For a long long time I never understood why anyone needed costly phones. In fact, a goddamn Shitoon was devoted at ridiculing phones with multiple features. The highest I ever paid for a phone was about 5k. Then I lost that phone. In Ladakh. In fact I lost two phones at the same time. Thank you Ladakh. After returning from Ladakh, I bought a phone that cost me less than 1.5k. I was happy with it.
About 12 months ago, Singa Patel got himself a Google Nexus. It came for about 35k. And I kept haranguing him for months – forcing him to justify why anyone needed to spend so much on a goddamn phone. He gave several justifications but I remained unconvinced. I did go to Chroma once to look for a better phone (as compared to my 1.5k gadget, not as compared to Singa’s 35k jewelery). At Chroma, I even ended up liking a stuff that came for about 20k. But then I said to myself – hey, when I can buy a cute small metallic red HP laptop for 25k why should I pay 20k for a phone?
That day, in Chroma, I really did buy a cute small metallic red HP netbook for 25k. Even when I didn’t need a laptop. I thought I would use it as a handy internet browser as I continued using my 1.5k phone for making and receiving calls and text. It’s another matter that I could not use the cute HP laptop much – my official mails only came in my company laptop and it became a pain to juggle around between two machines. When Sweety told me she needed a laptop, I gifted to her the cute small metallic netbook with all the grace that the most lovable brother in this world can possess. To put things in perspective, I suck when it comes to giving gifts.
Things changed when for my birthday in Mumbai (in July last year), Subbu and Sweety gifted me a slider Samsung Corby with touch-screen and all that. I liked the phone. And I liked touching the screen. And finally I started using internet on phone. One small step for mankind. A giant leap for the man.
But then, it was only when I started observing how efficiently MRP could read and write e-mails on her white Blackberry, I realized how my Corby sucked. Samsung Corby is cute and all that – but creating / sending mails or browsing sites is just too inconvenient.
When Haileo showed up with a brand new Blackberry Torch last week – probably the first BB with touchscreen and stuff – I really got hooked to the idea of procuring something equally fascinating for myself. I wonder though, why I never got equally (or more) motivated from the iPhone that Haileo had been using before he switched to Torch. Anyway, too late to think about that. Let’s talk about what I did finally.
Two days back I ordered from Flipkart an HTC Desire HD for myself. Yay.
The phone is yet to arrive. But I have already compiled a list of Android apps that I would like to install. Do you want to suggest additional apps? Please do no.
Kindle – I really don’t know how convenient it is to read books on phone but let’s see
Skyfire – isn’t like that the best browser for Android?
Google Voice – though I am not sure it works in India yet
Evernote – any substitute that you would like to recommend?
Barcode Scanner – because I think it’s cool
WordPress for Android – because my blog uses WordPress
Aldiko Book Reader – it promises free e-books and all that
Quickpedia – guess this is the best way to use Wikipedia on cellphone?
Sketchbook Express – let’s see if I can make Shitoons using this
Google Goggles – coz it’s cool
Google Reader App – so that I can read posts when travelling
Swype – looks like an awesome typing aid to me – anyone tried it?