Ah…. Google Android phone. I welcomed Google’s decision to buy Android and release a new mobile OS. If any company to shake up mobile industry, Google was in better position than any other company. It had money and right engineering culture to do it. Apple’s iPhone was available much earlier than Google Android phone, so when it was time for me to change my phone, I had gone with iPhone. If Android phone was available at the same time as iPhone, it would have made the decision much tougher. Before iPhone, I used two different Blackberry models. So, I am not exactly a stranger to smart phones.
I had a chance to test HTC’s myTouch, which is follow-up model to T-Mobile’s G1 phone. In summary, I must say this is quite capable phone, but it still comes short of iPhone. I am certainly not an Apple fanboy, and I wasn’t 100% happy of iPhone, but compared to other smart phones, I am still amazed at what Apple has pulled off with iPhone. It’s still hean and shoulder above many other phones out there. However, it does not mean myTouch is not a worthy phone. There were many features I found valuable. Without further ado, let me break it down for you.
THE GOOD
1. Google Voice
Google Voice is designed for smart phones. It’s a match made in heaven. Now that I experienced it, I will miss it sorely. It’s one feature I used the most on myTouch. It’s like micro-brewed beer I had for the first time after four years of drinking Budweiser. Once you taste a good thing, it’s hard to go back. All iPhone users have no idea what they are missing. I had signed up with GrandCentral before it was bought by Google, and it was major bummer when AT&T/Apple rejected Google Voice iPhone app. If there is a petition, I am willing to sign it.
First there is calling with Google Voice number. I have been giving out my Google Voice number to many, but when I actually make a call on iPhone, my mobile number – not Google Voice – shows up and it confuses people. People tend to just save my mobile number instead of Google Voice number. It almost makes Google Voice obsolete. With myTouch, everyone I call gets my Google Voice number.
Second, free SMS. We all know that carriers are milking their SMS infrastructure. Each SMS doesn’t cost anywhere close to what they charge. Besides, both having worked at and dealt with a carrier as a customer, I completely understand their arrogance and I support any method to open them up.
2. Other Google Services
With iPhone, while it’s not difficult, synchronization setup for core Google services – mail, calendar, contact – isn’t as easy as myTouch. You just provide GMail username and password, and everything is set.
3. ShopSavvy and Compare Everywhere
These apps use myTouch camera to scan a barcode and look for best deals online and offline. These are awesome apps in this economy since they let you find best deals wherever you are and also prevent impulse buys.
4. Compass, Google Sky Map and Layar
myTouch’s built-in compass in conjunction with GPS means direction you are facing as well as your location can be used in applications. Google Sky Map shows constellations in the direction you are holding your phone. Not terribly useful app, but it shows what’s possible. Layar is another app that attracted quite a bit of interest because its ability to add 3D layer on top of scenes seen on camera. Right now, it seems to locate places matching search query on the camera, and places get updated when you move your phone left and right. It’s a cool app, but not too terribly useful, either.
5. Weight, size and battery life
myTouch was more compact and lighter than iPhone. It fit in my palm nicely, and it felt really good. Compared to myTouch, iPhone feels like a large brick. In addition, batter on myTouch lasted a lot longer than on iPhone.
THE BAD
1. Overall User Interface/Experience
Apple is known for it, and iPhone definitely shows the ultimate high of user experience. Just think about how to make it all work for users with only one button. Apple really got the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle down. myTouch has six buttons – Home, Call, Menu, Back, Search, Off. While configuring with GMail credential is incredibly easy, but rest of configurations overwhelms users with a lot of options. For me, a geek, it’s no big deal, but myTouch is not as easy to everyday user as iPhone.
2. Sluggish response
Compared iPhone, myTouch’s response to touch seemed sluggish. I found myself having to tap multiple times for a button on an app to respond. Virtual keyboard also seemed to suffer from the similar sluggishness. Space key was the worst. Scrolling screen up or down also seemed not as smooth as on iPhone.
3. Smaller virtual keyboard == more mistakes
The size of screen is smaller than iPhone, and thus the size of virtual keyboard on myTouch is smaller than on iPhone. I found myself making a lot more mistakes on myTouch.
4. Lack of apps
Having had earlier start, iPhone boasts much wider range and diversified apps than Android phones. myTouch is no exception. However, what’s surprising to me was not just less number of apps, but inferior version of apps compared to ones on the iPhone. For example, just look at Skype and Facebook apps. On iPhone Skype app, you can not only chat but can make or receive a skype call as long as it’s on WiFi network. If you have Skype-in number, you can also make or receive a regular phone call, too (again as long as you are on WiFi network). iPhone Facebook app is much more polished and gives you better navigation than on myTouch.
Also, game apps on myTouch is just pathetic. If you don’t care about games, it doesn’t matter to you, but I believe games on iPhone showcase amazing capability of iPhone and games happen to be most downloaded category of apps on iPhone. That means game apps are one of major drivers for iPhone’s growth.
THE UGLY
For me, both camera and camcorder on myTouch kept failing. After taking a picture or shooting a video, the app either crashed or the whole phone became unresponsive. However, I failed to find others having the same problem online. I was using Firmware version of 1.5 and 4GB Class-4 MicroSD from Patriot. Re-sitting the MicroSD didn’t help. I will have to check this again after upgrading to Firmware version 1.6.
