Verizon is unlimited as long as you're not tethering. T-Mobile's 4G is capped at 5GB, but then they just throttle you to 3G speeds. So I just see it as $40/month for unlimited 3G with a speed boost for the first 5GB.

Also, the LTS releases (every 18 months) are the ones aimed at production environments like offices and servers, so if you're on that cycle you have huge numbers testing the new features that came out between LTS releases before you get them.

Given that this is a campaign from the publishers, they probably just want a universal format they can pass on to distributors.

So then they can pass on the same file to Amazon/B&N/Apple and they can add in their own DRM before distributing.

I completely agree with you, but this is probably what they meant. And we can probably assume the ebooks will take the same route as digital music. So, when DRM is removed, you can buy wherever and place wherever.

If you can find a SIP app to use with your iPhone, then yes - although the new app wasn't needed for this.

Although, I had problems doing it with the iPod Touch.

Works ok on the Droid though.

I use Google Apps for Your Domain.

It's free and has all the benefits of Gmail without the downsides of running your own mail server. I use it for my business and it works great.

(Although honestly I just forward it to my regular Gmail account and use Gmail's "send from" feature.)

You might try the upcoming (January I think) Dell Android phone for AT&T.

If it it like my Droid (excepting the SIM card thing since I'm Verizon), it meets all of your requirements.

You can even flash a completely custom ROM onto the device.

I see your point, but at the moment they're equally tied to AT&T. This would make them truly carrier agnostic as well as being able to make a phone that uses a better service.

Phil Schiller was pretty irked at AT&T at the keynote this year.

I'm sure they'd love a way to stick it to them.

Here's what they should do:

Get with Google and make the iPhone completely run on Google Voice VoIP.

Make it carrier-agnostic (duh) and make it data-only.

The iPhone would become a data only device that would have VoIP built right into the device.

It would work an any network and could even change networks with impunity.

Also, it *should* be cheaper since you're not paying for tradition phone/voicemail/SMS.

I'm all for an Open Alliance as opposed to a closed one, but I want what Google is offering.

University all access passes for their libraries and students.

Access to orphan books.

Easy for authors to claim rights and be compensated.

Easy reading on computers, mobile devices, and e-readers.

If you guys can accomplish all this as quickly and completely as Google will, I'll support you.

IMHO, it's because they not only dominate web browsing but web creation.

If MS dictates how the majority of the web renders pages, they would be using their dominance in the market to make their web creation tools (FrontPage/Expression Web) "better" - in reality just more compatible withe their twisted versions of web standards.

Not only that but they can make web tools Live/Bing/Hotmail work best with their browser - influencing users of those tools to almost be forced to to use IE.

Ah. Found it. "Initial Shipment expected in July 2009." http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/touchbook/info.htm

You might try the Touchbook - it is also "to be released," but if they are on schedule, it should be released soon. You can buy just the screen part for $299 I believe (or the whole thing for $399). Either way, you could probably hold the screen portion quite easily. ARM processor gives it "10-15 hours" of battery life. Runs a full Linux distro optimized for that device, or you can put your own on there. http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/home/index.htm

I realize this isn't exactly what you're looking for, but what I do is have a dedicated Debian server running Samba (for windows and *nix) and Netatalk (for my Mac).

I keep all of my important files and media files on the server, it also backs up my computers.

I can access it if I am not at home via SSH.

I'm also going to add a cron job and an external HDD for offsite backup.

Be confident in yourself - people like to see someone who is ok with themselves. If you make a fool of yourself - it's ok, just keep going - no one cares, everyone's done it.

Don't be cocky though - it's annoying. Do group things - dancing, classes, anything really, Introduce yourself to people - it'll feel awkward, but most of them will be pleased. Remember names - saying a person's name in a sentence 3 times shortly after meeting them helps. Be polite - please, thank you, hold open doors, etc. Don't be cocky - it's annoying.* This helps you meet people - beyond that is up to you - but it's ok, no one else knows what they're doing either. -- *I typed it twice because it's important.

Originally Ma Bell got sued because you could only connect Bell telephones to your landline - nothing else would work. It was decided this was anti competitive. Now all of a sudden carriers *can* decide what devices we use? I think there's precedent for this. Verizon may not manufacture my phone, but there is a Verizon logo on the back of *every* phone I can choose. That seems like an unnecessary amount of control.