Flash Player for the Google G1

Okay so it is possible for Flash to run on a Google G1, previously in the blog I mentioned the lack of a Flash Player on the Google G1. According to Engadget:

At Adobe’s MAX event this morning, none other than Andy Rubin himself helped to demo Flash running on a G1, proving that it’s possible.

It would seem that Adobe and Google are working together.

Adobe and Google are pooling their collective noggins to make it happen

Good news.

Wonder if we’ll see Flash on the iPhone.

No Flash player on the Google G1

After posting my video of my first experience of touching the Google G1, I went back and looked at it again.

This time I got to have a go on the keyboard and it worked quite well, a little small for me and I did hit the wrong key now and again and all I was doing was entering search terms into Google.

According to the rep I spoke to there is no Flash player on the Google G1.

This surprised me, however the problem arose due to the cost of providing a player on the phone.

I decided then to try out YouTube and see what happens, and what you get is a similar experience to the iPhone in that the phone downloads the video and plays it outside the browser in the media player. The quality was similar to the experience on the iPhone (well the iPod touch).

I also got a photo of the Google G1 next to the iPod touch.

One of the quotes that I like about the differences between the iPhone and the Nokia N95 came from quoted by Josie Fraser. EDIT: original blog post from which the quote came and Ian’s blog posting which references it.

You use the iPhone to consume content whilst you use the Nokia N95 if you want to create content.

This I agree with owning both an iPod touch and the Nokia N95.

If I want to watch video, listen to audio, see photographs or browse the web, the iPod touch wins out every time. There is no camera and no microphone so almost impossible to create original content – though the iPhone does have a (still) camera and a microphone.

Whereas on the Nokia N95, the browsing experience is painful unless you are using mobile sites. Video works as does audio, but as it doesn’t interface with iPhoto, images have to be organised manually on the phone. However in creating content, the N95 wins out, great camera for both stills and video. Third party applications allow you to get those images and films out onto the web, I use Shozu, Qik and Seesmic to do this.

So what has this got to do with the Google G1?

Well I am wondering if the Google G1 could be the first phone which is good at both creating content and consuming content.

Experiences so far show that content consumption works well on the G1, certainly viewing video and browsing the web was pretty nice and easy to do.

I did use the camera, but did not have a chance to create some content, but as the platform is relatively open I suspect we will see third party applications such as Shozu and Qik very soon.

Looking forward to getting one (if possible).

Overall I am still impressed with the phone.

Feeling and touching the Google G1

I have felt, touched and used the Google G1.

Here’s the proof…

done

First impressions? Well I am impressed.

The web browsing experience is very nice, same kind of touch interface as the iPhone, but with the addition of a scroll wheel which means you don’t need to use your finger unless you want to.

The keyboard is quite small, but looks quite usable and certainly more usable than the numeric keypad of phones like the Nokia N95.

The camera works as would be expected from a cameraphone, I did think that the quality could have been better, but the iPhone and N95 are just as “bad” so it’s not really a disadvanatage.

It was only a quick hands on, so didn’t have a chance to try other features or applications.

It will be in the shops in the UK on the 1st November, and for new customers will be free on £40 per month contracts, on cheaper contracts you will need to pay for the phone.

For existing customers (ie me) a different story depending on your contract, where you are in that contract and how much you pay per month.

It is different to the iPhone, but I am seriously considering getting one now.

Google phone to be on sale in UK in time for Christmas…

I did say in my previous post.

I wonder how long it will be before it comes to the UK.

Well according to the BBC it will be in the UK in time for Christmas on T-Mobile.

The T-Mobile G1 handset will be available in the UK in time for Christmas.

The first device to run the search giant’s operating system will feature a touch screen as well as a Qwerty keyboard.

It will be available for free on T-Mobile tariffs of over £40 a month and includes unlimited net browsing.

Other features include a three megapixel camera, a ‘one click’ contextual search and a browser that users can zoom in on by tapping the screen.

I think it has potential, but is it going to match the iPhone?

I don’t think it will have the buzz that the iPhone had. However the applications that the Google Phone could have and the way that they are installed on the phone means that it may have more potential as a learning device than the iPhone.

Google unveils phone

Well it’s out there now.

Google unveiled their phone, it will be from (in the USA) T-Mobile and is made by HTC.

Not much to look at is it?

The key with this phone, is don’t look at the phone, look at the operating system.

Images from Engadget who attended the event and who say:

We finally, finally got our mitts all over the very first Android device, the T-Mobile G1 — hanging out in the crowd, waiting for the official announce, naturally — and so far we like what we see. The phone is surprisingly thinner than we thought it would be, and it feels pretty solid in your hand (though they’ve opted for an almost all plastic device, no metal here). The keyboard seems usable and reasonably well thought-out, and the slider action is like butter, with a nice little swoop for good effect.

I wonder how long it will be before it comes to the UK.

Think of the potential of learners being able to use Google Docs whilst on the move.

Google Phone to be launched today

In the US today sees the unveiling of the widely anticipated Google Phone.

The BBC reports that

The first mobile telephone using Google’s Android software is due to be unveiled on 23 September.

It will be available on the US network of T-Mobile and is expected to be on sale in October.

The first device to run the search giant’s operating system will be a handset from Taiwanese firm HTC called the “Dream”.

No price for the phone has been given yet but it is expected to be below the important $200 (£107) price point.

So why the interest in the phone?

Well as the BBC article goes on…

Google announced its plans for the Android phone software in November 2007 with a declared aim of making it easier to get at the web while on the move.

More and more people are using their phones less for making phone calls and more for using the web whilst on the move. Apple’s iPhone showed that you could use the web on the move, will Google’s Android do more than just the web?