Android phones, apps and tablets

MG - to answer some more of your questions:

Apologies in advance for the 'soft' questions- my internet got cut off on Sunday so its not easy to sifting info/endlless reviews/arguments at the moment. My head already hurts from reading through the conflicting info, bickering and different products bigged up/shot down here as it is.

I'm with vodafone, who up until now have looked after me pretty well. If I can stay with them then fine but I'm not too bothered where I end up.

As a mac user I wanted to get an iphone for fool proof:

contacts integration/syncing**,
multiple google calender use,
reliable 2-way google calendar syncing,
gmail,
and the excellent implementation of Toodledo (an online personal organsier)
And in the case of no internet the ability to tether my phone to laptop
**
But I seem to hear too many complaints about them. Apple don't trust users to change their own batteries plus the fanboys get on my tits. Vodafone are now stocking it but my contract would have to change for the worse to get one, so they can get proper bent. I'd been using an xepria on Win mobile which was terrible for syncing so no more microsoft.

(i) Briefly, why have you peeps swerved using the iphone?

**For me it was because I work cross platform a lot and prior to Android couldn't find a convenient way of getting my contacts and calendars to synch across OSX / Linux and my phone (Nokia/Symbian at the time). Android solved this for me as I already used gmail and google calendar & with android it all synchs automatically. I think the iPhone can also do this but I was offered a free G1 on my contract with t-mobile. Also although I use macs at home I had become frustrated with Apple's modus operandi. Main frustrations were with iPod battery dying on me just after 18 months & same thing happening to the hard drive on an iBook - total failure. I wouldn't mind so much but with both I think the user should be able to swap these out easily & replace without having to totally take apart the casing. Also yeah Apple 'just works' unless you want it to 'just work' with anything other than another Apple product - got sick of searching for scripts. And anyone who says macs don't crash is talking shite.
**
(ii) Can Android handle the stuff mentioned in bold above? (anyone experienced any of the mentioned tasks?)

**Yes - see previous posts.
**
(iii) Is there anything on Android that comes with a physical keyboard that's actually nice to use?

Hmm - G1 does and it is OK. Outdated now so maybe someone else can recommend something better.

(iv) Engadget's Nexus review didn't fill me with much excitement, it didn't seem to be a major leap beyond what most handsets offer. Have I got this wrong?

I think it will be more of a refinement of a new phone OS. With Android I think the leaps will come through the OS rather than the handsets.

(v) Is there much more info of the X10 (beyond what I've just quickly googled) that makes it worth waiting for? (Strikes me that Sony have constantly fucked up since the glory days of the p900) or are any other mooted handsets that have you salivating?

Dunno. To me the Nexus One looks tempting - my contract is nearing its end but I think I'll look in a couple of months.

(vi) or should I just select from what's on offer now?
(if so, could any become obsolete with the release of Android 2.0/2.1?)

**Hopefully not. The thing that bothered me the most with the Nexus launch was the statement that not all handsets would be able to handle 2.0 + (updates so far have been distributed over the air). It's unclear though - I would think that this applies mainly to older handsets like my G1.
**
(vii) Do I need to tinker endlessly with this platform for good performance?
Or are Hippies sage words correct, I'm a simpleton; iphone thread is that way=>

I would say no but am no real expert. Out of the box for the things I want my phone to do it actually does 'just work'. Others can probably elaborate more especially on the open source nature of android market vs apple's more closed app store & also on how updates to the OS are distributed.

Hope this helps.

Again sorry for all these questions but when I went into Vodafone oxford street I got absolutely NOTHING regarding useful info - in fact they told me, "yellow snow was all good, Mr Williams"...
:-\

Cheers in advance

Either jolly japes, or really useful.

http://andappstore.com/AndroidApplications/apps/Motion_%26_Sound_Alarm;jsessionid=28899F30E29651519153662C7AC051B5

Listed by: Appventive
Category: Security::Other
Languages: English
Permissions:

• Prevent the device from sleeping and/or the screen from dimming.
  
• Access contacts.
  
• Directly call phone numbers
  
• Read the state of the phone.
  
• Modify global audio settings
  
• Record audio.
  
• Access Access Fine (GPS) location
  
• Access the Internet
  
• Write to an external storage device (possibly a removable memory card).
  
  

Triggered by motion and/or sound, three alarm modes to choose from:

Audible Alarm: Warn of someone trying to sneak into your hotel-, dorm-, or bedroom while you are sleeping. Or, just for fun, substitute your own sound file for the alarm sound and prank your friends.

Phone Call: Call a second phone and catch someone in the act. By default, the person receiving the call will be able to hear what's happening near the phone, but the person who triggered the alarm will not hear anything. You can optionally enable the speakerphone if you want the person who triggered the alarm to hear the call.

Location Tracking: Securely track your phone on the web using Google Maps. Use the event log to see the date, time and trigger type of recent alarms (optionally, run in log-only mode). Alarm remains armed even when the phone is sleeping. Optional stealth mode allows the alarm to remain armed even after you press HOME. Optionally arm & disarm the alarm using a home screen widget.

More info: http://www.appventive.com/motionandsoundalarm

Also, in case anyone coming to read this Android thread, can't be bothered to read all the way from page 1 to here, I'm adding a list of Android Apps "stores". The official one is Android Market. DO, for safety's sake, read the reviews of people who have previously downloaded the apps you want, so that you are less likely to regret the transaction.

1. Android Market
   
2. AndroLib
   
3. Android Freeware
   
4. Androidtapp
   
5. AndAppStore
   
6. AndroidGuys
   

And now for something different.

T-Mobile (fuckwits that they are for not sorting me out a Milestone), are gearing up for 4G.
They're preparing to launch a 4G tablet, and yes, its Android.

Its the ICD VEGA 15inch.

This new Vega slate from ICD uses NVIDIA’s Tegra 250 chipset with a customized build of Android 2.0 focused on family use. That way it will be able to share calendars, internet access and SMS/MMS messaging support, with a T-Mobile SIM preinstalled for wireless connectivity.
The ICD Vega comes with on-demand TV and Full 1080p HD video playback support (don’t ask me how, since the Vega’s 15-inch display runs at 1366 x 768, not 1080p resolution, but we’ll keep looking on this), and a FM radio. It also has WiFi support and a browser for you to access some of the social networking sites like Facebook. Availability and Price will be announced when the retail launch is closer.

One OS to rule them all.

Steve Jobs and Steve Ballmer will be choking on their Weetabixes.

Okay, that's silly, but I'm entitled......after all, I'm exempted from the rules of clear thinking.

1 Attachment

oohh, trying to trump apple b4 their release.

And now for something different.

T-Mobile (fuckwits that they are for not sorting me out a Milestone), are gearing up for 4G.
They're preparing to launch a 4G tablet, and yes, its Android.

The Vega tablet is not 4G.

http://www.slashgear.com/icd-vega-15-inch-android-2-0-tablet-arrives-2010-1363451/

Even if the blog you quoted was correct, it would be irrelevant anyway as T-Mobile UK doesn't have a 4G network, won't have one in 2010, and possibly not even 2011.

You are right, and I am wrong. However, I am handsome, so still smugly satisfied. ;)

i am also handsome.

You're both fugly. Shutup and talk about android or at least post some new psytrance.

Android tablets zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Would anyone seriously buy a tablet? What would you use it for?

Something to do when the rest of your techy shite was debugging or compiling?

it's a lot of money to spend on something to "surf the web" on while you're having a shit.

Porn on the loo?

Nope, you're right, it'll never catch on.

Android tablets zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Would anyone seriously buy a tablet? What would you use it for?

I've been questioning their usefulness ever since MS tried with the Tablet PC about 10 years ago. 10 years ago! I've not seen a single one in use...

**SEX WEE!!!!! **

Carphonewarehouse will stock the Milestone. Since its already available on T-Mobile via Expansys, it must be available through Carphonewarehouse also.

If its not, I will kill someone.

a smartphone does a good enough job for browsing/pr0n on the crapper/bus/couch.

the thing is, most of us will already own a laptop and a phone. so we can browse while we're at home, and while we're not at home. where is this in-between use case that's worth several hundred dorrah/squids? many companies have tried to answer this question, and none have succeeded.

how many 3G-connected devices are you prepared to pay for?

i thought the aim of newer tablets is to 'replace' paper media, like books or newspapers. bigger screen than ph etc. not as bulky as laptop.

Books and newspapers are far more convenient and cheaper. You're not likely to have War & Peace in book form stolen from you when you leave the Tube. It won't break when you drop it. It won't crash.

With all the tech I have.. I still suppliment it with a paper diary. Long live paper!

**SEX WEE!!!!! **

Carphonewarehouse will stock the Milestone. Since its already available on T-Mobile via Expansys, it must be available through Carphonewarehouse also.

If its not, I will kill someone.

That means that I can play with one and maybe get an upgrade, right?

sex wee

This review has thrown me into indecision. Can I really wait for the Nexus One. Do I want to?
Agggghhh.

This is all not helped by my ancient E650 falling to pieces and me absolutely hating my HTC Touch Diamond, for which Mazuma Mobile will give £75 n cold hard cash.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/14/motorola-milestone-mobile-phone-review

Hardware keyboard, yuk. Just wait for the Nexus One.

Though the Google Nexus One phone seems to be all-singing and all-dancing, I'd rather have the
Motorola Milestone, or the Sony-Ericsson X10. Larger screens FTW.

Comparitive specs:
Nexus One vs Motorola Milestone vs iPhone 3GS
Nexus One or Xperia X10

The Xperia X10 is said to be immediately updated from release, from Donut to Eclair, or later.

I did like the idea of the Sony.. until they put their own shit over the OS.

And for something boring........Motorola Scholes Tablet becomes the MOTOROI. It appears to me to be a MILESTONE with reductive mods?

LG InTouch Max GW620 launched. A 3 inch exercise in mediocrity. Though it does have a full Qwerty physical keyboard.
LG also plans to concentrate on Android mobiles as a majority of their output.

Now here the exciting news - The rumoured Motorola Shadow becomes the Google Nexus 2.
Oh yes, 4.3inch screen, 1080p video recording.....

Yes, you may faint now.

Why? It's a Motorola, so it'll be a piece of shit, assuming it actually makes it to market before they go bust.

Very excited...FINALLY got android 2.1 running on an HTC Touch HD....most things seem to be working (phone/sms/wifi/3g) just the camera's not there yet...and I've no idea what battery life will be like!
If its all useable it'll be a shit hot combination of hardware and software!

Hey, anythings better than WinMo - it was that bad it even forced me to an iphone for a while!

(ok..a bit random, but i just had to tell someone....)