T-Mobile G1 launched in the UK
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Oct 30th 2008 3:15PM
posted Oct 30th 2008 3:15PM
Just in time for the big (if somewhat quirky) G1 unlocking, Android fans in the UK will be getting their chance to purchase the T-Mobile handset starting today. Britons began queuing up on Oxford Street as early as 5 am to get the phone, currently available for free with a 2-year £40 ($65) monthly contract. And if that wasn't exciting enough, The Gadget Inspectors went to Google's London HQ for a hands-on review (nothing new to Engadget die-hards, but it's interesting to see what they make of the device). Video after the break.
[Via Talk Android]
[Via Talk Android]
Congrats UK!!!! You're Going to LOVE IT!!!!
- D
Curious, how is the UK edition different than the US version? Euro-3G bands, maybe?
Never mind. I reread the datasheets confirming Euro3G.
Will have to give one a try tomorrow.
Finally was able to try one in person.
The phone itself ins't a looker, not by any standards. When compared with devices like the Diamond/Touch Pro/Xperia it looks dated and very low end.
Hardware wise it feels quite solid, though the model I tried had a screen that was already beginning to wobble, and I suspect with time the 'spring' of the movement will fail. Buttons are too firm, and the trackball is tempremental.
The keyboard is horrid! The keys are too small, there's too much unused space between the keys (Like with the Sidekicks/Certain HTC Wizards), and they're recessed too far into the frame. I feel a keyboard like that of the Touch Pro or even the TyTN II would have been a much better choice.
Android, looks ok, and thats about it. It's interface is slick and quick to respond, but that's all it has gunning for it IMO. For starters the text size is too small for my liking and I couldn't find a setting to change that. Next was the Today/Home/Desktop screen, other than being able to put icons for the calendar etc on there I wasn't able to do much. Being a WinMo user I'm a fan of the today screen and the ability to to view my messages, appointments and taska at a glance, so unless I was doing something wrong, Android fails. Also syncing my PIM data is another issue, at the moment I have no problems synching with Outlook, but if i want to synch data on the G1 I’ll most probably have to upload it all to Google andthen download it, which mean more data bandwith, additional programs on my computer, and sharing my life with Google (something I’d rather not do).
Chrome, better browsing experience than PIE? Yes. Better than Opera or Safari? No. Pages load rather well, but its scrolling is somewhat sluggish and I found having to tap to bring up the zoom buttons and then tapping again to move in/out extremely tedious. Multi-touch may still be the realm of the iPhone, but single touch gestures could have been included.
Overall It's not a bad first attempt by HTC, Google, and T-Mobile. But based on the G1s looks, Androids' usability, and T-Mos' pricing, I'm finding it hard to work out who exactly will buy it. It might appeal to the younger, more social internet types, the ones who spend far too much time on MySpace and Facebook and who don't want/can't afford the iPhone. I initiallly thought it was going to replace the sidekicks (which have seen a troubled history here in the UK) but T-Mobile are still trying to sell them. Early adopters might pick one up, but I feel its not a powerusers’ device.
Given time to mature and expand, Android could be a viable platform, but in its current state I see it remaining on low end devices.
it's 18 months contract