confiscatedThoughts » android

Google Issues Nexus One Software Update

James B. — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:26:29 +0000

Google announced on Tuesday it has issued an over-the-air free software update for users of its new Nexus One smartphone. The update will come via the telephone network instead of having to plug it into a computer and download the software.

In addition to adding several new features, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) said it thinks the update released today for the Nexus One will address 3G connectivity issues some users reported last month. “We will provide a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones,” the company said in a blog post.

Three key features of the update include a new version of Google Maps, the addition of the Google Goggles application and pinch-to-zoom functionality, a feature found in the iPhone.

With Google Goggles, users can snap a picture of something and have the device perform a search based on the image, so the user doesn’t have to type anything in. For example, a tourist could take a shot of a well-known landmark and get back relevant Web sites with more information on it.

The latest Google Maps 3.4 synchronizes starred items or favorite places from your phone or computer for easy access. The app now also includes search suggestions from a user’s personal maps history if they’ve already been using Google Maps. Version 3.4 also includes “Night mode” navigation, automatically changing the screen color and brightness for easier viewing when driving at night.

The update is being rolled out now and Nexus One users will receive a message notifying them of its availability. Google said the update is being rolled out gradually to avoid congestion, so some users might not get the notification until the end of this week.

© James B. for confiscatedThoughts, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: android, Google, nexus one

Switch Android Screens from Home Screen

James B. — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:11:50 +0000

Click on thumbnail for full image...

I am just now starting to get into Android and in v2.1 there are some “easter eggs” that you can run across. One of the recent finds is that you can switch to your different running screens from the home screen without swiping.

If you take a look at the screenshot you will see that you can view your current screens in a thumbnail view and then select the one you would like to go to without swiping.

Here is how you do it:

Tap and hold the dots on the bottom left and/or right.
Tap on the thumbnail of the screen you would like to switch to.

It is really that easy…Now, I understand that some people would rather use the cool transition of swiping but this is for those of us who might have a few more screens than normal. The thumbnail backgrounds do not show the wallpaper but instead show an all white background for better visibility. It does show the icon and widget layouts for easier identification. Virtual desktop users will feel at home as the motion is somewhat familiar.

If you don’t want to spend the time to hunt down all of the Easter Eggs then please feel free to check out this blog post over at Smarterware.

Is Android The Perfect Mobile Software Platform?

James B. — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:06:06 +0000

I have been doing alot of reading on the Android Platform and I think that this article is one that everyone should read regarding it. It puts things in perspective, I think. Check it out:

Is Android The Perfect Mobile Software Platform? | Linux Magazine.