Google Releases Android SDK for Mobile Phones

Recently, we reported about the first prototype of a mobile phone especially designed for Google’s Android operating system. Now, Google has announced the launch of its new software development kit (SDK) for the mobile phone platform, called Android (m5-rc14).
The Linux-based Android SDK features a new user interface named geocoder, which lets developers search for businesses as well as translate an address into a coordinate and vice versa. The latest Android software has the ability to enhance the platform’s application programming interfaces and even developer tool.
Moreover, it can even make layout animations for applications. It supports many audio file formats and can upgrade Eclipse plug-in.
The very first news about Google’s Android was out in November last year. According to Google, the latest version of the platform comes with an operating system, user interface and applications and eliminates “the proprietary obstacles that have hindered mobile innovation.”
We can expect the first mobile phone featuring Android platform by the 2008-end which offers an open operating system and related functions for wireless devices.

HTC to incorporate Google Android OS Very Soon?

There are rumors circulating, claiming that Taiwan-based High Tech Computers (HTC) will make use of Google’s Android Software for its mobile phones. The phone developer seems to be in progress of making a handset that would probably run on the Android smartphone operating system and the handset will be called ‘Dream’.
As per InfoWorld, Dream will feature both a full QWERTY keyboard and a big touchscreen. It measures over 5 inches long and 3 inches wide. Users can slide or swivel out the keypads that are placed underneath the screen. Thanks to QWERTY keypads and the Android OS, HTC Dream will offer functions such as easy e-mail, note-taking, and writing Web addresses as well as internet navigational controls, which are also located below the screen on the handset.
Apparently, the Google OS-based phone is also expected to feature GPS geo-location along with music/movie playback amongst others.
However, no official confirmation has been received from the Taiwanese mobile phone maker as yet. Maggie Cheng, an HTC representative said, “We cannot comment on this product.”
Samsung is also believed to enter the race. When Google’s Android operating system is finally rolled out and is integrated into the phone, we will actually get to know the competition between Android and Windows Mobile OS.
The HTC Dream phone is slated for release in late 2008. HTC may become the first handset maker in the world to introduce a mobile phone developed around Android.

G Phone hits early in November of this year

T-Mobile, which launched the first handset to be powered by Google Inc.'s Android operating system Tuesday (Sept. 23) said it will cross the Atlantic by early November, and reach other European countries during the first quarter of 2009.
The launch has been widely anticipated.
The T-Mobile G1 device features both a touch-screen and a fold-out QWERTY keyboard, as well as a trackball for one-handed navigation.
T-Mobile is launching the smartphone Oct. 22 at a price of $179 with a two-year voice and data contract.
"With Android, we have opened the mobile Web not only for millions of users, but also to mobilize the developer community that understands the next most important platform in the world rests in the palm of our hand," said Andy Rubin, Google's senior director of mobile platforms, in a statement.
The device — originally known as the HTC Dream — features WiFi, 3G (with dual-band UMTS), multimedia messaging, email support (GMail as well as other POP3 and IMAP email services), instant messaging (with Google Talk as an option), full HTML browser, GPS functionality, 3-megapixel camera, the ability to multi-task, a music player with access to the Amazon MP3 store, Bluetooth, and quad-band GSM support.
It also has one-click contextual search, which lets you search for anything simply by typing in something with the keyboard.
The G1 also features other Google services such as Google Maps StreetView and YouTube.
Not everyone was overwhelmed at the launch. For instance Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO of software group Synchronica, while welcoming the phone and the Android platform, suggested its influence will be restricted to a small section of the market.
The Gphone will, he notes, work Synchronica's mobile email and synchronization middleware right out of the box, just as with Apple's iPhone and many other smartphones.
"There's a common misconception that every time a major vendor jumps into the market, we will see smartphone sales surging. This does not reflect the reality. My prediction is that the Gphone will have very little impact on the mass market, which is dominated by feature phones", said Brinkshulte in a statement.

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Disaster In Bihar

Flood Disaster In 6 District of Bihar

Flood waters in Chhatapur Town, Supaul District, Bihar State, 24/08/2008
Source: ENVISAT-ASAR IMM and IRS L-4, 150 m/pixel (Envisat ASAR); 5.0 m/pixel (IRS L-4) resolution.
Acquired: 22/06/2008, 27/07/2008, 31/08/2008 (Envisat); 24/08/2008 (IRS L-4)
Satellite-detected flood waters surrounding the Taluk HQ town of Chhatapur, Supaul District, Bihar State following an embankment breach on the Koshi River in Nepal on 18 August 2008. Flood water detection was made with IRS (L-4) satellite imagery recorded on 24 August 2008, and a time series of ENVISAT-ASAR (IMM) radar data recorded on 22 June, 27 July and 31 August 2008. A total of 108 village/building cluster sites identified in this map extent, including the Taluk HQ town of Chhatapur are either totally or partially submerged by Koshi River flood waters as indentified with IRS satellite imagery on 24 August 2008. Additional flood analysis from ENVISAT-ASAR radar data recorded on 31 August and 5 September confirm that this area remains severely flooded. Preliminary analysis not yet validated in the field. 
Credit: Copyright ESA 2008, ISRO 2008 
Image processing, map created 05/09/2008 by UNOSAT.