T-Mobile G1 Android Phone - Review

Neo-Fight gives detailed tech product reviews for the not so geeky. This video will focus on the T-Mobile G1 Android Phone .

Ben Freedman: Hi there and welcome to Neo-Fight.tv; the technology show for the not-so-geeky. My name is Ben Freedman and we are once again blessed to have Andi Barness. Andi Barness: Thank you. Ben Freedman: Nice to see you again Andi. Andi Barness: Thank you Ben. It’s good to be here. Ben Freedman: Andi is a professional presenter and host and if you’d like to find out more— Andi Barness: Well, at least I play one on TV. Ben Freedman: That is true. Where else could you play one? Andi Barness: True. Andibarness.com Ben Freedman: Andibarness.com is where you can go to find about everything Andi. Andi Barness: That is right. Ben Freedman: That is right. Andi Barness: Hosting voice over work you. Well, that’s it. Ben Freedman: Hosting voice overwork and a cocktail party. Andi Barness: No. Ben Freedman: No cocktail parties, no. So today, we are going to be looking at this. This is by T-Mobile and Google. This is—they call this the G1Android Phone. G1 is the hardware and the software is actually made by Google. It’s kind of Googles in some of the iPhone, right? Andi Barness: If that is exactly what it is. Ben Freedman: And now, I haven’t played it with this much but you have been playing—how long have you been playing with this? Andi Barness: I have to say probably six weeks. Ben Freedman: Six weeks? Andi Barness: Uh-huh. Ben Freedman: And give me your impressions. What do you think? Andi Barness: You know actually I would—I really wanted the iPhone. Ben Freedman: You really wanted the iPhone. Andi Barness: Yeah because of you. Ben Freedman: You like mine. Andi Barness: With your constant playing with it and you make it look so easy and I thought, you know I am not on the contract, I want the iPhone. Ben Freedman: You are not on the contract. Andi Barness: I wasn’t. Ben Freedman: Okay, okay. Andi Barness: So I went to—I mean I’m being totally honest, I went to T-Mobile. Ben Freedman: And you said? Andi Barness: I said, I want to cancel my service. I am going to get an iPhone. Ben Freedman: And they said? Andi Barness: And they said what if you barely have to pay for this? We’ll give you a smoking deal. Ben Freedman: Well that is true because the iPhone is still $200.00. Andi Barness: Right. And I’m—that I paid, I think the paid the $180.00 for this. Ben Freedman: Oh, okay. Andi Barness: So, I mean this was not cheap but my monthly rate is like super, super low. So, that’s what they got me. Ben Freedman: That is true and you know on the iPhone and I think the minimum monthly rate is like $60.00 a month and you know that is the minimum, minimum. Andi Barness: Oh I was like, “Really? It’s cheaper than what I am paying?” Ben Freedman: Yeah. Andi Barness: I think $87.00. I have been a customer for a long time for everything. Ben Freedman: Yeah I hate to say this but I think T-Mobile is kind of ripping you off. Andi Barness: Don’t say that, really? Ben Freedman: Yeah. I think the $80 shouldn’t get a pretty good plan with like unlimited data and tax and— Andi Barness: I just signed a two year contract. Ben Freedman: Holy cow. Thanks everyone. We’ll see you later. Andi Barness: Oh my gosh. Okay, I’m— Ben Freedman: But you know what? It’s an awesome phone, right? So, tell me about it. Andi Barness: Well it is not that great of a phone. Oh man. I am so bumped right now. All right, so remember, I am trying to compete with the iPhone. Ben Freedman: Right, right. Now first of all, may I jump in? Andi Barness: Please. Ben Freedman: I am sorry. So, I know a lot of people don’t like the iPhone because it’s an on screen keyboard, you know they—and you have to tap it with your finger. You can’t use your fingernails. Andi Barness: Right. Ben Freedman: One thing people like about this, it has a real keyboard. Andi Barness: Yeah I mean I like the fact that it has a real keyboard. Ben Freedman: Show the folks how this opens up. Andi Barness: And you just open it like this. Ben Freedman: I got it, that is cool. Andi Barness: Yeah, that is cool. Ben Freedman: Because you know, when you open the keyboard on the iPhone, it takes up half the screen, right? Andi Barness: Oh yes. So then, you can’t— Ben Freedman: With my iPhone. Andi Barness: Right. Ben Freedman: I got an iPhone over here. So, here is the one problem. So, here is you know—you’ve got to look. Andi Barness right there with her phone number. You know here is the screen. As soon as you want to type anything in, you will lose half the screen. Andi Barness: Right. Ben Freedman: Right, half of the screen becomes the keyboard. Andi Barness: Okay. Ben Freedman: With yours—instead of losing half the screen, you open it up and you got double the phone. Andi Barness: Exactly. So, I like that. I—you know comparing now, good I like this. However, the thing that I don’t like is it’s hard to push especially with finger nails. Ben Freedman: It’s hard to push the buttons. Andi Barness: Exactly. But the other thing is you can’t see it. It does not light up. Ben Freedman: It doesn’t light up. Andi Barness: Right. Ben Freedman: There’s a backlight on the keys. Andi Barness: It’s like so faint that you—I mean now you can sort of see it but you sort of have to move it into the right angle. Ben Freedman: Yeah—can you see? I don’t know, we’ll zoom in on that a bit here but— Andi Barness: I don’t like it especially at night or dusk or it doesn’t— Ben Freedman: It’s hard to type. Andi Barness: Oh yeah. Ben Freedman: And the keys are very flat. Andi Barness: Is that what it is? I was trying to figure out like what is it that I don’t like about it. Ben Freedman: When you—yeah. I mean there’s not a lot of difference between the keys and the back. Andi Barness: Right, it almost feels like one big touch pad; one great big one. So that really frustrates me and I just keep thinking two years of this. Oh my goodness. Ben Freedman: And then on the front is like a little track ball? Andi Barness: Yeah. So, I think with every phone, I mean I had the T-Mobile dash before and I really liked it but my camera broke it. Ben Freedman: That is Windows Mobile right? Andi Barness: Right. Ben Freedman: Right, okay. Andi Barness: And I am fond of that. A lot of people don’t like that. Ben Freedman: I don’t mind that. Andi Barness: But it had a video camera which was the best thing ever. You know what frustrates me, is I don’t think—as soon as you go to buy the phone, do you know all the questions to ask? Ben Freedman: Well they do have a 30 day return period. Andi Barness: A 14-day. Ben Freedman: Oh, 14 days. Andi Barness: So, of course I didn’t need to use my video camera. Ben Freedman: Right. Andi Barness: Until like the 19th day. Ben Freedman: Because these folks do so much. Like for instance, Andi and I were recently in Wisconsin on a video shoot and I said, “Hey! Why don’t you use the GPS to find out where we are going?” and you said, “GPS”. Andi Barness: It has GPS? I didn’t know that. Ben Freedman: Yeah. Andi Barness: So, I think— Ben Freedman: So, you didn’t know the phone had a GPS built in. Andi Barness: No but I mean it has so many things. Ben Freedman: Exactly. Andi Barness: I mean, you know I can download some really cool things and music. Ben Freedman: You got that coffee maker in there. It’s you know. Andi Barness: Exactly. Ben Freedman: It’s a taster so if you get it a mug at night, you can zap people with that. Andi Barness: That would be worth the money, right there. Ben Freedman: Yeah. Andi Barness: It has a camera. The camera is so, so? Ben Freedman: So, so camera. Andi Barness: Yeah. Ben Freedman: Not the greatest camera. Andi Barness: Not the great camera. Ben Freedman: Now although, you know, like we talked about a couple episodes back, you know that the camera people don’t want video. How did I know that I really want a great camera in my phone? I mean I don’t mind a snapshot but if I want to take good pictures, I am going to use a camera. Andi Barness: But I wish it had just a better camera, you know because so many people like at my kids’ baseball games, I want to snap a picture and it’s just a little grainy. Ben Freedman: I hate to sound pedestrian but how is it as a phone? The voice quality, sound quality, do you drop calls? Andi Barness: Yeah. Ben Freedman: Because you know the big problem with my iPhone is it does everything but it’s not a great phone. Andi Barness: It’s hard to hear it. It does not sound great. Ben Freedman: It is not. I drop calls all the time. It’s static use. People sometimes tell me they can’t hear me. Andi Barness: No, I— Ben Freedman: I mean it’s not the best phone. Andi Barness: I don’t have a problem with that. Ben Freedman: You want to download a song from iTunes, it’s wonderful. Andi Barness: Right. Yeah, I mean, I don’t know. Ben Freedman: Do people—have you ever drop calls? Andi Barness: Not really, if I ever have a promise, because my Bluetooth, because I have not figured out how to use it right and hang up with people— Ben Freedman: And there are no good Bluetooth headsets yet. They are all—I am still waiting for a good one. Andi Barness: All right, maybe we have to review some Bluetooth headsets. Ben Freedman: So. Andi Barness: So overall, the thing that is really frustrating, I text a lie and so that’s frustrating for me. Ben Freedman: That keyboard is hard to text. Andi Barness: Yeah. Ben Freedman: And now, one big thing like Google is you can download all these applications but I don’t know. Do you get into any of that stuff? Andi Barness: I am still learning. What’s really neat— Ben Freedman: Have you downloaded anything for it? Can you give me an example or something you might have downloaded or not yet? Andi Barness: I guess—no. Ben Freedman: No? Andi Barness: Not yet. Ben Freedman: Other than the phone, what else do you use? Andi Barness: But—okay, what is really cool. Ben Freedman: Yeah. Andi Barness: Is if you in your phone, I have this too as if I touch this little thing right here and it is going to come up and say, this is my Google. I I can Goggle on something. Ben Freedman: Right. Andi Barness: Hopefully, it’s going to come up and say “Is the voice activated? Do you have that?” Ben Freedman: No, I don’t have that. Andi Barness: So, it’s starting up. McDonalds, Arizona. Ben Freedman: You would just talk to it like that ha? Andi Barness: Yeah but then you have to be quiet so it will stop and then typically it will come up and it will say McDonalds, Arizona. Ben Freedman: Right. Andi Barness: So if you are driving, connection problem. Speak again, I think this because you would not stop talking but that is just what I think. Ben Freedman: Sorry about that. Andi Barness: Anyway, so that is pretty neat. So if you are driving, you don’t have to— Ben Freedman: Yeah you can not do that on the iPhone. There is Google. Google has an amp that will let you do that but the app, the phone itself does not do that on the iPhone Andi Barness: Right. Ben Freedman: So, that is very cool. Andi Barness: Yeah. Ben Freedman: Well so, I am going to let you rate this since I haven’t used it. Andi Barness: I think it depends on what you want your phone for. Ben Freedman: Right. Andi Barness: The phone quality is good. I can talk and I don’t drop a lot of calls. The keyboard really bombs me out especially text messaging. Ben Freedman: If you could buy the same software but on the next—you know when they come up with the new one, the software is the same but it is a better hardware, would that attract you? Andi Barness: Yeah. Ben Freedman: Better keyboard, you know better camera, maybe. Andi Barness: Yeah. And input a video. I really like the video. Ben Freedman: You like a video? Andi Barness: Yeah. Ben Freedman: And this doesn’t do video? Andi Barness: It doesn’t do video. Ben Freedman: Wow, okay. Andi Barness: And you know what? When you are going to buy a phone, write everything down that you use all the time and then ask them. Ben Freedman: All right. Andi Barness: It’s my advice. Ben Freedman: Well we are running along. Andi Barness: Sorry. Ben Freedman: That is okay but that is a good review. I don’t much about this. So that is the G1 Android Phone from Google and T-Mobile and definitely check it out. Make sure you got that return policy and you may want to check out the Apple thing especially if you are off contract and see how much it’s going to cost you. Andi Barness: Whatever works best for you. Ben Freedman: Indeed. And we got another review coming up right after this, so please stay tuned. [Demonstration] Ben Freedman: And we are back and in the second spotlight section today. You know Andi, I thought you’d said, you’d never let a fish tank come between us. Andi Barness: Well obviously I am. What the heck is this? Ben Freedman: Well, we are reviewing, as I had told you before, we’re reviewing MP3 player. Andi Barness: Okay. Ben Freedman: So, you know, and here it is. This is called the Finis SwiMP3 MP3 player. It’s an MP3 player designed for swimmers. Andi Barness: Okay. Ben Freedman: It’s an underwater MP3 player. Andi Barness: Cool. Ben Freedman: Take a look. Andi Barness: Where it is—I don’t see any ear things though. Ben Freedman: Well, that is a very good observation and let me show you. There are no— Andi Barness: I am pretty bright. Ben Freedman: Yeah, you are. Basically this uses bone conduction, not audio conduction, so the speakers at the side here vibrates here and you actually attach this like this to your mask; your goggles. Andi Barness: Okay. Ben Freedman: And it actually plays the music through your skull bone into your ear canal. Allow me to demonstrate. I am going to turn this on here. Andi Barness: Okay. Ben Freedman: And oops wrong button, there we go. Okay and play. Andi Barness: Oh. Ben Freedman: Okay now, I don’t know if you can hear that on the mic. Andi Barness: I can hear it. Ben Freedman: So, hold that against your temple and tell me what you—how it sounds. Push it right in front of your ears. Andi Barness: It sounds really teeny. Ben Freedman: Yeah. Well I think this is designed for underwater use. Andi Barness: Okay. Ben Freedman: Right. Andi Barness: I guess that— Ben Freedman: Hence the fish tank. Andi Barness: You’re doing this right? Ben Freedman: Okay, so— Andi Barness: Because— Ben Freedman: I am going to take my mic off here. I need you to talk for a second. Andi Barness: Okay. Ben Freedman: So ahead and chat. Andi Barness: All right, so obviously you are going to be putting your Goggles on. There’s the goggles and for the purpose of television, for our podcast, you are going to be going in the water and I am just so happy it’s you and not me. Ben Freedman: All right. Andi Barness: I am pretty impressed, okay. Ben Freedman: Thank you. So, this goes on like this. Can you help me here? Andi Barness: Yeah I guess you got to see how easy it is to— Ben Freedman: Yeah this clips on—you see how this clips open like this? Andi Barness: It goes right up, okay. Ben Freedman: It goes underneath—oh it’s pretty loud. Andi Barness: Do you think—but that was using enough to put on. Ben Freedman: I feel so funky right. Andi Barness: I love it. Ben Freedman: How do I look? Do I look— Andi Barness: You look great. The fish are going to be very impressed. Ben Freedman: Okay, so here we go under water. Andi Barness: Okay. Ben Freedman: To tell you how it sounds. Andi Barness: Is it okay if I sort of sit back a little bit all right. Ben Freedman: It’s okay. Here we go, ready? Andi Barness: Okay, here we go. You have to stay under for a minute. Go. Okay, oh my gosh. That’s as long as you can hold your breath? Ben Freedman: Oh well, I am sitting—didn’t you notice that? Andi Barness: No. All right, you got to tell. Okay I can’t wait to—we’re you able to even tell how it sounds? What do you think? Ben Freedman: Yeah. Andi Barness: Let’s get your mic back on here. Ben Freedman: Let me turn that out here and towel off a bit. Well, the things I do for the show. Andi Barness: Really, I am really impressed with that. Ben Freedman: All right. Andi Barness: Because really, the only way to know what this one; this SwiMP3 is going to work is if someone went under water. Ben Freedman: That is right, so— Andi Barness: Okay, so what do you think? Ben Freedman: You get a lot more bass under water. Andi Barness: So, it’s not as teeny as when you are out of the water. Ben Freedman: No, it still sounded a little teeny but as soon as I went under it went like— Andi Barness: Really? Ben Freedman: Yeah, a lot more bass sound to it. Andi Barness: Okay. Ben Freedman: I could definitely use that swimming, you know, if I like to swim. Do you swim? Andi Barness: A little bit, I think just a concept to being able to hear music under water and different than when you’re like talking to your siblings or your friend— Ben Freedman: Yeah. Well you know, so the point is these people— Andi Barness: It was pretty, it was clear. Ben Freedman: People play, you know, people—it was clear and people swimming laps get bored a lot of time because you know when you are cycling or jogging, you could listen to your MP3 player. Andi Barness: Right. Ben Freedman: But wow. I am drowned back here. Andi Barness: You’re a little wet. Okay so, obviously, you’re the only one that could review this because I didn’t do it and I am not going under the water, so what do you think? Ben Freedman: No. I think that was. I would give that, you know, I think a five out of five. Andi Barness: Okay. Are there a lot of MP3 players that you can use underwater or is this like— Ben Freedman: There is like three or four. Andi Barness: Okay. Ben Freedman: But most of them involved like water proof earbuds that go inside your ears. Andi Barness: Right. Ben Freedman: And I have heard and I am not a swimmer but I have heard that swimmers don’t like that because you know, it interferes with the water going in and it slashes around and— Andi Barness: Right. Ben Freedman: This way you know you could still wear earplugs if you want to or if you don’t wear earplugs, you can still wear your mask— Andi Barness: I guess the test would be as you’re swimming like it does not move around or that would be— Ben Freedman: But that was very secure on there with that mask. Andi Barness: Okay. And it went on pretty easily. Ben Freedman: It went on pretty easily. So, you know that is the—here and there again, it’s the Finis SwiMP3 player. You load up all your songs via USB. By the way here is the little USB thing which is in—this little waterproof case. Andi Barness: Oh that is great. Oh how much is it by the way? Did you already say it? Ben Freedman: Oh, how much is it? It’s $120.00. Andi Barness: All right. Ben Freedman: So, you know, more than you would pay for a cheap iPod but it is waterproof. Andi Barness: Right and this goes on the water. Ben Freedman: It was the MP3, just plug it in, drag and drop whatever songs you want and hit play and a way you go. Andi Barness: My kids would love this in the bathtub. They’d stay in there for hours. Ben Freedman: Yeah. That is great. You could go off. Go off at dinner and leave them in the bathtub, no problem. Andi Barness: Yeah. No, yeah, don’t—now but. Ben Freedman: So, that is the Finis SwiMP3. That is all the time we have for today. Let me know what you guys think. Have you ever used ant underwater MP3 player type of thing? Andi Barness: Or stick your head in a fish tank and let us know. Ben Freedman: Indeed and go to out website. Leave us a comment, www.neo-fight.tv. That is the place to go. Leave a comment right there on the front page and let us know if that is something you would use while you are swimming. And if you happen to have an extra 30 seconds, take a look at this. Andi Barness: Take a look at this. Ben Freedman: That’s about it. Andi Barness: Sorry. Hey I am Andy Walker. You just bought a new computer with Windows Vista on it or maybe you’ve got an old XP computer that you’ve upgraded. Well, we’ve just created an amazing new DVD. It will teach you everything you need to know about the new operating system from Microsoft, it’s called Getting Started with Windows Vista. In this DVD, there are three sections, one is out of the box, what you need to do as soon as you startup Vista. Number two is Vista Essentials, things you need to know everyday to make your computer experience amazing. Anti virus, security, all kinds of new features that Vista offers and finally, deep tips and tricks, things you need to know that nobody else would have told you to make you a Vista guru. For more information, check out our website at gettingstartedvideo.com.