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!

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…

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

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.

T-Mobile are big on the Android platform, but has the HTC Magic moving to Vodafone forced their hand in looking for other manufacturers to cosy up with? A T-Mobile spokesperson has come up with the following loaded statement:

“We are looking to launch multiple Android-based devices in the second half of this year with three partners…[and we will] see Android find its way down into feature phones on the low end.”

Open source means that the price of an operating system is no longer a barrier to entry, hence Android for everyone! But who are the three hookups? HTC and Samsung are obvious, but the third? Huawei? Motorola?

Gadget Stylist has a very interesting article on that very matter, with Motorola’s full-on adoption of the platform revealing their long term gameplan…or should we say life line?

Nowhere on the planet is safe from the onslaught of Open Source Android, as NTT DoCoMo announces their new HT-03A handset, soon to launch in Japan.

Unfamiliar with the name? Then the looks of the above handset should jog your memory! Yes, it’s another renaming for the HTC Magic/MyTouch3G, as the HT-03A becomes the first Android phone to launch  in Japan.

It will be interesting to see how the interface is tailored to the Japanese, if at all, as they seem not to be awfully fond of touchscreen phones…

Source: Unwired View