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Ask Slashdot: Data-Only Android For Development?
UrbanaMan writes "I am about to start developing Air and Flex apps for Android and need a smartphone to use for debugging. I want to be able to carry on working in the UK as well as in the US. I don't need to use the phone, so I am looking for an unlocked phone that can be used on pay-as-you-go data plans on both sides of the Atlantic. For app testing I need Flash Player (plus a processer pwerfull enough to support flash), a reasonable amount of memory, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, camera and USB (inc charging) and Android 2.3 or later. Are there any such phones/deals available for non millionaires?"
Dude, the Flash thing was just to annoy Jobs, you're not supposed to actually use it.
Might as well beta test your apps on a B4 unit.
If you can get by with wifi-only for your data connection, just grab whatever phone you'd like off of Craigslist. I'm currently debugging with a Hero and an Evo that aren't tied to any plan, and rarely leave my desk.
Also, the emulator works for debugging the vast majority of the time, and gives you access to whatever networks the host is connected to.
--Jeremy
Jesus was a liberal
Uh....Nexus One from ebay? Lots of T-Mobile users in the USA are likely to be listing them soon...
Just get any GSM handset with Android 2.3 and you'll be fine.. Probably cost you 400 bucks on ebay or go somewhere in eastern Europe and get one..
Developing Flash "apps" for a phone, eh? Here's a quick set of instructions:
- buy shotgun and ammo
- load shotgun
- insert in mouth
- pull trigger, repeat as needed
Seriously, I can't think of anything more suck-tastic than Flash apps on a phone. Piss-poor battery life, miserable performance and a UI that'll probably still think there's a mouse around...
What do you mean by non-millionaires? I get the whole populist concept that you should be able to get anything you want for free just because you want it, but there are costs involved in producing high end phone hardware that don't just vanish because of the ethics of those who don't like paying for stuff.
Personally, I bought my HTC Desire from e2save since I worked out it would cost about the same as buying the phone and using pay-as-you-go (£20/month × 24 = £480, but the phone alone cost about £380 at the time).
Have you looked at virgin or cricket? .. i KNOW virgin has coverage in Seattle.. not sure about cricket
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Trying to fix or change something only guarantees and perpetuates it's existence
This is false. I own both a HTC G1 and a Samsung Vibrant which both have the US T-Mobile 3G frequencies and I had no problems using T-Mobile's prepaid 3G network in the UK. The only caveat is to make sure that the phones are unlocked so they will accept a UK SIM card.
AFAICT, most non-3G tablets also lack the GPS he desires.
Though he can hook a GPS in via bluetooth, but I'm not sure if that works the same way as a built in unit as far as software and compatibility is a likely issue.
upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
There are almost no phones that are affordable running 2.3.
I do development and use a unlocked Incredible on Verizon, but it's not activated, I just have it using WiFI.
On the road my kids can use it as a portable game device, i have a hotspot 3g card so the phone works as a phone, even when roaming.
I paid less than $200 in a local paper to get the phone, it was in perfect condition and runs fine. I actually enjoy that phone so much with Cyanogen i'm tempted to use it in place of my iPhone (also on Verizon).
I personally would never buy any Android phone that wasn't supported by the Cyanogen developers. (I'm looking at you boot-locked Motorola!) :)
The emulator also runs like a piece of frozen dogshit. Its speed is horrible, and should not be used as any indicator of performance.
Additionally, it cannot emulate (without a LOT of effort) any of the specialized sensors like accelerometer, multitouch, GPS, and so on.
The iPad goes to 11.
Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
Emulators will only get you so far. Emulators running on a typical PC don't have multitouch input, can't connect to the cellular network (except very rudimentary test features), and are somewhat slower than actual devices. Some things, you have to test on real hardware.