Not A Nikon But Still Photography Related, Kinda

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Not A Nikon But Still Photography Related, Kinda

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NikoDoby

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I've been testing out a Nexus One "superphone" for the past month and since the NDA is over I can finally share with you guys :^)

I was very skeptical about it being better than the iphone since using the previous G1 cellphone but now that i've had it I can say that I really enjoy using it. Is it an iphone killer? Well not really. It's more like a iphone equivalent but if you hate AT&T like I do then this phone is going to be a great alternative for you.

The 5mp camera is very basic and takes pretty good snap shots. The LED flash works pretty good although it tends to blow out highlights at close range. I did notice that video suffers from "rolling shutter". You see the "Jello Effect" when taking photos too but it's not too bad if you try to keep things steady before you snap away.

I also really liked using the GoogleSky feature where you point your "superphone" at any star and the app will tell you the name and position of all other stars and planets. Very cool! A great way to cheat when you take your honey bunny out for a romantic date under the stars and impress her with how much you know about the stars! Ha ha it worked for me :^)

The voice command thingy doesn't work very well but it's still cool when it does interpret what you say correctly. The barcode scanner is very useful too. Take a pic of any barcode and it will automatically look up the item and give you prices for that item if it's available.

The new AMOLED screen is fantastic! Nikon please put this in a high end camera NOW!

Google maps is great and updates relatively quickly when your scrolling around.

For such an old guy I love new technology! :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Yay Niko's back Niko's back! How've you been, ol' buddy ol' pal? :^D

LOL, the star thing is funny. But I bet there's an App for the iPhone that does it except better :^P Same goes for the barcode scanner. So, did you look up your D70S on it? ;^)

I've haven't really tried an iPhone enough, so I don't know how it does with maps. It also depends on the internet service your getting I guess.

BTW, who offers service for the Nexus One?

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Hey alpha good to know I was missed :^)

I like the iphone too but I hate HATE HATE AT&T so I like having options! Not sure of all the specifics but it will be available for Verizon, Tmobile, and Vodaphone. Tmobile gets it first and others will follow by spring.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Yeah, AT&T is not very famous for their great coverage ;^) Verizon's the best of them all I think. As for T•Mobile, err well, no comment :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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How did you get on that list, Niko? You know this is going to start a new round of who's Niko, don't you?

Very cool. I love my ipod touch.

We had a guy from BASF come talk in our department, and he was saying that they have trouble with the lifetime of the blue OLEDs. I wonder if people will complain about the loss of blue light on the screen in a year or two (or maybe they don't have that problem anymore).

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Hey at least we're not using smoke signals and tin cans connected with string! Although using AT&T feels like it sometimes :^(

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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I think I read that you can buy it unlocked to set up with any carrier for around $500.

As to iphone star apps, I love skyvoyager for stargazing, and it will even run a telescope for you if you have the right setup (which I don't). I got it for free when they offered it on the lunar landing anniversary.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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I hang with Michaele and Tareq Salahi and they get me onto some amazing list! :^)
Ha ha jonny sorry I've got to stay in the shadows...for now :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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NikoDoby said:
I hang with Michaele and Tareq Salahi and they get me onto some amazing list! :^)
Ha ha jonny sorry I've got to stay in the shadows...for now :^)

Careful, Niko. I think the secret service monitors this forum since that crazy story thread. BTW, welcome back.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Thanks jonny, don't worry I've got secret agent status. My NDA with the CIA won't expire until I'm dead, hopefully because of natural causes not related to polonium-210 poisoning 8^'

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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You know that's exactly what Alex Litvinenko was thinking, Niko. I wouldn't bank on it.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jessi

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Sometimes I just have no idea what you people are talking about. Welcome Back Niko, how about a PAD?

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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NikoDoby said:
Ha ha jonny sorry I've got to stay in the shadows...for now :^)

Correction: forever ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Hey Jessi, don't worry my wife tells me the same thing :^) It's secret guy code that women aren't suppose to understand, lol.

I'll try to share something from my trip on the Photoaday, but alpha's been cyber stalking me again so now I'm reluctant to post any thing out of fear he'll track down the hotel I was at and ask the front desk about me :^)

Anyway back to my experience with the Nexus One. I know you can get a similar app like GoogleSky jonny but it was fun having it come with the Nexus One. The new touch AMOLED screen is very nice and I seriously think this should be on a high end Nikon camera.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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alphanikonrex said:
Correction: forever ;^)

Eventually I'll mess up somewhere and you'll "catch" me and you'll be so disappointed I'm not Steve Jobs :^)

So stop PMing me about your apple warranty problems :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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NikoDoby said:
The new touch AMOLED screen is very nice and I seriously think this should be on a high end Nikon camera.

In your dreams! 8^)

Posted 3 years ago #
Willis

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Niko - How are the photo apps on android?

Also, I've read that the AMOLED screen is a little on the warm side.

You guys all know about my iPhone fixation, but I'd still switch if something better came along. I'm a big Google fan too :)

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Willis said:
Also, I've read that the AMOLED screen is a little on the warm side.

Would a 1/8th CT Blue be enough to cool it down? ;)

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Willis the camera mode is pretty basic, nothing really outstanding. It's very user friendly though. Hold up the phone to the subject and it auto focuses. Tap the screen and let go to take the picture.

You've got options for flash (on, off, auto), white balance, size, etc. You also have picture effects like sepia, solarize, monochrome, and a few others. Picture quality is good. Better than the iphone I think but it still uses those crappy little plastic lens. In other words the images are soft sometimes.

You've got the ability to share your photos/videos by email right after you take them or as you browse your picture gallery.

I did noticed the phone running a bit warm when I first started using it but it isn't a big deal. The brightness has a fairly big range of adjustment so the warmness might just be from using it at full brightness. Again it wasn't a big deal for me and I soon forgot about it. The AMOLED screen is a bit larger than the iphone and looks better IMHO.

Posted 3 years ago #
AK

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NikoDoby said:
I like the iphone too but I hate HATE HATE AT&T so I like having options!

Am I the only person to not have trouble with AT&T?

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Do you travel a lot AK?

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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AK - You don't need to use AT&T with Your iphone, just hack it - works nicely that way :)

Posted 3 years ago #
AK

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NikoDoby said:
Do you travel a lot AK?

At least once a year, and it works fine. Hell I was still tethering my phone (Hacked of course) on a cruise in Alaska when the shore was still on the horizon. Everywhere in Los Angeles it works great, at least 3 bars.

adamz said:
AK - You don't need to use AT&T with Your iphone, just hack it - works nicely that way :)

Mine's hacked into oblivion, don't worry.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Can you update the firmware on an unlocked iphone? Doesn't Steve Jobs automatically email you a nasty message when you try?

Sorry AK I still hate AT&T.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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You can't update the firmware, otherwise the iPhone turns into a brick. As far as I know, you have to "unhack" the phone once the hack for the new firmware comes out, update it, and the "rehack" it with the new hack for the new firmware. Not worth the trouble unless you hate AT&T enough. I don't have an iPhone (or any phone for that matter), so I don't care.

Posted 3 years ago #