Author: Scott Webster

We’ve learned over the last few days that Google is proactively seeking Apple developers, attempting to woo them with free phones.  Not a bad strategy if you can afford to toss a few hundred bucks at each person you want.  Now that the platform is established and super phones are coming out all the time, Google no longer has to worry about developers taking the “wait and see” approach. Rather, Google is now taking the “who else can we get?” approach.

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s been a pretty heated spat going on between Apple and Adobe over the iPhone’s refusal to allow Flash.  Both companies have been twisting the words of the opposition to help justify their respective stances.

While it may very well be true that HTML 5 is the future of web,  the fact is that Flash is what works today.  It may be a few years before HTML crosses the tipping point and Flash becomes the minority.  Refusing to allow for Flash on the iPhone is like General Motors  refusing to use unleaded gasoline because bio-fuels and electricity are the future.  I believe Apple is shooting themselves in the foot with this long term play.  I also believe that Google recognizes this and is buddying up to Adobe for what may end up being a short (hop term relationship.

Adobe recently started offering beta signups for of a couple of their apps and service for Android.  We’ve heard that Flash 10.1 will be supported on nearly all Android devices going forward.  I think the chances are very good that we’ll see some sort of early look at some Android/Adobe apps at next month’s Google I/O conference.  Last year saw sneak previews of some Android features that later rolled out in Donut.  It stands to reason that the Android team will show us what’s capable in Froyo and with Adobe integration come May 19th.

For all I know Google has been going around secretly working to bring some Adobe applications to Android.  Whether that involves giving away free phones or not is hard to say.  I’d like to think that some of these developers would love nothing more than a chance to stand on stage at Google I/O and demonstrate their apps and games to the thousands in attendance.

HTC Evo next to the Cliq XT

I had a chance to sit down yesterday and spend a few minutes playing with the latest handset from HTC.  Previously touted as the Supersonic, the phone had rather lofty expectations to live up to.  Would it deliver? Like you need to ask.

Right off the bat, my first impression was that the phone had a substantial weight to it.  Although not too heavy, it feels like you have a quality phone in your hand.  I was told that the form factor we played with is not final nor was the OS build. I can’t imagine it changing too much as we looked as some accessories that appeared like finished designs as well.  The dock you see in the pictures will have HDMI output.

We watched a few movie trailers play in HD on both the EVO as well as on an 85-inch television via HDMI connection.  Stunning.  At 4.3-inches, I could easily see myself catching up on some television shows or movies.

We couldn’t test out the camera due to the lighting conditions but did sneak a peek at some pictures that were already on the phone.  At 8 megapixels, this handset features the best Android camera on the market (next to the Xperia X10).

Pairing up 4G with a front-facing camera just opens up the door to all kinds of possibilities.  I can’t wait to see what developers can do with this technology and how it advances Android.

Dock with HDMI output

The EVO works as a 4G hotspot for up to 8 handsets which just baffles the mind.  It’s hard to fathom replacing my home internet connection but that’s exactly what might happen.

Just left the keynote from Samung and spent a few minutes playing with the Galaxy S.  First off, words cannot describe just how sharp and bright the screen is.  SuperAMOLED really is that – SUPER.  The 4-inch screen is the most crisp image I have ever seen on a handset.  We watched a few minutes of video on the Galaxy S and can say that it’s superior to pretty much anything I’ve seen so far. 

Even as big as this phone is, I couldn’t believe how light it was.  It literally felt like half of a phone in my hands.  Angel was pleased at how nice it was in her tiny, gal hands. 

In terms of softare, the phone comes with Layar, TeleAtlas, Swype, a document editor, e-book reader, and more.  See below for a full list of confirmed hardware specs, thanks to the press release. 

We should expect this to arrive later this summer.  Nobody we met was able to share expected prices or carriers.  We’re off to hit the floor and try some prying.  Be sure to follow us on twitter to get the latest pictures from the show floor!

We’ve yet to hear anything official from Motorola or T-Mobile in regards to the release of the Cliq XT.  For a phone that’s rumored to launch tomorrow, both the carrier and handset manufacturer have been super silent.  To confirm that the phone is ready for release,   I spoke with the manager at my local T-Mobile store.  Sounds like it’s ready to go as I was advised they’ve received both dummy, non-working displays as well as the floor model for demonstration.

Engadget was recently passed some images of the brochure for the CLIQ XT showing how sales reps can effectively sell the handset.  Details include talking about the web browser with Flash Lite, the 5 megapixel camera, and MOTOBLUR.  The smart phone also features Flash Lite, multi-touch, and preloaded apps SHOUTcast, Midomi, GoTV, Last.fm, TuneWiki, and SoundHound.

Look for the CLIQ XT to sneak out tomorrow for $129 with a 2-year agreement.

I’m a big sucker for brain games, puzzles, and casual time wasters on my Android handsets.  I recently learned of a game called ConnecToo and it’s right up my alley.  The premise is simple enough – connect every two elements of same color by drawing a line between them.  The tricky part is that you cannot cross other lines and must work within a defined grid.  Oh, you also have to work against the clock.

Use BARCODE SCANNER to Download ConnecToo

There are two version of ConnecToo in the Android Market.  The free version features 12 levels spread out over 3 degrees of difficulty.  Once you’re hooked, you’ll want to purchase the full version for £0.69 (approximately $1.11 US).  At that point, you’ll have 200 levels to master!

Ask around and you’ll find the general consensus is that most Android owners would love more storage.  While many phones come with 2-4GB microSD cards, a lot of you opt to replace it right of the bat.  Did you know that you could buy accessories for all Android phones from our own store?  Accessories like a Dane-Elec 16GB microSDHC Card.

I feel obligated to point out that this is a Class 2 memory card.  That means if you are one of those who like to root your handset, you’ll want to look for a different card – something in a Class 6. However, being that the typical Android user doesn’t even know about rooting, this is a great choice.

Typically, I use the card for loading music, podcasts, and photos.  I’ve never had a problem with the card hanging up or taking too long to respond.  I did some checking around and found that HD video playback works good on the card with the only issue being it might take a tad long to load the files on.  Whereas most of my podcasts and music folders are loaded in a matter of minutes, large movies might take longer than expected.

As of today, the 16GB card sells for $39.95 in the AndroidGuys store.  We also offer smaller microSD cards in 2GB, 4 GB, and 8GB versions.

Since very few of us get to wake up whenever we feel like it, we tend to rely on alarm clocks to drag us out of bed.  I’m sure I am not alone here when I say that my phone has replaced my traditional clock on my night stand.

I’ve been using the stock alarm apps on my phone for years now, dating back to my Windows Mobile days.  For Android, I’ve been quietly putting up with the stock application on my G1.  Would I like more functionality? You bet.   But honestly, I’m not looking for something that’s super high tech or glossy because, let’s face it, I’m sleeping through the app the entire time I use it.

Along comes an application called One Nightstand that seems to fit the bill.  Aside from your traditional alarm clock function, there are a couple features that I could find handy including upcoming calendar events and current weather.  Brightness and color can be configured by the user depending on preference.  There’s also a great “Let Me Sleep!” function that simply shuts off ringers, system sounds, and notifications for a set period of time.

One Nightstand is offered in both free and paid versions.  The difference between the two is that the “Let Me Sleep!” option is limited to 1 hour whereas the paid (99¢) version let users configure 1-8 hr intervals as well as the 12hr “hibernation” mode.  Once your countdown reaches its end, volumes go back to where they were prior to your trip to La La Land.

While this might not the prettiest looking application you’ll own, it could be one you use more often than others.   I don’t need a shiny or polished looking alarm clock but that’s not to say you don’t.  I’d love to hear what you’re using for an alarm application. Please consider leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts below.

One of my favorite things to do with AndroidGuys is put developers and enthusiasts in touch with each other in whatever capacity I can.  Often that comes in helping developers and software teams find beta testers for their applications.  Such is the case with Mondial Telecom and their new Android service. 

A representative/developer for the Mondial Telecom team reached out to us today to see if we could help gather some folks interested in testing a mobile-to-mobile convergence app.  Called Cherry MMC, the service combines VOIP and GSM calling.   Wherever you have WiFi available, calls are made via VOIP.  For those times when it’s not available, it uses GSM.  The user will not see a difference as everything is handled transparently.

One of the key features is their handoff capability.  Say for instance you start a call on WiFi but find the signal getting worse or completely dropping.  Cherry MMC detects your connection and does a seamless handover to the GSM network. Same goes for the other way.  Calls originating on GSM can be handed off once a user gets within range of a WiFi connection.

If you’d like to be among the first 250 Android users to try this out, head to the contact page and fill out the form.  By doing so, participants get 5 hours of calling credit per month for two months!

According to Wikipedia, geocaching is an “outdoor activity in which the participants use GPS or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called “geocaches” or “caches”).

I  learned of an app alled Geooh today from its developer, Mobiltect. According to them, their application far exceeds that of others designed for mobile platforms. They even boast it might best GPS devices that run more than $400 a pop. I took a look around the website, and from what we can tell, Geooh looks full of features.

Disclaimer: I’ve never done any geocaching before.  I’ve considered it, but didn’t realize how easy it could be until just recently. The screenshots of Geeoh alone have me curious enough to give it a shot though.

Integration with Google Maps Navigator almost seem like pure cheating, but hey, we all like the occasional walkthrough in a pinch.  Of course, there is also radar view, compass view, plain coordinates and more.  If any app were to get me going, it might be this one.  So, with that, I am going to see what I can (literally) dig up around my town!

According to the features page, Geeoh offers:

• Opens GPX, LOC, and KML formats
• Bulk downloading and local storage of multiple files with delete capabilities
• Paperless geocaching
• Deleting of individual waypoints
• Sorting and filtering
• Speech input
• Displays geo-points on Google maps
• Street and map views
• Rotating compass overlay on maps
• Navigate to location
• View overhead GPS satellites
• Multiple language support
• Launch web browser
• Touch screen interface
• Post field notes via SMS
• Google Maps Navigation!

You can find Geooh in the Android Market today for $11.99 US.  Download it, try it out and let me know what you find!  You can also scan the barcode below with your Android handset to get taken directly to the product page.

Our latest podcast, #39, is in the can and available for downloads and streaming.  Joining me this week was resident AndroidGuy Sam Herren, Nick Gray (HTC Source), and Andrew Kamika (Androinica).  Also, Nicole stopped by for a few minutes near the end to share are few newsworthy items of her own! [Topics after the jump]

Topics for this week:

• Zeppelin to Arrive as Motorola Cliq XT
• HTC Scorpion to offer 1.5GHz Processor, WiMAX, Android 2.2
• HTC Legend spotted in wild ahead of MWC
• HTC Incredible shows up in the real world
• T-Mobile myTouch 3G Released
• Droid Details for Android 2.1
• T-Mobile Cliq to See Android 2.1 in March
• Dropbox Coming to Android
• Seesmic Sees update, adds features
• Nexus One Channel on YouTube Shows Concept to Release
• T-Mobile Launches Voice Plus Beta
• Google Offers Phone Support for Nexus One
• Google Advertises on Super Bowl
• Motorola Uses Megan Fox for Ad

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.

Early last month, we mentioned that an official WordPress application for Android might be arriving shortly.  One month later, to the day, we’ve learned that it can be found for free in the Android Market.  According to the WordPress blog, it looks and feels similar to the free wpToGo app that has been around for quite a while.  In fact, that app will no longer be supported as the  Open Source WordPress for Android app will get all the focus.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Features include the ability to:

• Configure and manage multiple blogs
• Comment moderation including the ability to reply to comments
• Create and Edit Posts including categories, tags and photos
• Create and Edit Pages
• Get notified of new comments in the Android notification bar

I know personally that I’ve been waiting a while for this app.  I can’t wait to see how it evolves over time as new features are integrated.  I’m sure many of our writers will be excited for this as well!

Source: AndroidAndMe

Well, I know what I’m going to have decorating my desk and office as soon as possible.  Check out the Android mini collectibles from Dyzplastic and Andrew Bell.  Kicking of with a set of 12 design, these 3″ vinyl Android figures come in individual blind boxes.  Buy a few and see who or what you get!  You can also grab a case of 16 to see if you have a complete set.  Oh, there are some super rare chase editions as well!

These guys go on sale later this month with pricing to be determined.  I have a feeling that these Android guys will become quite an addiction for myself and a few other folks I know.  Will they be your new Pokemon?

Part of my daily routine involves checking my RSS and twitter feeds while I drink my morning coffee  as both seem to help me get my day going.   As much as I’d like to think the world stops with Android news once I go to bed, sadly it doesn’t.  So I play catch up for a bit.  One headline I saw pop up a couple of places this morning was that Walmart is going to offer the Nexus One.

It appears that the nation’s largest retailer has already created a landing page on their Let’s Talk page and is letting people sign up to learn when the handset is available.  This doesn’t surprise me much as pretty much any other Android handset to come out so far is available through this channel.  In fact, they often offer better prices than when dealing with the carriers.  Similar to Best Buy, Walmart will eat some of the cost provided you sign an agreement.

Although there is no listing of price just yet, phoneinferno is saying they’ve heard $99 for the Nexus One, unlocked.  Until we hear this from bigger, more reputable names, we’ll treat this an unconfirmed rumor.  That’s quite a bit of money off the top considering that it’s unlocked.  Now, a 2-year contract… that sounds more likely.

It should also be pointed out that the specs listed for the Nexus One differ here from those listed on the Google  site.  This is the first time we’re seeing both 1xEvDO as well as UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900 support.  Will this be available for Sprint and/or AT&T or could it be they mixed up the specs?    Either way, we’ll be watching this closely and let you know what we learn!

Image Source: Flickr

Here’s the first look at the forthcoming HTC Supersonic.  That is, if you want to believe it.  Someone over at AndroidMobileOS was sent a couple of photos of what’s likely to become one of the hottest rumored handsets this year.

Granted the picture is absolutely grainy and unflattering.  However, that’s not enough to keep us from getting excited.  Their source confirms the details we’ve previously heard – WiMAX, 4.3-inch screen, kickstand, and Snapdragon power.  The only new feature to add to the mix at this time is FM radio.

The best part of this picture is that all others to come should look better.  Seriously.  Someone send me a yet-to-be-announced handset and I will show you how to take pictures.

On the most recent AndroidGuys podcast, I asked the other members of the panel if they thought T-Mobile was planning to turn the myTouch into a line of phones like they did for the Sidekick?  Everyone was in agreement that with the new Fender model, the forthcoming 1.2 edition, and rumored slide model, they were already on their way to doing so. 

Rather than slapping a successive number on the end of each version that comes along, I expect them to pull a similar move to what they did with recent Sidekicks.  It would pretty easy to append unique names to any Android-based HTC phone and still consider it a “myTouch” line. Think Sidekick LX, Sidekick 2008, Sidekick iD and you’ll see what I mean.  Verizon has already made it obvious they plan to envelope all of their Android phones under the DROID moniker, regardless of handset maker.  I don’t see T-Mobile going that route but I do see them taking a similar approach by always having a handful of designs and form factors to appeal to different users.

A BoyGeniusReport source has put what I consider to be icing on the cake.  According to them, T-Mobile will be phasing out the Sidekick. For good?  It’s not known.  But with Microsoft and Danger now bedfellows, that could become an entirely different animal anyhow.  Regardless of what Sidekick becomes, T-Mobile needs something to differentiate themselves.

I can hear people saying, “Is that the new myTouch?” as opposed to, “Is that the new Android phone from T-Mobile?”  Most of ‘the kids’ know what a Sidekick is and T-Mobile slowly took a one-design-per-year handset and turned it into a series of phones, each with a different form factor.  Some were customizable, others had a distinct flavor of their own.  It just makes sense to do the same thing with Android phones.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see T-Mobile drop the ‘3G’ part of the myTouch name and start replacing it with different models.

I love it when people put their free time to good use.  Someone over at CellPhoneSignal has put together what seems like perhaps the final piece of the puzzle which indicates the Motorola Motoroi is coming to T-Mobile USA soon.

Looking over some FCC filings, it was found that a Motorola device ID’d as IHDP56KC6 was certified for quadband EDGE plus the T-Mobile 3G bands of 1700/2100MHz.  For the most part, Motorola was able to hide/cover up any details that specifically outed the handset.  Unfortunately, there was one place they forgot to address.  Look at the top of the picture below and you’ll notice a reference to “SHOLES”.

As Engadget points out, all of the previous FCC filings for the Droid/Milestone handset had specs for both ‘slider up’ and ‘slider down’ positions.  This time around, there’s only one set.  Sounds like a tablet-like phone to me.  Think back a few months ago when an internal Motorola screen leaked a SHOLES Tablet for T-Mobile and you’ll see the stars lining up.

Tmo-News has been running articles lately that has a March 10th launch for an upcoming Motorola handset.  While their most recent post pegged it as the being Zeppelin, it turns out their source may still be mostly right. Taking all of these things into consideration, I believe we’ll be seeing this phone in the next few months.

The Motoroi features an 8 megapixel camera, a 3.7-inch high-definition WVGA screen, 720p video recording and  HDMI output.  There’s also Terrestrial DMB which allows for watching 24 channels of television in South Korea.  We’re likely to see that part get lost on the trip the US.  The phone also runs stock Android 2.0 as of right now.  It’s not known whether or not the plan is to integrate MOTOBLUR “should” a phone like this hit the states.

If poking around FCC documents is your type of thing, you can read the full report here.

You might be surprised to learn that seven of the ten most popular paid applications in the Android Market are games.  I know I was.  For a platform that doesn’t seem as polished or sexy as the iPhone, people are gravitating towards games regardless.  As Android continues to improve and allow for more features and richer experiences, games will improve.  To help foster that growth, Google will presenting a number of Android sessions at the upcoming Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

Over two days, (February 9th and 10th), Google will give developers a chance to  meet engineers from the Android team, participate in Q&A’s, and even take a look at what you might be working on.  The full conference runs from Feb. 9th-13th for those of you interested in attending the event.  To sweeten the pot, Google is giving away free Nexus One and Verizon Droid handsets to “qualified” developers “to celebrate and inspire the mobile and independent game development communities”.

“At the GDC, we are constantly looking for ways to help the game development community learn and thrive. The mobile and independent game spaces having been providing so many of those opportunities for years now,” said Meggan Scavio, event director of the Game Developers Conference. “We are so appreciative that we can better reach those goals by actually putting a new opportunity – Android-powered devices – into the hands of our attendees.”

Attendees must register for All Access or Tutorials and Summits passes by the Early Bird deadline of February 4, 2010 in order to qualify.

One of my favorite Android apps from day one has been Wikitude, by Mobilizy.  It has always been fun to watch the reaction from people as I show them the first, and arguably best, “augmented reality” app.  After starting out with a great app back in 2008, Wikitude just keeps getting better.  Today sees the launch of Wikitude 4!

Among the new/improved features are overlays (think “Layar”) with Youtube, Google Local Search, Twitter, and more showing up directly over your camera view.  The interface gets a little bit of enhancement as well.  It’s also possible to use history and bookmarks to improve your experience.

Wikitude 4 will look up content from all overlays to help you find the places and terms you search for.  For example, do a search for ‘pizza’ and you might get tweets from people mentioning the local hotspot, Panoramio pictures, and a Wikipedia entry or two.  The results are displayed for you without you needing to know which overlays to mess with!

Look for Wikitude for free in the Android Market today.  Read more about the app by heading to Mobilizy’s page.