Android Phones
UK G1 owners beginning to see RC9 update, but its not all good news
March 4, 2009 | by Robert Nelson
Android Phones, Carriers
According to some recent reader comments, it appears that the RC9 update has begun the roll-out process for UK based G1 users. Initially, the update was thought to be similar to what we saw here in the US with RC33, however based on those same comments I am not sure what it actually included.
We have heard more than a few comments that are along the line of “can’t work out what’s different.” Some users have mentioned that RC9 is still lacking voice search, latitude, any MSN/AOL/Yahoo chat options, and as it was written for us “worst of all” — no paid applications.
A few positive items that were mentioned is that the applications seem to have the ability to auto-check for newer versions and that the internal storage has been increased by about 10MB.
Not being from the UK, I am relying on others to provide some updates, unfortunately what I have read so far sounds pretty disappointing. If you are a UK based G1 user who has received the RC9 update we would love to hear your thoughts. Hit up the comments below and give us the good (and bad) details.
I am hearing that the RC9 update in the UK does not include Google Voice Search. ,Michael Martin Google And Blog
I am in the UK and got RC9 yesterday. Excitement quicly turned to disappointment when I found no latitude, voice search and as you say worst of all no paid apps. There is now the option to filter for paid apps so I guess (hope) the apps will follow soon. What I find most frustrating is the lack of a single point of contact or official information on android/g1 matters in the UK. Is it Google or T- mobile? The latter apparently didn’t know anything about RC9 when one user called them.
T Mobile are losing my respect rapidly thanks to this.. if they want to deliver bleeding edge tech that is essentially broken/incomplete at sale time they need to start following up with some decent customer service. Surely if they got Stereo Bluetooth, voice search etc working more people would want the phone.. No they’re probably wasting their time and money on their pathetic web’n'walk portal or something (web savvy google users dont need it!)
I got it this morning, other than a new version numbers I haven’t noticed much in the way of new stuff. It’s a real shame. I was really hoping for some good news with this…
Weird, there seem to be different RC9 updates depending on the region you live in. Updated my dutch G1 yesterday to RC9. No paid apps, No Voice-search. Latitude is present, and working in my RC9 update.
About the only new thing I can see is a menu item deep within “settings” that checks to see if a new system update is available.
RC9 is truely disappointing. All the lattitude and voice search aside, not being able to download paid apps which could improve our g1 experience. There is abosoluely zero improvements in the user experience. The t-mobile customer service have no idea about anything. We can get touch screen keyboard through chompsms for texts and steel for browser… why they have removed other chat options is beyond me. No AmazonMP3, WHY??? I regret ever getting this phone. T-mobile are useless. Battery still sucks. As soon as I can possible get off this contract, I will gladly give my money to o2 and apple.
I havnt even got the rc9 I’m in uk my mate did yesterday this sux arse telling ya google have just left us out and concentrated on the us we haven’t even got fukin street view bastards
I have to agree with kuda. Feel absolutely screwed by T-mobile over this phone. Screwed on price plan, screwed on features, battery life. Will move away from T-Mo at first available opportunity and they will never get my custom again.
Patience peeps, I agree that t-mob r useless wen it boils down to tech but the g1 rocks its cutting edge. At a time with super fast internet everyone wants it all at break neck speeds if u concentrate on the positives and give it some time. Remember what the fones were like yesteryear so limeted. I agree things arnt moving as quick as i’d like to see I.e no flash???? If.but if its true computing power u r after in ur palm I think it will be a couple more years I’m affraid.
Its not really about computing power. Problem is, some of us got the G1 after reading and viewing reviews online, about its capabilities and strengths. On opening it in the UK, first of all, they had removed ALL other chats except the least popular (ie GTalk). However even in the UK manual it still says msn/aol/yahoo chat. Second of all, the “AMAZING” street view is unavaiable, which is weird because iPhone uses have it in London, yet those of use with the “Google Phone” don’t. Then the Battery… Wow! Even with great free appa like power manager, all GPS and WIFI off, running 2g on 10% brightness, you can’t take a drive to Manchester and back with the phone still on. Now most apps are updating from Beta and Trail to paid versions, all I have is about 6 notifcations to upgrade some apps to sites that T-Mobile and Google have Blocked on the Market, because for some reason, UK users don’t need paid app?? come on!! Vodafone is releasing the G2 with both Video and TouchScreen keyboard in less than 1 months time. Still NO “CUPCAKE”… yet iPhone Generation 1s are as up to date and iPhone 3G (because its just software!) I just don’t want Tmobile to hold back on the software. Thats why we got theses flash smartphones to be able to upgrade software and use apps. Lastly, WHY did they limit the Voice Search, when it works on the iPhone, even with weird regional acdents… The voice synthsis is done on Googles servers and hence should be the same on any phone. Even Nokia’s on silly JAVA now have voice search with the Google App. SIGH!!!!!
Completely useless. I love this phone and feel it has amazing potential, but there are so many features missing, it is annoying. I feel T-Mobile should allow people to cancel there contracts (or go on a rolling contract)until the phone is at least up to scratch with a few features that where promised. I for one would like my contacts to not delete themselves every now-and-then. And it is not a sync issue as even with it switched off (the sync), it still does it. Please do not read this as a google phone hater mail. I do love this phone, and I am prepared to wait for features, but once you have the phone for 7 days, you have absolutely no way to cancel and return, very poor. For a standard phone, this is not an issue, but for a phone with an OS which is feature packed, it is not really long enough to test the phone. Wish I had bought a Blackberry. Very poor from T-Mobile.
Rc9 sucks I c no diff except sim card tools
The features & upgrades are done by Google. T-Mobile UK do have input into what google install on UK G1′s. For example, in the UK, T-Mobile does not have an agreement with AOL, Yahoo or M$ to use the IM feature, so they removed it. For the RC9 release, T-Mobile did not remove any new features, Google made the decision to remove VoiceSearch & Paid Apps (Due ‘SOON’ in the UK according to the Android web-site). Why this decision was made i cant tell you (coz i dont know), but hopefully the UK G1 will catch up with US soon. As for the T-Mobile haters here, T-Mobile Tech are doing there best, we can only share the information T-Mobile passes to us (or we hear on the grapevine). Mike, if the G1 keeps deleting you’re contacts, have you tried a factory reset?? If so, the phone may be faulty. Call 150 & get it repaired/replaced. ynwalfc, the reason the G1 does not have flash (im guessing you mean Flash player??) is due to Adobe not creating it. Neither Google or T-Mobile have any control over this. Contact Adobe & ask them. kuda, the reason Amazon’s MP3 store never made it to the UK G1 was due to Amazon not launching the MP3 store in the UK until after the G1 was launched. Amazon & T-Mobile UK are currently in negotiations about launching the app. Hope i have been of some help
received the rc9 update this morning. The only change i can see is i can now search for updates on the market. Where is my paid apps. T-mobile are ruining this phone.
Ok This is now becomming v frustrating! If t-mobile would just be honest to its customers then we Would more than likey be a little more tolerable of the lack of features not mirrored by The us, hello!!! If you want to compete with the likes of o2 and apple then get a grip and get Some balls around the negotiating table, this farce of an exclusive to tmobile device is losing Its appeal with rapid progression, good luck tmobile trying to be the best in the market when other Providers are already snapping at your heels. I very much doubt you will get an exclusive Device again aftee this shambles, my only regret is that I’m stuck with this 2nd rate provider For another 16 months! Love the phone just a shame that it has been managed soo badly On the first outing of the android platform
latitude is in the RC9 UK update, I found it by opening google maps app, going to the menu and choosing ‘enable latitude’
I got my rc9 in uk yesterday. I don’t see google voice search anywhere, however I have latitude now (I doubt ill be using that anyway) and the various other system tweaks like the sim tools and the new Android Market. Overall very dissapointing I have to say. Come on Google…
Weird — I got RC9 about a week ago, but it didn’t give a Latitude option in the Maps app at all.
I got my RC9 update last week and was impressed with the bug fixes and the notification of app updates, I’m not impressed however that there is no Latitude, voice search or paid apps. The fact that u can manually look for system updates says to me that the updates will now come sooner and more regular so fingers crossed we will get some more updates in the UK to make this phone as was promised on release and since
Would be nice if T-Mobile uk did something like a monthly update to customers or something along those lines, just letting us know whats coming up…