Yet another post revolving around the world of Android. This time though I’m actually writing this post on my Nexus, and using a new type of keyboard which rather than tapping, you swipe across. Having just tried to write the word swipe I see how they are seemingly being quite cheeky in that they’d much rather you write swype, the name of the application.
So rather than picking out each character, you simply swipe your finger roughly across each of the letters you require. I say roughly as it is impressively clever at working out which word you were aiming for. Initially sceptical, in just writing this post I can already feel myself speeding up to the extent that I’m thinking I shall have to try this for an extended period of time, and see if I can get used to it.
If you have an Android phone you can sign up to join the beta here. However… it appears that right now the beta its closed due to “overwhelming demand”. It’s had a bit of press recently.
Alternatively, they’ve made some kind of arrangement with T-Mobile and HTC to have Swype pre-bundled on the MyTouch 3G, so you can find it on there (if you’re the kind of person who chooses their phone based on the keyboard).
Google are touring the world giving out free Nexus One phones. I was lucky enough to be given one at the Android Developer Labs event in London.
Is this proof that Nexus just isn’t selling as well as they hoped? Or was handing out free Ones always the plan? (I could technically use a capital there). The Nexus, like Google claim about many of their products, is supposed to be a demonstration of what can be done, rather than necessarily being a money maker. Certainly an aim of the Nexus is to promote Android as a platform. With that, handing out free ones at Android events is certainly going to create buzz and excitement around the platform. (That’s buzz without a capital).
Hero
I bought an HTC Hero shortly before confirmation that the Nexus would be available. The Hero is a very good phone. It lacks Android 2.x Eclair w00t (disappointingly coming with Cupcake), but really it is a very well built phone, and the Cupcake OS is not much lacking to its younger baked sibling.
Decisions
Lumbered with the Hero, I was very tempted to buy the Nexus, but having one delivered to the office for development, a quick play led me to think it just wasn’t worth it over the Hero. Very good, but not £500 better.
Well a couple of weeks later the decision was made for me, and the very kind people at Google gave me a Nexus. I’m very grateful to them, and have since fallen in love with the phone.
Result
Google do a lot of things well, and a few things badly. I mean, Google Accounts are in my mind a fiasco of fiercely tangled interconnected tubes that are not unlike some kind of impossible maze. But they do a lot of things well, and are increasingly integrating themselves with our lives in any way they can. Sure, aiming to provide a service we desire, but surely with motives of profit above all else.
It’s the fact they’re one enormous company that is sucking data from our very movements, which makes me feel slightly uncomfortable about it all. For now, I just hope their motto holds true.
Anyway, they gave me a phone, and a very good one at that, so they’re awesome.