HELP! Need to get G1 Working or Dieter Will Kill Me!

[BriDroid]

I really like the finger-friendly interface of the G1. Coming from using an iPhone and the stylus-world of WM and Palm, it's nice having both the touch interface where I can swipe and tap, then a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for typing duties. The G1 has a great build quality - it won't win a smartphone beauty pageant, but it's solid and well-built.

[Rene Ritchie]

Originally Posted by shutterrelease

Please post your thoughts on the overall comfort of the phone during use.

It feels like a candy bar feature phone when closed, only wicked thick (probably because I'm used to the iPhone, which Steve starves).

I keep my phone in my front jean pocket and I often don't notice the iPhone (I sometimes think I've forgotten it and have to check!) but the G1... she I a feel!

In the hand it's nice, heavy and solid feeling.

Open, however, I do find the chin a bit annoying, and since I type with alternating fingers and don't "roll" like Crackberry Kevin, it's a tad wide for me.

Anyone have any tricks for doing that better? Anyone care to defend the "chin"? Ahem.

[Rene Ritchie]

Originally Posted by Osnaz

3rd author!
What plan do you have? And does the android use WAP or 3G? Prollyy a dumb question...
So can you get all the apps and stuff here in Canada? Or is it region limited like the App Store? And how much did that cost you unlocked and all?!?!

I'm on Rogers in Canada, and while I have 3G, the G1 only recognizes T-Mobile's funny frequencies, so I'm stuck on EDGE.

I could get the Apps, but no Amazon MP3 since I don't have a US credit card.

I didn't buy the phone, it's Dieter's, so now I'm also a collector of famous gadget celebrity's gear!

[Rene Ritchie]

Originally Posted by Dieter Bohn

Watching your video now -- great stuff!

Did you know that like with the iPhone, you can hold your finger down an an icon to move it? So you can slide up the app list and then hold your finger down on an icon to move it to the home screen.

Also try holding your finger down on it on a blank part of the home screen for another pop up menu -- it's a lot like right-clicking on a desktop.

I managed to add Gmail to the home screen (which has wicked parallax scrolling, BTW! Go oldschool platformers!) And also trashed it, but again -- like much of Android, it was weird in that while the default apps stacked horizontally, when I added apps, they stacked vertically?

[Rene Ritchie]

Originally Posted by BriDroid

I really like the finger-friendly interface of the G1. Coming from using an iPhone and the stylus-world of WM and Palm, it's nice having both the touch interface where I can swipe and tap, then a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for typing duties. The G1 has a great build quality - it won't win a smartphone beauty pageant, but it's solid and well-built.

I'm finding the build a bit creaky to be honest. Each piece is awesome in its own right, but when they come together, it's creaky (maybe the hinge? Maybe the fit?)

So far, like Kevin last year, I'm finding the options more confusing than liberating, but maybe there's some way to know which to use when? Any rules of thumb? (no pun intended!)

[Dr. Tyrell]

Interesting to watch someone dive head first into a Version 1.0 and try to get it to do things it ain't designed to do yet. For me, the joy is in focusing on what does work and watching it grow. There is so much potential that it is only a matter of time before Android becomes a major player.

Here's my take on a few of Rene's many questions. The basic web browser is great but the bookmarks are undeveloped. All we get for now is a disorganized list. Safari and Firefox benchmarks can be imported with MyBookmarks but pare them down first to keep the list a reasonable length.

Maps work best for me when I turn off "Use wireless networks" (under "Security & location") and rely on the GPS. I consistently get within 20 feet of my location on the map. The main flaw in Maps is that the screen does not center until you reach a border.

The only creaking I have noticed is the rear cover; a couple of small pieces of electrical tape on the inside at the offending spots fixed that. There is a little play in the screen as would be expected.

Having come from a Treo, I find the G1's keyboard and screen luxurious. Deploying the keyboard when entering text is an added step but that is the price for having a large screen. As noted, a virtual keyboard is in the works.

Hope that's a little help.

[Rene Ritchie]

Thanks! I'll give the bookmarks a try. 90% of my bookmarks are actually RSS feeds (don't tell Dieter! He thinks I've "grown up" and started using a real client like Net News Wire!) MobileSafari parses those out to a legacy .Mac WebApp, so I'm realizing the bookmarks probably aren't a big deal.

However, if anyone could recommend a killer RSS reader for the 'Droid, would be grand!

[Dr. Tyrell]

Originally Posted by Rene Ritchie

However, if anyone could recommend a killer RSS reader for the 'Droid, would be grand!

Many people use the web version of Google Reader which is pretty good. Otherwise, there are the OI News Reader and RSS Reader in the Market. More to follow, I'm sure.

[berd]

Do we actually have to help out to enter contest?

Or can we just post anything like:
Does anyone know if the G1 can be unlocked and used on Att?

[Rene Ritchie]

Originally Posted by berd

Do we actually have to help out to enter contest?

I don't believe so, but it would be mighty neighborly to help.

Does anyone know if the G1 can be unlocked and used on Att?

I'm using it unlocked on Rogers! (EDGE only though, no 3G off T-Mo)