Review of the Google G1 – the first handset to run Android

On the 22nd October 2008, Google entered the mobile world with it’s first mobile phone, called simply the G1.  The handset manufactured by HTC was powered by a brand new mobile operating system designed by Google called Android.

Get Started

Once you have the phone out of the box and powered on, you will be prompted to enter your Google Account if you have one.  On entering these details within moments, your Google Contacts, Calendar and Emails are all swiftly synced to your phone. It really is an amazingly simple process, and even tops Apple on simplicity.  Of course this is all well and good if you use Google’s services, but then this is a Google phone!

The Hardware

The Google G1 (or HTC Dream as it is also known) doesn’t have the wow factor that the iPhone holds.  It is a nice little handset, but there is just something about it that just makes it look chunky and clunky.

The handset features 5 buttons and a track ball on the front of the device.  These are Menu, Home, Back, Call Pick-up & Call Hang-up. On the side you will find the volume rocker and on the bottom you will find the port for charging.

One thing to note is that the handset does not feature a standard 3.5mm headphone jack for listening to your music.  This can be done via an adapter in the port at the bottom of the phone.

Touch screen

The G1 is primarily a touch screen handset and is dominated by the 3.2in display. All of the phones features can be accessed by touching the display when held vertically, this includes the phone dialler.  When the handset is rotated into landscape, the keyboard can also be used for navigation.  The touch user-interface does not appear as polished as that of the iPhone and Multitouch is not present – the feature that gives the slick pinch-and-zoom experience.

One thing that the touch-screen does suffer from and that is fingermarks!

Keyboard

Not only is the G1 a touch screen handset it also features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for use in landscape mode. The buttons are easy to use, and don’t feel at all cramped.

It’s nice to have a choice between touch-based text entry and using a physical keyboard.  Sometimes it’s just easier to use a tactile buttoned interface for writing emails and responding to text messages.

Android

Android has come into a market already shaken up by that of Apple’s iPhone and of whom have already set a very high standard. Google’s new OS is a very nice OS to use, and it certainly makes the likes of Nokia look really old and stale.  There are lots more settings available to the end user than you find on an iPhone and the OS makes the whole user experience much more customizable allowing you to have things how you want rather than being dictated.

The home screen is much like the desktop of your PC, allowing you to have icons, and links to your favourite applications.  These are easily drag-able and can be placed where you want them.  You can swipe the screen left/right for more desktop space.

All of your applications are neatly tucked away in the applications folder, which can be accessed by pressing the menu button, or pulling the tab up from the bottom of the screen.

Although there is much more user freedom with Android,  it just doesn’t quite have the spit and polish that Apple have with their iPhone.

Compared to other mobiles

The image below shows the Google G1 sat beside some of the other high-end smartphones available at the time.  These are from left to right the Nokia N82, Google G1 and the Apple iPhone.

The Apple iPhone is currently the leader of the technology pack at the moment, it may be flawed, but the all round design and user experience are second to none.  The Google G1′s Android operating system, neatly puts it into technology’s second place with Nokia’s Symbian trailing in third.  Nokia had previously a leader in mobile technology and now with the likes of the iPhone and Android have suddenly made the interface and user experience very dated and in much need of an overhaul. The hardware of the G1 may not be to everybody’s liking, but it is still a nice little handset.