What do you want from the next Android device?
(Credit:
Android)
While many cell phone fans are awaiting the launch of the Palm Pre and details of a new iPhone, there's another segment of the community that's waiting for something else: more Google Android phones.
Their arrival seems imminent with a T-Mobile-branded HTC Magic passing through the FCC and now the Samsung I7500 getting the official stamp of approval. Also, there are rumors of a Motorola-manufactured T-Mobile G1 v2 slated for October. And let's not forget that Sony Ericsson, HTC, and Samsung have more than one Android device slated for 2009.
While the prospect of new hardware is exciting and we certainly need some new designs to add to lonely (and umm, clunky) T-Mobile G1, let's not forget the guts of the phone, the actual Android operating system.
A number of features and fixes are being added through the Android 1.5 Cupcake update, including an on-screen landscape keyboard, video recording, stereo Bluetooth, updated Webkit browser, and UI improvements. All were welcome and much-needed additions, but we'd like to see a few more things in the near future. Native Microsoft Exchange support would be a good start as well as Flash support. G1 users have also complained about the inability to save apps to SD cards and limited internal memory.
Android 2.0 (code-named Donut) is already attracting buzz, though we know very little about it except that it will support WVGA and QVGA screen resolutions. It may or may not address some of the issues above, but while we wait for the new devices to come out, let me ask you, dear Crave reader: what would you like to see in the next Android device? It can be about the hardware or software or both. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Bonnie Cha is a senior editor for CNET, covering smartphones and GPS. When she's not testing the latest gadgets, you can find her chasing after her crazy lab or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California. E-mail Bonnie. 
also flac support
Native Exchange support and VPN. I want to start using my phone as a credit/debit card. after scanning all items go low-tech and scan a barcode off my phone to get my card info or do it high tech via wireless, i don't care. if i can carry just a phone and no wallet, no cards nothing that would be awesome. we'll get rid of car and house keys next... :D
oh and along with that better battery life or sell me some methanol fuel cell pack. that would be sweet.
you know what, just to be quirky let's go with TWO touchscreens, flip it open and instead of a keyboard you get another touch screen (with a soft keyboard if doing text entry of course)
And Sprint to offer one.
and a keyboard would be cool
and it'd be cool if verizon didn't disable any features
I just want my cupcake, first.
-I want full editing power on mobile Google Docs.
-I want my Google Docs spreadsheets to actually update with live information, rather than saying, "updating" in perpetuity.
-I also want full flash support...and pdf.
-I would love a higher built-in flash memory...say 8GB?
-I think it would be really, really swell if it would also incorporate broadcast TV reception, too.
:D
Also, native MS Exchange support or they will never crack the corporate market. Which would be a shame because Android could be really great as customized for different enterprise needs.
- by Remo_Williams May 16, 2009 4:27 AM PDT
- First of all, to nearly every doofus asking for ports and jacks: Android is the OS, so asking for an HDMI port means you can't read. Or you don't know what an OS is.
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- by forever4now May 16, 2009 9:54 AM PDT
- The title of the article reads: "What do you want from the next Android device?"
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Showing 1 of 3 pages (53 Comments)We need ActiveSync Office support, including Exchange. ASAP, right after Google delivers enterprise WiFi connectivity, not just code stubs. If I could sync internally, i.e. get a valid corp IP with enterprise WiFi, then maybe the Exchange 2007 push tech would be viable, but corp firewalls and HR/legal-designed impediments means ActiveSync is the way to go.
C'mon, who here *doesn't* want to connect via USB and backup the whole phone in one shot? Or sync your Outlook contacts/calendar/tasks/email right away? I know I dod, and with a Dell Axim, I used to all the time. Likewise my Nokia 3650, so why is my tech from six years ago more useful than this?
-Remo
The last sentence of the article reads: "dear Crave reader: what would you like to see in the next Android device? It can be about the hardware or software or both. I'd love to hear your thoughts."
It sure sounds like comments about "ports and jacks" are legitimate, to me. Besides, in many/most cases, the OS has to be modified to support new interfaces.