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24 Hours Later, I Love The T-Mobile G1, But ...
11:48 AM EDT Thu. Oct. 23, 2008
Getting used to a new device takes time, I realize, especially in the case of the G1, which is the first device to run the open source Linux Google Android mobile operating system. But over the last 24 hours, I ditched my BlackBerry and put the G1 through the ringer. While I am overall pleased, there are still a few things that would make it much better, and make the G1 a true competitor against touch screen titans the Apple iPhone 3G and the soon-to-be released BlackBerry Storm.
First, the lack of support for Adobe Flash video is a problem. Yes, the G1 offers a YouTube application that plays videos clear as day. YouTube is the exception to the rule. Having a wide, vivid screen and crisp audio opens itself up to want to watch more video. But if that video is Flash, you're out of luck. The iPhone is expected to support Flash soon, so it's certainly a strike against T-Mobile and its Google Android-based device. I've yet to encounter an issue with a Flash-based Web site, but I'm sure that'll come soon.
Second, the G1 lacks integration with Microsoft Exchange email, which will be a deal-breaker for a good number of potential G1 buyers. Exchange is the gold standard for corporate email and not supporting it could really work against the G1 and the Google Android platform. Granted, an Exchange application is expected to be created soon, but until then corporate users will be in the dark.
Third, I'm ticked at the lack of a Facebook application. My BlackBerry had one. So does the iPhone. My G1 came preloaded with a bookmark to the Facebook Web site, but there is no application to be found. And from the looks of it, there are no plans for one. Word is the rift between Facebook and Google over Facebook banning Google's Friend Connect has left a sour taste in both parties' mouths and Facebook would rather rely on a third-party developer to create an app for the G1 rather than devote its own resources. There is a MySpace app for the G1. Do people still use MySpace?
Fourth, the T-Mobile employee wasn't kidding when he warned me about how fast the battery drains. I connected the G1 over my Wi-Fi network last night at 6:45 p.m. with 60 percent battery life. By 8 p.m., the battery was well below 40 percent, and by 9 p.m. the battery was critically low, around 15 percent, and required an overnight charge to get it back up to full power.
Fifth, while the G1's 3.2 megapixel camera shoots great pictures, I can't get past the lack of zoom and the lack of a flash. Yes, it's a phone, but with myriad smart phones available with top notch cameras, it's a bit of a turn off. Also, the lack of video recording capabilities hurts, especially when new comers like the BlackBerry Storm are promising to offer it.
Sixth, the physical slide-out QWERTY keyboard is excellent, but T-Mobile really should've included a keypad for the touch screen. Sliding the screen up to access the keyboard for a quick Web search or text message is a slight hassle, but could've easily been avoided.
Lastly, I'm turned off by the G1's lack of a standard headphone jack and USB ports. It does offer a proprietary combination port, but a special dongle is required to hook up regular, every day headphones. It's silly to offer music downloads through the Amazon MP3 store and a host of music-centric applications and not offer the user an easy way to listen privately to their tunes.
