More Cowbell!

Android On Screen Keyboard is out

But it is not official. The beauty of open source is anyone can start code and write their own software. From the official google roadmap, the on-screen keyboard will not be available until Q1 2009.

Q1 2009

Input method framework (IMF)

This feature will enable support for input methods other than physical keyboards, for example soft keyboards. IMF will also enable application developers to provide IME (see below) applications based on the framework.

Input method engines (IME)

IME will support soft keyboards, a dictionary of suggestions, and a suggestion algorithm. The Android platform may contain few reference IMEs, and developers can provide IME applications through the Android Market.

The community from DotPhone has released the source code for the on screen keyboard software. There is also a step-by-step guide on how to install.

This is a very good news. From my last post, Kogan want to released their own google phone thats looks exactly like an iPhone, which no physical keyboard. This maybe help them to make the production much faster and will definitely be available before 15 Dec 2008.

Google Phone from Australia?

You got to be kidding mate. Apparently, small consumer electronics maker in Melbourne, Kogan has announced plans to launch a mobile phone based on Google’s Android platform. The best part is, it will be available this Christmas (it will be ahead from Asus(Q1-2009) and Motorola Christmas 2009).

This is the power of open source. Anyone now can build their own Google Phone. Michael Kogan , the owner of the online store said that his Google phone would look similar to the iPhone in that it would be a touch-screen device with no built-in keyboard. He said it would include WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and a trackball to aid in navigation.

“It’s a matter of loading the Android system on to the phone, configuring it, making sure it works very well and then the manufacturing of the few thousands phones that we need to launch it is just a matter of a day or two.”

As far as I remember, they have to modified the source to include on-screen keyboard. I hope this is a great news for us who live in the jungle and doesn’t even have iPhone in the country(Malaysia Boleh!).

For 199(*), this is the great news and look promising for outsiders to obtain a google phone asides from zzzPhone.

Oh, I forgot, Kogan still have no name for his google phone. contact him if have any name that came across your mind.

EDIT : Kogan only deliver the phone within Australia only. Hope that they can ship it worldwide.

More Android Phones in 2009

This is somehow a good news, many big player of handset makers now announcing that they want to make an android enabled phone.

First Asus, their intentions of releasing an Android based handset in the first half 2009. It wont be that long, considering we are at the end of year 2008. More news here

Next, Openmoko, yes the company that bring you FreeRunner, also have their intention to bring android to the codename/projece named GTA02. Some of the details are :

- 400/500 MHz Samsung 2442B Processor/SOC (400 minimum, ARM920T core, ARMv4T)
- 128 MB SDRAM total, 64 MB CPU internal, 64 MB external
- 256MB NAND Flash MCP package.
- Topploy VGA, 16 bit color depth, 480 x 640 pixels, 2.84″ diagonal screen size
- WiFi 802.11 b/g
- A-GPS or GPS
- GSM/GPRS
- 3 axis sensing accelerometer
- Touch screen over LCD is primary data entry mechanism
- Two “hard” buttons
- Internal Li-Ion or Li-Polymer battery included.
- Indicators: an LED indicator visible from the side of the unit will illuminate when charging or have missing incoming call
- 850/1800/1900 and 900/1800/1900 MHz bands must be supported
- Bluetooth (CSR BC4 or later solutions)
- Weight: ~133 grams with battery.
- 4-in-1 laser pen
- 512MB microSD Card (SanDisk/Transcend)
- 1x USB cable Standard A to mini-B connector
- 120.7 x 62.0 x 18.5 mm (4.752 x 2.441 x 0.728 inch)
- Four-ring 2.5mm stereo jack

Looks 2009 will be a a year of handset makers trying to outplay each others on bringing android to their phones.

Every screen of the T-Mobile G1 Phone

ZDNet has put some nice info and every screen of Android phone. This is an awesome phone. I want one!!!, but have to wait for mobile giant to produce it like Motorola.

So head to here , to see the all the screenshots of the phone.