Guest Big Ron - No Longer a Mem Posted June 19, 2003 Report Posted June 19, 2003 It's lost the "flipfone" look (more like a Palm Tungsten now) but has a built in camera, a Querty Keyboard and a decent size screen. They've added the now ubiquitous "joystick" (although the screen's still touch sensitive) More news (and pictures, and streaming Video!) at http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2136202,00.html Interesting general point made is that previously the US market has preferred PDA shaped phones, and the European Market has preferred phone shaped PDAs. Manufacturers got the choice between producing a gadget that would sell better in the USA OR Europe. Something of a blow to US credibility that here we see a manufacturer that has previously concentrated on the US market and has now decided to switch designs to a "Euro-popular" one. Is this the start of a trend? If so, it's BIG news. "Whoever controls the standards controls the industry." Previously the USA's market size has given it some free advantages and a head start. Looks like those days are nearly over?
Guest Monolithix [MVP] Posted June 19, 2003 Report Posted June 19, 2003 Not SmartPhone though is it? :lol:
Guest Big Ron - No Longer a Mem Posted June 19, 2003 Report Posted June 19, 2003 Not "Smartphone" as in "Smartphone © Microsoft 1984-2003", but it does most of the things the SPV/Tanager etc., do using a different operating system. And it's closer in price to the SPV than the Sony-Ericsson P800. So, it's a direct competitor for the same customers, wasnting the same features. I thought the change from PDA format to something more "phone like" in shape was an interesting story in its own right: "Major manufacturer consciously decides the future is the European Market, and US customers will just have to put up with stuff made for Europe". If they think it makes sense... who else will follow? This is simply a matter of "differing personal preference", but the WAY Europe does business, runs the economy and society are also different to the way things are organised in the USA. This is the first time I've spotted a (reasonably) major manufacturer decide that the size of the European market makes it more attractive, and that henceforth they'll "build for Europe". It's an encouraging trend (if it continues!) If products are being built to (higher) European standards, then it blunts the "edge" that the large domestic market has given US manufacturers in the past - and which they've too often abused shamelessly. If you can cover your costs and make a reasonable profit in the domestic market, you can then "dump" additional production in other markets and wipe out the competition there. Why else d'you think (for example) US televison production is so prevalent worldwide? Where the product is MADE isn't as important as who controls the standards of domestic markets - and the SIZE of those markets. If Taiwan's building for European sales... America has to tag along behind and do as we do, or risk being isolated. And THAT's a whole new ballgame, after so many years of thinsg running the other way.
Guest spacemonkey Posted June 19, 2003 Report Posted June 19, 2003 The "phone" format of this device might be a little more interesting if it was in fact like a phone. Sorry, but in my opinion a "phone" will never have a full qwerty keyboard as the main interface. This to me looks much more like a miniaturised XDA with a keyboard instead of a touch screen. Where as to me, the SPV looks like a bit of an ugly top heavy phone, but it's definitely a phone.
Guest Big Ron - No Longer a Mem Posted June 19, 2003 Report Posted June 19, 2003 As Mies van de Rohe put it so well.... "form follows function". Would it help you if we called it a "Therblig" instead of a "phone" - then it could LOOK like a therblig, and wouldn't be constrained to look like something that only does a fraction of the same job. Personally, I think PROPER phones have rotating dials, and are made from black Bakelite. This new fangled fad of push-buttons can't last. If it's a phone - and a phone's ALL it is, then fine - just numbers will do. If it's going to do what a "Smartphone" is supposed to do, then just numbers aren't going to be enough. Smartphones are a "transition phase" anyway. The badwidth currently available requires a "smart" phone that's WAY dumber than the PC you have at home. With increased bandwidth, it doesn't NEED to be smart - because it'll be a "remote dumb terminal" from which you address your (distributed, modular) home system. Technology that looks backwards rather than forwards doesn't have much of a future.
Guest spacemonkey Posted June 19, 2003 Report Posted June 19, 2003 OK Big Ron... I'm not too sure if I'm in the mood to argue today but... Everything you just said is fine and I'm more than happy for them to produce a "therblig" and it to be judged on it's own merits, the only reason I commented on it's lack of "phone"iness is because your post was specifically touting this, ie: I thought the change from PDA format to something more "phone like" in shape And I was refuting that point and saying it's not so phone like. As to whether a smartphone needs a qwerty keyboard? Well, that's ultimately got to be about personal preference but my feeling is that for a phone (as in not something I type screeds of info into) while still giving me pretty good functionality then the choice Microsoft have made with Smartphone, ie a keypad with T9 and no touch screen, actually make a pretty damn useable device. I could have a "phone" with a touchscreen, but if I wanted that I'd just get a PDA. I could have a "phone" with a keyboard, but if I wanted that I'd just get a micro laptop or keyboard pda. What I want is a phone, that's well, phone like. As to it being REALLY dumb compared to a PC, well sure it is, can't argue with you there, but it's dumb because the technology to pack PC power into something small that can run on battery for a day or 2 just isn't there yet. When it's "smarter" I don't see this necessitating it having a keyboard or stylus tho, that seems to me to be a completely seperate issue and more about user preference than anything todo with "smartness". Edit - my last bit about smartness isn't wholly relevant to your post because you were talking the dump(ish) terminal hooked to a real world pc wirelessly. (I should read their damn posts) I agree that that is a way some products will go but I still stand by the fact that even this approach to the technology won't in anyway dictate the interface (ie stylus/keyboard/keypad) that the device requires. Hope that's clarified my feelings.
Guest yoos Posted June 21, 2003 Report Posted June 21, 2003 Hi, I just have to say that I think that phone actually looks pretty cool... I've used CE devices for years and never used palm, but I would give that a shot to see...I like the idea of having a hardware keyboard.
Guest nickcornaglia Posted June 21, 2003 Report Posted June 21, 2003 I like it...if you like Palms. I had a Treo before, and Palms and Handsprings were my first PDAs. After switching to PPCs and then Smartphone OSs... I could never go back. I would get a PPC-Phone Edition first. By the form and style are nice. If the PPC phones had a form factor like that....I would get one. And it's still touchscreen, even with the keyboard! So you still have the option for graffiti.
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