Verizon Tops Again for Consumer Reports: Latest Tips and Rankings

by Holly Shoemaker

Last week I provided the tablet trends from the December 2012 Consumer Reports Electronics Issue. Now, I gave gathered the latest smartphone trends and rankings by carrier.

Smartphone Trends

• Screen Size and Edges – Customers will see larger screens and rounder edges for easier viewing and holding. Most of the top-rated phones have 4.3 inch screens, measuring diagonally.
• Beyond Apple and Samsung – Despite the Apple iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S III making Consumer Reports top ten electronics list, the non-profit agency says to look beyond Apple and Samsung. The other standout devices were Verizon’s Motorola Razr phone, which Consumer Reports says has, “nifty apps," and the HTC One for its intuitive interface.
• 4G – This is now considered the standard, with the exception of the iPhone 4S on Verizon and Sprint. More speed may translate into using more data so keep track of monthly payments.

Smartphone Rankings by Carrier

As Verizon did in the Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2012, the carrier still ranks first in satisfaction, followed by Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T.

For Verizon subscribers, the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx topped the list with a score of 78, followed by the Galaxy S III (32 GB) with a score of 76 and the iPhone 5 (16 GB) with a score of 75. The Motorola Droid Razr M and Razr also scored in the top five.

For Sprint users, the Galaxy S III (16 GB) ranked first with a score of 76, followed by the iPhone 5 (16 GB) with a score of 75 and the HTC EVO 4G LTE with a score of 73.

For T-Mobile subscribers, the Galaxy S III (16 GB) scores first with 78 points, followed by the HTC One S with a score of 77 and the Galaxy S II with a score of 75.

AT&T subscribers show a similar trend with manufactures for T-Mobile. The Galaxy 3 III (16 GB) ranks first with a score of 78, followed by the iPhone 5 with a score of 77 and the HTC One X with a score of 76.

Galaxy S III Finally Outsells iPhone, but iPhone 5 Likely to Rule Q4

by Holly Shoemaker

Samsung has already established itself as the leading manufacturer of smartphones for the Android market. Now, the company officially has the world’s best-selling smartphone model with its Galaxy S III, and it hit another milestone. For the first time, Samsung sold more units than Apple. 

Strategy Analytics reported that in Q3 2012, the Galaxy S III shipped 18 million units, compared to 16.2 million units for the iPhone 4S. That resulted in the Galaxy S III capturing 11 percent of the global market share.

Concluding Thoughts

While a victory for Samsung, especially since all the legal arguing with Apple, it may be short lived. The iPhone 5 will likely rule Q4 2012. Many contribute the decrease in iPhone 4S sales to customers holding out for the iPhone 5, which became available in September 2012. Apple sold five million iPhone 5 devices that first weekend. With the holidays arriving soon, it will sell even more. Even if Samsung does not win the top spot at the end of the year, it will remain the darling of the Android community as it has sold over 30 million phones to date. Plus, the Galaxy S III remains the only smartphone anyone will call the “iPhone killer.”

Purple Haze All Around: Apple Blames iPhone 5 Users

by Holly Shoemaker

Apple is not doing itself any favors. After an insincere map app apology, the company now says that the purple flare seen on the edges of some photographs taken with the iPhone 5 is related to user error.

Apple’s Stance

Pictures may show a purple flare if users aim the smartphone near a light source, which causes a reflection typically on the edge of a photograph. Apple suggests users take photos away from bright light and change the angle of the shoot. These are not suggestions that users could not figure out on their own.

My Investigation

I consulted a professional photographer, Alan Rosenberg, to get an expert opinion on the iPhone 5 camera issue. While he confirmed light sources may cause the issue, he said it also depends on what covers the lens. When light hits the lens, the covering may cause the flare.

So what does Apple use to cover the lens? The iPhone 5 has a sapphire cover that protects the camera’s lens. That crystal material could cause the purple haze seen in photographs.

Concluding Thoughts

While Consumer Reports gave the iPhone 5 high ratings, better than the iPhone 4S, and noted the eight-megapixel camera was one of the best cameras tested, Apple’s response is ridiculous and intuitive. The company basically says do not look directly into the sun. It makes me think as a child being told not to look directly at a solar eclipse. To me, the response is also like saying do not use flash with a lot of light or the picture will look like an x-ray.

Apple never likes to admit fault, but it ignores a basic rule of business – the customer is always right. In this case, as well as the map app one, Apple just shows poor customer service and insults its loyal users.

Galaxy S IV Rumors and the Screen-Size Game Changer

by Holly Shoemaker

Last week reports surfaced that Samsung planned to release the newest version of its flagship smartphone line, the Galaxy S IV, at the Mobile World Congress in Spain. However, Samsung quickly denied the rumor on Twitter.

When the latest version debuts, the device is expected to feature a five-inch screen, keeping in line with the company’s methodology of increasing the screen size with each release. The iPhone 5 also featured a larger screen. Samsung sold more than 20 million units in the last three months, officially marking the first time the iPhone 4S was not the top selling smartphone.

While the Galaxy S IV remains a rumor, it seems unlikely that Samsung would not debut the phone at the Mobile World Congress. The company said, even before the U.S. Court ruling against Samsung that it had been working on new designs to further separate the company from Apple. Based on that, a new release makes sense as Apple has added an addendum to the other pending lawsuit, which specifically takes aim at the Galaxy S III. 

Items to Ponder

For now, in addition to the latest rumor, consumers may continue to debate the following:

• Role of Processors – Will Apple have to pay more for Samsung’s processors? That is what Samsung wants. The company claims it is the only firm that produces on-time delivery with superior pricing and performance for mobile app processors.
• Screen Size – Will screen size become the deciding factor on why to purchase a smartphone? So far, Samsung, and now Apple must think so. That strategy helped Samsung become the dominate manufacturer of Android devices.

iPhone 5 Debuts Strong, but Map App a Mess

by Holly Shoemaker

The iPhone 5 debuted strongly today with long lines in many locations. An analyst estimated that demand for the new device was 70 percent greater than when the iPhone 4S debuted. Apple is expected to sell eight million smartphones over the weekend, and the strong showing has once again upped the company’s stock.

Apple Map Issues

Despite the hype and the sentiment from consumers that they just need to have one, all is not well with the device, especially when it comes to maps. The iPhone 5, and the new iOS 6 that became available earlier in the week, now uses Apple Maps. Apple announced at its annual developer’s conference in June that it would drop Goggle Maps as the default map application.

The strategic move to further distance the company from Google has users concerned and mocking the company on this humorous website. Here people may view some of the map errors that have appeared from using Apple's new application. The errors show incorrect directions, multiple state capitols and faulty search results.

Concluding Thoughts

Apple prematurely dropped Google Maps, an application that worked well. Just because Apple can do something does not mean it should, and without more testing. While the company has asked for patience, some of its errors are dangerous. Apple listed a working farm in Dublin, Ireland as a residential airport. In this case, the pictures speak for themselves, and the point goes to Google. Map enthusiasts may also check out Nokia Maps. Nokia escalated the map app war when it announced in August that it would partner with Groupon.