A recent article from our friends over at Engadget claims that the G1 (you remember? the first Android device) will be getting an over-the-air update with the rest of the latest Android devices to the new 2.0, or possibly, the Nexus One’s 2.1 software. While this would be a great update for all of the more »

Designers of mobile applications will attempt to appeal to all types of people. Apparently, this will now include hypochondriacs. Introducing the Zicam Cold & Flu Companion mobile application, a program that tells you how many people are sick in your area.

After downloading the application onto your phone, you simply put in any zip code in the United States. A screen will then appear and let you know the sick level for your town (low, moderate, high). It will also tell you what symptoms are common and which symptoms you should be aware of.

Gadgetell got to try out the call quality of a T-Mobile G1 and compare it to an iPhone 3G. There were no decibel meters or any other fancy scientific equipment used, just two guys with decent hearing and some phones.

While at the T-Mobile G1 Android event, I got to talk with the guys from Big in Japan, makers of the ShopSavvy application. We were discussing the G1 as a phone when I asked their “Tech Shogun,” Rylan Barnes, about call quality of the G1. He said it was alright.

Knowing that the Gadgetell readers out there would like to find out how the G1 performs as a phone firsthand (or first-ear as the case may be), we conducted some tests.

See how the phones performed in a noisy hall after the break.

When Apple introduced its App Store, many were angered by their decision to make the store a closed universe. They cited security concerns and they did not want AT&T’s network to be damaged due to a rogue application.

T-Mobile’s G1 Android phone pushes “open” as one its huge selling points. How do Google and T-Mobile create a safe environment with all this openness? I did some digging and found some answers.

How do you protect the network?The question: “How do you protect your network if someone has created a malicious application that is eating up all your bandwidth? If some dummy downloads a ‘Dancing Bear’ application and it turns out to be a spambot, what will T-Mobile or Google do?”

T-Mobile’s and Google’s responses after the break.

The G1 does a lot of things, but there are some notable items missing from the phone as it stands. There is no video playback or video recording capability. This is not a media phone. As much as the presenters kept discussing the mobile internet and a great experience, they still left out Adobe Flash. more »

More quick points for you guys:

- Size: The G1 is a decent sized phone. It is definitely larger than the iPhone but probably weighs about the same.

- Screen: The screen was responsive but does not do multi-touch. Google is pushing “long tap” for menus. Long tap works the same way as Windows Mobile. Just hold your finger on a spot and a new menu may pop up.

- The phone is righty-centric. If you are a lefty then you may hate this device.

Lots more points after the break including potential hardware expansion!

Alright folks, I’m sure you’re starving for more G1 news. So here’s more quick news: – The keyboard is little small and the delete key is too close to the enter key. I was trying to IM our associate editor JG Mason and I kept typing gibberish. Seems like with practice, it is a usable more »

Thankfully, we have less than an week before T-Mobile officially unveils the Android powered HTC Dream, because the rumor mill is going to end up in full swing. The latest rumored details are pretty exciting and are calling for an affordable $199 price tag. That low price, of course, comes with a contract, which will more »