News about Google Android:
Android Rumoured to Get Netflix App Coming Soon
It has been rumoured that Netflix is working on an official app that will allow users to stream movies and TV shows directly to Android devices. The rumour came after a recent job listing for an visit site to read more]
HTC Desire HD (aka HTC Ace) Video Spotted Showing HTC EVO 4G Like Features
The HTC Desire HD has been spotted on numerous occasions, and only last week it was reported that the smartphone was seen on the … [visit site to read more]
Android 2.2 Froyo Update for Droid X Confirmed for September
It was reported just over a week ago that the Motorola Droid X would be getting some sweet TLC from the Android 2.2 … [visit site to read more]
Android 2.2 Enabled Motorola Tablet Headed to Verizon
US mobile phone carrier, Version has certainly been making headline news recently with it’s leaked … [visit site to read more]
Mystery HTC Android Device Hits Verizon’s Inventory System: Could it be the HTC Scorpion?
A brand new and what appears to be a HTC device, has just appeared in Verizon’s inventory system in the last day or two.
The device does not have a name but it has been listed under the code of ADR6325VW. The reason why many believe it to be an Android device over a Windows 7 phone is due to the prefix at the start of the code, ADR, which hints an Android.
Android 2.2 Froyo HTC EVO 4G Official Update Released
August 3rd is the date that has been pencilled into our diaries as the official release date of the HTC EVO 4G Android 2.2 … [visit site to read more]
Droid X can now be counted among the rooted
Nexus One is sold out in Google’s store — forever
Google warned us that the Nexus One was approaching the end of its days, but we’ve gotta admit, we didn’t realize just how quickly that moment would come. Sure enough, Google’s official online store for the phone now just shows an ominous message that “the Nexus One is no longer available for purchase directly” from the company, which means you’re going to have to go through Vodafone, KT in South Korea, or hold out for the units that they plan on selling directly to registered developers. Needless to say, for the bulk of potential customers, the phone is all but history. So, on that note, Nexus One: for your straight-shooting stock Android ways and your unlocked radio, you’ll be dearly missed — and we hope your legacy lives on, even though your retail model does not.
Motorola’s rugged i1 coming to Sprint: July 25 for $150 on contract
A solid four months after first seeing thing plastered across half of Las Vegas, Motorola’s i1 finally has a date with Sprint. The planet’s first Android-equipped smartphone with Nextel Direct Connect will go nationwide on July 25th (via telesales and websites; all other Sprint channels will see it on August 8th), bringing military spec ruggedness, push-to-talk capabilities and a certain ability to withstand all sorts of death grips. Unfortunately, Android 1.5 is a bit of a dinosaur at this point, but it’s still a heck of a lot better than that G’zOne Rock you’re currently toting. Get ready — you’ve got just under a week to scrounge up $149.99 and the nerve to sign another two-year contract. Read the rest of this entry »
How would you change LG’s Ally?
LG didn’t hold back when it came time to market its Ally, but was a tie-in with one of the summer’s biggest blockbusters really enough? We found some rather unforgivable flaws during our testing, but that’s honestly beside the point — we’re here to hear about your thoughts on the device. Priced initially at just $100 on contract, it was (and still is, to an extent) one of the best deals going for an Android-based smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard, but has it really lived up to your expectations? Are you wishing you had held out a bit longer? Is the keyboard really a winner? How do you like / dislike the UI overlay? How’s it handle when held left-handed? Go on, get really real in comments below. We’re all ears. Read the rest of this entry »
Graffiti for Android scribbles Palm OS memories all over Google’s platform
Gather around the campfire, children, as we tell you a story from or youth. You see, back in our day, we carried around PDAs driven by Palm‘s operating system (no, not that one). Primitive and bulky by modern standards, sure, but if there’s one aspect we remember most fondly — or at least most vividly — it’d be Graffiti, the shorthand writing system for your stylus-based text entry. And guess what? You can now bring that same frustration enjoyment to Google Android. Available now via Market, the free, OS-wide keyboard alternative comes care of Access, who gained the rights to Graffiti following the Palm / Xerox settlement from way back in 2006. The future is the past as remembered by the present, or something like that — download away. Read the rest of this entry »
Motorola Droid X gets cinematic ‘See You Tomorrow’ trailer (video)
Yeah, we said trailer. The Droid family has seen its fair share of atypical ads, and while this one won’t tug on your heartstrings, it’ll definitely captivate. Unless you’re already three sheets to the wind and well on your way into an early weekend. Either way, you should really have a look after the break.
SanDisk’s elusive 32GB microSDHC card on sale tomorrow at Verizon: $100 with a Droid X, $150 without
Oh, sure — SanDisk‘s 32GB microSDHC card has been “shipping” since late March, but have you actually tried to find one? It’s been a lesson in frustration for many, and while a few e-tailers have shown stock off and on, the card has generally evaded archivists who simply need an insane amount of available storage on their handset. Starting tomorrow, however, that should change. Verizon Wireless — of all companies — has somehow managed to become the “only retailer that offers customers the 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card.” We’re assuming it’s referring to brick and mortar retailers, but at any rate, the gem will be on sale tomorrow at VZW outlets for $149.99, or just $99.99 if you purchase one alongside Motorola’s Droid X. The only trouble with that? You’re stuck figuring out what to do with the 16GB microSDHC card that ships inside of the phone. Thank heavens for the Bay, right? Read the rest of this entry »
Bing to bring full-featured client to Android ‘within next six weeks’
Microsoft’s Bing and Google’s Android aren’t exactly complete strangers (hello, Moto), but now the company is saying it’ll bring a full-featured client to the platform sometime within the next six weeks. Not much is known, but according to PC World (via Yahoo! News), it’ll at least include desktop-parity with features such as web, image, and news search (in addition to maps, of course). ¿Está tu Nexus One listo para los links? Read the rest of this entry »
Swiftkey beta brings new keyboard, world class predictive text to Android
The software and language engineers at Swiftkey have been toiling on this app for the past two years, and at long last, it’s being made available for precisely nothing to anxious Android users. Hot on the heels of Swype’s own beta, the Swiftkey beta is now available to download directly from the App Market, and once installed (along with language packs of your choice), it can be used in place of your stock Android soft keyboard. We’ve never been the biggest fan of Google’s factory keys, and while we still feel that Swiftkey’s letters are a tad on the skinny side, it’s definitely an improvement. But that’s not where the magic’s at — this software has an uncanny ability to guess what your next word will be, and it actually looks at your prior SMS list (if allowed) in order to “learn” how you converse. In our early tests, we’re pretty darn impressed, and yes, it’s definitely worth the $0.00 price tag. Get your download on right now, or hop past the break for a video demonstration if you still need convincing.
Nexus One now a step closer to FM radio support, thanks to modified kernel
As you may or may not be already aware, the Nexus One and HTC Desire have the same Broadcom chip. Seems trivial at cursory glance until you realize the Desire has a FM radio app, which should ergo be just as feasible on the Google-branded device. Cut to xda-developers’ intersectRaven, who’s released a custom N1 kernel that theoretically brings life to the FM receptor. It’s available to download, but as for when you’ll get a chance to really use this yourself, that’s entirely up to the custom ROM developers updating their respective wares. For his part, Paul O’Brien said today he’s already got it working on an upcoming Froyo Sense build for the device — hang tight, folks, it’s coming.
Android Powered Phone with iPhone & Samsung Like Interface Revealed by China Unicom
We know that the current Android and iPhone operating systems aren’t perfect, so wouldn’t it be great if we could snatch elements from various mobile operating systems to create the ultimate smartphone?
Well, it would appear China Unicom, the second largest carrier in China is currently working on the an ‘uPhone’ platform which will sit on top of the Google’s mobile OS and its new interface will borrow elements from Apple’s OS and Samsung’s TouchWIZ.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Rooted by Android Developers with Full Details Announced
When a new phone is released into the market, it is isn’t long before hackers decide it is time for them to tap into the phones operating systems and start running unlocked features and pirated … [visit site to read more]
Google Open Spot alerts Android users to freed parking spaces
Oh, sure — this has certainly been tried before, but given that things like this need a critical mass of followers to be effective, we’re particularly jazzed about Google‘s own initiative. Dubbed ‘Open Spot,’ this bloody brilliant Android (2.0 and up) application enables motorists to search for unclaimed spaces that have been reported by other Open Spot users, and once they head elsewhere, it allows them to mark their spot as open and available. Once a spot is marked, the color gradually fades from red to yellow the longer it remains unclaimed. We’ve given it a quick test here on our end, and while it seems snappy enough (and yes, we definitely received a Karma Point for every space we dropped), the obvious omission is the ability to add notes to each marked place. There really should be a way to denote whether a spot is metered, covered by some wacky city permit law or submerged in a foot of water — here’s hoping the next update will enable comments. Hit that source link (or just open up the App Market) to grab it for free, and jump on past the break to see how your fellow city dwellers feel about this marvelous invention. Read the rest of this entry »
HTC Aria update for AT&T enables mobile hotspot, sideloaded app support (update: disappointment)
Well, this is genuinely awesome: it seems AT&T is pulling back from its ban on third-party sideloaded apps on its Android devices, because HTC has just released an Aria update that enables them (either that or HTC just went rogue here, but we highly doubt it). While that doesn’t have much practical implication for your typical smartphone user, it’s a strong sign that AT&T might be ready to take a more reasonable stance on the openness of its branded devices that would put it inline with the attitudes Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile have all taken with their Android phones so far. Additionally, the update includes “the Mobile Network sharing function,” which we take to mean a mobile hotspot app in the same vein as the one that’s shipping with Froyo — if we had to guess, it probably requires AT&T’s 2GB DataPro plan plus the tethering add-on, which would put it in line with what they’re charging on the iPhone. Onward and upward, AT&T.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 has been rooted, all is right with the world
Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X10 has been out and about for some time, facing off against the competition and predictably getting ripped to shreds. Now it has reached the next natural step of its evolution: receiving the root treatment by a bloke at xda-developers. User Bin4ry over there has posted step-by-step instructions on how to locate your device ID, re-flash your phone, and then enable superuser abilities. It all looks particularly straightforward, as far as these things go, and so if you’re looking for a bit more control this weekend don’t hesitate to click on through. Read the rest of this entry »
Android 2.2 ported to HTC Desire, working quite well
No patience to wait until Q3 for an official Froyo build? Fret not, dear Desire owners, as udK_dev has managed to push out a near-perfect Android 2.2 port that’s working spectacularly well so far. As you’d expect, HTC’s Sense overlay is indeed baked in, and while there are still a few quirks here and there, users seem to be generally pleased with how it’s going. Better still, the camera has been upgraded to handle 720p video recording, so there’s that. Hit the source link for the how-to, but make sure you set aside a few hours first. Or maybe just one.
Ubuntu joins Android on Nexus One, apocalyptic repercussions nowhere to be found
Ever wondered what would happen if you threw another mobile OS onto your Nexus One? Without removing Android? Contrary to popular belief, the world will in fact not end, and in many cases, lives could very well be improved. One particular modder over at Nexus One Hacks has managed to put together a video how-to demonstrating the installation of Ubuntu as a secondary OS on his rooted N1, and while you’ll obviously find yourself dealing with a few incompatibilities should you follow suit, it’s not like you really have anything better to do tonight than tinker. Right? Right. Jump on past the break and mash play to get going. Read the rest of this entry »
White HTC EVO 4G lands early in Best Buy stores (update: unboxing!)
Good news, EVO 4G lovers! The striking white version of Sprint’s most gargantuan (by diagonal screen size, anyway) smartphone has started to splash down into Best Buy stores across the nation a full five days early. If you’ll recall, the white EVO 4G wasn’t supposed to land in the hands of those who pre-ordered until July 11th, but we’ve received two independent confirmations that they are indeed arriving early in select locales. Stay close to your current phone — you may be getting a pick-up call in the not-too-distant future.
Dell Streak’s car dock gets a video unboxing, early road test
Given the size of Dell’s Streak (it’s rocking a 5-inch screen, in case you were wondering), you’ve probably considered using it as a dedicated routing machine with Google Maps Navigation at the helm. The only problem? Using your arm as the window mount. We heard a few weeks ago that the Streak’s official car dock was finally on sale over in the UK, and it looks as if the bugger is finally shipping there, too. The best news? It seems to hold up pretty well to some of Britain’s bumpiest roadways — see for yourself after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
Dell Streak’s car dock gets a video unboxing, early road test
Given the size of Dell’s Streak (it’s rocking a 5-inch screen, in case you were wondering), you’ve probably considered using it as a dedicated routing machine with Google Maps Navigation at the helm. The only problem? Using your arm as the window mount. We heard a few weeks ago that the Streak’s official car dock was finally on sale over in the UK, and it looks as if the bugger is finally shipping there, too. The best news? It seems to hold up pretty well to some of Britain’s bumpiest roadways — see for yourself after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
Nexus One sees red, nearly doubles battery life? (video)
These five Nexus One smartphones may seem to have defects, but there’s actually nothing wrong with their AMOLED screens — the funky colors are an attempt to improve battery life by turning off unnecessary sub-pixel LEDs. Hooking up his handset to an industrial power meter, Android engineer Jeff Sharkey discovered a blood-red screen drew 42 percent less current than full color — the least of any combination by far — purportedly doubling the effective battery life of the phone. While you’re probably not going to be able to test the requisite software patch for yourself unless you’re mildly familiar with Google code, you’ll find a video of the crimson wonder after the break to fuel your dreams of a eyestrain-free astronomy cheat sheet… and Android bullfighting, of course. Read the rest of this entry »
HTC HD2 Android and Ubuntu builds now available for mass consumption
We’re approaching the end of an era — the legacy of Windows Mobile handsets getting spotted running some open sourced OS or another shortly after their release. With Windows Phone 7 on the horizon the HD2 will surely be one of the last, but you can extend that grand tradition just a bit longer by installing your choice of Ubuntu Karmic Koala or Android 2.1. Those builds we reported on earlier have been made available for general consumption and, while installing them certainly doesn’t seem to be entirely risk free, neither of them touch the phone’s internal flash, so you’re never more than a reset away from the comforts of WinMo. If you’re feeling adventurous this weekend, both downloads are on the other end of the source link below. Read the rest of this entry »
