A new application called AndNav2 brings free real-time and turn-by-turn navigation capabilities to your favorite handset (the G1, of course). The release is public alpha, so be wary of bugs, but free is free and the developers sure look like they know where they want this project to go. Audible directions are also available with the included Text2Speech library. Apparently, small advertisements embedded in the application facilitate the free nature of the app, but they seem to be relatively non-intrusive. Address search, POI lookup and contact entry are all supported in the alpha. Check out a video below:
Android just announced the release of a new development branch named “cupcake“. Cupcake supposedly includes new application features including ”bug fixes, a video recorder, the ability to save MMS attachments and more.” Other improvements include better bluetooth support, HTTP handling and improved JavaScript functionality. Although this branch is strictly marked as development, these features and likely more are sure to be included in a release in the new future.
Sure there are some great applications in the Android Market for stay up-to-date with sports, but Google once again has to trump them all and release the killer app - Google Scoreboard. Straight from Google, Scoreboard allows you to: “Access daily sports scores for Football, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, and College Sports. Get Live in-game notifications for your favorite teams.” Check it out in the Android Market, it’s totally free.
Just when you thought no phone could look better than the iPhone, here comes the Lenovo Ophone. Intended for use on China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) 3G standard, the phone boasts some of the sleakest looks we’ve ever seen. Not much is known about functionality other than included SD card expansion slot and a single hardware button (reminiscent of you-know-what’s single front-facing hardware button). The pictures also show a 5.0 megapixel camera embedded right into the back. Details are sure to come, but for now feast your eyes on what could possibly be the best looking phone ever made.
Though some may doubt Sprint’s commitment to Android, a quip from Sprint featured on InternetNews.com seems to disprove any speculation of Sprint’s infidelity to Android:
Sprint is engaged with Android — no need to question our commitment.
Thanks for the opportunity to share our perspective
Sprint is actively engaged with the Android community; for competitive reasons, we have not been specific about the timing of an Android phone from Sprint.
Sprint is a charter member of the Open Handset Alliance.
Sprint has a long history of leadership in working closely with developers to encourage them to create new content that can be offered on Sprint phones. The Titan platform is an example of Sprint’s work with the developer community. Our participation in the OHA and our work with the Android community is another example.
Though the source from Sprint is unknown, the comment seems very well-worded and confident about an upcoming involvement with Android.
Visa has broken new ground for Android with it’s recent release of the Visa Mobile application. As the first of it’s kind for Android, we’re bound to see some updates and changes in the near future. But for an initial release, the application offers some valuable features for Visa cardholders. These include instant alerts on your handset so you can track charges to your card as they occur and quickly realize if someone is using your card. You’ll also have access to “Offers” which can be redeemed at locations quickly identifiable by the included Store Locator.
The “Offers” and “Locator” features are nice, but of primary importance for most cardholders is the ability track purchases made with your card in realtime. Check the video after the break for a great demo of the application.
The Google Android Market is now live. What’s the Android Market? It’s sort of like the App Store for the the iPhone. But for cellphones running the Android OS. Right now, that means the T-Mobile G1. Because the G1 isn’t locked down as tightly as the iPhone, you’re free to install applications that don’t come from the Android Market. Handango and MobiHand have already launched their own Android stores with free and commercial software.
But if you prefer to go through the official channel, the Android Market now has about 50 applications including WikiMobile for mobile access to Wikipedia, SplashPlay for learning to play the guitar, and iSkoot for making Skype VoIP calls on your Android phone. There’s also a weather map program called iMap and a mobile client for streaming music service iMeem.
There are still far more applications for iPhone, Symbian, Palm, or Windows Mobile devices than there are for Android phones. But considering today is day one, these are already some pretty impressive apps.
All of the apps available in the Android Market today are available as free downloads. Starting Monday, developers will be able to upload their own software after paying a $25 application fee. And next year Google will allow developers to sell commercial applications in the Android Market.
Kyocera wireless announced today that they have begun work on a new product platform that incorporates Google’s Android. The announcement states a collaboration with Wind River Systems, a key leader in Device Software Optimization.
Wind River Systems, an embedded computing specialist that’s increased its staff to help manufacturers support Android, said Tuesday it’s providing engineering services to help incorporate the software from the 34-member Open Handset Alliance that has collectively built Android so far.
It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to expect the first CDMA Android phone (Verizon or Sprint) to be built by Kyocera based on a quote by Kyocera’s Dave Carey, vice president and general manager of the Consumer Products Group, “We are committed to developing compelling consumer devices that leverage our robust technology portfolio. Our goal is to make Kyocera the leader in Android integration among CDMA device manufacturers in the markets we serve.”
Google has just released the source code for the Android software stack, timed perfectly with tomorrow’s release of the G1. Under the Apache license, anyone could conceivably utilize the entire software stack to create their own cell phone. Word comes from Google’s new open-source page for Android.
Google says that with the new open-source release, consumers can expect to see more advanced and integrated applications as well as cheaper and faster smart phones. We assume that Motorola has been waiting anxiously on this release to get started on their own social-networking phone.
It’s safe to say that Android is now poised to create some huge waves in the smartphone market, starting by creating downward pressure on smartphone market prices.
T-Mobile UK says reports that they will be making the G1 available to subscribers on October 30th. Unlike Apple’s delayed European iPhone release, T-Mobile is making the wise decision to get the phone out across the world as quickly as possible. Initially, the G1 wasn’t expected to hit Europe until well into November.
The two tariffs (price plans) available both offer the G1 for free and are significantly cheaper than the plans bundled with Apple’s iPhone. Both are priced at 40 and include a generous variety of talk time/text messaging combinations.
Jim Hyde, managing director of T-Mobile UK spoke about the release: “With so much excitement generated by the announcement last month, we’re thrilled to bring the T-Mobile G1 to the UK in time for Christmas. [...] It’s set to revolutionise the way we use the internet on our mobiles: it’s uniquely built for effortless online communication – whether you want to email, text or blog – and with access to some groundbreaking applications on Android market, the possibilities really are endless.”
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