N95 to Android G1?

[Marf]

Well after 4 years of faithful service and 2 case changes, I feel it may be time to retire my dependable friend.

It's starting to look very tired, and the last case change necessitated me supergluing the screws on the case which contains the screen, so no hope of changing the case again

There's not much on the market that really interests me aside from the G1.

How do people rate them?

Is there a good third party GPS app(by good I mean with traffic updates and speedsafety camera warnings?)

What's the internet like on them?

What's battery life like?

Do T-Mobile UK still provide free unlock codes when requested?

TIA

Marf

[Bill]

Sorry Marf, two of us have tried to fix your title but > doesn't seem to work.

Anyway, as you were

[Marf]

No worries Bill, I guess I did put it in myself but as you say the system doesnae like it!

[neil_bolton]

Why don't we just do it the way everyone else does

Done (for the 3rd time)

[Marf]

That's cheating!

Cheers Neil

[Bill]

neil_bolton said:

Why don't we just do it the way everyone else does

[SystemParanoia]

i like my G1 and came from an n95 that fell apart...

battery's a bit crap, and im now starting to find it annoyingly slow after 18mths ( memory too full.. i really should do a clear out but cant be arsed lol )

but the gps, and email functions as well as all the free apps make it great for me.

also the ability to ssh into my server from anywhere
my mini ftp server that is always with me too.

love it. but will upgrade to the latest greatest android when the time comes.

i only got the g1 because of its normal keyboard. i dont really get on with touch screen ones

Edited by SystemParanoia on Thursday 3rd June 13:03

[Marf]

Yeah, the qwerty kb is what attracts me, I don't like the pure touch screen phones.

Which GPS Software do you use? Whats the GPS like in general, does it lock on quickly?

That's one of my only bug bears for the first gen N95, even after hard modding my GPS aerial it still takes an age(relatively) to lock on from cold start.

Edited by Marf on Thursday 3rd June 13:08

[sadako]

I also went from N95 to G1. Yes, the GPS locks on very fast. Like the N95 it is good to factory reset it and reinstall stuff every few months to keep it running quick. I also recommend putting Cyanogenmod on the G1. This gives lots of improvements.

My G1 due for upgrade soon so might go for a desire soon...

[Marf]

sadako said:

I also went from N95 to G1. Yes, the GPS locks on very fast. Like the N95 it is good to factory reset it and reinstall stuff every few months to keep it running quick. I also recommend putting Cyanogenmod on the G1. This gives lots of improvements.

My G1 due for upgrade soon so might go for a desire soon...

How soon is soon? If its going begging I'd happily buy it off you

[Tycho]

Marf said:

Yeah, the qwerty kb is what attracts me, I don't like the pure touch screen phones.

Which GPS Software do you use? Whats the GPS like in general, does it lock on quickly?

That's one of my only bug bears for the first gen N95, even after hard modding my GPS aerial it still takes an age(relatively) to lock on from cold start.

Edited by Marf on Thursday 3rd June 13:08

Take a look at the Motorola Milestone if you want a qwerty kb. You can get them 2nd hand from the likes of CEX. I love mine.

[tim2100]

I brought mine off a friend about 6 months ago. Very happy with it. Took a while to get the code (£15) from T-mobile, but runs nicely on Vodafone, apart from unable to Download MMS messages.

GPS is pretty good, not as quick as Tom Tom but reasonable. I just use Google Maps & Google Navigation. Works pretty well for free. Battery life is poor, but I just charge using Mini USB from Computer or in Car.

if you are looking at using for Sat Nav would recommend a Car Charger.

Google stuff works great. When I got the phone sign into Google account and contacts / email / calendar etc., appear immediately.

Marketplace has some good applications.

One drawback is off T-mobile then no more Updates. Currently on Version 1.6, will be looking at putting 2.0 on soon.

[Marf]

tim2100 said:

Took a while to get the code (£15) from T-mobile, but runs nicely on Vodafone, apart from unable to Download MMS messages.

Are the settings not available for other networks?

Are there good mail apps available for it? I'd want to get my hotmail on it via POP3.

[sadako]

Marf said:

tim2100 said:

Took a while to get the code (£15) from T-mobile, but runs nicely on Vodafone, apart from unable to Download MMS messages.

Are the settings not available for other networks?

Are there good mail apps available for it? I'd want to get my hotmail on it via POP3.

It'll do pop3 messages with the built in email app, but k9 mail on the market is better, and free.

To fix the MMS thing you'll need to supply the phone with the APN for the MMS server, not sure how but i'm sure google will reveal all.

My one gets replaced in a few months but it'll likely replace Sarah's one who smashed it in a car door. I replaced the screen but since then it crashes from time to time.

[sadako]

tim2100 said:

I brought mine off a friend about 6 months ago. Very happy with it. Took a while to get the code (£15) from T-mobile, but runs nicely on Vodafone, apart from unable to Download MMS messages.

GPS is pretty good, not as quick as Tom Tom but reasonable. I just use Google Maps & Google Navigation. Works pretty well for free. Battery life is poor, but I just charge using Mini USB from Computer or in Car.

if you are looking at using for Sat Nav would recommend a Car Charger.

Google stuff works great. When I got the phone sign into Google account and contacts / email / calendar etc., appear immediately.

Marketplace has some good applications.

One drawback is off T-mobile then no more Updates. Currently on Version 1.6, will be looking at putting 2.0 on soon.

At the moment people are having issue squeezing 2.0 on. Even Cyanogenmod stripped a lot of stuff out like ringtones in order to fit it all on the G1's tiny rom. The newer devices have much bigger roms to take bigger software.

[Mr Will]

Marf said:

Yeah, the qwerty kb is what attracts me, I don't like the pure touch screen phones.

Before you make your mind up, go and try one of the latest generation of touchscreen phones. I used to be a die-hard physical keyboard fan but since getting a HTC Desire my mind has been thoroughly changed. They are miles away from what they were even 18 month ago.

[tim2100]

Marf said:

tim2100 said:

Took a while to get the code (£15) from T-mobile, but runs nicely on Vodafone, apart from unable to Download MMS messages.

Are the settings not available for other networks?

Are there good mail apps available for it? I'd want to get my hotmail on it via POP3.

Settings are there but don't work on mine for some reason. Not that bothered about MMS though.

Yes mail can be dealt with by the built in mail stuff.

[Marf]

Well after 5 months I've pulled me finger out.

Just bought this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Should be delivered Saturday

[Tycho]

Sweet, I loved my G1 and only got rid after I bricked it with a corrupt firmware...

Get Appbrain and you can sync your apps with their website and see what others have and install it direct from the site. IIRC there are a few appbrain links in the Android sticky, I know mine is there somewhere.

[Marf]

Tycho said:

Sweet, I loved my G1 and only got rid after I bricked it with a corrupt firmware...

Bugger

I wanted to get one and flash it up to 2.2 but seeing one already done was too tempting.

Tycho said:

Get Appbrain and you can sync your apps with their website and see what others have and install it direct from the site. IIRC there are a few appbrain links in the Android sticky, I know mine is there somewhere.

Nice one, cheers for the tip.