dream
Latest
Optus' HTC Dream spotted, photographed passionately
Low light, candles in the corner -- seriously folks, these shots are downright sultry. Optus' HTC G1, er, Dream has been spotted and photographed in some random corner of the world, and while it basically looks like every other G1 you've ever seen in this hue, we're absolutely certain that Australians in attendance are more than happy to have a look. You know where to head for the rest. [Thanks, Tom]
Orange bringing the HTC Dream to France this week?
Telefonica was the first to pick up the facelifted Dream for a Spanish launch, and now it seems Orange wants in on the action, too. Word is that 99 euros after rebate (about $124) will net you the Android-powered beauty (well, "beauty" is subject to personal opinion here) on a 24-month commitment to Orange's Origami Star Plus package, which will include unlimited data, unlimited text, and 50 hours' worth of access to Orange's WiFi hotspot network. It's all supposed to launch come March 5, so France doesn't have long to wait -- only question is, where's the Magic?[Via Unwired View]
Google warms to location-based apps with My Tracks, new Gmail signatures
As if the addition of TeleNav GPS to the T-Mobile G1 wasn't evidence enough, Google is totally into exploiting the GPS capabilities of its Android-based handsets. First up is My Tracks, which quite simply "records tracks of outdoor activities using the phone's built-in GPS." From there, it shows the data points on a map and presents live statistics (which even includes an elevation profile); obviously, sharing said routes is a lesson in simplicity thanks to Google Maps and Google Docs. Next up are location-based Gmail signatures, which oddly enough, use your IP address in order to append a current location to your sent emails. Granted, this approach is better than nothing, but there's certainly the chance of it missing your real whereabouts by a town or three. At any rate, feel free to dig into both in the read links below.Read - Google My TracksRead - Location-based Gmail signatures
HTC's Magic appears for Vodafone in Europe, G2 moniker nowhere to be found
We can already tell that this naming thing is getting out of hand, but for all intents and purposes, the handset you see above is the same HTC G2 we've seen hosted up in T-Mobile documentation and those gnarly in the wild snaps. Now, according to some very believable Vodafone snippets, we're being told that this here handset will launch exclusively on the aforesaid carrier as the Magic, bringing with it a 3.2 megapixel camera, HSPA, WiFi and GPS. Also of note, Cupcake will be loaded on from day one, though there's no word on pricing and availability just yet.
HTC Dream coming to Spain via Telefonica, gets a facelift
This appears to have roughly the same guts as the G1 we already know and love, but Telefonica's version of the first Android handset -- like Optus' -- will get a name change to Dream. This one will also look just a little bit different, getting a more sculpted chin, but we don't believe this to be a totally unique device -- you can see the original model's design DNA shining through above the beltline. It'll be available for between €0 and €199 depending on your current subscriber status and the plan you choose, though we don't have a release date just yet.[Via Engadget Spanish]%Gallery-44593%
How Rainbow Studios thought up Deadly Creatures
We like to think the pitch meeting for Deadly Creatures likely involved tossing spiders and scorpions onto the publisher's desk and watching people squirm until a contract was signed. And while this tactic might have worked, developer Rainbow Studios tells Gamasutra that THQ was "really receptive" to the idea, which interestingly owes its concept to a dream had by lead dev Jordan Itkowitz the night before. Deadly Creatures is something of an odd fit for a console that has earned its reputation for family-friendly diversions and dart-throwing contests. Still, Itkowitz notes that despite developing the game as a Wii-exclusive, the team "didn't want to dumb it down or kiddy it up too much." He admits, however, that avoiding making the game so violent that it turned away parents and youngsters was a "big challenge." After all, we wouldn't want casual players' sanguine Wii experience tainted with bug guts.
Optus bringing G1... er, HTC Dream to Australia later this month
While Telstra's busy bragging about Android sets from HTC that don't yet exist, Australian rival Optus is making stuff happen. How? Easy: T-Mobile's G1 is being repurposed as the HTC Dream down here -- one of the phone's rumored names prior to its original release, you might recall -- featuring 2100MHz HSDPA, WiFi, and everything else you've come to know and love / hate about the world's first retail Android device. It'll launch February 16 on plans starting at $59 Australian (about $38) per month, so it'll be pretty accessible. Sure, Telstra, you may have some awesome devices in the pipeline, but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, if you know what we're saying.[Thanks, Adin K. and justme]
Rogue Android app said to be wiping G1 user data
PSA: you should probably cancel that MemoryUp Personal download from the Android Market. Like, right now. According to legions of T-Mobile G1 users who gave the program a go, it's pretty much an abject disaster. The app bills itself as being "a handy memory optimizer tool that will keep your Android smartphone running faster and efficiently," but more than a few users have reported that it actually wipes oodles of precious data instead. Reports ranging from cleared SD cards to completely erased contact lists have appeared time and time again, with many straight-up calling it a scam. We're not looking for Apple-like safeguards on the store or anything, but maybe a test or two before letting this thing fly would've been nice, no?
Video: T-Mobile G1-powered Forknife robot goofs off, eats cupcakes
It's hard to tell from the absolutely riveting two minute and seven second video (hosted up after the break, just so you know), but somehow or another, the gurus at Macpod Software managed to get a T-Mobile G1 to control a robot. Actually, the code used to pull it off is hosted up for download, but a fair bit of robotics knowledge is necessary to pull it all together. The best part? Forknife just loves cupcakes -- sorry, we couldn't resist.[Thanks, Corey]
Optus support documents hint at G1 release in Australia
Now that hopes of a Kogan Agora are as good as extinguished, we reckon that Aussies are grasping at any possible lead of getting an Android-powered handset onto their soil without paying eBay / import prices. Technical support documents corralled by ZDNet's Australian branch show quite clearly that the HTC-built G1 is on the way, but it's tough to know how long the wait will be -- and if this isn't just some tease that'll never actually come to fruition. Yeah, we're cursing the mere thought of the latter option as well.[Thanks, Ben]
Ask Engadget: Best current smartphone for under $200?
It's 2009, folks, so we figured we'd start it off with a bang (and about a gazillion comments in this post). George, a proud member of the USMC, is pondering what to do about a new smartphone, and given that your New Year's resolution was undoubtedly to ditch your dumbphone in favor of a more sophisticated model, you'll probably be interested as well. "I am currently in the market for a new carrier and phone. I have Verizon now, but I am not all that happy with its service in my area. With the release of all the high end phones nowadays, one could get easily lost in the details. I currently have the LG Voyager; I like the phone, but I feel trapped and can't do much with it unless I pay for every little thing. I would like a mobile with WiFi, camera (with flash if possible), touchscreen, etc. I would like to stay under $200 with a 2-year contract. Any advice would be wonderful." It's tough, ain't it George? There's the G1, iPhone 3G, Bold, Storm -- the list rolls on. So, let's spark up a sane, intelligent conversation on the pros and cons of each, all while remembering that our ideal handset sadly didn't arrive in time for Christmas. Interested in getting your own inquiry up in here? Send one over to ask at engadget dawt com.
Seidio adds 400mAh to your G1 without a new cover
We've been hearing intermittent reports that T-Mobile may or may not be sending new, better batteries for owners of juice-deprived G1s in the field, but in the meantime, Seidio has a solution of its own. This 1400mAh battery is rated a full 400mAh higher than the OEM unit, presumably giving you an extra hour or two of Android-powered bliss between charges -- and even better, it fits in the same space with no replacement cover needed. $42.95 sounds steep, but then again, it's hard to put a price on talk time.
Inelegant hack connects T-Mobile G1 to iPod dock
Come to think of it, this mod wouldn't even be necessary (though, we suppose it would still be useful) had HTC bothered to put a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack on the T-Mobile G1, but alas, we're stuck with some random ExtUSB port. In order to make that output jack compatible with the litany of iPod peripherals (namely sound systems), the modders over at WebNetta figured out what pins linked to what in order to connect the G1 to Made for iPod gear. Best of all, the secrets of the connections are all spilled out in the read link should you care to try this yourself, but please, tidy things up a bit if you do.
The T-Mobile G1, how would you tweak it?
The T-Mobile G1 is the topic of today's 'How Would You Change' discussion over at Engadget Classic, and given the obvious relevance to the Mobile crowd, we figured it prudent to pass along the link for your perusal. Head on over and drop some knowledge!
How would you change the T-Mobile G1?
The T-Mobile G1, the world's very first commercially available Android-based handset, ushered in a new era of mobile computing when it launched earlier this year. The long-awaited Googlephone had finally come to fruition, and it managed to warm the hearts of just about everyone that touched it. But like any phone, it wasn't without its flaws, some of which are still being worked out today. For those of you who decided to pull the trigger, you've had the past few months to see how it stacks up. The question is, how does it stack up? What are you hoping for in the next firmware update? Are you completely satisfied with the hardware? Are you longing for a capacitive touchscreen and and a slightly less noticeable chin? It's okay to criticize your dear G1 -- it's all in the name of love, after all.
T-Mobile produces official statement regarding international G1 data roaming
Okay G1 owners, so here's the end-all answer to your data roaming quandaries. For those not caught up, there has been quite the hubbub going around about the G1's inability to not suck down data whilst traveling aboard. Allegedly, the handset would continue to digest pricey bits and bytes overseas even after users had selected that data roaming be disabled. Now, T-Mobile has issued an official response (posted in full after the break) to clear things up, and the gist of it is this: for users with a bone stock G1, the "Off" selection in data roaming should work fine, but third-party applications can essentially override this command and wreak havoc on one's phone bill. From the horse's mouth: "Some third-party applications available for download on Android Market require access to the internet and have the ability to turn on data roaming when in use. Customers are informed whether an application will use this feature prior to downloading, but should also be aware when traveling outside the country."
UK T-Mobile G1s now have option to disable / forge ahead with data roaming
The intarwebz have been ablaze with unruly individuals kicking up all sorts of dust about the G1's apparent inability to disable data roaming when traveling overseas, and now a fix is in effect for those in the UK. According to an official tidbit from T-Mobile UK: "In order to ensure that customers do not incur unexpected costs, roaming is disabled on new UK G1 models; there is an option which allows users to enable roaming, but when this is selected the user will receive a message to confirm that there will be additional costs incurred." That whole "new UK G1 models" has us curious about the "old" models, but hopefully those newfangled firmware updates brought along this functionality -- anyone care to hop a flight and see?[Via modmyGphone, thanks neerhaj]
SIM / hardware-unlocked Android Dev Phone 1 surfaces for $399
Oh, snap! Out of seemingly nowhere, Google has revealed the Android Dev Phone 1, a SIM- and hardware-unlocked G1 designed to be sold exclusively to hard working developers. The handset ships with a system image that's fully compatible with Android 1.0, and obviously, it complies with any SIM card and can "flash custom Android builds that will work with the unlocked bootloader." In other words, the mobile should seriously appeal to devs who live far, far away from areas blanketed with T-Mobile coverage. In order to get one, you must first register as an Android developer on the Android Market site (which involves a one-time $25 setup fee); once you're in, you simply surf over and nail the "Purchase" link. For $399 (including free shipping in the US of A), this swanky G1 -- custom back and all -- can be yours, and it's scheduled to ship in 18 international markets soon. Would it be too much to yell "snap!" again?[Thanks, Ryan]%Gallery-38704%
T-Mobile lowers price of G1 admission in the UK to better compete
If you were a bit taken aback by the £40 ($59) monthly tariff required to take the G1 home for free, apparently you weren't alone. T-Mobile has hacked that requirement down to £30 ($44) per month, and while the carrier itself has said that it's not a reaction to poor sales, industry analysts are saying otherwise. In fact, a company spokesperson even states that it has chosen to "offer the device free with a £30 contract to make the pricing more competitive in light of recent device launches," even though it is "well on track to achieve [its] sales forecasts." Whatever the agenda, we're all about getting phones into hands for less, so three cheers all around. Except for you early adopters... bummer, eh?[Via Pocket-lint]
White T-Mobile G1 not coming until after Thanksgiving?
Oh sure, a few remarkably lucky and / or well connected individuals out there are yapping it up on a white T-Mobile G1 right this very moment, but for the bulk of us, coming across one is basically impossible; in fact, the white G1 isn't even listed on T-Mobile's website currently. TMO News has it that the lightest hue of the HTC-built handset isn't expected to ship until at least the US Thanksgiving holiday, meaning that you've still got some serious time to kill before wrapping your paws around the increasingly enviable mobile. Rumors have been rampant that a paint chipping issue is at fault, and while we've yet to hear any confirmation of that, we have seen problems with white paint throw a wrench in the production plans of other mega-corps in the past. There's always the black G1 + Colorware if you're really impatient, you know.
