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The T-Mobile G1 (aka HTC Dream or HTC G1) is the first mobile device to run Android, Google's open-source mobile phone platform, released on September 23, 2008. This mobile device will compete squarely with the Apple iPhone, and boast a similar feature-set, including WiFi/3G network access, a touch screen, web browser, downloadable third-party applications via the Google marketplace. The HTC Dream will feature a full QWERTY keyboard tucked away behind a sliding 3.2" touch screen display. Many of the details of this device are unknown, but it has been available for pre-order since it was announced for $179 with 2-year contract. A recent (yet falsified) rumor of 1.5 million pre-orders to-date spurred great interest in the device, which will be available in brick-and-mortar locations on October 22nd.

Where to buy

T-Mobile G1 Buy it from Amazon
T-Mobile G1 Win it on eBay

Pros & Cons

Pros:
11 people have already voted. Do you agree?

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3G network access
+8agreedisagree

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Large touch-screen
+8agreedisagree

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Integrated GPS including Google StreetView
+8agreedisagree

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Sync with Google calendar
+8agreedisagree

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Most apps are free, and don't require approval before being posted to marketplace
+7agreedisagree

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User-replaceable battery
+6agreedisagree

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First phone to run Google Android platform
+5agreedisagree

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Dedicated full QWERTY keyboard
+5agreedisagree

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Dedicated web browser and camera buttons
+2agreedisagree

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Small form factor, similar to iPhone
+1agreedisagree

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good support for modern video and audio formats
+1agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?

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No headphone jack
+6agreedisagree

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No desktop sync application
+4agreedisagree

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Only available on T-mobile with limited 3G network coverage
+3agreedisagree

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Heavier than iPhone
+2agreedisagree

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No built-in video player; requires download from app store
+1agreedisagree

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Inconsistent user interface - physical buttons, on screen menus, popup menus
+1agreedisagree

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Web server does not support streaming media
+1agreedisagree

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Tiny hard to type keyboard.
0agreedisagree

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Tinny speaker and no headphone jack make it unusable as a digital media player.
0agreedisagree

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No quality control for third party software.
-1agreedisagree

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More information

Features

  • Runs Google Android software platform
  • Available on T-mobile
  • Touch screen
  • 5 Row QWERTY keypad
  • Trackball
  • Dedicated camera button
  • Comes pre-loaded with Amazon MP3 store
  • No 1/8" headphone jack; uses proprietary USB connector; regular headphones require adapter
  • Downloadable third-party applications via the Google marketplace
  • 3.2 MP digital amera (no flash) 2048 x 1536 
  • Video playback files - H.264, streaming, 3GPP, MPEG4, and Codec 3GP
  • Dedicated YouTube Player
  • Audio playback: MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, MPEG4, WAV, MIDI, REAL AUDIO, OGG
  • Wallpaper supports JPG, BMP, PNG, and GIF 
  • Speakerphone
  • Ringtones (MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA)
  • HTTP, WAP Push, xHTML
  • Bluetooth (class 1)
  • Picture Caller ID
  • SMS and MMS support
  • POP, IMAP, and SMTP, AOL, and GMAIL email
  • AIM, MSN, YAHOO, and GTALK messaging
  • Quad Band (850, 900, 1800, 1900), 3G
  • WiFi: 802.11b & 802.11g
  • UMTS (1,4), HSDPA, SUPL
  • battery: 1150mAh, talk time: 350-400 min., standby: 320 - 400 hours
  • Sync capable with Google Calendar, Contacts
  • GPS and Google Streetview with built-in compass
  • Screen size: 3.17" with HVGA (480  x 320)
  • Dimensions: 4.60 in x 2.16 in x 0.62 in (117.7 mm x 55.7 mm x 17.1 mm)
  • Weight: 5.6 oz (158g)
  • Price: $179 from T-mobile with 2 year contract, available for $149 at various retailers at a discount (Walmart, Costco)
  • Release date: October 22, 2008

 

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2 comments about T Mobile G 1

1.  avatar Discordanian  Oct 18, 2008 9:16pm

I really like the idea of this phone. I just have to have patience because I don't currently have the cash to spring for it just yet. I hope that the phone pans out because I'd love to save up and get it.
2.  avatar marvingreenberg  Nov 06, 2008 3:26pm

I have the phone, and like the idea of the phone, and am even forgiving that it isn't the iPhone. Apple is Apple and they get usability RIGHT (although iPhone 1 had some issues). My attraction to Android was that it was more open, and I hoped that Google (a software company) and the Android platform would have enough influence to get many of the usability issues right.

My biggest annoyance is that I use the web browser, browse to a streaming media link (real time feed of a radio station, m3u,pls) and it doesn't play. This phone has all the codecs, streaming media is no different. This may be a deliberate limitation by T-mobile (some problem in their network with a long-lived connection?) but probably not since there are other applications that stream music. So its probably just a stupid oversight.

Then there are tons of usability problems. You can filter you contact list by the groups in your google contacts. But as of Nov 6, 2008, the Contact application doesn;t let you create or manage or show groups -- you have to do that online at Google Gmail. Further, GMail makes three special groups (Friends,Family, Co-workers) and these DON"T EVEN show up. Probably a bug in google's Contact API. And to use the groups from Contacts, you have to do: button: Menu, touch screen: 'More', touch screen:Show by Group, touch screen: , touch screen: 'OK'. And then it shows only the contacts in that group, but with no indication it is filtered. Why not just a filter pull down or popup menu on the contacts tab or something. Calendar similar requires 4 or 5 button presses to change the displayed calendars.

Anyways, I knew I wouldn't get an iPhone user-experience on this first Android phone. I was hoping for better, but luckily its all software and can (and should) get fixed in time (even if I have to write a Contacts replacement... :-) )
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    Key Features:

    Data Interface 3G, WiFi
    Features Camera, WiFi, Touch Screen, GPS, microSD, Web Browser, Media Player, Bluetooth, full media playback, Music Tones
    Manufacturer HTC
    MSRP $179.00
    Network GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, GSM 850, 3G
    Phone Style Slider, Candybar
    Release Date Oct. 22, 2008

    Sponsors

    Product page stats

    1351 views and 167 edits (see all)
    Created: 09/22/2008 - 15:35
    Modified: 11/23/2008 - 2:07
    Model # variations:

    T, Mobile, TMobile, G, 1, G1