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Eric Schmidt's words concerning why the Nexus One was created and how we dont need number Two.
Initially, Google felt that they needed to build a device to help Android along so they worked with HTC to create the Nexus One handset. Schmidt says: “The idea a year and a half ago was to do the Nexus One to try to move the phone platform hardware business forward. It clearly did. It was so successful, we didn't have to do a second one. We would view that as positive but people criticised us heavily for that. I called up the board and said: 'Ok, it worked. Congratulations - we're stopping'. We like that flexibility, we think that flexibility is characteristic of nimbleness at our scale."
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolo...-Schmidt-You-can-trust-us-with-your-data.html
Heh, google is the inverse of apple
...I would like a Nexus Two though?
What about a 1280x720 4" IPS screen, sub-10mm thickness, aluminum/carbon fiber construction, HDMI port, front-facing camera, Tegra 2 SoC, battery life that is amazing, and capacitive touch buttons that are actually silk screened right?
And of course, a unicorn detector
oh well, there's the answer to that. now we all just wait for the next developer phone, whoever google decides to use. let's hope HTC again or maybe motorola.
i would like to see SE get into the game and develop a phone that is 100% backed up by Google. they make good phones.
I thought the title was a joke. lol
Wow, damage control ahoy.
arcticreaver said:
i would like to see SE get into the game and develop a phone that is 100% backed up by Google. they make good phones.
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+1 on this. SE really dropped the ball when they attacked the smartphone market. The W series phones were cutting edge in terms of being music centric. The K series were really good too, my K750i has the best 2 megapixel sensor of any camera. The K850i was a real stormer of a phone too.
I don't know what happened in SE HQ when they moved onto touchscreen phones and the like. They were ahead of the curve back in the day but maybe their UI let them down?
Samsung are another company who made good hardware but ****ed it up with their clunky software.
I'm not sure how these guys turn the ship around but HTC came from nowhere and are one of the biggest mobile phone manufacturers about now. Surely SE and Samsung can make a cracking phone again and win some of the market share back.
Another issue might be locking down access to root or bastardising Android with a clunky shell. HTC avoided that with a pretty nice UI in Sense.
britoso said:
Heh, google is the inverse of apple
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That's why I love em.
Knew it and have been saying it all along.
The Nexus One was never supposed to outsell any other phone or become an income source for Google. It was meant to drive the Android OS and the hardware platform and as Schmitty says, it "clearly worked".
Android market share has rocketed and continues to do so and even today, 7 months later from intro, new Android phones are STILL catching up to the specs of the Nexus One.
markouk said:
+1 on this. SE really dropped the ball when they attacked the smartphone market. The W series phones were cutting edge in terms of being music centric. The K series were really good too, my K750i has the best 2 megapixel sensor of any camera. The K850i was a real stormer of a phone too.
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I don't know about you, but that's what I dislike about SE. Why couldn't they just combine the best walkman and camera in one phone? Instead, they made two phones out of almost the same hardware and charge a high price for each of them...
RogerPodacter said:
oh well, there's the answer to that. now we all just wait for the next developer phone, whoever google decides to use. let's hope HTC again or maybe motorola.
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Hey Roger, do you mean the next developer phone that's not under a carriers control and gets updates ota directly from Google?
I guess I am kinda confused since I assumed Google is never gonna dip their hand in the smartphone market again besides supplying android.
Namuna said:
The Nexus One was never supposed to outsell any other phone or become an income source for Google. It was meant to drive the Android OS and the hardware platform and as Schmitty says, it "clearly worked".
Android market share has rocketed and continues to do so and even today, 7 months later from intro, new Android phones are STILL catching up to the specs of the Nexus One.
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Amen!
I love the N1, and can't wait for a future device done the same way (without any branding). I seriously hope HTC is the manufacturer. Can't see myself using a phone not made by them.
ap3604 said:
Hey Roger, do you mean the next developer phone that's not under a carriers control and gets updates ota directly from Google?
I guess I am kinda confused since I assumed Google is never gonna dip their hand in the smartphone market again besides supplying android.
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Since android's beginning, there has always been Google's developer phone, the one that Google uses to write the android OS on. First was the g1, now its nexus. It will always be a vanilla android version, not HTC sense or MOTOblur or whatever. Perhaps the next one will be sold thru a carrier, but I think they will ensure it can be purchased unlocked too. We don't know, this is new territory, and The nexus kinda set the standard. So I'm anticipating Google will make sure the next phone can be had without the carrier influence as well.
I actually don't think there should be a Nexus 2 from Google. They should just stick to what they do best and make great software. I don't think selling physical products is their thing and the Nexus One has served it's purpose of demonstrating the potential of Android.
Hopefully the plan is to dramatically improve the UI with Gingerbread and convince manufacturers like HTC and Motorola to run vanilla Android. They can release new versions of Android and leave it up to the manufacturers to deliver the updates.
I'm done with SE, myself. I followed them for a little while with a P990i, then Xperia X1 and was going to get an X10... but glad I got a Nexus One instead.
High-priced pieces of trash, they are. I know the X1 was HTC built and rebranded, but WinMo was so laggy on it and SE slapped an $800 price tag on it. Enough to wake you up.
So there won't be a N1 successor ??
adamwjohnson5 said:
I actually don't think there should be a Nexus 2 from Google. They should just stick to what they do best and make great software. I don't think selling physical products is their thing and the Nexus One has served it's purpose of demonstrating the potential of Android.
Hopefully the plan is to dramatically improve the UI with Gingerbread and convince manufacturers like HTC and Motorola to run vanilla Android. They can release new versions of Android and leave it up to the manufacturers to deliver the updates.
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Click to collapse
Sure is nice having Google dictate what goes on the phone and not T-Mobile or AT&T or whoever. I think I'd opt for a slightly weaker phone over one with Sense UI and branding all over it.
I guess I'll be buying whichever dev phone is popular at the time, or making damn sure the phone has Cyanogen et al behind it and that it is vanilla.
No N2?!? Oh come on! It's not like they have to do much. Just make it a 4" screen, swap in a better 3D co-processor, slap a real keyboard on it and call it a day. I'd buy that off-contract any day!
I would agree that the N1 put android on the map, at the centre. They have multiple partners now SPAMMING rediculously good phones for android, the consumers know about it and WANT it, theyve done their task. Let them get back to making the OS orgasmic, and let HTC etc make phones that can vibrate
Like a guy said eariler this is whats called damage control. The N1 didn't start anything with Android OS, it was the Droid that did that. The N1 is a tiny blip on the radar of Android sales. The N1 failed and this is an arrogant look at the N1. The fact of the matter is HTC was planning 1ghz phones regardless of the N1 existance or not, remeber that phone list that was leaked last year of all the phones coming out this year? I love my N1 but lets face it google dropped the ball on it.
1. restrictions on the subdizing
2. restrictions on the type of plan
3. No dummy phones for TMO stores
IMO if they would have stuck the N1 in stores made it easy like Droid, Samsung Vibrant, and EVO, then N1 at the time would have been a mega hit. It was the first phone (that I can remember) with a ghz processor ppl would have went nuts for it because of the speed and its a really sexy looking phone.
http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2010/10/07/new-yahoo-app-to-challenge-apple-facetime-on-iphone/
Looks like Yahoo video chat is coming very soon to Android and the iPhone. I personally don't use Yahoo but it's a good option for those who want Phone to Computer video chat.
I'm certain some awesome soul on here will grab the APK and get it out to the rest of the Android users who have front-facing cameras (I have an EVO now).
Yahoo is beating many others to the punch in terms of phone-to-phone and PC-to-phone video calling. Skype, Fring, Qik, and Tango will all be left in the dust and be scrambling once this takes off.
Ohh cool
Sent from my HTC Evo
anyone have the apk? its in Mytouch is that not out yet?
All I can say is it's about time! I can't believe it's taken this long. I just assumed that after fring and skype fell out the market would be flooded with apps that support video chat on the other well known services like yahoo, aim, etc. Now hopefully some of the others will start showing up and someone can finally build a multi-protocol app that supports video on several different services (think trillian for android with video chat support).
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
cant wait for this......
Yea is someone would make a simple phone to pc video chat app, charge a Buck, it would be a goldmine.
phatmanxxl said:
Yea is someone would make a simple phone to pc video chat app, charge a Buck, it would be a goldmine.
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I dont think anyone will have the apk, I dont think yahoo released the update yet.
This app just hit the iPhone App Store... going to check it out and see if anyone I know uses Yahoo messenger or whatever. Hmmm... but where's the Android App? Do we have to wait for the new MyTouch to come out before we get out hands on this for Android?
Finally, someone who can do the video chat right on Android. I used to use Yahoo video chat before, it has been a while. Qik never didnt it right, Fring almost had it, & Skype. well i dunno. Still waiting on them.
I hate how the iPhone always gets their **** before Android users. Why can't companies release them at the same time? Oh yeah, because everyone and their mom, dog, and cousin have a ****ing iPhone.
That's the one thing I really "like" about the iPhone is that they get a priority over every single phone. It's pretty annoying if you're an Android (or anything other than iOS) fan.
pekosROB said:
I hate how the iPhone always gets their **** before Android users. Why can't companies release them at the same time? Oh yeah, because everyone and their mom, dog, and cousin have a ****ing iPhone.
That's the one thing I really "like" about the iPhone is that they get a priority over every single phone. It's pretty annoying if you're an Android (or anything other than iOS) fan.
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Part of the reason EVERYONE has an iPhone, is due to all the marketing they do. Not only commercials running during EVERY commercial break, but pay attention to all the shows on TV. MOST of the shows on TV are promoting some apple product. In episodes of House, all the computers, and most of the cell phones are apple products, NCIS has been highlighting the iPad and iPhone. Psych, CSI, etc... The list goes on. I was actually quite surprised when watching Closer, when one of the detectives pulled out an Evo to take a video confession from a suspect.
thenewguy821 said:
Part of the reason EVERYONE has an iPhone, is due to all the marketing they do. Not only commercials running during EVERY commercial break, but pay attention to all the shows on TV. MOST of the shows on TV are promoting some apple product. In episodes of House, all the computers, and most of the cell phones are apple products, NCIS has been highlighting the iPad and iPhone. Psych, CSI, etc... The list goes on. I was actually quite surprised when watching Closer, when one of the detectives pulled out an Evo to take a video confession from a suspect.
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Oh dude, I already noticed that. It's really annoying. Entourage has had the iPad on it, but they give equal love to the BlackBerry on that show as well. But yeah, the iPod/iPhone is EVERYWHERE. I just wish Android users got a little bit of love when it came to some apps.
EVO video confession - hell if they knew how horrible our phone is in indoor low light, the guy would have put his phone back up!
thenewguy821 said:
Part of the reason EVERYONE has an iPhone, is due to all the marketing they do. Not only commercials running during EVERY commercial break, but pay attention to all the shows on TV. MOST of the shows on TV are promoting some apple product. In episodes of House, all the computers, and most of the cell phones are apple products, NCIS has been highlighting the iPad and iPhone. Psych, CSI, etc... The list goes on. I was actually quite surprised when watching Closer, when one of the detectives pulled out an Evo to take a video confession from a suspect.
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Click to collapse
pekosROB said:
Oh dude, I already noticed that. It's really annoying. Entourage has had the iPad on it, but they give equal love to the BlackBerry on that show as well. But yeah, the iPod/iPhone is EVERYWHERE. I just wish Android users got a little bit of love when it came to some apps.
EVO video confession - hell if they knew how horrible our phone is in indoor low light, the guy would have put his phone back up!
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i agree with the both of you but!!!! my favorite show (which doesn't air anymore) was 24. And since season 1, they always had sprint/nextel phones!!!! 24 was a good ass show, but Jack is now fugitive of the United States
yahoo 's reply :
Hello,
Thank you for writing to Yahoo! Messenger.
Before I go into addressing your concern, I'd like to first apologize
for the delay in my responding to your inquiry. We are committed to
answering your questions as quickly and accurately as possible. However,
we are currently receiving unusually high volumes which caused the
delayed response.
I understand you wish to have more information regarding the ability to
use video calling features in Yahoo! Messenger for Android.
Thanks for your suggestion of a new feature for Yahoo! Messenger for
Android. The current version of Yahoo! Messenger for Android doesn't
have this feature right now, but we appreciate that you took the time to
tell us about what you'd like to see in a future version.
I'll pass your suggestion on to the Yahoo! Messenger Product Team and
they will put it under consideration for a future release. (Our
development cycles can be quite lengthy, so please don't expect to see
it right away if they decide to include it.) However, be assured that we
are continually striving to make Yahoo! Messenger the best messenger
product on the market, and your suggestions help us to decide what is
most important to our customers.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please let us know as
soon as possible.
We appreciate your reporting this to us -- your input helps us to
identify ways to constantly maintain and improve our service.
Thank you again for contacting Yahoo! Messenger.
Regards,
Kyle
Messenger Mobile Device Tech E2Y
Yahoo! Customer Care
For assistance with all Yahoo! services please visit:
So wait... youre telling me they havent even developed video chat for android yet????
Its coming in November, relax.
get tango. video chat now, cross platform, full screen, 3g or wifi, better quality than fring or qik, and you don't have to create a whole account or anything, it just uses your phone info
timothydonohue said:
get tango. video chat now, cross platform, full screen, 3g or wifi, better quality than fring or qik, and you don't have to create a whole account or anything, it just uses your phone info
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It still murders you battery and it's missing some thing A LOT of people want: Mobile to PC video chat.
The MyTouch rom has leaked, haven't gotten a chance to look at it yet but supposely this app is in it.
I thought it might be good to have a central place to post information about Gingerbread for the Dinc. I am thinking we can use this thread primarily as a clearinghouse for "news", speculation, rumors, etc.
I remember the way Verizon and HTC left us twisting in the wind for months with Froyo, forcing users into wild speculation and a lot of useless "inside information". Use this thread as you see fit. I would ask, however, that you do your best to include a citation and/or weblink for information you provide here to help users decide the value of your information.
I imagine the devs will have their own ROM/Theme/Kernel-specific information regarding Gingerbread in those threads so obviously check there also.
Senior Member "DS36" posted some information this morning regarding Gingerbread in a thread I started yesterday asking if we should start a Gingerbread. Here is his comment from that other thread:
"Yes start the thread
The .32 source codes for has just been released"
Thank you, DS36, for providing this information. Apologies in advance for cutting and pasting from your original post.
ptgay49 said:
Senior Member "DS36" posted some information this morning regarding Gingerbread in a thread I started yesterday asking if we should start a Gingerbread. Here is his comment from that other thread:
"Yes start the thread
The .32 source codes for has just been released"
Thank you, DS36, for providing this information. Apologies in advance for cutting and pasting from your original post.
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Click to collapse
not a problem thanks for the new thread
lets all get excited and hungry mmm mmm gingerbread
DS36 said:
not a problem thanks for the new thread
lets all get excited and hungry mmm mmm gingerbread
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drooling already
Posted on Android Community Website on 11-15-2010
Eric Schmidt Demos Nexus S Running Gingerbread
15 November 2010 by Dylan Bailey
Google CEO Eric Schmidt was on stage at the Web 2.0 Summit and then all of the sudden he pulled out one of the most talked about phones of the last few weeks: The Nexus S. He didn’t go into much detail, he even left out which manufacturer is making the Nexus S, even though it’s very obvious.
While he was on stage he also mentioned that Android 2.3 should be out in the “next few weeks” and Google TV integration with major networks is going well.
I believe I'm excited
ptgay49 said:
Eric Schmidt Demos Nexus S Running Gingerbread
15 November 2010 by Dylan Bailey
Google CEO Eric Schmidt was on stage at the Web 2.0 Summit and then all of the sudden he pulled out one of the most talked about phones of the last few weeks: The Nexus S. He didn’t go into much detail, he even left out which manufacturer is making the Nexus S, even though it’s very obvious.
While he was on stage he also mentioned that Android 2.3 should be out in the “next few weeks” and Google TV integration with major networks is going well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
I just realized the minimum requirements for gingerbread are what our phones have do you think this may mean well miss updates after 2.3?
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
Gahh Its Lee said:
I just realized the minimum requirements for gingerbread are what our phones have do you think this may mean well miss updates after 2.3?
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The hero and Eris have froyo....
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
@Lee Like any great phone, this one is becoming obsolete. Some time after 2.3, our contracts will start to be up for renewal and we will get the next latest, greatest phone just like this one once was. It's a vicious cycle that never ends. But with advances in operating systems, there will always be advances in hardware. Who knows, our next phone may have a quad core processor. Let's just hope battery technology advances lol.
sent from my Incredible running cyanogenmod 6.1 with a quadrant score of 1453.
^
Good point. Since the Dinc is my first smart phone, it seems like I'll want to use it "forever". But with electronic gadgets changing and, for the most part, improving so rapidly, I guess that is not realistic.
My goal is to brick my Dinc exactly 730 days after I bought it.
jbrowning37 said:
@Lee Like any great phone, this one is becoming obsolete. Some time after 2.3, our contracts will start to be up for renewal and we will get the next latest, greatest phone just like this one once was. It's a vicious cycle that never ends. But with advances in operating systems, there will always be advances in hardware. Who knows, our next phone may have a quad core processor. Let's just hope battery technology advances lol.
sent from my Incredible running cyanogenmod 6.1 with a quadrant score of 1453.
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Personally, I believe the DINC will still be able to handle a couple more updates with ease. If you look at lower end phones like the G1, Hero, Eris, etc, there will always be those awesome devs tweaking the code to make certain phones work, even if the update wasn't specifically made for a particular model( i.e ERIS and the froyo uodate.)
I just love my dinc. I actually got mine rather recently and I doubt ill ever wanna give it up. Although I will throw it off the bridge if I can get a quad core lol.
Random extra thought... What is the word of dual core phones? I remember reading something about some phones possibly being made with dual core.
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
Gahh Its Lee said:
I just love my dinc. I actually got mine rather recently and I doubt ill ever wanna give it up. Although I will throw it off the bridge if I can get a quad core lol.
Random extra thought... What is the word of dual core phones? I remember reading something about some phones possibly being made with dual core.
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chips go on market in 2011
Dual 1.3 and 1.5s
Plus most high end phones should sports samoled in 2011
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
I want a new phone now...
Looks like Google won't be waiting for the Nexus S to debut GB..
Now that the Google Nexus S has been delayed, the reasons for which are still unknown, could Android 2.3 Gingerbread make its debut on the Google Nexus One instead — the handset that also intro’d Android 2.1 and 2.2?
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I think in the next couple weeks, Gingerbread droid should be dancing around on phones. Just in time for the holidays!
News Article from the Pop Herald dated 11-21-2010
Windows Phone 7 and Android (Gingerbread preparation) Marketplace updates
November 21, 2010 By Joan Lee
Android’s upcoming update with codename “gingerbread” still unavailable, but report says Android marketplace will get few tweaks before the launch. Plus, Windows Phone 7 catching up with new apps.
Google’s mobile OS, the Android 2.3 with codename “Gingerbread,” is just around the corner. And before its launch, reports say few changes on Android’s marketplace interface for developers were seen.
This only means one thing, more “cool” apps for Gingerbread are possible.
There were improvements last week called ”Recent changes” for applications. In this new section, users can now see the details of every changes made with the app. For example, if the developer creates one new feature like “share,” the update log made will be visible to the user who wants to download it.
In the Android developers interface, a 325 characters of space is now available, where app creators can mention bug fixes, support for additional languages, new options, and more.
Users can also feel the application “more” with the developer requirement of 1024×500-pixel graphic, plus a YouTube video link. With a bigger resolution, users can see a bigger screenshot of the app, plus developers can now add videos to give users more insights like how-to and preview. Perfect for game apps.
These updates are expected to give the Android apps more purchases, more profits and more fun (for the buyers).
News Article from slashgear.com 11-24-2010
Andy Rubin to release Android 2.3 Gingerbread on Dec 6?
By Chris Davies on Wed Nov 24th, 2010
Speculation is mounting that Google will launch Android 2.3 Gingerbread on December 6, when project mastermind Andy Rubin is expected to take the stage at the “D: Dive Into Mobile” show in San Francisco. The prediction, says IntoMobile, fits in with Google CEO’s Eric Schmidt’s suggestion that Gingerbread would see a release in the next few weeks; Rubin’s appearance will be three weeks from Schmidt’s confirmation earlier this month.
Android 2.3 Gingerbread will roll out to the Google Nexus One initially, and then it will be up to individual manufacturers to put their development money where their mouths have been and deliver updates to their handsets. As we’ve seen with previous Android updates, however, the timescale for that will likely vary from weeks through to months.
NOTE BY POSTER ptgay49: That last sentence is a buzz kill.
What new features are in 2.3?
Not much worried about it.. owning a incredible with the developers in xda 's forums it won't be long after release to having it running on my phone..super pumped about it though
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Gingerbread Features
dpwhitty11 said:
What new features are in 2.3?
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Article found on androidandme.com dated 11-25-2010
Now Andy Rubin, the godfather of Android, is scheduled to speak at D: Dive Into Mobile on December 6th and everyone is speculating that might be the magic day for the Android 2.3 announcement.
We can’t say for sure what he will talk about or possibly announce, but as we get closer to the launch of Gingerbread more and more features are starting to leak out. Read on after the jump for 12 features that could be appearing in the next release of Android.
1. Tweaked UI
It doesn’t sound like the Android UI is getting a complete overhaul till Honeycomb, but Gingerbread will include some small tweaks. The notification bar at the top of the screen has gone from white to black, the launcher buttons are now green instead of translucent, and many of the native app icons have received a makeover.
Most of the existing native apps will also look slightly updated thanks to tweaks with the styling of menus, check boxes, and radio buttons as leaked in the last Google Maps update. Other small tweaks include new animations when you swipe across the desktop and when you power off the display (as reported by Phandroid).
2. Near Field Communications (NFC)
We first reported back in October that Samsung’s Google experience phone would support MasterCard PayPass, and then last week Eric Schmidt confirmed that Gingerbread would support Near Field Communication (NFC).
NFC is a short-range, high frequency wireless communication technology that only operates when two devices are about 4 inches apart. It is basically just another form of electronic identification except the ID is tied to a bank or credit card company. All the user needs to do is just setup their account then tap their phone to a wireless payment pad and complete the transaction.
Eric Schmidt said that in the future your phone could replace your credit card, so you can see how important this is to Google and their partners.
Opponents of NFC say it might fail because it is too complex and big companies will fight over who owns the point of control for the transaction, but if Google is going to make this a standard feature on all future Gingerbread phones then we think that ensures it will at least move the mobile payment standard forward.
MasterCard has not been confirmed as a NFC partner, but I think there is a good chance they are on board in addition to some other payment companies like PayPal.
3. New Motion Control APIs
True 1:1 motion processing is coming to Gingerbread thanks to InvenSense, the company behind the MEMS gyroscope sensor found in the Nintendo Wii MotionPlus controller.
Gyroscope sensors have already appeared in some phones like the Samsung Galaxy S, but Android 2.3 will add new sensor fusion APIs including quaternion, rotation matrix, linear acceleration and gravity. These new tools will open the door to all kinds of motion controls for augmented reality apps, games, navigation systems, and camera improvements like image stabilization.
See our previous post for a video with several real-world demos.
4. Native Video Chat
In his last interview, Andy Rubin hinted that native video chat was coming to the next version of Android. “We support video chat today, with Google Talk Video. It works on the desktop. Whether that can be repurposed and made appropriate for sipping bandwidth for mobile, it’s an exercise that’s underway.”
If Mr. Rubin is willing to admit that it’s underway, that tells me the project could be nearing completion and already in the testing phases.
It looks like all the high-end phones coming in the next few months will include front-facing cameras so this is another sign that Android is ready for a native video sharing app to connect all these devices.
5. New Android Market
Google has been telling us for awhile that a new Android Market was coming and recently said new features could appear in the next few weeks. The Android Market can be updated separately from the operating system, but the timing tells us the new Market could be tied to the release of Gingerbread.
Confirmed features for the new Android Market include YouTube video previews, parental controls, PayPal payments, and new high-res promotion graphics that sound like they will be used on the desktop browser version of the Market.
At the Google I/O Developer Conference we attended back in May, Vic Gundotra demonstrated the browser version of the Market that was being tested. See the video below for an idea of what to expect.
6. Google Music
As you can see from the video above, Google is also working on a music streaming service for Android. They launched a music search service earlier this year and hoped to get their music store opened before Christmas, but the latest reports say it might be delayed till 2011. Apparently the music labels are still negotiating with Google on how their “digital locker” will store purchased music, but maybe they come to an agreement this year.
This is coming sooner or later so if it doesn’t make it into Gingerbread then I expect we will see it early next year when Honeycomb tablets are revealed.
7. Support For More Large Screen Devices
On the Android Device Dashboard there is a report where Google displays the different screen sizes and densities of devices that access the Android Market. The Large category is currently blank, but look for more big screen devices like tablets to be officially supported in Android 2.3. This means we could see more 7-inch tablets like the Galaxy Tab (1024 x 600) get certified and maybe a few other resolutions for the new smartphone displays that are rumored to be coming.
We have also heard that Google might relax the rules of their Compatibility Definition Document and allow non-3G devices to be certified. No WiFi-only devices have been certified to use the Android Market yet, but Android 2.3 should hopefully change that.
In a somewhat related note, I believe this is the reason the WiFi-only Galaxy Tab was delayed till next year so that Samsung could make sure that Google allowed them to ship it with the Android Market.
8. Virtual Keyboard Enhancements
Google recently acquired hot startup BlindType to improve their virtual keyboard and we are hearing the enhancements might be coming as soon as Gingerbread. The old company website is now down, but you can still see a demo of their technology on YouTube.
What is BlindType? It is a revolutionary system that:
Eliminates touch typing frustrations
Allows for super sloppy typing
Helps you type easier and faster
Constantly adjusts to the user’s “perceived” keyboard and typing style
Just type the way you are used to – no gestures, nothing new to learn!
9. Support for WebM and VP8
We know that support for WebM and the VP8 video format are coming to Gingerbread because Google and the WebM team have told us this.
WebM is defined on the official project page as, “An open media file format designed for the web. WebM files consist of video streams compressed with the VP8 video codec and audio streams compressed with the Vorbis audio codec. The WebM file structure is based on the Matroska media container. Though video is also now core to the web experience, there is unfortunately no open and free video format that is on par with the leading commercial choices. To that end, we started the WebM project, a broadly-backed community effort to develop an open web media format.”
YouTube now offers WebM videos as part of its HTML5 player experiment. Logitech and Skype are also working with the format for future video calling services.
10. New YouTube With Broadcasting
As we get near the end of the list some of these possible features might be a stretch, but there are still hints that new YouTube features are coming. Phandroid reported that Gingerbread will have a new YouTube app and we know that they are also testing their new live broadcasting platform.
If you look at how important video will be to the upcoming Gingerbread experience, then it is not too hard to imagine that YouTube will allow live broadcasting from your phone similar to Qik or Ustream.
The next generation of superphones will include dual-core processors that support 1080p video streaming and also have speedy 4G connections, so the hardware is definitely going to be there to make it happen.
11. Google Me or Social Gaming Network
Google recently denied the reports they were working on a Facebook competitor called Google Me, but all the signs are there that Google is working on a way to bring together all their social services. TechCrunch reported that Google’s master pitchman Vic Gundotra was being placed in charge of the project, so we expect big things from him.
Andy Rubin hinted that Gingerbread would include improvements for gaming in a previous interview. “I think gaming is an area that I think is underserved right now. If we were to carefully look at what new features and functionalities in the platform that we would need to support all forms of gaming across the entire spectrum, I think that would probably be an interesting thing to pay attention to.”
A number of recent acquisitions and partner agreements might also play a role in this social gaming platform. In the last year Google acquired LabPixies for $25 million (an Israeli startup that made web games), Jambool for $70 million (makers of a virtual currenty platform), Slide for $182 million (Facebook games developer), and invested $100-200 million in Zynga (makers of Farmville).
Apple’s Game Center and platforms like Open Feint have really raised the bar for social gaming, so Google will have to release something soon if they want to catch up.
12. Flagship Phone – Nexus S
Finally, what good is a brand new operating system unless you have a flagship product that can show off all the new features. That device is the Samsung Nexus S which is widely expected to be released alongside Android 2.3. Google’s CEO recently demoed the phone to show off its NFC capabilities, so hopefully we see the device soon.
The Nexus S was originally planned to launch at Best Buy on November 11th, but then TechCrunch reported a serious hardware issue had caused a delay. One of our tipsters said the original Samsung Nexus S was scrapped for a newer dual-core version, which shocked many people because they did not expect Samsung to have a dual-core phone this year, but another trusted source also confirmed that Samsung had such a device in testing.
Conclusion
In the next few weeks we should hopefully get an official list of new Android 2.3 features from Google, but don’t be surprised if Andy Rubin doesn’t announce anything on December 6th.
Google and Samsung already missed the rumored launch date, so they could delay this project till next year in order to iron out all the launch details. Some would say that Samsung has rushed their recent Android products to market without properly testing them (aka GPS issues), so I have no problem with them taking as long as they need.
I would love a taste of Gingerbread for Christmas, but if waiting till next year gets me a fully functional dual-core Nexus S then I’m all for waiting.
How do you think Android 2.3 is shaping up so far? Does this sound like a worthy update, or do you hope that Google is packing in even more exciting features? What other types of improvements would you like to see included with Android 2.3?
I don't know about the rest of you all but my experience with this phone and Verizon is not great. I expected the phone to be up to par with various other phones but its not. Its laughable how it hasn't even got the 2.2 update yet when some phones are already moving to 2.3 updates. Samsung is quite a let down! I will be buying the HTC Thunderbolt when it comes out (hopefully thats soon). It looks like it will be a lot like the EVO on Sprint which I love. Goodbye Samsung!
Well if your only complaint is you're .1 behind, I'd say your case is weak at best. Enjoy your Thunderbolt.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Lodingi said:
Well if your only complaint is you're .1 behind, I'd say your case is weak at best. Enjoy your Thunderbolt.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
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There are others like the fact that they decided to use Bing instead of Google. Seriously? What a great idea that was!
martouf13 said:
There are others like the fact that they decided to use Bing instead of Google. Seriously? What a great idea that was!
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That can be fixed too...
boostedjti said:
That can be fixed too...
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I have to agree that, out of the box, this phone is a huge disappointment. The screen is nice, but everything done to the software is atrocious. Although I like to play with ROMs and root my phone and all that, no one should HAVE to do that to have a good experience with an Android phone. The real fragmentation happening with Android is the fact that Google, through the AOSP, is letting manufacturers take a product that has become thoroughly refined and muck it up. If I was an average (non-techy) user, and my first experience of Android was the Fascinate, I would be TREMENDOUSLY let down. It is much different for computers where the crap we don't want may just take an extra hour or two to go through add/remove programs in Windows. The savings you will get on a PC easily justify this slight time waste. This is not the case with phones. Most people are a slave to the experience the manufacturer gives them, and often times this experience will shape your opinion of an overall product. Having owned a Nexus One, and having rooted/ROMed my original G1, I am fully aware of the experience Android is capable of. Sadly many people don't get to experience this and often get a watered down, murky presentation of what Android was/is meant to be.
I have owned many phones, HTC and others. I have never had such a great experience. I think this phone is terrific. The things I can do with this phone are outstanding. I like the look, the feel but especially what it can do. The camera is good, can take a picture of handwritten notes, almost anything that you want to recall later. The apps, camcard, camscanner, earth, smart tools, documents to go - it goes on and on. I really can't, at this point, image a better phone. It's the BEST.
Just to keep it short and sweet:
I love my Fascinate. I came from a Samsung Omnia II so the Windows Mobile > Android jump obviously has been like night and day.
I am however, on my second Fascinate (details here) simply because I had signal issues with my first one. Not Verizon's fault, not Samsung's fault, just a lemon. It happens. This new one has been great with battery life (24+ hours before needing a charge), I've always loved Samsung's camera software, and I've customized the hell out of the phone without even bothering to root it as I just haven't had a need to yet. And this is coming from someone who used to flash ROMs practically monthly with his Omnia II.
I don't live in a metro area so 4G will not get to my locale until 2013ish most likely. And for me, 3G speeds work perfectly fine for what *I* want to do on a phone on a daily basis and if I need WiFi speeds, it's there. I could've waited for a 4G phone or an iPhone, but personally, right now, this is the phone for me. Fast (and will get faster with 2.2), beautiful display, thin, customizable...
My coworkers have an LG Ally, an HTC Incredible, and a Motorola Droid X - I like my phone better and so do most of them
The beautiful thing about Android is that with each vendor's phones there are pros and cons. For me, this phone fits perfectly.
But, just to keep things in perspective, there are of course annoyances:
#1) Bing. My bypass is I have a Voice Search shortcut on my home screen to do voice searches (that go straight to Google) and I have my browser's homepage set to google.com. I never see Bing, but it's still an annoyance.
#2) Delay after delay of 2.2. This is just some sort of commercial/bureaucratic bs, but it still sucks and I'll be happier than I am now when we get it.
Looks like Google has opened the floodgates for their native solution for video chatting. Although only the Nexus S is getting it as of now, it does mention that it will be available in the future for other gingerbread phones. Hopefully it won't take too much longer for the epic to get a proper gingerbread build.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/28/android-2-3-4-heading-to-nexus-s-over-the-air-bringing-video-an/
Thanks... but there's already a thread on this topic..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1054923
Oh sweet!! Now we just need the apk to be hacked or ported or stand alone to work and now just need to get iphone people a gtalk with video chat. and my android friends to get on!!
As much as I love the constant advance of this operating system, I really wish El Goog would start updating APPS and not Android every time. This close to release, the Epic and Evo will never get this update, the Galaxy S2 and the Evo 3D won't launch with it, and the benefits look so insignificant to carriers that NONE of these phones will probably get this update. They will probably get these features eventually, as in 2.4 or whatever Ice Cream ends up being, but this feature being exclusive to the Nexus S is about as worthless as FaceTime is (I take that back, at least this you can use on 3/4G).
Sounds like CM7.1 will be coming out soon
Unfortunately, it won't mean much for us (yet).
usfslacker said:
As much as I love the constant advance of this operating system, I really wish El Goog would start updating APPS and not Android every time. This close to release, the Epic and Evo will never get this update, the Galaxy S2 and the Evo 3D won't launch with it, and the benefits look so insignificant to carriers that NONE of these phones will probably get this update. They will probably get these features eventually, as in 2.4 or whatever Ice Cream ends up being, but this feature being exclusive to the Nexus S is about as worthless as FaceTime is (I take that back, at least this you can use on 3/4G).
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Google had definitely started moving in that direction. We now have Maps, GMail, Voice Search/Search, Youtube... all used to be integrated apps that only updated when the OS did. I imagine that the update to Talk happened to coincide with the bug fixes for the Nexus S in 2.3.4 so it was packaged together, and I would hope that we soon see a Talk app in the Market. This was explicitly stated as part of Google's efforts to combat fragmentation.
I wouldn't be so sure that the Epic won't get this. ED12 is no rock star build in the leaked form we got it, so if we all cross our fingers, maybe what we eventually do get will be 2.3.4 after all </wishful thinking>.