First Impression of Google’s Android
dzo over at xda-developers.com has ported Android to the phone I am currently using, the Sprint Touch. The phone also goes by the name VX-6900 (Verizon) and Vogue (generic name). It is made by HTC. It comes with Window’s Mobile 6.0. Carriers are starting to release version 6.1 which includes threaded messaging, EVDO Rev. A and GPS. The threaded messaging is nice because it means no more 3rd party apps are required for something that should have already been built in. Palm had it on the Treos for years so why did it take Microsoft so long to make it standard? EVDO Rev A speeds means faster Internet connection. The connection was pretty fast before, slightly better then low DSL speeds, but now its 2-3 times as fast, or it seems like it. The GPS isn’t true GPS, I’m not sure if any cell phone does have true GPS, but it works pretty well, when it works.
Android is Google’s operating system environment designed for mobile devices. It was made to have an open platform on which to build applications and interfaces. It creates an alternative to the closed source, proprietary operating systems most traditional cell phone operators have adopted. Its a great idea and I’m glad that Google has gotten so many people involved with it, especially HTC.
My initial impression of Android is bleh. Its ok. Its cool that its running on the Touch, but out of the box it is very bland. I’m hoping the wow factor comes from expanding it, which I know will be done as soon as all the features of the phone are implemented and working correctly. It is pretty speedy though. I am surprised at how smooth it runs on my phone. I was pleasantly surprised. I know that once the community gets going on add-ons it will become a pretty impressive system, far surpassing the competition, Windows Mobile and the iPhone. I am really happy that it is using the webkit project as its browser as, in my opinion, this is the best mobile browser currently on the market (I say currently because Mozilla is developing a real mobile browser whose feature list and current ideas seem pretty damn cool).
I am working on building a site to bring the Android community together in terms of developing for the Vogue as I want this on my phone now. I want the full functionality. I know that if enough people get together on it and get it going that Google will take notice and speed up production on an official release. I want the freedom to be able to do whatever to my phone. While Windows Mobile comes close to this, I know Android is a big step in the right direction.
Thank you Martin and everyone else for all your hard work on this project.
*Edit Made on July 23, 2008:
I forgot to include a link to the site I developer for this project. The site is located at
http://www.myhtcphone.com
I also created a Windows and Mobile CAB installer to try Android out. The file is located at:
http://www.myhtcphone.com/installer
Tags: Android, HTC, HTC Touch, HTC Vogue, MyHTCPhone, MyHTCPhone.com, Sprint Touch, Vogue, Webkit, Windows Mobile