Re: [MLUG] Google's New Phone

["Christian M. Cepel" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Thanks.

First off, I'm so very amused that no matter what video I watch from http://code.google.com/android/ , the developer doing the demonstration is viewing news with pro Obama, anti McCain/Palin headlines :)   I'm still pretty certain that one of the videos shows multi-touch pinching.

9. T-Mobile.. 80 Cities compared to nearly 300 with Cingular/ATT.  They
claim that after 90 days you can switch sims and use your own G3
Provider... however... you're stuck in your contract for another 1..75
years.  Also they don't mention that the G3 network frequencies that
T-Mobile operate on are different than those of ATT.

This is news to me!  Where did you hear that?

From the David Pogue article that Mike posted in the initiating post of the thread.

Finally, the G1 comes from T-Mobile. You complain about AT&T’s 3G network? T-Mobile’s 3G network covers only 19 cities so far, compared with AT&T’s 280.
and
You can unlock this phone after 90 days—that is, use any SIM card from any carrier in it.

The note about frequencies comes from a post in the comments section so YMMV.

I'm very glad of the USB port, the 'external harddrive device' part, and the up to 32gb MicroSD.  You've knocked out most of my major concerns right there.  An extra dongle is a pain, but I'm ok with them saving the real-estate in the form-factor if it means a good keyboard, a USB port, and a MicroSD slot.   I hope it's a standard USB port rather than some proprietary crap.  I'd like to be able to attach my jump drive and have it be recognized... how about any other (non-bus powered) device anyone cares to write a driver for?

The video demo I saw, I believe, showed pinch zoom.

Mike, it pretty much says that all someone has to do is write a Skype like program to get around your desire to used Wi-Fi for phoney calls at home... the contrast being that he points out that Apple censors programs and Google has plans to not do so.

I think they may really suffer from a stupid release like this.  All these programs that reviewers mention should be those anticipated by the developers so that they can release a phone that's absolutely everything people want... Video, Skype, etc.   And so ATT and Verizon refused to sell such an open phone in their stores with contracts... So what... Just sell the phone even if the price is high and make it multi-network and let people put in their SIMS and screw the facist phone companies.... You're paying them for their towers and coverage, not for them to decide not to let you have some piece of technology because they can't limit what apps you can get and make you buy them through their stores.  People are already paying $500 for PDAs and phone enabled PDAs.



Ryanne Dolan wrote:

See comments below.

Thanks.
Ryanne

--
RyanneDolan.googlepages.com

On Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 11:42 PM, Christian M. Cepel <EMAIL:PROTECTED> wrote:

I really want one.  It has a swappable battery and that's one thing I
hate about the Apple devices...but some things really concern me:

1. you can't tether it.

2. they don't specify if it's connectible to your PC via USB like most
smart phones (let alone charge from USB).

It does.  It charges only via USB, and it appears as a generic storage device.  This is confirmed by the user manual that was recently posted.

3. There's no Headphone jack.. what the heck?   Why have a smartphone
with storage and MP3 capability if you don't have a headphone jack...
and apparently it doesn't sync with bluetooth headsets.

It works with bluetooth headsets but not in stereo (only good for making calls).  Tho that is strictly a software limitation and Google has promised to fix it eventually.  The device comes with a USB-to-headphone jack cable unless you pre-order the phone online.  Kinda is lame that it doesn't have a standard jack, but not really a deal-breaker for me.... just adds an inch or two to my headphones.

4. The camera doesn't natively do video (but people can write apps to do it)

5. No Exchange support

6. People have said that there are no gestures (multi-point), but I've
seen video demo where they do multi-point... what's the deal.

Multi-touch is limited only by intellectual property problems.  The device supports multi-touch, but it doesn't come programmed to respond to any of the gestures the iPhone is famous for (pinching to zoom for example).  I don't doubt there will be patches to change that tho.

7. What's the situation with memory.  Who in their right mind would put
1gb when MicroSD cards are so cheap and I think currently up to 4gb.
I've seen that it has a 'memory slot' but nowhere can I find what
form-factor/protocol that slot is.  Some things I've seen suggest that
it's not swappable but something you pay $50 more to have them put 8gb
in, so if you envision having a little wallet of 8gb cards with your
music collection on them, forget it.   That really irritates me about
the Iphone and now about this phone.

This is unconfirmed, but rumor and reason says that the device supports microSD cards up to 32GB.  Anyone hear otherwise?

8.  It seems they are lying about the price.   $179 if you're already a
TMobile customer who's 2-year contract is ending if you extend another 2
years.  $300 for everyone else (+$50 for the mem) and a 2 year service
agreement.

9. T-Mobile.. 80 Cities compared to nearly 300 with Cingular/ATT.  They
claim that after 90 days you can switch sims and use your own G3
Provider... however... you're stuck in your contract for another 1..75
years.  Also they don't mention that the G3 network frequencies that
T-Mobile operate on are different than those of ATT.

This is news to me!  Where did you hear that?

10. no support for Apple/Itunes DRM.

Who wants DRM?? I thought this was a *nix group!

11. Android doesn't want to pay royalties so no Flash (and similar).

I don't see what royalties have to do with anything... The Android browser supports native/compiled plugins, so if Google and Adobe got together for a minute they could get Flash running on the device.  Google partnered with Amazon, why not Adobe?

12. Swappable batteries, but as of yet, nobody has said what the
batteries cost.

Mike Miller wrote:
> It runs the Android OS, based on Linux, so I guess it belongs on this
> list...
>
> Here it is:
>
> David Pogue: "A First Look at Google's New Phone"
> http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/a-first-look-at-googles-new-phone/
>
> Related stuff...
>
> NY Times has a new blog called "bits":
> http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/
>
> NY Times also updated their tech pages:
> http://www.nytimes.com/technology/
>
> There are several articles on those pages about the new Google phone.
>
> Mike
>
> _______________________________________________
> members mailing list
> EMAIL:PROTECTED
> http://mlug.missouri.edu/mailman/listinfo/members
>
>

_______________________________________________
members mailing list
EMAIL:PROTECTED
http://mlug.missouri.edu/mailman/listinfo/members

_______________________________________________
members mailing list
EMAIL:PROTECTED
http://mlug.missouri.edu/mailman/listinfo/members
  

_______________________________________________
members mailing list
EMAIL:PROTECTED
http://mlug.missouri.edu/mailman/listinfo/members