14 DAY TRIAL // Google released into the wild only a few days ago a new version of its mobile phone operating system, namely the Android 1.5, also known as the Cupcake. While this is good new for those who have a G1 phone, since there are a lot of improvements and bug fixes included in the new release, it seems that limitations are on their way as well.
Basically, Google is reported to have cut off the access to the Android Market for those handsets that were recently updated to the new version of the platform. The problem wasn't noticed right from the beginning, and it has been reported that the access to the application portal has been blocked as a result of more and more users downloading and installing the update.
Interesting though is the fact that there are two builds of the update running into the wild, the “G,” or “Google-sourced” line, and the “H,” or “HTC-sourced” line, and that only the former is affected by the Market change, while the latter still allows users to access the portal and download applications.
Similar problems with the Android operating system were previously reported as affecting the Dev 1 devices running under the platform, and Google stated back then that the owners of such handsets were prevented from accessing the Market due to the fact that they were also offered access to the root files of the phone, allowing them to modify applications.
What determined Google to prevent users who updated their G1 phones to the Cupcake release from accessing the Android Market is still unknown, but some suggest that the move was meant to stop the spreading of the release to more devices. It makes sense in a way, given the fact that this wasn't the final release of the platform iteration, though no official explanation has been given. Hopefully, the final version of Android 1.5, due for release by the end of the month, will not include this limitation, and users will be able to enjoy both the Cupcake and access to applications for their device.