Google reveals upcoming Android features

Imminent enhancements to Google's Android mobile platform have been revealed this week, in the form of a development effort called "Cupcake."

Credit: CNET Networks

T-Mobile's G1, aka the HTC Dream, was the first phone to go on
sale with Google's Android operating system.

Android is in the process of being turned by Google from its own development project into open source. This week, some of the changes made to the mobile operating system by a private group of developers came to light in Cupcake--the Android code the group shares with the outside world. Now, according to the Android road map, the Cupcake enhancements have started to be merged into the wider, open-source Android project.

The private development branch will continue to operate, and the current merging of the new features into the master Android branch will be completed in early January.

Some of the changes coming to Android are bug fixes, affecting elements such as e-mail, conversation-list scrolling, and the alarm clock. Several new features are, however, also being added--for example, the ability to save MMS attachments. The Linux kernel upon which Android runs has been upgraded to version 2.6.27, and "basic x86 support" has been added.

The WebKit browser core has been updated, and support for the new SquirrelFish JavaScript engine has been added. The browser will now support cutting and pasting, and will also include a find function.

Android's camera functionality has received a major boost, with the addition of video capture. Download functionality has also been enhanced; applications can pause their downloads, and interrupted downloads can now be resumed instead of failing.

Virtual keyboards will also become possible, and third-party developers will be given the application programming interfaces to create their own input methods. A new API for speech recognition is also included, as is A2DP stereo Bluetooth support.

David Meyer of ZDNet UK reported from London.

Jack of all trades, master of none.

[t8]

Your description is also apt for Windows which commands 90% of the desktop.

[forever4now]

The "basic x86 support" is the most intriguing addition.

Could it be that we'll be seeing Android on devices, other than smartphones, in 2009?

I use Ubuntu and I think it is probably the best full OS for a netbook (fast, easy to use, low/no maintenance), but an Android netbook could be kinda cool too.

Things are definitely getting interesting!

[gerrrg]

That's been known for some time now...that Android isn't meant for just phones. It's an open platform for all sorts of devices.

[tehrani625]

I like the idea of android on a net book. I was wondering what it would take to run on a desktop because I love the interface. I have no idea what it would take to do this besides that fact that Linux is designed to run on just about anything and everything so it should not be that hard to do. And once its done you have the end all be all Google OS on a desktop. But till that craziness happens, I wondering if someone could port this to run on a win mobile handset?

[Remo_Williams]

This is nice and all... but the shutter lag on the camera makes it almost entirely unusable. Fix that and make us happy.

[BAMAToNE]

Agreed.

[iceman721]

Adding Bluetooth A2DP will be HUGE for me. That wired headset that was released was/is horrible. Having stereo streaming bluetooth will blunt that problem big time for me. The virtual keyboard and improved cameras are also nice touches. One can only hope that these updates are ready for download by late January early Feb 2009. Very Cool!!

[maeckg]

The x86 support and Linux foundation could allow Android phones to intelligent docks: like an iPod base station on steroids. Part of the success of the ipod/iphone is the abundance of support devices providing not just charging but sound amps and networking. Cell phones are more and more the first device we reach for, so it would make sense to just set it in a dock at home or office that provides keyboard and mouse, larger display, graphics, backup, media and networking services. The cell phone would stay our center of communication, but expand capabilities in the dock.
Third party companies could offer different kinds of docks, some simple and some very powerful. It could take the form of a p2p houkup. Basic PC hardware running Linux is not expensive when embedded in a standard device. The Android phone owner could choose to buy a powerful phohe, then expand it into a full computer possibly running a full version of Linux at home instead of buying a PC and a phone that can be difficult to connect. The Android phone would be the basis and not the PC so would encourage development of powerful smartphones and mobile broadband because users would/could spend more money on the smartphone. Then one could choose the type of dock one needs which would create a large number of companies interested in producing docks and attachments.
Computing is definately moving from the PC to a mobile device with a good connection to the cloud. But there are limits to what one wants to carry around; netbooks are not so easy to keep in a pocket but one wants a larger display and keyboard sometimes. The smartphone as the basic unit, but expandable is a solution. Android's openess will be it's strength if the hardware companies and service providers can also see the opportunities.

[ferretboy88]

The best feature they could give me is to switch it to Verizon. No one uses T-Mobile in NY state as far as I know.

[AppleSuxLeo]

As much as I like the idea of Android , the should have had a better phone and a more developed OS before they let the cat out of the bag.
Something along the lines of the Touch HD would have been a good starting point with it`s 3.8 inch high rez screen.

[t8]

Just like Linus should have released Linux when it was perfect.

[BAMAToNE]

Are these updates going to be available to G1 owners, or will they only be for future Android phones?

[alexandra_art]

YES. This is what I want to know, too. I've been wanting the G1 but also concerned about some lacking features. If I know that a firmware upgrade will take place, I'll get it now, rather than waiting for the next generation of it!

[Ansari_87]

So when is the release date of these new updates to the G1 Android platform expected?

Also will the addition of a video capture camera allow for other changes and upgrades to the G1?