Need smartphone advice

[dougo]

I think I've decided that I want a smartphone. I don't even really need the phone part, I just want a portable web browser that doesn't depend on free wireless access (which is not as ubiquitous as I'd like, and often flaky and/or slow when it does exist, e.g. True Grounds). I don't want an iPhone, for (let's just call it) religious reasons. Any advice? I realize that the smartphone landscape is changing rapidly, and maybe I'd be better off waiting six months, but I think it would be convenient to have one for the MIT Mystery Hunt.

Comments

[shannon_a]

Comparatively, most pre-iPhone smart phones are crap for net browsing. After the iPhone, there's only one other next-generation smart phone on the market, and that's the new touchscreen Blackberry. I haven't looked at it that much (since it came out just as we were putting the book to bed), but I'd say it's your best non-Apple bet from what I've seen.

[shannon_a]

Here's the sfgate's review of it:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=31247

[dougo.livejournal.com]

Huh? There are lots of other next-generation smartphones: T-Mobile G1, Neo FreeRunner, Samsung Omnia, and HTC Touch Diamond. And probably more that I'm missing.

[dougo.livejournal.com]

And the LG Dare.

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

Android? The one I saw was pretty impressive, but I don't know if your religious views would preclude that.

[prusik.livejournal.com]

Not quite as convenient, but how about a Nokia N800 (or moral equivalent) tethered via bluetooth to a cell phone? Otherwise, as you said, the landscape is changing rapidly. If you don't want an iPhone, then best bets for decent web browsing is probably one of the cellphones intended to compete against it. They're like mushrooms. Every cellular service provider (including AT&T) has at least one.

The Windows Mobile based devices may have decent web browsing. Opera is available on the platform. However, for religious reasons, I haven't really looked at any WM based devices. Otherwise, either of the recent Blackberry models (i.e., Bold, Storm) might suffice. The Storm doesn't do WiFi though. T-Mobile has an Android based phone. Rumor is that there will be another one in the first half of next year.

Personally, I lost interest in the Storm the instant I found out it didn't support WiFi. Otherwise, I might have taken a chance on one, despite the wildly divergent reviews. (I'm already on Verizon, but I've been off contract for about 6 months now.) Android didn't look fully baked the last I looked at it. However, I'm not in a big hurry, so I'm just waiting to see how the landscape shifts. Or I may get an iPhone.

Android G1

[matthew.gray.org (from livejournal.com)]

I love my Android G1. It's got a great browser, a keyboard, a ton of other very good apps, over-the-air sync for everything, and the ability to easily write your own apps if you want. Next time I see you, you can try it out a bit to see if you like it...

(Disclaimer/Disclosure: I work for Google but this is my personal opinion alone and not those of my employer.)

Re: Android G1

[dougo.livejournal.com]

It's at the top of my list (with the Neo FreeRunner a close second, although I'm not sure how much of a hobbyists-only thing that would be). So what are some things you dislike about it?

Re: Android G1

[matthew.gray.org (from livejournal.com)]

I'm on T-Mobile on my G1.

Dislike? Not a ton. There's some iPhone features I wish it had (real glass screen, pinch) but if you're not comparing to the iPhone, those don't really count.

I have mine synced with my work mail, which gets a ton of email, and as a result the battery life isn't so great. Even with a less aggressive sync, the battery life is still probably the biggest weakness. It certainly needs to be charged every night.

The fact that some apps won't store data on the SD card is annoying when you run into it, but I've only really run into it once and I just had to clear my local email cache and resync and it was fine.

I liked the Blackberry jog wheel, but I think that as I get more used to the 5-way nav, I don't really dislike it as much, I just found the jog wheel a little more natural.

The camera is sort of annoying to use, but I've never seen a smartphone where it isn't.

Re: Android G1

[dougo.livejournal.com]

Also, do you have T-Mobile, or some other carrier? The T-Mobile website kinda sucks, but maybe I shouldn't base my decision on that. Where would you suggest I buy one?

[rhysara.livejournal.com]

I love my palm. I have a centro most of my friends have treos which are slightly bigger.

In fact I am reading lj and replying from my phone right now.

[cubes.livejournal.com]

Me too. I'm not on it right now, but LJ, gmail, and a handful of other sites I actually need access to while I'm away form a real computer are perfectly usable from its browser. Plus, sync w/Outlook and tons of palm software out there if you use those sort of things (I use some).

My husband just got a spiffy new gadgety Verizon phone that's Windows mobile (and I think supposed to be their iPhone-alike), but I just can't get use to Windows Mobile after being a palm user for so long. Also, I seem to require a hardbutton keyboard. He likes it well enough, though.

[kazmat.livejournal.com]

I, too, won't buy an iphone. A real keyboard is an absolute must for me. I own and like my treo. It's not the best thing in the world for web browsing, but I can irc, ssh, IM, sms, and do web browsing that doesn't have a lot of frames or flash. I think my next phone will be something along the lines of a second generation G1, once they get some of the feature set issues ironed out.

[mshonle.livejournal.com]

I say give up your religilous reasons and get the iPhone. Otherwise, go with the Blackberry.

But why not just get the Verizon data plan and one of those modems that you plug into your laptop? Buy one of those really small laptops and you could be in Linux bliss.

[novalis.livejournal.com]

I'm told that Google's developer phone is pretty open, but I'm not sure if it's free enough. If you happen to figure out what the catch is, let me know!

Re: Android G1

[mattsnaps.livejournal.com]

The catch for most people will be the price point, as it is sold unsubsidized at $400.

Re: Android G1

[matthew.gray.org (from livejournal.com)]

The T-Mobile-locked version is pretty open in terms of app development. (ie, you can still write and run your own apps)

Re: Android G1

[mattsnaps.livejournal.com]

Right, it's mainly a question of being able to put new firmware on without waiting for the carrier.

[mattsnaps.livejournal.com]

There's an app called joikuspot for Series 60 devices, which turns the device into a wireless hotspot. The traffic doesn't show up as tethered traffic either, so you don't need a tethering-ok data plan.

I would avoid the Storm while it's still on Verizon.

[xalolo.livejournal.com]

I dislike the iphone and the storm, but I have a very strong dislike for finger touchscreen devices. The Epix is the device I prefer to use, but it's Windows Mobile (meh). I would not be using any smartphone device right now if I had to pay for it myself.

I love my G1

[choonpiaw.livejournal.com]

So ok, it was free from my Employer, but I do like it quite a lot.

[dougo.livejournal.com]

What are some things you dislike about it?

the big one is the battery life

[choonpiaw.livejournal.com]

It's definitely a "charge it every day or it will die" phone (note that the blackberry is like that for me as well, at least, it was until I found the "turn yourself off every night and turn yourself on every morning" feature). But Lisa is using it as her primary phone and she loves it, and I have to admit having the internet access always available is very addictive. If I didn't travel internationally as often as I did, I would ditch my blackberry in a minute (the blackberry is the only reasonably priced international roaming data plan --- probably a non-issue for you).

[pfranzosa.livejournal.com]

I love my iPhone but I won't try to convert you. I played with a G1 a bit before it came out and while the sw seemed very good the phone felt like exactly what it is - a cheap Chinese-branded phone without much design elegance. I'm not up on what's next for Android-based phones but if there are any rumors of higher-end hardware with it, you may want to wait.