New Hiptop (Sidekick II) Photos
s4xton writes "Some new photos of the upcoming Sidekick II from T-Mobile have been leaked on hiptopinfo.org. In addition to already being one of the best portable GPRS units with SSH2, Web Browsing, AIM and Mail, the new unit, slated for an August release features a built in camera, speakerphone and a number of other features. Thread on Hiptop Forums about it here. Here's some older photos and an owners manual and a previous Slashdot story about the original Color Sidekick."
The only flaw with the Sidekick is that it's a thin client device. All your data is on the server and subject to T-Mobile's whim. It's a great device, but it can't do stuff like play mp3s or anything that would require a lot of processing power. Still, it's a great smartphone for people on a budget who don't mind being kind of crippled by their service provider.
For my money, though, I'll take my Treo 600 any day. It's quite a bit more expensive up front, but it's far more customizable and expandable. The Sidekick is more of a walled-garden approach.
How about a phone that acts like a phone? I know that the issue is primarily with the telecoms but jesus h. christ...when will someone invest money in making the networks better. At this rate, in 5 years I will be able to remotely cook my food with my phone. I would settle for a phone that has excellent clarity and doesnt drop out. Now that's the phone I want.