T-Mobile G1 – A Whole New Experience for Consumers
January 27th, 2009. Published under Video. No Comments.
Imagine a Smartphone with an open source operating system. With the integration of Googles open source operating system – Android – and T-Mobiles G1; consumers now have the ability to truly customize their experience. Additionally, 3G connectivity gives you that “always-on” experience that is so hard to come by.
Let’s touch on some standard features first. The touch-sensitive display, 3.2-inches with 320 x 480-pixel resolution, nearly takes up the entire front face of the phone. Directly below the display, you will find your standard functional buttons like home, back, call, and end. Additionally, you will find a trackball – similar to those on Blackberry phones – that gives you another form of navigation.
Sliding the display, or front face, of the phone slightly upwards will reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. Rather than having an on screen keyboard, T-Mobile felt that a true QWERTY keyboard would allow consumers to be more efficient with their typing.
With a Google developed operating system, it is not surprise that many of the default applications are Google, like Gmail, Google Talk, Google Calendar, Google Maps, and even Google Chrome (web browser). Providing you are a Google fanatic, and already have accounts, this will not be a problem for you. Regardless, there are many other standard applications available, include some that your piers have developed.
The G1 is at the top of the line for Smartphones, and there is one reason for this – the operating system – Android. The operating system was created for consumers, so they could create applications that they want to use. Not only can consumers create their own applications, they can also share them with other Android users.
The G1 has 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity. The combination of the two allows consumers to experience “always-on” connectivity. The phone will automatically switch between networks, as necessary, which goes completely unnoticed by users.
Many other features are included with the G1. One-touch Google search, web browsing, instant messaging, e-mail, and a 3.2-megapixel camera are just a handful of the additional features. The camera, while a nice feature, is not a very functional feature. The outcome, that this camera produces, typically looks like a 4 year old was the photographer. It appears as if there needs to be some sort of image stabilizer integrated into the phone to help with picture capturing.
The battery life, on the G1, is nowhere in comparison with other Smartphones. The average lifespan, on a fully charged battery, appears to be around a couple hours. It is rumored that this issue will be fixed, but until then, it would behoove you to purchase a car charger. There are other minor features missing, from the phone, like stereo Bluetooth, video recording, and an on-screen keyboard. If these features are prudent to you, the G1 may not be the answer to your dreams.
The G1 offers many features and applications, along with an open source operating system like no other. Surprisingly, for such new technologies, the price tag is low at $179.99 (with a new or extended contract with T-Mobile). While the phone has a few minor flaws, and missing features, it does provide consumers with a completely new experience in cell phones.