T-Mobile G1

The Android smartphone is here, but can it topple the competition?

ALTHOUGH IT SUFFERS from a few hardware flaws, the first smartphone to use Google's Android platform, the T-Mobile G1, outshines much of the competition thanks to a fun-yet-smart OS and a unique set of features. Aggressively priced at $179 (with a two-year contract), it merits the top spot among T-Mobile's high-end offerings. The G1 also showcases Android as a capable mobile platform.

Manufactured by HTC, the thick, 5.6-ounce G1 lacks style when compared to other new smartphones. That said, it does have a smooth finish with rounded corners. The big 3.2-inch display doubles as a touch screen, and it has a 320x480 resolution. Below the display is the G1's "chin," a part of the phone's front that juts out slightly, and that's where you'll find tactile navigation controls including a clickable trackball and dedicated Call, Home, Menu, Back, and End Call buttons.

Much of the phone's girth is due to the G1's sliding screen, which kicks out to reveal a full QWERTY keypad. The keys, which closely resemble the T-Mobile Sidekick's, are square-shaped and sufficiently spaced to prevent accidental spokes. The
keypad also has a backlight, which is great
for dark or low-light environments. Because the buttons are flush with the phone's surface, however, they're not always responsive. Furthermore, the G1's
chin makes it painfully awkward to type messages while holding the phone horizontally.

The phone has a loud mono speaker on the
back, along with a 3.2-megapixel camera. Video capture isn't supported, and the camera has no flash, which is a shame, considering its impressive resolution.

After a brief star tup, the G1 boots up to a clean, configurable home screen. The home screen is a three-page panorama. and you can flick between pages with a swipe of your finger, much like you do on Apple's iPhone 3G. By default, the center page features an analog clock with a preconfigured number of application shortcuts. Google Search is displayed on the right page, and the left page is intentionally left blank for adding other app shortcuts. Overall, the G1's interface is on par with the iPhone's and proved to be clean, fun, and very intuitive.

Android is based on an open platform, which means any software publisher can design programs for it, and this is where the G1 really shines.The Android Marketplace, Google's answer to Apple's App Store, houses numerous apps that take advantage of the GM features. Compare Everywhere, for instance,
takes advantage of the G1's camera by letting
you scan barcodes and comparison-shop on the
fly. Amazon.com also takes advantage of the phone's media capabilities and lets you download DRM-free songs directly from its MP3
Store.The G1 doesn't currently offer as many apps as the iPhone, but its initial offeting is nonetheless impressive.

As expected, Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Calendar are tightly integrated with the G1's OS. The G1 remains synced with Google's Webbased services from the moment you power it on, requiring you to sign in with a new or existing Google account. Through cloud computing. Android eliminates the need to manually sync your phone directly with your PC. And as with all things Google, don't expect native support for Microsoft Exchange.

Although call quality on the Gl was superb, our 3G support was spotty throughout New York City and parts of New Jersey. Likewise, the G1's GPS signal wasn't always clear. Web browsing was relatively quick with the G1's
snappy Chrome-like browser. NYTimes.com, CNN.com, and our own ComputerShopper.com sites each loaded in just under 30 seconds via 3G. Besides 3G, the phone supports the slower EDGE network and faster Wi-Fi networks. Bluetooth also comes built in.

In out testing, the G1's battery lasted 12 hours and 30 minutes (with Wi-Fi off) in moderate 3G and Internet use. Using the G1's GPS for extensive periods drains the battery, but otherwise, battery life is stellar for sending/receiving calls, Internet use, and running applications.



Unfortunately, the Gl has some minor first-generation shortfalls. For instance, there's no 3.5mm headphone jack for use with most headphones on the market, and there's
no way to sync your contacts and calendar with your PC directly—you must rely on cloud computing. (MP3s and photos can be synced between the phone and a PC or Mac via drag-and-drop.) Despite the few complaints and first-generation glitches, however, Android is a promising platform that we're excited to see on other handsets in the future, and the Gl itself should be on top of every T-Mobilevcustomer's list.—Louis Ramirez

www.tmobile.com

Computer Shopper January 2009