I would like to see a clean, consistent UI. I'm sure someone will come up with something like the customize ap for the iPhone.

Voyou_Charmant

I loving the OS, not to much the phone though

snitch29

@pexton:
I think you accidentally commented on the wrong post. This isnt the Instinct, this is the real multi-tasking OS on a dual-core device. Is there a version of the iPhone that can run multiple apps at once yet?

Bluesk1d

Does the browser display Flash?

Enrique

it sure takes alot to impress some of the people here. tough crowd, sheesh.

SleepingMartyr

Must contain impulses to buy this... Must posses chi... Must... Agh screw this! I'm going to eBay the hell out of my iPhone and grab this ASAP.... Maybe.

I just don't want to early adopt on that phone. It's not as bad as I first thought, loving the extra screen space while typing since its a slide out qwerty. But I know I'm going to miss having an entire touch screen only for simplicity and style.

What to do, what to do.... aaaaggggghhhh! God damn you Google, get Android on Cydia NOW!

SkoGoody

@Null42: Looks like a bit of a hiccup in the new threading...

Null42

@Rain-man: Uh, you answered your own question. IT IS OPEN SOURCE. That means that the Source is Open for anyone to play with, modify, etc.

Scott

oh man that is so pretty...

SleepingMartyr

poor mans iphone

pexton

Looks like a Linux version of Windows Mobile.

navvywavvy

@BanMeAgainBrianLam: Hear! Hear! Viva La Open Source!

Scott

@paja: I don't think it is that bad, but the beauty of it being open is that it -will- get better. And better. And better. They have the right philosophy, now they just need some more artistically inclined development.

Null42

Its not showing me anything that makes me second guess in getting an iPhone

pdditty

Finally a contender!! i'm glad that someone has stepped up with what looks like a good option.

Hope that it runs stable and doesn't crash.

rurena

Phone is blah, but man I want to see google map features like that on my iphone. Come on Apple!

mikecoscia

I'll ask here too...

Well, this looks like the best place to ask...

OK, so I currently have T-mobile service on a family plan, (not likely to get rid of it anytime soon), my current phone is fading fast and I want a new one, what would be the best phone to get fairly soon?

Opinion time.

siville

Apple can kiss my @ss with it's candy colored icons and closed systems. I'll take open over dictiatorship any day of the week.

BanMeAgainBrianLam

I likes. I'm just upset Verizon is not jumping on the android OS.

YellowDucati

IM runs in the background, copy paste is there.. sign me up!

kevininstereo

Sorry, but that is just fugly. Designed by geeks I'm guessing. Hope it gets better.

paja

This phone is a huge let down for me. The interface definitely feels old as well as the case design. Also, I am not seeing any bundled software that is really worth a damn except for Google Maps. Hopefully application developers can save this phone.

bucho54

My sentiments exactly. Since it's open, you think someone can redesign the interface?

Rain-man

@Scott: Dont be a punk, dude. The 'poor man's iphone' comment deserved your clever rebuke, this did not.

ALT

@VulnoX:
Browse & Preview over 3G. YOu need Wi-Fi to purchase & download.

rexplex

@ZombieRace:
Have to agree w/ Nykwil on this one.
The Apple App Store is great because of the number of developers there. The developers are there because Apple has an easy way for them to get paid for their work. The phones are selling because it's easy to find & install apps for non-technical users.
Android has a lot of potential, but since there is currently no way for developers to get paid for apps distributed through the Android Market, there are a lot of hopes resting on devs working for free. If a half baked application is going to earn me as much reward ($$) as a perfect application, which are you going to see more of?

& ZombieRace, I'm pretty certain that no bovine feces are used at any point in the development or manufacturing of any current Apple products.

rexplex

Definitely not an iPhone killer.

DMcGrew

Looks fantastic, can't wait to get one and see what developers can come up with in terms of killer apps

xingman

@Scott: What I meant was "you think" sarcastically, as in "get to it, somebody, for god sake, please!" Ahem.

Rain-man

@paja: I like it. Not all of us like shiny scratch-magnets. This is subtle.

Ethan Allison

@Bluesk1d: I would like background notification added to the iPhone OS, and it's probably coming. but I don't really see when I would use more than one app at once. But that's just my perspective using an iPhone for a while.

I'd like to hear how your iPhone would work better for you if you could run multiple apps at once?

Jason

@Scott:
Why not you, Rain-man?

rexplex

@Nykwil:

No, that's a factor on everything but your bullshit apple products.

Welcome to the real world.

ZombieRace

Man, if there is one thing that video shows me, its how much I miss my slide out keyboard from my HTC Mogul since switching to the iPhone.

The on screen keyboard works very very well, but there is just no substitute for the real deal.

Looks like a good phone, hopefully the UI and applications get better over time (and they release some people would use more than once for novelty).

Amazon MP3 store FTW though. Especially if you can browse and download from it over 3G. I have been buying all my music from there lately. Better encoding bit rates, often lower cost, and no DRM, when compared to iTunes. That is probably the single thing about this phone that makes me jealous.

VulnoX

User interface: yawn...

System 'snappiness': zzz...

StreetView with compass, background IM, copy and paste: hmm that's actually quite cool!

Save for the (imediately) above, which I want on my iPhone, a big let down - I guess it is V1.

Ace1

not to rain on all the open source lovers out there or anything open source is great an all but once android is being developed across multiple hardware configs. open source starts becoming a pain when u factor in having to develop for a bunch of different hardware confgurations

Nykwil

Looking at streetview with an accelerometer so it matches up with the direction you are facing...?

I believe this was invented long ago... it's called "open your eyes and look around". It's like people who will go upstairs to check weatherbug to see what the temperature is outside, walking past the front door to get there. Hilarious!

closhedbb

@pdditty: and that's because you're a guy going by the name of pditty.

Scott

I don't know. But from the video it seems that the interface feels a little inconsistent. Boxes appear and some scroll. you can swipe left and right and up and down - but there doesn't from a first point of call seem to be any reason for this.

Any idea what happens when you have lots of apps running - can you get to the app you want without having to pass through lots of screens?

rattyuk

The interface is HIDEOUS! Something I did not expect at all. And the browsing is all wrong. This looks like an improved version of windows mobile...

Neone

@pexton: Smart man's iPhone!

Scott

any word on UMA and @Home support?

iPhoneGroupie

@BanMeAgainBrianLam: You think Verizon is open?

Maybe you're not aware of it, but the iPhone can run W3C compliant web apps pretty well. Plus anyone can get the SDK and develop native apps for the iPhone. I'm not saying Apple is perfect, there are serious problems with the way the App Store and app approval works, but no one has to buy one if they don't want to. I don't complain about the blackberry closed system, I just don't buy it.

Jason

UI isn't really consistent. Other than that, I'll wait until it's in my hands to see how good it is.

dagamer34

@Jason:
1. I never said jack about Verizon. I'm actually on T-mobile.

2. Yes anyone can get the iPhone SDK, if they pay apple, and make native apps for the iPhone, if Apple lets them.

3. No one is as closed as Apple, not even blackberry. I don't know of any other harware manufacturer that has the control to restrict the software that is allowed to run. If there is please let me know so I can avoid them.

BanMeAgainBrianLam

hmmm.. looks like us skinners need to get onboard the android wagon..!

yea, the UI will look much better once this thing gets out into the hands of us consumers.. hard to make skins/ui tweaks to an OS that isn't really 'live'.

:)

plus, like others have said.. its open source.. don't like it? change it.

seamonkey420

I atcually like the interface.... The browser looks okay, but the ability to send links, copy/paste sure makes it tempting.... Apple should take some notes because they did do somethings that appled should have done to begin with.

pottyvick

@Toshie:
heh heh heh

godwhacker

@rexplex: Well its not all the way there yet for either platform, but being able to at least preview and browse around is really, really nice.

I wish it had been full purchase and download, would have maybe put pressure on Apple to follow. Hopefully someone makes a Jailbreak app for Amazon.

VulnoX

who care what it looks like.....bunch of primadonnas on here. this thing kicks the iphones ass.

bbnick

@closhedbb: What is this 'outside' you speak of? Is it a new website?

Toshie

The UI is very "windowy". I'm curious how this will perform in the real world. I attended the Google Conference earlier this year in SF I can tell you that the reception from developers on Android was only lukewarm at best.

Gibberish

@pexton: I think you mean "smart mans Iphone"

KLanD

with all the background apps, how's battery life?

kenleewrites

with all the apps running in the background, how's battery life?

kenleewrites

@Bluesk1d: iPhone *is* capable of multi-processing. It was deliberately prevented so threads are not hijacked for other purpose, especially during a phone conversation.

Gibberish

dude hell yeah this is exciting cant wait

:)
woo hoo!!!

ArakniD

@bucho54:

You people are missing the point. The wonderful thing about this new phone OS is that it's not locked to one phone. There will be more and more Android phones to come. There won't be the need for applications developers to save the phone, because that phone will be dated and gone in a little while when they pump out new models.

Just wait until the perfect, sexy phone comes out that runs Android. The reason this phone is getting the attention is because it's the launch phone. Focus on the OS...not the phone model.

x3r0

we know where your loyalties lie, this phone is waaay more polished than you imply.
And I'll take android freedom over candy coated slavery anyday.

thanks!

pradster

I'm not that crazy about its thickness, but man that's a nice friggin' phone. I especially like the window shade functionality and it looks clean and responsive. Again, if I didn't have or want an iPhone, this would be the next phone on my research list. Give props where props are due - it's not an iPhone but it's not supposed to be, and that will make it a pretty awesome seller I'm willing to bet.

DaiWalka

I really don't know what people are complaining about. This is a sweet phone. Sure it's not as flashy as the Iphone, but then again, I don't find the Iphone all that special either. What you Iphoneboys have to understand is that this is not a toy (like your Iphone), it's a beast of a smartphone (if it holds to it's promises).

KLanD

@bucho54: Ditto.

mensrea

I rather have function over design, beside this thing is OPEN SOURCE! Eventually someone will make a better interface...

Darksider1972

Phone looks slow, better clean that up quickly (no worse than helio ocean though), open source is nice but then you also have to worry about malicious apps.

copy and paste out at release, apple better get working on ver 2.3!

toyotaboy02

I'll wait for the Touch HD.

chrism123

@closhedbb:

Doofus, it's not showing what you could see by opening your eyes, your spinning around as an interface to see a 3d map of somewhere your not (instead of clicking on arrows).

toyotaboy02

@kevininstereo:
Agreed. Just having any background processing available will make for much more interesting applications.

Bassam

maybe it's just me, but i don't think people should pass such harsh judgment on the interface et cetera from a 4:25 video.
now that's not to say that it is necessarily good.
but that said, apple still has a leg up on the initial wow factor. candy coloured and shiny might seem like their old standby gimmick, but it sure does work.

nbenko

@x3r0: YOU people are are missing MY point. The software (android) looks like crap currently. That is what I want software developers to fix in addition to writing good applications. I am tired of hearing "just wait" in regards to the "Google phone". I have been waiting for years and the debut, as I said previously, was a let down. I can not base my opinions on some future phones possibilities. I need something tangible to base my opinions. The bulk of my comment was directed at the OS and the applications with a dash of bad case design. This feels a lot like old Symbian phones I had. Yes they COULD fix it, lets hope they do. Ahhhhhh, the pure relaxation of fantasy...

bucho54

@toyotaboy02: So instead of simly swiping your finger across the screen or pushing a simple button, now all you have to do is stand up and spin around? Wow! So much easier! I retract my previous criticism!

closhedbb

OPEN SOURCE = SECURITY NIGHTMARE!

Plus, since when did Linux ever make it big. Reason? Open source. Bill Gates even commented once that Linux pose no threat because it is disorganized. There is too many flavors and very little unity.

Gibberish

@nbenko: In advertising, you need to make every millisecond count. 4:25 is a lot of time to make a good video. When it is not that good, it is the product itself that didn't shine.

Gibberish

@Ethan Allison: I agree that shiny scratch magnets are only good if you don't use them. I am glad you like this case, I don't. I didn't state anywhere that making this piano black would make it any better. I like things to be functional as well as look good doing it. Without using this phone I can not speak for it's functionality, however to me (yes I know you disagree) it looks like a case was thrown together without any regards to aesthetics.

bucho54

Zero sex appeal.

Julio Allison

there are lots of locks on the hardware, but I love the open source spirit in the no DRM support. there's more at this article.

sarahoneill

Okay, obvi these are largely personal opinions, but that was brutal.

Nothing there that would even remotely make me rethink an iPhone purchase. It has all the cache, ostensible feel and looks of a cassette recorder you'd fish out of a Walmart discount bin. Good grief, this isn't even close to an iPhone/Instinct league. I'm insulted. I understand why people would fork over the scratch for a Blackberry, Instinct, iPhone - but this?! That non touch screen-experience is going to get old fast especially on a webpage. So will that side-kick-wannabe screen flip out. What an abortion.

Brutal. And embarrassing.

sharmanova

Being a lover of all things Google, this looks super clunky....not impressed. And the Google map thing is cool but I wonder how fast it works in real life and how much battery drain you get...

illegalprelude

any one have a link to that vid via u tube ?

JackMatt

@VulnoX:
AAC offers better sound quality than MP3. Comparing bit rates isn't exactly apples to apples here.

DisposableInterloper

@Scott:
Two problems there. First, the Android core developers likely would not like the idea. There's an overwhelming chance that your changes won't get committed by the oligarchy. Second, mobile carriers are permitted to lock down their handsets however you see fit, so whatever interface the carrier wants, goes.

DisposableInterloper

I am dating myself, but I can't help it - everytime I look at the G1, I see the old original Palm Pilot. It's those four buttons across the bottom and the outlined illustrative style icons.

[tinyurl.com]

fdg008

@bucho54:

Yeah I agree with you buncho. It's not the worst phone I've seen and it beats most of the other markets besides the iphone, and basically resembles the Symbian a little.

I was having high hopes as well. The only thing I think this phone will beat Apple on is the applications that it can output. So far the things I've seen developed for it are a lot more innovative then the 1,000 to do list apps coming out of the apple store.

Apple could easily change this though and their operating system is so fluid like. 2010 is the end of the contract for AT&T! Lets hope they don't extend it again.

addiktion

@Darksider1972: Keep waiting bud

EdBansil

@SleepingMartyr: such good taste

EdBansil

@closhedbb: fool, you can do both. this phone is superior, im sorry your tiny brain cannot realize

pevans34

man, that low refresh rate \ response time makes me nauseous.

The G1, is an A1 Turd.

merebito

I think that this is a very good idea for Google. Apple should have done what Google did from the beginning anyway and let any network use the device. I have Tmobile and i would have rather had the iPhone a year ago than this now, but I'm glad I waited for the G1, it has a much better mission statement. Also, I think the phone looks great and it has a slide out keyboard which I need because i press every button at once an the iPhone.

lukejf01

As well as more interesting crashes and faster battery drain. The iPhone has a pretty ingenious way of handling applications that need to run in the background like instant messengers, but I don't know of any application that's taking advantage of the "push notifications" yet.

drexamine

I predict that Linux on the phone will be every bit the resounding success that Linux on the desktop was.

drexamine

@drexamine: push notifications aren't available yet, in firmware 2.1 at least. But Steve said September, so hopefully soon... I need to get my app out :)

codercotton

A lot will depend on usability -- little things like stability, call quality, ring loudness, responsiveness. Things that have made Blackberries so sticky to their contingent. Yes, there will always be aesthetes, who will chose form over function. Not that they are wrong, just that they are not the majority. In the end function nearly always wins, and then form catches up.

MurphyPrometheus

you mean like, say, Windows running on HP, IBM, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba, Sony, laptops, desktops, and tablet PCs? Or do you mean a website being optimized so that it's viewable in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, minimo, and other mobile browsers? yeah, I think it'll be alright.

HalLumos

google maps has been banned from iphone.

HalLumos