The first Android phone. the G1, goes on sale today at T-Mobile stores. And, although I have some issues with the software/hardware interface, those are more than overcome by all the great software on the phone. I’ve been testing out a phone for about a week, and I don’t think I’ve made more than five actual calls on the phone. For me, it’s all about the apps.
The apps I use the most come with the device: Gmail, the Web browser, and Google Maps, in that order. The phone also comes with the Amazon MP3 store, which lets you buy songs and download them over the air directly onto the phone. But you can also download apps from the Android Market, which is similar to the iPhone’s App Market. Many of the original apps on the review phones have been scrubbed, and about 50 are supposed to be loaded onto the market for today’s launch.
Right now, I count 40 apps on the market (all of them are free, but paid apps are coming with a 70 percent cut going to developers), and I know of several that are supposed to launch today that have not yet appeared on the phone. But if you are going to get a phone today, here is my list of the top ten apps worth downloading and checking out.
1. imeem Mobile: It’s a jukebox in your pocket, and the progressive download means that your song doesn’t skip when you go into an elevator, ’nuff said.
2. ShopSavvy: From Big in Japan, this turns your phone into a barcode scanner and then gives you price comparisons both online and in nearby retail stores. In my tests, the product database is good for household items, but can stumble with obscure products. But this is a killer app once the product database becomes more comprehensive. (Also try CompareEverywhere, which does the same thing).
3. Pac-Man: The original arcade game from Namco. Free on the Android (it costs $7.99 on the iPhone). The rollerball is an excellent joystick.
4. BreadCrumbz: You can leave photo and voice marker breadcrumbz along any route that others can then follow later on. Ties into the phone’s GPS, maps, camera, and microphone.
5. Wikitude: A travel guide that pulls up information from Wikipedia about nearby locations and puts them on a map, along with photos from Panoramio. Really useful geo-mashup.
6. Shazam: Put the phone up to a radio or speaker playing a song and Shazam will tell you the name and the artist, just like the iPhone app.
7. SplashPlay: Teaches you how to play the guitar by playing music and showing a fret board that you can play on the screen in sync with the music. The app is marketing for a similar tutorial device you can buy for your guitar, but it really teaches you how to play.
8. iSkoot for Skype: Lets you use your Skype account to IM your contacts, make Skype calls over the Internet, and uses the phone for SkypeOut calls (this is one of the apps that was taken down, but should go up again. Update: It’s available now)
9. MyCloset: This one’s more for the ladies, but a very nicely done app. You take apicture of every article of clothes in your closet, categorize them (top, bottom, shoes, accessories, etc.), select months when they can be worn, and then you can mix and match to plan out your outfits. The only thing it needs is some way to note weather a piece of clothing is clean or not.
10. Cab4Me Light: A simple app that gives you phone numbers of cab companies based on where you are.
Anyone building an chat app or web monitoring app for android?
Let me know.
kcurtis@ngagelive.com
wow, the display is so blurry
My display is rockin! Not blurry at all
I think you’ll find that the picture is out of focus. See how blurry the T-Mobile logo is as well.
why is the photo so horrible??? taken in iPhone, I guess
http://www.livbit.com
Good one Brian
Oliver
Yocial.com
Actually, yes. I don’t have any other camera with me
whether. “whether a piece of clothing is clean or not”
as long as we’re piling on… “iPhone’s App Market”
App Store, you mean?
The ringtone editor is what I find to be most interesting. With platform standardization and apps like this one, people like Jamster will go out of business.
http://twitroid.com – twitter client coming monday
Other than the inclusion of breadcrumbz, I tend to agree with these.
Breadcrumbz? In a top ten list? It’s a gimmick at best.
Cooking Capsules is far more useful. I think it’s already a must have. When they add more functionality, I think it will really take off across multiple platforms.
I know this is off subject…..when is there going to be an update on the 200$ web-template?
i don’t like this android at all.
http://www.tingting.com
“The apps I use the most come with the device: Gmail, the Web browser, and Google Maps, in that order”
This is exactly what Google wants you to do: only use Google services.
So they can create a monopoly around your entire Web behavior and your data.
Never had a Big Brother? Now you do.
I can use those Google services on a gazillion other devices. Lack of exclusivity doesn’t warrant the need to buy an Android based product.
The tight integration with features like threading and stars makes it a little better than what on most devices, though.
Rick, the G1 is completely open… they just open-sourced the entire codebase, so Google will allow you to use anything you want on the phone, and you could even rewrite the software to take out Gmail and Maps… what more do you want? It would be ridiculous for Google to spend the money to develop the software and not add links to their products.
Unfortunately, Google is not the final arbiter of what goes on your phone and what doesn’t. That would be the carriers and they’re closed as all hell. T-Mobile and the rest of the gang don’t want your poorly written crap bringing their network down and they certainly won’t host software that hurts their overall brand. Those of you hippies who think Android is heralding an age of oppennes on the mobile platform are living in a dream world.
ghunda you are incorrect. the owner of the device decides what goes on it. you simply check a box in settings that allows non-marketplace apps to be installed.
do u really think this will give iphone run for its money?
Oliver
Um, apps blah blah blah apps. Anyone have any data and how this G1 performs… you know… as a f*%king phone or handheld device? These apps are merely icing on the cake. If it blows as a phone, then what’s the point?
Mine makes calls. Works as a phone. Contacts were auto synced from my Gmail account, I go to dialer and can choose to call, text, email or use the address. If I tap call it calls them. If I tap the address it shows their house on google maps where I can get directions from my GPS locatoin.
If you’re on an website you can highlight the number and the phone will call it. The phone works like a phone.
Sweet. I don’t even know who you are but you’re the only person to talk about its core functionality. It’s like selling a new car but all everyone talks about is how well the GPS and bluetooth systems work.
Compare Everywhere is another awesome app as well as accu weather.
i am now waiting for a twitter and an app that shows stocks. GIMME
It’s now possible to Unlock all T-Mobile G1 for $22.9 using : http://www.unlo...k-tmobileg1.com, we just need the IMEI (Serial Number) of your phone to provide you the Unlocking Code in less than 48H
The G1 is exciting to the 8th Continent Project because the possibilities for new accelerometer-based innovations are immense. Combine satellite navigation principles, GPS, and motion sensing and you can anticipate huge advances in emergency response, location based advertising and location based social networks – all made possible from commercializing space technology. Our blog, 8cproject.wordpress.com, highlights these innovations regularly.
is there android app for monitoring stock market?, i think it’s must app
Here is another funny app for time management and efficiency: http://www.quotag.com Found it recently on the web, looks fun
i don’t have a g1, but my daughter the 1 yr old got to play with one a week ago (we had of the lead android programmers and his wife over while they were visiting family). They let her fiddle with the phone because they had “Toddler Lock” installed. the app was developed in house at google and lets you had your phone to your little kid to fiddle with. If features touchscreen and motion feedback via screen colors etc. And it is only unlockable via a user defined multi key press (like six keys on the keyboard at once). not sure if its available yet, but if so i should be on your top 10 parent/kid apps on g1. I have a few picks of the girl with the phone in my flickr feed if you want to see.
http://www.flic...in/photostream/
MyCloset for the Ladies? Your kidding yes? Ladies know what goes with what, I on the other hand, don’t have a clue. I would put some outlandish combination of colors here that I might wear at the same time but you see I have no idea, maybe brown pants and a green shitrt (does that go?). I could use this.
Erick,
What? Still not cooking with your phone? Where’s the love?
You would love the brie with cherry infused port reduction sauce.
Thanks for the shout out, Eammonn.
Mary Ann & the Cooking Capsules team
http://www.cookingcapsules.com
“The only thing it needs is some way to note *weather* a piece of clothing is clean or not.”
Shouldn’t that be “whether”?
I love Google. This is such an awesome idea and hopefully it will become a revolution.
IPhone still kicks Android to the curb.
Jiff
http://www.onli...e-privacy.cz.tc
Nope, by definition the open-source Google powered OS is going to win. Cause it’s open. Cause 100 different manufacturers can use it. Cause 100 different network providers can support it.
People keep forgetting… Android is a platform, iPhone is a phone. As Charbax put it, Android can be put on a limitless number of phones, carriers, and networks.
If you’re going to compare things: compare the G1 to the iPhone. Then in a few months compare the next Android phone to the iPhone, and so on.
In the end it’s a better possibility that the Android platform will be running on phones than a person having an iPhone.
NeoMedia has patents that cover scanning UPC and 2D barcodes to retrieve Internet content with a camera enabled cell phone
@streetstylz is linked to NeoMedia
http://is.gd/4JyN
U.S. Patent Office Rejects All Ninety-Five NeoMedia Patent Claims
http://is.gd/4JyK
@ David:
I do not work for NeoMedia. In my opinion, Big In Japan’s ShopSavvy application is infringing on multiple patents owned by NeoMedia.
This was a “non-final” rejection.
http://i35.tiny....com/nnjnz5.png
The USPTO recently issued an Office Action regarding the re-examination of NeoMedia’s U.S. Patent number 6,199,048. The re-examination procedure is a standard legal process that occurs in the natural course of business — this is not an “out of the ordinary” event. It is not unusual for the USPTO to preliminarily reject claims during the re-examination process. This initial action is non-final and will be subject to a review process. The ‘048 patent is presumed to be valid, intact and enforceable during the re-examination process.
NeoMedia has a strong and valuable patent portfolio in the arena of connecting barcodes to content over networks that has been successfully defended in the past. This re-examination was limited to only one of NeoMedia’s many patents, and none of its other patents are affected by the re-examination.
I’m with streetstylz. The patent story for NeoMedia is not over, and any company that is running to market with disregard to NeoMedia’s potential patent, is taking a huge risk that could come back and bite them very hard.
Instead of downloading any application, I ‘ll prefer a web application like http://fonet.mobi where I can manage many thing in one application. It has lots of feature like -
- Mobile Web directory
- RSS reader with bookmark Manamgement
- Social bookmarking
- Social Networking
- Mobile Blogging
- ToDo List
- Personal Contacts Management
- File Management
- Photo Sharing and Management
- Google Calender
- Groups/Network
- Message Management
- SMS
- Map/Directions
- Online Status Management
I read something about native applications for the Android platform which must be installed on the device but nothing about web applications. But the T-Mobile G1 has a very good web browser. Therefore the question is: Where are the Android web apps?
Do you realize that your comment on this blog is the third result in a Google search for, “Android web apps”?
There is clearly a need for them. I’m already trying to think of some I can put together.
Ok, I have a few questions..I know very little about all this technology, so please be patient with my ignorance..
First off, now that I have this thing coming, I am discovering that it cant be used with the t-mobile at home service using wifi to talk without using my plan minutes..why would they fail to put this capability on their flagship phone so you can use this tmobile at home sevice they are pushing so hard? I just dont get it…And is there any way to download a fix for this? Or is there any way that I can make calls from this thing if I reject their overpriced data package that they are making me get? I already have an unlimited text package and they ar making me buy a datat plan with more for higher thn the BB datat plan, and I CAN’T EVEN USE THE PHONE FOR TETHERING..I haven’t even seen this phone, but so far, I am not liking all the restrictions that seem to be placed on using it. Also, if I get it unlocked with the paid service, what exaclty will I gain unless I am ebaying it or moving to another service provider? I am stuck with tmobile for now..
Thanks for any help on any of these questions…
I do believe that you are correct about not being able to use it with their @home service. Whether that’ll change or not, i don’t know.
As far as the G1 data price vs the BB data prices, Tmo has raised the prices on all data plans to help support the cost of upgrading their network to 3G. The G1 and BB data plans are now the same cost.
Also, it is possible to tether the G1. Check out http://androidc...g1-3g-browsing/ for the how-to.
Finally, you are correct, there are no real benefits of having your G1 unlocked unless you are going to sell it or move to another service provider.
There really is a lot you can do with this device due to the open-source nature of the Android platform. I think with time, you will be able to find/develop an answer to any issues you have with it because of this with just a little research.
I hope that helps!
If you guys find any tips and tricks please also post them on this forum for G1 which is g1tricks.com
Very Good
Very nice article, im looking forward to Beetaun app though.
Oh man, Pac-Man would ruin my life, I love that game. This is an awesome top ten list. You should post this list on my buddy’s site http://www.toptentopten.com/.
That picture is pretty terrible, c’mon TC get better images.
http://mobiles.clubit.tv
No love for CardioTrainer? I swear, ever since I got my G1, I’ve been running nonstop and using CT to track all my movements! You can learn more about it at http://www.work.../cardiotrainer/
Hi guys!! Can any1 tell me please what program should i use to make a skype calls out ? I really need it. I was tryin to find iskoot but i could’nt.
Please help me!!
Attention with iSkoot. As long as I know, it makes a local call to a iSkoot server which connects to your Skype account and make the call for you, then transfer the call to you.
And as in some country there is no local number (i.e. Switzerland), it calles the iSkoot server in the US. At least, it was the case for the Symbian UIQ 3 version…
That can be very expensive ! If it still work that way, I would suggest not to try.
Man, you really should put up cardiotrainer there. That is, if you do anything outdoors. =)
Hi all,
Please check this out :
The Craigslist for gPhone webapps :
http://i-craigs...ist.appspot.com
Thank You.
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