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okalyddude
Posts: 2 |
 
Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:40 pm |
I'm trying to research to purchase my first PDA / smartphone, and have found a large number that appeal to me, but know that I both haven't seen everything and don't have all the facts, and don't even know if I can all the things I want.
Here's a basic layout of what I'm hoping for:
NEEDED
Good Camera (2.0-5.0 mp, higher preferred)
Internet Connection
Chat / Email / Browsing
Plays Videos (youtube, cnn, etc)
Global Access / Unlocked
GPS
Music Player
Weather
WOULD LIKE
QWERT keyboard or touch screen for easier messaging / internet use
WiFi / bluetooth / FM
Ability to use SKYPE or other video/audio internet communications
Flash support to watch tvlinks
OS able to be hacked / modified / customized
My intention is to buy an unlocked phone that I can take with me on travels. I'd just buy prepaid sim cards in whatever country I'm in to make actual phone calls (including in the USA where I am now, I'll likely keep normal phone calls to a minimum, but local incoming would be quite nice)
I'd like to replace my camera, mp3 player, and laptop, though not expecting any of those to be as good on a PDA/phone as not on one, I'm hoping for a good selection.
I plan on setting up a dedicated server over here to host music (and if i can get good enough streaming and a good data plan, videos as well) This way I could have a friend up-keeping a server that we'll share stocked with all the music we want, and access it anywhere where I have an internet connection (wifi if possible, or just via satellite)
So, Suggestions? I have some further questions on the implementation of my plan.
-What all providers cover either global solutions or europe and N america?
-Who offers good unlimited data plans (and how much is unlimited really?)
-Does anyone offer ONLY data plans, no voice? Any PDAs more geared in this direction?
-How well does streaming video / music work from: free sites, the providers free services, dedicated servers that aren't necessarily built for streaming out mass info.
-What OSs are available and what are the differences?
-Can any run those "work on your computer from another computer" type of friendly trojan software?
Has anyone used a smartphone / PDA in this way, essentially to host a rather large music selection and be able to access it via the ftp or html, or used one regularly to get music streaming off of free sites?
I haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to host, edit, sort, playlist, etc. but I got my friends on that part hopefully will be able to get it down, I need to figure out what I'm gonna buy!
I'll go up to the 500-600 range, but will obviously appreciate any lesser known devices that could do what I need. I've checked out an love the Nokia line (n95, n71, etc) If any of their other models sound particularly up my alley, go ahead an suggest it.
I also don't know much about the providers and their plans, though I've seen a number of data plans that are pay by the byte or limited to like 100 mgs a month. Therefore, if there's any particularly good providers for using lots of data where I might not have WiFi or something free, let me know.
Tell me If I'm going to be limited on what phone to get by what providers will offer good data plans and cheap or nonexistent voice plans. I plan on going to Cyprus pretty soon, but being back in N America, and traveling all over in the future.
Sorry to ask such a huge and noobish question, but I really don't know much about the whole situation, and would love to be able to nail a solid device that I can keep for years and have it do all the things I need.
Thank for any help, even if you can only answer one part of my post!
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alarcon_edward
Posts: 75 |
Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:24 pm |
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You asked a complex question that I can help answer, but don't have all the answers for. As for as for data, VZW has a global data plan for $64.99 which is the best your going to get as far as global data goes. For availability go to VZW.com and search for global data services. The only pda phone they currently have that is global is the black berry 8830 though.
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okalyddude
Posts: 2 |
Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:30 pm |
Right on, thanks for the suggestions.
I think that the usage I'm going to be looking for is kind of going to be limited by how much money I want to dump into data usage. And I don't think I'm going to go crazy on that, as I'm not even sure when I'm going or for how long. From what I can tell only the blackberry world edition has a decent international plan, and its still pricey and not worth it for what I want. Does anyone know much about vodafone and their plans?
I think I'm just going to get something unlocked and buy the prepaid SIM cards, but the first place I'm probably going (Cyprus) doesn't have data prepaid SIM cards to my knowledge. Thus I'll just be utilizing WiFi hotspots and wherever I work etc for Data usage.
This means I'll have to get a phone with a large hard drive or data chip you can throw in, bigger the better. I'll still want to be able to use the device for documents, emails etc, especially since I can work offline and wait til I'm in a hotspot (still trying to find out how prevelant they are there, but they do take their coffee shops seriously, so I'm hoping decent)
Since I'm going to have to stress the capabilities while not directly connected to the internet at all times, I'm going to aim for a decent camera, probably a Nokia 60 series with a 3-5 mp camera. I'll still be able to use many of the other things I want to do while not connected: making and editing text documents, taking and editing pictures, music, playing nes games etc. I'll just have to get to wifi to send stuff, check websites, swap music, chat, etc.
I have a few questions tho:
What kind of data connection do the GPS functionalities require? Would it be able to pinpoint my location all the same and load up the program that lots of phones have, or do they rely too much on an active internet connection? Could I save and load up a global map or terrain to be used while offline? And if so, again, what would require the GPS function to work?
Also, if you can think of any other problems I'll run into, any unforseen consequence or loss of functionality I'm not thinking of if I just use pre-paid cards for only calling and texting within the country, and WiFi spots to use Skype, Google video calls, text messaging, email, and internet. I'll still use orb, and probably regularly change out what music I have, but I'm still going to want a lot of it at any given time, so will really need the hard drive or good cheap and huge data storage cards.
Thanks again, I know this is kind of huge, but I'm out of the whole loop and want to make a good decision obviously, as I'm looking for a fairly specific usage out of my device.
Like you said, for data, all I could really do is the blackberry or pay a ton of money . but the blackbery plan isn't particularly great or cheap either.
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