Re: iPad
 

That might explain the lack of USB port, so you can't plug in your USB 3G modem.

Re: iPad
 

I was consdering one of these as we needed something for travelling with but as it doesn't have a camera and therefore no Skype it will be a netbook instead. Shame as I really liked the book download that it offers.

Re: iPad
 

I can see little point in becoming an early adopter of the iPad. It has barely the functionality of a netbook, and costs twice the price.

If you have your heart set on a tablet (which is a nice format), then I would have a look at the ICD Gemini:

ICD Gemini

it offers pretty much all that the iPad doesn't, plus Adobe have just announced [beta] Flash support for Android:

Flash for Android

The Gemini is slated for a July/August release, but remember that there are offerings due from Dell and Toshiba too.

Apple really did change the game with the iPhone, but I don't think that manufacturers are going to let them get such a head start a second time around.


S

Re: iPad
 

Thanks. Will have a look at that too.

Have also been looking at netbooks which are quite expensive here. I can have one shipped from the UK much cheaper but I need to see if there would be duty on that first.

Thanks again. Not set on a tablet thing - just something small and lightweight for when I am travelling so I can skype and email easily.

Re: iPad
 

I know what you mean about prices here. I bought my HP 1030NR in Staples on Hollywood Boulevard while visiting the US last July. It was on special at US$299 plus sales tax, including a 6 cell battery. The equivalent model here in JB Hi-Fi is still AU$563. It's time the Australian consumer woke up to global pricing.

I would recommend the HP Netbooks actually - they have a nice big keyboard, which makes them very useable. Some netbooks really suffer from tiny keys.

Remember also that only items over AU$1000 attract duty.


S

Re: iPad
 

Now the HTC Desire is out the iPhone is pretty much a dead duck.

Re: iPad
 

A lot of people are using something called MiFi - it basically turns your iPhone into a WiFi hotspot which you then tether your WiFi only iPad to.

I think the ney-sayers may be wrong on this taking off - sales don't suggest that yet. Apple are increasingly getting market share and clever gizmos like this well marketed opens the door to their computer products. I think it will take off and other accessories will come along. Not sure why anyone would want a camera though? A small compact is far better and easier. Video Skype wouldn't make a difference to me.

Re: iPad
 

Symbian has had that for ages. Not a killer app. People like the cameras on their phone and use them. Not a killer feature but an important one and one the Inob is reputed to not have.

The key thing all the OS's want is a developer community. Apple has a head start however Google is more open and will probably overtake Apple in the number of apps. Nokia had better come up with something fast but its smartphone OS seems is dead in the water.

Blackberry have the corporate market sewn up until anyone else can match them for security and ease of adminstration. Government will not touch anything else at the moment. Microsoft maybe the ones who could attack that market with their position with Exchange.

On the Horizon MS has a new phone OS coming out.

Frankly I find Apple's reliance on the buggy ITunes and its overzealous controlling nature maybe the Achilles heal of the iphone. The iPad hype had better deliver otherwise it maybe viewed as a Vista. The bigger they get the more critiscism they attract. The market share obtained so far has been impressive.

Google's issue is its lack of experience with hardware although Apple have now outsourced that (along with everyone else) to Foxconn.

Re: iPad
 

A brave prediction but I hear it is good. Telstra have it exclusively from April for 3 months. Not a way to get mass market.

Re: iPad
 

For 3 months yes. Makes no difference because the specs of the 4th gen iPhone still doesn't come close to the HTC Desire. Every review is touting it as the best smart phone on the market. And apparently the HTC Sense UI is the dogs bollocks.

As for Nokia. They have the N900 which is running Maemo Linux and Maemo looks set to become the standard OS for Nokia phones. This will be a serious competitor to Android.

Re: iPad
 

Can they get the marketing right or will it be another Betamax - ie better than VHS but failed due to not getting enough of a market.

Re: iPad
 

Time will tell. The N900's an impressive piece of kit though.

Re: iPad
 

I think that Google have got the right approach with the open nature of the Android system. By releasing the reliance on a particular piece of hardware, they are trying to do the same thing that Mircrosoft did with the IBM Compatible PC - make the software completely hardware independent. We have already seen Android being adopted on phones, netbooks, tablets, televisions and set-top boxes.

If apple started licencing iPhoneOS to other hardware manufacturers, then that may be a different matter, but unfortunately Job's paranoid and controlling attitude towards Apple's technology is likely to constrict and limit their market.

I think it's a very similar situation to Acorn Computers back in the 80's/90s - technically superior products, with an awesome OS, but jealously guarded and incredibly hardware dependent. It's no wonder that Microsoft was able to dominate the [particularly education] market - users could go out and buy a cheap clone IBM PC, and not have to buy expensive proprietary hardware.

They are interesting times, but I think that the open nature of Android for both software and hardware developers gives it the edge over Apple's paranoia.


S

Re: iPad
 

Not just Acorn. There was Sinclair, Commodore, Apple, Amstrad etc all with their own proprietary OSs all competing against each other. The current mobile phone market is just a repeat of the micro computer market of the 80s. Steve Jobs hasn't learnt from history.

Re: iPad
 

Save yourelves a few quid ;)

Re: iPad
 

Except that Apple's market share is increasing albeit slowly, it is getting there.

Re: iPad
 

Actually no it's not. If you look at market share of iPhone vs Android in the US you will find that iPhone sales have diminished and Andriod has just overtaken it. On top of that there are a few tablets about to be released that will compete with the iPad, are technically superior and look set to blow that away as well.

Not the case in Australia but Australia is 10 years behind the rest of the world anyway.

Re: iPad
 

Ok, but I was meaning more generically as a company as a whole. Only a few years ago Apple's were in the realm of geeks and techies (esp for graphics) - a bit like Linux now. Today however (and probably in part due to the iPod success) Apple is much more high street and well known. I think on the back of their niche products Mac's are generally getting more acceptance and market share. I'm no expert just my opinion.
I think for that reason iPad will succeed - no doubt there will be technically better products in both hardware and software but they're running a slick operation.

Re: iPad
 

And the biggest problem is that Apple locks the user down into iTunes and it's other proprietary formats. When something completely open like Android comes out it's only a matter of time before Apple go in the same direction they did when the PC took over the micro computer market.

Re: iPad
 

Well, I spent most of the morning playing with an iPad which one of our contracted developers kindly leant to me while he was in meetings. It's every bit as good as I thought it would be. That's the thing that the Android advocates don't get - it's not just the fact that it's an amazingly versatile device with a gorgeous screen and a superb operating system, it's the fact that it all works so well together - the sum of its parts - app store and all.

I've had a play with Android based devices and they're very pale imitations of iPhone OS and iPhone hardware (most of the Android apps I played with sucked royally). Similarly I've had a play with Windows 7 tablets and they're pale imitations too. Some people will knock it simply because it's from Apple, it's their loss. While the Google apologists whinge on the owners of Apple products are happily using their devices out in the real world.

Re: iPad
 

Have you used Android 2.1? Apparently it's much better than the earlier versions.

Re: iPad
 

So what does it do that a tablet doesn't or is it interface design? At the moment Google has no tablet/tampon product.

Re: iPad
 

In what way does that out perform the Samsung Omnia HD?

The Omnia HD is a way better phone/camera/video playback device, and it hasn't managed to knock the iPhone of its perch.

JTL

Re: iPad
 

Nope - not used it - have used previous versions though. As I said earlier - these products are the sum of their parts. The simple fact is that it's the apps that make these products just as much as it is the OS. Where there was a direct equivalent (something like a Facebook app) that I could test, the Android versions were weak at best. To be honest, the only product I've seen that looks like it might get anywhere near the amazing integration of the iPhone is Microsoft's new Zune-ish phones.

It's everything. It's the amazing screen, the solid build quality, the OS, the apps, the connectivity. It's an incredibly natural product to use that requires virtually no instructions.

What do you make of the iPhone 4G/HD leak?

Re: iPad
 

You have to be joking, right? For a start the Omnia HD runs the Symbian OS...

HTC Desire review:

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pho...iew?artc_pg=13

Quote "as a piece of hardware it's without par in the mobile world."

Re: iPad
 

The HTC Sense UI for Android is supposed to be pretty special. Every review at the moment is raving about it.

Re: iPad
 

It was a question!

You can't just say " best hardware in the world"

The Omnia HD has a great touch screen, plays and records HD video on an 8 Megapixel camera. Has great speakers, and has Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

So again I ask, whats so good about this HTC Desire.

JTL

Re: iPad
 

HD on a 3.7 inch screen is a case of diminishing returns. It may have a great camera but it will never be as good as a dedicated camera and if I was taking pictures that is what I would use. I have never used a mobile phone camera yet that actually takes great pictures.

The fact is the Omnia HD uses the Symbian operating system which is obsolete. It's also made by Samsung and they have crap build quality. My current mobile is a Samsung U900 and I would never buy another one again. Great speakers and Dolby 5.1 surround? That's a complete gimmick on a mobile and an absolute waste of time. I can't imagine when you would ever use 5.1 surround sound on a mobile and if was to listen to surround sound, in order to get the best results it would need to be hooked up to a dedicated surround sound receiver and real speakers. If you were going to do that it completely defeats the purpose as you would then end up getting content from something like Blu Ray and then watching it on a HD TV.

What's so good about the HTC Desire? Everything! Have a read of the reviews. There's a reason why every single reviewer is stating that this is the best mobile on the market right now, bar none.

Re: iPad
 

The Samsung Omnia, though a technically good phone, doesn't have the applications base to support it like the iPhone and Android phones have. This really limits the expansion and usefulness of the phone.

Smartphones are all about the 'ecosystem' (christ know's who coined that phrase), which is all about how well the applications that people write for the phone integrate with it and add value to its operation. A closed source phone is going to suffer from the very outset, as developers are going to be hamstrung by the development terms that are imposed by the IP owner.




I think you should take another look at the new Android phones, and see how far they have come in the last 12 months. I have an HTC G1, which I admit is a clunky old piece of technology now, and it is ancient compared to the Nexus 1 or the Desire. Like comparing the 1977 Cylons with the 2003 ones.

We have a couple of Nexus 1s at work - and they really are slick pieces of technology. Very fast, with seamless integration of apps, plus multitasking and eyecandy for the more superficial amongst us. Remember also that Android has only been a reality for a couple of years, and that much of the marketing for it has been viral - It's not on the side of buses, the backs of taxis etc. Google haven't placed ads for the Nexus 1 beyond the initial press release, and yet they claim to be selling 60,000 Android units a week. So many people I know have a Nexus 1, yet they haven't even been officially released in Australia yet, so there must be something good about it to go to the effort of getting one from overseas.

The thing that makes Android more attractive for me is the fact that it is infinitely more configurable than the iPhone - you really can make it work and run the way that you want it to, not the way that the phone manufacturer wants you to.

I really do think that Google are on to a winner with this approach.


S

Re: iPad
 

Acorn, that's a blast from the past but did you know the spin off of that company is British company ARM, they are responsible for the cpu in nearly every mobile, smartphone plus iphone and the new ipad.

Re: iPad
 

Symbian s60 is getting a bit long in tooth but (open source) Symbian^3 handsets should see the light of day in the next few months.

Re: iPad
 

That's disgusting ... oh sorry, I was thinking Sybian.

Re: iPad
 

Yes, I used to do ARM coding - owned several Acron models - tha A5000 and the RiscPC. Fantastic computers, but very poorly marketed.

RiscOS is still trundling along - up to version 6 now I believe.


S

Re: iPad
 

Just had a look at the HTC in the Telstra shop (they got it today). Not a bad looking phone, about the size of an iphone, maybe slightly bigger. It's got a rubberised case rather than metal. Display looked okay but nothing special (could have been the shop lights). Had a good feel to it. Telstra offered me a good business deal on the Desire - I might get it as I am just about out of contract with 3. Only thing is I'm wary of HTC as a brand. I had an HTC phone until recently and it was without doubt the worst phone I have ever owned.

Re: iPad
 

Yes, fully aware of that. Acorn did well with the ARM processor. I have a soft spot for Acorn and the old BBC Micro... :thumbup:

Re: iPad
 

Yeah, it could have been the shop lights. The AMOLED display is supposed to be twice as bright as the iPhones.

HTC have come a long way with the latest models.

Re: iPad
 

Unless I am much mistaken, HTC now offer an international 2 year warranty on their smart phones.

If you don't want the bundle deal from Hellstra, then have a look at either Clove or Handtec in the UK. Their outright costs will no doubt be substantially less than they will be here.

Clove - HTC Desire = UKP330

Handtec - HTC Desire = UKP348


S

Re: iPad
 

Actually (and surprisingly) Telstra have offered me a very good deal - including an $150 'signing on' bonus after I lied to them amd told them that had had to buy out the last 2 months of my 3 contract.

Telstra have great national cellphone coverage - including a lot of remote areas where other networks have none.

Re: iPad
 

About 8 months ago I dropped my Omnia and broke it, so when I was in Hong Kong I went to a really reputable electronics store and asked them for the best new phone.

After giving my requirements, i.e. good phone reception, good screen, good speakers, plays any audio or video format, he gave me his recommendation.

Thats why I now have another Omnia HD.

I don't give a stuff about ecosystems. As long as I can send the odd email and look at the Bom website for weather thats fine.

So it is horses for courses.

JTL

Re: iPad
 

Only watermelons care about ecosystems. Oh and Apple fanboys!