OpenMoko July 9, 2007
Posted by mark in : Device, Telecoms, Wireless , add a commentToday saw a publicity launch for the first device from the open source mobile handset project, OpenMoko. It’ll first be targeted at developers, with a mass market version (including Wifi and 3D accelerometers) planned at the end of the year.
Slim(ish), flat and sans-keyboard, the Neo1973 shares a few design cues with the Apple iPhone, but isn’t as pretty to look at. Crucially, though, it’s open to developers and not tied to a specific cellular operator.
After Palm (yet again) delayed the launch of its Linux-based Treo, it’s good to see some progress being made here. Another hackable Linux-based phone is already available in France (from Wistron, another Taiwanese ODM), but this looks much more interesting.
Nokia N95 – some issues April 25, 2007
Posted by mark in : Device, Geo, Telecoms, VoIP, Wireless , add a commentLast year, I mentioned that I’d be looking for a new phone, and listed some desirable features. Nokia’s N95 looks and feels less attractive than I’d expected, but is novel at the moment in being GPS-enabled (and has a lot of other features).
GPS is a feature I’d particularly like to try, as well as some VoIP and photo applications I’ve read about over the last couple of years …to better understand the user experience, issues and other possible services and business cases. I don’t like ‘walled gardens’. (Mapperz has listed some free applications.)
Dean Bubley reports that handsets with built-in GPS were “flavour of the month” at 3GSM. Mobile Weblog reports that GPS device makers are developing mobile handsets, and a WSJ article that Nokia will use GPS (and LBS services) as a strategy to maintain its handset prices.
Issues :
- Operator-disabled features : Orange and Vodafone in the UK have disabled some features, to prevent SIP use, and prevent 3rd-party VoIP apps (which support SIP) from integrating with other features. This is at odds with their advertising, and UK Trading Standards and OfCom are getting involved. The Truphone video [via Andy Abramson] explains some of it. I want to try other VoIP apps …and to use wifi as the bearer, when available, not be forced to use cellular by the operator. (I’d prefer not to pay the upfront cost for a SIM-free version, nor switch from Orange).
- Poor battery life means that you won’t want to leave all the ‘options’ (3G, wifi, GPS) enabled. It may limit the ways I use it, but apparently the battery is the best available.
Links 2007-04-24 April 24, 2007
Posted by mark in : Device, General, Telecoms, Wireless , add a comment- Linux-based Palm Treo available at the end of this year. The new OS will provide “faster UI responsiveness, multitasking, simultaneous voice and data usage, better battery life and even (finally) WiFi capabilities”.
- NTT DoCoMo to sell phones with motion sensors [via Dean Bubley]
- Brand ‘power’ = [Prediction of what to expect] x [emotional power of that expectation].
- TechCrunch UK aims to re-launch on 1 June.
Phone thoughts January 9, 2007
Posted by mark in : Design, Device, Personal, Wireless , 2commentsDesirable features for my next mobile handset (without wanting it to $satisfy all). Currently use a Palm Treo 650 (which doesn’t have 3G/ wifi/ gps/ multitasking OS), and not a landline. Grouped, but no particular order :
- Wireless : Wifi – for free SIP calls and browsing
- Wireless : Wifi – for better indoor data reception and call quality
- Wireless : 3G cellular – for SIP client (cf. GPRS is insufficient)
- Wireless : GPS – for tracklog, geotagging
- Plan : Flat rate data plan? For PC modem?
- No walled garden : Open to small 3rd party application developers
- PIM (addresses, calendar) : Handles thousands of records
- PIM : Sync’s with a desktop/ internet app
- Music : Plays FLAC files, and MP3/ ogg streamed from server
- Music : 3.5mm socket, for ‘proper’ headphones without an adaptor
- Bluetooth : Not crippled, so phone can be used as a modem
- Bluetooth : For headset and syncing with PC
- Usability : Easy to set up/ configure
- Usability : Easy to change (volume, bluetooth on/off, wifi/cellular, etc)
- Usability : Instant (ie. not clamshell) v’s accidental dialling in pocket
- Usability : Reliable, sturdy, compact, light
- Usability : Strong signal, long battery life
- Usability : Bright screen, that can be seen in sunlight
- Usability : Touch-sensitive screen?
- Usability : Keyboard – for typing (tag, blog)
- Usability : File manager to add/remove apps
- Usability : Multitasking OS
- SMS : Saveable, sync with desktop upon backup
- SMS : Threaded conversation option
- Memory : Non-volatile, in case battery fails
- Memory : Removable (expandable) card for media
- Security
Things that I don’t really care about :
- Game playing
- Reading/writing Microsoft documents
- Integration with Microsoft Exchange
- Push email
- Speakerphone …used occasionally, when on hold or hands-free
- 3G services and media from a telco