If you’re anxiously waiting to try out the upcoming T-Mobile G1 handset powered by Google’s Android platform then you should head on over to http://tmobile.modeaondemand.com/htc/g1/ where you can virtually try out the handset and some of the features through an online emulator. Truth is - I really haven’t been all that impressed with the G1 and after using the emulator, I’m still not at all impressed. Maybe you’ll think otherwise..

Thanks to screwdriver for the linky.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Moble G1, Android, Emulator

It appears T-Mobile temporarily stopped taking pre-orders over the weekend for the new T-Mobile G1 Android-based handset. The first handset to use Google’s Android platform, the G1 was introduced last Tuesday with T-Mobile taking pre-orders from customers for $179.99 (you must agree to a new two year contract).  Apparently over the weekend, T-Mobile stopped taking pre-orders as folks who went to the site saw a message that said:

“Sorry! Due to the overwhelming popularity of the new T-Mobile G1, upgrades are temporarily unavailable. Please try again later”.

However, it appears everything is back up again. (This was probably a system outage than a pre-order outage). In any event if you’re contemplating getting the G1, then you might want to consider pre-ordering it now.

[Check it out via News.com]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile G1, Google, Android

The era of the Google Android platform is finally upon us as T-Mobile, Google, and HTC formally introduced the new T-Mobile G1 handset today at a press conference in New York City. The first commercially available handset based on the Google Android platform, the G1 can be pre-ordered now for $179 (along with a two year voice/data agreement) with the release date set for October 22nd. The G1 will be available in the UK sometime in November and then in Europe in early 2009.

OK, let’s talk about the feature set. First off, the G1 has both a touch-based user interface as well as a QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard is hidden behind the screen which rotates out a la SideKick style. Kudos to HTC for developing a phone with multiple input options. As much as I love the touch interface of the iPhone, I still long for a real physical keyboard at times. Other features of the G1 include a 3 megapixel camera with auto-focus capabilities (a bit better than the paltry 2 megapixel iPhone cam), Quad-band GSM and 3G support (along with dual-band UMTS support), multimedia messaging, e-mail support (Gmail of course as well as POP3 and IMAP support), a full web browser, GPS functionality, a built-in music player along with integrated support for the Amazon MP3 store, Bluetooth wireless, and of course, a slew of Google Apps including Search, Maps, YouTube, Calendar, and Talk. The screen is completely customizable thanks to drag and drop support for applications, photos, and folders. There’s even a built-in compass which will be extremely useful when working with Google Maps. There’s of course much more to get into but those are the major points for now.

Continuing the application side of things, Google announced their new Android Market (think iPhone App Store) where you’ll find third party applications for Android devices. The G1 will of course support the Android Market. The companies, of course, touted the open platform that is the Android system but it remains to be seen whether this will translate to quality applications for the handset. Sure, anyone can write applications for an Android device.. but if the apps suck.. who will care? I’d rather have 10 quality apps than 100 crappy ones.. don’t you agree? But hey.. maybe I’ll be wrong and maybe the Market will totally surprise me. This will definitely be a wait and see thing for me.

But then again.. this applies as a whole to the Android Platform.  Having the Android Platform in the mobile handset mix certainly changes the landscape for smartphones and will hopefully continue to spur innovation across all vendors. I’m sure there are many of you out there who will be excited about the prospects of a Google-based mobile phone. Heck.. it’ll be somewhat cool to say that you have a Google phone (though somehow.. this isn’t as cool to me as saying, “I have an iPhone”.. sorry Apple still wins the coolness factor here). But let’s not forget one thing.. Google is still a business.. and it’s still about making money. Sure the company is pushing Android as an “open” alternative for customers and device manufacturers… but it’s the most convenient method for making sure Google is relevant in the mobile platform. A Google phone in your pocket means potentially more money for Google as you continue to use their services in every facet of your life.  But hey.. if Google isn’t doing it.. then someone else will right?

In the meantime, I’ll stick with my iPhone 3G.. even if the 3G sucks

Here are some useful links from around the web..

• CNET Crave T-Mobile G1 details, price, and launch date revealed
• PC Magazine - Google, T-Mobile Launch “Gaming Changing” G1 Phone
• Gizmodo - Hands on with the T-Mobile G1 (lots of pics)
• Engadget - T-Mobile G1 Video hands-on
• Gizmodo - G1 Price and Feature Comparison
• Gizmodo - Android and G1’s Five Most Obnoxious Flaws
• MobileBurn - T-Mobile unveils the G1
• PhoneScoop - T-Mobile G1 Launch Event

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, Google, HTC, Android, G1

It’s still a few hours from T-Mobile’s G1 with Google Press Conference in NYC (which occurs at 10:30am EST) but plenty of snapshots have already appeared on the web (thanks to BGR). Plus, the official T-Mobile G1 website has officially gone live (though you won’t be able to do much right now). If you’re interested in following the live event, you’ll be able to do so on the website starting at 10:30am. In the meantime, enjoy the three snapshots of the G1. Certainly an interesting looking smartphone.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile G1 with Google

It’s official. T-Mobile will be introducing the worlds first Google Android OS based smartphone on September 23rd in New York City. According to PC World, the phone is being manufactured by HTC and is likely a slider phone of some sort. Unfortunately all other details are sketchy at this time.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, HTC, Google Android OS, Smartphone

The N.Y.Times is reporting that T-Mobile will be the first carrier to carry a handset running Google’s Android platform. This phone is being developed and manufactured by HTC and will be coming out before Christmas - possibly even as early as October. The phone, which folks on the net have been calling the “Dream”, will have a touch-screen display and a full slide-out keyboard. A video of a supposed HTC dream handset appeared on YouTube recently - and sources to the NYTimes have confirmed this is indeed the phone coming out for T-Mobile.

Android based handsets (or smartphones) will directly compete against handsets such as the Apple iPhone, Windows Mobile handsets, and Research in Motion BlackBerry devices. Google is making the Android OS free to all companies part of the Open Handset Alliance as it hopes that Android will accelerate its penetration into the mobile market.

T-Mobile’s HTC phone is expected to be the only Android phone available in the U.S. this year. Sprint is also working closely with Google in developing an Android-based handset.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, HTC Dream, N.Y.Times, Google Android

Those of you waiting for an Android based handset will be happy to hear that HTC’s version is on track for fourth quarter shipment. DigiTimes is reporting that HTC will deliver Android-based handsets to ODM clients during the fourth quarter as planned. No word of course as to when these handsets would actually make it to the U.S. though.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: HTC, Android

Ah there’s nothing like the good ol rumor mill to fill up the news stories on an otherwise boring Monday. This one isn’t exactly juicy per se.. but it’s interesting nevertheless - at least to T-Mobile users. A number of websites (probably all eventually citing the same source I bet) are reporting that T-Mobile will roll out their 3G service on October 1st in 20+ cities across the country.  To make things even more interesting, some are speculating that the company will also announce their first Android based mobile phone that very same day. And what might that first Android phone be for T-Mobile? Rumors have it that it’s the HTC Dream.

Of course, all this is pure speculation at this point. There’s also speculation that the company will introduce three other phones at the 3G launch including the Sony Ericsson Z780, a Samsung handset, and the Motorola ZINE ZN5. Now what cities might get 3G support? They include Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Birmingham, Ala.; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Memphis,Tenn.; Miami; Minneapolis; Long Island, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; Sacramento, Calif.; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Tampa, Fla.; and Washington, D.C.

3G rollout for T-Mobile would definitely be welcome news to the carrier - but how many people would actually care about an Android phone (aside from Google employees!)?

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, 3G, Android, HTC Dream

If you’re looking forward to a Google Android phone, your wait is going to be a tad bit longer. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google Android handsets will not be available until sometime in the fourth quarter and even that date is a bit of a stretch for some manufacturers. Some carriers and application developers are having a hard time meeting even that schedule. Carriers such as Sprint and China Mobile will probably not be able to launch Android phones this year although T-Mobile still claims that they will deliver a phone by the fourth quarter.

Does this spell trouble for Google’s mobile efforts? Not at all - many of the delays can be traced back to one of a few things including the upcoming launch of the iPhone 3G mobile phone, the fact that Android itself isn’t finished, and the sheer fact that developers have to deal with a whole new platform SDK. The real question won’t be whether handset manufacturers and carriers support Android - it’ll be whether consumers and business adopt Android based handsets.

[Check it out via News.com]

Technorati Tags: Google, Android, delays

Pictured above is a screen shot of the Google Android mobile phone software as shown at Google’s I/O Conference on Wednesday in SF. You can see a slew of screen shots over at CNET.com. Android is due to ship as open source software and the first phones to utilize Android are due to come out later this year.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Google Android