Samsung Galaxxy Nexus w/Android 4 “Ice Cream Sandwich”
Last year (2011) was another banner year for smartphones. Apple’s rolled out three sizes of its flagship iPhone 4s,
selling over 152,000 collectively. Google’s Android also enjoyed another banner year with several new models appearing every month in the United States and weekly world-wide.
Sprint made a big stand, hosting the HTC EVO 3D, a 4G phone with all the bells and whistles and a built-in 3D camera to
boot. It sold 36,000 units, almost as many as the 16GB version of the iPhone 4s. Other standouts included the HTC Sensation and LG Optimus 3D. The latecomer to the market market in 2011, the Motorola DROID Razr, sold 34,00 in less than a month. Sprint made a statement, releasing the Galaxy S2 series of phones. The successor to the very popular Galaxy S series, sold for nearly every carrier and running Android, Samsung made converts of of many people.
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the 4G latest “Google Phone” dropped two weeks before Christmas and was met with mixed reviews. As the first smartphone to ship the latest version of Google’s Android operating system (named “Ice Cream Sandwich”), the Nexus certainly turned a few heads.
THE RACE FOR 4G DOMINANCE
Verizon seems to be winning the 4G war. By mid-December 2011, Verizon had expanded their 4G LTE coverage to 190 markets in the U. S. At the Consumer Electronics show, Verizon confirmed that you’ll be hard-pressed to find a new smartphone, wireless hot spot, tablet or netbook from Verizon this year that won’t include 4G LTE connectivity. Confirming questions, a Verizon spokesperson confirmed 4G LTE for Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices were also a part of that promise.
The next largest 4G coverage would be from Sprint, with less than 50 U. S. markets. However, their 4G is still the Wi-Max variety, considerably slower than LTE. AT&T has yet to leave the gate, with only 26 cities covered. Outside of New York City, you won’t find any coverage in the Empire State.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2012!
Where are we headed in 2012? With the release of Android Ice Cream Sandwich, manufacturers will likely create new phones, rather than port the new version to their early-2011 releases.
In terms of hardware, look for device makers to try to continue to exploit 3D technology and not just in the cameras. Nintendo had a field day with their 3DS mobile game systems with 3D screens. Look for a 3D smartphone sometime this year.
In 2011, dual-core processors found their way into smartphones and tablets and stayed cool without major incident. Mobile quadcore processors are already being developed, so look for them to sneak into smartphones by summer.
Look for Samsung to continue growing its Galaxy brand. The Galaxy S II line beat Apple and many other manufacturers on screen resolution and the Galaxy S3 has already been confirmed to be coming sometime this year.
Of course June will mean Apple speculation. Much of the tech world was up in arms that the iPhone 4S was not more different than what it was, especially in the model number. The world should see an iPhone 5 this year and it will be innovative. With the passing of Steve Jobs, however, how much of a technological leap it will be – if and when it is released – is a mystery.
