Comments on: A Week with the Android G1 Smartphone – Day 1 & 2 http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:50:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: C.F. http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-53431 C.F. Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:35:26 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-53431 Glenna, To add a widget do this: Find a blank spot on your screen. Press there and hold until a menu pops up. One of your choices is "widget." Press on this option. This brings up another menu, which gives you the choices of what you want the widget for. Say you want a widget to quickly go straight to your music, then choose "music." Now there is (or should be) a widget on your screen than says music. Pressing on this widget will take you straight to your music screens. Glenna,

To add a widget do this: Find a blank spot on your screen. Press there and hold until a menu pops up. One of your choices is “widget.” Press on this option. This brings up another menu, which gives you the choices of what you want the widget for. Say you want a widget to quickly go straight to your music, then choose “music.” Now there is (or should be) a widget on your screen than says music. Pressing on this widget will take you straight to your music screens.

]]> By: Glenna http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-52933 Glenna Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:20:23 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-52933 HOW DO I ADD WIDGETS?! The "add" button on my menu screen is grayed out-help! Thanks! :-) HOW DO I ADD WIDGETS?! The “add” button on my menu screen is grayed out-help! Thanks! :-)

]]> By: C.F. http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-38618 C.F. Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:20:35 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-38618 Couple of questions: 1. How do I move a widget from one screen to another? 2. If I "delete" a widget, is there a way to take it out of the "trash" and put it on one of the screens? 3. Is the Plantronics Voyager 855 compatible with the G1? 4. What app works to send 1 text message to several people at once? 5. What app do you recommend to take a video I have on DVD, convert it, and then play it on my G1? 6. Where can I go to get answers to questions like these? (I don't have time to sort through endless pages of forums and the sometimes irrelevant answers.) Couple of questions:

1. How do I move a widget from one screen to another?
2. If I “delete” a widget, is there a way to take it out of the “trash” and put it on one of the screens?
3. Is the Plantronics Voyager 855 compatible with the G1?
4. What app works to send 1 text message to several people at once?
5. What app do you recommend to take a video I have on DVD, convert it, and then play it on my G1?
6. Where can I go to get answers to questions like these? (I don’t have time to sort through endless pages of forums and the sometimes irrelevant answers.)

]]> By: Chris http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29983 Chris Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:36:22 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29983 Typing anywhere on home screen outside an input box brings up contact begining with that letter or series of letters.Type a word into google search box wait a bit and a list of suggested searches come up or long hold for alternate characters.Handcent SMS is a good SMS with on screen keyboard for thumb texting.Every day with the G1 I find something new .Try holding down on an item or pushing menu to find options. Typing anywhere on home screen outside an input box brings up contact begining with that letter or series of letters.Type a word into google search box wait a bit and a list of suggested searches come up or long hold for alternate characters.Handcent SMS is a good SMS with on screen keyboard for thumb texting.Every day with the G1 I find something new .Try holding down on an item or pushing menu to find options.

]]> By: Peter http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29904 Peter Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:39:49 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29904 @Julie Thanks for the quick response! It's almost midnight here, but as soon as I wake up, i will give it a try! @Julie
Thanks for the quick response! It’s almost midnight here, but as soon as I wake up, i will give it a try!

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29899 Julie Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:41:30 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29899 @Peter: I agree. My battery is lasting a little longer now that I've charged it a couple of times. That said, I'm still lucky to get a full day on one charge. As for capturing screenshots, you install the SDK on your PC (Mac or Windows). Then you run the ddms program in the tools directory. It's some sort of debugging application. When your G1 is attached to your computer via USB while this app is running, you can capture the screen from your G1 on your computer. @Peter: I agree. My battery is lasting a little longer now that I’ve charged it a couple of times. That said, I’m still lucky to get a full day on one charge.
As for capturing screenshots, you install the SDK on your PC (Mac or Windows). Then you run the ddms program in the tools directory. It’s some sort of debugging application. When your G1 is attached to your computer via USB while this app is running, you can capture the screen from your G1 on your computer.

]]> By: Peter http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29897 Peter Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:01:48 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29897 @ Jason Try to completely use up your battery untill your device turns itself off. Load your battery full and repeat the whole circus 2 or 3 times (you can speed up things by putting gps, wifi, bluetooth and your screen on, so USE the G1). You will notice that your battery will last longer after that. Besides the 2600 battery, there also is a 1600 battery at Fommy (.com or .co.uk) with the same size as the 1150 you already have.... so 39% more power withouit making your device 'fatter'. @ Jason
Try to completely use up your battery untill your device turns itself off. Load your battery full and repeat the whole circus 2 or 3 times (you can speed up things by putting gps, wifi, bluetooth and your screen on, so USE the G1). You will notice that your battery will last longer after that.
Besides the 2600 battery, there also is a 1600 battery at Fommy (.com or .co.uk) with the same size as the 1150 you already have…. so 39% more power withouit making your device ‘fatter’.

]]> By: Peter http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29896 Peter Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:55:39 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29896 @ Julie Thanks! Also tried that app from the Market, didnt work here as well. As far as the SDK program: i'm confused now, as it seems you made screenshots of your own device??? Is it a program (of the SDK) that you can install on your phone? @ Julie
Thanks! Also tried that app from the Market, didnt work here as well. As far as the SDK program: i’m confused now, as it seems you made screenshots of your own device??? Is it a program (of the SDK) that you can install on your phone?

]]> By: Jason http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29885 Jason Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:14:17 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29885 My favorites (which address at least one of Julie's points) 1) Steel - Browser that autorotates and has an onscreen keyboard. 2) ShopSavvy - nicer than compareEverywhere 3) Truphone - save if you make international calls (plus Skype coming) 4) PureRSS - RSS reader 5) Astrid -task manager /reminder system 6) Phonalyzr - gives a call breakdown over billing period 7) SMSpopup - presents new messages without going to notifications 8) Phoneplus callback - allows texts to be sent to incoming caller if you're busy. 9) CompanionLink (for sync via PC) - if you use outlook for calendars There are only two significant drawbacks of the G1: 1) available memory - with all these great apps. to download, there's no space for them. I bought a fast microSD card but can't use the space usefully. 2) battery life - it's poor - I get 1 day which is bearable. Seidio's Innocell 2600mAh more than doubles the life if the extra 5mm thickness is bearable (I think it's worth it) My favorites (which address at least one of Julie’s points)

1) Steel – Browser that autorotates and has an onscreen keyboard.
2) ShopSavvy – nicer than compareEverywhere
3) Truphone – save if you make international calls (plus Skype coming)
4) PureRSS – RSS reader
5) Astrid -task manager /reminder system
6) Phonalyzr – gives a call breakdown over billing period
7) SMSpopup – presents new messages without going to notifications
8) Phoneplus callback – allows texts to be sent to incoming caller if you’re busy.
9) CompanionLink (for sync via PC) – if you use outlook for calendars

There are only two significant drawbacks of the G1:
1) available memory – with all these great apps. to download, there’s no space for them. I bought a fast microSD card but can’t use the space usefully.
2) battery life – it’s poor – I get 1 day which is bearable. Seidio’s Innocell 2600mAh more than doubles the life if the extra 5mm thickness is bearable (I think it’s worth it)

]]> By: ken http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29850 ken Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:24:14 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29850 the pending "cupcake" revisions, mentioned in some of the above postings, addresses another of the shortcomings you noticed - copy of arbitrary text selections, not just text in input fields. personally, i find copy and paste from input fields invaluable, in the first place. still, there are times when i need to copy from web page text, or excerpt from email messages to which i'm responding, and am thwarted. (dunno what considerations provoked them to make the excerpted text fixed rather than part of the new message composition!) it's not clear when the <a href="http://source.android.com/roadmap/cupcake" title="cupcake roadmap" rel="nofollow">cupcake</a> revisions will be released, or what will be included, and many of us are eager for them. that said, the g1, as it currently is, is a major step up for me, satisfying my personal organizing needs far better than any other single thing has. (re battery life - screen dimming is not the only parameter! do give a try to the power manager market app somebody mentioned - deactivating eg wireless while on battery power can make a significant difference, and power manager can do that for you automatically.) the pending “cupcake” revisions, mentioned in some of the above postings, addresses another of the shortcomings you noticed – copy of arbitrary text selections, not just text in input fields.

personally, i find copy and paste from input fields invaluable, in the first place. still, there are times when i need to copy from web page text, or excerpt from email messages to which i’m responding, and am thwarted. (dunno what considerations provoked them to make the excerpted text fixed rather than part of the new message composition!)

it’s not clear when the cupcake revisions will be released, or what will be included, and many of us are eager for them. that said, the g1, as it currently is, is a major step up for me, satisfying my personal organizing needs far better than any other single thing has.

(re battery life – screen dimming is not the only parameter! do give a try to the power manager market app somebody mentioned – deactivating eg wireless while on battery power can make a significant difference, and power manager can do that for you automatically.)

]]> By: Andrien Wang http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29849 Andrien Wang Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:35:34 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29849 The next version of Android ("cupcake") will have a soft keyboard. http://source.android.com/roadmap/cupcake "Framework -> New features -> Input method framework, for soft keyboards and other on-screen input methods. Includes new APIs for applications to interact with input methods, and the ability for third party developers to write their own input methods." The next version of Android (“cupcake”) will have a soft keyboard.

http://source.android.com/roadmap/cupcake

“Framework -> New features -> Input method framework, for soft keyboards and other on-screen input methods. Includes new APIs for applications to interact with input methods, and the ability for third party developers to write their own input methods.”

]]> By: RICHARD RABORN MD http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29830 RICHARD RABORN MD Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:28:00 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29830 So glad not to be on the bleeding edge of this phone! Now if I can switch to the new EMR that MDVIP proposed without problems! So glad not to be on the bleeding edge of this phone! Now if I can switch to the new EMR that MDVIP proposed without problems!

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29828 Julie Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:05:39 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29828 @Yaniv: Thanks for the comments. I haven't mentioned the open source aspect yet because I'm not done with the series yet ;) As for the features that are 'coming soon', I can't write my articles with that in mind because you never know if or when we'll really see them... I'm keeping my fingers crossed though. @Yaniv: Thanks for the comments. I haven’t mentioned the open source aspect yet because I’m not done with the series yet ;)
As for the features that are ‘coming soon’, I can’t write my articles with that in mind because you never know if or when we’ll really see them… I’m keeping my fingers crossed though.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29827 Julie Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:03:30 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29827 @Peter: I was able to get screenshots by installing the free SDK. It has an option to capture the screen. I also tried an application that I downloaded from the Marketplace, but it didn't work. @Peter: I was able to get screenshots by installing the free SDK. It has an option to capture the screen. I also tried an application that I downloaded from the Marketplace, but it didn’t work.

]]> By: Yaniv Chokron http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29826 Yaniv Chokron Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:54:18 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29826 Almost forgot.... A2DP Stereo Bluetooth support on its way and when you connect your G1 to your PC, it shows up as a drive on your PC. So.... you can drag and drop whatever files you want and it works. You're not tied down to any particular syncing application or company lock down. Its truly wonderful. Also, there are some great applications already out there for you to check out. 1.) GMote - control your whole PC from the G1 or stream music from your PC to the G1. 2.) Phone Fusion - Visual Voicemail. 3.) FBook (facebook) 4.) Accu Weather (cant live without this one) 5.) Movie Finder 6.) Shazam 7.) Imeem (like Last FM & Pandora) 8.) WikiTunes - great MP3 player that displays the lyrics to the song on your screen and will find the song on yotube for you (LastFM support coming soon). 9.) Compare Everywhere - barcode scanning price checker. These are just a few of the applications I have on my phone so far. Almost forgot…. A2DP Stereo Bluetooth support on its way and when you connect your G1 to your PC, it shows up as a drive on your PC. So…. you can drag and drop whatever files you want and it works. You’re not tied down to any particular syncing application or company lock down. Its truly wonderful.
Also, there are some great applications already out there for you to check out.
1.) GMote – control your whole PC from the G1 or stream music from your PC to the G1.
2.) Phone Fusion – Visual Voicemail.
3.) FBook (facebook)
4.) Accu Weather (cant live without this one)
5.) Movie Finder
6.) Shazam
7.) Imeem (like Last FM & Pandora)
8.) WikiTunes – great MP3 player that displays the lyrics to the song on your screen and will find the song on yotube for you (LastFM support coming soon).
9.) Compare Everywhere – barcode scanning price checker.

These are just a few of the applications I have on my phone so far.

]]> By: Yaniv Chokron http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29825 Yaniv Chokron Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:47:57 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29825 First of all, welcome Julie to the wonderful world of G1. Yes it does have some drawbacks (DANGIT wheres the 3.5mm headphone jack?!) but it is truly an amazing phone. Unfortunately though, you managed to leave out the most important aspect of this phone. It is Open Source. Now some people may have heard that term and not really know what that means (i"ll leave it to a quick search to figure that out)... and some may say.. well thats just too darn technical for me, however, what it really means is that your're truly holding the future in your hand. The phone was left to the developers to dream up/create whatever applications "we the people" feel are necessary. So, you need a banking app (already done), turn by turn navigation (already done by ALK CoPilot, will be out soon), cooking recipes (done)..... thats the point... sooooo many people are already developing applications for this phone (myself included, Ive already written 2 applications for it), MS Exchange Support? (on it way). Also, there are many rumors regarding the G1 "cupcakes" branch of development. If this does actually come to fruition, we can expect an on-screen keyboard, improved battery life, faster browsing (up to 5 X), and copy paste from within non-text fields as well to name just a few (check out the info here: http://source.android.com/roadmap/cupcake) So with all that said..... I welcome you to a new Era in mobile computing! First of all, welcome Julie to the wonderful world of G1.
Yes it does have some drawbacks (DANGIT wheres the 3.5mm headphone jack?!) but it is truly an amazing phone.
Unfortunately though, you managed to leave out the most important aspect of this phone. It is Open Source. Now some people may have heard that term and not really know what that means (i”ll leave it to a quick search to figure that out)… and some may say.. well thats just too darn technical for me, however, what it really means is that your’re truly holding the future in your hand.
The phone was left to the developers to dream up/create whatever applications “we the people” feel are necessary.
So, you need a banking app (already done), turn by turn navigation (already done by ALK CoPilot, will be out soon), cooking recipes (done)….. thats the point… sooooo many people are already developing applications for this phone (myself included, Ive already written 2 applications for it), MS Exchange Support? (on it way).
Also, there are many rumors regarding the G1 “cupcakes” branch of development. If this does actually come to fruition, we can expect an on-screen keyboard, improved battery life, faster browsing (up to 5 X), and copy paste from within non-text fields as well to name just a few (check out the info here: http://source.android.com/roadmap/cupcake)
So with all that said….. I welcome you to a new Era in mobile computing!

]]> By: Peter http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29824 Peter Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:44:41 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29824 Fantastic review! Even better pics.... and I have a question about that. In Holland (that is my site and another site) we didn't find any way to make good screenshots. How did you do that? Keep on the good work! Peter Fantastic review! Even better pics…. and I have a question about that. In Holland (that is my site and another site) we didn’t find any way to make good screenshots. How did you do that?
Keep on the good work!

Peter

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29822 Julie Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:36:31 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29822 @Tom Brander: Thanks for the advice, but I personally don't think I should have to turn the backlight off in order to get more than 8hrs of minimal use from a phone. I already have mine set to about 33%. Anything less than that for me, just makes for a really unpleasant user experience. I'm wondering if this HTC's fault or the Android OS? @Tom Brander: Thanks for the advice, but I personally don’t think I should have to turn the backlight off in order to get more than 8hrs of minimal use from a phone. I already have mine set to about 33%. Anything less than that for me, just makes for a really unpleasant user experience. I’m wondering if this HTC’s fault or the Android OS?

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29821 Julie Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:32:50 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29821 @Richard & Lajos: Ah yes, you two are right. You can use the roller ball to select text for copying and pasting. BUT, it seems that you can't select any text that you want. It has to be text inside a input field. For example, if you're responding to an email, the only fields that you can copy information from are the To, subject and reply box. You can't scroll down to the email that you're responding to and select some of the text. Am I missing something obvious here? @Richard & Lajos: Ah yes, you two are right. You can use the roller ball to select text for copying and pasting. BUT, it seems that you can’t select any text that you want. It has to be text inside a input field. For example, if you’re responding to an email, the only fields that you can copy information from are the To, subject and reply box. You can’t scroll down to the email that you’re responding to and select some of the text. Am I missing something obvious here?

]]> By: Richard http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29819 Richard Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:12:09 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29819 Hi, I think you can actually copy single words or letters, what you have to do is hold down the shift button on the keyboard and then move the little roller ball and it will select what ever you roll over. Thats how i do it any ways. Thanks. Hi,
I think you can actually copy single words or letters, what you have to do is hold down the shift button on the keyboard and then move the little roller ball and it will select what ever you roll over. Thats how i do it any ways.

Thanks.

]]> By: Lajos http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29817 Lajos Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:55:24 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29817 Power Manager from the Android Market may help to extend the battery life Power Manager from the Android Market may help to extend the battery life

]]> By: Lajos http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29816 Lajos Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:33:05 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29816 the G1 user's guide has more stuff on keyboard shortcuts. Though I didn't find how to get accented letters. But later I found it on the web. If you long press a letter then the alternatives are shown. E.g. press a for 1-2 secs and get ä á å etc selectable. the G1 user’s guide has more stuff on keyboard shortcuts. Though I didn’t find how to get accented letters. But later I found it on the web. If you long press a letter then the alternatives are shown. E.g. press a for 1-2 secs and get ä á å etc selectable.

]]> By: Lajos http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29814 Lajos Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:25:53 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29814 with shift and roller ball you can select part of the texts, menu+c= copy, menu+v=paste with shift and roller ball you can select part of the texts, menu+c= copy, menu+v=paste

]]> By: Tom Brander http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29809 Tom Brander Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:37:40 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29809 Best bet on battery life is settings, turn the screen brightness down all the way, It will be a bit hard in bright sun but will make a huge difference, I've found the primary determinant is how much the screen is on. Not the various radios, GPS edge, 3g etc. I personally find not enough difference between edge and 3g or even for that matter wifi so I just keep edge and gps on. YMMV!! Best bet on battery life is settings, turn the screen brightness down all the way, It will be a bit hard in bright sun but will make a huge difference, I’ve found the primary determinant is how much the screen is on. Not the various radios, GPS edge, 3g etc. I personally find not enough difference between edge and 3g or even for that matter wifi so I just keep edge and gps on. YMMV!!

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/01/26/a-week-with-the-android-g1-smartphone-day-1-2/comment-page-1/#comment-29807 Julie Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:12:51 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=11918#comment-29807 @Michael Martin: So far I'm not noticing problems with Edge speeds on the AT&T network. I've yet to do any browsing speed tests though... But as far as email, receiving text messages, auto syncing of the PIM apps, it's all been pretty snappy. @Michael Martin: So far I’m not noticing problems with Edge speeds on the AT&T network. I’ve yet to do any browsing speed tests though… But as far as email, receiving text messages, auto syncing of the PIM apps, it’s all been pretty snappy.

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