What type of smartphone do you have?

[-df-]

After spending years coding away for someone else, I'm starting up my own development company writing games for the Android OS.

I have been contemplating doing development of iPhone games as well, but trying to figure out if I really want to learn a new language (already had to for Android as I'm a C++ / C# dev) as well as new hardware etc...and also investing into mac hardware (iPhone, iPad, mac pro for dev work, etc).

So please select the option that best suits you above

[-df-]

Also, if you are planning to change from one to the other, please vote for the one you are changing to

Please make a comment on reasons if you want (more for interest than anything else).

[slofox]

I use a dumb phone...I use it to phone people...

[Scuba_Steve]

I'm sure you're aware of it too but I see fragmentation is starting to become an issue on Android & unlike PC's the fix isn't as simple as upgrading internal HW.
Also if your after the $$$ I would think piracy to be more a problem with the Android then with iPhone (not that it's not rampant on there) & the App Store looks to be a much better distributor than the Android Market.
But hey that's just my opinion.

[riffer]

I have a Treo 750V, but would quite like an Android or iPhone as the 320 x 320 screen doesn't allow easy web surfing. Windows sucks just as much on a phone. Doesn't crash as often though...

[Bald Eagle]

I use a dumb phone...I use it to phone people...

Yep that's my preferred option, just want to do the talking thing. I have a mac for all the other stuff.

[-df-]

I'm sure you're aware of it too but I see fragmentation is starting to become an issue on Android & unlike PC's the fix isn't as simple as upgrading internal HW.
Also if your after the $$$ I would think piracy to be more a problem with the Android then with iPhone (not that it's not rampant on there) & the App Store looks to be a much better distributor than the Android Market.
But hey that's just my opinion.

I don't see the fragmentation issue as a major, core components that games use are shared between the flavours of the OS...unless you mean the hardware side...that is a challenge, but just need to do testing and suggest recommended hardware for the game. Just picked up a voda 845 today for that exact reason...see if a bottom end device will run the games alright.

Android is still in its infancy...I'm hoping to get in before the market is flooded with developers.

Piracy is changing soon, the standard DRM is being dropped and moving on to a license model...which reminds me, still have to look at that before my first release next week.

But your points are exactly why I'm asking the question, and whether I should bite the bullet and do both.

[-df-]

I have a Treo 750V, but would quite like an Android or iPhone as the 320 x 320 screen doesn't allow easy web surfing. Windows sucks just as much on a phone. Doesn't crash as often though...

if you go Android, I'd have a look at the Galaxy S, best smartphone I've used in years.

[Scuba_Steve]

I don't see the fragmentation issue as a major, core components that games use are shared between the flavours of the OS...unless you mean the hardware side...that is a challenge, but just need to do testing and suggest recommended hardware for the game. Just picked up a voda 845 today for that exact reason...see if a bottom end device will run the games alright.

Android is still in its infancy...I'm hoping to get in before the market is flooded with developers.

Piracy is changing soon, the standard DRM is being dropped and moving on to a license model...which reminds me, still have to look at that before my first release next week.

But your points are exactly why I'm asking the question, and whether I should bite the bullet and do both.

yea just thought I'd point out what the likes of "angry birds" have discovered as they're now having to make a 'lite' version for the older phones despite once thinking the fragmentation wouldn't be a prob.

If I were you I'd try & put a foot in both Android's & iOS's camp. But I wouldn't bother with Windows (I don't see that gaining much ground outside of MS's fanboy following) & WebOS mite be worth looking at but not quite yet its not big enough to justify spending too much time on it.

Again just my opinion but I do semi-actively follow the latest n greatest mobile activity.

[BoristheBiter]

Yep that's my preferred option, just want to do the talking thing. I have a mac for all the other stuff.

They are the best around, you dial a number and it rings and the person you want picks it up and says hello. yep sounds like a smart phone to me.

[Pascal]

I carry a dumb phone that is permanently on silent. I honestly hate the damn things and if it wasn't a requirement to have one for work I'd ditch it.

[firefighter]

You completely forgot one of the biggest sellers; Nokia, ie e71, e72 etc......what a shit poll

[-df-]

yea just thought I'd point out what the likes of "angry birds" have discovered as they're now having to make a 'lite' version for the older phones despite once thinking the fragmentation wouldn't be a prob.

If I were you I'd try & put a foot in both Android's & iOS's camp. But I wouldn't bother with Windows (I don't see that gaining much ground outside of MS's fanboy following) & WebOS mite be worth looking at but not quite yet its not big enough to justify spending too much time on it.

Again just my opinion but I do semi-actively follow the latest n greatest mobile activity.

The biggest issue I've found is the GC kicks in and makes the game stutter bigtime, spent a bit of time removing that from my game...I'm not looking forward to testing the 845 tonight...might have to start over again :facepalm:

Thanks for your thoughts, I'm always interested in hearing what people think about this, esp as this is going to be (hopefully) my income...If you have any other thoughts please post them up or PM me.

Btw, just out of interest what was your vote?

I've been programming windows mobile since 2001...wont be going back anywhere near it ;) Had a play with the Win7 Phone today...I was VERY surprised at the non-professional look of it, quite a change for MS...but I just didn't like the half cut off UI, plus the phone only has 1/2 day batt life which is crazy.

Haven't really looked into webOS yet, but will be keeping my eye on it.

[-df-]

You completely forgot one of the biggest sellers; Nokia, ie e71, e72 etc......what a shit poll

No, if you re-read the OP, I'm basically asking if you use an Android or iPhone as those are the 2 I'm looking at developing.

Thats what the option of Palm, Windows, etc is for, people that don't have the iPhone or Android.

[Scuba_Steve]

Mine was iPhone, best smartphone on the market by far.

[SMOKEU]

Mine was iPhone, best smartphone on the market by far.

Yeah, but it's made by Apple, which makes it gay. It's just like owning a Honda, no matter how good it is, it's still gay.

[Blackshear]

HTC HD2 With the frolo boot ROM on my SD card.
So, Nexus one and HD2.

[Scuba_Steve]

Yeah, but it's made by Apple, which makes it gay. It's just like owning a Honda, no matter how good it is, it's still gay.

that's alright my girls can be gay if they want, must be why the Apple likes to show me pics/movies of naked chicks :innocent:. Well I don't mind, I don't mind at all :blip:

[SMOKEU]

that's alright my girls can be gay if they want, must be why the Apple likes to show me pics/movies of naked chicks :innocent:. Well I don't mind, I don't mind at all :blip:

Apple over inflate the prices of all their products and people are stupid enough to pay these exorbitant sums of cash just for the wank factor of having an Apple product. People become brainwashed by the Apple marketing department(s) by thinking that they will suddenly become 'cool' by owning an Apple product, or that owning one will suddenly rekindle their youth. Sadly, this is seldom the case and the Apple shareholders are laughing all the way to the bank at the consumers expense. As with all Apple products, there are better, if not just as good products available at a significantly reduced cost to the genuine thing.

Don't be a fool and pay just for a brand name.

[-df-]

Apple over inflate the prices of all their products and people are stupid enough to pay these exorbitant sums of cash just for the wank factor of having an Apple product. People become brainwashed by the Apple marketing department(s) by thinking that they will suddenly become 'cool' by owning an Apple product, or that owning one will suddenly rekindle their youth. Sadly, this is seldom the case and the Apple shareholders are laughing all the way to the bank at the consumers expense. As with all Apple products, there are better, if not just as good products available at a significantly reduced cost to the genuine thing.

Don't be a fool and pay just for a brand name.

Please don't turn this into a apple vs google debate, both phones are good, and serve a different crowd.

Apple led the way with their UI, actually giving a smart phone to the people and was MILES ahead of anything else...but restricted access to features some want, which allowed Google to come along with the Android and offer a very good UI (both now have there good and bad points regarding UI design) but with the locked features of the iPhone opened up.

Both are very good, and each serve there own purpose...if Apple had opened up the OS I would have never switched from iPhone to Android, but I'm kind of glad they did as I would now never go back to an iPhone...but thats just my personal view.

They aren't just paying for a brand name, build quality (no comments on reception) has always been high...its the perfect smart phone for someone that doesn't need full control of there phone.

Anyway...

[-df-]

Mine was iPhone, best smartphone on the market by far.

Just out of curiosity, have you tried the Galaxy S?

[SMOKEU]

They aren't just paying for a brand name, build quality (no comments on reception) has always been high...its the perfect smart phone for someone that doesn't need full control of there phone.

Anyway...

We're not talking about 20 year old bikes here, the consumer guarantees act covers phones long after most people upgrade to a newer one so build quality isn't such a concern.

[-df-]

We're not talking about 20 year old bikes here, the consumer guarantees act covers phones long after most people upgrade to a newer one so build quality isn't such a concern.

In NZ...one small little country on the other side of the world...

Build quality means alot more than something breaking down, its the way it feels in your hand, etc. CGA does not cover dropping a phone, etc...thats also where build quality comes in.

[Scuba_Steve]

Don't be a fool and pay just for a brand name.

You seem like a fanboy & your argument is 10yrs 2 late


Just out of curiosity, have you tried the Galaxy S?

yea I've had a brief play, mate had one so I got to play with it a couple hours not bad definitely one of the better Androids out there.

[BoristheBiter]

Please don't turn this into a apple vs google debate, both phones are good, and serve a different crowd.

Apple led the way with their UI, actually giving a smart phone to the people and was MILES ahead of anything else...but restricted access to features some want, which allowed Google to come along with the Android and offer a very good UI (both now have there good and bad points regarding UI design) but with the locked features of the iPhone opened up.

Both are very good, and each serve there own purpose...if Apple had opened up the OS I would have never switched from iPhone to Android, but I'm kind of glad they did as I would now never go back to an iPhone...but thats just my personal view.

They aren't just paying for a brand name, build quality (no comments on reception) has always been high...its the perfect smart phone for someone that doesn't need full control of there phone.

Anyway...

All well and good but why do we need a phone that can do all this shit for?

Everyone has been brainwashed into thinking you need all this shit on your phone or you need some sort of app that tells you how loud your fart is.

If you want to play a game get a Xbox/ps3, if you want it on the move get a psp,ds.

I used to be a programmer way back before windows (yes that long ago) and we have come on so much in the last 30 years but we are now at a point where half of the phones are just crap, full of stuff you can't use, shit reception and call quality and batteries that are good for one day (if you don't make a call).

And Apple/microsoft well don't get me started on them.

[gale_wolf]

I've got an iPhone 3GS but it's a work phone. Not really impressed with it, if I was going to buy one I'd probably go Android.

[Scuba_Steve]

If you want to play a game get a Xbox/ps3, if you want it on the move get a psp,ds.


I used to think that to and to some extent it is right, but smartphones have proven themselves to be half decent portable game machines and lets face it, it's much more convenient to carry 1 device for all than a iPod for music, cell for txt/calls, PSP for games, GPS for directions, & tablet for net/movies don't you think?


-df- its also worth considering where else the Apps/Games possibly are compatible like ones made for iPhone trickle to iPad & iPod Touch (maybe this new OS X app store coming?). Android possibly trickles to Chrome OS? & Android will prob be flooded to the market as any company can use it & its cheaper (& better) than the MS alternative.

[paturoa]

Great phone with built in GPS HPSA etc and cheap. Good bat life. I've got a few extra GPS apps for it too.

http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/pay-monthly/htc-touch-2

[BoristheBiter]

I used to think that to and to some extent it is right, but smartphones have proven themselves to be half decent portable game machines and lets face it, it's much more convenient to carry 1 device for all than a iPod for music, cell for txt/calls, PSP for games, GPS for directions, & tablet for net/movies don't you think?


Other than the music bit still we don't need this stuff. we, have been told this is what you need, and you will pay through the nose for it and be happy for it.

I guess if you want to pay for all the extras thats fine, me i just want a phone that works well and for all the other things i have better things to watch/play them on.

[BoristheBiter]

Great phone with built in GPS HPSA etc and cheap. Good bat life. I've got a few extra GPS apps for it too.

http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/pay-monthly/htc-touch-2

How easy is the GPS to use while on your bike? not very i guess.

[rustic101]

I have the Samsung Galaxy i9000gt

Bloody amazing phone mapping states 100 metres accuracy but am getting 20 to 25 metres from actual location. Internet access is supper fast and the touch is very very responsive. Music and video player are awesome however the camera is a little shitty..

[BoristheBiter]

I guess i have missed something but what is it with the fascination with GPS on phones?

[Gremlin]

So uh.... etc covers the likes of Symbian and RIM? Hey, thats only 50% or so of the market...

Was on Symbian, trialing RIM, probably switching to it, Symbian didn't have enough functionality in productivity apps. Android has very little in the way of qwerty keyboards.

Currently really enjoying an app called Addonis, that logs all my incoming and outgoing calls into my calendar, on the day, for the period of time the call lasted, with the contact name I called, or who called me. It also has the functionality to turn emails into tasks, and generally shift data from tasks/calendar/notes to elsewhere. Unknown caller numbers are prompted to be entered into my contacts.

[-df-]

Other than the music bit still we don't need this stuff. we, have been told this is what you need, and you will pay through the nose for it and be happy for it.

I guess if you want to pay for all the extras thats fine, me i just want a phone that works well and for all the other things i have better things to watch/play them on.

I think you just miss the point of a smart phone, I probably use it for non phone things more than I use it as a phone...but this is why theres multiple types of phones, ones for people that want just a phone, and ones for people that want other things as well.

I think the biggest problem is that it should no longer be called a "phone", its a pc that fits in your pocket basically, that allows you to make phone calls.


So uh.... etc covers the likes of Symbian and RIM? Hey, thats only 50% or so of the market...

Yep, I can't cover all OS' by myself...hence just asking about Android and iPhone as I see those devices as the "gaming" ones. I've programmed Symbian devices a long time ago, not to keen to go back to it (I presume its much better now though...it would have to be!)



Currently really enjoying an app called Addonis, that logs all my incoming and outgoing calls into my calendar, on the day, for the period of time the call lasted, with the contact name I called, or who called me. It also has the functionality to turn emails into tasks, and generally shift data from tasks/calendar/notes to elsewhere. Unknown caller numbers are prompted to be entered into my contacts.

Thats a pretty cool app, I could see a few people being able to use that, might have to see if something like that exists on Android.

[-df-]

-df- its also worth considering where else the Apps/Games possibly are compatible like ones made for iPhone trickle to iPad & iPod Touch (maybe this new OS X app store coming?). Android possibly trickles to Chrome OS? & Android will prob be flooded to the market as any company can use it & its cheaper (& better) than the MS alternative.

Yeah, the iPod Touch is the main reason why I would target iOS, Android has already overtaken iPhone in the phone market, but if you combine the iPod Touches as well, they are miles ahead in sales...makes it an attractive market.

Well, I have to say I'm surprised at how many people have Androids over iPhones on kiwibiker, I would have thought it was the other way around...

I think I might buy a mac mini and give porting the code across a go...from the sounds of it the minis are pretty good at the dev work and alot cheaper than the mac pro.

Cheers for all the input guys

[avgas]

Android has already overtaken iPhone in the phone market
Yeah will be interesting to see if they overtake Symbian as the number 1 mobile OS.

Seems like Nokia will never use android.....so may fuck up their market.
http://moconews.net/article/419-outgoing-nokia-exec-says-android-is-like-peeing-in-your-pants-for-warmt/

[-df-]

Yeah will be interesting to see if they overtake Symbian as the number 1 mobile OS.

Seems like Nokia will never use android.....so may fuck up their market.
http://moconews.net/article/419-outgoing-nokia-exec-says-android-is-like-peeing-in-your-pants-for-warmt/

That title just cracked me up...its thinking like that, that is killing Nokia at the moment.

[terbang]

Nokia N900 (Linux). Quirky but fun and the best Skype phone for a traveler.

[avgas]

I miss my K-JAM :(
Anyone know if there is an new equivalent with a slide out keyboard that is skinnier?

[-df-]

I miss my K-JAM :(
Anyone know if there is an new equivalent with a slide out keyboard that is skinnier?

Theres a few out there

http://www.htc.com/www/product/desirez/specification.html

for example.

[jonbuoy]

I think you just miss the point of a smart phone, I probably use it for non phone things more than I use it as a phone...but this is why theres multiple types of phones, ones for people that want just a phone, and ones for people that want other things as well.

I think the biggest problem is that it should no longer be called a "phone", its a pc that fits in your pocket basically, that allows you to make phone calls.



Yep, I can't cover all OS' by myself...hence just asking about Android and iPhone as I see those devices as the "gaming" ones. I've programmed Symbian devices a long time ago, not to keen to go back to it (I presume its much better now though...it would have to be!)



Thats a pretty cool app, I could see a few people being able to use that, might have to see if something like that exists on Android.

Problem is smart phones don´t any one thing particularly well (some of them don´t even work too well for making phone calls. I gave up on them after trashing an E71 in a matter of weeks (couldn´t handle a spot of water). Now I just use a basic Nokia with a decent built in camera a netbook and an iPod, they don´t take up much room in a travel bag - at least I can run the battery down surfing or listening to music without worrying about not being able to make or receive a call when I get to where I need to be. How many meters away from a computer are most people anyway for the majority of the day?