T-Mobile has announced their G1 phone, running on the Google Android operating system. The main highlight for Android is that it is considered an open operating system. I could download the SDK (software development kit) and create applications for Android based mobile devices.

I'm considering getting the G1 phone and maybe developing applications for it. The first commerical phone running Android will be released on October 22. Right now I'm wondering if I shoud pre-order the phone.

How excited are you about the new phone? Should there be an Android forum at this website? ...or maybe just a general "Gadgets" forum, with a "Mobile Phones" category?

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Michael Garofalo
Webmaster - http://photics.com

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not very excited about all the new google products. It seems their branching out a TON at once, and thats either going to be a good thing, or a very very bad thing for them.

They don't seem to look like a good investment, with the market as it is. I don't think many people want to buy as many of the little extras as they used to, so all the sales are hurting, however people ARE very disenfranchised with microsoft, what with vista. And personally, I don't think a little competition would hurt microsoft.

Their internet application seems to be very sleek, but I like the rustic-like firefox. As for the mobile phone, I don't like cell phones with to many gadgets, it doesn't make sense. They have credit cards, keys, phone/address book, video games, IMing, television, internet. If you get your cellphone stolen, you could very well lose 300 dollars worth of information, if not your identity.

Then again, I'm not a "techy" kinda person, so my opinion is probably worth very little. I like my computer, and I know how to use it optimally.


The point of this entire post here, is I like my phone to call people, I like my game machines to play games with, and my computer to play games with/do work on/hop on the internet. Phones don't need an advanced operating system, and I don't think its worthy of this site.

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I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman,"Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.-George Carlin

Wow Moo, are you feeling OK? That post was rather negative. Do you really hate "smart" phones that much? I look at it in reverse. I don't want to have to carry a PDA, an MP3 player, a camera, a phone and a Gameboy every time I leave the house.

Mobility is part of the future of gaming. I'm interested in Android to see if I can create some games for it. My favorite types of games are MMORPGs. I don't think that the portables like the PSP or the DS have fully capitalized on mobile gaming. More importantly, I'm interested in accessing my computer remotely. If you could play Guild Wars from a phone, would you do it?

I'm thinking about starting a Guild Wars project on Android... an old-school style RPG. It's an ambitious project, but it could be a lot of fun.

I pre-ordered the G1. Even if I don't do any development stuff with it, I'm happy to upgrade my phone. It's nice to be able to update my website on the go. My Sidekick 3 is not bad, but there are some big limitations. Between now and October 22, I I'm planning on trying the Android development kit.

Anyone else interest in the new T-mobile G1 and Google's Android?

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Michael Garofalo
Webmaster - http://photics.com

I'm feeling fine, I'm just opposed to "Mobile technology" as a personal preference. I know it was rather negative, but I don't want to access technology when I'm going somewhere. I don't want to be able to access the internet while I'm out walking.

Of course, I will explain this personal preference, it isn't a technophobia exactly. I believe firmly that men as a race were created to enjoy the world, therefor we should enjoy the world, not just our creations within the world. That's why when I go somewhere I like to ignore technology and enjoy nature. I also believe that technology and mans creations of technological things are more luxury and distraction than necessity, their nice, but we could live without them, life shouldn't be so centered around them. Like in Final Fantasy X, man gets so caught up in luxury and technological advancement that he forgets about the other things in life.

Anyways, by old-style rpg do you mean like Zork, DnD, or Baldurs gate? I would be interested if it were for pc as well.

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I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman,"Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.-George Carlin

When it comes to technology vs. nature, technology has to prevail. If left alone, nature will destroy itself. The beaches will wash away, the mountains will erode, the sun will burn out, even the universe will end with the big rip, big freeze or impode. Without technology, humanity has no chance to survive.

Even if you bring religion into the matter, that life is meant to be temporary, and God has a perfect world for us in heaven. Is it not the mission of humanity to build heaven on Earth?

But let's bring it down to smaller levels. If I'm going out on a camping trip, I'd still want my phone. I could take pictures. If I get in trouble, I might be able to call for help. If I get lost, I could use the GPS for directions. Technology is a tool that can enhance life.

I just did some awful math today. I realized that years of my life are spent enduring something that I hate - public transportation. As I type this, I am surrounded by hundreds of people. I speak with none of them. What you say is true - to enjoy my surroundings. Imagine how fun commuting would be if it was done with friends. Unfortunately, that's not the way life works. People keep to themselves. It's not like high school where each class represents a new chance to make friends.

Have you ever been in a New York City subway station? You don't inhale deep to enjoy the fresh air. You put your headphones on and you avoid eye contact. In such an environment, a good phone is a way to make the trip more enjoyable.

As for the game, I was thinking of something like Dragon Warrior, Phantasy Star II or Final Fantasy VII.

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Michael Garofalo
Webmaster - http://photics.com

You make a good point, but thats due to overcrowding, you live in new york, you tend to forget that there are 50 states out there, plus the entire world. Thats real big, theres a TON of natural resources and space yet to be taken into account. Although I don't want the city to overfill into that, its there. Theres a ton of unpopulated areas in this world, people just tend to crowd together.

I don't believe we should make heaven on earth, then whats the point of going into heaven? But I'm kinda tired, and I don't have that much debating power in me at the moment, so I'll temporarily concede.

Yes technology should enhance nature and the natural life, not crowd it out. You were down in a subway station, did you perchance notice anything about heaven on earth? I think that people should spread out more, make technology enhance their surroundings, and not BECOME their surroundings. (Just so you know, I'm not an environmentalist in the new-age hippy sense that is all the craze, I am a conservative environmentalist, of the roosevelt kind)


But I digress, we are going on a totally different topic here. (By the way, I think you should open a political or lifestyle discussion board, that would be majorly awesome, plus nice heated debates between different cultures, love that.)

Dragon warrior I haven't played, but the others yes, I like the first of the Phantasy star series, (not the online version though, that one was boring) ff7 was ok, but 1 and 2 were best. I would be happy playing a game like that, I think it would be good if done right. Just don't do japanese illustrations/animation/graphics in the game, that is the epitome of cliche.

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I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman,"Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.-George Carlin

Perhaps the endless pursuit of perfection is more enjoyable than perfection. Some people consider life to be hell. What if it was the exact opposite? What would you do as a vacation from heaven? If you lived forever, would you get tired of the same thing - even if it was a perfect thing? God made the Earth after heaven - life version 2.0. Perhaps it is better to stay here.

For the past year, I keep imagining myself as a farmer. Maybe I would grow Apples or be an energy farmer. I like the idea of a nice house on an acre of land. If my land was connected to a public sewer line, life could be grand. Yet, how would I pay for this fantasy? My experience is in desktop publishing, photography and writing... not farming. Would a few windmills in my backyard be enough to cover expenses?

This is the General Discussion forum. If people want to chat about issues like religion, politics, economics or philosophy, I think I'd allow it - if the discussion was kept civil. People can disagree on ideas without being mean. I don't think Obama is the best choice for president, but that doesn't mean I insult Democrats. The United States of America was built to encourage open and honest discussion. I like to think this forum reflects that.

If a certain topic seems popular enough, I can move it into its own forum. For example, Warhammer Online was released recently. Even though I am currently boycotting that game, I won't squash conversations about it. For example, if there were 20 people who were always posting up about Warhammer, I could start a sub-forum in PC Games. If enough people were discussing religion, I could create a sub-forum in General Discussion.

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Michael Garofalo
Webmaster - http://photics.com

Android has me very excited, I can't wait for it to make it's way up to Canada so I can get one. The concept of an open OS that lets programmers take advantage of all features of the phone (like gps, internet, camera and accelerometers) blows my mind. The apps that came from Google's Android Developer Competition turned out amazing, most of which are meant to augment your life and not distract from it. I'm glad to hear you pre-ordered it Photics

Two apps that especially stood out to me were GoCart and Cab4Me:
First time I heard about these apps, I was speechless.. needless to say, my anticipation for an Android phone is through the roof

bonus point: The operating system is free, thereby reducing the cost for the cellphone

an Android rpg sounds like fun, I'd play it .. I find you have a great story telling skill!

Why are you boycotting Warhammer Online?

Thanks! It's good to see some excitement in this thread. I was impressed with the idea that my phone can become a Bar Code scanner and then find competitive prices in the area.

Do you know when it's launching in Canada?

Oh, and have you tried the "emulator"
http://tmobile.modeaondemand.com/htc/g1/

Thanks! I'm actually struggling with three big ideas right now. The first is my cartoon project. I have a vision in my head, but I'm struggling to make it reality. The second project is the return of the arcade. I'm bringing back the old Guild Wars games. I was actually thinking on making some changes to your pinball game, adding a "Victory or Death" feature.

I want to start making my own flash games. Do you remember the "Photics: Revisions - Course Correction" idea? I think that's something I should do.

With the cartoon and the arcade projects, that doesn't leave me with too much time to focus on Android development. Maybe I could start with something small, like converting Photics: Revisions to the Android platform. With scoring, it might be really neat.

It goes back to Dark Age of Camelot. I used to play on Pendragon - the test server. The experience ultimately felt futile. While Mythic Entertainment had strong relationship with the community, it didn't feel productive to me. I'd point out issues with the game, but I didn't feel like the developers responded well enough... not like ArenaNet.

I have no plans to go down that road again. I've heard very good things about Warhammer, but it sounds like more of the same to me -- like Dark Age of Camelot and World of Warcraft had a kid.

I'd rather work on some web projects while waiting for Guild Wars 2. Android development looks like a more productive way to pass the time.

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Michael Garofalo
Webmaster - http://photics.com