The G1 phone, the first mobile handset running the new Google-backed Android
software, promises to change your life. You’ll be able to locate where your
friends are without having to call them. You won’t need a home computer to
find the best price for a pair of shoes or a new camera; the G1 will tell
you where the best price is in the nearest shop. You can leave the A-Z at
home – this phone will do things no dedicated GPS device can. And in the
future you might even be able to use it to pay for your groceries.
Does it really work? InGear had an exclusive hands-on G1 testing session, and
as we found over the course of several hours, Google’s Android software
combined with this clever handset does deliver, though it wasn’t possible to
test all the applications in the time available.
First, the G1 is packed with fresh ideas. A compass overlaid on Google Maps
lets you navigate by rotating the phone. ShopSavvy is a program that
promises to let you scan the barcode of a product in a shop and then bring
up images and data about the item. BioWallet stores sensitive information
that requires you to sign the touchscreen to access or – in true sci-fi
style – undergo a retinal identification scan. Downloadable programs such as
Lifeware tell people in your social network where you are or recently were
(don’t use this if you’re having an illicit affair).
On many smartphones, adding program icons and shortcuts to software will soon
clutter up the home screen. With Android your desktop cleverly extends
beyond the edges of the phone’s 3.2in LCD screen. Flick your finger across
it to the left or right to reveal this extra space. Swipe downwards at the
top of the screen and a menu descends like a window shade, containing the
phone’s messaging options.
As you explore the options and fire up a few bundled applications, you soon
notice how quickly the G1 responds to commands. This is nothing to do with
the phone’s hardware; rather the Android software is so much less demanding
than two of its clunkier rivals – Windows Mobile and Nokia’s Symbian system.
In many respects it even makes Apple’s much vaunted iPhone seem sluggish.
To begin using the G1 you must first register a Google Mail account. You are
then free to set the phone up with other e-mail providers, but Google’s own
comprehensive suite of free tools – online diary, e-mail, photo sharing and
so forth – are so well presented in Android that it would be tempting to
rely on these over alternatives. They are also free, which is a big
advantage over Apple’s rival £60-a-year MobileMe service.
To get online you have a choice of a T-Mobile 3G data connection or a wi-fi
network. The built-in Google Maps software swiftly found our location and
displayed it as a conventional 2-D map or an overhead satellite view.
Google Maps is of course available on any current smartphone; what’s unique
here is Street View, which shows photos of real locations taken at ground
level with directional arrows. The photos even reorientate themselves as you
turn the phone – particularly handy when trying to work out which direction
you’re facing as you leave a building. It’s typical of the close
integration between Google services and the G1’s hardware.
Android’s web browser, based on Google’s new Chrome software, is excellent.
You can navigate through a web page by swiping a finger across the screen in
a manner akin to the iPhone. Unlike its Apple rival, though, Android demands
that you prod a screen icon to zoom in or out, which is less elegant than
the iPhone’s multi-touch system, but superior to all other rivals. The G1’s
photo-browsing application works in a similar way.
In other respects, the Android operating system is far from perfect. For some
people it offers too many options, which could prove confusing, though its
software-based features are likely to improve as Android users are
encouraged to create their own applications. These can be uploaded to a
special area of the internet called Android Market then downloaded to their
phone by other users. As a taster, already on offer are fast-moving 3-D
video games, cooking tutorials and even ways to plan what clothes to wear
from your wardrobe (MyCloset).
The iPhone of course already has something similar – the App Store, operated
and rigorously controlled by Apple, which vets every piece of software
submitted. Android Market, however, promises to be there for anyone who
wants to develop their own features or even write them to order for others.
This open concept could prove a masterstroke once enough users get involved,
and as long as Google stays on top of any attempts by criminals to hide
malicious software under the guise of innocent-sounding titles.
For the G1 handset itself the prognosis is less rosy. Business users will love
the solid, back-lit keypad that slides out from the side of the device: it
makes text messages and e-mails simple to type, although the style-conscious
will note that in consequence the G1 is substantially chubbier than the
iPhone.
And in a nice touch, as you open the keyboard the screen reformats to
landscape instead of portrait. However, G1 users cannot currently sign up
for the popular business e-mail services offered by BlackBerry and Microsoft.
Nonbusiness users will bemoan the 3.2Mp camera’s inability to capture video,
the fact that it doesn’t have a flash, and its extremely limited Bluetooth
wireless connectivity. Although it comes with headphones, if you want to use
your own pair you’ll need to attach an inelegant USB dongle before you can
connect them.
Granted, the G1 has a handy trackball navigation control, a user-replaceable
battery (unlike the iPhone, where it is locked into the casing) and a slot
for a memory card of up to 8Gb capacity. Ultimately, though, it feels
plasticky – as if the phone were put together from parts left over from
T-Mobile’s similar Sidekick smartphone.
However, the G1 does enough to prove that future Android-equipped smartphones
– more than 30 are said to be in the works – will give Apple and its rivals
a run for their money. Roll on the G2.
The G1 is exclusive to T-Mobile, and will be free on contracts costing £40 a
month or more. This includes unlimited data use in the UK (watch out if you
check your e-mail or browse a lot overseas). It will be available in the UK
in November.
WHAT IT OFFERS
T-MOBILE HTC G1, AKA THE GOOGLE PHONE
Key features Advanced software with a rapidly growing list of
applications. Classy 3.2in touchscreen and slide-out qwerty keyboard plus a
navigation ball. Has no flash on its 3.2Mp camera and only minimal built-in
memory, but does have a memory-card slot. No 3.5mm headphone socket. Free
e-mail, contact and calendar syncing via Google. Limited video playback and
Bluetooth features. Weight 5½oz.
Price Free with an 18-month £40-per-month T-Mobile contract.
Verdict Exciting software trapped in an underwhelming handset.
ANDROID: WHAT’S THAT?
- This exciting new mobile-phone software wasn’t created by Google and isn’t
owned by it, though its development was largely funded by Google via a body
known as the Open Handset Alliance (OHA). This loose confederation of tech
firms includes handset makers, mobile-phone networks and Google.
- The OHA allows phone makers to run Android on a suitable handset, without
charge. Several have signed up, including Samsung, LG and Motorola. T-Mobile
is the first UK-based mobile network to join. Others may soon follow.
- Android is less demanding of a phone’s hardware than traditional smartphone
software such as Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and runs quickly, making its
rivals seem sluggish by comparison.
- As Android is open source, anyone can create programs for it. These are
available to download to the phone from the online Android Market. Many are
free; others must be paid for via Google’s payment. system. Innovative new
programs include ShopSavvy, whereby you scan a product’s barcode with the
phone’s camera and it checks for the best online price, then shows you the
nearest store on a map.
- Android’s open-source approach also means that a handset maker or mobile
network could hobble its version of the software by removing features such
as a phone’s ability to make free calls over the internet.
- As the software is self-policed by an online community of fans, Android
raises security concerns. That said, this already works well for Linux, the
computer-based operating system upon which it is based, and the Firefox web
browser.
- Despite Android’s multimedia pretensions, it cannot yet play videos in
either Apple’s QuickTime or Adobe’s Flash format – both popular on websites.
Google has at least fixed this problem for fans of YouTube, which uses
Flash.
THE RIVALS
APPLE iPHONE
Key features Swish software with growing list of applications. Slick
touchscreen and virtual keypad, plus 2Mp camera without flash. Built-in
(unexpandable) storage of 8GB or 16GB. Standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
Automatic wireless e-mail, contact and calendar syncing with Apple’s
MobileMe service (£60 a year). Weight 4¾oz.
Price £99 (8GB) or £159 (16GB) on contract of £30-£35 a 18-month O2
month. Free on pricier contracts; £350-£400 on pay as you go.
Verdict Still the coolest smartphone you can buy, despite faults such
as inability to cut and paste text or perform several tasks at the same
time.
BLACKBERRY BOLD
Key features Quirky software is not upgradable. Navigation ball and
full qwerty keypad. Disappointing 2Mp camera despite its flash. Built-in
storage of 1GB plus a memory-card slot. Standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
Unlimited global e-mail service typically adds £8.50 to tariff. Contact and
calendar syncing must be done manually on a PC. Weight 4¾oz.
Price Free on pricier contracts; from £400 without contract.
Verdict Handset is too wide for comfort as an everyday mobile but an
ideal ally for e-mail junkies. The best BlackBerry so far.
