Android Netbooks by 2010?
It appears that Android isn’t just for phones anymore. Matthäus Krzykowski and Daniel Hartmann of VentureBeat.com have an Asus EEEPC 1000H running Google’s Android mobile operating system. After a few hours of compiling, Android is up and running on the small Asus notebook.
Imagine the splash that Google could make with cheap netbooks running the open-source Android OS? If Microsoft isn’t looking over their shoulder already, they may want to at least install rearview mirrors. Check out the article at Venturebeat.com here for more details. Regarding the significance of Android netbooks being available by 2010 - what do YOU think?
Paid Apps Coming to Android Market in Q1 2009
With the release of Android and the Android Market opening it’s doors for our downloading pleasure, I’m probably like the rest of you and have been anxiously awaiting the day I could put down some cash for some epic Android apps. The free apps available thus far have been good and many have whetted our appetites for what the Android platform is capable of, but of course we want more!
More is on the way, and likely as soon as Q1 2009. Ross Miller over at engadget mobile reports that Eric Chu of Google has emailed registered Android Market members with news that paid apps are still coming in Q1 of ‘09. According to Chu, paid apps will first roll out to the U.S. and the U.K., followed by Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Spain. More countries will be announced later. Also, developers will have the ability to market their apps to specific countries. When developers can make some payola for their apps, it’s certain to mean more variety and higher quality of apps - just look at the explosion of Apple’s App Store. Will the Android Market explode in similar fashion?
Connect Your T-Mobile G1 to iPod Dock
If you like to tinker with your electronics and aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves, grab your soldering iron and check out a step-by-step posted at webnetta.com for connecting your T-Mo G1 with an iPod dock. This feat will result in piping your G1’s music and YouTube audio through iPod speakers, and it even charges your G1. If you feel so inclined, give it a try - just make sure you have a keen eye, a steady hand, and don’t cross any wires. Thanks to webnetta.com for posting excellent step-by-step instructions, complete with pictures and diagrams. If you are daring enough to replicate this hack, let us know how it works for you!
[webnetta]
HKC Pearl Android Phone Looks, Sounds Familiar
Thanks to engadget mobile, we have a first look at the HKC Pearl, a phone from China that bears the RIM name and the HTC Touch look. It’s likely this phone will only be available in Asia, so stateside lawyers can stop salivating over copyright and trademark infringements (maybe).
The HKC Pearl, like the Chinese QiGi i6, will be available in both Android and Windows Mobile versions. The reported specs for this phone include a 2.8 inch QVGA display, 256 MB of ROM, 128 MB of RAM, WiFi, and a 2-megapixel camera.
Second HTC Android Coming Soon?
What do you get when HTC says they are committed to the Android platform and their first effort, T-Mobile’s G1, is on pace to sell over 1 million phones? You got it. HTC has indicated that a second Android-based phone may be available as early as Q1 of 2009. According to Ed Hardy over at Brighthand.com:
HTC’s second Android-based device may debut in the first quarter of 2009, according to a report in the Chinese-language Economic Daily News, which cites unnamed sources at Taiwan-based securities houses as its source. Other sources say this product will launch in April.
So it appears that a second HTC Android phone will be available very soon. It’s also encouraging that HTC, a major player in the production of Windows Mobile devices, is also fully committing to Android device development and production. That’s good news for all of us!
HTC Predictions for 2008: Over 1 Million G1 ‘Droids!
CEO Peter Chou of HTC reports that sales of the Android-runnin’ G1 should exceed 1 million for 2008 and that 2009 may bring another two Android handsets, one of them slated for as early as Q1 2009. With over $500 million in revenue for November alone, HTC seems to be rocking. Other handset makers? Not so much. It seems that HTC has found a nice “sweet spot” with that lovable lil’ green ‘droid as more handsets are on the way. Will the faltering economy take a toll on sales, or will demand for Android handsets remain healthy for 2009?
[engadget]
Google Gift to Employees: Let Them Eat Dogfood!
Just when I was feeling the Christmas blues about my company bonus (or lack thereof), along comes this little tidbit that makes me all warm and fuzzy and full of Christmas cheer. Instead of a big fat Christmas bonus (historically upward of $20,000), Google employees can look forward to scarfing down some “dogfood” this year. Ok, not REAL dog food. “Dogfood” is corporate jargon for making employees use the company product, one of the benefits being continuing improvement of that product. So, Google employees can look forward to receiving their very own Dream phone (Android G1) in their stockings this year. From the mouth of Google:
This is a chance for us to once again dogfood a product and make it even better! Second, as we discussed in our email this week, the current economic crisis requires us to be more conservative about how we spend our money. We felt that giving the Dream phone would be a great holiday present - something we could all celebrate.The Dream phone (G1) has a special ‘droid emblazoned on the back, will be unlocked, and carries a $180 value to Google employees. When Google isn’t handing out $20,000 Christmas bonuses, we know that times are tough. To get even more details, check out Gizmodo here. Also, HUGE props to Gizmodo for a most excellent picture!
[Gizmodo via Valleywag.gawker.com]
Motorola Ditching Symbian for Android?
The news for Android users keeps getting better and better. Michael Oryl of MobileBurn posts that Sanjay Jha, the CEO of the Mobile Devices group at Motorola, confirmed rumors that Mot will discontinue making phones for Symbian OS and UIQ user interface and instead commit to two platforms: Windows Mobile and Android! This is great news for those of us in love with the green ‘droid - more devices to choose from makes for happy consumers. Personally, I think that Motorola devices are a good fit for the Android OS. What do YOU think?
[engadget imobile via MobileBurn]
Android On-Screen Keyboard Coming
For those of you who are like me and aren’t crazy about a slide-out keyboard, there is relief on the way. The “cupcake” branch of Android development has spilled the beans that Google has been working on a soft, or on-screen, keyboard for the Android G1. It will be available as early as January 2009. What does this mean to you and me? It means that the G1 can be more one-handed-friendly! Take a look at the YouTube video which reveals how the on-screen keyboard works on the G1. Just select a text-entry box and the keyboard appears, ready for action!
T-Mobile Releasing a G2 Soon?
An anonymous tipster from CellPhone Signal is divulging to Boy Genius Report that T-Mobile has a new Android-powered handset up their sleeve and it will be revealed as soon as January 26. The plastic factory screen protector is still on my G1 and a G2 is already on the way? These are exciting times indeed.
The G2 is expected to be a heavy-hitter in the features department. In addition to the G1 feature set, it will have a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash, a front-facing VGA camera to take advantage of the new video calling service expected to come to T-Mobile soon, video capture and playback, and much more.
If it’s real, then we’re talking about a rather significant step up from the G1. Until more information is dragged out into the light of day, it’s best to file this one under “rumored, but wouldn’t it be nice?”. For those of you with a G1 now, will you dump your G1 for a G2? If you don’t have an Android handset yet and are still waiting, does the G2 look attractive?
