G1 News

June 10th saw T-Mobile and Google cementing their business relationship with a press conference, with Android updates at the forefront of discussions.

It seems as though the versions beyond Cupcake that have seen the HTC Hero and Sony Ericsson Rachel turn heads are not the end, with future versions on the way to advance both social networking and payment methods for apps other than Google Checkout. T-Mobile will helpfully let payments go straight on your monthly bill (how nice of them!).

As for naming conventions, we’re back on the tasty treats trail after the brief ‘Rosie’ deviation, with “Donut”, “Eclair” and “Flan” on the horizon. Whatever they are called, we just hope they are as good as the ones that have cropped up thus far, and keeps on satisfying our cravings for sweet smartphone updates.

Source: Boy Genius Report

Re-tweeting a post on Android Guys, what do you think of Cupcake now its out there? Love it? Hate it? Wish you could install Rosie and move on?

Let me know!

I know most of you already have your Cupcake updates working nice and smooth, how’s about having another detailed look at the slick and sexy interface of HTC Rosie, running on a T-Mobile G1!

Said to come with the new HTC Hero, these videos from Androidpit.de show off everything! The slick bookmarks, the new side-scrolling, the music player, all of it is gone over in massive detail!

The interface is set to German, but you’ll still get a great idea of what’s going on when you have a look!

In a final act of defiance against the evil leakers of his HTC Hero firmware, G1 developer Haykuro has released his own version for download!

Installing this isn’t for the faint of heart, but seeing as we T-Mobile G1 owners might never get this officially, enjoying the awesome new menus and interface of Android via this new firmware is an opportunity too good to pass up!

It’s not perfect with some features such as Bluetooth not working as yet, but as he says he has homework to finish, I’m going to cut him a bit of slack…because Rosie is amazing!

Okay, it’s up on XDADevelopers now for download, as are the instructions. I’m about to try and do it, will let y’all know how it goes, maybe even a video demo how-to!

Installation is as follows:

Installation:
1. Download http://www.droiddeveloper.com/hrbuilds/app_s.zip
2. extract “app_s” into your sdcard’s ext2 partition.
3. Download http://www.droiddeveloper.com/hrbuilds/hero-signed.zip
4. Place on regular sd card.
5. Reboot into recovery, wipe and flash.
6. Enjoy.

Farewell Cupcake, I hardly knew ye…

UPDATE: Check the comments for some detailed instructions, courtesy of AB. Cheers, but use them at your own risk!

Source: Android Central

T-Mobile is do to be backing Android heavily into this year, and are slated to have four phones powered by the new OS. We’ve just seen the latest one, dubbed the Motorola Morrison.

Looking similar to the ‘Bigfoot‘ in terms of form, the Morrison is a slider in the vein of the HTC Touch Pro, hiding a QWERTY keyboard behind the screen.

Further specs are unfortunately thin on the ground, but it’s interesting to see how similar the form factor is for all these devices! Not that free when making touchscreen phones, it turns out…the G1 is starting to look pretty unique!

Motorola is indeed the third partner for T-Mo hinted at earlier, and it proves that some big player are really committed to Android moving forward, with some needing it to be a success for them more than others.

If you aren’t as technically savvy as a NASA control centre operator and just want Cupcake in your G1 early, it seems like you can do it without rooting your G1. I know, right? Great news!

Oddly, you do need the Blighty version of Android 1.5, but it will work okay in your US G1…provided you follow the darned instructions!

This is courtesy of bigfoot85t and Android Central, by the by, full disclosure and all that!

1. Head over to the T-mobile Forums to download the UK version of Android 1.5 Cupcake
2. Put the downloaded file into your SD card
3. Turn ur phone off and re-boot it holding the home button
4. When you see the triangle hit alt+L
5. Then alt+S
6. Press home and back when it tells you to (to reboot your phone)
7. It’ll say installing Radio after you hit home+back (thats normal)
8. It’ll reboot a couple times and after you see the new Android loading screen, you’ve got Cupcake.
9. When Android 1.5 for the US comes out repeat the process with the US download

Being the UK version of Cupcake, you see how hobo-fabulous us guys in the UK live, without snazzy things like Voice Search and Amazon MP3. Them’s the breaks, but you know that you can upgrade to the real deal when it does come out, so worry not and enjoy early!

Okay, the regjigged Hero Android Cupcake OS video was good, but this is another level entirely!

Haykuro of the xdadevelopers forum brings this to us (obviously) and the new Android interface (allegedly named ‘Rosie”) is frankly amazing. The live widgets, the switches for various functions, that huge clock, it’s brilliant!

Which phone it’s from is unclear, but I would like it now, please!

Source: SlashGear

I feel for you guys, I really do. Whilst the roll-out seems to have gone without incident in the UK and Europe, the US launch of Google’s Android 1.5 “Cupcake” update has faced yet more delays!

An official announcement seems to be telling the US to sit on their hands for a bit and wait:

G1 Community,

We’d like to provide an update on the rollout of Android 1.5 for T-Mobile G1 customers.
We are working diligently to get Android 1.5 out as soon as possible, while aiming to ensure a consistent, positive experience for our customers. We’re finalizing the build this week to ensure optimal functionality and smooth delivery. Therefore, the rollout schedule has been reset by approximately a week, and we expect all G1 customers will have the update by early June.

Your device will notify you when the update is available.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.” T-Mobile USA update

Many, including SlashGear, think that it’s the T-Mo tinkering – the addition of MyFaves etc. – that has caused this minor setback.

Well, the delivery thus far has been all but smooth, let’s give them the extra time they need to get it out and get it right. It’s worth the wait.

See you in early June, then?

Android Central has been lucky enough to get their hands on what is apparently the T-Mobile US Android Cupcake release schedule, and guess what? You shouldn’t have it yet, and you’re lucky if you have!

• 5% of Android Devices will receive the Android 1.5 Cupcake Update on Monday, May 18th
• 15% on Tuesday, May 19th
• 30% on Wednesday, May 20th
• 45% on Thursday, May 21st
• 60% on Friday, May 22nd
• 75% on Saturday, May 23rd
• 90% on Sunday, May 24th
• 100% on Monday, May 25th

That’s why many of you are still sans Cupcake. But nice to know that in the next 10 days everything will be sorted!

Then you can pine for the Android Donut 2.0 update, and the cycle continues…

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:

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 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.

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