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Google's MyTouch Is Ready To Hit The Road, But Can It Keep Up?

September 3, 2009 at 9:24 AM | by | Comment (1)

By now, you've probably passed by a zillion of the posters hanging in T-Mobile shops advertising the arrival of the newest Google Android smartphone: the MyTouch. You might even occasionally see ads for it on this very website, but rest assured that they didn't us to write this; it's just what we do—review the travel benefits of new technology, just as we did with the release of the Palm Pre back in June.

So will the MyTouch be a great addition to your no doubt already hefty arsenal of travel gadgets? Yes and no, but to truly answer this question we've got to break out with the dreaded iPhone comparisons.

First, visual appearance and feel: Although slightly bulkier and with a smaller screen than the iPhone, the MyTouch actually understands that sometimes we will be carrying too much stuff or that our fingers are just too fat to do with a completely touchscreen interface.

What we're trying to say is that the MyTouch has some buttons, thank the heavens. Just a few—the necessaries—and a trackball to scroll which requires less thumb movement than scrolling on iPhone, which sometimes makes us feel about to drop the thing. You can easily dash through the terminal with your rolling suitcase in one hand and the MyTouch in the other, and check your flight boarding time.

Applications: Happily, most of the MyTouch applications out thus far are free, just keep in mind that there are far, far fewer than available for the iPhone. Some slick travel ones we've seen thus far have been Cab4Me (which duh, finds you a nearby call and phone numbers) and the awesome Layar. Layar is augmented reality, something the iPhone is still thinking about, and it displays info on nearby locations utilizing both your GPS and phone camera.

Google Love: The iPhone might allow you to download the Google Earth app and other Google-related items, Apple has severely shot down Google Voice. Sure, it negates having a talk or text plan since it provides free voice and text communication over the internet, but the MyTouch doesn't see a problem with it. This is of course HUGE for international calling; no phone cards! No desperate collect calls! It's truly the clincher; those who switch from other smartphones will most likely be jumping on the MyTouch bandwagon for this functionality.

Conclusion: The MyTouch is nice and ready to hit the road, but we won't be devoting an entire category to it anytime soon. Those dying for a new phone and who would greatly benefit from free calling and texting (and wouldn't we all), should go for it, or...mark your Google calendar for the winter release of the HTC Hero, the successor to the MyTouch.

Related Stories:
· T-Mobile MyTouch 3G is a solid Google phone -- no, not an iPhone killer [LA Times]
· Will The Palm Pre Kick The iPhone Out Of Your Carry-On? [Jaunted]
· Technology Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photos: The Industry Standard and FOX News]

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MyTouch

Thanks for the review on the MyTouch! I'm debating between phones right now, and I must admit the iPhone was winning out...until this little blurb. I wasn't aware the MyTouch had such good travel features! I went to check it out, and I have to say the iPhone is a little more intuitive, but the MyTouch actually feels like a phone. It has some depth, and the trackball really works a lot better than the scrolling on the iPhone. Also, unless you want to spring for a ridiculous new iPhone, the MyTouch does horizontal texting, meaning if you have thumbs larger than a 6 year old there is hope for a semi-accurate text! Anywho, I'm off to go pick up my new MyTouch!
cnacke on September 14, 2009 at 3:25 PM #Permalink

Return to » Google's MyTouch Is Ready To Hit The Road, But Can It Keep Up?

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