I’m a happy owner of a HTC G1
June 27th, 2009Yup, that’s right folks. I’m really phscyed about this. It’s been a while since I’ve used any modern phone. The Palm Centro is still with me, and is still my main phone, but I have a company line that’s just begging to be housed in a good phone. Seeing how I’ve been really wanting to write a commercial Android app anyway, this falls into plan pretty well. The initial plan was to have the app first, then the phone, but what the heck. I was bored and I came across a relatively cheap phone. I’ll also take the opportunity to say this: “Blood thirsty Malaysian phone sellers! I ain’t gonna pay retail when it’s marked up by US150!”.
OK, so let’s talk about the phone - it’s so cool. Haha sorry, I know that does not describe it in any meaningful way but there are already plenty of reviews on the web. Go read.
I bought a T-mobile G1, a UK model probably as I’ve read that that model does not have colored hang-up and answer buttons. Mine is all white. The screen is great, the phone is absolutely responsive, even with apps running in the background. Camera is also performing above par - auto-focus and macro is just wonderful. It’s a 3.2 mp puny sensor, so no low-light stuff. Wifi is working as it should, hooked up to a WPA and open network just fine. I got EDGE working on Maxis, haven’t tried DiGi. Call quality is great. GoogleMaps with GPS is also nice, though no-turn-by-turn voice navigation :(. Bluetooth with A2DP is there, since it runs cupcake. The screen is responsive and looks lovely and is absolutely huge compared to the Centro.
Gripes? Hardware is kind flimsy due to the moving parts. It creaks when squeezed. Ah, also the speaker sounds really bleh.
On to a more positive note - there are tons of free software. OMG this is so nice. Not as much as Palm OS during it’s peak but I’m guessing things will move pretty fast due to the ease of development of Android and its openness.
Oh man, I just have to start some serious coding for this thing.