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Google Android RC30 Update: Fixes G1 phone jailbreak

We have been impressed with the way Google has handled Android updates for the HTC G1 phone and its Open Source OS, and now we see a Google Android RC30 update.

This update fixes the jailbreak and comes just days after people figured out what the RC29 update did; was it mysterious to you? Well RC30 is more clean-cut.

They are updating the open source code base to reflect the latest changes in a very short time after being been notified of the Android jailbreaking issue. This update should be in everyone’s hands within three days and we do not know of any other changes within the RC30 update. Hit the read link for more information.

Source: Read | Via

CEO of Sprint proclaims Google Android not good enough

Sprint may have signed up with the other 30 or so companies to support Google’s development of the Android mobile phone operating system, but currently they are not so keen.

The CEO of Sprint has proclaimed that Google’s Android OS is not good enough just yet Read more

Google Android Code on G1 T-Mobile Phone Opened Up

It’s the day before the United States release of the new HTC / T-Mobile G1 phone and just a few days before the UK release, and Google has backed up their promise to make the Android software open source.

From today, anyone can download the code from the Android Open Source Project Read more

T-Mobile G1 with Google Android: Best Video Reviews

The iPhone 3G may be firmly in some people’s hands and they are unlikely to let go that easy for another phone, but the T-Mobile G1 with Google Android hopes to persuade some of the die-hard iPhone fans to change cell phones Read more

Google Android HTC Dream only $199 on T-Mobile

The all new Android-powered Google HTC Dream Phone (G1) will go on sale on T-Mobile or $199.

This is a new smartphone that will compete with the likes of the Apple iPhone which on a personal note has no chance in hell of winning. Can this new phone really compete with the likes of the iPhone 3G? We will let you be the judge of that.

The Android-powered HTC Dream will sell for $199 with a 2-year contract, whilst you wait please answer this question, “Can the Android-powered HTC Dream beat the Apple iPhone 3G?

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HTC Dream Android phone gets FCC approval

It was once known to the world as The Googlephone and only a rumor, but today we are hearing things have been made even more official thanks to the FCC approving The HTC Dream phone.

Now that HTC Dream has received FCC approval, we can confirm that much of the rumor is more real now, although specs are still uncertain.

What we know is the handset is listed with a model of “DREA100” and the type is called “Dream”. Other confirmation comes in the form of a WiFi Interoperability Certificate; this shows the same model with 802.11b/g WiFi.

While its still a rumor that the Dream is indeed a Google Android phone, if this becomes true then HTC and T-Mobile are clear for a October launch as planned.

Other features are said to be a jogball and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR. You can read the source of these details at FCC WiFi Bluetooth, FCC Cell Radios and HTC Dream WiFi Certification (PDF doc).

Via Engadget | Read other news about Google Android

T-Mobile: first carrier to offer phone with Google Android

It was just under two weeks ago when we asked the question “Are T-Mobile planning HTC Google Android handset release at end of year?” and today we can confirm that T-Mobile will be the first carrier to offer a phone with Google Android.

We have posted many times about both the Android software and Open Source platforms; we are a big fan of Open Source and how it will help the consumer thanks to the whole community being involved.

NYT is reporting that HTC will make a phone based on Android that T-Mobile will carry, and this phone should go on sale before Christmas 2008. We are hearing that it may be released as early as October 2008.

The HTC “Dream” phone is rumored to feature similar capabilities to the iPhone and other high-end phones made by Nokia, Research in Motion and other brands.

Another feature of the phone is said to be a touch screen that slides out to expose a full five-row keyboard, and users will be able to download applications to customize their phones, similar to the iPhones platform.

The main thing that can hold up the release of this Android phone is certification from the Federal Communications Commission. You can read more information on NYT or read other Android news here.

We will update you as soon as we get a release date for an Android phone on T-Mobile.

HTC Dream Android Phone shown on video

We have managed to locate a video that shows of the new HTC Dream Android phone, forgive us as it is not the highest quality video. As a phone fan you should be able to look past the poor video quality as well as the Darth Vader heavy breathing noises, from the guy in the video.

This video footage does look as though it could be the HTC Dream, which is the world’s first Android handset. The phone features a slide out QWERTY keyboard along with a touchscreen.

It has been a while since we have seen anything on the Google Android interface; this latest video appears to have been tweaked a little. The auto-rotating display looks as though it has come straight from the iPhone.

The phone does look nice with its hidden keyboard, once the panel slides out the phone then takes on a Sidekick look, this could be a bad point for many.

You will just have to watch the video to make your own decision, is the real HTC Dream or just someone’s idea of a joke.

Are T-Mobile planning HTC Google Android handset release at end of year?

There have been a lot of interest on the pending release of the first Google Android handsets but the news is that HTC hope to release them at the end of the year. Still no official date yet though, but at least it’s a bit of news to get fans hopeful.

HTC have claimed these blank, unbranded phones will be heading out to the original design manufacturer by the fourth quarter of the year and only then will fans be able to get their hands on one.

Although there has been a lot of speculation on the Google Android phones, there still is the debate on which mobile phone provider will distribute it. Sources have indicated that T Mobile could be the company that is going to take on the responsibility, as previous news stated that Google had assisted T-Mobile US with the HTC Dream handset.

As its just turned August though, I wouldn’t expect any more hints on these phones until later on when it edges nearer to the end of the year. Hopefully soon though, there will be reports of seeing these mobiles in action, stay tuned to hear more news.

Source: Read

Symbian and Android force Mobile Linux Group LiPS merge with LiMo

It seems that Mobile Linux Group LiPS has had to merge with the LiMo Foundation because of increasing competition from the likes of Symbian and Android, this merger will only help to advance their OS. On Thursday the Linux Phone Standards (LiPS) Forum announced that they will be rolling their activities and members into the Linux Mobile Foundation (LiMo), it is hoped that this move will help to create a stronger entity for pushing mobile Linux.

Linux hope to be able to bolster their mobile Linux developer community as well as being able to increase the adoption of mobile devices. This move is now more important than ever, as there is now huge competition from Open Source competitors from the likes of the Nokia preferred Symbian and the Google backed Andriod. Linux hope that by unifying these companies, they will be able to provide a ubiquitous Linux-based mobile platform.

LiPS Forum president Haila Wang, has said “LiPS Forum is proud of our standardization efforts, development activities and other achievements of the last three years.” Wang then added “Our membership agrees that LiPS’s greatest impact can be realized by adding our members’ expertise and resources to LiMo Foundation. Together, the member companies can better strive for a unified and ubiquitous Linux-based mobile platform.”

Many have been expecting this merger for some time now, LiPS has wanted to create a formal standard for mobile Linux, and the LiMo Foundation has wanted to create a Linux framework which could then be quickly designed for mobile Linux. This new system will also face competition closer to home, in the form of the Linux-based Android operating system. However it is thought that the LiMo Foundation will have their handsets on the market first, the first of which should hit the market in a few short months.

Source

Apple’s iPhone 3G and Google’s Android totally shakes everything up

There is just one thing we can say for sure at this point, the entry into the smartphone market by two new leading-technology players (Apple and Google), has totally shaken everything up dramatically.

Apple for the first time unleashed the full power of a modern computer - OSX - inside a cellphone (sorry, Windows Mobile was never in the same class, and the potential it did have was never used), featuring a much more sophisticated UI. Apple also engaged the cellphone with its complete supporting cross-platform media ecosystem - iTunes/iPod - another first.

Google now hopes to be the first to introduce fully realized “cloud computing” into the cellphone with Android. How well that will work out we don’t know yet.

Now all the old-line cell/smartphone makers are racing to catch up: Nokia, RIM, HTC, Sony, LG et al. plus Microsoft. But Apple isn’t standing still…so Predictions are really iffy right now and my best guesses are:

Apple will continue to lead the technology, always about 1 year ahead of the pack. Its market share will grow and be good, but capped in the US due to the AT&T exclusive. Worldwide, I just don’t know.

MS will try to catch up with Windows Mobile 7 in 2009, but never quite will technically and it stands to be hurt most by Android, since both will be available to all makers and phone companies.

Nokia in particular is hurt by the lack of a full-fledged supporting in-house media ecosystem, despite its millions of handsets and dozens of models, because it has let the phone companies do that up to now. Symbian Foundation isn’t going to fix that. Maybe it needs to gobble up RealPlayer or another media service like it to get into the game fast.

Sony will just never catch on no matter how good their hardware is - the Walkman is history and their UI is always clunky. Palm will die next year, sold cheap to. RIM will maintain its core of button punching ‘crackberry’ addicts but never grow beyond that niche.

Thanks to the reader that sent this in.

Open Source vs. Profit: Google Android (iPhone 3G), Linux (Microsoft Vista)

The world of software for computers, cell phones and other gadgets has been changing to benefit the consumer for a while now and today change is moving faster than ever. Thanks to the world of Open Source we have many options to get great software for free, sadly not every consumer knows this and still decide to buy software that can be downloaded in a similar form for free thanks to Open Source.

There are many factors to think about when considering Open Source vs. For Profit software, but one of the biggest and prominent examples of free software and open source development would be the Linux operating system. This alternative to Microsoft Vista is free and if you get it installed with laptops then you will save a lot of money off the price, just look at the Eee PC.

You may not want to change all the underlying source code of Linux, but if you choose that option, you can. There are some benefits to buying Vista, but are these still worth the price compared to today’s versions of Linux?

Open Office is another software package that is available thanks to open source, this project gives you some free to download software that’s compatible with all other major office suites. This software is packed with features including databases, graphics, presentations, spreadsheets and word processing. You are able to read and write files from some of the top office software packages.

When it comes to the cell phone world it has been rocked since the launch of the Apple iPhone and this has a lot to do with the expandability of the device and with the 3G iPhone coming this year, things will only get better. When it comes to phones another application is about to rock that world and this will be from the Open Handset Alliance.

This is a group of more than 30 mobile and technology companies, they have joined to give the very first “complete, open and free mobile platform”. When Google Android hits the market later this year we will see it become a direct competitor to the iPhone, what will the outcome bring?

Open source will keep growing and as it makes its way to more devices in our homes like Linux, the user will want more open source software for the savings it brings. How has Open Source affected your life?

Google Android on Schedule to threaten Apple iPhone growth

Yesterday we reported that Google Android handsets pushed back to fourth quarter meaning that there were delays (See Here) well despite rumors of these delays in Android the Google project seems to be on track as normal for an end of the year release.

They did say that they will start shipping the first Android-enabled mobile phone later this year, so after reports of the delay which of course published (We tell the news how it is, we heard of the delay so we published), The Wall Street Journal published an article citing unnamed sources that Google Android-based phones may be facing delays and will not make it at the end of the year due to problems by Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile, and that we may not see until 2009. Google did indeed set the 2nd half of 2008 as the release date for the first Android-enabled phones which means we should see it at the end of 2008 which in all means there is no delay at all.

Google is again refuting that Android’s dates have slipped and they say “We remain on schedule to deliver the first Android-based handset in the second half of 2008,” a Google spokesperson wrote in an e-mail to BetaNews today. “We’re very excited to see the momentum continuing to build behind the Android platform among carriers, handset manufacturers, developers and consumers.”

Just so you know Sprint Nextel, for its part, has never publicly stated any intentions to release an Android phone any time in 2008. Now moving on to Google Android to threaten Apple iPhone growth, the announcement of the new Apple iPhone 3G was big news and obviously going to be one of the most popular phones on the market but it seems that Android could threaten the iPhone’s growth potential, Google Android the all new OS for mobile phone is open source that the internet giant is creating. Android which was announced some time back has over 30 partners and has the most potential to become mobile phones what Google is to the internet, Google are obviously wanting to deploy ads placed on mobile phones and generate huge revenues, should Apple be worried? Well it seems so in my eyes.

Google are making great efforts to make an operating system to work on a variety of carriers and handsets which is why there were talks of delays which of course is now old news, we feel that Google could dominate which will of course make the iPhone old news, Google like Apple have a very big wallet, Apple has indeed shown with the Apple iPhone that the cell phone market is highly crack-able despite entrenched players, Apple believe they will set a goal which is of course on goal for selling 10 million iPhone’s by the end of 2008. Google are trying so hard to build an OS across a number of hardware platforms which surely gives them a wider market. The cell phone market in the states has dropped in sales by a staggering 20% last year which is why we feel Google Android will fill this spot, smartphones accounted for 17 percent of all handsets sold in the first quarter of 2008 which is around 7 percent the year before according to NPD’s Mobile Phone Track.

Even if there was a Google Android delay it would not make any difference at all on the grand scale of things, do you think Google Android will threaten Apple iPhone growth?

Google Android handsets pushed back to fourth quarter

No matter where we turn, the entire world seems to be interested about is the latest 3G Apple iPhone, but there is also another cell phone due out that could get as much or maybe even more attention. The handset in question is the Google Android powered handset, and the Wall Street Journal has been running a story about how the phone had to be pushed back to the fourth quarter of 2008.

Initially Google had planned to launch the cell phone in the second part of the year however; a number of delays have put it back to later in the year. A number of partners working on these Android handsets with Google have different launch dates. T-Mobile hopes to be able to deliver their version in the fourth period, while Sprint Nextel has said that they will not be able to have their version out this year. China Mobile is yet another partner who will have to delay their launch until some time in 2009.

There are a number of companies involved with the development of the Google Android phone; these include HTC, Intel, Motorola as well as T-Mobile, nVIDIA and Qualcomm. All of these companies have one sole purpose, and this is to develop open standards for mobile devices. Having Google working with these phone companies will be great for the user, the search engine giant hope to boost the quality of Web browsing, to do this they are enhancing the audio and video experience for mobile phones.

Andy Rubin, director of mobile platforms at Google, has been explaining that managing the software-development effort, as well as giving the partners the option for new features takes time, he said that “This is where the pain happens,” he also added that “We are very, very close.”

Google Android cell phones could be shipping by fall 2008

The Google Android phone shown in the photo above could be shipping by fall 2008 according to CNet, they say that the launch time frame for Android phones may have been let slip by Richard Whitt of Google’s Washington telecom and media counsel.

While the official word is still “second half of 2008” and the “exact launch schedule is up to Google’s partners”, we will have to wait and see if rumors turn to fact. The Android fun is heating up as HTC is developing an Android phone called “Dream” and Samsung is also aiming to get an Android phone shipping.

Do you want an Android phone?

Source: CNet

Google Android will outsell Apple iPhone: According to Group Manager

Rich Miner who is the group manager for Google Android has said that they will outsell the Apple iPhone, however Google have not released any of their predicted sales figures. Miner made this statement while at the Emerging Communications Conference.

He said that “Once you have devices out there from Motorola, HTC, Samsung, and so on, there’s a much larger potential market on Android than for the iPhone.” He then went on to say “there’s a single manufacturer, it’s targeted at a particular demographic, and it falls far short of the 1 billion mobile phones sold every year worldwide.”

Android was released last November and is a complete open-source software for cell phones. Google have also introduced an Android Developers Challenge, and whoever develops the most innovative and useful app will share $10 million in prizes.

Source - Information Week