It's an interesting day for the folks at Google. Not only do we see the supposed GPhone (AKA, the
HTC Dream) get
trotted out to the FCC, and hear
new rumors about the device's release date, but now there's a brand-spanking-new release of the
Android SDK available. The version? 0.9 -- a number which puts this dangerously close to a number that most would consider non-beta. Meanwhile, the new version of the mobile OS has been significantly changed, adding a new widgetified (big old clock: present!) and flickable homescreen, a handy (and speedy) tab to pull up your apps, plus a media player, camera, and handful of other noticeable design tweaks. Don't believe us? Check out the video after the break showing it all in action.
Update: We've included a gallery of screenshots as well. Check out the sync contacts option. Sweet! Also, you may note that it asks you to "open keyboard to compose message" in the SMS screen -- almost like it's made for a device with a
slide-out keyboard.
posted Aug 18th 2008 at 4:18PM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
heshmati4 @ Aug 18th 2008 4:25PM
0.9!!!! We are so close! Finally a Google product that will get out of beta!
Andrew @ Aug 18th 2008 5:19PM
Don't be certain. It's the first product to be actually given a number. Who knows if they won't just do revisions. ie: 0.9.11111 or 0.9.14955533 =P
1234321 @ Aug 18th 2008 5:20PM
there are two things I like about this article
it seems to confirm that at least the dream will be HVGA and not crappy QVGA (though I would have liked VGA)
and engadget finally switched off youtube to a more worthy video service
phinn @ Aug 18th 2008 7:48PM
Yea I'll be buying one of the phones if they are good because the iPhone has turned into a complete piece of shit ever since the 2.x series has come out, I can't even send text messages without the input being all laggy.
loosely_coupled @ Aug 19th 2008 2:57AM
Andrew +1
Andy TGD @ Aug 19th 2008 6:10AM
... and when it comes out of beta it will be a dud. That's all I'm saying.
micrypt @ Aug 19th 2008 8:07AM
As far as engadget comments go, that one's a classic. :))
xdfgf @ Aug 18th 2008 4:25PM
So you rip off the iPhone 3g too google. Fail clone is poopy
phanbouy @ Aug 18th 2008 4:27PM
TROLL MOAR PLEES
BluesK1d @ Aug 18th 2008 4:34PM
zOMG it has a screen with colors and you can make calls on it iPhone ripoff!!!1!one!!
rodsky @ Aug 18th 2008 4:37PM
duh, apple invented colors
Prokanda @ Aug 18th 2008 5:18PM
except for "Magenta"... that was tmobile. >.>
Decoy @ Aug 18th 2008 6:12PM
Millions of colours.
Jon Doe. @ Aug 18th 2008 6:40PM
How can it be a rip off it is isn't going to suck ass?
XGM @ Aug 19th 2008 4:54PM
And I suppose the iPhone isn't ripping Palm OS ? Oh well an other troll i guess.
heshmati4 @ Aug 18th 2008 4:26PM
Serious, why do people do this????
Techkandai @ Aug 18th 2008 9:54PM
Wait.. Are they "doing" the Android now? lol
james @ Aug 18th 2008 4:27PM
I think it's interesting how "maps" has made its way onto the main page (1st image), versus media (music). What do you use more, maps, or music?
Josh @ Aug 18th 2008 4:45PM
Maps, by far. I rarely listen to music on my phone.
Prestwick @ Aug 18th 2008 4:44PM
For me? Maps definitely but then again I'm always on the move. I think Google want to make the most out of their online services so having Maps on the first screen you see is a bit of a no brainer. You put your strongest cards on the table first.
Todd @ Aug 18th 2008 4:36PM
Maps.
Cardbored @ Aug 18th 2008 4:47PM
I have an iPod Touch for music, so to answer your question: I use maps more
rock99rock @ Aug 18th 2008 4:51PM
I think the mobile "street view" looks pretty fricken sweet.
kccboy2004 @ Aug 18th 2008 5:27PM
i dont know james. somedays music, somedays maps.
what does that matter, can't the iphone change it's desktop content ?
monkfishbandana @ Aug 18th 2008 5:51PM
For those who haven't been keeping up with the Android news too avidly; you can customise the home screen to your liking, with whichever icons you like (even custom applications). And most other screens for that fact.
The idea behind it is that "all applications are treated equally".
Deekoi @ Aug 18th 2008 6:16PM
What do you mean some how maps made it on the first page???...
Do you know what you are reading? This is the Android from Google. The same Google that made Google Maps. This is their baby. Why wouldn't they put Maps on their front page?
Many people use to associate Maps with Thomas Guide.
Now, my guess is that most people associate Maps with Google.
plh2034 @ Aug 18th 2008 6:23PM
go study android more then come back and apologize
Michael @ Aug 18th 2008 8:13PM
I just played around with the sdk. You can move any icon you want onto the main page.
Craig @ Aug 18th 2008 10:26PM
Maps.
Now that I'm no longer in college, I'm generally too busy doing stuff, like working and talking to other humans, to listen to music constantly.
Todd @ Aug 18th 2008 4:30PM
Yay and everything, but I notice they killed off GTalk support ( et tu Google? ) and removed the bluetooth API.
iofthestorm @ Aug 18th 2008 6:06PM
Wait, what? That's fairly annoying. Having Gtalk on a smartphone would have been awesome for free wifi-based calls, and no bluetooth really sucks. Hopefully it comes back later.
Hush @ Aug 18th 2008 4:32PM
I'm not impressed.
Dan Halen @ Aug 18th 2008 4:33PM
You're not? I guess Google needs to get back to the drawing board, then!
Johan S @ Aug 18th 2008 4:48PM
The dialer buttons and background needs some work.
Maybe a cool texture that makes the buttons look like smooth pebbles and a background that goes with it?
Or maybe a stain glass look?
I dunno .. the dialer just looks kinda bland .. I hope they revisit how it looks.
That said overall it is looking nice.. They do good work over there.
Kyle Hance @ Aug 18th 2008 5:32PM
All the graphics will be up to the carrier/phone manufacturer, so what you see isn't necessarily what you'll get when you buy a phone w/ android from T-mobile or AT&T. They'll most likely change it.
aldo @ Aug 18th 2008 8:38PM
Except that being open source, you'll be able to change the graphics and everything else as you please, even though the carriers may change them up.
heinrich @ Aug 18th 2008 4:33PM
and your reply is ALOT more useful isn't it heshmati4?
heshmati4 @ Aug 18th 2008 4:33PM
Are:
* Alarm Clock
* Browser
* Calculator
* Camera
* Contacts
* Dialer
* Maps
* Messaging
* Music
* Pictures
The only built in Apps?????
ALCie @ Aug 18th 2008 4:38PM
Soon to come:
*More
*Even More
Squid7085 @ Aug 18th 2008 4:46PM
Thats not really bad, thats all the iPhone came with. Just about everything that would be expected in a smartphone appears to be included.
heshmati4 @ Aug 18th 2008 4:54PM
No Calendar or E-mail??? Or you think it will be available by 1.0???
That Sucks!
Wolfticket @ Aug 18th 2008 5:44PM
The good thing about it being an open platform is that there will be loads of useful 3rd party apps, mods and tweaks that make it do what you want, the way you want it to do it.
If the iPhone (obligatory iPhone comparison) was open, I wonder how long it would take for someone to make a wee copypasta app for it. Probably about 10 minutes, I tell you what.
Information Central @ Aug 18th 2008 5:47PM
Where are tasks and memos?
Jeremy K. @ Aug 18th 2008 6:52PM
Google Calendar, anyone?
Nephus @ Aug 18th 2008 9:17PM
Do you need more?
Jubei @ Aug 18th 2008 4:34PM
Kudos for Google with implementing Adroid to take market share from Window Mobile and the likes of their subpar OS for mobile devices. Great job Google.
Quikboy @ Aug 19th 2008 1:23AM
I can't be a hater of something I haven't seen yet, nor should you be a lover of something that isn't out just yet. I don't see why people have high-ranked him, without even using it yet.
There's a lot of WinMo users out there, and I would say many of us love our WinMo phones, and the great apps we've got on them.
But I really can't wait for Android to come out. I want to see if they've really changed the mobile handset landscape, or it's just another phone OS. And if what they've done is great, I hope this challenges Microsoft, Apple, or the other companies into making a better mobile OS that users have been wanting for a long time.
2Shea @ Aug 18th 2008 4:35PM
It looks nice and all, but can't we start pushing for phones where internal hard drives are the norm? I'm tired of SD cards! lol
Anyway yeah, seems like they are progressing along well, will have to see it in action on an actual phone (with good design, features, etc.) before I'm won over though.
Squid7085 @ Aug 18th 2008 4:49PM
I really don't see that ever happening, or really ever want to see it happen. I know you can get more space, but with a phone, could you imagine the noise the HD would make during a call? The trend seems to be moving AWAY from Hard Drives in Portable devices, good example is the iPod touch. Flash and SSD's are the future.
heshmati4 @ Aug 18th 2008 4:56PM
I think he meant built-in flash storage like the iphone