T-Mobile debuted the first Google Android phone, the HTC G1, at a press conference today, due out October 13 October 22. It will be available at the iPhone-competitive price of $179 with 2-year contract. On-demand coverage of the event is available here: http://announcement.t-mobileg1.com/

IGN has a brief overview on Android, its history, and its benefits. http://gear.ign.com/articles/899/899748p1.html

One of the most interesting parts of the Android platform is the Android Marketplace (which, unfortunately, is not run by Jawas). Designed to be a more open version of the iPhone App Store, Android applications are written in Java, and the Marketplace is open to any developer interested (Apple limits developer access through a fee/approval process, and screens application submissions, sometimes to the chagrin of said would-be developers).

Gizmodo has a list of Android’s most exciting apps: http://gizmodo.com/5053280/androids-10-most-exciting-apps
and there is a list of Android Developer Challenge winners here: http://code.google.com/android/adc_gallery/

While openness is appealing, the number of possible handset configurations has the potential of being a huge headache. Developing for the idiosyncrasies, screen orientations, hardware inputs, and environment specifications of dozens or perhaps hundreds of devices versus developing for a single standardized platform (in the iPhone) could mean the difference between releasing in a few months and in more than a year. It remains to be seen if a system that does not pre-qualify applications will be a good thing, or if it will just end up as a flea market of crapware.

And here’s a collection of Google Android desktop wallpapers so you can sport your Android love.

One annoyance for me when it came to the iPhone 3G was its inability to be tethered with a laptop to provide an internet connection when out of range of WiFi. Nullriver’s NetShare is the game changer in that department.

iTunes App Store link: NetShare

Read about it on Daring Fireball: http://daringfireball.net/linked/2008/08/01/netshare

The upcoming Multitouch Framework project is working to develop a common, familiar-to-OS X developers API for creating multi-touch applications. And they’re using the iPhone as a convenient input device.

Check out the video:

via John Gruber

No need to check every evening after 9 on Apple’s availability page if you plan on purchasing from an Apple retail store. The iPhone availability page, made by Chris Barnes, uses Apple’s JSON inventory feed which is updated every 15 minutes throughout the day: http://www.topmuffin.com/3g-iphone-availability

Via Andy Baio.

Fun, colorful new game coming out summer 2008 for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Deeply reminiscent of Loco Roco for the PSP.

Keep reading to see a video.

Keep reading “Rolando: New game for iPhone and iPod Touch”...

Via Peter Elst.
Uses the b.Tween framework and EyeGT technology to run a ported version of a Boulevart Flash Lite app on the iPhone.

Keep reading “Unofficial Flash Lite Application Running on the iPhone”...