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[ThatObviousUser]

That doesn't seem to be the case though with Froyo in the wings, rumor of 2.2 in at least one upcoming device and the fact Flash support is apparently imminent, according to reports from MWC.

I can't really see Google slowing down on iterations for awhile yet, unless there's some tangible backlash from customers over the pace at which their phones become "obsolete".

Whatever Froyo becomes I don't see it happening for a little bit. 2.2 is just a rumor, and a Flash optimization update could just as easily be added like the multitouch one (which wasn't technically a new version.)

I do think we'll see updates slow down, at least for now. I don't think we'll hear much (if anything) about the next version until Google I/O in May, and even then it may be a month or more before it's available (similar to them demo-ing Donut/1.6 last year but not making it available until October.)

if someone buys the x10 with 1.6 they can update to 2.1 when it's out? like OTA or something?

Sony has promised to do so, yes. But it's up to the individual manufacturers to create the update for the handset (with more work being required if a custom skin like the X10's is used), and the wireless operators to distribute it OTA (Sprint makes you go into their stores to update your Android phone.)

 

[Totakeke]

the sexy factor :lol.

Yeah, I'm not just talking about Nexus One though, I hope they announce Two or even Three soon.

 

[Subliminal]

The wait for Hero 2.1 Is killing me, Heres hoping Orange are quick to put their shit on it.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Yeah, I'm not just talking about Nexus One though, I hope they announce Two or even Three soon.

I doubt they will. They'll probably hold off until they can significantly upgrade both the hardware and software simultaneously. Probably Android 3.0 for software... but hardware-wise, I'm having trouble seeing how anything can one-up the Nexus One in a significant way. More ROM, RAM, GHz, and battery life, I guess?

 

[Totakeke]

I doubt they will. They'll probably hold off until they can significantly upgrade both the hardware and software simultaneously. Probably Android 3.0 for software... but hardware-wise, I'm having trouble seeing how anything can one-up the Nexus One in a significant way. More ROM, RAM, GHz, and battery life, I guess?

Hardware keyboard!

 

[tokkun]

Well they're unlimited everything dropped to $69 (to combat AT&T's, I think), but yeah, they're expensive.

$69 is for unlimited voice only. No data, no text. And since they're introducing mandatory data plans on many feature phones, it will only be the most antiquated dumb phones that will actually be eligible for that plan.

 

[Vanillalite]

The issue is when would it be out. The hardware manufacturers themselves have to implement the new versions and release the update before you can update your phone.


Which is why I think it's just better to get a phone from Google directly from now on especially if you want up to date features, unless you have other specific needs in mind.

Yeah I guess that's more my issue. I hate being at the mercy of my phone manufacture and service provider to get my update even if the base software that google puts out has been updated.

I know this is a bad comparison, but it's like waiting to get windows updates for your dell laptop cause they have to run through dell and say comcast if they are your service provider. I mean I get it's not the same thing, but it still just feels frustrating to me in the android space.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Yeah I guess that's more my issue. I hate being at the mercy of my phone manufacture and service provider to get my update even if the base software that google puts out has been updated.

I know this is a bad comparison, but it's like waiting to get windows updates for your dell laptop cause they have to run through dell and say comcast if they are your service provider. I mean I get it's not the same thing, but it still just feels frustrating to me in the android space.

If Android wasn't open source and Google forced manufacturers to license it from them, like Microsoft does, I'm sure updates would be included in such agreements, forcing the manufacturers to ask carriers for permission to OTA update their phones.

But Android is open source, and in this case it's a hindrance. In the overall scheme of things, it's the best bet.

 

[kaching]

Whatever Froyo becomes I don't see it happening for a little bit. 2.2 is just a rumor, and a Flash optimization update could just as easily be added like the multitouch one (which wasn't technically a new version.)

I do think we'll see updates slow down, at least for now. I don't think we'll hear much (if anything) about the next version until Google I/O in May, and even then it may be a month or more before it's available (similar to them demo-ing Donut/1.6 last year but not making it available until October.)

However the Flash update gets labeled, it would still be regarded as a significant update.

GDC is coming up quickly and Google seems to be aiming to make a significant splash there. Overall, they seem to have a lot of behind the scenes projects finally reaching fruition (Buzz, GDocs Storage, voice interpretation/translation, etc.) where I just don't see the next year slowing down for them in any way and since Android is pretty pivotal to all this stuff at this point, it's pretty much along for the ride.

Maybe there won't be a new version enumeration until mid-year, but I see plenty of these non-version updates for the rest of the year.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

However the Flash update gets labeled, it would still be regarded as a significant update.

GDC is coming up quickly and Google seems to be aiming to make a significant splash there. Overall, they seem to have a lot of behind the scenes projects finally reaching fruition (Buzz, GDocs Storage, voice interpretation/translation, etc.) where I just don't see the next year slowing down for them in any way and since Android is pretty pivotal to all this stuff at this point, it's pretty much along for the ride.

Maybe there won't be a new version enumeration until mid-year, but I see plenty of these non-version updates for the rest of the year.

Flash would be a significant update, but if it didn't change any APIs it wouldn't be a new numbered version.

Google has always had projects behind the scenes. Every employee gets 20% time to make whatever they want. This means that potentially every Google engineer is making a new product for them at any given moment.

But that doesn't really affect Android, which is the Android team's "real job," or 80% time if you will. My point is new versions that introduce or change APIs significantly will slow down for the time being. By the time Google I/O comes about, all the phones that will get 2.1 will have gotten them, and as such would make perfect sense for Google to detail the new version, as they did last year. Then they hold off on releasing that version for a little bit, like they did with Donut. By the time it comes out, everyone has become very cozy with 2.1, making it the development baseline for most developers.

I'm sure Google has felt the sting of having to backport some of their applications to prior versions (Google Maps Navigation to 1.6, News/Weather widgets in 2.1 to 2.0, etc.) They want 2.1 to become the standard to develop on, at least for the time being.

 

[ZROCOOL]

Um... I just got a call from Sprint telling me to take my hero in because they have an update for me.

Wth

 

[cabottemp]

Um... I just got a call from Sprint telling me to take my hero in because they have an update for me.

Wth

interesting.

 

[ZROCOOL]

interesting.

I'm getting ready now,to see what's the deal.

 

[Subliminal]

Um... I just got a call from Sprint telling me to take my hero in because they have an update for me.

Wth

Probably the small update that was released a few weeks back.

 

[goMaki]

I'm getting ready now,to see what's the deal.

If you get the update, I will be so jealous. I can foresee my boyfriend harassing the Sprint employees now for it... :lol

 

[WoodWERD]

Um... I just got a call from Sprint telling me to take my hero in because they have an update for me.

Wth

Hopefully that means the update for the Moment is right behind it, but I think they just twittered that it'll be early 2Q.

 

[kaching]

Google has always had projects behind the scenes. Every employee gets 20% time to make whatever they want. This means that potentially every Google engineer is making a new product for them at any given moment.

I know, but what I'm saying is that more of their internal projects (whether as result of their 20% pet projects or 80% full-time jobs) are being opened to public consumption, they're starting to tie more of these services together in the process and all of this starting to happen at a faster pace. I don't know that Android can afford to look out of synch with that, even though they may be getting pressure from the opposite direction to slow down.

 

[Dead Prince]

Just saw the "Specs" for the Adam.

http://notionink.in/downloads/ADAM-variant-A-Pixek-Qi-Dispaly.pdf (The one everyone should get)
http://notionink.in/downloads/ADAM-variant-B-touch-screen-only.pdf (Poor people)

 

[Stat Flow]

Desire on April 7th for $580...not bad.

 

[Ephemeris]

We're not entirely sure what's going on here, but that's a shot of a Droid Eris running Android 2.1, and we're told the update came over the air -- a story seemingly corroborated by a couple other people around the web. Unfortunately, it seems like things aren't quite fully baked yet: the update doesn't include Sense UI, and it apparently wipes all your data and doesn't allow you to log back into your Google Account. Verizon tells us that the Eris update to a "newer" Android is still in testing and hasn't yet been officially released, so we're taking all this to mean that there's been a slip-up along the line -- especially since this obviously isn't final software. In the meantime, we'd say Droid Eris users should probably back up their sets just to be safe.

edit:
Click here for Video. NSFW for Eris owners.

 

[CrayzeeCarl]

Holy crap!

Spoiler

new Erie owner here

 

[Totakeke]

Sony Ericsson CEO: Google asked us to build the Nexus One, we refused

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sony-ericsson-ceo-google-asked-us-to-build-the-nexus-one-we-re/

Damnit, that phone would've been near perfect.

 

[Ephemeris]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sony-ericsson-ceo-google-asked-us-to-build-the-nexus-one-we-re/

Damnit, that phone would've been near perfect.

Probably more expensive than the N1 too.

 

[pxleyes]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/18/sony-ericsson-ceo-google-asked-us-to-build-the-nexus-one-we-re/

Damnit, that phone would've been near perfect.

:lol So glad they didn't end up doing it. Would have cost 300 more and looked like a shiny piece of shit in your hand. I really am sick of Sony's shiny fetish, don't they realize that stuff is distracting?

 

[Baron Doggystyle von Woof]

I was expecting the HTC supersonic to be shown. Looks like I gotta wait a little longer to replace my Hero.

 

[Totakeke]

:lol So glad they didn't end up doing it. Would have cost 300 more and looked like a shiny piece of shit in your hand. I really am sick of Sony's shiny fetish, don't they realize that stuff is distracting?

What shiny fetish are you talking about?


Other than whatever the price could be, you basically get the best in terms of hardware and software with that partnership! HTC's cool but they don't really focus on multimedia stuffs.

 

[SimleuqiR]

What shiny fetish are you talking about?


Other than whatever the price could be, you basically get the best in terms of hardware and software with that partnership! HTC's cool but they don't really focus on multimedia stuffs.

We would have definitely gotten a better (hardware wise) music player and camera.

 

[GhostRidah]

I was expecting the HTC supersonic to be shown. Looks like I gotta wait a little longer to replace my Hero.

Yea I wanted to see some supersonic love, so tired of my 1.5 hero and sprints lack of android phones.

 

[sun-drop]

serious hotness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDEZZRJBE_I

 

[prodystopian]

Really? The backflip? When is AT&T going to get these HTC phones?

Also, can motoblur be removed easily?

 

[cabottemp]

I got android working on one of my old notebooks, which was completely and utterly pointless but kinda awesome at the same time.

 

[SSGMUN10000]

Can someone start a Android 2010 thread? I would do it but my privileges have been reduced.

 

[El Papa]

Andrex is working on it. There's a Google Wave right now, tough.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Can someone start a Android 2010 thread? I would do it but my privileges have been reduced.

It's been in the making for a few weeks, just give me a couple more days.

 

[zedge]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/02/02-17-10droideris21.jpg[/IMG]

http://i28.tinypic.com/wsofq0.gif[/IMG]

edit:
Click here for Video. NSFW for Eris owners.

Wow.. that looks super smooth and fast. Should be the same on the Hero then.

 

[Vanillalite]

Saw this... Att Motorola Backflip

"MOTOROLA BACKFLIP™ with MOTOBLUR™ and Android

Hold tight, AT&T's first Android phone is on the way - Just $99.99 after mail-in rebate*
Available March 7, 2010"

IDK I'm actually coming around on the device design, but not sold on a 1.6 android phone even if it has Motoblur at this point. Especially not for $200 with a $100 rebate.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Android will now finally conquer all US carriers.

 

[Vanillalite]

Android will now finally conquer all US carriers.

It'll be on all carriers, but I'm not so sure the backflip is the phone to try and conquer AT&T with android wise.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

It'll be on all carriers, but I'm not so sure the backflip is the phone to try and conquer AT&T with android wise.

At $99 (though the rebate thing sucks) and 1.6 it should do well enough. Plus it has an interesting form factor, which is what most people base their phone purchases on anyways (anecdotally speaking, of course.)

 

[kaching]

Doesn't AT&T have another 3-4 Android phones in the wings anyway?

 

[Vanillalite]

Doesn't AT&T have another 3-4 Android phones in the wings anyway?

Yeah they have the Dell Mini and an HTC phone, but who knows when they are coming. I'm not totally hating or anything, but just saying the Backflip is just a slow start out of the box IMO.

 

[DrFunk]

From what I read, the Backflip is a pretty neato phone. A lot of bloggers were surprised with it.

 

[tokkun]

At $99 (though the rebate thing sucks) and 1.6 it should do well enough. Plus it has an interesting form factor, which is what most people base their phone purchases on anyways (anecdotally speaking, of course.)

It has the iPhone 3G to compete with at the same price point, and it will take more than an unusual form factor to win that battle.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

It has the iPhone 3G to compete with at the same price point, and it will take more than an unusual form factor to win that battle.

Well, it has a hard keyboard (plus a more social-media oriented skin.) That should be enough to differentiate it.

 

[DrFunk]

Engadget has posted impressions about the Mini 5: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/dell-mini-5-prototype-impressions/

Edit: 405 MB of RAM

Edit 2: it's 152mm x 78mm x 10mm, which makes it thinner than the nexus one

 

[Vanillalite]

Thin is good, but the screen is rather large which is good for what it's trying to be. Yet I wonder how portable it'll be.

 

[SimleuqiR]

Engadget has posted impressions about the Mini 5: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/dell-mini-5-prototype-impressions/

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/02/mini5hed02182010.jpg[IMG]

Edit: 405 MB of RAM

Edit 2: it's 152mm x 78mm x 10mm, which makes it [B]thinner than the nexus one[/B][/QUOTE]

That is thin!

 

[HamPster PamPster]

Question!

How easy is it to turn on speaker phone with the T-Mobile G1? Also, how does it hold up after all this time?

This past weekend I got a T-Mobile Dash 3G since it was cheap and I really really like the keyboard. It has windows mobile 6.1 (website says it will update to 6.5 eventually... don't know if thats better) and I don't like 6.1

Lots of little annoying things but one thing I don't like is trying to turn on speaker phone while talking to people

Plus the gaf webapp looks horrible on it

Thinking about returning it and getting a G1. I don't know though...

 

[ThatObviousUser]

The G1 is still probably a solid phone. You could do a lot worse, and it's at least running 1.6 which is still pretty great. It also has the free Google Maps Navigation.

Engadget has posted impressions about the Mini 5: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/dell-mini-5-prototype-impressions/

Edit: 405 MB of RAM

Edit 2: it's 152mm x 78mm x 10mm, which makes it thinner than the nexus one

Not bad. I did see a side shot and think "holy snap that's thin," especially with how wide it is. Now to read the rest of it.

 

[OneEightZero]

Question!

How easy is it to turn on speaker phone with the T-Mobile G1? Also, how does it hold up after all this time?

This past weekend I got a T-Mobile Dash 3G since it was cheap and I really really like the keyboard. It has windows mobile 6.1 (website says it will update to 6.5 eventually... don't know if thats better) and I don't like 6.1

Lots of little annoying things but one thing I don't like is trying to turn on speaker phone while talking to people

Plus the gaf webapp looks horrible on it

Thinking about returning it and getting a G1. I don't know though...

Why not get the Nexus One instead? Much newer hardware, better screen, better shell.

Unless a hardware keyboard is the deciding factor?