Quote:
Originally Posted by christexaport
kaziko, I really appreciate your response. However, you failed to actually answer some of my questions. Understand that my current primary device is the best smartphone on the market, the Nokia N95 8gb. In order for me to consider this device, I need to know how it really works, and whether the Android platform could possibly contend with the mature Symbian platform.
If applications are in hibernation using no resources, how are the processes still running? If I have a downloader working, a third party messenger, an internet radio app, and your browser all running while creating an office document from text copied from an SMS, the processes of all these apps will require computing resources. Are you sure about your response? Is the term hibernation perhaps the wrong term? (I think I just found the spinach in the teeth of an otherwise hot date.) It is version 1.0, so I'll be watching how its multitasking skills are accomplished.
If you must browse through the menu to switch tasks beyond the last six, the multitasking capabilities of Android are far behind the S60 platform. I'm currently, and always, posting from my device, and never a PC. I have 12 apps running right now while typing this on my T9 keypad, and can switch to either of them in under two seconds. And these apps fully run in the background, not hibernate. I'm wondering what those 36 apps you ran were... Like did Google Apps maintain presence while receiving IM's and downloading in one browser window while watching a movie in another? Real actual multitasking, like on a PC. My expectations are very high, and I want the best torture test I can find.
Don't assume because you don't need a RAM monitor others won't. The Android platform is also a self development platform, and if its like Symbian, users and novice developers will always be testing beta version software constantly in development. Knowing how the device is responding to applications is important to power users that look to push their devices to the limit, like me. I'm a registered Symbian-Freak.com AND Android-Freak.org member. I wring every ounce of power from the most powerful devices made, and its a hobby of mine and millions of other gadget freaks and enthusiasts across the globe.
I know the iPhone's custom YouTube app (created to cover up the fact their "great" browser lacked Flash support) made most people want one too, but most real smartphone users watch from the browser, either via the latest S60 browser, or Skyfire for WinMo. Even my device has a built-in app, and two even better third party award winning freeware solutions. But with a Flash enabled browser, what's the point? The actual page shows and works just like the website, or doesn't it? That's what I'm asking.
If desktop YouTube page works in the browser, it DOES support Flash! What I'm trying to figure is if its Flash7 via Flashlite3 or another way, or Flash8 or 9 level support, and how its done. Flash content won't require a codec, as you suggested, I don't believe. Nokia's Webkit browser uses Flashlite3 to render up to Flash7 content. Skyfire does it with rendering in the cloud on their servers. There are various ways to do it.
You mentioned YouTube performance. Was this via the built in player, or the browser? I'm more interested in the browser, not alternative viewing experiences. I'm sure one of the developers will create a better possibly free solution with multiple website support.
What is the process by which text is selected/copied from webpages? How do you copy a link? And can you save a link without actually pressing it?
You may not need a reboot option, but with an open source platform and device, testing applications mid development will be a common practice. Take it from a Symbian and Windows XP user, reboot is a great function for any smartphone. Anytime you can create and install custom apps, you'll have runaway processes and need ways to manage resources in case of memory issues and frozen processes. Without a true task manager, a reboot will be almost necessary. Otherwise, starting to turn back on will take much longer. This is an example of experience in smartphone design showing. Android has some maturing to do.
Guys, HSDPA, or 3G, is mobile broadband internet, with speeds close to basic DSL. EDGE is 2.5G, similar to old dial-up speeds. This faster internet throughput is the driving force behind the latest features in smartphones. Faster web means the internet can act like it does on the desktop now.
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Nokia e90 here (I'd pit it against your keyboardless n95 anyday for supremacy....lol...of course if you have an 8gig then I'd lose in the onboard memory department but thats neither here nor there lol)
most of your questions are easy workarounds for developers to come up with.....just like Symbian
For example, Reboot isn't a native option in s60 of any version....but there are plenty of simple and relatively small reboot apps available. I'd imagine it would be just as easy if not easier for the Android OS considering its openness. With regard for the browser, I wouldnt be surprised if Opera was ported to Android eventually giving us Flash Lite 3 support (which is what is included in s60v3 to allow us to view Youtube vids). Skyfire may come around as well... and as for a RAM monitor, I'm sure there's one in the works if not already available
There may even be software suites that release for Android...I'm sure there will be
Like on my e90 I have the Handy software suite which includes the following:
HandyWeather (stopped working on my e90 for some reason)
HandyBlacklist (a black/white list app for screening calls...maybe even messages would be very nice on Android...someone should get that popping)
HandyClock (self explanatory)
HandyAlarm Pro (also self explanatory lol)
HandyKeylock (Set advanced keylock/screensaver options)
HandySafe (password safe)
HandyZip (compressed archive reader/creator)
HandyTaskman (a task manager/task switcher)
something of the likes of a HandyTaskman would solve 2 of your questions....it monitors RAM, onboard "diskspace", removable memory "diskspace" and it allows advanced control over the tasks running and switching between them.
I'd imagine everything you asked about would be an easy fix for a decent developer and the only thing lacking would be the in-browser flash....however even the Flash thing may be coming soon...
I mean since Google was able to make youtube work as an app, perhaps someone can somehow extract the flash support from the youtube app and write the flash into the browser....thats the beauty of open-source...u can use already developed software and alter it
Also there is a ported chrome (chromium) browser already available for download off the net...developed by the google chromium community....i wonder what kind of features that packs as it is a separate browser from the browser thats coming with the phone