Hello, Android

First post ever.

So, I got the new Android phone a couple of weeks ago. I have a T-Mobile MyTouch3G. I like it a lot.

I have to say, earlier this year, I had an iPod Touch. It was really cool. And my son (6) loved to play with it too. However, it was too open, and he regularly re-arranged apps, and deleted them and was trying to buy full versions whenever he got the chance, despite repeated protestations and "punishments" from his dad. But what it came down to was that in the end, I didn't use it much. It was cool and all, but it wasn't that useful for email, because I sit at my desk and look at my computer all day long and my computer does email better. The screen on a Touch is too small for practical web surfing. It is a decent music player, but it is too big and heavy to take running. I ruined a couple of headphone cords because the Touch bounced in my pocket and jerked the cord around. So, it became a toy to play games and watch movies on for my son. I occasionally used it. Because it was a toy that I carried as optional baggage, it got left at home a lot and not used. So, many apps (like calendaring) weren't useful because the thing wasn't with me all of the time. Costco told me explicitly I had 90 days to take it back, so after 60 days, it took it back.

So, later on, I was talking to a friend and the idea of making some side cash with iPhone development came up. I thought that was cool. Except you need a mac. I used to be a daily mac user, so I thought cool! I bought a used MacBook. Much to my disgust....I hate the MacOS. All of the things I didn't like from years ago are still there, and there are several new things I hate. Not to mention that the battery died quickly after I got it, even though it was still lasting over 3 hours. So, I took it to the apple store to ask questions. Oh, you have to make an appointment to go to the Apple store. So, I came back. "Yup, the battery is bad. You can get a new one, they are $130!" Are you kidding? I got one off of Amazon for $60 and it is fine. Anyway, you have to pay $100 to get into the app store, plus you pretty well need an iPhone. Well, I don't want an iPhone. And I don't like Apple's restrictive policies on apps, either, not to mention the single-tasking OS. Oh, not to mention, that for all of Apple's free-thinking, they require everyone to do things the same way. Same OS, few customizations. You can get anything you want in our brave new technology, but you MUST use our technology, and only our technology, or you aren't cool. This isn't a bonus to me, but more heavy big brother than any 1984 commercial could produce. I think the part of the girl with the big hammer in that commercial should be played by Steve Jobs.

So, then I find out about Android. Being a geek, I like it right away:
1. Open source is good.
2. Google is good.
3. Infinite customization is good.
4. T-Mobile is good.
a. I've been on T-Mobile for years, was overdue for an upgrade/re-up.
b. A myTouch is half the price of an iPhone, both up front, and monthly.
5. Development is in Java on Eclipse, both of which I am very familiar with already,
app store access is only $25.

So, I sell the MacBook in two shakes of a lamb's tail and I'm off.

More on this later.