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

DailyGeek said:
I have to say, apart from the battery life, I'm loving mine more and more! :)

Got a brand new Omnia just turned up, and it's going straight on eBay, going to stick with android I think :)
Click to expand...

Woohoo - another convert - I love mine, it's a brilliant little tool. My ipod touch has well and truly been relegated to just a music player.

It's really the apps that you can get from the Market that make all the difference. In fact I think I will make that the last installment in this review series - something about the apps and what they do.
 
Seraphic said:
Awesome review. I was in the process of selling my unlocked G1 but decided to keep it (for no apparent reason tbh). I really like the phone but it does have flaws which annoy the hell out of me. The battery life is pretty dire but I'm never too far away from a charger. The camera is fine if you're in a well lit area otherwise it's pretty much unusable (typical HTC style). It's early days yet for Android but Google really do need to spend some time improving the basic functionality.
Click to expand...

Thank you. What parts of the phone annoy you?

I've found one that gets on my wick a bit - if you're using the phone in a dim condition but not what you would call dark then you can't see the ALT characters properly - the 'convenient' backlight light them up just enough so they blend in with the keys - useful that.
 
SteveOBHave said:
Woohoo - another convert - I love mine, it's a brilliant little tool. My ipod touch has well and truly been relegated to just a music player.

It's really the apps that you can get from the Market that make all the difference. In fact I think I will make that the last installment in this review series - something about the apps and what they do.
Click to expand...

I'm inclined to agree about the maps. Plus that fact that it's open source just appeals to me. I should say that mine unlocked fine for anyone wondering about it and I've been using it happily on Orange since last week :)
 
DailyGeek said:
I'm inclined to agree about the maps. Plus that fact that it's open source just appeals to me. I should say that mine unlocked fine for anyone wondering about it and I've been using it happily on Orange since last week :)
Click to expand...

Have there been any standout apps that you've installed so far?
 
SteveOBHave said:
Have there been any standout apps that you've installed so far?
Click to expand...

ShopSavvy came in quite useful in Hamleys on Saturday :p scanning barcodes for the best prices online was great! Some good little games I've got too (although Pac-Man won't download for some reason) I'm quite liking the weather apps too, and little things like that.

Looking forward to some flexibility to the UI, namely changing the default clock face etc.
 
DailyGeek said:
ShopSavvy came in quite useful in Hamleys on Saturday :p scanning barcodes for the best prices online was great! Some good little games I've got too (although Pac-Man won't download for some reason) I'm quite liking the weather apps too, and little things like that.

Looking forward to some flexibility to the UI, namely changing the default clock face etc.
Click to expand...

I agree altho I've found Compare Everywhere to be the more extensive barcode scanner - but I have both installed. The Pacman game is overrated and doesn't run so well. The interface is just wrong for it.

The ones I get the most use out of are Anycut, Ringdroid, Hold'em (poker), Trap! (excellent game), and Wikitude (totally worth a look if you're interested in your local surroundings).

I got rid of the clock widget - I found it annoying and a waste of space - if they could make it digital I might use it but otherwise - bin.
 
One thing that has worried me about going from my Vario II to the G1 is the Internet Sharing ability. As i read you are on the 3GB internet package so that means you can use the phone as a modem. With my Vario II i just plug the phone in to my PC via USB and then do the Internet sharing option on the phone and it works.

Is there an option or a work around to do the same thing with the G1?
 
rojones said:
One thing that has worried me about going from my Vario II to the G1 is the Internet Sharing ability. As i read you are on the 3GB internet package so that means you can use the phone as a modem. With my Vario II i just plug the phone in to my PC via USB and then do the Internet sharing option on the phone and it works.

Is there an option or a work around to do the same thing with the G1?
Click to expand...

Yes it is do-able but it's not a simple click and go solution - there is some setup required.

Instructions here: http://graha.ms/androidproxy/

It utilises the USB connector on the phone and is not for the faint hearted. I'm sure that since this has been proven as possible it shouldn't be long till there is an 'install and go' style app.

EDIT: it's also something that Google and T-Mobile may not appreciate and it may be blocked at a later date.
 
Im not sure if T-Mobile would have an issue as they advertise their WnW Plus and Max Packages as being able to use the handset as a modem, infact i know the support staff ive talked to at t-mobile in the past have been happy to talk about it over the phone.

Not sure about the google thing though.

Just had a quick scan to that link, think as i suspected i will wait to see if some sort of app is developed to make it more user friendly and widely acceptable before i move to the G1.
 
the 'normal' w'n'w plus maybe fine with using internet sharing(or tethering(sp?) as its called from whath I've read), but the G1 plan is a modified w'n'w plus and not sure if the internet sharing is allowed in that or not.
 
well i would happily pay the extra £5 or whatever it is for it to be "thethering" enabled.

Just annoys me with Mobile Data plans. End of the day i have a 3GB cap so im not going to be able to use more than that without being hit anyway. Its very useful to have such a feature when you go on a course for example and dont want to have to pay the crazy prices to use hotel wireless connections.

wondering if i could simply put the Sim card in my Vario II when i want to use that feature on the rare occasions.
 
Last edited:
take it the g1 deal means that you get more internet before hitting the limit?

hows the signal?
my dad had to change from t-mobile cause of the signal, and i know my mates viewty is pretty poor up here in aberdeen.
 
Can i ask how much of a fuss you had to make to get that £20 a month deal with the free G1, because my contract ended about a month back and when i spoke about upgrades they said "nothing until january at the earliest" and they best they could do was put a rolling £5 off my contract until April at the most.

Phone again tonight and still nothing, I normaly pay £27.50 a month which was the Flext 20 i think with the WnW+. So currently im paying £22.50 which is still more than you have on that good deal.

Ive been thinking of moving to 3 because im getting fed up with T-Mobiles like of upgrades and i can get some great deals on 3.

Again just wondering what kind of a fuss did you make. Was it last gasp dept? :)
 
SteveOBHave said:
Thank you. What parts of the phone annoy you?

I've found one that gets on my wick a bit - if you're using the phone in a dim condition but not what you would call dark then you can't see the ALT characters properly - the 'convenient' backlight light them up just enough so they blend in with the keys - useful that.
Click to expand...

My annoyances with the G1:

*Battery life - that's the most obvious one. It'll just about last a day with little more than light usage.
*The non-Gmail client doesnt check email regularly when set, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.
*You can't install apps to the storage card. There's only so many that'll go on the internal memory before it starts complaining.
*Web browser - I'm used to Safari on the iPhone so to me its slow and clunky. But it does get the job done.
*Camera in low light - it aint so bad in daylight but anything other than that and it's typical HTC-style rubbishness.
*Not sure what Genius decided it'd be a good idea to put the delete key right next to the enter key. No HTC, it isn't funny.
*No decent IM client yet

Hopefully most of these will be resolved in future updates. I can live with them for now.
 
rojones said:
Can i ask how much of a fuss you had to make to get that £20 a month deal with the free G1, because my contract ended about a month back and when i spoke about upgrades they said "nothing until january at the earliest" and they best they could do was put a rolling £5 off my contract until April at the most.

Phone again tonight and still nothing, I normaly pay £27.50 a month which was the Flext 20 i think with the WnW+. So currently im paying £22.50 which is still more than you have on that good deal.

Ive been thinking of moving to 3 because im getting fed up with T-Mobiles like of upgrades and i can get some great deals on 3.

Again just wondering what kind of a fuss did you make. Was it last gasp dept? :)
Click to expand...

None whatsoever - I called them up - said "I'd like to upgrade and I'm interested in the G1 - what can you do for me?" That was their first answer. I didn't even make it to retentions - I told them what I wanted and they gave it to me.

I was previously with 3 and they were horrible and they're always the last to get new hardware.

ash_scotland88 said:
take it the g1 deal means that you get more internet before hitting the limit?
Click to expand...
T-Mobiles data deal is 3GB 'unlimited'. I have had no issues with reception but I live in WC1 in London.
 
Seraphic said:
My annoyances with the G1:

*Battery life - that's the most obvious one. It'll just about last a day with little more than light usage.
*The non-Gmail client doesnt check email regularly when set, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.
*You can't install apps to the storage card. There's only so many that'll go on the internal memory before it starts complaining.
*Web browser - I'm used to Safari on the iPhone so to me its slow and clunky. But it does get the job done.
*Camera in low light - it aint so bad in daylight but anything other than that and it's typical HTC-style rubbishness.
*Not sure what Genius decided it'd be a good idea to put the delete key right next to the enter key. No HTC, it isn't funny.
*No decent IM client yet

Hopefully most of these will be resolved in future updates. I can live with them for now.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of them - the Delete key one is just a headache.

Try IM+ as an instant messenger. It's not brilliant but it's not horrible.
 
I take it there is no way for "new customers" to get such a good deal on the G1?

What is my best bet? I'm after as cheap as possible really; Currently I only use 300 mins and 300 texts so most of the contracts are over specc'd... Would like the unlimited net access though.

Do you think they'll be any flex in price? What's the best I can look at achieving?

Cheers.
 
RastaManBob the cheapest deal I've found thats currently available is from e2save(look at the link in my post(#39).

there are slightly cheaper deals on beepy.co.uk but currently says coming soon when you try adding to basket, plus the web'n'walk is only 1gb limit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom