Author: AndroidGuys

AT&T has finally announced what we’ve all pretty much known for the last few months.  The Motorola BACKFLIP is headed to Ma Bell for $99 next month.  Customers interested in picking up the The Motorola BACKFLIP can head to their nearest AT&T store and grab the first Android handset on the nation’s fastest 3G network.

The BACKFLIP features a 3.1-inch touch screen, a 5 MP camera with flash, is HSPA 7.2-capable, and can “talk and browse the web at the same time”.    This marks the final of the big four carriers here in the United States to offer an Android handset.  Like the Cliq for T-Mobile and the Devour for Verizon, the BACKFLIP features Motorola’s MOTOBLUR user experience on top of Android.  For more information on the handset, inlcuding pictures and video, AT&T set up a special site at http://www.att.com/backflip.

The $99.99 price comes after a $100 mail-in rebate ($100 AT&T Promotion Card), two-year agreement and smartphone data plan.  It will be very interesting to see how AT&T markets this handset now that they have both iPhone and Android on their network.  Wonder if Luke Wilson will be showing off a BACKFLIP anytime soon?

Google’s free podcast application, Listen, has been recently updated to version 1.1.  The most notable new feature is that subscriptions are stored by Google Reader in the “Listen Subscriptions” folder.  This means that users can manage their podcast subscriptions from their PC or web browser.  Naturally, everything synchronizes in the cloud between the Android app and the browser.

Other features and improvements in Listen v1.1 include the ability to set intervals for the app to fetch new items, voice input for searching, and offline availability for subscribed feeds.

For the full change log to Listen, please visit http://listen.googlelabs.com/versions.html While we’re on the subject, you should subscribe to our podcast!  We hold a weekly live show over at BlogTalkRadio on Monday nights.  Stop by sometime and say hello!Source: AndroidAndMe

File under: Good News/Bad News

We’re hearing from a number of places that some Droid Eris owners are getting an OTA update.  The good news is that this is the Android 2.1 update they’ve been waiting for.  The bad news is that it appears to be nowhere near complete.  According to reports, Sense UI disappears, users cannot log into their Google accounts, and apps and data is being wiped. Verizon tells Engadget that “the Eris update to a ‘newer’ Android is still in testing and hasn’t yet been officially released.” Sounds like something slipped through the cracks and has affected a few folks.

For now, Droid Eris owners are advised to back up anything vital to the memory card or put it in the cloud.  Also, be cautious of any updates over the next few days.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in to us.

Image source: Androinica

Paul O’Brien, founder of MoDaCo, has been a busy little boy.  In what feels like only a matter of hours, he’s been able to flash an unofficial ROM from the HTC Desire onto a Nexus One.  And just to prove things, he snapped a pic of it in action.

According to Paul, it almost everything is operational and Adobe’s Flash 10.1 “works well” so far.  It took a little juggling and tweaking (removing some code), but he’s been able to run it without issues. Among the items he’s confirmed to be working are, the trackball, the 4 bottom keys, proximity sensor, LED, light sensor, compass and G sensor.  Heck the camera;s face recognition and touch focus work too!

As of now, he has decided not to release this ROM into the wild because of a watermark found within its walls.  Fret not though, as we can’t be that far off from the full-fledged ROM. Sit tight you rooted Nexus One owners!

Ever since my days of the T-Mobile MDA, I’ve been a fan of SPB.  Thanks to them, I was actually able to stomach Windows Mobile.  Between their apps and user interface enhancements, I was always looking forward to their next title.  In fact, I was somewhat sad to bid them farewell when I migrated to Android.  I wondered I would ever see widgets or full-fledged apps  like Time, Weather, or Traveler on my Android handsets.  It pleased me to learn that the company was in Barcelona this week to talk about their new SPB Mobile Shell 5.0 for my favorite platform.

The folks at AndroidCentral were able to spend a few minutes playing with the application and, based off of a few minutes of video, I love it.  The great thing about SPB’s stuff is that it sits on top of the phone and doesn’t require rooting or any hacking background.  Simply install and run it.  The same goes for the new Shell 5.0 for Android.

As evidenced in the video below, this app really adds a lot of flavor to whatever Android experience your handset offers.  One of the best parts about this app is how it can be updated by the developer and not entire ROM flash.

Look for a price and availability announcement from SPB over the coming months!

Will HTC’s new Legend handset end up in the Google Android store with the Nexus One?  Sindre Lia, of infoSync thinks it’s a possibility and we’re inclined to agree. One of the things mentioned when the Google store was unveiled is that other handsets will be sold through the channel as long as they brought something ‘unique’ to the portal.  Looking at the Legend, we see plenty of things that differentiate it from the Nexus One, making it a potential store candidate.

• The Legend more than fills the gap between feature phones and super phones while the Nexus One sits near the top of the food chain.
• A lower price point could attract more eyeballs to the store
• The two phones have distinctive designs likely to appeal to completely different users
• The Nexus One offers the stock Android experience whereas the Legend features Sense UI

When the HTC Legend was announced, HTC said that there were no immediate plans to offer it here in the United States.  That could mean two things – a US version could come later (a la Sprint’s Hero) or it could be made available through the store without any carrier attached.

As of now, we can only guess as to what phones will arrive in the Google store.  We’re aware of Motorola’s plans to offer something through the channel, but beyond that, your guess is as good as ours.  Or as good as Sindre Lia’s.

In a keynote speech at Mobile World Congress, Google CEO Eric Schmidt gave us a glimpse into exactly how many Android phones are moving right now.

“We are now shipping more than 60,000 Android devices in the Android industry per day and that number has doubled over the last quarter.  The growth rate is accelerating and we hope the growth rate, as well as the demand, will continue for a very long time.” – Eric Schmidt

We’ve been hearing for the last year or so how Android keeps growing and gaining on other platforms.  Whether it’s AdMob, Flurry, or another company telling us, we hadn’t heard any hard numbers.  Up until now, it’s all estimates and guesswork.  At the current pace, this equates to nearly 22 million Android phones poised to ship in 2010.  What happens when we factor in all the new devices announced at MWC in addition to those still considered rumors?

Google Goggles is an excellent concept – take a picture of something with your phone and get the same search results you would have were you to do a traditional search.  See a bridge or monument and want to learn the name?  SNAP!

Admittedly, the mobile app for Android has some kinks to work out, but the promise is there.  The same can be said for Google Translate.  Run a website or block of text through their tool and have it exported into another language.  We use it quite a bit for mobile tech sites that are done in German, French, etc.  We simply run it past the Translate tool and it’s transcribed to English.  While this could be improved, it’s already more than just convenient.  It’s downright helpful.

So what happens when the two collide?  What can be done when optical character recognition (OCR) and real-time translation meet up?

Here’s a video of a Google engineer scanning a menu written in German.  Goggles provides a rather quick translation into English.  We can imagine this having plenty of practical uses in the real world – traffic signs, landmarks, products, etc.

Source: Android Central via Androinica

Many of the new handsets being unveiled this week are being announced with Android 2.1 installed as the OS.  Invariably, this is the time where current Android owners start wondering about their own phones and when they might see an update to the latest release.  Sprint customers with Hero and Moment handsets had been previously advised to look for an update in the first half of 2010.  Thanks to a tweet from the carrier, we know a little bit more.

Android update! Upgrades to 2.1 for Hero/Moment now expected early 2Q10. Currently working through options for upgrades w/ HTC and Samsung. – via twitter

The first tweet indicates the “when” as being early in the quarter.  We’re assuming (hoping) that this means April.  As to how the update will work, that’s yet to be ironed out.  It could be an over-the-air update similar to what T-Mobile’s done for their handsets.  On the other hand, it may be a case where users are directed to a local Sprint store instead.

OTA vs. PC-based or in-store upgrade are “still TBD upgrade options” referenced in Android 2.1 tweet (working through w/ manufacturers) – via twitter

So you’ve got the latest superphone from Google and for some strange reason, that 1GHz Snapdragon processor just isn’t fast enough.  What’s an AndroidGuy to do?  Overclock it yo!  One of the guys over at XDA Developers, persiansown, has found a way to overclock his Nexus One and get speeds of 1.113GHz.  Not only is this faster, but according to him, it’s stable as well.  Ever the giving hacker, persiansown is providing the kernel and step-by-step instructions.  First up, you’ll need root access and Cyanogen’s latest ROM.Obligatory Warning: Rooting/Hacking/Overclocking may result in damage to your handset. All of this is done at your own risk and we take no responsibility for any damage you inflict upon your (insert Android handset).

Having said that, you can find the instructions at the original post on XDA-Developers!  We’ve also copied/pasted them as well.

Instructions:

1. Root your Nexus and install the latest Cyanogen rom (5.0.2 as of 2/15/2010)
2. Download SetCPU from either XDA for free, or support the developer as I did and buy it on the market
3. Reboot into fastboot and type “fastboot flash zimage zImagekmobs”
4. Once your phone boots, open SetCPU and tell it to autodetect your CPU (Don’t choose Nexus from the list!)
5. Set the max clock to the highest and tell it to set on boot.
6. Enjoy!

Thanks Taimur!

Remember the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10?  You know, the handset we’ve been waiting for what seems like forever on?  After months of sitting around wondering if and when it will come to the United States, we’re hearing some more precise rumblings on it.  According to a Boy Genius Report source, the sleek beauty from Sony Ericsson is headed for AT&T with an ETA of around April-May.  Further, the handset is said to be landing with the $199 price tag.  Naturally that requires a 2-year agreement.  Not a terrible price by any stretch considering we’ve heard it’s to fetch nearly $900 at full cost.

Here’s the rub.  By the time this phone arrives, it’s likely to get lost in the shuffle with a handful of other handsets.  A whole new batch of Android phones have been unveiled this week and many of them feature more under the hood.  We can’t even begin to imagine how long it might be before we see the Xperia X10 upgraded from Android 1.6 to 2.1 or higher.  Here’s hoping they don’t (continue to) drag their feet.

This is the time of year when pretty much every person on the planet is (hopefully still) committed to cutting down on their weight.  We’re out of the holidays and ready to focus on getting in summer shape.  So are there any Android applications to help keep you focused and on point?  Of course there are.  Plenty in fact.  There is one however that really caught our attention – Weight Journal.

Weight Journal is more than just your average weight tracking application.  With a simple yet classy interface, it offers charting, password protection,body mass index (BMI) calculation, notes and more!   Users can track their weight in pounds, kilos, and stone with accuracy up to a tenth of a unit.  Want to take your progress to a PC for more in-depth analysis?  There’s an option to import or export your journal in .CSV format.

Whereas the app typically sells for $1.99 in the Android Market,  you can get it at 99¢ for a limited time.

Want a FREE copy?

The developers behind Weight Journal, Shiny Happy, have allowed us to give away 10 copies for free.  All you have to do is leave us a comment with your full name below.  Once you’ve purchased the app, the amount will be credited back onto your card!   The first 10 to leave a comment with their name are eligible.

LogMeIn is in Barcelona this week giving demonstrations of their new Ignition service for Android. Although not available yet for consumers to download or purchase, interested parties can sign up for more information on LogMeIn’s Ignition page. So what exactly does the application do? In a nutshell, it lets users remotely access their files and apps from anywhere, at any time.

Some of the features include:

• Remotely control computers from their Android smartphone: Access and control a remote PC or Mac, including all the files and applications on it, from an Android smartphone.
• View online collaboration session:  Users can be invited to view the desktops of others from their Android device.

If you happen to be in Barcelona this week, swing by their stand at 1G31 at Mobile World Congress.  Additional information about LogMeIn Ignition for Android is available at www.LogMeIn.com/Android.

ACCESS CO., LTD., a company who specializes in helping carriers and handset makers speed up their time-to-market and develop best-in-class solutions, has announced that their NetFront technologies will now be supported for Android. In plain English, ACCESS will help make your Android handsets a little more unique with customize UI’s and preloaded apps.

ACCESS has been offering these types of solutions to developers on other platforms for quite some time, including BREW, Windows Mobile, and Symbian. As part of the new Android support, the NetFront technologies include NetFront Browser v3.5, NetFront FlexUI, NetFront Widgets and NetFront Document Viewer.

Fans of NPR shows like Car Talk, Morning Edition, and Fresh Air will be pleased to learn that the official NPR app has been updated.  NPR News v1.2 lands barely a month after the first release hit the Android Market.  This is not your typical bug fix and patch update.  It adds a highly sought after feature – live station streaming!  With NPR News, users can search for stations by call letters or for specific programs and then connect to over 1,000 on-air, HD and on-demand streams from 600 NPR stations.  All of your favorites are there including All Things Considered and Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!

Other features of the NPR News app include the ability to share stories over email, SMS, or Facebook, listening and/or reading your programs, and creating playlists.  And since we’re talking about Android here, the app can run in the background and keep playing while you catch up on email or browse the internet!  Look for NPR News v1.2  in the Android Market!

Our latest podcast, #40, is in the can and available for downloads and streaming.  Joining me this week was resident AndroidGal Nicole, Nick Gray (HTC Source), Andrew Kamika (Androinica), and Taylor Wimberly (AndroidAndMe).  There was plenty to talk about this week as Mobile World Congress 2010 kicked into high gear!   [Topics after the jump]

Topics for this week:

http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/15/htc-bravo-branded-desire-announced-tomorrow/
http://www.htcsource.com/2010/02/verizon-htc-incredible-gets-spotted-on-camera/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/15/samsungs-halo-packs-android-21-37inch-super-amoled-pico-projector/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/15/sony-ericsson-announces-x10-mini-x10-mini-pro/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/15/acer-liquid-a1-bumped-android-21-form-liquid-e/
http://androidandme.com/2010/02/news/acer-liquid-e-is-a-snapdragon-android-phone-priced-to-move/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/15/acer-drops-pair-android-handsets/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/13/compaqs-androidbased-airlife-100-announced/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/15/motorola-pushing-cliq-update-week/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/14/motorola-updates-update-situation/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/12/soft-rollout-motorola-devour-month-march/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/15/motorola-cliq-xtquench-officially-announced/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/15/huawei-unveils-4-android-handsets-internet-device/
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/02/15/astonishing-tribes-tat-home-pours-flavor-vanilla-android-experience/
http://androinica.com/2010/02/15/touiter-will-eventually-be-the-best-android-twitter-app/
http://www.htcsource.com/2010/01/htc-schedules-press-event-on-february-16th-at-mobile-world-congress/

Our weekly podcast is held on Monday nights at 10:00PM EST for those of you interested in tuning in live.  We also offer a chat room each week, which opens roughly 15 minutes prior to us going on the air.  Be sure to subscribe to the podcast feed on BlogTalkRadio or via iTunes!

Visit the site for Episode #39 on BlogTalkRadio!  Download this week’s podcast directly through this link.

Photo and video sharing site Photobucket has announced that their latest Android app provides the “first ever full imaging suite for mobile, complete with automatic upload, content management, and image search capabilities.”  The free app will make it easier for Android users to share their photos through the service which can then be used on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.  All photos taken can be automatically saved in the cloud should your phone ever become lost of stolen.

“By adding the ability to upload all camera phone photos automatically, the time consuming and confusing process of getting pictures off your phone has been rendered a thing of the past…Best of all, the service is available to anyone with an Android phone, absolutely free of charge.” -Tom Munro, President of Photobucket

This app is possible because of a recent merger with mobile imaging company Ontela.  Aside from automatic backup, the application also lets users browse their albums and popular photos from others.  Effective immediately, you can find the new Photobucket app in the Android Market.

Verizon and Skype made their joint announcement this afternoon in Barcelona and it stands to benefit millions of subscribers, including those with Android handsets. Starting in March, Droid, Devour and Droid Eris handsets will be loaded with a special version of Skype Mobile designed for Verizon customers.  This software will give these users plenty of freedom as it pertains to making and receiving calls from around the world.

A few of the features outlined in the press release today:

• Make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network;
• Call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates;
• Send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and
• Remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence.

Josh Silverman, chief executive officer of Skype, noted, “People want to take their Skype conversations with them wherever they go, whether it’s on a PC, TV or increasingly mobile phones. Verizon Wireless will give U.S. consumers the best Skype experience on mobile phones and will truly change the way people call their friends and family internationally.”

Aside from Android handsets, others to load Skype Mobile include Blackberry Storm, Curve, and Tour.

What Say You?

Does this give you any added benefit?  Are minutes even a problem for you?  Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.

Up until now, we’ve been looking at the Dell Mini 5 as a mobile internet device (MID).  We’re going to have change our way of thinking as it’s actually being pitched more as a phone.  The feedback we’re hearing from around the way is that it’s being touted as a phone with a really large, 5-inch screen.  OK, we’re game.

Engadget was able to get some face time with both the handset as well as some Dell representatives.  In speaking with them, they learned that the device will not be Android 1.6  when it arrives, but rather “something newer.”  It’s not know exactly what version of Android it will be running, but logic tells us that 2.1 is the goal. It’s also being reported that Dell is working towards Flash compatibility.  We’d love to see a true web experience on a device this large, and Flash would go a long way to make that happen.

We’ve also learned that the Mini 5 features a 30-pin connector which is used for docking.  The dock will offer HDMI output, USB sync, and audio out.    We’re anxious to see how much the handset goes for, especially once subsidized.

At over an inch larger than the Nexus One screen, are any of you guys interested in a handset with a screen that large?

http://www.tmonews.com/2010/02/dell-mini-5-coming-to-t-mobile/

Those of you who are interested in picking up the Motorola Devour will be able to head to your local Best Buy and preorder one later this month.  Starting today, Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores are hosting pre-sales for customers anxious to get their hands on the “Megan Fox” phone.

The process sounds simple enough – Schedule a pick-up time after February 25 and reserve your handset by purchasing a $50 Best Buy Gift Card.  Much like the other phones offered by the retail giant, they will take care of any rebates and associated hassles by discounting the handset up front.