T-mobile G1 – The first of the Google Android Phones. A Review

saffyre said:
Any verdict on the GPS? Is it as bad as a previous poster describes?
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It takes anywhere between 10 seconds and 2 mins to connect but when it does it's accurate to within 5-10m and it indicates any error margin by expanding a circle around your indicator dot. I find it to be really good as long as you have decent sky clearance. I've used it on the bus and had brilliant accuracy.
 
I cant understand why ANYONE is buying this first-gen G1... the hardware is rubbish, the design odd, and the OS, thile it has potential, won't be fully supported with any decent new apps for a good few months yet. It's a deifnite miss imo.
 
Richdog said:
I cant understand why ANYONE is buying this first-gen G1... the hardware is rubbish, the design odd, and the OS, thile it has potential, won't be fully supported with any decent new apps for a good few months yet. It's a deifnite miss imo.
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And your judging this statement from what experience? Or is it just a sweeping statement? Do you have any justification for this statement?

I love my G1, the hardware is not as svelte as the iphone but it's hardly bigger than the majority of smart phones out there. The software and the applications available already are brilliant and stomp all over most available through Apple.
 
Richdog said:
I cant understand why ANYONE is buying this first-gen G1... the hardware is rubbish, the design odd, and the OS, thile it has potential, won't be fully supported with any decent new apps for a good few months yet. It's a deifnite miss imo.
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Previously I was almost 100% I wanted a G1 but you've managed to bring up the main fears I had with the device. Do you have any source to back up stuff like better apps being out later, or is this just an assumption? Also, what phone (In a similar vain to the G1) would you recommend? Very interested in hearing this one as I'm looking to get a contract sorted ASAP :)



Also, can anybody recommend the best cases/armour/etc for the G1? I've been looking and the "crystal cases" look functional but very tacky and they don't cover the whole phone. Those armour ones would be nice if I could pay somebody to do it but I had an issue fitting just a screen protector on another phone so I don't think I'd be very good with that... Especially having to use a solution/water too!

Likewise, any recommendations on screen protector?

Just researching accessories incase I do buy as I like to fit these immediately to a new phone.

Finally, does anybody know of any good UK G1 websites to ask more specific questions? I'm tending to only find US ones (Which are not useful when it comes to sourcing accessories, etc).

Cheers! :)
 
Richdog said:
I cant understand why ANYONE is buying this first-gen G1... the hardware is rubbish, the design odd, and the OS, thile it has potential, won't be fully supported with any decent new apps for a good few months yet. It's a deifnite miss imo.
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i heavily disagree with the majority of your statement. the only part that holds water is that the design is odd - but then that does not exclude it from being functional - much more so than say an iphone or any other touch screen device. once you use one its a fantastically intuitive device.

your comment about the hardware is nonscence - the phone feels fantastically built - the hinge on the flip mechanism is solid and the capacitive touch screen feels excellent.

again the comments around the os being un-suported are without founding....there are many third party free apps available that you cannot and will never get (for free at least) on any of the competitor phones.

no doubt the phone is aimed at a specific audience - the very same as the iphone - and in terms of a 'beta' product its been excellently delivered.
 
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simoran1 said:
your comment about the hardware is nonscence - the phone feels fantastically built - the hinge on the flip mechanism is solid and the capacitive touch screen feels excellent.
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Agreed - it was a baseless flippent statement that he has made and then not bothered to support.
 
RastaManBob said:
Also, can anybody recommend the best cases/armour/etc for the G1? I've been looking and the "crystal cases" look functional but very tacky and they don't cover the whole phone. Those armour ones would be nice if I could pay somebody to do it but I had an issue fitting just a screen protector on another phone so I don't think I'd be very good with that... Especially having to use a solution/water too!

Likewise, any recommendations on screen protector?

Just researching accessories incase I do buy as I like to fit these immediately to a new phone.

Finally, does anybody know of any good UK G1 websites to ask more specific questions? I'm tending to only find US ones (Which are not useful when it comes to sourcing accessories, etc).

Cheers! :)
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It comes with a nice wallet that is perfectly functional and as a result you don't need anything like a screen cover or armour.

Unfortunately T-Mobile is the central point for info on the G1 in the UK and they're not overly useful. The UK version is identical in pretty much all ways to the US version and the OS is just a repackaged version of the latest US so no surprises there. As for accessories, there aren't many out there and the only one I could see you needing at this stage might be the headphone adaptor which is pretty easy to find.
 
Thanks for the info.

I've heard about the wallet and it sounds good, but I do not like using these as I think it adds bulk (I carry in my pocket) and don't like having to remove it before use.

I was looking at something like an Azmer... They have a wide variety of clip on polished and rubberised... Jelly cases and even the OEM T-Mobile clip-on with the flip-out stand.

Not sure which to go for as I do not like the clip on polished and rubberised having a hole at the back (For a clip, which I wouldn't want)... And I don't like the way the jelly cases cover the buttons. The OEM looks good but it much more expensive (Approx 2.5x) and I've heard that it isn't quite as snug as the others.

Also, a screen protector I would certainly want, as whether there is a wallet or not my fingers would still have to prod the screen... Would like to do anything possible to keep that in good condition.

Any ideas?

PS. I say it like I'm getting one :p Still need to decide - Will definitely go down town and check out as many phones as possible this weekend.
 
no pc-m vip3r its 3gb.

its usually next day if order before 7pm monday-thursday(following monday if you order before 7pm on friday or following tuesday after 7pm or anytime on the weekend), but from tobes rojones it'll be wednesday for their order(placed yesterday) so assume it'll be the same for any new orders placed upto tuesday.

might be an idea to get it from your local t-mobile store as they should have the same offer(as it doesn't say online only) unless you're using quidco and don't want to miss out on the £35 cash back through it.
 
PC-M Vip3r said:
I think I am going to order one of these tomorrow. How long does it take to be delivered? and a I right in thinking the data limit is 1GB on web'n'walk Plus?
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as bove it will be next day providing its in stock.. if you want to pick it up tomorrow then grab it from a retail store - if you dont mind getting it till mon/tues then get a web deal - usually get unlimited txts on the right tarriff (no 100% on this though so check)
 
SteveOBHave said:
Agreed - it was a baseless flippent statement that he has made and then not bothered to support.
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It's an opinion backed up by several major online reviews... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sciencea...oogle-G1-Android-phone-review-of-reviews.html

General concensus is great potential in the OS, unimpressive hardware. GPS isn't great, camera is poor, no vifdeo recording, battery life sketchy according to user reports, no 3.5mm headphone socket... the list goes on.

It's a product that will be worth buying in the next couple fo incarnations... but not now. At this moment in time certainly not a must-buy by any stretch of the imagination imo.
 
Richdog said:
It's an opinion backed up by several major online reviews... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sciencea...oogle-G1-Android-phone-review-of-reviews.html

General concensus is great potential in the OS, unimpressive hardware. GPS isn't great, camera is poor, no vifdeo recording, battery life sketchy according to user reports, no 3.5mm headphone socket... the list goes on.

It's a product that will be worth buying in the next couple fo incarnations... but not now. At this moment in time certainly not a must-buy by any stretch of the imagination imo.
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As before; Can you please suggest what phone, in a similar vain to the G1, you would suggest going for? That is, mainly SMS, calls, internet usage, etc?

I'd be very interested to hear what you believe the best alternative is :)

Cheers.
 
At the moment i'd say the the HTC Touch HD (by all reports an astonishingly responsive WMO phone), the Nokia 5800 Xpressmusic also looks very good (reportedly a great all-rounder) and will be released soon to European channels... very musical and has a fantastic screen (though resistive).

I'm not naysaying the G1 for any reason other than i've looked in-depth at the hardware specs, reviews, and read as much feedback as possible from profesisonals and users, just as I do with every new phone that's released that I have an interest in. If they manage to stick Android on the Touch HD i'm sure that will be awesome, but for the moment I don't see the first-gen G1 as a viable choice compared to more mature and better specced-phones now arriving, the hardware (lovely screen notwithstanding) isn't doing it justice..
 
richdog by the same token I've read lots of bad feedback from users of the touch hd on the xda-developers forums, by the looks of things none of the current phone are worth buying if you look at all the complaints about gps lag, bad video play back, battery life(or lack there of) etc, etc.

I've read mainly good reviews for the touch hd compaired to mixed for the g1 but the user feed back on the xda-developers forums is giving list of problems for both phones.

I'm still undecided what to go for, will prob end up waiting till after the new year.
 
I've had a quick look at the phones listed. Ideally I was hoping for a phone with a keyboard... I'm used to my Palm Treo 650 thumbpad and it is great for texts. I also love the idea of Android OS of course... I'm not worried about software issues because I'm sure they'll be rolled out to everybody... Just hardware stuff that concerns me.

I'm really wanting to look for a phone now, and am possibly being a bit impatient, but am not sure if I can see the "right" phone... I wont know til I have a look this weekend but at the moment I'm just confused.

I was hoping to spend < £30 since looking at what I can afford at the amount of mins I currently use... That rules a lot of phones out... iPhone for sure. I would want (Within that contract) to have internet allowance and a phone that makes the most out of that. I am very short of knowledge on phones and hence explains why I'm spending so much time researching. I genuinely believe that of the current crop the G1 will be right for me, but I'm concerned I'll regret it 6 months down the line when I'm still tied into contract for another 12.

Decisison, decisions...
 
Richdog said:
It's an opinion backed up by several major online reviews... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sciencea...oogle-G1-Android-phone-review-of-reviews.html

General concensus is great potential in the OS, unimpressive hardware. GPS isn't great, camera is poor, no vifdeo recording, battery life sketchy according to user reports, no 3.5mm headphone socket... the list goes on.

It's a product that will be worth buying in the next couple fo incarnations... but not now. At this moment in time certainly not a must-buy by any stretch of the imagination imo.
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Having lived with one for an extended period of time I'm inclined to dissagree with the overall consensus. I think the main problem is that the reviewers tend to be quite dazzled by the iPhones lovely UI and stunning browsing experience. I find Android to already be a great OS, sure it's early days but it's functionality far surpasses that of the iPhone a lready.

As a photographer I wouldn't consider a camera phone in any shape or form as a replacement for a proper camera - simple reason - the hole is always going to be too small and photos are all about light. They can throw pixels at it till the cows come home but they will never compare to a proper DSLR.

The N95 had horrible battery life when you compare it to a normal mobile phone but these are not normal mobile phones. I get a full days use out of mine including GPS, web browsing and playing games in the bog at work with about 20% battery to spare at the end of the day.

The video is a software thing - no doubt it will be addressed by some cunning developer fairly soon without having to jump through the hoops that Apple have put in place with the iPhone, and on the subject of the iPhone where is it's video recording and it's camera performance is far from sterling.

I'm afraid I have to dissagree with the general consensus but then that is our perogative but I think we should avoid making massive sweeping statements like "It's a deifnite miss imo." because really we don't know what the target was. (And don't say iPhone because despite the constant comparison I'm pretty sure with Googles CEO Eric Schmidt on the Apple board it might be seen as a conflict in interest...)
 
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