Google Android Prototype In the Wild - Gizmodo Comments

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Gary_7vn — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:32:16 EST

I really hate the blackberry rectangular form factor. Why can't they put a little curve in the center of these things? They are just too wide for most hands.

It sure it ugly, but I like the old fashioned haptics of the physical button, you just can't beat it.

Gary_7vn

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Trackback — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:52:55 EST

Google powered phones could be debuted as soon as February, according to speculation by APC. It’s an interesting exercise in drawing the dots together to get to a completely unsupported conclusion, but there are some interesting facts APC has reported that are worth taking a look at: You can...

Trackback

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

AndroidGuys — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:06:35 EST

4 out of 5 AndroidGuys agree this is a legit picture. The one calling this a HOAX shows us exactly how easy it would be to replicate something like this. 10 minutes of photoshop and you have ANDROID RUNNING ON A BLACKBERRY!
[androidguys.blogspot.com]

To be fair to the tipster who sent Gizmodo this picture, all we really want is a video.

[AndroidGuys.com]

AndroidGuys

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Trackback — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:07:25 EST

One week after the Google-led Android project introduced a way for developers to start building their own mobile applications, here’s one that’s already available — albeit on the web, and not fully functional. It’s called CallFreq, built by Moscow, Russia-based Sadko Mobile.

Trackback

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

0noidea0 — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:12:02 EST

This is a real device, not a mock-up. I think there were a few dozens produced and used by GG and 3rd parties for development purposes (the codename of the device was "Sooner"). It's a development tool, not meant to be productized. The HW is the very same HTC platform used by the T-Mobile Dash. Just different plastic. Not a product and not really a prototype. Just a development and testing tool.

0noidea0

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

koz1000 — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:22:48 EST

How did people miss the word "Prototype" in the headline?

Oh yeah, the big shiny picture below it.

Consumer electronic prototype devices tend to be ugly, grey, and boxy.

koz1000

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Sqube — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:01:22 EST

Give me a slide-out keyboard format and I'm sold.

Sqube

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

mediaphile — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:40:29 EST

@92BuickLeSabre: You should go look at any of the many videos showing off the UI and read up on the complete feature list instead of mouthing off after seeing only a single picture of the home screen and then being smarmy when people call you out on it. Missing the point is ignorance; ignoring the point is stupidity.

@everyone else: The hardware is irrelevant. Do you criticize Ubuntu for running on ugly grey boxes all over the world? Besides, who said this is a production model?

mediaphile

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

AndroidGuys — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:29:07 EST

We're dying to see a touch screen version somewhere. For now, though, we're content with anything we can get our hands (eyes) on. And to the guy who sent in the pic... How about some video?!

AndroidGuys.com
[androidguys.blogspot.com]

AndroidGuys

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

KeithJ — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:44:08 EST

@stopcrazypp: Can we have an award for the dumbest comment of the week? I think this would be in the running for first place.

It annoys the hell out of me when people say "This/that isn't innovative, they only added A, B, C, and D, other than that... it's just... ". Innovation is evolutionary. People try so hard not to "jump on the bandwagon", which is fine - we get it, you want to be different. Don't try to downplay the iPhone like it hasn't made a mark in the cell phone industry because it has. Why are all of these companies now releasing this iphone-esque phone software? Of course there is going to be "something better" but for who? For you? You decide what you spend your money on. I, for one, applaud any company willing to take a product and take it to another level. It may not be the Jesus phone (for some it is), or the level you want a company to take it to, but it did show that people want a combination of things in their phone - ascetics, usability, and a reliable product. They are merely giving it's customers another option. It does everything it claims to do, if that doesn't work for you, it doesn't make it a bad phone, it means it's not for you. For people who actually enjoy the iPhone, don't knock them because they do. I love the iPhone because of the way it works and the way it looks, but it doesn't work for me right now, mainly lack of native instant messages, MMS, etc. (I know about hacking, but that is not something I want to do). Until they release certain features for the iPhone, I will hold out.

I digress, I love the way Android is shaping up. It looks like it may a rock solid O/S and it's always good to have choices.

KeithJ

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

youngjjohnson — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:43:07 EST

What else can you possibly put on the phone,that is not available on a phone already. As far as the form factor, its only a few options. Buttonless(iphone) treo style, slider type, or clamshell. There is no other that would make working sense(that i can think of). Bluetooth,wifi,xtype of card reader...what else can you do except chnge the interface...and camera...but who actuall takes pictures with their phone like fa real fa real. The type of person who is on this message board looking a specs of new phones and prototypes prob got a real digital camera

youngjjohnson

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

sethrubenstein — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:14:35 EST

Quick question that hopefully someone can answer. The Android platform, will that be for just "SmartPhones" ie the phones with higher priced service plans. Or will and can the Android platform be utilized for a consumer smartphone esque phone, I'm thinking along the lines of Verizon's new Voyager. Anyone know?

Thanks,

sethrubenstein

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Trackback — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:34:17 EST

It's all getting a bit David Attenborough. An anonymous tip off to Gizmodo has resulted in much blog excitement (okay, a few raised eyebrows, perhaps) over this first glimpse of Google's Android OS out in the open. ...

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Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Trackback — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:19:55 EST

Gizmodo has got their hands on a photograph (pic right) of a prototype phone running Google’s Android Open Mobile operating system. According to the report, the phone itself looks like it may have been manufactured by HTC.

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Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Robin — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:05:27 EST

Who cares if this form factor is crappy? We already know there will be several handsets, and this one is a low end version. No one is forcing you to buy it.

Robin

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

gizmo_dude — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:33:53 EST

@bigpolla: yeah I have to agree, that phone is quite ugly. It looks just like the Palm centro, but even uglier than that. lol

gizmo_dude

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

danmandle — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:35:57 EST

looks like a Q and a Centro made a baby

danmandle

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

BigSwirv — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:28:57 EST

Wait ... it looks like a WinMo device or Blackberry ... revolutionary.

And the form factor is great ... just not that particular version of it. Just say no to touchscreen "keyboards"!

BigSwirv

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

OMG! Ponies! — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:10:36 EST

A great operating system won't save a stagnant form factor. Will someone please come up with something other than a Blackberry or Treo design? Someone other than Apple...

OMG! Ponies!

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Stacky Botrus — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:59:31 EST

Those 60/40 keyboard screen split designs really are beginning to show their suckness. Yes, please bring in the adventure in design.

The Palm and the Blackberry designs of the world are boring and prove to allow no freedom of expansion. Look to the iphone, and Nokia N95 for the future ya bastidz.

Stacky Botrus

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

kaiesis — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:57:18 EST

OMG, if they release that phone they will get smashed. I think a monkey holding a paint brush with its butt cheeks can design a better phone than that. Fire the designers right now.

kaiesis

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Trackback — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:37:35 EST

…as much “in the flesh” as it is possible with a piece of software for cellphones, I guess. According to the anonymous sender, this version of Android is light and fast and “better” (whatever that means) than Windows Mobile 5.

Trackback

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

stopcrazypp — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:12:56 EST

@ulaq27:
"I aqgree, it shoud be a touch screen!"
I don't get why every time the android is mentioned everyone wants it to be touchscreen. Touchscreen design isn't the be-all-end-all of design for phones. In fact, Apple didn't bring anything new to the UI design of phones except for multitouch for the touchscreen smartphone and the full internet browser. They basically made the business-oriented pda-based smartphone more attractive for the common audience by using the UI of "dumb" phones in addition to the touchscreen. Compared with "dumb" phones, the iphone UI isn't better, prime example are the UI of sony ericsson phones.
Android is supposed to improve things for all phones, whether they be touchscreen, qwerty, or plain old numpad. I am sure htc is going to make a touchscreen. Android doesn't refer to a specific phone & if you used a palm you would probably be able to think of ways that it's UI can improve and Android is supposed to bring those improvements.
But I feel most of you just want an Android phone to be google's version of the iphone.

stopcrazypp

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

drewheyman — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:37:49 EST

@Keebler:
yes i do. that's why the kludge was created to move them around manually. because they are poorly ordered automatically. i don't want to spend 3 hours ordering my icons, and then i load some new piece of software (probably adobe acrobat or some other thing i barely use) on the phone that decides it should be displayed first; therefore i have to reorder them again.

and anyways, what's with 1/3 of the screen actually being used in brower mode, and 2/3 showing some grainy picture of a mountain? that is absolutely horrid design. is the browser not important enough to replace the picture when you are using the device? thanks for looking out for those of us with bad eyesight.

drewheyman

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

c2 — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:56:01 EST

So you say it's "light and fast"? Wait till you install the firewall virus scanning, IM scanning, spam blocker, pop-up blocker, and real-time virus protection. Then try to to use the little guy. Hell, just try to get it to be a phone while it's trying to do all that.

My point is that if we have a chance to design from the ground up, we can anticipate some of this rather than creating a brand new problem?

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

ninjatales — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:49:09 EST

That sux that the wallpaper cannot extend all the way to the top. Nokia E61 got this beat but Android has potential.

ninjatales

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

spincast — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:44:08 EST

Phone aesthetics aside, it looks like even Google can't stop people from texting while driving.

In a Prius no less. Good eyes @ABBYDOG3.

spincast

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

abbydog3 — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:38:58 EST

nice Prius, oh the phone, yea I would like it in Apple white.

abbydog3

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Joseph — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:29:55 EST

@ClintonOddfellow: I agree w/ you, but in this market aesthetics play a big part in sales. If you put a brick like that on the market, it's going to be tough to market its "coolness" factor. Look at the Motorola RAZR; It is a total piece of crap and essentially no more functional than a V400, but flew off the shelves because it was thin. People want bigger screens, thinner phones, and sleekness. This phone speaks the opposite.

Joseph

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

ClintonOddfellow — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:15:52 EST

To all commenters who were commenting on the ugliness of the handset: It's not totally hideous, and in my opinion, the aesthetics of the device should be secondary to it's functionality. I'd take that phone over a BlackJack or an original Q simply because the keypad looks a -lot- more usable than the one on most smartphones of that formfactor on the market. Props to Google for their function-first attitude for this device.

ClintonOddfellow

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

maevro — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:10:39 EST

I am still waiting for the HP 910/914.

maevro

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy! — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:09:53 EST

If the OS is tight, I wouldn't mind getting a piece of that. If it runs a good high-end HTC without issue, I'm all for it.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

donlphi — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:05:42 EST

Finally a design that makes sense! I'm canceling my iPhone order RIGHT NOW!!! HA HA HA

I don't care if that thing has a 3Ghz processor in it with an HD TV tuner built in and it is open to anybody that ever took programming classes at their local community college. It is FUGS. I know there is somebody geekier than me totally drooling over this thing.

I kind of hope it's a joke.

donlphi

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

DestroyerMTL — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:04:06 EST

@samsonsu: True, but only if they avoid the pitfall of ridiculous short cut keys. Winmo comes to mind.

DestroyerMTL

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

amandaaaas — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:01:28 EST

the phone is hideous.

amandaaaas

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

samsonsu — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:40:19 EST

@drewheyman:
couldn't agree more...

every user experience designer (especially in mobile industry) should consider "number of clicks/keypresses in order to get a certain task done" a numeric measurement of the design.

samsonsu

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

92BuickLeSabre — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:29:16 EST

@jwrose: I can't speak for the others, but I'm not missing the point, I'm just choosing to ignore it.

And for good reason: given that a) it's not a true, full list of functionality and b) it's not a video of the use-experience, all I can evaluate is what I see. And what I see is a photo of an ugly-ass phone-thing.

92BuickLeSabre

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

jwrose — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:17:31 EST

I think several of the commenters here are missing the point. Android isn't a phone... it's a phone OS. I'm sure Android could be on a touch screen if it was installed on one. The idea is to make as many phones as possible to have a unified interface, etc. Trashing the phone that it's installed on is like basing an opinion of Windows Vista or OSX solely on the appearance of the computer it's installed on.

jwrose

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

ulaq27 — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:02:47 EST

@Sqwish: I aqgree, it shoud be a touch screen! I have a palm and I would wait for something cool I could buy on Verizon, but would not wait for this. I hope it is a fake or it is POS just to run the software. I would not suspect the phone design to be revolutionary, but I will expect the software to be nothing less than ground-breaking.

ulaq27

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

AndroidGuys — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:58:08 EST

Did he fake the reflection of the guy taking the picture in it?

AndroidGuys

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

AndroidGuys — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:57:12 EST

"While it's certainly not the prettiest phone we've ever seen, a Gizmodo reader sent in a picture of his phone running Android. According their guy, "even in early form..."

Read more Android news and opinion at AndroidGuys.com

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Google Android Prototype In the Wild

baandoptager — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:56:12 EST

its FAKE! the screen isnt centered and the shadows are all wrong.

baandoptager

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

johnnyabnormal — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:55:42 EST

BRICK

johnnyabnormal

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Sqwish — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:48:17 EST

no, no, no. If I wanted a huge ass phone with a qwerty keyboard I would go buy a palm. The android should be a full touchscreen so that the application development can be endless.

Sqwish

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Keebler — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:47:42 EST

blam said:

I just pray that hardware by other makers is a lot more adventurous. In my mind, those HTC designs remind me a little too much of WM and will for a long time.

True dat.

drewheyman said:

the applications you use most are never the ones typically displayed unless you manually move them around, and who wants to waste their time doing that?

If you're too lazy to re-arrange icons to your suiting then you really have no place to be bitching about their lack of usefulness.

Keebler

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

drewheyman — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:43:42 EST

i really hate those application sliders like the one shown in the bottom 3rd of the display screen, because the applications you use most are never the ones typically displayed unless you manually move them around, and who wants to waste their time doing that?

designers: if you are going to use those godawful things, then make sure you have a counter built in so the applications used most tend to show up on the screen, so you don't have to slide them.

drewheyman

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

teqsun.com — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:42:53 EST

that guy in the google phone video looks high. still very cool.

teqsun.com

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

raven1 — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:31:51 EST

Relax Fellas, I'm Sure There Will Be A 'Droid' Out There For Every Taste. This Does Look Promising Though,,,

raven1

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

92BuickLeSabre — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:31:34 EST

@bigpolla: Yes, yes, yes, yes. (One yes for each line of correctness.)

92BuickLeSabre

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

oo0EveryoneElseWasDoingIt0oo — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:29:54 EST

JESUS! (not that one,) THIS IS ONE UGLY BEAST.

oo0EveryoneElseWasDoingIt0oo

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

bigpolla — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:27:17 EST

ergh
that phone is ugly
i love the idea
but jesus christ is that an ugly design...

bigpolla

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

rio-gio — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:26:33 EST

Baller.

I can has free phone calls?

rio-gio

Google Android Prototype In the Wild

antidayjob — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:18:54 EST

Sweet. I can suck the google teet all day long now.

antidayjob