Gadget Geeks: Palm Pre, iPhone 3G v2, Storm 2

**jumbopackage** · 05-21-2009, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

The device wars are always amusing. I don't see one clear best device, I see a handful that do different things. And yet the same usual suspects constantly go out of their way to play the one-string banjo as to why this device rocks or this oneid the worst. Amusing.

At any rate, very soon I will be able to remote fire my camera/lights with my iPhone. May even have liveview on it. That's not very toy-like. :)

Hating the coverage out here in Davenport. 3G very slow here. Another reason I can't wait to get back to DSM.

It's toy-like for people that don't have any need to remote fire their camera or lights.

There's a whole lot of things the iPhone does well, but almost every person I know that has tried to use it as a "business-class" device has decided to go back to something more functional (Blackberry or Palm).

**ISUFan22** · 05-21-2009, 10:34 AM

Like a moth to a flame.

My business seems to run ok using it.

**Angie** · 05-21-2009, 10:41 AM

Yeah, I hate it when people go on and on about the same thing all of the time, or act like know-it-alls.

**Rogue52** · 05-21-2009, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Hating the coverage out here in Davenport. 3G very slow here. Another reason I can't wait to get back to DSM.

The biggest shortcoming of the iPhone: AT&T's GSM 3G network. Even in Des Moines, does download speeds even approach 350k?

My Blackberry Storm enjoys EV-DO Rev. A speeds of close to 1 mbps in all major areas of the state.

**Dave19642006** · 05-21-2009, 11:20 AM

you forgot the X1 Experian

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 | Cellphone | Gear

**egami** · 05-21-2009, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Rogue52

The biggest shortcoming of the iPhone: AT&T's GSM 3G network. Even in Des Moines, does download speeds even approach 350k?

My Blackberry Storm enjoys EV-DO Rev. A speeds of close to 1 mbps in all major areas of the state.

Yeah, from what I've played with the iPhone in the metro...meh.

Although, if they go to that Verizon coverage/4G...that may change the game.

**aeroclone** · 05-21-2009, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by egami

Yeah, from what I've played with the iPhone in the metro...meh.

Although, if they go to that Verizon coverage/4G...that may change the game.

If you are waiting for Verizon 4G coverage in central Iowa for your next phone, you better be prepared to wait a while. So far, Sprint is the only US carrier offering 4G service, and right now it is just in Baltimore and Portland. They have a lot more markets announced for 2009 and 2010, but I would say it will be a couple years beyond that yet before we would see a market like Des Moines. And the common wisdom out there now is that Verizon is about 2 years behind Sprint as they are going with a LTE 4G solution versus the Wimax solution Sprint is using. I think the focus early on has been more on laptop data cards than phones. So, needless to say, 4G data on phones at a national scale is still many years off.

That said, it will be sweet when it gets here, in the markets up and running now people are seeing speeds on par with cable modems driving down the street on a data card and laptop.

**aeroclone** · 05-21-2009, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Dave19642006

you forgot the X1 Experian

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 | Cellphone | Gear

Interesting phone there. Is there any word on what carriers may be getting it, or if it will make it to the US at all?

**egami** · 05-21-2009, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by aeroclone

If you are waiting for Verizon 4G coverage in central Iowa for your next phone, you better be prepared to wait a while. So far, Sprint is the only US carrier offering 4G service, and right now it is just in Baltimore and Portland. They have a lot more markets announced for 2009 and 2010, but I would say it will be a couple years beyond that yet before we would see a market like Des Moines. And the common wisdom out there now is that Verizon is about 2 years behind Sprint as they are going with a LTE 4G solution versus the Wimax solution Sprint is using. I think the focus early on has been more on laptop data cards than phones. So, needless to say, 4G data on phones at a national scale is still many years off.

That said, it will be sweet when it gets here, in the markets up and running now people are seeing speeds on par with cable modems driving down the street on a data card and laptop.

As I mentioned earlier...it depends on what happens, if anything happens, with the proposed AT&T/Verizon merger, buyout, acquisition whatever may happen that the government allows.

Clearly 4G isn't near term, regardless. The more likely short term implementation that would benefit iPhone users in Iowa would be for something in that just allowed 3G coverage not to suck so much. Frankly, if the Verizon infrastructure now were all 3G even it'd be better than Sprint in terms of coverage.

**jumbopackage** · 05-21-2009, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Rogue52

The biggest shortcoming of the iPhone: AT&T's GSM 3G network. Even in Des Moines, does download speeds even approach 350k?

My Blackberry Storm enjoys EV-DO Rev. A speeds of close to 1 mbps in all major areas of the state.

I would wholeheartedly agree iwth this.

Originally Posted by egami

As I mentioned earlier...it depends on what happens, if anything happens, with the proposed AT&T/Verizon merger, buyout, acquisition whatever may happen that the government allows.

Clearly 4G isn't near term, regardless. The more likely short term implementation that would benefit iPhone users in Iowa would be for something in that just allowed 3G coverage not to suck so much. Frankly, if the Verizon infrastructure now were all 3G even it'd be better than Sprint in terms of coverage.

Again, AT&T and Verizon use totally different systems for 3G data (HSDPA and EVDO respectively) and they are not in the least bit compatible. Verizon has precious little to gain from such an alliance, aside from perhaps rights to the iPhone, which they could probably negotiate for themselves at some point anyway.

From a purely technical standpoint, an AT&T and Verizon merger makes no sense at all. After it would happen, someone would have to create some sort of crazy GSM/CDMA hybrid phone that also had a hybrid HSDPA/EVDO modem built in it to take advantage of both networks. Talk about battey issues.

The ONLY thing that AT&T has going for it that gives it any sort of an advantage over Sprint or Verizon at the moment is the iPhone, and possibly the nature of the GSM network for international travellers (which I admit would be pretty handy if I travelled overseas a lot).

**ozone** · 05-27-2009, 02:48 PM

Buzz Report: The iPhone sucks!
Sure, the iPhone has been the big dog of the phone market for a while, but now that we're practically on the eve of the Palm Pre's arrival, everyone has just started to notice that the iPhone on AT&T is a total dog. Especially Molly Wood. She takes aim at Apple and AT&T in this week's Buzz Report. Plus, find out the gadget of the week and what's clogging the tubes.

Videos - Free video downloads and streaming video - CNET TV

**egami** · 05-27-2009, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

Again, AT&T and Verizon use totally different systems for 3G data (HSDPA and EVDO respectively) and they are not in the least bit compatible. Verizon has precious little to gain from such an alliance, aside from perhaps rights to the iPhone, which they could probably negotiate for themselves at some point anyway.

From a purely technical standpoint, an AT&T and Verizon merger makes no sense at all. After it would happen, someone would have to create some sort of crazy GSM/CDMA hybrid phone that also had a hybrid HSDPA/EVDO modem built in it to take advantage of both networks. Talk about battey issues.

The ONLY thing that AT&T has going for it that gives it any sort of an advantage over Sprint or Verizon at the moment is the iPhone, and possibly the nature of the GSM network for international travellers (which I admit would be pretty handy if I travelled overseas a lot).

As previously stated, this proposed merger or whatever talk is in the realm of going forward on 4G.

I am fully aware of the respective 3G architecture between the two.

And I never said it would happen...all I said is there are talks. Clearly there are hurdles.

**jumbopackage** · 05-27-2009, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by ozone

Buzz Report: The iPhone sucks!
Sure, the iPhone has been the big dog of the phone market for a while, but now that we're practically on the eve of the Palm Pre's arrival, everyone has just started to notice that the iPhone on AT&T is a total dog. Especially Molly Wood. She takes aim at Apple and AT&T in this week's Buzz Report. Plus, find out the gadget of the week and what's clogging the tubes.

Videos - Free video downloads and streaming video - CNET TV

Come for the iPhone bashing, stay for www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com