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The R.O.C.
From cloner haven to global heavyweight, Taiwan continues to reinvent itself
Feb 26, 2007 23:54
What the heck is this thing? Is it the work of the devil? Or is it just one of the many strange things you can get your hands on in Thailand?
So I just got back from spending the Chinese New Year holiday at the beach. On the way through and back I stopped off in Bangkok and picked up a prepaid SIM for use in the Land of Smiles.
Bangkok's bazaar of bizarre mobile madness is located in the Mahboonkrong (MBK) shopping mall in the Siam Square area. The joint is a sight to behold and great for picking up all kinds of kits, dodgy and legit and yet still dodgy to have with you at the airport (think fake Diesel jeans and stun guns).
On the mobile gear floor (fourth floor, I believe), you're immersed in what stateside would feel like a flea market, with tiny booths and "shops" jammed and crammed. It's always a good place to dig up flash second-hand handsets, grey market phones and odd brands you can't find all over the place.
I wasn't really there for browsing. As I said, I was just searching for SIM love. At the shop where I was buying some I spied this intriguing little doodad you see in the pic (sorry, it's a bit blurred). For about US$125 I found the sweetest mini-grip.
It's got a pretty decent camera, video capability (came preloaded with a Mr Bean video... um, I wonder if Rowan Atkinson's getting royalties from this), MP3 features (though I iPod, so this means less than nothing), a freakishly loud built-in speaker, SD card, USB port, you name it. The rear battery cover is even, no joke, METAL. And, the box included a spare battery, yo.
The company, G-Net, even has a SMALLER handset. But the tiny little bugger I bought is about as small as you can go if you actually have human-sized fingers.
The UI isn't all that hot. And it kinda blows for messaging as it doesn't have T9 or anything, just a barely usable predictive text input feature.
But it's so damned small... seriously, they even bite the Apple, calling this model the "G999 Nano".
So what's the rub? I can't find any dang info at all on this thing. Nothing. I don't even know if the company whose Thai address is printed on the manual--Wireless Advance System--actually made the gear or is just the distributor. I asked the girl at the shop if it was made in China or Thailand or whatever but she didn't know anything.
This G-Net is just mysterious. And yet, so compelling. But it's black and small. It could very well be pure mobile evil. But I don't care. I'm in love. Not quite ready to permanently give up my Nokia, but I got two hands... and two ears. Two phones, yo.
More to come.
-jag
Satan's handset is my new lover
Posted by jonathangardner What the heck is this thing? Is it the work of the devil? Or is it just one of the many strange things you can get your hands on in Thailand?
So I just got back from spending the Chinese New Year holiday at the beach. On the way through and back I stopped off in Bangkok and picked up a prepaid SIM for use in the Land of Smiles.
Bangkok's bazaar of bizarre mobile madness is located in the Mahboonkrong (MBK) shopping mall in the Siam Square area. The joint is a sight to behold and great for picking up all kinds of kits, dodgy and legit and yet still dodgy to have with you at the airport (think fake Diesel jeans and stun guns).
On the mobile gear floor (fourth floor, I believe), you're immersed in what stateside would feel like a flea market, with tiny booths and "shops" jammed and crammed. It's always a good place to dig up flash second-hand handsets, grey market phones and odd brands you can't find all over the place.
I wasn't really there for browsing. As I said, I was just searching for SIM love. At the shop where I was buying some I spied this intriguing little doodad you see in the pic (sorry, it's a bit blurred). For about US$125 I found the sweetest mini-grip.
It's got a pretty decent camera, video capability (came preloaded with a Mr Bean video... um, I wonder if Rowan Atkinson's getting royalties from this), MP3 features (though I iPod, so this means less than nothing), a freakishly loud built-in speaker, SD card, USB port, you name it. The rear battery cover is even, no joke, METAL. And, the box included a spare battery, yo.
The company, G-Net, even has a SMALLER handset. But the tiny little bugger I bought is about as small as you can go if you actually have human-sized fingers.
The UI isn't all that hot. And it kinda blows for messaging as it doesn't have T9 or anything, just a barely usable predictive text input feature.
But it's so damned small... seriously, they even bite the Apple, calling this model the "G999 Nano".
So what's the rub? I can't find any dang info at all on this thing. Nothing. I don't even know if the company whose Thai address is printed on the manual--Wireless Advance System--actually made the gear or is just the distributor. I asked the girl at the shop if it was made in China or Thailand or whatever but she didn't know anything.
This G-Net is just mysterious. And yet, so compelling. But it's black and small. It could very well be pure mobile evil. But I don't care. I'm in love. Not quite ready to permanently give up my Nokia, but I got two hands... and two ears. Two phones, yo.
More to come.
-jag
- Talkback
-
moreno99 says...
I just bought this G-net 999 Nano a few days ago here at MBK in Bangkok, I love how small it is but I cant figure out how to take this back off to replace battery/SIM etc, I dont want to break anything, any help?
Thanks.
Mar 12, 2007 15:09
I just bought this G-net 999 Nano a few days ago here at MBK in Bangkok, I love how small it is but I cant figure out how to take this back off to replace battery/SIM etc, I dont want to break anything, any help?
Thanks.
Mar 12, 2007 15:09
jonathangardner says...
heya-
Yeah, it's tricky. You also don't want to mar/scratch the metal surface. You just gotta push down hard while sliding the cover down (toward phone bottom).
Then you'll see the battery, which is wedged in pretty solidly. I would advise using the edge of the back/battery cover to slide in under the battery and gently lift it out.
Let me know if you still have trouble. I'll be at home with it later and can play around and see if anything else works.
More to come.
-jag
Mar 12, 2007 17:46
heya-
Yeah, it's tricky. You also don't want to mar/scratch the metal surface. You just gotta push down hard while sliding the cover down (toward phone bottom).
Then you'll see the battery, which is wedged in pretty solidly. I would advise using the edge of the back/battery cover to slide in under the battery and gently lift it out.
Let me know if you still have trouble. I'll be at home with it later and can play around and see if anything else works.
More to come.
-jag
Mar 12, 2007 17:46
moreno99 says...
Ok, no problem anymore, except that the keys seem cheapy, and the batteries die VERY fast.
But still I love the phone since it is SO small, black, camera, mp3 etc :)
Mar 28, 2007 20:19
Ok, no problem anymore, except that the keys seem cheapy, and the batteries die VERY fast.
But still I love the phone since it is SO small, black, camera, mp3 etc :)
Mar 28, 2007 20:19
viperjet says...
Bought this G-Net 999 Nano for 2950 Baht a few days ago at MBK too.
Yes I have to agree that the battery life for this phone is really very short, maybe they try to squeeze too much technology into such a small phone and missed out the battery capacity. Hope that G-net can produce a better battery for this phone.
I also bought a Black Ipod Nano leather case to house this phone and it look really great!
There seem like no official webpage of g-net.
Hope we can exchange more information on this tiny giant!
Apr 10, 2007 17:12
Bought this G-Net 999 Nano for 2950 Baht a few days ago at MBK too.
Yes I have to agree that the battery life for this phone is really very short, maybe they try to squeeze too much technology into such a small phone and missed out the battery capacity. Hope that G-net can produce a better battery for this phone.
I also bought a Black Ipod Nano leather case to house this phone and it look really great!
There seem like no official webpage of g-net.
Hope we can exchange more information on this tiny giant!
Apr 10, 2007 17:12
saifywaify says...
hi guys,
a friend of mine gave me a g999 a few days ago. really like its size and exclusivity. haven't seen anyone use it at all.
anyway.
i'm having problems transferring mp3s and photos into the phone. when i hook up the phone with my pc using the usb cable, my doesn't recognize the phone.
the phone came with a kingston 512mb micro sd card. when i checked it's memory space on the phone, the phone detected it fine.
however, when i plugged the micro sd card into my pc to load files in it, the card became unrecognizable by the phone.
this is the most frustrating issue to me. do you guys have a solution?
cheers,
saify.
Jul 08, 2007 06:04
hi guys,
a friend of mine gave me a g999 a few days ago. really like its size and exclusivity. haven't seen anyone use it at all.
anyway.
i'm having problems transferring mp3s and photos into the phone. when i hook up the phone with my pc using the usb cable, my doesn't recognize the phone.
the phone came with a kingston 512mb micro sd card. when i checked it's memory space on the phone, the phone detected it fine.
however, when i plugged the micro sd card into my pc to load files in it, the card became unrecognizable by the phone.
this is the most frustrating issue to me. do you guys have a solution?
cheers,
saify.
Jul 08, 2007 06:04
Chrisni says...
I got mine for 4200 B at MBK. The first set came with a broken charger, but the store I got it from replaced it with no hassles. The problem that I am having is that it dosent work with my sim card here in the USA. If anyone could help with that, please let me know.
Thanks for the help.
Chrisni
Aug 13, 2007 18:31
I got mine for 4200 B at MBK. The first set came with a broken charger, but the store I got it from replaced it with no hassles. The problem that I am having is that it dosent work with my sim card here in the USA. If anyone could help with that, please let me know.
Thanks for the help.
Chrisni
Aug 13, 2007 18:31
pkoppanen says...
Just back from out holiday in Thailand and managed to purchase the mobile for 3690 Bhat at MBK. The phone is great as you can charge from a USB port, though battery life very short.
I received 2 batteries which is handy. Most people still very impressed with the size of the phone so a nice little gadget.
As the phone only works on 900/1800 Mhz it will not work in US which is on 1900Mhz (I believe but not 100% sure). Works well in Europe
Jan 11, 2008 20:32
Just back from out holiday in Thailand and managed to purchase the mobile for 3690 Bhat at MBK. The phone is great as you can charge from a USB port, though battery life very short.
I received 2 batteries which is handy. Most people still very impressed with the size of the phone so a nice little gadget.
As the phone only works on 900/1800 Mhz it will not work in US which is on 1900Mhz (I believe but not 100% sure). Works well in Europe
Jan 11, 2008 20:32
jonathangardner says...
glad you managed to get one, pkoppanen. i wonder what your thoughts are on the UI for sms. I found it nearly unusable in that regard.
Jan 15, 2008 14:57
glad you managed to get one, pkoppanen. i wonder what your thoughts are on the UI for sms. I found it nearly unusable in that regard.
Jan 15, 2008 14:57
pkoppanen says...
I must admit the UI is far behind European handsets and I am treating this as fun phone to show friends etc, however lacking bluetooth makes it harder to use while traveling by car as most people use bluetooth handsets.
Even with all it's "faults" it's a great little gadget and the main purpose for this phone is to use it as a phone only, hopefully future generation of the Gnet phone will improve it's capabilities.
Jan 28, 2008 18:37
I must admit the UI is far behind European handsets and I am treating this as fun phone to show friends etc, however lacking bluetooth makes it harder to use while traveling by car as most people use bluetooth handsets.
Even with all it's "faults" it's a great little gadget and the main purpose for this phone is to use it as a phone only, hopefully future generation of the Gnet phone will improve it's capabilities.
Jan 28, 2008 18:37
chingy says...
hi,
i am also having trouble finding any information on this phone.
when i connect my phone to my computer via usb, it doesnt read it.
there is just no response at all.
i want to put songs on it. Can anyone help?
And also, does it take a regular micro-sd card?
Thanks for your help!
Mar 17, 2008 11:40
hi,
i am also having trouble finding any information on this phone.
when i connect my phone to my computer via usb, it doesnt read it.
there is just no response at all.
i want to put songs on it. Can anyone help?
And also, does it take a regular micro-sd card?
Thanks for your help!
Mar 17, 2008 11:40
dancestep says...
Does anyone of you have the a) name of shop, b)address and
** c)the TELEPHONE NO? 3 wks back when my friend try to buy it, it was out of stock. Would like to all them and confirm they have stock b4 i pop down.
Thks
May 02, 2008 05:07
Does anyone of you have the a) name of shop, b)address and
** c)the TELEPHONE NO? 3 wks back when my friend try to buy it, it was out of stock. Would like to all them and confirm they have stock b4 i pop down.
Thks
May 02, 2008 05:07
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