Where can I get an Android phone sans the phone part?
I'm planning on building a car pc out of an Android device. For my first test, I'd like something small to see if the concept works well.
My requirements:
Android OS
Phone form factor (up to 5" I'd say)
Bluetooth
GPS
My non-requirements:
Phone service. Don't need it / want it. So the phone can be from any network or whatever...I plan on keeping it on wifi only
Pretty. The device can be refurbed / scratched /etc
Budget:
Low....hopefully someone can point me to somewhere that sells phones that aren't really phones
Not real sure on this one. Maybe you could check on a new websi..Hello? Can you hear me now? Hello?
http://www.cowboom.com/product/750163
Samsung SCH-R880 Acclaim US Cellular 4G Android Smartphone $68
Specifications
Data 4G,EVDO,1xEVDO
Carrier U.S Cellular
Google Browser
Android 2.1 (clair)
Display HVGA 320x480 3.2"
Connectivity
Bluetooth Capability
GPS Capability
Internet HTML Browser
Outlook Sync Capability
USB 2.0
Wi-fi Connectivity
Features
Speakerphone
3.2 display with full QWERTY keyboard
Voice Recognition
Camera
Auto Focus
Camera Resolution
Digital Zoom
LED Flash
Video
Video Player
Music Sound
Music Formats
Storage and Memory 218MB
Messaging
Email
Business Office
Document Viewer
Voice Mail
Weight 4.93 oz (140 g)
Dimensions 4.49" x 2.32" x 0.6" (114 x 59 x 15.2 mm)
MFG: SAMSUNG
MFG Part: SCH-R880 US CELLULAR
You might be able to find even cheaper on Ebay with a phone that has a bad ESN
Can you call it a car PC if it's really just a phone in your car?
Get a nook, and then jailbreak it. Makes it an android phone without the phone service!
what, no tires or axle? that's one heck of a bad ride if you ask me
Good question. I own an Android Mobile app dev company, so let's just say I have a lot of "test devices" that I would just randomly get from EBay to check compatibility.
What you don't need is a "phone", you just need any device that is compatible with the Android OS. A small tablet is what you are looking for.
For what you are looking for, try to find an Archos tablet. For the size you want, I think a 43 would work fine. It's developer ready and is VERY cheap used. Hope this helps.
http://store.archos.com/archos-internet-tablet-p-5003.html or more generally http://www.archos.com/home.html?lang=en
Just a word of warning though, only the generation 9 tablets come with android market access from the get go and, speaking as someone who had the Archos 43 and loved it, don't expect the Archos apps library to have everything you want; you'll have to sideload the Android Marketplace.
Question though: if you have committment issues, have you considered a no contract Virgin Mobile Android phone? That seems like a win-win. You get an Android device from a major manufacturer AND you can even use your new device as a phone (or not) depending on how you feel that month.
If you are going to do it, do it right and get a good sized screen. Those phones that are posted with 3" screens would be pointless.
Thanks for the advice everyone....Like I mentioned, I'm just doing a POC at the moment, so a small screen doesn't bother me terribly. If it works as well as I'm hoping; I'd like to go with an integrated, in-dash solution.
@klipper: What computer hardware are you using? Similar to that YouTube video? What do you plan on using it for?
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