It’s Not Rocket Surgery

It’s been one week since my new T-Mobile G1 Android smartphone arrived via the man in the brown suit. I had to order it online, because T-Mobile has not rolled out their 3G network in the Kansas City area yet. The roll-out has been delayed to January. As a result, the local T-Mobile stores are not selling the G1 yet, and the local WalMarts have recalled their stock until the roll-out. I didn’t want to wait, so I ordered online.

So, this ‘review’ is based on T-Mobile’s EDGE network connectivity, not 3G.

It took several hours to get the phone activated. I went online and switched my phone and activated a G1 data plan. It told me it had added the plan and removed my previous non-G1 data plan. Perfect. Except that it didn’t remove the old data plan. I had switched my SIM card from my old phone to the new one, but no joy trying to activate. I waited a while, tried again, nothing. Finally, I called customer service. Well, I called after I switched the SIM card back to my old phone so I could use it. My wife and I have gone wireless, and canceled our land line, so a working cell phone is the only ‘home’ phone we have right now. I called, got a place on the call back queue and waited for the call back. The agent fixed the data plan issue and told me everything was set up, and that I should be able to activate it shortly. I checked online, and couldn’t access my T-Mobile account info for an hour or so. When it was available, I was able to swap SIM cards, again, and activate the phone.

I tried out all of the basic functionality, checked my email, surfed the web, etc. All of my Google stuff was sync’d fine. I then hit the ‘Android Market’ to download some apps. The first I download was ‘Ringer Control’, and app written by my friend Kelly. It either turns off the ringer, or sets it to vibrate when the phone is face down on a table, or upside down in a pocket. I also downloaded an SSH client, and proceeded to log into a work server to check on it’s status. There is a good selection of apps and games, a few really nice apps, and all free (for now). The download/install process is pretty painless, and Android tells you what services and information the app will have access to before you start the download.

Overall, I give Android a B+. It is fast, stable, and the UI is pretty decent. I give Microsoft Windows for Smartphones a D, at best. So, this is a big improvement. I haven’t had to reboot the phone to fix any weird problems, or reclaim leaked memory. It’s not as stylish as the iPhone UI, but it works.

Google integration rates a B-, maybe a C+. I can’t send an email to one of my GMail groups. When I hit the search key while in the TO: field of the gmail client, it does a search of all of my emails, instead of putting me in my contact list. Pocket Outlook got this one right. This knocks it down a level on the ‘Just works’ list. There is no easy way to send an email to multiple recipients, other than start typing addresses and select as it searches.It won’t search by name, unless it’s part of the email address. That sucks. I’m thinking C+.

Speaking of email, and such. Why do I need 3 different clients for gmail, other email, and text messaging? And why does the IMAP/POP client utterly fail to send notifications of new email when the screen is locked? The Gmail client and messaging client can do it. Messaging, overall, is a C-.

I was able to set up the IMAP client to pick up my work email. Actual Exchange integration would be nice. Even if it isn’t ‘push’ email. But the least you can do is actually set an alert or notification when I get new mail. Even when the screen is locked. It’s been done.

The hardware is decent, the form factor works better for me than my Dash. The screen is nice, clear, bright, and the touchscreen works pretty well, even with a protective cover. Only time will tell if the moving parts hold up. Battery life is OK, no worse than my Dash. The keyboard is fine. I like the layout, other than the period key which is not where I’m used to it. But, it works. The keys are flatter than on my Dash, but spread out more. I haven’t typed enough to get used to the new keyboard, I think I will like it.

At this point, I will still give the phone a B. But, there is work to be done…