After a week of playing with Google and HTC’s new Android phone, I can say that there’s a huge promise with the platform. See unboxing photos here and specs here.
Let’s break it down to two main components and focus there — hardware and operating system.
Hardware Construction and Design. Off the bat, the G1 phone is hideous — period. We’ve seen a lot of phones coming out of HTC but the HTC Dream is a really odd one. I think this model was conceptualized way back in 2003. And despite the plastic body, it still feels heavy and bulky to the hands.
A number of people asked me why the phone is angled at the bottom end. I realized the slight protrusion was done to give a better grip when handled horizontally and positioned to take pictures.
The well-spaced qwerty keyboard benefited from the wide body of the G1. Since the keypads are hidden from the slider, the individual keys are buried into the pad you don’t get much feedback when typing on them. The keyboard is also oriented heavily on the left side that your right thumb will have a hard time reaching the middle keys.
In the front panel, there are 5 buttons and a trackball that serves as main navigation and shortcuts for phone use. The trackball at they middle is very easy to use especially when running thru long lists like your Contacts or Playlist and crawling thru objects and links when browsing. It also serves as an Ok button.
At first glance, the lever that supports the slider looks like it’s made of plastic and could be a problem when it breaks off. However, the spring mechanism is constructed in metal so it may last prolonged usage. The phone makes some squeaking noise when applied with pressure or when flipped — sounds like walking over a bamboo floor.
The UI and Operating System. This is the first time I’ve used a new OS on a mobile phone. We’re already pretty familiar with the Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, Palm OS and iPhone OS. The Google Android platform performs better for a first generation OS. It’s fast, it’s responsive and integrates really well with Google Apps.
The main interfaces works like a desktop with icons scattered across 3 panes. It’s like an extended desktop you can flick across (similar to the iPhone but only limited to 3). There’s also a sidebar that extends across the screen which contains shortcuts to a lot functions or installed apps. What’s really nice is that alerts are non-intrusive — there’s a small one-liner ticker that slides at the top of the screen to indicate SMS and other notifications (along with a vibrate and buzzing sound).
The iPhone OS of Apple works seemlessly with the iPhone because the plaform was tailor-made for it. Likewise, Android was also tailor-made for the G1 and thus, you get an optimized UI and performance. The menus are intuitive and responds very well. There are some minor quirks here and there but overall, the OS performs in top shape.
Imagine having this platform on your favorite phone? The T-Mobile G1 is just a test model. Once we see more and more models go out with Android in it, the clearer it becomes to us that the platform is truly a solid contender against the iPhone OS.
@tocampo…thanks for the info i will try that…
@anyone…
i can’t download applications from the market…i have to sign-in in Google first…my mother-in-law gave this to me and the account that appears here is hers…is there anyway that i can change the accnt on Google…and to have my own accnt…pls someone reply…thanks and God bless
@maze:
Factory data reset your phone so you could use your own google account once it asked you to enter your account info. Remember you have to have an account with google/gmail to have your phone running (create on from PC). Go to PRIVACY > FACTORY DATA RESET. This will however remove all your apps, etc. I think there is a setting there too to back up your data and settings to your SD card.
@maze:
BTW, not sure if paid apps is now available in the Philippines. So far, I know the free ones are available.
Also, please make sure to create your google/gmail first before factory resetting your g1 (or any android phone).
@tocampo…thanks for the info…yes i have Google accnt…i’ll try it…but is there any other way that i can do that i don’t have to reset the data…thanks again…God bless
@maze: Forgot, before you factory reset your G1..make sure to read this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=452316
try using your google account.
When you first boot the phone, it will ask for your gmail/google acct to activate, market will normally identify that same acct.
Here is a link which may help you:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=2332
If you plan to factory reset your phone, read this thread too:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=452316
@tocampo…still i can’t access my bluetooth…it says paired but not connected, i’d try to connect but once the other mobile try to search for it or tries to share photo the other mobile says device there’e no device or failed to send…what shall i do…i need to use my bluetooth…pls help…anyone…
Try unpairing:
1) From the main screen, press the Menu button and choose Settings.
2) Select Wireless & networks, then Bluetooth settings.
3) Scroll down to the device you want to delete. Press and hold until a popup menu comes up.
Choose Unpair. This will make the status change from “Paired but not connected” to “Pair with this device.”
4) Reboot the G1.
5) When it comes back up, the bluetooth device will be gone from the list.
6) Rescan and connect
just got my g1 yesterday. tried all the steps these people said but only vince’s post helped me get my g1 to work. thanks, man.
may prob din ako sa phone ko. binigay sakin ng mom ko as a present on my 18th birthday yesterday. nilagyan ko ng unlock pattern. unfortunately, my friend made a multiple attempts. kaya kinailangan kong i-master reset. naging okay naman. pero nung nasa set up na ko, hiningi yung gmail account ko. nilagay ko naman. pero hindi daw provisioned yung simcard ko for data services. Anong gagawin ko? Pa-help naman po.
[...] G2. Released early this month in the US, under T-Mobile the G2 is the successor to the first Google G1 Android Phone back in [...]
panget amp anu bayan e 2 ba web nen 2 wla 2
@kamirucorella,
sorry but read ur concern so so late….ur unit need to be reflashed…..if interested u can leave msg here or send e email, br
@ darie cruz,
I have the same problem with kamirucorella. Sinubukan kong i reset dahil maraming app ayaw gumana. Nung mai reset ko di ako makapag set up. 2 sim card na ginamit ko smart at globe parehong ayaw
hi!
Sir same din ung nangyari sa G1 ko,ask ko lng what happen na sa problem nyo.na ayos na po ba?
need ko lang po ng help.
eto po email add ko joseph_142001@yahoo.com
thank you
pa help naman po
hi, please help. don’t know what to do on my g1. i had it factory reset and now i’m stuck on welcome to t-mobile g1. touch the android to begin.
@armiel,
sorry am so so so so bad coz of this late reply….anyway, if still needing my help u can add me on your YM here: dariedc03@yahoo.com
let’s discuss possibility & other details in threshing out problem concerning data services….tnx
I brought my G1 from the US to Cebu unlocked. I have a Sun sim loaded in it and every so often I get txt messages from 7210 saying “You do not have enough load to complete this transaction. Please reload immediately,” I usually get 2 or 3 at a time.
I also have Globe and Smart sims, and what I’ve noticed is that it’s normal on Globe and I don’t get any messages, but with Smart it eats the “free txt to any network” that you get when you load it, and with Sun it’s also eating the free txt, and when it gets done eating them it starts sending the messages. Also, if I leave my phone alone and don’t touch it for an hour I won’t get any messages, but as soon as I hit my menu button to wake it up it starts up with the messages.
Is there any way to stop this? or is my phone actively looking for a signal and using txt messages as a way to see if there’s an update available for download?
Seems like most g1 initially eats up load even if apps that can eat load are disabled. Resetting to factory default very fixes this .
help naman po yung g1 unit ko ayos siya pag globe nakakatawag ako at di nawawala load ko. Pero when i started using smart sim lage nauubos load ko kahit naka register ako sa unli, tapos pag magdidial naman ako your call cannot be connected please please check your phone setting. Smart naman ang network operator na pinili ko dun sa settings help naman po oh PLEASE!!!!
jeffreyaverion@yahoo.com.ph
TULONG PO PLEASE!
Before smart sim din gamit co but because it eats much of my load ngchange aco ng globe sim.,khit nkauncheck ung background data mo after awhile ubos n lod mo,stick to ur globe sim
i need help. i can’t use my G1 phone. If you happen to read my message please tst me as soon as possble so I can explain it. here is my number.. 09155275308
Twitter: yes
says:
you goint to bjutifol in my tv i e ni but i not jor mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m having the same problem as Rochelle…I can’t get past the activation screen. To those using the G1 with Globe, what are the APN settings?
i did factory reset on my phone and now I cant get past the setup screen. i have a google account pero di ko siya maaccess.. paano yun??