Meet the T-Mobile G1
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Sep 22nd 2008 10:47PM
posted Sep 22nd 2008 10:47PM
Update: TmoNews has just uncovered new specs and info on the phone. Here's what they've got so far: the phone is 4.6 x 2.16 x 0.63 inches, weighs 5.6 ounces, features a 480 x 320 HVGA display, sports 3G (obviously), GPS, has a 3.1-megapixel camera, supports up to 8GB of memory (though no format is mentioned), and will feature 5 hours of talktime with 130 hours of standby. Strangely, the phone won't do video capture (what?), won't have stereo Bluetooth, will require a Gmail account, and won't be sold at stores outside of a 2-5 mile radius of T-Mobile's 3G coverage areas. That last bit sounds a little odd to us, but we're guessing a lot of the functionality of this device will be shot in non-3G regions.
[Thanks, Luis; Via, TmoNews]
Bleh.
I'll wait until everything comes out in the wash tomorrow before casting final judgment. Still, I kind of agree right now. Everything I've seen on this phone so far has left me underwhelmed. Compare the pics on TmoNews to some of the Touch Pro. Both the hardware and the Android UI look cheap and poorly designed compared to the Pro and TouchFlo 3D.
Right now my only real hope for this phone is that Android will be vastly superior to WinMo. Of course that doesn't help this phone more than anything else that'll run Android. And I'm not sure how much better an open source OS will be anyway. As we've seen from the Sprint version of the Touch Pro, WinMo isn't much of a handicap if you've got a solid rom, custom UI, and plenty of processing power. I
also think Google is overrated and a lot of the hype for this phone is due to that. Most of their products really haven't been that great. They're all solid, but what besides their search engine has really been an incredible success? Gmail is great, so is Maps, but neither really blows away the competition. So why does everyone think Android will revolutionize the way we use phones? Most of the touted advantages aren't actually unique to Android.
Also, no stereo bluetooth? Pathetic.
@redringofdeath
You've got to be kidding me. "Touchflo"? That's just a slick-looking graphics layer on top of same-old windows mobile. It doesn't actually improve the usability and intuitiveness of the interface or the applications. Even basic tasks on Windows Mobile like Emailing, Texting, Web Browsing, Media playing are a total joke compared to decent software like the iPhone or Android. Android will no doubt have some rough edges for the first few revisions, but I can guarantee that it will be much better than WinMo even out of the gate.
The real problem with this is that TMobile hardly even has a 3G network! Is it even up and running ANYWHERE in the country? and What cities will have 3G for the launch? For all the bitching, moaning, and even ridiculous lawsuits regarding AT&T's 3G coverage with the iPhone, I can only imagine what people will think with this!
"It doesn't actually improve the usability and intuitiveness of the interface or the applications."
...isn't that... exactly what it does?
I'm guessing you have never used Touchflo. The UI sits on top of the WinMo UI. It makes accessing all the functions finger friendly. If you don't like Touchflo there are plenty of other options out there. Right now I run mine with SPB Shell. Works like a dream. I can email, text, and perform any other common feature without ever having to use the WinMo interface.
As for web browsing I'll take Skyfire or Opera 9.5 over Safari any day.
@redringofdeath
Stereo Bluetooth wasn't added due to the developers, which made a reasonable decision. They couldn't write the code for A2DP in time, so they didn't release their half-finished code.
"The Android Bluetooth API was pretty far along, but needs some clean-up before we can commit to it for the SDK. Keep in mind that putting it in the 1.0 SDK would have locked us into that API for years to come."
Google Talk wasn't included because it needed to be fixed up for security concerns.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2328885,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121
bjsguess @
So basically its like you are using windows 3.11 on top of DOS? Makes plenty of sense. The software is bloated as it it, and you have compounded it to make is usable. Congrats!
With regards to having no video capture software or Bluetooth etc, HTC, T-mobile and Google have done this deliberately. The hardware is there but this is an open source OS it is simply awaiting some clever soul to create an app for free download on the android marketplace!!! I had some training on the device last night and my god i love it.
Hummm, the design? It looks like a cheap Chinese copy of the iPhone with something weirdly attached to the bottom, like a microphone for the iPod classic dock.
The main difference is on the operational system. I wonder what this cellphone is gonna have in 3 months being Android an open-source OS.
I just think that Google should try to impress a little more on their debut. It shows how powerful the company is though. 1,5 million sold in a pre-sale is quite impressive. If Google did the Woot's box of crap they would solve our economy problems ;)
Can I put here a link for my website about G1 Accessories?
honestly i wait so long for this phone and now that i got it, im returning it. why? u cant receive hotmail emails unless u pay the premium hotmail and u can get emails from microsoft exchange, what is really importand for me.. plus the battery life mmm bad, really bad for me, size and weight, better not talk about it, plus the google map street view doesnt work as is supposed to, the scanner, when u scan something it tells u something totally diferent, can keep talking about it all day. honestly im really dissapointed
i really think this phone should have been thought out more......compared to my t- wing this phone does nothing.....for example.....3mp camera is great....but u cant brighten,zoom,or anything like that....also when someone sends u a pic in a text message...u cant save the contect of pic.."what if i wanted to save that pic to a contact?...i cant.....its also impossible to jus acces all files on mem card....the phone doesnt have a video playback,nor does it have record.....i really dont think the developers took enough time to notice what the people relly wanted.....also there isnt any separate in-out...saved-sent...or deleted files for text messaging.....this phone was really disigned for just the web use only.....and on that note.....im really disappointed...i purchased phone with no knowledge that 3g wasnt in my area...and dont know when it will be.....also the keys on keyboard are little and slippery.....shouldve used rubber keys.....also the 4 front keys couldve been raised as well as rubber.......the phone is sleek... screen is nice....but over all not people friendly........also why is it that when u want to add pic to wallpaper u can only get a small landscape view which cuts the whole pic in question off....so u cant have the whole pic as wallpaper..that sucks.......i really hope all these things can be improved.......if u have any info. or any apps that will help me with these issues....please contact me at bossplayagsxr6@aol.com...thanx
i ve actually found that the G1 does do video play back.....u have to download "SUPER" to your pc....then encode all vids u wanna watch into mp4 then save to a location on your pc ...then save from there to your sd mem card....then they will play.....i like it...vids come out crisp and sound is great!
even closer...
http://announcement.t-mobileg1.com/g1_images/google_g1_phone_group.jpg
http://announcement.t-mobileg1.com/g1_images/google_g1_phone_maps.jpg
http://announcement.t-mobileg1.com/g1_images/google_g1_phone_desktop.jpg
stream url: cp50008.live.edgefcs.net
stream name: g1_primary@918
http://tpn.edgeboss.net/flash/tpn/g1press/tmobile_globe.flv
doesn't appear to be live yet on the akamai servers yet
I'm waiting in line tomorrow morning. Who's going to bring me food?
Is that a pointing stick below your screen or are you just happy to see me?
Nice URL hack!
How is img src a hack?
But it's looking kind of "meh" for me.
iPhone 3G, HTC Touch HD' or the G1 ?
It's good to be a consumer:)
Not yet it isn't .. considering two of those phones are not out yet.
haha..... awesome..... the girls at t-mob cant keep their pants on..... eh.... :)
Trackball? Ugly buttons? I'll still buy it.
Dude, if you're buying a hooker, at least keep your standards a little higher than that...
Android platform looked good but this is just terrible hardware. Its big, bulky and ugly in my opnion.
It looks like the G1 has an "outtie".
Nicer in black than white!
But gee agreed why couldnt they just wait untill tomorrow?
It looks like it has an Add-On attached, just like the Wii-mote Plus
Too bad its not coming to Canada anytime soon :(
with Android being open source, who cares if the G1 is coming to Canada or not. Just find another HTC phone and install it :P
Well yea you're right... still I'm gonna wait for the Touch Pro or Touch HD!
hmm..i'd buy it.
@ el taco
I don't think he was referring to the "Phone" itself, but rather the "Touch Screen". You see, while both the Instinct and Dare have very cool and solid features, the "touch screens" on them ...suck. Go it?
This photo and three others were found by the users at TmoNews.com.
Please give credit where it is due, or better yet link to their item.
i liked it in white.
You may have been the only one.
Was it lonely?
The white is better because you can snap on whatever cover color you want and it will look pretty like these ones:
http://coolors.com/cool-new-colorful-g1-cases/
better than white, but still eh. hope android phones start living up more to the software behind them.
How do you know the software doesn't suck? If Chrome is any indication, it really might be crap.
chrome kicks a$$ though!
@Tony
No, it really doesn't. I used it for about a week before I finally gave up. The final straw was waiting to speak to a Dell representative online, only to have Chrome fail at properly loading the simple chat window when it was my turn in "line." Screw Chrome. Everyone needs to stop pushing it like it's more than what it really is: a subpar first effort. And a pretty ugly one at that.
@Serial 8-Ball Mouse
I guess you have no idea what beta software is...
@ Serial 8-Ball Mouse
there is an android emulator freely available for anyone who wants to see how the software will work.
oh yeah and you can learn how to develop for the platform with it too :p
Shut the hell up because you've already negated all your legibility by being in an online chat room with a Dell representative.
@allislost
You mean beta software like IE8? That doesn't suck? Or even Firefox 3's beta back a while ago, that was also good? Chrome is worse than both. Much worse.
@uk
I think you may have lost your legibility with that comment, too, man. And get over yourself, you elitist jackass. Would you prefer I wrote them a letter and mailed it at the post office to cancel my order?
IE8 better than Chrome? Have you been smoking e-cigaretes? The bloody thing did not even render properly the very first web site I tried (my favourite online computer store)! IE8 may be promising but beta SUCKS. While Chrome mostly works.
How can you compare betas of the new versions of software that has been around for years to something that's still version 0.2 or something? IE8 is building on IE and Firefox 3 was the next step after Firefox 2.5. Chrome is brand new.
Shit I know dude, I totally couldn't make out the words he said once he said he was with online Dell support. Fricken disappearing n00b wurdz...
the only reason any one would defended that crap know as chrome
is becuz it built off from webkit apple crap safari sucks y would chrome be any better
the point being this guy right chrome had way to may issues being beta
and no Firefox nor did ie8 have as many issues when it was in beta make a note of that cuz that what this guys was saying he was comparing the beta version of firefox and ie8 to chrome
chrome felt like it more still in the alpha stage then beta
and to prove a point i am actually using Firefox new beta as my default browser r all u going to to ditch your current browser for chrome maybe 1 or 2 of r dumb enough but i doubt u all r
i don't even have Firefox 3 installed as a backup any more
Riley's is right.
@Serial 8-Ball Mouse
And who the hell uses a beta browser to purchase anything! It's beta! Get something secure you nincompoop
Y'know, uk's comment about negating one's own "legibility" seems a lot more prescient now that we have YOYO's comment as an example of what the hell that means.
serial 8 ball,
chrome is crap yeah ? you say ?
can you have a read of the "tech report" article:
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/15434
entitled "why chrome is already a great browser", can you please re-buff point by point with detailed explanations.
thanks.
@Riley
"Oh boo-hoo, it's Google's first try! Cut them some slack!"
I'm sorry, I thought this was a competetive field in which Google had to be as good as the others to stay relevant. I didn't know we gave points for effort. I can compare one beta product to another no matter how many previous versions have existed. Didn't Firefox put on a serious show with its first beta? No?
no way, haha worst secret ever... I'm still going to order this phone though.
It's funny that T-Mobile has been pushing 3G yet of late, and in the stock photo of their biggest 3G device to date it shows 5 bars in EDGE, not 3G.
T-Mobile's 3G network is just starting to be deployed in the US. unless HTC makes a 3G G1 for T-Mobile Europe.
It's been out in limited areas for a couple months. And the G1 is supposed to have AWS 3G from that big ol chunk of 1700mhz they bought a couple years ago.
This was found on Tmonews.com, link it back to their link or give them credit for the find!
Actually, we found the photo independently through a commenter in a separate post, who posted a direct link to the image. Engadget is not in the habit of incorrectly crediting sources, so you and your friends can stop spamming our comments with suggestions otherwise.
first of all don't talk to loyal engadget readers with the same tone you would with a 2 year old. I've been reading engadget for a while now, and i would support you guys that same way I am supporting tmonews.com right now. They found the pictures. They posted it first. It is important for a small time blog to get the credit it deserves.
And if you're wondering I don't know the owner of the blog or even have to many friends in the forums, but it is the BEST place to talk all things android and get android news first.
And honestly engadget, stop deleting comments, that's just horrible
Sorry Joshua, but that's simply untrue. Given that I *was* the person who found the image, and I found it by guessing a URL - it isn't linked from the CSS files like the other three images that were found - I should know. The post has now been removed in a failed attempt to stop blogs like this one not giving credit, however the timestamp at which I found the image can be seen here:
http://tmonews.com/forums/index.php?topic=2188.msg32672#msg32672
Your user may not have *told* you that the image came from TmoNews, but it unquestionably did. Sadly, the direct URL was posted on TmoNews' site briefly, which allowed the story to be stolen from them.
If Engadget took the time to look at when the tipoff was received by them and when the story was posted on TmoNews, that'd make it clear who the real source was.
(sorry if there are any dupes here, having problems submitting comments as I'm receiving no confirmation they were sent).
Um I am the user and I did not see the tmonews.com pictures before. We go it by the same process that doesn't mean that I got it from your site.
P.S Not trying to be cynical but I never even heard of that site until today, i'll probably check it out from now on.
@gweilo8888 -- Seriously, give me a break. We happily source other sites when we get news from them (see above). TmoNews found the image, so did we. No one owns this news, and we're not going to hand out links because your understanding of how this works is inaccurate.
I hope that the G1 can finally be the touch-screen phone to compete with the iPhone. No other phone has even come close yet (Samsung Instinct? Horrible. LG Dare? Even worse.)...
This is definitely not going to be the touchscreen phone to challenge the iPhone. I know there's a shitload of Android hype around the interwebs, but as a first version I don't think it will be all that polished. 2.0 will probably be a lot better. Plus, this has a keyboard, which implies that it's not optimized for touchscreen use (heck, I prefer the keyboard but to each his own). The touchscreen phones that really compete with the iPhone are the HTC Touch Diamond/HD and Samsung Omnia in my opinion. Of course, I think those phones are better than the iPhone because they aren't locked down and completely under Apple's control, but that's just me.
i doubt you've actually tried out the instinct or the dare. I have a dare and it's a very good phone. Has a great camera and can record slow motion video which I use all the time and can do tons of other stuff the iphone can't.
and don't forget the dare has that sweet 3,000 app store with nintendo DS like games! And that great touchscreen that doesn't respond half the time. Yeah, Dare FTW.
yo ethan just think most people jailbreak the iphone just so then can run dumb apps like Nintendo emulator on them hell they even got a nintendo game pad the iphone
tel me u got a point to your comment
I want this to be awesome so very much.
Please be awesome.
Please?
Prepare for awesomeness.
"skadoosh"
It's funny how you guys got that from TmoNews, and didn't give them credit. They posted it first. Don't be that hot for news, that you don't give the sources.
aww this phone is sexy but i would rather have the touch hd but its probably not coming to tmobile and its too expensive to buy off contract
What about a dual-boot Touch HD? Sweeeeet.
Yeah. According to wmpoweruser, the Touch HD is set to be around $956 off contract. Oof.
I can't wait until today's amazing technology gets cheap enough that I can...um...start coveting tomorrow's latest and priciest tech. *sigh*
:::Yawn::: TmoNews.com had them first. Old news.
c'mon c'mon.....be awe-some...c'mon
it's probably not going to be awesome
The phone... while not "sexy" - seriously, sexing up gadgets is a bad thing, voids the warranty - looks better than a few others at it's price-point. When will the other Android capable phones come out?
its ugly
Its FUGLY... there I fixed it for ya
Finally! I have been waiting a long time and with TMob spreading out 3G in my area, I am sure that I will like this phone.
I like it. But lets hope it looks better in person.
why does it have a clitoris?
Because it desperately tries to beat the iPhone, but failed... so the only way is to add the clit so that it appeals more to business professionals.... men.
I was going to make a joke about the G1 having a g spot, but I'd rather not contribute to the decline in quality of online discussion...
...oops.
Hello anticlimax, it's nice to see you again.
I was referring to the write up itself, not the device. The actual phone looks decent.
Just clarifying.
That's what she said.
Wow it looks awesome. i'd like to see shots of it open.
I want to buy it...I really do. But it's so damn ugly!
It has a nipple....not just any ol' nipple but those big fat pencil eraser type nipples. I would say it's sexy if it had two nipples.
Why did they put all those redundant buttons on the bottom? Just get rid of that part, move the icons to the bottom row of the touch screen, and keep the QWERTY slide out keypad...
Damn the phone is FUGLY! But I still want Android... ohh cruel world!
why does everybody think its ugly but we all want it well i think its cute not like a boob though and black is better.
Boobs are cute? Do they also feel like bags of sand?
I wished T-Mobile/HTC/Google did a better job than this in presenting the G1..
If it were to be apple, they'd make the phone/OS look so much better than this..
Wow, you guys shut up with the give credit crap. Or it could just be one person from tmobnews that keep posting the same stuff over and over.
actually it's not one person doing it over and over again, just people loyal to that forum. That is where a lot of the news comes from but they don't get credit like they should.
more here: http://tmonews.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/g1-official-pics.jpg
I like the black much better than the white.
Also as an iPhone owner I am absolutely psyched about Android and the T-Mobile G1. Putting heat on Apple can only be a good thing because as amazing as the iPhone is, it is woefully lacking in key and basic features. (cough, cough, cut & paste, cough, cough). Plus, quite honestly I am not religious about my smartphone. If an Android apps & hardware fit my needs and desires better—I'm there. An imperial Apple is in no one's interest (well other than His Steveness).
A joystick?