T-Mobile G2 Engadget review

[zerocool84]

The G2 is not just an awesome Android phone, it's an awesome phone, period. It's clear that HTC has taken its years of experience with devices in this form factor and applied that knowledge to this device. From a hardware perspective, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more attractive, elegant, or capable landscape QWERTY phone, and as far as software is concerned, T-Mobile seems to be doing its best to offer Android in an untainted form. Yes, there is a little bit of bloatware here, and yes, there seems to be something amiss with the G2's potential for hacking, but as a standalone Android device in a world of iPhone 4s and EVOs, it's packing some serious heat. Every phone on the market right now has its own set of idiosyncrasies and minor shortcomings, and the G2 is no different there, but HTC and T-Mobile have pulled the device together in a way that makes those dents pretty easy to ignore. If you're looking for a top-tier Android player with little in the way of compromises, look no further. The G2 has arrived.

Sounds like a very awesome phone. Only thing is why the hell do they still put a trackpad on a touchscreen phone?

http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/06/t-mobile-g2-review/

Only thing is that they released another article that says the G2 has a hardware rootkit that restricts modifications
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/06/t-mobile-g2-said-to-have-hardware-rootkit-that-restricts-modif/

Say it with us now: "Here we go again." Just months after a particular eFuse predicament left legions of Droid X owners fuming, it seems that an all-too-familiar scenario is presenting itself to the earliest of T-Mobile G2 buyers. As the story goes, there's a problematic microchip embedded into the handset which "prevents device owners from making permanent changes that allow custom modifications to the the Android operating system." That's according to a lengthy New America report on the issue, which outright proclaims that a hardware rootkit "restricts modifications to a device owned by the user." In other words, if you install some fishy (or not fishy, for that matter) third party ROM, the phone is capable of overriding your software changes and reinstalling the original firmware -- makes perfect sense considering how earlier roots were "vanishing" post-reboot. Needless to say, this isn't exactly going over well with the tinkering community, and a 40+ page thread has already exploded over at xda developers. The silver lining isn't tough to spot, though -- chances are someone with ample time and sufficient coding skills will be able to circumvent this nonsense by the time the G2 actually finds its way back into stock.

 

[Bateluer]

The eFuse-Lite auto wipe function ticks me off, was seriously considering dropping my Droid 1 for a G2. Not until this BS is resolved.

You'd think companies would learn that crap is a waste of time and money eventually, and I expected better from HTC.

Edit - BTW, HTC, where's my US 3G Desire HD?

 

[vshah]

there will be a workaround soon enough. so pointless for htc to spend money on it

 

[slightlyhuman]

really can't understand HTC was thinking with the auto wipe function. that almost makes me wants to say i'll never buy the phone.

even though i probably will and i'm even on at&t! got my unlocked g1 sitting right in front of me collecting dust. first android phone i ever had.

 

[Deeko]

What's wrong with having a trackpad? The trackball is one of the features of the g1 I miss.

 

[Pliablemoose]

there will be a workaround soon enough. so pointless for htc to spend money on it

This, and it's flipping amazing watching the dev's on xda figure out a work around

I've grown to use the optical trackpad on the Inc quite a bit

 

[zerocool84]

What's wrong with having a trackpad? The trackball is one of the features of the g1 I miss.

I don't see a use for it. I have a tackpad on my phone and I've not used it once in any meaningful way.

 

[Deeko]

I find its most useful when I'm in keyboard mode, personally. I like having hardware navigation when I'm typing, like the G1's trackball or the Droid's directional pad.

 

[akugami]

really can't understand HTC was thinking with the auto wipe function. that almost makes me wants to say i'll never buy the phone.

even though i probably will and i'm even on at&t! got my unlocked g1 sitting right in front of me collecting dust. first android phone i ever had.

These types of features are usually at the requests of the carriers...and I think this will be the norm rather than the exception in the future.

 

[dguy6789]

I don't see a use for it. I have a tackpad on my phone and I've not used it once in any meaningful way.

Here's one: Without it, there's no way to use the history of the Android stock calculator(unless your phone also has arrow keys or a dpad).

 

[Oyeve]

Just played with the G2 and it is a very nice solid phone. The screen is bland compared to my Vibrant but the build is solid and it feels fast. Mind you there is nothing on it at the moment but it just feels solid and sexy. The flip-slide kb feels great. It is heavy and thick but it is an executive/man type phone.

 

[vshah]

trackpad/trackball is also useful when editing text, to get to a specific spot. apples solution with the magnifying glass is awesome though...

 

[jpeyton]

trackpad/trackball is also useful when editing text, to get to a specific spot. apples solution with the magnifying glass is awesome though...

My Droid X has the same magnifying glass solution, but a trackpad/Dpad would be much faster.

 

[vshah]

My Droid X has the same magnifying glass solution, but a trackpad/Dpad would be much faster.

cool, didn't know that about the droid. is it specific to one of the input methods or does it activate on any text field?

 

[SandEagle]

Best phone I ever owned

Amazon has the G2 for $99 with a new contract

wireless.amazon.com/dp/B0042RUOFI

 

[Kelvrick]

Glad to read the review. Will have to look further into its tethering issue though and hopefully there is a workaround for 3rd party stuff.

Ordered mine last night and it should be here tomorrow or Monday.

 

[TheInternet1980]

Best phone I ever owned

Amazon has the G2 for $99 with a new contract

wireless.amazon.com/dp/B0042RUOFI

Did you ever call tmobile CS about that 2GB of addressable memory issue? Curious what response they gave you if so.

 

[YoungGun21]

Yea the eFuse was probably put on by TMo rather than HTC. HTC is pretty relaxed when it comes to bootloaders.

 

[zerocool84]

Yea the eFuse was probably put on by TMo rather than HTC. HTC is pretty relaxed when it comes to bootloaders.

All the locking stuff is almost all done by the carriers cus they know "unlocking" the phone allows you ways to get around the many things they charge for. I'm sure the phone manufacturer could care less since you already bought the phone and they have your money.

 

[YoungGun21]

All the locking stuff is almost all done by the carriers cus they know "unlocking" the phone allows you ways to get around the many things they charge for. I'm sure the phone manufacturer could care less since you already bought the phone and they have your money.

Well Motorola actually is pretty tight on its bootloaders and security.

 

[SandEagle]

Did you ever call tmobile CS about that 2GB of addressable memory issue? Curious what response they gave you if so.

Yeah they said it was due to the os and preloaded apps or some crap like that. From what.i read at xda we have 4gb