Comments on: Android this week: Galaxy Note 8.0 pics; App finds best network; a Google smart watch?

By: Rann Xeroxx

Rann Xeroxx — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:59:56 +0000

The rumor mill has Apple thinking about a iWatch or something. With the unexpected initial success with the Pebble, the big boys of Apple and Google now see that if done right it can be successful.

IMHO, the perfect form factor for Apple would be just to rework the iPod nano with all this added functions and let people use it as a watch or anything else.

For Google, their success is more iffy as this is dabbling in something they have no real experience in and UI and functionality will be the primary keys to success, something that Google takes awhile to get to.

By: James Collins

James Collins — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:52:22 +0000

This app – OpenSignal is awesome. I neede something like this. Too bad I am not living in a very crowded area. However, it’s perfect for traveling.

By: josh

josh — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 03:04:24 +0000

Most likely; I’m stuck under a verizon plan right now but am planning to switch to t-mobile. i know looking on their website that they do offer data only plans (under broadband plans or something like that) and don’t explicitly say that it works on a tablet but i’m pretty darn sure it’ll work. i’m gonna buy the 3g (last time i checked people weren’t sure it would be 4g or 3g) unlocked tablet and just buy a cheap 3g data plan since i’m always on my college campus and don’t necessarily need data there AND use my google voice account. a lot of people don’t realize they could have essentially free voice and text all thanks to google, just gotta pay for data so you can have voice and text while you’re on the go!
addressing your later comments, i believe they throttle data after so much but that depends on what plan you get. for instance like i think most companies say “unlimited” data but after 5 gigs give you way slower speed (don’t you just love the tendencies of companies in the US while european companies offer true unlimited) ANYWAYS! i’m in the same boat as you about rooting and unleashing the real capabilities of android; just make sure if you install new roms etc. they dont mess up any of your drivers for the device. best wishes and happy to see someone else who has the right idea like me! ;)

By: tom

tom — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:28:48 +0000

i am interested to watch this and see how it plays out in terms of allowed cell company rate plans.

all the carriers now have separate plans for phones and for tablets, no unlimited ones are available for tablets and the phone unlimited plans are technically not allowed for use in any ‘data only’ device.

so if this ‘phablet’ has a built in phone call capable radio am i than eligible for the t-mobile unlimited plan? am i still eligible if i install ubuntu mobile and attach a large monitor and a keyboard and burn through a few 100 gigs a month? or would that be considered tethering even though the processing is done on the tablet device?