The Android-powered G1 is a great device. From a distance, its looks can throw one off, but get close and experience the functionality and usability packed into the device, and you are likely to get hooked.
I haven’t had this combination of fun and productivity from a mobile device in years! The Android OS is a hit, and developers are lapping it up.
Here’s a collection of pictures of the T-mobile G1 in action, with my commentaries appended. Enjoy!
Home screen in portrait mode. Place shortcuts to applications, widgets or folders on the home screen. That horizontal strip at the top with lots of icons is the notification/status bar. Believe it, those icons are animated. You can also pull down that bar to see more details about the notifications e.g. incoming SMS, new mail, completed downlod. The bar is visible and active system-wide (with a few exceptions), so you never miss a thing.
The G1 home screen in landscape mode with the keyboard slid out. That 5-row keyboard rocks. You can create application shortcuts on the keyboard to launch up to - wait for it - 36 different applications! You can use it to select, copy, cut, and paste text. It also has a Search button for launching Google search. Eat your hearts out!
The G1 has a 3-paged homescreen, and you move from one page to the other by sliding your finger horizontally across the home screen
There's an application tab that you tap or drag to reveal/hide the main menu with application icons.
Browsing applications in the Android Market. The Market is well organised and contains loads of freebies, and not just useless concept apps either: I have a widget that monitors Alireta's web server, a Whois search application, a GatorPeeps app, a Twitter app, a comprehensive Bible, dictionary, GoogleDocs app, a GPS-based location finder, and more - all FREE from the Android Market. In addition, you are notified of updates to any applications you have installed on your device. You tap on the update notification to proceed with updating the app right away. Nifty.
Music Player supports album art, playlists, fast-forward, etc
Video playback is sharp, vivid and crisp in full screen, landscape format only
The camera supports both still shots and video recording (firmware version 1.5 upwards only)
Comic books!! I grew up reading comic books, and I am glad to find that comic books are available for the Android OS. I have read about six (6) till date.
Okay, folks. That’s it for now: my small gallery and commentary on the G1. I am loving the Android OS and its first spawn, the T-mobile G1.
Even more exciting is the fact that a number of key manufacturers have announced that they will be releasing Android devices this year. On that list are: Samsung (Galaxy, BigFoot), HTC (Hero, Lancaster), LG, Motorola (Heron/IronMan, Calgary), and Acer (A1), among others.
Andy Rubin, Google’s Head of Mobile, is reported to have said that 18 to 20 Android phones will be launched this year alone. Indeed, if this happens, I must agree with the folks at Phandroid that 2009 be named the year of the Android.
But whether or not we see 18 to 20 phones this year, I have seen the future of mobility, and it is full of robots. Pun intended.
PS: It is now my firm belief that Android is on its way to giving Symbian a run for theeir money in terms of market share. What do you think? Am I simply infatuated?
This post was written by
Mister Mobility – who has written 926 posts on Mobility blog.
Founder, Mobility blog, serial lifestyle entrepreneur, speaker, & writer. Charming, passionate, tenacious & non-conformist. Will dance! Follow him on Twitter @Mister_Mobility.
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June 14th, 2009 at 11:54 am Browsing with
I got to say the Android sounds and looks good, with google behind it. It’s bound make a sizeable impact. But on it giving symbian a run for its money, its not really going to happen it would first have to take on apple iphone OS, Blackberry OS, windows mobile and palm’s webOS. Which have quite a sizeable market.
Android does not really bring any thing to the market besides google and has no real backer in it, most companies in it’s coalition besides HTC, are not really commited to the Android project, so its projected domination of the smartphone market is a little pre-emptive. Enjoy your Android phone
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June 14th, 2009 at 5:48 pm Browsing with
martinkem,
People doubted that the iPhone too would do well, yet it has defied most of those reservations.
Where did you get your information about most companies in the Open Handset Alliance not being committed to it? Are you talking about the companies that have announced nothing less than nine (9) phones this year alone – and some of those handsets are being launched as we speak? Are you talking about companies that have also announced Android-powered netbooks already?
If that’s not commitment, what is?
Now, take a look at the list of members of the Alliance again. On that list are HTC, LG (world’s number 3 in handset volumes), Samsung (number 2), among others, and they either already have Android devices out and/or have others lined up for launch.
The iPhone runs a closed OS and had/has only one company behind it, and has performed well. Android OS delivers a similar user-friendly OS, plus really good functionality. If Google alone were backing this OS, it would go places. But with those other powerful members of the Alliance tagging along, the possibilities are almost limitless. The Apple iPhone has done well but is limited because it is just one handset model being re-hashed. With a slew of different handsets, Android offers manufacturers and consumers greater choice.
Make no mistake about it, Android is going to give Symbian a run for its money. In a few years time, I will be most delighted to tell you that I said so
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