Filed under: OS Updates, Google, Open Source, Android
Android OS 1.5 intros softkeys, video recording, faster browser
As if the G1 wasn't slick enough already, Google's latest update is packing tons of new features for both end users and developers that will make it an even stronger competitor for the iPhone.Version 1.5 introduces two key features that users were clamoring for: softkeys and accelerometer support for switching display between landscape and portrait modes. Another major introduction is the ability to record video and upload directly to YouTube. Likewise, photos can now be quickly shared via Picasa.
The Webkit-based browser has been turbocharged and now features a tabbed bookmarks and history page, in-page search, and copy/paste. Enhancements for YouTube video playback have also been added as has full Bluetooth stereo support.
Android's Linux kernel has been updated to version 2.6.27, and OS 1.5 also boasts many API additions for developers like secure widgets, location awareness, text prediction, and speech recognition.
More details about the 1.5 update can be found on the Android SDK site.
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mike k. said 9:56AM on 4-14-2009
And when will this be on the G1?
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Christian said 3:23PM on 4-14-2009
I tried searching for it too, the release date but can't find it... I would liek to see it happen soon.
Todd said 10:34AM on 4-14-2009
@Mike K.
That's a good question. Over the air update is risky, I assume T-Mob is playing it safe, doing a lot of testing. Making everyone go into the retail store to get their firmware updated would be a disaster!
Hey Lee Mathews, searching Download Squad for posts about iPhone firmware updates doesn't return anything. Has that subject never been covered or does DLS search just suck?
Would like to see edit or follow up to this post citing how the iPhone has its desktop / iTunes connection for firmware updates, not OTA, and the pending problems with G1 doing such a big firmware jump OTA.
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James said 1:08PM on 4-14-2009
Is this the update that's been in the works under the name "Cupcake"? I heard a lot of great stuff is going in there, including possible multitouch support in the API -- apparently they left it out of 1.0 to avoid lawsuits with Apple, but now I understand it looks like those patents are going to be unenforceable. I'd love to see a pinch-zoom browser, etc.
Anyway, I was on the fence about a G1, but now it looks a lot more likely in the future...
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rpworth said 3:05PM on 4-14-2009
It's a soft keyboard like the iPhone has, not softkeys like WinMo has.
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isesoteric said 6:30PM on 4-14-2009
The android Rocks!! this update makes me so happy. If T-Mobile advertised half as hard as AT&T and Apple, they would kill the Iphone.
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