Any info on the SE T-68i phone? - Page 2

Well, the new Nokia 3G phone is here. The <a href="http://www.nokia.com/phones/6650/" target="_blank">6650</a>. Well, when I say "here", I mean in Europe. And not until early 2003.

It's interesting, but kind of ugly.

Yuck.

Wow, that's really hideously ugly.

Ignore all my earlier comments about Nokia's ID being tops in the phone industry.

Only Mr. Ive can save us now...

It's not Nokia's first <a href="http://www.nokia.com/phones/3650/popup.html" target="_blank">monstrosity</a>!

Unless Nokia releases the <a href="http://www.nokia.com/phones/7650/index.html" target="_blank">7650</a> over here, looks like my next phone will be the T68i, or the <a href="http://www.sonyericsson.com/P800" target="_blank">P800</a>.

I remain totally confused by people who say "I just have to have the Nokia" when they look horrible and the UI is god-awful.

But people know it, and because they know it, think it's better then the stuff they don't know.

In this I see parallels between Win and Mac.

[quote]Originally posted by Harald:
<strong>I remain totally confused by people who say "I just have to have the Nokia" when they look horrible and the UI is god-awful.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I disagree. My Nokia 8290 is a fantastic phone. It looks great, the quality of signal is excellent, and I have no complaints about the UI.

And I've read a lot of good reviews for the Symbian interface on the 7650.

[quote]Originally posted by Belle:
[QB]It's not Nokia's first <a href="http://www.nokia.com/phones/3650/popup.html" target="_blank">monstrosity</a>!
<hr></blockquote>


It's fine ID, just bad UE...

Non-standard keypad configurations don't work. B&O makes a phone with the numbers arrayed as such:

1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 0
* #

And it's horrible. Cool design, terrible to use.

[quote] And I've read a lot of good reviews for the Symbian interface on the 7650. <hr></blockquote>
Symbian is truely great, but the phone is still a brick.
When symbian comes out on a phone of "usable" size, I'll be the first on to buy it.

[quote]Originally posted by New:
<strong>Symbian is truely great, but the phone is still a brick.

When symbian comes out on a phone of "usable" size, I'll be the first on to buy it.</strong><hr></blockquote>
But surely it's inevitable that a Symbian-based phone will have to be larger? It requires a larger display than the teeny weeny cell phones.

To make the PDA features usable, the phone needs to creep up toward the size of a PDA.

I have to say I'm leaning toward the P800 over the 7650, though.

And I certainly prefer these phones to something like the Treo.

why would it have to be big? If you look at the screen of the 7650, they sould be able to build something significantly smaller around it. It looks like a "Transformer" from the 80s. Both the 3650 and the 6650 seem to be running symbian on smaller phones. And Symbian is scalable right. At least you can run it on bigger screens (like the 9210) so why not on smaller screens?
Looking at my t68i, I can easily imagine it with a bigger screen. the resolution on the 6650 is 128 by 96. The t68i has 101 by 80. The step isn't far... hopefully

I work at a mobile company and we have all kinds of phones floating around here. Here is my take:

Nokia used to rock and there is a reason why they are so succesful. But today they make too many faulty phones. Nokias are double so likely to go bad within the first year than your average GSM phone.

Nokia 7650 is a great phone and symbian is the best current OS for handheld devices (NewtonOS rocks). But it is big and unhandy. And I am a UNIX/OOP/Apple philosophy guy: Have a lot of dedicated tools that handle each function best. So the idea of a camera in a phone is alien to me (like MP3 players were when they arrived). Give me a normal digital camera, an iPod and a 68i and I would be happy.

68i The phone to have. I have tried the 68i compared to the 7650 and despite its more limited functions I would much rather have that.

P800 Its the dream phone right now. Even the Nokia fraction of the company.

[quote]Originally posted by New:
<strong>Symbian is truely great, but the phone is still a brick.
When symbian comes out on a phone of "usable" size, I'll be the first on to buy it.</strong><hr></blockquote>
My apologies, New. I got to play with one for the first time today, though the demonstration was a bit limited in that it doesn't support the 1900 frequency.

It is a frickin' brick. And the P800 is bigger.

I just want a new version of the 8290 that has Bluetooth.

Oh, and I like this theory on why 3G may just succeed, from an article at <a href="http://www.fortune.com/ontech/20020923.html" target="_blank">Fortune</a>:
[quote]Based on the indifferent response in Japan, 3G video phones appear to be a solution in search of a demand. When was the last time you looked at your mobile phone and thought, "Boy howdy! I'd sure like to pay a buck to watch a trailer for the new 'Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' movie on this dinky 1-inch color screen"?

On the other hand, 3G mobile phones will revolutionize the phone-sex industry. The sex industry invariably is the first to recognize the commercial possibilities of new technologies -- the printing press, photography, VCRs, videocams, the Internet, and so on -- and videocam-equipped 3G phones are destined to be next in line. I anticipate a new meaning for "flash dialing." If you are alarmed by the way people drive while they are talking on their cellphones today, just wait until the 3G clothing-optional videophones arrive -- you ain't seen nothing yet.<hr></blockquote>
It does bring up an important issue for the new "2.5G" phones though: Will MMS services result in porn companies spamming phones with photos?

[quote]It does bring up an important issue for the new "2.5G" phones though: Will MMS services result in porn companies spamming phones with photos? <hr></blockquote>

Don´t think so. MMS messages aren´t cheap so no spamming of that. But more important: The idea of porn combined with VCRs, magazins, internet etc. is that you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. The idea of mobile phones is that you can use it anywhere. Porn and mobile equipment doesn´t mix very well.

"Excuse me miss. I have just recieved my daily "dirty teenbitch"-picture so please tell me the way to your toilet"

"Of course sir. Its just down the hall at you left"

That isn´t the world I want to live in at least.

And I am pretty good at guessing the future in this buisness. I declared WAP dead already four years ago <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />

[quote]Originally posted by Anders:
<strong>The idea of porn combined with VCRs, magazins, internet etc. is that you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. The idea of mobile phones is that you can use it anywhere. Porn and mobile equipment doesn´t mix very well.</strong><hr></blockquote>
That's certainly true for the 2.5G phones, but things are a little different with 3G phones that support video. The Fortune guy is right. live phone sex with video will probably catch on.
[quote]<strong>And I am pretty good at guessing the future in this buisness. I declared WAP dead already four years ago <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
I think the only people who felt it had a future were the networks!

[quote]Originally posted by Belle:
<strong>
I think the only people who felt it had a future were the networks! </strong><hr></blockquote>

Oh yes My company thought it was the thing that would finally get them to be profitable. So when we introduced WAP they were all excited despite nothing worked properly on the demo phones. So when I asked why they thought people wanted to access a dysfunctional baby version of the internet at a fifth the speed of 56k and pay ten times the price for it they went "oh yeah? but but this is only the first step. Soon WAP 2.something will be here and all phones will have large displays with VGA resolution and everything will be great and bla bla" and wrote something like "Anders shows signs of mistrusting our almighty authority" in a little black book.

Still waiting for those 640 by 480 screens...

[quote] And I am pretty good at guessing the future in this buisness. I declared WAP dead already four years ago <hr></blockquote>
I thought so too Anders, but lately I've actually used WAP a whole lot more (on my T68i with GPRS) its fast, not to expensive and does actually work this time. (the phone connects to my startpage in about 2 secs.)
So maybe WAP will have its revenge... Anyway MMS is the big hype at the moment, and if there is a dead technology, this could very well be it. Your supposed to pay about 1 euro/doolar to send a picture (+text, maybe even some sound to your friends) while the same phones can do this via email for almost free... Can't wait to see if people are actually stupid enough to buy into this...

BUMP: my question: does anyone know if you can use the T68i, the Dlink Bluetooth adapter and a bluetooth headset together, at the same time?

Well, after loving my 6110, 6150, two 6210s, then my current 6510, with a hated 3210 in-between, I'm pretty sure my next phone will be the 6610 or 6650. Since the former apparetly has no BlueTooth option and Apple seems to have abandoned IRDA, I'll probably wait for the latter. My 6510 is still pretty new, so I actually need to take my time.

One thing about Nokia is that once you know the shortcuts (and they are easy to learn) you can access almost any function in 3 or 4 keystrokes (Menu,4,1,1 to set the alarm clock; Menu 5,1,4 to start a new pinball game; Menu 4,3,1 to divert; Menu,9 to activate IRDA, etc.) I prefer this method than the manual navigation you have to go through with other phones.

Personally, however, I don't like the form-factor of the 7650 at all. Comparing that with the T-68i, I'd choose the T-68i.

[quote]Originally posted by New:
<strong>
BUMP: my question: does anyone know if you can use the T68i, the Dlink Bluetooth adapter and a bluetooth headset together, at the same time?</strong><hr></blockquote>

With the current implementation of Bluetooth, it is only possible to connect two devices together at a time. So either the phone + computer or phone + headset. I've read that eventually Bluetooth will be able to connect more than two devices together at a time. But who knows when that will be

7650 <a href="http://www.wildpalm.co.uk/Doom7650.html" target="_blank">Doom</a>!

[quote]Originally posted by Belle:
<strong>7650 <a href="http://www.wildpalm.co.uk/Doom7650.html" target="_blank">Doom</a>!</strong><hr></blockquote>

Holy fvck that's nuts! Doomling was already traumatising enough. This looks almost as good as Doom looked when it first came out on PCs.

Escher

about the T68i, i was playing w/ one at an att store the other day, and i had a ? about the joystick used for navigation. how durable is it? it was driving me nuts when i was trying to move around the menu, like when i tried moving it down, it would push down instead, going to a menu i didnt want :/

ohmygod!

I'm so glad they have trade-in options in Hong Kong. It looks like I'm going to NEED a 6650, if it can run 7650 apps!

The "joystick" grows on you. Hard to use at first, but very efficient after a while...

i hope so, im considering trading in my nokia 6360 for one, i just gota use one a little first. ive been using nokias since ive been using cell phones. i personally love the interface, does anyone know how long until nokia releases a BT phone in the us? preferably for AT&T?

just got mine, love it, hooked it with bluetooth, moved all my phone numbers and calendars too...and pix and ringtones are easy now...the joystick was weird feeling at first, but after an hour i got the hang of it...

ok, update to the bluetooth question:
The dLink tach specs show that the adapter supports up to seven "slave" devices. Thsi gives me new hope of using the t68i, a bluetooth headset and the dLink adapter together. Anyone tried this yet?

This will work fine ...

... I'm very reliably told, although I've never tried it ...

thanks Harald!
Then the choice of headsets is the only remaining obstacle... Cant really decide on which to buy...

[ 10-11-2002: Message edited by: New ]</p>

[quote]Originally posted by New:
<strong>ok, update to the bluetooth question:
The dLink tach specs show that the adapter supports up to seven "slave" devices. Thsi gives me new hope of using the t68i, a bluetooth headset and the dLink adapter together. Anyone tried this yet?</strong><hr></blockquote>

You can use them, but not all at the same time. You can only have your phone synced with one device. So either have it connecting to the Dlink or the headset. You can't have the phone connected to both at the same time. I've heard future revisions of bluetooth will allow mass connections at the same time.

Wait for the new Siemens S55. It will be announced in NY on the 10-21-02. It seems to be a much better phone than the T68i. Look at the <a href="http://www.s55world.com/dass55/technischedaten.htm" target="_blank">specs</a> and the <a href="http://www.s55world.com/dass55/gallery.htm" target="_blank">pictures</a>.

In what way is it better? polyphonic ringtones or something more? does it use syncML?

[quote] In what way is it better? <hr></blockquote>

- it is smaller
- looks cooler
- supports JAVA
- and polyphonic ringtones

[quote]Originally posted by Escher:
<strong>Does T-Mobile have bricks-and-mortar stores where I could check out the gear?
</strong><hr></blockquote>


Funny you should ask this, Escher.

While driving around this weekend, I noticed a big sign in a window a block or two south of Dupont Circle (I believe on Connecticut) that a T-Mobile store was 'coming soon'.

So, yes, brick-'n-mortar T-Mobile stores do exist

[quote] - it is smaller
- looks cooler
- supports JAVA
- and polyphonic ringtones <hr></blockquote>
well, java is absolutely a pluss... but does it work better with mac? The new nokia phones comming out about now (the 6610 and 7210) are probably better in certain areas than the t68i as well. But will it wouldn't be very smart to start advising people who want their phone to work with their mac to buy them, before their mac compability has been put to the test...

[quote]Originally posted by Jonathan:
<strong>While driving around this weekend, I noticed a big sign in a window a block or two south of Dupont Circle (I believe on Connecticut) that a T-Mobile store was 'coming soon'.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yay, that's just down the street from me. (I'm further up on Connecticut.)

Funny you should mention this, Jonathan. I did a dealer search on the <a href="http://www.t-mobile.com/" target="_blank">T-Mobile website</a> and they have a shop up and running at 1850 K Street. That's closer to your stomping grounds and a block from my summer job (at 1735 K). Still haven't had a chance to go down there and check out the T68i.

Escher

got my T68i a week ago and still working out how to customize it how I like. For one, can you stop the thing going to the annoying (and ugly) 'jumping clock' whenever it's left alone for a minute? Sometimes I just want to glance down and check the signal strength or battery, but to do so I have to press a button and fire it up. very irritating, and SLOW.

(BTW got a great deal on the phone - $99 from bestbuy on 23rd St)

Settings --&gt; Display --&gt; Screensaver

R

T

F

M

:-)

Harald: I liked that humorous combination of a useful answer and social commentary.

Well, I finally tracked down my local T-Mobile store, only a block away from a painful visit to my dentist. My plan was to check out the famous Sony Ericsson T68i and compare its size to other recent phones, like Motorola's V60. They didn't have any on display, so I asked a sales rep. She said they were on back order, but that another rep had one. It turns out she had a T68 and was better informed.

The T68 is very nice. It's small but not too small and fits well in my relatively small hands. I really liked the slightly rubbery feel of the back. On the question of availability, she told me that T-Mobile would no longer carry the T68 or T68i because of a technical issue and a recall. When pressed further, the lady didn't know. It certainly didn't look like she was having problems with her own T68.

She recommended I check out their latest nice Tri-band phone, the Samsung s105. I have to admit it looks fantastic and has a much larger and thus more useable color screen hidden away in its folding design. Now if only it came with Bluetooth and could sync with my Mac...

Considering that iCal is still slow as molasses and iSync is still beta, and that I don't really need a new phone, I'm in no hurry to buy anything. I bet that by the time I start working again next summer, we'll have a lot more options.

Escher

[ 10-17-2002: Message edited by: Escher ]</p>

I have a PB800 with 10.2.1 a dlink bluetooth adapter and a SE T68i. I'm on O2 in the UK and have GPRS service (the 4mb option).

I use it mostly for accessing my company's exchange servers using Outlook in classic over the Cisco VPN client (3.6.2) and the VPNConnect front-end. It works fine, almost exactly the same overall speed as using a 28.8k baud modem. I've sucessfully used it in the back of taxis. I use it mostly to get my mail when I'm at a client who has only a digital phone switch and very tight proxy/firewall setup.

I also use it with iSync to work with my iCal and address book. It takes a minute or so to sync but it works fine, very convenient, makes iCal so much more useful. Oh and the ability to send SMSs from a text box is just great too.

Email me if you need help getting it working.

I was really interested in the T68i recently, and switching from Sprint/Samsung, until I got my hands on a T68i. The buttons are a little small for me, but worst of all, it's construction isn't as good as I thought it would be and the UI isn't all the great.

Have to agree with Gambit that Sprint/Samsung is a very good combination. My only problem with them is spotty coverage at my house, but otherwise I've been very satisfied with them. The Samsung N200 I have is a very solidly built phone with excellent buttons and UI. The new UIs for the PCS vision phones do leave me cold though.