sideways, the G1 only turns the screen view sideways when the QWERTY keyboard is showing.
I can't say I was wild about the handset's overall design. It's a bit thick and industrial, especially compared to HTC's last major release, the Touch Diamond, which is beautifully crafted.
But unlike the Touch Diamond, which is made of a clear plastic that's a bit slippery, the G1 has more of a rubberized feel for easier handling.
The face of the G1, when the QWERTY keypad isn't showing, is mainly the touchscreen, which looks like it's about 3-inches, with five navigation controls at the bottom, including the trackball in the middle.
Navigation on the touchscreen was smooth and the software responded quickly to tap commands. The trackball, also worked well, but took a bit of getting used to.
The keypad was easy to use, even with my big thumbs, but I didn't have a chance to actually type out a message. I did make a phone call, which was easy to do and the voice quality was clear.
One warning to sound out to anyone interested in the G1 (Dream) handset is to take care on your choice of mobile phone service providers.
The only service provider today is T-Mobile and some fine print on their Web site betrays a stingy allowance on data services: "If your total data usage in any billing cycle is more than 1GB, your data throughput for the remainder of that cycle may be reduced to 50K bps or less."
For a handset designed for the Internet, with so much downloadable software applications from Android's Web site that are heavy on data usage, as well as music downloads from Amazon and online videos from YouTube, it seems likely users will need more than the 1G-byte allotment.
More likely than not, other service providers will launch a version of HTC's Dream as well. They may offer better terms.
T-Mobile's G1 will first be available in the U.S. on Oct. 22 for US$179 with a two-year contract and subscription to a limited data plan for $25 a month or $35 for unlimited data access.
T-Mobile will release the G1 in the U.K. in early November and other European markets in the first quarter next year.
The G1 is currently only available in English, but translation into other languages is already underway, an HTC representative said. It will take six months for the handset to be made available in nearly all languages.
More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:
- Prediction: T-Mobile HTC Dream (G1) Android sells 500K units by end of 2008?
- Analysis: A big challenge for Android: Getting people to use the hardware
- Analysis: Bad signs for Blu-ray: Free discs, cheap players, and declining market share
- Analysis: A misguided new media experiment: Twittering a funeral
Reprinted with permission from IDG News Service. Story copyright 2008 IDG News Service Inc. All rights reserved.
Comments
Really cool ya. Seems to be way ahead of the Windows mobile platform. I would love to have one.
Oh I so want one but will just admire from afar....I really dislike NextG in Australia....we miss out on all the cool phones :(
I like the thought that has gone into making it simple. I am a qwerty fan on a mobile and it reads like a dream. Since being through a few qwerty/palm style phones...the rubbery feel is so much easier to use.
Please.....there be a lock on the touch screen.....always overlooked...but stops you accidentally "clicking" something when the phone is in your bag.
I wonder if the creators of ShopSavvy know that they are in violation of NeoMedia's patents?
http://neom.com/13.html
Streetstylz knows good and well Big in Japan is NOT in violation of any patents. Here is more about his smear campaign against ShopSavvy: http://www.biggu.com/2008/10/01/barcode-ip-landscape/
NeoMedia has a patent that covers this technology
Patent #6,651,053 — Interactive system for investigating products on a network
An interactive search system for use with a global computer network, e.g., the Internet, using a search identifying barcode to rapidly and effectively obtain a supply of related information for presentation to a user. A computer, either landline based or mobile, may be used to input a UPC code, taken from a package or advertisement or prestored in the computer, to an implementing server on the network. The server contains a database of product and manufacturer identifying UPC codes and uses the input UPC code and the database to identify the manufacturer and is programmed to then perform a search of the network to locate sites relating to or operated by the manufacturer. Also, the server may search the network on a product basis to locate other sites containing the UPC under search. Using “parsing” technology, the server “pulls out” the product description, transmits it to and places it in a random access memory (RAM) or storage of the computer, and proceeds to perform further searching relying on the product description to uncover relevant information. Accordingly, using a single input, a collection of product-related and manufacturer information is quickly assembled in the computer available for a user’s consideration all at once at any time.
What Streetstylz fails to mention is that this patent is currently under review after being challenged by the EFF.
http://deancollinsblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/us-patent-office-rejects-all...
Since then Neomedia has refiled and it's up to the USPTO to re-evaluate so it may just all go away.... or not - but for the moment it's not a 'valid' patent.
Cheers,
Dean Collins
www.Cognation.net
Dean you are an idiot
Patent #6,651,053 is NOT under review by the USPTO.
The '048 patent is the one under review ....... NOT the '053 patent.
LOL
Dean, you have the wrong patent.
Post new comment