Holiday Gift Guide »

Android OS 1.5 released, offers juicy new features

By: , IntoMobile
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Android Cupcake. Get it?

Android Cupcake. Get it?

Android OS fans have been waiting patiently for Google to go live with an updated version of the open smartphone platform. Today that wait ends. Android OS 1.5 has been officially released on an “early-look” basis, bringing with it juicy new features like soft-keyboard support, speech recognition, homescreen widgets and live folders. As any self-respecting Android fan will be well aware, the new Android 1.5 update is largely based on work done by Android developers working on the oft mis-referenced Cupcake development branch. G1 owners will be happy to hear that the on-screen keyboard is now a reality!

It should be noted that Android 1.5 is not officially compatible with current Android devices. Google will be rolling out tutorials over the next couple weeks, giving Android developers a heads-up on what’s new to Android 1.5 and how to use the new APIs.

Android OS is developing quite nicely. We may have to wait until Android 2.0 goes live before we can consider the Android OS on par with the iPhone OS in terms of usability and features, but this latest Android 1.5 update is a good sign of things to come.

So, now that Cupcake is officially integrated into Android 1.5, we have to wonder if T-Mobile’s April 21 NYC launch event will have anything to do with an Android update. The HTC Magic still seems like a solid bet as T-Mobile’s upcoming launch party.

[Via: Android-Developers]

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...

  • Aaron

    I have a Camcorder! So cool!

  • herbert pell

    The o s 1.5 is great especially after using other operating systems like symbian. It gives you more control over what is put on the phone.