Danger's HipTop Renamed and Released

FireMage writes "According to this press release from Danger, their cheap, cool, consumer targeted, cellphone/PDA "convergance device", the HipTop is now avalible nationwide as the T-Mobile SideKick, as in you should actually be able to buy one today. They've even revived one of their nifty-mysterious original flash splash pages to announce it. I'm all for clever hacks, but it's nice to finally see what seems to be a well thought out product in this arena. (The HipTop was first mentioned on Slashdot and again in a review .)" I have a review unit on my desk, and am super impressed. A larger impression piece will be coming out just as soon as I have time to write it.

Comments

"Closed platform"

[henben]

The Register said this was a "closed platform" - does this mean that you can't install whatever software you like on a HipTop?

If so, that's very bad, because T-Mobile's WAP service (in the UK) is unusably poor, due to their badly thought out menu layouts. I wouldn't buy it if I couldn't configure it how I liked.

Missing some key features

[cmeans]

I was initially impressed with this device, and I've been waiting for it for almost a year now.
However, not having a touch screen I think hampers it immensly, and not being able to dial a number (one that's not already in your address book) without openning it and punching the number in using the keyboard is going to limit it.

I know it's not being targetted to business types, but I think that it's the business types who can really make it popular.

I'm hopful that the next version of this will have those issues taken care of.

Convergence device != answer

[plover]

For years, first as a Palm owner then as a Visor owner, I wanted a combination device so I wouldn't have to carry two different things on me.

Then I got to trying some of the available combo devices, such as the QualComm PDQ, the VisorPhone and the Kyocera. None were good enough at both tasks for me to ever want to use one again.

The screens are way too small on the dedicated phones. The PDQ was a great innovator, and a damn fine doorstop. The bolt-on radio made the Visor too big and heavy to fit comfortably in a pocket, and the speaking position is surprisingly clumsy. The Kyocera is just a very large phone with a very tiny PDA.

I've finally come to recognize that they are two different devices used for different purposes that have an occasional need for convergence. Any hardware combination is going to be a compromise that makes the usability of both suffer. I think the best answer now is going to be bluetooth communications between two separate devices. Bluetooth will also come in handy with future consumer controls (think TV remotes that don't rely on an under powered IR or a cordless phone base that talks to your cell phone's earpiece, etc.,) so it has the potential to be used much more widely than just pocket to earpiece communicatons.

Let's just say that the news of this device is two years late and mostly underwhelming.

Re:Convergence device != answer

[rearden]

Having gone the same route I have to agree. So, to resolve the problem I went and got a SonyEricsson T-Mobile T-68 with bluetooth and use the bluetooth to connect to my iPAQ. Now I can check mail, check news, send instant messages (wish Trillian had a PocketPC version) and get the info I need. I even went and got a Belkin bluetooth adapter for my laptop and use it with the T68 when I am on the road.

The best part of having the two separate items is that when I need only one, I carry only one. There are a lot of cases where I want my phone, but dont need the blulky Palm/PocketPC. And there are even more cases where I want to be "unavailable" but need my PocketPC.

Despite all the talk about convergence, I have to say it is nice to have two devices- especially when the battery dies in one!

Re:Convergence device != answer

[Freedom Bug]

But at some point in time, convergance devices become "good enough" and the benefit of carrying one device outweighs the negative.

Myself, I've got a Treo and I love it. It fits in my pocket (my old Visor didn't, and my old phone was uncomfortable there). Sure, there's things I don't like about it, but it's a heck of a lot better than carrying two gadgets around.

Let's face it, Palm's and phones are mature technologies. The biggest differentiator between two different non-wireless Palms or two different GSM phones is LOOKS. Other differences are minor.

Even if Bluetooth delivered on it's promise, I'd still be using a Treo, because I'd be only carrying around one gadget rather than two.

Bryan

Re:With all this technology (pot/kettle)

[gosand]

(flexable, rediculous, definately, etc ad nausem)

Don't you mean "ad nauseam"?

*ducks*

Re:Excuse me...

[FooBarney]

Waddayamean, why?

It's really cool ... that's why.

It's VERY reasonably priced ($200 + $40/month) for the feature set, comes with UNLIMITED data including AIM, email, and the Web, and has what's purported to be a fantastic HTML parser for small screens. Plus, if the SDK ever actually ships, it should be pretty easy to write your own apps for it. Plus, it's a decent phone ... plus, the industrial design with the fliparound screen is fantastic.

Isn't that exactly what /. is FOR?

Re:Excuse me...

[iamacat]

Well, have a look here and tell me how this thing is better? For Palm phones, you can already download thousands of applications and write your own ones. No waiting for the "future SDK". Some of them (Kyocera) are in the same price range. I mean, this is like opening a automotive magazine and seeing a Hyundai on the front page. Sure, some people might decide to buy it, but it's hardly what anyone would want with a free choice. For example, a grayscale LCD really sucks for reading your UNLIMITED data, no matter how good is your fantastic HTML parser.

When will they realise....

[Mac Degger]

...tha this, and only this, is what I'll buy a new device for:

-PalmOS
-integrated mobile phone (fromfactor: any old palm III or V with the speaking/ers part on the back->this means on the other side of the screen so I don't mess up the screen with my stubble)
-colour, highres screen
-removable storage
-wifi or bluetooth

And that's it...I already have a good phone (nokia 7110) and my current PDA (IIIc) suffice for everyday life. Only if my demands are met will I upgrade. I couldn't care less about an integrated mp3 player or removable storage on its own, especially if that means I don't get my phone/pda.