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Danger Device Reviewed
Andonyx writes "There's already a review out on Zdnet regarding Danger's Hiptop PDA / Phone device. It looks very interesting and the review is mostly positive. It has some minor niggles, but concludes that it is a compelling and polished first gen offering."
same article here as far as i can tell, that link is 404. anyone have the right one?
www.danger.com for product info http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10 738,2877183,00.html for the review
When I hit Reply to post this comment about a broken link there is a little tag line that reads (Use the Preview Button! Check those URLs! Don't forget the http://!). Just an observation =)
(B) + (D) + (B) + (D) = (K) + (&)
Link is bad.
.
If the editors keep neglecting to check these, someday we'll end up with one that points to goatse.cx
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Give it a look
to the story.
Mike.
Mmmm......sacrelicious.
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-948497.html
Try Here
This is not the sig you're looking for
Just because Slashdot happened to report the same story doesn't mean that it was 'shamelessly stolen'.
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I've been a voicestream user for over a year, working with the ultimately too-buggy and breakable Motorola V.100. The Pocket PC Phone XDA had come out, so I was in between buying a full fledged PDA to replace my 2nd Ipaq (first one screen broke), or going with this device.
I'm glad I went with the XDA. One week now and I've had no problems that the reviewers all had. I've installed all my old ipaq software, downloaded a crapload of MP3's (to a 256MB SD card), even downloaded an mpeg movie which is quite watchable even on the smaller screen.
This pseudo-useful device definitely has its place, but it looked way too similiar to my v.100 in many ways, and I wanted a color screen with a useable resolution. For a few hundred bucks more ($300 or so) I was able to get a fully fledged PDA (albeit running MS OS) and a great phone, all in one.
No unlimited data on my end, though. Voicestream's data packages are ludicrously expensive... 5MB of data for $20 a month, ouch.
Now there's a PDA that Steve Irwin would be happy to use.
In Soviet Russia, Jesus asks: "What Would You Do?"
What does it tell you about ZDnet, when the advertisement in the middle of the article is five times bigger than the picture of the item in question?
I always do my posts in a text editor to check spelling, and then cut and paste into the submission form. According to my saved copy, that link works correctly. And actually if I click on it now, on the slashdot page, it works also.
The editors reformatted this post to fit the link into the text, so my guess is, if something went wrong it was at that stage, otherwise I don't know what to tell you.
Sorry for any incovenience.
Andonyx www.andonyx.com
That's right. You heard it there first © 2002
A small device attaches itself to your genitals. The early concept model is still in development, hence I cannot release the full feature details. But I must stress the fact that it uses recycled energy whenever there is friction involved. It comes standard with Anu-Tooth, which is the modified version of blootooth module and plugs right into the crack.
Whatever. It uses a frikkin keyboard -- how innovative is that? What's worse, it uses a QWERTY keyboard. C'mon! When are these manufacturers going to define something really useful. The Wall Street Personal Journal has a review as well and they point out that Danger Inc. (great name) is staffed by people from Apple and General Magic. Obviously, Danger Inc. got stuck with the lame-os who were unwilling to persue handwriting recognition. (or voice recognition, or a b.a.t. keypad, or even DVORAK keyboard.)
The screen turns around. Yay.
_______________________
from the article
"I was very impressed with the speed of the AOL IM client, but was disappointed that it was the only IM option offered pre-loaded on the device. While I expect that MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger will be supported in the future, for now, you're out of luck if you use either of them."
I hope they move to something more extensible like jabber or trillian. However AIM is the de-facto standard so it isn't such a big loss.
Also, in another section of the article he comments negatively on the camera add on... ITS A FREAKIN PHONE! IMHO the communications should come first (which they apparently do) and the nifty stuff that you wouldn't use much (camera) second. However, adding a quality digital camera to one of these PDA/Phone things would be extremely useful... enough that i might actually get one!
But then again there is the constant tradeoff between battery, cost, and quality. In mobile devices you have to pay for every little bit, so you better make sure its worth putting in.
The article doesn't say anything about the hackability of this gadget. Does anyone have any knowledge of that?
Free as in *BUUURP!*
Would it kill them to put a larger-than-thumbnail picture of the thing up with the review?
For "testing" of course. Go here.
"Wow," I though, "that's pretty good," until I noticed that it applied not to the PDA's screen, but rather to it's "illuminated LED push-wheel." Please tell me why I need a scroll wheel capable of blinking in 16.7 million different colors.
More memory (16 megs is pathetic) and an ogg player. Even if it had that, I'd wait for the color version.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo.
Or was there anything else fancy, than the market speech, that I missed?
Makes me think of Zaphod's sunglasses that went opaque when he was in danger. Much more useful I think.
Hiptop wowed Tycho from Penny Arcade.
/. was referring to earlier?
That should be all the press it needs.
Is this that guerilla marketing
[o]_O
Danger has flat-rate data pricing. Still, I wonder what Danger does if you plug in a camera and use it as a webcam, saturating the network.
The integrated phone/camera has interesting potential if the data cost problem can be overcome.
It has some minor niggles...
Niggles? Wtf does that mean? Should I be offended?
"Quoting famous computer scientists out of context is the root of all evil (or at least most of it) in programming." - K
That's right, I want more, more devices to carry around, wouldn't feel like a proper geek without lugging around more, a Huge watch, a Big Multipurpose Controller for Tv's, Vcrs, DVds, etc. (Hey you won't get stuck watching anything you don't want to now!), A Very Large Palm pilot, A 22lb Laptop, and a few misc. other devices that weight quite a bit, but make me look more geeky.
You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads!
It's not 3G wirless if they're with T-mobile.
Also, dollars to doughnuts that the cellular aspect is T-mobile and EVERYTHING else (web, email, spyware...oops!) is their proprietary network.
How useful and cool is that going to be if I can't run my webserver from my hip?
I think getting a device compatible with Sprint's Vision (their 3G wireless solution) would be a much better deal.
this "crotch top" pda is that it "attaches itself"(!) Look ma! no hands! Watch while this small robot pda crawls down my pants and wraps itself around my mule...'course, if you're a woman it might be a bit more.....invasive...:)
Danger started releasing info on this device last year, and they've had nothing but delays since. It looked like a very promising device at the time, but it has been caught and passed by other mobile devices since. Had they met their original launch date of April, they'd have been early to market and wouldn't have had the egg on their face that they have today. It was then pushed to June, then to July, then was an early-August release up until a week or two ago when it was again delayed at the last minute. So it now supposedly comes out in September, while in the meantime customers who have been waiting for the device have likely moved on to non-vapor devices.
and i though niggles were the cousins of lemmings
I want 2D games back.
any possibility of telnet or ssh (preferably the latter) on one of these things?
Maybe the state's highest function is to grind out insoluble problems. (Zelazny, Hall of Mirrors)
Definitely. Until you realize that the Danger Device is MSRP $200USD, and the Noia 9290 is MSRP $599USD.
El riesgo vive siempre!
...and all I got was a lousy sticker offer.
Not even a tshirt.
It's an add-on. And a kinda clunky one, from the looks of it. Just thought I'd mention it.
He who refuses to do arithmetic is doomed to talk nonsense.
> our common heritage as children of God
I'm not a child of God, unless you can pull some birth records or DNA tests that proove otherwise.
BTW, how on earth can you deride identity politics and then participate in them in the very next sentance? I hope you can spot the irony.
I also hope you can spot that its "HipTop" and not "HipHop".
"Old man yells at systemd"
The earlier devices worked with multiple IM systems but T-Mobile has a thing going with AOL so it became an AOL client.
The camera quality is fine, it's just the resolution that is very low. It's really just for fun.
Hacking this device is going to be tough IMO. Danger run the back-end so they can control who gets what if they want. It's like WebTV with their proxy system - look at the mgmt bios for indications on why! Danger have mentioned an open developer's program being available in the future but nothing yet except and email address for interested parties. I heard they have a Java based OS.
Cliff
From Merriam-Webster Online:
Main Entry: 1niggle /-g(&-)li[ng]/ /-g(&-)l&r/ noun
Pronunciation: 'ni-g&l
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): niggled; niggling
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: circa 1616
intransitive senses
1 a : TRIFLE b : to spend too much effort on minor details
2 : to find fault constantly in a petty way : CARP
3 : GNAW transitive senses : to give stingily or in tiny portions
- niggler
Mordor...a magical, mythical land where women are more rare than dragons--but where every man would rather find a dragon
If you want to check the availability of the device in the USA the link to T-Mobile is here or here.
Cliff
It seems as if they have come way to late to market with this phone , sure they might sell a few units, but compared to the tech Japan's 3G I-Mode and Europe's devices this all-in-one is a glorified calculator
Lets look at the competition
Nokia 7650
Integrated digital camera,
picture taking and sending, MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), photo album for storing pictures, GPRS, an advanced user interface, downloadable personal applications via Java(TM) technology, joystick navigation and a color display
Sony Ericcson T68i
Bluetooth(TM)
E-mail (POP3 & IMAP4),Game, MMS (Multimedia Messaging Services)
Synchronization with PC,Vibrating Call Alert,Voice Dialling
Trium Mondo (mitsubishi)
WAP 1.1,Currency converter,Games,Handsfree built in,Web browser (Pocket Explorer),E-mail (Pocket Outlook),Touch screen with 16 grey levels,Voice recorder,MP3 reader,PDA compatible,Auto-adjust world clock,Document storage,GPRS (General Packet Radio Service),Fax and data capabilities
(these links are all 2.5g tech as well, i didnt dare link to japans 3g phones/pda's to save Danger the embarrasment.)
Now i can buy all these products right now in my high street and have been able to for 6 months , and Danger have a device that should of been marketed 2years ago and is sadly lacking, it might be ok for the USA market but in Japan and Europe where devices are seen not only for their features (video/color screens etc)but for their fashion appeal and asthetics this device is dead in the water before its even released.
In all i think Danger have some catching up to do or revise their target market before entering this domain
Danger's real contribution is the Java-based server architecture for managing 3G devices (the first of which is the Hiptop/Sidekick; they keep saying their not in it for the handhelds -- right). This is the necessary complement to a high-speed infrastructure. You still can't do much with a slightly faster WAP phone.
This guy has more tech.
And it runs Linux and Ascii Doom! (kidding)
It seems from the demo this device comes closest to a way of accessing information and communication while being on the move. Vendors don't seem to understand that I don't want to do *everything* on a mobile device. And with PocketPC all developers can think of is porting desktop applications to a smaller form factor. Clearly the issues of human cognition and ergonomics is neglected by developers who are only concerned with enablement. Enablement is so often misunderstood for actual benefit or relevance. The Mac in 1984 understood this, including the one button mouse. The hardware wasn't exactly efficient as far as raw computing is concerned but it was efficient for human use. The QWERTY keyboard in Hiptop is example of this. Sure it is familiar. Sure it extends what is already out there. But is it useful. I recall anecdotaly that the QWERTY keyboard was designed to slow down typists. In any case it is meant for typing by a set of ten fingers than two thumbs.
That keyboard issue aside, the device screen shots look quite efficient in the manner they get the user from one function to other. The FAQ mention that they have their own virtual machine. This is important. A container environment, I think, is the best way to deploy applications (or rather applets) in a small device. A system of applets should surround data and provide "chaining" just like the Unix shells' filter/redirection rather than the desktop idea of apps/data. This might be a good way to approach mobile devices rather than the standalone app and file format crud.
I always wondered what the hell they did. Plus I got a kick out of the name. I mean, what would you think if you walked by the offices of some place called "Danger, Inc."?
Friends don't let friends use multiple inheritance.
Are you being paid to show product releases like this? I know that traditional news outlets are paid to show stuff like this all the time. Has this practice spread to slashdot?
Because of the closed, proprietary nature of this device, it is of almost no interest to me (or most long-term slashdot readers) whatsoever. If you are paid to do releases of this nature, please come clean and start a new topic heading.
I predict that pricing for devices like the
competing Nokia Phone/PDA and Handspring Treo
(it should have been named Tricorder, oh well)
will follow the PC pricing model -- heavily
discounted every month in preparation for next
years model.
Yes it would. Welcome to net journalism. So much for the web being a multimedia resource. I think it's mostly just lazyness.
being generous to your observation, you can probably do useful voice recognition with something around a 1GHZ P3/256MB RAM/50-100MB of SROM for the voice rec firmware
some developer friends who have extensive voice rec XPerience (i don't) would say 1.5GHZ P4/512MB RAM/100-200MB of SROM....
even given super low power versions of all these parts (which DON'T exist at this time)
your battery life (assuming 2-4 AA spec cells (more for form factor than any other reason, you'd actually use LiPoly, but you still wouldn't have room for than the eqivalent of 4 AAs) your battery life would be measured in minutes
"Obviously, Danger Inc. got stuck with the lame-os who were unwilling to persue handwriting recognition. (or voice recognition, or a b.a.t. keypad, or even DVORAK keyboard.)"
obviously you're NOT an engineer, OR don't understand either "economies of scale" OR just how hard it is to get a new technological standard adopted...(check with BeOS developers).
if all this tech existed (it doesn't) the device would retail between $1500 - $3000, hardly good territory for a consumer communications device
THAT MIGHT BE WHY THEY DIDN'T DO SOMETHING "USEFUL"???????
Ten quid, she's so easy to blind. And not a word is spoken...