New break downs have arisen regarding the manufacturer’s costs of the HTC G1, the first handset to come out sporting the new Google Android OS. Of course who are we going to compare it to? Our (now) old friend the Apple iPhone 3G.
The iPhone 3G 8GB made quite a splash with the announcement of the retail price and also the manufacturer’s costs which were estimated to be around the $173 USD mark. Some were a bit confused because after all calculations it appears that Apple was possibly losing money on each unit sold. However, the recent news that the iPhone is now outselling a former mobile power house, the Motorola RAZR series, has quieted some of the critics in regards to the Apple marketing strategy.
However, there is a new smartphone in town and it is lowering it’s cost too. In comparisons to the approximate iPhone price tag of $173, the G1 is ringing up around $143.89 according to the iSuppli market research firm. The main difference between the two being the on board memory which Apple reportedly pays $23 for per unit. The HTC G1 is of course forgoing that internal memory and is investing more money in the device’s baseband chip. The combination of the ARM11 microprocessor and the ARM& core gives the G1 a strong base for multimedia and modem functions which should come in handy for running the slick new Android.
From the parts evaluation the Apple iPhone takes the cake. The multi-touch capability and also amazing capacitive touchscreen are two major features that the G1 is lacking. In terms of raw power the iPhone appears to come out on top. The extra $30 seems to make the difference giving the iPhone that edge.
However this may not be a major roadblock for the G1 as most of its appeal is banking on the flexibility and promise of the Google Android OS. This is the reason why we here got so excited and why internet buzz was at an all time maximum. Although the new OS has yet to prove itself we believe that the possibility of the Android OS will attract more smartphone developers and open up the system to limitless possibilities.
The first handset sporting the new Google Android OS, the HTC G1, has finally hit the market. The internet is lighting up with early reviews and we here at TimTechs are looking to put in our 2 cents.
From first impression the phone seems to come with HTC’s classic quality and high tech precision that we love. The design is love and hate for most people. It’s a bit thicker than some of its main competitors such as the iPhone 3G, but for us that is by no means a deal breaker and the highly usable QWERTY keyboard is definitely worth it.
But let’s look a little closer:
Hardware Advantages
Excellent qwerty keyboard
Love or hate design (we love it)
Durable design
Dedicated camera button for quick switching
Great color on the LCD touchscreen
Comfortable in the hand easy to use
Hardware Disadvantages
The qwerty keyboard is required for texts which means you need to flip it out for any message
Average 3G connections (could be due to T-Mobile)
Good but only average sound quality
No 3.5 mm head phone jack
Now that’s all well and good about the way the phone feels and operates in our hands, but who are we kidding here? We’re looking for the dirt on Android and what we’re going to be able to do with it.
Here are our some of our first impressions:
Software Advantages
Quick and easy integration with your Google Accounts (this was so easy)
Beautiful easy to navigate interface
Great notification system, much superior to Windows or iPhone
Easy to customize homescreen
Amazing integration with Gmail
Portrait and landscape modes with the accelerometer are very useful
Software Disadvantages
Long and scroll presses can get confused by the system
Google Contacts is not widely used
No flash support for the browser yet
So that’s a quick look at something which is most likely going to take the mobile market by storm. From a general point of view the G1 isn’t going to make any major changes in terms of hardware. It definitely have some kinks to work out, especially with GPS and connection issues, but the fans out there (us included) don’t really have any interest in that. We were drooling over the Android OS and it has not failed to satisfy. The possibilities for it to grow into a staple mobile phone OS are guaranteed. We can’t wait to see what will be coming up in the next year.
Google’s Android operating system is continuing to make waves and the inevitable comparisons to the mobile market’s other mobile juggernaut, the Apple iPhone 3G, are coming up in spades.
Now, although in many ways the first Android handset, the HTC G1, hardware wise doesn’t hold much of a candle to the iPhone, people’s interest in the model don’t have a lot to do with whether you can zoom into your pictures with a thumb and fore finger (although that is still pretty damn cool). People are drooling over the G1 because of the software development potential. Google is playing their hand like a smart company should and opening Android to developers around the world. Smart developers. Developers who aren’t going to be restrained by Apple’s fancy legal team and who will be able to explore new possibilities of what you can do on a handset. This is going to mean customizability. You will design your phone to your needs without any kind of restraint and the creativity of the geek world at large will be at your access.
But we do have to remain in reality. Let’s look at some of the things that the iPhone 3G is offering us that the HTC G1 is not. Probably the biggest feature is memory. The HTC G1 is not carrying much in regards to internal memory and the iPhone has demonstrated that people are willing to use their phones as complete media players. And to do this you need a good chunk of gigabyte. Also because of this migration of consumers using their phones as a complete multimedia system the G1 will have to do some catch up in terms of getting a video player available for the OS. Fortunately, because of Android’s way of working it is almost certain that there are some developers out there working on a friendly media player to rival the iTune dominance.
On the other hand if we consider the G1’s keyboard (some might feel it’s bulky), the integrated compass and it’s multi tasking abilities, it has a lot going for it over the iPhone. In some ways this comparison is all moot because the Android system is going to be the deal killer for a lot of people and once this OS starts to make its way into other hand sets it’s going to be a tough fight for the iPhone. Everyone is already comparing every new smartphone to the iPhone and when the Android train gets running at full speed it isn’t going to be a fair fight.
So where will your loyalties lie? Google integration or Apple branding?
With the buzz in full effect for HTC’s G1 - the first mobile officially sporting the Google Android OS - other developers are starting to catch up and get on board. The latest demos that are flooding the internet of the Android OS has pricked peoples ears and handset manufacturers are listening.
Motorola is the latest company who seem to have committed to putting serious development into incorporating the Android OS into their phones. It has been rumored that they’re currently looking to build up a 350 person team dedicated to developing the Android OS for Motorola phones. This will definitely be a boost to Motorola’s rep and should give them another step ahead in the market.
No other brands have yet seriously committed to Android, although representative were seen hobnobbing with the industry at the at the Android development conference and the blogosphere is reporting that they may be next. If Nokia were to to seriously take on the Android system they would become even more of a power house. Can you imagine your N96 sporting that hot and speedy Android? Sweet!
The first handset sporting the highly anticipated Google designed Android platform has been officially announced. The HTC G1 is scheduled to be hitting the market on October 22nd and preorders with T-Mobile for the device will be starting soon.
This has been a long time coming, especially for this blogger, and it’s finally nice to see that Google is about to put itself in the race. The G1 is going to be functional with a number of Google online services. Gmail will be available with push support, Google talk and YouTube as well. AmazonMP3 will also be directly accessible from the phone (although the lack of a 3.5 mm headjack will make music listening a bit frustrating).
One of the coolest features however is the embedded digital compass that syncs with Maps Street View and google maps to give you live 360 degree city scape browsing. So you can walk a city without even walking a city. Apparently integrated games with this GPS function are on the way. Counterstrike in your home town maybe?
In terms of hardware the G1 isn’t the fanciest phone, but it does hold its own. It features a 3.2-inch display touchscreen display, QWERTY keyboard and a 3.15 MP camera. The memory specs are 92 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM and a Qualcomm MSM7201A 528 Mhz processor which should work splendidly with the Android OS.
Even though the hardware leaves something to be desired the real reason we’re all going to be after this phone is the Android OS. Video demos of the OS are spilling out onto the web and the functionality looks fantastic.
Google’s Mike Jennings demonstrated a working Android OS; the interface is fast and responsive but is not yet parallel to the graphical interface of the iPhone. Jennings revealed that Google is planning an App Marketplace for them as well as saying he expected multiple payment options , which will of course include Google Checkout.
Its VERY much possible T-Mobile will be launching the HTC dream sometime in the upcoming Q.
The continuing buzz about the first Android handset, the previously reported about HTC Dream, is starting to grow into an earthquake. The info hungry internet is getting as many details as possible and the news about the first Android handset is slowing making its way to the masses.
Recently details about what the HTC Dream - now being called the T1 by T-Mobile - isn’t going to be featuring have come to light. Similar to the Apple iPhone 3G the Dream is not going to have full Bluetooth stack and data messaging and also Google Talk will not be present. Now before all of us feature gluttons get all complainy about the lack of this feature we have to consider that the developers are making a sound decision in this case. The Google Talk’s security measures are not anywhere near where they need to be to take the role of being a mainstay IM service.
Some other exciting spec news is the 528MHz Qualcomm 7201 CPU which should have no trouble handling the Android platform and also the weird and strangely alluring banana shape which will either be a make or break design quality for some.
So are we still laughing at Android for taking their time to get out their platform or are they just taking the right steps to make sure they’re not rushing out a dud? How is this going to affect the Google stock monster? Wait and see I guess.
It looks like our dreams may be coming reality. The news broke today that the first handset operating on Google’s Android platform has been approved by the FCC. The winner is, as some have been speculating, is the HTC Dream.
Industry news has it that the official word for the launch should come in September or October and the phone will be released on November 10th. It was originally thought that the phone would make to market earlier but the FCC documents indicate otherwise. A confidentiality request that ends on November 10th seems to confirm the launch date.
An unofficial source is listing the following as just some of the specs we can expect:
Jogball
Street view
E-Mail
Touch Display
Full internet capabilities
Maps
Access to all Google apps
Camera 3 MP
YouTube
3G / WiFi
No GPS has been confirmed yet, but it is expected as the Maps and Street view features would require it to function. So stay tuned for further updates on that.
As previously reported TMobile will be handling service for this device and will be offering at app store similar to Apple’s. It’ll be interesting to see how far Android can take us into cell phone applications and if it’ll be able to make up for the lost ground against the already functioning LiMo.
Check out this short video of what we might be able to expect Android:
Analysts have revealed that the first phone sporting the Android platform is likely to be launching in November. This is a little later than previously reported, but now dates are starting to solidify a bit more coherently.
The FCC apparently approved the first phone recently and what this means for consumers is that they are going to have easy access on their phones to all of the Google applications that make our lives so easy. There is the possibility that the model may not be equipped with Microsoft Exchange. So if users are looking to access push e-mail they will likely have to do so through G-Mail. It isn’t clear if Exchange will be addable later.
In other news people have reported that T-Mobile will have an apps store similar to Apple’s to purchase and download applications. Also, Google Ad Software is coming pre-installed in the model which is suspected to lower the model price and possible even the service costs. The price you pay to look at viagra ads, I guess.
This is a pretty big announcement. Make sure you stick around here for all the updates and reactions to the news.
Despite earlier speculation, the rumors of a possible Android and LiMo collaboration have been quashed. Google claims that they are close to completion with their technology and any kind of input from anyone else would ruin the user experience. Thus they have no interest in LiMo.
This may prove tough for Google in the long run as they are starting to fall behind fast in the market. Despite the end of the year estimate from Android’s Eric Chu for Android’s release, LiMo might already have another round of phones on the market. This will be loss ground for Google.
What to do you think? Any preferences towards either system? Is all the Android hype worth the wait? Will the release date even effect google?
