Author: Casey Chan

And now for the latest on Palm’s attempt to sell themselves: Huawei, a rather small name in the smartphone space, is reportedly interested in purchasing Palm. Or was interested. Or might be interested Or something. According to Reuters sources, Palm had contacted Huawei’s investment bank to begin ‘preliminary discussions’. Why do we care about Huawei being interested in Palm? Because they occasionally make Android phones that are mildly interesting and we once pegged them as the next HTC. If they buy Palm, it’s a whole different story, now is it? Anyways, back to your regular scheduled program.

We’re not sure if we still care about mediocre Dell Android phones that are headed to China but it looks like Dell is popping off with another ‘Ophone’ (aka China’s Android) powered device. This time it’s the Dell Mini 3Ti, a dual-mode TD-SCDMA and GSM phone that has HSDPA support and a 2 megapixel camera along with another front facing camera. The design is inoffensive and nicely packed in a tight little package. Sadly, that tiny screen makes it tough to get excited for. So enjoy your mediocre Dell Android phones China, if Dell wants to make a dent in the US, they’ll definitely have to step it up a notch. And no, the Dell Aero doesn’t count. [engadget]

The Barnes & Noble Nook, the Android powered e-reader soon will be hitting a bigger audience. Barnes & Noble and Best Buy just announced a partnership that’ll allow Best Buy to sell the Nook in their stores. Previously, the Nook was only available online or through Barnes & Noble retail stores–that sort of limited distribution severely hindered the potential growth of a rather powerful e-reader. Now with the Nook at 1,070 Best Buy stores across the nation and online at bestbuy.com, we can see if the Nook can really take off.

We haven’t kept up with the Nook since its launch but we always expected it to do great things. If anything, you can root it to make it so. The Nook will be available for $259 on April 18th. Will you buy a Nook now that it’s easier to get? [businesswire]

So the big shocking news (or non-shocker, depending on your view) is that Palm is making itself available for sale. It’s a little too early in the game to jump to wild conclusions but Bloomberg sources say that HTC and Lenovo are both in the mix to make a bid to buy Palm. And though Lenovo has some Android ties, no company has backed Android like HTC. HTC buying Palm would be epically huge in this smartphone world of ours. Epic. -ally. Huge

Think about it. HTC produces stellar hardware for both Android and Windows Mobile. Some could say that HTC is half the reason why Android is so successful and why Windows Mobile is still alive. If HTC suddenly bought Palm, would HTC start building webOS devices as well? Or would they stop manufacturing devices for Android and Windows Mobile and go strictly webOS? Or would nothing happen, and HTC simply let Palm stay Palm and just continue to build for Android and Windows Mobile? There are questions abound and the ramifications would be huge because half of the players in the smartphone space are involved (other half being: Apple, RIM, and Nokia).

And we’re not familiar with patent law, but could HTC buy Palm and use Palm’s library of patents against Apple in Apple’s lawsuit? Ammo for a potential don’t sue me because I can sue the pants off you type move? But if Palm’s patents are that valuable, wouldn’t everyone be interested? There’s so many more questions to ask that we can’t wait to see this thing develop. The smartphone world as we know it is going to change.

So, would HTC really buy Palm?

[precentral] 

When the iPad went on sale in the US on April 3rd, the whole world was watching. Not Hong Kong. They were preparing their illegal iPad launch. More »

The iPad won’t charge with all USB chargers. But that’s because your USB chargers are weak. The reVIVE II Dual USB Charger can charge both your iPad and your other weakling gadget. The reVIVE II is not weak. More »

Google is reportedly pulling all of the Android games in the Android Market in South Korea because laws in South Korea mandate that all games, of any kind, be reviewed by the South Korea Gaming Board. To expect the South Korea Gaming Board to individually review the thousands of Android games available is a little unrealistic. The choice to remove Android games is an undesirable solution for all parties involved but it’s better than having no Android Market in South Korea at all. Luckily, since Android allows you to sideload applications from third-party sources, South Korean Android users may still be able to gain access to some 4,000 games in Android Market. 

South Korea definitely needs to lighten up on its policy of reviewing every game that’s available in the country. Two of their country’s biggest companies, Samsung and LG, have fully endorsed Android and to inadvertently limit the features of Android damages those companies. Plus, to have no games on your phone’s application store in 2010? Crazy talk! [via unwiredview]

We just reported on the LG Aloha and now we have some speculative pictures that point this South Korean LG LU2300 Android device (pictured above) as the actual Aloha. Remember, the Aloha is purported to be the next great Android device with one new wrinkle: it has a full QWERTY keyboard.

A QWERTY keyboard is found on the LU2300 along with a 800×480 screen and Android 2.1, both which are expected to be on the Aloha. The other ‘new’ specs of the LU2300–Snapdragon, AMOLED 3.5-inch screen, and optical trackpad–seem to fit in with the Aloha’s "high end" nature, so if you connect the dots and take a leap of faith the LU2300 just might be the LG Aloha. We definitely wouldn’t be mad if it was. What do you guys think? [via androidcommunity]

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According to a recent survey by Changewave, Android has overtaken the iPhone as the most desirable smartphone on the market. Building on their December 2009 report, Changewave now reports that of those who are buying a smartphone in the next 90 days, 30% prefer Android. Which is more than iPhone. To be fair, the survey lists that 29% of users prefer iPhone but hey, whether you win by an inch or a mile, you still win. And 1% more than the vaunted iPhone is a win.

Android has grown significantly since the onslaught of amazing Android devices. Since September, interest in Android has grown five-fold. Ah, to remember the good ol’ days. [electronista]

According to TmoToday, T-Mobile retail stores are receiving accessories for the Nexus One. As in the same Nexus One that isn’t actually available in those T-Mobile retail stores and only available on Google.com/phone. Is it effective strategy to sell accessories for a phone that doesn’t exist in your stores or is this a prelude to the Nexus One finally going the traditional route of becoming available in brick and mortar shops?

We really don’t know the answer but it’d be a complete change-of-direction with Google’s previous no marketing, web only stance with the Nexus One if it ends up in retail stores. Admittedly it’s a stance that has softened up considering their new advertisements and job hirings but it’d be an interesting move nonetheless. We think Google and T-Mobile would both benefit from the Nexus One hitting T-Mobile retail stores, Google would gain visibility and T-Mobile would gain a flagship device.

And if the Nexus One makes it way to T-Mobile retail stores, will it make its way to Verizon, Sprint, & maybe even AT&T as well? 

If you trust a company named People of Lava, there’s going to be a 42-inch LED-backlit 1080p Android HDTV called ‘Scandinavia’ hitting in September. If you want to know more about the company named People of Lava, well, we’re right there with you. Apparently, People of Lava is based in Sweden and sells their products in Sweden shops, so even though this ‘Scandinavia’ TV is expected to be the first Android TV available, we’re not sure if it’ll ever make its way to the states.

But the Scandinavia runs Android! It comes with apps such as YouTube, Google Maps, Twitter, Weather, Calendar, and even an App Store. It also packs an 833MHz Arm Cortex A8 processor powering Android 1.5. All this in a nicely designed frame. There’ll even be 47 and 55 inch varieties of the Scandinavia. And it’s a TV that runs Android! We guess we’re mildly interested?

[people of lava]

According to HTC Peter Chou, HTC growth in the U.S. market has been "faster than others" which is probably due in large part to Android’s success here. HTC was the first phone manufacturer to release an Android device and has been on a roll ever since, improving their hardware, writing new software, and basically building better phones. Our apologies to other phone manufacturers but HTC has shown the world how awesome Android can be.

Because of its recent success, HTC’s relationship with U.S. carriers have also improved. Chou specifically mentions the Nexus One (which will be available on all 4 carriers) and the Evo 4G (which is on Sprint) as devices that have brought firmer support from US carriers. Chou also says:

"[Verizon and T-Mobile] started treating us as their first-tier suppliers last year. It was difficult for us [to boost our sales] without their support. But their endorsements became a strong momentum" for growth"

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: we’re glad that HTC has been in Android’s corner since day one. We’re even more glad the rest of our lovely country has taken notice. [wsj]

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group just approved a Samsung Android phone that sounds very much like the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S. To quote the Bluetooth SIG description:

I9000 is a Full Touch phone with reinforced features. 4.0 inch OLED screen perform expanding full touch to follow TouchWIZ 3.0. It embedded Android OS. It supports EDGE/GPRS Quad-Band (850/900/1800/1900).

The screen size, full touch nature and Bluetooth 3.0 capabilities of the "I9000" meets up exactly with the Samsung Galaxy S. However, the Galaxy S was said to have a Super AMOLED screen but we’re going to chalk it up as some poor typing mistake rather than disregard this as the Galaxy S. And like what we’ve seen in CTIA, the Bluetooth SIG filing re-iterates its EDGE/GPRS bands but doesn’t specify its 3G bands. Hopefully, Samsung will come to their senses and figure out the US 3G situation cause this Galaxy S is hot. [via phonescoop]

Games aren’t just single player affairs on the iPad. Globetrotters is a game where four players control a corner, competing to see who can catch the most stars and planets. It looks crazy, hectic, and awesome. $1. [Globetrotters] More »

Honestly, Android has grown so large that we’re a little past the point of purely speculating what the next great Android phone will be. There’s so many awesome Android devices currently available, on the horizon, or in the future that it’s almost silly to report on an Android phone that has no leaked pictures or confirmed specs. But this one’s special: the LG C710 Aloha is purported to be as good as the best Android phones now with one twist: it has a full QWERTY keyboard.

The LG C710 is said to rock a 800×480 screen (same as the EVO) and pack your typical connectivity options but adds 802.11n. LG has previously built low-end Android devices but if this Aloha device is real, well, welcome to the big boys club LG. Combining that screen with wireless-n and a full QWERTY keyboard? Even if it’s ugly, that’s still an awesome phone. We can’t wait to say hello. [tweakers]

Ho ho! Look what we have here! According to mobileSyrup, the Xperia X10 (yes, the phone that was supposed to launch last year) is supposed to hit Rogers in Canada in two weeks’ time. As the rumor goes, the launch date is set between April 7 and April 14, and the Xperia X10 will run for $149.99 with new 3-year contract (that’s standard in Canada) and $549.99 sans contract. A pretty good deal considering what the price was originally rumored to be. But don’t you Canadians get excited yet, because when it comes to the Xperia X10 we have to always, always consider Sony Ericsson’s flakiness. Be prepared for disappointment while hoping for the best.

Now that’s a first. Panasonic is passing on "Google TV" because it’ll be too expensive to implement Android on their sets. In the smartphone space, manufacturers love Android because of its open source nature (read: no licensing fees) but in the realm of television it’s the opposite–because Android is a powerful OS, it needs a powerful computer-type chip to power it. Intel makes those chips, and they ain’t cheap. The logic is, ‘televisions are used to display media, not be a computer’ but it sort of reeks of ‘let’s keep our margins as high as we can for as long as we can’. Televisions are quickly becoming hubs for Netflix streaming, Youtube viewing, and a ton of other web content. The current options are janky and slow, Google might have a solution.

We think if "Google TV" can prove itself awesome, Panasonic and others may change their course. But TVs have been so slow to embrace the internet that we don’t even know if Google can pull it off. TV manufacturers want to give us 3D. We want the Internet, and Google, everywhere, right? [businessweek via androidandme]

For reasons we’ll never know, it has taken a very long time for Canadian Android users to gain access to paid apps in Android Market. Don’t our friendly neighbors to the north have what we have? Well, Android users on Rogers got access to paid apps just a few weeks ago but it still left other Canadian Android users behind. Specifically, Telus users with their lustworthy Milestone and HTC Hero. Luckily, Telus has finally activated the switch for their customers and Telus Android users will get access to paid apps. Hooray! Aboot! Zed! [electronista]

The HTC Desire is hitting Japanese shores! Softbank will carry the HTC Desire, in WCDMA form, in late April and it’s actually the first notable Android device we remember heading to Japan. To be fair, the Xperia X10 was rumored to hit Japan in April as well, but considering how far that star has fallen, we think it’s best for our Japanese readers to keep their eyes on the HTC Desire. We’re excited, and madly jealous, that Japan gets to experience such an awesome Android device as their first.

We don’t know if Android can take off in Japan since we have little clue on what the Japanese desire in their cellphones but using Android 2.1 + HTC Sense on that beautiful screen is very easy to love. Trust us. [softbank]

The beautiful T-Mobile myTouch 3G Fender Edition is coming back! T-Mobile retail stores will reportedly be receiving one additional shipment of the limited edition, guitar-inspired Android device on March 31st (which is this Wednesday!). As it quickly sold out its first go around, we expect more of the same this time, so be quick if you want in! When we had our hands-on with the myTouch 3G Fender Edition, we were very impressed with the build and finish. We think you’d think the same.

Anyone interested in getting the myTouch 3G Fender Edition this time around? [via tmonews]