“The T-Mobile G1 is great. The iPhone is better,” Murad Ahmed reports for Times Online.
“Google’s problem with its first foray into mobile phones was always going to be that Apple’s iPhone had set the bar impossibly high in terms of design and innovation. The G1 has fast internet access? Old hat. Touchscreen? Been there, done that. You can download hundreds of applications? Already bought the T-shirt,” Ahmed reports.
“This is not a Google phone per se. Google did not make it – it is manufactured by Taiwanese firm HTC, and is available exclusively on the T-Mobile network,” Ahmed reports. “But the branding is clear. Instead of the manufacturer’s name on the back on the phone, it reads ‘with Google.’ It’s also called the G1. It is Google’s brand and reputation that will be enhanced – or dented – by the success of this phone.”
“At first glance, you feel that more could have been done to make this a beautiful looking gadget. It feels and looks plastic and clunky. Choosing the G1 over the iPhone is the equivalent of choosing comfortable slippers over designer shoes,” Ahmed reports.
Full article here.
But it’s sim-locked to T-Mobile. I thot the G-Phone was supposed to be “open.” How could they?
Oh, the humanity!
Just look at the sacrifice the design took by implementing a a huge dinosaur keyboard. The iPhone’s keyboard is accurate and learns as you go and GOES AWAY when you don’t need it, which combined with multi-touch, is alot.
Just returned from Best Buy. They are selling iPhones now and accessories.
While I was there, I checked out all the other “CUTE” smart phones. OK, they look good on the internet. Sharp features, different features than iPhone, but OK.
But the way they feel in your hand. Plastic. Cheap, light weight, a toy are some of the thoughts that come to mind.
Now, if I was a teenager and wanted the latest cheap fashion accessory that was small and light enought to fit in my purse, and I did not have AT&T;, then I would surely consider these other phones.
That is the key, cheap, fashion acc, not AT&T;customer. Will they sell these phones, I am sure of it.
Are they a match for the iPhone??? … no way. period.
Just a thought.
en
> Google did not make it – it is manufactured by Taiwanese firm HTC
That’s largely irrelevant. Apple does not “make” the iPhone either; it is also assembled by some Taiwanese firm. But the key difference is that Apple designed the iPhone hardware and software, as one integrated process. That’s something only Apple can do on the global scale…
> Google did not make it – it is manufactured by Taiwanese firm HTC
That’s largely irrelevant. Apple does not “make” the iPhone either; it is also assembled by some Taiwanese firm. But the key difference is that Apple designed the iPhone hardware and software, as one integrated process. That’s something only Apple can do on the global scale…
ken1w, you missed the point. Not only does Google not “make” the G1, HTC did the design as well. Go ahead and try to tell us that Apple didn’t do the design on the iPhone. There is a big difference between outsourcing production of a device you spec’ed vs not being the designer and producer of the device.
Those phones look craptastic.
The fact that it has a QWERTY keyboard gives it at least one advantage of the iPhone. Apple should follow suit.
The lack of a qwerty keyboard is one of the things that makes the iPhone BETTER. Those cheap plastic keyboard phones are useless and way too antique. LAME.
@Joe the Moderate
Now when you start off by saying, “ken1w, you missed the point,” and follow it up with, “Go ahead and try to tell us that Apple didn’t do the design on the iPhone” while quoting yourself ken1w where he stated “But the key difference is that Apple designed the iPhone hardware and software, as one integrated process” – makes one wonder exactly who missed the point. And that’s just one point, if you look carefully, maybe you’ll find more where he’s suggesting a similar thought with a touch of insight.
Seriously, reading comments carefully before criticising can be an asset sometimes.
The plastic is no more Android, than the metal is Mac OS X. Our advanced and WIDE OPEN OS will eventually shine through as the true value of mobile phone using it.
We are hard at work creating a global googleStructure to support our cloud operations at every corner of the globe. All for free.
You iPhone zombies can keep paying through the nose for the privilege of being told what you can and cannot do with your phones by Apple, but the truly enlightened will see that ours is the best way. Eventually you’ll come around and we will welcome you with open ams.
You are after all, the sliver lining in our cloud.
There can be only one.
The Goog.
at $179 with only 1G of RAM it is Significantly more expensive than the iPhone. By the time you add the 8G Flash your total cost should be around $300 for this “cheap” knock-off.
Comment from: Cleetus
at $179 with only 1G of RAM it is Significantly more expensive than the iPhone. By the time you add the 8G Flash your total cost should be around $300 for this “cheap” knock-off.
Right now I can get an 8GB micro SD card on amazon for around $20. That makes it pretty much exactly the price of the iPhone.
– HCE
“You can download hundreds of applications? Already bought the T-shirt,”
This has to be some British phrase. Any limeys out there care to translate?
“Choosing the G1 over the iPhone is the equivalent of choosing comfortable slippers over designer shoes”, Ahmed reports.
Bad metaphor. Some designer shoes may look good and stylish, but kill your feet. They end up in the closet or trash. The iPhone is, at once, the comfortable slippers, the office dress shoes, and the running shoes all in one well designed package.
This is nothing more than a toy that you would find hanging on a hook at toys r us or inside a cereal box. I think goog should spend more time on their space program or the solar panel thingy. They are making fools out of themselves here.
Remember that Apple tried this model bundling their software with someone else’s hardware (Motorola), and it was not a big or lasting hit.
The other problem is the name: why buy a ‘G1’ when you can buy a ‘G3’ from Apple/AT&T;.
“We are hard at work creating a global googleStructure to support our cloud operations at every corner of the globe. All for free.”
– This sounds like what the cult leader would tell you just before the sacrifice mass murder.
@ adashofflair
Thanks for NOT missing the point.
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@Google McCloud
” …You iPhone zombies can keep paying through the nose for the privilege of being told what you can and cannot do with your phones by Apple, but the truly enlightened will see that ours is the best way. Eventually you’ll come around and we will welcome you with open ams. …”
I was going to come back with supporting facts in support of the iPhone but don’t really feel like it so, “fsck off” will have to do for now.
“This has to be some British phrase. Any limeys out there care to translate?”
It’s not a British phrase. You normally hear the full
“Been There, Done that , Bought the t-shirt in one comment. It has to do with something being hyped as new and exciting being available for a while.
What’s funny is it was easy to say the same thing about the iPhone. The 3g version didn’t do much more than add features that had been widely available on others for years.
Using the actual phone showed a huge advantage that simply listing functions can’t convey. It is pretty ironic though.
a turd
I hate being locked in and forced to sign a contract. They are just phones for Gawd sake.
You don’t get it do you guys? Its one handset on one carrier. Wait till its multiple handsets on multiple carriers with multiple price points and payment plans.
And who says that some other android handset had to have a keyboard?
Its open source.
Yes, its first gen gear and a first gen OS but the potential is there for something that would be MORE than a thorn in Apple’s side.
If anything, this will give Apple more incentive not to be lazy and complacent. This will keep Apple on their toes which is something we all want!
I wish Android all the success in the world.
No competition for the iPhone, but this probably marks the end of Windows Mobile.
How sad! (said sarcastically with a laugh)
Yeah, I hope it does relatively well too. Apple needs good competition to keep pushing it to come out with more great features and products. And at the end of the day, at least the Android phone doesn’t have Gates’ and Blamer’s sticky fingers all over it.