Nexus One gets a software update, enables multitouch (updated with video!)
By Chris Ziegler 
posted February 2nd 2010 8:20PM
posted February 2nd 2010 8:20PM
The iPhone isn't the only handset getting bumped today -- Google's just outed a very, very significant update to the Nexus One that includes Google Goggles on board and a re-upped version of Google Maps that includes suggestions and a dedicated night mode. Much more significantly, though, they've capitulated and enabled multitouch in Browser, Gallery, and Maps -- great news and a big win for the Android community at large. Finally, there are some 3G improvements in there, but you might have to wait a bit -- Google expects to have it rolled out to pretty much everyone toward the end of the week. Seriously though, now that we've gotten that whole multitouch spat cleared up, it's time for Engadget to rally around something else: ridding the world of tiny ninjas, perhaps? Follow the break for a video of the new firmware -- in all its multi-fingered glory -- in action!Update: ReadWriteWeb's gotten an official statement from Google on the question on everyone's mind: why now? The company says that Android 2.1 "powers a new class of devices" with more horsepower and bigger displays, and "based on these new capabilities and numerous requests from Android users, we decided to provide pinch-to-zoom capabilities with this new over-the-air software update for Nexus One devices." This sounds like a total cop-out to us -- HTC got multitouch working just fine on the Hero way back on 1.5 -- so we still think they just got uncomfortable with the noise surrounding the groundswell of demand for it. Of course, that's fine by us -- power to the people, right?
Does it work on the keyboard too? That to me is the most important place for multitouch so that you can type faster and use shift like a traditional keyboard.
@Amnesia87 A lot of people talk about that on the iphone but I've always just pressed shift. It un-shifts itself after you press the key anyway.
I don't understand why a bigger deal isn't made over multitouch with respects to the keyboard. I was an iPhone owner for almost 3 years and after now owning the Droid for a few months, I still feel like its keyboard is almost useless. I have to make sure my right thumb is completely off the screen before I lower my left thumb and vice-versa. I've had to train myself to do this just so it's passable. It probably cuts my speed down by 75% or more.
@Amnesia87
that's exactly what I was wondering when I saw this post but of course I couldn't comment ..........
but according to Androidcentral, multitouch in the keyboard (as Apple has popularized anyway), is NOT there. this is still your same old Android stock virtual keyboard that requires one keypress at a time
@slikrik You're using the Droid! Why wouldn't you just use the physical keyboard? LOL!
@Amnesia87 One of the things that raises one's eyebrows is the inability of the Nexus Phone to have that "pinch to zoom" capability. For sure, this update is a godsent for users. Hopefully, this will raise the sales of the N1 phone now. More details on how to get it without the wait: http://bit.ly/nexus-one-official-ota-details
@Pupitmiser the virtual keyboard on an iphone is like 5x faster than mashing down those little bumps is why... iphone users get used to verticle browsing VERY quickly.. i can outsurf any droid user with my left hand alone.. I can't imagine having to slide in/out a keyboard every time I needed to enter a few words or something..
The virtual keyboard on 'roid is aweful.. not as bad as winmo, but pretty much useless. It's the most limiting factor on the 'roid right now when it comes to attempting to convert a iphone user.. I've certainly been less than impressed by my android...
the gestures in the video are too fast to tell if it is responding incrementally or continuously to the pinching. that's the real value of pinch to zoom -- getting to exactly the desired zoom level very quickly. a slow-mo demo in gallery would be informative. i guess i'm afraid all google did was implement the same incremental zoom levels from double tapping but as a response to pinching ... i hope i'm wrong of course.
@dantzig
It's more obvious when he's using the web browser that it's the pinch and zoom you're expecting. See him zoom into the picture.
@dantzig
Josh said elsewhere it is actually continuous. Btw, I never would've thought about the distinction but for seeing other commenters battling over whether pinch to zoom had any value. Glad comments are back.
Are we likely to see an updated review of the new software? What effect has it had on the soft buttons and their responsiveness?
@Tes +1.. I think as of now it's gotten a little more appealing.
@gargle (I was referring to updating the Nexus One review.. in light of these new features)
@Tes
Agreed. I'm up for an update to the review.
You have no idea how happy this makes me :)
Great! Now they just need to get Verizon service on it and I'm in!
Anyone have any clue when verizon will be getting the nexus? "Spring" is too vague and therefore, is not an acceptable answer :)
That's nice and all, but unless there is multitouch on the kb, it's usless.
@n8equalsd
I'm confident it's coming to the Nexus One. I wouldn't hold out hope for any other Android devices getting it tho unless their carrier allows it.
http://www.androidcentral.com/google-motorola-weigh-future-multitouch-updates
@n8equalsd
Smart keyboard is the solution you need then.
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.net-cdeguet-smartkeyboard-pFFn.aspx
"Soft keyboard featuring multi-touch input (only works starting from Android 2.0) !"
People have to understand something when it comes to the Nexus One: Google isn't playing games. Anything folks say the Nexus doesn't have, Google will add because they do not need to depend on carriers approving their updates, nor do they have to clear them is any way with carriers or worry about them being sent back for revision.
It's a whole new world and folks saying the Nexus doesn't have this or that, is just going to cause Google to make sure the Nexus gets this, that and the other thing,:)
YES!!!
So this will mean that the games on android will become better???? Oh ya the API has been there for a while.
i haven't gotten the update yet. what do?
@JFK
Do it manually. It was very very easy.:)
In other news, I'm holding on to my VHS player until I'm sure DVD is what consumers really want.
OMG! Now what will the iPhone fanboys complain about??!?!!?!??!?!
Btw, for manual update instructions on a non-rooted and stock device:
http://androidforums.com/316090-post2.html
1. Get the update from Google: (click link above)
2. Put the update on your SD card & rename it to update.zip
3. Boot in recovery mode (hold down trackball + power)
4. Go to bootloader -> recovery
5. Now there's a picture of a droid with a triangle
6. Press the power button + volume up
7. Apply sdcard:update.zip
8. Updating
9. Reboot system now
10. Enjoy the multitouch!
@Johnny Rockets
Thanks for posting that...I forgot:D Just one thing I would add that had me stumped for a minute: when going from bootloader>>recovery, highlight bootloader and then press the power button on top of the device to bring up the recovery option. I darn near freaked out looking for the word recovery:D
@Johnny Rockets Yeah really. They'll find something. They always do. True of any fanboy right? What are the android fanboys gonna focus on once the iPhone can multi-task? lol.
Now the iPhone has nothing on it, except for the whole keyboard thing...which i type on all the time...come on google, is it really that hard?
+1 to Google... nexus one will be my next mobile of nothing new comes up by mid-February @ WMC.
PS: I wouldn't be surprised of some sort of agreement between Apple and Google expired in February 1st 2010.
If anyone from Motorola or Verizon, whichever is stalling the release of 2.1, please release it already! All that hype surrounding it coming out January 22nd got me so excited about 2.1, just to be let down.
Im wondering, some people wear saying Google would get sued if they implemented multi-touch . So are they going to get sued, or it was a total complete different reason why it wasn't there from the start.
Does anybody find it weird that this comes out right after Steve Jobs has a tirade about Google? Looks like another silicon valley spat in the making.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=5946
i just wish they'd sell it to other countries by now. don't care if it doesn't have my native language. i can read english words just fine. :P
if the nexus one had multitouch capabilities from the beginning, why wasn't it just usable since it was released?
Now what's left is replacing these useless two soft zoom buttons with a scale or something you can slide your thumb along... single handedly.
looks like double-tap reframe still sucks though, huh? Congrats though, this now brings the nexus 1 to iphone 1.0 level of usability
(in those few apps, at least..)
I'm guessing this demo was on wifi?
I wish my HTC hero could operate as quickly--sluggish to say the least.. pretty sad.. I've had a 'roid for 3 months already need a hardware upgrade.. but I could use my iphone 1st gen forever as it is.. just as snappy as the day I bought it..
Seems like a lot of folks are missing the point that this isn't really 'iphone' quality multitouch.. you can get this pinch-zoom feature on cheap camcorders, nikon touch screen digicams.. etc.. A lot of guys would shut their yappers right away--if they only tried USING an iphone with an app like say.. bebot... a small but usefull example of the things 'roid users will only dream of for a year or three.. This was a nice little baby step though, towards being almost as sweet as iphone UI experience..someday..Of course by then iphones will probably have a front mounted camera to track your eye movements or something.. zero-touch.. and of course knowing apple though, they wouldn't let you use that same cam to actually take pictures/ichat until the 3rd version of it, whatever it is..