Why Android Sucks

Welcome to my second "Why Stuff Sucks" article. I've already shared my thoughts on why iOS sucks (http://bit.ly/XDH22g). While Apple reigns supreme in overall profit, Android is king when it comes to market share, with estimates ranging from 50 to over 70 per cent.

Yet, Android sucks. It's come a long way and it sucks way less than it did before Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) was releases. But, it still sucks.

Android sucks mainly because it wants to be everywhere and do everything. While the latter isn't necessarily a bad thing, the former is. There don't seem to be any minimum hardware requirements. If there are, they're not nearly high enough. This has resulted in fragmentation. You'll be hard-pressed to read about Android and not hear about fragmentation. Fragmentation is what has driven many users away from Windows PCs to Mac PCs over the last few years. The old adage "you get what you pay for" still holds true. A high-end Windows box will run almost problem-free, and so will a high-end Android smartphone. But, this article isn't about any particular Android phone. It's about Android in general and entry-level devices cannot be ignored.  My wife's Nokia 700 (Symbian Belle) offers comparable performance to an HTC One V or a Samsung Galaxy Ace. There's a reason behind Symbian's demise and having comparable performance to a Symbian device is hardly a compliment.

Do you like the latest and greatest OS version? If you don't buy high-end hardware, then you can forget about it. In some cases, you can forget about it even when you buy high-end hardware. Anyone who's owned a high-end LG Android phone over the past couple of years will attest to that. I'm not blaming Google here, as Google rolls out Android updates in a timely fashion. Each manufacturer then has to work with each mobile operator to bring the update to a particular handset, with the exception of the Nexus line. If you want undiluted, cutting-edge pure-Google experience the Nexi are your only choice. The problem with these devices has traditionally been their price. The latest Nexus 4 by LG has been "released" in 

Canada at "$309" for the 8 GB model. I'm being sarcastic with "released" and "309" because it's still nearly impossible to get and shipping isn't included in the price. Still, it's the best outright price for a phone of its caliber. Unfortunately, most people will be signing contracts anyways and getting better phones for "less" so the Nexus remains a niche phone.

I've mentioned  that mobile operators are involved in the OS update process which brings me to another reason why Android sucks: bloatware. Bloatware is a term used for software that ships with a particular computer (think various HP assistants and trial programs on a budget HP machine at your local Best Buy). Bloatware applies to the world of smartphones, because they are also computers albeit in a different form factor. There are two types of bloatware: operator bloatware and manufacturer bloatware. Neither can be removed from your phone. Bloatware takes up unnecessary storage space on your phone and can significantly slow down your overall performance.

Do you like to back-up your device? While Android generally makes content transfer easy, backing up your system can be a nightmare. You can keep your device in-sync with Google's servers, so your data will be preserved. There's no selecting which particular backup Google uses so you're limited to the latest. Also, your shortcuts and widgets will not automatically be arranged on your home screen, so you'll need anywhere between 5 minutes to over an hour to arrange everything back the way it was. Some manufacturers offer PC backup software for their particular device and my experience with such software has been less than positive, to put it mildly.

A minor reason why Android sucks is the inability to alter DNS settings over a mobile data connection, but I must mention that no competing system offers this option either.

I'm sure I'm missing a few reasons, but there you have it. I must point out that there are ways around certain above-mentioned limitations, but those require gaining superuser privileges (rooting), which void all warranty. Of course, rooting is reversible but I cannot recommend it to anyone who isn't tech savvy. Despite its limitations, I can't advise against using an Android phone, but I must stress the importance of good hardware.

Why iOS Sucks

Let's start the series off with the top dog: iOS. Apple is the undisputed champion of the computing world, be it mobile or traditional. It doesn't matter that Android and Windows have bigger market shares in their respective computing domains. Apple has profit margins that other companies can only dream of.

But nonetheless, iOS sucks. It really sucks This post deals with iOS 6 (EDIT: It's been brought to my attention that there are some aspects of iOS that are slightly different on iPads. This article deals with iOS as it's presented on iPhones).

The chief complaint with iOS seems to be regarding its closed-source nature. Personally, this doesn't bother me. Open-source is great, but not always feasible. The closed app ecosystem does bother me. With no side-loading (installing software independent of the system's app store) abilities, I'm limited to what the App Store offers in my region. Found a way to use Pandora in Canada? Too bad, because you can't download the client app (there is a workaround for this particular app, but not all). I'm talking about free apps here, not about pirating premium apps.

Do you like customizing your phone? If the answer's yes, then iOS really sucks. Your home screen is also your app list. The icons are all static, except for the Calendar app. Why does the Weather app always show the same damn temperature and a sunshine icon? Today it's -17 degrees Celsius and fairly overcast but the icon shows 23 and sunny, as it always does. I can pull down the notification centre to see a snapshot of the current conditions or I could ask Siri for the weather conditions, but both of those options require further action. Tapping the icon or pulling down the notification centre, what's the difference? You cannot remove any installed app from your various home screens. The best you can do is bury it in a folder. Want a different colour scheme for your menus? You're out of luck. The bottom line here is: you're limited to static icons, no widgets, and no colour changes (turning on accessibility options doesn't count - sure, it'll change the colours but it'll do so for all content including pictures and video).

Would you like to change your DNS settings for you mobile data? Can't do that, but I must point out that no competing system offers this ability out of the box.

Siri can be a great help, but only in certain situations and only if it understands you. Why can it open an app but not close it? Why can it give me driving directions with Apple Maps, but not with Google Maps and Navigon? Why does it sometimes take too long to process a simple request. Siri is a great feature in theory, but little more than a parlour trick in practice.

Do you multitask (use more than one app at a time)? Multitasking is partially supported in iOS, and this is something I don't really have a problem with as it improves the overall performance of the system. Closing apps is a pain. I need to double-press the Home button, long-press an app icon, then pixel-hunt the little "X" icon in the corner of the icon for the app that I wish to close. This is not fluid. It is a pain. Again, why can't Siri close the app?

Transferring content to/from your iOS device sucks. Want documents, music, or video on your device? iTunes is your only option. Simply plugging in your device to a computer will only give you access to your own photos and recording video. Have something you want to share with your friend sitting next to you? You both better have an internet connection. iOS is the only current mobile platform that does not support Bluetooth file transfer. Feature phones did this a decade ago. Too much content on your device? That's too bad for you. You cannot upgrade the internal memory of iOS devices. While a lack of a card slot isn't necessarily a software issue, it is more than worth mentioning considering the fact that no iPhone offers expandable memory.

Want the latest version of the iOS? If your phone is too old, you can forget about it (though you can't really expect the latest software to be made available for 3+ year old hardware). The updates that you do get are not always for the best. The newest iOS tends to decrease performance on aging devices. It's a great little trick to entice you to buy the latest hardware. It's important to wait and see what early-adopters are saying about the latest update because once you update, there's no going back.

I'm sure that there are other reasons why iOS sucks, but I believe that I've covered the main ones. There are ways around some issues mentioned but they require superuser privileges (jailbreaking), which voids warranty. Yes, it's reversible but not recommended for novice users. There are many virtues of the system, but that's not the point of this article. But, despite its faults, I can't advise against using it. I'm currently using an iPhone 5 and am currently happy enough with it.

Why Stuff Sucks: Introduction

First, I would like to apologize to all of my two readers for the delay in posting. I had enough on my plate with school and holiday events that blogging barely entered my mind. That being said, I'd like to introduce a series of articles which I'll call "Why Stuff Sucks". The inspiration for this came from watching a YouTube video titled "Why Linux Sucks" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh-cnaJoGCw). The aim of these articles is not to blindly bash a product, but rather to showcase what it can't do.

In these articles I will mainly talk about operating systems, both traditional and mobile. This is a volatile topic for die-hard fans an I want to emphasize that I am only looking at negative points. We can talk about the positives elsewhere.

Do keep in mind that I make no promise to continually update these articles. Each article deals with the product as it is at the time of post publication.

"I'd like a nice smartphone, but I'm broke!"

"Tis the season for being broke.

Actually, "more broke than usual" may be more apt.

This is the time of year when everyone will push their products to the max. Getting a smartphone for Christmas just isn't a reality for most. These devices are insanely expensive in many cases. But, you can treat yourself, can't you?

First, we'll assume that you either have a feature phone or a really crappy smartphone (think Windows Mobile 6, Symbian, pre-4.0 Android). If not, this article is not for you.

Why do you want a smartphone? Are you willing to spend extra money for mobile data? I used to think that it was stupid to get a smartphone and not have a data plan. I used to be right. Smartphones used to be very expensive. But, then Android (and later Windows Phone 7) came along and that was no longer the case. In fact, if you spend most of your time in areas with WiFi access (your home, school, or work), you don't need a data plan (but it's always nice).

A smartphone will ensure that you're always connected. If you love web surfing, social media, and taking frequent snapshots, a smartphone would make your life easier.

The first smartphone I would recommend would be the Nokia Lumia 710. You can get one for about $200 from carriers, which translates into being able to get a second-hand one (Kijiji or Craigslist) for as low as $120. Yes, there is a reason why this phone is so cheap, but it's not because it sucks. The Lumia 710 runs Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.5 operating system (OS). This OS has been orphaned only a few years after it was introduced (as Windows Phone 7). Phones that shipped with this OS will not be upgraded to Windows Phone 8, Microsoft's latest release. And yes, WP8 is better than WP7.5. But, do you need it?

If all you do is surf, Facebook, e-mail, text, take notes, shoot photos, and make calls (sadly, a foreign concept for some), then this phone is for you. If you are an app lover, it might not be. There is a severe lack of apps on WP7.5 compared to Apple's iOS or Google's Android, but this may not be an issue for you. I've used both iOS and Android phones and while there are some really nice apps that I can't get on my WP7.5 device, I can live without them.

The Lumia 710 provides you with a very smooth experience. Browsing is smooth. Scrolling is smooth. The keyboard is in my opinion better than any other stock OS keyboard. There is a dedicated camera shutter button (with half-press to focus) that makes accessing the camera and taking photos extremely easy. Even at the retail price of $200, this phone is a bargain. But, considering its low resale value, you're better off buying second-hand.

But, what if you can spend a bit more? The Lumia 710 only has 8 GB of storage with no room for expansion and it's hardly a beautiful device. For about $200 (second-hand), you can have its siblings, the 800 and the 900. I purchased a brand new unlocked 800 for $200. The 800 and the 900 are much nicer looking phones and they both have 16 GB of storage and a better camera. The 900 is also capable of LTE (on Rogers) and has a bigger screen with a front camera for video conferencing (Skype). For $200-240, these phones will be in mint condition.

And what if you don't want a Windows Phone? There are bargains to be had with both iOS and Android phones. You can find an iPhone 4 for as low as $200 or a 4S for about $300. But, these phones will be less likely to be in mint shape and will be out of warranty. Still, considering that these are still quality phones, you can find yourself a bargain. If you want to go Android, you can find a Samsung Galaxy Nexus or Galaxy S2 for $200-240. They'll be in better shape than the iPhones, but still not as in good shape as the Windows Phone devices.

There you have it. A very nice smartphone for everyday use for only $120-300. There's something for everyone's taste and budget.

For detailed reviews of the phones I mentioned, you'll have to exercise your fingers. Also, please bear in mind that some of these phones may not be compatible with your network. Find out whether a phone will work with your network before you buy it.

Finally, when buying a second-hand device, test it out with your SIM card first (unless you know that it's locked to a different network and if it is - check to see if the phone turns on and if there are any glaring problems). If you're a novice, have someone who knows what to look for come with you.

First Impressions: Microsoft Surface RT 32 GB with Touch Cover

I've recently got my hands on a 32GB Microsoft Surface RT, bundled with the much hyped Touch Cover. I haven't used it for long enough to write a detailed review, but enough people were asking me about it so I've decided to write a preliminary review.

Let's start off with the price (Canadian). This package is priced at $599 plus HST (or PST/GST, depending on your province). In Ontario, that puts the grand total at $676.87. Without the Type Cover, the Surface RT is $519 ($586.47 with HST). This is $19 more expensive than the current (4th generation) iPad (entry model: 16 GB WiFi) and $90 more expensive than Google's Nexus 10 tablet.

The iPad was never a contender for me. I'll admit that it's a great device, I will never be more than a toy to me. I've owned tablets before (Viewsonic G Tablet and BlackBerry PlayBook), but found that their main purpose was collecting dust. If I needed to read something on the go (or on the crapper - we all do it), my smartphone was always my first choice. I didn't need to find it; it was always in my pocket. If I was travelling, my laptop was my computing device of choice for both productivity and entertainment. So, I sold my tablets.

If I was getting a tablet again, it was going to have to replace the laptop and the laptop was to be sold to offset the cost of the tablet.

I need cheaper hobbies.

I was going to wait until the Surface PRO (and third party Core i3/i5 tablets) were released but I decided to try the RT first (I got a pretty good deal on a slightly used one). I know that the RT has no legacy app support, but that doesn't matter all that much to me at the moment. If you want to run your old Windows programs, then move along - this device isn't for you. Also, you have to ask yourself just how much you'd miss these programs. The cheapest Windows 8 (not RT) tablets are about $600 and come with fairly crappy Intel Atom processors. Sure, it'll run your old programs, but you may be tempted to smash it to bits in the process.

The design of the tablet is great. The magnesium alloy chassis and the screen are really top-notch. The tablet has even more of a premium feel than a PlayBook. While some have knocked the screen resolution, I'll say that the screen looks great and is quite responsive. Who cares how many pixels there are? Isn't the overall picture (no pun intended) more important. The built-in kickstand is also great. I've been able to use the tablet to watch a video while cooking. You don't need to hunt down a quality stand for this thing - it's built in.

The sound quality of the internal speakers is good, albeit quiet. In all but the quietest environments, you'll be reaching for your headphones or external speakers. I have a Bluetooth speaker set up in my living room and the sound is great. I will warn you that Bluetooth is severely crippled in Windows RT/8. You need to re-pair your device every damn time. This is not exactly a small issue. UPDATE (01/22): This issue does not apply to Bluetooth HID devices such as keyboards and mice.

It may be a bit early to comment on the battery life, but so far I'm happy. With casual use, I had to recharge it after three days. The Surface comes with a proprietary magnetic charger, which isn't good news if you're the kind of person that loses chargers or wants extra ones for various locations. I'm not so it doesn't affect me. The charger is very portable and more similar to cellular chargers so it won't be taking too much space in your bag.

The touch cover is a very unique thing. It has a magnetic connector that snaps into the bottom of the tablet. It's very easy to put on and remove. With the cover attached and opened (and kickstand extended), the tablet taken on a familiar laptop form. It looks great. The on-screen keyboard disappears. There is even a trackpad that you can use in this mode, but I find that I still just use my fingers on the screen for all but the finest of clicking tasks. If you fold the cover around the back of the tablet, the keys are deactivated so you don't have to worry about accidental key presses while using the Surface as a tablet.

That being said, I hate this cover. If you're a fast typist, the cover is a nightmare. There is audible feedback with each key press, but the response isn't nearly as precise as I'd like. It is better than the on-screen keyboard, but it doesn't suffice when creating long documents. I'd recommend getting the more expensive Type Cover for more serious productivity. UPDATE (01/22): I've recently purchased a cheap Bluetooth keyboard and it makes text input a breeze. While I'd still prefer the Type Cover, I can live with my $25 keyboard over a $139 Touch Cover.

Other reviewers knocked this device for the lack of available apps. The only apps I absolutely need are for e-mail, calendar, note taking, an office suite, Netflix, and a torrent client. The built-in calendar and e-mail apps are fantastic. OneNote is a great note taking app that syncs to your SkyDrive account, so I'm able to access my notes on my Android smartphone or Windows 8 desktop PC. The Netflix app on this thing is the best Netflix app I've used to date. The only thing I'd like to see added is the ability to have the video played directly on my PS3 like the iOS/Android apps. But, as I usually watch Netflix on my Xbox 360, I don't care all that much. The Surface RT comes with a full Microsoft Office Home Suite which is better than any iOS/Android counterpart. No native torrent app for RT exists, but I'm sure something will become available in the near future. For now, I just use uTorrent's WebUI on my Surface RT to control what's being downloaded on my desktop.

My absolutely favourite feature on the Surface RT has to be the ability to join my Windows Home Group. I can browse and use any file on my PC while connected to my home network. Any photo, video or song is within reach. In theory, you can also send your Office documents to your network printer, but I haven't tested this out yet.

I haven't touched on the memory yet. Critics are quick to point out that the 32 GB model only has 16 GB of free memory. To me, this doesn't matter since you can add an SDHC/SDXC card or USB device if you need more storage. I have not tested out external video playback yet.

It's a bit too early to tell, but I think that I may stick with this tablet. I just may swap the Touch Cover for a Type Cover.

I would definitely recommend the Surface RT to anyone wanting a tablet to replace a netbook. For a laptop/ultrabook replacement, wait for the Surface PRO (to be released in January 2013, US pricing starts at US$899 without a cover)

Game Review: Omega DLC (Mass Effect 3)

Yesterday (November 27), Bioware released the second single-player DLC pack for their blockbuster Mass Effect 3 game. I'll probably revisit the previous games and DLCs at a later date, but this is the first one to be released after I started this blog.

When Omega was first announced, it promised a return to the Omega station (from Mass Effect 2) and a story centred around Aria T'Loak. Aria (voiced by Carrie-Ann Moss of The Matrix Trilogy fame), the ruthless leader of Omega, was an instant fan favourite. Omega was a great setting, and its resemblance to Mars from the 1990 Total Recall film was awesome. I was really looking forward to this release.

Priced at a hefty 1200 MS points on Xbox Live, this is not a cheap release. Having only 80 points on my account, I had to purchase a 1000 point ($15) and a 500 point ($7.50) pack. Again, I'm left over with unnecessary points. Damn you Microsoft, get rid of this system already! Was this a worthwhile, purchase? Read on to find out.

As with other Mass Effect DLCs, the story starts with a private message. After meeting with Aria, you're informed that she wants you to help her retake the Omega station. Your crew, however, is not welcome. Given the importance of your crew throughout the series and the relationships that have developed (romantic or otherwise), I was not pleased with this decision. I know that this is about Aria and developing new relationships, but that (in my opinion) should be left for another game altogether.

For the most part, you're restricted to have only Aria as a team member. She's a capable biotic, and her Reave played well with my Vanguard for biotic combos. She also has a nice ability called Flare, which inflicts massive damage to multiple enemies. There is a massive cooldown after using Flare, so I didn't use it all that much. A Turian female (Nyreen) will also join your squad for a few missions. Unfortunately, she's a biotic too. She does have Overload, but if your Shepard is a biotic like mine, your team will be seriously disadvantaged. All of the enemies are Cerberus. Not only is there an abundance of shielded enemies, but on top of the Turrets and Atlases, you get Mechs thrown your way as well. From a combat perspective, your team sucks. If you're playing on story or normal modes, this doesn't matter, nut this made my hardcore playthrough a bit of a pain.

If you're a Paragon player like myself, Aria will inevitably get on your nerves. Fortunately, Nyreen will be there about half of the time to side with you.

The story is pretty solid, but it is way too short. It only provided me with a couple hours of playtime on hardcore, and that was with every dialog option and map "exploration". There is one part of the story that's supposed to be emotional, but as these characters are largely alien to us (no pun intended), it kind of fell flat.

Would I recommend Omega? Yes, but only to the most hardcore Mass Effect fans like myself. Unlike Leviathan (the previous single player DLC), it adds nothing to the overall experience of the epic game. At 1200 points, it's definitely not enough bang for your buck.

My rating: 6.5/10

Prize Fight: Rogers vs. Ivan

First, allow me to introduce the fighters.

In the red corner, we have Rogers Wireless. Rogers is our telecommunications overlord here in Canada. Once upon a time (so the legend goes), they provided an excellent product at a fair price. I'm referring to their Rogers @Home unlimited high-speed Internet service circa 2000. They have always sucked when it came to cable TV (monopoly) and wireless (first GSM provider in Canada).

In the blue corner, we have Ivan (who will continue to refer to himself in the third person - for theatrical purposes, of course). Once upon a time, he was a Rogers customer and even crusader against the heathen known as Bell, but we'll save that for another story. Ivan has cut all ties with Rogers years go. This is most definitely a grudge match.

Being top dog sure has its perks. Rogers managed to snag the shiny new Nokia Lumia 920 with a nice exclusivity deal. Depending on your sources, the details of the deal are different, but let it be known that as of this post, the deal is still in place,

Now, since Ivan is a customer of Wind Mobile, he wasn't considering the Lumia 920. According to early reports, the Lumia 920 was not supposed to be capable with AWS (1700/2100) networks like Wind Mobile, Mobilicity, or T-Mobile south of the border.

Rogers was the first to release this once mythical device on October 30. We're calling it mythical, because almost nobody saw it until November 13. Rogers Plus store employees had absolutely no idea when they would get any stock, and a lot of them didn't even know what a Lumia 920 was. Well played, Rogers.

But, we've already stated that Ivan wasn't interested in the Lumia 920, so what gives? Well, upon the initial launch, www.mobilesyrup.com (our source for all things wireless) reported that the elusive device is indeed AWS compatible and unlocked to boot! Ivan was excited. He was not only going to be able to get his hands on a shiny new Windows Phone 8 device, but it was going to be a flagship device with a PureView camera!

So Ivan diligently monitored web reports. He phoned the corporate stores. He searched www.kijiji.ca. The search wasn't limited just to London, but expanded to include Woodstock, Brantford, Hamilton, Burlington, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph. But, he wasn't destined to acquaint himself with the initial release. He knew that the second batch of the devices would most definitely be locked, but was hoping that they would still be AWS capable. His trusty unlocking site (www.cellunlocker.net) had already advertised the ability to unlock this device.

When Ivan phoned a Rogers store on November 13, he was overjoyed. They had received a shipment! Our protagonist "got his ass down to the store" (as the people would say) and purchased a device outright. At $599 ($676.87 after taxes), it was not a small purchase. Rogers' US counterpart, AT&T (also reportedly evil, but we have no firsthand experience with this), is selling these at $449.99 (plus applicable taxes) AND they come with a FREE wireless charging pad (the cheapest of which retail for $50). But, as the AT&T version isn't AWS capable, Ivan was not interested. We've only included that bit of information to show how Rogers is somehow even more greedy than AT&T.

When Ivan got home with his new Lumia 920, he immediately popped in his SIM card and was greeted with the network restriction message. It was an unwelcome, but an expected sight. He jotted down the device IMEI number and placed his unlocking order for $15. After a few hours, he received the dreaded "unable to unlock" e-mail. Ivan then proceeded to place order after order on other sites, but nobody was able to provide him with an unlock code. He now had two choices: return the device for a refund or pay Rogers $50 (plus tax) to unlock the phone. He had read reports online that people were getting a prepaid SIM card ($10) from Rogers and putting a $50 credit on the account that was then used to pay the unlocking fee.

Being skeptical of Internet anecdotes, Ivan phoned Rogers to confirm if he was indeed able to do this. He wasn't pleased with the ridiculously high unlocking fee but it was now his only possible solution. The polite Rogers employee told Ivan that he can indeed obtain the unlocking code. He had two options: prepaid (as already mentioned), or to have an existing customer put the phone on their account and request the code. The latter was cheaper (no SIM card purchase) and easier (no trip to the store). Fortunately (for Ivan), his parents are still in Rogers' death grip (euphemistically referred to as a "contract"). He then phoned his father, who was willing to do this, providing of course that Rogers doesn't use this opportunity to extend the death grip by another three years.

If that infernal employee hadn't neglected to mention one tiny (but important) detail, the phone would have simply been returned and would have to be purchased at a later date, once third party unlocking was available. But not, that detail was omitted. Apparently, you have to have the device "active" for 30 days before Rogers will take your $50. So, if one purchases a phone for $676.87, it appears that Rogers still doesn't acknowledge that person's ownership of said phone. Instead, Ivan's father had to talk to several employees about unlocking (it's apparently not Rogers' policy to give too much information to any one given employee - knowledge IS power), before accepting the 30 day thing as final.

Now, dear reader, it should be noted that the only things wasted by Ivan were time and nerves. Ivan returned the phone and got a full refund. Had Ivan not had someone with a Rogers account and went the prepaid way, he would have been out $60 ($50 if the SIM card was refundable, but prepaid credits are non-refundable). That would have really been the kicker. After Ivan shared his experience on Rogers' Facebook page, a "helpful" employee informed him that those were simply Rogers' policies and to go #$&% himself. Well, he didn't really say the latter. He apologized, but the sentiment was the same.

Ivan's Windows Phone odyssey doesn't end here. There's a wonderful new chapter in press - Ivan vs. Nokia/T-Mobile. Stay tuned!