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Nexus One Update Fixes 3G, Adds Multitouch

snydeq writes "Google is pushing out an update for the Nexus One that will fix a 3G connectivity problem and add limited support for multitouch. After receiving over 1,500 messages in a support forum from people complaining about trouble connecting to 3G, Google said it has identified the problem and has started delivering the fix. In addition to fixing 3G, the update adds the first applications to support multitouch. While the recent versions of the Android OS include multitouch capability, no phone in the US has supported it."

174 comments

  1. Come on Google by goldaryn · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm still waiting for the port of IE6..

    1. Re:Come on Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative
      Parent is making a joke guys. They are actually stepping up the IE6 hunt at the moment, look at this email I got yesterday

      Dear Google Apps admin,​

      In order to continue to improve our products and deliver more sophisticated features and performance, we are harnessing some of the latest improvements in web browser technology. This includes faster JavaScript processing and new standards like HTML5. As a result, over the course of 2010, we will be phasing out support for Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 as well as other older browsers that are not supported by their own manufacturers.

      We plan to begin phasing out support of these older browsers on the Google Docs suite and the Google Sites editor on March 1, 2010. After that point, certain functionality within these applications may have higher latency and may not work correctly in these older browsers. Later in 2010, we will start to phase out support for these browsers for Google Mail and Google Calendar.

      Google Apps will continue to support Internet Explorer 7.0 and above, Firefox 3.0 and above, Google Chrome 4.0 and above, and Safari 3.0 and above.

      Starting this week, users on these older browsers will see a message in Google Docs and the Google Sites editor explaining this change and asking them to upgrade their browser. We will also alert you again closer to March 1 to remind you of this change.

      In 2009, the Google Apps team delivered more than 100 improvements to enhance your product experience. We are aiming to beat that in 2010 and continue to deliver the best and most innovative collaboration products for businesses.

      Thank you for your continued support!

    2. Re:Come on Google by Meski · · Score: 1

      Lighten up, moderators. That's a funny, not a flamebait.

    3. Re:Come on Google by geekoid · · Score: 1

      the mods are just jealous that he can play Duke Nukem Forever on his CowboyNealBox3

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  2. 3G Fix? by bflong · · Score: 0, Redundant

    > fix a 3G connectivity problem
    So will it work on AT&T now? T-Mobile doesn't have crap anywhere near where I live.

    --
    Why is it so hot? Where am I going? What am I doing in this handbasket?
    1. Re:3G Fix? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      The radio doesn't support AT&T's 3G range. So, nope.

    2. Re:3G Fix? by bflong · · Score: 1

      Sorry, forgot /sarcasm on that post.

      --
      Why is it so hot? Where am I going? What am I doing in this handbasket?
    3. Re:3G Fix? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It does make me wonder if it would just be cost prohibitively expensive to put in a radio that supports ALL used frequency band ranges. That way, you have a phone that will truly work on any network, with any provider, without having to buy a new handset.

    4. Re:3G Fix? by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes, those geniuses at google, wrote a piece of software that rerouted power form the rear deflectors to modulate the refresh rate of the lcd screen to emit an interference signal that modifies the TMobile compatible 3G signal from 1700 MHz for download and 2100 MHz for upload to the A&TT frequency of 1900 MHz. I'm just not sure what they're going to do to handle the excess tachyon radiation pressure on the the glass.

      --
      Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    5. Re:3G Fix? by CaptKeen · · Score: 5, Informative

      It does make me wonder if it would just be cost prohibitively expensive to put in a radio that supports ALL used frequency band ranges. That way, you have a phone that will truly work on any network, with any provider, without having to buy a new handset.

      I've heard rumor of a Qualcomm chip due out this summer that is supposed to support GSM, HSPA, HSPA+ and some CDMA stuff. A quick google turned up the following:

      Qualcomm today updated its MDM family of cellular chipsets with some of the first anywhere to support dual, advanced 3G and 4G formats. The MSM7630 supports GSM, HSPA and HSPA+ standards but will also work on CDMA phone networks and support up to EVDO Revision B for 3G on those services. The addition would let a phone work on a CDMA carrier like Sprint or Verizon but still work with AT&T or T-Mobile and roam at speeds of up to 21Mbps on networks from Rogers, other international carriers, and eventually T-Mobile USA.

      From http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/11/12/possible.verizon.iphone.candidates/

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      --
    6. Re:3G Fix? by pushing-robot · · Score: 1, Redundant

      excess tachyon radiation pressure on the the glass.

      You know, it's hard to take you seriously when you make such obvious grammatical errors.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
    7. Re:3G Fix? by cvtan · · Score: 1

      I was almost buying this until I saw "A&TT". At least you spelled the unit MHz correctly unlike my local utility that spells kWh as "KwH".

      --
      Sorry, but gray text on gray background is making my eyes bleed.
    8. Re:3G Fix? by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 1

      I disagree; I think its hard to take me seriously, period.

      --
      Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    9. Re:3G Fix? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is the new 4g an actual standard that all of these carriers will use or will 4g be another mismash of frequencies and formats?

    10. Re:3G Fix? by CaptKeen · · Score: 1

      Is the new 4g an actual standard that all of these carriers will use or will 4g be another mismash of frequencies and formats?

      No surprise here, but a mismash of frequencies and formats.

      --
      --
    11. Re:3G Fix? by boobox · · Score: 1

      Reverse the polarity to the deflector screen shield. Duh.

    12. Re:3G Fix? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OK.

      But, I have an answer for you. The way they're going to handle the excess tachyon radiation pressure on the glass is to send Mr. Scott back in time to replace the glass with transparent aluminum.

    13. Re:3G Fix? by mjwx · · Score: 1

      Yes, those geniuses at google, wrote a piece of software that rerouted power form the rear deflectors to modulate the refresh rate of the lcd screen to emit an interference signal that modifies the TMobile compatible 3G signal from 1700 MHz for download and 2100 MHz for upload to the A&TT frequency of 1900 MHz. I'm just not sure what they're going to do to handle the excess tachyon radiation pressure on the the glass.

      They may have to eject the core.

      At the very least, a monitor in Google's NOC is going to kill the operator in a less then spectacular explosion.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    14. Re:3G Fix? by Eckzow · · Score: 0

      The problem with supporting all frequency bands is not the availability of hardware to decode them, it's that consumers have gotten used to their nice thin devices.

      Enough metal to wire up antennas even just for the (ridiculously long list of) bands used in the US would make the phone prohibitively thick.

    15. Re:3G Fix? by RMH101 · · Score: 1

      Almost certainly yes, although I suspect that the tricky bit is fitting in an antennae that works at all frequency ranges in a small handset

  3. multitouch and Apple by sourcerror · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've heard rumors, that the zooming gesture won't be officially supported, because it would violate Apple patents. Does anyone know anything about that?

    1. Re:multitouch and Apple by goldaryn · · Score: 1, Redundant

      I've heard rumors, that the zooming gesture won't be officially supported, because it would violate Apple patents. Does anyone know anything about that?

      Well the Samsung Jet uses the same multitouch gesture (I'm pretty sure)

    2. Re:multitouch and Apple by ViViDboarder · · Score: 3, Informative

      Rumors only so far. Apple hasn't sued Palm for it.

    3. Re:multitouch and Apple by goldaryn · · Score: 0, Troll

      I've heard rumors, that the zooming gesture won't be officially supported, because it would violate Apple patents. Does anyone know anything about that?

      Rumors only so far. Apple hasn't sued Palm for it.

      Perhaps, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't infringing

    4. Re:multitouch and Apple by tacroy · · Score: 5, Informative

      Mainly because Apple is violating tons of Palms patents and they don't want to wake that (IP) giant. http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/apple-vs-palm-the-in-depth-analysis/

    5. Re:multitouch and Apple by goldaryn · · Score: 1

      Well the Samsung Jet uses the same multitouch gesture (I'm pretty sure)

      Oops, you can mod me down again, I was talking out of my arse:

      Breaking away from multi-touch zoom technology which requires the use of two fingers and two hands, Samsung Jet gives our consumers the ultimate in usability, portability and convenience through the brand-new concept - 'one finger zoom,' which enables one hand operation to zoom in and out. One finger zoom can be used not only for the Internet browser, but also for Photo browser and file viewer to see TXT, PDF and PPT files in four times bigger size - all just with one finger tip while you're on the move.

      "One-handed browsing"... maybe I should get me one of those :-D

    6. Re:multitouch and Apple by dangitman · · Score: 1, Troll

      Mainly because Apple is violating tons of Palms patents and they don't want to wake that (IP) giant.

      And your evidence of that is... what?

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
    7. Re:multitouch and Apple by Senjutsu · · Score: 2, Funny

      Perhaps, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't infringing

      Yeah, I'm sure Apple's notoriously aggressive legal division is just being nice to Palm /sarcasm

    8. Re:multitouch and Apple by rm999 · · Score: 1

      I have heard something similar, but I think it's more complex than a single court case (which is peanuts to these 100+ billion dollar companies; Google could drag that case out and retaliate with their own lawsuits). Worst-case scenario - things go back to the way they were. What's the harm in trying? I believe it was more like Apple saying "if you guys infringe on our multitouch patents it will permanently hurt our relationship". At this point, Google's relationship with Apple is already strained; they now believe they more to gain than to lose.

      Both Google and Apple realize how valuable multitouch is - I personally would rather not switch away from having pinch-to-zoom in my applications, especially maps and the web browser.

    9. Re:multitouch and Apple by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 4, Funny

      Maybe they're using Palm as a decoy. "C'mon Google. Dive on in. The water's fine...!" "Can we shoot them now?" "Wait for it. Waaaaait for it..."

    10. Re:multitouch and Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      mod parent uppity up! =)

    11. Re:multitouch and Apple by initialE · · Score: 1

      I don't think Apple owns the patent on "zooming". It is prominently featured on the Microsoft Surface, HP coffee table, and an early concept multitouch screen.

      --
      Starbucks, Harbuckle of Breath.
    12. Re:multitouch and Apple by initialE · · Score: 1

      Here we are, all the way from 2006 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPwaUp4gepU
      You might notice that nearly every feature they conceived was picked up by the major vendors and implemented as though it was their own idea.

      --
      Starbucks, Harbuckle of Breath.
    13. Re:multitouch and Apple by unix1 · · Score: 5, Informative

      That's because they know they'll lose.

      Here's Apple's "multi-touch" patent.
      Date filed: July 3, 2006

      Here's Jeff Han demonstrating multi-touch interface in Feb. 2006 that he had been working on. Pinch and zoom? Gestures? Multiple fingers/hands? It's all there. You can tell he didn't come up with that overnight.

      Looks like someone at Apple noticed his or similar technology/research and said - hey, this hasn't been patented yet!

      Give props to the USPTO and the patent system, as usual.

    14. Re:multitouch and Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple can bite me.

    15. Re:multitouch and Apple by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Let's see...

      Palm has US Patent #7,268,775 for dymanic screen brightness and #7,231,208 for managing a phone call. Those are from the article that tacroy mentioned.

      But also, remember that Palm has been making mobile devices since 1992. I'm sure they've got patents on quite a few things that Apple is using.

    16. Re:multitouch and Apple by Meski · · Score: 5, Funny

      They're using this gesture, in response to Apple patents. http://media.photobucket.com/image/middle%20finger/munbk/middle_finger.jpg?o=1

    17. Re:multitouch and Apple by dangitman · · Score: 0, Troll

      Palm has US Patent #7,268,775 [google.com] for dymanic screen brightness and #7,231,208 [google.com] for managing a phone call. Those are from the article that tacroy mentioned.

      Two patents isn't a "ton" and they have not been proven to be infringing.

      But also, remember that Palm has been making mobile devices since 1992. I'm sure they've got patents on quite a few things that Apple is using.

      That may very well be, but what I object to is people making statements as if they are outright facts, when no actual proof has been discovered.

      The cited article was basically based on Palm trash-talking Apple. If Palm believes their patents are so strong, why didn't they just go ahead and sue?

      The way these non-facts are presented as facts on slashdot is pretty annoying. It would be like if Steve Ballmer stated that using Linux caused cancer, and the next day posters on slashdot were stating that Linux causes cancer as a fact, just because Ballmer said it.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
    18. Re:multitouch and Apple by Meski · · Score: 1

      I'm sure Google could make life uncomfortable for Apple in just the same way, and no, I won't be your google bitch and find urls to prove this.

    19. Re:multitouch and Apple by Froomb · · Score: 1
      How about Patent 7,479,949(358 pages) granted to Apple on January 20, 2009, which contains language such as:

      "In some embodiments, a multi-finger de-pinching gesture magnifies the image 1606 by a variable amount in accordance with the position of the multi-finger de-pinching gesture and the amount of finger movement in the multi-finger de-pinching gesture. In some embodiments, a multi-finger pinching gesture demagnifies the image 1606 by a variable amount in accordance with the position of the multi-finger pinching gesture and the amount of finger movement in the multi-finger pinching gesture."

      IANAL, but almost certainly prior art was considered at every stage of the drafting and granting of this patent. IMO those who cavalierly invoke early versions of multitouch technology as inherently rendering such a patent invalid have the burden of proof to demonstrate their case.

    20. Re:multitouch and Apple by Aranykai · · Score: 1

      Its a rumor. HTC android devices support it on our apps and web browser. The only app that doesn't support it is google maps. /HTC Hero owner

      --
      If sharing a song makes you a pirate, what do I have to share to be a ninja?
    21. Re:multitouch and Apple by tacroy · · Score: 1

      @dangitman There are more than 2 patents in the link I supplied, and it is suggested that there is a portfolio of many more. Also, there is commentary on how those patents are likely to be considered infringing. The facts I offer are in the linked article (written by lawyers who know quite a bit more about the issue than I) There are links to the actual patents, which I would consider facts. Granted we all know patent disputes are very interpretive (and are not "proven" to be infringing until tested in court)

    22. Re:multitouch and Apple by initialE · · Score: 1

      Can someone with an idea comment on this? It's clear - the patent does seem to cover this gesture, but it's also clear that prior art is trivial to locate. The patent was filed in September 2006, the youtube video is from February 2006 (and presumably, the implementation should have been around for much longer)

      --
      Starbucks, Harbuckle of Breath.
    23. Re:multitouch and Apple by dangitman · · Score: 0, Troll

      Quite possibly they could - but until it gets decided by the courts, this is all just speculation. Which is what I have a problem with - stating speculation as facts. Had the poster said that Apple is potentially violating, or is accused of violating, that would be a different matter.

      The double-standards around here are interesting, too. When SCO accused Linux of violating its patents, did slashdotters immediately start stating that Linux users are patent violators as fact? Or did they go on about how patents are evil and should be stopped?

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
    24. Re:multitouch and Apple by initialE · · Score: 1

      again, my bad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89sz8ExZndc
      i was using my work connection, which bans youtube.

      --
      Starbucks, Harbuckle of Breath.
    25. Re:multitouch and Apple by Ohrion · · Score: 1

      How much do patents weigh? I'm trying to figure out how many patents are in a ton.

    26. Re:multitouch and Apple by tacroy · · Score: 1

      Wish i could mod you up...

    27. Re:multitouch and Apple by jmac1492 · · Score: 1

      Microsoft uses the same zoom gesture in the Zune HD.

      --
      Jenny's got a new number! 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
    28. Re:multitouch and Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Long ton or short ton? Or metric ton? Did you try google? You can put in "1 patent in tons" and see what google math says. oh, and it depends on whether they are a troll or not - troll patents weigh more (at least they weigh more heavily on the legal system).

    29. Re:multitouch and Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Depends how big you are when their crushing weight is applied.

    30. Re:multitouch and Apple by BlueBoxSW.com · · Score: 0

      Market Cap of Palm is less than 2 billion. It would be cheaper to just buy them for the patents than to litigate.

    31. Re:multitouch and Apple by geniusj · · Score: 1

      Clearly, Google, abusing their position, changed the date on that YouTube video in order to use it as "evidence" of prior art in court. Bastards!!

    32. Re:multitouch and Apple by sleeping143 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If Palm believes their patents are so strong, why didn't they just go ahead and sue?

      Because mutually assured destruction is only an acceptable business strategy if neither company fires the first shot.

    33. Re:multitouch and Apple by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      FWIW, the multi-touch I've used on my G1 (with custom ROM), does not infringe.

      It does the zoom in increments so that your pinch/depinch is equivalent to pushing the zoom button.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    34. Re:multitouch and Apple by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      If Palm believes their patents are so strong, why didn't they just go ahead and sue?

      Uh, the same could be said for Apple. Other than beating their chest for analysts and the faithful, I haven't heard of Apple going after Palm or Google. Perhaps they don't think their hand is all that strong, either.

    35. Re:multitouch and Apple by dangitman · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Uh, the same could be said for Apple. Other than beating their chest for analysts and the faithful, I haven't heard of Apple going after Palm or Google. Perhaps they don't think their hand is all that strong, either.

      Well, maybe not. But how does that prove that Palm's patents are valid?

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
    36. Re:multitouch and Apple by Rennt · · Score: 1

      None of us can prove it, you would need a court for that. But they were granted the patents, so you can't just wave them off as "potentially invalid".

    37. Re:multitouch and Apple by the_lesser_gatsby · · Score: 1

      Is that a patent? Surely a patent describes how an apparatus is made, not what the desired outcome should be.

      It's like patenting TV as 'a box which show moving pictures captured by another box with a lens' rather than 'apparatus for modulating an electron beam in rectangular matrix...'.

    38. Re:multitouch and Apple by Ma8thew · · Score: 1

      Very true. Apple could buy them purely with cash. They have at least $28 billion on hand.

    39. Re:multitouch and Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The patent was a continuation of a prior interface patent from 2001; I believe that's how they snuck it in.

    40. Re:multitouch and Apple by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1

      The question isn't whether the patents are valid. They are definitely strong enough to tie up Apple in a long and expensive legal battle and possibly to enforce an injunction preventing further iPhone sales until it's resolved (probably not though). Apple's patents are similar. They may be enforceable against Palm, or they may be thrown out. If either company sues, it will cost both of them a lot of money probably get some of their patents overturned on both sides (leaving them weaker when pursuing cross-licensing deals with third parties), cost a lot in legal fees, and end up with a cross-licensing deal putting them in exactly the same position they were in at the start with respect to each other.

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    41. Re:multitouch and Apple by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1

      It depends on the patent. I believe the heaviest patent was the first software patent, applied for some time in the '60s, which included a copy of the code on punch cards. This came in a stack of boxes and probably weighed a good 200KG. This would make the lower limit for the number of patents in a ton around 5. The upper limit is a lot higher - patents like Microsoft's is-not-identical-to-object operator only way a gram or two.

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      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    42. Re:multitouch and Apple by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1

      Note that the USA has a first-to-invent system and allows patents to be filed up to a year after the first public disclosure (which completely destroys the point of a patent system, namely to encourage disclosure), so it's possible for a patent filed in July 2006 to be valid even with prior art from Feb 2006, as long as the prior art is from the same people who filed the patent. In this case, however, Jeff Han is not on the list of inventors. In cases like TI Vs Intel, however, there is some precedent for the patent being retroactively assigned to the first person to invent even after being filed by someone else. This would mean that multi-touch might be patented, but Apple might not own the patent. In this case, it would be a good idea for Google to start hiring people like Jeff Han and see if they can get the patent...

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    43. Re:multitouch and Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are quoting some teenager at Engadget as your source?

    44. Re:multitouch and Apple by Bluebottel · · Score: 1

      Apple vs. Palm: the in-depth anal...
      Gotta love tab title shortening in firefox. It also happens to sum up the whole debate.

    45. Re:multitouch and Apple by unix1 · · Score: 1

      That's assuming Jeff Han wants to get the patent himself and is willing sue Apple for it. Nothing suggests that. If he wanted to apply for the patent, he would have filed his application long before Apple did. In fact, if you do a search for Apple and Jeff Han all you find is rumors that Apple unsuccessfully attempted to hire him prior to iPhone launch.

      Moreover, when filing for a patent, applicant has a responsibility to disclose any prior related research on the subject matter. None of Apple's multi-touch patents even mention Jeff Han and his research. It would be incomprehensible to any reasonable person that Apple's "inventors" would be unaware of a high profile research done at NYU and presented at an annual event in front of 1000s of attendees at TED. I don't know what the legal remedy is but I'd guess on that ground alone those patents are invalid.

  4. Whoops! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    All the iPhone fanboys based all their criticism on the lack of multitouch. Now they've got nothing to stand on.

  5. 3G by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 4, Funny

    The good news is, Google has fixed the 3G problems. The bad news is, the fix is going out via the 3G network.

    --
    Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    1. Re:3G by geekoid · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I worked at a place that had an automated system that sent out an email when the email went down.
      I shit you not. They paid 50K for that system.
      When the email system ent down, as they alld o from time to time, the executive called me out on the rug in front of his peers and asked me:

      "Why shouldn't I fire you for the system alert failure?"
      To which I said:
      "You were the person that bought a system to alert us via email when the email system failed. Maybe you should be fired?"
      Later he came to my office and fired me. After he smugly said I was fired, I asked him to wait a minute. I picked up the phone, made one phone call, and had a new job. I got up, took my check and left. Everyone else in the office was just laughing.
      I later heard that the executive was released to look into other opportunities.

      1999 was a good year.
      Crazy days

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:3G by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      I have a similar tale: some 13-14 years ago I was working for this small system integrator. We had a frame-relay connection to the 'net. Then one day we didn't. People were upset and the burden of fixing the problem fell on engineering (me and my colleague). After mucking around our Cirsco router we concluded that there's something wrong downstream, and called the provider. After navigating the famous support maze, we finally were told that a lightning has knocked off one of their major nodes. To "And when were you going to inform us about this?" we got an angry answer "But sir, this has been on our website for hours!"

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    3. Re:3G by geekoid · · Score: 1

      heh. Yeah, I love when support for a down system relies on the system. I do emergency response, and I see people wanting to do that all the time.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    4. Re:3G by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It sounds like the system was installed incorrectly. Of course it should use the primary system to send e-mails out if that primary system is down.

      A problem that I'm having right now is that I left a company two years ago, and I still receive e-mails on my cell phone every time their e-mail server goes down.

    5. Re:3G by fangorious · · Score: 1

      phone rings, I answer.
      Idiot: We lost internet access.
      Me: Plug the DSL equipment back in.
      Idiot: Ok .... It's working now!
      ...
      facepalm
      Happened more than once.

    6. Re:3G by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Haha yeah, those lusers are such retards!

      *highfive*

    7. Re:3G by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      haha

      Nice use of sarcasm :)

    8. Re:3G by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I worked at a place that had an automated system that sent out an email when the email went down.

      Crazy days

      The BBC have this so when remote studios are shutdown someone has to ring London to turn them on again.
      Looks like that executive landed another job?

      (LOL submit word is libelous)

    9. Re:3G by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      get a ham radio

  6. HTC Hero by Kotoku · · Score: 2, Informative

    My Sprint HTC Hero phone uses multi-touch in the browser. Same pinch gestures the iPod Touch had me accustomed to. :)

    1. Re:HTC Hero by Aranykai · · Score: 1

      Yep, thanks to HTC we got that. The only app we don't have it on is Google Maps.

      --
      If sharing a song makes you a pirate, what do I have to share to be a ninja?
    2. Re:HTC Hero by dargaud · · Score: 1

      Huh? I got Google Maps on my HTC hero from the get go. Just go and download it !

      --
      Non-Linux Penguins ?
    3. Re:HTC Hero by Aranykai · · Score: 1

      Mean to say the only app we don't have pinch to zoom is Google maps. You are correct, it comes installed.

      --
      If sharing a song makes you a pirate, what do I have to share to be a ninja?
  7. Re:OLD News by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You were expecting cutting-edge news on slashdot? You must be new here.

  8. Re:OLD News by geekoid · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Shut. Up.

    No one cares, and not everyone is on top of every single tech story ever single day. /. is no exception. In fact the whole concept is to talk abouit event in the news, so naturally you read about it after it has been in the news.
    This has always been the case....except for spoiling TV shows, THAT they put on the front page immediately after it showing regardless of time zones.

    Bastards.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  9. So my droid that does multitouch by Liquidrage · · Score: 4, Funny

    doesn't support multitouch? Should I stop doing it then?

    1. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by diamondsw · · Score: 3, Informative

      Your Droid doesn't do multitouch in any of the Google-provided applications. This is especially evident in the web browser, maps, and keyboard. Third party apps have been able to provide multitouch for some time.

      I thought the whole thing was silly. Patenting pinch-to-zoom and similar gestures fails the "non-obvious" requirement for a patent. Multitouch enhancing a keyboard I could perhaps see as valid.

      --
      I don't know what kind of crack I was on, but I suspect it was decaf.
    2. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by Liquidrage · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I know very well what it does. The problem is when poorly written summaries or articles that imply that the phone doesn't support it. Saying, "the default browser will now support it" is a much better, and accurate, way to phrase it.

    3. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hey douchebag, if it fails the "non-obvious" requirement, then why was NOBODY doing it before apple, and now every 2-bit company and their dog is trying to copy it? if it was so obvious, then wouldnt people have been doing it all along?

    4. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 1

      Because you need the hardware that can support that kind of gesture? And that's something new?

    5. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 1

      I would not call those gestures "obvious" at all. Until people were making a big deal about the lack of those gestures during the Droid's launch, I had no idea that it was supported in iPhone OS, despite having owned an iPod Touch for almost a year at that point (I had been double-tapping to zoom, and cursing my inability to conveniently zoom out). The problem is that Apple clearly didn't invent the gestures, not that they're obvious. They're very non-obvious (or were, when first made).

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
    6. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by geekoid · · Score: 1

      My G1 does..of course I have my own android branch.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    7. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Multitouch for a keyboard sounds like a good idea. Maybe you could press a combination of keys. Like alt-f4. Or ctrl-alt-delete. Surely no one's thought of that before.

    8. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It should also be known the Droid released outside the US (as the Milestone), has the multi-touch functionality active. There is obviously something going on with corporate back-scratching, Google are very evasive why they disabled it in the Droid. Even today the refuse to give a real answer.

    9. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My HTC Hero has multitouch in the Google provided applications.

      Oh, wait, I'm in the UK - no software patent hell.

      Sorry, US, you suck.

  10. It really did help. by Mark19960 · · Score: 4, Informative

    I don't care for the multitouch thing..... I liked the old way and will use the old way..
    As far as 3G it's much more stable on 3G and on EDGE as well.
    I only get EDGE at home because I am at the end of 3G coverage and EDGE is actually much faster than it was.
    So, whatever they changed in the radio firmware improved both.
    Everything seems to move a little faster as well, so no complaints.
    I got my OTA update last night.

    1. Re:It really did help. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WHERE'S MY OTA UPDATE?

    2. Re:It really did help. by Mark19960 · · Score: 1

      Ask Google. :)
      However, check this out if you can't wait...
      http://androidcommunity.com/guide-to-manually-updating-the-nexus-one-20100202/

      I did not do this and do not endorse it.... but I don't see why it would not work and a lot of people are reporting that it does work.

    3. Re:It really did help. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I did and it seems safe enough. You'll see a warning/error about not finding a cache directory. Apparently this is normal. See the screenshot at Engadget -- it also shows the error.

  11. Re:No Love Down Under by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It was reported that Vodafone had the job in all European territories, but nothing announced as yet :(

  12. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Liquidrage · · Score: 4, Interesting

    FYI

    The voice searching is better integrated with android. The free turn by turn navigation is better then the $100 version on the iPhone. It can do multitasking. It doesn't lock you out of basic system functionality.

    And the android market is booming and going to pass apple's in total apps pretty soon. Not that I really care. There's already an "app for that' on both marketplaces. The once difference is there's things android will let you do that apple won't. So really, there's an "app for that" applies better to android.

    Not sure where you opinion came from, but it's not reality.

  13. What about my Acer Liquid? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I'm really pleased with my Acer Liquid, it has almost the same hardware (some processor) as the Nexus One and costed half, of what it would have costed me, to import the Nexus One in my country. But perhaps I underestimated the value of the phone not being a Google Experience phone. Acer has just released the kernel for the Liquid, but they have not given any good configs and have generelly done everything they can, to make it difficult to put custom roms on the Liquid. I would really want to have Android 2.1 on the Liquid, it has 1.6 now. I was sure that it would be no problem getting newer versions of Android on this phone, but with Acer trying to limit the community efforts, perhaps it will never happen. :( The phone is still nice though, but the uninstallable programs that Acer has put on the phone are redicules and annoying! You can root it and remove some of them, but I would really like just having the stock Android instead! Next time, Im gonna go for a Google Experience phone!

  14. Other US phone don't support multitouch....? by wolf1oo · · Score: 1

    Just curious, what do they mean when saying that other US phones don't support the multitouch?

    I own an HTC Droid Eris, and it seems to have a bunch of apps that support multitouch, and I actively utilize it. Is there something more that I am missing out here when they say that no other phones support the Android OS multitouch?

    1. Re:Other US phone don't support multitouch....? by sourcerror · · Score: 1

      HTC is Taiwanese.

    2. Re:Other US phone don't support multitouch....? by Aranykai · · Score: 1

      Its because our version of google maps does not support pinch zooming. Presumably, this is due to agreements between apple and google, but evidently google has decided to do away with it.

      HTC ships their software with pinch to zoom support so our devices utilize it fine.

      --
      If sharing a song makes you a pirate, what do I have to share to be a ninja?
    3. Re:Other US phone don't support multitouch....? by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 1

      They're spreading misinformation, although unintentionally (I hope). Android OS has had support for multitouch events since 1.6 (I think? Someone correct me if I'm wrong), and other phones support it in the hardware. The Droid, for example, supports multitouch just fine, despite the fact that the Google apps don't use it.

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
  15. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Mark19960 · · Score: 1

    Troll much?
    There are 500 apps on the apple store that do the same thing.
    It's not as bad on the android market but anything you can find on the apple store I can probably find something that does the same thing on the android market.

    Oh.. let's see I already did this with someone I know, matching apps on the apple store with the android market.... aww shucks.
    For all of his paid for apps I found free ones to boot....

  16. Summary is Wrong About Multitouch by MBoffin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No surprise, but the summary is wrong. True, there has been multitouch capability in recent versions of Android, but not true that no phones in the US support it. Even my HTC Hero (running Android 1.5) has multitouch built into the basic system apps like the browser and the gallery. Additionally there are apps on the marketplace that make use of multitouch, such as the Dolphin browser.

    The summary should indicate that no other phones have previously had multitouch built into the system apps that Google ships with the stock OS.

    1. Re:Summary is Wrong About Multitouch by atari2600 · · Score: 1

      You are right. Even the G1 has multitouch capability that doesn't have software support. I've been using the Dolphin Browser (Free!) on my Nexus one and I 3 it.

    2. Re:Summary is Wrong About Multitouch by CNeb96 · · Score: 1

      >>Even my HTC Hero (running Android 1.5) has multitouch built into the basic system apps like the browser and the gallery.
      >>The summary should indicate that no other phones have previously had multitouch built into the system apps that Google ships with the stock OS.

      If it came with a browser as a basic system app which supported multi-touch but none of the Google apps support it, what browser did it come with? (I would have thought stock chrome or chromimum).

  17. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by mdwh2 · · Score: 1

    You do realise that the Iphone is a niche phone too?</Nokia user>

    And yes, Nokia and everyone else were doing those features long before Apple joined the party late.

  18. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nope.

  19. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Lifyre · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Just out of curiostiy have you managed to put you iPhone down long enough to USE an Android phone? I bought my Eris less than a month ago and fail to see any validity to your position that isn't caused by the App not the OS. Of course I have a faster CPU than the iPhone 3GS, a replaceable battery, and can switch back and forth between 3G and 1x seemlessly (something the iPhone fails at consistently with Edge and 3G). Does the iPhone have an SD (or other) slot yet?

    Of course Google now owns a little bit more of my soul but at least they don't force me to put blinders on.

    --
    I'll meet you at the intersection of "Should be" and "Reality"
  20. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by jo_ham · · Score: 1

    It's only the same as all the flip side arguments about blatantly false or pure opinion-posted-as-fact from people who hate the iPhone.

    The truth is, of course, somewhere in the middle.

  21. Too bad they're only fixing a symptom by Pherlin · · Score: 1

    I'm amused that it took them so long to fix problems with Google's Flagship, but I can't say I'm suprised.
    Bought a G1 last March. Couldn't have been happier with it, until the 1.6 update. Afterward everything got slower, I would not recieve calls despite having full signal, be unable to place calls either. Rebooting the phone would fix the problem, but only very temporarily.

    2 Replacement Phones with the same problem later they were still insisting the problem wasn't with the firmware. I wound up having to file an FCC and BBB Complaint to get released without an ETF, T-Mobile's 'solution' was to charge me the contract price on a new phone.

    This is all relavant, because, well, As soon as I saw the first story on the Nexus one problems, I was not one bit suprised. Call it a matter of opinion but based on what I've seen I get the feeling something got whacked somewhere in the baseband package's firmware/drivers.

    This problem gets difficult to detect, however, when the end users are so incompetent that they don't understand that their phone shouldn't be freezing up the way it is. I'm still waiting to see if Samsung screws up the moment yet. (It still seems to be functional, albiet running on 1.5. If it survives the 2.x update I'll trust it.) But as it stands my experience with Android led me to hope for the best as far as WinMo 7. If there's one feeling I got from Android, it was that it was 'beta,' and to be blunt you shouln't play beta with phones you're selling to people.

    1. Re:Too bad they're only fixing a symptom by wampus · · Score: 1

      You probably ran into a provisioning problem. T-Mobile has a real problem keeping accounts set up in a way that consistently works.

  22. Multitouch first done on a keyboard by anti-NAT · · Score: 1

    Multitouch enhancing a keyboard I could perhaps see as valid.

    That's where Apple got the technology from.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FingerWorks

    I would have loved to have bought one, but IIRC, the cost was around US$370, and that was well out of my price range.

    --
    The Internet's nature is peer to peer - 20050301_cs_profs.pdf
  23. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by aztracker1 · · Score: 1

    The only issue hardware wise I have with the Nexus One, is that it doesn't have a physical keypad. I got the G1 when it came out because I was already on T-Mobile, and the software platform is much more open. When the followup to the Droid or N1 come out available on T-Mobile with a Physical keypad, I'm planning on getting one. As to the iPhone, I have the same issues that stopped me from getting an N1, or a Droid. 1. no physical keypad. 2. I have no intention of switching carriers. Add to that the fact that I don't want an app store, or platform that says I can't install what *I* want.

    Then again I'm not most people. Also, I wouldn't even compare any Windows Mobile phone to a Droid or N1 in terms of usability. I haven't used an N900, but have used/played with iPhone and iPod Touch devices.

    --
    Michael J. Ryan - tracker1.info
  24. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by gad_zuki! · · Score: 1

    I have an iphone. I live in a major city. Its using Edge 50% of the time and about 20% of the time I use 3G, I get a long pause, then it drops to EDGE. If you think only tmobile and Nexus have reception issues then youre pretty ignorant of how smartphones work and shouldnt be giving advice to anyone.

  25. No Telstra support (Australia) by AbRASiON · · Score: 1

    Not interested.
    I can't stand Telstra but they do unfortunately have the best network. I believe this is due to some kind of lack of 850mhz or something option on the phone.
    The vast majority of business's use Telstra in this country too.

    1. Re:No Telstra support (Australia) by some_guy_88 · · Score: 1

      I'm on 3 in Australia and got my Nexus One yesterday. Loving it - just gotta make sure you disable data while roaming (which is an option luckily) because 3 are evil bastards and charge you 50c/mb while roaming which just happens often due to 3 being crap.

      I haven't RTFA but maybe this update will improve the 3g....

    2. Re:No Telstra support (Australia) by PeterB87 · · Score: 1
      Roaming data charges should be a thing of the past once Three and Vodafone merge.

      Also (to GP), why shouldn't the Nexus One work on Telstra's regular 3G network? It is still operational alongside Next-G 850 mhz

    3. Re:No Telstra support (Australia) by mjwx · · Score: 1

      I'm on 3 in Australia and got my Nexus One yesterday. Loving it - just gotta make sure you disable data while roaming (which is an option luckily) because 3 are evil bastards and charge you 50c/mb while roaming which just happens often due to 3 being crap.

      3 aren't evil bastards, well no more evil then being a phone company. 3 charge for 2G and Roaming data access because it costs 3, with the merger with Vodafone you can now roam onto Vodafones 2G networks and get data for free. I almost never roam with three but then again I work in Perth city.

      With the choice between Evil Australian Bastards (Telstra), Evil Singaporean Bastards (Optus) or less evil European/Hong Kong bastards (Vodafone/Hutchison (3) Australia) the choice is clear, especially given that Voda and 3 are the only companies embracing Android.

      I bought a HTC Dream outright and have been quite pleased with it on 3.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  26. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Liquidrage · · Score: 1

    Right. There's a thing called a droid. And a thing called a Nexus one. You should try either of them before writing that. Oh, they happen to be the only phones (as of now) running 2.0+
    A droid and an iPhone have similar hardware except the droid screen blows the iPhone screen out of the water. It isn't in close. And the Nexus one has superior hardware in almost every way.

  27. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Mr2001 · · Score: 1

    The Droid does have a physical keyboard. The Motorola Milestone is a GSM version of the Droid, but I doubt it'll work with T-Mobile's 3G.

    I switched to T-Mobile to get a G1, and as soon as my contract is up, I'm switching elsewhere. Their coverage is acceptable where I live (3G is spotty but covers most of the city), but they have zero coverage at my mom's house.

    --
    Visual IRC: Fast. Powerful. Free.
  28. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by prockcore · · Score: 1

    Plus the resolution of the Droid is astounding. The horizontal resolution is the same as the vertical resolution of the iphone. You literally can display 2 iphone screens side-by-side on the Droid.

  29. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by geekoid · · Score: 1

    It's easy to lie as AC, isn't it?

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  30. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by geekoid · · Score: 1

    G1 is running 2.0+

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  31. G1? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why has Google abandoned the G1?

  32. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by RoccamOccam · · Score: 1

    I really love my N900. Give it a try.

  33. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It must be a lie because it doesn't mirror your exact opinion right? Outside of a few sites like Slashdot, Android phones have almost universally received mediocre reviews scores.

  34. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by revlayle · · Score: 1

    FYI - you do NOT have to install apps from the Market on an android phone, you can turn on a setting to allow installation of packages from other-than-Market sources. Any .APK file can be downloaded and installed then... of course, at your own risk.

  35. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by DebianDog · · Score: 1

    I have a plain old phone that does not do anything other than make a call and take crappy pictures. Since I am in the market, I have played with all the new model phones. Hands down the iPhone seems the smoothest and easiest to use (to me). I could care less about SD cards or replaceable batteries. (Seems silly unless you need talk 20 hours straight). The Droid stuff just seems non-intuitive to me. The only reason I do not have an iPhone is it runs AT&T and they have no coverage here... not even cell. But if the iPhone 4 comes out on Verizion, I am so there.

  36. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by fangorious · · Score: 1

    Only by rooting and loading a custom ROM.

  37. Coming to Verizon Droid? by edmicman · · Score: 1

    So when's 2.1 and this multitouch goodness going to trickle down to my Moto Droid?

  38. Disappointment ... by Asadullah+Ahmad · · Score: 1

    What happened to extensive testing and user feedback periods of electronic equipment? You would expect stuff like this from Microsoft, but now Google too?

    1. Re:Disappointment ... by webreaper · · Score: 1

      What happened was that the general public wants all the functionality, implemented 6 months ago on hardware which doesn't exist yet. So either Google/Apple/et al test properly, and consumers claim 'disappointment' that it takes 3 years for a device to get to market, or they do the best they can, get it into consumers' hands, and then push out updates whenever the next round of functionality/testing/bugfixing is complete.

      Frankly, being an early adopter and a lover of new tech, I know which I'd prefer. Most bugs have workarounds (and, of course, the OSS community can fix or workaround some of them if the platform isn't horrendously locked down).

    2. Re:Disappointment ... by Asadullah+Ahmad · · Score: 0

      Nexus one sold 20,000 units in the first week, so lets assume that there 1 million units out there till now, which have been used by customers for a few weeks. Out of these, ~1000 users reported the bug (1%), which means if Google had used the same units to beta test for a month with a little over 100 users, they probably would have gotten this bug, and might have even considered adding multitouch before launching.

      I am sure they DID a lot of testing and fixed a hell lot more bugs, but it just doesn't seem right for a new device from that big a company to get fixes within the first month.

  39. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by AvitarX · · Score: 1

    Is that true?

    I know parts of it are backported, but a quick google search is not finding me links to any stories about a funtional Android 2.x on the G1

    --
    Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
  40. Better? Not as long as it requires network. by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    The free turn by turn navigation is better then the $100 version on the iPhone.

    That is not possible as long as it requires a network connection to operate.

    The time you need a GPS nav most is when you are where the networks are failing you...

    And the android market is booming and going to pass apple's in total apps pretty soon.

    Ok man! Whatever you say! It's only an order of magnitude or so behind, I'm sure it will catch up any day.

    There's already an "app for that' on both marketplaces.

    Yes but there are several "apps for that" for any given value of "that" in the Apple store, each better than the Android versions. Twitter clients are but the most obvious example.

    The once difference is there's things android will let you do that apple won't.

    Come up with a task you think the iPhone cannot perform and Android can . The iPhone does multitasking for the user, just not in ways you realize.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  41. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Wyvern2005 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Not sure if it's PURE 2.1 android..but the Cyanogenmod has at least some healthy chunks of it. Wonderful ROM..works like a Dre...well, you get the picture:) He's also got a ROM out for the Nexus. You do have to root, and you do have to be able to READ all the info FIRST. If you can do that, and follow directions, it's easy. I love my G1..and I'm on AT&T..so I'm taking a speed hit (2G, not 3G). When do we get a faster processer AND a physical keyboard?

    --
    Oops..was I supposed to push that button?
  42. Interesting. by garote · · Score: 1

    Question 1:

    Your phone can do "multitasking" -- explain to me what the advantage to this is? I mean, the advantage over the iPhone, that is - since the iPhone is obviously multitasking as it will play music, check your email, run a phone conversation, and allow you to launch any 3rd-party app, all at the same time. I suppose my question is, what real-world advantages have you seen with this "multitasking"?

    Question 2:

    Android's total apps will surpass Apple's "pretty soon"? I'm reading 100 thousand versus twenty thousand. What the hell do you mean by "pretty soon"?

    1. Re:Interesting. by POPE+Mad+Mitch · · Score: 1

      Question 1:

      Your phone can do "multitasking" -- explain to me what the advantage to this is? I mean, the advantage over the iPhone, that is - since the iPhone is obviously multitasking as it will play music, check your email, run a phone conversation, and allow you to launch any 3rd-party app, all at the same time. I suppose my question is, what real-world advantages have you seen with this "multitasking"

      Heres a really simple example for you: MyTracks, a pretty easy to use GPS track log program you can get free off the market, i can run it, start it logging, and then do something else whilst it continues to run in the background.

      Its not an application that needs my interaction other than to start and stop it, and i dont want to lock my entire device up doing that simple task all on its own.

    2. Re:Interesting. by asdfghjklqwertyuiop · · Score: 1

      I suppose my question is, what real-world advantages have you seen with this "multitasking"?

      I can have an Android SSH client running with an SSH connection open, set up a port forward, leave the SSH client in the background, fire up the web browser to browse over said port forward.

    3. Re:Interesting. by geniusj · · Score: 1

      The example I always use is Pandora in the background while browsing the web. Can't do it on the iPhone without jailbreaking it.

  43. Re:Better? Not as long as it requires network. by Macthorpe · · Score: 1

    Come up with a task you think the iPhone cannot perform and Android can.

    Skype over 3G, running in the background so it doesn't interfere with the main operation of the phone. You're welcome.

    --
    "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." - Tolkien
  44. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry! I was wrong. Android is superior to the iPhone in every way. Ignore all my previous comments in this thread. I was drunk.

  45. Re:Better? Not as long as it requires network. by Rennt · · Score: 1

    Come up with a task you think the iPhone cannot perform and Android can

    * Emulators. I play SNES and Genesis games.
    * Third party software for core functionality - I have 3 browsers, 2 dialers, 2 text messaging apps
    * Shell access - I can ssh into my G1, I also run an ftp server on it.

    These are just a few of the things I do everyday, but I'm sure there are many others. There isn't any reason the iPhone hardware couldn't do these things, it all boils down to open vs. closed platform.

  46. Nexus One patch updates the default apps? by gimmebeer · · Score: 1

    Doesn't that make it an Android patch? Is the goog going to start down this slippery road of releasing specialized patches for its baby while leaving all other Android users out in the cold, no-feature-having darkness? It would seem that a move like that could only hurt the popularity of their flagship mobile iphone-killer OS. I can understand a 3G related patch being phone-specific, but it seems that what they are doing is diverging their OS into 'Android' and 'Android for Nexus One'. Not cool guys.

  47. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by AvitarX · · Score: 1

    yes, as I said parts are back-ported.

    bullet from about cyanogen mod:
    * Based on Android 1.6, many bugfixes and enhancements from AOSP, XDA, and me

    and from the description of the new one:

    * Music and DeskClock apps from Eclair
    * Eclair graphics, apps, and other guts

    Parts are back-ported, but it is not by any means a 2.x ROM.

    --
    Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
  48. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Lifyre · · Score: 1

    The replaceable battery isn't so much for when I need to talk for a long time but when the battery wears out and stops holding as much charge. The SD becomes more important if you use your phone as a multimedia device otherwise it's pretty moot. Which part is non intuitive? The Eris was the first smartphone I've owned and it was extremely easy to dive into, and from using iPhones at work no harder than using Apples hardware.

    --
    I'll meet you at the intersection of "Should be" and "Reality"
  49. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Your Eris does NOT have a faster CPU than the iPhone3GS. It does have a faster one than the 3G.

    ERIS: Arm11 at 528MHz
    3G: Arm 11 at 412
    3GS: Arm Cortex A8 at 600MHz

    The increased clock speed of the 3GS is just icing on the cake. The A8 architecture is faster clock for clock than the aging Arm 11.

    That said, I don't much care one way or the other about the Apple vs. Android argument in general.

  50. Re:Better? Not as long as it requires network. by asdfghjklqwertyuiop · · Score: 1

    Come up with a task you think the iPhone cannot perform and Android can

    Incidentally I think I just did in another post of mine:

    I can have an Android SSH client running with an SSH connection open, set up a port forward, leave the SSH client in the background, fire up the web browser to browse over said port forward.

    I don't have an iphone, but according to this review:

    None of the [iPhone SSH] clients supported host-based public key authentication, ssh-agent, or port forwarding.

  51. Flagship by DragonWriter · · Score: 1

    I'm amused that it took them so long to fix problems with Google's Flagship, but I can't say I'm suprised.

    Google's flagship product, depending on how you look at it, is either adwords or the search page at www.google.com.

  52. Task: Skype by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Skype over 3G, running in the background so it doesn't interfere with the main operation of the phone. You're welcome.

    But you can do that on an iPhone. You run skype. You switch over to look at some data, and back again.

    Or you can call into a skype bridge using the phone service you are paying for, and do anything else.

    Or, you can use a skype client that includes a browser.

    Of course realistically, you are just going to be talking to someone on skype which you can do just fine without any interruption. And of course, a jailbroken iPhone can do that but I was going to explain how it does allow task based multitasking even without that option.

    So, try again.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Task: Skype by Macthorpe · · Score: 1
      I don't think you understood what I actually meant, but that's fine. Despite your protestations, I gave you exactly that which you asked for - iPhone doesn't do Skype over 3G, and it can't run in the background. I'll still respond to your points because it seems like you're so enraptured in what you're allowed to do, that you can't see what it's possible to do.

      You run skype. You switch over to look at some data, and back again.

      Or Skype runs in the background and I can do anything else I like. When I receive a call, it arrives like a normal phone call, the only difference being it's labelled with Skype. Any other time, you wouldn't even know it was there until you ask for the front end, which pops up straight away.

      Or you can call into a skype bridge using the phone service you are paying for, and do anything else.

      So, like any other phone. Fancy.

      Or, you can use a skype client that includes a browser.

      Or, again, Skype runs in the background and I can do anything else I like. Why should I pick out a tool that does only one of the many things that I might want to do while waiting for a Skype call? Skype is supposed to act like a landline, but the iPhone client can't provide that for you. You're stuck holding the app open, interrupting your usage, until you don't want to receive a call any more. Why would you want that instead? Of course, you're free to inform me that the Skype app doesn't act like that, that you can use the phone as normal while the Skype process runs in the background and you can use other apps in the meantime without it closing Skype down, but I don't think you can.

      --
      "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." - Tolkien
    2. Re:Task: Skype by Macthorpe · · Score: 1

      Oh, and don't talk about jailbreaking as if having to constantly work against your phone carrier and manufacturer is a fun alternative to having your apps fully supported.

      --
      "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." - Tolkien
    3. Re:Task: Skype by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      iPhone doesn't do Skype over 3G

      Yes, it does. Jailbroken apps definitely do that. And Apple has ended restrictions against that for U.S. App Store apps.

      because it seems like you're so enraptured in what you're allowed to do, that you can't see what it's possible to do.

      And you are so caught up in exactly one way to do something, you have lost track of what it is you are trying to DO.

      The more technical you want to get with the iPhone, yes you'll have to jailbreak. But it's exactly the users with way more technical needs that are most able to jailbreak, and by far the smallest percentage of users, so it balances out. Again what you say is not possible is, and for the less technical people you have lost track that for all your ability to do a bunch of stuff, you aren't offering a clear path to do one thing well when THAT is important.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    4. Re:Task: Skype by Macthorpe · · Score: 1

      But it's exactly the users with way more technical needs that are most able to jailbreak

      Great, but why not have both the technical and the layman users have the same capabilities from their phone? Jailbreaking is always going to be worse than having your manufacturer actually support what you want to do.

      And you are so caught up in exactly one way to do something

      If you honestly think that the iPhone way is more free than the Android way I think I'll give up on you.

      --
      "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." - Tolkien
    5. Re:Task: Skype by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      Oh, and don't talk about jailbreaking as if having to constantly work against your phone carrier and manufacturer is a fun alternative to having your apps fully supported.

      You only do it once. It's not something you "constantly" do. It's like rooting an Android phone. It's not working against Apple or the carrier - they are indifferent (unlocking the network is a wholly different thing).

      People like you with a willful blind spot to device ability because it does not fit your "Apple Hater" worldview will never understand the full range of what can be done, with anything - you only see what can not be done, instead of what can be. You are seemingly more concerned about Jailbreaking than both Apple and AT&T combined!

      Which is pretty damn funny given your professed desire for a full range of features.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    6. Re:Task: Skype by Macthorpe · · Score: 1

      I'd actually read through your comment history and seen you pull the "Apple Hater" card more than once. I wanted to see if it was possible that you could have a reasonable discussion about something to do with Apple. Never mind.

      --
      "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." - Tolkien
    7. Re:Task: Skype by RMH101 · · Score: 1

      Updated your iPhone to 3.1.13 yet then? Granted, JBing is fairly easy but it is a ballache having to redo it from scratch each time Apple brings out an update. See also: Hackintoshes.

    8. Re:Task: Skype by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Fuck all this talk about jailbreaking. It does not work on late model iPhones, without "tethered rebooting". Which means you need to connect your cellphone to a PC to use it *every* single time you reboot it by doing a power off/on. What is the point of having a cellphone you need to connect to a PC for turning it on?

      Had the Nexus One been for sale here, I would have bought one instead.

  53. Here they are by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    * Emulators. I play SNES and Genesis games.

    Jailbroken iPhones can do that. But you are not thinking at the task level - of course there is going to be some platform specific software you are able to run on some devices and not others. Complaining that you can't run MAME on the iPhone by default but to complain about lack of games on the iPhone is absurd when you could play free demo versions of games for a year, and games that were optimized for the platform at that.

    Third party software for core functionality - I have 3 browsers, 2 dialers, 2 text messaging apps

    So does the iPhone (actually it has a lot more than that). Alternate contact apps are very popular. And there are alternate browsers - they make use of the same core rendering technology BUT they wrap other features around the browsing experience.

    While they are not specific to SMS there are many chat clients and other things.

    * Shell access - I can ssh into my G1, I also run an ftp server on it.

    Again, you can do that on a jailbroken phone. I see that as an uber niche need, so anyone that absolutely needs that also has the skills to jailbreak and therefore that is a legitimate path to fulfilling that requirement.

    These are just a few of the things I do everyday, but I'm sure there are many others. There isn't any reason the iPhone hardware couldn't do these things, it all boils down to open vs. closed platform.

    The fact is the iPhone can be opened fully and has been by millions of people now. Anyone who needs that additional level of openness has the skills to do so. But most people dont.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Here they are by Rennt · · Score: 1

      Many would recoil in horror at your definition of "open" here, but for the sake of argument I'll go along with it.

      Maybe you would be so kind to outline what to you think to can do on a iPhone you can't do on Android? Besides fitting in I mean.

    2. Re:Here they are by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you'd like a brief outline of his thought process:

      "On Android, I can just do stuff. That's only one thing. On iPhone, I can do stuff normally, and do more stuff if it's jailbroken! That's TWO THINGS, which means it's MORE OPEN! APPLE FTW! APPLE HATERS SUCK!"

      Seriously, don't bother.

    3. Re:Here they are by cheesybagel · · Score: 1

      - Data roaming enable/disable setting
      - Separate disable controls for 3G and WiFi
      - Network usage statistics
      - Pinch zoom on every app that matters (ok, the Milestone is also supposed to have that and this Nexus One update as well)
      - Smooth interface (Nexus One seems ok too)

    4. Re:Here they are by Macthorpe · · Score: 1

      On the HTC Hero:

      - Data roaming enable/disable setting
      Menu -> Settings -> Wireless Controls -> Mobile Network Settings

      - Separate disable controls for 3G and WiFi
      Creatable as a button on any of your seven homepages.

      - Network usage statistics
      This is actually handled by my phone provider.

      - Pinch zoom on every app that matters (ok, the Milestone is also supposed to have that and this Nexus One update as well)
      (Your brackets indicate that you've already conceded this point)

      - Smooth interface (Nexus One seems ok too)
      (And this one)

      Anything else?

      --
      "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." - Tolkien
    5. Re:Here they are by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nexus One actually being available. I mean, I live in mainland Europe and Google won't let me buy it from them. Sure I can buy it at Expansys. For €750. Meanwhile in the USA you can get it at $529 which is supposed to be like €386 so it only costs like twice the price. Oh yeah.

  54. Droid Eris by slapout · · Score: 1

    The Droid Eris supports multi-touch in it's browser and photo app.

    --
    Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
  55. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by aztracker1 · · Score: 1

    Yeah, T-Mobile seems to be a bit spotty closer to home (Northern AZ) but is great in the city (Phoenix Area). I know the droid has a physical keypad, but don't want to switch carriers. The family rate that I have with T-Mobile is probably the best out there, and I'm happy with the service. I won't use AT&T ever again. Hoping the next version has something like an A8/A9 at a decent clock rate, a physical keypad and works with T-Mobile.

    --
    Michael J. Ryan - tracker1.info
  56. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by aztracker1 · · Score: 1

    I was actually referring to one of my larger reasons not to run an iPhone (AT&T issues aside). I'm aware you can install from outside sources, I actually rooted my G1 within a month so I could do wifi tethering with my netbook while on the go.

    --
    Michael J. Ryan - tracker1.info