The HTC Desire, released in Europe in May and in Canada on August 6, is the older brother, so to speak, of the ill fated Google Nexus One. Unlike the Nexus One, the HTC Desire features a slightly difference design, an optical trackpad instead of the physical trackball, lacks a noise cancelling microphone, features the HTC Sense UI, as well as a few other minor differences.
Hardware
The HTC Desire features a 1 GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor, 576 MB RAM, a 3.7 inch Super LCD screen with a resolution of 480×800, and a 5 Megapixel camera with an LED flash. It includes an 8 GB MicroSDHC card, but supports up to 32 GB. The camera is capable of 720p video once it receives the 2.2 “Froyo” update to the Android operating system. For physical buttons, the Desire has a power button up top, a volume rocker on the side, an optical trackpad below the screen and four other buttons (home, menu, back, and search). It connects to the computer, and charges with a micro USB port and features a standard 3.5mm headphone jack up top. The only problem I’ve had so far with the buttons is that the headphone jack and power button are reversed from what the Apple iPhone (which I’ve switched from), so I’ve accidentally turned on the screen when placing the phone in my pocket, and pressed the headphone jack in vain more than once. Both the SIM card and the microSDHC card are housed behind the battery cover, and the battery has to be removed to get at them. This is mildly disappointing, but how often are you really going to be switching memory cards? The battery is a 1400 mAh Lithium-ion, and while many reviews have complained about the battery life on this phone, I’ve found it to be far better than that on my old iPhone 3G. The only thing about this phone that I was nervous about, while waiting for it to ship, was the screen. I had read on a number of sites that the Super LCD screens had a far worse contrast ratio when compared to the AMOLED screens the Desire is using elsewhere (Samsung has decided to hoard all the AMOLED screens for themselves, so HTC had to switch). I have to say, however, that the screen is simply beautiful, and far better than anything I’ve seen on a phone, with the possible exception of the iPhone 4. The phone also lacks a front-facing camera, like the ones you’ll find on the iPhone 4 and Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant with Bell, but it’s always seemed more of a gimmick to me, and I don’t see myself wanting that feature. In the box, the phone comes with a micro USB cord, an AC adapter, stereo headphones and a bunch of guarantee info and user guides. I was mostly unable to test the quality of the headphones since they wouldn’t fit in my ear (a problem I have with more non-in ear ear buds), and I just got frustrated and switched to my normal headphones.
As I mentioned before, the Desire has a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor and 576 MB of RAM. Even with all the UI flourishes that are added with HTC Sense, the phone is extremely snappy, and never sluggish. It easily blows away my old iPhone 3G and my sisters 3GS, and matches, at the very least, the iPhone 4. I am just amazed at this phone. Especially when I consider that about 10 years ago, the first computer that was actually mine, had lower specs than this phone.
Software
The HTC Desire runs Android OS 2.1 (“Eclair”) with HTC’s Sense UI on top of it. HTC has rolled out the 2.2 (“Froyo”) update in Europe, but it has yet to hit Canada. The Sense UI just makes Apple’s iOS look antiquated. Everything from the colour screen, to the widgets, to the full application menu, to the notification system, is just… better. I haven’t played with the stock Android UI, but I have toyed around with MOTOBLUR on the Motorola Dext and the UX Platform on Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X10, and I have to say that the HTC Sense is my favorite of the bunch. Both the MOTOBLUR and UX Platform just feel over complicated compared to the HTC Sense.
Like many Android phones with a custom UI, the Desire has 7 home screens. The layout is definitely iOS reminiscent, however, it does manage to avoid feeling like it’s trying to clone iOS. It feels more like they took the good aspects of iOS, removed the bad aspects and just improved it. I do have to agree with Tyler Hardemen at thewunderbar, that Palm’s WebOS handles multitasking better than Android, however I’m not sure if I agree about the notifications. I never actually owned a Pre, just played around with them at the Bell store, so I’m not sure how it’s notifications worked. (I also have to disagree that TELUS doesn’t have a phone to rival the Galaxy S, but more to that later).
Applications
As an expatriate of the Apple iPhone, I was a little nervous about the app situation. While Android’s app numbers are growing, it still pales in comparison to the Apple App Store. That said, the apps I needed the most are either already on the Android Marketplace (Facebook, Soundhound), or have replacements (Seesmic instead of Tweetdeck, Mileage instead of Roadtrip Lite). Another thing I love about Android is that it’s ok to release an app that replaces the functionality of what was included on the phone. For example, I’m really not a fan of the stock Android keyboard, but a quick search brings up a number of alternatives, including SwiftKey. It’s not all roses with the Android Marketplace, however, as finding new apps is a pain. Rather than search the Marketplace, I’ve just been looking for articles on recommended apps on sites like Engadget. This is one thing I really miss from the Apple App Store.
Summary
The question I’ve been asked over and over again since buying this phone is “is it better than the iPhone?” Personally, I think it is, however, if you want an iPhone, buy an iPhone. While I think this phone is far superior, if you’re looking for an iPhone, you will find a reason to hate the HTC Desire. If, however, you are looking for an amazing smartphone, and were debating between Android and Apple, give this phone a serious look. The only phone, in Canada, that could possibly rival the Desire, in my mind, is Samsung’s Galaxy S Vibrant. This is, simply, the best phone I have ever owned, and I absolutely love it. It’s a little disappointing that TELUS hasn’t been advertising this phone at all. When they got the Milestone, they pushed it like crazy, and Bell is running a number of ads for the Galaxy S Vibrant, and I’m worried that this phone will get looked over. If the freaking wunderbar managed to forget about this phone, I have to wonder how many non-techie’s will notice it.
I saw a story on CNN a while ago about some uproar because a mosque was being build “at Ground Zero”. Ground zero referring to the site of the World Trace Center attacks. Obviously confused, since that land is already owned by somebody, and nothing is being built there at all for some reason, I did some research (I watch the Daily Show and did a Google search on it) and found that the Islamic Cultural Center (which includes a mosque) was instead being build a few blocks away in an old Burlington Coat Factory. Now I’m even more confused. Why is this an issue?
First, let’s look at the First Amendment in the United States Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Now, let’s take a look at the Fourteenth Amendment (which some Republicans want to repeal for idiotic reasons)
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws
Those two quotes make it pretty clear that separation of church and state is absolute, and that it applies to all religions, not just ones that the GOP believes in. This goes beyond a legal question, however, since even most Republicans are admitting that there is nothing illegal about the mosque, they claim, instead, that such a mosque is “unethical” and a “slap in the face to the victims of 9/11″. How? Yes, the terrorists that blew up the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001 were Muslims; and no, nations in the Middle East would never show us this kind of tolerance, but that doesn’t matter.
Why? Well, for starters, just because those terrorists were Muslim, doesn’t mean that all Muslims are terrorists, and to treat them like they are is ignorant and wrong. It is no different than saying “The Beltway Snipers were black, so all black people are snipers”. I realize the opponents to this mosque will say “we don’t think all Muslims are bad….”, but that’s a damn lie. The fact that they’re opposing this means they think a mosque is a symbol of Islamic extremism. When they see anything remotely Islamic, they immediately think of 9/11. The fact of the matter is, most Muslims are decent, peaceful people. I have met a few Muslims in school, and I can honestly say that they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. While I will never understand hijab they wore, that doesn’t take away from the fact that these are good people. We, as a society, need to stop this mental connection between 9/11 and Islamic extremism. 9/11 wasn’t perpetrated by Muslim terrorists, it was perpetrated by terrorists that happened to have been “Muslim” (much in the same way Scott Roeder is a “Christian”). Beyond the simple fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, keep in mind that there are Muslims that dug through the rubble of the World Trade Centers trying to save people and there are Muslims in active duty in the United States Army. But even if that weren’t true, it doesn’t matter because they have the same rights as anyone else in America. If you’re an American and you don’t like it, try moving to China. I hear they don’t have freedom of religion there.
I referenced earlier the fact that the Middle Eastern nations would never show us the same liberties, but that doesn’t matter either. True, if you tried building a church in Iran or Saudi Arabia, it probably wouldn’t end well, but that doesn’t matter. We are better than these countries. Yes, I’m aware that I’m Canadian, but for the purpose of the rest of the article,I may refer to “the West” as “we”, since most of countries referred to as “the West” have similar human rights. Anyways, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard than these countries hold themselves to. I absolutely hated George W. Bush and still maintain that he was one of the worst Presidents in U.S. history, but I will admit that we was better than Ahmadinejad or Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This is the same reason I oppose torture: we are a better society. We don’t stone women for dressing promiscuously, we don’t support torture and we don’t discriminate against people because of race, religion, gender, or (in Canada, at least) sexual orientation. We believe in unalienable human rights, and we stand by them at all times. As Jon Stewart one said, “if you don’t stick to your beliefs when they’re tested, they aren’t values, they’re hobbies.” Freedom of speech refers to all speech, even the most heinous speech and freedom of religion refers to all religions, even those you disagree with. In fact, those are what these laws are for. We don’t need laws to protect popular speech (or religion), we need the laws to protect unpopular speech (and in this case, religion).
I have a question for anyone who opposes this “mosque at Ground Zero”: would you oppose the construction of a church near the site of the Oklahoma City bombing? Chances are the answer is no. Why not? Timothy McVeigh professed that he maintained the “core values” of Roman Catholicism. Wouldn’t building a Catholic church near that sight be a slap in the face to everyone who died in that bombing? For the record, there is a Catholic church right across the street from the Oklahoma City National Memorial (though, in all fairness, it was built before the bombing). The fact of the matter is, Muslims are as responsible for 9/11 as Catholics are for the Oklahoma City Bombing, which is to say not at all.
“But, the terrorists attacked us on 9/11 because we’re not Muslim”, some of you will exclaim. That’s, frankly, a childish and false examination of the events. While the attacks were by no means justified, they were more political than religious. Motives for 9/11 included U.S. sanctions against Iraq, American presence in Saudi Arabia and American support of Isreal (which is political as well as religious).
Despite what the “critics” have said, this has nothing to do with location. It doesn’t matter where this mosque was being built, people would be complaining. People are protesting mosques being built in Brooklyn, California, and Florida. You can’t get much farther away from Ground Zero and still be in the United States than Florida. This has nothing to do with location and everything to do with racism, plain and simple.
After a couple days of not being able to log into my admin panel, I finally managed to fix the problem. Luckily I remembered to save all of my posts, however I completely forgot to backup the categories and comments. Oh well, relatively minor.
I finally got an article accepted and published to Cracked.com! Check it out here, so excited!
I just came back, yesterday, from Las Vegas, knocking another item off of my list. While I had a lot of fun in Vegas, I’m still glad to be home. It’s kind of nice sleeping in my own bed (which is a lot more comfortable than the one in the hotel), and not having to worry about being run over by psychotic cab drivers.
Well, I’ve completed another item on my list. Went to the gun range the other day and fired a 9mm Glock. Cool stuff. I still would never want to own a gun, but I’d be lying of I said it wasn’t fun. I included a picture of my target after, I’m really not the greatest shot.
A crack shot, I am not
I technically could have crossed this off my list a couple of weeks ago, but I decided to wait until finished writing. I pitched my first article to Cracked a little while ago (technically, it was an abandon pitch that I repitched, but meh) and it got accepted! I just finished writing it about 20 minutes ago and submitted it, so barring them making me re-do it or anything, it should be on the site sometime in the next month or so. My first paying gig, I’m actually a freelance writer, now!
I decided that I’ll give NaBloPoMo one more shot, except I won’t be doing it on this blog. I decided to start up a side-blog specifically for this. The side blog will follow NaBloPoMo’s monthly theme for March of “strange(r)” and will be called One Strange Thing a Day. Yes, I did steal the name and idea from Dan Trachtenberg’s One Cool Thing a Day, but it was a great idea, and I would imagine (or hope, at least) that he would be ok, since I’m not stepping into his turf, per say, and the whole point is to share the strange. Now to go look for some strange stuff…
Well, I started going to the gym back in January, and being that it is now the middle of February, I’d say that puts me past the “New Years Resolution” group. Currently, I’m only going once a week, but it’s still better than nothing.
I decided to try to do NaBloPoMo as part of my 101 in 1001 days list, and went strong for about 15 days or so. Then I realized something. It was incredibly stupid. Forcing myself to post every day added no value to this blog, it didn’t make me any more creative. Trying to come up with something to write for NaBloPoMo is probably the first time I’ve hated updating this blog. Sure, my updates are far and few in between, but when I do update, I actually enjoy it. So screw NaBloPoMo. I’m going to just delete it from my list, since I can’t cross it off, and I have no intention of attempting it again.
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