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Google Unveils First Android Phone
danieltdp writes "Google finally officially launched the first Android-enabled mobile device to hit the market. As expected, the first Android phone will be the HTC Dream (also known as the T-Mobile G1), a device with a large touchscreen and a slide-out physical keypad that will run Google's new mobile platform." You might also not be at all surprised to know that Google is working on an Android competitor to the Apple App store.
What am I saying? You know what to do!
Will really come out of the woodwork on this one :-)
If I had an Ass, I'd call it Fanny Bottom, then I could slap my Ass; Fanny Bottom, on the Arse.
Android will be a disaster. Too many handsets to keep happy.
Symbian is going to be open sourced soon so the being opein advantage is now nil. The API in Android is a piece of shit and the performance of the device is abysmal. Linux is not a good choice for a cell phone, plain and simple.
Title finally write good
I don't think Google will be much better than the current situation with the Apple App Store.
For a start, I'm sure they're not allowing any kind of C application. That will take care of most non-designed-with-Google-in-mind free games.
I am in the market for a new phone now and have been eagerly awaiting this first Android phone for some time. Whilst the G1 looked pretty clunky to me from leaked shots I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt. However, based on today's presentation, I think I am going to wait and see.
My main issues:
1. Unless I misheard, this phone will require a gmail account to actually use it - even if you don't use their mail, calendar and chat apps. Call me paranoid, but I have no intention of giving Google even more info about me. If you need to register/log in using gmail before the phone becomes usable then that is a dealbreaker for me.
2. It also really bugs me that they haven't used a standard headphone jack. I know this is not a problem unique to this handset, but it annoys the hell out of me that manufacturers can't just use the standard jack size. I don't want multiple different headphones, one for each device, I want one set which I can use with all of them.
3. No Exchange support, tethering, desktop sync, video or Skype. Some or all of these would be nice at launch but I assume they will be added fairly quickly by others though given it is an open-source platform.
I think, on balance, I am going to wait until Android is available on other handsets or can be downloaded onto a handset of my choosing. The potential is still very much there with Android itself, but this version ain't it (at least for me). It is a shame really since I had such high hopes for the G1.
Apple's not worried about this one. If Google tries to launch it, Apple will just shut it down the same way they shut down everything else that competes with their apps.
This is the NFL, which stands for "Not For Long" if you keep making those bulls*** calls.
How does this tie in with what was posted earlier here? http://mobile.slashdot.org/mobile/08/09/22/2234208.shtml
I have AT&T, and don't want an iPhone (well I do, but it doesn't really do what I need). No soup for me!
12:50 - press return.
Does it runs Chrome?
As expected, it's Tivoised...
There is currently no Skype compatibility, although T-Mobile did not specify whether such a thing would be allowed if a third-party were to develop it.
If it wasn't Tivoised, this wouldn't come up, because they wouldn't be able to prevent anyone from installing anything they want on it.
I heard that it doesn't support A2DP so no bluetooth stereo headsets.
And I can not find out if it has voice dialing. My old Samsung had great Voice dialing.
My current Sanyo's is just okay and my wife's Razor really doesn't work all that well.
See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
There's also an announcement from the Android Community (and confirmed by Qualcomm) that the device will be running off of a new Linux-based and Linux-optimized Qualcomm chipset.
What I find most interesting, however, is their mention of an asymmetric dual-core processor, with one core optimized for specific phone functionality and the other designed as a general-purpose processor. If this works, it will be an interesting new trend and a big step forwards for phones, Linux, and Qualcomm, I believe. (Apparently, though, it still has a few issues... I wish luck to those design teams!)
>> Standing on head makes smile of frown, but rest of face also upside down.
another article: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2008/09/t-mobile_unveils_first_google.html
This unveiling also brought some bad news for Android enthusiasts.
* Neither Google nor HTC nor T-Mobile will ship any sort of desktop-synchronization software with the phone, so your only way to get your address book and calendars onto the G1 will be to upload them to Gmail and Google Calendar. I can't believe that these companies are leaving a function this basic as a "third party opportunity."
* The G1, like the iPhone and T-Mobile's Sidekick, will have its SIM card slot locked to prevent the use of other carriers' subscriber-identity module cards. So if you don't like T-Mobile's network here or its roaming rates overseas, you'll either have to suck it up or hope somebody "jailbreaks" this phone in the same way that hackers have defeated the iPhone's SIM locking.
* The G1 will offer limited compatibility with some of the files you use most often. It will only be able to read Microsoft Office files, not edit them. And while its music player will be able to use MP3, Windows Media and AAC files, you'll need to wait for a third-party to provide some sort of add-on to sync your iTunes library to the phone. And iTunes Store downloads restricted with Apple's "digital rights management" locks won't play on the G1 (though the G1 is no different from other non-Apple devices in this respect; that's why you shouldn't buy Apple's DRM-ed downloads at all when you get the same music as an unlocked, open MP3 from Amazon's MP3 store).
* Its Bluetooth is as limited as the iPhone's. The G1 will initially support only hands-free kits, with "A2DP" stereo-sound output coming later on and, it seems, no plans for file transfer or other, more useful Bluetooth options.
"You killed my yogurt!" --Fred Fredburger
Could this possibly lead to my dream mobile phone? Could it? With the Android platform being open-source, I think it is just possible.
What is my dream mobile phone? It is JUST A FREAKIN' PHONE. No touch screen. No web browsing. Just a single line B&W LCD, maybe two lines for easier caller ID printing. And with big buttons.
Without a big fancy screen, the phone would cost less to make. That extra space could have a bigger fractal antenna pattern board or something for even better reception. And without all of those useless extra features, a battery life exceeding any phone made today.
Bearded Dragon
You might also not be at all surprised to know that Google is working on an Android competitor to the Apple App store.
That's right, I'm not suprised. It was on the front page of Slashdot awhile back.
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/30/1335231
comment about editors and reading Slashdot goes here.
Slide out full keyboard, touch screen, and not running Windows Mobile. So far, so good.
Once the majority of the bugs are worked out, and they release a GSM version, it could be really cool.
Now to carefully make my current phone last one more year...
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
Could this possibly lead to my dream mobile phone? Could it? With the Android platform being open-source, I think it is just possible.
Do Androids dream of electric sheep?
Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
Google isn't making the phone, they made the platform. Why TFS says that Google unveiled it, I have no clue. The phone is made by HTC for T-Mobile. Other phones for other carriers are in the works by the respective carriers.
Wait for others if you want, it's still Android.
Unless I misheard, this phone will require a gmail account to actually use it - even if you don't use their mail, calendar and chat apps.
I didn't get that, just that it only supported gmail, IMAP, and POP3.
But I wouldn't be surprised. If you don't trust Google, don't get Android.
Besides, do you really trust AT&T or T-Mobile more than Google?
Everyone is comparing this new offering to the iPhone. But the interesting thing is that virtually no one compares it to the Blackberry - the new "has-been" of the so-called "Smart phone" industry.
It isn't like the Blackberry hasn't had any warning - the iPhone was announced more than 18 months ago, and there have been rumors about the Google-driven offering for nearly as long. How the shareholders of RIM can merely watch their company rest on its laurels is beyond me. RIM's death will be when Microsoft tries to acquire it.
In the 1980's, WANG was in nearly every office in America. They rested during the PC revolution, and within a couple years they were as good as dead. RIM has entered that territory. Yes, Blackberrys are still selling to corporate clients, who are traditionally slow to embrace new technologies. But other than the slow-movers out there, everyone can clearly see two very high-profile competitors - Apple and Google.
Looks bad for RIM.
Will someone PLEASE make a touch screen phone with REAL one-handed dialing buttons? After owning an HTC, I will never own a full touchscreen again.
Give me a phone you can dial without looking at. Voice dialing isn't always an option.
Pros:
Cons:
I think I will be sitting out on the first generation of Android. If the next generation of android phones has as many improvements as there were from iPhone 1.0 to 2.0, i will be a a very happy camper.
I'm the Devil the Windows users warned you about.
The device looks ok.. but I didn't realize during the hype building process that HTC's device would be sim-locked to a network. So much for an open handset alliance product...
:|
Is that thing going to be sold retail worldwide without having to go through an operator? Operator don't subsidize phone where I live anyway.
If it can run SSH, whether native or third party, and if there is some way to verify it's a real SSH, not infested by DHS or other snoops, that would be great.
Infuriate left and right
I'm going to be in the market for an upgrade an a couple of months, and this is quite underwhelming. I'm sure there are some good things that weren't in TFA (I sure hope there was a lot left out).
No tetherability? Mmmm, that sucks.
No mention of GPS or an app. Perhaps an extortion-like monthly fee to get the feature will follow?
No desktop sync with calendar? That's going to be quite a hassle, especially since I can't tether to get online to the gFoo apps. Also, I sure hope they have balls-up caching for the gFoo apps like contacts and calendar. Not everyone who uses a pda-phone is in signal range for even GPRS all the time.
As for the Dream... what's with the button bar not moving? Did HTC have too many complaints from Blackberry users that their Hermes and TyTn keyboards were too large? They could have put a whole numeric keypad over there.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
dude, your dreamphone already exists: http://www.jitterbug.com/Phones.aspx Now you just have to download a "Git off my lawn!!" ringtone
Basic enough? And it's only $40. You could go more basic with a Tracphone (unlock it, and it'll work on any GSM network).
> What is my dream mobile phone? It is JUST A FREAKIN' PHONE. No touch screen. No web browsing. Just a single line B&W LCD, maybe two lines for easier caller ID printing. And with big buttons.
The early 90's called. Motorola would like to sell you this thing:
http://www.handcellphone.com/archives/the-coolest-cell-phones-that-i-used-to-dreamed-of
You can always open another Gmail account with as little info of yourself as possible. I have many of them I use for spam, newsletters etc, with no personal info. I don't see why you make such a big deal out of this...
"(including street view, a feature that is infuriatingly missing from the iPhone)"
I don't mean to be a troll, just curious. In what way is Google Street View useful?
Whale
It is HTC's phone. They premiered it with T-Mobile. Google was just a monkey wrench. It is interesting how nobody can seem to get past the Google software to the HTC hardware.
I watched an interview with Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, in which he said that the license for Android means that Yahoo could, for example, create their own version. (In the same interview, he said he would be happy if Microsoft built the next version of IE on Chrome).
Hopefully future vendors will drop the Google account requirement. There are rumors of a Sprint android phone, and AT&T has commented that they are considering it, for whatever that is worth.
Better would be to see something like OpenAndroid spring up to succeed where OpenMoko has so far failed.
There is something called jitterbug, sounds like your type of phone.
APCMag.com has an informative Q&A sit down with Android team member Dan Morrill. You can read it here.
Opportunities of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity. - Linda Ravenhill
Could this possibly lead to my dream mobile phone? Could it? With the Android platform being open-source, I think it is just possible.
Dude, Android has nothing to do with your dream phone. The Nokia 5190 was pretty much doing what you wanted it to 10 years ago. Pick one up off of eBay for less than $30 and be happy, unless you're worried that the extra features like SMS and Snake will interfere with your experience. Tell all your Slashdot friends who also just want a phone, too.
Tweet, tweet.
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Motofone-F3-Unlocked-Phone-International/dp/B0013A7KMW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=wireless&qid=1222198605&sr=8-1
Motorola F3. $35. B/W e-ink screen. No bells, no whistles.
"I think an etch-a-sketch with an ethernet port would beat IE7 in web standards compliance."
I believe you're talking about the Motofone F3?
I have the same dream phone. Its a Motorola F3.
Then go buy a Nokia 1600 and GTFO of threads for people who like smarphones.
What is my dream mobile phone? It is JUST A FREAKIN' PHONE. No touch screen. No web browsing. Just a single line B&W LCD, maybe two lines for easier caller ID printing. And with big buttons.
Hey, I had one of those backin the late '90s! It was a Motorola Star-Tac. Unfortunately it was analog...
Free Martian Whores!
Our small startup was going to do iPhone apps with a nice chunk of funding from some venture capital types.
Android was a bit under the radar for awhile and the other people I am working with were caught up in the Apple marketing hype. But then more and more developer nightmare stories about dealing with Apple kept coming up. And these were above and beyond the absurd NDA crap and other secrecy Apple holds to with their product plans raised all sorts of alarms. Even the money guys were getting worried that they were going to dump all this cash into projects that were completely at the mercy and whim of Apple.
We were about to go out and waste money on expensive Macs for everyone - one of our guys was insisting on some 4 grand Mac laptop.
All those plans are now scrapped. We are all working on Android by simply downloading the free SDK and eclipse IDE and up and running on our own PCs. We don't have to waste time learning damn Objective-C that no one outside of the niche Mac dev community has any experience with and instead were able to jump right in with our existing Java skills.
The sky is the limit for Android. Solid technology base that is completely open. All the benefits of open source Linux without all the useless development and API fragmentation. The amount of interest from cellphone makers and people beyond the cellphone market in leveraging Android for their devices makes it clear that the huge amount of developer interest is just going to continue to grow rapidly.
Anything a user wants will be appearing on Android. It's so easy to modify for whatever end users need and desire.
Bye bye Apple and iPhone. Hello Android. Google really came through big time with this platform.
I don't mean to be a troll, just curious. In what way is Google Street View useful?
I've used it a few times to get a visual of a destination before traveling there. Street numbers are great, but it's nice to be able to recognize a place by sight as you're looking for it.
Tweet, tweet.
3G coverage is available only in certain markets. See coverage map. If your total data usage in any billing cycle is more than 1GB, your data throughput for the remainder of that cycle may be reduced to 50 kbps or less. Your data session, plan, or service may be suspended, terminated, or restricted for significant roaming or if you use your service in a way that interferes with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users. Some devices require specific data plans; if you do not have the right plan for your device, you may not be able to use data services. Some downloads, such as movies, music, and games, not included. Domestic use only.
It's disappointing that every reply is a joke. Phone after phone gave me terrible reception and dropped calls, to the point that I still go outside to talk on the phone, even though I now have a good phone, because I'm used to not being able to have a conversation inside.
Every time I replace a phone I hunted and hunted for reviews that would talk about the reception. Reading 10 page reviews talking about the battery life, 1 mpixel camera quality, automatic douche mode, I never found anything better than "reception was acceptable in Chicago." It's a god damned phone. Tell me how good it works as a phone.
Whale
Is it just me, or is this a really poorly designed device? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would have trouble reaching the place call/answer green phone button at the bottom left of the device with my thumb. It seems like a really stupid place to put it, rather than where my thumb normally is when holding the device.
we're already working on gplv3'ed ssh :) and its got some kick-butt features for terminal switching. check out the code and vids:
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/
Android Pros:
* No emo retards/Mac loonies queuing up hours for it and spamming the Net with photographs of their pathetic asses
* No inane 'unboxing vids'
* You don't have to deal with the morons who try to work their iPhone into every single conversation they have with you
* You don't have to watch the dumbfucks who sit in public places awkwardly and desperately using their iPhone hoping other people will see them and think they are 'special'
What is my dream mobile phone? It is JUST A FREAKIN' PHONE. No touch screen. No web browsing. Just a single line B&W LCD, maybe two lines for easier caller ID printing. And with big buttons.
Have a look at the Jitterbug phone.
Google Android, was expecting some sort of robotic pda/sex toy. Gotta cut down on that anime shit.
Kwisatz Haderach
Sell the spice to CHOAM
This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
this will be like PC vs Mac in the 90's the open platform will attract more developers, more manufacturers and eventually more users. the closed platform will be buried.
This program was made possible by a grant from the Ultra-Humanite, and viewers like you.
Nokia 3310, or perhaps 8210
Could this possibly lead to my dream mobile phone? Could it? With the Android platform being open-source, I think it is just possible.
Do Androids dream of electric sheep?
And do Scottish Androids dream of fucking them?
Kwisatz Haderach
Sell the spice to CHOAM
This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
Even if you could put a VoIP app on your phone,
The explorer turns to his trusty native guide, and points dramatically into the distance, and asks "what's that"... and from then on the mountain he was pointing at is known as "Mt YourFingerYouFool" in the local language...
The point isn't "you can't run Skype". That's just the finger. The mountain is "you can't just install anything you want on your open source Android phone".
Wow, there was me thinking that the Open Handset Alliance would be more um, open. But no, it was not to be. T-Mobile are stumbling along in Apple's wake and locking the phone to their network only. Maybe HTC are selling unlocked ones?
The G1 is so full of dealbreakers, it's simply sad.
Instead of an open platform, this is just another locked-down money-sink.
No tethering? Even my Samsung Blackjack does it... running WM 5.0.
No video? Every other handset can record video.
No exchange support? Why in the world not?
But to me, it's the tethering issue that really breaks the bank. Does T-mobile really think that consumers will pay upwards of $50/month for each internet-capable device they own?
Look at the laptop broadband market - it's almost strictly businessmen who both need dedicated access, and can write it off as an expense. What makes T-mobile think that all these people will suddently jump up and hand several hundred dollars per year to T-mobile. People adapt... people realize that they could live without such broad internet mobility, and they stop buying thigs... which is exactly the opposite of what T-mobile needs.
This is yet another example of unadulterated and shortsighted greed and the willingness to shoot yourself in the foot.
I love the manner in which Matthew Broderick here explains how excited he is about Android.
:)
Does it run Linux?
I had a similar thing with my first computer.
I realised all I wanted for it to do was to break cryptograpic codes for me, preferably with just one paper tape reader, but all that they were offering did things like web-browsing, music, video, email and such like, which really pissed me off!
Why can't anyone make a computer that will just do what they were intended to do?!?
Why aren't more people interested in this gem if they are interested in an open handset/smartphone? I realize that it is a little buggy still and has no camera, but every time someone buys one of these and starts tinkering, a closed phone gets its wings. This this is a fantastic alternative to Apple/Google. Plus for 100 extra clams, you can get a debug board and tinker with the hardware too.
If you don't know what you're doing, you can't make mistakes.
How soon do you expect that? I personally would be fine with current SSH on the phone and screen on the remote system; scp would be nice but not necessary.
Infuriate left and right
And do Scottish Androids dream of fucking them?
Only when there's not enough real ones around, laddie!
Yeah, when I heard that Android was coming out on the Dream phone, I was pretty excited, but I figure I'll wait for the Electric Sheep app to come out before I actually make a purchase.
Reality is the original Rorschach.
It never fails. In every thread about Phones, There's always some Asshat that shows up that wants "Just a Phone" without the bells and whistles of whatever device is being talked about.
Never mind the fact is these devices exist and can be found easily. They still gripe, and more often than not, get modded up.
Do not read this
P.S. Looks great! Didn't mean to ignore that aspect :-)
Infuriate left and right
I think it's actually a perfectly good reason to to use a proper smart phone. And it doesn't really limit you nearly as much as you might think; it's a standard feature on the two most interesting current offerings: iPhone and Blackberry.
HTC's designs have always seemed like a mix of innovation and sloppiness and using a non-standard jack is just silly. Android is exciting, but wait for someone to put it into a platform that does the hardware portion right, or you might really regret it.
Quack, quack.
I just ordered mine and they charged me $299 for the phone because I am currently still in a contract. Why bother telling us about the $179 price since they push new phones on you when your contract is up in order to keep you in a contract. If only a very small percentage of your user base is not locked in a contract then its some pretty shady trickery to shove the $179 price down our throats. At least if I pay $299 don't make me still enter an additional 2 year contract. There are various places on the net reporting this, including Android's Forums.
Engadget has a couple of screens:
The applications screen shows an email client next to GMail. This screen shows the email setup wizard. So it seems like there is an alternative to gmail.
Unless you get third-party software, which is the whole selling point of this phone. How about this?
Android QuickOffice
Or you can write your own app to do that, which is the whole selling point of this phone.
If this phone/OS lives up to the hype, all these kinds of comments that we normally make about phones will become irrelevant. You don't complain that your new computer can't open a certain doctype; you just get the right software to do that. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the walled-garden era on cell phones.
I have a phone like that. It was $10 new at Wal-mart. No contract, cheap minutes, works pretty well.
Seriously, how come there's always so many complaints about the availability of this on /., when these phones are so easily available?
Care about electronic freedom? Consider donating to the EFF!
Seriously. This phone is vendor locked. You can modify the OS code, sure... But you can't install the OS on it without it being signed by T-Mobile in some way so they can enforce their carrier lock. It's the same for apps. You can install anything you want but it has to be signed by Google, 'cause "malicious apps aren't allowed". Yeah. That's what Apple said too.
This is the iPhone. Made by Google.
Remember, the iPhone OS is open source too.
Surely someone so interested in Blackberries as yourself would be aware that RIM has a new touchscreen blackberry about to be released called the Storm... http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/23/gsm-only-blackberry-storm-thunder-leaks-out/
Whether or not it's going to compete with the iPhone obviously has yet to be seen, but they're hardly resting on their laurels.
"You worthless post!"
-Shakespeare, 2 Gentlemen of Verona, 1. 1. 147
Please Verizon, please.....let this work out some kinks for a few months and release an Android phone around the holidays or shortly after. And don't badge it or lock it down!
Maybe if someone like Alltel gets it or something, it would be easy enough to connect to Verizon's network since the phone is open and all?
It would actually be a relief to me if someone told me that they were all being secretly paid by Apple.
It seems to me that companies think that marketing their products as "open source" absolves them from actually sticking to the spirit of the concept. I would trade their open source concept for "open use".
I want to buy a phone that lets me actually use the technology as it was intended - not some crippled, locked-in subset of features. I don't care if it is running open source software or some proprietary stuff - I just want open access to all of the features that the technology should provide. This means full bluetooth support, being able to plug the phone into my computer if I want to sync or up/download data, or switch to a different provider if I find that my current one does not provide the coverage I need or is too expensive. The list is endless.
In other words, I am really tired of this vertical integration of services and hardware. It is all designed to lock in and control the user. Personally, I refuse to purchase anything that attempts to do this to me, within reason. So I'm still using my 8 year old motorola cellphone, but I'd love to upgrade to a more smartphone-like product that I can use freely. I wonder how many other people would jump at the chance to purchase a product and choose a service if this was the case? I live in Canada, and I have no wireless freedoms.
The Killer Feature I am hoping for: Lowered total cost of ownership
I don't have any interest in spending $500 to $1000 per year for a data plan on top of the usual voice plan, just so I can check my email while I wait for the dentist. It should be possible to offer an Android based phone with a data and voice plan that is the same as a basic phone's voice plan, or even less. I would make many of my calls from home anyway, so those can be routed over wi-fi, thus greatly reducing my usage of the cellular network.
This phone is not delivering this feature, but I am hoping another Android phone will. I'm not holding my breath though, because I know the last thing any American cell phone company wants to do is to compete on price.
Well, that's because no reviewer has the funds to travel all over the US (or world) doing a "can you hear me now" test. And, there are only a few chipset and antenna designs in use these days, all of which have been tested in "idealized" isolation chambers and perform within 1-2% of each other.
If you live in some remote place or around intereference that makes that 1-2% difference matter, sorry: 99% of us don't, and the reviewers are catering to the majority.
everything in moderation
The iPhone was locked in via an exclusivity deal. Android has no such lock - T-Mobile just got out the first release.
It's rumored that Sprint will have an Android phone soon. They're part of the Open Handset Alliance, anyway.
AT&T and Verizon could get on board, but so far I think they're waiting to see whether all this "openness" makes money or not.
You could go more basic with a Tracphone.
I have a Tracfone, pay $.10 per minute on it, and get a few bars of reception in most places. The battery typically lasts me the whole week. For a person who only makes a few dozen short calls a month, it works out really well.
I just saw Tracfones @ Walmart for $10, they're the ones that have a SIM card, so you should be able to unlock them? It's very bare bones, but comes with a case, car charger & ear piece. Incredible what you can get for $10 these days!
Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
letting people do what they want with it.
We shall see.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
You might be interested in the Motofone F3.
See subject line.
If you mod me Overrated, you are admitting that you have no penis.
Could this possibly lead to my dream mobile phone? Could it? With the Android platform being open-source, I think it is just possible.
Um, no, actually it's going in the opposite direction. In fact, there's really no reason for you to be spouting that in this thread at all. Unless, of course, you're trying to recoup some lost karma points. ;)
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
For specific device at least ? Or it's Android SDK Java only still ? Android will have hard time competing with iPhone application-wise without native code support.
android looks promising. maybe the g1 isn't perfect, but it seems that it shows the potential of the platform. there's more on this interesting article.
Serious question here - IMAP IDLE allows you to simulate push email because it keeps the TCP session live and the server sends a message to the client when email is received.
Which is not a million miles away from push email (though the server doesn't send the email itself, the client still has to request it).
So will this phone support it? It's depressingly thin on the ground in terms of phone support.
I got a free phone with my contract but my monthly minimum is 9 Euros, not 50 ($74).
No sig today...
RIM is a foreign owned and controlled corporation, while both Google and Apple are domestic. RIM dying off will be great news for keeping jobs and technology in America, where it belongs.
Speaking of Apple and Android, I wish I could find out if it will be possible to sync calendars/contacts etc. with a Mac. I haven't been able to find info on this yet.
I am just about to abandon my old, busted Treo for a new smartphone, and I need to decide between iPhone and the HTC. Successfully syncing with my mac is a priority ... it's a royal PITA with the Treo, when it's even possible.
I stole this sig from someone cleverer than me.
"If your total data usage in any billing cycle is more than 1GB, your data throughput for the remainder of that cycle may be reduced to 50 kbps or less."
http://www.t-mobileg1.com/3g.aspx
My impression of the android platform was that all apps were equal. If that's the case, is there anything stopping you from stripping off the google ones and replacing them?
If all the google apps turn out to be open source (which it sounded like they were going to do) then that'd be even easier.
I heard that the new Google phone causes incontinence. The high-frequency radio waves interact with the iron in the lower intestine.
Just what I heard...
"In a 32-bit world, you're a 2-bit user. You've got your own newsgroup, alt.total.loser." -Weird Al
So, is it going to record all of your conversations "for your convenience" so "you" can search through them at any time later?
You should try a Motofone F3. It's a phone with a black and white eInk screen that's almost indestructible and costs $35. It has a huge battery life due to the screen, and it doesn't have any useless features.
Moshe is on his way now to squash these iPhone replicants.
Namaste.
I have a Windows Mobile phone with T-Mo. They cleared the simlock for me when I asked.
I can run any application, can tether to my laptop over bluetooth (though it tethers much more reliably to a linux host than a winxp one) and it just seems to work.
I couldn't get in-situ debugging to work from visual studio, but that's probably visual studio being useless.
I never found anything better than "reception was acceptable in Chicago." It's a god damned phone. Tell me how good it works as a phone.
You are the reviewer that reviews the sort of phones that you'd buy, whilest using it under the conditions that you'd use phones under.
Get your own free personal location tracker
Here's T-Mobile's unlock FAQ
https://support.t-mobile.com/knowbase/root/public/tm51885.htm
The HTC Dream/T-Mobile G1 is not on the "can not unlock" list, but maybe they haven't gotten around to it. And one of the rules for unlocking is you can't do it during the 14-day buyer remorse period and you've been under contract at least 90 days.
Some privacy policy Slashdot.
On the other hand, "T-Mobile did not specify whether such a thing would be allowed if a third-party were to develop it" does mean "T-Mobile can control the apps you install on the phone".
After hearing about the release of the phone I have been saving my discount for I decided to actually call T-Mobile and do some digging. While most of the complaints I have seen here are valid, they wouldn't really stop me from buying this phone today. Unfortunately there are other reasons which have helped with my decision to wait. First off, the Wi-Fi HotSpot service which allows unlimited calls for $10 per month using Wi-Fi is unavailable. This is a huge feature to me considering the amount of time I am around wireless networks and considering the many places that don't have signal but do have Wi-Fi. Since the phone is open source, hopefully this is a feature that can be added after purchase but I will be waiting to see about this. Secondly, my discount that I have been saving for this particular phone doesn't change the price from what a new user would be getting it for. I realize that this is for the pre-order and only prior customers can get it however right now this is a factor. This is one thing I am hoping will change when the phone is open to the public and I will be waiting till then to check back and possibly order. Anyway, I am really excited to see this release but right now it needs to fix a few things before it will really take off and before I will purchase one.
Utinam me logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant.
Check out the MOTOFONE - it's super slim, very simple UI that only makes calls, and it's got a super-low power e-ink display that gives a battery life of like a week. Also it's super cheap, you can get it for like $30-$50 unlocked with no contract.
sig? uhh, umm, ok
For specific device at least ? Or it's Android SDK Java only still ? Android will have hard time competing with iPhone application-wise without native code support.
Have you done any research at all about this? It's not coming. It won't be coming. Programming in Java is the only way you're going to get an app on Android -- and it will be perfectly competitive and performance will not be an issue, as you would have noticed if you'd done any Java development on almost any phone other than the iPhone.
Fanboi is a play on the phrase Skater Boi from some mousy singer that I forget.
Anyway, Fanboi implies a lot more than fanatic (or "fan").
A Fanboi has the following characteristics:
1) Youth (or maturity less than you'd expect for the age)
2) Shallowness
3) An unwillingness to look beyond surface features
4) Someone who relies on stock phrases to justify ill-conceived positions (i.e. "It just works")
5) The word annoys apple fanatics
I think it's a perfectly legitimate word. It means more than just the vanilla "Fanatic".
Many other smartphones allow tethering. What's up with that? Or: What's up with lack?
With all of it's features, cheap internet access and plays duke nukem 3D and old Nintendo games,
DON"T THINK I"LL BE WISHING I BOUGHT A DREAM
There is a sweet site for the shadow: http://allshadow.com/
Namaste
Second, multi-touch really isn't all that ground-breaking. I see it as similar to mouse gestures.
That might be how you see it, but you couldn't be more wrong on that point. I have explored mouse gestures from time to time, and while sometimes useful it's usally more gimmick than help. Mutlitouch on a touch screen is way more useful than mouse gestures (though it's been around as a concept for a long time so ground-breaking is not really the proper term).
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Modern JIT's are good enough that any difference between "native" code and Java will be negligable, especially so since the phones will ship with chips and systems optimized to run Java well.
It aint 1998, and we aren't talking applets here.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Why hasn't this happened on open frameworks like Windows Mobile?
+++ATH0
You might wanna check out the Motorola F3, it sounds similar to what you're looking for. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_FONE_F3
motorola V195.
Crap! I just bought an Instinct.
I just *wish* that devices actually used some sort of standard USB plug. Sure, electrically USB is USB, but I personally own FIVE g*dd**n different USB cables for different devices. All of them have one full sized USB end, and one "micro" end for the small device... but the rub is that they took great pains to make each one a slightly different shape than the others.
I've seen other versions of this monstrosity too, but in my own possession are: 1) The RAZR telephone that I killed by dropping it in water (oops, but not a criticism of the device); 2) The RAZR2 I bought to replace it; 3) The new digital camera I bought a month ago; 4) The old digital camera I bought a few years ago; 5) A digital voice recorder. Finding just the right USB cable to charge or transfer data from each device is a completely unnecessary PITA!
Buy Text Processing in Python
Now all they need are some androids to which to sell these. I predict a doomed product.
Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
And just like Apple has done with the iPhone, T-Mobile will be working hard to make sure you can't update the firmware of their phones with non-T-Mobile versions
Apple updates have not always broken Jailbroken versions of the phone. Generally they do because Jailbreaking requires exploting security holes that a reasonable user would not want left open, but even then they'll just close off the hole but your phone is still Jailbroken.
I remain cautiously optimistic about Google in this regard, I think we'll see the Jailbreaking equivilent for Android and it will remain the same deal where if you just wait a week or two for official updates, you'll be able to keep using an alternate OS version.
There seems to be less need With Android though.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Tethering and Skype are major concerns, both things that keep the iPhone undesirable. I also assume that on an open source platform these, and the other features you mention, will come soon, but I would definitely like some clarity beforehand.
You can buy an official Skype app today from the iPhone App Store (WiFi only).
Tethering is a bit different if you didn't manage to buy the app when it is out, but given how easy it is to create a proxy I can't see it being long before someone releases source for an iPhone tehering proxy. Then you can just compile and install it yourself...
A simple "but of course, we expect many will use it so, as there are no inherent limitations that would prevent such functionality from being implemented" would have been nice.
I remain skeptical on this point - to me what they said to all of us was basically they are of the same mind as AT&T on this. I don't see why they would be any different.
I'm torn on this issue, since the heavy buzz of this phone going head-to-head with the iPhone (ignoring all the other smart phones out there), seems to place extra importance on the G1's success.
I honestly do not think it matters as much as mor ephones comong out, Android only has buzz in the tech community and not really any with the general populace (yet) so one iffy intiial phone launch will not sink them, especially not the way it would have Apple if they had got it totally wrong. The factors that make it harder for Android to achieve runaway success also insulate it from failure.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
All the whiners who have been complaining that apple uses heavy handed tactic will now see that Android will do much the same. Tethering? No sorry. Using apps that replace t-mobile services? No Sorry.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
I have a tilt as well, and can definitely vouch for this. Despite being a -huge- supporter of FLOSS, I have (and enjoy) my tilt. I really wanted to find a Linux-based smartphone within my price range, with the features that I wanted. The OpenMoko was too costly.
It came down to these things:
* I needed (actually, really wanted) a touch screen and wi-fi. This phone does both.
* I wanted to ability to install/develop apps for my phone without any policing. This scrapped the iPhone in my plans (Yes, I know about jailbreaking. I have several reasons about why I'm morally opposed to this, which I won't get into).
* I wanted expandable storage. The tilt goes up to 32GB, and it's removable. Try doing that with an iPhone.
The integrated GPS, slide-out keyboard, GPRS/EDGE, 3 megapixel camera, and charge-via-USB were just additional perks, but quite appreciated.
Linux and other OSS-based phones will eventually start making a dent in the US market, which will bring the cost down. I'm not crazy or proud about usinga Windows Mobile-based phone. It's not Free, but parts of it can be deemed as "open".
Long story short, the tilt is a very robust phone. It does have some very important shortcomings; mostly due to HTC's reluctance to release any of their specs, and the fact that only runs Windows Mobile. That being said, the fact that you can do all of the things mentioned above with Windows Mobile, along with being able to develop and distribute your own apps for it (look up PuTTY and OpenVPN. There are Windows Mobile versions for both) is pretty cool. Intel even a released a BSD-Licensed SDK for mobile apps (MPSDK).
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that my laptop runs Ubuntu. The tilt integrates quite well with it, when using USB or wi-fi. Bluetooth doesn't quite work yet, but that's due to the unfinished subsystem packaged along with Ubuntu 8.04.
Spork.
P.S. Spork.
For me, it is not important for the hardware to be open-sourced, but the phone must be available unlocked for me to buy it. I am not buying any phone that binds me to one provider. I don't mind spending the money to buy an unlocked phone.
Thats not funny, thats obvious.
I am not sure if Android supports MIDP Java applications, but I can run a GPL Java SSH client on my low budget phone without problems
MOD THE CHILD UP!
> Call me paranoid
You're paranoid, dude!
Can you install your own build of Android, for example? Get rid of all the T-Mobile crap it probably comes with, and choose what you want to install? Or do they prevent you from reflashing somehow?
I realise that eventually people will get around any such limitation and figure out how to reflash the phone, but it really bothers me because we shouldn't have to as they are touting this as an "open platform." It's already inexcusable that the sim card is locked in this thing. So is it really open, or is it just all hype?
Open Source is the good. But were not going to see an avalanche of apps for Android like we have for, say, iPhone. Java apps are all it will run. Java is great for lots of stuff... but IMHO, running Java on a phone has been, and will continue to be a bad idea. I just don't forsee Java developers flocking to write cute little phone apps... what they do isn't easy and they work on serious stuff. And I've never seen a pretty Java app., just functional ones with clunky UI. It's hard to believe Google would make this mistake. I think the Android hype is going to dry up quick once consumers realize it's limitations.
The Admin and the Engineer
Your hourly salary.
A glass of beer that is 3x overpriced at cafes.
I paid 36c for a tomatoe for my sandwich today, is that too much? It got used once, it was 70% water... it didnt break the bank.
Sure you could write your own app to do, but could you do it in 8mins?
Liberty freedom are no1, not dicks in suits.
What's with these new hand sets locking you in to one provider or another, they could provide a hand set that gives you both WiFi and VoIP, but of course then they would make less money wouldn't they! However having full browser capability opens up the possibility of richer content then could be offered on a smaller cellphone screen size!
I love my Nokia N800. Full browser, 8 GB in storage, FM chip, WiFi built in w/ SkypeIN I only pay about $100 per year for unlimited calling to North America, webcam, and a screen that is a little bigger then just cell phone size.
Since I use WiFi (not cellular) and VoIP w/ Skype (sound is crystal clear - you can hear a pin drop...no latency issues!) I do not have a monthly cellular plan. Think back to the 'beeper' days, if I am not in a WiFi hot zone, the caller can leave me a message. I don't get paid extra to be at anyone's beck and call!
If I did have a cellular handset, I would want a phone that would allow for both VoIP and Cellular. That way I could use WiFi while at work and at home which would probably account for 80% or more of my usage without using any minutes. I would only use the Cellular minutes when I am traveling and not in a WiFi hot zone.
By selecting VoIP over Cellular, I save allot of money! Have been loving it for well over 3 years now!
Since I only pay $100 per year (my total cost) for my phone service, I save between $300 - $600 each and every year. (Metro PCS - other cellular providers). With the new ultra linux laptops going for $90; $199; $299 and $399 respectively I can purchase a new laptop with my savings each year.
I even used part of one 4 GB mini storage card (2 x 4 GB = 8 GB of storage; 1 internal, 1 external) for additional swap memory space when running applications on my Linux Nokia N800 hand held device! (Allot more apps available to me thanks to that!)
While not a laptop replacement, I do have full browser capability and can do more then what a small cellphone screen will allow you to do! In a pinch I can actually surf the web and check email!
These new phones should let you select between VoIP and Cellular mode! Of course they want to charge you for minutes, don't they!
Is your Internet Throttled? Install DD-Wrt, OpenWRT or Tomato to learn the truth! Google: 1Gbps/1Gbps: 5 Communities
Pretty blah if you ask me... seems rushed and not very feature complete.
I guess it's okay for those wanting to develop apps as a test device. Otherwise it's really not a player in the smartphone market.
A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.