Filed under: Google, Mobile, Android
Android: Hands-on with the T-Mobile G1
by Christina Warren Oct 22nd 2008
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.
-- 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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Todd said 4:16PM on 10-22-2008
What program did you end up using to take screen captures?
Please post URL for it.
Reply
Christina Warren said 4:41PM on 10-22-2008
A article on how I was able to capture screenshots should be up in a few minutes. I had to use the SDK, because there is no app to do it right now.
TimCost said 4:46PM on 10-22-2008
I got my g1 yesterday ... this is by FAR the best phone (or pda) i've ever had. Calls are crystal clear, and the interface is clean and easy to use.
Reply
Christina Warren said 4:57PM on 10-22-2008
I totally, totally dig the device too -- very, very cool.
Doug S. said 6:04PM on 10-22-2008
I'm glad someone finally commented on how the calls sound!
Todd said 4:56PM on 10-22-2008
@TimCost
Have you tried going to any of the sites that are supporting the Google Gears GeoLocation API?
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_announces_mobile_geoloc.php
Gears is baked into Android's browser, would really be interested in hearing how well / accurate it is.
( P.S. I didn't get a G1, local T-Mobile retail store has none, "product not available" on website. Product Launch - EPIC FAIL!!1! )
Reply
Bart said 5:00PM on 10-22-2008
What we want to know... is this the iPhone killer? Not for the masses, but for us who liked the iPhone was it really was.. an awesome gadget. Because having a phone for more than a year; it doesn't feel right ^^
Reply
Christina Warren said 5:04PM on 10-22-2008
My take? It is too soon to tell right now -- we'll have to see how the software evolves. I don't want to get into hardware too much (that isn't our beat), but the one major annoyance is having to switch between modes to type on the phone vs. portrait surfing a la the iPhone. Apparently a on-screen keyboard is already being developed by some hackers with ingenuity, so that might take care of the biggest issue.
As a gadget, the camera is better (though it is slow and horrible in low light, so it isn't that much better), it plays more types of media and has better battery life (from what tests I've seen, I don't have an iPhone 3G to compare). The market for really geeky third party apps is probably higher here than on the iPhone, but I don't know how long that is going to take.
Todd said 5:27PM on 10-22-2008
Oh man please don't start that whole "iPhone killer" thread all over again.
Apple users are fanatical, loyal people, it's a whole lifestyle. Zero people will switch from iPhone to G1, just like iPod user never switch to any other PMP even when the alternative is a superior, lower cost, technology.
Android, the Open Source operating system is an order of a magnitude more than a "phone". T-Mobile's forked, proprietary version of it is just a single example of the OS/platform/ecosystem than can be used in any computational device.
Apps you write for the G1 can be used in: Any other Android phone, future TV set top boxes, cars, remote sensors, industrial robots, on and on - something never to be achieved by the iPhone.
Bart said 5:50PM on 10-22-2008
Ah, but Todd, this isn't about Apple users, but simply about people aware of technology, wanting the very best. If Apple's the best, fine with me... right now, the iPhone is (as a phone).
I just want the Android/G1 impressing me; pushing the envelope, just like the iPhone did. It helps the (true) state of technology go forward, ... ?
TimCost said 5:50PM on 10-22-2008
is this an iPhone killer? I doubt it. I'm not really the target audience for the iPhone (I suspect I'm just not cool enough for an iPhone). I like the g1 because I'm a big Google fan. It's my home for email, contacts, calender ... the lot. It made perfect sense for me to switch from my t-mobile Dash to this. By comparison the Dash is slow and clunky. The g1 has a much smoother interface. I can easily read text (a HUGE win imo). The menus are clean and nice to work with. Although I think the OS is a good start and I have complete faith that it will improve through community input.
I haven't tried the multi-media much, but suspect once I do I will probably get used to having music and podcasts on my phone really fast.
long story short ...There will be prettier phones with Android on the market soon. Probably before Christmas. One of them might be the iPhone killer. This one is going to be big though, and this one is the one I'll carry for the next couple years.
Reply
Christina Warren said 7:09PM on 10-22-2008
Yeah, this is the perfect platform for people who have used Windows Mobile, because it has a similar set of offerings with a better interface and better integration with the cloud.
I think that there are lots of users who will flock to this platform for the same reasons you have -- you use a lot of Google services and like the company, you want a nicer interface and a more comfortable way to read text and they don't really care about the cool factor as much as flat out functionality.
I think the iPhone is a sexier device, but Android as an interface is certainly no slouch.
Richard said 8:11AM on 10-23-2008
What I want to know is how you get all your Outlook data into Google? I looked not so long ago for synchronisation applications and they all failed in one way or another:
1. They cost money.
2. They flat out didn't work.
3. They couldn't handle two way synchronisation and resolving of conflicts.
4. They couldn't handle reoccurring appointments correctly (some even converted them into multiple single appointments - which caused havok when you wanted to apply a change to all of them).
Until that is sorted out, I'm sticking with something else.
Reply
Christina Warren said 8:53AM on 10-23-2008
An excellent question/point! I had to migrate all my Outlook data to OS X the hard way about 14 months ago (hard, being a virtual machine and a program I paid $12 for) and I looked into just migrating to Google at that time and ran into the same issues. Last time I checked, most of the key Outlook Calendar issues were taken care of (not true for Entourage 2008 for Mac, but iCal and gCal can now play nice, so that's at least an option) and there is even a way to import all your mail directly into a Google Apps account.
I'll look into this though, and also cover the new Exchange programs for Exchange synching that have just become available. 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.
Jeff said 9:46AM on 10-23-2008
I liked what Bart said in response to Todd.
I just bought an iPhone from a friend. I am not an apple "fanatic" (though I am a fan.) I use Windows XP at home and am perfectly happy with it. I had a Motorola Q9h, and loved it. But it wasn't touch screen, and didn't offer the browsing capabilities I was looking for. Even with the new SkyFire browser.
I am also not a google fanatic. Some people just go nuts over Google. Gmail this, Gmail that... Google Calendar, Google Docs.... oh my God if Google goes down, their world falls apart.
I like Google, but use Yahoo for the majority of my stuff. My entire email world is on Yahoo - and I totally prefer that interface over Gmail.
So asking if the G1 is an iPhone killer, isn't so much about comparing it to Apple and Apple's better, etc....
It's about having the latest Gadgets. The ones that are the most powerful and the most fun, as well as being the most useful.
It sounds that Android will be a bit like Windows Mobile - but better due to the openness, but they've designed the phone to work more similar to iPhone to attract them. At this point - I probably want to stick to the iPhone. Well, especially since I'm with AT&T and in contract, and TMobile's coverage SUCKS in my area. LOL
Reply
Mira said 4:28PM on 10-24-2008
I actually did a little research about the outlook issue and it's nice to know that the people at "Wrike" have a free ContactsSync Application so you can connect to your exchange server and load you contacts for free. Only cons to it is that as of now, you can only load your contacts and nothing else (mail, calendar, ect). Next, it will ONLY work with Outlook 2007.
The website to download this is:
www.wrike.com/g1-exchange-sync.html
I recently ordered the phone and this was one of my biggest concerns, so when my phone comes in the mail, I'll keep you posted.
Reply
andrea deangelo said 9:27PM on 10-31-2008
Ok, while figuring things out I accidentally erased the music that was preloaded, and like people are saying there was some good stuff. Not comitted to memory yet. Does anyone have a list? All the PR for the phone only lists 3 artists. Please help. I love the G1 by the way. Couldn't be happier. It's just me that needs work. :)
Reply
Christina Warren said 9:31PM on 10-31-2008
I have a different microSD card in my phone right now, but I'll switch them as soon as my boyfriend (who has that SD card in his phone) gets back and post the list for you.
I don't know if resetting the data settings will restore the SD card or not, but I can at least get the list of songs for you.
andrea deangelo said 10:19PM on 10-31-2008
Very cool. Thanks.
Christina Warren said 10:08PM on 11-01-2008
OK Andrea, here ya go:
Ain't Got You Kevin Michael
Ain't No Reason - Bret Dennen
Blast! - Macrcus Miller
Control - Kid Sister
Karma - The Construction Brothers
Lately - The Helio Sequence
The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room - Flight of the Conchords
Punching Goodbye Out Front - Kinski
SUV - R.A.S.
You Won't Be Able to Be Sad - The Break and Repair Method