New to the forum, please be patient with me.

[Divest]

So, I've just recently purchased a G1 and already have had several problems with it.

1) IM client doesn't work properly for AIM. Whenever I receive a message from someone, it shows that I sent myself a message, what gives?

2) Creaking. The touch screen doesn't fit snugly when it's closed. Kinda frustrating since it makes it almost feel cheap in a way.

3) GPS doesn't have turn by turn voice directions ;__; I really thought this phone would replace a GPS unit in cars, but alas, it does not. Also, I live in Southern California and there's not many rural areas out here yet the GPS seems to have a difficult time detecting my location accurately when I'm not in, say, CENTRAL DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

4) I wish there was an option to uninstall built-in applications such as Amazon MP3.

Am I missing something? With a phone this expensive, I'm led to believe that I'm simply doing something wrong or I'm not looking in the right places.

Android Community, please advise!

[ministersin]

1) I have heard the IM complaints, but have been told the update (which you will get a message asking you to download soon) fixes that issue to some extent. There is also an app in the Market that lets you IM, which I understand is better.

IMO it is better in at least one aspect: it uses the internet instead of charging you texts for each message.

2) I have heard about this creaking, but I do not have the problem. Some folks have returned their units for this reason (I think) and gotten a replacement.

3) Turn by turn would be an app. One company has already posted a turn by turn app in the Market, but it is not real time. I assume a true turn by turn will arrive when we start paying for apps

[Divest]

Yeah, as for #1, I've downloaded the non-default IM+ but that is a hunk of crap in itself. It has crashed, screwed up my messages, and is difficult and bulky to use. It's a step DOWN from the default installed IM application in my opinion. Counting IM's as texts isn't an issue to me since I have the unlimited data plan all around.

I have the creaking, it's driving me up the wall. Maybe I should return the unit? Is it even worth it? Do all the phones do this? It really "cheapens" my phone. I'll take my phone to a local representative tomorrow to see what they say.

Also, I was really hoping for the turn-by-turn voice directions to be real time by default, much like how the Garmin GPS works. Don't tell me this is going to be something else that they're going to charge me for. :/ I already know how to use MapQuest, I was purchasing this handset specifically to replace Garmin. :[

[mixpix405]

I was purchasing this handset specifically to replace Garmin. :[

Don't take this the wrong way... but that is ridiculous.

This is a PHONE. Sure, it would be fantastic if it COULD replace your Garmin... but (as far as I know) nowhere did T-Mobile, Google, or HTC claim that this thing did turn-by-turn GPS-based directions...

People often assume that "gps" means "gps navigation device"... but it doesn't. GPS literally is "global positioning system". This device, with it's built-in GPS unit, does exctly that. Tells you where you are.

There may be an app in the future that will allow you to do this, replacing your Garmin navigation unit... but this is a PHONE, not a GPS navigation device.

[mixpix405]

Oh, and please note that I didn't mean that YOU were ridiculous for thinking that... just that the idea itself was ridiculous.

I really didn't mean for it to come across any differently.

And, welcome to the forums!

[Divest]

No worries, I know where you're coming from.

The reason why I don't think this is a ridiculous notion by any means is because my Sprint Katana had voice turn-by-turn GPS navigation directions. That was a piece of crap free phone that came with your plan. A ripoff of a RAZR, if you will.

Yet my G1 doesn't have this installed. Kinda fishy.

[Technickal]

hey Ms.Jigglypuff;), why would you think a phone will replace a GPS navigation system?
Thats just one thing I never understood, when people feel thier phone can take over the job of was a CAR gps system is suppose to do

I dont think its a great idea, unless your planning to kill battery life
and at the end you cant compare a phones feature to a car system thats dedicated to that certain thing

[Divest]

Right, and no offense by this, but you didn't read my last post.

My old crappy Sprint Katana phone had this feature installed by default. I used it in my car all the time.

Surely if a bottom of the line free phone has this feature enabled it shouldn't be too far off for a next-generation cell phone, right?

[ddee8]

People often assume that "gps" means "gps navigation device"... but it doesn't. GPS literally is "global positioning system". This device, with it's built-in GPS unit, does exctly that. Tells you where you are.

There may be an app in the future that will allow you to do this, replacing your Garmin navigation unit... but this is a PHONE, not a GPS navigation device.

I agree. We're all just going to have to sit tight and wait until someone such as Garmin steps to the plate to port its navigation system to android. I know Garmin has already done it for windows mobile and blackberries via Garmin Mobile. I've used Garmin mobile XT for my t-mobile dash in the past and it worked quite well.

welcome to AC divest.

[mixpix405]

No worries, I know where you're coming from.

The reason why I don't think this is a ridiculous notion by any means is because my Sprint Katana had voice turn-by-turn GPS navigation directions. That was a piece of crap free phone that came with your plan. A ripoff of a RAZR, if you will.

Yet my G1 doesn't have this installed. Kinda fishy.

I get your point... And like I said - It'd be great if this feature was available out of the box... But my point is that nowhere did it say that the G1 had this feature - so to buy it to replace your Garmin seems a little silly.

But in the end - I'm sure it will be available. That's the beauty of open-source software. If there is a need, there is (or will be) a fix.

[Technickal]

well by what your saying I guess the G1 is crappier than a old crappy katana.

[Divest]

Please guys, read my post. ;_____;

No offense here, but come'on! My piece of crap Sprint Katana phone had this. It was a fantastic GPS navigation device.

It's also funny to me when someone points out that this is a cell phone, when, in all honestly, it really isn't.

The G1 is basically a portable mini-computer which is capable of doing oh so many things that are impractical and unnecessary but when it comes to GPS navigation that my piece of crap Sprint Katana handled ever so smoothly, oh no! This is ridiculous! You're talking about a phone.

Last I checked with my Grandma, phones didn't scan your eyeball so you could access all your bank account information. Last I checked, phones didn't listen to a song and search a gigantic database to display results where you could view a video, purchase the songs, or add them as MySpace friends.

In short: GPS Navigation isn't exactly a far-fetched idea here considering all of the other things that this "phone" is capable of doing.

Moral Addendum: Please note that the two posts above mine weren't there when I first replied. Also, I didn't purchase this phone with the sole intent of using it as a GPS navigation device. It was only one of three squabbles I had with this phone, other than that I am thorougly satisifed with my phone.

[mixpix405]

Please guys, read my post. ;_____;

No offense here, but come'on! My piece of crap Sprint Katana phone had this. It was a fantastic GPS navigation device.

It's also funny to me when someone points out that this is a cell phone, when, in all honestly, it really isn't.

The G1 is basically a portable mini-computer which is capable of doing oh so many things that are impractical and unnecessary but when it comes to GPS navigation that my piece of crap Sprint Katana handled ever so smoothly, oh no! This is ridiculous! You're talking about a phone.

Last I checked with my grandma, phones didn't scan your eyeball so you could access all your bank account information. Last I checked, phones didn't listen to a song and search a gigantic database to display results where you could view a video, purchase the songs, or add them as MySpace friends.

In short: GPS Navigation isn't exactly a far-fetched idea here considering all of the other things that this "phone" is capable of doing.

It is a phone. Plain and simple. I didn't say it was JUST a phone. It's a phone with lots of extra features. The phone, out of the box doesn't "scan your eyeball". It's an app you downloaded later.

My only point is that you shouldn't get upset because the phone doesn't do something that it was never promised to do. Be happy that it's possible, get irritated that a developer hasn't made the app yet, or whatever... But to BUY THE PHONE for a feature that it DOESNT do, doesn't make sense.

I don't think that GPS navigation is too far-fetched. I think it WILL come. But it wasn't promised, and isn't here YET.

[Divest]

Perhaps I worded one of my previous posts confusingly when I said I purchased this phone specifically to replace Garmin. I should have worded it, with hope of replacing Garmin.

Or, more accurately, with hope of replacing my Sprint Katana.

Also, I haven't heard anything of the other three problems, my biggest concern being the first. Is the IM client being messed up something unique to my specific handset or are other people receiving messages from other people addressed from themselves?