T-Mobile G1 first hands-on (updated)
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted September 23rd 2008 11:54AM
posted September 23rd 2008 11:54AM
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!
I think the major downside is..
1. there is no headphone jack...
2. no windows exchange
3. its not unlocked
For the idiots saying fugly this fugly that...go f your selves and buy a damn Iphone then. No one is forcing you to buy this awesome device. And also, stop mooching off of momma you spoiled little brats.
this needs to have everything there can possibly be on a phone, and to run flawlessly without zero bugs. it also needs to be free, on a free data plan.
It's a shame the phone is so damn ugly. Everything else about it is tempting to buy, but meh... the design looks like a shoddy GPS unit.
Is it just me or is the delete key icon the exact same one Apple uses...? Maybe Google has a bit of the Steve Jobs fever too?
Look at picture number 4 on the second set of pics, the one featuring the white G1.
I think it's funny that people keep talking about wanting the "iPhone killer". Folks, there is NO iPhone killer. It is so humorous to me that some people are just dying for Apple to be "beaten" or making a mistake, when Apple is a LOT of the reason that we have such cool stuff to purchase and own. I mean, I would think people would be loving Apple and wanting nothing more than their continued success.
Lets be honest, do you think if there weren't an iPhone that there would be so many new phones coming out that are taking quantum leaps ahead? No way! Apple FORCES the market to get off their duffs and innovate.
I bought two MP3 players before the iPod came out, the Archos Jukebox 6000 and some flash piece of junk. When the iPod came out, it changed *everything*, and for the better. Same with the iMac, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, Final Cut, GarageBand, and the iPhone, not to mention OS X and the myriad of other innovations that Apple has wrought.
There never is going to be some iPhone "killer", just like there is never going to be some iPod killer. Why? Because unlike the rest of the companies that seem content to simply copy something great (with varying, mostly bad, degrees of success) Apple is not trying to "keep up" with anyone. They are *driven* to innovate. To make things that are truly great, different and wonderful.
I desperately hope that Apple continues to make "killer" apps and devices, because I remember what things were like in the years when Sculley and others drove Apple into the ground and we lived in a beige world with lousy and boring electronics being pumped out like moldy waffles. Apple forced the computing world to STOP using floppy disks, when it was just damn ridiculous with 15 or more disks included with games and so forth. They forced the computing world to adopt USB which was there to be used, but PC users wouldn't include it in their systems. The same goes with Firewire (IE 1394), DVD drives and so on. When Apple adopts a standard, peripheral makers can commit to making devices for it and know they won't lose their butts. What other computer maker can cause that? Dell? Sony? No.
I thank God for Apple, and I scoff at idiots that sit on the sidelines secretly (or overtly) wishing for their demise or someone to create some device that is an Apple product "killer". They should be thanking Apple instead of being so petty in their wishes of their demise. It amazes me that there are so many people who would be more than happy to return to a beige world and shoddy and poorly designed electronics and computers. Apple makes up such a small percentage of computer users (what is it, less than 12%?) I'm not looking for Apple to take over the world, I just want them IN the world. Because I thoroughly enjoy how they innovate and force others to innovate and I think that spells a great deal of goodness for those of us who use electronic devices. I don't see how you can be an Engadget maven and not be an evangelist for a company like Apple.
I am a tmobile customer, I'm happy that there is finally a new phone coming to tmobile &definitely would try this phone out but i'm still disappointed in the specs of where phones should be at, at this point in technology. No wonder the US falls short, it's all about marketing, just another buyer/consumer rant. Be a proud American of consumerism.... no wonder Japan &other countries far exceed their technology and phones as we lack them... while we just make new phones which have poor specs and usually don't change much when a newer version comes out. It disappoints me how much better this phone can be, the interface is nothing compared to the iPhone i'll give you that, thought it could be much better, even the HTC touch pro & HTC diamond that was picked up by sprint has a much nicer interface. This phone still has a keyboard, no touch keyboard. There's still no video! Surprisingly theres NO windows mobile on here, might be a problem &can fall short because of that. The design is decent but the little curve at the end makes it pointless? HTC &google just trying to switch things up? Lets not copy the iPhone and curve it on the end? Disappointing, it might as well just be solid flat. It's a bummer that phones can't even have the great basic components. Such as good picture quality, atleast by now video, flash, a sleeker design, advanced graphics with a newer GUI, copy, paste, select, forward, voice-dialing, etc. This phones mainly just for the "new" tmobile 3G network and just helps Google expand, considering you need a "google" account and the phones main deal is pretty much using the internet on the new network. All the things you can do with the faster 3G internet. PUT BETTER SPECS!
Geez man, what the hell have you been smoking? Seriously.
After reading almost every single comment - and every article I could find:
#1 - all "that power" and no real web browser. I don't consider "Chrome Lite" (as dubbed by Google during launch event) a real browser. I found Chrome (full version) fairly limited. Will there be a real browser implementation of FireFox? NOW you're talking. What about all the other add-ons for a browser. I'd hope FireFox + lots of add-ons will be soon there.
#2 - No tethering? That was the key reason behind going to T-Mobile to get the DASH. $20/month add-on for unlimited phone internet, WiFi hotspots access *and* tethering when no hotspots were around for my laptop. I couldn't live without it.
#3 - Disappointed with screen size / resolution.
#4 - NO STEREO BLUETOOTH? (Did I hear that right??(in mono)) Lessee... All those formats for music and no wireless way to listen to them? Heck - the DASH even got that right the first time around back when it was released.
Am I looking for a replacement to the DASH? OF COURSE! Love the DASH (no - not because its MS Windows), but because its a good solid machine. I want a big screen and multi-touch (that doesn't screw with Apple's patent on it)
Just my 2 cents
...still too thick and long physical and too small on screen.
The device should come with less than 1.5 mm thickness screen body and the keyboard battery part with no more than 2.5 mm. Since there is a keyboard, the device main area button should be smaller and with not too much space that made look like a dumb designed. I puzzle why there're no better designer outside Apple?
I like it. It looks like a thinkpad' if a thinkpad was made of plastic and was a phone.
One of the ugliest phone ever seen, especially the black version.
It seems like an I/R remote.
it's so funny reading these forms. you can't satisfy every one and ppl are always going to complain about something...i put it this way half the phones in the states suck any ways lol. i lived in japan for 3 yrs and the states still don't have half the phones they have there yet. it's a shame how you can't even get a signal half the time with any of these carriers unless you live in some big city. i'm still waiting for the states to catch up with video phones. because it's cool to call your friend up and be able to look at them while you talk to them lol. plus it takes phones sex to a whole new level lol..
I was hoping it would look really google-y and have metal. I wanted like something blue with google branding. It just looks like another not particularly special smart-phone. I'm not sure if this can beat iPhone for me (although I do hate apples hard-to-hack-ness. I wonder what this will be like in terms of games. If it can't beat iphone as a way to not be bored on the train, I may not buy it. hmmmm.... Canada?
is there going to be the white model in all t-mobile stores?? or they jus gonna have the black one~~i not realli a big fan of the black one..it doesn't look so great and it doesn't have camcorder in the phone, at least have the color i like!! 9.9
After the fiasco with the drivers for the HTC Touch Cruise, where I was completely robbed, HTC will NEVER again receive a penny from me!!!!
Sean D, YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!! However I'm sad that they are not pursuing the inclusion of Blu-Ray on their new MacBooks...
But actually, Archos has been in functionality allways ahead with their media palyers, which, unlike apple's are also recorders. However Archos (as well as all others) has allways been behind in simplicity and fun to use.
For instance, I have had PocketPCs since they were Compaq iPaq 6330 (almost 7 years now) and never have I used/enjoyed any PDA ike I enjoy iPhone. In some cases it does less than my previous PDA Phone (HTC Touch Cruise), but in usability its LIGHT YEARS AHEAD, not to mention FAST.
I like very much....it '90s style, it's spartan, it's google style... Blackberry storm and Nokia 5800 has a silly design.... G1 has personality...
Anyway I think G1 is still a "prototype"... I'll wait for G2 o G3 or Motorola Android.... or Samsung Android (but not LG android)... A new world is arrived...
That phone looks like shit. It looks like iPhone beta 0.00002. I'll buy it when they remove the ugly bottom buttons and the keyboard is touchscreen only.
Wow, those of you who are complaining about the looks of this phone don't realize why this phone was developed. They weren't thinking of the way it would look as much as they were thinking about the way it operates. The phone should be used by people who need want the phone for the things it does and how well it is done.
I think that some of the applications are nice. The GPS is cool, but the hardware is not impressive. Also you have to download everything to the phone. Tons of apps. That's a little too much. On the plus side, if your in a bad neighborhood the phone will let you know. Lets you know where petefiles lives. A lot of good things about the phone, but I still think the IPhone outbeats it. I just don't like the way it looks. Call me crazy. Make it look sexxier, and maybe I'd fall in love!!!!! Until then I'll stick with the IPhone.......
you people are all numb nutted metro-culos just slap a bloody case on it, oh no now how will I know what color it is>??? the four buttons on the bottom are bulky yes, but so what the iphone is a joke. Yes i have used it and the pure touch screen is just ridiculous, nothing ever comes out the way it is intended. I am personally very excited to see all the apps that this phone can handle.