Android!

[Salamok]

I'm not getting another phone that doesn't accept a regular size keyboard and drive a decent display.  I don't care if it's an Atrix-style docking station, or just plugging in a keyboard/mouse to USB and a monitor to an HDMI mini-port, but I want to be able to use my phone for *everything* but gaming (the fact is that PC gaming is dead).  

My 3 main problems with this are:

1 - After you are done buying all the atrix style peripherals and the proper phone you are in for the cost of a decent laptop.  
2 - Fucking bandwidth caps, even if I gave up PC gaming and traded my PCs in for a phone I would also have to give up netflix and all other bandwidth intensive services?
3 - Even with all the power of modern phones they are still devices that are pretty much restricted to consuming content, I still use my PC to produce and the web 2.0 and/or mobile apps still have not caught up to the desktop versions.

edit - oh yeah and none of those atrix style peripherals leave me with the feeling that gee these will last me through my next couple phones, even the bionic doesn't dock with the atrix docking station without some tinkering.

[MuffinMan]

I'm not getting another phone that doesn't accept a regular size keyboard and drive a decent display.  I don't care if it's an Atrix-style docking station, or just plugging in a keyboard/mouse to USB and a monitor to an HDMI mini-port, but I want to be able to use my phone for *everything* but gaming (the fact is that PC gaming is dead).  

My 3 main problems with this are:

1 - After you are done buying all the atrix style peripherals and the proper phone you are in for the cost of a decent laptop.  
2 - Fucking bandwidth caps, even if I gave up PC gaming and traded my PCs in for a phone I would also have to give up netflix and all other bandwidth intensive services?
3 - Even with all the power of modern phones they are still devices that are pretty much restricted to consuming content, I still use my PC to produce and the web 2.0 and/or mobile apps still have not caught up to the desktop versions.

edit - oh yeah and none of those atrix style peripherals leave me with the feeling that gee these will last me through my next couple phones, even the bionic doesn't dock with the atrix docking station without some tinkering.

I'll just comment on 1. For me, it's much more about portability and combining two devices into one than it is cost. Obviously, if the cost is exorbitant then it's not worth it but as long as they are in the same ballpark it is. If you're not utilizing the power of a laptop then what is the point? 2. Wifi solves that easily.

[MahrinSkel]

I'm not getting another phone that doesn't accept a regular size keyboard and drive a decent display.  I don't care if it's an Atrix-style docking station, or just plugging in a keyboard/mouse to USB and a monitor to an HDMI mini-port, but I want to be able to use my phone for *everything* but gaming (the fact is that PC gaming is dead).  

My 3 main problems with this are:

1 - After you are done buying all the atrix style peripherals and the proper phone you are in for the cost of a decent laptop.  
2 - Fucking bandwidth caps, even if I gave up PC gaming and traded my PCs in for a phone I would also have to give up netflix and all other bandwidth intensive services?
3 - Even with all the power of modern phones they are still devices that are pretty much restricted to consuming content, I still use my PC to produce and the web 2.0 and/or mobile apps still have not caught up to the desktop versions.

edit - oh yeah and none of those atrix style peripherals leave me with the feeling that gee these will last me through my next couple phones, even the bionic doesn't dock with the atrix docking station without some tinkering.

Which is why I'd almost prefer a USB/HDMI solution, not as portable but much cheaper and easy to replace/migrate.  As for productivity: As android tablets become more common, there will be more done with getting "real" software on them through porting and virtual machines (Android is a Linux system at the core, so it's not like there's nothing to build on).  Sure, for serious media work there's no substitute for dedicated peripherals and raw horsepower, but most of what people do on PC's, phones could do if the I/O wasn't so limiting.

--Dave

[Quinton]

Which is why I'd almost prefer a USB/HDMI solution, not as portable but much cheaper and easy to replace/migrate.  As for productivity: As android tablets become more common, there will be more done with getting "real" software on them through porting and virtual machines (Android is a Linux system at the core, so it's not like there's nothing to build on).  Sure, for serious media work there's no substitute for dedicated peripherals and raw horsepower, but most of what people do on PC's, phones could do if the I/O wasn't so limiting.

As of Gingerbread, Android (as part of the NDK) supports entirely-native (ARM) applications and provides access to the GPU (OpenGL|ES2), input subsystem, audio, etc.  This provides a pretty straight-forward base platform to port whatever -- no need for it to be written in Java.  Building a shim to support SDL or X11 apps, or the portability layer of your choice on top of this is not difficult. 

A number of tablet/netbook form factors are providing USB and HDMI ports.  Less common in phones just yet, but as they continue to get more powerful, I expect we'll see more support for standard hw peripheral interfaces.

[Sand]

I'm not getting another phone that doesn't accept a regular size keyboard and drive a decent display.  I don't care if it's an Atrix-style docking station, or just plugging in a keyboard/mouse to USB and a monitor to an HDMI mini-port, but I want to be able to use my phone for *everything* but gaming (the fact is that PC gaming is dead).  

My 3 main problems with this are:

1 - After you are done buying all the atrix style peripherals and the proper phone you are in for the cost of a decent laptop.  
2 - Fucking bandwidth caps, even if I gave up PC gaming and traded my PCs in for a phone I would also have to give up netflix and all other bandwidth intensive services?
3 - Even with all the power of modern phones they are still devices that are pretty much restricted to consuming content, I still use my PC to produce and the web 2.0 and/or mobile apps still have not caught up to the desktop versions.

edit - oh yeah and none of those atrix style peripherals leave me with the feeling that gee these will last me through my next couple phones, even the bionic doesn't dock with the atrix docking station without some tinkering.

Which is why I'd almost prefer a USB/HDMI solution, not as portable but much cheaper and easy to replace/migrate.  As for productivity: As android tablets become more common, there will be more done with getting "real" software on them through porting and virtual machines (Android is a Linux system at the core, so it's not like there's nothing to build on).  Sure, for serious media work there's no substitute for dedicated peripherals and raw horsepower, but most of what people do on PC's, phones could do if the I/O wasn't so limiting.

--Dave

You should seriously look at the Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet I just bought. full size USB, mini USB and HDMI ports. This is basically replacing my laptop. The laptop has now become the what the home desktop was.

[MahrinSkel]

I'm thinking about a cheap tablet on general principles, as something to use for websurfing from the couch.  But I still want my one true general purpose computing device, the miracle box I can stick in my pocket and use for everything.  I've wanted it since I saw the bastard offspring of a laptop and an old-school "lunchbox" cell phone AT&T put out in the early 90's that made me realize that some day it was going to be possible, and we're *so* close now I can taste it.

Seriously, why should I have to have 4 different computers?  6 if you count the DVR and the Argosy media player (the DVR can't play anything it didn't record, and the Argosy can't record anything).  Why not *one* device that I plug stuff into for particular tasks?

--Dave

[apocrypha]

How is the world's economy supposed to rejuvenate by selling you countless useless gadgets made from toxic chemicals and rare minerals from war-torn 3rd world countries if you simplify things like that?

What are you, some kind of communist?

[Sand]

Here you go Dave.
Now quit bitching and go buy it! 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5QfZ7aZEGA&feature=related

[Salamok]

Seriously, why should I have to have 4 different computers?  6 if you count the DVR and the Argosy media player (the DVR can't play anything it didn't record, and the Argosy can't record anything).  Why not *one* device that I plug stuff into for particular tasks?

--Dave

I don't mind the multitude of devices it's the repurchasing of internet access for each device that I have a huge problem with.

[MahrinSkel]

Here you go Dave.
Now quit bitching and go buy it! 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5QfZ7aZEGA&feature=related

Yeah, it's about as close as it gets right now.  Won't drive an external monitor even with the docking station, but that's the only feature on my wish list it misses. Yay!  Went to check, the 4G version has HDMI output that can be used for more than playing video.

--Dave

[Soln]

Someone please recommend a handset, ideally on Sprint, AT&T or VZ?  Can't parse all 52 pages, and can't get realiable TMobile reception (just cancelled with them).  Thank ye.

[RhyssaFireheart]

Well, I've been happy with my Samsung Droid Charge (Verizon) but I'm not a real power user.  I get email, social site stuffs, and some games, but nothing more than that atm.  Don't stream music or video, but the screen is beautiful so I'm sure that would work fine.  It's 4GLTE and since my area supports that, it's all goodness to me.  Only issue with it (and with Android phones in general, I believe) is battery life, but the husband and I just commonly plug our phones in overnight, even if the battery is only at half charge. 

My 2p.

[Chimpy]

Someone please recommend a handset, ideally on Sprint, AT&T or VZ?  Can't parse all 52 pages, and can't get realiable TMobile reception (just cancelled with them).  Thank ye.

I am quite possibly going to buy the Motorola Photon (Sprint). It has great features: unlocked GSM Radio (outside of NA), 10hr battery life, lots of memory and a micro SD slot, and a 8MP camera. It also is built really solidly compared to the Samsung ones I have messed around with.

[Quinton]

For Sprint or AT&T, I'd suggest the Nexus S, available via Best Buy.  Stock Google build of the latest Android Gingerbread release, unlockable and reflashable if you care about that.

[MuffinMan]

New Nexus phone is due out real soon, isn't it? Rumored to be made official on Oct. 11th.

[Quinton]

New Nexus phone is due out real soon, isn't it? Rumored to be made official on Oct. 11th.

There are certainly rumors to that effect: http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/28/google-and-samsung-announce-october-11-event-nexus-prime-imminent/

[Soln]

HAI 21ST CENDURY.  Got a Photon  Justworks.  Connected to my powerbook.  Justworks.   Will have a ceremony to dropkick my Blackberry later today.  Peace out.

[schild]

Godwilling it works on ATT. My company just won't break on that shit.

God, ATT is awful.

[luckton]

Godwilling it works on ATT. My company just won't break on that shit.

God, ATT is awful.

AT&T hates open.  Can't even crack a HTC phone on their network to do after-market stuff.

[palmer_eldritch]

Someone please recommend a handset, ideally on Sprint, AT&T or VZ?  Can't parse all 52 pages, and can't get realiable TMobile reception (just cancelled with them).  Thank ye.

I went from an iPhone 3GS to a Sumsung Galaxy S2 and I love my new phone. It has a much larger screen, it's colourful, it's fast, it has a nice camera and with a decent WiFi connection it'll happily stream live video without a hitch. With a large, bright and colourful screen, it's actually fun to watch, unlike the old iPhone. I don't know what the iPhone4 is like or 5 will be like, but the S2 is definitely fun.

[luckton]

Someone please recommend a handset, ideally on Sprint, AT&T or VZ?  Can't parse all 52 pages, and can't get realiable TMobile reception (just cancelled with them).  Thank ye.

Incredible 2 for VZ.  If you got the monies, upgrade to Thunderbolt.

For Sprint, their version of the Nexus or again, if you got the monies, upgrade to a variation of the Evo.

Stay the frack away from AT&T.

[01101010]

Someone please recommend a handset, ideally on Sprint, AT&T or VZ?  Can't parse all 52 pages, and can't get realiable TMobile reception (just cancelled with them).  Thank ye.

Incredible 2 for VZ.  If you got the monies, upgrade to Thunderbolt.

For Sprint, their version of the Nexus or again, if you got the monies, upgrade to a variation of the Evo.

Stay the frack away from AT&T.

Fuck the T-bolt. 4LTE is not enough to overlook the glaring fact it is still on Froyo. I will concede the hardware is nicer than my Inc2, but I am running OC'd @ 1.6ghz and it's snappy enough.

[luckton]

Fuck the T-bolt. 4LTE is not enough to overlook the glaring fact it is still on Froyo.

The very first thing I did with my Incredible, right out of the box, was hook it up to the rig, root it and load Cyanogenmod.

Why did you fail? ಠ_ಠ

[01101010]

Fuck the T-bolt. 4LTE is not enough to overlook the glaring fact it is still on Froyo.

The very first thing I did with my Incredible, right out of the box, was hook it up to the rig, root it and load Cyanogenmod.

Why did you fail? ಠ_ಠ

That was a jab at its stock format. Not everyone roots or is comfortable doing it. Not to mention Verizon kinda frowns upon rooting their phones so many people give that as an excuse. As it stands, all the Inc2's are shipped with Android 2.3.4 while the Tbolt sits with Froyo still. For one of their flagship 4LTE phones, that seems just wrong.

[Trippy]

Huge security issue with HTC Android phones

[TripleDES]

ROFL, they even come with a VNC server!

[Sand]

Huge security issue with HTC Android phones

So for us normal non-technical people. Translation to English please? Do we need be concerned? If so in what way?

[Trippy]

Basically only install and run reputable apps, and even that is risky.

[Sand]

Luckily my phone is a Samsung. Cause having a smart phone with no apps is kind of 

[NowhereMan]

Nexus One not listed? That's a relief, I was worried that there was more than just Facebook channeling all my private information to everyone.

[Chimpy]

Nexus One not listed? That's a relief, I was worried that there was more than just Facebook channeling all my private information to everyone.

The application was bundled as part of the Sense UI, so a stock Android phone would most likely never have had it.

[Chimpy]

So Google is suing the company it wants to buy (for patents) in a patent lawsuit now?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15212599



EDIT: It appears that Google is not actually a 'part' of the suit, but the company suing has been bankrolled by Google and the patents apply to Android as a whole.

[Quinton]

One thing to keep in mind is Florian, the "patent expert" quoted here is a anti-linux, anti-freesoftware, anti-google blogger who refuses to acknowledge who he works for (pretty clearly is backed by microsoft), who has been spreading demonstrably false and misleading information about linux and android patent cases for years.  No idea exactly what's up here, but generally if it comes from Florian it's somewhere between misleading and utter bullshit.

[Yegolev]

Patent guerrilla?

[Mrbloodworth]

Minecraft is now on the android market.