Cupcake's on-screen keyboard shown on T-Mobile G1

We already found that the Cupcake branch of Android made available a software keyboard on Nokia's line of Internet Tablets, and now that very functionality is being showcased on a bona fide T-Mobile G1. We can't say how stoked we are to see a real deal on-screen keyboard on the handset, and we're even more jazzed about the eventual release of these caloric goodies to the masses. Have a look yourself at the vid just after the break.

[Thanks, TareX]

[jack @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:22AM]

Is the cupcake going to make its chin fatter? I thought it was supposed to be trying to lose weight.

[TareX @ Dec 22nd 2008 5:55AM]

Hey guys,
I just want to mention that I first saw this video on DROIDEO.com, and that they currently have a new cupcake video uploaded:

http://www.droideo.com/video/Android-G1-After-baked-Its-a-cu

Youtube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzYVWDa8Jfs&eurl=http://www.droideo.com/video/Android-G1-After-baked-Its-a-cu

Join Droideo to get all Android videos first hand :)

[1234321 @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:22AM]

looks like the dev phone 1

[drumdbeat @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:23AM]

Looks totally sweet.

[Shoumik @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:23AM]

G1 vs. iPhone?

[RijilV @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:24AM]

Wow! an onscreen keyboard for a device with a keyboard! now that's progress

[patriotsn1 @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:25AM]

WM5 ftw!

[Jon Graft @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:28AM]

The only way to access the keyboard is by sliding it open and flipping it sideways. I have an enV2 and sometimes when laying down, when I get a text, I just want to text one handed without flipping it open. So having an on screen keyboard for lazy one-handed texters is perfect...and advancing anything in general, even if not needed, is still progress.

[iofthestorm @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:33AM]

I guess the main purpose for this thing is for when you just want to type something quickly and don't want to slide out the whole keyboard. I can imagine it would be slightly annoying to bring out the keyboard just to search for a contact or something like that, although I don't own a G1.

[centinall @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:59AM]

Android isn't built for the G1. Android is designed to work on just about any phone, including those without a physical keyboard. While this might be handy for those with a G1 that don't always want to slide their phone open, I think it's more of prelude of what's to come.

[Hamilton R @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:02AM]

Well I guess you haven't thought about the application of changing language. My Japanese / Korean friends use the iphone and are happy that you can easily change the keyboard language with a touch of a button, something you can't do with a standard keyboard.

[angelwolf71885 @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:53AM]

well we are living in the 21rst century after all :D

[Marko @ Dec 22nd 2008 5:46AM]

Yes, but does it come with a little magnifying glass application to make changes? A touchscreen keyboard without the option to make changes easily is pointless.

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:28AM]

It is called "choice", something communism could never give. This phone OS is thus democracy and capitalism and a glimmer of hope for China, Cuba, Albania and Zimbabwe (and some others, I'm not 100% up-to-date on all world affairs and politics, apologies)

[dan @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:04AM]

Yup, Android is specifically designed to piss off the likes of Zimbabwe and Albiana, those no good commie foreigners.

Hahaha.

[chefgon_ign @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:58AM]

@Marko

Trackball.

[dave95 @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:21AM]

No complaints about the on-screen keyboard? wowsers, here's to progression! ;-)

[Stephen.4 @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:25AM]

I've seen that keyboard somewhere before.
I own an iPod touch.
Something looks familiar.

[melloncollie @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:31AM]

Yeah,
It's called a QWERTY layout.
Douche.

[SimbaDogg @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:47AM]

in my haste to quickly down rank you, i accidentally up ranked you. so...i would like you to give it back to me.

[drumdbeat @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:42AM]

It took me a moment to find the Reply button (Obligatory LOL at Stephen.4) but I must virtually high five the cunning that is SimbaDogg.

[iZak @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:28AM]

It's a freaken on-screen keyboard! The original iphone mastered this alooong time ago.
When will people just give in and get an iphone

[SuperQ @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:45AM]

When you can checkout the source code to the iPhone.

[centinall @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:02AM]

When you can truly multitask.
When you can choose your provider.
When you can develop on any platform.
When applications for your device are not withdrawn from app stores for no GOOD reason.
When you can cut and paste.
etc...

[mercnet @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:01AM]

When my girlfriend can send me naughty photos on mms...

[brohken @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:34AM]

...and the iPhone just lost it's only claim to fame. now the G1/android is the leader.

[dave95 @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:46AM]

.....but but I thought the iPhone on-screen keyboard was its downfall?

[jere @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:07PM]

The iphone's onscreen keyboard is its only claim to fame? I think most people who buy an iphone do so for other reasons.

[hamza @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:42AM]

How many times do we have to repeat this?? The cake is a lie people, it's a lie!

[andres @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:00AM]

i'm thinking over 9000...times...

[ph15h @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:48AM]

I remember the browser "Steel" on the G1 had a on-screen keyboard too, but it was only for the browser. :P Yay bring on the On-Screen keyboards for the us lazy people that don't feel like sliding.

[justme @ Dec 22nd 2008 5:45PM]

"lazy people that don't feel like sliding."

Its not just for those lazy people, but people who don't want a keyboard. ie HTC Touch HD would make a great Android phone! But has no keyboard.

[Hotrod @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:48AM]

I'm all for this sweet evolution of this great open OS, just don't start texting while driving!

[Oli D @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:55AM]

I saw a blunderously ingenious solution to this problem,

A friend of mine made himself a little dock (out of duck tape) on his steering wheel and trained himself to touch text.


I've begun work on his eulogy already.

[Zephir365 @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:58AM]

Tmobile G2 is coming:
http://www.neowin.net/news/main/08/12/20/t-mobile-g2-is-coming

[richbum @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:02AM]

theres already been an engadget post on this rumor a few pages back.. kinda redundant for you to report old news from a different website that says the same thing.

[TheHein @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:03AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/20/will-there-or-wont-there-be-a-t-mobile-g2-in-the-near-future/ actually it was only 1 page back.. so he didn't even have to look at very many postings before actually finding it. LOL

[digitallysick @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:07AM]

This means only 1 thing, full screen android phone coming soon

[Oli D @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:55AM]

and iiiii'll be buying it

[jake @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:10AM]

Looks good. Looks like Android is well on it's the way to preparing for touch-only devices. Still a few more issues to fix, but cupcakes seems to address a bulk of them.

Looking forward to more Android devices in 2009.

[silver @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:17AM]

The third row of buttons is very strangely aligned with 1st and 2nd row. Z is just underneath S?! I mean I'm all for evolution but please don't change the standard qwerty...

[Oli D @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:56AM]

I'd love to see a Dvorak layout, just to screw with people who don't like change

[MobileGeek @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:18AM]

why I love android: Speed of development, and prospects of unlimited advancements, and portability to an ever increasing number of phones. Went from very basic to an ever increasing number of improvements, but of course it still has room to grow and does at an amazing speed (full exchange and outlook support so I can finally get an android phone and burn my BB in a blaze of frustrated glory)

why I loath the iphone: in two words "the fans", yes the phone is good/great and did a lot to push the mobile market into true smart phones. But calling it the Jesus phone, good maybe even great as it is, the phone is not a miracle worker. Furthermore, I love windows bashing as much as the next guy, but all of you black turtle neck followers to the Steve Jobs house of worship should realize(but never will), having an OS that conforms to your wants and needs rather than dictating them to you is the true mark of a superior OS. Not hardware, which is quickly outdated, Nor apps, that can be updated or added (which for android seems to be just a question of weeks not months before the next best update)

so stop saying "iphone this, iphone that" and go troll Mac forums, while contemplating the apocalypse of Mr. Jobs snubbing you all at Macworld.

[jeproqs @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:45AM]

My sentiments exactlly... the rest of the world thanks you!

[Jorvay @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:00AM]

The speed of development is easily the most exciting thing about Android. I'm glad that examples like this are starting to show up. I think a lot of people that never use open-source technology don't really grasp the potential that comes from a blend of open-source and a fair-sized user base. Things move fast...really fast. Here's hoping the popularity of Android starts to get more people paying attention the the fast-improving linux world in general.

[iSmoke,therefore emit death by breathing @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:44PM]

chu'urch!

[VanillaSpice @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:23PM]

YOU are the one saying "iPhone this, iPhone that" - no-one else has! You get yourself high ranked just by taking the popular (here in the Engadget comments) position of being anti-Apple, but you are talking crap.

The number of Apple trolls in here is vastly outnumbered by the number of anti-Apple trolls, they are more nastily vociferous as well as more numerous. The evidence of that is how they have decided to turn on Engadget and made ridiculous and unsubstantiated claims of bias.

And why would you judge a device based on its "fans" ? Do you hate the G1 because of its crazy supporters, the ones who do exactly the same things as pro-Apple trolls?

No, you don't. Why? Because you are an anti-Apple troll, that's why. Just like pro-Apple trolls, you speak utter shite. You make claims that are patently false, just like Apple trolls. You base your opinion of a device based on the company who makes it, just like Apple trolls. And you make outlandish claims about the quality/features of your favourite device, just like Apple trolls.

You are a troll! Whether pro-Apple or anti-Apple, it is same shite, different bucket.

[Wiigee @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:23AM]

Apple fanboys, shut up, not everything is trying to be an iphone. Read In the Begining there was the command line, because it describes you perfectly, sailing along in your sports cars turning your nose up at all other things not made by apple no matter if they are better or not. you all really need to remove your lips from the rectum of Cupertino. (please note i am writing this from a mac, so no, i am not a pc or linux fanboy)


On another note. This will be so sweet, it is rather annoying to have to slide it open when just entering short text.

[Uncontrol @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:34AM]

sup fellow non-crazy mac user

some guy asked me what kind of laptop he should get, he said all he really wanted it for was writing and surfing the net quickly so i recommended him some netbooks, and he seemed shocked that i didn't recommend an apple simply because i was using one

is this truly what we have become

[mustang05tim @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:03AM]

Did anyone else notice that in the video, when he is in the browser, the zoom in/out icons were missing? The "view the entire page" icon was there, however. On my G1, the zoom icons show up in the browser anytime that I scroll.

Makes me think that they had multitouch enabled for zooming on that handset, although, for obvious reasons, they didn't show that.