Will the Droid supplant other electronic devices?

[chrisflock]

I don't understand the battery life thing, my friend got a Droid phone a little while ago, he's constantly staring at the thing, sending texts and getting texts, looking up stupid crap on the net, all that, he never carries his charger with him, and crashes overnight at friends houses (mine included) all the time and his phone is still going the next day, so he's got to be getting at least 24-36 hours of constant use out of it.

I on the other hand, use my phone only for calling people, as though I were a caveman or other unwashed heathen, and I still have to charge it every other day.

 

[mcatrophy]

I don't understand the battery life thing, my friend got a Droid phone a little while ago, he's constantly staring at the thing, sending texts and getting texts, looking up stupid crap on the net, all that, he never carries his charger with him, and crashes overnight at friends houses (mine included) all the time and his phone is still going the next day, so he's got to be getting at least 24-36 hours of constant use out of it.
I on the other hand, use my phone only for calling people, as though I were a caveman or other unwashed heathen, and I still have to charge it every other day.

At least a partial explanation: talking as opposed to texting or other data activities uses much more from the battery. It's transmitting (in its "time-multiplexed" way) all the time you are talking. Merely sending a text or a request for service is only a very short (milli-seconds) transmission.

And it's the transmitter that consumes most power, receiving consumes very little. GPS does consume a fair amount because it's computing intensive, but still not as much as a speech transmission.

 

[ShawnKing]

Don't know about that.

I do - I do "this stuff" for a living.

A guy I have known for 30+ years has been at Verizon for about 12 years now. I wont say he came out and confirmed the rumor, but his "We here at Verizon do not comment on rumors" when I asked him the question about picking up the i-Phone, was delivered with a smile and a wink. After knowing him that long, I don't think he was trying to pick me up.

LOL No offense intended to your guy but, unless he's the actual president of Verizon, he doesn't know a damn thing. And neither do I. But it *is* known that to run on Verizon's network, Apple would have to come out with a completely different phone (AT&T and Verizon don't use the same network technology). And Apple has been loathe to create different devices for different situations like that.

Plus, I know "a guy" too.

 

[Duff]

IMHO, you can't beat dedicated devices for certain things... and bike GPS is one of them. I am NOT opposed to the idea of integrating features, like my XM radio, Nav, Traffic, MP3s and GPS in one device, but it is dedicated to those tasks and stays in one of two vehicles. I can imagine it would be nice to have everything on one spot, but I also imagine the hassle of mounting/un-mounting my phone every time I get on/off the bike, trying to navigate using the screen on my phone (even though I have a BB Storm, it's WAY too small) and the idea of leaving it in the elements when it is on the bike is a no-brainer.

My setup, like some others, is expensive and I had to work hard to get the money to put it together. However, my phone never leaves my pocket, my GPS has a larger viewing screen and is designed to navigate, I get Xm radio, MP3s, talking books, navigation, weather and turn-by-turn instructions all through my stereo intercom system. In addition, my phone links via Bluetooth automatically when I turn it on and disconnects when I shut it off. I get to a rest stop, turn off the bike and walk away, knowing that a phone call will still vibrate my butt and I can answer it if I want.

By the way, $2K is about right. It can be done for less by being a frugal shopper and maybe buying a used Zumo, but I doubt I could put the same system I have in the bike for less than $1500 today even if I tried pretty hard.

Again, this is JMHO...

 

[Fred W]

My system:

Zumo 550 - (legitimate) $608.47 from BuyDig.com

Starcom1 Advance - $339 (minus Forum Discount) from Bike Effects

Escort Passport 8500 - $149.95 on eBay

Motorola Talkabout T5720 $50 / pair at Amazon.com

Blackberry Curve (free!! from work)

Even with the extra starcom cables for the RD and B2B, well less than $1500 spent.

 

[ScottyUSN]

Don't know about that.

I do - I do "this stuff" for a living.

A guy I have known for 30+ years has been at Verizon for about 12 years now. I wont say he came out and confirmed the rumor, but his "We here at Verizon do not comment on rumors" when I asked him the question about picking up the i-Phone, was delivered with a smile and a wink. After knowing him that long, I don't think he was trying to pick me up.

LOL No offense intended to your guy but, unless he's the actual president of Verizon, he doesn't know a damn thing. And neither do I. But it *is* known that to run on Verizon's network, Apple would have to come out with a completely different phone (AT&T and Verizon don't use the same network technology). And Apple has been loathe to create different devices for different situations like that.

Plus, I know "a guy" too.

Apple had an exclusive deal with AT&T, the device was jail breaked by users to soon work on any GSM network. That timeline deal is coming to an end. It's not that Apple was unwilling to create a CDMA and or the soon LTE device. It was the contract with AT&T. The USA Iphone/ATT "Pre-Nup" is at it's end of life cycle.

https://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phon...on-iphone_N.htm

Garmin is in the phone business now. Single devices that will due better job at multi functioning comms will get better.

I just do not see this same device doing rider to rider or bike to bike anytime soon.

This is why I want the Starcom like connectivity "brain" to add, expand, and prioritize communication devices.

 

[ScottyUSN]

My system:
Zumo 550 - (legitimate) $608.47 from BuyDig.com

Starcom1 Advance - $339 (minus Forum Discount) from Bike Effects

Escort Passport 8500 - $149.95 on eBay

Motorola Talkabout T5720 $50 / pair at Amazon.com

Blackberry Curve (free!! from work)

Even with the extra starcom cables for the RD and B2B, well less than $1500 spent.

Fred, Thanks for posting that!

After I recover from Christmas and 3 months of farkling. I need to let the dust settle with the wife, an/or let her think the bike comm upgrade was her idea (Like the Russell Seats) before dropping this upgrade.

I will want to pick yours and the others here's brain with comm system questions before I buy and build my system.

 

[Fred W]

The other nice thing about going piece meal, rather than all in one, is that you can acquire the pieces at your own pace, as finances allow. You are able to determine what the most important thing for you is and get that piece first.

Plus there are just so many different ways that you can go! That's a big part of the frenetic farkling fun!! :yahoo:

 

[ShawnKing]

Apple had an exclusive deal with AT&T

They still do.

the device was jail breaked by users to soon work on any GSM network.

Verizon uses CDMA.

That timeline deal is coming to an end. The USA Iphone/ATT "Pre-Nup" is at it's end of life cycle.

Eventually, yes. But no one, yourself included, knows when that deal is up. You also don't know that the deal won't be re-negotaited and continued.

https://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phon...on-iphone_N.htm

That story is from April, has no new info and has nothing concrete in it. Just more rumors.

 

[ScottyUSN]

I'll bite....

Apple had an exclusive deal with AT&T

They still do. I know, that was stated in my post. You just left that part off.

the device was jail breaked by users to soon work on any GSM network.

Verizon uses CDMA. Same as above

That timeline deal is coming to an end. The USA Iphone/ATT "Pre-Nup" is at it's end of life cycle.

Eventually, yes. But no one, yourself included, knows when that deal is up. You also don't know that the deal won't be re-negotaited and continued.

If I answer this question, will it boil down to day, hour, minute? Unimportant anyway. The point was missed.

https://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phon...on-iphone_N.htm

That story is from April, has no new info and has nothing concrete in it. Just more rumors.

LOL No offense intended to your guy but, unless he's the actual president of Verizon, he doesn't know a damn thing. And neither do I. But it *is* known that to run on Verizon's network, Apple would have to come out with a completely different phone (AT&T and Verizon don't use the same network technology). And Apple has been loathe to create different devices for different situations like that.
Plus, I know "a guy" too.

Apple would only need change the chipset from SIM/GSM to CDMA radio, or more likely following RIM's new BB and support both. Point being, the ONLY reason the iPhone does not have a CDMA device is their contract obligation with AT&T. Not the difficulties required to change the device to support CDMA.

 

[k7lvo]

Interesting article...

https://telephonyonline.com/3g4g/news/att-o...s-verizon-1204/

"...AT&T’s mobile data network problems compared to Verizon’s are mainly problems of perception, according to independent testing firm Root Wireless. On most critical performance metrics, AT&T’s 3G networks comes out on top, they say..."

 

[Fred W]

Verizon's point is that they have superior infrastructure, ie "more coverage". They do. By a lot. That may not matter to city dwellers that never venture from their well covered areas, but if you do travel at all (like on a motorcycle perhaps?) having AT&T's limited geographical network coverage may be a problem for you. It would be for me.

My daughter bought an iPhone for her graduate program. She lives down in Hamden, CT. Not only does she not have 3G here at home in New Hampshire, she has no cell signal either. Verizon gives me full signal and 3G over most of the state. That sort of eliminates AT&T as even a possibility for me.

To be honest, I've never heard Verizon ads claim to have a faster network within the areas that are actually covered, which is what that article insinuates. Whatever difference there is, while it may be measurable, is insignificant compared to not having the coverage at all. Just my opinion.

 

[squeezer]

I'm with you Fred. Here in State College, PA, there are a lot of places where you have lousy or no AT&T 3G coverage. A son's friend with an iPhone can use it in only one room of our house. A friend of my wife's can't use his 3G iPhone features in his own house at all.

It's pretty irrelevant that AT&T's 3G network comes out a bit faster in benchmark tests if you have no access to that network.

We stick with Verizon not because we're fans of the company or its offerings. It's because no matter what devices we get, they have to work.

 

[FightOrFlight]

Sorry for DaNav that this is taking a slight turn into cell carrier land, but...

1. I'm in complete agreement that devices like the iPhone are too small (both screen size as viewed when mounted on the bike and the inability to interact with the device while wearing gloves of any substance) and too fragile for daily riding usage. Good in an emergency - I'm impressed with the speed and accuracy of some of the new navigation apps on my 3GS. But it's a really expensive device and I'm pretty sure Apple won't replace it if the moisture/water sensors inside the phone tell them it's been soaked.

2. I've never, ever been so frustrated with a carrier or device as I have been with AT&T and the iPhone, and I'm in metropolitan St. Louis (yes, I realize that could seem to some like an oxymoron). I'm actually astonished when I get through a call without dropping it. I read an interesting article from a British journalist that summed it up pretty effectively: horrible as a phone, untouchable as a hand-held computer experience. That said, an IS friend at work made a comment yesterday that gave me little perspective on the situation. He said that if any single network was hit with tens of millions of iPhones in two-ish years, it would be pretty overwhelming to the network. That makes sense to me...or at least made me calm down (it won't last).

Shawn, can your "guy" get me a deal on one of those fancy wireless connectors for my MacBook Pro?

24-degrees here. Ughh.

 

[BrunDog]

I switched to ATT for an iPhone last year. I was actually piloting it for my company, but decided that despite ATT, the phone hardware and software options were worthy over BB and Windows Mobile. We were looking to dump Blackberry due to the additional hardware and software of Blackberry enterprise server - saving almost $30 / user / month.

That being said, I drop calls on ATT all day long. Ironically, I have found it a benefit - cuts down on those loooong talkers.

I used to use a pda on my bike - but personally, you need a purpose-built device, and I think the zumo is the best option going. I would love my 550 to have a much better music cataloguing (over 1k songs, please) and A2DP.

-BD

 

[FightOrFlight]

That being said, I drop calls on ATT all day long. Ironically, I have found it a benefit - cuts down on those loooong talkers.

That made me laugh out loud. I'm immediately adopting that attitude, if only to save what little shred of sanity I have left. Love it!

 

[squeezer]

That being said, I drop calls on ATT all day long. Ironically, I have found it a benefit - cuts down on those loooong talkers.

I loved that too. :lol: :thumbsupsmiley:

I used to use a pda on my bike - but personally, you need a purpose-built device, and I think the zumo is the best option going. I would love my 550 to have a much better music cataloguing (over 1k songs, please) and A2DP.

I'm sorry, but who gave you permission to end the carrier threadjack and bring us back on topic? The nerve of some people...

And agreed on all points in that last quote.

 

[squeezer]

By the way, just stumbled across something that may let us get rid of one device. Google Latitude lets others see your location, taking care of what I most wanted from a Spot tracker. As far as I can tell, it doesn't give you the tracking feature of Spot, but that's not what interested me about that anyway.

Has anyone used this?

https://www.google.com/latitude/intro.html

 

[BlackCherry]

I don't understand the battery life thing, my friend got a Droid phone a little while ago, he's constantly staring at the thing, sending texts and getting texts, looking up stupid crap on the net, all that, he never carries his charger with him, and crashes overnight at friends houses (mine included) all the time and his phone is still going the next day, so he's got to be getting at least 24-36 hours of constant use out of it.
I on the other hand, use my phone only for calling people, as though I were a caveman or other unwashed heathen, and I still have to charge it every other day.

At least a partial explanation: talking as opposed to texting or other data activities uses much more from the battery. It's transmitting (in its "time-multiplexed" way) all the time you are talking. Merely sending a text or a request for service is only a very short (milli-seconds) transmission.

And it's the transmitter that consumes most power, receiving consumes very little. GPS does consume a fair amount because it's computing intensive, but still not as much as a speech transmission.

I have an HTC Droid Eris from Verizon and it seems to me that the battery is drained a LOT faster when on the 3G network, web browsing, etc. I don't do text messaging so I can't comment on that, but even sitting idle on the counter it seems to need to be recharged every 24 hrs. or so. It's a VERY cool and useful device, but battery drain IS a big issue.

 

[ScottyUSN]

I don't understand the battery life thing, my friend got a Droid phone a little while ago, he's constantly staring at the thing, sending texts and getting texts, looking up stupid crap on the net, all that, he never carries his charger with him, and crashes overnight at friends houses (mine included) all the time and his phone is still going the next day, so he's got to be getting at least 24-36 hours of constant use out of it.
I on the other hand, use my phone only for calling people, as though I were a caveman or other unwashed heathen, and I still have to charge it every other day.

At least a partial explanation: talking as opposed to texting or other data activities uses much more from the battery. It's transmitting (in its "time-multiplexed" way) all the time you are talking. Merely sending a text or a request for service is only a very short (milli-seconds) transmission.

And it's the transmitter that consumes most power, receiving consumes very little. GPS does consume a fair amount because it's computing intensive, but still not as much as a speech transmission.

I have an HTC Droid Eris from Verizon and it seems to me that the battery is drained a LOT faster when on the 3G network, web browsing, etc. I don't do text messaging so I can't comment on that, but even sitting idle on the counter it seems to need to be recharged every 24 hrs. or so. It's a VERY cool and useful device, but battery drain IS a big issue.

I have an HTC G1 Android. After installing the "free" Task kill app. It helped the battery life out. Before that, apps were running and sucking battery life that I was unaware of.
Worth a shot?