Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

Tech Savvy Daddy Reviews the T-Mobile G1 with Google (and Sidekick giveaway!)

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This week Tech Savvy Daddy is reviewing devices by T-Mobile and each day you can enter to win a gift package containing a Sidekick and SkinIt customized cell phone skin. One lucky reader will be notified on Christmas Day.

Here’s the rundown of reviews:

Sunday- Motorola Motozine
Today- T-Mobile G1 with Google Phone
Tuesday, December 23- Sidekick
Wednesday, December 24- T-Mobile Cameo digital picture frame
Thursday, December 25- Winner of Sidekick and SkinIt announced!

Here’s what Tech Savvy Daddy had to say about the G1 Google Phone…

Quick review: Great phone for email, web browsing, watching YouTube videos. So far, the best thing we’ve done with it is show the kids Muppet Videos while waiting at the Doctor’s office. I would never have brought a DVD player to the doctor’s office, but somehow this seems more socially acceptable. What’s the catch? Won’t win Sexiest Phone 2008 contest.

There is no doubt that the iPhone changed the mobile industry forever. Soon after the iPhone came out, the hype spotlight switched over to rumors that Google was working on a phone. Technically, Google wasn’t working on a phone, but an operating system: Android.

In the past, mobile phone applications were simple tools that were written for each specific phone. The phones didn’t have the horsepower for sophisticated tasks, the data speeds weren’t fast enough for media-rich applications, and every phone had its own operating system. Now all that has changed. Google’s Android operating system is the newest entrant in Smart Phone wars.

Google provides the Android operating system to many handset vendors and software developers. With multiple companies building phones that run on the same operating system, it’s easier to justify developing complex applications. This should lead to a large number of mobile applications, giving the phones and the operating system features that aren’t available on other phones. Once there are millions of phones being manufactured by a diverse set of companies, the operating system has the potential to become the de-facto standard for mobile phones.

Enough about Android. What about the phone?

The T-Mobile G1 with Google is the first Android phone to hit the market. The phone is all black with a large touchscreen on the top. The screen slides up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. I grab the phone with both hands and start typing with my thumbs. The keys feel good. It’s easy to type out email messages and enter contacts. The iPhone keyboard makes me feel like I need to get lipo on my sausage fingers. Not so here.

The right side has a trackball which allows you to move around the screen similar to a Sidekick or a Blackberry. However, if you get tired of the trackball, you can just use your finger and click on what you want to select. That’s nice.

The phone comes with a full set of applications pre-loaded. Gmail, Google Maps, web browser, calendar, MP3 player, instant messaging, contacts, all that stuff. It also has a YouTube player. The back of the phone has a camera which takes average quality pictures, particularly indoors… average for a camera phone. I suppose I’m a little biased, but I’ll say this: After reviewing the Motorola Zine yesterday, I have revised my expectations for a camera phone.

The user interface is very clean and slick and I can easily find what I’m looking for. You can customize the home screen and remove junk that a mobile provider may clutter up the menus with.

Being the second-born after the iPhone, people have high expectations about the design of phone. Hey, even cheapo phones now come with disco LED lights. The G1 phone doesn’t have any of that. It’s pretty boring. The hardware is from HTC, a Taiwanese company. HTC took an existing phone and put the Android operating system on it. As I stated, the screen and keyboard are great, but the design of the case is just plain with rounded corners. It completely lacks any sex appeal.

With that said, this is the FIRST Android phone on the market. It’s practically a proof of concept… in Google speak, a “public beta.” Big names like Motorola are on-board and have promised additional Google Phones in 2009. Samsung and Sony Ericsson have signed up a well.

If you’re in the market for a SmartPhone, the G1 is definitely worth a look. The beauty of the Android operating system is that it can be enhanced over time by the third-party applications that people are currently developing. You can jump in now and won’t feel left out later. Whatever you do, keep an eye on the Google phones and expect big things from them in 2009.

Enter to win a T-Mobile Sidekick and SkinIt package by:

1. Leaving a comment about what you would do with a SmartPhone like the G1.
2. Write a post linking to my site and giveaway then leave an additional comment with your permalink.
3. Twitter about the contest (I’m @techsavvymama on Twitter) and leave another comment.
4. Add me to your blogroll and leave an additional comment letting me know!
5. Subscribe to my feed through e-mail or a reader and leave a comment for an extra entry!

Thanks to T-Mobile for providing the Sidekick and to SkinIt for our giveaway!

Fine print: To be eligible, enter by completing the above tasks and leaving your comments by Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at Midnight. Commenting, posting, and Twittering about eacy day’s post will earn you up to three entries per day. Blogroll and feed subscriptions will earn you an additional entry each only once throughout the duration of this giveaway. Winner will be chosen at random by random.org and will need to reply with their mailing address 48 hours to claim their prize. T-Mobile Sidekick will only be shipped within the United States.

Thanks for reading Tech Savvy Mama through your feed!

Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patti Lalley says

    Wait, am i the first commenter? Well, with a SmartPhone like the G1, I’d use the Google Maps for driving around, the calendar to keep me and my boys up2date, the instant messaging while at work, and the YouTube player to bring me back to my youth of the 80s.

  2. Cindy says

    Sounds like I could leave a few things at home on some of my trips if I had a phone like this! No more dragging my notebook computer and Ipod along!

  3. Terri Fisher says

    I think I would like this phone due to its keyboard. I would like to be able to access my e-mail and such on the go, but I’m not much for using the phone keypad for texting, so I would much prefer this type of keypad. The Google features are really nice. Definitely a step up from what I have now!

  4. Kristinia - Loving Heart Mommy says

    I use Google for everything from my personal email to my blogging! I’d also love the Google maps feature for our move to Rhode Island in February! I’m also in need of a new phone, I’ve dropped mine soo many times I’m lucky “half” of the buttons still work! I’m also a huge texter!

    kristinia at lovingheartmommy dot com

  9. Anonymous says

    It would be great to be able to e-mail while on the road. My wife checks her e-mail way more often than her voicemail!

    John

    asfiled AT earthlink DOT net

  10. Shel says

    For years all I had as far as a phone was a cheapie Motorola with Tracfone service. Last year, I semi-upgraded and signed up with a real cell-phone company. My current LG is much better than my old Tracfone, but I’m looking for so much more now.

    I’d love being able to access Google Maps since I get lost in a box. I want to be able to play music on my phone and access my email when I’m at work and without internet. I covet a camera on my phone; my son has a Chocolate phone and he’s always snapping great shots of our dogs and saving them as his wallpaper. Since I’m pretty slow on the text-messaging, I’d really be able to use a phone with a full QWERTY keyboard.

    This phone would be a huge step-up for me.

  13. Tom Lalley says

    My phone is just as bad as my wife’s (see 1st post). I’d use it mostly for the MP3 player.

  14. 3boyzmom says

    If I had a Smartphone, I would use it as a calender, phone, camera, and appointment setter!!! I would never be without it!! I would use it as a go to for all info. I keep!

  21. Lindley says

    I would use this phone to keep up on my email and help organize my business stuff while my son is at the park or in preschool. I am too lazy to lug my computer everywhere so this would be a fantastic tool!
    Thanks!
    linjenals at yahoo dot com

  22. Connie says

    I have to admit that my cell phone just has the basics! I would use this phone to check my email while on the get directions!!! Thanks!

  23. Anonymous says

    MFJ:
    I would use this phone for email and directions. The fact that it has a keyboard built in is a major bonus; I’m still trying to get around txt msging with the phone pad.

    watson(at)zerostreet(dot)net

  25. Emilie says

    I don’t have a GPS so I love the direction feature. I’d also love to use it for music!!! Thanks so much for the wonderful giveaway!

  33. holly says

    I’d use it when I got lost (all the time) and to check my email and listen to music!
    hollyollyberry[at]yahoo.com

  34. dh says

    I would give it to my daughter. She has been wanting a new phone and texts alot, so this would be a great phone for her.

  35. Joanne says

    I would use it to check my email and listen to music. Maybe sneak in a Youtube video. There’s a lot you can do with that phone!

  36. Anonymous says

    What a wonderful gift. Honestly, I know nothing about the Sidekick or even its features. But, I can tell you it looks awesome! I would love to have this. Thanks!!!

  38. hazel says

    I’d listen to music with it and play on the internet while on the train

    mitanari(at)yahoo(dot)com

  42. redknowshow says

    I would use a smartphone like the G1 to keep track of my RSS feeds. I’m slightly addicted to them and my email and I could keep both close at all times with a smart phone!