I've had a G1 since they became available in the UK last November.
It's been a bittersweet experience, but I try to remember I'm judging three entities as one thing - Google, T-Mobile, and HTC.
Android seems a good, solid mobile OS - even if it doesn't have the interface aesthetics of the iPhone [ Big G : are talented graphic designers _that_ expensive? ]. T-Mobile 3G is mostly good, but can be patchy. In central London, though? Irritating.
HTC seems to be the weakest link... The hardware does feel cheap. A bit snapped off long ago - the silly USB cover panel. As others have mentioned, the lack of headphone jack is annoying. Sure, you can get an adapter for a few bucks on EBay. I'm on my fifth now... they just fall apart. If you want one that lets you charge USB and listen to music, you need a larger one. An extra chunky appendage on an already chunky handset that would send shudders of revulsion through Cupertino.
The battery life limits the usefulness of the device. Reading books on the web [O'R Safari mobile - great] and listening to music in the background, I can expect three to four hours. I haven't compared that to the stamina of the iPhone. Perhaps it's par for the course. I've taken to carrying one of these around with me.
The slide out keyboard is useful if I have a SSH session with ConnectBot, and also email, but for simpler text input (search, etc), I like the new on-screen keyboard. Pinpoint accuracy not needed... prod in roughly the same area as your letter, and it will offer word suggestions that are quite accurate after a few letters. The slide-out keyboard can be annoying. In some light conditions, the key background illumination is so bright that you can't actually see the keycaps. Crazy stuff.
The default music player looks like someone hacked it together over a weekend. Laughable compared to iTunes. Thankfully, Spotify mobile was launched last Monday. It's fantastic.... very slick. Who can resist carrying 5 million tracks around?:-) And of course, it just carries on playing in the background should you want to spend time in the browser (which the iPhone version can't). It's early days for mobile music streaming, of course, but the offline playlists work like a charm if you don't have signal or want to save the battery.
I hope the above doesn't sound too negative... I really am confident in the Android platform. I'm looking forward to the handsets due to emerge next year... perhaps I'll be offered an upgrade. At that point, my G1 is granted admittance to my dusty smartphone museum, to join the Nokia Communicator 9000, 9200, Palm Treo 600 & 650, and the Blackberry. Oh well, at least they're getting smaller....
What I find preposterous is that Murdoch - a man who is reported to eschew a Blackberry and insist on printouts of emails brought to him - is trying to redefine the digital information economy.
For example, plumbers are often paid more than people with degrees - there were even stories a few years ago of people dropping out from Computer Science courses at prestigious universities like Cambridge and Oxford to work as plumbers and car mechanics.
Well that's okay. I'll take the hit.
It's got to be more pleasant working on algorithms than being elbow deep in somebody's toilet.
I remember one team I worked in, quite a while ago...
The lead developer had seen an Agile/Scrum meeting on a previous job, so thought that stand-up meetings would be good for us.
Each developer went through the usual routine... time elapsed, estimated time remaining, any problems encountered. Each guy over in 2mins.
Unfortunately, the lead developer also invited a particular Project Manager, who didn't quite get it and went into verbose mode. After a while, people were looking for bits of furniture to hang on to, because legs were getting tired:-)
Interesting article about how the CIA took advantage of the fact that the USSR had given up on domestic computer systems development, and had taken to cloning IBM and Dec gear. From examples spiked with malware.... Excerpt:
In the early 1980s, the Russians were constructing a trans-Siberian oil pipeline, and needed an automated system to properly manage it. Softening attitudes allowed them to legitimately purchase older models of computers on the open market. They then approached the American authorities for permission to buy the necessary software. When the US refused, the KGB stole the application.
However, the software they stole had been doctored to go haywire after a while. It would open valves unexpectedly and set pressures too high for the pipeline's welds. When the explosion came, US seismologists measured the blast at three kilotons.
Interestingly enough, Spotify uses P2P for the most popular tracks rather than streaming it all from their servers. The client was written by the guy who wrote uTorrent.
Hmm... well, I'm not sure that people really use the Notes client that much anymore. For klunky email, sure.... but for groupware, Domino web apps have been more popular for over a decade. Around 1995, Apache was integrated into Notes to become Lotus Domino. Compared to LAMP development : The DHTML/CSS/Javascript stuff is the same. LotusScript agents are used instead of PHP/Python/Perl modules. The backend is a BTree derived non-relational DB.
In my experience, the biggest problem for that stuff was companies trying to use it for purposes where a relational DB would have been a really, really good idea.
Looking at the tech that's emerging, I would consider Google Wave to be the real Notes killer (which is probably why the Groovy Mr. Ozzie seemed to have a bug up his ass about it). Wave Robots extend the concept of Notes agents.
[Disclaimer : have been a consultant for IBM/Lotus]
"All Web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite Web technologies," the company said.
Depends on your definition of "automatically". From what I hear, there is this little prerequisite called "internet access".
That's a valid point... In some cases, I guess they'll use Gears for limited offline access. (much like I read recent Gmail messages on Android while underground on the subway...)
From Google's blog: Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips and we are working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year. The software architecture is simple -- Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel
I've worked on projects where IE6 had to be a supported platform.
It's not pleasant, but I found it helped to use libraries and frameworks like jQuery, MooTools, YUI, etc. to abstract away the nasty hacks and tweaks for you. Often you would find an interface plugin or component didn't quite cut it in IE6, but there are so many out there that you can just discard it and find another.
Development would take place with Firefox (mainly to use Firebug), with occasional switches to IE to check for things to fix.
IE6 threw a few horrible problems, but the process seemed to minimise the pain.
Slashdot Mirror
Good points...
:-) And of course, it just carries on playing in the background should you want to spend time in the browser (which the iPhone version can't). It's early days for mobile music streaming, of course, but the offline playlists work like a charm if you don't have signal or want to save the battery.
I've had a G1 since they became available in the UK last November.
It's been a bittersweet experience, but I try to remember I'm judging three entities as one thing - Google, T-Mobile, and HTC.
Android seems a good, solid mobile OS - even if it doesn't have the interface aesthetics of the iPhone [ Big G : are talented graphic designers _that_ expensive? ]. T-Mobile 3G is mostly good, but can be patchy. In central London, though? Irritating.
HTC seems to be the weakest link... The hardware does feel cheap. A bit snapped off long ago - the silly USB cover panel. As others have mentioned, the lack of headphone jack is annoying. Sure, you can get an adapter for a few bucks on EBay. I'm on my fifth now... they just fall apart. If you want one that lets you charge USB and listen to music, you need a larger one. An extra chunky appendage on an already chunky handset that would send shudders of revulsion through Cupertino.
The battery life limits the usefulness of the device. Reading books on the web [O'R Safari mobile - great] and listening to music in the background, I can expect three to four hours. I haven't compared that to the stamina of the iPhone. Perhaps it's par for the course. I've taken to carrying one of these around with me.
The slide out keyboard is useful if I have a SSH session with ConnectBot, and also email, but for simpler text input (search, etc), I like the new on-screen keyboard. Pinpoint accuracy not needed... prod in roughly the same area as your letter, and it will offer word suggestions that are quite accurate after a few letters. The slide-out keyboard can be annoying. In some light conditions, the key background illumination is so bright that you can't actually see the keycaps. Crazy stuff.
The default music player looks like someone hacked it together over a weekend. Laughable compared to iTunes. Thankfully, Spotify mobile was launched last Monday. It's fantastic.... very slick. Who can resist carrying 5 million tracks around?
I hope the above doesn't sound too negative... I really am confident in the Android platform. I'm looking forward to the handsets due to emerge next year... perhaps I'll be offered an upgrade. At that point, my G1 is granted admittance to my dusty smartphone museum, to join the Nokia Communicator 9000, 9200, Palm Treo 600 & 650, and the Blackberry. Oh well, at least they're getting smaller....
That's absolutely right.
So, I for one decided on a different product, with an app store that isn't run by anti-competitive control freaks.
Chaucer came up with woot?
Awesome!
:-)
Apology accepted, Captain....
And also there's no law to stop me running open wifi.
And some WEP schemes can be casually cracked.
Where does the burden of proof lie?
Yes, and M$ could rush out an IE patch to enable "ad reduced" mode, which kills the display of Google sponsored links on search result pages.
Who exactly benefits from mutually assured destruction?
Harsh moderation there.... I agree with you :-)
What I find preposterous is that Murdoch - a man who is reported to eschew a Blackberry and insist on printouts of emails brought to him - is trying to redefine the digital information economy.
Bald man fighting over a comb.
For example, plumbers are often paid more than people with degrees - there were even stories a few years ago of people dropping out from Computer Science courses at prestigious universities like Cambridge and Oxford to work as plumbers and car mechanics.
Well that's okay. I'll take the hit.
It's got to be more pleasant working on algorithms than being elbow deep in somebody's toilet.
Must admit I do the pub wifi thing quite regularly...
Useful for catching up on articles and working on some code.
The only drawback is that the concentration starts to slide after a few pints...
> When you make a call it calls you.
Er, is this a Soviet Russia thing??
If you just want to get buzzed, there are cheaper ways of doing it than with champagne... :-)
Spotify is becoming quite popular at this side of the Pond.
It doesn't involve piracy, or music sales either...
I remember one team I worked in, quite a while ago...
:-)
The lead developer had seen an Agile/Scrum meeting on a previous job, so thought that stand-up meetings would be good for us.
Each developer went through the usual routine... time elapsed, estimated time remaining, any problems encountered. Each guy over in 2mins.
Unfortunately, the lead developer also invited a particular Project Manager, who didn't quite get it and went into verbose mode. After a while, people were looking for bits of furniture to hang on to, because legs were getting tired
Heh.. the Russians might just be out for revenge.
Interesting article about how the CIA took advantage of the fact that the USSR had given up on domestic computer systems development, and had taken to cloning IBM and Dec gear.
From examples spiked with malware....
Excerpt:
In the early 1980s, the Russians were constructing a trans-Siberian oil pipeline, and needed an automated system to properly manage it. Softening attitudes allowed them to legitimately purchase older models of computers on the open market. They then approached the American authorities for permission to buy the necessary software. When the US refused, the KGB stole the application.
However, the software they stole had been doctored to go haywire after a while. It would open valves unexpectedly and set pressures too high for the pipeline's welds. When the explosion came, US seismologists measured the blast at three kilotons.
Interestingly enough, Spotify uses P2P for the most popular tracks rather than streaming it all from their servers. The client was written by the guy who wrote uTorrent.
Hmm... well, I'm not sure that people really use the Notes client that much anymore.
For klunky email, sure.... but for groupware, Domino web apps have been more popular for over a decade.
Around 1995, Apache was integrated into Notes to become Lotus Domino.
Compared to LAMP development : The DHTML/CSS/Javascript stuff is the same. LotusScript agents are used instead of PHP/Python/Perl modules. The backend is a BTree derived non-relational DB.
In my experience, the biggest problem for that stuff was companies trying to use it for purposes where a relational DB would have been a really, really good idea.
Looking at the tech that's emerging, I would consider Google Wave to be the real Notes killer (which is probably why the Groovy Mr. Ozzie seemed to have a bug up his ass about it). Wave Robots extend the concept of Notes agents.
[Disclaimer : have been a consultant for IBM/Lotus]
"All Web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite Web technologies," the company said.
Depends on your definition of "automatically". From what I hear, there is this little prerequisite called "internet access".
That's a valid point...
In some cases, I guess they'll use Gears for limited offline access.
(much like I read recent Gmail messages on Android while underground on the subway...)
From Google's blog :
Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips and we are working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year. The software architecture is simple -- Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html
Man..... time to retire that Osborne 1...
I dunno... maybe buy/borrow a book, and improve?
It's a competitive market out there. Skills pay the bills.
Not the best FF advert I've seen.
Having said that, I think it's not desperate and needy like "Okay... how much to use IE8? Ten grand?"
> However, it still has more than enough to block the introduction of any new standards by someone else.
True, and SVG is an example.
IE support remains unlikely, as it would cover some of the same ground as Silverlight.
Wise words, and a good read... kudos.
I've worked on projects where IE6 had to be a supported platform.
It's not pleasant, but I found it helped to use libraries and frameworks like jQuery, MooTools, YUI, etc. to abstract away the nasty hacks and tweaks for you. Often you would find an interface plugin or component didn't quite cut it in IE6, but there are so many out there that you can just discard it and find another.
Development would take place with Firefox (mainly to use Firebug), with occasional switches to IE to check for things to fix.
IE6 threw a few horrible problems, but the process seemed to minimise the pain.
Tax avoidance isn't evil, or even illegal. Evasion is a different issue.