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Android Hardware Thread - 2010 Edition

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My Desire has been delivered today :D Not had chance to play with it yet though.

Loved my Magic, but an upgrade was possible, so i went for it. Giving the Magic to the GF, and shes over the moon.
Havent used an Android phone with Sense before, so should be good!
 
SRG01 said:
Not sure if this is the right place, but what's the main difference between a Google developer phone and a retail one? Just root access and unlocked, right? I'm planning to make a small project using the phone in place of a microcontroller, but I'm trying to decide on whether to buy the developer phone or a retail one.
Click to expand...
You can get the retail one, root it and flash a developer Android build. If you have Tmo you can just call them and have them unlock it for you, just tell them you're going out of the country and you want to use a local sim.
 
iapetus said:
T-Mobile's allegedly horrendous coverage. :P
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yeah if you had tmobile before then you know what you are in for, if you are moving to it, good luck. I tried it and switched right back
 
gcubed said:
yeah if you had tmobile before then you know what you are in for, if you are moving to it, good luck. I tried it and switched right back
Click to expand...

I'm still trying to work out which network to go with. Orange are out - left them as a result of bad customer service last time I was with them. T-Mobile/Virgin are pretty much out thanks to the coverage. O2 still haven't given a date for the Desire and are expensive but have the current edge as I'm with them at the moment. Vodafone seem to have a 500MB monthly data cap rather than a true 'unlimited' data plan as the others do.
 
iapetus said:
T-Mobile's allegedly horrendous coverage. :P
Click to expand...
Somehow in Lincoln we have decent coverage and 3G, so I'm a bit shocked.

Either way I decided not in store 'cos then I have to go back to said store if something goes wrong, but now I have to wait for stock. EXCELLENT.


In terms of internet plan, I thought most were 500mb, except T-mobile who is 1gb, and Voda are 1gb on the iPhone only.
 
JonathanEx said:
In terms of internet plan, I thought most were 500mb, except T-mobile who is 1gb, and Voda are 1gb on the iPhone only.
Click to expand...

T-Mobile and O2 have better deals on their smartphone plans, I believe (according to T-mobile customer support 'unlimited is unlimited', though I can't see that holding up...)
 
http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/icds-tegra-2-powered-gemini-is-the-most-feature-complete-tablet/
6apr10icd2345hed22x.jpg


6apr10specoub244.jpg

6apr10oxb23549.jpg

6apr10spec07h5.jpg
 
ILikeFeet said:
that's some hot shit. but battery life (eh, it's replacable) and price (which I'm sure will be a bitch) are a concern.

I'm sure I can do with Android.
Click to expand...

i wouldnt really worry about the battery life, but the price has got to be at like 699 for the capacitive model
 
That Gemini looks pretty godly. :D I guess you would use a headset or speakerphone to talk on that. It would be funny to see someone hold that up to their ear. :lol
 
Hmm, I'm really bad with those decisions.. I'm looking for a new phone and I've narrowed it down to the Legend and the Desire. Now, from what I see, the Desire has a faster processor, slightly more RAM and a display with more resolution and it's bigger too. In my case (I'd buy neither of them with a contract) the Desire is about 50-60€ (depending on where I'll buy it) more expensive than the Legend (470/420€). Do you actually notice the hardware difference between the Legend and the Desire in everyday use? (emails, calendar, some surfing, music) And is there any difference in the sound quality? (I'd like to use it as a replacement for my iPod touch, how does it compare to that?)

edit: Okay, just found a shop that carries the Desire for 440€ which makes the difference to the Legend pretty much negligible, so I'll go for the Desire. It's not yet available here but I can take the wait.. I think.

edit 2: Crap, they just changed their price to 490€. What the hell.
 
Given the proliferation of Android and the incoming tablet market, I'm really starting to think Google is just wasting its time with ChromeOS. May as well just throw a skin on Android for netbooks that uses the ChromeOS interface and call it a day.
 
I'm still waiting for verizon's official announcement of the Incredible. It seems like one of the worst kept secrets, because images keep on showing up with the Verizon logo silk screened on.
 
teiresias said:
Given the proliferation of Android and the incoming tablet market, I'm really starting to think Google is just wasting its time with ChromeOS. May as well just throw a skin on Android for netbooks that uses the ChromeOS interface and call it a day.
Click to expand...

I'd rather have a Chrome OS tablet than an Android tablet tbh. I really don't want my tablet, if I were to buy one, to feel like my phone and would rather have an unique experience there. Hard to explain why, I just don't feel my phone's OS + a bigger screen justifies a purchase. Plus I'm a fan of the Chrome browser and Chrome OS is pretty badass and would make for easy syncing life.
 
El Papa said:
You can get the retail one, root it and flash a developer Android build. If you have Tmo you can just call them and have them unlock it for you, just tell them you're going out of the country and you want to use a local sim.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll probably buy a used one over ebay to save on costs!
 
Gaf, do I want the N1 or the Incredible? or are they the same? i have not been following the upcoming phones but mine just broke...so yeah
 
http://mobile.engadget.com/2010/04/07/htc-evo-4g-landing-on-sprint-mid-june-4g-to-be-a-10-20-add-on/

We're getting some intel today that says that "a lot of upper management" inside Sprint has been discussing Sunday, June 13 as the mighty EVO 4G's date with destiny, just a smidge over two months from now. That certainly lines up with the company's stance of a Summer release -- and while our contact at Sprint says that the date hasn't been set in stone (how could it be this far in advance?), June 6 and June 13 are said to be the front runners at the moment, with the 13th getting more attention.

We're also hearing that 4G will be a $10-20 plan add-on, a price that would almost certainly include access to the EVO's 8-device WiFi hotspot capability. We're definitely buying that 4G won't be included with the base Simply Everything plans since we encountered an EVO at CTIA that hadn't had WiMAX access "enabled" on its account even though EV-DO worked just fine; the services are being treated separately. Verizon's recent announcement about free hotspot access on its Palms certainly puts some price pressure on Sprint here, but charging a premium specifically for 4G probably isn't an issue as long as they're clearly able to demonstrate its speed advantages in the markets that have it live.

Update: We've been written by several folks insisting that that the add-on fee will be for the 4G hotspot service alone, not 4G access from the EVO itself. Let's hope. Thanks, everyone!
Click to expand...
 
Apparently the Incredible is launching on April 25th.

It seems that Sprint should have launched the EVO 4G a bit sooner after the hype that they built up at. If they are launching it in June the next iPhone is going to be stealing all of its thunder.

Link
 
Is there any reason why a UK HTC Desire wouldn't work on USA networks? My friend seems to be concerned about it (he is heading to usa and wants a new phone before he goes)
 
I just updated my samsung spica to 2.1 from ancient 1.5 and it feels like a new phone so now that the 2.1 update is finally out it became a great, fast & cheap android phone.
 
Nexus One + Desire + Incredible + EVO = HTC ANDROID DOMINATION TOTAL
with supporting character HTC Legend

tabsina said:
Is there any reason why a UK HTC Desire wouldn't work on USA networks? My friend seems to be concerned about it (he is heading to usa and wants a new phone before he goes)
Click to expand...

I think it'd work on AT&T (or possibly, but unlikily, T-Mo.) Have him check the 3G bands. AT&T does 1900 MHz and T-Mobile does 1700/2100 MHz.
 
tabsina said:
Is there any reason why a UK HTC Desire wouldn't work on USA networks? My friend seems to be concerned about it (he is heading to usa and wants a new phone before he goes)
Click to expand...

not sure on the UK bands, but it will work on either Tmob or ATT
 
hermit7 said:
Apparently the Incredible is launching on April 25th.

It seems that Sprint should have launched the EVO 4G a bit sooner after the hype that they built up at. If they are launching it in June the next iPhone is going to be stealing all of its thunder.

Link
Click to expand...

Holy shit yes!!! About time. Now as soon as the reviews hit I can decide if this is my new phone. I've never been without a keyboard but I think if it's responsive enough I can learn to like it. Otherwise I might go with the Droid.
 
Can someone suggest the best android phone for AT&T or Sprint?

Or should I switch to a different provider? (Sprint is current provider and tempted to switch to AT&T since I think I get a deal since I have U-verse.)
 
giga said:
http://stuff.tv/blogs/future/archiv...e-160-icd-gemini-android-tablet-hands-on.aspx

Specs are amazing. Interested to see what they do to adapt the interface to the larger resolution and display.
Click to expand...
It was interesting to read that they're apparently running a version of Android that has Flash support.

Also, author responded in comments section that it felt about as heavy as the iPad. Guess can't really expect it to be lighter with everything it supposedly has packed in, but I found the iPad to be a little heavier than I'd like for the kind of use I'd like to put a tablet to.

Anyone have any idea what kind of reputation ICD has? I've never heard of them.
 
teiresias said:
Given the proliferation of Android and the incoming tablet market, I'm really starting to think Google is just wasting its time with ChromeOS. May as well just throw a skin on Android for netbooks that uses the ChromeOS interface and call it a day.
Click to expand...
Let them fight it out. As much as I like Android, I'm really curious to see how Chrome OS turns out.
 
speculawyer said:
Can someone suggest the best android phone for AT&T or Sprint?

Or should I switch to a different provider? (Sprint is current provider and tempted to switch to AT&T since I think I get a deal since I have U-verse.)
Click to expand...

Sprint has right now:
  • Samsung Moment (solid QWERTY stock Android phone)
  • HTC Hero* (great "last gen" touch-only HTC Sense device)
    * Sprint version has different exterior but same specs.

Sprint is getting:
AT&T has right now:
AT&T is getting:
  • HTC Desire (Timeframe unknown, Nexus One + HTC Sense)
  • Dell Aero (Timeframe unknown, probably crappy and gimped)

My advice? Wait for the EVO 4G. Can't wait? Get an AT&T Nexus One. Can't afford it? HTC Hero or Samsung Moment depending on your dependence on keyboards.
 
Andrex said:
My advice? Wait for the EVO 4G. Can't wait? Get an AT&T Nexus One. Can't afford it? HTC Hero or Samsung Moment depending on your dependence on keyboards.
Click to expand...
Thanks . . . as I looked through your list that is what I concluded. My half-dead phone is going to have to limp for a while. An old Treo that I've dropped it so many times that the keyboard no longer works.

I'm passing on the Pre even though it looks great because I think they are dead-man-walking. Sorry Palm.
 
speculawyer said:
Thanks . . . as I looked through your list that is what I concluded. My half-dead phone is going to have to limp for a while. An old Treo that I've dropped it so many times that the keyboard no longer works.

I'm passing on the Pre even though it looks great because I think they are dead-man-walking. Sorry Palm.
Click to expand...

i agree with andrex, your two best bets are either the EVO or the Nexus One (more of a capital investment), i have no faith in ATT that when they release the Desire it wont be completely shitted up.
 
My partner just got a Droid.

Any tutorial YouTube video series or websites he should be following? Keep in mind he is not a power user, to say the least. Technology is something he masters over loooong stretches of time. :lol
 
Just discovered to my shock that my HTC Desire has no self timer on the camera!

Is there anyway around this? My Narcissistic streak cant live with out this function. :D
 
I wish they had more Android hardware in Canada =/ right now I am seriously considering picking up the Droid (Milestone here) but... I mean, I see so much sexiness coming out in the future! This is exactly why I don't buy phones, there is always something else I want.
 
krypt0nian said:
My partner just got a Droid.

Any tutorial YouTube video series or websites he should be following? Keep in mind he is not a power user, to say the least. Technology is something he masters over loooong stretches of time. :lol
Click to expand...
I don't know about Droid specific video series, but Google put together a whole Youtube "channel" for the Nexus One, which has several getting started and how-to vids he can view. Since Droid is on 2.1 Android same as Nexus One, the only thing it won't teach him is anything to do with the use of the Droid's physical keyboard, but i don't think that's a major loss.
 
Andrex said:
Sprint is getting:
Click to expand...
They haven't announced an actual pricing scheme yet, but they have said things like...

The Nexus One on Sprint

Sprint also announced on Wednesday that it will start selling the Google Nexus One, though no exact availability timeframe or prices have been mentioned. Sprint suggested it would use a similar pricing scheme for the Nexus One on T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
(source)

The only actual comments by anyone about it not being subsidized that I can find are by Michael Gartenberg, everyone's favorite featured Engadget columnist and Microsoft shill. Otherwise, nobody reports on the pricing.
 
Hey guys, what's an Android phone that's easy to find unlocked that ships to Canada that works on AWS (1700Mhz) bands that's around $300? I've been trying to get a Samsung i7500 (galaxy) for my dad, but most places don't have it in stock at the moment.
 
krypt0nian said:
My partner just got a Droid.

Any tutorial YouTube video series or websites he should be following? Keep in mind he is not a power user, to say the least. Technology is something he masters over loooong stretches of time. :lol
Click to expand...

Here's an official semi-tutorial YouTube playlist, could help you out.

Jayge said:
They haven't announced an actual pricing scheme yet, but they have said things like...

(source)

The only actual comments by anyone about it not being subsidized that I can find are by Michael Gartenberg, everyone's favorite featured Engadget columnist and Microsoft shill. Otherwise, nobody reports on the pricing.
Click to expand...

Oh right, I forgot Sprint is actually gonna do the whole shebang.
 
Andrex said:
Here's an official semi-tutorial YouTube playlist, could help you out.
Click to expand...

kaching said:
I don't know about Droid specific video series, but Google put together a whole Youtube "channel" for the Nexus One, which has several getting started and how-to vids he can view. Since Droid is on 2.1 Android same as Nexus One, the only thing it won't teach him is anything to do with the use of the Droid's physical keyboard, but i don't think that's a major loss.
Click to expand...


That's exactly what I was hoping for. He's pretty hopeless.

Thanks guys!
 
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