CPU Wars

Not surprisingly, this is going to be another super-nerdy blog. What a great way to get back into the blogging habit, no?

Yes, it's been well over a year since my last blog, no I haven't forgotten about this place, just have had a hectic year to say the least.

One of the last times I blogged about something nerdy, it was my love for the iPhone I had just purchased. Now, however, I'm obsessed with Android phones. I still have my iPhone, but it's time for a change.

This change has been prompted by the need (read: want) for a larger screen and a new interface. iOS is getting long-in-the-tooth for me even though it's still, in my opinion, the best mobile platform in the game. I've hacked and slashed my way through many jailbreaks on this iPhone and I have experienced all there is to experience with this software, so it's time for a change.

Blackberry is of course out of the question, Windows Phone 7 is still Microsoft and WebOS is dead.

Android phones have always fascinated me, not because of the operating system necessarily, but because there are so many options to be had with hardware. Big screens, small screens, different camera resolutions and quality, some have front facing cameras, others have crazy new display technology, and the list goes on.

These differences all have their ups and downs, I don't think i'll find the perfect combination, but I thoroughly enjoy the decision making that needs to go into finding a phone that fits me.

One of the big gimmicks this year is the CPU. The talk has been all about Nvidia's Tegra 2 processor, yielding dual-core technology. This opposed to some of the single core CPU's running at higher clock speeds than the Tegra 2. Of course, higher clock speeds with the same old architecture equals lower battery life, usually. This has yet to be confirmed in any sort of comparisons as almost none of these new phones have been touched, much less reviewed by any one.

So if it comes down to it, what's the best decision? A phone that runs quicker with lower battery life, or a phone that runs more efficiently but not as fast and perhaps with other shortcomings (like a smaller screen, lower quality camera, perhaps no front facing camera, etc)?

Since I charge my iPhone every night anyway, sometimes twice a day, it's a sign that I use my phone a lot, so having greater battery life might be the way to go and any Tegra 2 phone would be a no-brainer. However, I doubt i'll get 2 days worth even from the newest technology of phones, so why not just get the fastest phone and not worry about battery life?

Ahhh! Dilemmas. AT&T is coming out with some fantastic Android phones in the next 2-3 months, so I'm hoping to run in and test them out for myself soon, but for now I just have to watch my friends and other tech blogs talk about CES and all the wonderful gadgets that are floating around Vegas this weekend.