Robert Levy
12-03-2003, 01:53 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=1933' target='_blank'>http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=1933</a><br /><br /></div>I'll be the first to admit that there are some problems with Microsoft's Smartphone platform. But other devices have their own sets of issues and I think that the problems plauging the Motorola A920 (which is running the Symbian OS) are, to be quite honest, hillarious.<br /><br />First, they have *totally* locked down the device so only software approved by the carrier can be installed and run on it. Windows Mobile can be configured to run the same way, but no carrier has been crazy enough to do that. An <a href="http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?a920">online petition</a> (currently with over 1500 names on it) has so far been ignored. Secondly, the device has both bluetooth and IR hardware built in. This is great, but guess what... there are no drivers for it. That's right... people are buying the A920 as a bluetooth- and IR-enabled phone with there being any possibility of users actually taking advantage of those features. <br /><br />Good news, however, has finally come for those unfortunate A920 owners. If you are willing to hand over your phone for 3 days, they will now update the software on it so you can use the bluetooth. Next year they will be *selling* another software update that will make the IR port usable. Gee, thanks! :roll: