Props and Slops for HTC Tattoo vs other HTC Android phones

Props:

• Compact size - smaller than G1, Magic, Hero and of course Dragon.
• Internal FM Radio - in a cheaper model, not in the flagship models!  Quite a surprise
• Speed - the speed is comparable with HTC Hero
• Changable case - unlike most models, the case can be replaced easily, so you can buy another case when you sell the phone and claim it's like new :P
• More friendly price - while most phones are at least €300, this one is cheaper.
• 3.5mm audio jack - yes, of course.
  
• Android 1.6 Donut!!
  

• New Market - the old Market is crippled and worked like crap before Android 1.5 Cupcake, you usually won't be able to find the software you really want, while install a pile of other crappy programs.  With Android 1.6 Donut, at least you get to view the screenshots of the apps.  (I have no doubt to say Apple's AppStore is waaaaaaaaay more user friendly)
• "Quick Search Box" - now we can search most items in one integrated interface, including Apps (by name), Footprints, SMS, Peep (Twitter), Web, Contact etc.  Slower than iPhone, but the feature is still very useful.
  

Slops:

• Smaller display - smaller size, smaller display, common sense.  This machine has a QVGA resolution.
• No trackball - the trackball is addictively good, HTC should continue making them (if you switch from the ones without trackball, chances are you won't mind at all)
• Weaker hardware specifications - it's a beginner Android phone anyway
  

HTC Tattoo Buy Links:

Computer Universe <- Best site to buy a phone for residence outside America ships worldwide.  Voucher code for €5 off : (See this entry of our blog)

Alternatively, there are fascinating Android phones coming out in November, you can also wait for a Motorola Droid or a SonyEricsson Xperia X3 (3 November).

Like WM phones, it's usually pointless to "upgrade" to a second Android phone

The practical reason for changing an Android phone to another Android phone.

True, hardware specification might be quite different from handset to handset, but the core of the phone are usually the same.

As the moment, you can't expect 

• a safe Bluetooth file transfer feature
• a real radio function (i.e. not via Internet)
• alarm when power-off

While the buddies on xda-developer.com keep trying to break the Bluetooth restriction, the radio one is a hardware constraint that it is not possible to change.

The power-off alarm function, however, is an Operating-System level constraint.  I remember that my very first mobile phone 10 years ago could wake me up even if it was switch off.  While most phone running proprietary system will easily have alarm when you switch off the phone, those "smarter" phone systems, including Android and also Windows Mobile, cannot have this feature.  This is kind of lame, but we might have to realise the rationale behind this.

When an Android or a Windows phone is switch off, the entire operating system won't run, except the clock, which will consume a tiny flow of battery.  While it is relatively easy to trigger the alarm time based on the clock, the problem is to get the phone ringing, it would not be able to sound without fully launching the phone.

If you pay enough attention to new Android phones spouted by so many brands – HTC G1/Magic/Hero/Dragon etc, Samsung Galaxy, that Motorola "Droid" monstrosity, Sony Ericsson Xperia x3 – they only have slight differences.  With or without keyboard, CPU choice, ROM size, camera resolution, screen size.  The operating system is, however, the same.  A very basic G1 should be enough for newbies to familiarize with the system.

I have tried both HTC Dream (G1) and HTC Hero (G2), in some cases Dream served me better than Hero, especially if I were texting heavily.

Brief thought on Samsung "Mirror" series Digital Camera (ST500/ST550/TL225/TL250)

The dual-screen digital camera by Samsung, known as "ST500" and "ST550" "Mirror" series, (also known as TL225 and TL250) in USA.

The front and rear LCD screens are the feature of this 12MP DC.

Basic stats are not quite detailed in this article because we are not interested in it (sorry guys).

(Amazon Link) 

12.2 megapixels, 3.5-inch rear touchscreen LCD, MicroSD card slot, 4.6x optical zoom, 1280px720p HD recording, and the biggest "feature" is... the front 1.5" LCD screen - for your self-portrait.

Take a look at their press release:

• When you tap the front LCD, it turns on and automatically goes into Self-Portrait mode, ensuring that the user will always be framed exactly the way they want. You can also turn on the front LCD with a simple selection through the intuitive interface. As soon as you smile, the camera automatically takes the picture. But the Dual LCDs do more.
• In Children mode, the front LCD plays a fun animation to capture a child’s attention while taking their photo.
• Shutter mode ensures you take a photo of your subject while they’re smiling, the front LCD will display a “smiley face” when the shutter is pushed halfway thus signalling to the subject they should smile.
• Function Info helps you to know the features of every function, with the front LCD providing a visual readout of key camera settings, including whether or not the flash is engaged or if macro focus is in use.
• With Self-Timer, when taking a group photo using the self-timer, the front LCD will show a preview of the shot as well as a visual countdown timer so that everyone knows exactly when the photo will be snapped.

Our Thought
We would actually stick a mirror onto any given digital camera instead. This should save you a hundred bucks.