Two years ago, if you threw the word “Android” around in conversation, the eyes of the people you are talking to would probably glaze over and you would be met with an empty, “Huh?” Sure, a few tech heads knew what the term meant, but the mass populace probably had no clue what it meant at the time; most people probably still don't, but I digress.
Although it wasn't the first in many categories, the HTC EVO 4G on Sprint's WiMAX network was the phone that put Android on the map and helped propel it to the top. It was the first Android phone with a 4.3-inch display and 4G connectivity, and it sported the fastest mobile processor of its time. On top of that, it had some of the best build quality to date and came at a respectable price of $199.99 with a two-year agreement.
Giving the iPhone a run for its money, the EVO 4G was a huge jump from all of the Android phones before it (if you don't count the Nexus One) and it rocked the tech world. It makes me wonder if there will ever be another Android phone that has quite the impact that the EVO once had.
Ever since HTC's monstrous EVO hit, all Android manufacturers have been in a relentless arms race for the biggest, baddest smartphone around. Thus came Android's Law in which we have seen some of the most impressive jumps in technology to date. Processors, cameras, display technology and radio technology have all experienced vast improvement over the past year.
In the midst of all of this improvement and advancing technology, we have been met with some truly impressive superphones like the HTC Sensation 4G, T-Mobile G2x, Samsung Galaxy S II and more. Despite all of the spec-boosting, manufacturers have yet to recreate the hype and excitement that surrounded the launch of the EVO. But why exactly is this?
Much like I said in my article about why I have kept my ThunderBolt for so long, manufacturers are releasing phones at a breakneck pace. Instead of taking more time between phones, each device is simply one step up from the one before it, a tiny increment. Comparing it to the phones before it, the EVO was a leap – three or four steps, not the half steps we're dealing with now.
Just last week a rumor of the Nexus 4G spread around the web, toting claims of a 720p HD display, next-gen 5-megapixel camera, up to a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 1080p video recording. To say the least, this phone will be a beast. Although it will easily have the most impressive specifications to date, in comparison to devices like the Galaxy S II and Sensation, it isn't that big of an improvement.
Unfortunately, this is a trend that is here to stay. As long as phones are releasing on a weekly basis and this perpetual advancement is going on, another Android device with as much impact on the market as the original EVO is highly unlikely. That said, something out of the ordinary – a high-end multi-screen device, an eye-implant phone or an all glass, see-through phone – that catches us off guard could spark a frenzy.
