Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer? • Hacker News Board

Re: Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer?

#31

Post by tienshiao » Tue, Aug 12, 2008, 9:33 AM UTC

alnayyir wrote: post #17

tsuraan wrote: post #16

I have a blackberry pearl with t-mobile, and it's not bad. The data rate is slow (200k if you're lucky, usually much lower than that), but it lets you use the DUN bluetooth profile when connected with OSX, so it's an acceptable wireless modem, and a decent phone. The DUN profile only seems to work with my powerbook though; I've tried using the phone as a bluetooth modem with my nokia 770, and the blackberry won't adv…

non blackberry devices get unlimited data for $20, this is why I'm trying to avoid blackberry devices, or at least avoid letting them know I have one.

In my area, the BlackBerry plan is also $20. On HowardForums, people used the BlackBerry plans when the data plan got bumped up to $30.

Unless you're grandfathered into the ancient $5.99 T-Zones plan, I don't think you will find a cheaper option.

Also, I think a BlackBerry without the BlackBerry plan will be heavily neutered. I'm guessing email won't work because it depends on the BIS backend. BIS is used for "personal" email things like your school's Exchange server, your Gmail account, and your IMAP/POP account. BES is used for hooking up with corporate Exchange setups running BlackBerry's Enterprise backends.

Re: Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer?

#32

Post by tienshiao » Tue, Aug 12, 2008, 9:38 AM UTC

I would advise against a PalmOS based device if you plan on doing development. The OS is outdated, and on its last legs.

The iPhone OS, Windows Mobile, and the BlackBerry OS are all more modern and have better tools. Can't comment on Symbian.

Re: Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer?

#33

Post by astrec » Tue, Aug 12, 2008, 9:43 AM UTC

Nokia addressed most of the N95 issues you describe with the N95-3, also called the N95 8Gb.

'Tethering' (bluetooth) is trivial so long as you know the APN. Works great on the train for me.

Browser is webkit based and works very nicely, except in their wisdom they've made tabs difficult.

Re: Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer?

#34

Post by tienshiao » Tue, Aug 12, 2008, 9:50 AM UTC

martythemaniak wrote: post #8

alnayyir wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's this $20 API Key? what does it do for me? Also, can I find an essentially unauthorized tethering app for a BB? Also, if I get a BB, I'll have to "hide" that fact from T-mo, they use a different set of plans for them. (I don't need exchange server syncing, so I want the cheap data plan). Do any blackberries have a good web browser? Is it an open platform? Do any BBs have native GPS?

$20 for an encryption key which allows you to digitally sign your app and get to the more interesting parts of the API - system event listeners, background processes, auto-startups, system modules etc. For the iPhone you need a $99 key to do anything, and I don't know what the situation is with WinMO. BB's have been tetherable for years, though I don't know about unauthorized ways to do this. The browser is decent, a…

For Windows Mobile, you might be able to get away with the old free Embedded Visual C++ (eVC++) and Embedded Visual Basic (eVB) tools. I don't know how well they will work, and you probably won't be able to take advantage of the latest features.

You could potentially do development with the C# command line tools. But that is probably extremely difficult

Otherwise you will need Visual Studio.

Re: Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer?

#35

Post by akd » Tue, Aug 12, 2008, 9:53 AM UTC

alnayyir wrote: post #24

paulgb wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The blackberry bold is coming out soon, maybe you should hold off until then. Symbian is being open-sourced, and Nokia is known for being developer friendly as far as I know. iPhones are cool, but don't seem to be particularly developer friendly. Also, FYI, I think you need a mac to develop for them.

Yes you do need a mac. The only mac in my room out of the many, many computers I own is a PowerMac G4 I got with 768mb of ram (500 mhz proccy! :( ) for $30 a month or so ago. Got a fresh install of Tiger on it, then stopped using it. I like OS X, but the lag kills me compared to my primary server/desktop machine with quad xeons and 4 gb of ram :\ Sigh. I'm not paying what apple or second-hand sellers want for a mac.…

I run Tiger inside VMWare on my Dell.

Re: Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer?

#36

Post by orib » Tue, Aug 12, 2008, 1:21 PM UTC

alnayyir wrote: post #25

orib wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I second waiting for the bold. It's quite capable, and has a screen with double the pixel density (screen has the same resolution, but is smaller to make room for the keyboard) of the IPhone. It's beautifully sharp, and I'd have to say that the tactile keyboard leaves any touchscreen in the dust when it comes to actually doing input to the device. Disclaimer: I'm a co-op student at RIM for the summer. This means that…

I looked at the bold, and as long as I can subvert the tethering fees that T-Mobile has, I'll be okay. It seems to have all the features I want, and the processor looks beastly . This is important (TM) to me, because laggy interfaces make me want to fling devices across rooms. namely, my room. What was your experience, in detail, you'd say, with the bold?

I'm not actually using the Bold (I'm beta-testing a different device as my personal device) but I've played with it, and I'd say that it's a major improvement over the curve.

It's much faster, the screen is beautifully sharp. It's browser isn't great -- especially when compared to WebKit -- but it works decently well.

Really though, I think the best option is to find one and play with it when it comes out. Try everything you can out yourself. Still, if you were considering getting the Curve before, I strongly suggest waiting for the Bold.

Re: Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer?

#37

Post by blender » Tue, Aug 12, 2008, 3:03 PM UTC

I've been considering getting an Openmoko:

http://www.openmoko.com

Cheers

Re: Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer?

#38

Post by hapless » Tue, Aug 12, 2008, 8:38 PM UTC

I think I'm missing something important here.

What is the purpose of a smartphone in the first place, particularly for 'a young programmer' ?

Re: Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer?

#39

Post by christefano » Mon, Aug 18, 2008, 7:31 AM UTC

martythemaniak wrote: post #2

As I've posted elsewhere, I think the Blackberry if vastly underestimated by people around these parts, which I don't really understand. The OS is rock solid, they have very durable hardware construction, a huge number of features compared to the iPhone and a $20 API key will get you access to APIs which iPhone users only dream about (regular APIs require no key). I don't know what you mean by hackability. The iPhone…

The Bold does sound pretty interesting:

http://apcmag.com/blackberry_bold_handson_review.htm

I'm confused, though. Can you explain why you used a dozen different BlackBerries during a year and a half? If you're so happy with them, why replace them so frequently and why get an iPhone?

Re: Smartphone Decision for Young Programmer?

#40

Post by christefano » Mon, Aug 18, 2008, 7:34 AM UTC

alnayyir wrote: post #22

christefano wrote: post #19

It doesn't meet your criteria, but I recommend the Palm Centro without hesitation. The ecosystem of developers and applications (freeware, shareware and commercial) is enormous. Say what you will about the operating system being old (not to mention the sad, backwards ways of Palm, the company), but my Centro is running brand new programs alongside 8 year old applications without a problem. Oh, and the Centro has real…

I just looked up prices for the Centro, no can do. That puts it in shooting distance of every single windows mobile phone I'd been considering and the iPhone as well. And the Nokia N95 if you tack on $100.

The Centro currently has a $100 rebate.