Second Android-Based Phone Announced 204
Rob Lazzurs writes "The second 'Google phone' has been announced. While this does from the first look seem like a nice device, I know I would miss the keyboard. However, I would expect given the issues with the first device, the question on most G1 users lips will be 'Is the battery life any better?'"
Update: 02/17 14:06 GMT by T : Reader Andrew Lim adds a link to CNet UK's hands-on pictures of HTC Magic including pictures of it next to a G1. Also on the upcoming cell phone front, reader Jack Spine writes "Dell is to launch a smartphone, according to AT&T chief Ralph de la Vega. Speaking at a Mobile World Congress panel discussion with Steve Ballmer, de la Vega said 'Dell announced they're entering the smartphone market,' — a bit of a slip, because Dell hasn't, yet." Update: 02/17 16:07 GMT by T : Now, according to Engadget, de la Vega says he was misquoted.
Waiting for offline navigation software (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm still using my 4 year old Windows Mobile phone because nobody has yet released offline GPS software. Seriously, most new smartphones have built-in GPS, and nobody thinks about that? Google Maps is not an option because 3G is not available everywhere, and even where it is, it costs way too much. (No, flatrates don't count either, because I wouldn't need one otherwise.)
Same goes for the iPhone. Apple has its market locked up, but Google doesn't - so why are there no decent options?
Need a keyboard? (Score:5, Interesting)
Am I the last person on Earth to use a phone as - I don't know - a god damn phone?
Re:lack of keyboard (Score:0, Interesting)
It's just really nice not to have to actually look at the keyboard.
I actually stopped looking at my iPhone keyboard while "typing" on it. I look at the output of my typing, of course, as I do while touch typing on a computer.
Which phone has a real keyboard that doesn't suck?
I wouldn't want to do any real work without my Model M keyboard :)
battery life (Score:3, Interesting)
I've actually found that each OTA (over-the-air) update of Android has incrementally improved the battery life.
At this point I have GPS and high-speed networks always turned on, and syncing everything except Gmail (only because I hate that nag and I get over a hundred emails a day..), and my battery indicator stays green for more than a day at a time without recharging, which means I could probably go 2 days without a charge. (May not sound like a lot, but this phone does a LOT.) If I turned off more stuff, it would be no worse than my last, extremely DUMB phone.
Re:lack of keyboard (Score:3, Interesting)
I jest... All i really really want is a PSION Revo with wifi and a gig or so of storage, perfect for on-the-move emails, ssh-ing and even (no flash!) web browsing. But most importantly, and unlike every damned PDA made since 2001, it has a proper keyboard!