#285568 - 16/08/2006 07:51
Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 13/07/2000
Posts: 4177
Loc: Cambridge, England
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#285569 - 16/08/2006 08:24
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: peter]
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old hand
Registered: 07/01/2005
Posts: 893
Loc: Sector ZZ9pZa
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Ditto. It looks like the only thing that could replace my Treo. As soon as it is available in GSM, I'd like to know how much that thing would be. It packs a lot into a small standard sized phone so it does sound expensive.
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#285570 - 16/08/2006 10:53
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: sein]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14489
Loc: Canada
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I'm betting about USD$10K for the development kit. Looks great!
-ml
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#285571 - 16/08/2006 11:02
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: mlord]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1913
Loc: London
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I know nothing about this sort of thing but it looks pretty cool, love the colour, sort of early 70s Italian supercar colour (Miura maybe?)
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#285572 - 16/08/2006 13:31
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: sein]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
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It is GSM, isn't it? ISTR reading it was quad-band (850/900/1800/1900). Maybe I imagined it.
I think Trolltech are planning a lot under $10k...
Pretty nice though, including the wifi & bluetooth.
Hugo
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#285573 - 16/08/2006 13:40
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: altman]
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enthusiast
Registered: 29/03/2005
Posts: 364
Loc: Probably lost somewhere in Wal...
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This dutch site claims a price of 690$ for phone and development kit, and WiFi, GSM, GPRS and VoIP support: http://tweakers.net/nieuws/43968
_________________________
Empeg Mk1 #00177, 2.00 final, hijack 4.76
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#285574 - 16/08/2006 13:57
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: altman]
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old hand
Registered: 07/01/2005
Posts: 893
Loc: Sector ZZ9pZa
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Quote: It is GSM, isn't it? ISTR reading it was quad-band (850/900/1800/1900). Maybe I imagined it.
lol, yeah it says that it is GSM on the first paragraph. I think maybe I need to go to the optician or something.
Anyway, wow, check out the dimensions: 106.5 x 49.0 x 15.6mm. It is an excellent size, but looking at the picture it would make the keypad quite small. Can't have everything I guess, and the touchscreen makes up for it somewhat. I really can't wait to see one for real and see how it is.
Edited by sein (16/08/2006 14:04)
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#285575 - 16/08/2006 14:33
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: Schido]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14489
Loc: Canada
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Quote: This dutch site claims a price of 690$ for phone and development kit
Whoa! That's cheap!
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#285576 - 16/08/2006 23:57
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: peter]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5546
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
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The "Greenphone" features a user-modifiable Linux OS, Gaaahh! I guess I am just some sort of telephobic Luddite or something... I would pay extra for a cell phone that had the following features: If it rang, I could push a button and talk to someone. If it didn't ring, I could push a button and then dial and talk to someone. And N . O . T . H . I . N .G else. I currently have what is supposed to be one of the simplest, bare-bones cell phones available. It has games on it. It has voice mail. It will connect to the internet. It has a camera. It has dozens of user-selectable ringtones, and ways of downloading even more of them. It has a message center. And a memory meter, and apparently can do something with faxes. In addition to the 10-key pad, it has ten more buttons on it, plus a four-way keypad thingy for navigating through a completely incomprehensible menu structure of dozens of features that I don't want and will never, ever use. It came with a 132 page instruction manual. Every time the damn thing rings and I don't answer it, it starts beeping at me every three minutes to tell me I have a missed call, and I have to give the phone to SWMBO to make it stop because I sure as hell can't figure out how to do it. Yeah, that's what I need, all right -- a phone with its own operating system so I can add even more useless things to it. ![](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif) Sigh.... there. I feel much better now. Sorry for the rant. tanstaafl.
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
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#285577 - 17/08/2006 01:56
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 12/02/2002
Posts: 2298
Loc: Berkeley, California
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Just out of curiosity, what brand and model is your phone? If it's not Sony Ericsson or Nokia, I'd seriously doubt whatever advice you got when buying it.
As you probably know, the reason phones have all the "useless" features is not because you want them, but because the cellular provider (who is the customer of the companies that make phones) wants features that you will pay money for on a per use basis. Their entire bussiness plan these days is "give the phone away, pretty much give the monthly service away, and gouge them on the nickle&dime features".
Personally, I'm completely different from you, and enjoy many of the features on my current phone. I can type in the name of a bussiness and it'll tell me how far away it is, the address, and phone number. I can be anywhere I get phone service and open up my laptop andconnect to the internet, which means I can work anywhere. When I get in my car, the audio automatically goes through my empeg, and I don't have to fumble for the phone, and can make calls safely while shifting gears.
On the other hand, I've never bought a ring tone, I generally pick the ring that sounds the most like a plain old telephone. I send a text message every other month, because 10c to sent 2kb of data is outrageous. A friend of mine changed the wallpaper on my phone to a picture from the camera, but I've never messed with it, and I certainly wouldn't pay money for a wallpaper. However, all these features are what Sprint was counting on when I bought the phone. I suspect I'm a huge disappointment as a customer.
Matthew
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#285578 - 17/08/2006 02:49
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14489
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
Yeah, that's what I need, all right -- a phone with its own operating system so I can add even more useless things to it.
No, it is exactly what you need: a phone with its own (source code to the) operating system so that you can remove everything but the basic telephony interface from it.
Cheers
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#285579 - 17/08/2006 04:16
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
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Quote:
I guess I am just some sort of telephobic Luddite or something... I would pay extra for a cell phone that had the following features:
If it rang, I could push a button and talk to someone. If it didn't ring, I could push a button and then dial and talk to someone.
If you want a simple phone, why do you just buy one? They still exist:
http://www.freedom-mobiles.co.uk/sim-free-nokia-1100.html
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#285580 - 17/08/2006 10:27
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Or how about no buttons at all - " http://nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,,63592,00.html" hmmm - it doesn't like the commas... ah well, cut'n'paste into browser Edit: URL added -wfaulk
Edited by wfaulk (17/08/2006 12:58)
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#285581 - 17/08/2006 11:09
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: frog51]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
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The UI on that Nokia must have been designed for masochists. A single rotating dial and a couple of buttons for composing text messages and typing phone numbers. Daft.
What is next ? A phone with no buttons that you bash on a hard service to tap out your texts and numbers in Morse ?
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#285582 - 17/08/2006 11:10
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: andy]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3584
Loc: Columbus, OH
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Or maybe you could use the built in camera to dial in ASL.
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~ John
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#285583 - 17/08/2006 12:38
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: JBjorgen]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1913
Loc: London
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A friend of mine has one, it's the biggest pile of crap on this planet, possibly the worst gadget I've ever seen.
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#285584 - 17/08/2006 12:43
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: JBjorgen]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 18/01/2000
Posts: 5683
Loc: London, UK
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Quote: Or maybe you could use the built in camera to dial in ASL.
It'd need to support BSL as well, though.
_________________________
-- roger
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#285585 - 17/08/2006 13:06
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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Quote: a phone with its own operating system
I'd just like to point out that every cell phone has an operating system. It may be minimalist (or, in your description, not), but it still has to have software that can access the hardware. This is simply the first one (intended to be) user-accessible.
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Bitt Faulk
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#285586 - 17/08/2006 14:19
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
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Get a Nokia 1100 - cheap (about $50, no contract or anything, for the 850/1900 model), B&W screen, wipe-clean keypad, small, light, long battery life, no camera or anything. Basically it's the old nokia stuff in a newer, smaller box.
I suspect it still has Snake on it, but you can't get a lot simpler than an 1100. The only other feature is a torch (ie, a white LED).
Hugo
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#285587 - 17/08/2006 14:23
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: andy]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
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D'oh, you beat be to it. Expansys sell it for £35 inc VAT though, £15 less than these guys. A US model does exist, froogle tells me.
Hugo
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#285588 - 17/08/2006 14:27
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: frog51]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
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Uh. Whats going on with the Wireless Image Headset? Wouldn't dangling your actual phone on a cord around your neck be more useful...
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#285589 - 17/08/2006 14:31
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: tman]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
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Maybe your phone is too ugly to be seen?
Hugo
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#285591 - 18/08/2006 05:28
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: peter]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 12/02/2002
Posts: 2298
Loc: Berkeley, California
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I got to play with one of these at linuxworld today, and it was pretty high quality. I'd seen the article linked here, but hadn't read anything about it in depth, so this may not be news to anyone. The software they had running seemed fine, but wasn't anything special, but I guess that's why it's a dev kit. The bluetooth module didn't seem to be present on the one that had on the show floor, as it was on the menu but complained if you tried to use the bluetooth function. The camera was the same way, though it was physically there and labled 1.3mp or something.
The one thing that surprised me for a phone of the size was the touch screen. It might be useful, but I'm not really sure what for in my daily phone use. I assume as a dev kit they threw everything in, and expect the final product to be a stripped down version without all the bells and wistles.
It was a reasonable size, but larger than my current samsung A900. It seemed to be GSM/GPRS, which means I'd never buy one as I can't imagine life without 3g data speeds any more. It also seemed to have USB Master capabilities, but I was just infering that from the menu. I can't imagine what I'd do with a phone with USB master capabilities, but it seems like it might come in useful.
A neat idea, and I'd love a phone with real user created apps and OS. Is it "legal" to have an open GSM phone that allows anyone to mess with the cool bits of the OS?
Matthew
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#285592 - 18/08/2006 05:34
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: matthew_k]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
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Quote:
Is it "legal" to have an open GSM phone that allows anyone to mess with the cool bits of the OS?
I'm betting that the access to the GSM side of things will only go so far. I'll bet that the drivers for the hardware will be binary modules rather than open source.
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Remind me to change my signature to something more interesting someday
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#285593 - 18/08/2006 06:41
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: matthew_k]
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old hand
Registered: 07/01/2005
Posts: 893
Loc: Sector ZZ9pZa
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Quote: The one thing that surprised me for a phone of the size was the touch screen. It might be useful, but I'm not really sure what for in my daily phone use.
The buttons look quite small - what are they like Matthew? It would be nice to scribble out SMS messages using some form of graffiti-a-like. Does it come with a stylus? I like the fact that you can prod the icons in the menu with your finger as opposed to navigating with a little joystick or buttons.
Also, touchscreen is a huge bonus if you ever use it for Navigation. TomTom Go products are linux-based and I have heard of some prototype TomTom software running on a Nokia 770. But whether a Qtopia/Linux-friendly version will ever see the light of day as a commercial product, who knows.
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#285594 - 19/08/2006 14:49
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: tanstaafl.]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
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Quote: If it rang, I could push a button and talk to someone. If it didn't ring, I could push a button and then dial and talk to someone.
Then you need the Motorola StarTac 7868W, the greatest "just a phone" ever created. Too bad they are not E911 capable and thus not allowed to be activated on any American wireless network.
I knew I never should have deactivated mine for the Treo. My StarTac, was grandfathered pre-E911 requirement and going strong long after Verizon wanted me to be rid of it. Now this Treo occasionally doesn't ring for incoming calls, the bluetooth headset doesn't answer the phone, the phone locks or randomly reboots, and I almost get in car accidents trying to navigate the menus to dial a phone number.
I've heard that if you call Verizon (or your carier) and ask very nicely and desperately, they may let you activate a StarTac on their system. Somewhere I read that the federal government allowed only a tiny percentage of all phones on the network to be non-E911 compatible. It felt nice to be in that rebel minority for a while.
_________________________
- FireFox31 110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set
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#285595 - 19/08/2006 17:04
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: FireFox31]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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Quote: Now this Treo occasionally doesn't ring for incoming calls, the bluetooth headset doesn't answer the phone, the phone locks or randomly reboots
I know how you hate to upgrade anything, but try upgrading the firmware on your Treo: 650, 600, 700w, 700p.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk
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#285596 - 19/08/2006 17:45
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: sein]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 12/02/2002
Posts: 2298
Loc: Berkeley, California
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The buttons were small but reasonable. They were harder to dial with than my current samsung, but they weren't impossible.
Matthew
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#285597 - 19/08/2006 20:08
Re: Doing for phones what the Empeg did for audio?
[Re: wfaulk]
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old hand
Registered: 07/01/2005
Posts: 893
Loc: Sector ZZ9pZa
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Quote: I know how you hate to upgrade anything, but try upgrading the firmware on your Treo
Yes, seriously if you are using a Treo with Bluetooth audio, you do want to have the latest firmware.
Quote: I almost get in car accidents trying to navigate the menus to dial a phone number.
If you have a carrier branded phone, you may want to look into hacking it to be 'unbranded'. The advantage is you don't have to hunt through the menus to look up a contact. I can just tap someones initials and press green. This option is not available on the Orange UK firmware and I think it is also the case with other carrier branded firmware.
If you want more info, send me a PM.
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