JenG
24th Sep '08 Wed, 07:29
http://xs231.xs.to/xs231/08392/g1-2489.jpg
http://xs431.xs.to/xs431/08392/g1-3605.jpg
The first Google phone was finally unveiled at a lavish event in Manhattan, and it's pretty much what we expected: A slim (if not iPhone-slim) QWERTY slider with a generous touchscreen, 3G and Wi-Fi access, GPS, and—most importantly—Android, Google's much-anticipated mobile OS.
http://xs231.xs.to/xs231/08392/g1966.jpg
Watch out, Apple. The G1 may not be as sleek and sexy as the iPhone, but its peppy, easy-to-use touchscreen interface makes mincemeat of all the other iPhone wanna-bes, and it packs in some killer features—like 360-degree Street View—that the iPhone has yet to match.
Granted, I've only had a few minutes of hands-on time with the T-Mobile G1, so this doesn't count as a review—we're just talking first impressions here. But first impressions count, and the G1 ($179, available October 22) scored big during my brief test drive.
Among the G1's main features: Support for T-Mobile's just-launched 3G network (although, as I wrote last week, only about 21 markets will be covered by the time the G1 arrives in October), Wi-Fi (including seamless roaming between Wi-Fi and 3G, a la the iPhone), GPS, Bluetooth, and a pre-installed 1GB microSD memory card (up to 8GB is supported).
Of course, the meat of the G1 is its access to Google's online features, and the handset doesn't disappoint: Full-on support for Google Maps (and yes, including Street View), Gmail, YouTube, and Google Talk, along with an HTML browser.
The Street View feature of Google Maps is especially impressive—thanks to the G1's built-in compass, you can get a panoramic, 360-degree view of the scene simply by holding the phone and waving it in any direction. Awesome. (Of course, the typical local business/points of interest search is present and accounted for.)
OK, so how's the touchscreen interface look? I'll have a hands-on report a little later today, but from the demonstration we saw at the press conference, it looks pretty impressive—the closest I've seen to the iPhone yet, complete with on-screen menus, icons, and scrolling lists that looked remarkably smooth and responsive. I'm curious to see if it works as well in person.
As far as applications go, a "beta" version of Android Market will come with the G1, along with a handful of applications, including: ShopSavvy, a comparative shopping app; Ecorio, the "green" travel-planning app I blogged about a coupe of weeks ago; and an Amazon MP3 shopping app.
http://xs431.xs.to/xs431/08392/g1-3605.jpg
The first Google phone was finally unveiled at a lavish event in Manhattan, and it's pretty much what we expected: A slim (if not iPhone-slim) QWERTY slider with a generous touchscreen, 3G and Wi-Fi access, GPS, and—most importantly—Android, Google's much-anticipated mobile OS.
http://xs231.xs.to/xs231/08392/g1966.jpg
Watch out, Apple. The G1 may not be as sleek and sexy as the iPhone, but its peppy, easy-to-use touchscreen interface makes mincemeat of all the other iPhone wanna-bes, and it packs in some killer features—like 360-degree Street View—that the iPhone has yet to match.
Granted, I've only had a few minutes of hands-on time with the T-Mobile G1, so this doesn't count as a review—we're just talking first impressions here. But first impressions count, and the G1 ($179, available October 22) scored big during my brief test drive.
Among the G1's main features: Support for T-Mobile's just-launched 3G network (although, as I wrote last week, only about 21 markets will be covered by the time the G1 arrives in October), Wi-Fi (including seamless roaming between Wi-Fi and 3G, a la the iPhone), GPS, Bluetooth, and a pre-installed 1GB microSD memory card (up to 8GB is supported).
Of course, the meat of the G1 is its access to Google's online features, and the handset doesn't disappoint: Full-on support for Google Maps (and yes, including Street View), Gmail, YouTube, and Google Talk, along with an HTML browser.
The Street View feature of Google Maps is especially impressive—thanks to the G1's built-in compass, you can get a panoramic, 360-degree view of the scene simply by holding the phone and waving it in any direction. Awesome. (Of course, the typical local business/points of interest search is present and accounted for.)
OK, so how's the touchscreen interface look? I'll have a hands-on report a little later today, but from the demonstration we saw at the press conference, it looks pretty impressive—the closest I've seen to the iPhone yet, complete with on-screen menus, icons, and scrolling lists that looked remarkably smooth and responsive. I'm curious to see if it works as well in person.
As far as applications go, a "beta" version of Android Market will come with the G1, along with a handful of applications, including: ShopSavvy, a comparative shopping app; Ecorio, the "green" travel-planning app I blogged about a coupe of weeks ago; and an Amazon MP3 shopping app.