Apparently, Googlers aren’t supposed to be tweeting the details of the Google Phone, but they have no problem tweeting about how awesome it is. And they also apparently have no problem showing it off. And not surprisingly, pictures of the device are starting to hit the web. Without further ado, this is it.
Cory O’Brien, a San Francisco-based blogger, got his hands on one tonight and tweeted out that picture. He also notes that, “Google Phone = iPhone + a little extra screen and a scroll wheel. Great touch screen, and Android.” → Read More
The Gruber brings us this bit of news: the new GPhone identifies as Nexus One in browsing logs. Five points to anyone who can remember what the Nexus models were? → Read More
We don’t have much information on the Google Phone just yet. In fact, it sounds more like a party favor than anything else. However, if and when Google starts selling this thing, prepare for some of the strangest – and coolest – times in mobile we’ve ever experienced.
What do we know? It’s an HTC phone – probably the Passion, a distant cousin to the beautiful HD2 – with large touchscreen. It’s GSM unlocked and everyone at Google has one so whatever the super secret specs are, they won’t stay super secret for long.
But what if Google starts to sell this thing? This is “a big deal” on the level of Neo learning Kung Fu in The Matrix. This means Google is making hardware. → Read More
TC is reporting: 2007 was the year of speculation of a Google Phone, or Gphone. Handset manufacturer HTC was the center of attention around most of the rumors. But Google eventually squashed those rumors by announcing the Open Handset Alliance and Android. Instead of building an iPhone like device and service combined, they’d be backing an open source mobile operating system that could finally break the carriers’ stranglehold on the mobile market. Android doesn’t preclude Google from creating their own mobile device as well though, that will work as a best of breed device. Google has never said they wouldn’t build their own phone exactly, but when they wrote last November that they were not announcing a Gphone at that time, most of the speculation died down. But today Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin and CEO Eric Schmidt made nebulous statements that are leaving us wondering if Google is now thinking of building that gPhone: “The trio of Google execs also used the opportunity to talk about the inroads the company is making with its own branded mobile phone as a replacement for the iPhone.” As Om Malik notes, this isn’t a direct quote but rather a summary of what was said by Hollywood Reporter writer Dan Cox. But a “branded mobile phone” is very different than Google’s Android project. Unless Cox got the summary wrong, the statements were significant. Read more… → Read More
*gasp* TheStreet has word from a source familiar with the situation that the GPhone won’t be released in time for the holiday shopping season after all. That’s really all the source had to say about the matter. Oh well. There are other Android handsets set to launch this year, which I’m assuming won’t be affected by this news/rumor and I’m looking forward to the BlackBerry Bold, anyway. I’m curious to see what Apple will announce next week, too. I know, I know. The geek inside can’t help it. → Read More
RXC is positing that there will be two gPhones coming after Christmas, both made by Samsung (!!). He describes the phones as something like the Pearl with a flip up screen. I’m calling bullshit, as does 9to5mac, but it’s not too hard to make a “gPhone” — just rebadge something in the OEM’s pipeline — but I just can’t see Google selling physical product. They’re positing it will be a Verizon CDMA model with Wi-Fi and potentially VoIP along with a GSM version on T-Mo. gPhone rumors heating back up… [9to5] → Read More
Here, in all its madcap glory, is the GPhone: Android running on test hardware that looks compelling but not quite ready for prime time. The interface was quite snappy — it was almost exactly as swift as the emulated software on any PC — and it looks good and tight with lots of nice transitions et al. Let’s say this is the emulator made flesh and leave it at that — the jury is still out. → Read More
The first official prototype of a phone running Google’s Android platform has debuted at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona today. Upstaging the usually quick blog media, AP captured the first shot (above), left of picture we’ve blown up the phone for a closer look. Samsung said yesterday that it won’t debut an Android powered phone until 2009, and AP reports that the first Android powered phones are due for a second quarter release, so despite earlier rumors of a February launch date, the world will have to wait for its GPhones. Tune into CrunchGear for all the latest news from the Mobile World Congress. → Read More
San Ramon, CA based a la mobile has taken $6.75 million Series B in a round led by original investor Venrock. Under the deal, Venrock managing partners Ray Rothrock and Tony Sun join the a la mobile board. a la mobile was the first company to offer a complete package of applications based on Google’s Android mobile phone operating system. a la mobile is aiming to build a “bold, new paradigm to streamline the way mobile handsets are developed and deployed and to be the independent, open Linux system platform company for the mobile phone industry.” (via PEHub) → Read More
San Ramon, CA based a la mobile has become the first company to offer a complete package of applications based on Google’s Android mobile phone operating system. A a la mobile demo unit includes a Google browser, phone dialer, audio player, Google maps, camera, games, calendar, contacts manager, calculator and notes installed on a HTC Qtek 9090. According to a USA Today report, although a la mobile is not a member of the Open Handset Alliance, it intends to pitch the prototype to handset makers. Andy Rubin, Google’s senior director of mobile platforms told the paper that the coalition is on track to roll out an official Android-based phone in the second half of this year. → Read More
Google has booked not one, but two (!!!!!) booths at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this February. That means that it’ll probably be showing off Android phones then, right? Maybe. Or maybe not. APC Magazine thinks that we’ll see some Android headsets on February 11th, but let’s all keep that in our back pockets until then. → Read More
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 bet that if Google’s handset partners lift the covers on their Android phones during the Mobile World Congress expo, which kicks off on February 11th in Barcelona – or if Google itself trots out a flock of phones to impress this annual powerhouse gathering of the global mobile industry (the company has booked two stands on the expo floor) – that these will be shiny snazzy models endowed with a very high ‘cool’ factor. The emphasis is mine but it’s the key line: why does Google require two stands at a mobile conference? There is some logic in the conclusion; it would be an ideal time for Google, manufacturers, or both to show off Google powered mobile phones, but still this is awfully quick, despite the shot recently of a GPhone in the wild. In 7 weeks we’ll find out one way or the other. (image credit: Gizmodo) → Read More
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. What it means: The OS obviously works already, and this looks like a closed testing round to iron out the bugs, so there’s a good chance that Android is getting close to a broad scale release. The original reports said second half of 2008, it could be sooner. The bad side: the handset. The original demo video showed a handset that was closer to an iPhone (although with keyboard) than a Blackberry, complete with touch screen interface, where as this…well if you like the aesthetics of a Blackberry it’s probably not that bad; Google is creating an OS that will be used on many phones, so we’re likely to see nicer handsets than this. Lets hope that in this case looks are deceiving, otherwise Scoble will be right, and we cant have that (via CrunchGear) → Read More
By the end of 2008, you’ll be able to BYO device to Verizon’s high speed wireless network, according to a press release issued today. → Read More
Not too long after Google’s announcement of $10-million worth of prize money to Android application developers, Robert Scoble has weighed in with a few reasons (seven) why he’s not too keen on the whole deal. He cites the prize money as the very reason that the developer API is "uninspired" comparing the fact that iPhone developers don’t even have an SDK and there’s still a ton of programs for it. → Read More
Thinking about looking into developing something for the upcoming Android platform? Google has announced a $10-million jumpstart to things in the form of "cash prizes ranging from $25,000 to $275,000 to developers whose applications are picked by a panel of judges." Now’s your chance to get out of Encino and make a better life for yourself. You can do it! Everyone believes in you. Reach for the stars and whatnot. Google Announces $10 Million Android Developer Challenge [Google Press Release] → Read More
Every industry needs an old, crotchety curmudgeon. We have the always-entertaining John C. Dvorak who’s lately seemed to be slowly slipping into senility. That’s okay, though. That’s okay. He’s our grandpa and we love him and you don’t just cut people out of your life because they’ve started going crazy. His latest outburst is against the Google-led Open Handset Alliance. He thinks it won’t work. That’s a fine opinion but it needs to be backed up with a convincing argument. The reasons he gives are far from convincing, however. → Read More
Because of all the server futzing I’m extending the gPhone Madness contest until Monday at 12pm eastern. Feel free to vote, enter, and do whatever over the weekend but remember that it ends Monday. → Read More
Man. Google can’t get a break. First Nokia and Symbian are all like “POOOP!” and then Steven F is like “Weener!” and then the WSJ is like “WOMP STUPID WOMP” and Peter Ha is all like “I need to go to the bathroom” and I’m all like “Post!” Anyway, Steve Ballmer says: “Well of course their efforts are just some words on paper right now, it’s hard to do a very clear comparison [with Windows Mobile].” “Right now they have a press release, we have many, many millions of customers, great software, many hardware devices and they’re welcome in our world.” Which isn’t quite as sensational as saying: GOOGLE I WILL EAT YOUR BABIES AND YOUR MOTHER! I WILL TEAR OFF YOUR HEAD AND USE YOUR GUT AS A PIGGY BANK! GOOGLE EATS ROADKILL AND PUKES IT UP AND EATS IT AGAIN! I WILL DESTROY YOU! ANDROID IS A PRESS RELEASE AND YOUR BRAIN IS AS BIG AS A RAT TURD! So I’m not sure why the Slashdot folks made it sound like he said the bottom thing and not the top thing. Google’s Android just a press release, says Ballmer [ComputerWorld via Slashdot] → Read More
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