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Nexus One Update Fixes 3G, Adds Multitouch

Posted by timothy on from the incremental-is-not-a-bad-word dept.

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."

16 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. Come on Google by goldaryn · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm still waiting for the port of IE6..

  2. 3G by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 4, Funny

    The good news is, Google has fixed the 3G problems. The bad news is, the fix is going out via the 3G network.

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    Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    1. Re:3G by geekoid · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I worked at a place that had an automated system that sent out an email when the email went down.
      I shit you not. They paid 50K for that system.
      When the email system ent down, as they alld o from time to time, the executive called me out on the rug in front of his peers and asked me:

      "Why shouldn't I fire you for the system alert failure?"
      To which I said:
      "You were the person that bought a system to alert us via email when the email system failed. Maybe you should be fired?"
      Later he came to my office and fired me. After he smugly said I was fired, I asked him to wait a minute. I picked up the phone, made one phone call, and had a new job. I got up, took my check and left. Everyone else in the office was just laughing.
      I later heard that the executive was released to look into other opportunities.

      1999 was a good year.
      Crazy days

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      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  3. Re:multitouch and Apple by ViViDboarder · · Score: 3, Informative

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

  4. Re:3G Fix? by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes, those geniuses at google, wrote a piece of software that rerouted power form the rear deflectors to modulate the refresh rate of the lcd screen to emit an interference signal that modifies the TMobile compatible 3G signal from 1700 MHz for download and 2100 MHz for upload to the A&TT frequency of 1900 MHz. I'm just not sure what they're going to do to handle the excess tachyon radiation pressure on the the glass.

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  5. Re:multitouch and Apple by tacroy · · Score: 5, Informative

    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/

  6. So my droid that does multitouch by Liquidrage · · Score: 4, Funny

    doesn't support multitouch? Should I stop doing it then?

    1. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by diamondsw · · Score: 3, Informative

      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.

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      I don't know what kind of crack I was on, but I suspect it was decaf.
    2. Re:So my droid that does multitouch by Liquidrage · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I know very well what it does. The problem is when poorly written summaries or articles that imply that the phone doesn't support it. Saying, "the default browser will now support it" is a much better, and accurate, way to phrase it.

  7. It really did help. by Mark19960 · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

  8. Re:LOL. Or you could just buy an iPhone! by Liquidrage · · Score: 4, Interesting

    FYI

    The voice searching is better integrated with android. The free turn by turn navigation is better then the $100 version on the iPhone. It can do multitasking. It doesn't lock you out of basic system functionality.

    And the android market is booming and going to pass apple's in total apps pretty soon. Not that I really care. There's already an "app for that' on both marketplaces. The once difference is there's things android will let you do that apple won't. So really, there's an "app for that" applies better to android.

    Not sure where you opinion came from, but it's not reality.

  9. Re:multitouch and Apple by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe they're using Palm as a decoy. "C'mon Google. Dive on in. The water's fine...!" "Can we shoot them now?" "Wait for it. Waaaaait for it..."

  10. Summary is Wrong About Multitouch by MBoffin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No surprise, but the summary is wrong. True, there has been multitouch capability in recent versions of Android, but not true that no phones in the US support it. Even my HTC Hero (running Android 1.5) has multitouch built into the basic system apps like the browser and the gallery. Additionally there are apps on the marketplace that make use of multitouch, such as the Dolphin browser.

    The summary should indicate that no other phones have previously had multitouch built into the system apps that Google ships with the stock OS.

  11. Re:multitouch and Apple by unix1 · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's because they know they'll lose.

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

    Here's Jeff Han demonstrating multi-touch interface 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.

  12. Re:3G Fix? by CaptKeen · · Score: 5, Informative

    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/

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  13. Re:multitouch and Apple by Meski · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're using this gesture, in response to Apple patents. http://media.photobucket.com/image/middle%20finger/munbk/middle_finger.jpg?o=1