Today is the day I received my HTC Dream also known as the T-Mobile G1, Google Phone or just plain “gPhone “. The mobile device that is decked out with the Android platform. It is finally replacing my old cel-phone, the SonyEricsson K550i.
Yep, that’s right I got it in the mail today. The very day Apple has presented the iPhone 3G-S. But you should also know it’s only last week that it has come to Rogers here in Canada, unlike late last year in the US. I decided to order one.
Why did I get the Dream? Easy, I was thinking I already had the iPod Touch and I was involved in the odd WebKit or iPhone optimized website project here and there. So, I basically wanted to give designing interfaces for the Android a shot and just plain wanted to mess around and see how coding is going to be like for it.
First Day
It is my first day after all, I still need to import all my contacts and setup all my email accounts. However, I can tell it’s got a completely different feel to the iPhone or Touch in terms of interface and usage. The Dream has a menu button “externally” and since I have gotten used to playing around with my iPod Touch, which doesn’t have extra buttons except for home and sleep, I still have to get accustomed to extra button-pushes outside the touch screen.
One thing that jumps out at me right off the bat is the design for various Apps when I compare it to those on my iPod Touch. For instance, if I was to compare the Mail App on both devices I feel more at ease with the overall design of Mail on my Touch. But of course at this point I have to say it’s a matter of taste which interface you like the most, I personally have cosied up to the look of Apple’s apps and designs, so I need to get used to the feel of the Android Interface. I’d love to show some screen grabs at this time but my camera just gave up on me, so I’ll be leaving for the next journal entry.
So far I have downloaded the free apps on the Android Market e.g. Twit2go and some of the standard apps like the mobi-Opera and Meebo IM. Nothing really exciting yet since the Market currently is young compared to the huge AppStore. Then again I’d like to see more stuff on the Market. I definitely got some discovering to do!
I’m pretty much used to downloading beautifully designed Apps for my Touch as well as games, but I’m extremely curious to see what the limitations there are (or the lack thereof!) designing for an Android App.
Only one way to find out, I’ve got to get my hands dirty. Before that happens though, I need to get all my contacts in so I can also use it as a phone once in a while!
Synchin’ ships
Like with all Apple devices the synching of my calendar/contact/email-account through MobileMe is absolutely seemless and easy. That’s something I feel I really can’t live without, but I’m sure there’s going to be apps or functions in the Dream that will enable easy synching. I just haven’t figured it out yet…
New journeys lie ahead
I’m really excited stepping out of my comfort zone in things like mobile devices and the platforms running on them. I’ve heard lots of stories how difficult it is to use a phone tricked out with WinMo so I’ve stayed away from it, while swimming close to the shores of Apple. Now that I’ve heard lots of stories about the Android, I’m really stoked to see what’s up with it.
But for now I’ll need to get to know the phone and its functions well enough before I delve into the world of coding again…