Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

In todays (8/22) chat Jeff Hawkins made it pretty clear that a cell phone module will be released and it will work in both US and Canda by the end of the year. I have no clue about this and was wondering if anyone knows ANYTHING about this new cell phone. I know the mic is positioned correctly and Jeff likes bluethooth, and radio and other communication technologies. It will be realesed by the end of this year (christmas?!?!) Does anyoen have any more to add? It would be really cool, especially if the cell phone service provider gave it to you at low cost, just like real cell phones.. Cool.

-miradu2000

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 308

true but when you think about it a nice PCS phone (with accessories around $150)plus 40$ a month can take care of all of your telephone needs execpt internet access. and the cellphone module while it would have a nice interface would:
1. cost more
2. be more battire effective
3. not allow you use your visor and phone at the same time.

all in all a stand alone unit would be beter

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 81

Celchu19,
Give them a chance to create a module and release details before you get so negative. Why would a cell phone module be more expensive than a seperate phone? If anything it would have the potential to be cheaper, due to the fact that it can use so many of the Visor's resources. Also, what would stop them from using the same type of batteries on a module as they do on cell phones? Finally, since they haven't yet released any potential specs, there's no reason to believe that once you've initiated a call you couldn't switch over to some other application. It isn't all that hard to do something like that. The only tie-in to the Visor would most likely be an integration into the address book and also a dial pad on the screen, so once you're chatting, you really wouldn't need the Visor anymore, leaving it free to play Dopewars or update your calendar. Just my 2cents.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Germany
Posts: 116

I really hope they will also release a european version!!!!!! I also have a mobile phone but I would love to use my visor as a phone.

Has someone heard of those european plans?!

Chris

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

PLEASE oh PLEASE...don't make the phone module actually look like a cell phone. Just make a standard module that will allow the cover to be used to protect the screen with an earpiece socket. I don't mind it bulging out the back for a cell phone battery, but DON"T make me hold my visor to my face to talk.....I'd like to beable to jot things down in memopad or other apps.

PLEASE!

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Stealth-Mod.

Registered: May 2000
Location: Fairfax, VA, USA
Posts: 77

Standard size with earphone jack?

I'd like it to be the same size as the Backup module (flush) with and earphone jack on top. That way you don't have to hold the Visor to your ear, just talk to it facing the mic (ofcourse people may look at you funny). Also, this way you could use the Visor for other things while you're talking.

Dave

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Yup.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 65

If they just had a headset jack (like on most current cell phones) it would be a hit. I think that's what Hoser was basically saying too.

I won't buy it if I have to hold my Visor up to my head.

OEP

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 10

I imagine an earplug like I have for my Samsung-3500 cell phone (don't get me started on connectivety issues). The cord has a mic dangling just below mouth level and it picks up voice exceptionally clear. No need to use the built in mic on the lower part of the visor.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

With the earphone/microphone combination, I think a cell phone module would be great, especially if it was compatible in Europe and Asia.

Right now, I take my Visor everywhere, but I always keep my cell phone in the car unless I plan ahead for a situation where I might need it. There are times when I wish I had brought my phone, but not enought times to merit carrying around it all the time.

Another great feature to add to a cell phone module would be additional memory - some modem makers are doing this. With added memory and a small form-factor, I'd leave the cell phone module in all the time, except to backup/restore with my Backup module.


[Edited by PDAENVY on 08-30-2000 at 12:28 PM]

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Jeff

Registered: May 2000
Location:
Posts: 321

I think someone should make a hack to allow a little (maybe 1") bar across the bottom of the screen controllng the cellphone, and leaving the rest of the screen for normal use.

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 47

Can't Wait

I,personally, am really looking forward to the Cel Phone Springboard.
- it will allow me to carry one less device - now I have phone & Visor ( + sometimes pager) - I can dump the phone.
- it certainly will be able to dial from the Address book - permitting me single entry of Contacts instead of having to put them both into my Visor and my cel phone.
- Now - if they just make sure their wireless provider has paging as well - 3 electronic, belt-hanging devices become one!!
- Also - integrate a modem so we can it the Web wirelessly!!!

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Hoser:

You may be in for a disappointment. I remember a Jeff Hawkins interview where he talked about his habit miming actions on his prototypes for usability testing. He said he tried holding the Visor up to his head as a phone, and it didn't feel corny or uncomfortable.

I tried this myself. Assuming that there's an earpiece that juts from the top of the module (or flips up), it wouldn't necessarily be uncomfortable. Granted, it might look uncool at first, but once people get used to seeing it in action, that might change. For instance, my Visor/Stowaway combo is nowhere near as cool-looking as carrying around my Vaio, but no one ever interrupts me at Starbucks when I'm typing on the Vaio; they always interrupt me with questing when I'm using the Stowaway.

A lot of people will prefer a headset jack, but not everyone finds this comfortable. I prefer holding a handset up to my ear, like most cell phone users.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gameboy70
A lot of people will prefer a headset jack, but not everyone finds this comfortable. I prefer holding a handset up to my ear, like most cell phone users.

---

If it only comes out as a headset form factor, nothing's stopping you from wearing the headset and holding your Visor up against your head anyway.

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Jeff

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

and while i said this last winter when this topic was hot...

I'm not sure i want a sweaty cheek mark on my visor screen!

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Stealth-Mod.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 10

Good one Hoser.

Chuckled then. Chuckled again today.

My question is: will modules be customized to work with existing cell phone accounts? For instance I use Sprint. Will I be able to plug in the module and provide an account number so that my visorphone becomes interchangable with my regular cell phone. Will that mean a delayed roll out schedule as modules for each of the major providers are delivered?

And this module should be relatively cheap given the redundancy. Already have a screen, touchpad, etc.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: brooklyn
Posts: 268

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gameboy70
Hoser:

You may be in for a disappointment. I remember a Jeff Hawkins interview where he talked about his habit miming actions on his prototypes for usability testing. He said he tried holding the Visor up to his head as a phone, and it didn't feel corny or uncomfortable.

...

A lot of people will prefer a headset jack, but not everyone finds this comfortable. I prefer holding a handset up to my ear, like most cell phone users.

---

i think the issue at hand is use of the other features (particularly datebook, i would imagine) during a call... if you have to hold the thing up to your face, it makes data entry somewhat difficult -- unless you all have some x-man mutataions i missed out on.

personally, i find headsets kind of creepy: i live in nyc and the amount of people talking to themselves has nearly doubled since cell headsets have become popular. but i'd rather have the extended functionality a headset would seem to provide.

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

quote:

---

Originally posted by jmart
My question is: will modules be customized to work with existing cell phone accounts? For instance I use Sprint. Will I be able to plug in the module and provide an account number so that my visorphone becomes interchangable with my regular cell phone. Will that mean a delayed roll out schedule as modules for each of the major providers are delivered?

And this module should be relatively cheap given the redundancy. Already have a screen, touchpad, etc.

---

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 308

Ok sorry maby a cellphone mooudle would be good but I would hope that the carrior would be affordable

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Seattle, Wa, USA
Posts: 66

On the Nokia 5100 series, the SIM chip that holds all the provider coding and phone numbers can be swapped out when you switch providers.

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Atomic Hyrax Games

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Scalpel:

Can you switch (via SIM replacement) to a provider with a different type of network, e.g. a GSM-based provider to a CDMA-based one?