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Ask Slashdot: Data-Only Android For Development?

Posted by timothy on from the how-far-has-the-tide-lifted-the-boats dept.

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?"

4 of 203 comments (clear)

  1. Flash by Nerdfest · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dude, the Flash thing was just to annoy Jobs, you're not supposed to actually use it.

    1. Re:Flash by naz404 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The BIIIIIIIIIG advantage over Flash SWFs /AIR apps is that your entire app can be put into a single neat bundle. Can't say the same for Javascript + CSS + Canvas. Sound on HTML5 is pretty screwed up too.

      Anyway, Flash/AIR is the way to go right now if you want to target multiple platforms at relatively low cost/time/manpower. Flash & AIR run on: Windows, OSX, Linux, Android 2.2+, Blackberry Tablet OS, Apple iOS (as a native app via the iOS packager). Native will give the best speed, but if your speed requirements aren't so stringent, Flash/AIR will get the job done.

      Oh, Lenny, you've got your techs confused. AIR != Flex. Flex is an Open-source framework that will allow you to publish SWFs or AIR Apps via MXML + Actionscript 3. AIR = more like Flash taken out of the browser sandbox & given native desktop hooks. Sounds like you're part of the "bashing stuff I haven't even touched yet based on FUD" camp.

      Don't kid yourself. The face of the web is ruled by designers, not coders. Until WYSIWYG tools that make animation of UI interfaces/objects easy for non-coder designers become ubiquitous, Flash ain't going to die anytime soon. (*note: Adobe now has a Flash .FLA to HTML5 export in beta at the labs right now)

      --
      http://www.object404.com
    2. Re:Flash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      FUCK YEAH! Thank you, somebody gets it. Fuck Apple for no-flash, but let's never forget: fuck Flash.

  2. Craigslist by scot4875 · · Score: 5, Informative

    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