Sean Walther’s Blog

Flash on the G1, Android OS — it works

We’ve been waiting for it, and the G1 has now demoed running Flash Player 10.

Andy Ruben has demoed that Flash can run on Android.  In Andy Ruben demos Flash on the G1; it won’t be long now, we read that on November 17th at the Adobe MAX event Andy Ruben was able to demo Flash.  

See the video below:

Tags: Adobe MAX, Android, Andy Ruben, Flash, G1, Google

Google Android GPhone #2

With all the “hype” around the T-Mobile G1, what did we get?

Certainly not enough.  

Now we are waiting to see what happens with the – Agora.  

The Kogan Agora, powered by the Android Operating System will be the first phone in Australia powered by the Android software.

That’s right, Australia.  Will it get to the states?  It looks cool enough, but what about the specs?

• 2.5-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 262k QVGA (320 X 240 pixel) resolution
• 5-Way Central Navigation Key
• QWERTY Keyboard
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Built in Mic and Speaker
• Headphone output
• Video: JPEG2, H263, H264, MPEG4, AVI
• HxWxD – 108mm x 64mm x 14.8mm
• Weight: 130g
• 1300 mAh Lithium-ion battery
• Up to 400 minutes Talk Time
• Up to 300 hours Standby Time
• 624 MHz processor
• 256 MB On-board + 128 MB Flash
• microSD card expansion slot
• VERY IMPORTANT: UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Silicon Alley Insider reports on the release as well, Another Google Android GPhone On The Way (GOOG).

Dan Frommer, of Silicon Alley Insider, says that this phone woudl work better with AT&T than T-Mobile, as it doesn’t support the 1700 MHz frequency that T-Mobile uses for 3G.

Tags: 3g, Agora, Android, AT&T, Dan Frommer, G1, GOOG, Google, gPhone, Kogan Agora, phone, Silicon Alley Insider, T-Mobile

Android and Silverlight will help the iPhone

So the #1 competition that the iPhone has, Google’s Android — and Apple’s big rival’s, Microsoft’s, rich web plug-in Silverlight — Will both help the iPhone?

Absolutely.

Lets all be honest here, Apple’s been holding control of the iPhone in too close.  We all have wanted GPS navigtion (real gps navigation), VOIP applications, alternative email applications, alternative podcasting apps, better browsing experience, and an overall better experience.

Until now, Apple had the final say on all of those things.  Preventing applications that competed with the iPhone’s core functionality, relenting to implement common technologies such as VOIP applications, Flash in Safari, and other nice to have’s.

With the Android platform out there, we can all bet it will soon have both Flash and Silverlight running.  It’s just a matter of time.  

Apple can’t afford to be so stringent, with a fairly capable competitor doing things that will gain it significant market share.

I love my iPhone, but if the Android gets flash and Silverlight (not that I’m a fan of Silverlight, but at least it’s something) — I’d probably give Apple a week or 2 to make an announcement, then go right out and get one.  Not only that, I’d happily leave AT&T for another provider. 

We all hope Apple sees this, and starts helping us out.

Tags: Android, AT&T, Flash, iPhone, Microsoft, Safari, Silverlight

CNET reviews the T-Mobile G1, Google Android

Here’s a video of CNET’s hands on with the T-Mobile G1:

Tags: Android, G1, Google, T-Mobile

Finally, the new T-Mobile G1 at Engadget

Engadget has posted some hands-on coverage of the T-Mobile G1.

Can this device rival the iPhone?  

Based on the pure specs, yes:

• WiFi
• 3G
• 3 Megapixel Camera (iPhone’s still stuck at 2)
• Android Market
• Amazon’s mobile MP3 store
• Google Maps
• Over the Air synchronization! (this is a big deal for me, I’m not sure how well it works, but why can’t my iPhone with WiFi access at least, synchronize over the air?)
• PUSH Gmail support
• Full QWERTY Keyboard

Tags: Android, Apple, engadget, G1, gPhone, iPhone, T-Mobile