mobile phone review

Review: The Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Future of Mobile

Posted by Joe Procopio | Aug 1, 2013

The mobile wars are over, it’s just that not everyone knows it yet. I’ve been reviewing mobile handsets for a long time, but I really don’t care to discuss milliseconds of difference in processing power or download speed or pixels on the screen or clinking two phones together to exchange porn. I’m interested in just two things: 1) Can this handset be integrated into my daily life without me throwing it against a wall at any point? 2) Does this handset make me excited about the future of the technology. I’ve used every flavor of phone for long periods...

Review: The HTC Windows Phone 8X

Posted by Joe Procopio | Jan 17, 2013

I shamelessly love the 8X lock screen, which randomly shows photos I’ve recently uploaded to Facebook. I’m also becoming a sucker for the Live Tiles – seeing rotating pictures of my friends on the People tile, and my own Facebook profile picture on the Me tile (which is my son, I’m not staring at my own mug). All that should come off gimmicky, but it doesn’t. This is where Windows Phone 8 stands out, personalization and integration without customization, exposing every bit of feature out of my social/mobile universe. Of course everything is integrated with Hotmail, Sky Drive, and...

Review: Motorola Defy XT on Republic Wireless Unlimited Everything for $19 a Month

Posted by Joe Procopio | Jan 10, 2013

There’s a lot to like about what Durham’s Republic Wireless is trying to do in the increasingly expensive world of mobile phone plans. On the surface, their $19 all-you-can-eat (plus $249 for a handset and a one-time $10 setup fee), no contract, no termination fee plan is an astoundingly unfair shot against the big wireless providers. Not everyone needs an iPhone 5 or a Galaxy S III. And while there are no catches per se, there are definitely some things about a plan this inexpensive that you’ll want to know and you’ll need to get used to. Keep in...

Review: The HTC Droid DNA

Posted by Joe Procopio | Dec 27, 2012

I have to give up a lot of single-hand usage on an S3-sized phone (compared to the iPhone or the similarly-sized HTC Incredible 4G, shown in the second panel). But I was prepared to live with that. If I had to, for example, use two hands every time I type, I’d do it for the beauty of that screen. The problem is I can’t do anything on the Droid DNA with one hand. It’s quirky just unlocking the phone with one hand, and there is no law of physics or grip exercise that will get my thumb from the...

Review: Motorola Droid RAZR M with Jellybean

Posted by Joe Procopio | Nov 22, 2012

I’ve never quite understood the concept of the mobile phone as holiday gift. Sure, I guess for family members or anyone else you might share the bills with, but even then, it’s such a personal decision. Can you imagine if your significant other handed you a Blackberry or Nokia box with a red ribbon wrapped around it? Have you ever tried to return a mobile phone? Have you ever returned a gift from your wife? Yeah chump, enjoy BB10 when it comes out in… never. So even if you’re not giving your giftee a surprise new monthly bill, and...

Review: iPhone 4s vs. Samsung Galaxy S3 vs. HTC Incredible 4G LTE

Posted by Joe Procopio | Jul 13, 2012

Me. This is the phone I ended up keeping. And it all comes down to the size. The Incredible was always implied as an iPhone copy, and this version, while packing almost all of the power of the S3, is just slightly bigger than the iPhone. I love my phone. I’m that guy. But I’m giving up screen resolution. I’m giving up the great camera. I’m giving up some battery life. I’m giving up a lot of style and design. But technology-wise, the playing field is nearly level, for now. So when it comes to the S3 vs. the...