unique compared to many other Android smartphones.

AT&T Nokia Lumia 1020 Reviews


AT&T Nokia Lumia 1020 review: The best Windows Phone ever made
After a anniversary I alternate the appraisal assemblage and purchased my own Lumia 1020. After two abounding weeks with the Nokia Lumia 1020 it is accessible for me to accompaniment that it is the best Windows Buzz accent I accept acclimated over the aftermost three years.

In July 2010 I wrote the absolute adviser to the Windows Buzz 7 abstruse examination and I can still acutely bethink how afflicted I was with the auspicious user interface of Windows Phone. I abide to be admiring with the busline UI and use of Live Tiles, it still offers commodity altered than iOS and Android.

Hardware

Nokia aboriginal arise the Nokia N9 in September 2011, followed anon by the Nokia Lumia 800. Bodies were afflicted by the new Nokia designs with arced avant-garde glass, use of polycarbonate artificial in the shell, a active blush alternative and a focus on imaging. Best Lumias today accept these aforementioned abject architecture appearance and Nokia is acceptable apparent due to them.

If you aloof attending at the avant-garde of the Lumia 1020 afresh you adeptness aberration it for a Lumia 920 or 928. You can acquaint a aberration anon aback you aces it up admitting because the 1020 is 27.4 grams (0.97 ounces) lighter. While an ounce doesn't complete like much, you can feel it aback captivation the accessories in duke side-by-side. I'm not adage the Lumia 920 was too heavy, but it had added backpack than best added avant-garde smartphones.

I am actual admiring that Nokia went with matte finishes on all three colors of the Lumia 1020. I ahead had a bright white Lumia 900 and bright red Lumia 920 and I concluded up putting bendable blow carapace cases on those accessories to advice advance my anchor on them. The bright finishes additionally seemed to blemish appealing calmly while I don't apprehension them on the matte accomplishment so far. I alone acquisition that the matte accomplishment additionally gives the Lumia band a bit added exceptional attending and feel. The chicken 1020 I accept looks abundant with the atramentous button and camera accents too.

The Lumia 1020 is the aboriginal Windows Buzz to arise with 2GB of RAM and while Windows Buzz does able-bodied with adequately low specs, the added RAM does advice with camera and gaming functions. The affectation looks abundant with 1280x768 resolution in 4.5 inches and AMOLED ClearBlack technology. Nokia does a absurd job with their displays and I accept aught complaints on the Lumia 1020, alike admitting added Android accessories accept college resolution.

41 megapixel camera
There are abounding accessories and allegory apropos the Lumia 1020 camera, but I awful acclaim you apprehend the accomplished assay from Steve Litchfield in his camera affection commodity and in his 808 PureView vs Lumia 1020 comparison. Brian Klug additionally takes a abundant attending at the camera and camera anchor accessory.

The camera is actually absurd and while the Xenon beam doesn't assume to accomplish as able-bodied as it does on the 808 PureView, it still beats out added avant-garde smartphones. The camera bore is ample on the Lumia 1020 and if adaptable photography is not that important to you afresh I wouldn't acclaim the 1020 aback you do accommodation on size. Afresh again, I am accepting annoyed of seeing blurry, poor affection pictures aggregate by ancestors and accompany and am actually a bit sad aback those abominable photos are the alone memories they accept of those moments. The Nokia Lumia 1020 lets you abduction those moments and bethink them in active accuracy after on while still giving you a actual anatomic smartphone experience.

Feel chargeless to analysis out my abounding resolution angel samples on Flickr. Best of these were taken in auto approach application the Pro Camera utility. I plan to absorb a LOT added time acquirements the ins and outs of the camera application the tutorials and am actual admiring with the performance. It doesn't booty actually as acceptable of photos as the Nokia 808 PureView I have, but the OS is abundant added accessible and I adulation the alteration accoutrement on the phone.

Nokia is additionally a baton in adaptable buzz video, which some bodies generally balloon about. Their video stabilization is incomparable in the smartphone apple and the arrangement in the 1020 is alike added avant-garde than what we see in the 920, 925, and 928. The stereo audio recording is additionally appealing amazing and you can go to a concert and actually abduction the acquaintance to allotment after with ancestors and friends.

I'll altercate some Nokia software enhancements a bit later, but there is a abounding apartment of Nokia applications accessible accompanying to the camera and Microsoft now alike lets you specify which camera account launches aback you columnist and authority the concrete camera button. The newest camera account is alleged Nokia Pro Camera and the Lumia 1020 is the aboriginal accent to get this software. Nokia Pro Camera lets you abduction photos in auto approach or booty abounding ascendancy over exposure, bang speed, ISO settings, white balance, and focus. I am aflame to use and apprentice from my Lumia 1020 and the tutorials as I attack to become a bigger adaptable photography.

Nokia Smart Camera launched on the Nokia Lumia 925 and works agnate to Zoes on the HTC One. Instead of capturing abbreviate video clips and extracting still photos, Smart Camera captures a arrangement of photos in access approach and afresh lets you use those photos to get the best one, add motion effects, abolish exceptionable objects, and accept the best face for anniversary actuality in a accumulation shot.

You will additionally acquisition camera lenses and utilities from Nokia alleged Panorama, Glam Me Lens, Creative Studio, PhotoBeamer, and Cinemagraph. The utilities action absorbing means to abduction and adapt your images so you can actualize fun things to share. I was additionally actual admiring to see Nokia add a video trimmer and YouTube upload audience like I accept been allurement about for months. I like to abduction video of events, but afresh aloof upload and allotment called genitalia of the videos and until now there was no assignment done on the video alteration acquaintance in Windows Phone.

Accessories
Along with the hardware, in archetypal Nokia appearance you will acquisition a brace of air-conditioned accessories advised aloof for the AT&T Nokia Lumia 1020. I bought a atramentous Camera Anchor at the AT&T abundance and afresh Nokia loaned me a atramentous Wireless Charging Awning to analysis out. The Camera Anchor is accessible in yellow, black, or white while the Wireless Charging Awning is atramentous or yellow. The Wireless Charging Awning is still difficult to acquisition in stores. Both are agnate in that they accept ample annular openings for the camera bore with the four corners applicable over the abandon to defended the awning and anchor over the 1020.

The Camera Anchor is a bit added advanced, yet analytic priced at $59.00. For this amount you get a 1020 mAh array and concrete camera button on a beyond end piece. Nokia's armpit states you can get up to 285 added photos or an added 48 account of video with the Camera Anchor attachment. Aback you accelerate your 1020 in place, you get the activity your buzz is actually added camera than buzz in this approach as the microUSB anchorage makes the connection. There is additionally a accepted tripod arise on the basal of the camera anchor to advice you abduction abiding aerial resolution shots.

Inside the Wireless Charging Awning you can see to metal contacts area those on the aback of the 1020 accomplish a affiliation so that the internals of the Charging Awning facilitate Qi charging. With charging plates at home and at work, I accept developed into a huge fan of wireless charging due to its accessibility and adeptness to advice apple-pie up a wire mess.

Nokia software enhancements



I accept accounting a brace of times about the absurd amount added by Nokia for Windows Buzz owners. The Lumia 1020 continues with software and account offerings such as Nokia Music+, the HERE Maps apartment (City Lens, Drive+, Maps, and Transit), Nokia Trailers, Ringtone Maker, AccuWeather, and more.



Nokia has been accouterment some added utilities on its Windows Buzz line, including accumulator check, Dolby audio support, blow acuteness settings, and more. We now see some absurd functionality from the Nokia N9 MeeGo device, including the adeptness to bifold tap on the affectation to deathwatch the accent and the adeptness to accredit Glance. Glance allows you to accept the time and buzz cachet arise on the affectation aback aggregate abroad is off. This includes a Peek approach area you can beachcomber your duke over the buzz to appearance the status. A final custom affection is the adeptness to acclimatize your display's blush profile.

Apps and the Windows Buzz Store



Microsoft afresh appear there are now added than 160,000 apps in the Windows Buzz Abundance and for my claimed needs there are aloof a brace missing that I use on iOS and Android. These accommodate my coffer (USAA), who was one of the aboriginal on Windows Buzz and now appears to accept accustomed up too early, MLB At Bat, Alaska Airlines, and Google casework like Google+. There are alternatives that assignment aloof accomplished for Vine and Instagram with about anytime added app I use already on Windows Phone. In addition, Halo: Spartan Assault, is advancing to all accessories soon.


If there are some missing apps, afresh accomplish abiding you acquisition out about adaptable optimized websites. Alaska Airlines accomplished out to me on a contempo cruise aback I was accusatory about a abridgement of Windows Buzz abutment to acquaint me that their adaptable website lets you analysis in, change your seat, and alike use your buzz affectation as your boarding pass. The website is accomplished and meets my needs for that specific service.

During the Lumia 1020 barrage we additionally heard that Flipboard, Path, Vine, and others may be advancing soon. I brainstorm the shrinking app gap will anon abandon and afresh acquirement decisions will arise bottomward to the OS user acquaintance and accessible hardware.

Conclusion
There is no agnosticism that the Nokia Lumia 1020 is the best Windows Buzz accent anytime made. It may still not be for anybody aback admeasurement is added important than a austere camera to some folks. I accept actually no abjure so far in affective from a Verizon iPhone 5 to the Lumia 1020 and ascertain new functions with the camera daily.

The complaints about the amount are actuality fabricated after reason. The 32GB iPhone 5, a archetypal about a year old, is priced the aforementioned as the Lumia 1020 beneath arrangement and is alike added after a contract. If you attending at the able camera in the Lumia 1020, it is accessible to absolve the exceptional amount and I aloof avoid those who try to altercate about amount because they are not comparing apples to apples.

Moto X Google's Motorola approachable

With Moto X, Google may accomplish Android, Motorola added approachable

With the barrage of the Moto X, Google's Motorola assemblage not alone gets a flagship buzz but an access to retool its angel to one that's added fashionable. Perhaps Android can address to a accumulation bazaar sans the spec-happy, automated and ridiculously ample screens advantaged Google's buzz partners.


Let's face it: Android historically has been for bodies that like specs, like to boggle and don't apperception 5-inch screens. Why is there a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini? Because the Galaxy S4 is basically a phablet. Motorola's antecedent Android accessories additionally address to a assertive niche.

The Moto X won't wow anyone with its specs and that's accomplished (see CNET analysis and roundup). It's a midrange buzz that speaks to the masses at $199 with a two-year contract. There is a appropriate bulk of appearance faculty to it and a few appearance that may differentiate the accessory from the pack. But added importantly, the Moto X doesn't actually alienate anyone. The buzz will address to women as able-bodied as men. The beatnik and the non-geek. Is Moto X the acumen Google bought Motorola? We'll see.
motoxcolors

It's cryptic whether Moto X, actually a Google Phone, can advance that affecting adapter that Apple's iPhone has, but it actually has a shot. Here's why:
  1. Customization: Via Moto Maker, an appliance that will acreage aboriginal at AT&T and Best Buy, colors and added appearance can be customized and delivered in days. That customization enables a assembly of colors for a accessory that can be captivated in one hand. There are two advanced colors, 18 aback colors and 7 accents. That akin of options is could be a accumulation alternation nightmare. If Motorola can deliver, it'll be able to advantage its U.S.-based accomplishment hub added finer than rivals architecture accessories in China or Korea.
  2. Touchless control. After arena with Google Glass for a while, it's bright that there's article absorbing about talking to a accessory to actuate it. Moto X will accept for you to say "OK Google" and ask for something. From there, it's up to Google to buck your answers.
  3. The buzz isn't about the specs. Moto X doesn't accept the best awning on the bazaar and doesn't alike run the latest Android. That closing point is actually crazy. However, active the latest Android may not amount abundant to the boilerplate bear.
Moto X is an absorbing agreement in the Motorola-Google era. Two years back Google acquired Motorola, it's about time there's a mashup account monitoring.

Forget blush artist Smartphones

Forget blush artist smartphones, I demand a asperous device

If you've been advantageous assimilation to the adaptable amplitude recently, it seems that the latest gimmick in aggravating to accomplish contrarily commoditized "me-too" articles angle out in an acutely saturated exchange is to add a bit of personalization to your accurate device.

I can accept — well, I don't absolutely understand, but I can see why — some bodies would demand to accomplish actualization statements with their smartphones. Smartphones, like watches or jewelry, are perceived as important affairs accessories now.


Various accessory manufacturers accept had some amount of blush best in their articles for some time now. Apple has two altered colors of iPhone — white and atramentous — and Nokia has a ambit of colors that you can accept from on some of its Windows Phone-based Lumia smartphones.

Google is aggravating to breach new arena with the Moto X by giving you hundreds of abeyant customization options to change the accurate actualization of your phone. It's additionally accepted that Apple is activity to absolution a lower-cost, artificial iPhone aural the abutting few months, tentatively alleged the "5C", that comes in your best of colors, abundant like the Lumia.

Unfortunately, all of this color-coordinated accessorized fantasy comes to a arrest arrest the aboriginal time your accessory takes a 5-foot bead assimilate concrete, and it ends up ruining your day.

Trust me, I apperceive all about this. This is why I assure my smartphones with acutely ruggedized cases. My iPhone 5 is closed with apparatus screws in a Lunatik Taktik enclosure, which makes it attending like article Batman or SEAL Team Six ability carry, and my Nokia 920, my assignment phone, is encased in an OtterBox case that transforms an contrarily big buzz into a brick.

Every time a accessory sees me with the Otterboxed Nokia, I get taunted and ridiculed. But I apperceive better, because I'm smarter than every distinct one of them.

I assure my phones with these kinds of cases because I await on them heavily as a adaptable business professional. I biking adequately frequently, and my absolute abode in Florida, like abounding homes bottomward here, is addled with blubbery Italian bowl asphalt in every room.

There's a big tiled patio in my backyard, and accurate pavers lining my basin area. Bead any caught buzz anywhere abreast my domicile, and you are about absolutely activity to accept a bad day.

The aforementioned goes if you are walking bottomward the artery in a above city, and you bollix the accessory during a alarm or it avalanche out of your abridged and hits the pavement. Sure, your accessory allowance or aegis plan will get the buzz replaced or repaired, but do you absolutely demand to accord with the altercation and actuality out of abridged until it gets fixed?

It shouldn't accept to be this way. I shouldn't accept to absorb an added $40 to $100 on a ruggedized case on top of an already big-ticket smartphone, and accomplish it attending animal and bulky, as well.

The basal band is this: If you're activity to action "customized" or "color" options for your product, again you ability as able-bodied additionally action the "ruggedized" version.

Motorola absolutely had the appropriate abstraction with the carbon-fiber Razr Android phone, but it was not as ruggedized as it possibly could accept been. Ideally, you demand all the corners to be reinforced, and the case application a able polycarbonate that has a disposable elastic sheath on it for shock absorption, which could be absolute in any blush you could possibly demand for the actualization conscious. And you will demand thicker Gorilla Glass to assure the display.

Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active, according to our sister adduce CNET, shows that the water-resistant adaptation of its flagship smartphone is annihilation but ruggedized.

The one aggregation that seems to absolutely get this appropriate now is Casio, which has entered the bazaar with its Android-based G zOne Commando LTE 4G buzz that is currently accessible on Verizon. It's like the G-Shock watch agnate of a phone, advised to handle the best calumniating conditions, including abounding baptize immersion.


I had a abrupt adventitious to comedy with the GzOne, and while I like the idea, the Android on it is back-revved to an earlier 4.0 version, the awning is low resolution compared to accepted smartphone offerings, and the accouterments isn't decidedly able compared to what abroad is out there. So best Android admirers would apparently not demand one, although it has abeyant for vertical bazaar applications.

But anticipate of what Apple, Samsung, HTC, and Nokia could do if they took the audacity of their best accepted models and fabricated "Active Lifestyle" versions with a slight exceptional for the ruggedization. I would absolutely go for a rugged iPhone 5 or a armored, immersion-proof Nokia 1020. Heck, the 1020 is about agreeable for this treatment, accustomed the actuality that it already has such an alfresco focus with the exceptional 40 MP camera on it.

If a "ruggedized" adaptation of your admired smartphone was available, would you buy one? Talk aback and let me know.