iphone or Blackberry?

[Beefitarian]

You can't use the Blackberry in India because their government wants to be able to read your e-mails. I think you can still use them in China though.

You might want to fact check before you post

Did one of them back down allready?

[PunkStarStudios]

All the apple hating tech nerd buddies have androids.. I think merely in spite.

Close. They like it because of End User Licensing. Android is flying in popularity because you can do just about anything you want with it. Enthusiast's pull it apart and make there own operating systems, customize it, tweak it, etc.

Android is licensed under the Linux Kernel and the GNU GPL. What it means in English is that any device manufacturer wanting to produce Android also has to produce the source code, and anybody is free to take it and develop it further. This equates to a small army of thousands of software developers that can take it and make it better rather than those solely employed by Google.

I'm a confessed Apple spiter, and my phone is running a custom Android system written by a cracker in the US, and ported by a couple of tweenagers in Europe. Far more capable than anything on the shelves, things like WiFi tethering, voice guided GPS navigation, street view and so on have been available for years but are just hitting the shelves as 'innovation' today.

Beyond that, Android source code is available to App developers, licensing and controls are far more relaxed, and it's just generally easier to publish on the Android Market than the Apple App Store. It's more far more profitable to publish on the App Store, which is why it's still alive, but that's slowly changing.

Android VS Iphone is kind of like IBM VS Macintosh/Apple of the 80's. Android is a far more capable OS, that spans across many different hardware platforms, which means that future development will be much more broad and all encompassing.

Given time, it ought to slowly eradicate Iphone to present day Mac status, but that'll be years.

That open policy is bad bad bad.
Google is starting to see that now.
When you have an OS that can be modified for every hardware permutation - you're going to fragment the software compatibility. Moot point in the infancy, but we're already creeping out of that stage. Google has recently tried to reign in hardware developers and stop them from modifying the OS code by penalizing those that do. If Google can reign them in and get some control over the OS, then perhaps the damage can be reversed before it escalates.

[JakeYYZ]

This is sort of a big deal.

It has come to light that the Apple iPhone is constantly logging and keeping location data, and then transferring that data to any PC with which the iPhone is synced. Using a free application available from the web, Phone Scoop was able to verify that the location files exist on a laptop, which are compiled by the free application and displayed on a map. The accuracy of the data is good, suggesting that the data points are legitimate. Apple has not disclosed this behaviour in the past, meaning user's whereabouts have been tracked without their direct knowledge or consent. The files stored are invisible on PCs, and can't be found without the use of the free web app. It is unknown what happens to this data, or if it is sent back to Apple.

http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=7996

[. ._]

Be careful what you put on your phone in Michigan...

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/mich-co ... r-knowing/

[Sheila]

hi all,
how much are the iphones? is it the better value?
is there a way to avoid getting tracked by your cellphone?

I've only had one phone, a silver LG phone which I was impressed with when it still worked after I accidentally dropped it outside in the snow, overnight. I also liked that sound "snap ", when I shut it.

I don't like the cellphones craze because I believe these devices can be used to give the governments the means to implement their evil plans to "chip" everybody by testing out these technologies on the phones. It's all part of their Big Brother or global surveillance agenda which has been developing over the years.

[Beefitarian]

Yeah that's scary.

Dude talking into his wrist,
"He's at the safeway."
" Now he's driven to the liquor store."
"He's at burgerking again."
"He's at the airport."
"He's at a hotel."

Maybe you're going somewhere much more interesting than me. I don't see what they are going to get out of this.

[cdnpilot77]

hi all,
how much are the iphones? is it the better value?
is there a way to avoid getting tracked by your cellphone?

I've only had one phone, a silver LG phone which I was impressed with when it still worked after I accidentally dropped it outside in the snow, overnight. I also liked that sound "snap ", when I shut it.

I don't like the cellphones craze because I believe these devices can be used to give the governments the means to implement their evil plans to "chip" everybody by testing out these technologies on the phones. It's all part of their Big Brother or global surveillance agenda which has been developing over the years.

Don't you work for the government??

Eric, lookout...."they" are coming after you!

[wrenchturner]

Maybe you're going somewhere much more interesting than me. I don't see what they are going to get out of this.

Just hope there is no way the wife can get hold of that info and find out how much time I spend at the strip club

[Sheila]

[quote="cdnpilot77
Don't you work for the government??

Eric, lookout...."they" are coming after you! [/quote]

Not at the moment. The work I did was essentially "good", but I just can't believe there was a horrible person in charge.

anyhow, another company capturing information they shouldn't is Verizon.

[erics2b]

hi all,
how much are the iphones? is it the better value?
is there a way to avoid getting tracked by your cellphone?

I've only had one phone, a silver LG phone which I was impressed with when it still worked after I accidentally dropped it outside in the snow, overnight. I also liked that sound "snap ", when I shut it.

I don't like the cellphones craze because I believe these devices can be used to give the governments the means to implement their evil plans to "chip" everybody by testing out these technologies on the phones. It's all part of their Big Brother or global surveillance agenda which has been developing over the years.

Don't you work for the government??

Eric, lookout...."they" are coming after you!

[Topspin]

That open policy is bad bad bad.
Google is starting to see that now.
When you have an OS that can be modified for every hardware permutation - you're going to fragment the software compatibility. Moot point in the infancy, but we're already creeping out of that stage. Google has recently tried to reign in hardware developers and stop them from modifying the OS code by penalizing those that do. If Google can reign them in and get some control over the OS, then perhaps the damage can be reversed before it escalates.

How is it bad?

Does this make the Fedora/Red Hat/Ubuntu/SUSE/Debian/Mandriva/All the netbook specific Linux distros, bad as well?

Does it make Android any less capable than Spyphone4?

Is it hurting in the sales numbers? Certainly doesn't look that way.

It would be awesome if Google withheld the Android ™ for manufacturers like Samsung who gut the system and replace it with TouchWiz Integration & RFS file systems. (Good god, what were they thinking).

But open source licensing certainly doesn't appear to making Android any worse, and users willing to take advantage reap the benefits.

[Doc]

I also liked that sound "snap ", when I shut it.

Then, by all means, buy the one that makes the spiffy "snap" sound when you close it!

[beaverbob]

[quote="cdnpilot77
Don't you work for the government??

Eric, lookout...."they" are coming after you!

I have heard "THEY" already have Hedley!

[Beefitarian]

[dashx]

Congrats.

I am just about to make an appointment (with an Apple store) to take my one month old Iphone in for a replacement (apparently they give you another one - no "questions" asked).

We'll see.......

[iflyforpie]

That would be cool. There's a couple of scratches on my screen I can see when it is off and the light is at just the right angle. Damn keys.

[SuperchargedRS]

I have a jail broken and unlocked 3GS, love it!!!

My only issue with the iphone, you have to perform major surgery to replace the battery, also be sure to get a good screen protector (anti-glare) and case for it, I find the rubber with plastic clip otterbox cases do a good job.


I think the better comparison would be a iphone to a droid, or windows phone (minus the bloat ware the load on them)

This looks like it could even replace a computer
http://www.google.com/phone/detail/nexus-s

hi all,
how much are the iphones? is it the better value?
is there a way to avoid getting tracked by your cellphone?

I've only had one phone, a silver LG phone which I was impressed with when it still worked after I accidentally dropped it outside in the snow, overnight. I also liked that sound "snap ", when I shut it.

I don't like the cellphones craze because I believe these devices can be used to give the governments the means to implement their evil plans to "chip" everybody by testing out these technologies on the phones. It's all part of their Big Brother or global surveillance agenda which has been developing over the years.

Uhh, huh.

Well the iphone does send "anamoyous usage statistics" however if you jailbreak it you can install PrivaCy to end that issue
http://modmyi.com/forums/member-written ... eeman.html

If you really are noid out, get a prepaid sim, give a BS name when you call in to set it up... or go live under a rock, in the end of the day the gov't is far to incompetent at finding the REAL bad-guys to concern me as far as tracking goes.

[Expat]

Good thread.
I am in the market for my third smart phone, after having 2 Sony-Ericssons. I found out that I never used the camera, the music player, the G3 Inet connexion, or other games people use. What I need is a phone without a sim, but with Wi-Fi, and Skype, so that I can call from anywhere in the world, and do the occasional e mails. I may use local prepaid sim cards, if I get the urge, and need the capability to do so.
I heard that the iPhones come with or without G4 capability, and Wi-Fi is optional.
I will go through Dubai next month, and buy the best I can.
And yes, the tracking issue is becoming very important for business people and diplomats. On that level, the Blackberry stands apart.

[Louis]

Expat: in your case, almost any decent quality quad-band GSM Android device with Wifi should fit the bill.

There's a Skype app, although it doesn't do video yet.

Also: if you're affraid of Google tracking you, you can usually flash a custom ROM, without any of the Google apps even, and be on your way.
(Look up the specific model you have in mind in advance to be sure.)

[Expat]

Thanks Louis. You are right. I always had too complicated pnones. I do not need video either. I heard the on the Androids, you can easily disable the tracking. Handy here...

[Dash-Ate]

This is progress?

[flyinggreasemonkey]

You can't use the Blackberry in India because their government wants to be able to read your e-mails. I think you can still use them in China though.

You might want to fact check before you post

Actually he's not too far off...its the Blackberry Messenger app (BBM), not emails

[TeePeeCreeper]

You can't use the Blackberry in India because their government wants to be able to read your e-mails. I think you can still use them in China though.

You might want to fact check before you post

Actually he's not too far off...its the Blackberry Messenger app (BBM), not emails

Agreed, but there's a way around that one....

[wenchie]

I have an android phone as well. I love it. My issue was that I really dislike getting stuff just because it's trendy. I searched around and was really impressed with android so I got it. I've had no problems in the year that I've had it. If I'm a nerd, then I'm a nerd...but I'm definitely way cuter than that cartoon character! hehe!

Am I allowed to post this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg

[xsbank]

I just got back from the Far East and I bought "the cheapest phone you've got" with a sim card for all of Malaysia, a "load" that lasted a month and the whole thing including the prepaid and a new phone number was $30. Costs 9 Canadian cents for 10 minutes to talk. The phone was a Samsung top of the line not smart phone and stored 500 numbers and did all the things we liked before we all got smart phones. I Left my IPhone in "airplane" mode and told everyone who needed me my new number. I Skyped to my wife's IPhone with my computer no problem, no phone bills, video too.