I, Phone

I had a couple of feature ideas for the Google phone today, because even though I don't like Java, they are still offering prizes. So, without further ado, here is my list:

• I know this has been proposed for the iPhone: a barcode scanner. Just like delicious library, but on your phone. You scan a barcode and your google phone reads the number and finds out what it is, through some online service. It would be really cool (and somewhat practical for corporations) if it recognized other types of visible codes, such as postal tracking codes. Scan your tracking code and it connects to FedEx or UPS's website and brings up the page for your order.



• Some kind of database accessor, or authentication through LDAP or something like that. Corporations would buy it, and you have bulk orders for phones.



• A thermometer. Wouldn't it be so cool if, next to your weather report you have the current temperature exactly where you are? This is more of a hardware feature, but it would be cool.