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Free Talk Live => General => Topic started by: blackie on July 24, 2009, 01:15:55 PM

Title: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on July 24, 2009, 01:15:55 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone
Quote
A smartphone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality (PC-mobile handset convergence). There is no industry standard definition of a smartphone.[1][2] For some, a smartphone is a phone that runs complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers.[3] For others, a smartphone is simply a phone with advanced features like e-mail, Internet and e-book reader capabilities, and/or a built-in full keyboard or external USB keyboard and VGA connector. In other words, it is a miniature computer that has phone capability.[4][5]

What's good, what's bad...and why?
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: BonerJoe on July 24, 2009, 03:24:16 PM
The only thing I don't like about my Treo 700wx is that it can't render most webpages for shit.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Diogenes The Cynic on July 24, 2009, 03:56:14 PM
I have an E71 from Nokia. The internet is good in a pinch but any serious browsing makes it collapse. It can handle email, but cant load Free Talk Live.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Russell Griswold on July 24, 2009, 07:09:01 PM
BlackBerries are really cheaply made. This shit looks like it was assembled with superglue.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Lindsey on July 24, 2009, 07:57:13 PM
They're interesting beasts.  Mr. Lindsey and I both have Blackberries, and we were having a conversation the other night about how they seem to be falling apart already.  I've had mine about a year, and he's had his a little less. 

The only thing I don't like about mine is that I have AT&T, and the speeds are a little slow on it since I'm not on 3G or WiFi.  I use Opera's mobile browser if I want something more than a basic HTML layout when surfing the tubez.  It seems to work pretty well. 

I never thought I'd need a "smartphone", but now that I have one I can't imagine being without it.  I can pretty much keep myself entertained anywhere with it by surfing the web, messaging friends, or even listening to music on it - so if I'm waiting in my doctor's office, at the airport, bored at work, etc. I've got something to do. 
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on July 24, 2009, 10:55:41 PM
It's weird that RIM stuff isn't well made.

I wouldn't want to use it as for a phone very much, that is why being able to do other stuff with it is important to me.

I'm still not sure how I feel touch screen or how important a keyboard is.



Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Lindsey on July 24, 2009, 11:09:10 PM
It's weird that RIM stuff isn't well made.

I wouldn't want to use it as for a phone very much, that is why being able to do other stuff with it is important to me.

I'm still not sure how I feel touch screen or how important a keyboard is.





I have the Blackberry Curve, with the full QWERTY keyboard, and trust me...it's nice.  Mr. Lindsey has the Blackberry Pearl, and it's got two or three letters to a key - I don't even know.  And it's a bitch to use.  Especially since you say you want to use it for other things, rather than primarily phone use.  I hate the phone too, so I can identify with you there. 

Mainly the issues with mine are not the fault of the phone.  I've been rougher with this one than I think I have with other phones in the past, and I have definitely learned from my errors in judgement.  I have a belt clip-type holster on mine, and there's an almost rubberized strip of material at the top of the phone where the holster clips in...and the holster has peeled a bunch of it off.  And then in my nervous fidgeting while I'm bored, I peeled more off.  My screen also has some pretty deep scratches in it, but that's because I accidentally set it in front of the cash drawer at work and when I had cash sales it would get knocked to the ground with some good force. 

Basically, with my next one, and the advice I would give anyone else - is to get a screen protector for it, and buy a better holster type thing if you're going to use one.  I like it because I can clip it to my purse, or clip it to my belt when I'm walking around and listening to music or talking on it.  The holster I got was a gift (I picked it out though) and was pretty cheap on Amazon.  My friend got it for me for Christmas as a stocking stuffer.  If you're not a clip person, those rubberized "skins" you see people use for their Blackberry phones and iPhones...use them.  They work. 

As far as things that may be RIM's issue and not mine - the part around the screen seems to be showing signs of being glued to the whole...panel, for lack of a better term.  Either that or the plastic underneath is a different color and the finish is just rubbing off from use.  Also, my phone freezes A LOT.  As in, a few times a week - for no good reason.  It's very pesky. 
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: BonerJoe on July 24, 2009, 11:15:30 PM
It's weird that RIM stuff isn't well made.

Make it cheaper, the government has to buy more of them.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on July 24, 2009, 11:18:48 PM

I think Palm Pre is probably the way to go.

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Lothar on July 25, 2009, 11:03:23 PM
The newest iPhone, the 3GS, is very nice.  I have the 3G, & all complaints, except one (AT&T) were addressed with the latest system update.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Diogenes The Cynic on July 26, 2009, 07:12:28 PM
It's weird that RIM stuff isn't well made.

I wouldn't want to use it as for a phone very much, that is why being able to do other stuff with it is important to me.

I'm still not sure how I feel touch screen or how important a keyboard is.





Having recently made the switch over to a full qwerty keyboard, I have to say its totally worth it.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Low-Eight on July 26, 2009, 09:49:11 PM
I've got the BB storm, and it's very well built, but the early software was buggy.   as soon as you get one, update the software, it's totally worth it
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Frost on July 26, 2009, 10:26:45 PM
I have a Nokia N85. Tons of features and a really nice camera. Seems like people think its cheaply made in the reviews but it seems fine to me. Only complaint I have is that it cant handle recording video at the highest quality properly. It freezes for about a second every 5 seconds or so.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Frost on July 26, 2009, 10:30:37 PM
Pretty good for a camera phone.
(http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3626/spiderakb.jpg)
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: JohnnyRebel on July 27, 2009, 12:35:02 AM
I have a Blackjack... nothing outstanding about it but I do like the keyboard.  Nothing really "smart" about it.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Russell Griswold on July 27, 2009, 12:52:29 AM
Pretty good for a camera phone.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3626/spiderakb.jpg
Frost, that is an awesome shot!  :o
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Lindsey on July 27, 2009, 08:23:08 AM
Pretty good for a camera phone.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3626/spiderakb.jpg
Frost, that is an awesome shot!  :o

By awesome he means nightmare-inducing. 
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: EternityAblaze on July 27, 2009, 08:55:45 AM
Posting model numbers is pointless, unless you really know your shit or you look it up.

I use the Samsung Behold.

(http://media.obsessable.com/media/2008/12/03/300/samsung-behold-espresso.jpg)

The biggest problem I have with my smart phone is with the touchscreen keyboard in text messaging.  I spend way too much time deleting and correcting my messages due to crappy T9 texting and tiny tiny buttons.  This phone would have been way better if it came with a stylus.

Another feature I wish this phone had that it does not is personalized text message ring tones for each contact.  You can change the text message ring tone, but its one size fits all.  :(

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Laetitia on July 27, 2009, 11:24:06 AM
Pretty good for a camera phone.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3626/spiderakb.jpg
Frost, that is an awesome shot!  :o

I agree. Is it a rare shot (quality, not subject), or do you consistently get higher quality images?
I have taken a few really great photos with my iPhone3G, but it's a bit hit or miss. The photos are always adequate, usually good, and occasionally great.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Frost on July 27, 2009, 09:20:33 PM
I agree. Is it a rare shot (quality, not subject), or do you consistently get higher quality images?
I have taken a few really great photos with my iPhone3G, but it's a bit hit or miss. The photos are always adequate, usually good, and occasionally great.

Its typical, one of the selling points is the higher quality camera. It has a 5 megapixel camera and Carl Zeiss optics. I dont know who Carl Zeiss is but he seems to have some good cell phone optics.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on July 27, 2009, 09:52:51 PM
The biggest problem I have with my smart phone is with the touchscreen keyboard in text messaging.  I spend way too much time deleting and correcting my messages due to crappy T9 texting and tiny tiny buttons.  This phone would have been way better if it came with a stylus.
Touch screens can be really different. Can you use a stylus with your phone?

http://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/iPhone_Touch_Screen_Different_Than_Competition/
Quote
While about 38 million phones shipped in 2006 with some kind of touch screen feature, most use resistive technology. This technology has two layers of glass or plastic which can compress and locate the finger or stylus position on a thin metallic, resitive surface.

The iPhone uses the more advanced projected capacitive technology, and those don’t need actual contact. Capacitive sensors behind the glass sense when the electrical field is disturbed. They can detect the finger from as far as 2 mm away. This allows for a more intuitive feel as the finger can glide across the surface. Since there’s no resistive film, this kind of display can also be brighter.

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: hellbilly on July 27, 2009, 10:35:33 PM
I have the iPhone 3G. Handy to take care of business stuff when I'm away. The phone itself is a neat gadget, but the data plan is a bit steep.

Good stuff-
My kids love the games you can download.
Good to keep the kids quiet and occupied  at the doc's office.
Good as a bargaining chip when the kids are rowdy at the doc's office.

Complaints-
I'm all thumbs on scrolling through web pages, always end up clicking an advert or some small link.
Camera is kinda shitty.
10mb dl limit.. c'mon.

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on July 27, 2009, 11:13:54 PM
I agree. Is it a rare shot (quality, not subject), or do you consistently get higher quality images?
I have taken a few really great photos with my iPhone3G, but it's a bit hit or miss. The photos are always adequate, usually good, and occasionally great.

Its typical, one of the selling points is the higher quality camera. It has a 5 megapixel camera and Carl Zeiss optics. I dont know who Carl Zeiss is but he seems to have some good cell phone optics.

Like Hasselhoff, he's been dead for a hundred years and is very popular among the Germans.

--

Zeiss was a German lens crafter, revolutionized a bunch of shit.  One of the patriarchs of modern lens craft, the business still bears his name and is known for top notch stuff.  Thats why his name is splattered all over anything with a lens, doesn't necessarily mean the rest of the item is quality, but its a good selling point. 



Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Lindsey on July 27, 2009, 11:49:09 PM
Posting model numbers is pointless, unless you really know your shit or you look it up.

I use the Samsung Behold.

(http://media.obsessable.com/media/2008/12/03/300/samsung-behold-espresso.jpg)

The biggest problem I have with my smart phone is with the touchscreen keyboard in text messaging.  I spend way too much time deleting and correcting my messages due to crappy T9 texting and tiny tiny buttons.  This phone would have been way better if it came with a stylus.

Another feature I wish this phone had that it does not is personalized text message ring tones for each contact.  You can change the text message ring tone, but its one size fits all.  :(



http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Retractable-Stylus-Removable-Instinct/dp/B001LPMZ6A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248752828&sr=8-1

BAM.  Under $20.

Or if you're a real cheapskate...

http://www.amazon.com/elago-Retractable-Removable-Touchscreen-wireless/dp/B0028YFQ5U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1248752828&sr=8-2
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: EternityAblaze on July 27, 2009, 11:57:12 PM
I know you can buy one, but i go even cheaper.  The screen isn't heat sensitive, its pressure sensitive.  So i just use pens and pencils or whatever is sharp and pointy.

If it had come with a stylus though, I'd like to be able to insert it in to the phone like the nintendo ds's stylus, so I wouldn't lose it.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Lindsey on July 28, 2009, 12:05:07 AM
You can attach it to the phone somehow!  It says so!
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on November 06, 2009, 01:47:08 PM
The Motorola Droid has been released.

http://phones.verizonwireless.com/motorola/droid/
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Diogenes The Cynic on November 06, 2009, 02:09:54 PM
T9 is garbage if you don't always text in English.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: hellbilly on November 06, 2009, 05:56:47 PM
Damn.. $40/month plus $1.99 per mb of web browsing, plus fees for texting, etc.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on November 06, 2009, 07:08:38 PM
Damn.. $40/month plus $1.99 per mb of web browsing, plus fees for texting, etc.
Yeah, you pretty much need to go with the $100/month plan.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: saitoh on November 06, 2009, 08:29:02 PM
It depends on what you want in a phone, and the foyrm factor you like.

http://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3

Fill out the things you want in a phone and it'll bring everthing up.

I'd recomment a Symbian S60 based phone, as that, having tried them all, is the best mobile OS IMO. Also, the new Nokia phones which are S60 based have amazing hardware and are relatively cheap. I've got a Noke E52, and it runs circles around any blackberry/iphone/winMo phone. Also it's got the most software available. I have bittorrent, youtube, gps and anything you can think of.

The only reason to get a blackberry would be for their chatting service, but I think that just locks you into using them for life when you can get the same IM capabilities for free through google/aim/msn on other phones. So it's pretty stupid, but a lot of people are idiots and have bought into it, making their userbase pretty large.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: mikehz on November 06, 2009, 10:58:40 PM
I'd love to get an Iphone, but don't want to shell out $30/month on a data plan. For that reason, I've got an ipod touch that does everything the iphone does, except make calls. So long as I've got a Wi-Fi connection, I'm good. I have just a cheapie phone for actual calls, which I hardly ever use. But, the touch is great for web-surfing, and has something like 50,000 apps (though half of them seem to be for fake farts).
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Lindsey on November 07, 2009, 12:25:38 AM
I'd love to get an Iphone, but don't want to shell out $30/month on a data plan. For that reason, I've got an ipod touch that does everything the iphone does, except make calls. So long as I've got a Wi-Fi connection, I'm good. I have just a cheapie phone for actual calls, which I hardly ever use. But, the touch is great for web-surfing, and has something like 50,000 apps (though half of them seem to be for fake farts).

I really like the iPod touch, but I'm waiting until it holds more than 32MB to even bother.  That, and I keep talking myself out of spending the money. 
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on November 07, 2009, 12:59:14 AM
Fuck that shit.

When I feel that weird tingle of lust for a "thing" I ask myself if I will still be enamored in a year.  That usually puts things into a more reasonable view, then I can get down to brass tacks.  Quality, usability, replacement of said item.  (not even mentioning I hate Apple here)

I don't like a big smeary screen that hangs up when it touches my face.  Apps don't really matter to me much, most phones have apps now that I would find suitable.   

I'd have to shop it around, theres lots of cool shit out there - and the iDesign doesn't make me hard.  iTunes can go fuck itself.  Theres no love there, so the craze just astounds me.  If someone said "I got you a new killer phone!!" I'd be totally bummed if it turned out to be an iPhone.  Not even kidding, I wouldn't want that fucker for free. 

I can appreciate the touch thing, its cool flicking around in the screens.  I'd get bored with that in a few days. 
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: hellbilly on November 07, 2009, 02:20:38 AM
iPhones are gimmicky. I have a year to go on my plan and won't be renewing it.. then I can just use it like the iTouch (I guess).
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: BonerJoe on November 07, 2009, 02:27:06 AM
LOL, my face grease would make iPhone use an ass pain.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Karrde188 on November 07, 2009, 09:32:35 AM

I'm thinking of getting the new Samsung moment. Its basically Samsung's version on the new Droid phone by Motorola. Yes, both have Android, which is awesome IMO. Plus, it has a 800MHz processor.

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/10/26/samsung-moment-review/ (http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/10/26/samsung-moment-review/)

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: saitoh on November 11, 2009, 07:10:49 PM
The thing about looking at mobile processors is that numbers don't tel you anything.

Most smart phones that came out in the last 2 years use arm ARM 11 based phones.

The new chips by arm released this year by ARM are called the cortex series, and they are 2-3 x faster than an arm 11 chip, mhz for mhz.

The iphone 3gs has a cortex A8 processor.

After looking into the state of the industry now, it seems like arm will be releasing their cortex A9 chip right now to manufacturers, so products will be out by Feb I would say. The A9 is a 2ghz dual core chip that uses the same/less battery than the ARM 11. Thats like a nitro-rocket on your phone and very different than the low speed/cost processors ARM usually offers.

 Apparently apple wants it or it's new iphone, so if you wanna buy an iphone, hold out till they use this chip. Though I wouldn't recommend it.

Remember this is NOT an x86 based processor, it's a RISC based one, so windows won't work on it, but linux, android, symbian will.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on April 22, 2010, 02:41:06 AM
My contract is almost up.  I think I'm gonna get a HTC Droid Incredible on Verizon. 


[youtube=640,385]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tuRDAaG9quQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tuRDAaG9quQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/youtube]
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on April 30, 2010, 01:07:56 PM
I still haven't decided what to get.

I liked the Driod, but plans I looked at are expensive. I need to start looking around at plans again.


It looks like HP is trying to get into the business.  HP is going to acquire Palm.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/29/cnet.hp.palm/index.html?hpt=Sbin
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Cognitive Dissident on April 30, 2010, 01:15:09 PM
I still haven't decided what to get.

I liked the Driod, but plans I looked at are expensive. I need to start looking around at plans again.


It looks like HP is trying to get into the business.  HP is going to acquire Palm.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/29/cnet.hp.palm/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Then they should meet head on at the door, because it looks like Palm will be going OUT of business.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: mikehz on April 30, 2010, 04:14:12 PM
I dropped my Verizon, and now go with a Tracfone, plus an Ipod Touch. The phone, one of those pay-as-you-go plans, gets as good service as I ever got with Verizon, at a fraction of the cost. But then, I'm not on the phone all the time, like some people.

For web-surfing, the Touch does just fine, although it requires Wi-Fi. The advantage is not having to pay a ridiculous amount in data fees and air time.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on April 30, 2010, 04:44:19 PM
I dropped my Verizon, and now go with a Tracfone, plus an Ipod Touch. The phone, one of those pay-as-you-go plans, gets as good service as I ever got with Verizon, at a fraction of the cost. But then, I'm not on the phone all the time, like some people.

For web-surfing, the Touch does just fine, although it requires Wi-Fi. The advantage is not having to pay a ridiculous amount in data fees and air time.

Well, it all depends what you intend to do with it.  I'm happy with my Sprint plan, as far as phone calls go.  But I want mobile web browsing, fast processor, mp3 player, camera, GPS, PDA, mobile interface with my trading platform, data storage, and a few other things.  All in one.  I don't really care much about the phone calls very much.  These things aren't really phones any more.  Phone is just one of several things they do. 

A good camera is $200 - I already have one.  A good MP3 player is $100+, and I use one often.  A GPS is over $200, I would like one.  A good PDA is well over $200, I would like one.  Mobile internet, it all depends, but you need to be in a wi-fi hotspot - unless you're on a data plan.  So all the stuff separately is probably a thousand bucks, and have to carry around a mini laptop.  I'll take the smart phone.  Plus, recharging a Tracphone with payments sucks.  I did it for several years for my mom and I hated it. 

I still haven't decided what to get.

I liked the Driod, but plans I looked at are expensive. I need to start looking around at plans again.



You really can't find a bargain data plan.  I tried a little than I gave up.  You can get a bare-bones plan with a data limit for about $70 a month, I think.  Which is your basic $50 you'd pay for a cell (after all the add-on tax bullshit) plus $20 for the data.  Thats not really too bad.  Most carriers are in the same price range. 

I'm probably gonna merge everyone in my family into one big ultra-super-duper everything plan.  It'll probably come to about $200 a month.  Which is approximately what I pay for my kids plan, plus the Sprint plan I have for myself (which I added my mom onto last year so I can avoid that Tracphone horseshit).  So everything comes to about $200 anyway. 
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on April 30, 2010, 04:52:27 PM
I still haven't decided what to get.

I liked the Driod, but plans I looked at are expensive. I need to start looking around at plans again.


It looks like HP is trying to get into the business.  HP is going to acquire Palm.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/29/cnet.hp.palm/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Then they should meet head on at the door, because it looks like Palm will be going OUT of business.

HP is acquiring Palm for $1.2bn because they already have an existing mobile platform and all the necessary in-roads in development.  They're buying the browser, basically.  Palm is pretty well regarded in the tech aspect, they just made some shitty business decisions and suffered badly in the shadow of the iPhone, which isn't really all that buzzworthy anymore. 

I think HP would make a pretty decent phone or tablet, I like their products.   
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith) on April 30, 2010, 05:15:37 PM
I still haven't decided what to get.

I liked the Driod, but plans I looked at are expensive. I need to start looking around at plans again.


It looks like HP is trying to get into the business.  HP is going to acquire Palm.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/29/cnet.hp.palm/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Then they should meet head on at the door, because it looks like Palm will be going OUT of business.

HP is acquiring Palm for $1.2bn because they already have an existing mobile platform and all the necessary in-roads in development.  They're buying the browser, basically.  Palm is pretty well regarded in the tech aspect, they just made some shitty business decisions and suffered badly in the shadow of the iPhone, which isn't really all that buzzworthy anymore. 

I think HP would make a pretty decent phone or tablet, I like their products.   
I agree on all counts of that assessment.  My dad has been using Palm smart phones since they came out.  He didn't want to leave the Palm atmosphere until this month because it looks like Palm is behind the competitors due to bad business decisions.  He just got one of the Droid phones to replace his dated Treo.  I've always liked HP products too, so I'm sure they'll be able to turn Palm around and get them back on top.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on April 30, 2010, 05:53:56 PM
I still haven't decided what to get.

I liked the Driod, but plans I looked at are expensive. I need to start looking around at plans again.


It looks like HP is trying to get into the business.  HP is going to acquire Palm.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/29/cnet.hp.palm/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Then they should meet head on at the door, because it looks like Palm will be going OUT of business.

HP is acquiring Palm for $1.2bn because they already have an existing mobile platform and all the necessary in-roads in development.  They're buying the browser, basically.  Palm is pretty well regarded in the tech aspect, they just made some shitty business decisions and suffered badly in the shadow of the iPhone, which isn't really all that buzzworthy anymore. 

I think HP would make a pretty decent phone or tablet, I like their products.   
I agree on all counts of that assessment.  My dad has been using Palm smart phones since they came out.  He didn't want to leave the Palm atmosphere until this month because it looks like Palm is behind the competitors due to bad business decisions.  He just got one of the Droid phones to replace his dated Treo.  I've always liked HP products too, so I'm sure they'll be able to turn Palm around and get them back on top.

On the business end, their most recent flub was a underperform on sales of units.  They projected a certain number for the past quarter and came in way, way under it.  So their share price got totally crushed on an exodus and the shorts piled on.  This spills over into the public eye as a holy fuck! moment, and gives them a really bad rep, the typical citizen will take one look at the chart and assume everything is falling to shit internally.  But its not, the tech side is what it always was - a quality product.  The Droid is attracting customers, iPhone is doing well, etc etc.  That doesn't mean their product is junk, it just means right now people are fascinated by new products that (deservedly so) are gaining popularity. 

I've never heard anything bad about Palm.  Its just that they're not really cool, and the younger customers with disposable income who change phones often are ignoring them, because they're considered a boring product. 

But, yeah.  HP wants to enter the mobile device arena, and its probably a good way to do it.  Its a proven product, all the bugs are worked out.  You can skin it to look like anything.  So why not?  Its probably better than designing from scratch and then damaging their reputation by putting out a buggy product.  They could have shit on the shelves in six months if they want, and catch the wave of popularity by offering a full range of devices under the HP brand.  Slam dunk. 
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: ForumTroll on April 30, 2010, 06:45:14 PM
I pay $70 a month with unlimited data and 450 minutes with Sprint on my Samsung Moment Google phone.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on April 30, 2010, 07:04:22 PM
Thats a good deal. 

Hey, can you use any of these phones as a wireless hotspot, like your little Sprint doodad? 

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on April 30, 2010, 07:37:36 PM
Sometimes it's not wireless, and some plans charge more if you want to do that. Usually they call it tethering.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: ForumTroll on April 30, 2010, 07:51:10 PM
Hey, can you use any of these phones as a wireless hotspot, like your little Sprint doodad?

Yeah, but it's a pain in the ass to do:

http://blog.7touchgroup.com/tag/make-android-wifi-hotspot/

The last option only supports connection to your computer via Bluetooth or USB cable. So you can't share it with others, but you can use it on its own.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on April 30, 2010, 07:52:12 PM
BALLS!
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: error on April 30, 2010, 09:18:19 PM
After actually having used a Palm Pre, I can tell you that Palm really has gone downhill. I wouldn't subject anyone to one of those pieces of shit. Even the iPhail is better.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on April 30, 2010, 09:33:41 PM
After actually having used a Palm Pre, I can tell you that Palm really has gone downhill. I wouldn't subject anyone to one of those pieces of shit. Even the iPhail is better.

These guys disagree.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/03/palm-pre-review-part-3-data-speeds-backup-battery-bluetooth/
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on April 30, 2010, 10:14:22 PM
But, yeah.  HP wants to enter the mobile device arena, and its probably a good way to do it.  Its a proven product, all the bugs are worked out.  You can skin it to look like anything.  So why not?  Its probably better than designing from scratch and then damaging their reputation by putting out a buggy product.  They could have shit on the shelves in six months if they want, and catch the wave of popularity by offering a full range of devices under the HP brand.  Slam dunk. 

HP has been trying to get into the smartphone market for a while, but they have always used Microsoft software, and never done well. HP has had the iPaq line of crap since the Compaq acquisition. I wonder if they will use the Palm brand for a while. HP is still using the Compaq brand for some consumer products, and that acquisition happened in 2002. I think it is probably a good move for HP. They really should have products and market share in that space. And HP needs the OS for the tablet crap.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/28/hp-were-doubling-down-on-webos-palm-that-was-the-whole-po?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_engadget
Quote
We just spoke with both Brian Humphries, HP's Senior VP of Strategy and Corporate Development, and Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein, and came away with a pretty positive picture for the future of Palm. The money quote is that HP plans to be "doubling down on webOS," and that was confirmed in speaking with Palm's honcho, who says that "that was the whole point." Not only that, but we've confirmed on both ends that Jon will be staying on with the company, along with much of the existing Palm hierarchy. There are plenty of transition details to work out, but Jon says there will be lots of time for all that during regulatory and shareholder approval. The word is that Palm's existing hardware roadmap is basically untouched at this point by this acquisition, but the good news on the HP end of things is that the company sees webOS as a "prized asset," and they intend to "scale it across multiple connected devices." That sounds like tablets to us, and HP didn't beat back that assumption. On the Palm hardware end, Jon is very fond of saying "scale," referring to the money and manufacturing resources at HP's disposal, but he also says that he sees Palm working hand in hand with HP on devices. One point that both companies were less clear on was the Palm branding itself -- you know, whether Palm will stay Palm. Both Brian and Jon said those kinds of details would be worked out as the acquisition went forward, but offered no concrete comment on it otherwise.

Money-wise we asked if Jon thought HP could provide the sort of "ammunition" to beat Apple, Google, and Microsoft at their own mobile game, and Jon says "I don't think HP would do this unless they were willing to make the kind of investment necessary to win." HP calls webOS a "compelling operating system," but that Palm didn't have the money to compete and "scale it across multiple form factors," and that it's exactly HP's financial wherewithal, brand, and corporate culture that it brings to the table. HP and Palm won't comment specifically on the forthcoming device roadmap, but HP did confirm that it had tested the platform "to make sure it scales." They keep saying "scale," but all we're hearing is "tablet."
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Cognitive Dissident on April 30, 2010, 10:39:38 PM
I have a Treo 700.  It's crap.  It's the best I can do with Sprint, though.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: The Green Bastard on May 01, 2010, 09:58:48 AM
Thats a good deal.  

Hey, can you use any of these phones as a wireless hotspot, like your little Sprint doodad?  



This...

http://www.cradlepoint.com/products/ctr500-mobile-broadband-router

I am going to get one of these in the near future so I can play counterstrike while driving. It supports many brands of phones.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: ForumTroll on May 01, 2010, 11:55:41 AM
Thats a good deal. 

Hey, can you use any of these phones as a wireless hotspot, like your little Sprint doodad? 



This...

http://www.cradlepoint.com/products/ctr500-mobile-broadband-router

I am going to get one of these in the near future so I can play counterstrike while driving. It supports many brands of phones.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=products_mifi
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: The Green Bastard on May 01, 2010, 05:27:06 PM
Would you need a 2nd data plan with that verizon router?

I like the cradlepoint because I can just use my phone's data plan. Just picked up the CTR500 at best buy for $99 and am using it in the car right now to type this :)

These portable routers in combination with a flipcam or some other video camera that can save to a wifi SD card should be an activist's dream. Get a cheap hosting account on godaddy and set the SD card to save to your FTP site. Then connect the camera to the cradlepoint in your pocket and your videos will automatically save to the internets. No more worries about gang members stealing your cameras and deleting your video and porn.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: ForumTroll on May 01, 2010, 05:32:06 PM
How exactly are you able to use it with your phones plan?
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: The Green Bastard on May 01, 2010, 05:57:38 PM
How exactly are you able to use it with your phones plan?

The cradlepoint has a USB port I just plug my blackberry in to the usb port and, VOILA...  Open the laptop up, connect to the cradlepoints access point and it uses the phone as the WAN link

There was no configuration nessecary. Just took the cradlepoint out of the box, plugged in the phone, my laptop associated with the cradlepoints AP and I was off and running on the internet. No extra monthly fees or nothing, just 99 bucks for the router and I now have wireless internet wherever I go :)


Look on the "supported devices" tab on the CTR500 page. It has a list of compatable phones you can use via USB.

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: The Green Bastard on May 01, 2010, 06:51:14 PM
Here is a picture of my completely portable wireless hotspot. The entire setup can easily fit in to the side pockets of cargo pants, purse, backpack or small bag.

What you see in the picture will give you a 100% portable wireless access point. You just need a supported phone and data plan.

I am typing this while literally sitting in the middle of a corn field, 30 miles away from anything that resembles a town and I am pulling around 1Mbps down.

The cradlepoint ctr500 does not have an internal battery but I got around that by using a  (discontinued now but still available online) Black and Decker VPX Lithium Ion 110AC inverter. (wicked cool in it's own right)

The VPX  powers the cradlepoint, the blackberry provides internet access for the cradlepoint access point. That's really all there is to it. No special geek magic needed. Just buy the stuff, unbox it and plug it in as shown below and you can have your own high speed internet in the park, downtown, on the highway, wherever you have 3g coverage.

(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/3008/picture1ir.jpg)


The VPX inverter can be found on ebay and amazon for a few bucks.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-VPX3101-Li-Ion-Inverter/dp/B000UMJJAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1272753368&sr=8-1


The cradlepoint runs $99 at Best Buy
http://www.amazon.com/Cradlepoint-CRADLE-CTR500-Travel-Router-CTR-500/dp/B001963VPU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1272753402&sr=1-1


Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: error on May 01, 2010, 07:17:15 PM
Bah, who needs a Cradlepoint when you have a Droid?
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: ForumTroll on May 01, 2010, 07:23:49 PM
Oh, I thought it was easier than that. I need to use my phone and computer seperately, though. So that's why I still need my Mifi.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: The Green Bastard on May 01, 2010, 07:35:11 PM
Bah, who needs a Cradlepoint when you have a Droid?

Can the droid be used as an access point? If so, I'm dumping the crackberry :)
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: error on May 01, 2010, 09:30:51 PM
Bah, who needs a Cradlepoint when you have a Droid?

Can the droid be used as an access point? If so, I'm dumping the crackberry :)

Yes, after you root it. (Mine's been rooted from day one.)
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: The Green Bastard on May 01, 2010, 11:18:10 PM
Bah, who needs a Cradlepoint when you have a Droid?

Can the droid be used as an access point? If so, I'm dumping the crackberry :)

Yes, after you root it. (Mine's been rooted from day one.)

I'm in! Thanks for the info :)
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: error on May 02, 2010, 12:34:52 AM
Whatever you root the phone with probably will come with the Wireless Tether app. If not, get it from Android Market.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: anarchir on May 02, 2010, 12:41:23 AM
This is pretty amazing. Anywhere you have phone coverage, you have the internet. Sweet.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Karrde188 on May 02, 2010, 08:52:42 AM
How do you go about rooting a phone anyway??
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: ForumTroll on May 02, 2010, 08:53:12 AM
Whatever you root the phone with probably will come with the Wireless Tether app. If not, get it from Android Market.

Can you tether it to more than one computer/wireless device though?
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: The Green Bastard on May 02, 2010, 08:57:57 AM
Whatever you root the phone with probably will come with the Wireless Tether app. If not, get it from Android Market.

Can you tether it to more than one computer/wireless device though?

This is what I was wondering last night. Are you just "tethering" the droid or is the droid actually becoming a 802.11b/g access point that multiple devices can connect to. I'm not interested in tethering just one laptop to the phone. My goal was to create a 100% real, 100% portable "access point"

The cradlepoint setup in the picture above is a real 802.11b/g AP. I can have up to 32 other laptops, cameras, ipods, , WIFI SD Cards, nintendo DS etc within 100 feet of me connect to the internet via my cradlepoint access point just like they would connect to a wireless router in their home.

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: error on May 02, 2010, 08:02:39 PM
Yes, it's a real wireless access point, and you can tether as many computers as you can manage to it.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: The Green Bastard on May 02, 2010, 11:02:59 PM
OK, I'm back in :) What kind of range do are you getting with the droid then?
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: dc0de on May 03, 2010, 06:38:46 AM
OK, I'm back in :) What kind of range do are you getting with the droid then?

It's probably worth checking the SF page for the project: http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/

Check the issues and see if any of them (high power usage, acts as ad-hoc network rather than infrastructure) will affect you.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on May 07, 2010, 12:41:02 PM
Yes, it's a real wireless access point, and you can tether as many computers as you can manage to it.
Who do you use as a service provider, are there bandwidth limits, how much do you pay, and how long is the contract?

Can you use it as an access point and phone at the same time?
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on May 13, 2010, 06:01:30 PM
I picked up a Droid Incredible. It has a supported way to tether via USB, but Verizon make you buy a $25 per month mobile broadband plan to use it. I ain't doin' that.

Also, the "unlimited" data plan has a 5GB limit.

I am supposed to be in a two year contract, but I didn't see or sign anything. I'm pretty sure someone fucked up.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: ForumTroll on May 13, 2010, 06:10:18 PM
I am supposed to be in a two year contract, but I didn't see or sign anything. I'm pretty sure someone fucked up.

Apparently pressing a button on the internet or agreeing to pay is "signing" a contract these days.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on May 13, 2010, 07:06:15 PM
Cool.  You can probably break the code to plug in for free, but I wouldn't try it. 

I still donno when my Sprint is up.  Should check on that, its bound to be any day now.

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: blackie on May 13, 2010, 07:14:57 PM
I am supposed to be in a two year contract, but I didn't see or sign anything. I'm pretty sure someone fucked up.

Apparently pressing a button on the internet or agreeing to pay is "signing" a contract these days.
I tried to go to the Verizon store first, but the phone is special order only there. They said it wouldn't ship till the end of the month.

I did it at a Best Buy. It was really weird, because the dude said he was going to get the contract, but when he came back, he only had a piece of paper with the phone number and some info from the phone on it. The only paperwork I had when I left was the receipt, and the "Device Details" sheet with the new phone number on it. I don't have anything saying what plan I agreed to.

I had them give me a Maine phone number for the new phone, and send the bill to my sister's place ME. I showed a NH DL as photo ID, and gave a TX phone number. None of this seemed to matter to the guy at all.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on August 15, 2010, 01:32:20 PM
I just spoke to a Best Buy associate (Amanda), they no longer have the HTC Incredible in stock.  Shipping is back-ordered approximately seven to ten days, same as the VZ store. 

I have a preference for a certain store, 'cuz the one associate is a buddy and I think they get commission.  So I'm gonna go up there tomorrow and get the HTC Incredible for my kids birthday gift, and next week the Motorola Droid X for myself - the X is shipping about 20 days late.  This means I'll be owing my other girl an Incredible, but she's kinda intimidated by it.  I'm sure that'll wane once she gets to see the device in action. 

Moving up to a full-family unlimited data plan, the price quoted was actually pretty good - $160/mo.  We can save a few bucks by having the voice-minutes in a pool which we all deduct from, 700 minutes total, since none of us actually talk on the phone much.  Thats for a total of three phones on the plan. 

I like the X because its got true WiFi capabilities (although I won't be subscribing to that right now), and the OMAP processor seems to get the nod from tech forum geeks.  Since I don't expect to max out the phones capabilities, I'm sure it'll perform to my expectations.  I just want it to be decently competitive two years from now. 

The reviews of these things (both models) are amazing.  Motorola seems to be carrying some stain of previous failures when reviews are handed out, something HTC isn't burdened by.  But since I'm not a true phonophile, I think they'll both impress the shit out of me. 



Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Diogenes The Cynic on August 15, 2010, 04:55:57 PM
I am supposed to be in a two year contract, but I didn't see or sign anything. I'm pretty sure someone fucked up.

Apparently pressing a button on the internet or agreeing to pay is "signing" a contract these days.
I tried to go to the Verizon store first, but the phone is special order only there. They said it wouldn't ship till the end of the month.

I did it at a Best Buy. It was really weird, because the dude said he was going to get the contract, but when he came back, he only had a piece of paper with the phone number and some info from the phone on it. The only paperwork I had when I left was the receipt, and the "Device Details" sheet with the new phone number on it. I don't have anything saying what plan I agreed to.

I had them give me a Maine phone number for the new phone, and send the bill to my sister's place ME. I showed a NH DL as photo ID, and gave a TX phone number. None of this seemed to matter to the guy at all.

Dude, I once registered a throwaway cell phone under the name of "Joe Fake" and another time, I had the employee fake my information for me at Radioshack. These people are not paid to care.

Kinda makes you wnder what you could get away with around attitudes like these.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on August 15, 2010, 07:06:09 PM
I am supposed to be in a two year contract, but I didn't see or sign anything. I'm pretty sure someone fucked up.

Apparently pressing a button on the internet or agreeing to pay is "signing" a contract these days.
I tried to go to the Verizon store first, but the phone is special order only there. They said it wouldn't ship till the end of the month.

I did it at a Best Buy. It was really weird, because the dude said he was going to get the contract, but when he came back, he only had a piece of paper with the phone number and some info from the phone on it. The only paperwork I had when I left was the receipt, and the "Device Details" sheet with the new phone number on it. I don't have anything saying what plan I agreed to.

I had them give me a Maine phone number for the new phone, and send the bill to my sister's place ME. I showed a NH DL as photo ID, and gave a TX phone number. None of this seemed to matter to the guy at all.

Dude, I once registered a throwaway cell phone under the name of "Joe Fake" and another time, I had the employee fake my information for me at Radioshack. These people are not paid to care.

Kinda makes you wnder what you could get away with around attitudes like these.

The operative word is throwaway. 

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Diogenes The Cynic on August 15, 2010, 10:20:00 PM
I am supposed to be in a two year contract, but I didn't see or sign anything. I'm pretty sure someone fucked up.

Apparently pressing a button on the internet or agreeing to pay is "signing" a contract these days.
I tried to go to the Verizon store first, but the phone is special order only there. They said it wouldn't ship till the end of the month.

I did it at a Best Buy. It was really weird, because the dude said he was going to get the contract, but when he came back, he only had a piece of paper with the phone number and some info from the phone on it. The only paperwork I had when I left was the receipt, and the "Device Details" sheet with the new phone number on it. I don't have anything saying what plan I agreed to.

I had them give me a Maine phone number for the new phone, and send the bill to my sister's place ME. I showed a NH DL as photo ID, and gave a TX phone number. None of this seemed to matter to the guy at all.

Dude, I once registered a throwaway cell phone under the name of "Joe Fake" and another time, I had the employee fake my information for me at Radioshack. These people are not paid to care.

Kinda makes you wnder what you could get away with around attitudes like these.

The operative word is throwaway. 



We were all teenagers that would get the local hobo to buy us booze from the liquor store. I bet those same guys would sell us enough of their info to buy a phone, or if given the cash, do it themselves for a sandwich. I doubt store employees, or internet sales would catch on that were not the real buyers.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on August 16, 2010, 12:56:05 AM
I am supposed to be in a two year contract, but I didn't see or sign anything. I'm pretty sure someone fucked up.

Apparently pressing a button on the internet or agreeing to pay is "signing" a contract these days.
I tried to go to the Verizon store first, but the phone is special order only there. They said it wouldn't ship till the end of the month.

I did it at a Best Buy. It was really weird, because the dude said he was going to get the contract, but when he came back, he only had a piece of paper with the phone number and some info from the phone on it. The only paperwork I had when I left was the receipt, and the "Device Details" sheet with the new phone number on it. I don't have anything saying what plan I agreed to.

I had them give me a Maine phone number for the new phone, and send the bill to my sister's place ME. I showed a NH DL as photo ID, and gave a TX phone number. None of this seemed to matter to the guy at all.

Dude, I once registered a throwaway cell phone under the name of "Joe Fake" and another time, I had the employee fake my information for me at Radioshack. These people are not paid to care.

Kinda makes you wnder what you could get away with around attitudes like these.

The operative word is throwaway. 



We were all teenagers that would get the local hobo to buy us booze from the liquor store. I bet those same guys would sell us enough of their info to buy a phone, or if given the cash, do it themselves for a sandwich. I doubt store employees, or internet sales would catch on that were not the real buyers.

I guess you could do that.  But the Mossad would slap the shit out of you for not buying a disposable phone and including an unnecessary third party into your little idiotic scheme, and not killing him after you're done.

I know you think you're a real genius circumventing a zit-faced teenager with a hobo, but its easier to buy a disposable phone at walmart for cash. 

Considering the contract phone is a contract, you have to utilize methods of identification, make payments, run a credit check, include an unnecessary participant, probably get asked for an e-mail address where they can send the online statement - and also a physical address where they'll send the paper bill, hand over a bunch of cash to activate the shit...  I think its probably easier to just grab the plastic box off the shelf and throw a bunch of cash at the walmart checker.

If it makes you feel like a king of espionage, you could have the hobo make the walmart purchase.  I'm not entirely sure why you'd want to have square balls in tight-fitting pants, but I guess theres lots of ways to re-invent the wheel.  Maybe you could buy it on Ebay with the hobo's PayPal account, and have it delivered to the laundromat, where you'll be disguised as a construction worker named Henry. 

the codeword is: marmalade.  marmalade. 

I'll be disguised as a Chinese businessman at the paigow tables, in Mombasa.  Take the 3:30 flight out of Dulles.  I'll be drinking a gin and tonic, wearing a gold rolex on my right wrist.  Drop the phone in the left pocket of my blazer, and walk away.  You'll then be approached by a hefty-boned Amish girl who will be sitting by a fountain playing Sugar On My Tongue by the Talking Heads on a banjo, and she'll take you up to the 14th floor suite, where you'll receive $198 for your troubles.

This message will self destruct in thirty seconds.  Remember: the code word is marmalade.



Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: error on August 16, 2010, 01:03:49 PM
The Droid X looks nice, but you don't get a keyboard with it. Consider the Droid 2, which was stealth launched last weekend.
Title: iPhone users have more sex partners
Post by: ciscokid1024 on August 16, 2010, 05:41:39 PM
http://www.asylum.com/2010/08/11/okcupid-oktrends-iphone-users-have-more-sex-partners/

The article:
Men and women who own iPhones have had more sexual partners than those who carry other leading smart phones.

Using information gleaned from 10,000 of its members, the dating website OKCupid found that a 30-year-old woman who owns an iPhone has had an average of 12.3 sexual partners, whereas her BlackBerry-using counterpart has had 8.8. Meanwhile, a 30-year-old lady with an Android has only experienced pleasure at the hands of 6.1 people.

With the fellas, 30-year-old iPhone users have an average of 10 sexual partners, 8.1 if he has a BlackBerry, and six if he's an Android guy.

So when the iPhone 5 comes out next year, it might be good policy to camp out in front of your local Apple store and hit on any woman you see in line.

So when the iPhone 5 comes out next year, it might be good policy to camp out in front of your local Apple store and hit on any woman you see in line.

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on August 16, 2010, 11:30:34 PM
The Droid X looks nice, but you don't get a keyboard with it. Consider the Droid 2, which was stealth launched last weekend.

I played with a Droid 2 tonight at HHGregg, where I bought an Incredible, as I previously mentioned I was ready to take the plunge.  (They had them in stock, with an instant rebate, versus the mail rebate that comes from Verizon outlets) It runs on the 1Ghz OMAP 3630, same as the X, and is virtually identical to the original Droid (with the exception of a joypad removal on the keyboard) - but has upgraded stuff under the hood.  Its a good phone.  It has a 3.7 inch touch screen, a 5mp camera, versus a 4.3 inch screen and 8mp (w/ 720p vid capture) on the X, running on the same OMAP chipset.  

After using the on-screen keyboard with tactile response, on both the X and Incredible, the physical keyboard is a non-issue for me.  Because I don't text, and the screen of the X is large enough to be pecked at for typing in URL's and other data - when holding it sideways.  In fact, I'm all about the screen, rather than a physical keypad.  Larger the better, with the navigation feature and surfing.  

These phones are wicked fast, I was blown away by the Incredible when I got it out of the box.  No lagging - flawless, instantaneous response of every command.  Even the on-board speakers are good enough to watch YouTube and actually enjoy it.  And they even load with a mere few seconds of buffering - probably fat-piped in the Google-Droid-Verizon joint venture for world domination.  

I hear they get a little buggy when you're running a shitload of open apps.  The sales rep directed me to get an app called App Killer, which is basically like Task Manager in Windows.  You can see a list of everything thats running, and select whatever to be shut down - rather than wondering what the fuck is happening behind the scenes.  

I expect the X and the D2 to perform similarly in the real world.  So if my choice is to have a keyboard or a significantly larger screen on a relatively similarly sized handset, I'll pick the screen.  The phones themselves are almost the same size, the X being a half-inch longer.  

I do like the design of the D2, its pretty slick.  It feels solid and like quality, with a metallic snap of the slider action.  The Incredible almost sticks to your hand because of the textured plastic shell.  The X has a nice little humpback where the camera module is housed, which significantly alters the feel of a slate-design like the i4, and prevents it from slipping your grasp.  Very cool shit all around.  

Its hard to describe how impressed I am with these products.  Its a quantum leap from basic phones.  They're like magic.  
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: slayerboy on August 17, 2010, 01:54:59 AM
The Droid X looks nice, but you don't get a keyboard with it. Consider the Droid 2, which was stealth launched last weekend.

I played with a Droid 2 tonight at HHGregg, where I bought an Incredible, as I previously mentioned I was ready to take the plunge.  (They had them in stock, with an instant rebate, versus the mail rebate that comes from Verizon outlets) It runs on the 1Ghz OMAP 3630, same as the X, and is virtually identical to the original Droid (with the exception of a joypad removal on the keyboard) - but has upgraded stuff under the hood.  Its a good phone.  It has a 3.7 inch touch screen, a 5mp camera, versus a 4.3 inch screen and 8mp (w/ 720p vid capture) on the X, running on the same OMAP chipset.  

After using the on-screen keyboard with tactile response, on both the X and Incredible, the physical keyboard is a non-issue for me.  Because I don't text, and the screen of the X is large enough to be pecked at for typing in URL's and other data - when holding it sideways.  In fact, I'm all about the screen, rather than a physical keypad.  Larger the better, with the navigation feature and surfing.  

These phones are wicked fast, I was blown away by the Incredible when I got it out of the box.  No lagging - flawless, instantaneous response of every command.  Even the on-board speakers are good enough to watch YouTube and actually enjoy it.  And they even load with a mere few seconds of buffering - probably fat-piped in the Google-Droid-Verizon joint venture for world domination.  

I hear they get a little buggy when you're running a shitload of open apps.  The sales rep directed me to get an app called App Killer, which is basically like Task Manager in Windows.  You can see a list of everything thats running, and select whatever to be shut down - rather than wondering what the fuck is happening behind the scenes.  

I expect the X and the D2 to perform similarly in the real world.  So if my choice is to have a keyboard or a significantly larger screen on a relatively similarly sized handset, I'll pick the screen.  The phones themselves are almost the same size, the X being a half-inch longer.  

I do like the design of the D2, its pretty slick.  It feels solid and like quality, with a metallic snap of the slider action.  The Incredible almost sticks to your hand because of the textured plastic shell.  The X has a nice little humpback where the camera module is housed, which significantly alters the feel of a slate-design like the i4, and prevents it from slipping your grasp.  Very cool shit all around.  

Its hard to describe how impressed I am with these products.  Its a quantum leap from basic phones.  They're like magic.  


Motorola phones, from my experiences with what can only be described as almost every god damn phone manufacturer and carrier in my area, are the best phones to have.  They are sturdier and survive regular everyday use.  The speakers on the phones are usually loud too.

I have the original Droid, and I have to say it's one of the best Android phones I've had.  I had the origioal G1 Android phone and that was solid and was the best until I got the Droid.  I got the Samsung Moment when the G1 broke after front-face hitting a pebble on asphalt and I was extremely disappointed.  Samsung did a shitty job with the Moment and they along with Sprint refuse to acknowledge a serious issue with the phone entering airplane mode when wifi is enabled.  I bit the bullet, paid the ETF and switched to Verzion for the Droid which was my original plan but the Moment was cheaper.  I'd love to get the Droid 2, but the only thing it has going for it is the faster processor and minus joypad.  I'll wait until the beginning of the year when Motorola releases some really killer stuff that I'm hearing about around the interwebs.  I'm also waiting for Android to start hitting prepaid carriers like Cricket (which is has already for them) so I can get out of contract hell.

On the task killer thing:
Quote from: http://geekfor.me/faq/you-shouldnt-be-using-a-task-killer-with-android/
the TL;DNR Version:
  • Android is hard coded to automatically kill a task when more memory is needed.
  • Android is hard coded to automatically kill a task when it’s done doing what it needs to do.
  • Android is hard coded to automatically kill a task when you haven’t returned to it in a long time.
  • Most services (while possibly running in the background) use very little memory when not actively doing something.
  • A content provider is only doing something when there is a notification for it to give. Otherwise it uses very little memory.
  • Killing a process when it isn’t ready only causes it to have to reload itself and start from scratch when it’s needed again.
  • Because a task is likely running in the background for a reason, killing it will only cause it to re-spawn as soon as the activity that was using it looks for it again. And it will just have to start over again.
  • Killing certain processes can have undesirable side effects. Not receiving text messages, alarms not going off, and force closes just to name a few.
  • The only true way to prevent something from running at all on your phone would be to uninstall the .apk.
  • Most applications will exit themselves if you get out of it by hitting “back” until it closes rather than hitting the “home” button. But even with hitting home, Android will eventually kill it once it’s been in the background for a while.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on August 17, 2010, 10:47:41 PM
Thats good to know about the App Killer.  The guy just suggested it because it was a quick and easy way to expose ALL running apps, and exit the ones you're wanting to be done with.  Like, if you wanted to get out of the internet and be certain it was gone. 

Navigating in these devices can be complex.  Its a frickin computer, after all. 



Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Harry Tuttle on August 18, 2010, 12:43:47 AM
I've had a Blackberry Curve 8330 for about 2.5 years and have been pretty happy, except for the lackluster web availability. I just ordered one of these today. I'll let you know what I think.

(http://www.androidsmartphones.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/htc_evo_4g.jpg)

Behold the EVO!
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: error on August 18, 2010, 02:37:48 PM
The Evo is nice; its only problem is being on Sprint. :)
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Cognitive Dissident on August 18, 2010, 02:56:58 PM
I have no problems with Sprint.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on August 18, 2010, 05:03:02 PM
I never had a problem with Sprint, either.  I had them for two years, and they never managed to trigger my rage disorder. 

The Evo is cool, another HTC Droid.  You'll love it. 

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Harry Tuttle on August 20, 2010, 09:10:52 AM
I don't spend that kind of money on my personal phone. I'm using a beat-up old razor (on the rare occasion I use my personal phone). The Sprint is my company's provider and is a pretty good deal, except that I get almost zero reception at my office. No kidding. I maintain the company BES server and I sometimes have to drive to a nearby shopping mall and park to get a device activated.

The EVO shipped yesterday so I hope to have it early next week.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on August 20, 2010, 05:23:17 PM
I don't spend that kind of money on my personal phone. I'm using a beat-up old razor (on the rare occasion I use my personal phone). The Sprint is my company's provider and is a pretty good deal, except that I get almost zero reception at my office. No kidding. I maintain the company BES server and I sometimes have to drive to a nearby shopping mall and park to get a device activated.

The EVO shipped yesterday so I hope to have it early next week.

I occasionally had dead spots, too.  But they were usually rural, or in a basement bar where I used to hang.  It was like a bunker, so nobody got good cell in there. 

In other news, HHGrregg is now sold out of the Motorola Droid X, since I went to indulge myself.  Of course. 

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on September 09, 2010, 10:01:04 PM
Update #946 on my epic saga to bring myself and me girlys into the 21st century --

A few weeks ago I got my youngest the HTC Incredible, as mentioned a few posts back.  The thing takes no prisoners, it spits fire and eats the heads off babies.  Its fuckin awesome. 

Last week, I decided to spring for my other girl to get a Moto Droid 2, which by all accounts is equally seizure inducing.  She loves it, its a VERY solid, cool phone.  Heres a picture of the Moto Droid 2 in its snug little eco-friendly box...  This model has the slide-out keyboard - it is not a tiny device - I have fairly large hands. 

(http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5589/img0630d.jpg)

Now...  heres where it gets confusing.  Samsung just quietly launched the Fascinate, which is a slate style device, akin to the Incredible, and very similar in design to the iPhone i4, running the 1GHz Hummingbird processor.  Its a Vz model of the Samsung i9000 Galaxy. 

What has me intrigued is this model is running, essentially, iPhone guts, with Android OS.  I'm not sure if I want to shit or go blind. 

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ab/Samsung-i9000-galaxy-s.jpg)

In any case, Vz is now running a special where you buy one and get a equal or lesser valued Droid (of your choice), which I think I may do.  I can return my kids Droid 2, buy the Fascinate, then get the D2 for free - and return it to her, no harm done.  Keep the same number and everything.

The guy at the Vz store is being accommodating, he's cool.  Do I really want to go in there and make him do all this hocus-pocus?  I'm within my rights and all, with the grace periods of return.  And its a free goddamn face-ripping iPhone killer.

Did I mention the free part?

The only thing I don't like about it is, Bing is the default search engine, which means it will probably utilize microsoft in the GPS functions, which is totally fucked up for Android OS.  Since I'm a retard when it comes to anything hack-related, I could regret the Microsoft architecture inside the functionality of the apps.  I just know that would be a constant source of frustration for me, everything constantly wanting to default to non-Google stuff inside of fucking Android.

I love Google, despite all the nutters here splashing hate all over them.  Its almost enough to make me want to spend the cash and just buy the goddamn uncompromised Android OS in a Droid X, and be done with it.



Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Turd Ferguson on September 09, 2010, 10:32:20 PM
Pshhhhh.......

None of your EVO's or Droid Incredibles are really very smart compared to MY phone.

I can:

* use it to break my car window if I lock they keys inside.

* disable a mugger with two good "thump thumps" on the head.

* cook an egg in 20 minutes just by putting the phone 2 ft away.

* hold down the tarp of my boat on a windy day

* crack walnuts with it

* and so much more than I can list here

(http://www.cellfanatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/history-of-cell-phones.jpg)
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: LTKoblinsky on September 09, 2010, 10:34:40 PM
1. sprint is awesome
2. Smartphones are improving at an incredible pace
3. If its for your net gain, why not do the "hocus pocus", especially since the exchange is 100% voluntary by both parties.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on September 09, 2010, 11:10:54 PM

3. If its for your net gain, why not do the "hocus pocus", especially since the exchange is 100% voluntary by both parties.

Thats my shakedown.

The dude at the store is okay with it.  He doesn't give a fuck, not like he's gonna rah-rah for the company.  I just don't want to get him in any hot water, since he got a commission for the sale.  I entered into that agreement willingly, too.  And I have time to escape it.  Thats their policy.

I took the time to actually call the dude.  Not the Vz fuckline, the actual dude.  Bernie, who works at a certain location.  He was like, "go for it dude,"

So maybe I will.  

Now my larger concern is, the Samsung device.  I hate that it runs Bing as its default browser.  The phone is a fucking Droid.  The phone was just released today, and the webz are all abuzz with the Bing thing.  

I'm really, really thinking I don't want the device if it has all sorts of Microsoft technology shoved up the ass of its Android OS.

I'm starting to think I may prefer the Moto X.







Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: LTKoblinsky on September 09, 2010, 11:17:00 PM

3. If its for your net gain, why not do the "hocus pocus", especially since the exchange is 100% voluntary by both parties.

Thats my shakedown.

The dude at the store is okay with it.  He doesn't give a fuck, not like he's gonna rah-rah for the company.  I just don't want to get him in any hot water, since he got a commission for the sale.  I entered into that agreement willingly, too.  And I have time to escape it.  Thats their policy.

I took the time to actually call the dude.  Not the Vz fuckline, the actual dude.  Bernie, who works at a certain location.  He was like, "go for it dude,"

So maybe I will.  

Now my larger concern is, the Samsung device.  I hate that it runs Bing as its default browser.  The phone is a fucking Droid.  The phone was just released today, and the webz are all abuzz with the Bing thing.  

I'm really, really thinking I don't want the device if it has all sorts of Microsoft technology shoved up the ass of its Android OS.

I'm starting to think I may prefer the Moto X.
Not sure if its the same thing, but I have bing browser on my Zune and it works wonderfully. Is there any other MS software on the thing?
Personally, I'm looking forward to Windows Phone 7, but then I'm not nearly as "open-source" ftw as most of you guys.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Harry Tuttle on September 09, 2010, 11:33:50 PM
So I've had my EVO for a couple of weeks. I love it. I have all sorts of cool apps. My young-un loves the whoopie cushion app as much as my wife dislikes it. However I put the babel fish translator app for Spanish, and it thoroughly rocks. The flashlight is handy too. It made me laugh because I always use the screen on my smart devices to see in my car in the dark.

The downsize is the ultra-crappy battery life. I pretty much have to have the thing plugged in whenever I am at rest. I left the house at 7am yesterday and flew to Las Vegas. By 3:30pm the thing was ready to cut out on me. I don't use it non-stop, but I make calls throughout the day and get my email, and take pictures a bunch. I love the phone, but keep the charger handy.

I expect the battery will be ruined by all of the partial charging.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: BonerJoe on September 09, 2010, 11:59:34 PM
Well, you basically use up "talk time" power when your phone is on, grabbing stuff from the internet. My Samsung moment goes for about 2 days, as long as no internet apps are open.
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on September 10, 2010, 10:35:32 PM
Update 2 billion and six.

 Bernie, who works at a certain location.  He was like, "go for it dude,"


I called Bernie last night at the VZ thing.  As mentioned.  

Kinda thunk nothing of it, we chatted a bit and I said the new BOGO offer was dope.   Hung up.

Today he calls me, says "we're gonna give you a Samsung."  

I was like "really".

So I go up there, him and his boss are there.  manager, whatever.  He's like yeah, we can just fuck around with the barcodes, you bought one the other day.  Come back Tuesday.  I'll give you one on the BOGO.  

So I'll go back Tuesday, I guess.  See if they give me a free Droid.  

That'll be cool lulz.  That Samsung one.  They just gonna... give me one.  I guess.  


Verizon appears to thrive on the dispensation of really wicked shit.  They're just giving it away.  Thats so fucked up to me. I can't wrap my fuckin brain around it.  

Here, have this brand new fucking top shelf device.  For nuthin.  




Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: LTKoblinsky on September 10, 2010, 10:38:56 PM
Update 2 billion and six.

 Bernie, who works at a certain location.  He was like, "go for it dude,"


I called Bernie last night at the VZ thing.  As mentioned.  

Kinda thunk nothing of it, we chatted a bit and I said the new BOGO offer was dope.   Hung up.

Today he calls me, says "we're gonna give you a Samsung."  

I was like "really".

So I go up there, him and his boss are there.  manager, whatever.  He's like yeah, we can just fuck around with the barcodes, you bought one the other day.  Come back Tuesday.  I'll give you one on the BOGO.  

So I'll go back Tuesday, I guess.  See if they give me a free Droid.  

That'll be cool lulz.  That Samsung one.  They just gonna... give me one.  I guess.  


Verizon appears to thrive on the dispensation of really wicked shit.  They're just giving it away.  Thats so fucked up to me. I can't wrap my fuckin brain around it.  

Here, have this brand new fucking top shelf device.  For nuthin.  


nothin...except 2+ years of your life...
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on September 11, 2010, 01:36:16 AM
Update 2 billion and six.

 Bernie, who works at a certain location.  He was like, "go for it dude,"


I called Bernie last night at the VZ thing.  As mentioned.  

Kinda thunk nothing of it, we chatted a bit and I said the new BOGO offer was dope.   Hung up.

Today he calls me, says "we're gonna give you a Samsung."  

I was like "really".

So I go up there, him and his boss are there.  manager, whatever.  He's like yeah, we can just fuck around with the barcodes, you bought one the other day.  Come back Tuesday.  I'll give you one on the BOGO.  

So I'll go back Tuesday, I guess.  See if they give me a free Droid.  

That'll be cool lulz.  That Samsung one.  They just gonna... give me one.  I guess.  


Verizon appears to thrive on the dispensation of really wicked shit.  They're just giving it away.  Thats so fucked up to me. I can't wrap my fuckin brain around it.  

Here, have this brand new fucking top shelf device.  For nuthin.  


nothin...except 2+ years of your life...

Oh, bother.








Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on September 13, 2010, 10:50:02 PM
So, Bernie calls today.  Good news and bad news. 

Good news is, phones came in a day early. 

Bad news was, he couldn't give it to me free.  Had to charge me $1.05. 

Not too shabby.

Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: error on September 16, 2010, 01:40:58 PM
The Fascinate has been rooted, so you can take care of all that Bing crap if you really want. :)
Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Bill Brasky on September 16, 2010, 04:47:03 PM
I don't know how to hack a phone.  And its probably not a good idea for me to be tinkering around inside the OS since I'm incapable of maintaining a cracked phone with the update pushes they so frequently do.

It is fairly easy to work around the Bing stuff since theres genuine Droid apps that ui straigt to google.  The purists are naturally gnashing their teeth, but once you get used to it, its really no big deal.  I'm on it now.  Swipe is totally awesome.


Title: Re: Smartphones
Post by: Karrde188 on September 17, 2010, 01:52:58 AM
Swipe is cool. So is the Dragon Dictation talk-to-text feature. Thats real convenient.