My GPS Camera Phone

I’ll file this under “extreme endurance testing.” These guys in Russia put an iPhone through a rigorous battery of tests that include freezing, tumbling in a dryer, dunking in beer, dropping and more. The site is in Russian, but the marvel that is Google Translate makes the read worthwhile. For example:

The aluminum lid compartment nutrition allowed to stand the test of honor fall to the asphalt. We threw smartphone flat and at an angle. Before the asphalt was a mini-training on grass, where the phone was left unhurt, even if dropped from two meters, the same situation with the office and carpeting in it. Asphalt is left to the body of a vanishing ink. In addition, the cap has become a bit of waste, has a slight backlash. But it should be noted that other elements are not affected. With pleasure, the screen is not only remained operational, but very slightly scratched.

Can the iPhone withstand the “test of honor?” What about abuse like being rolled over by a car? Watch the video and find out.

I wonder if the Nokia folks would be upset if I tried this with the 6650?

Apples for the masses
So the news of Apple selling the iPhone at Wal-Mart is being hyped as unbelievable. I mean, really, Wal-Mart? Apple? What is this, the Beverly Hillbillies? You know, I don’t think I would have ever guessed that any schmoe on the street could walk into their local Wal-Mart and buy a 12-pack of Old Milwaukee and an iPhone in the same visit. Really, the huge display of iPods in my local Wal-Mart never made the thought cross my mind. Completely blind-sided I tell you. Contrary to rumor, “everyday low prices” does not apply here. Apple would never stoop THAT low.

Androids will rule…maybe, someday
Google’s method of market-testing beta releases seems to be carrying over into the physical world with news coming out from HTC saying that they expect over 1 million phones to be sold by the end of the 2008. While these numbers pale in comparison to the iPhone (especially since you can now get one at Wal-Mart), the groundswell is growing and it won’t be too long before the market sees an influx of Android-powered devices. Other devices are on the way from other manufacturers and HTC is rumored to be releasing the G2 phone sometime, so we’ll see what happens.

Gas-free zone
Everyone likes lists, so here’s Gizmodo’s take on the best Android apps of 2008. I don’t care how cool those apps are, they still don’t have iFart. Move along, Android.

Photo credit: MShades via Flickr

As you may have heard, the Google Open Handset Alliance just got bigger, gaining 14 new members. We’re not talking little guys, either. Vodaphone, Garmin International, Sony Ericsson, ARM and others are joining the revolution quiet movement to upend the iPhone from its current position at number one. At the very least, the alliance has the growing potential to open up the touchscreen market and offer a viable alternative to Apple’s sole mobile offering, which is arguably the best phone on the market. (Now if they would just open it up to other carriers…)

At the moment, it appears that Google Android mobile operating system holds the second-place position, a statistic based solely on what I’ve been scanning in the news, though the actual numbers may dictate otherwise. Research in Motion (RIM) touted the new Blackberry Storm as if it were the iPhone’s messiah, but RIM fell flat on its face, making life miserable for thousands of Verizon employees who had to handle the complaints. I commend RIM on trying, but really, you can’t take on the iPhone with a slick marketing campaign. You need a near-flawless product to even come close.

But enough speculation, let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of what this blog is about. I’m talking photos and thanks to Live Crunch, I’ve got some great pics from an Android-powered, HTC G1 for your viewing pleasure. From what I see, the 3.2 mega-pixel camera can take a good photo in the right conditions. I’ve posted three photos from the G1 below that I think are a great representation of the camera quality. And with the G2 coming next year, who knows, maybe they will get even better.

Close up with the G1:

Full-resolution sample of the above photo:

Another close shot:

Keep the home fires burning!

G1 photos courtesy Live Crunch.

According to Vodaphone’s marketing people, Apple’s OS X mobile operating system can run on the upcoming Blackberry Storm, Research in Motion’s (RIM) latest entry into the growing touch screen market. I’m not sure if RIM or Apple knows or agree’s with this, but Vodaphone’s marketing team thinks so.

Well, they did for a few hours.

As reported by Engadget and Venture Beat (among others), Vodaphone had a page up a few hours overnight that flaunted the Storm’s ability to run Apple’s OS X mobile operating system. While this would be a welcome break from Apple’s stifling policies, I’m thinking that it isn’t going to fly, especially since the page has vanished from the web as if nothing had happened.

I can’t wait to see what Steve Jobs has to say about it. I’d place my money on a lawsuit for violating the Apple’s terms of service or something.

This is the dumbest and most brilliant marketing move I’ve seen by a company in a long time. I’m still not sure if Vodaphone had planned this or if it was an internal guerilla campaign, but it sure has generated some buzz. That said, I still like the iPhone. It’s going to be a tough one to beat.

iPhone 3G image courtesy of Apple.

Last tree, I swear (yeah, right).

By the way, I hear that Nokia is coming out with a touchscreen version of the 5610 (the camera used in the last ten posts or so). Wonder if I’ll get a shot at test driving one of those?

In other news, it is rumored that Verizon, among others, will be picking up a CDMA-version iPhone. I normally don’t jump on the bandwagon, but I love the iPhone features and interface from what I’ve seen. The only reason I don’t have one is because AT&T is horrible where I live. If Verizon gets it, then it’s upgrade time (but I’m not holding my breath).

Camera phone: Nokia 5610 XpressMusic