You have read the Incredible reviews and now you can purchase the fastest Android phone available. The Verizon Droid Incredible is on sale now. Our new online store has the phone at a special introductory price that is sure to please. Users looking to buy the phone with no contract changes will pay the full price of $529.99.
Visit our store to check out the special online price for the Droid Incredible.
Someone is excited to be launching their first Android device. U.S. Cellular announced last week they would be selling the HTC Desire and now they shared a release time frame. Potential customers should circle July if they are interested in picking up the phone.
We initially thought the HTC Desire might land on more U.S. carriers, but that has not been the case so far. U.S. Cellular runs a CDMA network, but I don’t think we will see the Desire on the other large CDMA carriers like Sprint or Verizon. However, I have a feeling Cellular South might pick up some more Android phones and the Desire would be a nice addition to their lineup.
Hungry for more Android info? How about a peek at some specs for the gorgeous HTC Desire including a 3.7″ AMOLED touchscreen display, 5 MP camera with LED flash, Wi-Fi, GPS, Android Market and an 8 GB microSD card. How about news of a launch date around July? We’ll need to make sure our rigorous testing is complete before you can get your hands on this sweet phone. Stay tuned here for more exclusive Android updates!U.S. Cellularvia Facebook
Make sure to follow U.S. Cellular on Facebook to keep up with all the latest details.
[Thank you dmatthews for the tip]
The sales of the Nexus One have been less than stellar (T-Mobile’s Behold II moved more units), but Google maintains that the first phone offered in their web store is a profitable business.
Vodafone began taking pre-orders for the Nexus One yesterday and now reports are coming in that the device sold out. One of our readers ordered the device after it was announced and received the following email.
“Thank you for placing your order, reference number [redacted]. Unfortunately we have suffered a surprisingly high demand for the Nexus One From Google, which means that it is unexpectedly out of stock. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. We hope to have further stock available within 7-10 working days and will contact you again once your order has been dispatched.”Vodafone Customer Care
No shortages were reported for the U.S. launch, so this might come as a surprise to some. If we receive any updates on the Nexus One’s availability in the UK, we will update this post later.
Google’s largest developer event of the year is right around the corner and we will be there to bring you all the latest news. This year’s Google I/O is looking like an Android party after Google shipped all paid attendees a free Droid or Nexus One. The event sold out early, but our goal is to bring you as many videos as possible so it feels like you are there with us.
One of our favorite sessions from last year was the Fireside Chat with the Android team members. Google allowed anyone to submit any question and then members of the audience voted up their favorites. It was a great opportunity to listen as the Google engineers took on all questions and candidly spoke about the topics that mattered.
This year Google is hosting two fireside chats – one with the Android engineers and another with the handset makers. If you ever wanted to get those tough Android questions answered, this is likely your best shot all year.
Leave a comment to submit your question for the Fireside chat with Android handset manufacturers. The exact list of companies joining the panel is still to be determined, but I would expect to see at least HTC and Motorola participate.
The topic is pretty open as long as it is Android related and geared towards handsets. Feel free to ask about anything you think the handset manufacturers should address. If you have general questions about the Android OS, please save those for a future countdown post.
As the questions start to come in, use our comment rating system to vote up the questions you think we should ask and bury the stupid ones. There is no guarantee your question will be answered, but I’ll do my best to ask the questions that get the most votes.
We saw this one coming, but I did not think it would happen so soon. In AdMob’s latest March report, Android has surpassed the iPhone and accounts for a greater share of smartphone requests in the United States. AdMob does not represent the traditional view of market share (based on the number of handsets sold), but their reports still provide some insightful data.
Android now accounts for 46% of AdMob's U.S. traffic.
Android now accounts for 46% of U.S. smartphone share, while iPhone OS slid to 39%. A greater percentage of Android apps are offered for free so more developers have turned to ads in order to monetize their work.
Google recently acquired AdMob, but the deal is far from done. The FTC is still negotiating with Google, but it looks like our government will try to block the proposed acquisition.
Android highlights from the report include:
I think we have a pattern. After T-Mobile and Motorola suffered some bad PR from previous software updates, it looks like the company has adopted a new policy for rolling out OTA updates. Starting today, T-Mobile began testing a new software update for the CLIQ XT with a limited number of users in order to monitor feedback before a broad release.
Several carriers like Sprint often do internal testing for new software updates, but T-Mobile is the first to offer a public beta for their latest firmwares. T-Mobile is allowing 1000 users who frequent their forums the chance to download a new CLIQ XT update so they can carefully watch the feedback that comes in.
The latest CLIQ XT software is up to version 1.31.44 and the firmware remains at Android 1.5. A future upgrade to Android 2.1 is planned for Q2 2010.
New images have leaked of what could be Motorola’s first 3D Android phone. A similar device was spotted last week which looked more like a prototype, but these new images appear to be final hardware. We say this because the new phone (MT810) now sports the China Mobile logo.
The speculation of a 3D-capable device stems from Motorola’s recent patent application for a three dimensional display.
A section of the patent reads:
“An optical element is disposed, for example, molded or laminated, within the first housing. The optical element allows light to pass through, from the display to a side of the housing for viewing. While the display present images in two dimensions, the optical element changes the image viewed therethrough to appear as three dimensional. The optical element is a plurality of lens, preferably made of polymer lenticule, but may also be other types of optical structures, for example, electro-wetting lenses or parallax barriers.”
As you can see from the images below, this new Motorola phone has a transparent cover on top of its display. If you read through the entire patent, many of the features they describe match up nicely with the form factor of this device.
Nintendo is planning to launch their 3D handheld gaming system this year, so it wouldn’t be that much of a stretch to see Motorola do the same. The 3D effects for the Nintendo 3DS are speculated to be based on autostereoscopic imagery generated by LCDs with parallax barrier technology, which is the same material mentioned in the Motorola patent.
Yahoo announced today a strategic global partnership with Samsung that will bring Yahoo’s services to millions of Samsung mobile devices, including those that use Android. Samsung will begin distributing Yahoo services this May, so it is possible that the Galaxy S might be their first Android device to fall under this new agreement.
It will be interesting to see which phones come pre-loaded with Yahoo services because the carrier normally decides which software ships on their phones. AT&T already removed Google search in favor of Yahoo, but all the other major U.S. carriers have stuck with Google services for their Android phones.
Samsung Android phones may come pre-loaded with one or more of these Yahoo branded services:
We have taken an increased interest in the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S given the possibility that it could arrive on all four major U.S. carriers.
Among the most interesting highlights of the phone is its mysterious high-powered graphics processing unit (GPU). Samsung’s Omar Khan claimed their 1 GHz platform could “process a staggering 90 million triangles per second” in a keynote speech at CTIA. They boasted the Galaxy S contained “at least three times the power of other smart phones”.
So what is this mysterious processor being used in the Samsung Galaxy S? Last month I authored a post which echoed Samsung’s claims – The Galaxy S would have 3x the GPU power of Snapdragon Android phones.
I do not have all the answers in this story, but I will share what I found so that others might be able to piece together the puzzle.
The official press release never mentioned which CPU was being used, so I speculated it was the new Samsung S5PC110 application processor (codenamed Hummingbird) which was announced last year.
After a couple of emails to our Samsung Mobile contacts, we were finally able to confirm the CPU.
“I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. The processor is the Samsung S5PC110 Cortex-A8 model. The only information I have about the Galaxy S memory is 16GB / 8GB; external memory slot (upto 32GB) . More specifics will be available closer to launch.”Samsung Mobile Spokesperson
So if there were any doubters left, yes the Galaxy S uses the S5PC110 “Hummingbird” CPU. The only information I have yet to see officially released is the actual GPU that is built in and the amount of RAM.
In Samsung’s press release for the S5PC110, they mention it includes a “PowerVR SGX 3D graphics engine”, but they do not include the model. Previously I speculated it might be the new PowerVR SGX540, but I had no hard evidence.
After digging around for a couple more weeks, I found another Android device using Samsung’s S5PC110 application processor. The upcoming ODROID-T from Hardkernel will also sport Samsung’s latest offering. This is notable because they list the GPU as the SGX540, which they claim does up to 20M triangles/s and 1000M pixels/s.
Since the GPU is built in to the application processor, then all S5PC110’s should include the PowerVR SGX540 GPU. Thus, the Samsung Galaxy S is likely using the PowerVR SGX540.
So now we have Samsung claiming the Galaxy S can do 90 million triangles per second (Mt/s) and another source says it’s only 20 Mt/s. As you may remember from the first article, the Qualcomm Snapdragon GPU does 22 Mt/s, which would place both phones in the same range.
The PowerVR SGX family.
Not a lot is known about the SGX540, so it is hard to determine how fast it will be. Imagination Technologie’s spec sheet for the PowerVR SGX family does not provide specific performance for each model GPU.
In a press release for the OMAP4 platform, Imagination Technologies said it would also include the SGX540. They claim the OMAP4 will offer 5x the graphics performance of the OMAP3 series, which included the PowerVR SGX530. This is not a fair comparison with the Samsung S5PC110 (Cortex-A8) because the OMAP4 is based on the next generation Cortex-A9 platform.
I have no conclusion because the numbers still do not add up. Samsung is making some wild performance claims (90 M/ts), but the hardware they are using does not seem capable of producing those results.
To throw in an interesting twist since the last article, the company Instrisity who jointly developed the S5PC110 with Samsung has been acquired by Apple.
This post goes out to Sean since he is our new self-proclaimed GPU expert. Hopefully he can point out where I went wrong and help us get to the bottom of this issue.
Snaptic and HopeLab are joining forces with TED to encourage developers to create apps that promote a healthier lifestyle. The challenge looks for Android developers to build apps that “get people to move, are fun to use, and are innovative in their approach to encouraging physical activity.”
The finalists of the challenge will be invited to showcase their applications at the Snaptic Developer Conference and the grand prize winner will receive travel and accommodations to TED Global 2010 in Oxford.
This developer challenge was inspired by Jamie Oliver, who was awarded the 2010 TED Prize for his fight to improve the health of young people.
“I wish for your help to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity.”Jamie Oliver2010 TED Prize Winner
Developers can register for the challenge now and must complete their submission by Friday, May 21, 2010.
The Snaptic Developer Conference will be hosted in San Francisco on May 27, 2010
Highlights of the event include:
Barnes & Noble released their first major software update (v1.3) for the Nook which added several exciting features for e-reader fans. Read in Store, a feature announced back at launch, is now available when inside a Barnes & Noble store. Users can read any section of any e-book for free (but only 1 hour per day).
The Nook also received its first Android apps. A new games section includes versions of sudoku and chess. Neither game was that impressive to me, but what do you expect on an e-ink display? At least B&N is developing some games and should expand the lineup in the future.
Finally a beta web browser was added which lets users visit their favorite sites and read email. The touch screen at the bottom of the Nook is used for scrolling and zooming, while the e-ink display shows a larger view of the site. Performance was a little sluggish and features were limited, but it’s a nice bonus for existing Nook owners.
Other enhancements included an overall performance boost, faster page turns, touch screen improvements, and easier navigation. The main UI received a refresh and shortcuts were added to the audio player and WiFi settings.
Overall, I was really impressed with the update. It took around five minutes to install and I’ve experienced no problems at all. Several of the new features are clearly marked beta, which is a good sign more updates are coming. I would really love to see B&N release a Nook SDK so the community can begin to build some apps and then think about an app store.
YouTuber weggingt uploaded a video walk-through of the new features.
Highlights of the software upgrade include:
Oops. Google’s Adsense now allows advertisers to target specific devices and locations, but some companies are still adjusting to the new mobile format.
We currently use Adsense to help monetize our mobile site because a large portion of our traffic comes from Android devices and we wanted to test how the service performs. When creating a mobile ad unit, Google allows the publisher to specify which type of device the ad will target. Users can pick all phones or limit it to only “iPhone and other high-end devices (like Android)”.
Most of the carriers now advertise on our site because we fit their target markets. A keen reader spotted a Sprint ad on our site and clicked through to see what happened.
Flash is not supported by your browser.
The mobile ad unit sent the visitor to this Sprint page which is 100% Flash. Most Android phones do not support Flash so they get the infamous need-plugin-lego-block. Adobe will be releasing Flash 10.1 soon, but first-gen phones will not support it.
What have been your experiences with mobile ad units? Do you see advertisers taking advantage of the mobile web to its full extent? Are the ads relevant? Do you use AdBlock and could care less?
The joys of Flash.
If you remember the iFixit teardown of the Nexus One, it revealed the device had a Broadcom chip labeled BCM4329EKUBG (which supports Wireless N) and a FM transmitter. Both features were not present when the phone launched on January 5th, but it looks like each is close to being implemented in Android 2.2.
Broadcom and Google just released updated drivers for the WiFi chipset which appear to enable Wireless N. Android hacker Steve Kondik (@cyanogen) was quick to pull the files into his repo and then @kmobs compiled them to run on his Nexus One. After setting his WiFi router to 802.11 N, Mr. Kmobs was able to connect his Nexus One and browse the internets.
This was captured in a short blurry-cam video.
If Broadcom and Google have already released these files into the wild, chances are pretty high they have already been implemented in an upcoming firmware. The official Android Open Source Project is typically a month behind (or more) the latest Android firmware.
What other tricks does the Nexus One have up its sleeve?
I’m sorry AT&T. The more we learn about the upcoming Dell Aero, the less excited we are about the device. The last time we posted impressions of the Aero, it was running without any of Google’s applications or the Android Market. AT&T claims the final device will include the Android Market, but nothing would shock us at this point after they removed Google search from their first Android phone.
New leaked product slides claim the Aero will come “equipped with one of the best in class processors”. This CPU is actually the low-end 624MHz Marvell (believed to be the PXA310).
For those keeping score at home, that is the same CPU featured in the General Mobile DSTL1. That device was never certified by Google so it lacked their native apps and the official Android Market.
Other notable details leaked about the Aero include a music store protected by Windows Media DRM, a 5 megapixel camera with flash, and the inclusion of a capacitive stylus with the device.
Current speculation says the Aero will launch on AT&T this June. Look for a refreshed version late in the year that should add support for Android 2.1.
The NFL Draft starts tonight and Chad Ochocinco will be bringing you the latest news from his Android-powered Motorola Devour. As we reported last week, Ochocinco and Motorola launched OCNN as the first athlete-managed social news network.
This week Ochocinco announced he has enlisted help from New York Jet cornerback Darrelle Revis (@revis24). Revis will pair up with another newly announced reporter, and top five NFL prospect, Gerald McCoy (@GK_McCoy), to provide unique insider coverage at the NFL draft.
The team will deliver Facebook and Twitter updates throughout the draft using Motorola’s MOTOBLUR technology. If you would like to see live footage from the draft, check out the latest OCNN coverage videos at motorola.com/ocnn, and check back daily this week for the latest news from OCNN.
If you are a Verizon customer, don’t forget about the new NFL Mobile app that also has live draft coverage.
Testing began for the new T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide earlier this month, but the carrier has not officially announced the device yet. Early rumors placed the phone launching around May 17th, but new information suggest the release date has been pushed back a couple weeks. TmoNews is reporting the myTouch 3G Slide is now scheduled to appear around June 2nd.
T-Mobile is also set to launch the Android-powered Garminfone this spring so it will be interesting to see which phone hits first. Both devices feature similar hardware specs (600 MHz ARM11 with 3.5 inch display), but the Garminfone runs Android 1.6 while the Slide includes the new Android 2.1.
The Slide has generated the most buzz for an upcoming T-Mobile phone, while customers have been unimpressed with the Garminfone. We should be reviewing both phones in the next couple of months so we will put them head to head. For more details on the Slide, check out our early impressions and the screens from the Espresso UI.
It looks real to me. Our friend Rob from Phandroid has posted some pics of a T-Mobile myTouch 3G running a test version of the Android 2.2 firmware. Not a lot of new information was revealed, but image gives us a preview of a newer Android Market.
It appears the next update to the Market will allow for automatic updating of select apps. A check box is located on the app detail page which allows the user to toggle this feature on and off. This was a major gripe for many Android users, so it is nice to see Google address it.
We know Android 2.2 is coming and new versions of the Market have been tied with firmware upgrades in the past. Hopefully all will be revealed at next month’s Google I/O conference.
Allow automatic updating.
The Dell Streak 5 (previously known as the Mini 5) has been on our radar for awhile, but we have yet to get an official announcement or launch date. Some new leaked slides posted on Engadget suggest the Android tablet/phone will appear around September this year.
The Streak is expected to ship with Android 1.6, but an OTA update to Android 2.1 should be available near launch. We expect to see the device on AT&T and possibly T-Mobile. The leaked slides also confirm an optional WiFi only version will be available.
Users will have many accessories to choose from.
A full suite of accessories will be available at launch. The Dell Streak 5 supports HDMI out, but it requires an optional dock for $69. It also appears the Streak lacks a micro USB port as it uses a special 30 pin to USB cable for syncing and charging.
Potential customers will have a wide selection of casing options to personalize their device. A full gallery of custom designs will also be available, similar to what is offered on the Dell laptops.
The Streak WiFi only version should match up nicely with Apple’s iPod Touch. The Streak will have a Kindle book reader application, Amazon MP3 and Video on demand store, and a possible Hulu service (which has been spotted on other new Dell Android devices).
The Dell Streak will come in numerous colors.
Engadget obtained a leaked Dell Mobile roadmap which resulted in quite a few new Android devices. We already previewed the Flash, Smoke, and Thunder phones and now we learn of a new tablet codenamed the Dell Looking Glass.
The Looking Glass is actually the big brother of the Dell Streak 5 and it comes with a 7 inch WVGA display. The tablet will run Android 2.1 on a 1 GHz nVidia T20 processor. The nVidia Tegra 2 is impressive because it is based on an ARM Cortex-A9 multicore processor design. Other spec highlights include 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 512 MB ROM and 512 MB RAM, and 802.11n WiFi.
Optional accessories for the Looking Glass include a 3G modem (mini card type) and a digital TV module.
Expect the Looking Glass to launch in Q4 2010 on AT&T. Early renders for the device show U-Verse integration, which is AT&T’s fiber optic network.
The Aero and Streak are no longer the only Android phones in Dell’s lineup. Engadget has posted some leaked slides which reveal two new devices coming in Q4 2010 and early 2011.
The Dell Thunder.
First up is the Dell Thunder which runs Android 2.1 on a Snapdragon processor with a 4.1 inch WVGA OLED display. The high-end phone also features an 8 megapixel camera with on-device image (and video) editing for easy sharing.
Running on top of Android 2.1 will be Dell’s Stage UI. The new user interface looks like a mix of HTC’s Sense UI and Motorola’s Motoblur with its tight social integration.
One of the more interesting features of the Thunder is its unlimited online storage space. Dell will offer unlimited support from the clouds to store and retrieve all of your data.
Look for the phone to appear on AT&T around Q4 2010, with a possible 4G LTE version in late 2011.
The Dell Flash.
Next we have the Dell Flash which is said to run the upcoming Froyo build of Android on a Qualcomm 800 MHz MSM7230 processor paired with a 3.5 inch WVGA TFT display. Other notable features include a 5 megapixel camera, TV-out, and support for HSPA+ (up to 14.4 Mbps down, 5.6 Mbps up).
This device is slated for AT&T and could appear in Q1 2011. The Flash will feature the same Stage UI and also offer unlimited syncing with the clouds.
The Dell Smoke.
Finally we have the Dell Smoke which offers the most interesting form factor. Dell has paired a portrait QWERTY keyboard with a 2.8 inch QVGA display. The Smoke also features the 800MHz MSM7230, 5 megapixel camera, and HSPA 14.4Mbps. Look for this phone to be dropping in Q2 2011.