Author: Jerry Hildenbrand

Chalk up another victory for Paul O’Brien.  Seems like he has the HTC Desire cracked, with su and the superuser app written into the system partition.  This is huge considering that the
Desire shipped with new and in Paul’s words "rather sneaky" protection methods to prevent
data being written to the system partition.

As you can see from his latest tweet above, he should have something ready for the general
public tomorrow.  And have a look HERE to see just how good the superuser application looks in the Desire’s app drawer.  Nothing has been said officially, but I’ll bet a MoDaCo Custom ROM for the Desire will soon come down the pike as well, and the Legend’s a real possibility, too.  We love your work Paul!

Come on, manufacturers, there’s no need to lock these phones up so tightly.  It’s evident that
Android users and developers will do what is necessary to open the software, so just give us
the choice (as was done with the Nexus One already) and be done with it!

With the onslaught of e-readers in the works, and the tablet device craze gaining steam, life has to be tough for the Alex.  It clearly has slipped off the radar recently, even the announcement that it’s started shipping already didn’t find much coverage.  I’ve not had a chance to fiddle with it, but I can see why some of the competition gets more favorable press.  It’s big.  It’s still running Cupcake.  It has no menu button !?!

It does have however a nice, easy-to-read e-ink display. And as of late Sunday afternoon, it
has something else that many will be interested in —  A mystery hacker by the name of
Bluebrain has got the thing cracked open.  It looks to be a relatively simple task, all the
hard work has been wrapped up nicely into a single download.

I’m not convinced that this will be enough to save the Alex from a doomed life in the shadow
of iPads and Nooks, but it certainly piqued my interest in the device a little bit.  We’ll
keep an eye on things, and if any sort of outside development community springs up (pun
intended – zing!) I know I’ll be looking at it a little harder.  Anyone out there using an
Alex?  We’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comments! [via engadget]

One of the biggest misconceptions users migrating to the Android platform have is that they
will be sacrificing security compared to their previous flavor of smartphone OS.  This couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Settle in with your favorite beverage, and follow along after the break and we’ll talk about Android’s security features, and what you need to know and do to keep things going smoothly.

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Twitter, like Android, is exploding.  The latest entry into the Android twitterverse is from sobees.  Many of you might already be familiar with Sobees desktop and web apps, but their application for Android is all new. 

Follow after the break for a video and my impressions of the new Sobees twitter application.

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Don’t kill the messenger.  The Unwired reports that during a Google event in Europe today, HTC announced that the Android 2.1/Eclair update for European Hero will be released "later this summer".  Supposedly starting sometime in June, Hero owners will receive a preparatory update, followed shortly by the full on 2.1 update.  Details are a bit sketchy, but one thing is certain — the long awaited Eclair update is still scheduled to be released.  But is it too late?

I’ll agree the shift from 1.5 to 2.1 is a big one indeed, and it’s possible that the speed at which Android is evolving might have left the Hero and other G2 class devices in the dust.  Let’s just hope that when it finally comes, it was worth waiting for.  No word from Sprint or any of
the other CDMA carriers if this will affect their proposed update window, but I’m guessing the news won’t be good.  [via The Unwired]

Today will be remembered as the day of the Dell in Android history.  If the Windows Phone 7 series Lightning, and the Android Thunder, Flash and Smoke weren’t enough, Dell rolls out the heavy artillery with the Looking Glass — an Android tablet that’s clearly the big brother to the Streak 5.

Specs you ask?  Well, according to Engadget: Android 2.1, optional TV tuner module with ATSC or DVB-T modes, 800×480 display, 4 GB ROM, 4GB RAM, 32 GB SDHC slot, 1.3 megapixel camera, and the Tegra 2 processor.  Suh-weeet!

Of course no word on carrier, but the renders show the AT&T U-verse browser, so it looks like this will hit the U.S. for sure in some flavor.  Welcome to the party, Dell. [Engadget ]
 

Even though we’re still waiting on a release date, and Sprint hasn’t even held its EVO 4G extravaganza event in New York, Android Central forums member PanzyDog got some hands on time with the HTC EVO 4G today. So what does PanzyDog have to say about it?  Well how about things like:

It is simply amazing
So fast, so big!
I didn’t have a [sic] issue with it in my front jeans pocket

Be sure to check out the forums post  for his full impressions of the device, and after your appetite is sufficiently whet check out our hands-on with the beast. And the picture shows another another thing that might interest a few of us.  Working 4G!  I guess it’s time to gather up the camping gear for the release of this beauty.

With all these new superphones it looks to be a great summer for Android fans!
 

Back in February we reported about a new feature that may be coming soon to Google — Store View, as part of Google Place.  Well it looks like the project is being launched and Google has sent out a troop of photographers to take some snaps in select cities worldwide.

Interested business owners can sign up for the service here — http://maps.google.com/businessphotos.  Of course, Google can’t visit every store that signs up, so there’s already talk of allowing store owners to upload their own photographs to their Place page at Google
Places.

I see lots of potential for this project, both good and bad.  My wife can do some virtual shopping for purses on 5th Avenue, but so can unsavory types who may be interested in what’s inside a store for all the wrong reasons.  What do you think?  Good?  Bad?  Ridiculous?  Shout out in the comments! [via Google LatLong Blog ]

Welcome to the future, citizen (pro tip: pass on the soylent green).  Ford recently announced that it’s 2011 Fiesta will launch with SYNC AppLink. I’m just going to let you read it in their own words here –

Ford will first offer SYNC® AppLink, a downloadable software program, on the 2011 Fiesta, allowing owners to access and control Android™ and BlackBerry® smartphone apps with voice commands and vehicle controls

Voice control your apps via bluetooth.  BOO-YAH. 

Pandora, Stitcher and OpenBeak are the first SYNC-enabled apps, but Ford has already set up a developers site (SYNCmyride) so it looks like they mean business.  Now who will be the first to develop a dialer app to fill that painful gap for lucky Ford drivers?

Follow the break for the full presser. [via PR Newswire]
 

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Even with all the Droid Incredible news floating around the intertubes, we know there’s always room for more — especially when the news is great and includes video!  Some of the fellas from HTC dropped by the Wirefly offices to show off the TV out feature of the newest member of the Android family.  From the video, it looks as easy as plugging in the cable and
turning on your display.  The output quality doesn’t look bad either.  A great feature on a great phone, and one I hope catches on in the smartphone market.

I haven’t been able to find anyone selling cables specific for the Droid Incredible yet, but I imagine they won’t be far behind.  I’d suggest checking with your local Verizon wireless store, at least until companies like Monster Cable start cranking out the high quality/low signal loss
expensive versions.  If you’ve run across any, shout out in the comments! [via Wirefly]
 

The very popular Seesmic Twitter application for Android got a major update today.  The standard bug squashing fixes were included of course, but they also threw in some nice and welcome new features. 

A widget
And it’s a very nice widget at that.  As you can see from the pic above, it blends in very well with Android 2.1’s style, and looks great with Sense UI as well.  Basically you’re getting a premium app style widget at the free app price.

Native Retweet
You now have the option to RT just as you would on the Twitter website.  Nice and unobtrusive, and another welcome change.

Geotagging
Three styles to pick from – your location, a human readable address, or a map link.  You can set this in the apps options to happen all the time, or choose to include it when you compose a new tweet.  Something Seesmic was missing, and they addressed it very well in my opinion.

Even with an "official Twitter app for Android" in the works Seesmic is a very viable solution for twittering away on your Android device.  This update makes it even more attractive.  Follow the break for some more screen grabs and download links.

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This morning Millennial Media, the largest independent mobile advertising platform, released the numbers from its monthly Scorecard for Mobile Advertising Reach and Targeting (SMART).  No surprises here – they are seeing big growth from the Android platform.  Millennial Media reports that for the first time, Android OS is now in the top three in the
smartphone ad impressions numbers.  Unlike AdMob, this is a third party mobile advertising company and has no ties to Google, who would be their competitor.  Highlights from the report:

• Android impressions increased by 3% in March alone
• 6% of all US Smartphone impressions for the month of March came from Android OS
• Globally, Android ad impressions have increased a staggering 72% month over month during a one year period.
• Manufactuers making Android handsets represent over 50% of the top 15 manufacturers, with Samsung at the number two spot.

Of course, the giants are still Apple and RIM, but with this kind of growth Android can’t be too far from grabbing the number 2 spot.  I’m sure the release of the Droid Incredible and the EVO 4G will bump these numbers even higher. The whole situation has inspired me to remove my ad blocking software so I can do my part. [via businesswire.com]

Whether you were waiting for an HTC device on Verizon, counting down the days until your contract expired, or just in the market for something new, today is the day you can head online to Verizon Wireless and pre-order the HTC Droid Incredible.

Everything tells us it was worth the wait, it looks like another awesome Android device.  Snapdragon, SenseUI, 3.7-inch AMOLED, 8-megapixel camera, you name it, it’s in there.  The best part — order it today and have it in your clutches on the 29th.

Pricing also is nice, at only $199.99 (after $100.00 mail-in rebate). You will need a Smartphone plan of course, but look at the bang you’ll be getting for your buck.  With the Motorola Droid’s industrial look and feel, and now the Incredible with its sexy sleekness, Verizon has quite the Android Top-Dawg line-up going on for 2010.  Hit the break for the full presser again, and tell us if you got one ordered in the comments.  And don’t forget to check out our Droid Incredible forums to share your last few painful days of waiting and speculating how Incredible it’s gonna be with us all.

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Hey guys!  Jerry here and talking about a great free app called Where.  Where may be familiar to you, it’s a cross platform app, but the Android version rocks!  Our own Jared turned me on to this app and I can’t thank him enough.

Where is a location aware application that helps you find out what’s happening Where you are.  Anything from the local pizza joint, the ever popular gas price finder, movies, local news and happenings, Where has it all bundled together in one app and really does a great job with it.  We have a video walk through after the break, have a look and see if  Where is something you might like to try.  I think you will, and it’s free. (Note: Phil couldn’t get Where thanks to what appears to be an AT&T blockage. Consider yourselves warned.)

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Some great stuff rolls in during the wee hours, and this is a doozy.  An actual demonstration video of the one and only Droid Incredible by the fellas at nerdstalkertv, shot during the 99% conference in New York.  It’s an awful nice walk through of the software, and it really shows just how fast this phone is.  There’s not much we haven’t figured out already, but who cares?  It’s a great video of a monster of a phone and a must see.

Hit the break for the video, keep the tissues to wipe your chin handy. Thanks, Patrick!

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Hey everybody. Jerry back this week with with some tips for Google Voice.  If you’re not using Google Voice, you’ve surely heard people talking it up, with good reason.  Google Voice runs great on most smartphones, and like most things Google, it runs incredibly well on Android phones.

Hit the break for some hints about getting an invite and setting it all up so you can enjoy the convenience of visual voice mail and a central number across multiple phones.

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I’ll be up front – WeLove the WePad. I’m all itchy in the pocket just waiting for it to hit the US shores. Today we get a glimpse of the Neofonie UI and I for one am loving it.  Big icons, widgets, and a sidebar look to be a great mix for an Android tablet.  The video shows something else to get excited over, the first half shows the WePad with a USB mouse attached.  Yes, a computer mouse on a tablet.  Maybe ports and connectors on a tablet isn’t a bad idea after all, Mr. Jobs.  Later in the video we see another prototype using the touchscreen as well.  If you’re holding out for an Android tablet, you gotta have a look.  At 450 Euros ($609.00 US) the WePad won’t be the cheapest Android tablet, but after seeing the latest video, it looks like a bargain to me.  Hit the break for the video.
[via TechCrunch and SlashGear]

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You’ve probably noticed we love Firefox mobile.  With good reason, the desktop client is clearly a great bit of software and everything we’ve seen makes us think the mobile version will be too.  Well it looks like the Maemo version of Firefox Mobile 1.1 (Fennec for us geeks) is about ready for a beta release. What’s uber-cool, and surely will be in the Android version is the ability for add-ons to hook into the app.  Yes, pretty much like they do in the desktop application.  The highlights here are easily the site identy information (above) and the save as pdf feature of readability.

At present there are over 90 add-ons for mobile FireFox, and I’m sure as Mozilla keeps advancing the project we will see more of them spring up.  Yes for Android too.  There’s a couple more screen shots after the break, well worth a look.
[Via madhava.com]

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