Android ICS 2D Hardware Acceleration

I made a quick video demonstrating the huge difference that hardware acceleration makes in Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Apps need to get on-board with this! I demonstrate with Twitter because it's the most affected. Twitter guys, your app works perfectly with hardware acceleration on. Add the line of code so that we can have it smooth all the time!

UPDATE: The Twitter app on ICS now uses hardware acceleration without "force hardware acceleration." I've got it off on my own phone so that more apps work.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

I finally got myself a smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus! I spend some time in the video above talking about the merits of the phone. A full review after the break.

Verizon LTE Data Cap Doubling

Starting tomorrow, and for a limited time, all new data plans will be double their original data cap, but the same price. Existing Verizon users can manually change to the larger data plan using My Verizon.

"Beginning tomorrow, Verizon Wireless will introduce a limited time promotion that offers customers the opportunity to receive double the amount of data for the same monthly fee for all Verizon Wireless 4G smartphones. For example, a customer who purchases the 2 GB plan for $30 will receive 4 GB for $30. The plans is available for new and existing customers. Existing customers need to request the change via customer service or through their My Verizon accounts --- the free portal where customers can view and pay their bill, make changes to their account and purchase new devices." (Source: Engadget)


For those of us not willing to pay more than $30 for a reasonable amount of data, this should be a great way to make your buck stretch a little further. Certainly won't hurt, in any case!

Android vs. iOS

Bias warning: I don't own a smartphone. However, I intend to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the next few weeks, when it becomes available. Therefore I have a bit of an Android tilt.

It's hard to read a gadget blog without running into it: Rampant fanboys defending their choice of phone operating system. Fanboyism is apparently so primal that it's hard to turn the reflex off. I'm sure that psychologists would have interesting insights, but I think at some point, it comes down to "I've spent my money on this platform, and therefore I find it superior."