Official G1 Cupcake 1.5 First Impressions

As mentioned earlier, I got the latest system update for my G1. Now running firmware 1.5, aka Cupcake. Here are some of my first impressions:

* More polished: transition in between menus and graphics are a bit softer, dynamic and feels more elegant
* Better UI: onscreen keyboard w/ auto-correct feature; Gmail's most used feature are readily below each email, everything just feels a bit more convenient with the update
* Onscreen Keyboard not as robust as iPhone's but the word suggestion is VERY handy!
* Chrome/Browser much improved, very smooth and URL bar/search makes good suggestions like desktop Google toolbar; still unable to edit blogspot posts however and can't handle Lotus notes webmail (same fate as iPhone's mobile safari)
* Camcorder: simple operation, with an on screen record/stop button; two video quality (MMS is low, SD storage is High); YES, it supports upload to YouTube (via YouTube app)
* General performance feels a bit faster all around
* I have not played with this update long enough to comment on battery life

It definitely feels like this update has iron'd out a lot of kink; I think I am falling in love with my G1 all over again.

I gots the G1 Android w/ Cupcake 1.5 Update

Booted up my G1 tonight and was prompted with a message asking me if I want to get a system update. "Heck yeah," I said, while suspecting this may be the highly anticipated Cupcake 1.5 release. Sure enough, after it rebooted, I noticed some visual differences and the firmware version confirmed it being the latest and greatest. I haven't played with it a heck of a whole lot. On screen keyboard and autocorrection is nice but I may have to re-calibrate my touchscreen since the delete button is not working very well. More updates later!

Some Serious HTC Magic Coverage on SOGI

Occassionally, I would pop my head over to SOGI, a Taiwanese mobile site for the latest news Taiwan has to offer (basically HTC). Sure enough, they got some hot off the press review and shots of the HTC Magic.

The screenshots of cupcake 1.5 update and onscreen keyboard looks pretty good. The HTC Magic is much better than the Dream (or G1) in my opinion.

Head on over for a good view yourself.