G1 News

Great news for those getting jealous about all these tarted up Android interfaces on phones like the HTC Tattoo and Motorola DEXT, the Donut 1.6 build has been unveiled to developers, meaning that a new version for phones like the HTC Magic and T-Mobile G1 will be here soon enough…

See, Google has not forsaken us!

More than an incremental upgrade, Android 1.6 offers:

• Quick Search Box
• Quicker camera use along with integrated gallery
• Battery usage indicator
• VPN and 802.1x inclusion
• Android Market revamp
• Text-to-Speech engine

See it all in motion in the below video!

The HTC Click is the entry level Android phone that the Korean manufacturer hopes will sweep up in the cash conscious sector of the mobile market later in the year, and here’s the first video showing it off.

It is very no-frills as the pic above shows, with a camera (HTC still not fans of the flash), a microSD card slot, and 3.5mm headphone jack.

Flourishes like the Sense UI seen on the HTC Hero are sadly absent, whilst the touchscreen is somewhat smaller than the rest of the Android handset range thus far, as the TinhTe comparison to the HTC Magic proves.

Check it out in moving pictures below! And do try to focus on the phone, or the amusing jazz muzak (synth rock guitar for the win!) accompaniment in the background. Anything but the obvious.

Taiwanese manufacturer HTC was happy to announce that over a million of their Android-powered Magic handset have been shipped in 2009, since their recent April release. HTC Chief Peter Chou was jubilant at the announcement, and also announced plans to tackle the mid-range market with future handsets.

If they are able to crack the mobile game at the high end price point, in the face of super smartphones like the Nokia N97, iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre, common sense dictates that even further success can be achieved with decent phones on lower tiers.

The HTC Magic has just seen a US launch under the name myTouch3G with T-Mobile,  making this global milestone without American sales even more impressive.

It also shows that market leading design and innovative features can buck any downward trends…

Hey! We’re glad to offer a range of new mobile phone deals, thanks to comparison site Omio!

Looking at the top tabs on the site, you’ll now see links to pages where you can grab the HTC Magic as well as the new HTC Hero and even newer T-Mobile G2 Touch!

The deal comparison engine sliders allow you to set the ideal number of minutes and texts, and the amount you are willing to spend each month. Then it does the rest, and brings up the best offers instantly!

So if you are lucky enough to reside in the UK and are looking for an Android fix, you’ve found it!

UPDATE: T-Mobile G2 Touch deals all fixed and added now!

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

Seems like the G1 has managed to steal a march on the iPhone in an important category – turn-by-turn satellite navigation.

Co-Pilot Live app has recently rolled out on the Android Marketplace, offering GPS guidance, lane indicators, speed camera locations and voice directions on your mobile for the princely sum of £25.99 for UK/Ireland maps and £59.99 for all of Europe.

Supported by the holy trinity of Android phones, the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic and HTC Hero/T-Mobile G1 Touch will even allow you to divulge and share your location to your mates, Google Latitude-style.

With no monthly charge or extra costs outside of your 3G usage for services like live traffic, fuel prices or weather updates, Co-Pilot Live seems like a great, cost-effective way to get you going in the right direction!

Source: Electric Pig

Well done T-Mobile US, you managed to keep your hands on the second Android phone – the HTC Magic – now going by the much…weirder name of myTouch 3G.

As you may know, the HTC Magic has done big business in the UK for Vodafone, taking the G1’s form factor and ditching the keyboard for a more appealing shape and virtual QWERTY through the Cupcake firmware.

In terms of presentation, the tri-colour box art suggests a white, black and ‘merlot’ red version will be available, as opposed to only offering the white model in Blighty.

Surprised that red-happy Voda didn’t go for a more bull-baiting colour, but anyway…the boxes are more exciting than most, and with an August release runoured, it won’t be long til you get your first keyboard-less Android fix!

Source: Phandroid

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.

The T-Mobile G1 revamp codenamed ‘Bigfoot’ has been seen in the wild, at least a high resolution render anyway.

This looks like a nice HTC Touch Pro-ish Android device, and a million miles away from the original device, as well as other ‘chinny’ HTC phones like the Magic and Hero.

The QWERTY is well hidden with a more traditional slider form factor, and the screen size seems healthy. Time to hang up your G1s, people?

Source: Boy Genius Report

Jealous that I’m riding on the crest of a Cupcake wave whilst some of you are still waiting for it to come out?

Let Mr. SmileyMan from Google show you round Android 1.5 (albeit on an HTC Magic), and see the virtual keyboard and video recording skills in motion!

Stay strong, my brothers and sisters. Your turn will come.

Source: Android Central