G1 News

Courtesy of Android Authority, a hands-on impression of the new Sapphire 2.0 / T-Mobile G2, compared to the original G1.

As well as confirming the T-Mobile G2 pictures doing the rounds as real, here are the salient points picked out from the G2 feedback:

• The OS looks pretty much like that on the G1 (at the mo)
• The phone body itself looks nice, and has a smaller ‘chin’ than the G1 (yay!)
• It is solidly built, and quite a bit lighter than the G1
• The paint is a smooth and shiny pearly white color
• The button to the left of the trackball is the Home key, not a MyFaves key

• Auto-focus camera, but still no flash (told you!)
• Still no video (though again, this is pre-production software)
• It uses the same screen as the G1
• Auto-rotation works only for certain apps, like the browser.  No auto-rotate support for the home screen or main menu at this point
• Still no 3.5mm headphone jack (d’oh!)
• All the “iPhone lovers” seem to love the virtual keyboard
• The virtual keyboard works in both landscape and portrait modes

So…all pretty interesting. Is definitely an evolutionary rather than revolutionary leap, but that’s what a 2.0 is though, right? The good/bad conclusion that she reached after playing with the G2:

“…basically a G1 without the keyboard.”

Still awfully exciting to see the Android interface being beefed up with nice hardware!

With only 400 applications released on the Android Market as opposed to over 10,000 on the App Store, the T-Mobile G1 might have fewer, but far more exciting exclusives which take advantage of the open source platform…all free!

Android’s open source operating system allows all and sundry to create programs with few restrictions. The following are some of the best Android-only applications available, compiled by MSN!

1. Ringdroid

Use Ringdroid to create ringtones, alarms or notifications on the phone from any MP3 files on the handset, or from your SD card. The program even has a button allowing you to record anything in the real world and turn it into a ringtone!

2. MyCloset

The app for fashion forward folks, MyCloset allows you to use your mobile phone to accessorise and create the perfect wardrobe! Create an inventory of clothes and shoes, and let MyCloset choose what to wear! Going on holiday? MyCloset checks the weather where you are going, and then creates the perfect ensemble to take with you!

3. Ecorio

One of the big winners in the Android Developer’s Challenge, Ecorio lets you use your G1 to play your part in saving the world!

Using GPS, Ecorio monitors where you go (and how quickly you’re getting there) in a car or a bus, and will give you a daily tally of the trips you make. It is an easy way to track your mobile carbon footprint, and do what you can to reduce it accordingly.

The program is also a resource for users who want to know about transport and car sharing opportunities in their vicinity.

On the Ecorio site, the students said they created the program because “people care about climate change, but don’t understand how to connect their daily actions to the bigger picture.”

4. ShopSavvy (with a version localised for Europe released on January 15th)uses your G1’s camera to snap barcodes of any product. It then gives you cheap prices online as well as in shops, as well as reviews of them.

So whilst there are only free apps at the moment, the G1 definitely has a wide range of titles making the most of Android!