Google phone details?
What’s a good Labor Day without some juicy rumors, right? The Boston Globe, generally accepted as a reliable source of information and news, has run a story about the mysterious handset. The article’s author was fortunate enough to converse with several lucky souls who have come into contact with the handset one way or another. These individuals were not, however, able to reveal any specifics due to one of those pesky NDAs. At the same time, some Google phone fun facts, apparently revealed by a number of "reliable" sources with intimate first hand knowledge of the handset have come to light. Check out the 5 morsels below, courtesy of GigaOm:
- Google Phone is based on a mobile variant of Linux, and is able to run Java Virtual Machines.
- All applications that are supposed to run on the Google Phone are Java apps. The OS has ability to run multimedia files, including video clips.
- The user interface is similar to a UI typical of mobile phones, and the image (with red background) floating around isn’t representative of the Google Phone UI. The entire UI is said to be done in Java and is very responsive. The UI, of course has a “search box.”
- There is a special browser which has pan-and-browse features that are common to modern browsers such as browsers for iPhone and Symbian phones. The entire browser is apparently written in Java.
- Initially there was one prototype, but over past few months Google has the mobile OS running on 3-to-5 devices, most of them likely made by HTC, a mobile phone maker, and all have QWERTY keyboards. The model that folks have seen is very similar to the T-Mobile Dash. Around 3GSM, there were rumors that Google, Orange and HTC were working together on mobile devices.
There ya’ have it. Linux, Java apps, familiar UI, crazy browser, and a HTC-sourced device. Good enough?
On Sep 3, 2007 @ 11:08 am, test5477 Said:
no, considering they have not even bought any wireless spectrum to use. Unless they launch as a carrier I do not see much difference here between anything else. Yes, a new OS is good but other than that it seem like nothing great to me.
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On Sep 3, 2007 @ 11:47 am, chris Said:
Yeah.. Pretty excited to see the end product.
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On Sep 3, 2007 @ 12:03 pm, Sulis Said:
Great news for Apple if this is the case - yet more clunky handsets making the iPhone look good. I really find it hard to believe that the HTC folks will depart from their jam as much stuff in as possible approach. Hardware with loads of buttons means loads of options all over the place - which means it will appeal to geeks, but few others. And the geeks are not that numerous.
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On Sep 3, 2007 @ 2:04 pm, Feech Said:
If this is true I will be dissapointed. I actually got a chance to play with the Iphone and was pleasantly surprised by the “virtual” keyboard. After a few minutes I was able to type decent text messages with few mistakes. I really would like to see other phone makers get onboard and give us at least a choice on good looking phones. I think functionality is a given now. Phones just work these days, the only thing to make a difference now is what they look like and how they interact with it. I think this is why the Iphone is so popular
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On Sep 3, 2007 @ 2:30 pm, Argonnj Said:
@Sulis
The reason HTC phones have so many buttons is because they are designed to run Win Mobile. You have to drill through so many menu options for the phone to do what you want, that buttons make it easier to access the functions.
@test5477
Don’t see much difference the OS makes? It makes all the difference. If it works the way is suppose to and doesn’t crash or freeze, like Win Mobile then you saying it doesn’t make a difference doesn’t make sense. What doesn’t make a difference is the numerous Win Mobile handsets out there that all look different, but are essentially crap due to the OS that runs them.
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On Sep 3, 2007 @ 4:36 pm, victor Said:
From what you have just said they might be able to make a really good device. Hopefully it will succeed in the end. I love how G has made good use of a variety of devices and technologies. I do hope they show a concept (realist) soon.
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On Sep 3, 2007 @ 9:31 pm, TJHood Said:
I can’t see Google investing in something as lame as this, I’d say that news reporter has a weak imagination to try to fool anyone with this.
I can see Linux being used, one way to cut down on cost.
but who can ignore that it is lacking well pretty much everything that people are looking for in a new device.
This is junk and Google isn’t that ignorant..
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On Sep 3, 2007 @ 9:32 pm, enemes Said:
@Argonnj
many button presses to get around winmo? how many button presses does it take to make a phone call on iPhone? Oops.
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On Sep 3, 2007 @ 9:34 pm, enemes Said:
Google is not really a hardware company. Yes, they put together their own servers and they at least tried to build their own switches. But building devices for external consumption is quite different. In addition, it’s a fairly low margins business.
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On Sep 4, 2007 @ 7:08 am, test5477 Said:
argonn, my comment was meant to say the OS seems like the only thing that could be cool here. The hardware will likely be a recycled HTC box with traditional styling. The spectrum and pricing is to me the most interesting.
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On Sep 6, 2007 @ 12:07 pm, dante Said:
Personally speaking, I’m waiting on the Starbucks Phone.
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