TWiT Picks

T-Mobile G1 Android Phone

Warning: Not intended for use by Apple fanboys.

Google has gotten off to a strong start with its first mobile operating system, Android. Based on the Linux operating system, Android is extremely expandable and versatile, and has been designed from day one to work on heterogeneous hardware.

The first Android phone in the USA is the T-Mobile G1, this is the phone that I (Colleen) use every single day, and love to death.

Even more exciting is that the Cupcake firmware release of Android to be released soon will bring features like an on screen keyboard (I have used it and its better than the iPhone's), AD2P stereo bluetooth headphone support, video recording, speed improvements, and more.

Also, as developers get their greasy mitts on these phones, they are finding that the OS is a dream to develop for, and gives them access to all sorts of features that allow them to make extremely unique and powerful applications. As the number of phones that run Android increases, and it will with companies like Samsung, Motorola, NTT DoComo, Ericsson designing hardware for the platform, developers will be increasingly lured to the Android OS.

Here are the pros and cons of the G1 itself.

Pros:

• Capacitive touchscreen
• A real keyboard! Take that Steve Jobs
• Best multitasking of any mobile OS
• Expandable, versatile, and hackable
• Comes with Amazon music store support.
• Perfect Google app integration... none of this broken Mobile Me garbage
• Replaceable and upgradeable battery
• A camera with optical focus so that it can resolve and recognize bar codes
• A durrable body

Cons:

• Underpowered stock battery
• No multitouch interface yet, though the OS and hardware support it
• Scrolling is not always smooth
• Plain looking hardware

If you are an Apple fan, you will probably be happier with the homogenous experience of the iPhone. If on the other hand you are a hard core geek who prefers open platforms, the G1 with Android is the only way to fly.