Google Android phones

We have secured a Google Android based HTC phone to test and compare against the iPhone in the smartphone area. The Android software is an open system that any hardware manufacturer can use on their phones. Compared to the iPhone, the Android system is powerful but a bit harder to use. If you have a technical mind and love “geeky”, then the Android is a great choice.
Features like native Facebook integration (yes, it gets photos and birthdays etc for your contacts), twitter, powerful cameras with zoom, white balance, ISO, video recording and metering modes. Like the iPhone, there is a Google Marketplace which allows you to download apps for various tasks. The screen works the same way – swipe, pinch, tap etc. There are models with and without physical keyboards – the onscreen keyboard works well – but the iPhone keyboard is better. Syncing is best done through your GMail account for contacts and calendars, or you have to buy Missing Sync for Android on the Mac – free sync software for the PC. The flood of Android powered phones is yet to hit NZ – but when they do, make sure you take one for a test drive first to see that it fits your brain type before buying one!! The Google Nexus is the next generation HTC hardware and will be in NZ sometime later this year.

PIC: HTC Hero