g1
‘Cupcake’ update coming for Android…soon
Word on the street is that Google is going to release the ‘Cupcake’ update for the Android OS soon. Details are a little scarce but James Falconer reports bug fixes along with the virtual keyboard. Andy Salisbury also reports the virtual keyboard as well as camera updates (including video recording) and basic x86 support (not G1 specific). The Android Roadmap for Q1 2009 does mention the virtual keyboard and other input methods as well as a suggestion algorithm.
Other changes from the Roadmap:
- Save attachments from MMS
- Music now fades for phone calls
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Many Browser enhancements
- Updated WebKit version
- Copy/paste is enabled
- Find is enabled
- Drawing is faster, pages with animations are 5x faster
- VoiceDialer now supports ‘open app’ command
- Camera features include the video recorder, video thumbnails, local playback and sharing
- Download manager is improved with better support for pausing, resuming and connectivity
- Tactile (Haptic) feedback
- Hardware accelerated video encoding
- Speech Recognition API
- Streaming Audio for apps
- Bluetooth support for A2DP and AVRCP (YAY!!!)
- Updated Linux Kernel
- Longer in call screen timeout
- Show/Hide dialpad added to in-call menu
- Many more bug fixes…
As usual this will be an OTA update. Since we’ve seen several since launch I have faith in this one showing up decently. What feature are you looking forward to, Bluetooth Stereo audio, on-screen keyboard or video recording?
Preview of What’s to Come: G1 On-Screen Keyboard
The G1 doesn’t come with an on-screen keyboard, yet. It’s in the works for an Over The Air (OTA) rollout in Q1 of 2009, which isn’t too far off. Watch the video above for a preview. It appears to be a simple yet functional keyboard. I’m hoping there will be a selection of layouts. I personally have a liking for the 20 Key layout.
P.S. We didn’t make the video 
Extended Battery for the G1 Now Available
Sedio is now selling the Innocell 1400 mAh battery for the G1. That’s 18% more juice than the 1150 OEM battery (the website says up to 15%, but you can do the math). It’s being sold for $42.95 here. Apparently you don’t need a different back cover as this will fit in the existing space. I’ve seen some mixed reviews saying the change in battery life is barely noticeable but that’s subjective. Once we get our hands on one we’ll give you an objective report as always.
How to Use Locale on the G1 for a Better Night’s Sleep
Mostly a location based app, Locale pays attention to your GPS, calendar, time, battery level, and even who’s calling (if you want) to ringer volume, adjust network settings, change your wallpaper or ringtone, or send a tweet to Twitter on a per situation basis. The following are some suggested settings to consider adding to Locale on your G1 to make life easier. Keep reading for the setup. › Continue reading
Taking Screen Shots on the G1: Not So Easy
Taking screen shots has long been on of the most useful ways to show off an app, wallpaper or problem. At this time Android doesn’t make this any easier. The process to get it setup is not as easy as for taking screen shots on Windows Mobile. Christina Warren over at the Download Squad has rounded up some directions for the process. Warning: This isn’t for those that want a quick fix. It looks like we will have to wait a little longer for a simple Screen Shot Capture app for the G1.
Video: A Quick Inside Look at the G1
In this video I address some of the more common questions that people have as well as giving a few pointers to make life easier once you get your G1. Apologies for the ‘one-sidedness’ of the video. Enjoy!
Exclusive: G1 Unboxing by Mike Benton
Here it is! The Unboxing of the G1 by yours truly. Watch as the G1 is unboxed before your very eyes! See it compared to the Shadow and some other common devices that you might find laying around. This phone is easy to fall in love with. More videos will come later this week. When you get your G1 be sure to connect it to your Amazon account so you can download MP3’s on the fly. Also be sure to download TuneWiki and SplashPlay. With these two apps you can learn the words to the songs you download as well as the chords so you can play them on your Guitar (and other instruments). Enjoy the Video and tell me what you want to learn more about in the comments.
G1’s ‘Kill Switch’ Explained
Let’s say that some miscreant had snuck some malicious code into a developer’s application. Let us also say that you installed that application on your Shadow awhile ago and forgot all about it. How will you know if there is bad code? Aside from a few anti-virus apps out there there isn’t a standard central body that can determine the evilness of an application. That’s where the kill switch comes into play.
According to ITWorld the ‘Kill Switch’ is a good thing. For now think of it as a free anti-virus for the apps you download via the Android Marketplace. While there is still a possibility of some shadiness hiding in the shadows, for now it doesn’t appear that Google or T-Mobile have unrestricted access to all the content on your G1. Stay tuned as we look deeper into the issue.
Is Your G1 On The Way?
BGR is reporting that some people’s G1’s are already enroute with an expected delivery date of this Friday! If this holds true then Good Job T-Mo for doing the unheard of and getting something to people earlier rather than later.
Check your email and see if you have a G1 enroute and let us know in the comments!
6 Innovative G1 Applications to Check Out
With October 22nd getting closer by the minute let’s take a look at some apps that might prove interesting. With all the hardware under the G1’s hood, app developers have many options to work with when creating innovative solutions and new functionality you never knew you wanted. The following are some apps from the Android Developer Challenge that either solve a problem or add value to the G1. Most of these are location aware. Go on, you know you want to keep reading… › Continue reading
The G1 vs. the iPhone: Fight!
The iPhone and T-Mobile G1 are similar devices in many ways - they both rely a lot on touch, use the same browser engine, and promise a future of thousands of applications to enrich the user experience. That said, there are MANY differences, and in looking at both devices side to side, we learn a lot about the G1 and what it’ll be like to own one. › Continue reading
