So while you G1 fans tinker and play and download Apps, take heed that today also marks the official launch of the Android marketplace. Not a whole lot here we didn’t already know, take notice however, the app selection is pretty minimal right now. All applications will be free throughout the remainder of the year and as Gizmodo points out, the big guns ie premier developers will hold off on releasing apps until they can get that money!
So for now enjoy the freebies as we can be assured that a multitude of developers will be still looking to make up for some lacking features. On-screen keyboard perhaps? I know that’s something many of you are clamoring for so hopefully that’s already on the burner somewhere.
On a similar note we’re around 8 hours into launch day, I’d love to hear some feedback in the comments from those who picked up phones today. Do you love it, hate it? Is it everything you wanted it to be? Will it replace a spouse? Are you incredibly thankful its not windows mobile (Viper that one is for you)?
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i now see pac-man in the market but it says i have to pay for it.. and even if i wanted to pay for it, there’s no way to!
Battery life is not great, but I guess that’s to be expected with all this little thing does. Amazing, with this phone I feel like I’ve stepped into the future. I can type faster on the iphone touch screen keyboard with its excellent predictive text, but I never make a mistake with the G1 keyboard. But it is really annoying to have to flip out the screen to do a one word google search or fire off a short message. But all in all I’m impressed. And it can only get better as people design great applications and the Android platform gets refined further. Exciting!
Yeah. This phone was worth waiting a month for.
I hate the keyboard. The buttons are too small, they buttons on my Wing were much better. Other than that, just tinkering with it and I like what I have so far.
I toyed around with it for a good (uncomfortable) 15-20 minutes at the T-Mobile store. I must say, I agree with Keegan. It was sort of annoying to have to flip out the QWERTY keyboard to do all the typing. While I do HATE on-screen keyboards (because it’s not yet perfected in it’s current state in ANY phone), I now understand it’s practicality and would like to see it implemented in the G1. I also had a had missed swipes and clicks with the touch screen but I think that may be due to not using a capacitive touch screen before (the only ones I’ve used were resistive.)
In the end I do think that Android is one great OS with a lot of potential. An almost cute one as well with all the nicely rendered icons. The G1 as a phone has it’s appeal, but as has been pointed out, not a mass appeal like other phones. I personally like it, but I thought it wasn’t refined enough. It looked very kiddy in my opinion. I would rather have refined or business-ish but still stylish, dare I say like the iPhone (it’s appeal, not the device because I gotta have the QWERTY keyboard.)
If devices such as the Touch Pro or the very beautiful Xperia X1 had Android, I’d be the first one to get it. But the G1 just isn’t that special. Maybe the white one will look better. The black one definitely isn’t attractive (to me), but I’m sure teenagers would love it. The bronze one was interesting.
In all, good job Android, but HTC, you need to start coming up with better devices for the Android. And as much as I hate full touch screens, if the Android were to be ported into a device similar to the Touch HD, that would be the best thing to ever happen.. ever.
Personally though, I’m just going to stick with buying the Touch Pro or Xperia X1 for now. Maybe next year or the year after that, I’ll jump on the Android bandwagon. Awesome device though, and if I could get it for free, I’d be one happy camper.
Ive owned 2 iphones and this is way better!! Battery life sucks!!!!!!!!!! camera sucks!
I ordered the black one but now i think i want the bronze one
It does feel a little bulky and plastic. Removing the back to put in the battery all I kept thinking was “wow, it really flimsily plastic!” And what’s with this child’s house slipper they sent as a case? Can I make it any bulkier in my pocket? The zip lock baggie it comes in is more usable. I have to drag out the keyboard every single time I want to enter anything?…UGH! The 3G speeds I’ve been getting are quite amazing…but I’m paranoid about a cap on my data usage. 16gb SDHC cards will work in it I am told…and you’ll be able to find plenty of them about the same time Apple gets a 32gb IPhone ready for market. So far I can’t find much useful to do with it without my e-mail. The lack of exchange support is inexcusable (no I can’t use your “other” solution). The lack of video playback or record is unforgivable. The missing headphone jack is unbelievable. I know, it’s HTC’s fault, but if I had been a T-mobile exec in that meeting I would have made it a deal breaker. And why I cant shoot a photo and bluetooth it to a printer or my laptop? Battery life is the worst I’ve ever seen. Sure, the guide gives tips on how to extend battery life, but it basically means turning of many of the nice features (bluetooth, GPS, 3G, power…). The apps available in the “market” are toys. While fun, I see little right now I find useful. Open source will fix that? Yea, like it did on my Nokia N800.I’m still waiting on a decent address book for that beast. So don’t hold your breath. I think it’s a great phone for children or the unemployed…nice step up from your Sidekicks and/or get you hooked on 3G speeds for simple web browsing…but otherwise useless. Software updates may smooth some things over, but I’ll bet we see a G2 or something better android for some one else very soon to make up for the shortcoming here. Put me in the “hate it” group. Mine is going back on Friday.
I picked a black G1 up this morning at the T-Mobile store. It was actually fun waiting in line for an hour or so here in downtown Chicago, talking with other interested people, taking part in some non-Apple buzz (for once). The local Starbucks guy even came by with free hot chocolate samples every 15 minutes or so.
As for the G1 itself, the most glaring omission so far is the lack of an on-screen keyboard, forcing you to flip the device sideways and pop out the physical keyboard to enter any text. As a user of the iPod Touch as well, my ideal device would have both. It’s hard to enter a lot of text accurately with an on-screen keyboard, but it is incredibly convenient to enter small chunks of text without having to flip-and-open. I don’t know if this is a deal-breaker yet, but it’s sure annoying!
First thing I did with the phone is have a buddy of mine call me to see how it sounded. Second thing was to had his number to my contacts list. Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out how to transfer his number from the “call” list to the “contacts” list automatically. Seems like a shortcoming that should get fixed soon.
I got mine on the 20th and every hour there are more apps being added. It’s crazy how easy it is. this phone is incredible!!
On my g1 now while I’m wirting this message it is awesomeee.. can’t wait til my 3g data plan starts workingg!!!
This phone will be a keeper when (in priority order):
1. Gmail includes “send as” / “reply from” multiple e-addresses.
2. Contacts displays and searches for company names in records without a first name/last name.
3. Gmail includes multiple select/select all and then mark as read, delete, archive, etc.
4. The email client preferably merges with the Gmail client or at the least includes a signature and a much more robust interface.
I agree with most, the physical design is a bit clunky (solid, but clunky). Android however, is so awesome I can’t believe it. Talk about potential. I think I found my new mobile OS.
The UPS guy delivered mine to the large private high school next door to me instead of my apartment yesterday (????) So I just got it this morning. The hardware looks alright, very simple, but the interface/software/screen/everything else is incredibly awesome! I was babbling like a kid on Christmas when I ripped it open in the parking lot of the high school this morning (rich preppy kids, god bless ‘em). iphone looks like the ugly old stepsister compared to it. Btw, as for an onscreen keyboard…ehh, that would be ok as long as it doesn’t do that lame predictive text crap that iphone has, injecting inane words that have absolutely no use in daily language. Morons.
@ Tournstone
For a guy who seems pretty knowledgeable on mobile devices, I find it odd you seem to have not researched what this phone was about at ALL??
You seem to be shocked by things that are/were common knowledge…size, no exchange support (yet), no headphone jack, apps in the store (all of which are currently FREE!) paid apps will be the great ones, and yes OPEN SOURCE WILL FIX THAT!!!
Your like the guy who ordered the iphone and found out it had no physical keyboard!! Do your homework…
I personally love mine, and yes it is MUCH better than my shadow!
You’re*
@weenis
Pac man is free dude. If you read the msg before download it says it is “Worth” $9.99 but the app is actually free. Downloaded it myself, best PacMac available on a mobile device
My G1 is waiting for me in a PO BOX and I can’t get to it until the 1st. I’ll be sulking in the corner, envious of everyone else.
I came from a Shadow to this too, and have no idea how I made it so long on that ugly brown – excuse me, “bronze” – thing, where you couldn’t even change the wallpaper without a third of it being cut away or covered by miscellaneous Windows garbage.
I love that I can check email at work now, and they can’t stop me! Yay!
I mean, *personal* email
DOes anybody know if you can set your phone to vibrate when you get a message???
Please tell me I’m wrong and you can foward text messages.
PERFECT Picture!!!! Watching Young Frankenstein on DVD right now also, so VERY Appropriate While playing around with my G1.
PURE Bliss!!!
- D
Does ne1 kno if there’s a way 2 keep ur keyboard light on longer??
You can’t foward text and if you get a mms you can’t save the pic. This phone is starting to suck!!
@Tournstone – “And what’s with this child’s house slipper they sent as a case?”
Nevertheless, the G1 fits in my dash case if I want a more stylish accessory case for it. At least they did send us a case, regardless if some people like it or not. ALL of the problems you mentioned except for the battery life…most of us already knew as common knowledge! I agree that you should have done your homework on those common issues. If you want a better case, just go buy one…if you go to a TMo store they often have them on clearance for $9.99 and it will also fit in the new Sidekick 2008 case as well.
@SoReal – I downloaded it too and I LOVE IT!! Yes, it was free. Everything is free right now. (until the end of the year I heard).
Complaints complaints complaints the phone is only a couple of days old people . Give it a chance and mack go into ur text long press a text and forward and other options are there
Armytank go into messaging then click menu button to go into settings.
Alot of the complaints that people have are actually on the phone. you just gotta play around with it. Remember the long touch and the menu button are your friends
@shooting blue. that adds vibrate as an addition to the ringtone. I don’t think you can have vibrate only.
I don’t really care though. Its not a problem for me!
I am loving my G1 reagardless…the updates will come. Most of us knew that the phone is a work in progress and can be updated and modified with apps…that’s the whole point of why I wanted the phone. I didn’t expect it to have “everything” out of the box because if it did…then what contributions could the developers add?
I’m hopeful that none of us will be disappointed (well, the people who did their research and homework won’t).
Honestly, the phone is all about discovery at this point…it got released today! Play with it, try to long press and see what you get. Also, there is a tips and tricks forum for the G1 that is very helpful.
Thanks for the answer
You’re welcome
I think the figuring it out thing is what makes this phone so different from every other phone. I love it. The camera is pretty good after all. Download the free picture app then you have the ability to mess with the pictures. You got to love how smooth the os runs. HOOOORAY FOR ANDROID
@Army – Yea, cause I got mine yesterday and I have discovered sooooo many things (of course I did NOT read the manual)! But, that’s the fun part…learning it!
@Armytank
For messages, you can just either turn off the ringer by decreasing the volume to just vibrate, or for SMS change the ringtone to “Silent” which is at the top of the list.
anyone having problems sending and receiving emails with gmail on there phones cause i cant send emails with attachments or just plain emails alone.
Can you change the settings on the home clock?
Not sure, I deleted mine.
But, you can change the clock on ur alarm by long pressing it. so try that.
Too many people crying foul! Posting this from the phone while@work. This phone from me will come into its own when I travel. Add the video player when it returns to the marketplace and its perfect for me. 3G is blistering fast, EDGE is reasonable. GPS works great, more will out of it as it matures. Just what I wanted,for the price I wanted to pay.
THE ANDROID OS IS AWESOME AND I AM JUST REALLY DISCOVERING ITS POWER AND ALL ITS CAPABILITIES AFTER 2 DAYS!!!
If anyone has not downloaded the PicSay app you have GOT TOO..
It is unreal what I can do from G1 with a picture…
UNREAL!!!
AFTER WORKING WITH IT FOR 2 DAYS ANDROID KICKS BUTT!!!
BTW Most of us here go to the Forums but I gotta say there is alot covered and if you have not been there its worth a visit!!!
I had a slow learning curve with that too but its nice also..
LOTS OF INFO!!! Like WHY THE APPS WERE MISSING…
THey will all be back soon if yours are missing… Mine are updating my the hour…
They need to make a hand glove that holds G1 becasue I am having a hard time PUTTING IT DOWN!!!
Maybe with velcro so I can just flip G1 over when I want to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich… hahahaha
Maybe even a Star Trek style arm band holder.
I can just put my arm out and flip G1 open…
hahahah I’m killing myself here…
im liking it so fat…..i got it round 8 am and right now im loviing it just waiting for some more applications to come in.
why is everyone complaning learn how to use the phone before you criticise the thing. THIS IS NOT THE IPHONE people its the g1. a whole different operatings sytem and i think it works well compared to other there are tons of things to do and to expect. if you want the jobsphone interface GO BUY A IPHONE.
@ T1 Connect
Tell me if I am wrong here.
It takes a couple days to discover the powere of this thing.
I am realizeing just how good everything is AFTER LEARNING HOW TO USE IT.
I will admit I even jumped the gun on comments cause I was a BIG BABY my apps were not there when the PHONE JUST CAME OUT TODAY OFFICIALLY!!!Instead of being happy I had it 2 days earlier.
I cannot say it more.
YOU HAVE GOT TO LEARN THE OS BEFORE BASHING IT!!!
IT IS POWERFULL!!!
Enough said on that!!!
it aint nothin kev but what im saying is google is new at a os especially a mobile os and i think they did good for thier first time around and instead of appriciating it and learning, understanding it and and adoring it people are complaining about it. and from the looks of some of these complaints it seems like some just lack the knowledge of basic operation(read the manual).
YA man RTFM!!!