Re: Linux Android Phone coming to Verizon
Bill Ricker bill.n1...@gmail.com writes: The Nokia N900 is a combo upgrade from the N97 smartphone and the N700/800/810 Linux wifi tablet. Ah, yes--I forgot to mention that one :) Due on T-Mobile and ATT soon i hear. It should be harder to lock down ... and all the apps built for N700/800/810 should be usable. That's what I'll be looking for when my contract is up. It may be `harder to lock down' in the sense that you'll likely be able to buy one from `direct' from the Nokia (probably via an unlocked-phone retailer, but /without/ going through any of the service-prividers) and use it with the network/provider of your choice, since it's a GSM/UMTS device. Technical considerations aside, this is why I went with GSM when I got into the mobile world; it seems more expensive to get a device without a carrier subsidy (and may actually /be/ more expensive, in some cases), but it can be worth whatever extra expense there is. Will the version that the carriers sell (if they do) be `harder to lock down'? Maybe, maybe not--I guess it depends on what you mean by `locked down'. As I mentioned earlier, the G1 (as T-Mobile sells it), ended up being not-really-all-that open, because the device enforces signature-requirements on the firmware, just like Tivo (so, great--you get access to the code, and you can modify and redistribute your copy, but you can't *run* it on your device). An N900 sold by T-Mobile or ATT is probably not going to be `locked down' in the sense of `nickledime you to death' as Verizon customers tell me Verizon does, but that's not in the normal ATT or T-Mobile culture anyway. As someone who's interested in developing software to use on his, I'm still... just not getting what the big deal is about Android (I'd love it if someone who does get it could explain it to me; I guess it's `better than the iPhone', but is that *it*?). In particular, I really *don't* want to have to develop in Java: I *really* don't want to have to re-implement network-protocols, file-formats, and graphics toolkits that I already have available just because they aren't already Java all the way down. The N900, on the other hand..., *that's* attractive to me, because it gives me open access all of the development-tools that I currently enjoy with the FreeRunner--I can just use my Cairo-based VisualIDs library, for example. For some of the development that I'm doing, I'd probably be reasonably well-off developing on the *iPhone*, of all things (wow--I never thought I'd say that..., but at least, it appears, I'd be better-off than I would with an Android phone), because I'd be able to use the toolkits that I already have. Of course, the iPhone's ultimately a no-go for me because the *rest* of the development that I'm doing is *impossible* on the iPhone, and `Free Software on the iPhone' is hampered by the inability to actually share an application with other iPhone users who haven't either `joined the developer program' or `jailbroken' their devices. Of course, what I *really* want is just for OpenMoko to pay some heed to maddog and become successful... ;) -- Don't be afraid to ask (Lf.((Lx.xx) (Lr.f(rr. ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Linux Android Phone coming to Verizon
Joshua, First of all, let me say it was good to see you again last night at the 15th Anniversary of GNHLUG. Secondly, what you say is true about the signed images. The only way you could get an unlocked, unsigned G1 was to join the Google Developer's program ($25.) and then you could buy *one*. That was o.k. for a developer, but for a Value-Added-Reseller or person trying to develop a program for large-scale deployment, having each one of your customers individually sign up as a Google developer and order their phone was a little impractical. Third, be careful when buying 3G phones that are not from the carriers in the USA and Canada. Currently the North American 3G is not the same as the rest of the world's 3G, and your phone will fall back to 2.x GSM Edge technology. Carriers in the USA and Canada adjust their phone's frequencies to line up with what they use, but a lot of the phones (the HTC 3G Hero purchased in Europe unlocked, for example) does not work on T-Mobile or Roger's networks in a 3G mode. New spectrum is supposedly opening up in North America, but that is not here yet, and even it is the OS and firmware would probably have to be updated to use it. md ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Linux Android Phone coming to Verizon
Part of what we do at work involves the mobile development space. What I'm going to like the Android is the common development platform. If you are coding a Java app for a Blackberry -- is it for the Curve, Storm, Bold, etc,etc CDMA or GSM? You have to have all the phones and plans and code specifically for each one if you want to make a seemless app that does more than the basics. Coding for Android *should* be phone-agnostic, other than SMS differences between CDMA and GSM networks... The bummer being Android APIs are nothing like J2ME on the other platforms! I guess it's JAL... I'm looking forward wait to see how open the Verizon Android will be. Gerry On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 8:44 AM, Thomas Charron twaf...@gmail.com wrote: Anyone heard anything much about this 'Droid' phone? It's being toated as an open phone, but.. It's from Verizon. Kinda makes me wonder. http://phandroid.com/motorola-droid/ -- -- Thomas ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Linux Android Phone coming to Verizon
The Nokia N900 is a combo upgrade from the N97 smartphone and the N700/800/810 Linux wifi tablet. Due on T-Mobile and ATT soon i hear. It should be harder to lock down ... and all the apps built for N700/800/810 should be usable. That's what I'll be looking for when my contract is up. -- Bill n1...@arrl.net bill.n1...@gmail.com ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Linux Android Phone coming to Verizon
On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 8:44 AM, Thomas Charron twaf...@gmail.com wrote: Anyone heard anything much about this 'Droid' phone? It's being toated as an open phone, but.. It's from Verizon. Kinda makes me wonder. http://phandroid.com/motorola-droid/ Did you see the Boy Genius Report http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/19/motorola-droid-hands-on/ On a related note, LJ just did a story on how you can check out the Android OS using VirtualBox http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/android-or-webos-try-you-buy ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Linux Android Phone coming to Verizon
G Rundlett greg.rundl...@gmail.com writes: On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 8:44 AM, Thomas Charron twaf...@gmail.com wrote: Anyone heard anything much about this 'Droid' phone? It's being toated as an open phone, but.. It's from Verizon. Kinda makes me wonder. http://phandroid.com/motorola-droid/ I asked one of my co-workers about that, the other day--since he's been following Android (and other `open' smartphone options) in anticipation of the upcoming end of his Verizon contract. He said, I've heard some news about it. I haven't heard *everything* about it, though. It's still Verizon, so He thinks /maybe/ Google is big enough to push Verizon into relinquishing some of the control they normally want over everything, but maybe not--the T-Mobile Android phones turned out to be not-really all that open. Maybe there's hope in that `methods of restricting functionality available on a smartphone' patent that Apple was seeking. Did you see the Boy Genius Report http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/19/motorola-droid-hands-on/ On a related note, LJ just did a story on how you can check out the Android OS using VirtualBox http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/android-or-webos-try-you-buy In sort-of-related news, jwz has given up on the Palm Pre, passed on any Android phones, and just switched to the iPhone: http://jwz.livejournal.com/1108212.html (Dear Palm, it's just not working out.) He says, there: I thought about trying out an Android phone, but the reality is that the most positive review I've ever heard about Android was damning with faint praise along the lines of, it sure does show the potential to someday be an iPhone competitor. And that `Boy Genius Report' provides that same `damning faint praise': the most impressive phone we’ve used since the iPhone. It’s positively amazing So the Droid is positively amazing, just... not quite as amazing as the iPhone? Otherwise it would have been something like the most impressive phone ever, rather than just the most impressive phone SINCE THE iPHONE, right? Well, at least my FreeRunner doesn't take 40 seconds to take a picture like jwz's Pre does... :) -- Don't be afraid to ask (Lf.((Lx.xx) (Lr.f(rr. ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Linux Android Phone coming to Verizon
I own a G1. I use primarily text-oriented applications. Functionally, my phone has a MUCH larger screen than an iPhone, because I have a keyboard. If I didn't have a keyboard, I wouldn't want a smartphone at all. Soft keyboards are like driving a nail with a pair of vice grips. It works, but there's a right tool for the job, and that isn't it. Several of my friends have iPhones. They're awful for text-oriented use. So for me, the Android phones (with keyboard) are already far superior to the iPhone. I would very much like the new faster Android, if it weren't for contract lock-in and awful Verizon experiences in the past. --DTVZ On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 11:51 PM, Joshua Judson Rosen roz...@geekspace.comwrote: G Rundlett greg.rundl...@gmail.com writes: On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 8:44 AM, Thomas Charron twaf...@gmail.com wrote: Anyone heard anything much about this 'Droid' phone? It's being toated as an open phone, but.. It's from Verizon. Kinda makes me wonder. http://phandroid.com/motorola-droid/ I asked one of my co-workers about that, the other day--since he's been following Android (and other `open' smartphone options) in anticipation of the upcoming end of his Verizon contract. He said, I've heard some news about it. I haven't heard *everything* about it, though. It's still Verizon, so He thinks /maybe/ Google is big enough to push Verizon into relinquishing some of the control they normally want over everything, but maybe not--the T-Mobile Android phones turned out to be not-really all that open. Maybe there's hope in that `methods of restricting functionality available on a smartphone' patent that Apple was seeking. Did you see the Boy Genius Report http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/19/motorola-droid-hands-on/ On a related note, LJ just did a story on how you can check out the Android OS using VirtualBox http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/android-or-webos-try-you-buy In sort-of-related news, jwz has given up on the Palm Pre, passed on any Android phones, and just switched to the iPhone: http://jwz.livejournal.com/1108212.html (Dear Palm, it's just not working out.) He says, there: I thought about trying out an Android phone, but the reality is that the most positive review I've ever heard about Android was damning with faint praise along the lines of, it sure does show the potential to someday be an iPhone competitor. And that `Boy Genius Report' provides that same `damning faint praise': the most impressive phone we’ve used since the iPhone. It’s positively amazing So the Droid is positively amazing, just... not quite as amazing as the iPhone? Otherwise it would have been something like the most impressive phone ever, rather than just the most impressive phone SINCE THE iPHONE, right? Well, at least my FreeRunner doesn't take 40 seconds to take a picture like jwz's Pre does... :) -- Don't be afraid to ask (Lf.((Lx.xx) (Lr.f(rr. ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
