t-mobile
‘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
-
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?
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!
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
Poll: Your Next Phone?
For your next phone, what are you thinking? Here’s a quick elaboration of the poll choices to help you decide.
iPhone 3G: Buying an unlocked iPhone 3G and using it on T-Mobile probably won’t be possible now that Apple is requiring in-store activations, unlike the first iPhone. If you’re going iPhone, you’ll have to jump to AT&T, and the price is $199-$299, plus a required $30 per month for unlimited data.
Shadow II: What you’ve heard is true, and we’ve confirmed this with at least two highly reliable sources. The Shadow II is a refresh of the existing Shadow, which will add Windows Mobile 6.1, UMA (for using HotSpot@Home), a faster processor (260MHz versus 201MHz), bigger battery, and redesigned exterior (with the same SureType keyboard). No 3G. We’re 90% sure on these details. It’s likely to sell for $150-$250 with a new contract.
Touch Diamond/Touch Pro: There’s a chance that we may see one of these devices on T-Mobile sometime in the second half of this year as the Shadow III, or another name. The Diamond is being sold now unlocked for about $850, and the Touch Pro will go on sale soon unlocked for around $1000. Ouch, pricey. Even if you buy either device now, they won’t work on T-Mobile’s 3G network (which isn’t widely deployed yet, anyway) or AT&T’s existing 3G network, because it has European bands. You will be able to get EDGE speeds on T-Mobile, though.
BlackBerry Thunder: Little is known about the first touchscreen BlackBerry, but we do know that it will be exclusive to Verizon indefinitely. With a new contract it’s likely to run $300-$400.
No clue/other: Is there something else that you’ve got your eye on, or are you just going to wait on the sidelines for a bit? Tell us in the comments!
T-Mobile 3G Officially Rolls Out
That’s right. New York City is now enjoying Voice and Data on T-Mobile’s new 3G network. T-Mobile plans to accommodate most metropolitan areas by year’s end with the new network. Customers with compatible phones will enjoy faster download/upload speeds and better mobile data experience. No public calendar is available yet for the roll out of the network per city but be rest assured it is a welcome change.
Source: Matthew Miller at ZDNET
BoxWave’s ElectraSpan Extended Battery for the Shadow
Word has been going around the forums since the beginning of an extended battery for the Shadow. Well the legend is true and I’m proud to present BoxWave’s ElectraSpan Extended Battery for the T-Mobile Shadow. While the OEM battery that comes with the Shadow has 920-1000mah of power, BoxWave’s comes packing 2200mah of juice for you to enjoy. Read on to find out the full scoop… › Continue reading
Cities for the New Network
Some rumors floating around the web about which cities will get the new T-Mobile network and in what order. Folks, you gotta remember T-Mobile has been building this thing for years. They’ve been testing. I’m willing to wager that the network unveils in at least 75% of the cities below within the first week of launch.
In no obvious order:
New York City
Austin
NJ and Long Island
Las Vagas
Minneapolis
Miami
Dallas
Chicago
Houston
Philadelphia
Denver
Detroit
Orlando
Kansas city
Atlanta
Los Angeles
New England
Portland
Sacramento
San Diego
Seattle
Washington DC
San Francisco
Birmingham
Memphis
Tampa
Phoenix
Sources Gizmodo IntoMobile FCC TmoNews
What We Know So Far…
Here is a list of improvements we know the Shadow II will have, some speculation, some that would make sense, and some wants… Feel free to add in the comments and we’ll update. More than likely the hardware has already been developed. Cross your fingers and hope the Software Devs for the Shadow will read this and throw some last minute improvements in.
Confirmed Improvements:
- UMA
- Will work on T-Mobile’s new high speed network (when it goes live)
- Windows 6.1
- Neo Interface as well
Most Likely Unconfirmed Improvements:
- Will work with T-Mobile’s HotSpot@Home
- You will get to type Don’t instead of Font
- Faster Processor
- More Memory
Logical Improvements (things that would make sense)
- integrated GPS
- Higher MP camera
- Recessed Camera lens (so it doesn’t get scratched)
- Recessed Send/End buttons (get rid of accidental calling)Â
- Will already come with HTC Streaming Application, HTC Action Screen, etc.
- Themeable Neo Ease (will be easier to switch between different Neo themes)
- Scroll Wheel will have a custom sensitivity setting
Wants
- Options for Neo Homescreen (Add a user pane, switch App X with App Y without hacking registry)
- Complete customisation for Shortcut Key, Volume Keys, Camera Key, Home Key, Back Key (add any app, use ‘Browse’ to assign)
- Built in links to AllShadow.com!
New Network Confirmation
- Yes, they are already testing it
- It will roll out first in Major cities based upon population density per square mile.
New Network Speculation
- New Networks are very expensive to roll out, however T-Mobile has had a lot of time to set their equipment up. It will be a very large zero day roll out
Confirmed Current Features
- Will be a slideout like the current Shadow
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New Page: ‘68 Things’ to do with a Smartphone
For awhile I have been wanting to provide a more inclusive guide to the Windows Mobile Standard Shadow than just the front page here. If you look to the right in the menu, just below ‘Ask Mike’ you can see a link that will take you to the new page ‘68 Things‘. It is meant as a primer for the new user and a Table of Contents for our How-To’s. I don’t expect it to stay 68 things forever, but instead I expect it to grow over time.
You might notice that not every item has a link. That is intentional and is a preview of some of the How-To’s to come. It is real fun being able to make these How-to’s and write informative articles as I learn along the way as well. So if you have questions about something do these steps in order to find the best results faster: use the search function up top, use the search function in the forums, if you haven’t found an answer yet the best place to ask one is in the forums as more fellow Shadow owner’s visit there on a regular basis. Remember, AllShadow.com is mobile friendly so be sure to save a bookmark on your phone as well.
Taking the Plunge: How To Update Your Shadow
I finally had some time to sit down and update my Shadow. I documented the process so if you haven’t already done it, here is a handy little guide to help walk you through it. Read the entire article before beginning.
Have You Updated Your Shadow Yet?
T-Mobile has issued an update for the Shadow. Many of you have already taken the plunge and updated your Shadows. We’d like to hear from those that have the new update and know how things are going. Of interest to many is the ‘enhanced text entry’, faster performance and better battery life. So hit that Comments link and let others know if you think it’s worth it.
ROM Update for the T-Mobile Shadow Now Available
Before you go clicking on and updating your Shadow please understand some things. There aren’t many software improvements in this update as far as I can tell. It is more of a fun update than anything else. If you do decide to update your Shadow with the new ROM update be advised you will completely erase all information from your phone and will be starting over from scratch. That being said, perform a complete and full synchronization of the Shadow with your PC and even take a minute to write down what you have installed yourself and any hacks you have done so you can restore these faster.
What the update includes:
- Five free ring tones from popular movies and musicians.
- Two free full length songs.
- An assortment of free phone wall paper images.
- Audio Postcard, a fun new myFaves connecting experience.
- Enhanced myFaves and menu graphics.
- Improved text entry experience.
With that being said you can go here for the update.
EDIT: You can also discuss this with other Shadow owners in this thread in our forums.
The AllShadow.com Store is Now Open!
It is finally here! The AllShadow.com Store is now open and full of smartphone software and Shadow accessories, all guaranteed to work with your Shadow. We have put together a list of recommended software and accessories that you might find interesting. Before you go shopping, remember the 20% discount code for software is SHADOWOPEN and will be good until Feb 15th, so take advantage of it while you can. Your purchase at the AllShadow.com store helps to support the existence of this site, so thanks in advance for your patronage.
Now for the recommendations to get you started…
Threaded Text Messaging
If you like to SMS in style like in an instant messenger then you will definitely want to check out Extreme Text by Birdsoft.
Podcast Player
Earlier I reviewed AudioBay from AcroDesign, I still think it is one of the best. So if you enjoy podcasts when you want them then give this a look over.
Vito Audio Notes
If you ever wish that you had a better way of recording conversations and phone calls then Vito Technology has a solution for you. Check out Vito Audio Notes.
Free Mobile WebServer
If you are tech savvy or wish to be then you will like the fact that you can now run a Web Server on your Windows Mobile Standard Shadow! It’s free so give Mobile WebServer a try!
Agenda One
For the professional or anyone needing a better time management system on their smartphone. Agenda One is an award winning product and is well worth checking out.
SOTI Pocket Controller
If you want the best control you can have over your Shadow Smartphone from your PC then you need SOTI Pocket Controller. I use it everyday and am still amazed at its usefulness.
Games
There are games for the gamer in all of us. Whether you like action, strategy or card games it is all there. Be sure to check out the Games section of the store before checking out.
If you want more bang for your buck then you need some of the best accessories available. The AllShadow.com store carries all types of accessories including a Shadow Cradle, transparent skin protectors, audio adapters, an armstrap and case for sports, a solar charger for the backpacker and many Bluetooth GPS receivers for those that like to know where they are going.
Remember the 20% discount on software is good until February 15th, 2008
Note: The extended battery isn’t ready yet. Sorry 
