We have a G1 Dev phone because we are developing Android apps for money, but after a brief period of getting to know each other, I decided against using it as a phone primarily for the following reasons:
it's heavy and bulky,
battery life is pathetic, especially if one doesn't bother to turn stuff on and off,
the mechanics feels fragile,
the bluetooth stack is seriously broken.
Currently I use a Nokia E51 as my primary phone. It also comes with its unique set of frustrations, but it is small, sturdy and does a very good job at power management. Its built-in map application is much better suited for a phone that google maps. I actually came to like the idea of having the GPS receiver in a separate, bluetooth-connected unit. You don't carry it around when you don't need it and even then the phone can triangulate itself from GSM base stations with some accuracy. It makes a lot of sense. Alas, it is not hackable to the extent of the G1 Dev Phone, but even though I love hacking, I want to use my phone more often than playing with it.
Recently, I got my hands on a Nokia N97. From a mechanical and (hw) design PoV, it beats HTC G1 hands down. Also as a pocket camera and a GPS navigator device. Unfortunately, they are still stuck with Symbian for OS, which slows down the thing to the point of ruining user experience: when flick-scroll on the touch screen has a latency over 100ms, it's a pain.
As for WiFi-based telephony, I completely agree with you. I want mobile operators reduced to mobile ISPs, competing with privately (even individually) owned WiFi access points. Moreover, I am doing my best to bring this about. The client software (incl. mobile clients) that pay seamlessly, when certain owner-specified criteria are met (to prevent unauthorized draining of unsuspecting victims) is also under development.
Currently I use a Nokia E51 as my primary phone. It also comes with its unique set of frustrations, but it is small, sturdy and does a very good job at power management. Its built-in map application is much better suited for a phone that google maps. I actually came to like the idea of having the GPS receiver in a separate, bluetooth-connected unit. You don't carry it around when you don't need it and even then the phone can triangulate itself from GSM base stations with some accuracy. It makes a lot of sense. Alas, it is not hackable to the extent of the G1 Dev Phone, but even though I love hacking, I want to use my phone more often than playing with it.
Recently, I got my hands on a Nokia N97. From a mechanical and (hw) design PoV, it beats HTC G1 hands down. Also as a pocket camera and a GPS navigator device. Unfortunately, they are still stuck with Symbian for OS, which slows down the thing to the point of ruining user experience: when flick-scroll on the touch screen has a latency over 100ms, it's a pain.
As for WiFi-based telephony, I completely agree with you. I want mobile operators reduced to mobile ISPs, competing with privately (even individually) owned WiFi access points. Moreover, I am doing my best to bring this about. The client software (incl. mobile clients) that pay seamlessly, when certain owner-specified criteria are met (to prevent unauthorized draining of unsuspecting victims) is also under development.
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