Round Robin: Questions About the Google Android G1?
[This is an official Smartphone Experts Round Robin post! Every day you reply here, you're automatically entered for a chance to win an iPhone 3G, Case-Mate Naked Case, and Motorola H9 Bluetooth Headset! Full contest rules here!]
We come to it at last. My time with the Android draws to a close. I have but my final review to write and then I ship it off to the next lucky SME editor for him or her to take their turn. Before I let it go, however, Android Casey had the brilliant idea of asking our loyal iPhone readers for questions!
Anything you want to know about the Google Android G1? Anything you want to see? Anything you’re even a tad curious about? Anything you want to see compared to the iPhone?
Let me know in the comments and not only will you get another change to win our awesome prize pack, I’ll do my darndest to get you the info you not only need, but so richly deserve.
(Also remember to head on over to our sibling sites for more chances to win a Blackberry Bold, Palm Treo Pro, WinMo HTC FUZE, and Android G1!)
November 20th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
We’ve heard a lot about how the iPhone is still very superior to both the G1 and the Android OS, but in what user-friendly ways does the G1 shine? I know the open OS is a big deal for developers, but what about the average user?
November 20th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Does it have an international keyboard (ability to type other languages) like the iPhone?
November 20th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
What are the major differences between Android’s WebKit browser and Mobile Safari? Do sites render differently, and, if so, how? Can/does the G1 use iphone-optimized versions of sites? Is the G1’s browser any more (or less) stable than Mobile Safari?
November 20th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Obviously their apps are tied into Google but have you found the phone productive at all? I mean is there a document/spreadsheet editor, or alarms for tasks? What are the calendar views like compared to the iPhones PIM? What about foreign language support like the iPhone has built in, specifically Asian languages. These are deal breakers for me so please elaborate on the productivity side of things.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
If I didn’t like the iPhone so much I would get the g1 for sure.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
iphone rules
November 20th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
How easy is it to buy and download apps from the android store. With the iphone, you can do it fairly quickly, especially from the phone.
Also, how do you think the swinging hinge will hold over time(long term)? You refer to the word ‘creaky’.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Is the touch screen just as nice and responsive? Or do you need to push harder or hold your finger down for longer?
November 20th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
The device has too many methods of input, and it is unclear as to which you need to use. Will android be on other phones and allow for less confusing methods of input? Ex) iPhone is all touch. Some are buttons and touch. Keyboard + buttons + touch + trackball = too much to handle.
November 20th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I think a side by side comaparison of the android app store and the iPhone app store would be nice. How they differ how they Are similar and so on. I think a general video that did side by side overview of the browser interface app store would be really nice!!!
November 20th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Also, what are the options, if any, if you want to back-up the device?
November 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Is there a software keyboard?
November 20th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
is there any way for you to type up messages an emails while still in portrait mode?
November 20th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Nice’ but the mac’s Api framework, and core levels ie, cocoa touch, openAl, etc. Not to mention Safari’s web 2.0 savvy, makes the G1 strain for acceptance. “ahh’ mobile is on” -dp
November 20th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Does the G1 run flash?
November 20th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
i deserve to win
November 20th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Whats the internet speed like compared to the Iphone and(if it has WiFi) how does that compare.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
i would also like to hear more about google’s app store. plus one of my favorite things about the iphone is the fact that i can jailbreak and use winterboard, is there anyway to change the icons on the G1? how customizable is the whole android os?
November 20th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
hopefully we’ll be able to compare the storm along with these 2 products soon.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I can’t imagine the G1 being more intuitive than the iPhone, but I wonder if my 3 year old nephew would enjoy using it as much as my iPhone. My nephew picked up my iphone and new immediately how to access the Halloween applications I downloaded for him. Would that be possible with the G1? I doubt it. I also bet cleaning the slobber and snot off the qwerty board would be more of an issue with the G1 also.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
How’s the camera on the G1? Both in terms of quality and features and options… Because that’s one department where the iPhone is seriously lacking.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
I’m pretty interested in seeing how the apps and the browser compare, just the whole web experience. Hopefully I’ll get to check it out firsthand :3?
November 20th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
what’s one thing the g1 does better than the iphone? what’s one thing the g1 could learn from the iphone?
November 21st, 2008 at 3:05 am
I would LOVE to see the barcode price scanning feature/app at work in a video.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:22 am
royk, as a G1 user and a iPod touch user, I’d say 1) I think the G1 needs the Android store to have a web-based interface like the iTunes store. I can “see” my iPod apps on my PC AND on my device. So far, I only see real interface with Android Market on my phone. Maybe I’m missing something. Also, updates to apps are automatic and clear on my iPod. I don’t know if the Android Market even will notify me if there’s an update. 2) I think the iPhone needs it’s user community to be more open minded and less dogmatic.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Do you like the physical keyboard better than the iPhones virtual one?
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Another wannabe…. like everything else that’s ever competed with Apple in the last 25 years.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I wonder if anyone will ever produce something that truly is an ‘iPhone killer’, and then how long will we have to wait for Apple to coutneract and reclaim the handset title?
November 24th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
The g1 is ok, but with some practice, google will make the G5 unbeatable
November 25th, 2008 at 12:36 am
How about competing the N96 if you talkin about a good IPhone opponent
November 25th, 2008 at 2:23 am
looking forward to a keyboardless model
November 25th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Yea the n95 is good.
November 25th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I mean n 96
November 26th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
iPhone rulz.
November 27th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Pleaseeeee!!
November 28th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Entry #50. I really hope I win.
November 29th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I’ve posted every single day!
November 30th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Let me win !!
December 1st, 2008 at 5:17 pm
If I win I’ll be so greatfull.
December 1st, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I would really want to know how complete Adroid feels. I know it isn’t all the way there but how polished does it feel. It is always portrayed as having exposed frayed edges but I wonder how true that is. Shame its too late.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Android just can’t compete.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
So beautifullll
December 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
God help me win.
December 5th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
iPhone is the official phone of jesus.
December 6th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I love this site.
December 8th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
nice conetition
December 10th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I really hope they fix the data problem on the g1. I dont wanna go on vacation and end up spending more money on roaming then I did on my plane ticket.
December 10th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Blah!
December 12th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Plz
December 13th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
go tipb
December 14th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Hello
December 24th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Does the keyboard feel sturdy?