The G1 gets a near-complete unboxing, we get totally jealous
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted October 2nd 2008 6:03AM
posted October 2nd 2008 6:03AM
posted October 2nd 2008 6:03AM
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actuly, it atomaticily syncs with Google contacts which sync with your pc
The USB cable can be used to charge, but also you can add music via drag & drop, Amazon is a handy way to get new stuff, but it'd really stink if you couldn't add movies/music another way as well.
Here we go with the iPhone killer stuff again. The iPhone feature wise has been killed along time ago. I have an iPhone, and I don't understand what's so pretty about it? Its a screen with a button, wow.....amazing, never seen that before. I like this device because it isn't an iPhone. No longer will I be stuck scrambling for a charger at the end of the day, I can just pop in my spare battery. No longer do I have to take forever typing an email out like a 3rd grader who hasn't had a typing class, I got a slide out keyboard. No longer will I hafta use both hands to navigate a web page, I got a trackball. Most of all, no longer will I hafta jailbreak/hack void my warranty to get somewhat the full potential of a device I paid good money for, I got android.
"No longer do I have to take forever typing an email out like a 3rd grader who hasn't had a typing class"
Sounds like a user problem. Touchscreen typing may not be as fast as physical keys, but it's anything but a type-ignorant 3rd grader. I have no problem typing on my iPhone.
"I got a slide out keyboard. No longer will I hafta use both hands to navigate a web page, I got a trackball"
Again, I have no problems navigating web pages on my iPhone holding the phone in one hand and navigating with my thumb (WOW, JUST LIKE A TRACKBALL!).
Methinks there is one of three things going on here:
1) you have a motor skills problem
2) you are missing digits on your iPhone-holding hand
3) you don't really have an iPhone at all
Or perhaps all three?
Troll Different.
Very well stated.
hellz yea....
You can love it or hate it.
I want mine to show up so bad I could scream.
I'm starting to wonder if iphone users actually use their phone or just make-out with it? Since when did a cellphone become a sex object? Do guys use it to pick up girls? If so, does it work?
All this talk about it being "Fugly" is odd. The G1 looks simple and basic, something you'd expect out of a Google sponsored product. The key is the functionality. On paper, the Android OS and the hardware makes the G1 a very good phone! Time will tell on how Android functionality compares to competitors. But in the meantime, not sure why people bother to post on how "fugly" the phone is, its almost as if these users have a complex or something. Do these posters also drive sports cars?
I don't think the phone looks ugly esp when you see it in video or better shots. I think most of the reviewers, when they see it in person don't feel it is ugly, maybe a boring design (mostly because they purposely chose a matte design for the case rather than the standard glossy so it is less prone to fingerprints). It just looks bad in these crappy camera phone pictures (like it did in the previous leaked pictures).
And if people think about it, the looks of the phone only matters the first few days you own it. The novelty wears off very quickly after the first few days and then the functionality becomes more important for day to day use. This is especially true of very popular phones, where after a while everyone owns one so there is no wow factor anymore for people who want to show off (seems like a lot of people here are this kind of people). Remember the RAZR? It looked excellent when it launched but then after a while, everyone and their mother (literally) had one and no one cared anymore (didn't help the actual phone itself sucks beside from the looks). So I think stuff like build quality, usability of the keyboard, call quality, etc is more important for this phone.
the case is similar with the one in htc touch package.
So, I've been researching, and there seems to be some disinformation floating around. I've found answers to most of my questions, but I still have a few:
* Lots of stats say "expandable to 8GB" microSD, but the rep at T-mobile said the SanDisk 16GB card should work. Does this mean that when 32 and higher come out, that those will work as well?
* Can the G1 support an on screen keyboard or multi-touch if someone develops that functionality? Even if it doesn't make it to the sanctioned Android Market, isn't this a matter of programming rather than hardware (as well as stepping on Apple's copyrights)? One of the early videos suggested that it's NOT a hardware limitation.
* What is the behavior of the headphones while listening to music? Does it auto fade the music when calls come in, and ramp it back up when you hang up? These little touches on the iPhone seem elegant and useful.
* Do IMs count as "text messages" in determining total messages in the $25 400 message plan?
* Is it really true that the G1 can multi-task better than the iPhone? I've read that the G1 keeps programs "running" in the background even when they are off as long as current memory allows it, making it fast and easy to transition between apps.
* Seriously, is the lag time and choppiness any different than the iPhone, depending on the app? If the G1 is just slow and unresponsive, well that would suck--why even release it yet? What about the long presses and magnifying/zooming? Is it truly a "B team" solution?
* Will other music players be available fast? What about a hack for using iTunes?
And the big one:
HOW SOON WILL IT BE BEFORE A G2 (with all of our complaints taken into consideration) BECOMES AVAILABLE ON TMOBILE? I'd think they would want to push the G1 for at least a year? What is the usual turnaround on something like this?
I have an iPhone, and have had some hands on time with the G1. And trust me, I've been doing alot of comparing, until I officially own a G1 I'm not going to say it's better, at least yet anyways, but I will say its a very, very nice device contrary to peoples beliefs it performs as good as an iPhone. There are still some things I haven't had the opportunity to try like the music player yet, but I got a chance to test drive the G1.
-The microSD slot has been confirmed to be able to use sandisks new 16gb card. Check here for some info: http://tmonews.com/2008/10/g1-ramps-up-sandisk-storage-with-16gb-card-support/
-Multi touch is not present on G1, accelorometers are present, but not used like the way iPhones switches view from horizontal to landscape, there is an option to switch screen orientation and lock into position. The G1 has a built in compass, and streetview runs very well on the device, its a pretty handy feature to view your surroundings, cool tech. No software keyboard is present, but embrace and enjoy a real keyboard with keys slightly raised but flush against the chasis. Typing is fast and responsive, and there is already developers working on a software keyboard solution, but you will hafta wait. Build is solid, and the G1 is actually smaller than iPhone, and only a little bit thicker.
-I have not had the opportunity to try the music player yet, this is really the feature I can't wait to try the most, of course I can't play any music on the unit unless I pop in a preloaded microsd card, all my music is on my iPhone...I'm starting to see a huge advantage there. But TuneWiki and Podcaster are coming to Android (some great programs that apple rejected) that will truely make the music playing experience much better than iPhones built in player. Only way to get these on iPhone is to jailbreak, voiding that warranty. A2DP was in the original BT stack but was taken out due to a security exploit., this should be remedied with firmware updates. I actually say good for Google for not going ahead and releasing the exploited stack.
-IM are treated and charged as sms, so are MMS, and yes the G1 can MMS. No more swirly mms workaround on jailbroken iPhone. And video capture is not present yet, it's something that will surely turn up as an app. Again only something a jailbroken iPhone can have as well.
-Multitasking, ahh yes, another android shining point., there is a new program for iPhone that can leave apps running in background, but again, you must jailbreak, and its still buggy. On the G1, you can leave your IM on, surf, push email, at the same time, no simplistic one at time app running. And by the way, Android is extremely fluid. Same smoothness as the iPhone, no hiccups, and the browser doesn't crash (Safari...ya watchin), rendering was faster side by side with iPhone as well. You can actually click and link and download right onto the device. (Ahem! Safari?!) Save a picture while browsing...yes! I didn't try copy and paste on this go around, but I will get my hands on it again in the next couple of days. The browser interface was thought out well, and onehanded usage is great. One aggravating thing about iPhone is when browsing I often touch links accidentally and cause it to load another page, with a trackball on board the G1, that solves that problem, no need to even touch the screen.
Remember the best thing about the G1 is Android itself and the promise it brings with developers and end users.
I'm totally a gadget freak, and have tried them all, iPhone, Winmo 6.1, Blackberry, Nokia S60-S80, and for a first run device, Google really has come thru and the G1 is underrated. When it arrives in peoples hands, and the apps start flowing, people will truely change their tune. Some exciting times in technology.
Come on everybody, we're talking about $180.00. Get a different different phone for each day, enjoy them all, Kaiser, Blackberry,Samsung, Nokia. Enjoy life, let G1--- be admired for a minute.
@checkmate
Well said checkmate. I think the best is to come when everyone gets it. Programers are going to make all kinds of apps and you can get them for free. When i get this phone im going to move from my ipod to this music player. I can finally get away from all the walls apple puts up. The g1 will keep getting better and better because normal people can make apps and they are going to be free.
I cant wait to get the G1!
@Checkmate: Thanks, that runthrough really helps clear up some of my concerns. I have a lot of skepticism listening to people who haven't even held it yet. I can't wait until I get a hands-on to see it in action myself.
You guys are fools, this will be the first phone to support the Android (which none of you probably even heard of) It is made by Google and support by T-mobile. All you dumb a**es with an iPhone think your bad a** just wait till Oct 22nd and check it out for yourself. The G1 online sold out in 2 days that was 450,000.