50+ Android Phones Expected In Near Future 378
wiseandroid writes "It's not even a year ago that the HTC Dream G1 became the first Android enabled phone to be released publicly (on October 22nd, 2008) and now we have listed more than 50 Android phones expected in the near future." Of the 51 phones on this list, 12 (from nine manufacturers) are currently available.
Any have a decent Camera? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Any have a decent Camera? (Score:4, Interesting)
On a related note... (Score:5, Interesting)
...I saw the Android TV ad last night. I think it's the only time seeing an advertisement for something has make me verbally cheer.
It lampooned the Apple ad format, complete with the black text on white and indie music listing off stuff the iPhone can't do, then making a sharp cut to an android logo with a URL.
I really hope to see more well-coordinated advertising like this for OSS! This is the first, maybe the second time in my memory that any OSS has had any kind of TV spot, and this one was really solid.
Re:Any have a decent Camera? (Score:5, Interesting)
As someone who frequently has to be in secured areas.. I hope at least some of the models never, ever have a camera, as is it a pain to either have to lock my phone in the car or to hand it over to some $10 an hour security guard prior to entry or have it confiscated by the same guard on the way out if I forget to hand it to him on the way in.
Why? (Score:3, Interesting)
I mean, I'm all for choice, but why so many? Why, in particular, are a few manufacturers in particular releasing so many models? Half of the phones (25 out of 51) come from just three companies--HTC (9), Motorola (9), and Samsung (7). I can see why a manufacturer would want some variety in general--slider, bar, flip; big with good battery life or small and thin and light--but aren't all Android phones big, touchscreen smartphones? I don't want to start googling every name (hasn't wiseandroid.com ever heard of links [w3.org]?) so can anyone clue me in on the differences?
I like Apple's stuff and you might call me a "fanboi" but you have to admit they've made some good decisions in the past decade, especially with regard to simplifying their product lines. The stereotypical Slashdotter hates having their choices limited but everyone in sales, marketing, and product development should know about the disadvantages to offering too many options. [google.com] Make one phone with as many or as few features as you care to cram into it and the choice becomes a simple one--take it or leave it. Start offering them with minor differences--this one has WiFi but no GPS, this one has GPS but no WiFi, etc.--and people will start to say "screw it, what else is there?" Plus every time you offer more models you're increasing the cost of your R&D but with less and less improvement in sales.
If anything, we should see more Android devices--Android technology without the phone, like the iPod touch. Clearly there's a market there, and you get around the whole pesky "tied to the carrier you hate" issue.
Re:Diversity of features (Score:3, Interesting)
Take a look at the upcoming motorola droid coming to verizon. Probably hitting stores on Nov 6th, Possibly online/telephone sales the end of this month. It has a slideout qwerty keyboard, 3.7inch capacitive touchscreen, 5MP camera, and will be the first Android 2.0 phone. It's also only .5in thick.
Reportedly It's made of metal and has a very sturdy feel to it.
Re:After BlackBerry Storm I am ready (Score:5, Interesting)
Regarding speed, you will find Android on the slow side as well, especially if you let your SMS app become bogged down with hundreds of old messages (to show previous chat log), and when your calendar and phone book get lots of entries. I'm not saying it takes *several* seconds, but it's a damn cry from being instantaneous.
Regarding battery life, expect one full working day, or two whole days TOPS, from *any* modern device.
If you want fortnight-long battery life, grab a Psion Series5 MX Pro and have it refurbished (yes, I'm being serious). If you want instant application starts, grab either that or a Palm Treo and have that refurbished. For *phone* capability, forget the Psion, that's "just" a pda (in quotes because it's a damn proper one).
Do NOT expect an Android device to be a pda. It's a smartphone.
Features I want First. (Score:3, Interesting)
A decent processor!
I think the current available phones have a 520mhz processor. The Android software seems to run at an accetptable speed (since the os was updated to 1.5?) but I imagine any apps would be limited by the speed of the processor.
I know this will change with newer phones - Acer are develping an android phone with 1ghz processor.
A camera flash!
I do not understand why many of the phones contain a 3 or 5 megapixel camera but no flash! Maybe it is related to cost/component size but come on! - this was acceptable with older phones but today I would like to think it is essential.
A physical keyboard!
I know this will add bulk to the phone but considering what android's potential can be (with the right hardware) this will make the phone much more versatile. What about a detachable keyboard?
More memory?
The os runs in a java-like virtual machine. If it has any relation to Java does this mean it will exhibit memory consumption similar to Java? I also understand there is an API to bypass the vm and use native code.
As it stands I will be ordering the Nokia N900 at the end of October and cannot wait for the hardware to improve. Despite the hype I think the N900 will eventualy become a "niche" product.
On the other hand, the development of Android phones is great and appears it will dominate the mobile phone market. Hopefully it will drive competition and lead to the reduction of iphone obsession.
Speaking of iphones does the Android phones have a "Big Red Kill" switch too?
Re:More choice means more flexibility (Score:3, Interesting)
Or, more choice means it's more difficult to develop for the platform, leading to fewer apps and a less interesting platform for both developers and consumers. This is already a big problem with Symbian and Windows Mobile.
I read a reply from a Symbian user a week ago in which he stated that the most interesting app he had purchased for this phone was a better clock. This is a perfect display of the sad state of affairs the platform is in.
It would be a shame if Android would suffer the same fate.
Re:Any have a decent Camera? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:More choice means more flexibility (Score:3, Interesting)
While I agree, I think the big drawback with having different hardware comes from a programming/user-interface standpoint: how do you develop applications that will run on ALL of these phones when the screen real-estate can be so varied?
Anyone that has done a lot of HTML design knows about the headaches this can cause.
ie. You want to make your site look pretty for someone who runs their OS in 800x600 as well as someone who runs at 1280x1024. While you COULD just develop it for the more popular [higher] resolution, you could be ostracizing a large user-base who opted for the more compact screen. Then you also possibly need to add in the complexity to design your UI for when they turn their phone 90 degrees and want to run your app in portrait mode too...
Re:After BlackBerry Storm I am ready (Score:3, Interesting)
Just got a palm pre myself. While being on sprint sucks, the phone is amazing. Very open with an active homebrew community. Easy to 'root' (even from linux ... I don't even own a windows computer). Changing the phone's behavior is usually just a matter of editing some javascript and CSS (most of the things you'd like to do there is already a patch for, and you don't need to fully install optware just to install the patches). This is all done in a familiar linux environment.
I was on the fence about getting a 'droid on verizon and the palm pre. After a few days with the pre, however, I am VERY HAPPY with my decision. WebOS is the most open thing I've ever seen on a phone. Messaging is still a little better on the blackberry, but WebOS does it as well as any other platform. And palm / sprint seem to be quite ok with it (other than tethering. *sigh*).
Battery Life is the problem (Score:3, Interesting)
It a nearly 500€ phone and it can't make it through a whole day without recharging. The camera isn't great either, but that isn't a big deal. The battery problem is a HUGE deal. However at a recent conference, I saw that the iPhone users had the same problem with battery life.
Re:Any have a decent Camera? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Why? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:History repeats itself (Score:3, Interesting)
This is exactly how Apple lost the PC war
Every time you touch a mouse to move the cursor on your color graphics screen and click on a window, menu or icon, you are using a computer the way Steve Jobs wants you to. Think about that.