You also can't predict whether the phones you're considering will get updated to newer versions of Android. I got burned by this when Froyo came out three months after I got a phone, and the manufacturer would not update it.
Two completely different services. Instapaper will bookmark articles to read later, and cut out everything except the text. One downside is that it doesn't seem to be able to handle multi-page articles, however some sites have a single page view (or "printer friendly").
The killer feature in my book is the iOS app. It's a universal app, and will sync your article progress across your iOS devices. I love this — perfect for, e.g., reading part of an article on your iPhone while in line at the bank, then going home and picking up where you left off on your iPad.
60% is 2.1, however, and both of these new Android features are only supported in 2.2. I have an Eris that went on sale less than a year ago, and chances are my phone will never be updated to 2.2.
HTC started the rollout of 2.2 for the Desire last week. The Desire is selling well in Europe. I presume they're also rolling it out for the Legend, which was heavily mass-marketed for the last 3-4 months. I have the impression HTC is the main Android vendor in Europe at the moment. Just this rollout will push 2.2 deployment numbers up, I think.
As far as I know this is the first mainstream upgrade of phones from 2.1 to 2.2 (apart from the Nexus which is, imo, niche). Or did I miss any?
I noticed you were downvoted with the quickness, and I think I know one of the reasons why:
"People calling it 'gorgeous' are fan boys sorely in denial."
A difference in opinion does not a fanboy make. You bring up a good point with the poor notification system, but just about everything else after that is bullshit. (I thought for a moment how to rephrase that in a nicer way, but I couldn't.)
I can't help but think that a similarly phrased argument supporting Apple and denigrating a competitor would not be down voted so rapidly. I mean 'everything else after that is bullshit' seems a little opinionated as well.
> I thought for a moment how to rephrase that in a nicer way, but I couldn't.
Apart from the 'fan boys sorely in denial' I can't see what's so bad about putting your own view forward on the aesthetics of the physical device. Especially if you have actually had the opportunity to see and feel it as the author implies (I don't know if that is true or not). Apple fans are notorious for assuming their aesthetic sensibilities are synonymous with 'good taste' or 'good design' so I don't see what is so bad about a non-fan doing the same. To me the pictures of the device make it look a little 'odd' or 'cold'.
I'm not saying the post is hugely insightful or anything but there does seem to be a bit of a double standard going on.
There is definitely a bias favoring Apple on Hacker News, but that doesn't mean that posting anything that does not praise Apple will get you voted down.
You just have to make sure that when you do decide to make a post that points out flaws in Apple this or that, your post should be well thought out - and avoid being inflammatory.
Yes, these should be guidelines for any post here on HN, but you probably have less leeway when you're challenging someone's relatively established mindset. Protip: Throwing around the phrase "fan boy" does no one any good, and certainly won't help your karma.
> Throwing around the phrase "fan boy" does no one any good, and certainly won't help your karma.
True but in many ways the 'definite bias favoring Apple on Hacker News' does actually validate the concept of a cluster of people that could usefully be described by a distinct term. If 'fanboys' is considered an offensive slur (as it appears to be) then I'm personally happy to use the term 'Apple fans' but they are essentially referring to the phenomena/grouping.
Personally I'm less interested in karma than contributing to the insight-fullness and accuracy of the discussion. I'll gladly wear my -20 comments as a badge of pride as long as they do this.
> If 'fanboys' is considered an offensive slur (as it appears to be) then I'm personally happy to use the term 'Apple fans' but they are essentially referring to the phenomena/grouping.
Please do. 'fanboys' certainly is not a distinct term that is useful to describe a cluster of people, as you say, at least not any more.
Interesting article (or at least the first part of it). Just to clarify I did not believe that believe that the word 'fanboy' by itself specifically referred to Apple 'evangelists'. The meaning as defined by the article does however describe fairly succinctly a certain attitude that is consistent with the attitude of some Apple 'supporters' and 'fans'.
The word is certainly older than I'd expected but the meaning seems to have remained pretty constant.
If you remove the offensive slur, the comment would end up just saying, "many people who liked previous Apple products also like the new iPhone." Without the offensive slur, it's clear that the comment is practically content free, and likely not worth saying in the first place.
I think you are going overboard about the 'offensive slur'. If you replace 'fan boys' with 'uncritical supporters' or 'evangelical fans' then the point stands. If you are arguing that there doesn't exist a certain grouping of uncritical and fanatical Apple fans then state your case. You may find this notion unflattering and disagreeable but it is a legitimate argument regardless of whether you happen to find it offensive. Don't think you are going to kill discussion of it by repeating the word 'offensive slur'.
Secondly the original comment said a lot more than just that phrase which makes your argument incorrect, worse than than content free.
> You just have to make sure that when you do decide to make a post that points out flaws in Apple this or that, your post should be well thought out - and avoid being inflammatory.
Actually this argument reminds me of the concept of an 'Uncle Tom' for African Americans. Sometime I think you are right and other times you I believe you just need to 'tell it like it is'.
While they're at it they need to break down voice plans a little further, too. I believe it was Dan Hesse that said he noticed people were using the phone part of their smartphone less. I don't see why I need to pay $40 for 400 minutes, most of which I don't use. I'd easily deal with half that. I just checked my account and I currently have ~4,000 rollover minutes.
Unfortunately the 4.0 software update isn't planned to be released for the iPad until the Fall. Which is frustrating to say the least as I would rather have multitasking on the iPad than the iPhone.
