I know about 10 to 12 people that own Android phones. Of these, only one actually wanted a droid and hates the iPhone, he also happens to love/.
I think its similar to Windows users, they may go on and on about how great it is to build their own computers (and yet buy Dell's), while their main complain about Macs is "the cost". I can ABSOLUTELY respect people who choose to buy an Android device, for a larger (or smaller) screen, keyboard etc. But in general, the few overseas friends I know with Android devices, because Android is practically nonexistant outside of the USA (for now), they lust after an iPhone.
It sounds like the USA really needs to stick with standard GSM, so you could use ANY phone on ANY network you choose, just like in the rest of the world. Our iPhones here in NZ are sold unlocked, just like in the UK etc. The EU even has laws about unlocked phones. I could put any simcard in my iPhone, from any our NZ networks.
I think its about being happy with whatever you have though. I truly respect people whose choices are different than mine, I dont hate people who buy a different brand of car to me, why would we get so worked up about a phone?
I know I might say some silly things on Slashdot, but cmon, the parent wasnt trolling!
Name one. The iPhone 4's 5 Megapixel camera has a better quality sensor and focus mechanism for macro shots than the 8 Megapixel Android phones. The iPhone's new display has the highest pixel density of any phone out on the market.
There is no "disagree" mod on Slashdot, Troll is not a substitute. And yet, others who mention "A real keyboard", name call "iDandys", and mention phones they are personally interested in get rated, so far, 2 Informative!
"trolling" or "fanboisim" goes both ways, there are those who HATE Apple products too, I would argue these people are far more numerous these days. How long has it been since we got constant snarky comments from Mac users here? "oh, I wouldnt touch Vista, I have a Mac you see..."? I would argue there are now far more "Android trolls" attacking the iPhone than "Apple trolls" bashing Android devices.
I mentioned on my casual Tech show that while I love the iPhone, and think the iPhone 4 is amazing, (apart from those horrific reception issues?), Android devices CAN, HAVE and WILL rapidly outpace any iPhone hardware wise. Does it matter? Perhaps not, afterall, the biggest competition for the Original iPhone would probably be the Nokia N95, it was always far ahead spec wise, no question, yet look at Nokia and their "smartphones" now...
Ah, but see, what SHOULD have happened is that US carriers should have STUCK with GSM...
Up until now, all iPhone complaints seemed to be "ITS ONLY ON AT&T!!!!111!!!!!", including reviews for international readers. Here in New Zealand, I can easily use our iPhones, sold unlocked by Vodafone, on THREE carriers. Overseas, the iPhone is sold EXPLICITLY to be used on any network you choose,
"Buy your iPhone from
Apple SIM-free."
"It works with the carrier of your choice.
Buy your iPhone from the Apple Online Store and choose your own GSM carrier. You can change carriers at any time."
"It works internationally.
Because this iPhone is SIM-free, you can purchase a micro-SIM or SIM card and service from a local carrier at your destination. Or check with your home carrier regarding international roaming charges."
Its practically ORDERING me to beg my UK friends to send me an iPhone 4...
Yes, the entire world knows the tragedy of the AT&T network, and it seems OBVIOUS that the iPhone deserves to be sold on more than one carrier in the USA, just like pretty much every other country in the world.
But please, can we actually WAIT until this happens, instead of whispering overheard rumours?
"that part of the world" is New Zealand, and you are referring to Moko http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C4%81_moko , which are personal, I would assume fairly unique, not just "male" and "female"
So, while we debate the necessity of Maori cultural tattoos being protected by societal law (they here in NZ http://www.hrc.co.nz/home/hrc/enquiriescomplaints/faqs/mokoyourrights.php), you label someone you disagree with as basically being an idiot, and the worst insult in all of America, worse than shitting on your nations flag, or cheating on your wife, a *gasp* "liberal". Ouch!
Surely your precious constitution says something about petty insults towards those you disagree with?
Rather than repeat my above comment, the VAST majority of Maori DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT have cultural tattoos. The practise of Moko had severely waned until recently. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C4%81_moko
if you're religion does (say, your Maori, which is more a cultural phenomena)
A New Zealander to the rescue:
"Traditional Mori moko is an expression of and celebration of Maori culture and identity. A person of Maori descent may not be denied employment, entry to premises, or declined service because they wear moko visibly."
You were saying? Theres more than one country in the world, and laws regarding tattoos vary. I myself DETEST tattoos, but on this case, and in my country, they are permitted. Also, culturally, I would guess VERY FEW Maori have cultural tattoos, do you think all Chinese people have "Chinese Characters" tattooed on their skin? Along with many New Zealanders, I hate the misappropriation of our culture, having a tattoo from my society does NOT make you cool, especially when you continually say "nooo ZEE-land-DER"
I suppose we need to make a big deal out of this stuff, and it IS somewhat inspirational if a minority (in terms of a "Black President") achieves a high post....but at the same time, it feels stupid. Whoever said that women COULD NOT be Prime Minister/President? I'm sure there are MANY countries worldwide with female leaders before NZ too. Thatcher comes to mind.
Where I live now, we have little gun crime. But we're right next to a city with moderately severe gun laws.
And what does "moderately severe" mean to you? You say "severe" as if its some dreadful term! What you might call "moderately severe", I might deem as "not strict enough".
Again, I live in a country where there are essentially NO guns, I never have to worry about what other people might do to me. I am 1.95 metres tall, I am very muscular, I can defend myself in the exceedingly rare situation that I were attacked. I do not want a gun pointed at me. Anyone can feel "powerful" with a gun in their hands.
Countries where gun ownership is "low" are "gentler", are "safer" and are "less violent". In New Zealand, even the police generally DO NOT have guns. We do get "moral panic" about "the police need guns!" in the media every now and then, but the majority of my country would be against armed police officers.
The police are now trying to have greater restrictions on more powerful modern air rifles. What would you suggest, have every other citizen armed? Have the police toting assault rifles? I know of friends who visited Italy, and noticed police officers standing about with guns...they were *SHOCKED*.
I dont believe a gun "wants" to kill people, I dont believe a gun is "inherently evil". I do find the idea of "normal" people having guns awful, if your problem is too many guns already, adding more will accomplish nothing.
The problem with guns in the USA is GUNS. You want to solve the problem by having...MORE guns?
If guns made cities, states, countries, continents safer, then the Americas would be the safest place to live in the world.
When everyone has a gun, then every criminal will *also* be armed.
By New Zealand standards, I live in a rough neighbourhood. Sometimes, when I walk past people on the street, they dont say "hello" to me!
If guns made you safe as an American, your country wouldn't be so rife with violent shootings, perhaps each citizen wouldn't be scared shitless of their neighbours, that is unless they had an M60 in their hands.
More than anything, I think issues with crime are an "attitude" thing. But don't take a random strangers opinion on this issue seriously, just look at the statistics.
Its difficult to say until it happens, in which time I'd hope we have enough "alternative" sources to shore up any deficit!
By all means, I'm sure we NEED big developments in energy, but I think its near impossible to defend "right, everything is useless, we need FUSION! Lets spend every cent we have on ONE vision of pulling it off! Forget about everything else!".
ITER and other experiments are tremendously exciting, but surely we should work on plans B through Z? (and thats a "ZED", right fellow patriot?:) )
I'm glad you were so civil towards me, thank you. I normally hate posting online!
I think its fair to call something a "pipe dream" if it has been long imagined, and never achieved, with no real PROMISE that anything will eventuate in any given time span.
I'm 22 and not an educated person, I'd like to learn much more about this from those who are actually in a related field.
If there are truly NO examples of a Fusion experiment meaningfully producing a net GAIN in energy, NOT a loss!, then...surely its a "pipe dream" until it works? We cant just order a few "10 billion dollar" Fusion reactors right now:)
My country has substantial hydro power, geothermal power and now wind power. This is all real! I could say to you now that this very computer I'm using is running on any of the above. The same cannot be said of Nuclear Fusion.
Some people like to dismiss "renewable energy" as "not enough" or "not available right now", well, we may not have the iPad yet (!) but New Zealand DOES have "renewable" or "alternative" energy, RIGHT NOW.
About scaremongering, I try and avoid it myself about any issue, but cmon, to just deny all the problems and stigma against Nuclear Power in general is...hard to avoid. I hear people against wind power because "the blades kill birds"...I love birds, I am vegan, I love essentially all animals, but I dont think you can compare the danger of "turbines killing birds who fly into them" with "the danger of Nuclear Power"...they are not on the same level!
The world is not going to end if someone falls into a Hydro Power intake, or if a helicopter crashes into a Turbine. Nuclear Power has almost INFINITELY greater risks, even if you are a non nuclear country such as my own. Again, I could give examples, but I think we all are aware, and I dont want to scaremonger.
About stockpiling, I mentioned Sellafield http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellafield , and how the "best" idea right now is to vitrify waste, to seal it in glass, and then what, stack this away in caves underground? Thats a best case scenario, to just "sweep it all under the rug", so to speak.
I agree with you basically whatever we do has an impact on the world. I'm sure solar cells and wind turbines have "pollution" involved in their making. Such is life.
Talking about "research" into Nuclear Power problems is very far from a concrete reality. I have an older friend who has made his own wind turbines out of old electric motors, I believe he charges up car batteries and powers a radio and lighting this way. These "alternative" energy sources are not some drug related fantasy, they are real, right here, right now.
I have always been interested in Nuclear Power, and the uses of Nuclear science even in a "non nuclear" country. I am interested in Nuclear Experiments, and I think such science is fascinating. I have some signs from an old hospital here, showing the "Nuclear Medicine" ward. I mention smoke detectors containing Americium http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americium .
I am in NO way "anti Nuclear", I've always called myself PRO Nuclear Power, but things such as Nuclear Fusion, claiming we NEED to have it, that its realistic, or that its the only option, are, to me currently, pipe dreams.
I am not an "environmentalist", I soundly believe that we shouldnt be polluting this, or any other planet if we have a choice, I dont think that makes me "radical"? I am an ethical Vegan, but have always been interested in Nuclear power.
Many of these future Nuclear projects have very different outcomes. I am not qualified to talk about these issues, I would love to hear from those who are. Like Genetic Engineering, I am interested in the THEORY, but the PRACTISE is very different...and very dangerous... just think of all the past nuclear leaks, radiation, the pollution, the stockpiling of waste...
Very scary stuff, it sounds like the people living around this facility are shit scared, and so I can understand "NIMBY", Not In My BackYard complaints for future sites. In particular, the talk of plant leaks, and "In 2007 an inquiry was launched into the removal of tissue from a total of 65 deceased nuclear workers, some of whom worked at Sellafield.[41] It has been alleged that the tissue was removed without seeking permission from the relatives of the late workers."
I have a friend from Ukraine, and I think we all know what happened there...such scaremongering is hard to avoid on the issue of Nuclear Power.
Think of me, a person living in a small country of four million, doing just fine WITHOUT Nuclear power options, what would you do to convince the average NZer that Nuclear Fission is NECESSARY? I think its best not to buy into the pipe dream of Nuclear Fusion until its actually practical, right now, its no different than the "Arc reactor" from Ironman, or Fusion experiments by Doctor Octopus from Spiderman 2! Just because its in movies, and popular Sci Fi, does NOT mean it will be powering my iMac anytime soon!
I'm very interested in learning from people who are *ACTUALLY* educated on this topic. Would anyone here like to explain the best course for future progress? IE, what is to be done with all the sealed Nuclear Waste currently piling up, how realistic is Nuclear Fusion, especially in our lifetimes (I'm 22), and what about Renewable energy sources?
This man was definitely having to pick his Netbook up, and put it down every few metres to tap out "1.5M $500" etc. Very uncomfortable.
What "Ugly Port" would you use? Ethernet? USB? Firewire? Why not Bluetooth or Wifi? Or a 3G connection? You know, like those sleek and practical iPads. Much better than dragging a USB cable throughout every store you visit:) Our store is...basically the dimensions of a "Football" (as in the international Football) field.
Frankly, using pen and paper would STILL have been easier. Unless he had a Newton:) God bless my little Messagepads:)
Last post from me, I'm sure you also have better things to do.
What size are the SD cards you are using? Oh wait, dont bother replying, better if we each end it here. 64 GB is quite a lot, especially for a removable storage card...its not like TB SD cards are a couple bucks each:) Hey, I am using most of my 64GB iPad, but if I had a 128GB iPad...I'd be using that...whatever space you have on device, it will practically NEVER be enough! So...you could...stream....to the device? Eh? Its a portable device you know! Its not meant to be connected to a massive RAID by a Fibre Channel:) You want a video? Stream it from YouTube! Or Hulu, or Netflix...or whatever you might use. I dont know your situation.
Um, yes, normally when I give a file to someone else, I expect them to have a computer, or some way of using it:) You have not sold me on the idea of a stack of SD cards in each pocket. I have 200 DVDs staring back at me right now, I ripped them to my computer, and I never intend to insert a single disc again, unless to, *gasp* rip it to my HDD. Why would I want to swap in my "games" SD Card, then my "photos" SD Card...? "oh, hold on, its on my other SD Card, oh, I must have forgotten that one in my other jeans pocket..." Smooth move there:)
Oh yes, I'm sure you are very angry that there are NOT ENOUGH Apple Stores!:) My friends (in many different countries) have visited, and all mention how much they enjoy their local Apple Store. Ohhhhhh, they must be whiny "fanbois" like me, eh? Whatever I say, you're going to argue about, if Apple are too aggressive in getting "in your face", if they dont have enough wonderful Stores....
All I know is, when I visit a local "tech department store", it SUCKS compared to what it would be like at one of these Apple Stores I've heard so much about. I get "a long wait" here, where we have perhaps a couple iMacs and a MacBook on display, forget about a Mac Pro etc or service...
I actually like Android, and WebOS...I hope they ALL do well, I dont want to live in a monopoly! Oooooh, "Lord Jobs", yes, because I've dedicated my life to Steve Jobs, because I have an iPad, right? Yeah, meanwhile, what, you're in an open relationship with who, Eric Schmidt? Freaking Ballmer?
I probably read all the same websites as you do. I've never found myself wanting an Android App, perhaps Google Goggles, just to play about with, it might not work outside the US though? I'm not suffering from Apples "EVIL" plan to "tell me what Apps I can run"...
About the EVO...if you like it, great for you! I have no problem with what "Totenglocke", someone presumably on the other side of the world chooses to use in his or her life:)
The EVO cameras SUCK for quality though, who cares what resolution they claim to be. Based on the photos from the iPhone 4, it takes better footage too, and at a higher frame rate. Ohhhh, but there I go being a drooling fanboi, right? By judging from the end results, not memorising the manufacturers spec sheet!:)
We will soon see, hands on, which we each like better. Thats if the EVO is even sold in my country, as far as I know, it WONT. And, I'd have to import one without ever using it first. Should I take a 20+ hour (each leg) plane flight to the US just to try out Android phones?
FM tuner, boy, to listen to all those GREAT radio stations! Why would I ever want to listen to my own podcasts, or high quality music? Instead of, Leo Laporte, I can get my tech news from the local NZ "tech news guy"! "um, and theres this thing called Android, I think, and its not out here in New Zealand but..."
Many Nokias also TRANSMIT on FM, I dont know if the EVO does? If not, does that make a Nokia a better device? Hardly.
A kickstand is just hillarious to me, I imagine its like those fat people who use a mobility scoo
Hi, yes I know and understand about professional use of tablets in rugged environments, its a bit like NASA space rockets being specialist, I dont expect the average GM car to fly to mars:)
The man with the Netbook was just a regular guy, buying several sideboards, cabinets etc. There was no real reason for him to have the Netbook, he was essentially typing "cabinet A, 3 Metres, $500" into a spreadsheet. A couple years ago, we might have written on a 5 cent piece of paper, with a dollar pen:) I would have used a smartphone, or a tablet computer if possible. His netbook use was very difficult looking, needing to put it down every few metres, and bend down to it etc.
I have no doubts that specific jobs have used tablets before. But, around the home, at school, at university, they have not been the whopping success Bill Gates predicted:)
I think the iPad is a truly "magical" device, the first of its kind, of consumer media consumption "tablet".
Oh, so you have a bandolier of SD cards strapped around you, and you change "mags" a dozen times a day with your phone/tablet device? Why not just get the storage space you require, INTERNALLY?
If you want a file, why not email or otherwise FTP it to where you want? Rather than carrying things about on little bits of plastic? Or...do it all..."on the cloud"!
Give me an example of an iPad competitor, thats in the market right now (pretty much worldwide too), that I could have bought instead of my iPad. Something thats as nice to use for media consumption, web browsing, games etc. I dont think theres anything really comparable. I hope the HP Slate will be the second in the same market.
In New Zealand, we essentially get ZERO Apple ads...if you hate Apple, move here:) Perhaps when the new iPhone is released, we get a couple ads a day, for a week or two, but thats it. All our Apple ads, for a whole year!
We also have no Apple Stores, those damn attractive, ultra profitable stores, damn them! *shakes fist*
I would personally assume the iPhone 4 is far better than the EVO, but I have actually used neither. Whats the EVO got? Faster network...actual tethering (although the iPhone can be tethered in basically every OTHER country apart from yours....)....what else?
The iPhone 4 will be about the same price (I buy unlocked and run on prepaid plans normally), is slimmer, I think it will have better build quality (my opinion) and definitely a better rear camera, from what we've seen. Maybe if you get your socks off over bandwidth speeds or have the absolute largest screen (with a lower resolution)...
But really, if I choose the iPhone 4, and you choose the EVO, great! Its not like we have to engage in fisticuffs with each other! We share the same biology maaaaan:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rk78eCIx4E
Listen, I know its all cool to hate "the establishment" and all, but judge tech on its own merits, not how your peers feel. I've never seen an ad for an iPad, or my iPhone on my TV, or a bus. I pick the devices I like.
Really, dont you want NICE looking, and NICE to use products? Have you tried say, a Windows Tablet? They are NEITHER. "five times" as thick, and buggy, unoptimised...
For the average person, why get excited about plugging in SD cards? That then require your slick looking device having a permanent gash...
I think its a simple fact, given the choice, people would rather have NICE to use devices, that look NICE, than additional features that, in my opinion, we will never use!
Hey, I hardly think every other person in the world cares what I think, then again...the market is responding. iPads sold, 2 million plus, a MILLION a month....compare that to Kindles (not even on sale in NZ), Zune HD's (not even on sale in NZ), HP Slate (not on sale ANYWHERE), Microsoft Courier (not on sale ANYWHERE)....
What is glaringly apparent on all of these tablets — and absent on the iPad — are the multitude of connectivity options built into them, like USB ports, flash card readers, and video output ports.
Christ, whats wrong with these people? Make it *NICE TO USE*, and THEN worry about slowly trickling out new features!
Are you really going to take X over Y because it has an IR transmitter? Maybe the Slashdot audience, but certainly not the majority of consumers, you know those people whos money is just as worthy as the tech elite?
Make it nice! Make it lovely, a pleasure to use! I actually imported an iPad, without even seeing one in the metal, and ended up paying EXTRA. And yet, I am wildly happy with my iPad, cannot imagine living without it. Would I want "Tablet Y" even if it were cheaper and had a Serial port? NO! Because every other tablet SUCKS!
I actually fear for the other manufacturers, who have clung to Android. I think its bad to build Google into this all important Super-Company in every market. It means we get locked down into Android...or nothing...because theres no third option.
I hope HP does well with WebOS, the big thing with getting ANY portable computer essential is that its NICE to use! Not some hacked together lump of plastic and ports.
A man with a Netbook came into my work today, he was measuring furniture and entering it onto the HP Netbook. He was pushing a pram, AND holding this open screened Netbook down each aisle, incredibly awkward looking! I couldnt help but imagine how much better using my iPad would be for the task. I could easily hold my iPad in one hand, and tap-type with the other, instead of walking about with this big (it looked huge and flimsy) Netbook with a crappy screen. For each entry, he had to place it on something, and crouch over to type a few numbers into the spreadsheet. I'm sure I can type many times faster on a physical keyboard than my iPads software keyboard, but not in that scenario! How fast are you when crouched over, pecking out keys in a public space? Holding with one hand, tap typing with the other, I would be much more efficient using my iPad in this situation. Of course, a smartphone would have been better yet.
For the love of god Hardware Companies, make NICE products, dont just worry about what never to be used port you can slap on the ugly sides!
What an appropriate Slashdot quote "The truth of a thing is the feel of it, not the think of it. -- Stanley Kubrick"
Let me speak on this subject. I am currently receiving 10GB a month of broadband (ADSL2+) internet access, I hope to raise it to 20GB for a whole $10NZD more soon.
Bandwidth zooms by so fast, you just wouldnt believe. 10GB is *NOTHING*...I listen to podcasts while I work, and I mean AUDIO podcasts, MP3 files, probably 64kbps is average. Many of my two hour long shows can be EASILY 80MB+...lets round to 100, shall we? So, even at just one "100MB" podcast a day, a couple hours of audio at a decent quality (not that you get a choice to scale down!), you would have 10 days worth of audio to reach 1GB, right? Well, factor in internet browsing, which, being honest, is bugger all, but YouTube video...wow, hundreds of MB can rack up fast.
And DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE DAILY SHOW! I swear, the videos from The Daily Show much be massive...I check my usage as I go on my Mac using Activity Monitor, the Network section shows what you have uploaded and downloaded. (Countries with internet caps allow you to check on the ISP website). I can watch a few clips of The Daily Show, and check Activity Monitor....and half a GB has vanished!
By myself I effectively chomp through 10GB in a couple of weeks, and thats RESTRAINING myself. I'm not using Bit Torrent (for linux distros of course...just like everyone else...), nor am I actually watching Video in any concerted effort.
Honestly, take it from someone living under the tyrannical rule of Internet Caps! Fight for your freedom to actually *USE* the internet circa 2010! The caps SEEM to get smaller all the time, perhaps every few years your ISP will announce "oh look, we've doubled all the caps!"....meanwhile, Internet Video has blossomed, I remember being on THREE GB a month...and that was tight, as soon as I got 10GB a month....I somehow expanded to fill that allocation...
I honestly shudder to imagine what it would take to replace televisions. For example, I download.flv news clips from my national news shows.... and a few minute news story can easily be 20-60MB. Choosing to watch the freaking "nightly news" on my computer has real consequences, if I just watched on my TV, for a couple hours a night in the background, I'd be "saving"....half a GB a night?
Do everything you can to avoid caps! The internet should be "all you can eat", WITHIN REASON, IE not for chronic illegal downloading of movies, music etc.
Slashdot Mirror
I know about 10 to 12 people that own Android phones. Of these, only one actually wanted a droid and hates the iPhone, he also happens to love /.
I think its similar to Windows users, they may go on and on about how great it is to build their own computers (and yet buy Dell's), while their main complain about Macs is "the cost". I can ABSOLUTELY respect people who choose to buy an Android device, for a larger (or smaller) screen, keyboard etc. But in general, the few overseas friends I know with Android devices, because Android is practically nonexistant outside of the USA (for now), they lust after an iPhone.
It sounds like the USA really needs to stick with standard GSM, so you could use ANY phone on ANY network you choose, just like in the rest of the world. Our iPhones here in NZ are sold unlocked, just like in the UK etc. The EU even has laws about unlocked phones. I could put any simcard in my iPhone, from any our NZ networks.
I think its about being happy with whatever you have though. I truly respect people whose choices are different than mine, I dont hate people who buy a different brand of car to me, why would we get so worked up about a phone?
vegetarian-starved thin fingers
When I see comments like that, I immediately presume the poster looks something like this
I'm 1.95M tall, I cycle 66KM a day, lift weights, have "sausage fingers", and I'm Vegan.
Name one. The iPhone 4's 5 Megapixel camera has a better quality sensor and focus mechanism for macro shots than the 8 Megapixel Android phones. The iPhone's new display has the highest pixel density of any phone out on the market.
There is no "disagree" mod on Slashdot, Troll is not a substitute. And yet, others who mention "A real keyboard", name call "iDandys", and mention phones they are personally interested in get rated, so far, 2 Informative!
"trolling" or "fanboisim" goes both ways, there are those who HATE Apple products too, I would argue these people are far more numerous these days. How long has it been since we got constant snarky comments from Mac users here? "oh, I wouldnt touch Vista, I have a Mac you see..."? I would argue there are now far more "Android trolls" attacking the iPhone than "Apple trolls" bashing Android devices.
I mentioned on my casual Tech show that while I love the iPhone, and think the iPhone 4 is amazing, (apart from those horrific reception issues?), Android devices CAN, HAVE and WILL rapidly outpace any iPhone hardware wise. Does it matter? Perhaps not, afterall, the biggest competition for the Original iPhone would probably be the Nokia N95, it was always far ahead spec wise, no question, yet look at Nokia and their "smartphones" now...
Ah, but see, what SHOULD have happened is that US carriers should have STUCK with GSM...
Up until now, all iPhone complaints seemed to be "ITS ONLY ON AT&T!!!!111!!!!!", including reviews for international readers. Here in New Zealand, I can easily use our iPhones, sold unlocked by Vodafone, on THREE carriers. Overseas, the iPhone is sold EXPLICITLY to be used on any network you choose,
"Buy your iPhone from Apple SIM-free."
"It works with the carrier of your choice.
Buy your iPhone from the Apple Online Store and choose your own GSM carrier. You can change carriers at any time."
"It works internationally.
Because this iPhone is SIM-free, you can purchase a micro-SIM or SIM card and service from a local carrier at your destination. Or check with your home carrier regarding international roaming charges."
From the UK iPhone page http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone
Its practically ORDERING me to beg my UK friends to send me an iPhone 4...
Yes, the entire world knows the tragedy of the AT&T network, and it seems OBVIOUS that the iPhone deserves to be sold on more than one carrier in the USA, just like pretty much every other country in the world.
But please, can we actually WAIT until this happens, instead of whispering overheard rumours?
"that part of the world" is New Zealand, and you are referring to Moko http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C4%81_moko , which are personal, I would assume fairly unique, not just "male" and "female"
So, while we debate the necessity of Maori cultural tattoos being protected by societal law (they here in NZ http://www.hrc.co.nz/home/hrc/enquiriescomplaints/faqs/mokoyourrights.php), you label someone you disagree with as basically being an idiot, and the worst insult in all of America, worse than shitting on your nations flag, or cheating on your wife, a *gasp* "liberal". Ouch!
Surely your precious constitution says something about petty insults towards those you disagree with?
Rather than repeat my above comment, the VAST majority of Maori DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT have cultural tattoos. The practise of Moko had severely waned until recently. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C4%81_moko
if you're religion does (say, your Maori, which is more a cultural phenomena)
A New Zealander to the rescue: "Traditional Mori moko is an expression of and celebration of Maori culture and identity. A person of Maori descent may not be denied employment, entry to premises, or declined service because they wear moko visibly."
http://www.hrc.co.nz/home/hrc/enquiriescomplaints/faqs/mokoyourrights.php
You were saying? Theres more than one country in the world, and laws regarding tattoos vary. I myself DETEST tattoos, but on this case, and in my country, they are permitted. Also, culturally, I would guess VERY FEW Maori have cultural tattoos, do you think all Chinese people have "Chinese Characters" tattooed on their skin? Along with many New Zealanders, I hate the misappropriation of our culture, having a tattoo from my society does NOT make you cool, especially when you continually say "nooo ZEE-land-DER"
As a New Zealander, I was most pleasantly surprised to see you mention Maori on Slashdot! +1 Internet point for you :)
So Australia has her first female PM, *slow clap*
:)
What took you so long Australia? Where the blood hell WERE ya?
1997 is calling!
Also, our prior PM was also female (I think) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Clark
I suppose we need to make a big deal out of this stuff, and it IS somewhat inspirational if a minority (in terms of a "Black President") achieves a high post....but at the same time, it feels stupid. Whoever said that women COULD NOT be Prime Minister/President? I'm sure there are MANY countries worldwide with female leaders before NZ too. Thatcher comes to mind.
Anyway, congratulations on catching up to NZ
Where I live now, we have little gun crime. But we're right next to a city with moderately severe gun laws.
And what does "moderately severe" mean to you? You say "severe" as if its some dreadful term! What you might call "moderately severe", I might deem as "not strict enough".
Again, I live in a country where there are essentially NO guns, I never have to worry about what other people might do to me. I am 1.95 metres tall, I am very muscular, I can defend myself in the exceedingly rare situation that I were attacked. I do not want a gun pointed at me. Anyone can feel "powerful" with a gun in their hands.
Countries where gun ownership is "low" are "gentler", are "safer" and are "less violent". In New Zealand, even the police generally DO NOT have guns. We do get "moral panic" about "the police need guns!" in the media every now and then, but the majority of my country would be against armed police officers.
Here is one such story, an undercover police officer shot to death by an AIR RIFLE: http://www.3news.co.nz/Firearm-laws-need-updating---Police-Assn-gun-sellers/tabid/423/articleID/160821/Default.aspx
The police are now trying to have greater restrictions on more powerful modern air rifles. What would you suggest, have every other citizen armed? Have the police toting assault rifles? I know of friends who visited Italy, and noticed police officers standing about with guns...they were *SHOCKED*.
I dont believe a gun "wants" to kill people, I dont believe a gun is "inherently evil". I do find the idea of "normal" people having guns awful, if your problem is too many guns already, adding more will accomplish nothing.
The problem with guns in the USA is GUNS. You want to solve the problem by having...MORE guns?
If guns made cities, states, countries, continents safer, then the Americas would be the safest place to live in the world.
When everyone has a gun, then every criminal will *also* be armed.
By New Zealand standards, I live in a rough neighbourhood. Sometimes, when I walk past people on the street, they dont say "hello" to me! If guns made you safe as an American, your country wouldn't be so rife with violent shootings, perhaps each citizen wouldn't be scared shitless of their neighbours, that is unless they had an M60 in their hands.
More than anything, I think issues with crime are an "attitude" thing. But don't take a random strangers opinion on this issue seriously, just look at the statistics.
Its difficult to say until it happens, in which time I'd hope we have enough "alternative" sources to shore up any deficit!
:) )
By all means, I'm sure we NEED big developments in energy, but I think its near impossible to defend "right, everything is useless, we need FUSION! Lets spend every cent we have on ONE vision of pulling it off! Forget about everything else!".
ITER and other experiments are tremendously exciting, but surely we should work on plans B through Z? (and thats a "ZED", right fellow patriot?
Hi RAMMS+EIN,
:)
I'm glad you were so civil towards me, thank you. I normally hate posting online!
I think its fair to call something a "pipe dream" if it has been long imagined, and never achieved, with no real PROMISE that anything will eventuate in any given time span.
I'm 22 and not an educated person, I'd like to learn much more about this from those who are actually in a related field.
If there are truly NO examples of a Fusion experiment meaningfully producing a net GAIN in energy, NOT a loss!, then...surely its a "pipe dream" until it works? We cant just order a few "10 billion dollar" Fusion reactors right now
My country has substantial hydro power, geothermal power and now wind power. This is all real! I could say to you now that this very computer I'm using is running on any of the above. The same cannot be said of Nuclear Fusion.
Some people like to dismiss "renewable energy" as "not enough" or "not available right now", well, we may not have the iPad yet (!) but New Zealand DOES have "renewable" or "alternative" energy, RIGHT NOW.
About scaremongering, I try and avoid it myself about any issue, but cmon, to just deny all the problems and stigma against Nuclear Power in general is...hard to avoid. I hear people against wind power because "the blades kill birds"...I love birds, I am vegan, I love essentially all animals, but I dont think you can compare the danger of "turbines killing birds who fly into them" with "the danger of Nuclear Power"...they are not on the same level!
The world is not going to end if someone falls into a Hydro Power intake, or if a helicopter crashes into a Turbine. Nuclear Power has almost INFINITELY greater risks, even if you are a non nuclear country such as my own. Again, I could give examples, but I think we all are aware, and I dont want to scaremonger.
About stockpiling, I mentioned Sellafield http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellafield , and how the "best" idea right now is to vitrify waste, to seal it in glass, and then what, stack this away in caves underground? Thats a best case scenario, to just "sweep it all under the rug", so to speak.
I agree with you basically whatever we do has an impact on the world. I'm sure solar cells and wind turbines have "pollution" involved in their making. Such is life.
Talking about "research" into Nuclear Power problems is very far from a concrete reality. I have an older friend who has made his own wind turbines out of old electric motors, I believe he charges up car batteries and powers a radio and lighting this way. These "alternative" energy sources are not some drug related fantasy, they are real, right here, right now.
I have always been interested in Nuclear Power, and the uses of Nuclear science even in a "non nuclear" country. I am interested in Nuclear Experiments, and I think such science is fascinating. I have some signs from an old hospital here, showing the "Nuclear Medicine" ward. I mention smoke detectors containing Americium http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americium .
I am in NO way "anti Nuclear", I've always called myself PRO Nuclear Power, but things such as Nuclear Fusion, claiming we NEED to have it, that its realistic, or that its the only option, are, to me currently, pipe dreams.
Thank you for your mature comment.
a great comment, wish I had modpoints :)
I thought I'd chime in.
Many countries worldwide are doing just fine without Nuclear Power. Check out New Zealand for one, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_New_Zealand
I am not an "environmentalist", I soundly believe that we shouldnt be polluting this, or any other planet if we have a choice, I dont think that makes me "radical"? I am an ethical Vegan, but have always been interested in Nuclear power.
Many of these future Nuclear projects have very different outcomes. I am not qualified to talk about these issues, I would love to hear from those who are. Like Genetic Engineering, I am interested in the THEORY, but the PRACTISE is very different...and very dangerous... just think of all the past nuclear leaks, radiation, the pollution, the stockpiling of waste...
Recently I heard about Sellafield in England http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellafield
Very scary stuff, it sounds like the people living around this facility are shit scared, and so I can understand "NIMBY", Not In My BackYard complaints for future sites. In particular, the talk of plant leaks, and "In 2007 an inquiry was launched into the removal of tissue from a total of 65 deceased nuclear workers, some of whom worked at Sellafield.[41] It has been alleged that the tissue was removed without seeking permission from the relatives of the late workers."
I have a friend from Ukraine, and I think we all know what happened there...such scaremongering is hard to avoid on the issue of Nuclear Power.
Think of me, a person living in a small country of four million, doing just fine WITHOUT Nuclear power options, what would you do to convince the average NZer that Nuclear Fission is NECESSARY? I think its best not to buy into the pipe dream of Nuclear Fusion until its actually practical, right now, its no different than the "Arc reactor" from Ironman, or Fusion experiments by Doctor Octopus from Spiderman 2! Just because its in movies, and popular Sci Fi, does NOT mean it will be powering my iMac anytime soon!
I'm very interested in learning from people who are *ACTUALLY* educated on this topic. Would anyone here like to explain the best course for future progress? IE, what is to be done with all the sealed Nuclear Waste currently piling up, how realistic is Nuclear Fusion, especially in our lifetimes (I'm 22), and what about Renewable energy sources?
Thank you for your time.
I feel like I'm bashing this poor anonymous New Zealander :)
:)
He was absolutely using ONE hand to type, bend over in a most excruciating fashion.
Enough about this random guy
hehe.
:) Our store is...basically the dimensions of a "Football" (as in the international Football) field.
:) God bless my little Messagepads :)
This man was definitely having to pick his Netbook up, and put it down every few metres to tap out "1.5M $500" etc. Very uncomfortable.
What "Ugly Port" would you use? Ethernet? USB? Firewire? Why not Bluetooth or Wifi? Or a 3G connection? You know, like those sleek and practical iPads. Much better than dragging a USB cable throughout every store you visit
Frankly, using pen and paper would STILL have been easier. Unless he had a Newton
Oh, are you in New Zealand? Where are you seeing all these ads? C4? TV3? The New Zealand Herald? Or The Listener?
Hell, bring on the Apple ads I say, better than the BS from Telecom, apologising for XT.
Ugh.
:) Hey, I am using most of my 64GB iPad, but if I had a 128GB iPad...I'd be using that...whatever space you have on device, it will practically NEVER be enough! So...you could...stream....to the device? Eh? Its a portable device you know! Its not meant to be connected to a massive RAID by a Fibre Channel :) You want a video? Stream it from YouTube! Or Hulu, or Netflix...or whatever you might use. I dont know your situation.
:) You have not sold me on the idea of a stack of SD cards in each pocket. I have 200 DVDs staring back at me right now, I ripped them to my computer, and I never intend to insert a single disc again, unless to, *gasp* rip it to my HDD. Why would I want to swap in my "games" SD Card, then my "photos" SD Card...? "oh, hold on, its on my other SD Card, oh, I must have forgotten that one in my other jeans pocket..." Smooth move there :)
:) My friends (in many different countries) have visited, and all mention how much they enjoy their local Apple Store. Ohhhhhh, they must be whiny "fanbois" like me, eh? Whatever I say, you're going to argue about, if Apple are too aggressive in getting "in your face", if they dont have enough wonderful Stores....
:)
:)
Last post from me, I'm sure you also have better things to do.
What size are the SD cards you are using? Oh wait, dont bother replying, better if we each end it here. 64 GB is quite a lot, especially for a removable storage card...its not like TB SD cards are a couple bucks each
Um, yes, normally when I give a file to someone else, I expect them to have a computer, or some way of using it
Oh yes, I'm sure you are very angry that there are NOT ENOUGH Apple Stores!
All I know is, when I visit a local "tech department store", it SUCKS compared to what it would be like at one of these Apple Stores I've heard so much about. I get "a long wait" here, where we have perhaps a couple iMacs and a MacBook on display, forget about a Mac Pro etc or service...
I actually like Android, and WebOS...I hope they ALL do well, I dont want to live in a monopoly! Oooooh, "Lord Jobs", yes, because I've dedicated my life to Steve Jobs, because I have an iPad, right? Yeah, meanwhile, what, you're in an open relationship with who, Eric Schmidt? Freaking Ballmer?
I probably read all the same websites as you do. I've never found myself wanting an Android App, perhaps Google Goggles, just to play about with, it might not work outside the US though? I'm not suffering from Apples "EVIL" plan to "tell me what Apps I can run"...
About the EVO...if you like it, great for you! I have no problem with what "Totenglocke", someone presumably on the other side of the world chooses to use in his or her life
The EVO cameras SUCK for quality though, who cares what resolution they claim to be. Based on the photos from the iPhone 4, it takes better footage too, and at a higher frame rate. Ohhhh, but there I go being a drooling fanboi, right? By judging from the end results, not memorising the manufacturers spec sheet!
We will soon see, hands on, which we each like better. Thats if the EVO is even sold in my country, as far as I know, it WONT. And, I'd have to import one without ever using it first. Should I take a 20+ hour (each leg) plane flight to the US just to try out Android phones?
FM tuner, boy, to listen to all those GREAT radio stations! Why would I ever want to listen to my own podcasts, or high quality music? Instead of, Leo Laporte, I can get my tech news from the local NZ "tech news guy"! "um, and theres this thing called Android, I think, and its not out here in New Zealand but..."
Many Nokias also TRANSMIT on FM, I dont know if the EVO does? If not, does that make a Nokia a better device? Hardly.
A kickstand is just hillarious to me, I imagine its like those fat people who use a mobility scoo
Hi, yes I know and understand about professional use of tablets in rugged environments, its a bit like NASA space rockets being specialist, I dont expect the average GM car to fly to mars :)
:) I would have used a smartphone, or a tablet computer if possible. His netbook use was very difficult looking, needing to put it down every few metres, and bend down to it etc.
:)
The man with the Netbook was just a regular guy, buying several sideboards, cabinets etc. There was no real reason for him to have the Netbook, he was essentially typing "cabinet A, 3 Metres, $500" into a spreadsheet. A couple years ago, we might have written on a 5 cent piece of paper, with a dollar pen
I have no doubts that specific jobs have used tablets before. But, around the home, at school, at university, they have not been the whopping success Bill Gates predicted
I think the iPad is a truly "magical" device, the first of its kind, of consumer media consumption "tablet".
I'll take something useful over something pretty anyday.
By chance, are you one of those people with a calculator watch? :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calculator_watch Oh yes! All that SEXY functionality! :)
:) Perhaps when the new iPhone is released, we get a couple ads a day, for a week or two, but thats it. All our Apple ads, for a whole year!
:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rk78eCIx4E
Oh, so you have a bandolier of SD cards strapped around you, and you change "mags" a dozen times a day with your phone/tablet device? Why not just get the storage space you require, INTERNALLY?
If you want a file, why not email or otherwise FTP it to where you want? Rather than carrying things about on little bits of plastic? Or...do it all..."on the cloud"!
Give me an example of an iPad competitor, thats in the market right now (pretty much worldwide too), that I could have bought instead of my iPad. Something thats as nice to use for media consumption, web browsing, games etc. I dont think theres anything really comparable. I hope the HP Slate will be the second in the same market.
In New Zealand, we essentially get ZERO Apple ads...if you hate Apple, move here
We also have no Apple Stores, those damn attractive, ultra profitable stores, damn them! *shakes fist*
I would personally assume the iPhone 4 is far better than the EVO, but I have actually used neither. Whats the EVO got? Faster network...actual tethering (although the iPhone can be tethered in basically every OTHER country apart from yours....)....what else?
The iPhone 4 will be about the same price (I buy unlocked and run on prepaid plans normally), is slimmer, I think it will have better build quality (my opinion) and definitely a better rear camera, from what we've seen. Maybe if you get your socks off over bandwidth speeds or have the absolute largest screen (with a lower resolution)...
But really, if I choose the iPhone 4, and you choose the EVO, great! Its not like we have to engage in fisticuffs with each other! We share the same biology maaaaan
Listen, I know its all cool to hate "the establishment" and all, but judge tech on its own merits, not how your peers feel. I've never seen an ad for an iPad, or my iPhone on my TV, or a bus. I pick the devices I like.
Have a great day (its 9PM Tuesday night here)
Oh no, you got me!
Really, dont you want NICE looking, and NICE to use products? Have you tried say, a Windows Tablet? They are NEITHER. "five times" as thick, and buggy, unoptimised...
For the average person, why get excited about plugging in SD cards? That then require your slick looking device having a permanent gash...
I think its a simple fact, given the choice, people would rather have NICE to use devices, that look NICE, than additional features that, in my opinion, we will never use!
Hey, I hardly think every other person in the world cares what I think, then again...the market is responding. iPads sold, 2 million plus, a MILLION a month....compare that to Kindles (not even on sale in NZ), Zune HD's (not even on sale in NZ), HP Slate (not on sale ANYWHERE), Microsoft Courier (not on sale ANYWHERE)....
What is glaringly apparent on all of these tablets — and absent on the iPad — are the multitude of connectivity options built into them, like USB ports, flash card readers, and video output ports.
Christ, whats wrong with these people? Make it *NICE TO USE*, and THEN worry about slowly trickling out new features!
Are you really going to take X over Y because it has an IR transmitter? Maybe the Slashdot audience, but certainly not the majority of consumers, you know those people whos money is just as worthy as the tech elite?
Make it nice! Make it lovely, a pleasure to use! I actually imported an iPad, without even seeing one in the metal, and ended up paying EXTRA. And yet, I am wildly happy with my iPad, cannot imagine living without it. Would I want "Tablet Y" even if it were cheaper and had a Serial port? NO! Because every other tablet SUCKS!
I actually fear for the other manufacturers, who have clung to Android. I think its bad to build Google into this all important Super-Company in every market. It means we get locked down into Android...or nothing...because theres no third option.
I hope HP does well with WebOS, the big thing with getting ANY portable computer essential is that its NICE to use! Not some hacked together lump of plastic and ports.
A man with a Netbook came into my work today, he was measuring furniture and entering it onto the HP Netbook. He was pushing a pram, AND holding this open screened Netbook down each aisle, incredibly awkward looking! I couldnt help but imagine how much better using my iPad would be for the task. I could easily hold my iPad in one hand, and tap-type with the other, instead of walking about with this big (it looked huge and flimsy) Netbook with a crappy screen. For each entry, he had to place it on something, and crouch over to type a few numbers into the spreadsheet. I'm sure I can type many times faster on a physical keyboard than my iPads software keyboard, but not in that scenario! How fast are you when crouched over, pecking out keys in a public space? Holding with one hand, tap typing with the other, I would be much more efficient using my iPad in this situation. Of course, a smartphone would have been better yet.
For the love of god Hardware Companies, make NICE products, dont just worry about what never to be used port you can slap on the ugly sides!
What an appropriate Slashdot quote "The truth of a thing is the feel of it, not the think of it. -- Stanley Kubrick"
Let me speak on this subject. I am currently receiving 10GB a month of broadband (ADSL2+) internet access, I hope to raise it to 20GB for a whole $10NZD more soon.
.flv news clips from my national news shows.... and a few minute news story can easily be 20-60MB. Choosing to watch the freaking "nightly news" on my computer has real consequences, if I just watched on my TV, for a couple hours a night in the background, I'd be "saving" ....half a GB a night?
Bandwidth zooms by so fast, you just wouldnt believe. 10GB is *NOTHING*...I listen to podcasts while I work, and I mean AUDIO podcasts, MP3 files, probably 64kbps is average. Many of my two hour long shows can be EASILY 80MB+...lets round to 100, shall we? So, even at just one "100MB" podcast a day, a couple hours of audio at a decent quality (not that you get a choice to scale down!), you would have 10 days worth of audio to reach 1GB, right? Well, factor in internet browsing, which, being honest, is bugger all, but YouTube video...wow, hundreds of MB can rack up fast.
And DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE DAILY SHOW! I swear, the videos from The Daily Show much be massive...I check my usage as I go on my Mac using Activity Monitor, the Network section shows what you have uploaded and downloaded. (Countries with internet caps allow you to check on the ISP website). I can watch a few clips of The Daily Show, and check Activity Monitor....and half a GB has vanished!
By myself I effectively chomp through 10GB in a couple of weeks, and thats RESTRAINING myself. I'm not using Bit Torrent (for linux distros of course...just like everyone else...), nor am I actually watching Video in any concerted effort.
Honestly, take it from someone living under the tyrannical rule of Internet Caps! Fight for your freedom to actually *USE* the internet circa 2010! The caps SEEM to get smaller all the time, perhaps every few years your ISP will announce "oh look, we've doubled all the caps!"....meanwhile, Internet Video has blossomed, I remember being on THREE GB a month...and that was tight, as soon as I got 10GB a month....I somehow expanded to fill that allocation...
I honestly shudder to imagine what it would take to replace televisions. For example, I download
Do everything you can to avoid caps! The internet should be "all you can eat", WITHIN REASON, IE not for chronic illegal downloading of movies, music etc.