Into the Galaxy

Jerm: I bought the Galaxy Nexus.
Pibs: Oh wow! You went through with it.
Jerm: Yes I did. I love the Super AMOLED screen.
Pibs: Wait, so does this mean you’re selling your old phone?
Jerm: Yes. For 10,000 Yen.
Pibs: I’m buying that phone. Let’s meet-up tommorow after work.

March 5, 2012. Not the exact one we had but the above is a good representation of the conversation my friend and I had last Monday. Coincidentally, I was also in the market for a cheap Android Smartphone. I “have” a Samsung Galaxy Tab(GT), the first iteration, and I do not like how big it is. I am embarassed to use its phone features in public. When I asked my employer for an Android device, I should have been more specific about the form-factor.

Anyway, I tried fiddling with the Galaxy S(S) as soon as I got my stuff on it and I was blown away at how better the performance is on S than on GT. The UI moves with more fluidity and snap. I installed my default home launcher, ADW, and a bunch of other obligatory apps like Evernote, WeatherApp, Hulu, Dolphin Browser, Skype and Trillian, Twitter and of course the Bible app from YouVersion to start me up.

Also, I know for a fact that internet speed on NTT Docomo is way faster than Softbank’s (which is why you have site’s like softbanksucks) so I was excited to finally experience for myself how large the gap is(S on Docomo, iPhone 4S on Softbank). And it was fast. I now look at my iPhone with disgust.

“It’s not your fault. I know that. But… I’ve tasted the forbidden fruit. And it’s deliciously fast.”

So just like that, the iPhone took a back seat, and S is my new daily driver for now. I use it for reading articles on pulse, streaming monster radio RX93.1 via TuneIn Radio and watch 30 Rock on Hulu most of the time. It’s a well built device, and a nice break from the monotony that is the iOS. Now I understand why Sammy was able to sell millions of this device. It, arguably, is the best manifestation of an Android device.

Lastly, I just have to add that I love using Hulu on this device. Even though my device only has 16GB of memory, with Hulu on this device, it doesn’t really matter. Just stream it.

With its relatively fresh new UI combined with the high-speed internet connection, I can see myself using this device as my main one for quite some time. Or until Softbank gets its act together and offers a faster alternative (Probably some time around July).