33 posts
Since moving to DC, I've been needing a new number. I kinda wanted to wait and see how AT&T was in this area. Very so-so. So I am switching to Verizon. I've been trying to find a good deal on a Droid and I found the big Kahuna of deals today (for when you open new service).
Amazon Wireless. Yes, Amazon offers phones and plans through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile. No iPhones or certain Blackberries, but that is ok. So I started looking at phones. All phones are, "Add to cart to see price." So I selected a Samsung Charge.
$.99 with 2year commitment. :o :o :o :o :o Is that a typo? Same phone on Verizon's site is fucking $299.
I checked out others and their prices are all very good. The Droid Bionic, that comes out today, was $199 with new service ($299 normally). They offered still really good prices on upgrades.
So, my Samsung Charge gets here Monday. WOOT!!
Before I bought, I researched and they are new phones. Not refurbs.
All phones should be free when you commit for two years... with data and a phone plan the carrier makes a minimum of $1400 off you. Note that I said, "should be"--my iPhone still cost me money... oh well.
Tell me about it Charger. Worst part is I would have been happy if it had just been $100 less. I like it when things exceed my expectations. ;D
One week ago I FINALLY upgraded my cell phone to a Motorola Droid X2 and couldn't be happier. I spent at least 15 hours(!) over the weekend learning it, personalizing it, adding all sorts of apps and just having a blast. The battery life far exceeds my business partners HTC Incredible.
I thought it was going to be somewhat helpful by having GPS, a bigger screen and the ability to see the internet, but I've already used it for sooooo much more! Plus everything I downloaded for it will be able to automatically go to a tablet when I get one. I've decided that the desktop PC will be the computer with the really big balls to handle all the programs and files so no laptop for me. The phone and tablet will take care of everything else (plus I know I can access my PC from either the phone or tablet if I ever need to).
Did I mention just how freakin' jazzed I am to have this new phone? Yeah... :D :)
maybe soon I'll try Round #2 of a "cool apps for Droids" thread. :)
Yeah Craig, I'm looking forward to getting the Charge. We actually have 4G service in the DC area, even out in Woodbridge, VA where I live. I am thinking of purchasing an optional extended charge battery/case cover that doubles battery capacity. For the price I paid for the phone, I think I can swing it. Already prepped by moving all my contacts to Gmail. Next, my calendar.
Next step though: get new phone, activate new phone, then wipe, jailbreak and unlock my current iPhone 3GS and sell on eBay. There are some surprisingly good sale prices for 2.5 year old iPhones that are Jailbroken and unlocked. I should be able to reclaim 2/3 or more of what I originally paid for it (especially unlocked).
I'm getting the standard VZW $100 gift card for turning my six year-old RAZR in. I'm good with that. :)
I don't get the option for the $100 gift card phone trade in, but am ok with that. $.99 phone and be able to sell my old one for north of $200: I can live with that. ;)
$100 for a six-year old RAZR is very good.
I'd rather trade all my phones in on a six year-old Bogner! ;D
I got my phone today. Everything is activated and working the way it should. Gotta say this was pretty painless. Sweet phone too! Love the new Droid!
I really dig my Droid X although I can't seem to get it rooted. Once a few guys have them here, we'll start a thread about apps. There is some really cool stuff available for these.
Although, not as many cool apps as there are for iOS yet.
What's out for the iOS that's not out for the Android market?
(Not a rebuttal - just curious!)
Polytune
FLStudio
Korg iElectribe
Korg iMS-20
Rebirth (the music app)
Akai SynthStation
Many more...
Yes, there are a bunch of things for the iphone that aren't available for the droids yet. Have to wonder how long that will last now though, given that there are now more droids in use than Iphones.
I got a tuner app for my droid, and it works great! I quit carrying my tuner whenever I'm playing acoustic guitar.
DTR, the real problem with development for Droid is that there are so many platforms. No one can guarantee that a hardware device will have the capabilities to run a certain app... no standard screen resolution, no standard available CPU or memory... that's why so many apps get developed for iOS... you have three screen resolutions and three CPU/RAM footprints. It's friggin easy. At my company, we have had two releases of two separate clients for all iOS devices already, but our main VPN client has only been released on Droid once... on Samsung... in Korea. Not for lack of trying, either. Droid development is in general chaotic and there is a lack of unity between Google and the major hardware developers, which makes development tricky and ultimately, less rewarding for the high-end developers. It may change in the future but it is never going to be as easy as developing for iOS with a rigid feature and hardware set. Much like the PC world... where you can make a PC out of anything you want, but a Mac is super rigid... it doesn't work for me with PC hardware, but I love it on my phone and iPad...
And there may be more Droid "phones" than iPhones... but remember, the iOS family includes the iPod Touch and the iPad. The installed base as of May 11 was 38 million on iOS vs. 24 million on Android. Look at it as a developer... you have one app store for your users, 58% more possible users, and three hardware devices to design for on iOS, vs what, 5 app stores, 5 manufacturers, 3 different current OSes, and probably 25 different combinations of RAM, CPU, and screen resolution on Android. It seems simple to me from the developer perspective.
I know I won't be too popular for saying this but I don't like cell phones and i don't like people who do like them. Nothing personal.
They cause me much grief at work and on the road. I know most of you good folk are responsible enough to use good judgement when using them but not everyone does. I have had to ban them inside at work because I don't really want to hear what color the sky is on the other end of the conversation.
I realize that a good number of people need them in their day to day activities and that is fine with me. Sorry for interrupting this thread. And please don't get me started on assbook/fagbook :-) .
ABCP (Adult Beverage Consumption Posting) that I will regret tomorrow.
Carry on.
Charger, yeah, I've read on ZDnet the thoughts on how it was at first an advantage to Google to leave Android open source, but how it sort of backfired as everyone ads there own twists and it causes the issues you mentioned. Great points on the simplicity of designing for the Apple stuff.
Keebo.... ;D Far out, man! LOL "Assbook? HAHAHAHA
Keebo — Sep 15, 2011I know I won't be too popular for saying this but I don't like cell phones and i don't like people who do like them. Nothing personal.
They cause me much grief at work and on the road. I know most of you good folk are responsible enough to use good judgement when using them but not everyone does. I have had to ban them inside at work because I don't really want to hear what color the sky is on the other end of the conversation.
I realize that a good number of people need them in their day to day activities and that is fine with me. Sorry for interrupting this thread. And please don't get me started on assbook/fagbook :-) .
ABCP (Adult Beverage Consumption Posting) that I will regret tomorrow.
Carry on.
You still on dial-up too? :D
I completely agree with you about the social disease sites, and tended to agree with you about cell phones until I upgraded mine. It's saved my butt with work-related stuff a few times already and has allowed me to get out of the office more. I have it fully setup so I won't be a dick or a hazard on the road, but I'm very happy that I finally upgraded after six years of just having a phone. :)
No dial-up since the first of the year believe it or not. I had no idea what I was missing when using a 16.8 kbps connection. Well, actually I did imagine.
I don't own a silly phone but I do have to carry one from work. I know how to make a call, answer a call, and use the alarm. That's about all I want to know.
DreamTheaterRules — Sep 15, 2011Charger, yeah, I've read on ZDnet the thoughts on how it was at first an advantage to Google to leave Android open source, but how it sort of backfired as everyone ads there own twists and it causes the issues you mentioned. Great points on the simplicity of designing for the Apple stuff.
Keebo.... ;D Far out, man! LOL "Assbook? HAHAHAHA
Oh yeah, and iPad can do this shit...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3jTBptfVQw
Keebo... it's 2011. These are computers--it's not some far off future, it's not where things are going, this is where it has gone and is. The battle is long since over. You don't have to like one or use one or carry one, but at this point it's like wearing a watch instead of estimating time by measuring shadows.
Yes charger, I understand and totally agree with you. I think they are extremely valuable to those who need them and obviously has some enjoyable features as well.
I have been an electronic gizmo geek for a long time but am having a hard time with this ultimate set of gizmos all rolled into one. I think it may be because of the frustration I get when people don't use good judgement with them around me. Trying to talk to someone who refuses to quit texting long enough for a conversation gets my goose. Workers constantly sending goofy images or tests when on the clock doesn't sit well with me. And so on. Etiquette could go a long way to alleviate my outlook on smart phones.
It is just one of those pet peeves I have and I should probably just get over it.
That was cool. I wondered too about what the one comment said about doing that often not being good for the touch screen, Cool nonetheless.
And, I'm with Craig. My smart phone gets me out of the office quicker. Many times I'll leave the office with 3-4 emails needing to be sent. I get in the car, open Vlingo, speak the whole message, and send it while driving, without being distracted by trying to type it. Or get an important message from a realtor on the weekend when my computer isn't on, and take care of something that I wouldn't have found out til hours later when I did turn it on. Many other examples. I can even rdp into my work computer from my phone.
Adding to the list...
Akai SynthStation (only $2)
and Crystal Synth (I've always loved this as a freeware VST, you can get the iOS version for $5).
I'm already in app overload without even all those nice cool iPhone-only apps.
*Sheesh!* Why the hell didn't I upgrade sooner???! :-? :D
Siri - ridiculously cool.
iMessages? Gimme a fucking break--free text messaging with image and video support, between anyone on iOS 5? Shit you don't even need a wireless plan... I can text from my iPad on wifi! seriously cool.
Microsoft Photosynth... I assume this is also available on Windows Phone, we couldn't find it on the android store... allows for automatic panorama photos, just move the camera and when things line up it takes the next pic and adds it to the image...
Here's a sample from the jam last night... I went all the way around the room and it took some time, so not everybody is lined up correctly... but you can get a sense of the jam...
Actually Panorama shooting is already built in to the Android phone software. Don't need third party software. ;)
I've heard of the headless bass and the headless horseman, but that's the first headless drummer I've seen! LOL! ;D
Dearthian: — Oct 21, 2011Actually Panorama shooting is already built in to the Android phone software. Don't need third party software. ;)
I've seen that. Not on the same level at all. You need to see Photosynth in action to see what I mean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BbuPPOVXQo
Watch the demo of it in action that starts around 45 seconds...
