OT: Technology and Geek Stuff Thread

[Topweasel]

4G is available in 27 markets right now (Chicago is one of those markets), Detroit can look forward to it within the next year or two.

Data plans for phones (including voice calling and unlimited text) start at 69.99 and top out at 99.99 per month...that one is totally unlimited everything. There also is no extra charge for smart phones/blackberry unless you need BES.

Then of course discounts for where you work or bank between 10-28% per month.


Also Frank, I can respect that loyalty...just wanted to let you know about Google's Android OS, since that will soon knock apple out of the top spot and be the next status device

Specifically the Droid I think google really should have shot down that naming as people are starting to associate the Droid and not an Android phone as "the google phone". Also for people who are a little more inclined to go with an OS with a bit bigger penetration, HTC also makes a WinMo 6.5 phone (using the new ZuneHD like touch interface though you need to shut off the HTC interface as that was made for 6.1) using the exact same phone as the Droid.

The new Curves, the Bold's, the Tour, and the Storm 2 are all stellar Blackberry performers. I enjoy my original Storm, but the out of the box stability, wifi, and the better process for the depressable screen makes me wish I went with a 1 year agreement.

The Pre also has a lot of hotness going for it even if its a bit fragile.

I just can't ever recommend an Iphone when there are just so many things that can be done on the 100's of other smart phones that don't require hacking it and breaking either your providers or manufacturers TOS.

[Sweatpants Murphy]

Specificallythe Droid I think google really should have shot down that naming as people are starting to associate the Droid and not an Android phone as "the google phone". Also for people who are a little more inclined to go with an OS with a bit bigger penetration, HTC also makes a WinMo 6.5 phone (using the new ZuneHD like touch interface though you need to shut off the HTC interface as that was made for 6.1) using the exact same phone as the Droid.

The new Curves, the Bold's, the Tour, and the Storm 2 are all stellar Blackberry performers. I enjoy my original Storm, but the out of the box stability, wifi, and the better process for the depressable screen makes me wish I went with a 1 year agreement.

I'm not so sure the Droid itself is going to be the one to do it, it's a souped up nextel phone (motorola, really? coulda done better than that!) VZW fans should be glad they got the droid eris.

Honestly, the phone that I feel will take the top spot is going to be the Google Nexus One. It is rumored to be exclusive to no carrier at all

[Coop]

Murphy....seems like we hear about an "iphone killer" every six months or so yet to date one has yet to emerge. Imitation is the best form of flattery....

The gamechanger *may* be flash as Apple has announced that it will not support it on the iphone.

TopWeasal - every phone out there has issues and limits, iphone included.

[Sweatpants Murphy]

Murphy....seems like we hear about an "iphone killer" every six months or so yet to date one has yet to emerge. Imitation is the best form of flattery....

this is very true...it has always been some existing wireless device manufacturer that tried to make a run at the iphone but never had the financial backing or even a good marketing department to come close to competing

this time it's Google who's name has become a verb in the English language (If you don't believe me, Google it) and has the money and marketing dept to take over. you better believe that's their intention...to take over wireless.

Maybe I'm just partial because I've never been a fan of Apple and have always stuck with Microsoft (pc, xbox, zune) I also view ipods, iphones, and macs as trendy, hipster devices for people who think they're in some sort of elite club or cool kids table. Status devices.

Not saying you're one of those people, but the hipster kids who beg mommy and daddy to get them the latest apple has to offer for christmas kinda ruin it for people who have a genuine preference for apple/mac

[Topweasel]

I'm not so sure the Droid itself is going to be the one to do it, it's a souped up nextel phone (motorola, really? coulda done better than that!) VZW fans should be glad they got the droid eris.

Honestly, the phone that I feel will take the top spot is going to be the Google Nexus One. It is rumored to be exclusive to no carrier at all

You are right, I was thinking the the Driod Eris was the Motorola phone, but its a lot better then a "Nextel" phone. The Amagio is the sweet 6.5 HTC I was thinking of.

Coop, My point is that by far the Iphone is the most user restrictive phone, with its use driven solely through the massive ammounts of younger people who own them. If its wasn't for the 15-25 year olds using it so much it wouldn't be the first phone people enable mobile functionality for.

Its shameful that they had the gall to advertise text cut and paste as a bonus feature when they enabled that. Its a Shame that you have to jailbreak your phone to install programs they haven't given thumbs up for. Its shamefull they can remove a program from your phone and leave you to get the refund from the programmer. Its shameful that they get to choose which programs you can multitask with (meaning pretty much their software only) on what is supposed to be the "most powerful smart phone". I don't mind the AT&T only stuff, they have all been doing this for a while.

I don't mind that its apple, I owned an Ipod for a while even though I enjoy my Zune more then I ever did that and I have been looking at a mini or their soon to be released netbook. I like the fact that its less quircky. I like its design. It has one of the easiest wifi interfaces. Its OS is very well designed and probably has the most program functionality. But really outside the Itunes syncing there isn't a feature on there that makes it a better smart phone then any of the other flagship products.

[Coop]

An Apple fanboy I am not...however the ipod and iphone are breakthrough devices in technology. The combination and integration of the phone/pod, itunes, and now the appstore with alot of development support is going to be tough for anyone to beat.

I don't question Google having the money or the backing - but telephony really isn't their market and they really don't have much experience....they, like other handset makers have simply seen what apple has done with the iphone and they are trying to replicate and improve on it.

[Coop]

You are right, I was thinking the the Driod Eris was the Motorola phone, but its a lot better then a "Nextel" phone. The Amagio is the sweet 6.5 HTC I was thinking of.

Coop, My point is that by far the Iphone is the most user restrictive phone, with its use driven solely through the massive ammounts of younger people who own them. If its wasn't for the 15-25 year olds using it so much it wouldn't be the first phone people enable mobile functionality for.

Its shameful that they had the gall to advertise text cut and paste as a bonus feature when they enabled that. Its a Shame that you have to jailbreak your phone to install programs they haven't given thumbs up for. Its shamefull they can remove a program from your phone and leave you to get the refund from the programmer. Its shameful that they get to choose which programs you can multitask with (meaning pretty much their software only) on what is supposed to be the "most powerful smart phone". I don't mind the AT&T only stuff, they have all been doing this for a while.

let me put it this way...if the phone hadn't been hacked, the appstore and it's contributory success would not exist. If you recall - Apple tried to keep development to Safari (what were they thinking?) Hacking has served as an equalizer because Apple has pretty much been forced to listen to what the customer wants because they can't keep it closed loop like their other computing platforms. No longer can Apple get away with telling the customer how the device will be used because they know better and Apple can do no wrong...

Apple's decision of carrier exclusivity AT&T is something they have to regret - especially in that AT&T has failed the customer with a robust enough network and poor QOS and not enabling features that customers demand when other networks did. Only now it seems as the end of the exclusivity agreement nears has AT&T begun to admit their network is NOT up to snuff.....but the death star bows to no one...

[Topweasel]

let me put it this way...if the phone hadn't been hacked, the appstore and it's contributory success would not exist. If you recall - Apple tried to keep development to Safari (what were they thinking?) Hacking has served as an equalizer because Apple has pretty much been forced to listen to what the customer wants because they can't keep it closed loop like their other computing platforms. No longer can Apple get away with telling the customer how the device will be used because they know better and Apple can do no wrong...

Apple's decision of carrier exclusivity AT&T is something they have to regret - especially in that AT&T has failed the customer with a robust enough network and poor QOS and not enabling features that customers demand when other networks did. Only now it seems as the end of the exclusivity agreement nears has AT&T begun to admit their network is NOT up to snuff.....but the death star bows to no one...

But its exactly that, its still ridicously restrictive, and I just can't sell myself and to others that hacking it out of the box is a solution that should sold to the masses. I can't sell a dreamcast as a great console once you get the mod disc that allows you to play copied games. Or that the original Xbox was great because you could get a mod chip.

If someone wants to do that fine by me. I would help and have done so for myself on a lot of these. But once you start a discussion with its a great product once you get it home and void your parts and provider warranties, I think it looses its viableness as recommendable product to the masses.

[The Ken]

I'm using POP...guess that's why, eh?

sorry deb didn't get back here for a bit, but POP is limited.

[The Ken]

Droid and iphones don't tether if they don't tether I don't see the point, that is just me though.

[Coop]

Top - do you know of any US cellular providers that don't sell locked devices? Verizon is actually WORSE than apple in that regard...

[Coop]

stronggrip - mine tethers just fine.

[-Deborah-]

What does tethering mean in this regard?

[Coop]

being able to use the iphone's data connection (EDGE, 3G) to browse Internet with a laptop. Mine has both the native tether option when plugged in to a USB port (creates a network adapter that has to be enabled on the PC) and I also use an app called PDANET that works wirelessly via an AD-HOC network connection created in the WIFI utility.

[Topweasel]

Top - do you know of any US cellular providers that don't sell locked devices? Verizon is actually WORSE than apple in that regard...

Certain things. But their is a difference. With any of the normal functionality limitations that these providers are selling its about preventing abuse of their network or worrying about security risks like Verizon did and has been doing in regards to Bluetooth.

Its another thing to be so affraid of someone calling your phone slow so you disable the ability to run more then 1 non apple program. Microsoft does that on Windows 7 starter, why because its the el cheapo version made for el cheapo hardware. So now you have have a hardware developer, software developer, and service provider playing the I know better then you game with their customers.

Limitations are one thing. All phones and providers have put up walls that users have had to learn to jump over. But the Iphone is a pretty extreme case of that. Just about everything I named off as weakness for the iphone exists in 1 or 2 of the Mobile OS's and Smartphones. None of them have them all except the Iphone. Most of the time those one or two similiar issues have almost no impact and don't require hacking your phone because they don't have the other limitations. Its when they add up like the Iphone does I hear things like "Its the greatest you just have to jailbreak it first".