G1 News

Those new to Android might not realise it, but the Nexus One wasn’t the first Google-branded phone, that honour actually goes to the T-Mobile G1. So, it is with slightly misty eyes that we reveal T-Mobile have discontinued this landmark handset.

The G1 was the first mobile to feature Google’s exciting new operating system and the HTC manufactureed device set the pattern for future handsets, paving the way for later handsets such as the Milestone, Nexus One, HTC Desire and most recently the Samsung Galaxy S.

The build quality was slightly plasticy, but for its time, the G1 packed some decent specs: it had a 512Mhz processor, 192MD RAM and an excellent physical QWERTY keyboard which has proved hard to beat. Indeed, the idiosyncratic slide-out design made it a hit with anyone looking for a handset to set them apart from the pack.

Unfortunately, despite being capable in its time, it seems that the G1 couldn’t keep up with the slew of super powerful Android devices that followed and they didn’t follow in the 2.0 and beyond OS updates.

So, farewell, G1!

According to two recent reports Google’s Android platform is set to overtake the Apple iPhone in terms of downloaded apps.

The first report to suggest this trend comes from AdMob, a Google-owned source. Nevertheless, AdMob’s reports states that there will more Android users than Apple iPhone users by the end of 2010.

The second report to suggest the Android’s pre-eminence is perhaps more convincing, coming from independent telecoms analyst Ovum. Ovum expect that by 2015 Android will be responsible for 26 percent of all app downloads, while iPhone will see just 22 percent. That would be a huge shift from last year’s figures of 14 percent for Android and 67 percent for iPhone.

The reason for this trend? We expect is has everything to do with the large volume of low cost Android phones out there, and with an iPhone contract recall imminent, might Google have Apple on the run?

Android 2.2 has barely made it out of the blocks and already rumors of the upcoming Android 3.0 release have already started popping up.

Speculation on Google’s next major release of Android, code-named Gingerbread, comes from Russian website Unwiredview, which has the odd scoop before, but without any official word from Google yet it’s only speculation

According to the source, Android 3.0 could arrive as soon as mid-October, with the first handsets shipping in time for the festive season, around November or December.

Android 3.0 would also set a new set of minimum hardware requirements, including a 1-GHz processor, 512MB of RAM memory, and displays no smaller than 3.5 inches. Higher resolutions of up to 1280 by 760 pixels would also be available for devices with displays larger than 4 inches.

If true, the minimum requirements won’t mean that all new Android phones will be power-horses. Word is that Google intends to split Android into two branches: high-end devices running version 3.0, and low-end devices running 2.1/2.2.

Rumours also abound that Gingerbread would bring with it a much needed UI overhaul, which if good enough could help stem the fragmentation of the platform.

There aren’t any specifics on the improvements, but the site says that the interface across the OS would be similar to the Gallery app on the Nexus One.

Exciting news! Perhaps exciting enough to defer that purchase of that Nokia N8 or iPhone 16GB? We’ll have to wait and see!

Source

Flying in the face of recent statements, Gameloft have issued a press release unveiling plans to launch High Definition gaming on the new breed of Android phones including the Motorola DROID/MILESTONE and Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, as well as cementing their support of current generation Google-powered devices.

Earlier this week, Gameloft’s finance director Alexadre de Rochefort spoke of scaling back investment for the fledgling platform, citing iPhone sales as being 400 times higher than on Android Market for their games in the last quarter, as well as a lack of assistance from Google in the promotion of titles.

Whilst the press release places a great deal of emphasis on referring to the ‘2nd generation’ of Android phones, it seems as though Gameloft are attmempting to clarify their intentions of maintaining a presence on the operating system, at present as well as in the future.

In that case, are they scaling back investment, or not?

This latest announcement does little to play down rumours that Gameloft may concentrate their efforts on iPhone in the meantime, with a view to ramping up Android development once the platform has a bigger slice of the smartphone market and a wider range of handsets available to consumers.

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

Seems like the Android interface isn’t just for people that drink champange out of crystal slippers and wear monocles to bed, the HTC Click offers to bring the mobile platform to the masses in an unassuming form factor.

Sporting the usual array of Google phone buttons and a style reminiscent of the HTC Touch, the Click could be out as soon as Q4 2009. Corners have indeed been trimmed in an effort to lower the price, noticable changes like the trackball being replaced by a large d-pad are noticable, but far from a deal breaker.

Rumours that it could have the same user interface as the HTC Hero proves interesting…what will justify the cost of a pricier Android device if they all have identical UIs? Soon megapixels and gigabytes of space will mean less and less if the experience is no different.

Isn’t that why the T-Mobile G1 and HTC Magic are still without even a hint of a Rosie update?

Source: Slashphone

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

It might have been a little slow to get going in the West, but the allure of a robust, free open source platform has the Far East banging out an array of Android powered devices in the coming months leading up to Christmas.

HTC have been the standard-bearer for a while, and in addition to the phone they are launching in the UK tomorrow (widely rumoured to be the Hero), they will be bringing out 3 more devices in the second half of 2009.

The Korean contingent are coming through from Q3, with Samsung i7500 due to make an appearance (what happened to the Jet/S8000 running Android?) and three Android handsets due from LG.

With the new breed including Huawei’s glass-loving iClone and handsets from Acer and Lenovo sporting the Google-made OS, it will definitely be exciting to see what kind of niche Android carves for itself when the phones running it have to be counted on two hands…

Quite a few interesting things shown off in the Google I/O developer’s conference, including a quick demo of what we can look forward to in the Android 2.0 “Donut” update!

It’s all about the search functionality, which is unsurprising given Google’s credentials, and offers new and easy ways to find things faster both on your phone and the web.

I’ll let the demo do the rest!

Source: SlashGear.TV

Ah, the GP2x… The greatest handheld that never was, the GP2X was an Open Source handset from Korea that was designed to be equally easy for homebrew programs to run as commercial titles.

Unsurprisingly, it took about 6 minutes before devs managed to emulate all the popular machines from the Sega Megadrive/Genesis to the Neo-Geo and even arcade machines on the powerful device.

Even the famous GTA clone Payback started life as an ambitious GP2X game before recently jumping ship to the iPhone.

Why does all this matter to you, humble G1 owner?

Well, the machine is being emulated in its entirety onto Android, meaning all of the arcade classics you used to spend you lunch money on can be replicated on your mobile phone!

Check out this video from clever dev Jrioni, chowing off all manner of emulation (via GP2X emulation!) of some classic titles. When it will be available to the rest of us is unknown…

Samurai Shodown on the toilet? I thought this day would never come!

Source: Android Community