Nexus One's unitouch browser falls victim to Cyanogen
By Chris Ziegler 
posted January 21st 2010 7:52PM
posted January 21st 2010 7:52PM
Hey, Andy, thanks for "considering" adding multitouch to the Nexus One -- meanwhile, though, there are folks in the trenches actually making it happen, so we might not need your help anymore. The usual suspects over at xda-developers (the legendary Cyanogen, specifically) have mixed, baked, and cooled a delicious new Browser APK for Google's so-called superphone that undoes the company's poorly-made decision to leave out the hot-button feature on everyone's mind. The dude says that you might lose your settings and bookmarks in the process, but we'd say that's a small price to pay -- especially considering that you'd normally have to flash the entire ROM anyhow. Seriously though, Andy, just check it out for a few days and see what you think, alright?[Thanks, Owaeis]
To be fair, the dolphin browser on the market has a significantly better multitouch implementation(not saying anything against cyanogen or any of the other devs, their work is much appreciated) and has had it for months. This just adds the functionality to the main browser application.
@MarcusMaximus Dolphins allright. Milestone browser on Droid is really good. Ultimately waiting for Opera or Firefox to drop their handywork already.
@MarcusMaximus
I installed Dolphin on my N1 just for that functionality, but it was to annoying to have two browsers, and no matter how many times I set Dolphin to act as my default, the native browser would still be used for many things without my asking. I've now uninstalled Dolphin, and may try to add this.
@Mr Oos You might be somewhat disappointed right off the bat. It responds rather slowly and just straight zooms in, rather than zooming in where you're pinching. From talking with cyanogen, those will probably be fixed *soon*, though.
@alphabuild
You're going to be waiting a while. opera maybe, but I doubt that firefox will make it. Ever.
@musicssound well there is fennek for n900 and stuff, so there is not that much of an barrier
@Mr Oos
I had the EXACT same experience on my Sprint Hero. Tried really hard to use Dolphin (I wanted gestures, Sense's browser does not have them) but it was just too much trouble.
@tamayoduck you have android 1.5 multitoch is 2.0
Hehe, it is funny that these engadget writers can't say super phone without adding "so called" to it when referring to the Nexus.
@Canizorro well obviously they are moron's much like you.
@Canizorro
are we really starting this again? im tired of pasting the same three links -__-. you guys call the lesser stuff super phones but have a problem with google saying it of their own better device???
http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/01/16/sony-ericsson-superphone-to-be-called-xperia/
http://mobile.engadget.com/2007/11/14/sony-ericsson-releasing-p5i-superphone-mid-2008/
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/28/asus-p565-superphone-canned-due-to-garmin-partnership/
zeigler, i love you like a brother from another mother but come on.. be fair, dude :(
@Canizorro Wow, an engadget story pointlessly fanning the flames about multitouch. How very original. /s
@Canizorro No doubt, what's up with that??? Let's see, the N1 can do much more than the iPhone yet Engadget has no problem calling the iPhone a superphone...sometimes Engadget really bugs me! Engadget, are you in bed with Apple or does Stevie have some dirt on you?
@SParklingCYaNide
Moron's. With an apostrophe. Sweet, sweet irony.
@McPOW Hey at least they address the browser, rather than constantly saying things like "Nexus One multitouch now available" (as is seen in other dispropotionately apple-fan populated blogs - which I also admittedly read daily).
@Canizorro Be careful what you wish for coz you just might not get it. In this case, the ROM got cooked (not-technically). Anyway, aside from this post... xda-developers are providing some rooting of N1 phone too, promising some cool apps to be installed. Details: http://bit.ly/nexus-one-updates-detail-opinions
You guys should also report on how HTC is considering repairing nexus ones with obvious manufacturing issues, but with the bootloader unlocked. Which is what you would need to install this hack.
@B3astofthe3ast Not quite sure I am understanding what you are saying. HTC will or won't repair N1's with unlocked bootloaders?
@PerryAJ Right. Google actually gives you an option to unlock the bootloader and flash what you will, but a warning screen comes up before you do so, telling you it voids the warranty due to the possibility of bricking the device if the wrong thing is flashed on there.
However, HTC is becoming more lax on the issue, and may repair damage clearly not caused by flashing something.
Good news!
Did anyone at XDA fix the problem with the Nexus one not syncing MS Exchange calendar data that Google decided not to include? It is hard to justify as a business pda phone if it can't sync your critical data.
@boe If you want to root your phone like I did, then you can just add in the DROID's Corporate calendar app. It works like a charm. If not, then you need something like Touchdown
@technogecko6 THanks -I tried touchdown which has many nice features but isn't quite as elegant as having distinct native apps that work the way they should.
So forgive my ignorance - are you saying I can flash it with the droid firmware and exchange calendar syncs or are you running a desktop app to run as a redirector?
hurray for hackers!
im going to take the space here to lament my disqualification of being a potential engadget writer. simply cuz im not based in new york... im based in philly =___=.
that aside... im waiting for the fabled nexus one enterprise edition with full qwerty keyboard... THAT will be awesome. touch screen typing... just cant do it.
@skyblaze
Really? You don't think using the word "cuz" or putting words in ALL CAPS has anything to do with that disqualification?
@skyblaze L2Grammar
Anyhow, I'm glad Engadget is voicing their distaste for Rubin's aggravating approach to defending the lack of multi-touch on the US variant. I want to punch him in the face for being either oblivious to the public's dissatisfaction with the lack of this feature or lying through his teeth.
@Ryyan
why bother trying to prove myself in an insignificant comment that noone cares about. waste of effort. im on my chill right now, just got in from from work. grammar goes on the backburner unless necessary.
@skyblaze
know what... now that im thinking about... ill write a sample to them anyway. just for kicks.
@Smurf I think it's pretty obvious he is hiding something. There is no reason to NOT have multitouch on a phone when it's something that could easily be disabled in the settings if personal preference were the main driving motivation.
The fact that it's available on these same phones outside the US just goes to demonstrate that it has to be some underhanded agreement (or unspoken agreement) they made with Apple at some point.
@skyblaze
I wouldn't keep your hopes up.
As much as every b's and moans about Engadget's writing. Its usually quite well put with wit in it. One of the (many) reason's i do enjoy reading Engadget is there quirky humor they generally intertwine within there posts. Now although I don't have that great of grammar, and I'm not claiming i do. But there is always time for a bit of grammar. Bit of a capital letter here and there. Correct spelling, alright use of apostrophes, etc. Makes all the world of difference.
@Ryyan
i dont think you guys get it. he totally types like that just to be funny and nothing more. i don't think anyone could get by in life if that's seriously how they wrote 24/7
Dolphin is very nice......they just released a new version 1-2 days ago....even better now.
I would be more interested in multi-touch in google maps......
and maybe photo gallery.....
They might be just leaving it out because Apple patented it. If that were the case, that would mean they would have to pay royalties to Apple if they integrated it into the Android OS. If that be the case, you can thank Apple for screwing over the industry and patenting such a broad idea.
@bstump
Android OS does have multitouch, but the core apps don't implement it. The reason is not because of patents alone (Palm and RIM implement MT) but because Google probably made some sort of deal that could keep Apple from being threatened by leaving out MT from the core apps, but letting frustrated, motivated users hack it in themselves.
I think the reason they leave out multi touch is because the browser isn't coded for it. On the iPhone, when you pinch zoom it seems like the browser temporarily swaps the page out for a bitmap (behind the scenes) and gives you true 1:1 zooming.
On Android, you basically get the typical 'zoom steps' of your desktop browser. When you start the pinch motion the browser will do nothing, then at some point you'll cross an arbitrary threshold and the browser will zoom in a single, predetermined zoom increment (ie. it will jump from 100% to 125%). Following that, your pinch gesture will continue to be seemingly ignored until you yet again cross a certain threshold and get a zoom level jump. The entire situation feels disjointed and leaves you questioning why you don't just use the zoom buttons.
On a side note, I think the dynamic column resizing makes up for the lack of multitouch. For those who don't know, the browser resizes divs to fit on screen despite their zoom level. So on this page for example, if I had to zoom the to the point where the article overflowed the screen by 200px in order to get an acceptable text size, the browser will force that div to fit within the screen's bounds thereby alleviating me of the need to scroll side to side to read an entire line.
@geoken You know, I never really noticed the 'stepping' versus the iphone. Now that I play with my droid and old 3g next to eachother, you are right (though I think it's a finer increment than 25%).
Then again, I suppose I might have never noticed it because I rarely (pretty much never) use pinch-zoom. Even on the iphone it feels gimmicky. Tapping or hitting a button is much preferable to me.
Pinch-zoom just seems like one of those minor ridiculous things fanboys use to justify why their dated phone is better than newer/more advanced technology. Admittedly, the iphone was ahead of it's time when released, but a lot changes in 3 years. I look forward to the 3GS+ (or whatever they are going to call it) hoping they give the screen a much needed resolution boost and implement jailbake-free multitasking.
Unfotunately I will probably stick with android simply because I prefer hardware keyboards, even if it's not the most perfect implementation (ala droid). Soft keyboards - like pinch zoom - feel gimmicky to me. So far I like the implementation of swype better than the iphone or droid stock ones. Downside there, much like pinch zoom, is that it needs 2 hands to do. If I am going to use two hands, might as well be on a hardware keyboard.
I Think PerryAJ is right. i think the thumb tap is much better then pinch to zoom. With one hand free i can drink my coffee and read engadget on the path train while on my way to work in the morning. Its just a huge convenience. If i wanted to use to hands i would just use my tiny very portable XPS and then i will not have to worry about zooming at all.
dolphin browsers fine for me
Nexus one is so overrated.
If it's so good it should outsell iPhone right?
@logic thinker
Typical iFanboy, it MUST be worse because it hasn't outsold something which has been out for three years in less than a month!
@logic thinker
If iphone 3gsss is so good why take the time to post in an android article then
fanboy butthurt much?
Weak.
Why is everybody excited about a method of zooming in and out that's kuldgier than double tap. Double tapping brings the screen to zoom exactly on the edges of the text you want to read. Double tap again and your zoomed out to an overview. Why would you want to use two hands , one to grab your phone and the other to perform the pinch zoom. And then you have to make sure that you picked the center of the text as the anchor point in the zoom and make sure you widen your fingers just enough to zoom the view right on the text, so you have to be precise when you zoom in or out. Comon guys let it go.
Another article on multitouch?
Engadget is getting worse than Fox News.
You guys all know what the next step is for Engadget tho rite?
They'll start making shit up just to get views, ROFL.
What exactly does multitouch in a browser let you do, other than zoom in/out a page to make parts of it more readable?
For those wanting to do this, I put together a little How To Video :) Hope this helps some people get started:
http://theunlockr.com/2010/01/21/how-to-enable-multitouch-browsing-on-your-nexus-one-using-the-native-browser/
To be honest the multitouch is over-rated. A simple double tap to zoom and unzoom works perfectly and is actually easier to do.
Sometimes we get caught up on "neat" features and forget about functionality.
Just my 2c.
http://www.nexusoneforum.net
Question, since when can you write to ROM? Isn't it read ONLY memory? Am I missing something? It confuzzles me, as usually when they make a device they literally burn that memory into the chip as if it were a circuit, no changes possible. The only way I can think of that you could "flash the entire ROM" would be to replace the entire chip. Am I missing something?