Four months of discovery and hearsay later, the Android build that we’ve all been waiting for is nigh. Run inside, everyone – run inside and charge your G1s, for Cupcake (Firmware v1.5) is nearly upon us. (Actually, it’s still a few weeks away. But you should charge your G1 anyway, seeing as it’s a G1 and the day is halfway over, so the battery’s probably almost dead.)
The Android Developers Blog announced today the availability of an “early look” Android 1.5 SDK. This release seems like a mostly complete version of the final release, though Google warns that some of the APIs are bound to change.
Beyond the features that v1.5 brings to the end user (see below), the new SDK carries a few key changes:
- The SDK now supports multiple versions of the platform, so developers can continue to work on applications for the current release (v1.1) while preparing their apps for the next one.
- Developers can now install SDK add-ons. This allows carriers, OEMs, and other third-parties to easily expand the SDK for their needs without Google having to hold their hand.
With Google releasing a preview version of the SDK (thus allowing developers to ensure their apps are in working order), it seems quite likely that Cupcake will start to roll out to the end user as soon as the final version of the SDK goes live – which should happen ” around the end of this month”.
With the release approaching, the final feature list has been disclosed. Though anyone who’s kept an eye on our continued Android coverage should recognize most of the list, a few tidbits manage to sneak in under the radar.
The Highlights:
- On-screen keyboard support, with support for auto-correct, text prediction, user dictionaries, and third-party keyboard layouts
- Live folders (Auto-updating folder shortcuts for things such as YouTube favorites, Starred Contacts, and, with the API now available, whatever else developers conjure up)
- Video Recording
- MPEG4 and 3GP Video Playback
- Stereo Bluetooth
- Browser enhancements: New ultrafast “Squirrelfish” javascript engine, search within a page, copy and paste, UI changes
- New Linux Kernel
- Google Application enhancements: View Google Talk friend statuses in contacts, SMS, MMS, Gmail, and Email
- New frameworks for developers to build upon: Widget creation, Live Folder creation, Raw audio recording/playback, Video recording, Speech recognition
- Faster GPS, Faster camera startup, faster Gmail scrolling, and smoother browser scrolling
Want to read the full list? Check it out here.
So the cake wasn’t a lie after all. Is it kind of pathetic that the changes that got me most excited were these?
“Support for using speech recognition libraries via Intent”
“LocationManager – Applications can get location change updates via Intent”
No, you’re perfectly sane, for an Android geek that is. ;-)
Those two features would make mobile phones more intuitive to use thus making Android platform more future-proof. Those and better Bluetooth support.
Cheers!
Shonzilla
Yay for the on screen keyboard. It will be nice to have when I just want to make a quick reply and dont want pull out the full keyboard.
You can do that with ahome too.
So many bad cupcake puns. You guys…
Google Layoffs…
Has this been covered here?
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/changes-to-our-sales-and-marketing.html
Hopefully they fix the crap UI. It’s terrible compared to the iphone. Google understands functionality but not sexyness. They need both to even come close to dethroning the iphone.
I don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe you’re programmed to adore everything that comes out of steve job’s chocolate factory. But the android UI is intuitive, simple (as much as can be with so many features), and beautiful.
The apple aesthetics is going out of fashion… with compiz on Linux and even Windows 7 now been considered as more beatiful than OS X. The iPhone cuadricule is going down the same road, I’m afraid.
I agree – the G1 interface is actually one of the most intuitive I’ve ever used on a device.
I never once looked at any manual, video, or anything. Loaded my sim card, switched it on, and everything just seemed to work naturally.
I hate the iphone UI. All the gay little apple bubbles. Blech.
nice article
Google will be worse than “just the new Microsoft”.
It will know everything about you.
Stop using their products.
Stereo Bluetooth…finally – I can ditch my old iPod and its awkward adapter.
I downloaded the code, built and installed cupcake a week ago. A couple of hours later, i had to rollback to the previous version. I will be really surprised if all the bugs and issues I faced will be fixed by the end of the month.
Well im not sure what version of cupcake the previous user on this board was using but i have been using a version of the 1.5 build thats to XDA and its working flawlessly doesnt have anymore bugs in it then the stock OS version has. I’ve been using it for a week or more now and i will say this. My phone runs much much better. Its faster for one theres video, virtual keyboard, bluetooth stereo,youtube direct uploads, better gps, offical auto rotate, and not to mention Exchange support and this is naming a few of the improvements ive been happily surprised with. Im sure the official final version will have some minor improvements IE the circular zoom in the browser feature. But seriously credit to the developers and google becasue this is what the G1 shouldve been from the start . I can see allot of happy folks after the update I no im in love with this phone all over again.
You are lucky. I might have checked out a buggy revision from the source control. I couldn’t even get wifi to work.
Well they have since placed up much better builds on XDA so i would certianly try it again. i now the earlier builds had wifi issues and so on but thats as well as the camera video recording and bluetooth have been fixed you have two versions to choose from the Google version and the HTC version. I say try it again and enjoy
Could somebody please give me instructions on how to root my phone and install the 1.5 iupdate? Where to get it?
Will this update allow flash to be installed and viewed on the phone?
I don’t think so.
I think they enabled flash through the browser.
Finally!