The Smartphone Thread

[Shibboleet The Annihilator]

I'm still waiting for a usable release of the OpenMoko phone.  

Actually, I've managed to survive without any mobile phone for about four years now. It's my own minor revolt, and becomes slightly less tenable by the day.

But if there were some sleek open source/open hardware device out there which wasn't crippled or restricted, then I'd be on that.. and I'm happy to wait in the meantime.

Android seems to be the closest thing to that with WebOS, Moblin and LiMo trailing behind. I use WebOS on a Palm Pre, it's probably one of the slickest phone operating systems out there but it's still in its infancy and the Palm Pre has some build-quality issues. If they'd had built it more solidly it would be one of the best phones ever made. The sliding mechanism is kind of rickety and the stock battery sucks. After buying a 2600mAH battery (the phone lasts forever now) for it my only complaint is the crappy slider.

Hardware gripes aside, I love WebOS. The way it handles multitasking is great and the Pre's processor seems more than capable of handling it (provided I don't hack it too much and make the OS unstable... again...). The only time it seems to slow down at all is when I'm running the Pandora app and the IRC app at once (Pandora is resource intensive and IRC is still in early development). I'd bitch about it not having video recording, but now it does (PreCorder) so I guess I can't complain about that anymore. The camera on the Pre kicks all kinds of ass too, very very fast.

I used to have a Palm Centro and I loved it. It was solidly built but it wasn't as massive as the Treos. PalmOS wasn't pretty but it was fast, reliable and you could get to the app you wanted to use in 2 or 3 clicks. I would have kept it if it had decent GPS, WiFi and a good web browser. Compared to my old Centro, the Pre is definitely cooler, but it doesn't seem to have the same usability and it doesn't feel as solid. WebOS's web browser is easily one of if not the best mobile browser (the only one that even comes close is Safari on the iPhone). GPS works very well and the WiFi is probably the most efficient WiFi I've ever seen on a smartphone. I just wish the Pre's phone antenna was as good as the wireless, sometimes I have trouble with a weak signal indoors and it seems to eat up more battery than it should.

I thought about switching to the Droid but Verizon wants me to pay them $15 a month to sync with my exchange server, which is absolutely retarded because no other phone outside of the Blackberry EVER charges for exchange and Blackberry charges because they go through a proprietary service to do so. Android has no such thing and connects directly to the server. As good as their network is, I fucking hate Verizon because of their bullshit charges, high plan costs and the way they artificially cripple their phones (so they can add more bullshit charges if you want the phone uncrippled).

[Shibboleet The Annihilator]

Do you use one? What kind? How do you like it? Does it have fart apps?

Yes, iPhone, I like it, yes.

How many of the apps out there are really worth it and how many are just more of the same?

I wanted to get an iPhone but the only carrier here is AT&t and they make you pay out the nose for a network that's pretty shitty in comparison to Verizon (a little cheaper) and Sprint (WAY cheaper). The 3GS is definitely the best phone I've seen so far in terms of what it can do (and if it had a physical keyboard I might even say fuck it, AT&T it is) but as it stands AT&T just isn't worth it.

[Dysnomia]

I picked blackberry over Iphone since I have a hard time using the touch-screen.  Didn't mind my palm treo755 because it came with the pen so I could poke the screen.  But I'm ridiculously fail with Iphones.

[Captain Utopia]

I thought about switching to the Droid but Verizon wants me to pay them $15 a month to sync with my exchange server, which is absolutely retarded because no other phone outside of the Blackberry EVER charges for exchange and Blackberry charges because they go through a proprietary service to do so. Android has no such thing and connects directly to the server. As good as their network is, I fucking hate Verizon because of their bullshit charges, high plan costs and the way they artificially cripple their phones (so they can add more bullshit charges if you want the phone uncrippled).

I thought there were some aspects of Android which weren't open? Like, the provider retains the ability to disable functionality/apps? Looking at the wiki page though I don't see anything like that, so perhaps I just dreamt it?

Crippling drives me crazy, and it's the primary reason why I've held out for so long - I firmly believe that if I buy a device then I shouldn't have to outwit the provider just to get it to do what it is perfectly capable of doing.

I dunno.. I just find it hard to get excited about any of the phones out there.

With regards syncing exchange on android, do verizon actually block that traffic if you don't pay their extortion? If it's all open source, isn't there another way to do it? Encryption proxy?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Do you use one? What kind? How do you like it? Does it have fart apps?

Yes, iPhone, I like it, yes.

How many of the apps out there are really worth it and how many are just more of the same?

I wanted to get an iPhone but the only carrier here is AT&t and they make you pay out the nose for a network that's pretty shitty in comparison to Verizon (a little cheaper) and Sprint (WAY cheaper). The 3GS is definitely the best phone I've seen so far in terms of what it can do (and if it had a physical keyboard I might even say fuck it, AT&T it is) but as it stands AT&T just isn't worth it.

I heard some kind of rumor that the Apple contract with iPhone ends in July and they'll be available with other carriers after that. No idea its validity though. I guess I could look it up but I'm way too busy reading amusing blogs and posting here.

[Eater of Clowns]

Do you use one? What kind? How do you like it? Does it have fart apps?

Yes, iPhone, I like it, yes.

How many of the apps out there are really worth it and how many are just more of the same?

I wanted to get an iPhone but the only carrier here is AT&t and they make you pay out the nose for a network that's pretty shitty in comparison to Verizon (a little cheaper) and Sprint (WAY cheaper). The 3GS is definitely the best phone I've seen so far in terms of what it can do (and if it had a physical keyboard I might even say fuck it, AT&T it is) but as it stands AT&T just isn't worth it.

I heard some kind of rumor that the Apple contract with iPhone ends in July and they'll be available with other carriers after that. No idea its validity though. I guess I could look it up but I'm way too busy reading amusing blogs and posting here.

When the iPhone first came out it was supposed to be ATT exclusive until 2010.  It may very well still open up on other carriers, but chances are it won't be Verizon.  Verizon and Apple have been at odds on the whole thing from the beginning.  The Droid is basically Verizon's affirmation that they won't be getting the iPhone and they are going to attempt to kill it.

I have no idea why any of this is taking place.

[LMNO]

Do you use one? What kind? How do you like it? Does it have fart apps?

Yes, iPhone, I like it, yes.

How many of the apps out there are really worth it and how many are just more of the same?

I wanted to get an iPhone but the only carrier here is AT&t and they make you pay out the nose for a network that's pretty shitty in comparison to Verizon (a little cheaper) and Sprint (WAY cheaper). The 3GS is definitely the best phone I've seen so far in terms of what it can do (and if it had a physical keyboard I might even say fuck it, AT&T it is) but as it stands AT&T just isn't worth it.

The apps I use the most are Facebook, GPS, "Around Me", Web browser, Weather Channel, ESPN, Pandora, YouTube, RSS feed reader, Epicurious, OpenTable, and iDrum.

I've found my phone useful enough to miss it when it's not around.

[Shibboleet The Annihilator]

Do you use one? What kind? How do you like it? Does it have fart apps?

Yes, iPhone, I like it, yes.

How many of the apps out there are really worth it and how many are just more of the same?

I wanted to get an iPhone but the only carrier here is AT&t and they make you pay out the nose for a network that's pretty shitty in comparison to Verizon (a little cheaper) and Sprint (WAY cheaper). The 3GS is definitely the best phone I've seen so far in terms of what it can do (and if it had a physical keyboard I might even say fuck it, AT&T it is) but as it stands AT&T just isn't worth it.

The apps I use the most are Facebook, GPS, "Around Me", Web browser, Weather Channel, ESPN, Pandora, YouTube, RSS feed reader, Epicurious, OpenTable, and iDrum.

I've found my phone useful enough to miss it when it's not around.

Cool, guess I'm not missing out on too much since the only one of those the Pre doesn't have is iDrum and "Around Me". I do feel like I'm missing out on games though. What is "Around Me"?

StD, too lazy to google.

[Shibboleet The Annihilator]

I thought about switching to the Droid but Verizon wants me to pay them $15 a month to sync with my exchange server, which is absolutely retarded because no other phone outside of the Blackberry EVER charges for exchange and Blackberry charges because they go through a proprietary service to do so. Android has no such thing and connects directly to the server. As good as their network is, I fucking hate Verizon because of their bullshit charges, high plan costs and the way they artificially cripple their phones (so they can add more bullshit charges if you want the phone uncrippled).

I thought there were some aspects of Android which weren't open? Like, the provider retains the ability to disable functionality/apps? Looking at the wiki page though I don't see anything like that, so perhaps I just dreamt it?

Crippling drives me crazy, and it's the primary reason why I've held out for so long - I firmly believe that if I buy a device then I shouldn't have to outwit the provider just to get it to do what it is perfectly capable of doing.

I dunno.. I just find it hard to get excited about any of the phones out there.

With regards syncing exchange on android, do verizon actually block that traffic if you don't pay their extortion? If it's all open source, isn't there another way to do it? Encryption proxy?

From what I understand, the only way they can do anything with an app is if it's installed through the official app store. If you install it on your own they can't touch it.

I would guess that it's just some flag on Verizon's modified OS and if you went into the code and commented it out, they would not be able to tell. I imagine that someone will eventually make a hack that circumvents Verizon's horseshit (and that's assuming they haven't already). If they made a 3rd party app that worked all by itself I don't see how they could tell what you were doing unless they actually started actively monitoring your activity (which takes effort and money and risks alienating their customers). It would be the same as when people use PDAnet on their phones - unless you do something stupid (like eat up 10 gigs of data streaming video or downloading torrents), you'll probably never be caught.

As it stands though, I don't really see any compelling reason to go through the trouble of paying or getting out of my early termination fee for Sprint to get a Motorola Droid. The Pre is far from perfect, but it's good enough for me at the moment. There will be plenty of other Android phones coming out in the next year or two and something is eventually going to put the Moto Droid to shame. We might see some pleasant surprises from Palm too.

From what I've heard about the iPhone, it looks like it will definitely end up on other U.S. carriers. The question is when. It was supposed to be some time in 2010 and I seem to remember hearing rumors about a CDMA iPhone (Verizon and Sprint both use CDMA networks), but I'm not holding my breath.

[Shibboleet The Annihilator]

For those of you stoked about android (and WinMo... meh...):
http://www.slashgear.com/8-10-acer-smartphones-in-2010-more-balanced-between-android-and-winmo-2764542/
...and that's just one company. Other computer companies are also slated to release android phones in addition to the normal mobile phone companies.

[LMNO]

Do you use one? What kind? How do you like it? Does it have fart apps?

Yes, iPhone, I like it, yes.

How many of the apps out there are really worth it and how many are just more of the same?

I wanted to get an iPhone but the only carrier here is AT&t and they make you pay out the nose for a network that's pretty shitty in comparison to Verizon (a little cheaper) and Sprint (WAY cheaper). The 3GS is definitely the best phone I've seen so far in terms of what it can do (and if it had a physical keyboard I might even say fuck it, AT&T it is) but as it stands AT&T just isn't worth it.

The apps I use the most are Facebook, GPS, "Around Me", Web browser, Weather Channel, ESPN, Pandora, YouTube, RSS feed reader, Epicurious, OpenTable, and iDrum.

I've found my phone useful enough to miss it when it's not around.

Cool, guess I'm not missing out on too much since the only one of those the Pre doesn't have is iDrum and "Around Me". I do feel like I'm missing out on games though. What is "Around Me"?

StD, too lazy to google.

It locates your position, and then shows you various pubs, theatres, bus stops, clubs, schools, ATMs, gas stations, taxis, etc, and how to get there.

[Shibboleet The Annihilator]

Ah ok, there's a couple of apps like that for WebOS too. I usually just use google though. Have you ever tried BlockChalk? It's kind of like twitter but it's location based.

[Buddha's Ghost Penis]

YOU'RE PHONES ARE FULL OF STUPID.

[Z³]

I have a blackberry.
I make phonecalls with it.
and when I get phonecalls it plays Heaving Earth Lava #1.
Thats about all I know.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I no longer seem to have my iPhone.

I don't know exactly what happened, except that I think I may have thrown it. Somewhere. Oh dear.