Motorola announced a global alliance with Microsoft to deploy Bing services on Motorola devices powered by Android. This new offering, launching in China on smartphones in Q1, will provide consumers a choice when using search and map functions on their Android-based devices.

Smartphone.Biz-News.com spoke to Xavier Bertschy, CEO at xb83studio Sàrl and the founder of CityOnline.net, a specialist in web content management. Xavier was one of the speakers at MobileMonday “Android and web-convergence” event that was held last… Monday in Fribourg, Switzerland.

The first live shots of computer hardware manufacturer Gigabyte’s first Android handset have surfaced.

The device features Android 1.6, 2.8 inch QVGA display, Eurpoean GSM/EDGE support, 528MHz Qualcomm processor, 192MB RAM/512MB ROM, microSDHC memory card slot, 2.0 megapixel camera with autofocus, 3.5mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi radio, Bluetooth, and GPS.

It will initially ship in Russia for 9000 rubles or $300 between February and March with no details on an international release at this time.

Consumers will spend $6.2 billion in 2010 in mobile application stores while advertising revenue is expected to generate $0.6 billion worldwide, according to market research firm Gartner.

Google’s new Nexus One smart phone serves as a showcase for the latest version of the Android operating system and will allow the company to gather critical user data for developing new software, according to iSuppli.

"With a plethora of smart phones based on the Android operating system already on the market, questions have arisen as to why Google would begin selling its own phone equipped with the operating system," said Tina Teng, iSuppli senior analyst for wireless communications.

At the special Android press conference in Mountain View, Google officially confirmed the company’s first phone – the Nexus One.

This HTC-branded device is running Android 2.1 and comes with 3.7" AMOLED 480x800 WVGA display, 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, 512MB flash onboard memory and 4GB removable SD Card (expandable to 32GB), 5 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash and geo tagging, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5mm headphone jack, compass, GPS, accelerometer and light and proximity sensor.

Nexus One is initially available from the new Google web store in the US without service for $529 or starting at $179 with a two-year contract from T-Mobile USA.

Confirmed device specifications for the forthcoming Motorola Opus One iDEN Adnroid smart device have surfaced after videos of the device first surfaced on YouTube last week.

The device features a 3.1 inch HVGA 320×480 capacitive touchscreen display, 3.0 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, accelerometer and proximity sensor, Wi-Fi radio, Bluetooth, microSDHC expansion slot, 2.5mm headset jack, Home, Menu, Back and Speaker capacitive buttons with haptic feedback, iDEN Push To-X support, Android LBS support integrated into iDEN GPS, 512MB Flash / 256MB of RAM, 64k/128k iDEN SIM card support, dual-mic noise-canceling, Flash Lite v3.1 and the following preloaded apps: corporate email client with ActiveSync support, MOTONAV navigation app, barcode scanner and document viewer.

Sprint has launched the Sanyo 3810 and the long-awaited Samsung Moment.

The Sanyo 3810 features an external display with a mirror finish when not in use, internal 2.4 inch QVGA display, large keypad, menu size control larger for easy navigation through menus and sub-menus, 1.3 megapixel camera with digital zoom and Bluetooth.

The Moment features Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail and YouTube while featuring a Sprint first 3.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, sliding QWERTY keyboard and a virtual keyboard. Device navigation is handled by an optical joystick. Rounding out the featureset is an 800 Mhz processor, Wi-Fi radio, integrated GPS support, 3.2 megapixel camera with video recorder, stereo Bluetooth, microSDHC expansion slot and speakerphone.

Pricing on the Moment is set at $179.99 after a $50 instant savings and a $100 mail-in-rebate with a new 2 year agreement with the Sanyo 3810 being free after the same contract terms and $50 mail-in rebate.

Motorola, and Google, have done something that no other phone has done before. They have built a phone better than any iPhone. Now it gets interesting.

First, we’ll get the obligatory iPhone boilerplate out of the way. Yes, contrary some fist shaking, iPhone (3GS) was the phone to beat, until today. Be it in the performance arena, the App Store arena, be it the basket of features or the pure style… adding it all up, iPhone stayed ahead.

So, how does Droid force Apple back to the drawing board? The sum of its (new) parts.

Motorola and Google have unloaded a ton of new technology into Verizon’s first Android phone. Google has brought Android 2.0, along with the world’s first free turn-by-turn live GPS solution. Motorola matched that with hardware that reminds us why Motorola has stayed relevant in the industry.

I have to admit, we were skeptical about Droid’s design. It looked like Motorola’s Sidekick… a match made in hell, with design language to match. Holding Droid however is a completely different story. It looks amazingly well-built. The in-hand build quality even manages to surpass that. This phone is a winner in the design category. In short, it’s thin. The keyboard and display sections are evenly distributed, the lower half of the phone is only slightly thicker than the display portion.

So, we’ll cut to the chase. We like small reviews now, we think you will too. Here’s why we it’s the best smartphone out there, the new phone to beat. Android 2.0, combined with the 550 MHz processor that Droid carries, sets a new standard. Literally, from start to finish, it beats the iPhone. Verizon Wireless’s EV-DO Rev A network also makes the ping rates and throughput of AT&T’s HSPA network frown. Make that seriously frown. Verizon and Droid beat AT&T and iPhone in nearly every web page we loaded, and both sported excellent reception (our offices happen to be under a jointly-shared cell site for both companies).

It’s important to note that the 550 MHz CPU that the Motorola Droid carries is using a different core from comparative Samsung or XScale-derrived processors. The megahertz myth is a live and well in the mobile sector, as the performance yield per clock cycle means that Droid rivals 1 GHz Snapdragon phones. It is also why phone makers always hesitate in touting the processor of a phone…

But it’s the small things that this fusion create that make the difference. There is no lag in this phone. None. No “screen blur for 4 seconds while rotating”. No “wait for the on-screen keyboard to appear”. No “wait for apps to toggle”. And, no “wait for the interface to draw from one screen to the next.” If you’ve used Android, this is music to your ears. If you haven’t used Android, we strongly suggest starting with the Droid, you won’t look back.

Oh, and be sure to try out the accelerometer. It’s faster than iPhone… something we weren’t sure Android’s Dalvik platform could ever pull off.

Likewise, the keyboard is a sigh of relief. We’ve been waiting for a good Android phone to replace the T-Mobile G1 for having a keyboard and touch screen. The Samsung Moment on Sprint has been long-awaited for this reason. Thankfully, the keyboard on Droid is excellent. It’s flat, but a easy to use. The layout is well-articulated, with dual alt keys on both ends of the keyboard, and excellent backlighting. It’s the best keyboard on any Android phone released to-date.

This isn’t to say that Android was dysfunctional before Droid, far from it. Droid and Android 2.0 simply put it on a new playing field. A playing field where you can multitask like a Palm Pre, but with the native code that Android 2.0 allows. Oh, and that brings us to the other side: Android 2.0’s future in the App Store arena.

First, we’ll talk about what Android 2.0 and Droid deliver today. The long-rumored and sometimes-shown new Android Market is in-place and fully working. It’s faster than iPhone by a mile. Apps install instantly. We could not find an app that took more than 10 seconds to install. Try that with an iPhone. Try that with Windows Mobile, or even the Palm Pre. We’ve suffered through the freezes, stalls, and lag on their app stores. Not so on Droid. In short, it just works.

Car mode is a nice touch. We’ll be reviewing Android’s Maps with Navigation beta in a separate article (since it is in beta, and we don’t cast judgement on betas). But, for those of you not glued on every move that Droid has made, Car Mode is a special GUI written by Google for devices that function well in cars. We expect that to mean all future phones, but for now, it’s only on Droid. At first, you might get the notion that it isn’t necessary. But, then you touch the voice search button, and fall in love. It has the best voice recognition we’ve ever seen on a phone. There are some faults, for example, Voice Search doesn’t connect with Bluetooth voice commands. So, you can’t tap the screen and say “call 800-466-4411″, but you can say “directions to Best Buy” and Maps will load ready to start a new turn-by-turn GPS session.

Basically car mode takes the taps out of driving. Voice commands route to their natural functions. If you’re saying something related to a web search, it loads Google and runs the search. If you’re asking for something related to GPS, it takes care of tapping through all the menus for you… since, you’re, well, driving.

Not a 360-point landing

There are some faults though. The “with Google” branding stifles innovation. No HTC Sense UI here. While Sense UI blew away CLIQ in our offices, the lack of both is a bit painful. It means juggling IM apps, weather widgets, and other stuff that should just be there. This isn’t as much of a concern to the tech-savvy, as it is to those that are new to smartphones. With Sense UI, they get an instant level of data integration that would be cumbersome for the average person to get acquainted to all at once.

There is a real fear to “with Google” that is still present. And, that is that many will only use it as a glorified web browser and email client. They will miss out on the key features that can be tapped into with this powerful, multitasking phone.

Oh, and please, give us pinch and zoom. If HTC can implement it by dropping the With Google, why can’t Google embrace gestures? They seem to have no problem with flicking, but pinching still escapes them. Because Android 2.0 is so responsive, it’s not as much of a concern… but it’s still a concern near the top of the list.

The road ahead… now with Navigation and Street View…

For Droid to thrive, developers will have to up the ante as well. Android is still, unfortunately, cumbersome to take full advantage of. The abstraction of native code gives iPhone a waning edge. Google continues to cut off their nose, in order to spite their own never-native face in this regard. Android is an Operating System, and Google needs to accept that its head is, still, stuck in the clouds. To take advantage of the arsenal of OpenGL power that exists in Droid, Android must give a better C implementation, and fast.

Thankfully, Motorola has done the hard work, of building a device that shows how imperative the notion of simple native code is. With Palm stuttering on the subject, Symbian in shambles, Maemo not out of the gate, and Windows Mobile admitting their weakened state… Android has the sole power to make their native code suite robust, and challenge iPhone at what they do best (and still be open, too).

For Motorola, there are some other complaints. For example, the camera is not at the top of the universe. HTC’s Hero camera is superior, with touch-on-autofocus and a more robust camera app. Again, “with Google” branding probably forced Motorola to use the Android 2.0 camera app. We were looking for more here, and we’ll post photos in a follow-up. Still, kudos for the dedicated pressure-sensitive camera button.

The screen size also leaves us a bit perplexed. It’s an odd one. It isn’t as wide as a standard 3.5 inch, but is longer, giving it about double the resolution of iPhone, while only weighing in at 3.7 inches total. It seems nice and long for vertical reading, but in landscape mode has us asking for more. Lots of pixels, but slightly sub-par longitude on the display front. At least it’s bright and responsive.

Finally, Verizon seems to have spent a lot of effort making the battery door easy to open. While battery life will take some time to fully condition, owners can rest assured: Moto Droid is no Palm Pre. Unfortunately, the battery has to be removed to change the microSD card slot. We prefer thin devices, and we certainly prefer microSD over narrow-minded phones that lack any form of capacity upgrade. However, having to powercycle a phone this modern just to copy a few files over to the microSD card seems short-sighted.

Verizon has some work, too. The only app they offer right now is a $2.99/month visual voicemail application. While VZ Navigator has been made obsolete by Google Maps with Navigation, their other services; V CAST Video and V CAST Song ID, as well as an on-device account management app, all could bolster the Droid movement for the company.

Another note to Verizon. Developing your own Android UI would be a fatal error. We still have to ding each and every non-smartphone on Verizon for their battery draining, useless, damaging smartphone UI. Worse, Verizon knows it drives customers into buying smartphones, and we really hate that kind of crippleware. Leave your in-house developers to in-house apps, and not into cushy for-life jobs controlling Android UI on Verizon (yeah, we know that’s how Verizon BREW UI got the green light).

One Final Thing™ that we would like to see on the device, is a 2GB microSD version. Many people already have large microSDHC cards, and don’t need to pay for the bundled 16GB card that comes with the phone. At least as an online-only option, offering a $179 version with a small memory card would be better for everyone.

Conclusions, Final Thoughts

The CLIQ and Droid clearly come from different camps. The Motorola CLIQ was meant to be a Sidekick killer. Not bad timing for that, either. Droid was built for a different purpose, to give Motorola new life with the most informed customers in the world. It’s the new superphone.

But, as usual, we love competition. Droid will make the competition finally ask questions that they’ve tried to dismiss. Like, why can’t I have a phone with a great keyboard, and a giant touchscreen? Or, why can’t I have a phone that is at the top of the power heap, and has removable storage? And, why am I paying to use that GPS chip in my phone, when the maps are already free? These are questions that have been out there for a long, long time. Droid combines power that will keep the tech-savvy, with a phone that answers all the checkboxes.

Motorola has just reinvented themselves, and we can finally say that with a smile, not the perpetual chagrin that we’re unfortunately become all too accustomed to about the company.

Pros: Lag-less UI, Android 2.0 power, Great keyboard, Extremely fast processor, Free GPS navigation
Cons: No multitouch UI, Stifled “With Google” options, Moto’s typical weak camera performance
Final Score: 5/5

FTC “Change You Shouldn’t Believe In” Boilerplate

We get devices from a lot of sources. As a general rule, we only review products that companies or other industry insiders send us. This makes sure everyone is on an even playing field, and we do not solicit paid reviews of products or services. We believe that the purpose of reviewing devices is not to tell consumers to try out phones, but to tell companies where consumers want to see improvements.

That all said, we do love your comments and questions, so please share them below!

It is now official and will completely change the mobile and PND navigation market. Google announced Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 devices.

It comes with 3D views, turn-by-turn voice guidance and automatic rerouting, but unlike most navigation systems, the Navigation was built from the ground up to take advantage of the phone's internet connection, as Google claims.

The first phone to have Google Maps Navigation is Motorola’s Droid. It hits the U.S. market next week (Nov. 6th) for $199 on contract.

SRDO, or Sprint Relay Data Only, has become popular amongst those looking for a post-SERO value plan. Led originally by PhoneNews.com’s coverage, the plan has been tacitly embraced by Sprint as a not-so under-the-table offering of a data-only plan for tech-savvy consumers.

The $30 plan offers unlimited data, text messaging, and 5 GB of Phone As Modem service. On Everything-plan-required phones like the Palm Pre, the plan trades 5 GB of PAM for basic Sprint TV and Sprint Navigation service.

And, starting today, the plan is now available for Android phones on Sprint. Android joins the Palm Pre, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile, as well as non-smartphones in being offered on the plan. The HTC Hero is available for sale from Sprint’s Relay Store web site, and existing Sprint Relay customers can switch to an Android phone with the help of a plan specialist.

Sprint has also confirmed to PhoneNews.com that the Samsung Moment will be available on SRDO, next month.

Sprint has officially announced the InstinctQ as the Samsung Moment, which will be the carrier’s second Android device as well as its second “with Google” device.

The Moment features Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail and YouTube while featuring a Sprint first 3.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, sliding QWERTY keyboard and a virtual keyboard. Device navigation is handled by an optical joystick.

The Moment also features an 800 Mhz processor, Wi-Fi radio, integrated GPS support, 3.2 megapixel camera with video recorder, stereo Bluetooth, microSDHC expansion slot and speakerphone.

Pricing will be $179.99 after a $50 instant savings and a $100 mail-in-rebate with a new 2 year agreement. Sprint has also launched a pre-order page for the device.

Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO of Google, and Lowell McAdam, CEO of Verizon Wireless, held a joint conference call in New York to announce their companies’ new partnership.

They said Verizon will deliver “devices of the future” with leading-edge mobile applications and services using Google’s Android open platform in coming weeks.

During the conference McAdam confirmed Verizon plans to support Google Voice.

“Your entire social life now in a single streem!” – announced Motorola at GigaOM’s Mobilize ‘09 conference, unveiling the company’s first Android phone, “the first phone with social skills”. But all that buzz was not much about the new device, it was more about the new innovative interface solution.

Developed by Motorola, MOTOBLUR is a solution that manages and integrates communications: it syncs contacts, posts, messages, photos, etc. - from sources such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Gmail, e-mail - and automatically delivers it to live widgets on the home screen. There is no need to open and close different applications or menus.

“Smart phones continue to shine as one of the brightest spots of the technology industry, with shipments growing despite the global recession,” says the recent Canalys’ report on the Q2 key smartphone market trends.

The report shows that Nokia maintains global lead, Apple’s success continues, as the iPhone takes 23% of the North American market and RIM continues to gain share, succeeding with its push into the consumer market. Touchscreens become the preferred interface, representing 40% of all shipments.

Mark your calendars, because September 10th will see a huge announcement regarding Motorola's unveiling of their own Android phone line.

Sholes will be a high end phone focusing on the professional power user focusing on high processing speeds and a 5 megapixel camera. Morrison will be a more economically based Android phone which will end up on the T-Mobile network and support 3G.

Blockbuster, a provider of in-home movie and game entertainment, announced plans to feature the BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand movie download service in select Motorola phones. Through the agreement next generation Motorola phones will feature the OnDemand application, providing on-the-go download access to Blockbuster's digital library of current movies.

Leaf International Communications, the sole distributor of HTC in South Africa launched three phones: Touch Pro2, Touch Diamond2 and the Snap for the local market.

The Leaf team presented their new offerings to the media at Central Grill in Fourways. The company also confirmed the Android Market, Google’s mobile application directory, will be available to South African users from August 2009.

Filed under: Handsets, Others, GSM, EDGE, China Mobile, Android

Well, at least some of the mystery is solved. If a machine translated source is to be believed -- not to mention a healthy gathering of screengrabs -- Philips' elusive V808 smartphone will be a China Mobile exclusive. As with other Android-based phones on the operator, it'll be the reworked OPhone OS handling the dirty work, which basically means a carrier-customized app market and a few other tweaks that seem to be frowned upon in the Chinese community. We're also told that the phone will lack support for 3G, WiFi and multitouch, leaving us grieved, lugubrious and lachrymose. C'mon guys -- why hamstring a good thing?

[Via Cloned In China]

Philips V808 smartphone to run Android-based OPhone OS on China Mobile originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, HTC, T-Mobile, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Android

We're getting ready to enjoy the Magic-based myTouch 3G here in the States -- but in the UK, which is centuries ahead of the US in terms of Android technology (they're running the French Cruller code branch over there), they're about to launch a version of the Hero instead as the G2 Touch. The carrier's European divisions have been expected to get the phone over the next few weeks, and British customers in particular will be pleased to know that it'll be up online tomorrow and in stores "over the next few days." That's fine, T-Mobile, whatever -- we'd rather have the myTouch anyway. Hmph.

[Thanks, Eddie]

T-Mobile UK's Hero hits tomorrow as G2 Touch originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Others, Android

Continue reading Philips' first Android endeavor, the V808, caught on camera?

Philips' first Android endeavor, the V808, caught on camera? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Software, Android

Google's bakery-themed codename scheme for Android is a source of endless amusement (and hunger pangs) for bloggers, readers, and users alike, but with just a few builds actually blessed as gold, retail versions at this point, it's not entirely clear how those codenames -- Donut, Eclair, Flan, and so on -- will ultimately map to version numbers. An Android team member, Romain Guy, has jumped in on the official Android Developers Google Group to say that Donut is not 2.0 -- though he hasn't specified what it actually is. Technically, Cupcake wasn't 1.5, though 1.5 ended up being composed largely of improvements made in the Cupcake code branch, so if we had to guess, Google is simply making a similar distinction here -- Donut is nothing but a line of code that's being actively developed, and when it comes time for Android 2.0 to drop, it'll pull much of its changelog from that line. Also interesting is Guy's revelation that Donut doesn't include multitouch support, despite hints from the latest repository that it's in there. Ultimately, we won't know what's happening here until 1.6, 1.7, 2.0, or whatever it's called ends up hitting devices -- but for now, it looks like developers probably shouldn't be getting their hopes up for an open and supported multitouch API just yet.

[Thanks, shootingblue]

Android team member says Donut isn't 2.0, doesn't have multitouch originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Software, HTC, T-Mobile, Android

Android's official code repository has been updated with a fresh load of Donut stuff in the past day or so, and as you might imagine, the dev community is already having a field day with it. Early reports show that all of the features demoed at I/O this year have made it into this cut in one form or another, including universal search, text-to-speech, and system-wide multitouch with gesture support, allowing users to draw symbols on the screen to trigger actions. What's more, though, the codebase is showing signs of CDMA support -- a must for Sprint and Verizon, of course, both of whom will almost certainly have Android sets at one point or another -- and a cool 5-in-1 bank of toggle switches in a home screen widget that can be used to control common features like Bluetooth and WiFi.

Perhaps more excitingly, the community is hard at work on a couple major fronts here: first off, the Donut build is actively being ported to current handsets, and an Android Dev Phone 1 / T-Mobile G1 version is already available (though very, very crashy and incomplete right now). Secondly, work is being conducted to extract major elements of Donut (some of the new widgets, for example) and roll them into cooked 1.5 builds, making the best stuff available in a more solid, accessible form without having to wait for 2.0 to become stable. If you're an adventurous -- nay, borderline mental -- G1 owner, though, you can start your journey to Donut right now.

[Thanks, Yoav R.]

Read - Donut availability
Read - G1 port

Early Android 2.0 "Donut" build available, up and running on G1 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The number of smartphones shipped with open source operating systems (OS) will increase from 106 million this year to 223 million by 2014.
That's the prediciton of telecom consultants Juniper Research, who found that operating systems and applications are playing an increasingly important role in the differentiation of new smartphones.

Nokia has denied that it is developing a handset based on Google's Android operating system.
The response came after reports in the UK that the Finnish phone maker would announce an Android-based smartphone in September at the Nokia World Conference.

Filed under: Handsets, Multimedia, Others, ATT, T-Mobile, Windows Mobile, Android

If you want to get HD in your handheld, NVIDIA's Tegra processor is the hot way to do it at the moment, and we've got reasonably concrete sounding rumors from disparate sources that a handset containing one of the chips is currently under development by a "top five" smartphone builder (we're guessing it's not Apple), and that it'll be out sometime before the end of the year, selling at T-Mobile and AT&T for just $199. The details of the device beyond that are scant, with Android being a possibility but Windows Mobile looking more likely, and a continued pledge of battery life of rated for "days and days" of mobile multimedia. We like the sound of that.

Read - NVIDIA Tegra phone due from "big five" firm
Read - Rumor: NVIDIA Tegra phones in Q409?

NVIDIA Tegra smartphone due from a "top five" manufacturer before 2010? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Others

One of our favorite intellectual property rips of recent months is without a doubt the SciPhone Dream G2 from China. Having completely missed the point of Google's open-source OS being, well, open-source and thus free for SciPhone's use, the company instead chose to hack the G2's "proprietory" OS to look like Android. The charger, however, built to look like the iconic Android mascot is pretty damn cute; enough so that the idea of paying $150 just to get our hands on the 100-240V USB charger has crossed our minds. See the Android's naughty bits after the break.

[Thanks, Steven]

Continue reading SciPhone Dream G2 Android charger is best ever

SciPhone Dream G2 Android charger is best ever originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Features, Software, Android

With home screen widgets, an on-screen keyboard, great notification management, and hands-down the best Gmail experience of any platform, Android 1.5 finally makes it easy (or easier, anyway) to love Google's foray into the mobile world. Of course, if you're coming from an iPhone -- as some users inevitably will be -- there are a few features that'll be sorely missed as you make the transition. For us, a biggie was visual voicemail, and after a little trial and error, we found a cool way to add it into our device without even leaving the Google ecosystem -- and even better, it's totally free. Follow the break for the full story!

Continue reading Hack: use Google Voice to add visual voicemail to your G1, Dream, or Magic

Hack: use Google Voice to add visual voicemail to your G1, Dream, or Magic originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Others, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Android

It looks exactly like a Samsung Omnia, but don't be fooled -- what you're actually looking at here is Spain's first go at producing an Android handset (which is especially ironic considering we just reported on the andromnia project). Our colleagues from Engadget Spanish were live in Barcelona today for the grand unveiling of the GeeksPhone One, a Cupcake-powered phone featuring a 625MHz PXA310 core, quadband EDGE plus HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, AGPS, 3.2 megapixel primary camera plus a front-facing cam for video calling, and microSD expansion -- sounds great, but the package is marred a bit by the fact that it's rolling with a resistive 3.2-inch touchscreen. Hard to complain with the price, though -- GeeksPhone expects to sell the set for somewhere between €250 and €300 (about $352 to $422) unlocked when it launches this fall.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Spanish firm GeeksPhone launches "One" Android set originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hot on the heels of launching its third Android smartphone, HTC is forecasting its US handset sales to grow by at least 50 per cent this year.
With the arrival of the Hero, the Taiwanese phone maker is establishing itself as the leading manufacturer of the Linux-based devices.

Truphone has announced that its VoIP and call-through services now support an additional 11 Nokia handsets.
The mobile VoIP operator first offered its VoIP-only services on Nokia devices but went on to include the iPhone and Android platforms.

INTERVIEW: Android's Market will be at least as successful as Apple's hugely popular App Store - and could prove even more of a hit.
That's the view of Florian Seiche, vice president of HTC Europe, who believes app downloads for the open-source software platform developed by Google could well emulate Apple's success.

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, T-Mobile, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Android

It's no big secret that T-Mobile was going to get a version of the HTC Magic at some point, but this box art confirms a couple very important things for us. First, it's going to be called the myTouch 3G -- not the Magic, Sapphire, or G2 -- and the imagery conjured on the packaging is a good deal more exciting than that found on the G1. Second, it'll be available in three colors, just like its older, QWERTY-equipped brother -- but unlike the G1, the wildcard third color will be a dark red marketed as "merlot." Of course, white and black will also be available, and we've got the proofs for all three in the gallery below, so have a look while you wait for launch; our documents here say that T-Mobile expects to bring this sucker into retail stores on August 5 -- but given the carrier's "early summer" statement for its next Android device, we're cautiously optimistic that date has been pushed up.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

T-Mobile myTouch 3G box art comes out to play originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Others, Android

BenQ working on Android smartphone and netbook for next year originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Software, HTC, Rogers Wireless, Android

A dude with access to the ROM Rogers is using on its just-launched Dream and Magic Android sets has posted a truly epic, comprehensive set screenshots on Flickr, showing off some of the features unique to these particular versions of the phones. Examples include a highly-customized HTC virtual keyboard with XT9 support reminiscent of its modern WinMo keyboards, Exchange support, integrated Quickoffice, and an all-important PDF reader. It's a nice little journey into the heart of Canada's first Android sets -- unless you're jealous, in which case it's an emotionally draining nightmare.

[Via Android and Me]

Rogers' Android build for Dream and Magic deconstructed shot-by-shot originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, ASUS, Android

Garmin-Asus set to launch first Android phone in Q1 2010 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Software, HTC, Android

The process for getting HTC's Hero ROM with the so-called Rosie UI onto your G1 isn't necessarily for the faint of heart, so for those looking for a slightly more hands-off experience until HTC gets around to introducing this stuff officially, an installer went ahead and threw together a convenient little demo of some of the Android skin's capabilities. Everything we see here reinforces the understanding that this is a thorough, deep customization of Android, taking UI polish and functionality to the next level -- and happily, HTC appears to have really tailored the experience to Android rather than simply taking TouchFLO and retooling it for another platform. A good example of that is widget support -- we see weather and Twitter widgets demoed here, and there appear to be plenty of others available in the list. There's no telling whether we'll see this skin come to Dreams, Magics, and G1s, but it's at least heartening to know that the G1 has enough horsepower to effectively run the stuff. Follow the break for the video.

Continue reading HTC Hero "Rosie" ROM demoed on G1

HTC Hero "Rosie" ROM demoed on G1 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer is to sell netbooks running Google's Android operating system - with the first likely to be available before the end of the summer.
The move is a setback for Microsoft, which was already selling its Windows OS at a reduced price to counter the threat posed by Linux.

The BBC has launched a service that allows UK viewers to watch live TV programs from suitable Wi-Fi connected mobile phones.
BBC Live TV is available in a beta test form, offering a limited number of the broadcaster's channels, plus its radio stations.

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Android

HTC's first Android device is pretty much all over the place now -- either as the G1 or the Dream -- and TIM is the latest to go live with it over in Italy. Like most European carriers, TIM is happy to get you a Dream for as little as €0, but where it gets interesting is with the prepaid option: for €429 (about $583), you can just have the darn thing outright and pay as you go. T-Mobile USA: there's a lesson to be learned here. Maybe.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

HTC Dream comes to Italy's TIM for ?429 on prepaid originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple has released details of a new version of the iPhone OS, with over 100 new features including finally adding copy and paste.
However, another much desired issue - allowing for background tasks from third party applications - remains unresolved, despite rival handsets running Google Android and the as-yet unlaunched Palm Pre able to support background apps.

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Vodafone, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, Android

Make no mistake, the all-black HTC Magic is for real. Separated here at CeBIT from its glistening white counterpart by an equally white G1, this near-final Magic looked just stellar in its glossy dark coat. We chatted it up with an on-hand representative who confirmed that the handsets on display weren't absolutely finalized, and that when launched exclusively on Vodafone in Europe (you read that correctly), the Voda logo would be proudly plastered on. He stated that there were no immediate plans for selling an unlocked one in Europe or abroad, but that's just the standard line given when a carrier has yet to get their special toy. He also affirmed that HTC "believed deeply" in Android, and that the world at large would be seeing a lot more where this came from in the near future. Have a look at what these lucky Europeans will soon have access to in the gallery below.

HTC black Magic (Sapphire) hands-on: a Vodafone exclusive originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, HTC, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Android

We personally think it looks just grand in white, but we can understand that white isn't for everyone -- so for the rest of you, enjoy these shots of HTC's Magic in black spotted at CeBIT. Interestingly, this unit isn't Vodafone branded; instead, it's rocking the HTC logo, which might mean they're planning on offering an unlocked, unbranded unit at some point. Wouldn't that be... magical? It's not clear whether the "Magic" name is exclusive to Voda, so we might see this sucker under a different name if the unlocked thing actually happens -- maybe the "Sapphire" it went by in its codename days. Either that, or this is nothing more than a one-off used for testing, and we can all go back to dealing with Vodafone and T-Mobile contracts. Time'll tell.

[Thanks, Andy]

HTC's black Magic (or Sapphire, if you prefer) spotted in the wild originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Orange, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Android

Telefonica was the first to pick up the facelifted Dream for a Spanish launch, and now it seems Orange wants in on the action, too. Word is that 99 euros after rebate (about $124) will net you the Android-powered beauty (well, "beauty" is subject to personal opinion here) on a 24-month commitment to Orange's Origami Star Plus package, which will include unlimited data, unlimited text, and 50 hours' worth of access to Orange's WiFi hotspot network. It's all supposed to launch come March 5, so France doesn't have long to wait -- only question is, where's the Magic?

[Via Unwired View]

Orange bringing the HTC Dream to France this week? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Android

We knew it was too good to be true. Don't get us wrong, this new ZN300 is alright, but Motorola knows as well as we do that this isn't the device people are looking for Schaumburg to produce right now; the company's engineering talent isn't in question, but what the people want is a superphone that proves there's some design talent in the house, too. That's why this supposed Touch ZINE HD got such a strong positive reaction the past few days that we'd all held out hope that there was a shred of reality to it, but unfortunately, Androphones.com makes a very convincing argument that it's almost certainly poppycock: looks like our boy Yury Cassini here took the back of a ZN5, combined it with the blanked front of a E8, and -- voila! -- there's the device the Android-loving world is waiting for. In our last piece about this device, we implored to Moto that "if this isn't real, can whatever it is you're working on right this second and do precisely this instead," and as we sit here with broken hearts and shattered dreams, the advice most definitely stands.

Motorola Touch ZINE HD is likely fake, hearts break around the world originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TuneWiki is taking the idea of giving listeners lyrics to go with their mobile music a stage further by extending it to streaming radio.
The social media player already offers audio and video while displaying synchronized or translated lyrics.
Smartphone-biz.news spoke to Chad Kouse, VP of R&D and CIO of the US-based developers, at the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Android

Better shots and rumored specs have emerged of that mysterious Moto slate we saw a few days back, and if this all checks out, it's pretty much exactly what Motorola needs to be doing to earn the gadget-loving world's respect and admiration right now -- but there are a few holes in the story that have us concerned. First off, it's alleged that this monster is going to be called the Touch ZINE HD, and considering the phone's uncanny resemblance to HTC's Touch HD, the name seems a little too close for comfort. Secondly, it's said that it'll do 1080p video playback via HDMI, but the collection of leaked images shows the phone connected to a composite RCA cable, which isn't gonna cut it for 1080p -- and we're not buying that the display itself is going to be capable of that kind of resolution. That all being said, let's suspend reality for just a moment and enjoy this list of monstrous specs: Android, Tegra, 5 megapixel cam with HD video, and 16GB of onboard storage. Moto, let's put it this way: if this isn't real, can whatever it is you're working on right this second and do precisely this instead.

Is this Motorola's Android-powered Touch ZINE HD? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's Android Market is expected to begin accepting paid applications this week for the first time.
The move could provide a much-needed boost to the platform, which currently has around 800 applications.

Is Android destined for more platforms then just mobile devices? Olga Kharif of BusinessWeek put out an article this week where she discusses many other platforms capable of using Android as their operating system. In fact, former Apple employee Mark Hamblin, who worked on the iPhone, "is tinkering with Android so it can work in a slew of gadgets other than wireless phones." Could it be that Android will leave the iPhone OS in the dust on the next class of platforms? Check out the video below.

The mobile ad network AdMob has raised USD $12.5 million in a further round of venture funding.
The new investment is its third round of funding, which now totals USD $28.2 million.

AdMob has announced that it has launched its first advertising unit for Android applications.
The move by the world's largest mobile advertising marketplace will give developers an option for monetizing their applications on the open source device platform.

Various countries on the European continent are in line to get the HTC G1 following its October launch in the UK and US.
T-Mobile is continuing the roll-out of the handset - the first to run Google's Android operating system - with a launch in Germany on 2 February.

Skydeck has launched a feature-packed beta that syncs what takes place on cell phones to a web page.
The mobile startup's offering lists all contacts, received calls, missed calls, voicemails and text messages. So much so that the company is calling the new Skydeck "your cell phone, online".

Blogger Kontra picked up on the news that Australian (by way of Russia) device maker Agora's smartphone running Android will not be launching, mere days before its purported debut (customers were evern able to pre-order). The blog piece digs into the merits of open OS systems versus closed ones, and how Android may be set up for failure by the sheer fact that its open system will be too option-filled to offer up compelling devices. This may be, and he writes a nice piece talking about Apple, Windows and Google in the smartphone OS arms race, finishes with this:

Similarly, Win32 API was proprietary but resulted in the largest app platform ever. Apple?s FairPlay DRM is proprietary but created the largest legal media ecosystem to date. So while the power of proprietary platforms to create large markets has been demonstrated, the ability of open source to create large and lucrative markets coherent enough to attract commercial developers in the consumer markets is yet to be proven.

Ironically, if the iPhone platform can fail to dominate the smartphone market because it?s too closed, the Android platform may fail because it?s too open.

read full article here

But, this cynic has another thought: it was all bullshit and a way to generate good PR for the Agora companies LCD business :^) What do you think?

Blog post from the CEO of Agora

Saga of the device

Filed under: Motorola

Phone Scoop is reporting that doomsday is imminent for Motorola, possibly as soon as this week. First off, up to half of employees from the company's handset division will be shown the door, though the other divisions -- Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Home & Networks Mobility -- will be unaffected. Fewer employees inevitably leads to fewer phones, and it's being said that Moto will produce just twelve models per year; among smartphones, only Android will be considered. What's more, the company is pulling out of April's CTIA show -- the largest mobile event in the States -- so it looks like that Android gear won't be coming until later on. We'll have more on this as soon as we know what's up.

Motorola laying off throngs, focusing on Android alone for smartphones originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Others, Android

OpenMoko's Android-running Neo FreeRunner makes its blurrycam debut originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There has been speculation that the launch of the next Google Android-powered handset is just days away.
That appears to be premature according to BGR, which claims the launch has in fact been delayed until April due to "software issues".

Motorola is to discontinue making phones for Symbian and will instead concentrate on two new platforms: Windows Mobile and Android.
Sanjay Jha, CEO of the Mobile Devices group at Motorola, confirmed what had until now been rumors to Michael Oryl of MobileBurn.

Filed under: Others, Linux, Android

So Garmin's coming out swinging in response to that Digitimes piece this morning suggesting that Android-based devices are on the way -- sort of. The company says that "the story contains a number of inaccuracies in both sales figures and product rollout schedules," and while it does say it has "an Android-based phone under development," it also reminds us that Nuvifone won't be it; instead, Garmin's first modern entry into the world of telephony will be based on a proprietary build of Linux, as was originally planned. We have to question the wisdom of this two-pronged approach since it almost obsoletes the Nuvifone before it's even released, but then again, maybe they're just pushing to get something out the door -- we've been waiting for this puppy for a year now, after all. See the full statement after the break.

Continue reading Garmin says Nuvifone isn't Android-based, but Android stuff is on the way

Garmin says Nuvifone isn't Android-based, but Android stuff is on the way originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Devoteam is to release a Blackberry version of its VoIP client OnePhone that runs on mobile platforms enabling voice calls over an IP network.
smartphone.biz-news spoke to Christoph Wernli, business development manager at Devoteam, about the convergence market and the opportunities offered by open-source operating systems.

It looks like 2009 could be an interesting year for Android following the announcement by the Open Handset Alliance that it has 14 new members.
Topping the list of newcomers most likely to offer a handset to rival Google's HTC-built G1 is Sony Ericsson.
The list also includes ASUS and navigation systems manufacturer Garmin.

Australia-based Kogan Technologies has announced it is to begin selling two Android handsets from next month.
The Agora and Agora Pro models will be the second phones to be launched - after T-Mobile's G1 - with the open-source operating system.

Filed under: Handsets, Others, Android

We'll be totally honest -- we pretty much blew Ruslan Kogan off when he proclaimed that he was about to push out a $199 Android phone by the year's end. And truthfully, the guy still hasn't totally delivered, but you won't find us kvetching about more Googlephones, regardless of MSRP. The Agora (AU$299; US$192) and Agora Pro (AU$399; US$256) are available for pre-order as we speak, though neither one is scheduled to ship out until the end of January. For those unfamiliar with Kogan, it's an online-only enterprise that has wares built specifically to its dimensions in China, and so far as we can tell, it's as legit as they come. As for specs, the Agora packs a 2.5-inch touchscreen (320 x 240), 3G networking, a backlit QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth 2.0 and a microSD card slot; the Pro adds in GPS, 2-megapixel camera and WiFi. So, with unsubsidized prices this low, are you willing to take a chance?

[Via iTWire]

Kogan intros world's second Android phone: Agora / Agora Pro originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The final release of the Opera Mini 4.2 browser is now available - and it works on Google's Android phone.
Opera Mini 4.2 is the first browser alternative for the Android platform, which comes preloaded with Chrome light.
Already known for its fast internet access, Opera claims this has increased in speed by more than 30 per cent for users in the US since the previous beta version launched.

Filed under: Handsets, Others, GSM, EDGE, Android

The G1's taken some flak for being just a little less fashion-forward than the hottest handsets on the market, but as retail Android handsets go, it's the most beautiful thing going -- and we think that illustrious title's safe for the time being. Meet the "Dream G2" (groan) from China's Sciphone, a brick of an Android-powered handset promised for a November 28 release featuring EDGE data, WiFi, 4-megapixel cam with autofocus, 50MB of internal memory, microSD expansion to 16GB, FM radio, a QVGA display, and "the most advanced software ever engineered." Without a physical keyboard (as far as we can see, anyhow) and no software support in Android promised for a few months at minimum, it's unclear how you'll input text, but hey, the release is still a good ten days away -- maybe these guys are good at thinking on their feet.

[Via ModMyGphone, thanks neerhaj]

Android-powered Sciphone Dream G2 is neither dreamy nor the G1's successor originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Android

The G1 certainly has a lot going for it, but we were a bit taken aback by its lack of an on-screen keyboard -- even a short text requires you to flip the screen out and hit the physical keys. That looks like it might change soon, though -- a rough roadmap posted on the new Android source repository has soft keyboard support penciled in for the the first three months of next year. It's not a lot to go on -- the timeline is described as "initial thoughts" and subject to change as the community gets involved -- but it's good to see that El Goog is already thinking about improving the Android user experience. Now, any coders out there want to pitch in and make this happen even sooner?

[Via HTC Source]

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Yes, Android is a Linux phone. But, none of the apps are. Read more for a simple guide about how Android software works… and why it doesn’t work the way most believe.

Myth #1 - Android Lets You Run Linux Software.

While Android’s operating system is powered by Linux, all applications run on a modified form of Java, called Dalvik.

Dalvik is essentially a fine-tuned version of Java, which Google made to avoid licensing fees. Dalvik is relatively identical to a desktop version of Java. In the future, Google plans to extend Dalvik with additional APIs that make it better for phones than Java.

So, to be clear, you cannot take your favorite Linux apps and just port them to Android.

Myth #2 - Enabling unsigned code lets you run Linux apps.

Like iPhone, applications have to play by Google’s rules. Even when you tell an Android phone to run Dalvik applications not approved by Google, there is no option to enable running Linux applications.

Myth #3 - I can just “jailbreak” my G1 to run Linux apps.

Sorry, no such method has been developed to date. While hackers have cooked custom versions of Android to run on select HTC devices… nobody has accomplished that on the G1. Worse, even bypassing any code checks… still wouldn’t get past the fact that Android doesn’t want to run Linux applications on the screen.

Android’s source code would have to be modified to permit running Linux applications… an even larger hurdle since the screen is controlled by Dalvik. It would require advanced Java and Linux programming to accomplish such a task. Even then, the system is running a pared-down version of Linux, designed to run nothing but Java/Dalvik apps.

Still, it’s not impossible for the future… there is enough code sitting in the SDK to pull it off. However, it would probably be about as buggy as the first jailbroken iPhone applications… that’s what not having a full SDK will do to a program.

Myth #4 - Google is just waiting to roll out Linux app support in a few months.

Again, sorry, not true. There are no plans on the table at the OHA to open up Android to Linux apps. Considering mainstream phone makers like Samsung and Motorola haven’t even released first-generation Android phones… the change won’t happen any time soon.

Myth #5 - Google wants to open up Android to Linux.

Google has always existed in a world where Linux played second fiddle to the underlying software. Be it Python-powered Google searches, or Java-powered Dalvik, Google has never appreciated Linux as a runtime.

In fact, the only mainstream application to run in Linux, is Google Earth. And, that program requires a good multi-hour boot camp to learn how to install properly (for a person new to Linux). There aren’t any pre-packaged, double-click-to-install-versions.

(Google also does offer Picasa for Linux, however, it is the Windows version pre-packaged in a self-contained WINE environment, rather than a true Linux port).

Google doesn’t appear to want to embrace native Linux applications, but rather, spend the next several years developing Dalvik into an application platform of its own… complete with all the desktop services of comparable, modern, computing environments (Cocoa/Obj-C and .NET/C#).

Finally, opening up Android to Linux takes away the selectivity. While someone could answer Dalvik’s call with their own bytecode… opening up to Linux would put Android in a suicidal position. There is nothing stopping Android from being code-compatible with other mobile forms of Linux. That would take away any benefit from being tied to the OHA, and tied to Google. Then each manufacture would pick-and-mix their own mobile Linux distribution.

While that may be good for consumers… it wouldn’t be good for Google. And, thus, Linux will remain a background traffic cop, flowing only to Dalvik apps. Google seems to like the idea… it’s very profitable for them.

Filed under: Culture, Handsets, Multimedia, HTC, T-Mobile, Misc, Android

We really, really like where this is going. First came the Zune puppet rap vid, followed by the equally astounding Large Hadron Collider joint. Now, we've got a video for all you G1 pre-orderers that's sure to get your noggin' bobbin' as you patiently await the arrival of Android. And just as any true rap should, it unashamedly bashes the iPhone, Instinct and most every other "rival" on the market today. The best 3 minutes and 56 seconds of your day are about to occur -- click on past the break and get it going. Word?

[Via Phandroid, thanks Rob]

Continue reading Android rap shows the G1 love, gives Google some street cred

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Filed under: Software, Android

Prior to the G1's stealth launch, Google's on-device Android Market was a busy place, teeming with some 50-plus apps seemingly ready to win the hearts and minds of early adopters anxious to outfit their G1s with... oh, you know, simple pleasures like a video player or the ability to change the UI's font size. We guess that wasn't part of Mountain View's strategy, though, with all but 13 applications having been removed today -- presumably a knee-jerk response to the knowledge that phones were starting to make their way into paying customers' hands. Truth be told, this was probably the plan all along; the Market had gotten a little dirty from both developer and Google testing, and we're figuring they were just looking to tidy things up a bit to make it presentable on launch day before it got nasty dirty with a flood of developers outside the confines of Google's own Android Developer Challenge. Either that, or there's some deep, dark conspiracy lurking involving the unceremonious removal of any content that upsets Schmidt, Brin, or Page.

Update: We're hearing this is all due to an update to the Market -- older apps that haven't been updated to meet the Market's specs aren't available at the moment. Thanks, everyone!

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Filed under: Handsets

Motorola: a name that oozes with apathy amongst gadget aficionados these days. But what if we added the words "Android" and "Social" to the mix, would you once again take notice of the world's most invisible number 1 seller of handsets? According to BusinessWeek, Moto's Google-ified handset will feature an "iphone-like touch-screen, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and a host of social-network-friendly features." BusinessWeek's sources say that the device takes its design cues from the Krave ZN4 while resembling a high-end version of the T-Mobile G1 from HTC (while selling for less). Apparently Moto has been shopping the spec-sheet and images around to carriers over the last few months in preparation for a Q2 2009 US launch (Europe in Q3 2009) for the MySpaceBook crowd. Unfortunately for Moto, we expect the market to be flooded with Android handsets by then.

[Via TechDigest]

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Filed under: Multimedia, Software, OS X, Android

We all know it'll be a frigid day in Hades before Apple lets Silverlight into the iPhone, but for obvious reasons, things may pan out differently for the G1. According to Microsoft's Scott Guthrie, the outfit is still very interested in getting its Flash competitor onto Apple's darling, but as he so rightly points out, "at the end of the day, Apple ultimately controls what software runs on the iPhone." Speaking about Android, he noted that the "Google phone [you mean G1, Scott?] is slightly different," continuing on to say that it's "more of an open platform, [and] that is something we're going to continue to look at." In other words, don't get your hopes up too high that Silverlight will be making its Android debut in the very near future, but you can probably bet Microsoft will have an easier time dealing with Google than with Apple.

[Via FierceWireless]

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A full review of the first Google Android phone. Is the T-Mobile G1 a paradigm shift in mobile computing? Read more to find out.

Plus, a few things about Android that you won’t find in any other review…

First Impressions, Basic Phone Functionality

Let’s get this out of the way… there isn’t any wow-factor when you take the phone out of the box. Walking around town with the phone, there weren’t the people dropping their jaws when the phone was pulled out. The G1 is a 2006 version of the HTC Wizard, the AT&T 8125, and the PPC-6700 on Sprint and Verizon. The only major difference, is that it has a spring loading keyboard, and a trackball. In short; it’s thick, it’s a brick.

But, the wow factor starts when you hit the power button. Normally, when you think of an HTC device, you think of a tank. It’s big, it’s slow, but eventually it gets the job done. It took the threat of a class action suit for HTC to realize that drivers actually matter in a Windows Mobile phone. The G1 is a new beginning for HTC.

Powering on the phone for the first time, you notice the quick boot time, about half that of a Windows Mobile phone. The G1 boots in about 49 seconds, compared to iPhone 3G at 54 seconds (time from powering on, to main screen). You’re given a quick welcome screen, and asked to enter in your Google Account, so that you can have sync services. More on that later. After that, you’re dropped right to the “desktop”.

The desktop is not like the home screens on any other cell phone. It’s much more akin to the desktop of a modern computer. You have icons, a menu bar, an application dock, folders, and widgets. Like the iPhone, you flick your finger to scroll through these things. And, that’s the next major thing that sets the G1 apart from any other HTC phone yet; it’s designed for your finger. It only responds to a human touch.

Usage-wise, it’s almost natural to immediately open the keyboard when using the device. I only found myself using the G1 with the keyboard closed… was when I made a phone call. Regardless of scrolling with the trackpad, or flipping with the finger… widescreen was the way to go. That’s mostly because of the weight balancing on the G1. But, it works surprisingly well… All three inputs; keyboard, touch screen, and trackball, are all easily accessible. 

Unfortunately, we can’t really weigh in on call quality as of yet. Same with battery life. Why? T-Mobile has said that the Sacramento market will be 3G when the G1 launches… but as of yet, we haven’t seen a any 3G coverage. It is a bit concerning that T-Mobile is committing to launching a 3G network, but hasn’t opened access less than a week before launch.

The mini-USB port at the bottom carries a port cover. It’s a nice addition, and despite some who had concerns about it, the port cover was easy for us to open and plug things into. Unfortunately, as had been rumored, the standard Ext-USB port adapter (which allows the USB port to be used as a 3.5mm headphone jack), is absent from the included accessories. This is simply unacceptable; HTC bundles this with every Windows Mobile phone… Android should be no different. Ideally, T-Mobile should rectify this and offer to mail all G1 owners an adapter.

Advanced Features

There’s a lot of advanced features in the G1. First and foremost, is the ability to switch applications easily. By holding the home button down, a task switcher (very reminiscent of alt-tab or command-tab on Windows and Mac OS X) appears. This allows for several applications to be running at once, applications quit after not being used for a prolonged period. This allows you to maintain an IM session, while looking up a webpage, while on hold in a phone call. And, it just works.

In short, the G1 has shown that a smartphone really can multitask. That’s something that most of the competition has simply failed at… one way or another. 

Wi-Fi. I thought that iPhone really was the best Wi-Fi implementation that could be crafted. Well, Google one-upped Apple. Wi-Fi base stations that come into range, show up in the menu bar. A quick flick of the menu bar lets you connect to new base stations in range. There’s no nagging notification dialogue that interrupts what you’re doing. If you want to wardrive, just flick down the menu bar. If you want to keep using 3G, you don’t need to do a thing.

Camera. This was an interesting one… as there is no video recorder. It’s shocking how Google and HTC could have missed the need for one, after watching iPhone attacked endlessly for this. However, with still photos, it has an excellent interface. The pressure-sensitive camera button handles the auto-focus with ease. In fact, the only interface elements in the camera application, are a green light that appears when there’s an auto-focus lock… and a balloon that appears to tell you where the camera button is initially.

Also, the Camera application supports grabbing GPS location data, and gives fairly good response times. Is the much-more-expensive Touch Diamond better? Maybe… but it’s certainly close. And, again, this really shows what Android can do, considering the age of the G1’s hardware.

The G1 ships with IM, Google’s first instant messenger that reaches beyond the walls of Google Talk. While it includes Google Talk, it also supports other instant messaging services.

Shockingly, we were not informed that IM services other than Google Talk do indeed use text messages, as opposed to data. There was no mention (in the application) that IMs sent via Google Talk would be free (using unlimited data), but that AIM/Windows Live/Yahoo messages would be charged SMS rates.

Mail was one of the key areas where we hit some bugs. First, there are two Mail applications. One for Gmail, one for all other IMAP/POP3 email accounts. Both appear to be using the same source code, with the Gmail app having a different interface (with Gmail specializations). Unfortunately, Mail is a bit buggy. It has some of the same IMAP root path bugs that iPhone had when it first shipped. Worse, we couldn’t work around them with hard-coding… each inbox called itself INBOX.Mail.something.

The media players are a bit interesting… and a bit of a letdown. The Music player is only marginally better than the now-ancient Windows Media Player. There is no video player, aside from an early version in the Android Marketplace. YouTube is the only video player on the phone. YouTube does, however, work quite well. It pulls video from the same H.264 path that iPhone uses.

Speaking of the Android Market, this is where Google starts to turn things around. Android Market is fast, reliable, and we only encountered one time where we had to re-launch the Market, in about a week of usage. While there are only a few apps listed now, it does pale in comparison to Apple’s App Store, this is largely due to the G1 not being out yet. Unlike iPhone, developers haven’t had a chance to test software on the device itself… something key to testing and approving software.

Sync services are a good start, but still quite a ways from MobileMe. Google needs to have Windows and Mac OS X desktop integration, to close the loop. Right now, Android is great with syncing to the online cloud… but the cloud isn’t good at syncing back to your computers.

Maps works great, our only problem was with the GPS taking awhile to acquisition. It has poor in-building penetration. Outdoors and in a car however, GPS locks on quickly. Maps on Android is comparable to Google Maps for Mobile 2.3, and includes Street View. And, a hidden option allows for enabling Compass mode, which lets the accelerometer use Street View in a panoramic mode; browsing the Street View simply by moving the device around in a circular fashion. Compass mode didn’t really work well. This could be due to the fact that most apps don’t really use the accelerometer… as was noted above, landscape is the natural mode for most applications.

And, finally, the web browser. Google has said that Android is not using Chrome, but a different branch of Apple’s WebKit browser. However, we question that a bit… Google may be holding back on calling Android’s browser Chrome, but that may be so that we’re compelled to advertise report on that announcement later. It’s pretty clear that much of the advances in Chrome stem from Android’s web browser. In fact, Android even works flawlessly with Google Gears, on standard desktop web sites. If they are different browsers, the same people helped make them.

Warning: Android is about to be compared to iPhone, a lot. This is because Safari and Android Browser share the same core browser code. It is an extremely valid basis for comparing the two devices.

The web browser works great. It zooms, sizes text well, and scrolls robustly (with both the touch screen and trackball). Tabbed browsing is pretty much identical to iPhone, as is the ability of the browser to load and render web pages. However, the do size text differently… Android does not benefit from the Resolution Independence technology, introduced in Mac OS X. Instead, Android changes the size of the text based on the zoom level. This works about 75% as well as Safari on iPhone. However, because the G1 benefits from being primarily used in landscape mode… it isn’t as much of an issue.

Scrolling on Android Browser is about as elegant as Safari. However, because the display is not multi-touch, zooming is accomplished by buttons that appear whenever the finger is touching the display. Android also provides a magnifying glass feature, common on third-party browsers such as Opera Mini. Touching the magnifying glass (which appears next to the zoom controls), zooms the page out to a maximum level, and then provides a magnified box which the user can scroll. This allows the user to quickly jump to, for example, the bottom of a long web page. While functionally the magnifying glass is a bit of a hassle… it’s less of a hassle than scrolling 25 times to get to the bottom of a web page in iPhone’s Safari.

Both iPhone and Android include Google search. iPhone has search built-in to the scroll bar, and so does Android. Android also comes with a desktop widget to search right on the desktop… and we actually found it quite useful. The search bars also support Google’s suggestion features, so search queries appear as you type. Moreover, we found searching on Android to be faster than iPhone 3G… even on T-Mobile’s EDGE network. This is because iPhone defaults to the desktop version of Google web search. Android however, defaults to the AJAX-powered mobile version. So, while iPhone is desktop-perfect, Android doesn’t need to reload the entire page, and thus, can search faster.

Note: iPhone users can take advantage of AJAX mobile search by pointing their browsers to mobile.google.com. And, iPhone also has a dedicated Google Search Application, which replicates the utility of the search widget on Android’s desktop.

And, like Safari, Android’s Browser is pretty devoid of extensions. There’s no Flash support, and worse… PDF support is missing. In all, iPhone’s Safari wins out clearly… but not by the glaring distance compared with other browsers. And, unlike iPhone, Android allows for unsigned code… so there’s nothing stopping Adobe from adding PDF and Flash support on their own.

In the first section, I noted that the G1 was a 2006 phone hardware-wise. Well, this is what a 2006 phone can do with good drivers. Make no mistake about it, Android is a game changer. When I criticized Microsoft for not updating older Windows Mobile devices (there is no reason a 2003 Windows Mobile phone couldn’t run the latest version), I coined the phrase that iPhone wants to be updated. Android takes that to a whole new level. Android doesn’t wait to be plugged into a computer, it has an auto-updater running in the background.

Conclusions

Some will ask flat-out, is Android better than iPhone? Some will yell at us for brining up that question (yes, we read your comments… all of them). The answer is two-fold. As a not-yet-released phone, the G1 and Android do not have the polish that Apple has been able to build with a two year lead time. But, that said, the G1 has the promise to beat the iPhone down the road.

Like iPhone, Google has promised to continually improve Android, and HTC is in turn obligated to release those updates. A2DP Stereo Bluetooth is on its way for the G1, and Android Market will fill in some of the missing applications. Moreover, Android will let groundbreaking apps be released without hinderance. That will drive developers to the platform, and their innovations will drive users to it as well.

Clearly, Android needs a little polish. There are just some bundled applications that should be there. There isn’t any default program for Weather or Stocks. The clock tool is just a basic Alarm Clock. However, with a Market, we don’t need to knock the phone for missing these… AccuWeather already has a full weather app on Market, and Namco is even offering Pac-Man as a free download.

Probably the worst real problem with the G1, is the lack of pervasive 3G coverage… but, come next year, G1 variants will be headed to each and every carrier. The future is bright, Google has shown they can raise the bar, and the G1 will leave those on T-Mobile without feeling the urge to switch carriers, just to get one of the best phones on the market.

The important thing is that the platform is stable, it’s fast, it’s responsive. It just works.

 

On one final note, we would like to thank Google, T-Mobile, and HTC for giving us the opportunity to have an unprecedented early access with the Android platform. Android really has grown on us, but in one way Google may not have wanted to tip their hand to. Near the start of the review, I noted Android’s home screen resembled a conventional desktop. It has become clear to me, that Android is Google’s total operating system play. It could replace a desktop operating system tomorrow, and would overnight become the most popular version of Linux. Of course, Google wouldn’t be content with that… but it is nice to know that Google has their desktop platform, and it’s maturing on today’s cell phones.

Pros: Google Android platform, no walled garden, responsive, fast, stable.
Cons: Missing headphone adapter, thick size, limited T-Mobile 3G coverage, video player in development.
Final Score: 5/5

Filed under: Software, T-Mobile, Android

Apple's App Store, with its millions of downloads, is clearly a hit with consumers. But with developers? Not so much. Like a dashing hero to a scorned mistress, Google's Andy Rubin is pledging a different, more loving and respectful relationship with those who would fill his company's Android Market with selections -- and his pockets with royalties. He indicates that the Market will enable free downloadable trials, something that Apple is stubbornly refusing to add, and that those downloads would not be subject to any arbitrary bandwidth caps. Meanwhile, T-Mobile at least will be levying a $2/month fee on developers of free apps expected to use more than the (somewhat arbitrary) amount of 15MB of data per user per month, though how they'll be keeping track of that data outside of their own content stack is unclear -- our guess is that they can't.

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Filed under: Handsets, LG, Samsung, Android

Neither LG nor Samsung have ever gone so far to as pin down an actual release date for their promised Android-based phones, but it looks like they could each now be giving themselves yet more wiggle room, at least if the supposedly in the know Mirae Asset Securities is to be believed. According to it, we now shouldn't expect to see Android handsets from either manufacturer before the second half of 2009 "at the earliest," which doesn't exactly match up with earlier word that both companies were aiming for a release in "early 2009." Venturing even further into speculation, Mirae says that the delay is a result of "negative responses" from mobile phone operators like Vodafone, as well as some general skepticism among advertising sponsors about Google's profit model for the phones. Of course, none of those parties mentioned are actually saying anything themselves just yet, so you may do well to take all of this with a hefty grain of salt for the time being.

[Via Unwired View]

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The Software Development Kit (SDK) for developing applications for Android and its new app market has been released and is available for downloading.
The Android Market beta is also to be launched with the T-Mobile G1, providing developers with a way to distribute their applications on that and later devices.

The rising popularity of smartphones and their increasing use to access the internet means web sites must be prepared for effective handheld viewing.
With the launch of new phones from the likes of Apple, RIM and now HTC, with Google’s Android-based G1, that trend is set to accelerate.

Filed under: Handsets

T-Mobile's newest set was officially announced today at a press conference in New York. Set to launch on October 22nd for $179 on T-Mobile in the US on a two-year stint, or $399 contract-free. Starting in early November all you folks in United Kingdom will have access and Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and the Netherlands can expect their release in the first quarter of 2009. The G1 features WiFi and 3G radios, a 3-megapixel camera, and support for the Android Market and Amazon's mobile MP3 store, giving owners apps and tunes on the go. Existing T-Mobile subscribers get first dibs, with orders being accepted starting today. Here's a quick rundown of the specs:

• HSDPA 1700 / 2100 plus quadband EDGE
• WiFi
• 3D graphics acceleration
• 3-megapixel camera
• 256 MB integrated storage, 1GB microSD card included
  
• Android Market for on-device app purchases
• Amazon MP3 app for on-device music purchases
• Push Gmail support with full HTML client
• Bluetooth (but no A2DP)
• Google Maps with Street View
• No Microsoft Exchange support
• No desktop synchronization -- it all happens over the air
• 350 minutes talk time over 3G, 406 minutes over GSM
• 402 hours standby over 3G, 319 hours over GSM

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Filed under: Handsets, HTC, T-Mobile, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Android

Uh, c'mon guys -- this is a little ridiculous. Now typically, you want to keep this sort of thing under wraps until the day of your event, but it seems like the cats and kittens at T-Mobile can't contain themselves. Yes, you're looking at the first official product shot of the G1 Android phone ever. Enjoy it.

Update: TmoNews has just uncovered new specs and info on the phone. Here's what they've got so far: the phone is 4.6 x 2.16 x 0.63 inches, weighs 5.6 ounces, features a 480 x 320 HVGA display, sports 3G (obviously), GPS, has a 3.1-megapixel camera, supports up to 8GB of memory (though no format is mentioned), and will feature 5 hours of talktime with 130 hours of standby. Strangely, the phone won't do video capture (what?), won't have stereo Bluetooth, will require a Gmail account, and won't be sold at stores outside of a 2-5 mile radius of T-Mobile's 3G coverage area. That last bit sounds a little odd to us, but we're guessing a lot of the functionality of this device will be shot in non-3G areas.

[Thanks, Luis; Via TmoNews]

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You might expect sales to be intitially sluggish for a new smartphone with an unproven mobile operating system.
But that was never going to be the case with the hotly anticipated first Google Android handset from T-Mobile and HTC, which is expected to be officially announced Tuesday.

Touted as Google's answer to the iPhone, the first cell phone powered by the feverishly anticipated Android software is to be unveiled on 23 September.
The Android launch will heighten competition in a market increasingly dominated by Apple's 3G handset and RIM's BlackBerries.

Microsoft is to create an online software store for its Windows Mobile platform.
To be called Skymarket, the online store for mobile software follows Apple’s iPhone App Store and Google’s plans for an App Market for its Android smartphone platform.

Google is to offer an applications “market” for its Android open mobile platform but has sought to distance itself from Apple’s iPhone app store.
A member of the Android team has said it is to be “an open content distribution system that will help end users find, purchase, download and install various types of content on their Android-powered devices”.

Filed under: Android

Android's gaining a head of steam as it heads towards release -- Google just posted up some details on the upstart OS's app distribution system, Android Market. Just like Apple's iPhone App Store, Android Market will run on Android phones like the HTC Dream and allow users to browse and install apps, as well as comment on and rate apps they've already purchased. (Somewhat terrifyingly, Google describes the rating and comment-system as "similar to YouTube," but we're hoping the reference is to user-generated ratings in general and not the grammar and language catastrophe that is YouTube comments.) Unlike Apple's store, however, Android Market will be open to all -- Google wants devs to "have an open and unobstructed environment" for their apps, and it'll only take three steps (register, upload, describe) to put content on the service. The first Android handsets will come with a beta version of Market that supports free downloads only, but a version that has app sales, versioning, and other features will arrive soon after launch -- given the number of mediocre apps that have somehow passed Apple's vetting process, it'll be interesting to see what shows up in Google's store with no filters at all. More screenshots after the break.

[Via Mobile Burn]

Continue reading Google talks Android Market app store

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The success of Apple’s App Store is making smartphone software developers increasingly attractive to venture capitalists and phonemakers with millions to invest.
The head of one US$100m fund that invests in smartphone application start-ups has told the New York Times he expects to tap into the iPhone’s success.

The team responsible for Google’s Android open-source operating system is to be enlarged with openings for designers, engineers, and developers.
Ads from the search giant ask for people who can work in areas as diverse as “innovative” hardware user interface design, battery life, RF issues, and handset-security software.

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, T-Mobile, Android

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T-Mobile is to be the first carrier to offer a mobile phone powered by Google's Android software.
The phone will be made by HTC, one of the largest makers of mobile phones in the world, and is expected to go on sale in the United States before Christmas, according to reports.

Filed under: Software, China Mobile

Okay, it's not really a secret weapon, per se -- China Mobile's smack at the top of the Open Handset Alliance's member list, after all -- but In-Stat's predicting that Android has a chance of absolutely dominating the iPhone's sales figures next year if it can get a big ol' helping of love from China's hundreds of millions of wireless subscribers. Diving into the numbers, the analysis firm predicts that Apple will push some 9.5 million iPhones globally next year, compared to 17.1 million Android-equipped pieces, based largely on the assumption that China will end up throwing its weight behind the more open (read: cheaper) Linux-based platform. That being said, China Mobile is also still in discussions (as far as we can tell, anyway) to bring the iPhone to its network, so the battle could ultimately be about pricing and marketing. Google has done a solid job of building name recognition over there lately, and there's little doubt that manufacturers crafting Android sets will be able to undercut the iPhone, so In-Stat's little spat of fortune telling seems downright plausible.

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