Google Support: “…we are no longer investigating further engineering improvements”

Image taken via Gizmodo post

You also should check out this Google Support Forum thread ”Spotty 3G Part 2?“

Exactly Google Android 2.2  has been spotted in analytics data on a HTC Magic. Rumors could be right that the latest Android OS version will have ‘automatic app updates’

Image via Mobiflip

Also interesting is that Android 2.2 could be on the way with automatic-app-updates Mobiflip Blog mentioned that

“the Android is clearly a new or revised Market to see the really interesting thing is, however, the field “Allow automatic updating.

see image and more via

Of course if you root your phone then no doubt the various forums around the web will have Android 2.2 firmware builds to install. It is unclear at the moment when other Android smartphones will get these updates, but we expect over the coming months that once the update has been announced, updates to other devices will happen a few months after that.

AndroidAndMe’s tip is:

to wait till Google I/O conference starting on May 19th…

Google Nexus One owners first off followed possibly by DROID although speculation also says the N1 and DROID could get a roll out at the same time. These updates should allow developers to access better graphics capabilities specifically on the Google Nexus One.

via Engadget and Mobiflip (DE)

Softbank, Japan’s largest broadband provider announced the launch of ”HTC Desire (X06HT)” for the late April 2010.

Softbank’s first Android smart phone will come along with Android 2.1

HTC Desire X06HT (SoftBank / HTC):

via Weekly ASCII (Japan)

Softbank X06HT Specs

• 3.7” AMOLED touchscreen with a WVGA resolution.
• 5Mpix CMOS Camera module with AL & LED Flash
• W-CDMA & GSM
• GPS, Bluetooth, HTC Sense
• 1GHz Snapdragon CPU
• 60 x 119 x 11.9mm 135g

“…the Japanese HTC Desire is the very same as its foreign brother” via Akihabara News

HTC Mobile is a Taiwanese cell phone manufacturer that has been making a lot of noise with the introduction of interesting new Smartphones in the last few years, and HTC is always good for its remarkable technical specifications such as the case of the HTC Desire.

Check this video about the

HTC Desire (X06HT) with voice search for Google Maps

ODROID handheld game console is an Android powered entertainment device.

The Korea-based company HardKernel debuts its ODROID device in September 2009, and by late October, SlashGear was reporting that the first run of developer units have already sold out at around $300.

ODROID does have a pretty snappy ARM Cortex A8 processor from Samsung clocked at 833mhz, with ample 512MB DDR2 memory, a 3.5-inch capacitive touch screen display and 720p video playback through its built-in HDMI output.

This is the first Android device with such a gaming buttons layout.

Now watch the video playing  GBA & Quake III on Android 2.1 Eclair

GBA & Quake III on ODROID

Product information : http://www.hardkernel.com
CPU : Samsung S5PC100 833MHz Cortex A8
DDR2 RAM : 512MB
System OS Storage : 2GB
Android 2.1 source code for ODROID : http://dev.odroid.com

HardKernel is shipping a developer-focused handheld game device that runs Android and offers source code, schematics, and a debug board. Especially now that both devices have multi-touch technology. But with the introduction of powerful Android devices such as Motorola’s Droid and most recently, Google’s Nexus One, gaming apps and functionality has improved on the device. The fact that the Android platform doesn’t support gaming as well as the iPhone is not new.

Phandroid wrote a post today which will answer your question, whether ODROID Android… Read the rest

How to create and insert your favorite Android smartphone icon pack and you’ll find my favorite list of free popular icons.

via large-icons.com

With the advent of new android smart-phones, you can now use and create several types of icons, and insert/download them into your application’s user interface. You may want to try out something other than the pre- packaged icons in your user interface. A number of useful icons are there that you can download in a free icon pack. These graphic icons will bring out a more professional look to your user interface and make it more attractive.

Here is a short and easy guide on how to create icons.

The primary color palette in a basic icon design is made up of white, black and gray scales. Different combinations of these colors are used to make the launcher icons, the menu icons and status bar icons. The launcher icons and certain status bar icons are given accents of bright and clear colors which match with the existing icons. You create the basic steps in these icons in the Adobe Illustrator.

You can make each icon by creating depth and shape, adding color and details. You can also create shadows by tilting the angles and a blurring effect.

Once the icons are created you can then import it to Adobe Photoshop and fit to the desired image size. For a launcher… Read the rest

Can you install every Operating System on Windows Mobile devices?

When you can live with small fonts and a tiny screen on your WinMo this is a geeky way to install Ubuntu on your smartphone.

Ubuntu on the HTC Touch Pro2

Video via Pocketnow

Btw this is already available for the X1 via X1BUNTU (“UBUNTU 8.04 for X1 WORKING WIFI”)

Engadget and more heads up XDA developer forum

Geeky but not usable? Please give us your opinion.

Firstview Electronic HK Limited presents their Android based Laptop for $65 on CeBIT 2010 in Hannover, Germany

The website load is very slow when you compare it with more expensive Laptops, but you can buy for $65 in the Chinese factories when you order this Laptop in large quantities.

$65 Android Laptop

Specs:

• Android
• low cost and low power VIA 8505 ARM based 533Mhz processor
• with 128MB RAM
• 2GB Nand flash
• 7″ 800×480 screen
• WiFi
• SD card reader
• 3G dongle support
• run 4 hours on a 2100mah battery

Its not anywhere near as thrilling as the iPad video demo. Its just one of the cheap Android tablets there at CeBIT.

Everything you need to know about the new HTC products and technology.

HTC made the first Android phone for T-Mobile and many other smart phones for Sprint before that. HTC is a widely known company that cnet and other tech sites have been reporting on for quite some time.

MWC 2010: HTC Legend, HTC Desire, HTC HD mini

Actually will Android run on the Legend and Desire and explicitly the HD Mini would be running on a Windows mobile system

Videos of the 3D Engine on the Google Android Nexus One Uberphone

The new 3D features  are demoed with the upcoming Google Earth app for Android. These 3D features  will surely bring along many 3D graphics applications and even games (Androlib free) - much like on the iPhone. Google also has teamed up with Cooliris to bring the 3D experiences to the Android Nexus One user.

Now watch these videos and comment in our comment area

3D Engine on Google Android Phone – Nexus One

Even complex 3D engines seem to run fine on flash 10.1

Flash Player 10.1, 3D content on Google Nexus One

embedded by Embedded Video

vimeo Direkt

After you have watched these videos, do you still think flash is too CPU intensive and is slowing down mobile phones?

HTC’s statement on SlashGear. HTC is defending their own innovations against Apple

Headlines are filled with htc/apple lawsuit news. Apple has sued HTC for infringing on 20 iPhone patents

image via BBC and WindowsMobile7

Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs said:

• “We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it,”
• “We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.” Apple

On Gizmodo you’ll find The Complete Documents here is the first doc

Here is the statement from HTC posted by SlashGear

“HTC is a mobile technology innovator and patent holder that has been very focused over the past 13 years on creating many of the most innovative smartphones. HTC values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations. HTC only learned of Apple’s actions this morning via media reports, and therefore we have not yet had the opportunity to investigate the filings. Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made against HTC.”

(via @SlashGear)

Hivision SpeedPad for under $100 at CEBIT (Video)

Awesome, Hivision will sell the SpeedPad for under $100

Check the specifications

• 7-inch 800 x 480 resolution LCD touchscreen,
• Samsung ARM11 800MHz processor
• 2GB of storage
• 256 DDR2 RAM
• platform is Android. It has
• WiFi b/g, external 3G
• Bluetooth
• GPS dongle connectivity
• 4200mAh battery (6 h)

Here is the video made

Hivision SpeedPad Android tablet at CeBIT 2010

[via jkkmobile]

Current Android Models on Sale in the US (Image)

G1, myTouch 3G/LE, Cliq/XT, Behold II, CDMA Hero, Moment, Droid, Droid Eris, Backflip

Which Android phones will definitely get Android 2.1

• confirmation from Sprint that the Hero and Moment on their network will be getting Android 2.1 “early Q2 2010?.
• Motorola Droid and the Cliq will also be getting Android 2.1
• Verizon is updating the Droid Eris to Android 2.1
• Motorola’s Backflip comes with Android 1.5 and is upgradeable to Android 2.1.
• Limited Edition Fender version of the myTouch 3G will get Android 2.1. (T-Mobile)

[more via TheseAreTheDroids]

The adMob report “January 2010 Mobile Metrics Report” shows  that Google Android Apps downloads are approaching the iPhone app downloads

Android Market is still the underdog to Apple’s App Store, and consumers considering an Android handset are likely turning to the web to scope out the applications available on Android to see how they compare to the App Store.

The image below shows that the Android app download approaches the iPhone app downloads

January 2010 Mobile Metrics Report for the iPhone, iPod-Touch, Android and webOS

• Android and iPhone users download a similar number of apps every month and spend a similar amount of time using the apps.
• iPod touch users download an average of 12 apps a month, 37% more apps than iPhone and Android users.

via adMob PDF

Google Earth for Android phone available on the Android Market and Androlib

Android User eagerly awaited the release of the Google Earth app for the AnDroid phone. (When will google earth be available on Android???)

For exploring the world from the Android smartphone in your hand,  flying around the planet, view the same 3D imagery which is available in the desktop version. Use the searching by voice for cities, places, and businesses function, etc.

Screenshots

Package name : com.google.earth

Images and download the free Droid app from Androlib

hint via XDA-Developers

via AndroidCommunity

update 2/22/2010: Your Android phone must be rooted

(A video guide to rooting your DROID! EASY PEASY!)

This AllDroid Dark Beta 0.3 release is based on Android 2.1 one with Launcher2

This is a community custom ROM from the Alldroid community they are trying to keep this ROM as “functional”, which updates based upon Android 2.1. I would recommend that you are a developer or that you are very experienced with rooting your Droid phone. (A video guide to rooting your DROID! EASY PEASY!)

Let’s do it!

[Rom Review] AllDroid Dark Beta 0.3 by ReverendYo w/ Video

ROM Beta includes:

• Youtube HQ patch – xeudoxus
  • Replace NexusOne livewallpaper with Droid livewallpaper — Sniffle
• Launcher2 with Functional Buttons — xeudoxus + KrazyKrivda + dev team
• SU binary and Super User.apk for 2.1 — Zinx/cyanogen
• Symbolic links for busybox
• (mostly)Deodex, Optipng & ZipAlign /system apk’s (beta 0.2 needs more optimization, but it is fast and stable so we want it in your hands)
• Engineering bits from Cyanogen and our dev team
• Cyanogen multitouch browser for 2.1 (will update to ere27 soon)
• Multitouch 3D Gallery
• Multitouch Maps/navigation with Night mode
  • AllDroid Boot Animation — MrLane
• Add “reboot” option to power button
• Kernel — Tazmanian_Droid
• Overclock to 950
• Wi-fi Tether support
• Auto/Manual Brightness
• IM app
• Working Camera
• Several aspects of ERE27

via [Rom] AllDroid Community Beta 0.3 release

More information, bug reports, user feedback and… Read the rest