Verizon & Android news

[jwinslow]

Have any of you tired using Double Twist with your non apple products to sync them with itunes?

Sync Android, PSP, BlackBerry, Pre: doubleTwist with Amazon MP3

OCBF, how do you sync your music? What is it syncing from?

I've archived all of my music via iTunes (mostly from my CDs), so I'm curious whether I'll be able to switch over to the Google world properly.

I don't need my playlists, I usually just listen to an album or shuffle by genre... and I can re-add the cover pics if necessary. I'm just wondering how handcuffed I'll be when getting a Nexus One or similar Android phone.

I always figured I'd eventually own either an ipod or an iphone, but both look unlikely with the direction Verizon is taking.

 

[OCBucksFan]

OCBF, how do you sync your music? What is it syncing from?

I've archived all of my music via iTunes (mostly from my CDs), so I'm curious whether I'll be able to switch over to the Google world properly.

I don't need my playlists, I usually just listen to an album or shuffle by genre... and I can re-add the cover pics if necessary. I'm just wondering how handcuffed I'll be when getting a Nexus One or similar Android phone.

I always figured I'd eventually own either an ipod or an iphone, but both look unlikely with the direction Verizon is taking.

I don't actually sync, I just drag the folders over and copy what I need onto it and copy it off. Since we have most of our multimedia on a 2TB Nas at the house it's easier for me to go that route.

I have seen a few pieces of software to sync music, I just haven't played with any, to be honest, one of the things I hated about my ipod was itunes, and that's why it ended up getting rockbox on it at the end.

 

[jwinslow]

Does it retain some sort of cover art? Or do you just use a more text based player on your phone?

 

[OCBucksFan]

Does it retain some sort of cover art? Or do you just use a more text based player on your phone?

It retains cover art.

 

[TooTall]

I don't actually sync, I just drag the folders over and copy what I need onto it and copy it off. Since we have most of our multimedia on a 2TB Nas at the house it's easier for me to go that route.

I have seen a few pieces of software to sync music, I just haven't played with any, to be honest, one of the things I hated about my ipod was itunes, and that's why it ended up getting rockbox on it at the end.

That's what I do... I usually just use the mixtapes I download, which contains the album art.

 

[OCBucksFan]

Verizon & Skype Making Joint Announcement At MWC | Android Phone Fans

Traditional mobile carriers and VoIP services haven’t really mixed in the past. Verizon Wireless, until their adoption of Android, had been considered one of the most “closed” carriers on the planet. Google Voice was a ray of hope that still hasn’t caught on with the masses but wait… what do we have here?

Verizon and Skype are hosting a Joint Press Conference at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Tuesday, February 16th at 11:15am EST – mark it on your calendar.You can also call in and listen to the event live if it has you all giddy – nice little option!

We’re not sure EXACTLY what they’ll announce but just because its Verizon and Skype you can venture a guess that probably wouldn’t be too far off. And if they announce a new Skype app/service for Verizon Android Phones I would be ELATED because the current app is sub par at best.

They’ll probably announce a merger followed by a headquarter move to Scandinavia:

 

[OCBucksFan]

Verizon to allow unlimited Skype calling over 3G starting next month -- Engadget

We may be way off base here, but we're pretty sure the game just got upended. Days after AT&T appeased the masses by finally enabling 3G streaming over the iPhone's SlingPlayer app, Verizon Wireless has one-upped that gesture in a big gargantuan way. Starting next month, all Verizon Wireless customers with smartphones (and an accompanying data plan) will be able to make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any user in the world over its 3G network. Let us repeat that: VZW, which is known historically as one of the most controlling carriers in this great nation, is opening up its 3G network for limitless Skype calling. The forthcoming Skype Mobile application will also support Skype Out calling, instant messaging between Skype users and an ability to "remain always connected... to see friends' online presence." Nine smartphones will be compatible at launch (the full list is after the break), and we're guessing that more will be added in due time. Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T -- your move. Make it count.

Verizon is really pushing the strength of their data network, essentially they are saying "Make your calls for free, just pay us for our data plan" with this move and their embracing of google voice. Interesting tactics.

 

[OCBucksFan]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESkjjVXGoAY]YouTube - Verizon "Vampire"[/ame]

 

[jwinslow]

Love the skype move, the consumers are definitely winning right now with this much competition.

 

[OCBucksFan]

Love the skype move, the consumers are definitely winning right now with this much competition.

Yeah, the way Verizon has been opening their network more and more has been a surprise to me, the skype move is a lot bigger than people understand, Verizon had already written off any long distance charges when they let google voice onto their network, now with Skype, they are essentially writing off any minutes, so I guess the focus is on data, get the lowest voice plan and tell the kids they can talk all they want, over skype.

 

[jwinslow]

I think it's a very smart move if they can handle the data.

$30-40 data plans vs $10-20 extra line / minutes.

 

[OCBucksFan]

I think it's a very smart move if they can handle the data.

$30-40 data plans vs $10-20 extra line / minutes.

I have the wifi-tethering hack on my droid, and I can set it up, connect to it and get a stable 3 megs down and 1 meg up, sometime my ping times can be annoying since verizons gateway setup is so screwy, but otherwise, it's a solid connection. Skype uses so little bandwidth, when we had the ole 1 meg connection at my house before DSL got upgraded the wife used it quite a bit to talk to family.

So, I think it can handle it, but who knows what will happen if just a crap ton of data users start flooding VZW's network.

 

[jwinslow]

Spent the weekend playing around on a Touch Pro 2.

Great hardware, quality construction, solid slider/tilt screen, definitely feels like a $400 (retail) phone.

The keyboard is very good, far better than the droid.

The interface is solid. Not as good as the iphone or droid but it is functional and has some polish.

The problem is everything is made to be clicked with the stylus (stored in the side of the phone). It's a little bit challenging to click around with just your thumb, and using a stylus is tedious and a little tiring for the other hand (holding the phone).

The on-screen keyboard as well as the dialer pad are both too cramped.

 

[jwinslow]

Verizon Nexus One Coming March 23rd? | Android Phone Fans
CDMA Nexus One Passes FCC | Android Phone Fans

Weekend Roundup: Marching Along | Android Phone Fans

All Android Phones Getting 2.1
From the T-Mobile G1 to the Nexus One and everything in between, every single Android Phone currently out there will be upgradeable to Android 2.1. That doesn’t necessarily mean carriers will make the plunge and make the offering, but according to Taylor from A&M that’s exactly what will happen. Unfortunately some phones will require a full wipe, but at least you’ll be getting 2.1. Some features (like live wallpapers) might be left behind so the smaller processors can handle the larger load. [Read More]
Mozilla Fennec (Mobile Firefox) On Nexus One & Droid
It may still be a work in progress, but Mozilla is teasing us with pictures of the Nexus One and Motorola Droid running the new browser over at their Facebook page. There is a good chance it won’t be out until late in the year, which begs the question – WHY must you tempt us so EARLY? [From Firefox Facebook, Flickr]

 

[OCBucksFan]

Nexus One in 3 weeks? My droid may have to be accidentally hit with a hammer a few times soon.