3:35 PM Blogging live from the presentation of T-Mobile G1
3:35 PM Sadly, the presenter already promised: No phones will be given away today. I guess I’d take one ;)
3:37 PM first slide: Mobile Internet has become realits, is T-Mobile’s growth engine.
3:37 PM Large pink arrow pointing up. I guess that’s a good sign for T-Mobile?
3:37 PM Mobile is top priority for T-Mobile. (Who would’ve thought?)
3:39 PM iPhone users really produce a LOT of traffic
3:39 PM How many legit iPhone users are there in Germany (i.e. through T-Mobile?) He wouldn’t say.
3:41 PM There’s the large pink arrow again that shoots off the charts. Tired of it already; @scotty pointed out that the traffic per person in the shown slide isn’t actually that high. Audience asks detail questions about the stats.
3:41 PM iPhone: Jump from 2G to 3G has doubled. More speed = more usage.
3:42 PM T-Mobile G1 (Android phone) is much faster than 3G iPhone.
3:42 PM The slide says: “strictly confidential”. Oh Rly?
3:43 PM (confidential chart says no more than “T-Mobile G1 – developed for the Internet! With Google, just one click to the Google world! Android maret place, download the newest services!”. What’s confidential in a pure marketing slide?
3:43 PM now the phone presentation starts
3:43 PM a few screenshots (android market place)
3:44 PM screenshot: shopping app
3:44 PM why not really sth with value for users?
3:44 PM oh, here’s user value: G1 scans product barcode and tells user where to buy cheaper online.
3:45 PM DB behind the price comparison thing seems to be based on Amazon data. Not exactly sure how that works, though.
3:45 PM There’s also a live stream from the session
3:46 PM here he goes. plugging in a different projector.
3:47 PM live show, projected on the large screen. fun setup.
3:47 PM there’s a black and a white version.
3:47 PM full querty keyboard. slide phone, the screen slides off to the side/top
3:48 PM seems to have a serious click, at least it sounds like a full,deep click
3:48 PM startscreen with instant messaging. fairly accurate touch scren.
3:48 PM touchscreen: seems likek you have to press fairly long.
3:49 PM scrolling didn’t work when he was trying to show. he has to stand at an odd angle, though, to be fair.
3:49 PM you can crop pictures.
3:50 PM no multi touch. sidenote: T-Mobile colleague points put that the software is actually multi-touch able, but it’S disabled due to pending patents.
3:50 PM several desktops/spaces.
3:50 PM one for google search, dedicated.
3:50 PM “google search is everywhre on this phone”
3:51 PM dedicated key for google search
3:51 PM Google Search doesn’t only search the web, but also the address book
3:51 PM Mixed reactions to Google default. But you can change your search engines, it’s just defaulted to Google.
3:52 PM You can drag items on the desktop straight to the bin.
3:52 PM Live browsing. (James Bond trailer.)
3:52 PM Zooming by two buttons, zoom in, zoom out. Also a magnifier.
3:53 PM That part isn’t quite as elegant as iPhone, but seems workable.
3:53 PM Speed seems to be much better than iPhone.
3:53 PM Browsing-wise, it looks like iPhone wins. But the full keyboard, hmm….
3:54 PM Single sign-on: Once you’re logged into your Google account, you’re good to go.
3:55 PM Google search button (dedicated hardware button): searches the web, apps, address books.
3:55 PM T-Mobile colleague steps up, shares stories. This one about a crack in the show phone.
3:56 PM US collegues wouldn’t want to use the white version for odd reasons.
3:57 PM you can watch movies while the phone is closed; usually it switches back from widescreen
3:57 PM closed phone = no widescreen
3:57 PM tough audience. seems like folks want to find a problem with the phone, really.
3:58 PM it’s gonna be fairly cheap. It’s the “iPhone for the masses”.
3:58 PM Developed with HTC
3:59 PM Pricing, without contract, near iPhone; with contract starting at 1€.
4:00 PM This seems very odd: it’s significantly cheaper than iPhone for T-Mobile, but the customers seem to pay the same as iPhone?
4:01 PM just had one to try it out. keys feel fine, the screen flip seems more flimsy than it looked.
4:02 PM i didn’t intuitively find the BACK button, used the hardware button instead.
4:02 PM trying to drag an image on the desktop i couldn’t, opened it instead.
4:03 PM there’s not a lot of software support yet. also, the app store will be moderated in some way.
4:04 PM The presenters have some odd points, but the audience isn’t more coherent to be fair. trying to find an enemy here? :)
4:04 PM Who owns the killswitch for the apps?
4:05 PM guys, no cheap shots from the back, alright?
4:06 PM google talk, for example, will work fine; other voip services may be premium: the market place rules.
4:06 PM so far it isn’t planned to be able to use G1 as a modem. there might be software support in the future.
4:07 PM T-Mobile guy: So far T-Mobile is, just like other operators, pretty restrictive in the flatrates. If it’s used as modem, usage goes up. (laptop scenario instead of smartphone scenario.)
4:08 PM so it’s not a flat flat rate, but it’s limited.
4:09 PM T-Mobile: The risk is high that customers might use it in a laptop scenario.
4:09 PM Annoying guy yells. Again.
4:10 PM Question about instant messaging. Will it be allowed to write another alternative instant messaging product as an alternative to T-Mobile’s own app? So far, for example, there’s no Skype implementation.
4:10 PM Seems to be pretty restrictive. Voip will probably blacklisted. (Huh?)
4:11 PM Question: Can G1 firmware be compiled and installed to use the phone with your own Android flavor?
4:11 PM Answer: You probably have to sign you won’t, but technically it’s possible.
4:12 PM Google, one guy says, will offer developer phones. So there it’s definitively possible.
4:12 PM Another round of presentation.
4:12 PM (Audience member just noticed, and whispered, that the special characters on the keys follow roughly an American keyboard layout)
4:13 PM Presentation: Barcode scanner. It scanned a Harry Potter barcode, shows web links for the book. Geodata isn’t enable on the showphone, so there’s no local shops that are being displayed.
4:13 PM G1 will be out in Germany in Q1/2009.
4:15 PM Question: Will T-Mobile kick out users that use their own, non-T-Mobile version of Android?
4:15 PM Answer: Good question; probably not; however, “we haven’t thought about that scenario”. Interesting.
4:18 PM Seems pretty simple to write apps, according to T-Mobile folks.
4:19 PM Download process: pretty straight forward. Download section, popularity ranking etc.; details page. If I get it right, it’s about 7 clicks/steps.
4:19 PM Question: What kind of data is sent back to Google? Answer: “That’s a very interesting feature set” :)
4:20 PM Google keeps track of your purchases.
4:20 PM Also, first login requires GAIA login (global Google login)
4:21 PM Address book is mirrored between phone and cloud.
4:21 PM Audience is clearly divided: do we want our stuff in the cloud or our phone?
4:22 PM G1 can handle other mail services. However, free push service would have to be paid by the other provided then.
4:22 PM Question: Can i completely stop tracking of my usage?
4:22 PM Answer: Not sure; probably you can’r completely switch everything off since you need the GAIA login.
4:23 PM Question: Can users switch off personalized tracking, only anonymous?
4:24 PM Answer: Good question, T-Mobile guys says he doesn’t have the transparency about this. However, if the market is as skeptical as the folks in this room, this sure is a scenario for the future.
4:24 PM Question: “You marketing guys must see that in this room 90% are too sceptical about this and won’t buy the phone, what do you do about this?”
4:25 PM Answer: We’ll have to see, the Google proposition is a good one, however there’s doubts of course, but we’ve seen the same doubts with web services in general. market research has shown that customers will use it and it’s not a problem for most people.
4:28 PM T-Mobile: Our T-Com data loss issues are solved. Customers trust the brands T-Mobile and Google.
4:28 PM The audience, again, is divided on this question.
4:28 PM audience feedback
4:30 PM one person: keys to small (i disagreed, i love the keys)
4:30 PM the screen flip seemed flimsy to me, but T-Mobile says it’s been thoroughly tested. Sounds plausible, it’s hard to tell in just 2 sec.
4:31 PM Back to the market place. App developers can get 70% of the revenue. Analytics feedback is integrated, so developers get good feedback here.
4:32 PM App developers need to register so they can be tracked in case of abuse. (Makes sense. Really does.)
4:32 PM Content so far is free since the payment system isn’t fully implemented yet
4:33 PM Question: Will there be trial periods for apps and developer software?
4:33 PM Answer: Yes, and yes. Users will be able to uninstall for 24h or so and get their money back.
4:33 PM Question: Is there a developer program so you can get a phone earlier on to develop your phones?
4:34 PM Answer: Probably not, so buy the phone in the UK or US.
4:34 PM Answer 2: In the US Google did a competition for developers, in Germany there might be something smaller. Not sure yet.
4:35 PM Q: Will T-Mobile will be the only carrier with ANdroid Phoen?
4:36 PM A: Android is a free platform, so: no. But G1 phone will be first at T-Mobile.
4:38 PM So iPhone won’t be played against G1, they’re for different user groups: iPhone for style, G1 as a work-hard phone.
4:38 PM Battery is iPhone level, but easily changeable.
4:38 PM i.e. replacable.
4:38 PM Memory cards (micro SD) 8GB
4:38 PM G1 comes with headset.
4:39 PM Headset with USB headphone.
4:39 PM Audience member: Will you sponsor our location-based art project in Cologne? Answer: Ask by email, I”ll forward it.
4:40 PM T-Mobile guys ask for more feedback.
4:41 PM feedback: camera seems slow; barcode scanner needs light (may have it, hard to tell). image quality with the camera?
4:42 PM U.S. sales have started “mega great” ;) diesn’t have exact figures, but estimates several 100.000, a “burner”. “super good.”
4:43 PM my personal impression: not quite as elegant as iPhone, but the openness of the platform should make up for it easily. We’ll have to see how the app marketplace will work out.
4:44 PM T-Mobile presenter: Flexibility with G1/Android is great, expect great stuff.
4:45 PM G1 can multitask (much better than iPhone)
4:45 PM Headset might need adapter for headset
4:46 PM prices for sale without contract won’t be shared here. (“we’d like you to buy it with a contract”, laughs.)
4:47 PM T-Mobile says the prices haven’t been set yet; starting at 1€ is clear, the rest isn’t.
4:47 PM Q: will T-Mobile get a revenue share in the app store? A: Can’t tell yet.
4:48 PM T-Mobile wants to push for new app development, they’re part of the open source project. Developer contests will be part of this.
4:50 PM Quick poll showed that not a lot of the iPhone owners have T-Mobile contracts.
4:50 PM Loud guy in the back speaks up again, this time more calmly. Good :)
4:52 PM Clarification about the privacy resarch: Folks out there DO care for about privacy; but as with web services, privacy is flexible, not a clear VETO. good value for users can lead to compromises.
4:53 PM Android developer program (SDK) is far from iPhones, but seems to be catching up.
4:54 PM T-Mobile folks keep getting attacked, audience helps out. Who would’ve thought? ;) They take it well, though. Seriously: kudos.
4:55 PM My take on privacy issues with G1: It’s user choice. Be careful, inform yourself, make your choice.
4:55 PM As long as you can set the privacy yourself, it’s all good.
4:57 PM No flash on G1 yet (licensing problem). It’s all open source. (It’S like with Firefox, Flash needs to be installed separately. Should work.)
4:57 PM Scotty points out: There’s also free alternatives for Flash, like Gnash. Good point.
4:58 PM Sessions up, my laptop battery’s up, audience can give G1 another testride.
hyperlink.mystery, originally uploaded by the waving cat. The oddest sign… Found this one outside a casino at Berlin Alexanderplatz. hyperlink.mystery indeed.
thecobrasnake, partyphotos aus LA, weit weg vom glamour, pretty dirty&stylish. (im hintergrund läuft da wohl auch noch irgend so ne p.c.-diskussion. whatever. thecobrasnake.com american apparel thx, stylewalker!
University of Lapland, Faculty of Art & Design, Department of Media CALL FOR PAPERS, BOOK “EXTENDING EXPERIENCES” While players of video games have always been waiting for the…
That’s an art project I’d love to see one of these days: An online magazine that writes itself, based on a calendar, a pre-written set of tags connected…