G1 News

Motorola Droid fans rejoice!

If you want a little bit of freedom to download custom themes, application and games onto your fancy new Android device, you need to perform a little magic that goes by the name of ‘rooting’ the device.

It works on both the original Android 2.0 that the handset ships with, as well as the new Android 2.0.1 software update which was recently released as an update for the Droid.

AllDroid once again to thank for the honours…

Step 1 (Recommended): Update to the latest Android 2.0.1 (over the air) software update.

Step 2: Download the file for Android 2.0.1 OTA update for Motorola Droid posted in the AllDroid forum here.

Step 3: Rename the .zip file that you downloaded in Step 2 to update.zip.

Step 4: Move it to the SD Card on your phone.

Step 5: Turn off the DROID, then power back on while holding the X key.

Step 6: When you see a “/!\” symbol, press both the vol+ button and the camera.

Step 7: Now simply follow the onscreen menu to install update.zip file.

Step 8: Reboot your Droid phone.

Now you’re rooted! Your Droid is ready to roll if you want to do anything from adding a fancy new theme to sprucing up the browser!

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

Be still my beating heart.

Just as we thought the plucky T-Mobile G1 was about to be left behind as the Motorola DROID and Android 2.0’s charms courted everyone’s attention, a man named Akira Harada has given us all hope by porting it across to the original Google phone!

Whilst the update isn’t fully optimised, and the G1 does need to be “rooted” for this to work (instructions here), the video proof shows that it is a risk I will be willing to take for Android awesomeness.

Expect to see it on XDA Developers any time from now, and a link to it from our site about 15 minutes later.

And just like that, weeks of planning, preparation and subterfuge goes out of the window…

The new Eclair/Android 2.0 sporting DROID, known in many circles going by the name of ‘Sholes’, has finally been outed…by Motorola themselves.

A premature posting on their site leaked all the juicy details, an embarrassing error that still keeps us excited, but undoes all that great hype work ahead of November’s big reveal.

The DROID feature set is pretty impressive, although we had an idea of what we were going to be getting for some time. That sleek slider form factor is easy on the eye too.

Full specs:

- CDMA 1X 800/1900, EVDO rev. A connectivity
- 550 MHz CPU
- Android 2.0 (Eclair) OS
- 3.7″ WVGA (480 x 854 pixels); 16:9 widescreen; PPI 267 touchscreen display
- 5mpx camera with 4x digital zoom, autofocus, image stabilization, dual LED flash and up to 24 fps; D1 (720×480) resolution video capture
- full QWERTY side slide keyboard
- Accelerometer, aGPS and sGPS support, proximity and ambient light sensors
- Wi-Fi b/g, Stereo Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR, USB 2.0 high speed with micro USB connector, 3.5 mm headset jack
- 16 GB microSD pre-installed; supports up to 32 GB microSD expandable
- Webkit HTML5 support, Flash 10 (available 2010)
- 1400 mAh Li Ion battery with up to 270 hrs. standby and 385 mins talk time
- Dimensions: 2.4 x 4.6 x .5 in.; 60.00 x 115.80 x 13.70 mm
- Weight: 6 oz.; 169 g

Google on-board means Mail and Maps are all present and correct, as is the Android Marketplace.

Missed the cool early virals taking a pot-shot at a certian apple-flavoured competitor? Check it below.

Our only two questions are:

1. What happened to the MOTOBlur interface seen on the Motorola DEXT? Not for Verizon’s tastes on the DROID?

2. When is it coming to the UK?

3. How can Lucasfilm own the word “Droid” What the heck is that about?

Yes, strictly three questions. I lied.