What do you desire? a legend in the making

Both phones were released and quite a bit of reviews are available in the market. So as always I will provide you with links to some of the best reviews I’ve read on both devices.

This write-up is more about my experience using the two phones.

Much to Desire

The HTC Desire is billed by some as the top of the Android line for the phone maker. It resembles the Google Nexus One phone, and why not? Google commissioned HTC to build the Nexus One.

Physically the Nexus One is smoother and looks a little sleeker than the Desire. The sharp edges on the Desire are not good for your pocket if, like me, you have a tendency to slip your phone into your front pocket. Both phones have the same processor and battery rating.

As a communications device, Google got it right to include built-in noise reduction technology on the Nexus. This is very important since most mobile phone mics pick up literally everything around you, making it often hard to listen to the person speaking. So I wonder why HTC would want to drop this one technology so many other phone makers seem to ignore but is a common concern across all mobile phone users (Nokia, Sony Ericsson, LG, Samsung, Apple, HTC – are you guys listening?).

Anyway, let me go back to the HTC Desire. I observed that the back of the HTC Desire gets very warm very fast if the screen is on. So if you are surfing the Internet on the Desire or watching a movie, chances are you will need to buy a case to wrap the Desire in… Otherwise be prepared to get first degree burns if you hold the phone long enough. The only other phone I’ve ever handled that does this even worst is the Samsung Omnia i800 – in my view one of the worst phones I’ve ever had. I did speculate that the use of a plastic backing meant the Desire had no way to dissipate heat. You really must like what you are doing to keep holding the phone when it’s scorching your hand.

The second and only other, real gripe I have with the Desire is the lack of option to upgrade the OS. Apple may not listen to its customers when developing new products but once you’ve invested in one, Apple lets you upgrade the operating system as and when it becomes available, as long as the hardware supports it. In practical terms this means that you don’t necessarily have to upgrade to the next iteration of the same series unless you have a very compelling reason to – like you got money to burn. In contrast, with HTC to experience Android 2.2, I will have to buy a new phone. And when Android 2.3 (or whatever next iteration after Froyo), I will have to throw away my just recently bought phone to get an OS upgrade.

How stupid is that?

I understand that with the Nexus One, you can upgrade to the next OS.

 

Plantronics Discovery 975 – the new standard in wireless communication

In 2001 my wife and I attended a Peter, Paul and Mary concert in Hong Kong (yes, I admit that we belong to that genre – albeit we were inculcated into the American folk-singing music of the 60s without the benefit of freedom of choice). At one point Mary Travers confessed her apprehension seeing Hong Kong people walking along the streets and apparently talking to themselves. She was eventually told that Hong Kong people liked talking to their mobile phones via wireless ear pieces. Today we know these devices to be Bluetooth in-ear headsets. 

A Bluetooth headset lets you talk to someone from your mobile (cell) phone via a wireless device plugged to your ear. Early generations of Bluetooh headsets fell into either of two categories: utilitarian or fashion statements. Almost all failed in one category for which they were built – to let you talk to someone in a clear voice.

My first Bluetooth headset was a Sony Ericsson. Over the years I’ve collected several brands including Jabra, Samsung, LG and more recently Plantronics.

Why so many? One could argue I’ve been on a quest to find a Bluetooth headset that gives voice quality comparable to that on a landline, is comfortable to use, and lasts long enough to limit charges to maybe two times a week.

This week I was asked to try a Plantronics Discovery 975 headset. This model follows the Plantronics tradition of minimalist design. In fact, two things I didn’t like about an earlier model – the Plantronics Discovery 625 – were the rather clumsy design of the ear gel and the addition of the removable hook. The ear gel easily detaches from the main body of the headset. Because I often pocket the headset when I don’t use it, I end up detaching the ear gel from the main body. The hook can become a nuisance if you were glasses.

Thankfully, on the 975 Plantronics has done away with the hook and made the ear gel design more rugged and sturdy. Drawing from its experience with the 625 and other earlier models, Plantronics incorporated a dual-mic AudioIQ² technology to simultaneously capture your voice and also cancel background noise. AudioIQ² automatically adjusts incoming calls to comfortable levels. The addition of a 20-band equalizer delivers rich, natural voice quality further enhancing the call experience.

It is easy to tell if you are using a headset when you are out in the open. The wind often creates swooshing sound that annoys the party on the other line. You often come in choppy. Plantronics uses WindSmart technology to provide three layers of protection against wind noise.

The result is voice clarity I’ve never associated with bluetooth headsets.

One of the reasons why I want to have a headset is so I don’t have to hold the phone while talking to someone. This leaves my hands free to write down notes. So in addition to good sound quality, I’d like the device to be comfortable to use for long periods as well as unobstrusive. At 9 grams, the 975 is light on the ear. And because it snugs very neatly into my ear, I often forget I have it on.