The Gadget Blog » T-Mobile

Root Access to Android OS Easy as One Click

Rico Mossesgeld — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:47:43 +0000

So it’s reported that, that full access to an Android OS device is as easy as downloading a 4MB app called FlashRec and executing it. The app basically replaces the devices recovery ROM with a less restrictive one, so completing the process requires asking the device to do recovery. The user-friendly aspect? This hack is kind enough to allow backups of whatever it overwrites, so returning the whole setup to “pristine” condition is possible.

Courtesy Source

What’s the point of “rooting” the Android OS? It pretty much opens up the device to any modified Android OS of a user’s choosing, allowing customization on a very low-level.

What are the implications? Well, I don’t think we’ll hear Google complaining. The Android OS is the company’s attempt to make its mobile presence more significant, and Google is traditionally about letting people do what they want with what they have (Google Voice vs. Apple, anyone?).

We will hear complaints from T-Mobile, as this hack potentially gives them less control over its subscribers, if any will remain at all. This will probably lead to other operators to rethink any plans to subsidize Android OS devices, as US operators love dictating what their customers can and can’t do.

In any case, click on the source for full instructions on rooting your Android device—and what precautions to take. A video summarizing that is below:

Source

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Showdown of “New Generation” Smartphones

Rico Mossesgeld — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:50:49 +0000

In attempt to get more people to their website BillShrink recently came out with this well-made digital flyer that compares the so-called “new generation” smartphones:

Courtesy BillShrink

Here’s that table in real-text form:

	iPhone 3GS (AT&T)	Palm Pre (Sprint)	Android G1 (T-Mobile)
Storage Capacity	16GB	8GB	1GB (Expandable SD Slot)
Talk Time (hours)	5	5	5
Standby Time (hours)	300	300	130
Camera Megapixels	3.0 With Video Recording & Editing	3.0	3.0 With Video Recording
WiFi?	Yes	Yes	Yes
GPS	Yes Turn By Turn (& Digital Compass)	Yes Turn by Turn	Yes Turn By Turn (& Digital Compass)
Voice Commands?	Yes	No	Yes
App Store	iTunes App Store	Palm App Catalog	Android Market
Price (With Contract)	$199	$199	$149
Price (Without Contract)	$599	$550	$399
Service Plans	Unlimited: $99.99 – Voice $30.00 – Data $20.00 – Messaging	Unlimited Voice, Data, & Messaging: $99.99	Unlimited: $99.99 – Voice & Messaging $24.99 – Data
Total Costs (+Tax Over 24 Months)	$3,600	$2,400	$3,149

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Sidekick LX Already Available from T-Mobile

Rico Mossesgeld — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:13:47 +0000

As of last April 17, that is, and only for T-Mobile subscribers in the US. The rest of us will have a chance to grab the newest Sidekick on May 13. In any case, the specs below will probably remain the same:

Quadband GSM phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA capable (3G and 3.5G capable in other words)
Oh, and GPS too (support for Live Search as well)
5.1″ long, 2.4″ wide, 0.6″ thick, 5.7 ounces heavy
3.2-inch LCD (854×480 resolution) swivels out to reveal QWERTY keyboard
3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash
Video capture and playback capability
Web browser that can do YouTube
MP3 player, streamed music player
Bluetooth 2.0, A2DP capable
Support for personal email and instant messaging (AIM, Windows Live, YM)
Included 1GB microSD™ memory card
1250 mAh Lithium Ion battery (3 hours talk time, 6 days standby on 3G; 5.5 and 8 on 2G)

T-Mobile differentiates its customers though with clear plans to give their Sidekicks Microsoft Exchange support.

Image courtesy of T-Mobile

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8 Megapixel Samsung SGH-T929 to Hit T-Mobile US by March

Rico Mossesgeld — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:01:00 +0000

Samsung promises that the high-end Memoir—currently famous for its integrated 8 megapixel camera and Xenon flash—will be available via T-Mobile by the end of this month. Which means it better be available by March, lest the renamed Samsung SGH-T929 fall under the “delayed” column.

In any case, interested owners can expect all the bells and whistles. With Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz interface running things, the Memoir may not be for everyone, but aside from the big-time optical hardware, you’ve also got built-in Assisted GPS and full HTML support promised. Updates on price and availability to follow, but let’s hope this phone won’t be too far behind the Nokia 7510 Supernova.

cnet.com, image from Samsung

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Nokia 7510 Now on T-Mobile Line-Up for $50—After Rebates

Rico Mossesgeld — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:00:19 +0000

The rarity of a Nokia product getting subsidized by a US carrier notwithstanding, the Nokia 7510 (aka the Supernova) is now available from T-Mobile. The clamshell comes in three colors, features a 2 megapixel camera that can do video, a music player, and all those other pre-installed apps you’d find on a mid-range Nokia. Other features like the FM radio, microSD slot, Bluetooth, and 2.2″ QVGA screen round-out the phone.

Be warned though: The 7510 is advertised as only costing $50. But we all know such a low price applies after a mail-in rebate (which takes forever to resolve) and the willingness to sign-up for a two-year contract.

(Image from T-Mobile)

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First Android Phone (T-Mobile G1) Debuts. Ewww.

Rico Mossesgeld — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:51:45 +0000

Seriously, can you call this anything else but ugly?

The G1 Phone is $179, and will be out on October 22. Good thing the price is low, and let’s hope that it doesn’t come with some two-year strings attached. (techcrunch.com)

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T-Mobile CEO Not Pleased With Unlocked Phones

Rico Mossesgeld — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:22:41 +0000

First, T-Mobile CEO Robert Dotson discloses that over 30% of T-Mobile phones in NY are unlocked. Strangely, he also declares that this isn’t a good thing:

“If you look at just unfettered access in an open world, all of us would probably agree you have a pretty poor experience at the end of the day,” he said. “you realize that [technology] is most productive when it happens in an environment that has some stewardship and control in it.”

Whut? Isn’t that basically saying you don’t approve of what a large number of your customers are doing? It’s so easy to dismiss this statement as a knee-jerk reaction to profit-hostile open usage, but this could also be a troubling sign.

This may be an exaggeration—or a quote taken way out of context—but if you have a CEO openly admitting he doesn’t approve of unlocked phones, is that representative of the entire service provider industry in the US? Dotson may really believe that cellular usage free from lock-ins may lead to a worse customer experience—for reasons that are not immediately clear.

Worse, could this be some crazy talk generated by the apparent high-profile success of the iPhone? We all know how hard AT&T and Apple work to keep the phone locked onto one network. It seems that the “we are not amused” outlook towards contract-free setups is expanding beyond the iPhone.

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