My Thoughts Cell Phone Technology

When looking at cell phone technology nowdays, its really easy to get lost in the 2g,3g, Wifi, Bluetooth, Touchscreen, Multi touch, 3MP, 5MP, WM6, Android, Symbian.

With all the different options and prices ranges, what do you need, and what do you want.

I am a computer tech / g33k, so my needs and wants probably will vary from the vast majority of you, however this is how I see it. The features I for in my phone are the one that I use, and will allow me to push my phone to its limit. I like to get the most bang per buck out of my devices, and my phones aren't any different.

First of all there on two operating systems I prefer on cell phones. Android and Symbian. The reason I like these systems, are that they both allow for a lot of customization, and have a good base of programs to choose from. I believe that they both empower the user more than most the other mobile phone Operating Systems out on the market.

They do each have their Pro's and Cons. This is how they break down for me.


Android

Pro

• Open Source
• Flexible
• Free
• Lots of free programs
• Great potential
• Always improving
• Great community
• Support for many different kinds of hardware
• Easy to mod
• Based on Linux
• Extremely Customizeable

Con

• Not always stable
• Still being optimized
• Memory Hungry

Symbian

Pro

• Open
• Inexpensive (soon to be free)
• Lots of free programs
• Reached most of it's potential
• Supported largely by Nokia

Con

• Different versions (causing program writing/compatibiliy issues)
• A hassle to update.
• Tricky to Mod
• Memory Hungry

When closely examined, they both have their own positives and negatives. It would seem though in my experience, Android is the mobile platform to keep your eye on. Not only does it power phones but can power Netbooks and many other devices. The community can help improve it, since it is open source, and you can customize it to your needs to a degree much deeper than any other cell phone OS.

If I could have my dream cell phone, here are some of the features that I would like. Surprisingly this is not terribly far off.

• Zii Plaszma Platform preferred or Nvidia chipset
• Android OS
• Multi Touchscreen with hardware keyboard
• 1Gb+ high speed memory built in for RAM
• 1Gb high speed memory built in for programs and OS
• 6GB for storage
• hot swapable micro sd slot.
• Wifi
• Ability to broadcast audio to adjustable FM station.
• Bluetooth
• 3g+ ?
• Montion sensor As many axis as possible
• Compass
• Ambiant light detector
• GPS
• 5MP Camera with decent flash
• Ir illumination for night video recording.
• 1080p recording
• 1080p Projector or mini HDMI out (most likely led powered)
• Of Course it would be waterproof and shockproof!
• (emergency inflateable life boat/beacon/Parachute/Zip-grappling line and barb included, flamethrower optional)

As crazy as some of those requests are, I based almost all of these requests on prototype and production devices, and technology that exists right now. I don't know of any device yet that has combined these all together in one glorious machine. If you could have the dream cell phone, is there anything that you would want that I didn't mention ?

If you are a cell phone manufacturer, contact me.

G1 Quick Thoughts

Been using my G1 for a while, and here is how everything breaks down.

I have been switching between many different ROM's. 
Currently this if my phone setup:

• CyanogenMod - 4.0.2 Build CRC1 (Click here for List of G1 ROMs)
• 8gb Class 6 microSDHC
• 6732MB fat32 | 4443MB Free (Browser/Maps/GMAIL/ETC Cache moved to SD)
• 941 MB ext3 (over 50 Programs installed.)
• 32 MB linux-swap
• 72 MB free internal
• Seidio Innocell 2600mAh Extended Battery
• Zagg Invisible Shield

I like:

• How configurable it is being open source
• The free programs easily accessable on the Android Marketplace
• The touchscreen
• The hardware and software keyboard
• The Wifi
• The bluetooth
• The Google integration
• The Compass and Accelerametor
• The GPS

I dislike:

• Stock Battery time
• Lack of flash for camera
• That you have to Root your phone or have a Dev phone to do the really cool stuff.

Programs I use Daily

• Advanced Task Manager
• Stumble Video
• StreamFurious.
• dxTop (replacement home screen)
• OverclockWidget (for Dev/Rooted phones)
• Meebo IM easly connect to meebo and talk on all major chat platforms.. AIM, Yahoo, MSN, etc..
• SMS Backup (emails your SMS's to your Gmail account)
• Fusion Voicemail+

Programs that I use often

• Gmote
• My Coupons
• PicSay
• android-vnc-viewer
• Dilbertdroid
• Toggle Settings
• DroidSans
• etc.

For more Cool Tech information check out the sites below.

http://www.cooltechspot.com/pages/the-android-corner.htm

http://www.androidspin.com/

http://androidandme.com/

http://www.androidguys.com/

http://www.CoolTeckSpot.com

~Sound Off ~

T-Mobile G1/Android Community Stepping up again

Many people are wondering if and why the G1 is better than the iPhone. There are my reasons some of them include hardware features, but I think the biggest reason is that the operating system of the phone is Open Source, with the only restrictions being ones that keep vandalism and other devious acts to a minimum.

You may be wondering why this is such a big deal. The iPhone has a shop for applications. Well unlike the iPhone pretty much anyone who has a drive to create an application can on Android with out big licencing fees. Then without becoming a criminal he can use it on his phone, and give or sell it to friends or the world. No need to jailbrake your phone etc. worry about the next firmware upgrade and your apps still working. 

The next intelligent question would be then will anyone really take the time to make these progams being that as of right now being that the G1 hasn't launched and there are no other phones that use android yet? (other than people hack projects) The answer is yes, there has already been a contest to support the community that builds these applications, many times using their own money and making them available for donations. The imaginative and creative applications that emerged were nothing short of amazing. I would like some of my favorites however there are just too many interesting ones out there look for your self would you like any of these programs ? 

http://code.google.com/android/

http://code.google.com/android/adc_gallery/index.html#3

Sound off what do you think about all the open handset hype? How much would you pay for some of these programs? What programs would you like to see?

Android Features I Crave

Of course we all want different things from our cell phones, here are some of the features I would like to see (no particular order). Let me know if there are other features you would like to see? 

• Video MMS / Video recording / streaming / Video Out via mini usb adaptor to hdmi or ?
  
• Screen orientation / Step counter / G force meter for use in car / inclimeter (using accelerometer)
  
• Turn by Turn Navigation with traffic avoidance.
  
• Call Recording (with and without beep)
  
• Ability to view flash websites like Skyfire does http://www.skyfire.com/
  
• Divx player
  
• Bluetooth keyboard / other bluetooth profiles
  
• Internet sharing ie: 3G->Wifi or 3G -> MiniUSB etc.
  
• gdesklets http://www.gdesklets.de/
  
• the ability to use the mini usb port as a usb port ie usb flash and hdd support or wireless usb (dreaming)
  
• touchscreen keyboard for when you don't have the time or will to open the phone, or when you have it in a dock.
  
• Call filter. http://www.anfymobile.com/callfilter/
  
• WIDSETS (all you Nokia fans know this one :) ) http://www.widsets.com/
  
• Multiplayer games (quake :) )
  
• 3d or 2d cad (ok I know it sounds odd but it is helpful for inventors like me drawing up blueprints while we are waiting for shit) 
  
• A lite version of open office :) (although I think google docs will suffice)
• Gas Mileage tracker using GPS (& for tax man)
• Remote Control for electronics devices (TV, DVD, DVR, Stereo, Laptop, etc.)
• Graphing calculator / ti89 emulator
• FTP hosting
• BitTorrenting
• Graphic editor (with reasonably cool features)

Cool Features I found with the Android Emulator 1.0 r1

• Looks Like Android already has some of these built in you can filter calls in the contact book by checking the box send calls directly to voice mail.
• The Web Browser allows you to use most webpages. Including Google. Documents, Reader, and most all the other Google services. It seems that all google features are specially formatted.  
  
• Robust alarm clock
• Many sweet graphical features for developers, many sample API's to take advantage of.
• Widgets