Yep -- there it is. We finally,
finally got our mitts all over the very first Android device, the T-Mobile G1 -- hanging out in the crowd, waiting for the official announce, naturally -- and so far we like what we see. The phone is surprisingly thinner than we thought it would be, and it feels pretty solid in your hand (though they've opted for an almost all plastic device, no metal here). The keyboard seems usable and reasonably well thought-out, and the slider action is like butter, with a nice little swoop for good effect. But really, the pictures tell the whole story, so check out the gallery below!
Update: We're adding another gallery as we speak. Here's some initial observations: the browser is much choppier than the iPhone's, there seem to be two separate mail apps, one for Gmail and a separate IMAP app, and there seems to be no multitouch functionality. Check out the gallery below for a lot more views, and we'll be updating this as necessary!
posted Sep 23rd 2008 at 11:54AM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Rashaad @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:11AM
Can't wait.
Totalfixation @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:29AM
For some reason I'm not too excited about it event, probably because of the form factor of the current phone. I would probably be more interested if it has some sort off iPhone killer.
kjb434 @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:40AM
Why does it have to be an iphone killer to be considered good?
To me, if Android truly wants to get a large market share, it should ignore the iPhone crowd and go after Blackberry, WM, and S60 users.
These people actually use the power of the phones they carry for work versus just taking pretty pictures and listening to music.
Frankenstein Black @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:44AM
Yea, looking forward to it. Hopefully it will “shake things up”, kinda like Chrome. The only thing missing is some pizzazz on the finish. So how about Colorware?
http://www.colorwarepc.com/
Better yet, sign a deal with Google to keep the cost of this added color coolness looow...
Nal @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:47AM
You mean like all those other touch screens that are iPhone-esque? I can care less for those phones. I have an Instinct, and boy do I feel pretentious since it looks so much like an iPhone. I'm glad they're not using a silhouette that's similar to the iPhone. Forget the competition, forget the iPhone, this is theirs. Why are you people so interested in iPhone killers anyway? Just get an iPhone and stop harassing other phones.
Johan S @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:15PM
Why it will fail:
It doesn't do video (having to download some app doesn't count).
It costs almost the same as the iPhone.
Anyway, does it at least have cut & paste?
Anthony @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:26PM
kjb434 - "taking pretty pictures"? iPhone has a 2mp camera. Nothing pretty about that. My N82 has truly replaced my point-n-shoot. N95 before that. When Android's on a phone w/ camera centric specs I'll definitely look closely. Nokia's floundering lately.
phs @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:36PM
Unfortunately, having to sign up with Google to purchase/use the phone is a show-stopper for people or corporations concerned about the ownership of their data.
Until there is a way to sync with a user's own PC/company servers, this phone (despite its exciting Open Source promise) is only for those who don't mind Google owning their email, docs, spreadsheets, contact lists, photos, etc.
Once user data hits Google's servers, Google pretty much owns it.
Excerpt from Google's "Terms of Service":
"...
11. Content license from you
11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.
..."
RAD Moose @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:15PM
The G1 phone is ok for first gen. I am looking forward to G2, G2.1 or even G3.
Once I can get the phone running on my carrier (not AT&T nor T-Mobile) I will be interested.
@phs... it is done like that so they can store and display the information. Go look into most services, they have (or should have) a clause like that. Also check out the Google Blog for more info about that too. (It was an issue in the Chrome licensing.)
Cygnusx @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:11AM
Any chance you'll be able to get a rom dump? ;)
Rashaad @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:17AM
My Bad, Well this is my 1st "First"
Hunter @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:20PM
Its Open Source, why would u need a rom dump.
tim @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:13AM
aaaaaaaaaaaaah so exciting.
hitsthings @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:11AM
Eh. Guess not. Damn you, Rashaad!
D-Watkins @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:15AM
Faaaaaaaail
hitsthings @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:18AM
(holding out for "Lowest Ranked"--fingers crossed)
o29 @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:15PM
You'll be holding out for a long time. As far as I can tell, they only have Low Ranked now. I guess it's to avoid embarrassment or something, but honestly I miss it.
peterb @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:14AM
SPECS SPECS SPECS
Gonzo345 @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:19PM
* 528Mhz Qualcomm 7201 processor
* Data kit for USB connectivity in the box
* 64MB Internal RAM
* 128MB Internal ROM
* 1GB MicroSD card
* 5 Row QWERTY keypad
* Trackball
* Dedicated camera button
* 3.1MP camera (no flash) 2048 x 1536
* Video playback files - H.264, streaming, 3GPP, MPEG4, and Codec 3GP
* Dedicated YouTube Player
* Audio playback files - MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, MPEG4, WAV, MIDI, REAL AUDIO, OGG
* Wallpaper supports JPG, BMP, PNG, and GIF
* Speakerphone (mono, natch)
* Ringtones (MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA)
* HTTP, WAP Push, xHTML
* Bluetooth (class 1)
* Picture Caller ID
# Quad Band (850, 900, 1800, 1900)
# 3G
# 802.11b & 802.11g
# UMTS (1,4), HSDPA, SUPL
# 1150mAh battery
# Screen size is 3.17″ with HVGA (480 x 320)
# Handset 117 x 55 x 16mm
# 5.6 oz weight
# Sync capable with Google Calendar
# Downloadable content via Android Marketplace
# Google Streetview with built-in compass
# Dedicated YouTube Player
# AIM, MSN, YAHOO, and GTALK messaging
# 3.1MP camera (no flash) 2048 x 1536
Android soft at http://www.androidfreeware.org/
kidego @ Sep 24th 2008 10:52AM
Try these instead:
• Qualcomm MSM7210A running @ 528 MHz
• 256MB ROM / 192MB RAM
• Quad-band (850/900/1800/1900Mhz) GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• Dual-band (1700/2100Mhz) UMTS/HSDPA (3G)
o Full HSPA support - 7.2Mbps HSDPA (downstream) and 2Mbps HSUPA (upstream)
• WiFi 802.11 b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
• myFaves-enabled
• GPS capabilities
• Display: 3.2-inch touchscreen @ 320 x 480 (HVGA) resolution
• Voice recognition, voice dialing and speakerphone
• Intuitive user interface and hinged touch screen that slides open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard
• Full Cut-and-Paste functionality
• 3-megapixel camera with photo-sharing (geo-tagging) capabilities
T-Mobile G1 in Black
• Convenient trackball for one-handed navigation
• Full HTML Web browser (”Chrome Lite”) with zoom function that expands any page section by simply tapping on the screen
• One-click contextual search to instantly find relevant information with a touch of a finger in any application
• Rich HTML email client, which seamlessly syncs e-mail from most other POP3 or IMAP mail services, including Gmail; displays photos and graphics right along with the text
• At-Launch Applications:
o ShopSavvy: designed to help people do comparative shopping
o Ecorio: developed to help people keep track of their daily travels and view what their carbon footprint looks like
o BreadCrumbz: enables people to create a step-by-step visual map using photos; customers can create their own routes, share them with friends or with the world
o Amazon MP3 Store (pre-installed on device): enables people to search DRM-free, full-track MP3 music and download that music from Amazon directly to their device using a Wi-Fi connection
o Instant messaging application with support for AIM, GTalk, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo! Messenger
o YouTube video application
• Google Maps - provides map information, satellite imagery, local business info and driving directions as well as MyLocation to let users know where they are; Google Maps Street View syncs with the built-in compass on the phone – an industry first – to allow users to view locations and navigate 360 degrees by simply moving the phone with their hand
• Music player supports MP3, M4A (iTunes AAC, DRM-free), AMR, WMA, MIDI, WAV, OGG Vorbis
• microSD card slot supports up to 8GB microSD cards - 1 GB Micro SD memory included with T-Mobile G1
• Talk-time: Up to 350 minutes for WCDMA (3G) or up to 406 minutes for GSM; Up to 402 hours for WCDMA (3G) or up to 319 hours for GSM
• Dimensions: 4.60” x 2.16” x 0.62”
• Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Three color options in the U.S. - white, brown and black
Robotochan @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:14AM
Damn that looks nice!
Jash Sayani @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:27AM
Android has a great interface but the hardware chosen looks crappy !
kurt.tappe @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:25PM
@Robotochan: It looks nice? In what way? Looking at it, I'm getting flashbacks to the 90's. Those flush-mount dark grey buttons on a dark grey case at the bottom are like the very first Palms or even earlier pagers. Seriously--I'm getting nostalgic. Problem is, I don't want nostalgia when using the latest phone--I want whiz bang. The software may be cool (yet to make a decision on that) but the hardware/case design is downright retro in my eyes. Is that what they were going for?
whowhatme @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:14AM
bootiful
jack @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:14AM
SO.......
is it (the interface/software) awesome or not??
Pikl @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:14AM
It looks very Google. Few extraneous design enhancements... just a plastic box, a few buttons, a nice 5-row keyboard, slide out functionality...
...very nice. I love Google's spartan designs in software, it seems so appropriate that HTC would make this the Android phone. Positively brilliant, though... the lack of any sort of a D-Pad may kill gaming hopes.
DssTrainer @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:15AM
Somebody missed the point.
chansthename @ Sep 24th 2008 6:03PM
well they managed to put in this thing called a keyboard. maybe you can game on it. /sarcasm
theCardinal @ Sep 26th 2008 7:53AM
Are you joking me? Spartan? A touchscreen, and face buttons, and a trackball and a slide out keyboard? The fact that their design is so muddled and has so many excessive methods of interaction is one thing that really puts me off this phone.
RIMM Jobs @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:15AM
No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.
Thi mam(kris120890) @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:31AM
It's Wi-fi and 3g and gprs. How many different types of wireless do you want.
whowhatme @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:25AM
there is wifi.. unless you mean no tethering?
waterwagen @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:57AM
It's a 3G phone and it supports wifi? Are you looking for wimax? Huh?
Longshot099 @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:39PM
Heh. Woooooosh! Right over at least a couple people's head. It's an old slashdot reference.
http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23/1816257&tid=107
iofthestorm @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:33PM
Not sure how this is relevant, but for the uninitiated: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23/1816257&tid=107
Muhammed @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:14AM
Sexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxy !!! it makes me hot !!!
DssTrainer @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:15AM
Screw the phone.. tell us about android!
Frankenstein Black @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:36AM
Best ringtone for this phone?
“Planet Rock” by Africa Bambaataa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrika_Bambaataa
Todd @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:15AM
Whoa, the back is branded "Google". I didn't expect that. Would be interested in knowing if that's just for this launch or a legal requirement for all carriers issuing Android powered phones.
Scythe @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:31AM
It's branded "with Google" -- a tad different.
Scott @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:30AM
I was thinking the same thing, except they should put the T-Mobile logo on the back and Google on the front.
JJV @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:06PM
Except now its combination:
HTmogole......
giedrys @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:15AM
Just look at those 2 happy geeks in the first picture!!!
Khattab @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:16AM
Damn, that thing looks ugly. Straight outta the 90's. Not for me, open source or not.
Tony Bowman @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:32AM
amen to that. it looks like something that was on the design bench when the original StarTAC was being worked on. i'm sure it has it's perks, but still it's hideous.
frattyboy @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:52PM
plus it lacks the hype factor... kind of an important thing in this type of products... samsung instinct seems much more appealing
iEye @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:17AM
I fail to see the usefullness of the dedicated 5 buttons onthe bottom, other than to add more clutter and take away from the minimalism look ...
What is wrong with using the touch screen?
Ah the blaggards...
Shyam D @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:23AM
Because people like feedback when they apply input. We're not all unreasonable apple fanboys like you.
In reality there is nothing wrong with using a touch screen. The same goes for a few specific buttons. Some people like one, and some the other. It's called personal preference.
iEye @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:48AM
Listen, no one is badmouthing the phone, just the design.. look at the uther comment.. it is a unanimous decision that this thing is fugly...
This is the same reason why americal cars come with so many gadgets... to distract the user from the fact that the car is crap... ooh look 5 buttons on the front thats 4 more than the iPhone... my car has a mini fridge in the glove compartment (dodge crap) but its 2 days old and the dash is rattleing...
stick to the point.. this should be about Android... not adding crap to a phone that will turn off people from the platform... I'm sorry but if you line up both iBrick and this... most customers will be walking out with the iPhone...
chickenator @ Sep 24th 2008 4:56AM
@ Shyam D,
talking bout personal preference while saying "We're not all unreasonable apple fanboys like you". that's weird.