Developing, and my rant about android.

[techobsessive]

So i'm 16, and i am a geek so lets just get that out of the way.

I really really really REALLY want the droid, but more android in general. One because its an awesome phone, and two i want to learn how to develop.
Now the droid is out and it has some awesome hardware. Do you guys think/know if you can use the phone if it is not activated? I was pretty sure thats how android works. Which is stupid. Really stupid.
Side note: wasnt android made to be the "OS for phones thats needed" and to be cheaper? Why are we only seeing hardware thats cheaper, and not the plans. At 16 and a junior in HS, its hard to pay 40 bucks a month or more for a cell phone bill. Do you guys think they should make a phone with android that does NOT require a data plan, kind of like some of the Older smartphones on verizon(i.e. Moto Q) Im really sick of not being in the action of android, and i want to be done sitting on the side lines. But, because im 16 i cant. AND I HATE IT.

But do you guys think it wil be a good idea to get he droid for developing purposes, like a android dev phone 2?

 

[gthrift]

So i'm 16, and i am a geek so lets just get that out of the way.

I really really really REALLY want the droid, but more android in general. One because its an awesome phone, and two i want to learn how to develop.
Now the droid is out and it has some awesome hardware. Do you guys think/know if you can use the phone if it is not activated? I was pretty sure thats how android works. Which is stupid. Really stupid.
Side note: wasnt android made to be the "OS for phones thats needed" and to be cheaper? Why are we only seeing hardware thats cheaper, and not the plans. At 16 and a junior in HS, its hard to pay 40 bucks a month or more for a cell phone bill. Do you guys think they should make a phone with android that does NOT require a data plan, kind of like some of the Older smartphones on verizon(i.e. Moto Q) Im really sick of not being in the action of android, and i want to be done sitting on the side lines. But, because im 16 i cant. AND I HATE IT.

But do you guys think it wil be a good idea to get he droid for developing purposes, like a android dev phone 2?

It's not hard to pay more than 40 a month if you have a job. But if cost is such a problem then go look at t-mobile or Sprint's plans.

 

[rawness]

So i'm 16, and i am a geek so lets just get that out of the way.

I really really really REALLY want the droid, but more android in general. One because its an awesome phone, and two i want to learn how to develop.
Now the droid is out and it has some awesome hardware. Do you guys think/know if you can use the phone if it is not activated? I was pretty sure thats how android works. Which is stupid. Really stupid.
Side note: wasnt android made to be the "OS for phones thats needed" and to be cheaper? Why are we only seeing hardware thats cheaper, and not the plans. At 16 and a junior in HS, its hard to pay 40 bucks a month or more for a cell phone bill. Do you guys think they should make a phone with android that does NOT require a data plan, kind of like some of the Older smartphones on verizon(i.e. Moto Q) Im really sick of not being in the action of android, and i want to be done sitting on the side lines. But, because im 16 i cant. AND I HATE IT.

But do you guys think it wil be a good idea to get he droid for developing purposes, like a android dev phone 2?

I think it's a racket that they require data plans in the first place. If you want to pay-by-use with these phones or if you want to use the other features of the phone, that should be your prerogative.

I'd understand not discounting the phone unless you get a plan, but if you come across a phone (eBay, someone gives you their old one, etc.) you shouldn't be coerced into buying a data plan.

*steps down off soap box*

 

[techobsessive]

40 dollars isnt alot to pay for a phone plan your right, but i caant pay for one. Im only 16. And what if i get fird because of the economy? I have no phone. And while i do text im noy addicted. My phone is for contacting people and emergencies.

 

[Russellmaniakw]

well if you want the phone just to tinker with it and try your hand at developing for it, I'm pretty sure you could just get a G1 relatively cheap and then use WiFi only if you need network access. I may be wrong about this, though. You can also download the Android SDK right this instant and just start playing with it. It comes with a handset emulator to test apps in. Have you tried reading up on this stuff at the android developers forums?

 

[CRPercodani]

Android is a data heavy OS, it needs it to work properly for the most part. If you really want to be a dev for Android you don't even need a phone, just get the SDK and you can use the virtual machine to run any apps you develop. Also for a true developers phone you wouldn't want the Droid as it is, you need the ADP1 AKA G1.

Now as for data plans, that is the nature of the beast. You could look into tmobile prepaid if you are tight on cash, or get a data only plan from VZW for $50 if you are dead set on getting the Droid. If you could even use a Droid or other Android phone without a data plan you wouldn't get the full experience, a lot of apps for it require data and so do the basic sync functions of it. I remember being 16 and in HS, but I was working since I was 14 so money was never really a big issue. Not at all trying to be a prick but couldn't you get a part time job at a fast food joint? That would net you around $160 a week give or take, so paying a monthly cell bill wouldn't really be a big deal anymore.

And one other thing, VZW and AT&T won't let you have a smartphone without a data plan anymore, the risk for running up a massive bill is just way to risky, especially with Android since it is constantly syncing and using data. You would be pissed off much more if you got a huge $800 bill because you didn't have data, versus paying the extra $30 each month to have it.

 

[techobsessive]

I could and these are all great answers. You dont sound like a prick. But how do i get the plan, im only 16. You have to be 18.

 

[CRPercodani]

AFAIK you don't need to be 18 to get a cell phone plan. You might need to put down a security deposit though. For tmobile prepaid its no problem, but then again you wouldn't get the Droid until a GSM version hits. Best thing to do is call VZW or goto a VZW store and have them run a check on you, you just need a ID and your social security #.

 

[CRPercodani]

Your other choice would be to ask your parents very nicely, maybe get the job/money first and show them you are serious about it and really want to learn how to develop. It is a great field to get into because cell phones and Android are exploding, so it could be a serious future career.

 

[gthrift]

I could and these are all great answers. You dont sound like a prick. But how do i get the plan, im only 16. You have to be 18.

Have your parents cosign.

 

[bluenik25]

The phone will work over wifi if it is not connected to the a Verizon contract. I have a Samsung I760 that I use as a WM data collection tool. I have been able to use simulators such as the one in the SDK to create windows mobile apps and use them on an old WM6.1 smart phone.

Now coming across a Droid without paying full retail is going to be a challenge. You could purchase the Droid for $199 and sign a new two year contract with a data plan. Then switch back over to the phone you have now and cancel the data plan. Or you could find another Android handset on ebay and use that on wifi without service. The problem with that is you will only get android 1.6.

Do give up based on what some old fart on a forum says. We need kids with your desire to learn early so we can all get some cool apps in the future. Keep it up!

 

[AdamHC]

Doesn't really seem that expensive if you just get off your ass and get a job, you could even have saved up to get one outright since the time the G1 came out. Unless it's cause of that recession youve got there that you havent got a job. I dunno, seems not that hard to get. Like I'm in the same boat as you, I bought a new phone for about $600 US at the start of the year when I was 16. Bought heaps of other shit, $300 earphones, $200 watch, heaps of clothes and now I've got $600 in the bank to buy my next phone which will probably be the GSM Droid. All while doing year 12 in school. You should really get a job, you'll be able to afford heaps of shit.

 

[tpriddy]

40 dollars isnt alot to pay for a phone plan your right, but i caant pay for one. Im only 16.

Get a job!

Seriously though get an older android phone, root it and rom it, download the SDKs. Heck download the emulators, do you even need a phone to learn Android development?

And dude, learn what an apostrophe is for!

Also you're hereby forever banned from using "I'm only 16" as an excuse for anything, any more. That's double-serious.

 

[techobsessive]

Alright no more im to young business you all have done a great job of proving me wrong Haha. Now lets takall this in consideration. I get a job and am making enough money. Now i need room on my family olan for the phone. Weve already ht the five limit. Buts let say ive figured that out. Whats this all i need to do is ave ID and my security numbrr? hows does this work? And this have a parent cosign, hows that work?

 

[bluenik25]

Come on guys give the kid a break. I've had a job since I was 14.(Mostly because I was casing the ladies!)

I think we can all agree; school comes first! If this kid has circumstances that prohibit him from getting a job its none of our business. He came here to ask for some help.
I say we give it to him and leave his personal life out of it.

P.S. You could make a lot more cheese busing tables were you get a tip-out.

 

[billd]

I really really really REALLY want the droid, but more android in general. One because its an awesome phone, and two i want to learn how to develop.

Fair enough.

Now the droid is out and it has some awesome hardware. Do you guys think/know if you can use the phone if it is not activated? I was pretty sure thats how android works. Which is stupid. Really stupid.

I'm not sure if it will. It might. However, if you're getting it from Verizon, without a contract, I think it's going to be something like $600-$700. It's $200 with a two year contract. A minimal plan is $40 voice + $30 data = $70/month. Verizon will not let you get a contract on this phone without a data plan. Not sure if they let you go data only, but they'll probably charge you more if they do.

If you just want to learn to develop, you don't actually need the phone. The Android SDK includes an emulator, so that you can write programs and test them without having to constantly download updated programs to a phone for testing. See the Developer 101 forum on this board for more information. If I was in a situation where I wanted to learn to develop, but couldn't afford the phone, I'd just rely on the emulator.

 

[JoeFresco]

You could buy one of several Android MID that will be coming out over the next few months.

 

[tpriddy]

Now why didn't I say that.

 

[gthrift]

You could buy one of several Android MID that will be coming out over the next few months.

Good call, forgot all about he MIDs.

Check out the Archos 5 Internet Tablet. It comes preloaded with Android (not sure what version), has gps, wifi and everything a phone does but the phone. Think of it as the iPod Touch of the Android world... just much better.

 

[knickerbocker]

If you cannot afford the phone or the plan - that is part of being young. You have to make decisions and prioritize. I did not have a cell phone till I was 23 and I thought I was hot s$*t when I had one. You can expect to have the nicer things in life when you are so young. Get used to it.