The Google G1 Android
evawhite on October 27th, 2008
Google’s response to the iphone. Released earlier then we expected actually, the expected was in November, so a month early. Google hopes to shake up the so called ‘walled garden’ of the iphone. The name ‘walled garden’ comes from how the Apple phone is so great to use, all fun and easy but all within the specified limits set by the company. Like for example development of new software for the phone was completely restricted and opened up only slightly in recent times, what one can put on the phone and from where they can get it is also restricted. People don’t have much complaints about that though, Apple have provided a garden space comfortable enough so people don’t have many complaints.
What Google has done however is to go open-source with the operating software. People can create plug-ins for the OS and customize it to whatever they wish. Also of course the phone has the full suite of the existing Google applications which we have gotten so used to about. Gmail, Google Maps, Calendar, Office apps and so on. A lot of people are excited about the levels of customizations it will bring. Google has a similar Android Market along the lines of the Apple itunes store.
The features on this phone are on par with the iphone, it is 3G, quad-band, is WiFi & Bluetooth capable and, has a 3.2 megapixel camera. The additional 1.2 megapixels over the iphone doesn’t yet give it that much of a quality boost. What this has however is a full QWERTY keyboard is one thing the iphone doesn’t have. The G1 comes with a touch screen which not being as intuitive as the iphone’s doesn’t really disappoint nonetheless. It responds well to finger touches and is not intended for the sharp point of a stylus. It has assisted-GPS which is the norm today. GPS along with Google maps make navigation interesting. Anyone who has used Google maps know that they can add any information they want on it, their neighborhoods, workplaces and their local hangouts. That kind of localization is only available on Google maps.
The design is probably the only thing which gets an ‘ok’. It is manufactured by HTC and the phone looks, well, ok for a first generation model. The android platform is what there is to celebrate about. Google, unlike Apple, do not have a locked down system, since it is open-source we can expect a whole plethora of android-enabled devices to hit the market. The G1 hit US stores with T-Mobile on 22nd October; it should be available world wide soon.
