G1 News

We get a glimse of what the “with Google” back tattoo on the UK HTC Magic and T-Mobile G1 actually means, now as without them the Singapore Magic is without the search box, extensive branding and “Google-ised” mail requirements. This version rather has a suite of programs developed by HTC themselves, running off the back of Android.

HTC’s Eric Lin clarifies the “with Google” situation somewhat:

“This simple phrase indicates that the phone has a pure Google experience – no customizations have been made to the software. The Magic being sold in most of Asia is not a Google experience phone so we have started to put some of the HTC special sauce into Android.”

That sause is pretty special as the modded Android device comes with mail support for Microsoft Exchange, predictive text input, an improved camera interface and extra widgets. The “with Google” distinction explains so much careful manufacturer and network talk when the G1 was released in the UK…

Better camera and Exchange support? Get me some Google free cupcakes!

A gorgeous photoshoot, comparing the two current Android beauties of the HTC Magic and Samsung i7500 in fairly intense detail – looks-wise at least.

We don’t scratch the surface to see which handset is better, but they both run on the latest build of Android, so it’s all a tie in that respect. Physically, they are both bereft of the quirky QWERTY that make the G1 so…unique.

The Magic does retain the trackball of it’s predecessor however, but the Samsung looks…like a Samsung. A d-pad, ‘OK’ button, Call and End buttons, all par for the course.

The only feature that I’m jealous off is the 3.5mm jack. Throw some D’s, Hero firmware on that, and the i7500’s a worthy iPhone competition!

If the differences go beyond skin deep, we don’t know them yet! Hopefully these guys at CNet Asia can do the honours once they finish snapping the two from every angle.

Too close to call, this one.

Full set of photos on CNet Asia.

Haykuro from xdadevelopers, he of the early, early Cupcake Android install and much other loveliness, has done it again!

Presumably performing some arcane magic involving 1.21 gigawatts and amazing skill, he has crowbarred the spanking new HTC Hero build of Android Cupcake and placed it into a T-Mobile G1!

Check it!

Points of note for the video:

1. The music. Relaxing. Artist, title anyone? Shazam says Oscar Wilde, I’m inclined not to believe it. Oh, there it goes. “Green Grass of Tunnel” by Múm, from the Finally We Are No One album. Another one for Spotify, methinks!

2. The revamped media player. Can you say GPod?

3. Calendar looks so pretty, almost Mac-ish! Will be so organised in future!

4. Tasty new browser, check out the progress bar! (Never thought I’d get excited by a progress bar, but never thought I’d get shot by a crossbow either. You live and learn.)

Just so you feel like you’ve wasted your life, super-developer/reverse engineer Haykuro is 17. 17. I still don’t do my own grocery shopping, and often get lost in malls.

On a more serious note, how much of this is Cupcake, and how much is Android? Even the iPhone interface hasn’t changed that much since 1.0, and that’s only a single device. The way that Android will start to be developed in different directions by manufacturers will certainly be interesting, as HTC seems to continue to use the raw uncut in their devices.

What would Sony do with Android, also want to see more from Samsung. However, I’m not talking about just sticking a Touch-Wiz UI hat on it like Windows Mobile on the Samsung Omnia, I’m talking a genuine integration! Interesting to see the little Operating System grow up…

Source: modmyGphone