NEW YORK - The long-awaited, breathlessly-rumored, Google-powered (and still unavailable until next month) G1 phone was unveiled today with a list price that undercuts Apple's iPhone by $20 but with few design or software elements that had not been anticipated.
The handset is made by HTC and the service is provided by T-Mobile – but the buzz is all about the completely open source Android platform developed by Google, which allows third-party developers to create applications.
Indeed, it was the unadvertised appearance of Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, 45 minutes into what had been a routine presentation, that energized the packed media room. The pair skated onto the stage wearing rollerblades, perhaps taking a cue from the legendary, crowd-pleasing marketing prowess of Apple's Steve Jobs.
“I’m a bit of a geek and I really like tinkering with things,” Brin said, pulling one of the black flip phones out of his pocket (also available in white and brown).
The G1 comes with three preinstalled applications that premiered in the Android developer contest: Ecorio, which measures your carbon footprint; ShopSavvy (formerly known as GoKart), which scans bar codes to compare prices; and BreadCrumbz to create a step-by-step visual map using photos.
While it doesn’t support DRM protected audio files, there is an
Amazon MP3 application with the option of purchasing music directly to the device.
One of the more interesting features is the built-in compass, which displays a 360-degree Google Street view based on location. Other
Google apps are also built right into the system, including support for
Gmail and YouTube videos.
As for the hardware, the 5.6 ounce device is 4.60” x 2.16” and .62”
thick, with a 3.17” display. It is as predicted, a swivel, sidekick-like flip phone with a QWERTY keyboard, and 3.17 inch touch display screen.
The web browser is based on WebKit. "You can think of it as 'Chrome Lite,'" says Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms.
The touchscreen works just like the iPhone, but uses what they call a “long press” to zoom in and select objects. The interface is drag-and-drop.
The G1 will be released on Oct. 22 and is priced at $180. Current
T-Mobile customers can order it online today. You need to purchase a data plan in addition to a required voice plan. There are two service options available: a basic $25 limited data and SMS plan, or, for an extra 10 bucks you get unlimited messaging and internet.
Photos: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
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