Nov  24  2009
3

Google Maps Navigation Makes Its Way To 1.6 Handsets!

Google_navigation

Today, Google announced that their new Maps Navigation system is now available for devices running the Android 1.6 operating system…provided you live in the U.S., that is.

As Android 1.6 is the build that all phones aside from the Motorola DROID (to be called Motorola MILESTONE if you call elevators by their real name, which is a ‘lift’) are running on, even the humble T-Mobile G1 and HTC Magic able to get a new lease of life and sense of direction.

Android 1.6 stops short of enabling full Droidery for Maps Navigation, leaving out the “Navigate to…” voice commands enabled by the 2.0 ‘Donut’ update.

US users can point your browsers to the Android Market, whilst UK users can make a gun using their thumb and forefinger and point at their temple in desperation…

Source: Android Release

May  12  2009
2

Who’s Making The G1 v2.0/Bigfoot, What’s Android Donut? Find Out Here!

We’ve only just goten our fill of Android 1.5 a.k.a. ‘Cupcake’, and already the wires are buzzing and lips salivating with talk of a successor in the form of a tasty Donut!

Donut will be version 2.0 of Google’s Android interface, offering big steps beyond the original as well as the recently rolled-out Cupcake 1.5.

Samsung has apparently taken Android close to their heart, bringing out two new devices which apparently take advantage of this next generation of Google’s OS.

These phones, codenamed Spica and Bigfoot (it could well be that Bigfoot!), are said to be the first real Android devices to come from the manufacturer, powered by this new Donut 2.0.

Here’s how they will look:

samsung-spic-bigfoot-android
Spica (L) & BigFoot (R)

Aside from the form factor, the Samsung Spica and Bigfoot are almost identical on paper…here they are alongside the i7500.

samsung-spica-and-bigfoot-specs

Samsung Spica will be the affordably priced mass market device, whilst Bigfoot is said to be the sexier gaming device for smartphone lover. It also seems that Samsung will finaly eschew the standard Android home screen to offer a more familiar TouchWiz user interface on top. These pics show the Spica’s UI to be a cross between the iPhone’s CoverFlow for media and the original Widget-based interface seen on every new handset from the Samsung Tocco Ultra to the Samsung i8910 HD.

samsung-spica-interface-touchwiz

Word has it that this Donut 2.0 is what all of the other manufacturers are waiting for, before they jump into Android-flavoured waters. It might be the first update which offers them the level of customisation so desperately required to have their phones stand out from each other.

More interestingly, Donut is said to not be a mandatory Android update, so some handsets will enjoy the whizzy speeds of this latest version, whilst others languish with Cupcake. Which side will the T-Mobile G1 be on?

More importantly, who’s hungry for seconds??!

Source: Unwired View/Mobile Review

Written by Ernest in: News | Tags: , , , , ,

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