September 2008 Archives

Lucky me, today I got a chance to test the new G1 on T-Mobile almost a month before it's release date. The G1, also called the Google Phone, runs Google new Android OS on new HTC hardware and it is the only other phone that has any real star power next to the iPhone.

First impressions:

Ok, let me start by saying the G1 is NOTHING like an iPhone. It does not feel as refined as the iPhone in construction or function. The iPhone is in a whole other league when it comes to fit, finish and polish of both the HW and the feel of the OS.

That said, the G1's OS "Android" is no slouch, and is the smart phone the Nokia N-Series should have been. But Nokia never got it right with the N-Series S60 OS and Nokia will have trash the S60. Android is the final nail in S60's coffin. Cause unlike the S60 or even worse, Windows Mobile, Android simply works and works well. And with it's solid Linux underpinnings it very well should.

But take a second and note my choices for comparison, I can't help compare Android to more traditional smart phone interfaces cause a direct comparison to the iPhone does not seem fitting. Yes, they are close in functionality, but they are miles apart in execution.

here is the run down of my brief time with the final release G1.

More app store drama... Looks like Apple is creating some developer frustration and flames with it's monopolistic control of the only sales channel for iPhone Apps.

The short of the story is an app (Podcaster) written by a third party developer (Almerica) allows users to download and listen to podcasts on the iPhone in real time was rejected by Apple for App Store listing on the basis that it was guilty of "alleged duplication of iTunes functionality", which is prohibited and part of the the Apple Developer rules.


So where's the drama?

Not sure these images are the final Gphone, but the source (reghardware.co.uk) is reliable. The G1 looks clean and the full keyboard will surely be a boon. However, the iPhone has such a huge lead over the G1, it will take some time before it poses a crediable threat. Can't wait to get my hands on one and kick the tires.

Here is the skinny:

"It's been rumoured that the phone has a 3.1-megapixel camera and a 4.6in display. Thanks to an earlier leak of less formal looking pictures, we already know the G1 has a slide out keyboard too. It's thought that the phone, which is manufactured by HTC, won't support stereo Bluetooth or have the capability to shoot video. Nonetheless, the official announcement will be made later this afternoon. So we'll bring you everything with T-Mobile's authentication signature on after that. "