The announcement come with a list of changes that Android 1.5 will bring. Some example are:

• Animated window transitions (off by default);
• Faster Camera start-up and image capture;
• Much faster acquisition of GPS location (powered by SUPL AGPS);
• Speedier GMail conversation list scrolling;
• Updated browser with latest Webkit browser & Squirrelfish Javascript engines.

Of course on the announcement Google is warning that this version of the Android 1.5 SDK is just a preview and therefore some aspects may change before the final release expected to be available around the end of this month.

Links
Google’s announcement: http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2009/04/getting-ready-for-android-15.html;
Android 1.5 list of changes: http://developer.android.com/sdk/preview/features.html.

Google releases Android code as Open Source

With the release, Google kept it promise since it was announced on the “Android’s roadmap” for the fourth quarter.

According to the download page the source is approximately 2.1GB in size and it need 6GB more to complete the build. At the moment only Linux and Mac OS systems are officially able to compile the code while Windows is not currently supported.

Dave Bort, a Google software engineer and author of the announcement, stated that: “Today is a big day for Android, the Open Handset Alliance, and the open-source community.  All of the work that we’ve poured into the mobile platform is now officially available, for free, as the Android Open Source Project”.

The announcement come a day before the the scheduled sale of the first Android-based smartphone: the T-Mobile G1 phone.

Links
Google Android: http://www.android.com/;
Google’s announcement: http://source.android.com/posts/opensource;
Google Android source code download: http://source.android.com/download.

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HTC G1 PRO SPECIFICATIONS

The problem lays on the metal prongs of the adapter that could break off and remain in the power outlet.

The defect is present on the adapters sold in the following countries:

• US
• Japan
• Canada
• Mexico
• Several Latin American countries

Both the adapters bundled with the iPhone 3G and those that can been purchased separately are affected, while the adapters supplied with original iPhones or supplied with iPhone 3G units sold in other countries not listed above are not affected.

Apple claims that “no injuries have been reported”, but as precaution it is offering the possibility to exchange the defective units. The exchange campaign will start on October, 10th, and the users can choose to receive the replacement either via the Web, which will ship within three weeks, or exchange it at any Apple retail store; in order to receive the replacement the users need to include their iPhone 3G’s serial number with the order.

Links
Apple announcement: http://www.apple.com/support/usbadapter/exchangeprogram/?sr=hotnews.

BusinessWeek, on its article, is citing a test made by Moe Tanabian, senior principal at IBB Consulting, that noted that the e-mail capabilities of the Android are based exclusively on the Google Gmail platform; and that is raising some uncertainty if the phone will support Microsoft Exchange.

Beside that, the BW article is citing some positive details.

For example that Android will have access to T-Mobile App Store, which will be similar to the Apple’s store, but probably with fewer restrictions for the software developers.

Another curious details is that Google is planning to serve advertisement directly to the phones; while this idea may worrisome at first, the users can rest assured that the option actually require the opt-in, therefore they will not be spammed by ads automatically. The good side of this feature is that many reviewers are speculating that Google may justify the ads delivery with some discount on the phone price and probably also on the plan fees.

The first model will be made by HTC whom received the authorization by the FCC and it will release it on November, 10th on the U.S. market.

Links

Google Android: http://code.google.com/android/.

Opera announced Thursday it had ported a version of its browser to Android.

People interested on trying it can download the technical preview from the company’s website; Opera only ask them to submit feedback before the company officially release the beta for the software.

Opera’s CEO Jon von Tetzchner stated: “today we’re glad to deliver our mass-market mobile browser to the Android development groups”. Opera’s Chris Mills said: “When we first heard about Google Android, we were very excited about the possibilities it presents,”.

Since the software is still in development, there are obviously some remaining issues, like the back button that isn’t completely functional and what Mills define as “painting issues.”

Opera Mini for Android can be downloaded from this link; it requires a copy of the Android SDK.