features of the upcoming 1.5 cupcake

[jeno]

The Android 1.5 platform introduces many new features for users and developers. The list below provides an overview of the changes.
User interface refinements

    * System-wide:
          o Refinement of all core UI elements
          o Animated window transitions (off by default)
          o Accelerometer-based application rotations
    * UI polish for:
          o In-call experience
          o Contacts, Call log, and Favorites
          o SMS & MMS
          o Browser
          o Gmail
          o Calendar
          o Email
          o Camera & Gallery
          o Application management

Performance improvements

    * Faster Camera start-up and image capture
    * Much faster acquisition of GPS location (powered by SUPL AGPS)
    * Smoother page scrolling in Browser
    * Speedier GMail conversation list scrolling

New features

    * On-screen soft keyboard
          o Works in both portrait and landscape orientation
          o Support for user installation of 3rd party keyboards
          o User dictionary for custom words
    * Home screen
          o Widgets
                + Bundled home screen widgets include: analog clock, calendar, music player, picture frame, and search
          o Live folders
    * Camera & Gallery
          o Video recording
          o Video playback (MPEG-4 & 3GP formats)
    * Bluetooth
          o Stereo Bluetooth support (A2DP and AVCRP profiles)
          o Auto-pairing
          o Improved handsfree experience
    * Browser
          o Updated with latest Webkit browser & Squirrelfish Javascript engines
          o Copy 'n paste in browser
          o Search within a page
          o User-selectable text-encoding
          o UI changes include:
                + Unified Go and Search box
                + Tabbed bookmarks/history/most-visited screen
    * Contacts
          o Shows user picture for Favorites
          o Specific date/time stamp for events in call log
          o One-touch access to a contact card from call log event
    * System
          o New Linux kernel (version 2.6.27)
          o SD card filesystem auto-checking and repair
          o SIM Application Toolkit 1.0
    * Google applications
          o View Google Talk friends' status in Contacts, SMS, MMS, GMail, and Email applications
          o Batch actions such as archive, delete, and label on Gmail messages
          o Upload videos to Youtube
          o Upload photos on Picasa

New APIs and developer tools

    * UI framework
          o Framework for easier background/UI thread interaction
          o New SlidingDrawer widget
          o Horizontal ScrollView widget
    * Home Screen framework
          o APIs for creating secure home screen widgets
          o APIs for populating live folders with custom content
    * Media framework
          o Raw audio recording and playback APIs
          o Interactive MIDI playback engine
          o Video recording APIs for developers (3GP format)
          o Video and photo sharing Intents
          o Media search Intent
    * Input Method framework
          o Text prediction engine
          o Ability to provide downloadable IMEs to users
    * Speech recognition framework
          o Support for using speech recognition libraries via Intent
    * Misc API additions
          o LocationManager - Applications can get location change updates via Intent
          o WebView - Touch start/end/move/cancel DOM event support
          o SensorManager - redesigned sensor APIs
          o GLSurfaceView - convenience framework for creating OpenGL applications
          o Broadcast Intent for app update install succeeded - for smoother app upgrade experience
    * Developer tools
          o Support for multiple versions of Android in a single SDK installation
          o Improved JUnit support in ADT
          o Easier application performance profiling

[twinsstretch]

I would rather skip over the next five software upgrades to get what really should be the main focus of Google and Android and that is sending down the flash player to make this this cell phone true to what T mobile advertised and that was quote "Everything You Love About The Web, Now On a Phone" I want to be able to watch web videos play web games etc.etc. Oh and the last thing I purchased a SD card knowing the phone did not have enough memory and I would download all applications to my SD card Like my previous t mobile wing and still use the application from the home page, I WAS WRONG! So I just want know if this will happen by summer end or should I just craigs list my phone because that wish is to far fetched for Google and android or the would rather eat that falsely advertised statement because one dissatisfied customer can easily become dirt under the carpet.

[chizzle187]

Even without the flsh player the G1 is by far the best phone on the market.. Yes it does need a flash player, but all of the other amazing features out weight not having it... doesnt matter what phone you buy there will always be something that could make it better ...

the G1 isnt for everyone, but its definitely for me !!   

[GT1-Man]

Not normally do I do this but, you can put your apps on to SD Card (but would have to root your phone)

[rayosx]

I don't know you guys, but I really want the flash player

[CruCial]

I don't know you guys, but I really want the flash player

If you have ROOT on your phone.. and have apps 2 SD can you put them on your home screen and stuff? or do you got to go through stuff to get to them? I think that is what hes saying. Not sure tho^^^

[rayosx]

crucial,
I still don't have my micro sd , it is on its way !

[d2punkrock4thisw]

Is it an OTA update that everyone can get,
or only for people who have rooted?

[chizzle187]

its only for rooted phones.... sorry !

[Timber]

Let me ask you this. When my phone is updated with cupcake (I'm not rooted) will I then be able to download app. to my sd card? Or is that just a rooted thing.

[jeno]

Let me ask you this. When my phone is updated with cupcake (I'm not rooted) will I then be able to download app. to my sd card? Or is that just a rooted thing.

you can only put apps to the sd with a rooted phone

[mattx95]

I'm new to this whole G1 thing, i got 3 questions:

1. What does "rooted" mean, and how do you get your G1 rooted?
2. Will the 1.5 cupcake update be for rooted and non-rooted phones, or just rooted ones?
3. When is this 1.5 cupcake update scheduled for release?

[chizzle187]

I'm new to this whole G1 thing, i got 3 questions:

1. What does "rooted" mean, and how do you get your G1 rooted?
2. Will the 1.5 cupcake update be for rooted and non-rooted phones, or just rooted ones?
3. When is this 1.5 cupcake update scheduled for release?

1, this will answer root question...    http://www.g1-forum.com/index.php?topic=1804.0
2, yes this is for none rooted phones....    http://www.g1-forum.com/index.php?topic=2729.0
3, just have to wait, but you can follow #2 link and do it manually

[lostatlimbo]

Regarding the browser upgrades...

I'm very happy that you can finally select text, but I am extremely annoyed that they dropped the ability to set the browser orientation.

Several of the sites I use on the phone are un-readable vertically and I always used the horizontal view.

Why would they take this option away??? Ridiculous!

I realize you can set the phone to flip orientation for all apps when the phone is turned, but its crap - it just reloads the page and you lose your place.

GOOGLE - please bring this option back and stop taking options away for no reason!!!

[GT1-Man]

Hi, we are glad you are here, we like your company, but plz be aware to read Forum rules.