G1 - Android Community

Tagged: G1

Google Latitude location-sharing app hitting Android

By Chris Davies
on 4 Feb, 2009

Google have released Google Latitude, an update to their Mobile Maps app which adds the ability to share your location with other users, track friends' movements and trigger calls, emails and IM conversations with them directly from Latitude's user interface. Available for Android devices now, G1 users in the US will be receiving Maps v3.0 in a system update soon. Since using GPS in this way can be a contentious issue, Google have given Latitude users the ability to restrict location information on a contact-by-contact basis; alternatively it will let you enter a false position manually. Results are shown either on a map or in a list, from which individual people can be contacted without having to exit Latitude and go into your phonebook. Right now, the app works in 27 countries; there's also an iGoogle plugin available for desktop use. Since not everybody uses a T-Mobile G1, Latitude is also available for most Windows Mobile 5.0 and above devices, most Symbian S60 handsets, and most color BlackBerry smartphones. Versions for the iPhone, iPod touch and many Sony Ericsson handsets will apparently be available soon. [gallery] [via TechCrunch]

G1 gets Voice-Controlled Search with RC-33 update

By Chris Davies
on 4 Feb, 2009

Google have added voice-controlled searching to the T-Mobile G1, part of the new feature set introduced in the latest firmware update. The widget has been integrated into both the Android browser and the home screen search bar, in the form of a new microphone icon. Tapping the icon brings up a "Speak now" prompt, at which point you can search for multi-word terms. If the app doesn't correctly recognize your voice, you can also choose the arrow to the right of the search box and see a drop-down list of other suggested interpretations. The Google Android team claim to be working on refining the recognition algorithms for future updates. The functionality also works within the Android browser, and can be accessed by choosing Menu > Search and tapping the microphone icon. Unfortunately the new functionality is currently only available in the US, with the RC-33 firmware rolling out over this coming week. Have you tried voice-controlled searching on the G1? Impressed or disappointed? [gallery]

RC-33 Update On Its Way, No Cupcake Included

By Brady Landgren
on 2 Feb, 2009

Reports are trickling in that some users on the T-Mobile G1 official forums have received an OTA update to their phones, bringing the software version to RC-33. Confirmation has been released by a T-Mobile employee on the same forums. Check after the jump for more details.

ING Wegwijzer ATM locater app uses Augmented Reality

By Chris Davies
on 1 Feb, 2009

Bank ING have announced a free app for Android-based handsets, which helps users locate their nearest ATM. The software, ING Wegwijzer ("ING Signpost"), takes advantage not only of the T-Mobile G1's GPS functionality but also its digital compass, presenting directions to the closest cash-machine overlaid onto a real-time view of their surroundings. It's similar in concept to Lastminute's nru app, which highlights activities such as galleries, cinemas, bars and restaurants. Both apps offer a form of augmented-reality, where internet data is combined with real-time information from around the user; by holding the G1 up as if taking a photo and then turning around, the software keeps the information positioned appropriately. Another example is the Wikitude AR Travel Guide, also available for the G1. Unfortunately the service is only available in the Netherlands at present, meaning those outside the country will have a long walk to whichever ATM the app flags up. Still, it's great to see a well-known company pick up on Android's capabilities and promote software for it, something we'll hopefully see even more of in other regions. [gallery] [via Springwise]

G1 Not Carrier Switch-Worthy?

By Brady Landgren
on 31 Jan, 2009

According to Q4 earnings reports, T-Mobile has reported just 621,000 new customers for the final 3 months of 2008, a 35 percent drop in new subscribers from the same period in 2007. That brings T-Mobile's total subscriber base to an estimated 32.8 million users.

Android Cupcake gets Video Demo

By Chris Davies
on 28 Jan, 2009

More and more developers are getting their hands on Cupcake, the non-official next-gen build of Android, as Google seemingly relax their grip on the software. After we saw screenshots late last week, now it's time for some video: a walkthrough of firmware 1.5. In it, the new portrait-orientation keyboard is demonstrated - meaning that owners of devices like the T-Mobile G1 wouldn't have to slide out the hardware QWERTY in order to type a message - together with the new notepad application. There's also some screentime for the two new apps, both presumed to be demo rather than full-release candidates, and the Global Time app which shows which parts of the earth are currently in sunlight. Less eye-catching, but arguably more useful, are the Live Folders - which can be set to auto-refresh on your desktop, with "All Contacts", "Contacts with phone number", and "Starred Contacts" currently supported - and the new emoticon support for both SMS messages and IM chats. Google have also thrown in a lot of multi-region language support. Nothing, for the most part, that we haven't seen before, but if you've been desperately watching the still images to see if they start moving, the clip below is for you. If, more excitingly, you'd like to try Cupcake out for yourself, check out this tutorial. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfsvXJUVlY0[/youtube]

Multitouch hack for T-Mobile G1: Video Demo

By Chris Davies
on 26 Jan, 2009

While the hardware of the T-Mobile G1 can support multitouch, and the users certainly could deal with it, neither HTC nor Google themselves gave the smartphone the ability to recognize more than one simultaneous touch. Now that's all changed, thanks to coder Luke Hutchison, who has put together a multitouch hack for the G1. As you can see in the video demo, the hack adds pinch & spread zooming to the G1's browser, together with maps support, replacing the usual zoom controls. Right now this is more a proof-of-concept than anything else, though it's usable, and needs OpenGL acceleration support and kinetic scrolling (where the page continues scrolling after you "flick" it) before it will go as smoothly as multitouch on the Apple iPhone is. Installation is not for the faint-hearted, either, requiring a reflash of the G1's hardware and the potential risk of bricking your smartphone. If you're brave, the full instructions are here. The hacked apps - Browser and MapViewer - also include accelerometer-linked screen rotation, so you can use them in landscape mode without needing to flick out the keyboard. There's also a photo browser with multitouch support. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZEshnuQcno[/youtube] [Thanks Simon!]

All T-Mobile Retail Outlets to Get G1

By Brady Landgren
on 23 Jan, 2009

Are you a resident of T-Mobile's still-fairly-limited 3G coverage area? If so, you've been the only ones getting your hands on the G1 from an actual store...up until now. Word has it that tomorrow, January 24th, all T-mobile retail outlets across the country will begin selling the T-Mobile G1 with Google to customers directly in-store.

Truphone Anywhere ‘VoIP’ app for Android launches

By Chris Davies
on 22 Jan, 2009

Truphone have announced a version of their Truphone Anywhere client for the T-Mobile G1. The app, a free download from the Android Market, is available in the US, UK and, in preparation for the G1's release in Germany come March 2009, in German. As well as free VoIP calls over WiFi between Truphone users, the service claims to offer lower-cost international calls.

nru location-based activities app for G1: Video Demo

By Chris Davies
on 21 Jan, 2009

Travel website lastminute.com have released an app for the T-Mobile G1 that flags up nearby activities on a radar-style display. nru ("near you") takes advantage of the G1's GPS and compass to work out where the user is, offering up a range of bars, restaurants, cinemas and cafés - among other things - that are geographically close. The app uses information from several online databases, including Qype and fonefood, and thanks to the compass the display is automatically changed depending on which direction you're currently pointing in. It can also find nearby shows and concerts, landmarks, and presumably any other category that lastminute later add. Once you've found a place that sounds interesting, a tap opens up the venue listing with whatever details, reviews and photos are available. Held horizontally, with the screen facing up, nru shows the radar-style interface; hold it up, in either portrait or landscape orientation, and it shows whereabouts on your sight-line the nearest venue is. A free download from the Android Marketplace, nru is currently only available to UK G1 users. [youtube]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fMA7wAU5BH0[/youtube] [Thanks Toby!]