I want a phone with…
- The basics: voice, text, picture messaging and voice mail. (check)
- Bluetooth connection. (check)
- Easily transfer files to my Linux computer. (check)
- Working voice dial.
- A real web browser (Opera, Safari, etc., not just WAP).
- Wi-fi capability, at least for its internet access.
- A camera with at least 2 megapixels of resolution.
Those I can get; it’s just a matter of shopping around. (Well, looking at what T-Mobile has, since I’ve got over a year left on my contract) . But I also want:
- A camera that actually shoots good pictures. At least 3 or 4 megapixels, optical zoom, and can pick up color and detail in different light conditions.
- A music player with enough space to hold my entire music collection.
Admittedly, we’re getting into short skirt/long jacket territory at this point, but basically I want one device that can replace my phone, iPod, and digital camera. I’m tired of carrying around all three. At the moment, even the high-end iPhone only has 16 GB, which would just barely hold the music. And while phones are cramming more and more pixels into their cameras, they’re still using tiny, fixed lenses.
I’ve said before that I think the iPhone, or a comparable device, will catch up to what I want in 2010 or so. For now, I’ll have to raid the Batcave for a utility belt.
I can’t quite bring myself to get a Blackberry, but I keep looking at the T-Mobile Shadow. I’m a bit reluctant to run Windows on my phone, and really reluctant to run Internet Explorer, but it should be able to run Opera Mobile. And while the reviews seem to be good overall, they haven’t been impressed with the picture quality of the camera.
Well, one big purchase at a time. (It’s too early for me to get the full upgrade discount, anyway.) And who knows, a new phone that’s a better fit might be available in a couple of months when I’m ready to actually buy something.
I know the dilemma exactly! I too was trying to find a device that would have allowed me to melt my iPod, Palm and mobile phone into one device. I find it highly annoying to carry three devices around and having to sync them all the time.
Originally I was planning on getting the iPhone, but the price on top of the ridiculously expensive plan offered here in Germany was too much.
In the end I settled for a Sony Ericsson that has a decent camera for taking snapshots; but I hope when this plan runs out in 1 1/2 years the iPhone will be more affordable … never give up hope 😉
The camera on the iPhone is indeed god-awful, but it’s sufficient for snaps on the go… The 8GB model has enough space to have replaced my iPod, though I’m hoping for a 32GB model some day so I don’t have to filter what I copy to it. 🙁
At least I’m down to 1 device for daily use and 2 devices for sightseeing trips. 🙂
Aside from more drive space and a better camera, though, the most important improvement the iPhone needs is a better antenna… Forget 3G, I just want to be able to get reception in my own home!