(Credit:
T-Mobile)
Ever since Apple's iPhone hit the market, some people have loved using a virtual keypad. Others have hated it.
Owners of Google's new G1 Android phones could soon have a choice to use either the existing slide-out QWERTY keyboard or a virtual keyboard like the iPhone's.
Google has added "soft keyboards" to its road map of future software releases. The new software hook is expected to be available for phone manufacturers as part of the source code in the first three months of 2009.
While there are many features to love about the G1, which is the first Android phone to hit the market, there are several items missing. A virtual keypad is one of them.
Without the touchscreen keypad, people have to slide out the QWERTY keypad to send text messages, IMs, and e-mail.
(Credit:
Joyity)
Wednesday marks the release of the HTC Dream T-Mobile G1 featuring Google Android. If you're planning to pick one up, you're probably going to want to do something other than make calls and send texts. I mean it is a phone, for crying out loud.
On the same day, Zelfi will release a new software development and gaming platform for Google Android, called Joyity.
Once you have it installed, you'll be able to play a number of games designed for the platform. Joyity games are unique in that they are physically interactive and some require you to actually walk or run around your city in order to play.
In one of the games, called YouCatch, you play with other people while they're using their phones. Once you start, you'll get a quick picture of your target (another player) and then will have walk or run around your city (within a predetermined radius) to find him/her. At the same time, other players will be looking for you.
The games will make use of the GPS and location-based services on the phone. Using the platform, you'll also be able to design your own games and then share them with the Joyity user community.
The gaming software can be downloaded, free of charge, for HTC G1 with Google Android at the Android Market.
This sounds a lot like Geocaching actually. It could be fun, if you don't mind looking like an idiot running down the street chasing random strangers. But, if you're into that sort of thing, at least now you'll have a legitimate excuse.
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(Credit:
Sarah Tew/CNET Networks)
Unless you've been living in a cave (and as comedian Jon Stewart recently pointed out, that might be the safest real estate investment around these days), you probably noticed that a little phone called the T-Mobile G1 made its debut this week.
Now that you've had a chance to glimpse the first phone powered by Google's Android software, would you plunk down for a G1? And if so, what would be the main factor motivating you to become a G1 owner?
We've brought you the details on the T-Mobile G1 with the Google Android OS and now we present it in pictures and video. CNET Executive Editor David Carnoy attended the G1's New York City launch event Tuesday where he gave the phone a good once-over in our First Look video. Check it out to get his impression of the handset's design and features
Meanwhile, when she wasn't providing extensive analysis of the G1 on Tuesday, Associate Editor Nicole Lee composed this photo gallery of the G1 in all its glory.
The T-Mobile G1 will go on sale October 22. We'll have a review just as soon as we can get a phone in our hands.
The T-Mobile G1 doesn't give us everything that we wanted.
(Credit: T-Mobile)With the new T-Mobile G1, aka the HTC Dream, the Google Android OS is now a reality. The touch-screen device with the QWERTY keyboard offers a host of intriguing features but there a few things left off the list, some of which are surprising. Here's what we noticed so far.
Exchange server support
Sure, this may come later, but this is a glaring omission on any handset that's hoping for a slice of the smartphone pie. Of course, that also means there's no Outlook calendar and contacts syncing, either.
Video recording
We've raked Apple over the coals for not including this on the iPhone, so we'll have to to the same for the G1. Video should just be standard on a phone with a 3-megapixel camera.
Stereo Bluetooth
The support for the new Amazon MP3 Store shows that the T-Mobile G1 is not taking its music player lightly. Stereo Bluetooth is a common feature these days, and the G1 should have it, particularly since there's no 3.5mm headset jack (that's next).
3.5mm headset jack
Seriously, HTC and T-Mobile, no 3.5mm headset jack? The port uses a proprietary connection? Wow...that's just wrong. Even if you can use your own headset with an adapter, you shouldn't have to.
Interface
The G1 won't have Apple's multitouch interface either, but that's something we can live without.
No tethered modem
Apparently, the G1 will not offer modem capability. That's pretty low on our list, but it's worth noting just the same.
What else were you hoping for? Is there anything that you think that the G1 should have?
In New York City Tuesday, T-Mobile will unveil one of the most anticipated handsets of the year.
The T-Mobile G1, aka the HTC Dream, aka the Google phone, will be the first cell phone with the Google Android OS to go on sale. Exact features are still a bit sketchy, and we still can't confirm with complete certainty what it will look like, but we know that the G1 will go on sale in October.
As T-Mobile shows the phone off to the world CNET News's Maggie Reardon will be on hand to bring you all the details. Then, after we have a bit of time to process it all, we'll bring you slide shows, videos, and an in-depth analysis on what the handset offers and what it means for the cell phone world. Check out our full coverage of the T-Mobile G1 and Google Android.
In the meantime, be sure to tell us what you want from the G1 and Android. What will make it a killer device? What apps should it have? And can it take on the iPhone?
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