4 posts tagged “qwerty”
T-Mobile G1
Smartphone
Link: T-Mobile G1
As hinted at in Episode 673 and last week, Dick and Leo finally talk about T-Mobile's G1. Made by HTC, the G1 is the first phone featuring Google's open-source smartphone operating system Android.
It has bluetooth, wifi, GPS (though not turn-by-turn), 512 MB built-in memory, although it has an microSD card slot and comes with a 1GB card; a back-lit qwerty keyboard (which is revealed by sliding out the screen) and a replaceable battery; a 3.2MP camera, but like the iPhone, it does not shoot video, and like the iPhone it does not support Flash on the internet. Unlike the iPhone, it supports voice dialling and "cut and paste".
Physically, it weighs just under 6 ounces. At the bottom is a panel of buttons: a big Menu button, underneath which at the centre is a trackball (for navigation and as a select button). To the left of the trackball are the "Call/Send" button and the "Home" button; to the right of the trackball are the "Back" and "Hangup/Power" buttons.
On the left hand side of the phone is a Volume toggle, and on the right hand side the camera button. For the earphones, unfortunately it's a microUSB connection and you'll need an adapter for your 3.5mm jack earphones.
The display is 3.2 inches at 480 x 320 resolution, with a capacitive touch-screen. It does not support multi-touch, but does support long presses (through which you get a context menu including "cut and paste"). It has an accelerometer and is supposed to adjust itself to Portrait/Landscape mode, at least when the qwerty keyboard is open.
Since Android is open-source, many applications are expected to come out supporting the platform, and will not be filtered as in the case of the iPhone. You can access the apps from the Android "Market", and Google will tell you in relation to each app what types of access the app may have on the phone - such as communications, your location and your personal information.
The phone comes with the standard Google apps, such as Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, and like the iPhone, offers a mobile version of YouTube. If you don't use Gmail, there is another mail application. Unfortunately, this other mail app cannot open attachments (which Gmail can by HTML conversion), nor save them. The IM app supports major instant messengers such as AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo and of course Google Talk. Like Google's desktop browser the Chrome, the Android browser is WebKit-based. Another app that comes with the phone is AmazonMP3, with access to Amazon's DRM-free mp3 downloads - which only works with Wifi, and not 3G or Edge. The phone also has its own music player software.
At the moment, the phone is available in T-Mobile stores only in cities which has T-Mobile's 3G coverage.
Favourite Episodes
In Episode 679, Dick and Leo were asked if they had a list of their 20 favourite/funniest episodes. Ludwik Trammer of gizwizsearch can answer for them. Search queries on his site show which episodes are most frequently accessed - 182 Titanium Spork, 465 Electron Echo Piano, 462 MP4 Watch, and of course 282 Toothpick Bird.
Ludwik also tells us that the accumulative length of all the DGW shows now exceeds 7 days.
One More Thing
Ludwik is going to introduce a new feature on his site. In fact it is already operational. Just go to his site and see if you can spot the difference. Otherwise, just wait for an announcement through Dick and Leo in tomorrow's recording session, or in next week's episodes.
Video Podcasts To Wait
The last time Leo talked about video podcasts (with hopes of getting DGW on video) was Episode 671. Unfortunately, with the economic downturn, Leo has decided to be a little more prudent, and maybe putting that on hold, although he may still put out a weekly "best of" video podcast.
Second Longest Episode
At 31:03, today's show is the second longest episode, just 12 seconds short of Episode 634, the Lexmark X9575 Professional.
Listen to Episode 686
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
It has bluetooth, wifi, GPS (though not turn-by-turn), 512 MB built-in memory, although it has an microSD card slot and comes with a 1GB card; a back-lit qwerty keyboard (which is revealed by sliding out the screen) and a replaceable battery; a 3.2MP camera, but like the iPhone, it does not shoot video, and like the iPhone it does not support Flash on the internet. Unlike the iPhone, it supports voice dialling and "cut and paste".
Physically, it weighs just under 6 ounces. At the bottom is a panel of buttons: a big Menu button, underneath which at the centre is a trackball (for navigation and as a select button). To the left of the trackball are the "Call/Send" button and the "Home" button; to the right of the trackball are the "Back" and "Hangup/Power" buttons.
On the left hand side of the phone is a Volume toggle, and on the right hand side the camera button. For the earphones, unfortunately it's a microUSB connection and you'll need an adapter for your 3.5mm jack earphones.
The display is 3.2 inches at 480 x 320 resolution, with a capacitive touch-screen. It does not support multi-touch, but does support long presses (through which you get a context menu including "cut and paste"). It has an accelerometer and is supposed to adjust itself to Portrait/Landscape mode, at least when the qwerty keyboard is open.
Since Android is open-source, many applications are expected to come out supporting the platform, and will not be filtered as in the case of the iPhone. You can access the apps from the Android "Market", and Google will tell you in relation to each app what types of access the app may have on the phone - such as communications, your location and your personal information.
The phone comes with the standard Google apps, such as Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, and like the iPhone, offers a mobile version of YouTube. If you don't use Gmail, there is another mail application. Unfortunately, this other mail app cannot open attachments (which Gmail can by HTML conversion), nor save them. The IM app supports major instant messengers such as AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo and of course Google Talk. Like Google's desktop browser the Chrome, the Android browser is WebKit-based. Another app that comes with the phone is AmazonMP3, with access to Amazon's DRM-free mp3 downloads - which only works with Wifi, and not 3G or Edge. The phone also has its own music player software.
At the moment, the phone is available in T-Mobile stores only in cities which has T-Mobile's 3G coverage.
Favourite Episodes
In Episode 679, Dick and Leo were asked if they had a list of their 20 favourite/funniest episodes. Ludwik Trammer of gizwizsearch can answer for them. Search queries on his site show which episodes are most frequently accessed - 182 Titanium Spork, 465 Electron Echo Piano, 462 MP4 Watch, and of course 282 Toothpick Bird.
Ludwik also tells us that the accumulative length of all the DGW shows now exceeds 7 days.
One More Thing
Ludwik is going to introduce a new feature on his site. In fact it is already operational. Just go to his site and see if you can spot the difference. Otherwise, just wait for an announcement through Dick and Leo in tomorrow's recording session, or in next week's episodes.
Video Podcasts To Wait
The last time Leo talked about video podcasts (with hopes of getting DGW on video) was Episode 671. Unfortunately, with the economic downturn, Leo has decided to be a little more prudent, and maybe putting that on hold, although he may still put out a weekly "best of" video podcast.
Second Longest Episode
At 31:03, today's show is the second longest episode, just 12 seconds short of Episode 634, the Lexmark X9575 Professional.
Listen to Episode 686
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The Peek
Email Device
Link: GetPeek
The Peek is a small, thin portable device that does nothing but email, not for the hardcore techie but aimed at those who find computers too complicated and just want to start using email. It's a take-off of the Blackberry in design, with a qwerty keyboard and a thumbwheel at the top right. If you use a web-based account (such as hotmail, gmail, AOL), all you need to do is key in your email address and password, and it will download your contacts for you. If you use an email account provided by your ISP, you'll need to call Peek Support. It supports up to 3 email accounts on one machine.
The backbone of the wireless service is provided by T-Mobile. You do need to open an account with the Peek, for $20 a month. It's a monthly subscription, and there's no need for a long-term contract. Available in 3 colours (aqua, red and grey) at Target stores and GetPeek itself.
20 Funniest Episodes
Eric Whistler has gone back to some of the older episodes, including the classic Episode 182, the Spork. Eric wonders if Dick and Leo have their favourite, say, 20 funniest episodes. Difficult to pick, but Dick remembers fondly the Purseguard Ultra (Episode 406), and the Talking Photo Album (Episode 463) in which Leo had a Gracie Allen moment.
The Burns & Allen Show
Dick recounts moments from the Burns & Allen Show, and Leo plays a YouTube video of an "embedded" commercial for Carnation Milk, and forgets whether they've read a letter or not.
LG Voyager
Cellphone
Link: Verizon
Dick follows up his coverage of the V (Episode 9) and the enV (Episode 219) with the LG Voyager. Carried by Verizon in the US, the Voyager has touch screen controls, like the iPhone, and it opens up revealing a Qwerty keyboard. 2MP camera and camcorder, microSD slot, bluetooth capable.
You can subscribe to Vcasts and even TV broadcasts (with a built-in TV antenna). It can also do web browsing, and utilises Verizon's fast 3G wireless.
Nintendo Virtual Boy
Mike Kunkel, who previously corrected Leo about the PSOne in Episode 409, writes in about another vintage game gadget, the Nintendo Virtual Boy, which Leo thought in Episode 450 was a hood you put on a Game Boy. Mike explains what it was.
Listen to Episode 478
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
You can subscribe to Vcasts and even TV broadcasts (with a built-in TV antenna). It can also do web browsing, and utilises Verizon's fast 3G wireless.
Nintendo Virtual Boy
Listen to Episode 478
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
The T-Mobile Dash
Smartphone
Link: T-Mobile
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
Made by HTC as the Excalibur, this smartphone runs Windows Mobile 5, with wi-fi, bluetooth, qwerty keyboard, 1.3 MP camera, and has a microSD slot. It's called The Dash in the States and available on T-Mobile.
A Virtual Dick's Gadget Warehouse
David Knighton, aka Boss Melnitz, a netizen in Second Life, has built a virtual Dick's Gadget Warehouse on Second Life.
Podlinez
A listener Mark Hizon has written in about Podlinez. You can dial a number to listen to a podcast. The most popular podcast on podline at the moment is TWiT. The number for DGW is 415-376 7224.
Leo Rising
Mark Hizon also asked if Leo played Uncle Charlie on the film Phoenix Rising. Leo was asked by the The Screen Savers assistant director Miriam Schalit to appear on the film, after TechTV stopped.
Mad Minute
Spotlight On Someone, Chick.
Listen to Episode 197
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
