Round Robin: TiPb vs. Android G1! Comment here for your chance to win an iPhone 3G!
[This is an official Smartphone Experts Round Robin post! Every day you reply here, you're automatically entered for a chance to win an iPhone 3G, Case-Mate Naked Case, and Motorola H9 Bluetooth Headset! More below!]
Okay, fair enough, I'm having a little fun up there, but with the Smartphone Empire Experts Round Robin officially under way and my iPhone frozen in carbonite for the next month, the G1 could be my only hope!
I'm still trying to figure out if this is the 'droid I've been looking for, however. Do I understand the awesome power of the open-platform of the Google? Or is it more concept now than device, twisted and confusing?
Check out the video, then head on over to Android Central to help me out. Every day you post, you get entered to WIN one of FIVE smartphone prize packs! And you can enter each site's contest, so don't forget to help turn Casey back to the iPhone side as well!
May the forums be with you!
Prize details after the jump...
Every day you comment here, you get one entry to win not only a supra-shiny iPhone 3G, but the Case-Mate Naked Case which allows full touch through access to the iPhone's amazing screen. Smartphone Outlet is also kicking in the revolutionary Motorola H9 Bluetooth Headset AND a runner-up prize, $50 coupon good at any SPE store, including the new Smartphone Outlet, where you can find refurb Smartphone Accessories at very (very!) low prices.
Check out our full contest rules!
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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1 month! I would kill (not really) to have the android for a month! But sadly I'm on Robbers, uh, I mean Rogers. Please post updates on how life is with the G1!
Wow, thanks for reminding me why I love my iPhone!
By the way, is the G1 screen only sensitive to finger electricity/heat like the iphone? or is it just pressure sensitive?
Stupendous video, man, great walkthough. Also great that you've run though all the basic functions. Really loving your comments on the multiple input methods.
Where's up? Where do I push up?
Great point, but then again that IS a 3rd party app. 
JAWAS!
Nice video... love your sound effects as well...
Looks like a pretty decent 1.0 version.
wow that thing is pathetic haha
To enter a URL just start typing. The phone will automatically do a google search or go to the website if you add the .com, .org etc... Then you can press the enter key to go, no need to use the touch screen.
I'm liking the G1. Not as good as the phone yet but since it just came out I think it's a nice alternative.
Rene, nice video recap. Looking forward to your review at the end of the week. A month is a long time to be without an iPhone so I wish you well.
Great review. Interace seems to be overly complex on the G1. My father loves using my iPhone, but can't even fully use his normal verizon cell phone. If he had the G1, I think he would bring it back within minutes.
I'm 100% iPhone user but being honest, the G1 is a good phone overall the only thing that I really don't like is that little part poping out, it just doesn't seem right. It might pop out any time you put/pull it in/from your pocket.
I would love to get a chance to try out the G1.
You know what is funny. There have been many phones...even dedicated add campaigns geared towards the whole iPhone killer. Here we have the G1 which in my opinion is the closest thing to an iPhone all around.
give me the prize
I would sell my soul to the devil for any of these phones. I would sell my sister for the runner up prizes.
Excellent video. You start off a little like a robot, but the emotion comes out in the end. Hmmm.. maybe a little bit iphone biased
Thanks for the mini review. It gave me a lot more insight into the G1 in comparison to the iPhone. In the next video I would love to see you test out the UPC price scanning application that was in the commercial. That is one thing the iPhone doesn't have (we don't have macro lenses to read UPCs on our phones).
hey guys I found this kickass website blog forum about a week ago and I like you guys are the best plus your interface is sweet and clean on the iPhone anyways just wanted my first reply post to be a thankyou. That sucks tho that you can't use your iPhone and have to use that ugly brick g1 I would die without this puppy
Great Video. The iPhone Rocks.
I played with the G1 the other day, nice phone but I don't like it. Nice video!
I think everyone knows the iPhone is the one to best. I don't think google can with the clunky hardware.
I'm still thinking about getting a 3G. This video helped solidify my decision. Especially if I win the 3G
I don't know if I should stay with what I have, but am seriously considering an ipod touch with 2.1 firmware to get similar funtionality, without having to dual-wield phones and have two monthly bills.
Hmmmm, is it just me or does it seem like the G1 is crap? Maybe im bias because I own an iPhone, or because of Rene (he also has an iPhone), but I feel that google really needs to go back to the drawing board for the hardware.
I be a poor black priate, an' I will nay win an iphone if i comment here on accoun' o' 'tis most likely a lie
The round-robin is a great idea. I recently tried both the G1 and a Blackberry and stuck with the blackberry because it had the features I needed for my primary line. The iPhone 3G would be nice but ATT does not work at my house - can I win an unlocked 3G?
I think the G1 has some good concepts but they need a lot more refining since the iPhone set such a high bar for everyone.
Love the sound effects and the Jawas!
Liked the video. I would say that it is a great first effort, but it definitely leaves much to be desired. It appeared to not be very intuitive, and the screen did not appear to be very responsive to the finger movements. So far, I see absolutely no reason to make me wish I had an Android based phone.
Great review, man. My favorite feature of the Android is how it let me look up your nostrils.
i like this review but for now i stay with my phone nice try
My friend got the G1 the day it came out, we were playing with it for a bit. The OS seemed much more clunky than the iPhone, scrolling was not as smooth, and the browser was not near as nice as the iPhone. I also thought the phone felt kinda "plastic-y", the build quality was not as nice as the iphone.
Not a bad first go, and cut and paste is nice, ha. But the hardware looks like cr@p!
I would have this uneasy feeling that one day when "sliding" the screen open, away it will take off! Can't imagine it will last forever.
Hilarious! Hope you're nicer to Android in your full review!
Its all about the "potential" Rene!
Looks pretty good!
I'll have ya sister for ma iphone ! LOL
I really appreciate what Google has done here, but it's still an inferior product in a lot of ways. There are some advances that will push smartphones further, but when it comes to usability and familiarity, the iPhone still rocks!
Take the G1 and...
... and you're starting to have an iPhone competitor, hardware-wise. We aren't nearly there yet though!
Meh, I feel left out of the Android participation for the round robin considering no Canadian carriers offer it to us, with that being said though I'm enjoying the review/looks at it, considering at some point it has to make a Canadian appearence(yes I'm aware I could buy an unlocked one) but I have a Bold that staves off my desires for other phones, for now
Nice Video, looks good...
The G1 is a good start as far as android is concerned, but it definitely lacks the beauty that the iPhone brings to the table. It won't be easy for any company to recreate the fluid nature of the iPhone without severely infringing on its individuality.
The G1 is interesting, but it doesn't seem quite iPhone quality yet. The iPhone is still missing some features, but the UI is just the best. I agree with much of the video's evaluation. Good job.
Meh... looks poopy. Will not be considering this as my next phone. iPhone, on the other hand...
That's pretty cool you guys are doing a great give away like this.
Looks interesting, but definitely more confusing than the iPhone. Like the keyboard and trackball, though, but it's hard to go back to simpler touch screens after using multitouch on my iPod Touch.
I don't like the form factor. Seems like a pain to type when the keyboard is out. Can't wait til Android comes out on other phones and other carriers. It doesn't seem good enough to replace my iPhone but as they work the bugs out and get a better form factor, who knows. At least it will keep Apple honest and keep iPhone updates flowing.
I would like to try the android for a week, but I think I would miss my trusty iPhone too much!
The G1 looks like it might be where the iPhone was last year. A good new idea, but still some potential snags. I wonder what it will look like a year from now!
Nice video! I have had my eye on the G1 for awhile. You make some very good points about the user interface. It would be hard for any company to match the iPhone's ease of use.
Any one of those smartphones would be good for the holidays. I have ATT but I'm sure a relative wouldn't mind a G1 or something
At least there is probably one of the most biased review that I have seen. Good job
Nice synopsis, fair enough and not too overboard on the "not an iPhone" type of references. The G1 still obviously has a ways to go.
I'll keep my iPhone
I'm so glad I have the iPhone and not the G1!! Good review!
My iphone is waayyy better in so many ways - the UI, apps, multitouch, and form factor. Even iphone 1.0 was much better because the UI was just fantastic, not to mention multitouch and other cool features.
looks good so far for a 1st year phone. but so far iPhone looks better.
Thanks for review, Rene. A good first effort for Google, but obviously, it needs some polish. The UI seems to be a somewhat confusing amalgam of the iPhone, the Blackberry, and the Sidekick. Google might want to consider narrowing the focus for exactly what they want the UI experience to be.
By the way, I could not survive for more than 2 days without my iPhone - THE ONE PHONE TO RULE THEM ALL.
this is great. i love the competition. ha ha ha. lets go iphone all the way.
I've played with the G1 and an impressed, but not switching from the iphone however.
This is a great concept, and I am sorry I missed it last year.
I've been meaning to get my hands on a G1 to try out, but this is a good alternative. I'm wondering about the way the reviewer was touching the screen with his thumb - the touchscreen sensitivity on the G1 seems to be somewhere in between WinMo devices (need to really slam your thumb against the screen) and the iPhone (feather-like touch still gets things done).
ITS A NICE PHONE..IT DOESTN COPMPARE OT TEH IPHOEN FROM WHA TI SAW..BUT THE IPHONE IS FATHER TO ALL OF THESE PHONES..NO PHONE IS BETTER THAN ITS FATHER..LMAO..I HOPE TO WIN THE IPHONE..PICK ME..I REALLY WOUDL LIKE IT
android schmandroid wait till iPhone os 3.0 and the whole world willbe racing to catch up yet again
Nothing here to lure me away from my iPhone!
t-mo jingle comment was hilarious. nice batman begins poster in the background. the brown G1 is Ugly.
No where near as great as iPhone
Great job! Thanks!
The iphone will be the only phone for me...good try google, but just does not the the "it" factor
ha, Great review! My friend just recently brought an Andriod G1 a week ago. Its a pretty okay slider for its price.
This reaffirms the fact that Apple has mastered the art of making complex things simple. You may give up a LITTLE bit of flexibility, but you gain such a great, easy to use, & intuitive user interface, that I think it would be hard to go back to anything else. Thanks Google for confirming that I made the right choice in choosing Apple!
I think the iPhone kills the G1 currently, but maybe in a year or two once Google has had some time to update and improve the G1 it could be better than the iPhone. You never know, maybe Apple will go wrong with the next iPhone, and Google will make some significant jumps, putting the G1 ahead of the iPhone.
But for now, I think the G1 falls short of the expectations that it had, and it definitely falls short of the iPhone.
Great to see the iPhone 3G being offered as a prize here. Looking forward to winning that baby!
great video no iPhone killers though yet
Can't wait to see how the iPhone stacks up against the rest ...
ALSO .. i wouldnt mind owning a new iPhone either ..
Thanks for the review! Up here in Canada I don't expect I will get a chance to try one out myself anytime soon so the bid satisfied (some of) my curiosity. I was wondering how the camera compared to the iPhone's though. More specifically the camera application, because Apple fell short by miles on the features of the iPhone camera app compared to other smartphone and even cellphone camera applications. Keep us posted on how life with the G1 is!
Definetly a good first effort. Don't see this phone doing for T-Mobile what the iPhone has done for AT&T.
hmm the android os is lookin very promising still in its baby stage but for the phone im not very fond of it. great review though
No iPhone killers yet. The Storm looks promising!
I agree with the many posters above that the G1 has left much to be desired. Not only on the hardware front where it fails handily for being uninteresting and bulky. But also on the OS front where it's just not that userfriendly or intuitive. Maybe the future Droids will be much improved, all we can do is wait and see. Good intro review btw.
NICE VIDEO, I RECENTLY BECAME A PROUD OWNER OF AN IPHONE 3G AND WOULD NOT GIVE IT UP FOR ANYTHING. THE G1 DOES HAVE SOME NICE VITURES, BUT THE USER INTERFACE IS A NO GO FOR ME.
The storm and g1 have nothing on the iPhone. I have yet to c some1 with a g1 yet but iPhones are left and right.
I want to try it out
Nice video.
sexyness goes definitly with the iPhone...
G1 looks good...glad theres more competition with the iphone, hopefully it'll just make the next gen iphone even better
I'm not sure on googles strategy with his g1. I have a feeling that android may go the way of so many of googles technologies. Launched with much fanfare but in the end all but forgotten. Or maybe not! Let's wait and see.
Of course, looks nice, but just one question... Is the problems with the touch sensor hardware or software related? Will there be a fix?
I'm so far happy mith my Iphone 3G but I am sure when we see the next gen of Android, we will be amazed. For simple reasons: 1- Android in its actual state is not so bad. 2- In the next gen, they will fix some glitches and maybe take advantage of all the stuff missing in Iphone and introduce a kicker phone.
ain't nothing wrong with the g1, I think its awsome
Great comparison. I am too spoiled now to ever switch. I guess I should be grateful and stop complaining about all the things that are not available with the iPhone.
I love the idea of the G1, but I think you pointed out many of its failings. You didn't complain about what seems to be one of the biggest dissappointments...the gigantic size and very odd shape. Besides that, TMobile's coverage is crap!
the g1 is a great device has a few things the iPhone is missing (mms, push gmail, message indicator light). But the iPhone form factor is second to none. And I hate having to flip out the keyboard.
Nice walk-through of Android, but for the moment at least I'm far too addicted to the goodness that is my iPhone 3G.
I wonder if there will be another iPhone next year? Oh well, for now all I want is a 3G. I'm still struggling with EDGE and my 2G.
still thinkin abt gettin the 3G even though I took a serious look at the G1. after reading some software and hardware issues/reviews, I think the 3G is my best bet!!
I'd love to get my wife a 3G
LOL@ "one port to rule them all"
I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but NOT including a 3.5mm headphone jack is such a facepalm for HTC. The inclusion of that jack could have doubled their initial sales, IMHO.
Wow, the G1 is really missing the Sex Appeal that a lot of the other phones have. From a form factor, it really has nothing on the Iphone.
It will be funny when the other Android phone start to drop and the IPhone fans finally realize there is no Google phone and they have nothing to do with the hardware.
And to be honest I don't have a problem with this hardware to begin with. It fits well in the hand and that bend at the bottom does a great job at helping me not drop it while driving. If you wanted something sleek then wait to see if the rumored Touch HD :-0 with Android gets released. But as far as function...it took the IPhone off my radar.