Please - read a little before modding me to oblivion:-)
I don't want lots of single purpose devices - but, and here's the kicker, I don't want fully fledged convergent devices either.
I want my mobile phone to be a brilliant phone - but I also expect it to be a good enough web browser to read Slashdot. I don't want it to run flash / Javascript etc - but I want it to function well.
I want my amp to decode AC3, DTS and Pro-Logic - I don't want to be able to play Pong on it.
Xbox Media Center plays my DVDs, DivX and Oggs just fine - I've no need for it to tune my car's engine.
Do you see what I'm getting at? Appropriate convergence is a great thing. Appropriate convergence where the device is good in all its intended roles is bloody brilliant!
I've used it - it works very well. It seamlessly moves from 3G to 2.5G without a loss of connection and the server side compression really makes things fly. Works fine with VPNs etc.
T
It's all about the Blackberry...
on
Palmtop Nirvana?
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· Score: 1
...or more specifically, the push email. I never have to synch my email or calendar - it's pushed over the air by my company's BES. I can look up anyone on the internal phone book just by typing their name into the address book. It also functions as a GSM phone.
What I'd like from future devices
3G. GPRS is good for brief web browsing, but 3G speeds would make everything less painfull
IMAP email. Push email is great for getting work's email, but I'd like to pick up my own as well.
Better Java support.
Better interface. The Qwerty keyboard is great - but the unidirectional scroll wheel is a pain to use.
Naturally I want longer battery life, better clarity screen etc etc. but in terms of functionality - the above is all I need. It's a phone, it's email, a note taker, a calendar, a phonebook and it runs Java Midlets.
our old numbers which are in a different area code
I've got to ask a really dumb question... Why are your cell phones tied to a local area code? Here in the UK (and most of Europe), mobile phones have their own area code - that way you always know that you're calling a non-landline number. Isn't the point of a mobile phone that you can take it anywhere? If someone in Boston calls your Boston number while you're in Las Vegas - how does he (or you) know what you're going to get charged?
yeah... really well hidden. Seimens C56 from Rogers. Just about the most simplistic model on the marketplace, but it should be you fine if you don't want anything whizz-bang.
It took a 2 minute search and I'm not even Canadian (although I did study there a few years ago).
If you haven't read the Thursday Next books - you're missing a treat. Not just because the author is a genius (Think the love child of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett) but because the book can be UPGRADED and has SPECIAL FEATURES! How cool is that!
I read loads of content on my (black and white) RIM Blackberry. It's fine for casual reading - but the screen needs to be a bit bigger.
Ebooks need to have all the convenience of "real" books - but address all their failings. Like VHS to DVD.
Real Book - fixed font (hey, you'll be old one day, too!). EBook fonts will go up or down depending on what you want.
Real Book - can't read 'em in the dark. Ebooks, lovely backlighting!
Real Book - can't carry 10 of them on the plane. Ebooks, you can fit all of Shakespeare in less than a MB.
It's not enough to give people the same old content in a fancy wrapper - people need a tangible reason for swapping formats. Especially if you're going to be taking away some of their original benefits (book sharing etc)
Most GSM services in Europe offer "Second Line" functionality. This means you can have a work and a personal number attached to a single phone.
Regarding the seperate address books - some smartdevices do have these, but it's probably easier to use the Family/Work/Friends setting on your existing address book.
I bought a Motorola MPX200 a little under a year ago because I could write software for the damned thing, but before that I had always been a Nokia owner. Clearly, this is not a standard line of reasoning for most buyers. Nevertheless, perhaps Nokia should make it a little more obvious where their SDKs live for their phones and hold student developer contests or something.
Errr... you have heard of Java MIDP? Almost all Nokia phones support it - even going back to the 6310i. It's by far the most common platform for games and applications on the phone/smartphone market.
All premium rate mobile phone SMS services in the UK will respond to a reply entitles "STOP" from August 1st. Just send the word STOP to them and they are now obliged to stop.
The mantra used to be something you know (password), something you have (ID card), something you are (fingerprint).
The problem is that "something you are" is just a really weak version of "Something you have". Why is it weak? Because once it is compromised, you can never get it back. Never.
If my RSA fob is stolen, I can get it reissued. If my password is stolen, I generate a new one. What am I supposed to do when my fingerprint shows up on Kazza? Sure, I can use one of the other nine, then once they're compromised, use my toes, after that...?
Biometrics have a (small) part to play in security. But relying on them for anything important is daft.
Why would I want to SSH my server from a bus? If you've got an emergency on (or your feel like a fiddle) you can get secure access to your servers at any time. Handy.
My company doesn't know my cell number for a reason.
errrr? and? You wouldn't dial up (standard GSM is 9.6Kbps) but use GPRS (56Kbps), EDGE (384Kbp) or UMTS (2Mbps) - and all your company would see is an IP address.
As for not giving away your mobile number - what do you think CLID and ACR are for?
It depends on what you class micropayments? Less than 10? Less than 1? People can use Paypal or similar for small costs. I can use my online banking to move 0.01 to any account in my country.
The problem is, banks have squashed this idea because it's too much work for them to handle and they don't think it will bring a good ROI. And they're probably right.
Look at the abuse of "pay-per-click" programs. I knew people who paid the rent by clicking on every banner ad they put on their website (this was late 1990s, BTW) - the banks are scared that this will happen again with micropayments.
What if the response is signed with a private key?
eg
Re your request 1010 @ 12:34 5/6/2004 to do XYZ - ok. HASH DSFJ$K%GDFG%%E$
Sure, you'd possibly be able to hack it. But if your DVD player's BIOS has non-changable firmware and talks to the systme BIOS over an encrypted channel - what chance would you have?
This is about having secure communication between everything. DVD -> Soundcard -> Speakers. All requiring authentication before they'll do anything.
So don't use those extra features. Mobile phone companies will subsidise a camera phone in the hope that you start MMSing - thus driving up their revenue.
If you want a cheap, basic phone, try an independant store where the salesman isn't on commision to sell you a phone and contract you have no need for.
Although, you are on/. so why aren't you hankering after the P900 or Treo 600? Don't you want to SSH to your server while you're on the bus?
(Disclaimer - not speaking for my employer)
Re:Stock up on untainted books now
on
H2G2 Film Website
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· Score: 4, Funny
That is what I never get about purely electric vehicles, it is just a displacement of pollution. Hybrids and clean burning internal-combustion engines make a lot more sense for the time being.
What's more efficient - your car or the local powerstation?
I'm serious... both produce pollution, but does producing the electricity at a single point and then distributing it cause less pollution than having thousands of efficient engines?
Slashdot Mirror
Please - read a little before modding me to oblivion :-)
I don't want lots of single purpose devices - but, and here's the kicker, I don't want fully fledged convergent devices either.
I want my mobile phone to be a brilliant phone - but I also expect it to be a good enough web browser to read Slashdot. I don't want it to run flash / Javascript etc - but I want it to function well.
I want my amp to decode AC3, DTS and Pro-Logic - I don't want to be able to play Pong on it.
Xbox Media Center plays my DVDs, DivX and Oggs just fine - I've no need for it to tune my car's engine.
Do you see what I'm getting at? Appropriate convergence is a great thing. Appropriate convergence where the device is good in all its intended roles is bloody brilliant!
T
A study was done at my old school (UK).
Turns out the girls do far better in single-sex class rooms.
But boys do better in mixed set class room!
Quite how you solve that, I don't know.
My employers sell a 3G data card. It's compatible with PC, Mac and, so I'm told, Linux.
It's a [franticly remembers details] a USB bridge device, so there's no reason why it shouldn't be compatible with anything.
Details here - manager's guide here
I've used it - it works very well. It seamlessly moves from 3G to 2.5G without a loss of connection and the server side compression really makes things fly. Works fine with VPNs etc.
T
I never have to synch my email or calendar - it's pushed over the air by my company's BES. I can look up anyone on the internal phone book just by typing their name into the address book.
It also functions as a GSM phone.
What I'd like from future devices
Naturally I want longer battery life, better clarity screen etc etc. but in terms of functionality - the above is all I need. It's a phone, it's email, a note taker, a calendar, a phonebook and it runs Java Midlets.
T
--
Not speaking for my employer
I've got to ask a really dumb question... Why are your cell phones tied to a local area code?
Here in the UK (and most of Europe), mobile phones have their own area code - that way you always know that you're calling a non-landline number.
Isn't the point of a mobile phone that you can take it anywhere? If someone in Boston calls your Boston number while you're in Las Vegas - how does he (or you) know what you're going to get charged?
T
yeah... really well hidden. Seimens C56 from Rogers. Just about the most simplistic model on the marketplace, but it should be you fine if you don't want anything whizz-bang.
It took a 2 minute search and I'm not even Canadian (although I did study there a few years ago).
T
It would be nice to know if the codec will run on one of these? :-)
I am so bloody sick of this argument!
Go and buy a Nokia 1110.
It's a brand new Nokia with no camera, no mp3 ringtones, no gimmicks.
There are loads of basic phones out there which are nothing but talk and text devices. And they sell like hot cakes.
T
--
Not speaking for my employer
Nokia 1100. It's a plain old phone. No fancy gizmos.
The Nokia 1100. Just a phone. It's a big seller.
Here in the UK, mobile phone company catalouges do show the manufacturer's stated battery life / talk time.
The problem is - battery/talk depends on so many conditions. What current signal strength is; how crowded the cell is; how hot the phone is, etc.
As for antenna gain. I don't think enough people know what it is for including it to be useful.
T
If you haven't read the Thursday Next books - you're missing a treat. Not just because the author is a genius (Think the love child of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett) but because the book can be UPGRADED and has SPECIAL FEATURES!
How cool is that!
I read loads of content on my (black and white) RIM Blackberry. It's fine for casual reading - but the screen needs to be a bit bigger.
Ebooks need to have all the convenience of "real" books - but address all their failings. Like VHS to DVD.
Real Book - fixed font (hey, you'll be old one day, too!). EBook fonts will go up or down depending on what you want.
Real Book - can't read 'em in the dark. Ebooks, lovely backlighting!
Real Book - can't carry 10 of them on the plane. Ebooks, you can fit all of Shakespeare in less than a MB.
It's not enough to give people the same old content in a fancy wrapper - people need a tangible reason for swapping formats. Especially if you're going to be taking away some of their original benefits (book sharing etc)
T
Over here in the UK they're not producing TiVos any more. The ones they did regularly go for £200 or more on eBay (~US$400).
And you get Series 2 for GBP£45!?!? How I feel your pain.
Hmph.
OK, you build one then ;-)
:-)
Seriously, the problem with two radios are
1) Interference
2) Battery life. At a stroke you've halved your talk time / standby time
3) IMEI conflicts - especially if your other operator is an MVNO on your other operator
4) Increased complexity. The handset now has to negotiate with different cells on ddifferent frequencies.
5) Double the radiation fun
Seriously, the solution to your problems are
a) Carry around a tiny 2nd phone (VK207, GD55)
b) Get a SIM adaptor
c) Subscribe to a proper operator who'll allow Second Line functionality.
T
You can't have each line from a different provider - that would require two seperate radios.
You could set Phone A to automatically divert to Phone B - but that could cost if A and B are on different providers.
I'm not sure why ou can't do it on O2 via CPW.
T
--
Not speaking for my employer in any way shape or form
Most GSM services in Europe offer "Second Line" functionality. This means you can have a work and a personal number attached to a single phone.
Regarding the seperate address books - some smartdevices do have these, but it's probably easier to use the Family/Work/Friends setting on your existing address book.
T
--
Not talking on behalf of my employer
Errr... you have heard of Java MIDP? Almost all Nokia phones support it - even going back to the 6310i. It's by far the most common platform for games and applications on the phone/smartphone market.
T
All premium rate mobile phone SMS services in the UK will respond to a reply entitles "STOP" from August 1st. Just send the word STOP to them and they are now obliged to stop.
See this BBC new story for more details.
If they're persistant, forward the message to "VSPAM" if on Vodafone or "SPAM" if on Orange and they'll investigate and pass on to ICSTIS.
Finally, sign up to the Telephone Preference Service to stop unsolicited marketing calls and SMS.
T
--
Not speaking for my employers in any way
The mantra used to be something you know (password), something you have (ID card), something you are (fingerprint).
The problem is that "something you are" is just a really weak version of "Something you have". Why is it weak? Because once it is compromised, you can never get it back. Never.
If my RSA fob is stolen, I can get it reissued. If my password is stolen, I generate a new one. What am I supposed to do when my fingerprint shows up on Kazza? Sure, I can use one of the other nine, then once they're compromised, use my toes, after that...?
Biometrics have a (small) part to play in security. But relying on them for anything important is daft.
T
Why would I want to SSH my server from a bus?
If you've got an emergency on (or your feel like a fiddle) you can get secure access to your servers at any time. Handy.
My company doesn't know my cell number for a reason.
errrr? and? You wouldn't dial up (standard GSM is 9.6Kbps) but use GPRS (56Kbps), EDGE (384Kbp) or UMTS (2Mbps) - and all your company would see is an IP address.
As for not giving away your mobile number - what do you think CLID and ACR are for?
It depends on what you class micropayments? Less than 10? Less than 1? People can use Paypal or similar for small costs. I can use my online banking to move 0.01 to any account in my country.
The problem is, banks have squashed this idea because it's too much work for them to handle and they don't think it will bring a good ROI. And they're probably right.
Look at the abuse of "pay-per-click" programs. I knew people who paid the rent by clicking on every banner ad they put on their website (this was late 1990s, BTW) - the banks are scared that this will happen again with micropayments.
eg
Sure, you'd possibly be able to hack it. But if your DVD player's BIOS has non-changable firmware and talks to the systme BIOS over an encrypted channel - what chance would you have?
This is about having secure communication between everything. DVD -> Soundcard -> Speakers. All requiring authentication before they'll do anything.
So don't use those extra features.
/. so why aren't you hankering after the P900 or Treo 600? Don't you want to SSH to your server while you're on the bus?
Mobile phone companies will subsidise a camera phone in the hope that you start MMSing - thus driving up their revenue.
If you want a cheap, basic phone, try an independant store where the salesman isn't on commision to sell you a phone and contract you have no need for.
Although, you are on
(Disclaimer - not speaking for my employer)
When did you read Sorcerer's Stone
When it was Philosopher's Stone.
That is what I never get about purely electric vehicles, it is just a displacement of pollution. Hybrids and clean burning internal-combustion engines make a lot more sense for the time being.
What's more efficient - your car or the local powerstation?
I'm serious... both produce pollution, but does producing the electricity at a single point and then distributing it cause less pollution than having thousands of efficient engines?