I have been looking into so called "smart phones" very seriously lately and I really don't like what I am seeing.
One of the biggest issues I have found is 3G availability in the United States. First let me add the caveat that I travel a lot (like 6 months at a time) and I wouldn't even consider a non-GSM phone (which removes Verizon and Sprint). That leaves only T-mobile and AT&T as US operators. Second, I want to be able to use the phone's 3G features in both Europe AND the US.
Because of the US FCC's frequencly allocation, most presently available phones will not work in the US in their 3G mode (they will fall back to EDGE if it is supported by the phone). Another gotcha with those phones is that if you have at&t as your US operator, you NEED 850mhz for normal GSM coverage.
If EDGE is fast enough for you, buy the coolest European phone and your done (I think it tops out at like 384 kbits/sec under ideal conditions but I could be wrong).
The only phone (other than an imate which I am not considering) that I am aware of is the Nokia 6120 Classic which apparently supports both HSPDA/WCDMA/UMTS/3GSM/3G on 850 and 2100 (I think that means AT&T in the US, and almost all of Europe is 2100 for 3G).
I have heard rumors that T-mobile will be launching in the 1700 Mhz band sometime in 2008, but I have also heard similar stories from them beginning as early as 2004.
What I will probabily end up doing is buying a 2.5g quadband phone with EDGE and UMTS 2100 (europe) and waiting it out a bit longer. This phone might fit that fairly well for t-mobile in the US.
I honestly don't know why anyone would want this camera. Of course it's phenomenal in every way, but when you factor in the cost, the Canon 5D (with a full frame) becomes so much more appealing.
Most "professionals" that I have spoken to about this camera have said it's the top, but then when you ask them for specific reasons why it's better than the Canon 5D and you listen to what they say, they just don't seem to justify the price tag.
To me it seems to be very much a "status symbol", like you cannot be a professional photographer without one. Compare the features and see the price differences for yourself:
I'm sure that they must have thought of this but let me ask anyhow, what if someone kidnaps one of these DoD persons and then takes him to a secluded area, puts a gun to his head and says okay log into SIPRnet with your phone then hand it to me.
Does anyone else see a problem with mobile SIPRnet access or is it just me?
and you will see just how much better the Canon 5d actually is when price is taken into account. I honestly cannot understand why even a professional would consider this camera when the Canon 5d is available at a fraction of the price with all of the features any professional actually needs.
Let the hive mind of Engadget get that for you.
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One of the biggest issues I have found is 3G availability in the United States. First let me add the caveat that I travel a lot (like 6 months at a time) and I wouldn't even consider a non-GSM phone (which removes Verizon and Sprint). That leaves only T-mobile and AT&T as US operators. Second, I want to be able to use the phone's 3G features in both Europe AND the US.
Because of the US FCC's frequencly allocation, most presently available phones will not work in the US in their 3G mode (they will fall back to EDGE if it is supported by the phone). Another gotcha with those phones is that if you have at&t as your US operator, you NEED 850mhz for normal GSM coverage.
If EDGE is fast enough for you, buy the coolest European phone and your done (I think it tops out at like 384 kbits/sec under ideal conditions but I could be wrong).
The only phone (other than an imate which I am not considering) that I am aware of is the Nokia 6120 Classic which apparently supports both HSPDA/WCDMA/UMTS/3GSM/3G on 850 and 2100 (I think that means AT&T in the US, and almost all of Europe is 2100 for 3G).
I have heard rumors that T-mobile will be launching in the 1700 Mhz band sometime in 2008, but I have also heard similar stories from them beginning as early as 2004.
What I will probabily end up doing is buying a 2.5g quadband phone with EDGE and UMTS 2100 (europe) and waiting it out a bit longer. This phone might fit that fairly well for t-mobile in the US.