I want it, who will be the first to make it?
- Touch screen
- SIM card slots (two, minimum)
- Internal memory that can be upgraded
- Significant solid state memory (flash drive)
- WiFi
- 4G
- Over the air digital TV tuner
- USB slots (two minimum)
- HDMI in/out
- Bluetooth
- Proximity networking (something new that allows anyone within range to spontaneously generate their own network)
- Built in webcam and mic
- Wireless recharging (everyone's doing it now)
- A rad processor and graphics chip
- (feel free to add more ports and hardware here)
But most of all what I want on this amazing device is NO SOFTWARE!
I want someone to make it and let the users program what they want on it. Just a blank slate. Open source. Fully programmable. Just a built in interface that anyone can code for and be done.
And I want it to be called "The Slate".
And I want the company that makes it to make all their money on selling the device. Simple, clean, no muss, no fuss. And I want to be the first one to own one. And I want them to give it to me for free because it was my idea.
So, who will be the first to make it and how long before they do?
What software would you write for it (or want someone to write)?
What hardware or other features would you add to the list?
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M$4 Answers
If it's not them, I'm sure some manufacturer in India will make it, with open source hardware and all, in the next couple of years.
Perhaps a prototype like that already exists. In that case, you wouldn't get one for free. Sorry. On the other hand, I'm sure it'll be cheaper than other phones, so we can both get one.
Openmoko already produced two phones with open source hardware, the Neo 1973:
And the Neo Freerunner:
"The Neo Freerunner (GTA02) is an updated version of Openmoko's earlier Neo 1973. As with the Neo 1973, which shipped last Fall, the Freerunner is billed as a completely open, hackable hardware platform, meaning that users are free to install and run new operating system firmware, for example in order to add native Linux software applications of their own choosing."(3)
What software would you write for it (or want someone to write)?
Certainly, an app that recognizes my voice and puts it into text.
What hardware or other features would you add to the list?
Something like the above, a scanner or a camera and an app that can put my handwriting into text.
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M$People want to take a phone out of the box and have it work. This means a device with an opinion. The iphone does things in a specific way. Android devices configured to do things in a specific way. The iphone is the single best selling smart phone because it just works. Any idiot is a few finger taps away from an app that will do what they want.
I do think your idea of having two SIM cards to have a business and personal line on the same device with out having to use something like google voice to forward calls would be pretty cool.
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M$
The all caps "NO SOFTWARE" reads like the phone is an empty shell waiting for a crafty developer.
The firefox comparison is an interesting one. Most extensions are written by a small but committed group of developers. Writing a good extension still requires some pretty serious programming skills.
It sounds like what you want is an EVO 4G and something like visual basic to write apps.
Now you don't seriously think I meant EVERY user had to write their own software did you?
Firefox has tons of user addons making it the most versatile and powerful web browser today!
Open source software solutions has always been popular amongst geeks. Even iPhones use user made software. Why wouldn't a device that anyone can write for be popular? Why do you think Jailbreaking and unBricking is so viral?
But your vote is no one will. Point noted. Anyone else?
True, the empty shell is the idea. Rather than a single company deciding what we want, let the users decide how to use it!
I wouldn't want to program it but I'd love the freedom to pick the apps and integrated functionality I'd actually use. I have a phone now that has about 50 things it's capable of and I only use 3 of them but if it had other features that other manufacturers decided to turn on instead I'd use those too, but those devices don't have the three that I use.
It's time to put the power back into the hands of the consumer and let the big corporations take a back seat. Be happy selling devices, don't try to tell me what apps to use, how I can use them and limit me on what I can use them for.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
