As 2008 came to a close, we saw the first hints of a new developmental branch of Android called “Cupcake”. Promising video recording, copy and paste, stereo bluetooth and more, an endless clamor has rang from the userbase ever since. There’s still no word as to when we can expect it to drop onto devices, nor are they making promises that any specific feature will make it on to any given handset (be it the G1 or a future release) – but with the Cupcake branch at a reasonably stable point and beginning to show some of its new tricks, we thought we’d do a video run-through of what has made it in so far.
Some of the biggest features (including those mentioned up above) have yet to make it in, or are untestable in the Android SDK emulator.
Here’s what’s changed so far:
- Firmware Version: 1.5
- Onscreen keyboard has been added for portrait mode, allowing the user to type with the touchscreen. If this is enabled on the G1, users won’t have to open the keyboard to type unless they want to, addressing a common complaint amongst early adopters.
- Two new apps, though it’s unclear (and from their rudimentary state, seemingly unlikely) if they’re intended for the final build or just demo apps:
- Global Time: Shows how the sun is currently lighting the earth
- Note pad: Ultra basic note pad – of the three, the most likely to make it into the final build.
Want to check out Cupcake for yourself? If you’re comfortable installing the Android SDK and replacing a handful of files, it’s dead simple – check out this tutorial from Nullwire for more details.
Global Time: that’s the killer feature.
Some folks have issues getting blip.tv to work, so here’s the same video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfsvXJUVlY0
Global time is the best app he showed.
that soft keyboard looks unusable…
I just hope they fix many bugs… and make it faster.
None of this matters until it gets merged into the trunk and next to none of it will.
Stick to building your functionality in Dalvik if you want people to use it.
I of course mean the Google trunk.
Android will be developed and become one of the best OS for mobile …
It already is.
“iPhone SDK 2.2.1 is now available”
This just came out like 5 seconds ago. Ask me if I’m going to download it? ask me if I care?
http://picasaweb.google.com/chriswebshare/Baileys?authkey=Ub0b85ShlaY#5295850994521798258
Until Apple lets me run services on the phone I DO NOT CARE.
And now they’re trying to ban jiggly boobs???
WTFH. Seriously. Why do our apps have to be approved? Where’s the no jailbreak installer?
I feel like I’m developing for Hitler in Nazi germany.
Or, you know, a consignment store. Where the owner gets to pick what goes on the shelf based on what won’t frighten their customers away and will make them cash.
Could it be that it’s not so sinister, and just based on good business ideals?
I have a G1 and an iPhone, and am still amazed at the snail’s pace of progress getting a good selection of apps for the G1 on my phone that make it useful and cool.
Just while I was on the toilet the other day, I downloaded a stun gun for the iPhone, and proceeded to “tase” a buncha people at a local bar and make friends.
G1 == major letdown SO FAR, but also unlimited potential. The trick will be if having potential is enough to get the ball rolling, or if the more constrained (but immediately popular) Apple App Store model will actually drive MORE innovation.
Also, pervy-devs: keep a light on, dev your apps, and wait. They will be allowed on the iPhone just as soon as it gets enough marketshare, or business slows down enough.
I tried G1 for 3 days and got rid of it. iPhone is so much more polished.
TIP: If you are using “The Busy Coder’s Guide to Android Development” for a head start, beware, the section on services shows you to start your service and use the OnPause and OnResume to halt and restart the COM interface.
DON’T!!!
What he does in that book defeats the entire purpose of IPC. You want your IPC code to continue to update even when your Activity is paused. Use SQL lite to store data while in your service while your activity is not in the forground(paused)
Once your activity receives focus again, then OnResume, update the UI with ALL the data in the SQL from the cursor position you were previously at.
The examples in that book show the service only broadcasting update nudges when the Activing is in the foreground == bad.
I should write an android book or guide, but I don’t have time. Thanks to the iPhone and objective C :( draining me.
Specifically the book tells you to code it so your service stops broadcasting update requests when your activity is paused. This functionality is extremely undesirable. Go the route of SQL lite interchange and broadcast UI update nudges only with OnPause and OnResume.
When you went to mobilecrunch.com, why in the world did you type “www.mo” instead of just “mo” ?
That’s 7 clicks (including clicking the auto-complete) versus about 3.
You’re right, those 4 extra clicks ruined the entire video. I am sorry Internet, next time I will try harder to make my clicking as efficient as possible while demonstrating things that can only be demonstrated by, you know, clicking.
yes, iphone is much better than G1
great! just in time for release in Czech Republic there’s czech locale… so it must be around the corner; they say in a few weeks (in t-mob that g1 will have czech lang. option)
Hey just curious, how come you didnt got to the camera to show the video recorder mode? Or what about bluetooth settings?
Thanks!
It’s easier to add a virtual keyboard than a hardware keyboard.
And that is WHY… I’m buying the G1 tomorrow…
Screw the virtual world… yeah..
I have recieved my update, and everytime I pull up anything that requires messaging, i still have to slide to get to the keyboard, nothing realy new to me but the designs of the applications…what’s going on?