My ideal smartphone
MUST have:
- Bluetooth headset and data transmission (capability to share wireless internet and files with a computer).
- Both WiFi and the phone network’s data transmission hardware.
- Sync all contacts within the phone with any email client, with any web-mail client, and with any Palm or Windows Mobile device.
- Sync all calendar information with any calender application or web calendar.
- Easy to use interface (multi-touch or not).
- Mobile internet browser that doesn’t suck (Firefox would be nice).
- Free and open api to allow users to install and develop whatever applications they want for the phone.
- Ability to play MP3 and AAC music files and turn any music file into a ringtone for the phone at no cost.
Not necessary, but nice:
- Decent resolution camera built in.
- Usable GPS receiver (so that Google maps mobile will work accurately).
- Not cost an arm and a leg.
- The ability to stream music from a webcaster.
MUST NOT have:
- Restrictions on or fees for the software I can use or install.
- A lock on which carriers I am able to use to own the phone.
Those are just a few ideas of what I’m looking for. Thus far, the closest production unit that meets the most of my requirements is the iPhone. However, the iPhone doesn’t compare to the promise and openness that the Google Android OS phones that are planned to be released next year will provide. The only downside to the Android is the fact that the shipped applications are written in JAVA… *shutter* … but the sins of the developers can be overlooked provided the promised functionality and extensibility are realized (and it doesn’t hurt that the OS is LINUX based and other applications can be produced in C/C++).
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