T-Mobile G1 Android cupcake update not ready, still "work in progress"
We were hoping to see G1 software with the cupcake updates by the end of the month, but that may not be happening now.
Last month we posted about Google's Android "cupcake" update, a series of features that the Google engineers had been working on independently when the main Android source code made the transition to open source. Cupcake takes these features and integrates them back into the main Android code, adding some really useful functionality. Only problem is, unless you've got a developer's handset, you can't compile and run this code on the T-Mobile G1. We've been waiting for T-Mobile to get around to officially building the cupcake code into its software, and had heard it would be happening before the end of January, but now it looks like it might not be happening, at least not for a while.
An email sent out by a T-Mobile PR rep calls Android cupcake a "work in progress" that's not yet ready for the public. Whether that means that T-Mobile is just taking its time in verifying that the changes don't break anything, or if it doesn't intend to make use of the code at all, isn't yet known. The rep simply said that news would be forthcoming as T-Mobile releases its own official updates.
While technically the cupcake code branch was never presented as a finished, polished product, but more as a series of fixes for existing Android functionality, it certainly seems to work more or less fine from all available reports. Users who have compiled it for developer handsets have shown off the new on-screen keyboard, so you can type without constantly sliding the screen open, new window animations, an updated text editor app, and lots of new adjustable settings. Cupcake should also add A2DP support for Bluetooth, enabling stereo headset connections, and finally bring video recording to the G1.
While T-Mobile seems to have distanced itself from the cupcake release itself, we're hoping it adopts most of the code and integrates it into its official release. We suppose it would be too much to ask for unlocked handsets so we could be updating the code ourselves, though. We'll just have to wait it out for the next update to drop.
This story around the web:
- Trusted sources:
Android Cupcake OS Update Screenshots Show… [Gizmodo]
-
Future of Android 'Cupcake' update uncertain [BetaNews.Com]
-
Let them eat cupcakes! No Android… [Industry Standard News and Predictions]
Get more information on topics relating to this story:
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Comments (9)
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AndroidTapp.com
(4:47 PM on Fri Jan 23, 2009)
Hopefully G1 owners get the Cupcake update soon, probably not in January like we hoped.
Anonymous (1:12 PM on Sun Jan 25, 2009)
A leaked e-memo reports G1 Firmware 1.1 update on 31/01/2009
G1 (5:04 AM on Wed Jan 28, 2009)
Ill belive it when I see it 31, there you go getting everyone all happy again ill keep to my mod G1 phone with multi touch browser;)
The People (8:08 AM on Tue Jan 27, 2009)
G1 sucks!!!!!
Anonymous (9:51 AM on Fri Jan 30, 2009)
G1 really sucks. i regret that i spent my money on this crap.need a refund tmobile.
Anonymous (7:20 AM on Mon Feb 2, 2009)
I agree....my BlackBerry Pearl did more than this piece of crap phone,can't even watch vids or add pics on most web sites....
Recursive (9:35 PM on Wed Feb 11, 2009)
Just got my G1 update. Hopefully this indicates cupcake is coming. As for those complaining about their G1's, I'm not sure what your bitchin about. Maybe I don't see a problem with it since this my first smart phone. I love this phone. Sure there are things that could be better, but most those things are easily fixed.
Anonymous (8:31 AM on Tue Feb 17, 2009)
Yes it sucks, in regards to not have simple things. i think the only thing keeping the phone on the market is that its constantly get new apps. thats it! the app ideas are start to get boring with being useful. lol
Anonymous (8:27 AM on Tue Feb 17, 2009)
I've had every sidekick and none of them come close to this. My only argument is that the simple things that us smart people knew weren't on the phone should be there by now. Yes patient is a virtue and yes its hard but there is no way you wait this long to put out a OS that is an open platform that you can not least put video on. 20 dollar phones have video. lol Anyway, g1 one users will continue to wait and way other options but how long do we wait wit the dinosaur before the same company (t-mobile) puts out a phone with all the promise we had and more.