Review: T-Mobile Android G1

The T-Mobile Android G1 is the first phone running Google's open-source mobile operating system and although we were pleasantly surprised, it still has a very prototype feel to it.

Having said that, it bodes very well for the future of the Android platform.

The G1 was designed by HTC and follows a very similar build to that firm’s TyTN phone. However, in keeping with the 'prototype' idea, it feels a bit like HTC weren't really sure what they would be dealing with so they threw everything at it, meaning you have a BlackBerry-style rollerball, large touchscreen and a full slide-out qwerty keyboard as input options.

One input mechanism that is conspicuously absent is a virtual keyboard. This means that even entering just one or two letters involves flicking out the keyboard, which can be cumbersome when trying to use just one hand.

The device is not exactly small, but it is relatively slim and we had no problem slipping it into a trouser pocket. The front is dominated by a 3.2in touchscreen with a 320x480 pixel resolution.

There are five buttons along the base, separated from the display, meaning they stay in place when the screen is slid away to reveal the keyboard. Buttons include a call pick up, Home, context-sensitive Menu button, back and a call put down button, which doubles as the power button.

On the top left you'll find the volume control keys and on the bottom right is the dedicated camera button. Charging and data connectivity is done through a mini USB port at the bottom of the phone.

The casing does look and feel a bit cheap, and rather than just sliding straight up or down the screen moves on a strange sprung hinge, which is quite novel but seems unnecessary. We also worry that the repeated impact of the screen with the base of the device could cause the casing to crack in time.

The keyboard is one of the best we've ever used. It is a good size, the keys are nicely spaced and have a good tactile feel to them.

The G1 should prove particularly attractive to anyone who uses several of Google's services, such as Goggle Mail, Calendar and Chat. When setting up the device for the first time, the user simply sticks in their Google username and password and every Google service they use is automatically set up on the device, meaning email, contacts, calendar and instant messaging are all immediately in place with very little fuss.

As you would expect with a Google-powered device, Maps and YouTube support is also built into the device.

Because this is the first time we've encountered a brand new mobile operating system in a while, it took us a little time to get to grips with how everything works, but the interface is pretty intuitive, especially once you master using the menu key to fire up most of your options and commands.

The interface is responsive and works quite smoothly. However, it lacks any kind of 'working' indicator, so on the occasions when the phone did take a few seconds to perform an operation there was no way of knowing whether it had registered the input.

It looks like the developers have taken a page or two from Apple's iPhone interface, as the user is essentially presented with three customisable main screens that can be switched using a sideways slide of the finger. As well as being able to drop application shortcuts anywhere on the screens, users can also place widgets or links wherever they like.

Currently, widgets only include a clock, picture frame or Google search bar, but there are more in development. Those applications not placed on the desktop can be accessed from a pull-up menu that lives at the base of the screen. Similarly, any notifications that appear on the top information bar can be expanded with a downward gesture across the screen.

Speaking of application development, another attractive feature of the G1 is the Android Market, which in the style of Apple's AppStore gives users easy access to a myriad of third-party applications to use on the phone. There are already a large number of programs available, spanning a wide variety of functions from social networking applications to FTP clients, voice recorders and games, with the majority being free of charge.

The G1 also sports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and a fairly standard 3.2MP camera, although there is no flash. Furthermore, for those people who may actually make video calls, it’s worth noting that there is no camera on the front. There is also an accelerometer buried inside so the phone can detect when it is being tilted, but hardly anything, including the desktop, makes use of this feature.

There is just 192MB of onboard storage, but extra capacity can easily be added through the microSD slot situated in the base.

Although the G1 is a good first outing for Google's Android open-source mobile operating system, we cannot escape the feeling that the designers were unsure of what they were trying to achieve with the device, hence the inclusion of a touchscreen, track ball and slide-out qwerty keyboard, and the overall effect is of a prototype device.