Mereja

Author: Taylor Wimberly

  • myTouch 3G Slide launches June 2nd for $179, original goes free

    Mid-range Android phones don’t normally generate a lot of buzz, but the myTouch 3G Slide will likely be T-Mobile’s biggest launch this summer.

    The myTouch 3G Slide will be available on June 2 at T-Mobile retail stores, select authorized dealers and partner locations, and online, with additional availability and an expanded marketing campaign beginning on June 16th. Customers can pick up the Slide in three colors (red, white, and black) from T-Mobile for $179.99 (after $50.00 mail-in rebate) with 2 year contract.

    T-Mobile has not revealed the no-contract pricing for Even More Plus customers (like me), but earlier leaks suggested the phone will retail for $399.

    If you are a current Android fan on T-Mobile, then I would probably suggest waiting a couple more months before upgrading. The myTouch 3G Slide does not offer a significant performance boost and higher-powered devices should be available in time for the holiday shopping season.

    On a related note, T-Mobile is now offering the older myTouch 3G with 3.5 mm headset jack for FREE with 2 year agreement.

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  • Required viewing: Android 2.2 Froyo keynote with Vic Gundotra

    Many of you watched it live on YouTube, but if you missed the day 2 keynote at Google I/O, then you must check it out.

    Vic Gundotra returned to spill the beans on Android 2.2 and gave one of his best presentations yet. Google and Vic have been gaining confidence in their mobile operating system and we can clearly see it come out with all their jokes directed at Apple.

    Watch along as Vic shares a story about his first day at Google, demonstrates the five pillars of Android 2.2, and previews upcoming features like the online Android Market and music store.

    [Post image via Romain Guy]

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  • Sprint EVO 4G hacked before release, Froyo coming next?

    HTC is our favorite handset maker because their devices have traditionally been the most hackable. As Motorola put it, if you want an Android phone for experimenting with Android system development and re-flashing custom ROMs, then buy HTC.

    Google and Sprint handed out 5,000 HTC EVO 4Gs at Google I/O and it only took a few hours effort for developers to gain root access to the device. The three person team of Matt Mastracci, ozzeh, and Joshua Wise have released a few screens and videos of their hack, but have yet to detail the process.

    This hack is worth mentioning because the EVO does not go on sale till June 4th. The device will ship with Android 2.1, but at this rate I would not be surprised if the development community back-ports Android 2.2 months before HTC sends out their official release. Google has yet to release the source code for Android 2.2, so it could be a few weeks, but keep an eye out for an upcoming release.

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  • Live from Google I/O 2010

    This is the moment you have all been waiting for. Google I/O is finally here and the first keynote is just hours away. We are live at Moscone West in San Francisco and ready to bring you the inside scoop on this week’s biggest stories.

    First up is the day 1 keynote. Google is streaming the entire thing via YouTube, so be sure to tune in and watch live.

    Keynotes are available at http://www.youtube.com/GoogleDevelopers

    Here is the schedule for the keynotes at I/O 2010:

    • Day 1 Keynote: Wednesday, May 19, 9:00 -10:30am PT
    • Day 2 Keynote: Thursday, May 20, 8:30-10:00am PT

    After the keynote is over, we will head to the press briefing room so we can ask questions on whatever is revealed. If you have your own questions about the keynote, just leave a comment and we will scan over them before the press briefing.

    We will also be sending live updates to our Flickr, Twitter, and YouTube account. Follow these is you want to check out what’s going on behind the scenes before we update the main site.


  • OnStar partners with Google for new Chevy Volt app

    The OnStar app we previewed at CES is set to get some more Google love for version 2.0. A new navigation tab will be added to the OnStar Mobile app for Android which allows users to locate their car in Google Maps. These features are in addition to those that allow drivers to control car functions like charging their Volt, unlocking and locking their doors, remotely starting the engine, running diagnostics, and receiving automatic alerts.

    OnStar’s first app was more of a demo instead of a fully functioning app, but the company is expected showcase their new app at this week’s Google I/O. Check back tomorrow for a full hands-on report.

    “While OnStar will never lose sight of our core focus on safety and security, this relationship is an example of how we’re evolving our leadership position in connected vehicle technology. What we’re talking about today is only the beginning.”Chris PreussOnStar president

  • Adobe showcases mobile optimized sites for Android

    Google is set to unveil Android 2.2 this week at Google I/O and Flash 10.1 will be one of the major features that gets highlighted. Adobe is already gearing up for the launch by highlighting a couple dozen sites that are optimized for the mobile platform. The guys at TechCrunch were able to locate the landing page that users will be directed to after installing the new Flash 10.1 beta.

    The early focus appears to be on video and games, the two cornerstones of Flash. A slew of games will be provided by Kongregate, MiniClip, and South Park Studios while video will come from Sony Pictures and Warner Brothers. TV shows will be available from TBS, TNT, and BET. Other suggested sites include Google Finance, Wall Street Journal, Justin.tv, and many more.

    For a complete list of showcase sites, see the Nexus One and the Droid landing pages. Droid owners should be happy because I think this confirms our predictions that their devices will be among the first to taste FroYo Android 2.2.

    Featured Flash sites include:

  • Verizon Android tablets from Motorola, Samsung and LG in Q4

    We already knew Verizon was working on Android tablets, but we had no idea of the manufactures or release dates until today. According to Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam, customers should expect that the first tablets will be Android devices from contenders including Motorola, Samsung and LG. These Android tablets will go head to head with Apple’s iPad and Verizon expects to sell many of these gadgets in the forth quarter.

    No specs have been revealed, but look for manufacturers to utilize next-generation processors running Android 2.2 or greater. Most tablets will feature ARM-based cores, like the NVIDIA Tegra 2, but keep an eye out for some Intel-powered devices as well.

    In addition to tablets, Verizon also revealed they will have up to five 4G LTE handsets by May 2011. McAdam said the front-runners to provide LTE handsets included Motorola, HTC, LG and RIM. Verizon has been testing their LTE network and expects to cover 30 markets with 100 million people in 2010.

  • NVIDIA Tegra 2 Android handsets coming 2H 2010

    NVIDIA promised a Tegra smartphone from a “top five” manufacturer before 2010, but it never materialized. Then at this year’s CES, NVIDIA unveiled the Tegra 2 platform which is based off a next-generation ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor. We expected to see the Tegra 2 platform used mainly in Android tablets this year, but new information from NVIDIA’s latest earnings call suggest we could see handsets using the powerful processor by Q3 2010.

    The strategy for NVIDIA’s first-generation Tegra was to focus on one platform (the Microsoft Zune), but Android will be the primary focus for the second-generation of Tegra 2 designs. NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang told analyst that the next generation of Android phones would focus on performance and their Tegra 2 would be able to keep up (if not, be much better) than Apple’s A4 1 GHz processor used in the iPad (and upcoming iPhone 4).

    When questioned if these NVIDIA-powered Android handsets would actually be on the market this year or if they were just referring to available design sockets, NVIDIA responded they’ve already been working with partners on the designs and the products should ship during Q3-Q4 2010.

    If NVIDIA is able to achieve their goal, they could claim the fastest Android phone this Christmas. Intel is also trying to get their Moorestown platform into products later this year, but it remains to be seen which handset makers will pick it up. The main two application processor companies in the Android world right now include Qualcomm and Texas Instruments, but the competition is about to get really stiff.

    At this point it appears to be anyone’s game, but the handset makers have likely already chosen the winners for this Christmas. Which processor would you like to see in your next high-end Android device?

    Key features of Tegra 2:

    • Dual-core ARM Cortex -A9 MPCore Processor
      • Symmetric Multi-Processing support for blazing fast web browsing performance, improving load times and rendering of complex pages
      • Processing efficiency of Cortex-A9 provides industry leading performance in lowest power envelope
    • Ultra Low Power NVIDIA Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
      • Enhanced NVIDIA graphics technology, enabling full Flash acceleration for an uncompromised HD web browsing experience
      • Next generation 3D rendering performance for the most compelling user interfaces and advanced mobile games
    • Full High Definition Multimedia
      • Up to 1080p video encode/decode and support for HD Web streaming formats, such as YouTube HD
      • Complete HW accelerated HD multimedia engine for visually stunning movie playback at lowest possible power
    • NVIDIA Low Power Management Architecture
      • Effective power management techniques, such as dynamic voltage and frequency scaling, for ultra-efficient power consumption across all use cases
      • Low-power design delivers over 140 hours audio and over 16 hours of HD video playback

    Tegra 2 specs include:

    • Processor and Memory Subsystem
      • Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor, up to 1.0 GHz
      • 32-bit LP-DDR2, DDR2
    • Ultra Low Power NVIDIA Graphics
      • OpenGL ES 2.0
      • Programmable pixel shader
      • Programmable vertex and lighting
      • 2x 3D graphics performance of previous generation Tegra
    • Full High Definition Multimedia
      • 1080p H.264/VC-1/MPEG-4 Video Decode
      • 1080p H.264 Video Encode
      • Supports multi-standard audio formats, including AAC, AMR, WMA, and MP3
      • Upgraded JPEG encode and decode acceleration
    • Integrated Image Signal Processing
      • Up to 12 megapixel camera sensor support
      • Advanced imaging features (AWB, AF, AE, etc.)
    • Display Subsystem
      • True dual-display support
      • Maximum display resolutions supported:
        • 1080p (1920×1080) HDMI 1.3
        • WSXGA+ (1680×1050) LCD
        • UXGA (1600×1200) CRT
        • NTSC/PAL TV output

  • Gameloft unleashes wave of Android 3D games, most don’t work

    Gameloft first demonstrated what they could do on Android with their hit racer Asphalt 5 and now the company is back with a full stable of 3D games. Android fans can now enjoy envy 10 new titles, which many iPhone/iPod users might recognize.

    In order to play any of these new games, customers will have to purchase them from Gameloft’s smartphone site. Only Asphalt 5 is located on Google’s Android Market, but we expect the others will eventually show up.

    Buyers should beware because several users have reported problems when trying to download and install the games. Gameloft will offer users a refund, but expect to run into some issues. It sounds like Real Soccer 2010, Let’s Golf!, and Asphalt 5 are the only titles working. The list of non-working games includes Assassin’s Creed, Modern Combat, NOVA, Hero of Sparta, Dungeon Hunter, HAWX, and Gangstar.

    If you try out any of the games, let us know which ones work and we will update our post with a list of issues.

    Potential buyers should also know that many of these games are iPhone ports originally designed to work with a PowerVR graphics processor. This means that they will play better on the Droid (which also uses PowerVR) versus any of the Snapdragon phones (Nexus, Incredible, EVO) that have not been optimized. Users who own first generation Android devices should avoid these games.

    Gameloft Android games

    Gameloft Android games.

    New Gameloft titles include:

    • Modern Combat: Sandstorm
    • Let’s Golf!
    • Hero of Sparta
    • Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X
    • Real Soccer 2010
    • Dungeon Hunter
    • Asphalt 5
    • Ganstar: West Coast Hustle
    • Assassin’s Creed – Altair’s Chronicles
    • N.O.V.A. Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance

  • Google updates Android Market site, still lacking

    Last night Google spruced up their Android Market website, but it was not the major upgrade everyone has been waiting for. The site acts mainly as a showcase and does not allow users to browse all apps, download apps, see full app details, or even perform basic Google-functions like search.

    Even though the site is still mostly useless, Google could have made some important changes behind the scenes. We know a new version of the Market client is coming that allows automatic updates and the developer console is also getting new feedback features. Hopefully more will be revealed at Google I/O.

  • Wildfire is HTC’s next Android mini

    HTC unveiled the new Android-powered Wildfire today which is their new entry-level device set to replace the Tattoo. The Wildfire will be available in Europe and Asia by Q3 2010, but there is always the chance for any HTC device to show up in the U.S.

    Highlights of the Wildfire include Android 2.1 with Sense UI, 3.2 inch QVGA display, 528 MHz processor, and 5 megapixel camera with flash. Customers will be able to choose from four colors including red, black, white, and gray.

    For a closer look at the HTC Wildfire, see Engadget’s hands on report.

    HTC Wildfire specs include:

    • Android 2.1 with HTC Sense
    • 512 MB flash
    • 384 RAM
    • 106.75 x 60.5 x 11.99mm
    • 3.2-inch QVGA TFT capacitive touch screen
    • WCDMA/HSPA: 900/2100 or AWS/1900 or 850/2100 MHz
    • GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900
    • 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
    • Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR
    • GPS/AGPS
    • 3.5mm audio jack and microUSB
    • 5 Megapixel camera with auto focus and LED flash
    • 1300 mAh battery
    • 440 minutes of talk-time on WCDMA, 490 on GSM
    • 690 hours on standby for WCDMA, 480 for GSM
    • microSD memory card slot, SD 2.0 compatible
    • Proximity sensor, G-sensor, Compass, Light sensor, FM radio, Optical joystick
    • 528 MHz Qualcomm MSM7225 chipset

    Gallery





  • Official Twitter for Android now available

    First we hinted, then we confirmed, now we install. Today Twitter announced that their Android client is now available for download. Full impressions are coming soon, but we wanted to share with our readers that the app is out.

    Unfortunately, the official Twitter requires Android 2.1 or greater.

    Twitter also shared that they had a great time working with the Android team. In the near future, Google will be open sourcing the code used in this app so that developers can create new experiences using the Twitter APIs. My guess is we see Twitter fully integrated in Android 2.2 (similar to how Facebook was with 2.1).






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  • LG Ally commercial leaks, Verizon launch pending soon

    A new Iron Man 2 promo featuring the upcoming LG Ally has been leaked on YouTube. The commercial shows a group of friends using the new LG Ally as Iron Man flies around in the background. Iron Man 2 is scheduled to launch May 7th, so we could see this phone on Verizon in a couple of weeks.

    Why would Verizon launch another Android phone so close to the Droid Incredible? Early rumors suggest the LG Ally might feature a 1 GHz cpu, but we now hear this phone will be targeted at the mid-range. A source who wishes to remain anonymous told us the Ally will include a 600 MHz ARM11 CPU (my guess is the Qualcomm MSM7227).

    More details should be coming today. At the end of the video users are directed to visit LG.com/ally, which redirects to lgim2.com. The Iron Man 2 site says, “Check back on April 30th for the complete LG Iron Man 2 experience”.

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  • Droid Does Incredible TV campaign

    Motorola and Verizon spent a combined $100 million to advertise the original Droid and it resulted in the best selling Android device to date. The Droid is now the second best selling smartphone (behind the iPhone) and accounts for up to 17% of AdMob’s U.S. smartphone requests. Even the latest platform version breakdown from Google suggest that the Droid could account for up to 30% of all Android handsets that access the Market.

    We were wondering if the Droid Incredible would receive the same treatment and it appears a similar campaign is in store. Verizon has already launched an Incredible mini site and the first ad spot just appeared on YouTube. We have also spotted Incredible ad banners on many of our favorite tech blogs.

    Keep an eye our for Incredible ads and let us know what you find.

    From Verizon Wireless: Forget what you thought you knew because you’ve never seen a DROID like this. The DROID INCREDIBLE, nothing short of its name.

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  • Sony to announce Android Dragonpoint TVs at Google I/O

    Reports of a Google TV service have slowing been coming in since March and now it looks like Google will unveil all the details at next month’s Google I/O.

    Bloomberg is reporting that Sony, Intel, and Google plan to discuss their new line of home-entertainment devices in San Francisco on May 19 and May 20. Sony will make the TVs, Intel will provide the Atom chips to power them, Google will deliver the software, and Logitech is working on a special keyboard accessory.

    The first Google TV will run a new version of the Android operating system called Dragonpoint. It is likely based on the Froyo build (Android 2.2) and will have full Flash 10.1 support out of the box.

    Google I/O just got a little bit more interesting. Check back May 19th for full coverage as we will be onsite to report all the latest details.

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  • LG Aloha launching on Verizon this summer

    QWERTY fans rejoice. LG has been telling us for awhile they would launch an Android phone in the United States and it looks like that will finally happen this summer.

    BGR is reporting that Verizon Wireless will begin selling the LG Aloha this coming May. This phone has many codenames in different countries, but it appears to be the Snapdragon slider we got a look at earlier this month. The device is said to feature Android 2.1, a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 5 megapixel camera with 720p video capture, and slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

    If Verizon pulls this deal off, it will solidify their position as the top U.S. carrier for high-end Android phones. They were the first to launch an Android 2.0 phone when the Motorola Droid debuted last year and were the first to offer a 1 GHz Android phone in retail stores with the new Droid Incredible.

    Will we finally get a Snapdragon slider?

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  • Skyfire 2.0 opens up a world of Flash video for Android

    After a short alpha testing period, Skyfire 2.0 is now available in the Android Market as a public beta. This alternative browser is unique because it offers the ability to play some Flash videos (sorry, no Hulu). Cool features include the SkyBar which automatically detects video, searches for recommendations, and allows you to easily share content with your friends.

    Grab the beta now and check out your favorite site with Flash video. Skyfire already plays millions of videos and it is learning new sites every day.

    Highlights of Skyfire 2.0 beta include:

    • VIDEO: magically offers up videos that appear as broken links on all other mobile browsers, enabling Flash video to play quickly and smoothly.
    • EXPLORE: reads your mind and presents smart recommendations for related media content from sources such as YouTube, Twitter, Google, Digg and more.
    • SHARE: makes browsing social, with one-click share features to help you get the word out.
    • Supports Flash web video with patent-pending adaptive streaming technology for smooth playback
    • Pinch to zoom (on Android 2.0 and above)
    • Multi-tab browsing – open up to eight windows and browse simultaneously using visual tabs
    • Choose to load full desktop webpages or mobile optimized versions
    • Clear session history easily upon exit to maintain anonymous browsing

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  • QWERTY is king for U.S. Android buyers

    What do the top three Android phones in the United States have in common? They all feature slide-out QWERTY keyboards. The recent trend from HTC and other handset makers has been towards the slim, slate form factor, but phones with a physical keyboard have proven to sell the most units so far.

    Top 10 U.S. smartphones from AdMob.

    A quick look at the top smartphones from the latest AdMob report shows the most popular three Android phones are the Motorola Droid, G1 (HTC Dream), and the Motorola CLIQ. Each phone has its own appeal, but they all share similar slide-out keyboards. The majority of Android owners have no clue what firmware their device is running and make their buying decision solely on looks.

    I find it most interesting that the Motorola CLIQ appears to have out sold the myTouch 3G. T-Mobile launched the myTouch 3G first, heavily promoted it, and upgraded it to Android 1.6. The CLIQ went on sale several months later and only included Android 1.5, but it looks like more customers are choosing it based entirely on the form factor.

    T-Mobile recognizes keyboards are still hot and it makes sense they are gearing up to make the myTouch 3G Slide one of their flagship phones this summer. Outside of that, there are not many options for new Android phones with keyboards coming to the U.S. LG might produce a Snapdragon slider later this year, but nothing official has been announced for the U.S. at this time.

    I personally switched to the Nexus One earlier this year and I have adjusted to the virtual keypad quite well, but I still wish a physical keyboard was an option. Out of all the Android devices I’ve used over the last few years, the G1 still has the best keyboard layout in my opinion (5-row, big buttons, nice feedback). If someone releases a high-powered phone with a keyboard this year, that is likely my next purchase.

    Which form factor do you prefer? Physical or virtual keyboard? If you have used multiple Android phones with keyboards, which did you like the best so far?

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  • Android 2.2 and Flash 10.1 coming May 20?

    There will be Android related announcements coming in a couple weeks at Google I/O and all signs point to the public unveiling of Android 2.2 (Froyo). We already speculated that Android 2.2 was coming and predicted Flash 10.1 would drop at I/O and now it looks like May 20th is the date. Given that Flash 10.1 is tied to Froyo, this bodes well for a joint announcement.

    On the second day of Google I/O, May 20th, there are several Android sessions scheduled for the afternoon that are listed as TBA. They likely have no topic because they are related to Android features that have not been publicly announced. Google did this at last year’s I/O when they revealed Google Wave on the second day and directly followed it up with a series of sessions.

    If you follow our Googlers Twitter list you might have noticed several employees tweeting the sessions link and pointing out the TBAs. Recent Google addition Tim Bray (who now runs the Android Developrs Blog) even said, “I don’t think that I’m telling any secrets when I say that there will be Android-related announcements at that event.”

    Many insiders believe the Nexus One will be the first to receive Android 2.2, but we could see a simultaneous release on the Motorola Droid. Google already shipped every paid attendee a free Android phone and they were giving out the Droid and N1. Adobe has also regularly used the Droid when taunting us with all those Flash demos.

    I’ll even go out on a limb and predict some first gen devices might see an upgrade as well. A new version of the Market was pictured on a myTouch 3G with Android 2.2 and we have been told all first gen U.S. phones will eventually be upgraded. Actually, Google has stopped selling their ADP1 (HTC Dream) so maybe that device is on the way out.

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  • CyanogenMod brings Android 2.1 to G1 and myTouch 3G

    If you have a hacked G1 or myTouch 3G, take note. Many developers have released custom ROMs based off Android 2.1 for the HTC Dream and Magic for awhile now, but most were not fully working. Devs had been waiting on updated hardware drivers which supported the Android 2.1 kernel and those were finally released earlier this month.

    After several weeks of a lot of hard work, the team behind CyanogenMod is close to releasing a public beta of their latest ROM – version CM 5.0.7 Ds. The new ROM is finally using Android 2.1 and includes many of the enhancements found in the CyanogenMod for Nexus One.

    As of this writing there are still a few bugs to work out, but look for a beta release tomorrow night.

    Android 2.1 will fit onto the myTouch 3G (HTC Magic) with no problems, but it will not fit on the G1 (HTC Dream) without some modifications (damn those pesky storage limitations). G1 users must install the infamous DangerSPL which re-partitions the NAND flash inside the device. If you have never flashed the DangerSPL, the guys on the CyanogenMod forum are putting up a how-to guide.

    First time hackers might just want to wait a few weeks and see what Google reveals at I/O on May 19-20. For all we know, Android 2.2 could magically appear for some first gen phones.

    Our friend @kmobs is back with another video giving a quick walk through of the new test ROM on a G1. It looks like one of our shirts found its way to his desk.

    For the latest on this CyanogenMod, visit the official site for follow @cyanogen on Twitter.

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