cute logo it has.
on first look: not too bad.
However if you start staring at it for too long, especially with the full qwerty keypad exposed, it seriously doesn't look too appealing.
and of course if you were to placed it beside this beautiful thing called an iPhone, hmm... compare it for yourself. i shall not comment too much.
However, upon looking at the white version, maybe it looks quite pretty once again.
oh, but there isn't the white one in Singapore i think, i don't seem to see it anywhere on Singtel's website.
The front view looks sleek,
BUT did you all notice that thing curving out at the end of the phone? It makes the side view looks so bulky and in my opinion obiang-ish. Maybe this design was inspired by those oldies phone. Who knows? Retro feel probably?
Enough complains about the hardware, as we look into the software, yeah not bad. Has lots of potential for improvement as more developers starts developing applications on this platform. Up till now, i think there are only less than 50apps available. (in contrast, look at the iPhone Apps store!) i really should stop comparing both of them! its quite unfair to compare a gen1 android phone with a gen2 iPhone huh?
However not to worry, Google has taken measures to encourage developers to build their apps on the Android platform.
One application that i find it extremely interesting would be the bar code scanner thing.
Take a picture of the bar code and it will automatically help you locate places that sells this certain product and compare prices for you! Cool eh?
For instance,
Walk into 7/11,
Scan Snoopy potato chips, *beep beep*, $1.40 at 7/11 Searching.... $1.20 at Cheers - 10m to your left. Walk out of 7/11, turn left into Cheers. Purchase Snoopy potato chips happily, Get out of Cheers, Grinning like an idiot 'cause you just saved 20cents!
Woohoo! what a great application!
But of course, as this application is only in its initial stage, it won't be available in Singapore yet. and even so, in the US, the database is not complete. Many items were not found yet. Thus, room for improvement! But definitely an innovative one! (:
Another application would be a phone Wikipedia.
Just imagine having Wiki in your phone.
Next would be something that iPhone is seriously lacking!
A search function for all your applications. (: this is one big plus!
In an iPhone, you will need to manually look through your 10pages of applications in order to find a single application that you want to use.
Think about the amount of time wasted!
With Google Android, you are able to find applications fast and efficiently, without having to memorise which page, which column or which row is your application at!
I was just wondering how can Apple miss out such a good feature?
Since their Macs have such an efficient spotlight system, why isn't it implemented on their iPhone too?
Another Google Android plus point: 3.2MP camera.
Same as my K800i now, so at least i wont feel like a downgrading of Camera quality. (ok, but don't be mistaken. i am not going to buy it.)
Sound quality wise, i read that it is quite normal. Normal as in iPhone's sound quality is normal too.
However for videos, Google Android doesn't include its own Media player to play videos. So you will have to download an app for video playback. Other than that, the video size is a lot smaller than an iPhone. Its physical screen size is already smaller than that of an iPhone, and yet during video playback, only about 3 quarters of the Android's screen is being used. So eventually the enjoyment you get when viewing video on an Android would be reduced.
For a first gen phone, it is quite remarkable.
Especially for people who are frequent google, google maps and gmail users.
Lots of potential for further improvement. Hopefully the Android OS can be packaged in a more appealing manner. Hopefully we will get to see other hardwares or companies carrying Android platform. This hardware might be one big deterrence point. Typing with the qwerty keypad is especially uncomfortable with the presence of the fat sidebar.
Touch screen via Heat sensor,
but of course there isn't multi-touch which is exclusive to an iPhone! (:
This post is obviously very much a comparison between HTC dream and an iPhone. 'cause the only phone i know best is the iPhone.
