The Ultimate Integral Device - Smart Phones

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People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading. ~ Logan Pearsall Smith

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[Daniel]

Here we all are in the middle of 2010.

As the natural world continues to fall apart at the seams with historically record breaking oil spills, melting unforgiving heat waves, mind numbing glacial meltdowns and the continued onslaught of our rain forests, and in a general way how mankind just sh*ts where he eats, it is clear we are losing ground. We are walking on thin ice and I can hear the cracks spread out in all directions.

In all this however we do have a bright spot on our highway to hell with the continued neck breaking high speed advancements in technology.

Smart phones. I never thought I would indulge in one due to the high cost (relatively speaking), but I finally broke down. I admit it, I am weak. 

I just acquired a Motorola Droid X into my sweaty hands and absolutely love it. I had a heck of a time finding one, all the suppliers said I would have to wait until the end of the month at least.
I happened to be in Ft.Lauderdale and started scouring all the Costco's and finally tracked one down in Boca Raton. I drove up to Boca and found that indeed they had 2 in stock. Not surprising looking at the local population shopping there. They were all over 65 and had gray hair.    I then thought to myself that's why they had a few left after the initial feeding frenzy that always goes on when the latest hot gadgets come out. These folks are beyond the age to be interested in this stuff although I'm sure there was a hip granny or two who did spring for a Droid X and no doubt were the first ones in line whacking people back with their canes. 

In the check out line there was a guy who had 2 dozen bottles of wine and I got a great tip on wine, Columbia Crest (not from California, sorry folks. Washington state). It goes for around $12 a bottle and easily worth $25. I did not know this, but the guy said that one critical factor is the alcohol content. Anything near 15% or above is going to be a high end wine, that's why this wine was such a steal.

There are two camps at this point for this rapidly growing group of Smart phone fanatics:
Android vs iPhone

I can share some things about the Android, C4Chaos would have to weight in on the iPhone (I am sure they will fix the disastrous iPhone 4 with the future iPhone 5, and by then Verizon will have the Apple contract also for those who are fed up with the chronically dropped calls from AT&T). I don't like corporatism, but I guess we must live with the fact that it's beyond our capacity to build a CPU chip or an internal combustion engine (preferably electric motors such as found in the Tesla) from scratch (well, most of us anyway), and so must rely on "big brother" corporations to provide those goodies.

Before appearing biased due to my preferences, here is a good comparative review of the Droid X vs the HTC Evo 4G (Droid will be going 4G as well, so Verizon claims)
(also a chart below showing even more Androids)

http://blog.laptopmag.com/motorola-droid-x-vs-htc-evo-4g

As this thread suggests, Smart phones are truly integral technologies.

For Android newbies: 10 questions, answered

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/20100813/tc_ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc3422

The Droid X comes with the OS Android 2.1, but will be upgraded to 2.2 within 1 month.
It's Google's OS and integrates great with all the Google goodies.
The browser is fast a lightening with the 1 GHZ processor helping out and will be even faster when Verizon goes 4G (at no extra cost, so they claim. All these carriers lie like hell by the way and you never know until the time comes what they are going to do.)

The apps aren't as plentiful as Apples (70,000+ vs 250,000+), but its enough to get started. many of the nice ones on Android are free. The only app I did pay for was a brilliant Zen Timer that was 1.99. There's a free meditation entrainment app, basic though (IPhone has a very nice one called "Mindwave". Admittedly, Apple does have some sweet apps as well).

Of course, Google Earth, Google Sky, GMail, Google Latitude, Google Maps, etc. Google Latitude is useful. I can track exactly where my daughter is as long as her phone is on. They triangulate the phone signal and pinpoint it on a map, it can also be GPS based (Oh yes, you also can have a GPS for the phone to guide you through the streets of San Francisco).
The call quality is great.

You Tube, Facebook, Twitter, e-book readers such as Kindle and Nook. There's a free one that gives you free public domain books such as Siddhartha and Plato.
It can be a Wi Fi hot spot to feed up to 5 laptops. 8 Megapixel Camera and HD camcorder for those who like filming. You can stream HD TV onto your HD TV both on a wire and wireless.
Movies too of course.
The screen is huge. 

Voice activation and promting. For example, I just speak into the phone "Ken Wilber" and in 2 seconds there's Ken Wilber links up for you on Google in the browser. Voice emails too, you can dictate "Notes To Self", say your piece and the thing will automatically email you what you said.
Financials are good, I can log into my bank account on a browser, the "My Verizon" app can instantly tell you where you are in your monthly usage.
I did the basic - 450 min. / unlimited data / 250 texts per month. I get a 22% discount on the bill (it's $58 a month). Upgrades to new technology allowed yearly (in case I get an iPhone craving).

For those who live across the pond or over the border, this phone has SKYPE integrated into it and so free international calls for SKYPE to SKYPE on cellphone to cellphone and/or to computer, love it.


There's more to this toy  , but I prefer calling it a tool.  (Feel like 007)

P.S. Don't want to sound like a marketing story here, just trying to report facts, maybe slightly slanted with personal preference, I don't know.

Michael, can you write a free HeartMind app for us and submit it to Google?
Or animated wallpapers from your video art would be very cool! (I'm using Zen Pond, very nice, animated ripples and leaves)
Good source of income perhaps, a buck or two to download those wonderful animated images worldwide could make you rich. 

Note to self - 
iPhone users have much more sex than Android users (and a perfect reason to switch!) 

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20013268-71.html

[Daniel]

Commentary from various folks:


Android does:

-true multitasking
-open source
-multiple hand set choice availability
-extensive developer community for aftermarket apps, themes, and rom development
-keep a call no matter how you hold the phone
-exist on multiple networks
-wi-fi tethering
-wi-fi hotspot capability
-widgets
-voice actions
-chrome to phone
-multiple OS upgrades throughout the year so stay tuned...

(feel free to add more if I've forgotten any)


this is about Droid X. I like the speed and the ability to take HD video and post on Internet or show on your TV. I also like the integration with Google.


Screw Android, Google and Verizon for trying to kill internet neutrality. They're trying to end the freedom on the net and limit services to all.
Time to wake up America. If you like the internet the way it is then do not support these companies or their products. Cause all you're doing is feeding them money to pay their lobbists in Washington to mess up the whole internet for all of us.
Thank you, Beerbo. I have decided to build a Linux telephone based on open standards so that I may enjoy Internet on my own terms.

It is a nice piece of machinery.
Every time I read one of these stories, it deals with the rich getting richer. 90 percent of us are paying the other 10 percent's rich lifestyle. I tire of giving my hard earned money to the rich and I am guessing the rest of you are as well. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
If you want to make a difference and get your share of the money, just g.oog.le CASH TEACHER and go to the first site. They are that good. Check out the STOCK and CREDIT SCORE pages to see things that the rich do not want us to know in the worst way.
It is time OUR families live the good life and this will get it started.


Google is turning evil. They make money by selling advertisements. Now they are trying to kill net neutrality for wireless services. Don't support Google.


All these phones on the market are just darn expensive. I think a long
string and two empty cans can do the job just fine.

Why do people insist on wasting money on new phones?

I think I'll wait and see what comes along in five or 10 years. Informative article though.

Why does everyone seem to need to have the latest phone?! What's wrong with having a phone that was made last year, heck even three years ago! Most people just brag or flash them around. I honestly can't see the advantage of having constant email or web access unless you truly can't live without it.

Drawback: Oracle is suing Google. Steve Jobs is "quietly" investing in Google!

oh well as long as the middle class and above eat this up i guess our opinions dont matter. it has gone from "my god is better than your god" to "my technology is better than your technology" tech wars will come soon........mark my word.

I was one of those people that never believed I needed internet on my cell phone. I just recently purchased the Motorola Droid, and I don't know how I ever lived without it. From the minute I powered it on, the ease of use was just unreal. Everything is organized and you can tell a lot of thought went into creating it. I recommend this phone to everyone.

I've messed around with a few iPhones, own an iPod Touch & currently own a Motorola Droid. I am far more impressed by the Droid than I am the iPhone. My boyfriend owns an iPhone and every single one of his calls gets dropped, network is always down, and texting is a pain in the butt. He's fed up and has switched to the Evo after years of iPhone loyalty. He still loves the iPhone but he hates AT&T's crappy service/signal.

The bad thing about the IPhone is the AT&T network and all the dropped calls. Another down side of the IPhone is all the limitations Apple/Steve Jobs put on the phone. It is a trade off but I have a friend that just switched from AT&T IPhone to Verizon Driod X and he is so glad he switched.

If you have any of the MOTOROLA DROIDS you can download the Motorola Media Link and it syncs your iTunes playlist to your phone (can also do pictures and pretty everything that iTunes does). I personally don't use it that much because I have an iPOD Touch. If I want to put music on my Droid, I just hook up the USB cable and dump them into my music directory and there they are.

I don't know about these mega deluxe cell phones....
I purchased the cell phone that emitted the lowest level of radiation.
there were "suggestions" that using cell phones for more than 30 minutes each day could increase the risk of glioma, according to the study by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer.

The Barnes and Noble Nook eReader runs on the Android OS.

Sad as most Smartphone users don't have any actual need for a Smartphone. Just a bunch of people buying things they can't or shouldn't afford. Iphone and Droid, two $500.00 phone which turn into $3,000.00 in the blink of an eye. Not all Apps are free.

mspot is a free download for androids which handles all your music and videos just fine.

I can see it already. One more downside, and trust me, everyone knows it's coming. Unregulated apps will come with viruses, the next thing you know you have to pay for a anti-virus app on a monthly basis. Antivirus app companies are ramp up to cash in. The next them you your smart-phone get hacked, we would all like to see how smart it is to warn you, and even tell you who is hacking your phone.
I suppose there is a silent virus app out there already and it's not yet be detected.
I am sticking with my not-so-smart phone to make call to be safe!

Texting with the Droid Incredible is awesome. You speak and it types. It's pretty accurate. I find the keyboard to be very good, but you really don't need it.

How sad our American society has become when our lives are so meaningless and self-absorbed that we feel the need to have 24/7 access to every form of multi media entertainment available on demand, at our fingertips, on our 'phones...'. I just cannot imagine any possible scenario where I cannot live unless I am able to see the latest youtube video RIGHT NOW! OIr to hear the newest song by the latest manufactured pop artist RIGHT NOW! I MUST HAVE IT NOW!! FEED ME! FEE ME MORE ENTERTAINMENT! IM an AMERICAN. I MUST have MORE!!

[Daniel]

First time I've heartmind on the Droid browser. Looks damn good. The smiley face things aren't animated, though they do show up. I wonder if the lack of Flash would cause that. Flash will be included with the Android 2.2 upgrade.

[Daniel]

Oracle files suit over Android's use of Java 

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/08/12/oracle-files-suit-over-androids-use-of-java/?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin

[Daniel]

Are these the droids you're looking for?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/08/12/android.comparison/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Might get rid of the Droid X and get an EVO

[jimtzu]

my nephew has the droid incredible and really likes it, seems to work pretty good. i havn't made the move past a simple phone yet