The first cell phone equipped with Google's mobile Android software, the G1, will go on sale October 22 at T-Mobile outlets and some electronics stores. The phone will cost $179, if a 2 year plan is purchased. Without a plan, the price jumps to $399.
With a touch screen you can whip through images with the swipe of a finger. There is also a full keyboard. The G1 can download music, display online maps, play games, store photos, show videos, e-mail, instant messaging, access GPS and communicate at 3G and Wi-Fi speeds.
It is a direct competitor to Apple’s iPhone, but isn’t as stylish and elegant. G1 has a real-world keyboard which makes it easier to use right out of the box and is more fingernail friendly. The iPhone has a virtual layout. The G1 is a multi-tasker and naturally integrates Google’s search and other applications. The G1’s battery can be replaced by the user, unlike the iPhone which needs to be sent back to the factory.
Here's a comparison of the G1 to the iPhone:
Keyboard and Ergonomics: The iPhone's virtual, on-screen keyboard has a lot of getting used to and some people never adjust, despite its eye appeal.
The G1 solution has a keyboard that slides out from under the screen like on the popular Sidekick phones. It is less elegant but more practical. The keys are relatively uncrowded because they run nearly the length of the phone. There are also separate number keys.
One problem which will need working out is the G1’s asymmetrical keyboard which puts a strain on the right thumb and causes numbness with heavy texting. Having a real keyboard also makes it heavier and more clunky
Larger screen size is won by the iPhone. Both have clean playful animations and backdrops.
Internet: The G1 has search everywhere and the familiar Google box on its main screen. Song titles can be searched easily with a touch on Google, YouTube and Amazon. Both phones are great to surf and offer near-full views of websites verses scaled-back mobile versions on other phones.
There is a handy back button on G1 and great email, instant messaging and texting. One down is the add accounts is mostly a miss. It can run instant messages at the same time as other applications.
The G1 has a big plus with picture messaging between cell phones.
Music: iphone has it over G1 in ease of transferring music fom the computer to phone.
Apple can’t be beat with its iTunes software for ease in organizing and downloading music. The G1 has drag and drop between devices, which is more difficult.
Music from iTunes will not play on G1. MP3 format music works fine however.
Music storage is 1 gigabyte on G1 and 8 GB on iPhone for a slightly more overall expense in products.
Applications: This is where iPhone has a huge difference with hundreds of games, fitness, health care, social networking, travel, sports and other kinds of software, all ready for downloading. Many are free: others are as little as 99 each.
There are only a small number of applications available on G1.
