Comments on: Via con Google

By: CaneCarry

CaneCarry — Sun, 01 May 2011 15:50:00 +0000

thats really cool

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:27:07 +0000

I'm confused by this article. Are you really questioning what "with google" means? Or just contemplating alternative theories as to why they chose to market it that way? Mr. Andy Rubin explained the "3 flavors of Android" several months ago. The story was even covered right here on Androidguys. http://www.androidguys.com/2009/05/28/rubin-break... "With Google" apparently refers to one of the more restrictive licenses that allows a carrier/manufacturer to place the Google Apps on the phone. Note, the Archos 5 tablet appears to be the "obligation-free" variety from the reports that I read (again, here on AndroidGuys), and as such does not come with any of the Google Apps.

By: @herrensam

@herrensam — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:51:55 +0000

The Rogers ROM had Exchange support and the HTC keyboard and were not stock Google Android phones. I believe this is why they were not marked as WG. Engadget: http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/06/04/rogers-a...

By: @i_am_brennan

@i_am_brennan — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:08:22 +0000

There must be different levels of WG experience. I'm up in Canada and the Rogers phones don't have the WG branding on the back, but come with google apps and are advertised as Google phones.

I don't think we'll be getting over the air updates though... not sure if that has to do with the WG branding or the carrier

By: Eric H.

Eric H. — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:49:44 +0000

Based on that whole cyanogenmod debacle I came to the understanding that the WG branding meant that the phone was a google experience phone. If it does not carry the WG branding then it will not have native google application support. This was the reason why Google lawyers were so pissed that cyanogen was distributing Google's apps as they may find their way onto devices where they do not belong.

By: @herrensam

@herrensam — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:26:30 +0000

The unique slide out keyboard of the G1 was in reference to the very first phone marked "WG". And not the ones that came after. Meaning that Google wanted to clearly draw a physical distinction of the very first "WG" device.

By: Jamey

Jamey — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:28:43 +0000

We purchased a "family pack" of 4 Sprint Heroes on 10/9. 2 of them are branded WG and 2 are just branded HTC.

I think I would have believed that The WG Mark meant it follows the Google HW reference standard except interesting thing about the hero it has no slide out keyboard, just the software keyboard, so that invalidates at least that part of the standard.

By: AndrewM

AndrewM — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:54:45 +0000

My unlocked, unbranded Hero (Euro model) doesn't come WG, and I would strongly debate the statement "least appealing visually"!

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:38:22 +0000

"with Google" means the phone conforms to particular standards (CPU, memory, screen size, etc), and features native Google applications.