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Assorted WiFi power reduction tricks may be used to increase battery life.
See also this article about WiFi support in OpenMoko.
WiMAX is targeting high-speed mobile data and telecommunications services. Hardware for portable usage based on the IEEE802.16e standard is now availabe and deployment around the world is being executed, heavily promoted by Intel Capital. For example, a Dutch initiative called WorldMAX has the exclusive license to use the 3.5GHz band in The Nethelands to offer "internet-in-your-pocket" services.
Near Field Communication support would enable many new applications for the Neo1973 such as a digital wallet or electronic keys. NFC is designed to work at very short ranges (0-20cm) and can be used to pair devices for longer range/higher bandwidth communications such as Bluetooth. In fact, the recently introduced Bluetooth 2.1 Core Specification includes NFC support.
Main article: Spell weaving
See also this page containing a link to a video demonstration.
With help of mouse and keyboard, a TV output may be very useful. Or to watch photos taken with a digital camera on holidays. Or for showing a slide presentation off.
A model with a larger screen would be of use to many, especially with multi-touch. Higher resolution is probably less important than size until the DPI drops below 150 or so.
Hardware acceleration for video playback.
3D hardware acceleration for 3D games, GUIs, etc. (maybe a PowerVR MBX Lite ?).
Possibility to use something like Eyeglass Mounted Display.
Or electronic paper display, EPD is used in many new devices such as the new Motorola motofone, sonys new e-reader and Irex's iliad. The technology provides thin, flexible, power saving screens using new eink technology. This technology could cut the weight of the phone and its power usage. For more info see: eink's website.
It would be nice to have (the option of) a transreflective display, which while being less bright, is readable without needing to power the backlight. Then again, it depends on how much power the backlight uses compared to everything else...
Possibility of watching Digital TV on your mobile phone.
Game buttons would be best on both sides of the screen. The larger the buttons, the better. 2x 4 buttons in up-down-left-right configuration + some extra buttons separately a bit lower on the device would be good for many for emulation games.
Here is a concept drawing of a possible neo1973 gaming version:
(This has a 4-way direction pad, 8 way may be better for gaming)
This enables the phone to sense where 'down' is - to enable various options.
See Accelerometer Fundamentals for more information on accelerometers as they may be used in phones.
Rather than a traditional magnetic strip credit card swiper, consider including a smart card reader, possibly contactless. Not only would this be more secure, it would require much less real estate on the device and the software implementation would be similar to the interface for the SIM card.
An electronic thermometer might become handy for some users.
There are very small I2C devices available, that could easily integrate to the existing bus. For example this one from ti.
A Barometer measures air pressure. This can be used to give weather information, and also as a variometer, to sense relative altitude. Variometers are commonly used in flying microlight and ultralight aircraft, to get accurate relative altitude.
See Wish List - Hardware - Atmospheric for more information.
Fingerprint sensor gives easy and fast access to the phone, could lock the touchscreen etc. An example of this device can be found at Sony UX17.
As these are typically implemented with a small camera (256*4) focussed on the finger, with appropriate hardware and software, you can also use them as an optical mouse in reverse, detecting movement of the finger over the sensor.
A trackball would provide an efficient mouse-like interface in a very compact package. As exemplified in the newer Blackberry® models. Maybe instead an optical sensor as are used in mice could be used so that the whole phone can be moved over a surface just like a mouse. The same sensor might be usable as a barcode reader
How 'bout an analog joystick, gaming-console style, instead of a D-Pad or a trackball?
Or how 'bout a Rollermouse-like device? But do we need any of this, considering the touchscreen?
--Lemi4 19:03, 11 March 2007 (CET)
Wireless USB is the wireless version of USB offering data-rates up to 480 Mbit/s over short distances (<3 meter). Chipsets suitable for a phone are likely to take some time to be available.
I2C is an internal bus in the phone. This is a simple bus, with only 2-3 wires, hence ideal for making accessible to those making add-ons, as it is low powered, and can be daisy-chained. It would be a great candidate to bring out into the Expansion Back.
Readily available I2C chips range from temperature sensing, digital input/output chips, to 1-wire bridge chips (which is designed for external switches, ID, sensing, ...)
GSM/GPRS is at best slow. Ideally supporting EDGE - which is an evolved form of GPRS, UTMS - which is widespread in Europe, HDSPA (asia) and any other mobile standards would be nice. It is unlikely that all of these will be supported initially, but it is a goal. Until that goal is reached, it is likely that some phones will be brought out for various specific markets - Europe, Asia, US.
-- This is ALS (Alternate Line Service) and is a network feature which must be activated on your account. You should be able to get the GSM modem to send a USSD sequence to the network an achieve this. Newer, handsets/networks would support the Multiple Subscriber Profiles which handles it all better but you are right that it would need to be included in the UI. User:Eggsy
--Unfortunately, not all operators offer ALS. Also, you might want to use SIMs from different operators. What are the chances of cracking a SIM and emulate it in software? --elhaard 15:05, 8 May 2007 (CEST)
Many PC-based media centers are being equipped with an RF (433 MHz) / X10-based remote control. The X10 protocol also facilitates home automation to control lamps, switches, etc. The advantages of using RF for control instead of Infra-red this that it also works when furniture, walls, or doors are blocking the path between RF remote and the equipment or device. Lirc supports X10-based RF remotes (but expects having an USB RF receiver attached to the media center).
A nice feature would be a radio receiver: FM or even better: Digital Audio Broadcast (Digital Radio)
This is something that gets left out of every consumer electronic device on the face of the planet. Why not include it for those interested in public broadcast frequencies, talk radio and news networks?
Adapters to 2.5mm are of course available, but 3.5mm jacks are much more robust. Headsets are less widely available in 3.5mm.
Include a built in laser pointer. Everything is better with lasers.
The hole at the bottom of the phone takes a lot of space. A Kensington Security Slot could be used instead.
We need something you can drop from 4 feet in to a puddle of dirty water on construction site. You know the big ugly pseudo military version
Consider selling one device with absolutely no non-free components in it, even if that means dropping the GSM support. I believe having one such device available would be good, because then it could be recommended by organizations like the FSF which typically never recommends anything if it has even a little non-free code in it.
Avoid anything proprietary, I know it helps generate $$$$, but it really irritates everyone.
Do not embed the battery, it needs to be user replaceable
No DRM music system or you must buy from our network etc... I want to plug it in to my USB port and drag and drop my music, that's it, simple, no synchronization needed.
With all due respect to the keypad people, please do not add a keypad it just takes up space that should be occupied by the touchscreen, there are good text recognizers out there that are simple and easy to use, if you need a keypad make it an attachment. That being said you may want to add simple keys for easy dialing, don't forget its a phone, don't make it hard to use it as a phone.