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Here's a rundown of the statistics Medialets have published:
* 167 Apps have been downloaded between between 667,000 and 2.9 Million times.
* Downloads are being driven by 41 apps, which account for between 73% and 83% of all possible downloads.
* Two applications, Pac-Man by Namco and The Weather channel generated the most downloads (50,000 - 250,000).
* Although download ranges can be very large, growth on the low-end was still nearly 80% during the first week.
* 5 Categories account for 61% of all apps.
* The number of apps has nearly tripled since launch, led by the Games, Tools and Productivity categories. Via TalkAndroid .
Those numbers are pretty impressive, especially considering that all those applications were downloaded over the air from the Market. The Android Market is only available through the device unlike the iPhone's App Store which is available through iTunes on a Mac or PC and through the iPhone or touch.
Labels: android, g1, google, t mobile
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 11/02/2008 12:13:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Last week T-Mobile began to release a software update over the air for the G1, but later stopped because Google had a Browser patch that wasn't in the RC28 version. Android Community received the update early this morning on their G1. The update is expected to address some bugs in the Android OS, some issues with the Amazon MP3 Store, and a patch for the Browser.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/30/2008 03:19:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
The T-Mobile G1 hasn't even been out a full week and its already been unlocked to work on AT&T's network.
"Unlocking the G1 is very quick and easy, in fact anyone who can make a phone call can unlock their G1 with no trouble at all. Unlock-TMobileG1.com offers unlock codes for $22.99 USD. After placing an order including your IMEI code you will receive an eight-digit unlock code for your device. Your IMEI number can be found by pressing *#06# in the dialer, or by going into your settings, selecting “About phone” and then selecting “Status”. The IMEI number then can be found about half way down, it is 15 digits long." Via Android Community .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/29/2008 02:27:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"Motorola Inc.'s new cellphone chief is moving quickly to scale back the struggling division, simplifying the way it makes devices and cutting additional jobs.
Sanjay Jha, who also became Motorola's co-chief executive in August, has decided to focus on Google Inc.'s Android operating system as the software platform for Motorola's showcase phones, according to people familiar with the matter.
Mr. Jha is expected to detail his plans -- which will likely include thousands of layoffs -- as early as Thursday when the company reports earnings, these people said." Via The Wall Street Journal .
Labels: android, google, motorola
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/29/2008 11:37:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Wal-Mart said it would start selling the touch-screen phone for $148.88 on Wednesday October 29 in about 550 stores for consumers who sign up for a two-year T-Mobile USA contract, and as more phones become available it will expand further.
T-Mobile USA, the No. 4 U.S. mobile service, last week kicked off sales of the device, which is made by HTC Corp (2498.TW), for $179.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien said on Tuesday that the company wanted to offer its customers the "products they want at the very best value."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/28/2008 05:56:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
In the end, Google decided to rebuild the existing update with a patch that fixes the issue and redistribute it as update RC29. The new update was released yesterday at about 4PM Pacific time, October 27th, which explains why many users did not receive the update this weekend. For those who did manage to get the RC28 update you will be prompted to upgrade to the RC29 update." Via Android Community .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/28/2008 05:29:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"HTC CEO Peter Chou told Mercury News, “We are very excited about this new Android (Google’s mobile operating system) approach. This will give us more opportunities for growth. Of course, we are not de-prioritizing Windows Mobile by any means. However, with Android we can do more. We should be doing good numbers, but I can’t disclose the details. It will be more than what we originally planned. I’m saying we will ship more than 600,000.” Via Android Community .
Labels: android, g1, htc, t mobile
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/27/2008 08:43:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
He told the National Press Club in Washington that he didn’t think Android in its current form is ”good enough to put the Sprint brand on it.” But Hesse promised to sell a phone powered by Android “at some time in the future.” Sprint is part of the alliance of about 30 companies that said they would support Google’s development of a mobile phone operating system." Via Reuters .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/27/2008 08:38:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
One of the strengths the G1 has over the iPhone is its physical keyboard, one of its weaknesses is it doesn't have a touchscreen keyboard like the iPhone. If you use the G1 in portraid mode there is no way to enter text without sliding out the keyboard, which then puts the screen in landscape mode. The touchscreen keyboard was left out supposedly to get people to use the physical keyboard. G1 owners have been sounding off (it's been a little over 24 hours since being released) that they want both types of keyboards, and Google has listened. The Android Roadmap has been updated with this new information.
Q1 2009
Input method framework (IMF)
This feature will enable support for input methods other than physical keyboards, for example soft keyboards. IMF will also enable application developers to provide IME (see below) applications based on the framework.
Input method engines (IME)
IME will support soft keyboards, a dictionary of suggestions, and a suggestion algorithm. The Android platform may contain few reference IMEs, and developers can provide IME applications through the Android Market.
Things are moving pretty fast in the Android world. Gotta love open source ;)
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/23/2008 02:42:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the national availability of the highly anticipated T-Mobile G1 with Google, the first Android™-powered mobile phone. The T-Mobile G1 combines full touch-screen functionality and a QWERTY keyboard with a rich mobile Web experience, dozens of Android Market applications, and popular Google products that millions have enjoyed on the desktop, including Google Maps Street View™, Gmail™, YouTube™ and others.
Beginning today, consumers can purchase the phone in select retail stores across the country and online at http://www.T-MobileG1.com .
“During the past month, we’ve seen unbridled excitement for the T-Mobile G1 and the positive impact it will have on the mobile lives of our customers,” said Denny Marie Post, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. “In fact, among those T-Mobile customers who have pre-ordered the phone, roughly half have traded up from a basic handset, illustrating the leap many consumers are taking to a rich, accessible mobile Web experience. Its design, functionality and value make the first-of-its-kind T-Mobile G1 a truly approachable device for the masses.”
With a fun and intuitive user interface and one-touch access to Google Search, the T-Mobile G1 is the first phone to offer access to Android Market, which hosts unique applications and mashups of existing and new services from developers around the world. Customers can find and download a wide range of innovative applications—from games to social networking and on-the-go shopping—to personalize their phone and enhance their mobile lifestyle. Even better, for a limited time, the dozens of applications available on Android Market are available free-of-charge for T-Mobile G1 users.
“With new, high-value applications constantly being added to Android Market for customers to discover, the T-Mobile G1 is the phone that grows with you,” said Post. “And as the Market continues to grow and evolve, the possibilities are virtually endless.”
Customers can purchase and carry away the T-Mobile G1 at T-Mobile retail stores and select third-party stores in major cities where T-Mobile’s 3G service is currently available. T-Mobile 3G service is currently available in 95 major cities across top population centers. For a list of cities where T-Mobile 3G service is available, please visit http://www.T-MobileG1.com/3G.aspx or see T-Mobile’s Personal Coverage Check tool, available online at http://www.T-Mobile.com/Coverage . All T-Mobile stores across the country will have demonstration devices on-hand and can assist customers with ordering the device for delivery at a later date.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/22/2008 07:32:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
I wanted to post some iPhone 3G and T-Mobile G1 comparison pics.
The G1 is turning out to be a very impressive device even compared to the iPhone 3G (I wasn't sure it would be). The T-Mobile G1 is the first device to run Google's Android OS, and let me tell you it doesn't disappoint. In terms of 3G network speed, the 3G on the G1 (say that 3 times fast) is beating the iPhone's 3G speeds in my area, it's very fast. I've had the G1 for less than 24 hours so stay tuned !
Labels: android, g1, iphone 3G, t mobile
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/21/2008 06:22:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Based on the Open Handset Alliance's (OHA) Android operating system, the G1 will go on sale at T-Mobile stores on Wednesday, costing $179 with a two year voice and data agreement.
This week, T-Mobile has added 3G coverage in the Sacramento, California, area as well as Memphis, Tennessee, and Tampa, Florida.
T-Mo said it will launch 3G service in and around the Washington, D.C., area in late November, taking the number of locations with 3G coverage to more than 120 major cities across the top population centres nationwide. The operator said its 3G network can deliver download speeds of up to 1Mbps." Via telecoms.com
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/21/2008 11:47:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Today, Google and the Open Handset Alliance announced the availability of the Android platform source code to everyone, for free, under the new Android Open Source Project. This represents the first truly open and fully featured mobile platform which will enable people to create a mobile device without restrictions, build applications that run on Android powered devices, and contribute to the core platform.
As an open source project, anyone can contribute to Android and influence its direction. It means that anyone can download, build, and run the code needed to create a complete mobile device. With an open source platform, developers, OEMs, carriers and code contributors are given the opportunity to build faster, cheaper and more innovative devices and services.
Android is a complete, end-to-end software platform that can be adapted to work on any number of hardware configurations. Having an open source mobile platform will dramatically reduce the time and resources required to bring mobile devices to market. Handset manufactures can access a complete, full featured mobile stack without any barriers and get a head-start in creating as contemporary a device that they want to build. Developers for the first time can contribute code, with a full set APIs that allows the platform to host applications written by third-party developers and carriers can offer faster, cheaper and more innovative devices and services.
"Open source allows everyone and anyone equal access to the ideas and innovation that can make good products great," said Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms, Google. "An open sourced mobile platform, that's constantly being improved upon by the community and is available for everyone to use, speeds innovation, is an engine of economic opportunity and provides a better mobile experience for users.
With the availability of Android to the open source community, consumers will start to see more applications like location-based travel tools, games and social networking offerings available to them directly; cheaper and faster phones at lower costs; and a better mobile web experience through 3G networks with richer screens.
The code can be found under the Android Open Source Project, the open source initiative for Android now available at source.android.com.
For more information around the Android Open Source Project visit, source.android.com .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/21/2008 11:22:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
T-Mobile has begun shipping the G1 to T-Mobile customers who pre-ordered the device when it was initially announced. I received the G1 about an hour ago and wanted to post some "unboxing" pictures and some first impressions. The G1 feels solid, great in the hand, has a gorgeous screen, and the Android OS is very snappy. Stay tuned for more thoughts on the G1.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/20/2008 07:12:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
T-Mobile is lovin' the fact that they are the 1st carrier to offer a smartphone running Google's Andorid OS. T-Mobile ran out of pre-orders soon after they announced the G1. Now there are reports that T-Mobile has already reserved the G1 for 1.5 million early adopters.
Via Engadget .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/14/2008 12:01:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
The T-Mobile G1 is proving to be a hit for T-Mobile even before it actually gets into customers hands.
"Given the great anticipation and the heavy pre-sale demand for the T-Mobile G1 with Google, we nearly tripled the number of phones initially available for delivery on our Oct. 22 launch date, and have sold through them all. However, to accommodate additional T-Mobile customers who want to pre-order a device, they now have the opportunity to place a pre-order through Oct. 21, for delivery at a later date. Also, people can still pre-register on the T-Mobile G1 Web site to be notified prior to launch where they can purchase the device beginning Oct. 22."
T-Mobile has updated the G1 pre-order page due to demand. If you ordered a G1 before October 3, 2008 you will receive your G1 as early as October 22, 2008. If you order a G1 now through October 21, 2008 you'll receive your G1 as early as November 10, 2008. This only pertains to T-Mobile customers. New T-Mobile customers will be able to order the T-Mobile G1 starting October 22, 2008.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/03/2008 08:50:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
TmoNews has posted the 1st unboxing pictures of the T-Mobile G1. The G1 will be in stores on October 22, and T-Mobile customers that pre-ordered the G1 when it was announced will be getting theirs on or before October 22.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/01/2008 08:07:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
TmoNews is reporting that T-Mobile has posted the G1 User Guide on its site. If you want to get acquainted with the G1 before it hits your doorstep take a look.
Labels: android, g1, google, t mobile
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/25/2008 06:37:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
T-Mobile officially announced the G1, aka the "Google Phone". The G1 will cost $179 with a 2 year contract, available on October 22, 2008. T-Mobile is allowing current T-Mobile customers the option of pre-ordering today, the G1 will be on your doorstep on or before October 22, 2008. The G1 will be available in T-Mobile retail stores on October 22, 2008. The G1's specs are:
* Android OS
* HSDPA 1700 / 2100 plus quadband EDGE
* WiFi
* 3-megapixel camera
* Android Market for on-device app purchases
* Amazon MP3 app for on-device music purchases
* Push Gmail support with full HTML client
* Bluetooth (but no A2DP)
* Google Maps with Street View
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/23/2008 12:34:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 2008--Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that the Amazon MP3 music store will be pre-loaded on the T-Mobile G1, the world's first Android(TM)-powered mobile phone in partnership with Google. T-Mobile G1 users can search, download, buy and play music from Amazon MP3, which offers over 6 million DRM-free MP3 songs from all four major music labels and thousands of independent labels that can be played on virtually any hardware device and managed with any music software.
"Amazon wants to make it easy for customers to discover, buy, and play their music wherever they happen to be--whether sitting at their computer or on the go," said Bill Carr, Amazon.com Vice President for Digital Music and Video. "We look forward to the release of the T-Mobile G1, which will put Amazon MP3's vast selection of low-priced DRM-free music at the fingertips of even more customers in more places."
The T-Mobile G1 comes pre-loaded with an Amazon MP3 application, giving customers a phone-optimized version of the Amazon MP3 store and the immediate gratification of buying and playing their favorite music. Amazon MP3 has worked to make its DRM-free music available through numerous products and services, such as Pandora MySpace Music, and now Android and T-Mobile G1.
Downloading music from Amazon MP3 using the T-Mobile G1 requires a Wi-Fi connection but searching, browsing, listening to samples and buying MP3s can be done wherever customers are connected to the T-Mobile network. Downloaded MP3s can be played anytime on the T-Mobile G1, PCs, Macs or any other MP3 music player.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/23/2008 08:57:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
AH
T-Mobile isn't holding back, they will be the FIRST carrier to launch Google's 1st Android based smartphone. Even though the official unVeiling is happening tomorrow @ 10:30 am EDT, they have already posted an official website for the G1 .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/22/2008 10:22:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
The price of the new Google (GOOG) smart phone would put the device head-to-head with Apple’s $199 iPhone (AAPL). The Google phone, which features a touchscreen and is made by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, faces some stiff competition. The iPhone 3G has generated significant interest among consumers for redefining touch-screen technology, popularizing mobile applications and significantly improving Web navigation on cell phones.
T-Mobile (DT), the first carrier that will run Google’s Android mobile software, will show off the new phone to analysts and reporters on Tuesday in Manhattan. It is expected to hit stores later this fall."
Labels: android, google, t mobile
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/18/2008 03:52:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Google has announced the "Android Market" for their Android Operating System. It's very much like the App Store, but unlike the App Store, Google will not be picking and choosing what apps are offered.
"Developers will be able to make their content available on an open service hosted by Google that features a feedback and rating system similar to YouTube. We chose the term "market" rather than "store" because we feel that developers should have an open and unobstructed environment to make their content available. Similar to YouTube, content can debut in the marketplace after only three simple steps: register as a merchant, upload and describe your content and publish it. We also intend to provide developers with a useful dashboard and analytics to help drive their business and ultimately improve their offerings."
Labels: android
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/28/2008 03:36:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Pre-orders will begin on September 17 for existing T-Mobile customers for $199 with a 2 year contract. Customers will receive their Android smartphone on October 13th, public launch day.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/21/2008 08:10:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
A spokesman for Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile's German parent, declined to comment on the launch date for the device which is made by mobile phone maker HTC.
According to a report in the New York Times, the phone will hit the stores in the United States before Christmas, perhaps as early as October.
The new device will have a touch screen like the iPhone and other smartphones that use software from firms like Palm, Microsoft and Nokia to allow users to access the Internet.
But the screen also slides out to expose a full five-row keyboard, the New York Times report said." Via Yahoo News .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/18/2008 02:29:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
If today's rumors and this video is legit, you're looking at the 1st Android OS based smartphone. HTC is the manufacturer and T-Mobile is expected to be the 1st carrier to offer the smartphone.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/12/2008 09:20:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
"presale of the G1, T-mobile customers can pick up the phone for $150. This is where it gets interasting, we’re not seeing any prices for new activations during the presale, so this could mean that only current T-mobile customers can pick up the G1 during the presale.
So far expected specs include 3G, a 5″ long by 3″ wide touch screen, and a slide out Qwerty keypad, and no mention of UMA or Wifi. We’re really excited for this all-too-secret device to hit T-mobile’s lineup. Stay tuned to Tmonews for more information coming soon!
The HTC Dream (G1) will have a 3.0 megapixel camera. The presale will last 1 week, and be for existing customers only. Employees are not included in the presale, sorry! Presale begins Wednesday, September 17th, and 3G will be a large aspect of this device. "
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/12/2008 08:49:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Google is hoping Android will become the dominant operating system for mobile phones. It is designed to improve the quality of the Internet experience on handsets.
"We are seeing a number of technology companies demonstrating how Android will operate on their technology," Google spokesman Barry Schnitt told AFP on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress. "Clearly momentum is building."
ARM, Marvell, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, NEC, ST Microelectronics were showing prototypes on Monday, the companies and sources confirmed.
"We're demonstrating a prototype of Android," a spokesman for ARM told AFP. US chip maker Texas Instruments is to demonstrate another prototype phone later Monday in public.
Analysts say the establishment of Android as the industry standard would enable Google to become the key search engine on mobile phones, enabling it to earn advertising revenues.
The first Android-enabled phone is expected to go on sale in the second half of this year."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/11/2008 10:12:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Come see our Android “Toys” in Action!
We were so excited about our new “toys” for the Android platform that we decided to make a couple of short videos to show you how it works (besides, that keeps you from having to muck around with the emulator). They are just under 2 minutes each.
Google for Android (1:42) – shows mobile shopping, news search and stock quote look-up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUAPtGmhp_8
Tipper for Android (1:29) – shows a tip being calculated for a meal and the bill split between five people. A second example varies the amount, percent tip and number of payers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhaoy29Oe4U
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/08/2008 03:33:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Gizmodo has posted a picture of a smartphone running Google's smartphone OS Android.
Labels: android
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 12/18/2007 10:20:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Palm has responded to today's Android announcement from Google.
"Palm has always been committed to open platforms for developers. And Palm has the added differentiation of being able to tightly integrate the software platform with our hardware design, which we believe gives us an advantage in delivering a great user experience.
Palm customers have benefited from the availability of Google services on Palm's platform, such as Google Maps for mobile on Palm OS. And we look forward to further collaboration with Google to offer great user experiences on Palm products."
It's no surprise that Palm isn't aligned with Google and their Android Linux-based operating system. Palm has been working on their own Linux-based mobile operating system for years;) In all seriousness, Palm has too much invested (money and time) in their Linux-based Palm OS to join forces with Google. Hopefully Palm will ship devices running their Linux-based OS before Android-based devices ship. One can only hope...
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 11/05/2007 07:27:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Group Pledges to Unleash Innovation for Mobile Users Worldwide
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.; BONN, Germany; TAOYUAN, Taiwan; SAN DIEGO, Calif.; SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (November 5, 2007) -- A broad alliance of leading technology and wireless companies today joined forces to announce the development of Android, the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others have collaborated on the development of Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders.
This alliance shares a common goal of fostering innovation on mobile devices and giving consumers a far better user experience than much of what is available on today's mobile platforms. By providing developers a new level of openness that enables them to work more collaboratively, Android will accelerate the pace at which new and compelling mobile services are made available to consumers.
With nearly 3 billion users worldwide, the mobile phone has become the most personal and ubiquitous communications device. However, the lack of a collaborative effort has made it a challenge for developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers to respond as quickly as possible to the ever-changing needs of savvy mobile consumers. Through Android, developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers will be better positioned to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. The end result will be an unprecedented mobile platform that will enable wireless operators and manufacturers to give their customers better, more personal and more flexible mobile experiences.
Thirty-four companies have formed the Open Handset Alliance, which aims to develop technologies that will significantly lower the cost of developing and distributing mobile devices and services. The Android platform is the first step in this direction -- a fully integrated mobile "software stack" that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications. Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android to be available in the second half of 2008.
The Android platform will be made available under one of the most progressive, developer-friendly open-source licenses, which gives mobile operators and device manufacturers significant freedom and flexibility to design products. Next week the Alliance will release an early access software development kit to provide developers with the tools necessary to create innovative and compelling applications for the platform.
Android holds the promise of unprecedented benefits for consumers, developers and manufacturers of mobile services and devices. Handset manufacturers and wireless operators will be free to customize Android in order to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. Developers will have complete access to handset capabilities and tools that will enable them to build more compelling and user-friendly services, bringing the Internet developer model to the mobile space. And consumers worldwide will have access to less expensive mobile devices that feature more compelling services, rich Internet applications and easier-to-use interfaces -- ultimately creating a superior mobile experience.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 11/05/2007 11:59:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Contact Jimmie Geddes here: gadgetsonthego at gmail dot com.
