How Froyo Can Make Android the Top Mobile OS

[PeDe7]

i wonder why the Android Dev team would pick Froyo over Flan b/c they've focused on pastries up until this point. Nevertheless, here are a few things i see Android needing that can all be done in Froyo, making it and Cupcake the biggest firmware updates for the platform up-to-date [you can agree, disagree, or include your own ideas]:

1] have options to change the themes for built-in apps [change some of the all black backgrounds like the music and messaging apps to possibly white]
2] 3d graphics for the music app like they did for the gallery
3] include the apps2sd function they're working on
4] finally include multitouch just b/c some prefer it over the double tap feature [this seriously needs to be at least an option that people can check/uncheck]
5] improve navigation for gmail
6] improve Android Market by filtering choices better and have all carriers provide the option to consumers to pay for their apps thru their monthly bills [Tmo has already started doing this]
7] improve the camera.
-it needs to able to be used in either landscape or portrait modes
-remove the quick preview of the picture just taken and just have the previous picture shown in the small box on the upper right hand corner like they already do to improve speed
-have the option to edit videos
-if possible, improve the overall picture quality
8] YouTube should be played in high quality by default [or at least have the option to] and have the loading speed for it increased
-include the inbox and ability to comment w/ either text or video and to reply to a comment

*i think it's necessary to have an Android version of iTunes b/c this will bring in more consumers b/c having your phone and computer sync music, pictures and videos would make life a lot easier for the average Joe. Having a website for the Android Market so people have another option to navigate and purchase apps will bring in more consumer traffic and developers to Android

**the most important thing is to make sure that from now on, all OS updates need to come to all Android phones [including those w/ custom UI's] at the same time in order to avoid fragmentation and take away developers' headaches for having to make apps that have to function on multiple OS's

***after all this, Google needs to start advertising Android on TV and on paper [subway/bus ads for example] as well as online to raise brand awareness b/c many don't know that the Samsung Moment and MyTouch 3G are running the same OS or even know what Android is in the 1st place

 

[cjb695]

*i think it's necessary to have an Android version of iTunes b/c this will bring in more consumers b/c having your phone and computer sync music, pictures and videos would make life a lot easier for the average Joe. Having a website for the Android Market so people have another option to navigate and purchase apps will bring in more consumer traffic and developers to Android

I really like this one and the ability to download/backup apps like itunes does.

 

[rdalcanto]

Add hands-free bluetooth dialing so my super phone can finally catch up to a four year old flip phone.

 

[milrtime83]

3 - apps2sd I agree with
4 - native app multitouch I agree with
8 - Higher quality is going to decrease the loading time because there is a lot more data to transfer. Also, I don't know if there would be much of a difference between high and low quality on such a small screen.

* Android Itunes - Do you mean something made by Google? Otherwise Doubletwist does that pretty well. The only way to get every average Joe to know about it would be to require it (like Apple requires itunes) which would be annoying for the people that don't want to use it.
Full Android Market website would be nice.

**It isn't very feasible to have all phones get updates at the same time. Specifically the ones with custom UI's because every update would have to be delayed to give the vendors time to update their UI's.

***Some advertising could be beneficial but Android has been gaining notoriety with the general public pretty fast on its own lately.

 

[vonfeldt7]

I think the thing I would like the most would like would be a multitouch keyboard..

People bitch about not having pinch and zoom, but I think a MT keyboard would be the best way to implement it would be with a MT keyboard.

 

[PeDe7]

3 - apps2sd I agree with
4 - native app multitouch I agree with
8 - Higher quality is going to decrease the loading time because there is a lot more data to transfer. Also, I don't know if there would be much of a difference between high and low quality on such a small screen.

you'd be surprised how big of a difference watching a regular video and one in high quality on youtube on the phone

* Android Itunes - Do you mean something made by Google? Otherwise Doubletwist does that pretty well. The only way to get every average Joe to know about it would be to require it (like Apple requires itunes) which would be annoying for the people that don't want to use it.
Full Android Market website would be nice.

i've tried double twist but it's literally an itunes clone, there's no difference b/w it and iTunes except you can use it on multiple platforms. i've even tried the motorola media link for my droid [it's decent] but i'd prefer something similar to itunes but Google-fied for a lack of a better terms. it would'nt be a requirement, i personally prefer the drag and drop [fits my needs better] but i know to some it would be very convenient and Android's all about options so why not give this options to those who want it

**It isn't very feasible to have all phones get updates at the same time. Specifically the ones with custom UI's because every update would have to be delayed to give the vendors time to update their UI's.

if it cant be done, at least have them rollout within weeks rather than taking long enough that those w/ custom ui android phones have to wait forever to be up to par w/ everyone else, it's just in the interest of fairness

***Some advertising could be beneficial but Android has been gaining notoriety with the general public pretty fast on its own lately.

word of mouth and individual phone advertisements can only go so far. i think general advertisement of android itself would benefit it greatly both in short and long terms

 

[PeDe7]

Add hands-free bluetooth dialing so my super phone can finally catch up to a four year old flip phone.

im not a fan of bluetooth so i can only imagine how big of a pain in the ass that must be and i dont know why it hasnt been implemented yet for those who use bluetooth

 

[PeDe7]

I think the thing I would like the most would like would be a multitouch keyboard..

People bitch about not having pinch and zoom, but I think a MT keyboard would be the best way to implement it would be with a MT keyboard.

the keyboard's had multitouch since 1.6

 

[JSchu22]

The keyboard doesn't have multitouch.

 

[inssane]

im not a fan of bluetooth so i can only imagine how big of a pain in the ass that must be and i dont know why it hasnt been implemented yet for those who use bluetooth

On my BB Curve, I would just touch the button on my bluetooth and the phone would say "say command..." I could say "Call Dad Mobile" and I would get the three top options that match displayed on my phone, it would audibly repeat the first and I would say YES - done, connected and very accurate.

I really miss it, especially when the voice dial on this phone is wreched to start.

All in all it took maybe 5 -7 seconds with the playback to connect.
Loved it.

 

[Fabolous]

The keyboard doesn't have multitouch.

Erick Tseng would say otherwise...

The Engadget Show - 005: Google's Erick Tseng, CES wrap-up, WiDi, AR.Drone, and more! -- Engadget

However, he did say that the multitouch aspects of it would be all but invisible to the end user. Not 'chording', which was the term he used, which would be visible to the user (such as holding down the shift key with one finger, and pressing a letter with the other).

Anyways, take it how you want. I don't think he'd lie straight up, but he could be selectively leaving out parts of the truth.

Everyone should watch this interview, it's quite good.

 

[Shadowtech]

On my BB Curve, I would just touch the button on my bluetooth and the phone would say "say command..." I could say "Call Dad Mobile" and I would get the three top options that match displayed on my phone, it would audibly repeat the first and I would say YES - done, connected and very accurate.

I really miss it, especially when the voice dial on this phone is wreched to start.

All in all it took maybe 5 -7 seconds with the playback to connect.
Loved it.

Yea.. I really wish they would fix this issue. My LG VX8350 dumbphone could even do this flawlessly.. then i upgrade to one of the best smartphones in the market and making calls takes well over twice as long.. have to find my phone.. unlock the screen.. then find my speeddials.

At least the longpress on the headset still works to redial.. I use that more than anything really since I mainly just call my girlfriend.

 

[solution]

Android is a mobile operating system running on the Linux kernel.[3] It was initially developed by Android Inc., a firm later purchased by Google, and lately by the Open Handset Alliance.[4] It allows developers to write managed code in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries.[5]
The unveiling of the Android distribution on 5 November 2007 was announced with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 47 hardware, software, and telecom companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices.[6][7] Google released most of the Android code under the Apache License, a free software and open source lic

 

[barry99705]

Erick Tseng would say otherwise...

The Engadget Show - 005: Google's Erick Tseng, CES wrap-up, WiDi, AR.Drone, and more! -- Engadget

However, he did say that the multitouch aspects of it would be all but invisible to the end user. Not 'chording', which was the term he used, which would be visible to the user (such as holding down the shift key with one finger, and pressing a letter with the other).

Anyways, take it how you want. I don't think he'd lie straight up, but he could be selectively leaving out parts of the truth.

Everyone should watch this interview, it's quite good.

Watched that last night. All I have to say is there better be an Android developer making an app for the AR Drone!

 

[Gunner]

I just want effing Bluetooth voice dialing. Don't care about live wallpapers, or 3D app drawers, or etc etc etc. Are you listening Google? Because right now Droid doesn't do what my 5 year old dumbphone does.

 

[JSchu22]

Erick Tseng would say otherwise...

The Engadget Show - 005: Google's Erick Tseng, CES wrap-up, WiDi, AR.Drone, and more! -- Engadget

However, he did say that the multitouch aspects of it would be all but invisible to the end user. Not 'chording', which was the term he used, which would be visible to the user (such as holding down the shift key with one finger, and pressing a letter with the other).

Anyways, take it how you want. I don't think he'd lie straight up, but he could be selectively leaving out parts of the truth.

Everyone should watch this interview, it's quite good.

I read that too and you're right. Engadget was also right in that he didn't really answer the question. More like waved a shiny object and said "Ooooo, look!"

 

[Deleted User]

Add hands-free bluetooth dialing so my super phone can finally catch up to a four year old flip phone.

im not a fan of bluetooth so i can only imagine how big of a pain in the ass that must be and i dont know why it hasnt been implemented yet for those who use bluetooth

On my BB Curve, I would just touch the button on my bluetooth and the phone would say "say command..." I could say "Call Dad Mobile" and I would get the three top options that match displayed on my phone, it would audibly repeat the first and I would say YES - done, connected and very accurate.

I really miss it, especially when the voice dial on this phone is wreched to start.

All in all it took maybe 5 -7 seconds with the playback to connect.
Loved it.

Yea.. I really wish they would fix this issue. My LG VX8350 dumbphone could even do this flawlessly.. then i upgrade to one of the best smartphones in the market and making calls takes well over twice as long.. have to find my phone.. unlock the screen.. then find my speeddials.

At least the longpress on the headset still works to redial.. I use that more than anything really since I mainly just call my girlfriend.

I just want effing Bluetooth voice dialing. Don't care about live wallpapers, or 3D app drawers, or etc etc etc. Are you listening Google? Because right now Droid doesn't do what my 5 year old dumbphone does.

Add me to this list of folks wanting full handsfree. As much as I like seeing Google innovating with fancy new features, they need to add this basic old feature first. My last two dumbphones could do it, why not android?

 

[PeDe7]

Erick Tseng would say otherwise...

The Engadget Show - 005: Google's Erick Tseng, CES wrap-up, WiDi, AR.Drone, and more! -- Engadget

However, he did say that the multitouch aspects of it would be all but invisible to the end user. Not 'chording', which was the term he used, which would be visible to the user (such as holding down the shift key with one finger, and pressing a letter with the other).

Anyways, take it how you want. I don't think he'd lie straight up, but he could be selectively leaving out parts of the truth.

Everyone should watch this interview, it's quite good.

i thought it was a great interview. the host is funny and direct but Erick Tseng definitely dodged alot of bullets gracefully but he did mention they're testing different implementations of multitouch so let's see if we end up getting something other than pinch-to-zoom so Android can stand out more instead of being labeled a copycat by Apple fanboys like half the world, CNET, Phonedog, and Engadget

 

[redblur]

yea i hope Froyo have more features than it predecessor

Native app2sd and Full Multi touch support it's the most important thing,well i wish they implement drag to select text and image to ease the copy paste

it's a good thing too for google to make their own market application for computers,so user don't have to download app from their phone,they can do it from pc like apple did for the appstore


well the main thing it's app2sd support

 

[redblur]

Yea the most important it's the Native app2sd,without that developer cant make high quality games or apps

well, better interfrace for Gmail,and music should be good to like the gallery,and the copy paste interfrace need to pop up a smaller window,not large like the past android

 

[rdillz]

I thought Android was the top mobile OS already!

 

[fireshaper]

if it cant be done, at least have them rollout within weeks rather than taking long enough that those w/ custom ui android phones have to wait forever to be up to par w/ everyone else, it's just in the interest of fairness

This is more of the manufacturer's decision than Google's. Google distributes the OS to the manufacturers and however long it takes them to distribute it to the cell phone providers to be pushed as an OTA is really up to them. This can be witnessed best by the fact that HTC has released the Nexus One with 2.1 and yet there are still HTC phones out there that have under 2.x on them.

 

[shadowdude777]

1] have options to change the themes for built-in apps [change some of the all black backgrounds like the music and messaging apps to possibly white]
Most smartphones don't have that built-in and there are enough theming apps out there.
2] 3d graphics for the music app like they did for the gallery
Hardly a deal-breaker/maker
3] include the apps2sd function they're working on
Yes
4] finally include multitouch just b/c some prefer it over the double tap feature [this seriously needs to be at least an option that people can check/uncheck]
Yes. Rooted phones have it already. I'm thinking OTA 2.1 should also.
5] improve navigation for gmail
You mean Google Maps? It works fine as it is. The public transit system isn't as good as specialized public transit navigation sites like HopStop, but it's certainly good enough to get me around by subway.
6] improve Android Market by filtering choices better and have all carriers provide the option to consumers to pay for their apps thru their monthly bills [Tmo has already started doing this]
Agreed, our market is pretty ridiculous. Filtering sucks, you randomly get "no connection so you have to press Retry twice to load up your results" and apps refuse to download sometimes, which can be very annoying. And I might be tempted to actually start buying apps if it could be paid for at the same time as the rest of my bill!
7] improve the camera.
-it needs to able to be used in either landscape or portrait modes
-remove the quick preview of the picture just taken and just have the previous picture shown in the small box on the upper right hand corner like they already do to improve speed
-have the option to edit videos
-if possible, improve the overall picture quality
The quick preview is useless right now. If it had a way to delete the photo within the preview so I don't have to go into the gallery to delete it, it'd work. Video editing apps should be available from third parties and the picture quality is probably as good as it'll get. I use it as my primary camera nowadays, actually.
8] YouTube should be played in high quality by default [or at least have the option to] and have the loading speed for it increased
-include the inbox and ability to comment w/ either text or video and to reply to a comment
Most custom ROMs already have HQ default enabled. HQ is the only way to use Youtube, in my opinion, not because of the increase in video quality, but because you actually get stereo sound instead of mono sound played through two speakers.
*i think it's necessary to have an Android version of iTunes b/c this will bring in more consumers b/c having your phone and computer sync music, pictures and videos would make life a lot easier for the average Joe. Having a website for the Android Market so people have another option to navigate and purchase apps will bring in more consumer traffic and developers to Android
DEFINITELY. I think all Android phones should come with a CD that includes a suite of software and tutorials for average users. That being said, they better not take away the support for drag-and-drop music libraries and .m3u playlists.
**the most important thing is to make sure that from now on, all OS updates need to come to all Android phones [including those w/ custom UI's] at the same time in order to avoid fragmentation and take away developers' headaches for having to make apps that have to function on multiple OS's
They're working on getting 2.1 to all of the devices, but with so many manufacturers, it's difficult to coordinate updates at the same time (or even within the same week).
***after all this, Google needs to start advertising Android on TV and on paper [subway/bus ads for example] as well as online to raise brand awareness b/c many don't know that the Samsung Moment and MyTouch 3G are running the same OS or even know what Android is in the 1st place
Agreed, nobody knows what Android is. The Droid did help with the platform's popularity, but we need to let people know that (better) alternatives to the iPhone exist.

My 2 cents.

 

[potatolover1102]

All I can say is there is a VAST difference between the high quality and regular and on this screen you can see that even more!

 

[MicroNix]

Yea.. I really wish they would fix this issue. My LG VX8350 dumbphone could even do this flawlessly.. then i upgrade to one of the best smartphones in the market and making calls takes well over twice as long.. have to find my phone.. unlock the screen.. then find my speeddials.

At least the longpress on the headset still works to redial.. I use that more than anything really since I mainly just call my girlfriend.

I guess I'm spoiled then. I have my top 5 speed dials programmed into my truck's bt stereo and it dials out on the phone for me. I touch nothing or say nothing to the phone. Never comes out of my pocket...works the same as my old Moto Razr.