Last time, I talked about my decision to purchase a T-Mobile G1. It seemed like the logical choice given the way I used my mobile devices in times past, and I figured it was one that I could grow with. But now that I've had the phone for a week, I thought I'd give a bit of a review and share my thoughts.
First and foremost, the best part about purchasing this device is that it didn't require me to change my plan, other than adding data service. Robin & I already had unlimited texting on our accounting, so I was able to simply add the $24.99/mo data plan without affecting our texting plan. As far as the initial purchase is concerned, the only issue I had upfront was that the data plan didn't get properly added to my account at Wal-Mart and ended up having to call T-Mobile customer service when I got home to get it added. That was a minor hassle, and a one time event, so no complaints there.
After getting the phone charged and the 3G service working, the phone did its thing in syncing my hosted Google account (larosa@trailblazinministries.com), bringing over my contacts, email, and calendar without any issue. I double checked and everything looked good, especially with my contacts. From there, I hit the Android Marketplace and started to download some applications for the device, so that I could start getting some good use out of it. Given that Google doesn't natively have a tasks app (yet) and are just getting around to implementing it in Gmail, one of the first things I downloaded was a tasks/to do list application. At first I tried Tag ToDo, but that didn't work out too well; it was a bit too simple. So, I ended up settling on TooDo, which seems to fit my workflow and needs a lot better. Once I settled on the tasks app, I spent a little while configuring it and porting (manually) all of the tasks that I needed to complete. Other than what came preinstalled, that was the only application that I really needed for productivity's sake.
A few of the other apps I downloaded included: SMS Popup (an app that shows a pop-up when a new text comes, instead of the standard alert), Bank of America, Note pad, ShopSavvy (which scans barcodes & looks for prices online), Toggle Settings (a quick app to change the phone's mode, i.e. turning the ringer to vibrate or turning Wi-Fi off/on), the Weather Channel, and a few games (Sudoku, Blackjack, Maths Workout, Chess & Tic-Tac-Toe). I also downloaded a Facebook application (which replicates the iPhone browser view of Facebook) and CadreBible, a Bible software application. So far, the only thing that I feel like I'm missing is having my Google Reader in its own app, but since that's not available in hosted Google, I'm not surprised; either way, I can still view it from the browser.
Once I found all the apps I wanted, I took some time to customize the home screen so that my most important apps were always quickly available (i.e. TooDo, Toggle Settings, Contacts, Mail, Weather, etc.), then with my games & other items on one of the other screens.
In terms of usage, this phone isn't much different than how I used my T-Mobile Dash, other than how certain things operate. Given my knowledge of tech, I didn't bother reading the manual and felt right at home using the device. The only thing I had to really figure out was how to scroll the window, but once I figured that out, the device was super easy to use. About the only complaint I have with the device itself is when it locks itself (after timing out) and then I have to go through the process of unlocking the phone to get back to what I need, especially while on a call. Granted, I have a pattern set to unlock the phone for security reasons, but it can be annoying at times. I may end up delaying the timeout past 1 minute & see if that changes things (hopefully without negatively affecting my battery life too much).
Given my schedule, I haven't had too much time to "play" with the phone, but I have given most of the features a try, including the Google Maps, which became invaluable just the other day. I had to take Ryan to Awana for the first time and I had never been to the church where it's held, so I used Google Maps to chart out my course. Well, I ended up missing my turn and used the GPS to pinpoint my location and then find my way back. It was totally a lifesaver that night! Other than the Google stuff, this is really no different than any other smartphone, which is a good thing for me, as it's very consumer friendly.
The last thing I want to note is the accessories, which I wasn't all too pleased with. The one I purchased came with all the new stuff (1GB SD card, headphone adapter, etc.), but it really didn't impress me that much. given that the adapter/headphones are supposed to double as your headset, I found the headphone cord way too long to be useful for that purpose (because it leaves the mic hanging too low). I haven't even bothered trying it yet because I didn't feel like messing with it to get it to be the length I needed. Instead, I purchased a Jawbone 2 bluetooth headset, which should be here Monday, so that I don't have to worry about wires at all. The other complaint is the case that comes with the phone. Granted, it's a nice case & all, but there's no belt clip or loop, so users are forced to stick it in their pocket or a bag when traveling. I tried that for the first few days, but found the phone to be too bulky, even in my roomier jeans. I eventually settled on using the case that came with my Dash (the G1 amazingly fit in it, albeit very snug) so that I could continue carrying my phone on my hip. The only concern I had with that was the magnetic closure, as I had read in some Android forums that magnetic case closures can screw with the compass. I figured I'd live with that for now until I'm able to find a better case, seeing how I couldn't tolerate the standard case that came with the phone.
Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase and very glad that I made it. It's made things a lot easier to work with, especially now that I don't have to worry about having a lot of my data in multiple locations (i.e. my calendar & tasks). I look forward to seeing what they come out with next, and I think I'll be using this device for a long time to come. For a first generation OS, this is a very solid and stable device and I'm pleased to be a part of the android community & movement.
Labels: Android, G1, review, T-Mobile
