Google starts fixing Android 'reboot' bug

The T-Mobile G1 midway through an update of the Android operating system.

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET News)

Google has begun fixing a bug that would reboot T-Mobile's G1, the first Android-powered phone, any time a user typed the word "reboot."

According to the bug filed about the problem, "It would appear that Android is, at some level, interpreting specific text strings and acting as if they were local commands," according to user called mogphone.

Added another commenter, jdhorvat, "Funny story behind finding this: I was in the middle of a text conversation with my girl when she asked why I hadn't responded. I had just rebooted my phone and the first thing I typed was a response to her text which simply stated 'Reboot'--which, to my surprise, rebooted my phone."

Repairs are under way. "This is already fixed and is going out in the RC30 build which will be pushed to users very soon," added user morrildl.

Indeed, my Android phone got the RC30 patch over the weekend, and the problem doesn't occur. It's not clear what time frame other Android users will receive their patches; there was a multi-day lag between my G1's last update a week ago and the period in which some others got their updates.

Some more details on the problem are described at this Web site.

(Via ZDnet)

[Michichael]

Had my RC30 patch since Thursday... was wondering what it fixed. Also seems to automatically switch to my wifi network more consistently since the patch, though I had to delete my networks and re-add them to get wifi functional again.

[inachu]

this is awsome!
I wish I could reboot my iphone by just typing in "reboot".

maybe someday.

[Karl Viklund]

Seems like Android is full of bugs?
And if this phone is so free and open, why is tied so strongly to Google? Can you even change the screch engine? I hope Microsoft complain to the EU commission about this. Where is the program that cleans everything Google off the phone? If that's even possible. This is like new PC with crapware on it.

[molotov]

Just like I have relayed my simple message a minute ago; Google will make sure that Android works well and integrates perfectly with developers' applications. We could be less than a year away from some amazingly great cellphone operating system becoming a single staple standard in our pockets. While companies like Nokia offer good software; it is not open and thus holds itself back. Google Android with good hardware will become a new standard smartphones or should I say computer in your pocket? Yes, very powerful OS is about to hit your pocket and the only thing that will stave off the complete onslaught of competition is innovation from other cell phone software developers. Open source is the key to tomorrow. SOHO, NYC

[wlau]

LOL... funny bug. what is you type "crash" or "format" or any other command or hot keywords... must be a lovely feature.

[MysticBrightShadow]

Using RC29, I didn't notice this to be the case. Perhaps when someone specifically puts their phone in root mode, this could be an issue, but even for people who hack their phones they do not leave it on root.
When someone uses the root access on their phone, it may be an issue, but one typically would do this simply to change one thing, or install some linux software. I believe as soon as you restart your phone it would no longer be an issue. Basically this is pretty phony.

[DMBoricua]

haha thats a funny and cute bug....lol I dont know, just by typing the word and the phone doing what it says..