Android 1.5 Adds Soft Keyboard, Video Recording, Loads More
Google has released an Android 1.5 SDK preview for developers, and it shows off what owners of Android phones (just the G1, of course, for now) can expect to see soon. The best of the goodies includes speed improvements on the camera, browser, and GPS functionality, an on-screen soft keyboard (indicating a no-slide-out-keyboard G2?), a custom dictionary, video recording and playback in MP4 and 3GP formats, updated Webkit browser, and much more. Looks like the iPhone/Android showdown chart will soon need an update. [Gizmodo].
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Thank you Google
Bo Shonka
The HTC Magic (or "Sapphire") has been imminent for some time now.
I'm just not a fan of keyboardless systems yet. I think the closest I could come to owning a phone without a keyboard is the Storm which does a fair job of marrying haptic and tactile feedback on an otherwise non-hardware experience.
In any case, the on-screen keyboard is a must, and it is unfortunate that we've had to wait this long for it on the G1. Soon will be extra reasons to love my G1 even more!
rostendorf
The HTC Magic is the phone that will be shipping with this OS pre-installed. It's been cleared for the UK market already, and is the spiritual G2, but HTC have put their own branding on it this time (as the G1 was made by HTC as well).
Like rostendorf, I now can't find myself having the same day-to-day use of my phone without a keyboard. It feels archaic to have to use a T9 dictionary or the multi-press method on the number keys. Touchscreens get grubby pretty quickly, too.
Still, I wasn't sold on the G1. The Chin looked weird, the way it slid out looked nasty, and if I wanted an 'Open Source OS', I would hit up OpenMoko.
Allan 'kaecy.us' Bowden-Smith
I need to think of app ideas so I can get off my ass and actually write some.
I can't wait. I have a rooted G1, so I should see this before the T-Mobile G1 users.
mouseclone
Anyone have any reasons to postulate on when "soon" is?
keycool
Hmmm, I wonder how much the upgrade to new firmware is going to cost, what's that, probably free?
Soon might be April 21st according to Gizmodo and other phone/gadget blogs [bit.ly]
macudc
@mouseclone: That is terrifc news!
quidpro
Suhweeet! So, my G1 will trump the Pre before the Pre is even available for sale! Android FTW, Palm is Fail!
gerrrg
@gerrrg: seriously? not sure about that. The Pre is nice and the OS is looks a lot nicer then the utilitarian looking Android. I have t-mobile but if i have the money i'm switching to the Pre. And i don't have a G1 either because of the lack of flash, normal audio jack. I like a physical keyboard so a software one isn't that big a deal at launch. But Palm Pre seems far from a fail right now. And considering how few Android devices there are it seems far from a win just yet.
diamonddnice
@mouseclone:
if you want to try it now you can use one of haykuro's builds. [haykuro.theiphoneproject.org]
5.xG are google builds, 5.xH are the HTC magic builds. its interesting, video recording works great, keyboard is pretty good.
eleminop
@Jesse Mrozowski: I've got a pretty good one. It's simple but I'm no coder. I'd love to hire a dev or something tho.
Bo Shonka
This is not just for the G1 btw. There are ports of Andriod (via Koolu and others) to several bases. The Neo FreeRunner being one example of an open phone that Android 1.0 was ported to.
WoodyInNY
@Allan 'kaecy.us' Bowden-Smith: Funny thing, many of the OpenMoko crowd (myself included) are hoping for Android to be adapted to the Neo. Mainly because OM (while "open source") is less than stable/usable. One of the big problems w/ the existing Android port is it assumes a hardware keyboard. If they're setup now for a soft keyboard, this may be a leap forward for those of us with this hardware.
WoodyInNY
The firmware for the HTC magic has been hacked and is available to be used on the G1........
I've been using it for a week
video recorder with zoom as well as camera
on screen keyboard
better dialer
faster OS
better zoom options
Widgets
and lots more all available right now!!!!!
[code.google.com]
Marcos Medina
why is it when I installed aHome, that I have a virtual keyboard for my google widget?
Is this available elsewhere in the phone or only in aHome?
I am getting restless for Cupcake and GV.
lozer4all
If I had enough money to pay for the G1, and the 75$ a month I would need I would get way more excited... Till then I'm going to sit with my crappy contract-less free phone from MetroPCS.
Pho3nix1991
[shop.vodafone.co.uk]
Thought you lot might like to start getting jealous of us in the UK :)
Spoke to one of the managers of the local Vodafone shop and he said it's dated 1st May when they arrive into the shop. You can preorder for £10 (refundable) which means you can actually tryone out when it comes in and if you dont like it you get you £10 back, if you like it and take it away, you get it back too. No deposit, not a great chance of handling one though.
The touch screen keyboard is definite. One of the other store employees had a hands on of it before and she said it was amazing, so fluid and the UI was great.
Doug Aitken