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If you’re one of the industry watchers salivating over the HTC Desire and HTC Legend, it seems Boy Genius has some goods for you: According to a tipster — which the site says is a source “close to HTC” — these two awesome specimens of Androidness are heading to the States, and the story offers some news on which U.S. wireless providers might be claiming them. 

Desire AT&T? Whether you do or don’t, you might learn to, as BGR believes the handset is headed to Big Blue early this summer. For a carrier that was the last to arrive at the Android party, it looks like it’s starting to show some knack for picking up newsworthy devices. (Yeah, even the upcoming Backflip is newsworthy, whether you’re into the back-bending design or not.)

The Desire is rumored to come with the Sense user interface, which would make it the first and only device so far to offer the UI to the AT&T masses. If Boy Genius is correct, then look for the handset to drop in May or June. 

As for the Legend, the site pegs Sprint as the carrier. The company — which already offers the Hero (I) and Moment — is no stranger to Android. But just like the GSM (European) version of the Hero differs from Sprint’s version, I wonder if the Legend, aka Hero 2, will undergo a similar make-over (or make-”under,” depending on your taste. I actually didn’t dig the design of the American version of the Hero I). Apparently, there may be some changes in store for the device once it reaches our shores, though it’s not clear yet what those might be. There’s also no word on when the Legend will launch, but stay tuned. We’ll cover it as soon as we know. 

As a side note: It’s no secret, but I’m actually an iPhone user on AT&T. (Well, of course — It’s right there in my byline.) As such, I wonder about what will happen to this network, which had struggled under the weight of users like myself, once the Backflip, Apple iPad and Desire all launch. Although the company has been working hard to upgrade its network capabilities (with success), could these additions make it buckle once again?

Don’t get me wrong — I’m glad that my fellow subscribers will finally have some choices, especially for the long-awaited Android platform being on the carrier. But I find that I’m also kind of bracing myself for an uptick of dropped calls and data sludge, as more users string out the network. So I’m curious: Is anyone else kind of nervous about this infrastructure being able to take on a surge of demand? 

Via: Mobile Crunch, BGR

When I opened the FedEx box to reveal the HD2, my first impression (as the title aptly states) was “wow.”  While I realized that the screen was huge, the combination of large screen and thin form factor appealed to me.  Simply put, the device is absolutely beautiful.  The 4.3-inch screen pops out at you, and small things like checking e-mail and downloading apps from Windows Marketplace come to life.  If you think the device is large in photos, wait until you see it in person. 

Though the device packs Windows Mobile 6.5, HTC has pre-loaded their Sense UI onto the device, and it makes for a wonderful experience.  The HD2 gives you the ability to set the current weather conditions as your background, meaning that the Sense UI weather widget is effectively displayed all across the screen.  It’s a neat addition, and somewhat mesmerizing to watch the clouds move across the screen (I’m sure it’s a battery drain as well, but I’ll have to find out).

When you get down to brass tacks, the thing that makes the HD2 is the 4.3-inch screen (let’s be honest, without it, the device would be just another Windows Mobile smartphone on the market).  From top to bottom, the unit has a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 512 MB ROM, 448 MB RAM, a 5.0-megapixel camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g.

Initial picture quality on the HD2 is astonishing.  HTC (and Sense) have always performed well when it comes to sharing media, and with the company’s Footprints application and photo sharing features, the HD2 continues that trend.  The 5.0-megapixel camera (which comes with a flash) takes clear pictures, with the device’s autofocus helps tremendously.  Video was mediocre, but I plan to conduct a full test and will report back with my findings.

The one thing about the HD2 that has been driving me nuts (for lack of a better word) is the keyboard.  I’m just not a fan of it.  Working in the industry, I’m well aware that it takes time to get used to a particular keyboard type (which I plan to do), but I find the keyboard on the HD2 to be inaccurate.  There are reports on the internet that describe it differently, but “inaccurate” is the word that comes to mind first for me.  At times, typing my name would be flawless.  Other times, it would simply skip a beat and miss one of the letters.  It’s exceptionally frustrating for those that type quickly on their mobile devices, and after about an hour of use, I found myself getting agitated.  I’m hoping it’s something that can be fixed.

I haven’t been able to dive into battery life and call quality numbers just yet, but rest assured, they’ll be in the full review.  I can say that my testing today has been well, with the 1230 mAh battery holding a charge for a reasonable period of time (particularly given the screen size) and the reception on AT&T being strong.  One thing that I did find interesting, however, is the charging time: I noticed that from empty to full, the HD2 charges incredibly fast.

While the operating system (Windows Mobile 6.5) may be a detriment to some, the combination of it and Sense UI may be enough to make it a useful device in the eyes of many.  The HD2 has an absolutely gorgeous screen, a fast processor, and the ability to be something great.  Does Windows Mobile 6.5 hinder that greatness?  Stay tuned for the full written review, coming soon!

Noah unboxes the Motorola Devour from Verizon, and gets caught up in a social networking fantasy.

It’s no secret that AT&T has received quite a beating from the press.  From call quality issues in New York City, to dropped calls nationwide, to overall coverage footprint (not to mention the recent Verizon-AT&T advertisement spat), it’s clear that AT&T had some work to do.  Over the past year, we’ve heard about their attempts to bolster their wireless network in to handle the added data traffic and to prepare for the rollout of LTE.  If the latest testing by PC World is any indication, AT&T is headed in the right direction.

In the 13 cities tested by PC World, AT&T came in first place in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, New York, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle with 3G download speeds, and every city but one (San Francisco) with 3G upload speeds.  As a whole, AT&T’s download speeds averaged 67 percent faster than the other three wireless carriers.  This comes just months after reports that AT&T users were dropping calls, particularly in high-density areas like New York City and San Francisco.  According to PC World’s last “Wireless Performance Test,” conducted eight months ago, AT&T’s 2010 3G performance represents a download speed improvement of 84 percent.

Of course, these numbers don’t take into consideration coverage maps, and it isn’t indicative of the entire nation.  It doesn’t mean that your cousin’s house in Fargo, North Dakota is going to have spectacular service.  What it does say, however, is that AT&T is working hard to address the issue.

For those in the areas listed on the graph, have you noticed better data connections?  Call quality?  I’d love to hear from you.

Via MobileCrunch

During a hearing on Capitol Hill today, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse announced an expansion of the company’s wireless recycling program.  The nation’s third largest wireless carrier is now offering account credit for up to three recycled phones per line activated or upgraded.  As it stands, over 900 devices are in the catalog, and credits range from $5 to $300 depending on the type of device and the condition that it it is in (sorry, water damaged phones need not apply).  Devices from most carriers and manufacturers are accepted, and for the devices that don’t receive in-store credit, Sprint Project Connect (the company’s free wireless recycling service) is happy to take them off of your hands.

The new program is valid in Sprint corporate retail stores, and can be applied to the account or towards the purchase of equipment in the store.  For more information, visit a Sprint store or check out www.sprintbuyback.com.  If I had a Sprint line that was eligible for an upgrade, I would certainly take advantage of the program.  How about yourself?

Via PhoneScoop, Sprint

Between accidental updates and leaked versions of Android 2.1, the CLIQ community has been graced with a new software update, which is available today.  Though it doesn’t offer Android 2.1 (just yet), changes include improvements in touchscreen and accelerometer accuracy, battery life, and support for corporate e-mail accounts.  As an added bonus, they’ve also thrown in QuickOffice2.  According to Motorola’s rollout timetable, expect Android 2.1 to land on the CLIQ in 2Q 2010.

The update is being sent OTA (over-the-air) in a phased rollout, meaning that it may take you a few days to receive it.  For those that have downloaded the update, have you noticed any of the aforementioned improvements in day-to-day use?  Sound off below!

Via Engadget

Looking for an iPhone, but don’t want to pay the normal two-year subsidized price for one?  If you’re a Best Buy Premier Silver rewards customer, you could save some cash this week.

In a promotion taking place from February 21st to February 27th on new lines and those eligible for upgrade (no early upgrades allowed), the 8 GB iPhone 3G will be free; the 16 GB iPhone 3G will be $29.99; the 16 GB iPhone 3GS will be $49.99; and the 32 GB iPhone 3GS will be $149.99 (all require a new two-year agreement, of course).  It’s important to note that these “refreshed” units have been thoroughly tested, and carry the same warranty that a new iPhone would carry.  Better yet, Best Buy honors that warranty, so you have a local option to voice your concerns if the unit does have issues in the first year of ownership.

After visiting a Best Buy location this weekend, I can confirm that this is true.  While speaking to an employee/friend of mine, I was casually talking about my recent promotion to Best Buy’s Premier Silver status this year, and the offer was mentioned to me.  You’ll need the coupon below and Premier Silver status to take advantage of the offer.  Once you print it out, head down to your local Best Buy and pick up your device(s).  With the Devour coming out this week, pre-orders for the Backflip have begun, and the price of the DROID has dropped to $99.99.  That being said, are you still intent on an iPhone, or is Android sounding more and more appealing?

Via PhoneArena

Remember that commercial from the Super Bowl two weeks ago?  The one where Megan Fox gave you all the reason you need to get out there and buy the new Motorola Devour with MOTOBLUR?  Well, she wasn’t kidding, and according to Engadget, neither is Best Buy.  While rumors and leaked price sheets would have you believe the Devour would cost $149.99, Best Buy is lowering prices on many of it’s Android-based handsets, including the Devour, which will sell for $99.99 this Thursday, February 25th in select locations.  From Best Buy’s Facebook page:

“We lowered our prices on the Droid Eris by HTC to Free, DROID by Motorola to $99.99, and on February 25th are introducing the MOTOROLA DEVOUR™ with MOTOBLUR™ at $99.99. Pricing requires 2 year activation. Activation and termination fees apply. Handsets may vary by store. See store for details.”

With only a few days until its imminent release, if your paranoia is getting the best of you, feel free to make your way down to your local Best Buy store and get yours reserved for the price of a $50 gift card.  The Devour purportedly makes its way to Verizon stores sometime in March, with a price tag of $150 after $100 MIR.  Are you considering one of these Android-powered devices?  Now that the Devour and DROID are the same price, will you reconsider?  Hit the comments section and let us know!

Via Engadget

What is it with chins? You either love them on phones or hate ‘em. Either way, if you have your eyes fixed on the future with the Hero 2 — ahem! — I mean, the HTC Legend, then you’ll still be getting this mouth-wrapping form factor detail. What you’ll also be getting is one sleek, sexy hunk of heavy metal. 

Okay, correction: Maybe it’s really not all that heavy. In fact, given its aluminum fabrication, the bones on the Legend should pretty light, yet ridiculously strong. And did I say sexy? Indeed, it is: The unibody design is forged from a single chunk of metal and fashioned into a similar shape as the familiar chin-toting design that made the GSM Hero so distinctive. 

Thank Mobile Burn for the eye candy here, which features a display spotlighting examples of the aluminum shell at its different stages of manufacturing. (For more, hit up the site’s photo gallery of images.) 

Distinctive chin. Ridiculous strength. Hunk. Hero. These words make me think of an action star. Can’t wait to see if the phone lives up to it.

Via: Mobile Burn

So far, fewer than half the states in the U.S. currently have texting bans in place. (Specifically, there are 19 states that have instituted legislation outlawing the behavior.) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) aims to change that. In fact, it wants to make texting and driving illegal all across the country. 

To help streamline things for state legislators, the organization has created a legal framework that can used or adapted as a basis for state laws. The NHTSA proposes two major points: 

(1) Drivers caught texting on a handheld should be fined $75 or more, in addition to whatever revocation or suspension of driving privileges are deemed fit. 

(2) If there is a victim of an accident caused by texting and driving, the vehicle operator’s charges should be upgraded to felony status. 

The purpose of the framework — which really just amounts to a customizable legislative template for state governments — is to enact change as easily and quickly as possible. (In that sense, it’s kind of like asking people to give you a letter of recommendation, then handing them a pre-typed form letter that they can just sign and date.) 

What do you think? Are the NHTSA’s suggested penalties too stiff? Not stiff enough? In the end, what measures do you think it would take to get people to stop driving and texting? Sound off below. 

Via: PhoneScoop

When a few of my close friends reported a keyboard issue on their Palm Pre Plus devices, I turned the other cheek, thinking that it was erroneous typing on their part.  After additional reports from other users, it seems that the keyboard issue may be a bit more widespread than originally thought.  According to PreCentral, a few forum members are reporting that their Pre Plus devices are not responding properly.  Apparently, users are either seeing double letters, or no letters at all (i.e. you’ll go to type an “E,” and either get two “E” entries or none at all). 

Mind you, there hasn’t been any official announcement or anything of that nature, but with the reports I’m getting, it’s worth a mention.  My demo unit hasn’t experienced this just yet, but I’m on the lookout.  Anyone else having this issue?

Via PreCentral

In an interesting note sent to BGR this morning, it looks like AT&T is clearing out the stock of HTC Pure devices in order to increase shelf space.  As it’s rumored, the Pure is being reallocated from retail stores to the company’s Device Management Group due to poor sales (which makes sense because there haven’t been any quality control issues with the unit).  Representatives are being told to keep one or two units in the store, and ship the rest back to the DMG.

An interesting development, and I have to say – I hope the HTC Tilt2 isn’t suffering from the same issue.  For those that purchased the HTC Tilt, how do you like it?

Via BGR

PhoneDog just can’t cram every bit of analysis, in-depth coverage, and tip/trick/how-to goodness onto our home page. So we’ve built a few more home pages to hold it all.  Whether it’s Android, BlackBerry, or iPhone that makes you tick, we’ve got the goods.

Here’s what’s happening right now on PhoneDog Media’s network sites: Today’s iPhone, BBerryDog and DroidDog.

Why didn’t the iPad land on Verizon?  Will the iPhone?

Dear Santa, on the next iPhone I would like…

Vid: Tips & Tricks – Safari

Amazon releases kindle for BlackBerry

New OSes (unofficial) for Storm and Storm2

Official OS 5.0.0.484 for BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Sprint)

Nexus One: How Google is laying out the groundwork

Moment gets updated, still not 2.1

Modaco Desire Alpha 6 Review (Nexus One ROM)

Samsung Wave running Bada OS. Way into detail. Hands-on. PhoneDog at MWC 2010. MWC 2010:

It’s a known fact that webOS-powered devices are en-route to AT&T.  With the carrier being the third to receive Palm’s newest offering, many are wondering: what about T-Mobile?  According to the folks at BGR, they have it on good authority that T-Mobile will be getting some webOS love as well.  The source goes on to say that the two companies are working to develop a device for T-Mobile’s network.  It makes me wonder: will this be a new device, or a modification of one of the existing models on the market? 

No word on any sort of release date, but it’s nice to think about new options for customers bored with Android, BlackBerry, Sidekick, and Windows Mobile devices.  Should a webOS option come to T-Mobile, would you be interested?  Would it be dependent on the device released?  Let me know in the comments!

Via MobileCrunch

In existence since 2008, Sprint’s 4G WiMAX footprint has been slowly expanding.  Fast forward to 2010, and we have an Overdrive Mobile Hotspot and a few aircards to take advantage of the new technology.  But what about people who want to use the 4G capabilities on their mobile devices?  Dan Hesse is on record stating that the company plans to release “dozens of devices” with WiMAX capabilities this year, but subscribers want to know: when will they hit retail stores?

In an interview with Forbes, Sprint announced that their first WiMAX-enabled mobile device would launch in the first half of this year, several months earlier than expexted.  Remember the A9292 handset spotted (the HTC Supersonic)?  Rumor has it that it is the device in question, with Forbes going on to say that the unit launched in the coming months will most likely be an HTC-built Android phone. 

As a recap, the HTC Supersonic is rumored to offer a 4.3-inch touchscreen (think HD2 here), Android 2.1, and HTC’s Sense UI.

Via Engadget, Forbes

Surprise, surprise.  After seeing leaked pictures of the device with AT&T branding earlier in the year, the LG Arena has officially made its way to the nation’s second largest wireless carrier.  Features include a 3-inch WVGA touchscreen, 5.0-megapixel camera, LG’s S-Class UI, GPS, Wi-Fi connectivity, and AT&T’s Mobile TV service.  The Arena will arrive online on February 26th, with retail availability pegged for March 7th.  Expect it to cost $199 after a $50 mail-in rebate and new two-year customer agreement.

So, we have a featurephone that costs the same amount as a 16 GB iPhone 3GS (and that’s after rebate, mind you).  Keeping that in mind, is anyone interested in purchasing the phone?  If you’re up for a bit of light reading, the full press release can be found here.

Via Engadget

If you’re a big fan of Android, you already know: The start of MWC in Barcelona signals a deluge of tech news, and this year has been no exception. The Android videos, announcements, images, and stories have been flooding the airwaves (webwaves, whatever) and DroidDog caught a bunch of it. Perhaps most important of the week’s news was HTC’s announcement of Desire and Legend. PhoneDog had Ewan MacLeod on the scene, and he was able to get some demo time with each device: Legend and Desire.

Feeds

I’m not sure how to tastefully unload links to posts about all of the other other new devices we learned of because there are just so many. Click here to subscribe to DroidDog’s RSS feed and catch up on all of the MWC buzz with title previews. You can also check out Dustin’s brief Daily summary, posted when there’s just too many stories to write an individual post for each.

Apps

While the hardware in Spain pulled the spotlight away from apps for the week, a few popped up that are definitely worth mentioning. Google just announced Shopper – an app that instantly renders at least five other programs useless. Ouch. The big G has a way of doing that. Verizon’s cellular division and FiOS teamed up to bring Moto Droid and HTC Imagio users an app that turns their phone into a remote control, which is both very handy and a total waste of battery – that is, unless you lost your standard issue controller and spent all of your remote funds on a Droid without contract. I’ve been doing fine with Pocket Auctions ebay for a while, but an official version has been released, and it looks great.

Hacks & Mods

Before I just into our Hacks & Mods content for the week, check out this post on DroidShirts.com. Carlos Graves, the man you see reviewing all those cooked ROMs on DroidDog, has his own shirt up for sale there. Enthusiasts of Android hacks should check it out.

Speaking of Carlos, dude got an N1 this week, and he’s already tinkering. Take a look at his video on a Kspec Kustom theme. Andrew over-clocked his Nexus One and the Desire ROM (with Sense) is now in the hands of cookers. I’m going back-and-forth on whether or not I want to root. I mean, once I start, I’ll never stop. There will be a new ROM every two days and once a month I’ll find myself in some critical emergency situation that requires my full attention for 5 hours straight. I’m not saying that’s what Android hacking is about; I’m saying that’s what happens when I do it. I’m relying on my Nexus to keep my budget in check and I’m not sure I want to risk it. The phone rocks socks as-is. Besides, I’ve got my (laggier-than-stock) Sense keyboard. EDIT: With haptic feedback disabled, the Sense QWERTY is snappy.

More to come…

Alberto wrote about Myriad’s Dalvik Turbo, which will speed Android apps up a great deal. Alberto is DroidDog’s new Special Content Editor, and he has a lot of great material in store, so be sure to stay tuned for that. There are so many other posts that – like I said – I don’t know how to list all of them. Just check out the site, eh? Here are a few worthy of a quick note:

Google preparing Flash (AIR in the works as well)

Everybody’s talking about TAT

Camangi slashes price on Webstation

Take care

Let’s be honest: when you’re in a busy airport, waiting for your flight (or anywhere, for that matter), it’s fun to browse eBay.  Plus, it’s nice to know that you can browse, bid, and monitor auctions from virtually anywhere.  Until recently, the only Android app for browsing eBay was Pocket Auctions for eBay, and it lacked features needed to browse effectively.

Enter eBay’s official application, which launched yesterday.  Features include bid notifications, the ability to check the status of your auctions, navigation with voice commands, the option to check status updates, and the ability to leave feedback.  Considering that 60,000 Android-powered handsets are shipping daily, it’s understandable that eBay would want to invest time and energy into it.

The app can be downloaded in the Android Market.

Via MobileCrunch

Not that it’s a huge shock, given the usual price points of the DROID and Droid Eris ($199 and $99, respectively), that the Motorola Devour would be priced at $150.  That being said, the Devour’s Best Buy price tag has been leaked, and sure enough, $150 is the official price tag.  Keep in mind that you’ll have to sign a new two-year agreement and pick up a data plan ($29.99 monthly), but with no mail-in rebates, it’s the way to go if the Devour is your cup of tea.

T minus seven days until launch…who’s excited?

Via DroidDog