Any info on the SE T-68i phone? - Page 5

ehh!?! <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

I hope to God that looks better in real life.

Eeeeeeeew.

I guess this is the "Orange" (service provider) version. I'd guess the unbranded will look better. Maybe with metallic blue instead of that butt-ugly orange...
I'm still not very impressed by the design, but lets wait for the official photos, and the european version...

I think that is totally hot. The orange is a bit bright, but I like it. Wait 'till pscates sees this thread.. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

It reminds me of an Olmec head statue.

I dunno why. Probably the strange, misbalanced design of the top. Looks like everything is concentrated down low; making the top look all... Olmec.

[quote]Originally posted by New:
<strong>I guess this is the "Orange" (service provider) version. I'd guess the unbranded will look better. Maybe with metallic blue instead of that butt-ugly orange...</strong><hr></blockquote>

I think pscates might have a word or two to say about this.

[quote]Originally posted by New:
<strong>I'm still not very impressed by the design, but lets wait for the official photos, and the european version...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well, if the interface is improved and the date- and addresssbook are more powerful, I couldn't care less about the colo(u)r.

The T316 above looks like a successor to the T300. What happened to the successor to the T68i that was supposed to be introduced a few weeks back?

Harald, what do you know?

Escher

[ 12-11-2002: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>

[quote]Originally posted by Escher:
<strong>

Harald, what do you know?

Escher

[ 12-11-2002: Message edited by: Escher ]</strong><hr></blockquote>

I know that customers in the US will, for once, be happier then the Europeans. Particularly Sprint customers, as they're getting first dibs. And a bit more. But not a huge amount.

Harald... so, I'm guessing you aren't allowed to say much... but what are you saying?

Is the successor to the T68i coming out soon? Is this all new or just a firmware update? Can you give us a time frame?

Will AT&T get it?

Thanks for any info you can or are allowed to provide.

[quote]Originally posted by tismfu:
<strong>
Is the successor to the T68i coming out soon? Is this all new or just a firmware update? Can you give us a time frame?

Will AT&T get it?

Thanks for any info you can or are allowed to provide.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yup, it's coming, but that shouldn't be a surprise as the next everything is always coming!

It's kind of all new but not all new. All the bells and whistles in that segment are in the market already (bluetooth, colour, communicam-ready, blah blah blah) but it's got better / different approach to games (watch this space) and a different browser. I've got no idea what it looks like whatsoever.

BTW, watch out for "Home Flash" -- do to your phone firmware what you do to your iPod ...

Timeframe errr soon, before CeBIT for certain, no doubt it will end up on all networks but not at first. Dunno exact dates.

No more can I say without pissing off people I like.

[quote]Originally posted by Harald:
<strong>Timeframe errr soon, before CeBIT for certain, no doubt it will end up on all networks but not at first. Dunno exact dates.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Glad to hear you were talking about the successor to the T68i. CeBIT takes place 12-19 March 2003. That's far away. What I wonder is how long it will take from the announcement of this phone to availability on the US market.

Basically, I think I'll be getting a mobile phone in January after two years without one. I haven't decided whether to go with GSM (T-Mobile) or large coverage (the other traditional US providers). If the T68i-successor isn't available by then, will I lose much if I don't wait? I have no interest at all in games. I am most interested in contacts and calendar functionality. Will those two areas see an improvement or not? As for the new browser, that's definitely something I would use. So it might be worth waiting for.

[quote]<strong>No more can I say without pissing off people I like.</strong><hr></blockquote>

No need to piss off anyone, Harald, especially not people you like. I'm glad to hear you like the people you (presumably) work with. That always adds to job satisfaction.

Escher

[ 12-12-2002: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>

Hiya Escher,

To be clear there are two phones ... the one for Sprint is very similar to the CeBIT phone, and will be available before hand ...

Personally I am Mr. GSM all the bloody way, but that's because I like to be able to get off the plane in China / Madagascar / Sweden / France / South Africa / Australia / Taiwan / everywhere else and make a phone call! GSM phones tend to be cooler too. FWIW.

'Fraid I know little at this point about the PIM functionality -- but I can find out -- but it's 100% safe to say it will have some that will be at least as good as T68i. The whole thing is cough snappier then T68x this much I know. Browser is closer to the P800 -- can take just about anything delivered via http and render it.

[ 12-12-2002: Message edited by: Harald ]</p>

Harald, thanks so much.

One last question: do you know if it will have polyphonic ring tones?

[quote]Originally posted by tismfu:
<strong>Harald, thanks so much.

One last question: do you know if it will have polyphonic ring tones?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yup.

Harald, I may be replacing my wife's Nokia whone soon. Is there a nice entry level SE in the pipeline comparable to the T300? Sorry to add to the bombardment of questions, but I figured you would like the attention anyway.

Harald, again, thanks so much.

Harald, I am thinking of making traditional Jamaican ackee and saltfish.

Is there any way to rehydrate the cod without soaking it overnight?

[ 12-12-2002: Message edited by: Hassan i Sabbah ]</p>

[quote]Originally posted by Outsider:
<strong>Harald, I may be replacing my wife's Nokia whone soon. Is there a nice entry level SE in the pipeline comparable to the T300? Sorry to add to the bombardment of questions, but I figured you would like the attention anyway. </strong><hr></blockquote>

There's always something new in the pipeline

The emphasis is going to be on gaming in that segment. If she's not interested in gaming, that T300 is actually a really cool device IMHO. If I find out anything useful about this line I'll let ya know ... not much use I know ...

Hassan, I find it effective to boil the saltfish AT LEAST twice and throw the water away each time. You'll then need to boil it again for a good 10 minutes. There's no substitute for a good soak though.

Thank-you very much!

<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

Thanks for the additional details, Harald.

[quote]Originally posted by Harald:
<strong>To be clear there are two phones...</strong><hr></blockquote>

That makes sense since the T68i, and presumably its successors, is GSM, while Sprint uses whatever other acronym it uses (was it CDMA?).

[quote]<strong>Personally I am Mr. GSM all the bloody way, but that's because I like to be able to get off the plane in China / Madagascar / Sweden / France / South Africa / Australia / Taiwan / everywhere else and make a phone call! GSM phones tend to be cooler too. FWIW.</strong><hr></blockquote>

How often do you actually step off the plane in those countries? On an ideological level, I would never buy anything but a GSM phone. I hate the hodgepodge of non-standardized American networks. That's what you'll get with a weak government. But the reality of US coverage requires more pragmatism than idealism. Bottom line: I have to balance the advantage of coverage while visiting friends in the American countryside (non-GSM) against coverage while visiting my family in Switzerland and France (GSM).

[quote]<strong>'Fraid I know little at this point about the PIM functionality -- but I can find out.</strong><hr></blockquote>

If you could find out, I'd be very interested. In an ideal case, I'm trying to replace my Palm's PIM functionality with something roughly equivalent. I don't want to add a new device to my arsenal (mobile phone) without removing another one (Palm). The T68i's PIM functionality is obviously severely limited compared to a Palm. I'm hoping that its successor will come close enough to a Palm for my purposes. E.g. I'd like to have addresses, not just phone numbers. I hate calling people a block away from their house just because I can't remember their appartment number.

Escher

Well, I've made phone calls in all those countries within the last three years ....

<a href="http://mobile.burn.com/news.jsp?Id=187" target="_blank">The new T608 </a>from Sony Ericsson.

A CDMA phone for Sprint with BT, Java games and not a whole heap of new interesting stuff ...

[quote]Originally posted by Harald:
<strong><a href="http://mobile.burn.com/news.jsp?Id=187" target="_blank">The new T608 </a>from Sony Ericsson.

A CDMA phone for Sprint with BT, Java games and not a whole heap of new interesting stuff ...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Didn't the T600 have a monochrome screen? This one has color. Wish i had waited just a LITTLE bit longer. Oh well.

[quote]Originally posted by Harald:
<strong><a href="http://mobile.burn.com/news.jsp?Id=187" target="_blank">The new T608 </a>from Sony Ericsson.</strong><hr></blockquote>

This looks like a (CDMA) phone in the T300 and T600 line. I just don't like the keyboard this far down. Makes it look top-heavy, as Jonathan pointed out above. It's good to see Bluetooth come to the Sprint/CDMA network though.

Harald: Thanks for the link. What about that successor to the T68i? This isn't it (the GSM version, of course), right?

Regarding calls in various countries, did you need to make those calls when you stepped off the plane? Was it convenient to make those calls? Or did you make them just because you could, but didn't actually need to? Who paid the inflated foreign roaming charges? You or your employer? All I'm trying to say is that for me personally, using my phone while skiing in Switzerland would be more fun than an actual need. Nonetheless, I'd still rather have a GSM phone.

Of course, playing the waiting game with phones makes just as little sense as playing the waiting game with new Macs. Thank goodness I don't actually need a mobile right now.

Escher

[quote]Originally posted by Escher:
<strong>

This looks like a (CDMA) phone in the T300 and T600 line.

&lt;snip&gt;

What about that successor to the T68i? This isn't it (the GSM version, of course), right?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yup, this is definately in the Txxx line, no doubt. This is certainly not the "next T68" as I thought <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

Got the specs and the network though ... <img src="graemlins/embarrassed.gif" border="0" alt="[Embarrassed]" />

Still, a pretty sweet phone.

I saw the T608 weeks ago at <a href="http://www.phonescoop.com" target="_blank">www.phonescoop.com</a> , and I still think it's ugly compared to the real (GSM) T600! Those cheapie plastic gem-like keys and the molded plastic-looking enclosure make the aesthetics unappealing to me. Why would they ruin the beautiful T600 with the nice buttons and everything?

[quote]Originally posted by bradbower:
<strong>Why would they ruin the beautiful T600 with the nice buttons and everything?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I have to admit the T600 looks quite nice in the picture above, bradbower. As for the ugly look of the T608, remember that pictures in FCC documents are of month-old prototypes, not final production models.

After more thought, I really don't care much about the looks of a mobile, if it can replace my Palm PDA's PIM functionality (calendar and address book) and sync with Mac OS X. The one concern beyond PIM and sync functionality is data entry. In that respect, the P800 looks to beat the pants off any other SE phone.

Escher

[ 12-17-2002: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>