[geeks] Looking for a Mobile Phone

[Dan Duncan]

On Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 8:15 PM, Jonathan Patschke <jp at celestrion.net>wrote:

> So, what phones are decent these days?  Where by "decent", I mean, in
> decreasing order of importance:
>    * Excellent audio quality.  It -is- an audio device, after all.
>    * Some (even if text-only) web access so that I can read things while
>      waiting about in places where a laptop would be rude.
>    * Can be tethered.
>    * A developer program that lets me build software and toss it on the
>      phone without having to beg too hard.
>    * GSM, and preferably sufficiently unencumbered that I only need to
>      pop in a different SIM card when I'm outside the US.
>    * Reasonable battery life.
>

I've been blissfully happy with my Tmobile G1 (Google Android) phone.
I'm finally going to break down and root it because I want to tether via
wifi/bluetooth.
It's not hard:
http://androidandme.com/2009/08/news/how-to-root-a-t-mobile-g1-and-mytouch-3g-android-phone/
The battery life isn't great if you fiddle with it a lot, but the keyboard
is usable and it has a GREAT ssh client. (connectbot)
It automatically syncs with gmail, google calendar, and google contacts.

I find the audio quality to be excellent and it supports bluetooth 2.0 now
(which I haven't tested since I only have a bluetooth 1 headset)
Web access is excellent.
Can be tethered if hacked. (about to test)
Developer program is great.  SDK is free.  Apps are easy to install.  There
is an app called "Market" which is about like the App store on the iphone
which is a nice interface for getting apps (free or paid) but you can also
just install apps from web pages or the microSD card.
GSM/Edge/3G.  Can be unlocked.
Battery life ain't great.  Higher capacity batteries are available.  Charges
from a USB port, wall, or car.
-- 
Dan Duncan