Nexus One Update Fixes 3G, Adds Multitouch

snydeq writes "Google is pushing out an update for the Nexus One that will fix a 3G connectivity problem and add limited support for multitouch. After receiving over 1,500 messages in a support forum from people complaining about trouble connecting to 3G, Google said it has identified the problem and has started delivering the fix. In addition to fixing 3G, the update adds the first applications to support multitouch. While the recent versions of the Android OS include multitouch capability, no phone in the US has supported it."

Re:3G Fix?

[Anonymous Coward]

The radio doesn't support AT&T's 3G range. So, nope.

Re:multitouch and Apple

[ViViDboarder]

Rumors only so far. Apple hasn't sued Palm for it.

HTC Hero

[Kotoku]

My Sprint HTC Hero phone uses multi-touch in the browser. Same pinch gestures the iPod Touch had me accustomed to. :)

Re:multitouch and Apple

[tacroy]

Mainly because Apple is violating tons of Palms patents and they don't want to wake that (IP) giant. http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/apple-vs-palm-the-in-depth-analysis/ [engadget.com]

Re:Come on Google

[Anonymous Coward]

Parent is making a joke guys. They are actually stepping up the IE6 hunt at the moment, look at this email I got yesterday

Dear Google Apps admin,​

In order to continue to improve our products and deliver more sophisticated features and performance, we are harnessing some of the latest improvements in web browser technology. This includes faster JavaScript processing and new standards like HTML5. As a result, over the course of 2010, we will be phasing out support for Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 as well as other older browsers that are not supported by their own manufacturers.

We plan to begin phasing out support of these older browsers on the Google Docs suite and the Google Sites editor on March 1, 2010. After that point, certain functionality within these applications may have higher latency and may not work correctly in these older browsers. Later in 2010, we will start to phase out support for these browsers for Google Mail and Google Calendar.

Google Apps will continue to support Internet Explorer 7.0 and above, Firefox 3.0 and above, Google Chrome 4.0 and above, and Safari 3.0 and above.

Starting this week, users on these older browsers will see a message in Google Docs and the Google Sites editor explaining this change and asking them to upgrade their browser. We will also alert you again closer to March 1 to remind you of this change.

In 2009, the Google Apps team delivered more than 100 improvements to enhance your product experience. We are aiming to beat that in 2010 and continue to deliver the best and most innovative collaboration products for businesses.

Thank you for your continued support!

It really did help.

[Mark19960]

I don't care for the multitouch thing..... I liked the old way and will use the old way..
As far as 3G it's much more stable on 3G and on EDGE as well.
I only get EDGE at home because I am at the end of 3G coverage and EDGE is actually much faster than it was.
So, whatever they changed in the radio firmware improved both.
Everything seems to move a little faster as well, so no complaints.
I got my OTA update last night.

Re:So my droid that does multitouch

[diamondsw]

Your Droid doesn't do multitouch in any of the Google-provided applications. This is especially evident in the web browser, maps, and keyboard. Third party apps have been able to provide multitouch for some time.

I thought the whole thing was silly. Patenting pinch-to-zoom and similar gestures fails the "non-obvious" requirement for a patent. Multitouch enhancing a keyboard I could perhaps see as valid.

Re:multitouch and Apple

[unix1]

That's because they know they'll lose.

Here's Apple's "multi-touch" patent [uspto.gov].
Date filed: July 3, 2006

Here's Jeff Han demonstrating multi-touch interface [ted.com] in Feb. 2006 that he had been working on. Pinch and zoom? Gestures? Multiple fingers/hands? It's all there. You can tell he didn't come up with that overnight.

Looks like someone at Apple noticed his or similar technology/research and said - hey, this hasn't been patented yet!

Give props to the USPTO and the patent system, as usual.

Re:3G Fix?

[CaptKeen]

It does make me wonder if it would just be cost prohibitively expensive to put in a radio that supports ALL used frequency band ranges. That way, you have a phone that will truly work on any network, with any provider, without having to buy a new handset.

I've heard rumor of a Qualcomm chip due out this summer that is supposed to support GSM, HSPA, HSPA+ and some CDMA stuff. A quick google turned up the following:

Qualcomm today updated its MDM family of cellular chipsets with some of the first anywhere to support dual, advanced 3G and 4G formats. The MSM7630 supports GSM, HSPA and HSPA+ standards but will also work on CDMA phone networks and support up to EVDO Revision B for 3G on those services. The addition would let a phone work on a CDMA carrier like Sprint or Verizon but still work with AT&T or T-Mobile and roam at speeds of up to 21Mbps on networks from Rogers, other international carriers, and eventually T-Mobile USA.

From http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/11/12/possible.verizon.iphone.candidates/ [electronista.com]