What a nightmare. A warning to all here: Do Not Try To Upload Too Many Photos to Facebook At Once I was attempting to upkload about 6 or 7 photos to Facebook from my phone and it just died on me. It got pretty hot, gave some memory warnings, then crashed. I tried rebooting but the keys were not responsive at all. I removed the battery to force a reboot but that did not help. It did not boot, never got beyond the Android logo on the boot up. So I eventually decided that a factory reset was the only option. In case you find yourself in this situation, this is what you do: Remove the battery again, then replace Hold Home Key and End key for 20 to 30 seconds until you see a triangle with an exclamation point and a picture of the G1. Open the keyboard and press Alt+W until and chose factory reset Allow it to boot up. If you have no network then skip Google sign in Go to wireless settings and activate Open Gmail to force back into Google sign in After doing this the Orange 3G seemed to then wake up. Gmail synched. [...]

Google has released version 2 of its Android operating system to Android application developers. We are expecting to see a lot more synchronisation with the new Android OS. Although much is under wraps sill, we are expected there to be photo and video synchronisation, so that all photos taken will be streamed over to more secure storage on the Google cloud servers. Xavier Ducrochet who is the head of technical development provided some information on the Android developer blog: “Using the new sync, account manager and contacts APIs, you can write applications to enable users to sync their devices to various contact sources. You can also give users a faster way to communicate with others by embedding Quick Contact within your application. With the new Bluetooth API, you can now easily add peer-to-peer connectivity or gaming to your applications.” In typical Google style, earlier in the month a massive Eclair was erected on the lawns of Google’s Mountain View HQ in California. The Elcair was placed next to a giant donut and a cupcake, which were the code names of the previous Android OS releases. So it was obvious to the techy crowd that a new Android was about to [...]

Yes, after months weaiting for the big news to be released, Google have finally announced that the deskop / laptop / netbook operating system will be called Chrome OS, and it will be available soon.   Really we all new as soon as Google released Android that a pc operating system must have been in the pipeline. We suggested that they would called it GUnix, basing the OS on Unix, but they have chosen the build the Chrome brand.  “Google Chrome OS is a new project, separate from Android Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems. While there are areas where Google Chrome OS and Android overlap, we believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google.” Google official blog. Although full details of when it will be released or what it will be capable of doing have not been announced yet, it will certainly rival Windows 7, Apple’s OSX and the various [...]

OK, these are the pre-installed applications on the Android. These will be available as soon as you turn your phone on for the first time. Most are pretty basic. The most exciting applications are probably Email – i.e. the ability to set up a POP3 email account on your phone, and also Maps, specifically with the GPS function, which means in theory you should never get lost again. The following applications are pre-installed on the T-Mobile G1. Alarm Clock – Set as many alarms as you want. You can set alarms for appointments, events, and more. Browser – Browse web and WAP sites as well as download new programs and files from the Internet. Calculator - Perform basic and advanced arithmetic and calculations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (there is a scientific calculator available in the Market). Calendar – Keep track of events and appointments Camera – Take pictures using the T-Mobile G1 built-in camera. Contacts – Keep track of your friends and colleagues. Dialer – Make and receive calls, switch between calls, and set up conference calling. Email – Set up and access other email accounts using the email setup Google Mail - Set up, access, and [...]

Seeing that I have bought and now tested my Google G1 Android phone, it is time for a more detailed look at it, and some applications that I have installed for it. I bought the G1 from T-Mobile, who are the only phone company in the UK that sells the G1. The staff in the shop were actually really helpful and set the phone up for me with a few essential application. I have since added some more, and compiled a list of others that have been recommended to me, that I am working my way through. Essential and Fun Applications: Power Manager -This allows you to easily change any setting that affects power consumption. For example, if you are not using the phone for browsing the web, then you can easily set it to G2 instead of G3 internet connection to help save battery. MyBackup -This simply backs up all your settings and applications, so in the event of a major problem to your phone, or theft, your can quickly restore your data to a repaired / new phone. AK Notepad -This is a simple but effective notepad for the Android. It also allows reminders to be added to [...]

Today I finally bought myself a new phone, and opted for the Google G1 phone from T-mobile. So far I am very pleased. The keyboard is actually much easier to use than I thought it would be. My thumbs could be a little thinner, but I am typing this with very few errors. So far I have installed a power management application that allows me to place the phone in 2G mode while not surfing. Have also installed a facebook application for easier social networking. Gmail is a little tricky at the moment, but is manageable. Have also sent text massages too. Not made a call yet though. All good really. Suggested Reading:Mobile Photography with Android and PicasaAndroid Phone Applications – G1 EssentialsBluefish – Linux just gets better.Google Android Eclair Released to DevelopersMy Experiences Using a Google Android 3G Smartphone in London