Comments on BangBits: Android awesomeness

@Moandji: In Android you actually have a choice be...

2009-06-20T16:55:59.669+02:00

@Moandji: In Android you actually have a choice between classic Java UI building (Swing, Wicket and GWT) and layout XML files.

I'm JUST starting to scratch the surface of Android development, and what I have seen so far is impressive. My latest blog entry is about a HTC Magic skin for the Android emulator. And it's this kind of openness that just seems hard to beat.

On the dev side, I'm hesitating between Androi...

2009-06-20T16:42:40.316+02:00

On the dev side, I'm hesitating between Android and WebOS because I find HTML and JS much easier and more natural for UIs than Swing or GWT-style coding. That said, I haven't actually tried Android yet, so maybe the programming model is better?

@Moandji: Yeah, sadly the EU won't help much o...

2009-06-20T16:35:57.127+02:00

@Moandji: Yeah, sadly the EU won't help much on a global scale. I'm currently in north america where roaming data costs me 20$/MB.

As to the Pre, it looks good. Personally though, the fact that it's not Android based makes it uninteresting to me as a developer.

Or wait until Belgian law changes (which should ha...

2009-06-20T16:10:52.356+02:00

Or wait until Belgian law changes (which should happen soon, as the EU has deemed it wrong) to allow contracts to subsidise handsets. Maybe the Pre will have arrived by then :).

@Moandji: Yeah that does sound expensive. Here in ...

2009-06-20T15:53:21.773+02:00

@Moandji: Yeah that does sound expensive. Here in Scandinavia we have a pretty open marked, exclusive operators are rare (I can purchase my Magic from 3 different operators) and the max. contract length is 6 months.

In the US, exclusive deals are common (AT&T for the iPhone) and contract lengths are typically 3 years!

It sounds like you are caught somewhere in between. I've talked to people who bought the Magic on ebay from Germany, for around 400 euro unlocked. That's not too bad. Perhaps that's your alternative?

214 euro for a 6-month contract is a much better d...

2009-06-20T08:05:11.652+02:00

214 euro for a 6-month contract is a much better deal than what we're offered here in Belgium! I'd be paying 450 for just the phone *and* have to sign up for 24 months...

I'm pretty jealous when I see that in Germany you can get the Magic for 1 euro & 45 per month, or you contract.

@Moandji: The phone cost about $300 here in Denmar...

2009-06-20T05:32:56.028+02:00

@Moandji: The phone cost about $300 here in Denmark, with a $50 data subscription over 6 months. The battery life is sufficient, charge it every 1-2 days. This is my first smartphone, took me a while to realize it won't keep charge for a week like my old dumbphones.

Great review! How much did the phone cost you? ...

2009-06-19T14:08:52.975+02:00

Great review!

How much did the phone cost you?

How's the battery life?

Thanks a lot for the review Casper, I have been cu...

2009-06-18T10:54:01.665+02:00

Thanks a lot for the review Casper, I have been curious about this phone. Looks good, will seriously consider getting it!