Gamer’s Guide To Smartphones: Google’s Astounding Android

OXCGN’s handheld fun-n-games begins

by Axis of Reality

©2011 Alex Baldwin

It cannot be denied that handheld gaming is no longer the sole domain of Nintendo and Sony. In fact, even the greatest gaming franchises of this generation pale in comparison to the sheer overwhelming popularity of recent mobile juggernauts such as Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja.

This year, for the first time in history the Nintendo 3DS and Sony NGP (PSP2) will launch with stiff competition from devices for which gaming is only a secondary use.

As a smartphone and gaming enthusiast, this series of articles should provide all the information a gamer needs to ready themselves for the onslaught of the fastest growing new avenue of gaming.

Whether you seek your first smartphone supplement to traditional handhelds, advice on your next smartphone purchase or broader knowledge of your latest purchase keep an eye on these articles as we explore the history, hardware, software, games and more available for each phone operating system (OS), starting with the current sales king: Google Android.

• History

Android had a relatively slow start against the mammoth popularity of the Apple iPhone, Blackberry range and Windows Mobile devices back in 2008. Initially launched with a single handset (the HTC G1, also known as the HTC Dream), Google’s flagship set its sights squarely for the consumer-oriented smartphone market dominated only by the iPhone as Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and RIM’s Blackberry owned the enterprise space.

Over the course of 2009 a few more handsets and the launch of the Market store for apps saw moderate growth, but it wasn’t until the Motorola Droid in the US carried Android 2.0 (‘Eclair’) that Android took the spotlight through a series of advertisements highlighting features lacking in the iPhone.

Here in Australia and across Europe the release of the HTC Desire and Google Nexus One (made by HTC) early in 2010 heralded the first breakout successes through the combination of high-end hardware and a more polished update of the Android software with version 2.1.

Since then Android has dominated the market with almost every low, medium and high-end smartphone not made by Apple or Nokia powered by the little green robot.

Speaking of Android versions, each numbered release is also matched with a confectionary title in alphabetical order. For example, version 1.5 was known as Cupcake, 1.6 Donut, 2.0-2.1 Eclair, 2.2 Froyo and most recently released with the Google Nexus S was 2.3 Gingerbread.

The upcoming tablet-specific version of Android is 3.0 Honeycomb. Unlike other mobile operating systems, it is up to the discretion of the particular phone manufacturer to update their handsets, so be aware that owning an Android phone does not guarantee that it will continue to receive all future updates.

• Interface

Android’s claim to fame is its customization, allowing almost every aspect imaginable to be tweaked, themed and modified to your heart’s content.

While some manufacturers will add their own visual and functionality tweaks on top, such as HTC’s Sense, a plethora of ‘launcher’ (ie: interface replacements) apps available on the Android Market enable the ability to make your phone truly unique.

The most noticeable unique feature of Android is the ability to fill multiple ‘homescreens’ (desktops) with widgets able to grab content, update in real-time and enable controls of many tasks without the need to enter an app.

For example, you may desire music controls to always be visible on your first homescreen or a text feed displaying your Facebook wall. This provides all the information you need at a glance, leaving actual apps for more detailed or complex tasks.

Android is also one of the few current operating systems to support true multitasking, allowing multiple apps to run at the same time and be switched between at will. For example, while downloading a file you may also browse the internet, check emails and be in a speakerphone call.

This seamless switching is handled by the Android system, which will invisibly manage memory and close unused apps in the background when nearing the phone’s hardware limits without the need for a task manager.

Unfortunately this also highlights one of the major drawbacks of Android: speed and polish. As Android phones come in a variety of configurations and price points, similar to a Windows PC, tasks that one might handle with ease could bog down another less powerful device.

Similarly the potential for customisation is another double-edged sword that can provide astounding results but also leave some users overwhelmed.  Those may prefer the set icon grid of the iPhone.

However, this being a gamer’s guide most reading this should be reasonably tech-literate and keen to make their phone their own.

For enthusiasts, Android is also extremely hackable through ‘rooting’ (unlock the phone’s security to allow the installation of custom tweaked firmware). For more information head over to the centre for all Android hacking, XDA Developers forum.

• Hardware

This is more important for Android than any other operating system, being that Android can power both low-end cheap and cheerful phones as well as the most powerful super phones available on the market, bar none. Below are some suggestions for ideal phones for gamers at various price points.

High-End:

• Samsung Galaxy S / Nexus S

Samsung have ruled the roost in terms of power since mid-2010 with their Galaxy S series of phones (known by Vibrant, Fascinate, Captivate and Epic 4G in the US) and more recently, the Nexus S variant.

While the class-leading Hummingbird CPU and SGX 540 GPU provide grunt that has yet to be truly tested, the highlight has to be the stunning 4-inch Super AMOLED screen (800 x 480 resolution) with an almost infinite contrast ratio, zero motion blur and one of the only screen types able to display true black.

• HTC Desire HD

If size is your thing, go no further than the Desire HD with its massive 4.3-inch LCD at 800 x 480. While battery life could be better, HTC’s giant is both sturdy in its metal casing and powerful.

Sometimes size does matter.

Low-End:

• HTC Aria and Legend

Both of HTC’s mid to low-end fares will zoom along happily with most tasks, although the latest 3D games may give them pause.

Smaller 3.2-inch screens at a lower 480 x 320 resolution (same as the iPhone 3G / 3GS’s 3.5-inch screen) help keep the price and size down.

Strangely many believe these to be much sexier in appearance and build quality than HTC’s high-end phones.

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• LG Optimus One

Almost identical in power, size and quality to HTC’s above-listed fares, the Optimus One can often be found cheaper.

Really, the only difference is whether you value HTC’s Sense interface over LG’s more vanilla Android experience.

Avoid:

• Sony Xperia X10

Sony’s high-end handset sadly displays many design flaws and some quite baffling omissions.

Despite usually retailing for higher than the Samsung Galaxy S and HTC Desire HD, it is missing several key features such as multi-touch and has some critical flaws such as abysmal battery life and a plastic screen easily scratched compared to almost every other handset’s glass displays.

To add insult to injury, it has also only recently been updated to Android 2.1, while almost all other high-end handsets are on 2.2 or 2.3.

• LG Optimus

LG’s first Android release has two critical flaws: firstly, a resistive screen like the Nintendo DS that much be physically pushed instead of the touch response of capacitive screens, and also lacks multi-touch support.

Secondly, it retails for more than many much better phones such as the HTC Aria and Legend.

Recommended Games

• Fruit Ninja

Halfbrick’s iPhone hit has made its way to Android and supports almost every phone model.

Simply slice the fruit as its thrown in the air, combining swipes through multiple fruit while avoiding bombs. Fruit Ninja also supports Open Feint leaderboards and ranking systems.

• Angry Birds

While iPhone owners must pay for the privilege, Angry Birds is free on Android thanks to Google’s advertising system that simply places a small advertisement in the unused sky space.

Slighshot different bird types as precarious wood, glass and stone buildings to destroy the green pigs inside.

You’ll waste literally ‘hours’ on this title – it’s one of the most played mobile games out, and is now heading to the PSN.

• Emulators

The Android Market’s open source nature means that emulators for almost every game platform up to and including the PlayStation 1 are available for Android to experience all the games you used to play.

This immediately adds thousands of available games to your phone. As game controls are overlaid on the screen, the larger the display for your phone the better.

End of Part One – Android.

In Part 2, we tackle Windows Phone 7!

©2011 Alex Baldwin

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Related Articles

• Did HTC just out Android 2.4? (reviews.cnet.com)

Filed under: Console gaming, Editorial, GameBanter, Handhelds, Hardware Reviews, Mobile Gaming, Xbox 360 Tagged: | Android, Android 2.0, Angry Birds, ‘Eclair’, Captivate, Epic 4G, Fascinate, Fruit Ninja, Galaxy S series, HTC, HTC Corporation, HTC Desire, HTC Desire HD, HTC Legend, Hummingbird CPU, iPhone, LG Optimus, LG Optimus One, Motorola Droid, Nexus One, Nexus S variant, Nintendo DS, Smartphone, Sony Xperia X10, Vibrant