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Android: Hands-on with the T-Mobile G1
At long last, we finally got our hands on the first Android handset, the T-Mobile G1. Our buddies at Engadget already put together a kick-ass hardware review and they were nice enough to break down the software too. Now that phone is officially available and the Android Market is open, we can finally start to give this new platform the once-over.I have been using the phone for the last four and a half hours or so -- and let me just say, the platform is slick. The hardware is certainly nice, but what really makes this thing sing -- and what we care about at Download Squad -- is the software.
The OS is fast and responsive. Running multiple apps doesn't seem to slow anything down at all. And although I have had a non-Android Market app crash on me a number of times, it hasn't affected the rest of the phone -- something I cannot say for my BlackBerry Curve.
Non-Android Market? Yup! Although the preferred and ultimately, probably the safest way to access applications is through Google's Android Market, you can download applications OTA (over the air) directly from developers after checking a checkbox in Settings > Application Settings.
I did this to use Twitroid a Twitter client for Android that is still in development.
Other highlights/lowlights:
-- As Engadget mentioned in their coverage, the Amazon MP3 Store only works if you are connected via Wi-Fi. That isn't a huge problem, but it did require me to enable a setting (there isn't a Wi-Fi wizard at set-up).
-- The phone comes with 10 pre-loaded tracks by various artists. Some of which are actually good!
-- Using a mini-USB cable, I was able to hook the Android phone up to my Mac without any hassle. Without using the SDK, you can only access photographs, downloaded Amazon.com music and the pre-loaded music from the microSD card - but this means that you can easily load other music or photos on the phone. There might not be a desktop management app, a la iTunes or BlackBerry Desktop Manager, but you can absolutely interface your phone and your PC or Mac.
PC Connectivity actually highlights Android's biggest strength as a platform: it allows for seamless integration of your Google data that is "on the cloud." In addition to the developed apps for Gmail, Contacts and Calendar and Maps, accessing Google's other services is both seamless and responsive. Push e-mail via Gmail on Android is just as fast as Push for the same account on my BlackBerry. If you are someone who finds that you use web apps far more often than desktop applications, Android was made for you.
-- Moving around the home screen and general navigation is clean -- but it isn't quite as polished as the iPhone. I really don't think that has much to do with the hardware (iPhone is multi-touch, the G1 is not), the software just has some differences and I find the iPhone/iPod Touch to be more intutitive.
Check out the gallery of screenshots from some of the include applications and stay tuned for some first-look posts that highlight some of the new Android applications, available in the Marketplace and elsewhere.
Comments
26
Subscribe to commentsandrea deangeloOct 31st 2008 10:03PM
Inadvertantly erased songs. Can't find a listing except 3 of the artists referenced in their PR. Need help. It was truly user error, as I was still figuring it out. Love the G1. Actually liked the preloaded songs. They did a good job as referenced above. Thanks to anyone who can help.
LordsNov 4th 2008 6:35AM
Christina,
You recently posted a reply containing the following comment:
"My university e-mail just became an Exchange account (so I use OWA) and I still have all my Outlook 2007 data files, so I have a good testing base.."
Can you post the url on how you did this specifically, please.
Thanks
jonathanNov 7th 2008 11:09AM
I was wanting to know if you could somehow put the Operating system software from the G1 onto a different phone through just a regular windows based PC say putting it onto another touch screen phone from China called a Skyphone i68+ or a CECT A88.
IsmailNov 26th 2008 4:55PM
Hi everyone, my dad just bout the G1 for me yesterday... Originally i was going to buy the iphone, i read the reviews, the specification and thought it was just slightly better, my friend had an i phone so i had a extremely good physical overview too, i really wanted to buy it, but didnt.
Now; after buying the G1, i was taking a good look at it, in size it is very similar to the iphone, though the G1 unlike the iphone is thicker, but this doesnt let the G1 down in any way,you get a QWERTY keyboard! This is a great advantage over the iphone, people might say the iphones touch capabilities does wonders, and i know it does, but at the end of the day nothing beats a physical keyboard, its really useful if your emailing/chatting on the go.
The touch screen is very similar to the iphone, though it doesnt not do multi touch, the G1's responsiveness is great.
Anyways forgetting the technical side of things....
So i take the G1 to High School today, i show it to all my friends, theyre all excited by the phone and definitely impressed alot! I talk them through the basic features of the phone, let them have a good look, a good feel. I show the maps, street view etc. Theyre very impressed.
Then my friend asks me about the apps and how many there are, btw hes got an iphone, so now this when it all really begins and why i love the phone, i tell them about the market and how applications are limitless. As he reaches the bottom of the screen new applications appear, he soon gets the message, i also tell them about "Open Source", that anyone can develop material for the phone and place it on the market,by the end of the conversation they were all really amazed and preferred the G1 over the iphone. Even the friend who owns an iphone himself! Many were so dazzled now theyre looking to buy the G1!
The bottom line is, the iphone and G1 are both really good phones, but its your choice, i recommend to go the mall and look at them both. Though the G1 really is limitless, its "Open Source", anythings possible. Android phones in the coming future and the G1 will get better and better, you will clearly see this yourself as you browse through the market and examine the phone some little. The phones greatness is fundamentally the operating system Android, its so great, The overall handset is also very impressive. Just to let you know im not a Google fanatic so you can trust me to give you a fairly neutral view.
Im really glad i bought this phone and would prefer it over the iphone anyday!!!
fernandoJan 3rd 2009 9:47PM
hi how do i get the softkeys on my g1 how do i download it
g8trgrl2002Jan 19th 2009 9:30PM
can anyone please tell me how to connect the g1 to my computer please....i have windows vista and i do not know how to do it so any help would be greatly appreciated than you in advance...i want to be able to dowlnoad movies and do not know how to go about doing it......