Color Sidekick to be Released Tomorrow

Saxton writes "Just announced by hiptop.com's T-Mobile Rep, the awaited Color Sidekick will be available at CompUSA and 1-800-TMOBILE tomorrow. The thread is here. Now available is a data-only plan for $29.99, and you can now use any other T-Mobile price plan with the Sidekick. Anyone meeting me at CompUSA tomorrow morning?" Here is my Review of the Original device, which I still think is among the most useful portable electronic devices I've seen. I'm looking forward to testing out the new version to see what improvements have been made to an already great unit.

Comments

SSH?

[interiot]

I'd buy one of these things pretty quickly if they could do SSH. Does anyone know if that's working on the SideKick?

Re:Is this a good NAV tool?

[Duwke]

They just release a fix so that mapquest comes in very well now. You can actually read names of roads (at least on yahoo maps, which I believe is just mapquest rebranded).
It is quite useful on the road.

Is Sidekick a Niche Product?

[WC as Kato]

I'm not trolling, but how are people using the Internet portion of the Sidekick? I can see people using the phone function but the T-Mobile prices are pushing unlimited Internet access. I understand the need for accessing the web every now and then while away from the desk computer but do you need so much wireless Internet access that you need a flat price for it?

I don't see myself using $30/month worth of wireless Internet on a small screen in addition to a broadband connection. So is this a niche product or am I missing something?

Re:Features I need

[schalliol]

Yes, and I would like handwriting recognition, GPS, 8 mega-pixel camera (integrated), waterproof, voice recognition, card slot for ultrawideband, and a toaster too. Oh yeah, needs to be less than $10. Get realistic. This is a phone that can be carried around all the time with you. 1. This is not needed, though better GPRS coverage would be nice, there's no usage charges, it's all you want for one low price. 2. The pipe key "|" is anything but critically important, though you can display it if you want. 3. Uhhhh and you want it what size? Eventually this sort of thing will happen, but the resolution is damn good for the size. 4. Sounds like you want a Linux PDA, there are a number out there, get one. This is not billed as a PDA, it's a phone or communicator. 5. Yeah yeah, would be fun, but again, what's the priority. 6. See the problem is that you want more for less. I only paid $50 for my hiptop (they cost $200 to make) and I do have a service plan, but I understand that you can't make things for free! Good thing that the Seth Finklestein scale of greatness is not a scale anyone but Seth uses! Since you're complaining about this so much, why don't YOU make this thing you are asking for?

Does this thing support SSH?

[cnelzie]

All the Sidekick would need is an up to date SSH client that supports SSH1 and SSH2. That feature alone would make the Sidekick the most valuable UNIX and other Real Network Admins (Cisco Router/firewall network admins.) gadget available.

I haven't heard nor have I been able to locate any information regarding an SSH client for the Sidekick, has anyone else?

Another semi-redundant "I'd buy one if.."

[wulfhound]

Likewise, only I'm more in the market for:- 1. a hard drive (or wait until Flash gets so cheap I can put 2GB+ in the thing). Being limited to one or two MP3 albums' worth of expensive Flash memory sticks is not acceptable. 2. programmability. I don't care if the OS is Linux, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. If the OS is Linux, I don't have to care about the number of keyboard keys or the bundled software as I know they kbd can easily be remapped and new s/ware installed. However, at the minimum, it has to allow the development of apps that can access the local filesystem, TCP/IP and whatever I/O the machine supports (I suspect the gaming-oriented Java VMs included with "smart" phones lock out some of this?) 3. a usable-quality colour digital camera (I'd buy at 320x200 and stills-only, but would prefer 640x480 and motion capture). 4. a high-enough resolution screen for readable-but-ugly text at 80x25. 320x200 *just* scrapes by as acceptable there; in any case it's hard to build much more than that in to such a small form factor. 5. reasonably quality (better than your average cellphone) external connectivity for audio I/O, preferably on standard 3.5mm connectors. I'm starting to get frustrated with what I see as a lack of innovation with regards to integrating this stuff.. we all know it's possible with current technology. Right now, I carry around a semi-smart (actually pretty dumb) phone, an iPod and a small digital camera. Each of these has probably 85% of its components and weight (casing, screen, battery, mobile CPU, buttons, connector jacks, memory) in common, so it MUST be possible to build something like this that's no more than 30% bigger and heavier than a new-style iPod. I suspect it may in part have to do with the cellphone companies having rather stringent rules on what can connect to their networks.. I don't suppose they'd much like their protocol stacks running in the same address-space as any old code.

Re:Meeting

[Chewie]

Train them.

Seriously, I have a cell phone (or a regular phone) for *my* convenience. I pay the bill, I own it, I use it as I please. If it's someone I don't want to talk to, I don't answer it. The idea that, because you called me, I am somehow obligated to answer the phone or call you back immediately is ludicrous. Worst case scenario, establish a history of "accidentally" leaving your cell phone off, or in your car, or whatever. An electronic leash for work is one thing (they pay my bills). An voluntary electronic leash, on the other hand, is right out.

Man, I'm not normally this cranky. :-)