CrowdGadgets 34 | Windows Phone Controversy
Download: CrowdGadgets Podcast Archive
Between the Windows Phone update controversy, the upcoming release of the HTC One series in the US, and Microsoft’s Windows 8 announcements, there was certainly a lot to talk about in this week’s episode of CrowdGadgets! Plus, before you buy insurance for your next phone, hear our take on whether or not it’s actually worth the money.
00:41 – Windows Phone update controversy
10:25 – Verizon wants to make Windows Phone successful
11:38 – Microsoft announces editions of Windows 8, Windows RT
16:59 – HTC One series finally coming to the US
19:34 – Intel introduces first x86-based Android phone, the Xolo X900
23:10 – HTC’s Sprint devices are changing
26:28 – Nokia Lumia 900 had issues but is selling like hotcakes
27:15 – Microsoft Research FALCON technology
30:14 – Is phone insurance worth the money?
Hosts: Calob Horton, John Freml, and William Devereux
Podcast Editor: Calob Horton
Newsletter Editor: John Freml
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CrowdGadgets is the official podcast of the CrowdGather Gadget Network, which includes Anythingbutiphone, Anythingbutipod, Good and EVO, Nothing But Tablets, Pocketables, StreakSmart, and Zune Boards. Read the latest news from the network below.
News from around the CrowdGather Gadget Network
Anythingbutiphone
Samsung is preparing to announce the Galaxy S III, and HTC has revealed that the One X will arrive at AT&T on May 6 for $200. Meanwhile, the much cheaper Lumia 900 is selling as fast as Nokia can make them, and this seems to have caught the attention of Verizon, which suddenly wants to repeat its Android success with Windows Phone. Finally, Microsoft Research’s FALCON can accurately predict which app you’ll use next.
Anythingbutipod
The Cowon Plenue Z2 might arrive in the US in early May, according to a company spokesperson. The device, which is Cowon’s second media player running Android, has been available in Korea for some time. It will be released in two variants: a white 16GB model for $280 and a black 32GB model for $320. This is a bit pricier than we’d like, but it does include a few nice improvements over your average PMP.
Good and EVO
With news that the EVO 3D has disappeared from Sprint’s site and that the EVO Design 4G might head to Boost Mobile, Sprint looks like it’s trying to make room for upcoming LTE devices like the EVO 4G LTE, which actually might arrive sooner than we thought. In the meantime, be sure to check out our latest ROM Pick: MeanROM 3.92 for the EVO 3D, and learn how to make your homescreen pop with Glow Icons.
Nothing But Tablets
Do you want a handy app that allows you to access widgets and icons from anywhere within the Android OS? Then you may want to take a look at Wave Launcher for Android! Meanwhile, PeekTab is raising a few eyebrows by claiming to be the world’s first spyware for tablets. Also, since haptic feedback is so common on smartphones and tablets everywhere, why is it missing on the iPad? Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is rumored to be getting a new processor, and production has been stopped for now.
Pocketables
Android’s biggest strength is arguably the customization that can be done at almost every level of the OS. But there are also some great old school games available, like Mario or Sonic, which are still incredibly fun to this day, but don’t work very well on a touchscreen. Enter the Phonejoy, an external game controller for your Android device, which we reviewed extensively on Pocketables. But if you don’t like playing games and are more into customization, you can also check out our reviews of SmartShift and WidgetLocker!
Zune Boards
Sadly, ChevronWP7 has passed away. The service let advanced Windows Phone users sideload their own certified apps and other homebrew apps, and it had been managed and approved by Microsoft. At least Nokia Lumia users seem to have an alternative with Inroads, which also lets users sideload apps and gives them much more access to OS than users currently have.
