Android Mobiles

Looks like Google won’t be having any of that backtalk from Steve Jobs after all. According to the Nexus One News and Updates page, Google will be rolling out an over-the-air update for the Nexus One beginning today. Some may not receive the update until later in the week. The update is said to include some new features, as well as bug fixes.

Here’s what Nexus One-ers can expect:

Google Goggles: this mobile application will now be available directly on your device by launching it from your All Apps menu. Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web

Google Maps: the Maps application with be updated to a new version, Google Maps 3.4, which will include:

• Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com – access your favorite places from your phone or computer

• Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history – makes it easy to search for places you’ve searched for before

• Night mode in Google Maps Navigation – automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving

Pinch-to-zoom functionality: devices will now include a new pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone’s Browser, Gallery and Maps applications

3G connectivity: we will provide a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones

This OTA update is sure to shake things up a bit. Google has been extremely vague and shady when it’s come to speaking about pinch-to-zoom and other multi-touch gestures. Cyanogen has already enabled these gestures for the “rooting” community, but it requires you to load his custom ROM onto your device. This update is long overdue, but probably the most welcomed update in Android history. It’s sure to shun all the non-believers who said that Google was scared of Apple. Looks like the gloves are off.

Video below, courtesy of Engadget:

Click here to view the embedded video.

[Source - Engadget]

Last night, around 11PM PST, I received a little notification from T-Mobile on MyTouch 3G, alerting me of an available update.   Naturally, I got all excited until I looked at the details and it was still Android 1.6.   Of course, I installed it anyway.

Are there any noticeable difference?  Well, I did notice that my own apps are gone from the Android Market.  My own, as in, I developed them.  I also noticed the absence of some other titles, notably “Linked” (former “Linkedin”) app. I just verified with a buddy who has a G1 and he sees my apps just fine so it’s definitely my phone that has this problem.

I will contact T-Mobile right now to see if they are aware of what might have happened.  Have any of you seen any updates or noticeable changes as a customer or developer?

UPDATE: Our own Nicole says that this update is to fix the calls being missed as they were not showing as missed calls.  She said she received hers about a week ago.