The first screenshots of Google's upcoming Android 2.0 Eclair OS have leaked and, aside from being a cream-filled, chocolate covered confectionary of a codename, eh... we're not quite sure what to make of them. They're better, but are they HTC SenseUI better?
TiPb made no secret about thinking Android 1.0 (did that one have a tasty codename? Snickerdoodle maybe?) looked a tad under-polished, and 2.0 certainly improves on that, and adds in Exchange support (like iPhone 2.0), Facebook integration (like webOS Synergy), improved WebKit browser (as fast as the iPhone 3GS?), maps with data layers (like PlaceBase?), unified email inbox (yes!), YouTube widget, big honking buttons for use while driving, voice control (like iPhone 3GS).
Check out Boy Genius Report for the full gallery and Android Central for Casey's commentary, then come back and tell us if this is the Android you've been looking for...
Reader comments
The Competition: Android 2.0 Eclair Screenshot Leaks!
Looks nice, I would love to get my hands on a decent android phone. Sadly everyone I know who would be interested already owns an iPhone.
If only they could port this onto the iPhone so we can dual boot and use it!
What may I ask makes that look at all interesting?
@scottb
if you don't like android don't buy into it. No need for the sarcasm or hate. Android 2.0 does look more polished than 1.0. Just like iPhone 2.0 and 3.0 looked better than 1.0. I currently own an iPhone 3g and mytouch. iPhone looks a lot more polished than android but android has more functionality and is not crippled by the powers that be. This next year will bring better hardware to compliment the software and I will no longer carry an iPhone ( until it supports background operations without jailbreak). iPod touch 64gb and 3.5 inch screen android phone with multitouch would be a dream combo and it will come true soon.
oh did i click on android central.... wait...?
@Tarusdg
If wishes and buts were candies and nuts what a wonderful world it would be!
Reminds me of Win3.1 more than a modern mobile OS!
I like that Rene blogs on the competition as seen from an iphone point of view.
I'm not seeing the appeal of android yet. I don't care about social network integration, having big icons while driving, and basically trying to get stuff that i already have with iphone 3GS.
Whether i would switch to them or webOS 2.0 depends moreso on what Apple doesn't do..and they'd basically have to stand still doing nothing to want to switch. Each app i buy just makes me for invested in Apple's platform.
Doesn't Android have that stupid ability to run two apps at the same time? What a PoS.
think that with that 2.0 version there will be no longer any kind of debate about what's hot and what's not...
Currently I have a HTC Hero, ipod Touch 2g and a Windows Mobile 6.5 device. All are very good. Apple has the slight advantage with the Apps but I personally would not buy an iphone. The Hero is a better phone for me. Multitasking is useful, Copilot 8 works very well.
Looking at my next device, I must admit the new 1ghz devices look very tempting - maybe HTC HD2 or the android equivalent. I may wait and see what the 4th gen iphone becomes, but I doubt it will leap frog that much, as it is the app store that matters.
Das iPhone ist ein Phänomen. Kaum zwei Jahre auf dem Handy-Markt, hat es die gesamte Branche aufgemischt, eine Fan-Gemeinde mit vielen Millionen Mitgliedern um sich geschart, die Handy-Entwicklung entscheidend beeinflusst und einen Bekanntheitsgrad erreicht, der mit dem von Microsoft vergleichbar ist. Nach unserem Test des iPhone 3GS wagen wir die Prognose: Auch das neue Modell wird Apple wieder viel Geld in die Kassen spülen und die Fans begeistern.http://www.paarfieber.de/ testet das iPhone und legt spezielle Seiten dafür an.
Wir freuen uns, dass wir einen Teil dazu beitragen können Apple mit unseren Entwicklern, zu unterstützen.
Oooooh! A basic looking Android screen. Let's get excited about it! Lol. Guess Apple news must be a bit slow right now.
When 2.0 Android devices with 5mp cameras and 1ghz processors start coming out itll be a hard choice to keep the iphone anymore.
Sure apps are great but when Apple spends more time locking the phone down then enhancing features, it makes them look silly and hinders the usability of the device. While Google continues to expand the feature set more and more.
Also forgot with the new BootROM blocking out the jailbreak its just pissing off users unnecessarily for no good reason.
Personally if I cant jailbreak anymore (I do need a swap phone for a bad speaker but am holding off until its maybe worked out) I wont be keeping it.
Hope the sceenshot is..... Well.... It's damn ugly no?
@James
Yeah iPhone has that too. How lame
I personally don't understand why everyone gets so worked up about a unified in box?!?
Seriously, I have multiple email addresses for a reason. So I don't mix work and personal stuff.
IMO all a unified in-box does is make it more
likely that I will respond from the "incorrect" mailbox, making for possible headaches and/or explanations later.
I don't care how "functional" the Android is. It looks like it was made in someone's garage, and I wouldn't want any of my business contacts to see me with something so ugly. Google is notorious for being horrible at UI. They are the ultimate geeks that care only about function and nothing about aesthetics. Apple will destroy them head-to-head because of this.
I also don't understand why it is so much more functional? No iTunes. I get that Google is launching something to compete with iTunes, but how likely are people to adopt a new music platform when they have 5000+ songs in AAC format which Apple will NEVER license to Google? It seems like a foolish pursuit to me. Waste of time and money. It also just does phone, mail, and there aren't nearly as many apps for it. How is that more functional? Sounds like Marketing hype more than reality.
Knocking off the iPhone isn't that challenging. All you need to do is have a nice looking, app extensible, easy to use device that works on more carriers than AT&T. I won't get an iPhone because I don't want to suffer on AT&T's crappy network. If Apple ever loses exclusivity with AT&T, no other device is going to have a chance. Palm Pre fits the above description and it has had pitiful traction mostly due to its small screen.
@AttH8r #19: Actually, it doesn't appear as if it's going to be so much of a "platform" as it's going to be an extension of Google's search/services. You can already search/purchase music via their engine, but some new deals (it looks like with MySpace/iLike and Lala) will allow them to stream full/partial songs from the browser, much like with video, along with the option for paid download.
Naturally, this is going to be accessible through any mobile browser, so it's not an Android exclusive thing.
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