Cupcake is Here!!!
Well it’s finally here! Although yummy edible cupcakes are a delight, this isn’t your grandma’s cupcake we’re talking about.
The much anticipated Android version 1.5 also known as “Cupcake” finally reached my phone through the Over the Air (OTA) update.
Android is the operating system that Google developed and is in use for the G1 by T-mobile. This year is called year of the Android because many carriers will start releasing Android phones. Think of it as if Apple opened up the iPhone software and let any phone company put it on their phones for free. That’s what Android is doing. It’s a cell phone revolution.
Android links to a “Market” or “App Store” from the phone where you can purchase or download for free applications for the phone.
One of the coolest is called SkyMap which lets you see the constellations in the night sky with labels. It’s awesome:
The other day, we used the phone and Google Street view to take a reminiscing tour of the Eiffel Tower. I could hold the phone up, and when I turn, the view on the phone would pan, rotate, etc. according to how I was holding the phone. It’s pretty cool.
I’m developing an application for the phone (not nearly as cool as SkyMap, but it will be useful and fun).
“My Tracks” is another great application for the phone. We’ve used it when out hiking.
A few new features in Android 1.5 Cupcake:
Here are few more videos from the older release of Android, but that still highlight what’s cool about Android:
Using the Map Application to view Traffic Conditions
Using the Window Shade to see New emails, Text messages, calendar events
Customizing the Home Page and Searching for Applications
I also like that the phone lets me create a password to access the phone. It’s a simple customizable pattern that you use by sliding your finger on the phone. Just think of all those executives who use a Blackberry and if they leave their phone somewhere have suddenly opened up their entire corporate network, their email, etc.
Everybody loves Cupcakes! This was uploaded using the camcorder on the phone. The upload can go straight to YouTube.
It’s estimated that there will be 12 to 20 new Android based phones released this year, so if you’re on AT&T, Verizon, or other major carriers, you’re chance is coming soon. It’s been proposed by analysts that in the next few years, Android based phones will outnumber the iPhone which right now has command of the smart phone market.
Go Android!
Read MoreJury Duty 2009
Well, my number came up, and I was assigned jury duty today. I went down to the courthouse, and waited in a room with other other potential jurors. Only five would be selected from about 12-15 of us. Four would be jurors, and the fifth person would be an alternate (I guess in case one juror gets sick or has some sort of emergency).
We were told if we weren’t selected, we could go home but that our number could come up again.
The judge was a very pleasant and respectable fellow, and we had some good laughs with the bailiff while we waited. We couldn’t go anywhere in the building without the bailiff, so the first guy that had to use the restroom was escorted by the bailiff. After that, we discovered there was a restroom in the waiting room where we were located. A couple people brought books or stuff to work on while we waited. I should have brought a book in with me to read, but I did have my G1 phone so I could respond to emails and such.
The judge came in after we had been waiting two hours and said that the prosecution and the defense had reached an agreement and the case wouldn’t go to trial.
We got paid $18.50 by the city to be there, but we could all be back again within our service window since non of us actually sat on the jury.
Read MoreChina Trip 2009 – Guangzhou & Shenzhen
I’ve been in China for just about a week now. We flew in Guangzhou in mainland China, and went to the Import/Export Fair (Canton Fair). To put the size of the convention center into perspective, it’s where football fields could get together to play football by themselves. The place is massive!
The weather was quite temperate. It can get really hot out here and it’s pretty humid. It rained quite a bit, but fortunately, we were inside the convention centers during most of the rain.
Amazingly in a place this big, there was free wireless access throughout the whole place, so I was able to check emails on the G1 Android phone and not incur any data roaming charges.
One interesting thing is that we saw only a handful of Americans there, and I mean a handful out of perhaps 100 to 150 thousand people. Good news for us, less competition for back home!
I’ve typed some short captions below each picture:
This is Hall B shown in the distance. There are A, B, and C Halls, with several floors in each. Huge, huge, huge. It makes any sports arena look like a Happy Meal toy.
Inside one floor, and not even all the way to the end. However, look how far down the booths go in the picture. Those are the starts of the aisles.
A shot from up above. This section may have been a little smaller, but there are 3 floors in each hall. This is section 4 on floor 1 (4.1). The hall would a room 1.1, 2.1, 3.1….8.1….12.1. Think about it…B.I.G.
More booths, but see the security guard? They were at the end of each aisle. Military officers walked throughout the show. The military officers were very young, perhaps not even 19.
This is looking out and down from our hotel at the Guangzhou Hotel.
Picture from the same spot but looking up into the city.
We visited a few factories, one in Shenzhen and decided to stop for 30 minutes (busy schedule) at the Windows of the World exhibit. We stayed the previous night in Donguang, in the most amazing hotel I’ve ever been in, and it was about $70/night.
Windows of the world quite large; I was envisioning 3 foot replicas, but the place was big, but not everything was to the same scale.
We hopped on a little cart/open air electric car that took us around the place in 25 minutes giving us 3 minute stops at about 4 spots.
Yep, it’s leaning.
Venice, Anyone?
Ah, Paris…Notre Dame. That was fun to see, brought back good memories.
The Arc.
Let’s throw in a little bit of Rome.
Can’t forget Egypt.
Yep, you can ride it if you want to pay a little extra.
Rome.
Probably somewhere in South America. We didn’t have a lot of time to read the signs.
Now, New York, only got 4-5 foot models, what’s up with that?
The Japanese gardens were huge and very beautiful. You can see, these fish know what’s up.
Japanese gardens.
It wasn’t raining, and the sun actually came out, so I got a little sun-burned, but it was fun. After this, we were off to Hong Kong for two more trade shows.
Read MoreCelebrating the Music in All of Us
The day I purchased the G1 Android phone, I saw on the phone an application to view YouTube videos. The first video that I tested on the phone was the video featured below. It celebrates the music in all of us all over the world and is pretty cool.
The videos are from the Playing for Change Foundation. From the Foundation’s website:
The Playing For Change Foundation (PFCF) is dedicated to connecting the world through music by providing resources (including but not limited to facilities, supplies, and educational programs) to musicians and their communities around the world.
The “Don’t Worry” video features artists from all over the world:
- Nancy, France
- The Congo
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- Chennai, India
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Tel Aviv, Israel
- New Orleans, Louisiana USA
- Barcelona, Spain
- Umlazi, South Africa
- Dharamsala, India
The video below is also from the foundation. It starts with one performer, and then really builds.
The “Stand by Me” video features artists from :
- Santa Monica, California USA
- New Orleans, Louisiana USA
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Zuni, New Mexico USA
- Toulouse, France
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Moscow, Russia
- Caracas Venezuela,
- The Congo
- Guguletu, South Africa
- Barcelona, Spain
- Umlazi, South Africa
- Pisa, Italy
- Mamelodi, South Africa
I recommend listening with a good set of headphones.
Read MoreAnother Reason to get Android
Okay, here’s another cool reason to get the Google G1 Android phone:
The Google G1 phone uses Android as an operating system and that system allows you to download additional programs or “apps” to your phone.
The new My Tracks application shown below is pretty cool. It will track your route while you run, hike, walk, or bike using GPS. It will tell you how high you climbed, how fast you went, and can help you track your data week after week! The application is called My Tracks and is made by Google. Other applications can/are made by third-party developers and most can be downloaded and installed free of charge.
I got a Google Android Phone a couple weeks ago. This would have been pretty cool on our hike last year up Lone Peak.
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