T-Mobile G1: What we didn't get
The T-Mobile G1 doesn't give us everything that we wanted.
(Credit: T-Mobile)With the new T-Mobile G1, aka the HTC Dream, the Google Android OS is now a reality. The touch-screen device with the QWERTY keyboard offers a host of intriguing features but there a few things left off the list, some of which are surprising. Here's what we noticed so far.
Exchange server support
Sure, this may come later, but this is a glaring omission on any handset that's hoping for a slice of the smartphone pie. Of course, that also means there's no Outlook calendar and contacts syncing, either.
Video recording
We've raked Apple over the coals for not including this on the iPhone, so we'll have to to the same for the G1. Video should just be standard on a phone with a 3-megapixel camera.
Stereo Bluetooth
The support for the new Amazon MP3 Store shows that the T-Mobile G1 is not taking its music player lightly. Stereo Bluetooth is a common feature these days, and the G1 should have it, particularly since there's no 3.5mm headset jack (that's next).
3.5mm headset jack
Seriously, HTC and T-Mobile, no 3.5mm headset jack? The port uses a proprietary connection? Wow...that's just wrong. Even if you can use your own headset with an adapter, you shouldn't have to.
Interface
The G1 won't have Apple's multitouch interface either, but that's something we can live without.
No tethered modem
Apparently, the G1 will not offer modem capability. That's pretty low on our list, but it's worth noting just the same.
What else were you hoping for? Is there anything that you think that the G1 should have?
Kent German is a senior editor for cell phone reviews at CNET. When he's not testing the newest handsets on the market, he's blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions and gives his take on the rapidly changing mobile industry. E-mail Kent. 
I am _VERY_ curious if the SDK will allow sufficient access to implement stereo bluetooth (or, on the flip side, if the Anderoid SDK simply lacks the option to use stereo bluetooth, so the hardware never had to handle it)
And multitouch is too good. I would be frustrated on another device that didn't have it.
"a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business."
Just like that pesky mouse, and flat panel displays.
- Motorola HT820 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones for T-Mobile G1
- Jabra BT620 Stereo Headsets for T-Mobile G1
- Motorola S805 Bluetooth DJ Stereo Headphones for T-Mobile G1
Which makes me wonder if there's an easy tweak, or a planned firmware upgrade after launch that makes the stereo work. The G1 is the only phone availabe at the Android store, and the descriptions say "G1" in them.
The multitouch, from what I understand, isn't available due to the potential of an Apple lawsuit. Seems like they are erring on the side of caution with that for now. The hardware supports it, though.
that meens that if a developer were to make a app using multitouch than it would work.
Htc just did not put that in the software (idk why)
They'll improve..
Also, a Sprint phone would be nice.
Sprint will have an android phone, possibly made by motorola or samsung.
http://www.htc.com/www/product/g1/specification.html
There is only one thing that I don't like about this phone....it look like this phone is made from two parts.
One part is the screen and the second are is Many with control buttons. It they managed to put those buttons right under the screen and loose the bottom part....jackpot! Still...looks very good for the first phone!
I'm sure you can live without multi-touch but I can't. My mother-in-law uses an iphone and she can barely turn on a computer. The beauty of the iphone is that it has only 1 button and that only (generally) does one thing. I was doubtful of not having a keyboard but now I actually prefer it.
However, Exchange Server support does not equal "No Outlook" support. My Nokia 3650 syncs with Outlook contacts and calendar sans Exchange Server support.
-R
I *love* the idea of synching without being tied to a single desktop like my BB or the iPhone.
This won't destroy RIM or Apple, but Microsoft and Palm should be sweating. Once Google adds support for a corporate policy push a la RIM, it'll be the cats pajamas for corporate users.
The big thing that pisses me off is the lack of a standard headset jack and bluetooth stereo headphone support. It makes the whole Amazon MP3 thing pretty much worthless as far as I'm concerned. I don't want to have to pay ridiculous prices for proprietary headphones.
I don't really care all that much about video recording. I have two phones that do it now, and don't think I've ever used it. I like the 3.1Mpix camera!
Overrated, by whom? I have an Exchange server at work. I like to read e-mail from it, and that's why I have a BlackBerry.
> and expensive.
What does that even mean?
> Exchange access is overrated and expensive. It requires licensing from Microsoft, and would make it impossible > for Android to be open source.
This is just completely false. You have no idea what you're talking about. The Exchange protocol was made completely open last year, and in fact, if you are creating an open source implementation you don't need to do anything.
> I'm willing to bet that MOST people who would be interested in this phone probably don't care about it, but that's > just IMHO.
Yes, except your opinion isn't that humble, nor is it particularly valuable.
> I don't know if this phone supports IMAP, but assuming it does- that would be a possible method of access
> (although without calendars and shared folders).
Right, because IT organizations just love exposing the IMAP port to the public internet.
Sure, not every business or enterprise environment runs Exchange, but Exchange is definitely the predominant integrated messaging/calendaring solution available today. This oversight will effectively eliminate the G1 from being considered by many, many business users just as the lack of Exchange support did for the 1st generation iPhone.
Also, I don't know why HTC is trying so hard to eliminate the 3.5mm headset jack from all phones, but it's a de facto standard that's not going away just because HTC's phones don't have one. Just another dumb decision, especially for a phone with dedicated media capabilities.
I predict the G1 will fail miserably because it's OK at everything, not great at anything, unlike a Blackberry or iPhone.
-Mister Winky
If you have a gmail account, you automatically have google calendar, google docs, blogger, and a picasa account.
I think it's missing one major feature, which is desktop sync. I use Outlook (but not Exchange), and prefer to keep Outlook as my hub of all things. That said, I do appreciate that Google doesn't have a whole lot of motivation to do this, since they can sync all the same information online via Google Cal, GMail, etc., and that's probably the right future direction, anyway, regardless of their own personal interests.
No Exchange? It's true that it is really expensive, but to get on your Outlook calendar all you have to do is tie your Outlook calendar to a Google calendar. Lifehackers have been doing that for a while. Stereo bluetooth is sad, but who really pays thru the nose for a stereo bluetooth headset? Not to mention that they look so incredibly tacky. Lack of a headphone jack is incredibly lame (and possibly the only bad feature on my Samsung U740/Alias), but may just be a tmobile issue. I can't wait for the verizon model to come out...
VoIP and Jott would be part of the applications that you would download for it. Multitouch is only going to happen if you want apple to get a small % of each HTC dream sold (Just like Creative gets a small % for every ipod sold... patents FTW!)
- by kittles3069 September 23, 2008 3:27 PM PDT
- Honestly, the 3.5mm omission isnt that big of a deal. The adapters are pretty cheap and really just lengthen the cord. If you are gonna use corded head phones then the adapter shouldnt bother you at all..
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- by Mister Winky September 23, 2008 3:30 PM PDT
- I disagree -- as someone who has forgotten his Treo headphone adapter many times (what, am I supposed to keep it in my pocket at all time?), requiring the use of a proprietary adapter on a media-oriented phone is flat out stupid.
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- by punkzanyj September 29, 2008 8:15 AM PDT
- it's actually not proprietary. Samsung phones have a proprietary plug, one that only samsung makes, and that samsung developed.
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Showing 1 of 3 pages (70 Comments)Omitting BlueTooth stereo, i think is a bigger issue. Maybe this can be addressed via 3rd party or maybe the phone just cant handle it. but initally i think its the bigger of the 2.
-Mister Winky
The HTC devices all seem to have a USB mini port. That's standard on a lot of devices, from cameras, to cell phones, to mp3 players. It doubles as the headphone jack, saving internal wiring and external space. The adapters are between 5-10 bucks at the store. I'd by 2 so I had one at home, and the other sitting in my backpack. No big deal. I'm actually more interested in the bluetooth.
The android store is selling bluetooth stereo headsets for the G1, which makes me wonder if perhaps it just needs a firmware update to make stereo possible.