T-Mobile G1 or “the Google Phone” pics and info

T-Mobile G1

Since the iPhone, we’ve all been waiting for other carriers to produce a similar phone.  While many changed carriers to get the iPhone, some of us patiently waited because we liked our current carrier (T-Mobile for me).

T-Mobile is bringing us the “G1″, available in the US on October 22 but available for pre-order now.

There are some nice features, obviously, about this phone including the fact that the Google Android Platform will allow users to tailor their phones to their needs and preferences in many more ways than today’s conventional cell phones.  It’ll be cool to download apps of our choice to customize our phone much like we do our computer.

As is, it won’t connect to Microsoft’s Exchange service which I don’t understand as this is a phone that will attract many business-ended users even though that may not be the G1’s primary target.  Their reasoning is that they expect developers to develop an application to allows the G1 and Microsoft Exchange to work together which I’m sure will happen but that going to suck for those who need that app and want the G1 in the meantime.

Another thing that stuns me is apparently it won’t be able to record video – wtf?  You’ve got to be kidding me?  Did they forget about this feature when creating the phone or just decide to purposely leave it out like the iPhone- either way that was stupid in the video era we’re in.  It’s all about the video these days, I can’t believe it.  Especially when they made sure that YouTube users will be able to view YouTube ‘as is’ and it has a video player.

But it has a new mobile music application developed by Amazon for accessing their digital music store.  Okay?!

Other positive points:

• touchscreen with scroll/mouse ball for more precise navigation
• can view websites the way you’d view them on your computer at home
• QWERTY keypad
• G3 and WiFi
• GPS
• has some really cool apps (like a barcode scanning app for reading UPC codes and getting instant price comparisons; an app that finds and gets you a cab according to where you’re at; an interactive weather system; and an app that helps you learn how to contribute to the “green” effort based on your current activities and routines) ready for download and developers will be bringing many other apps to the table in time

Other negative points:

• doesn’t support stereo bluetooth or have a 3.5mm jack (means you can’t plug in a regular set of headphones)
• no voIP app – but may be available in the future at a cost

Other notes:

• you’ll need a gmail account to use the G1 – obvious since it’s the “Google Phone” and will come with many Google Apps
• cost is at $179. (must enter a 2 year contract but this is T-Mobile’s norm anyway)

You can see some pretty good close up pics at different angles here.