HTC G1 - ended up getting one.

SteveOBHave · 10 Nov 2008 at 10:14

I think he's likely just a bit put off by the HTC Dream hardware - it does reverse the trend a bit for touch screen phones in that it's a bit bigger but I've been carrying mine around now in it's wallet for the last 4-5 days and really don't notice it.

meghatronic · 10 Nov 2008 at 13:18

jamief said:
If you're going to post that, please at least post something to back it up so those of us who haven't yet used the phone can understand your reasoning.

Hi, sorry, I was in a bit of a huff as I really wanted this phone.

It just doesn't feel like a phone to me, it feels like a toy. I've used HTC products for years and this doesn't feel like one of theirs. The software has great potential, so I won't talk about that. It just looks tacky, the screen opening method feels really fragile, clumsy even.

I would consider getting one if they weren't so expensive, though. It strikes me as a phone that should be £100 on payg... not £40pcm ish on contract.

I mean, comparing an Xperia to the G1 is like comparing a Lotus to a push-bike.

All IMHO. I might pop out in lunch and have another play to see if I was just put off by unfulfilled expectations.

jamief · 10 Nov 2008 at 13:23

Thanks, that's much more useful. I certainly wouldn't pay £40pcm for one. More tempted to go for the Touch HD and hope that Android is ported, or that the G2 is a much nicer bit of kit.

Tobes · 10 Nov 2008 at 13:45

I have only played with a dummy phone but I didn't realise how small it was. I was expecting something much bigger.

The hinge is snappy. It's not a smooth way of opening it but it doesn't feel like it's going to break.

I want this phone so much but I just can't justify £40 a month for a phone I would just use as a OS rather than calls.

meghatronic · 10 Nov 2008 at 14:59

jamief said:
Touch HD and hope that Android is ported

That would be awesome I think.

JBod · 10 Nov 2008 at 15:10

Hey to anyone that has the G1... write a new text message to anyone (doesnt matter) and just type in one word "reboot" and hit return.

jamief · 10 Nov 2008 at 15:12

JBod said:
Hey to anyone that has the G1... write a new text message to anyone (doesnt matter) and just type in one word "reboot" and hit return.

It is a bit of a shocker, but in essence it highlights the power of the platform. Imagine getting root access on an iPhone

Its also been fixed in the latest OTA update.

SteveOBHave · 10 Nov 2008 at 15:15

JBod said:
Hey to anyone that has the G1... write a new text message to anyone (doesnt matter) and just type in one word "reboot" and hit return.

OOOHHHH AHHHHHH... really is that the most constructive thing you have to add? This will be patched very soon by the first update from Google.

Lets try not to spread rubbish exploits for peoples newly purchased hardware.

EDIT: Beaten to it.

fowler002 · 10 Nov 2008 at 15:17

e2save are doing it on Combi 25 + Web 'n' Walk(£30/month + £125 for the phone), Combi 30 + Web 'n' Walk(£35/month + £40 for the phone), Combi 35 + Web 'n' Walk(£40/month + free phone) & Combi 40 + Web 'n' Walk(£45/month + free phone), all of those have the 3gb FUP on the Web 'n' Walk & all are on the 18month contract(£36.50 off with Quidco).

I'd be tempted by the £30/month(300mins, 300 texts) one if not for the £125 for the phone.

JBod · 10 Nov 2008 at 15:35

SteveOBHave said:
OOOHHHH AHHHHHH... really is that the most constructive thing you have to add? This will be patched very soon by the first update from Google.

Lets try not to spread rubbish exploits for peoples newly purchased hardware.

EDIT: Beaten to it.

Hey chill dood - it doesn't do any harm. I love the Android OS, I would have bought one recently if that HTC G1 handset had support running as a Bluetooth modem.

fowler002 · 10 Nov 2008 at 15:37

JBod its only a matter of time before someone releases the app that allows you to do just that(if they haven't already).

SteveOBHave · 10 Nov 2008 at 15:48

JBod said:
Hey chill dood - it doesn't do any harm. I love the Android OS, I would have bought one recently if that HTC G1 handset had support running as a Bluetooth modem.

Fair enough - but I can imagine some poor guy typing in reboot and having his phone blank out on them and giving them a minor heart attack. It's not ideal especially as you can void your warranty by messing around with root commands. It is harmless until someone goes - type in rm something or mkfs something and see their Android phone wiped to a brick.

Spyhop · 10 Nov 2008 at 16:28

It is quite incredible though. Microsoft would be absolutely crucified if they did that

Tunney · 10 Nov 2008 at 16:45

It's got to rank as the worst (and funniest) security bug in a smartphone ever. How did they not stop it before shipping?

SteveOBHave · 10 Nov 2008 at 16:57

if you press "return" then type C A T and hit "return" again it will stop the phantom shell from listening to commands until you reboot your phone again - not an idea fix. The problem will be sorted soon.

JBod · 10 Nov 2008 at 19:48

fowler002 said:
JBod its only a matter of time before someone releases the app that allows you to do just that(if they haven't already).

Have you checked the Android apps available? Right now they are aweful (highlights being a application that helps you split a restaurant bill... think that is called a calculator?

).

I have no doubt it is a matter of time before someone writes something like JoikuSpot for the Android OS or makes it work as a bluetooth modem. It is just not ready yet.

I fully anticipate my next upgrade (in 18months) to be to a Android phone, unless Nokia really pull something out of their ringpieces.

SteveOBHave · 10 Nov 2008 at 22:34

JBod said:
Have you checked the Android apps available? Right now they are aweful (highlights being a application that helps you split a restaurant bill... think that is called a calculator? ).

I have no doubt it is a matter of time before someone writes something like JoikuSpot for the Android OS or makes it work as a bluetooth modem. It is just not ready yet.

I fully anticipate my next upgrade (in 18months) to be to a Android phone, unless Nokia really pull something out of their ringpieces.

That's fairly uncharatable - I have installed from the Apps Market a GPS tracker that I can remotely activate to find out where my phone is, an Instant Messenger that can talk to pretty much any messenger out there, an app that lets me edit audio tracks (MP3s, WAVs etc) into any length for my ringtones, a full on weather app and a rather nice app that sits on my 'desktop' that lets me switch GPS Wifi and 3G on and off. That's not even mentioning the games that are already available.

Sorry dude but the Android apps store blows away the Apple one and it's all free!

Xionic · 11 Nov 2008 at 01:13

I work for t-mobile so got a sneak preview of the phone before it was released and have been following it closely, I recently invested in one, tbh I like the phone, I've owned most of HTC's phones (Compact 1,2,3, Vario 1,2,3, Touch, Touch Plus, Mail) I think it could've turned out allot worse, lets be honest its HTC/Google's first outing of the Andriod platform it was never gunna be perfect, my phone before the G1 was the iPhone3G and I'm not disappointed in the slightest by my choice to move to the G1.

my only gripe with it atm is its poor battery life. only getting 24-48 hours with minimal usage.

jamief · 11 Nov 2008 at 07:25

Xionic said:
I work for t-mobile so got a sneak preview of the phone before it was released and have been following it closely, I recently invested in one, tbh I like the phone, I've owned most of HTC's phones (Compact 1,2,3, Vario 1,2,3, Touch, Touch Plus, Mail) I think it could've turned out allot worse, lets be honest its HTC/Google's first outing of the Andriod platform it was never gunna be perfect, my phone before the G1 was the iPhone3G and I'm not disappointed in the slightest by my choice to move to the G1.

my only gripe with it atm is its poor battery life. only getting 24-48 hours with minimal usage.

My only gripe with it is £40pcm! I wish t-mobile would realise that uptake it going to be slow unless they sort pricing out.

SteveOBHave · 11 Nov 2008 at 08:13

jamief said:
My only gripe with it is £40pcm! I wish t-mobile would realise that uptake it going to be slow unless they sort pricing out.

To be honest I think they have their marketing a little confused - they are charging £40 for a smart phone and they give the phone to you in a very iPod-esq box that looks very professional but then package it with cutesy decals with birdies and flowers and pretty patterns.

So who are they trying to sell this to? Serious smart phone users or teenage girls who like to pretty up their phone?

I'm sure there are some points that we are not aware of e.g. the length of time that Google has allowed T-Mobile exclusivity with Android (which I suspect won't be long) and the subsidy that they can afford on the hardware and the initial development and marketing for the phone that needs to be covered but I am inclined to agree - £40 /month is steep and they should've been heading for the £35 /month tarrif.