The Android Market is finally open for business. After several months of prodding and frequent complaints, Google has officially announced paid app support in 18 additional countries. It’s been a long time coming, but users in the following countries can purchase apps from the Market: Latin America: Argentia, Brazil, Mexico Europe: Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden Asia: Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Taiwan. Combined with the 14 nations that are already had this critical feature, this brings the total number of nations with paid app purchasing support to 32. The nations listed have also been granted the ability to sell applications, bringing that total to 29 countries. I’m sure by now you’ve already run to the Android Market to purchase some of those great paid apps that you’ve had your eye on and were previously unavailable. Well, keep in mind that some apps may still be blocked from your nation because of developer choices to exclude sales there, or the update may not have made its way to your carrier or device. Overall, I’m sure you’re just ecstatic to finally have a new world of apps open to you. Go explore! Image and confirmation via [ Google ]
Read More...Posts made in September, 2010
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It’s unclear whether this quite handsome, titanium clad unit ever will be released outside the realms of China, but judging from the English menus seen in the photos, it just might be. The N930 is Coolpad’s first attempt at manufacturing a phone running Google’s OS, and the company has equipped its first-born Android with ceramic buttons, a titanium body and a 3.5-inch capacitive ASV LCD touchscreen with a WVGA (480
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Sprint has been promising its 4G WiMax network would be coming soon, but it forgot to mention that the biggest and most influential cities in the U.S. – Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco – would be among the last to shed that “Coming soon” tag. Sprint is still promising to deliver 4G to those major markets shortly, and the carrier is showing how it’s getting 4G ready. Below is a video showing off the cell sites that Sprint is building across the Big Apple, which explains the set-up process for 4G. As shown in the video, Sprint is already testing 4G in certain areas on New York. I’ve managed to latch onto 1Mbps speeds in the Time Warner Center and about 3 Mbps further downtown. Speeds will vary when Sprint follows Clearwire and makes 4G in New York official. Below is a video showing how Sprint is building its network in “crowded and complex areas” like NYC, LA, and San Fran. Good job, Sprint; but we want more markets and less viral videos, please. via IntoMobile
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Google Voice recently provided a useful widget that makes it easy to toggle between call modes. A new app eliminates the need to toggle at all; instead it automatically decides whether to use Google Voice based on area code dialed or the contacts group to which the person belongs. Voice Plus automates Google Voice calling modes. If you call Canada or England often and use Voice for international calls, Voice Plus will recognize the 905 or 44 being dialed and immediately switch to Google Voice calling. Meanwhile, dialing a New York 212 number will use your regular phone number. Users can also choose to set certain contacts to use Google Voice. The set-up is a little wonky but works. If you have a group of people who only have your GV number, go into the Contacts section of Gmail (on your desktop becaue it’s much faster) and add those people to a new group called “UseGoogleVoice” (or any name as long as it matches the “GV Group Name” setting in Voice Plus). From now on, dialing those people should identify you through Google Voice rather than your native phone number. Happy calling! Install this app
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When the first videos of the Desire HD’s ROM started hitting the interwebs everyone was freaking out about how fast the device “boots”. We use the term boot lightly as we are pretty sure the now infamous HTC “Fast Boot” is just some sort of low power hibernate on/off mode; but nonetheless, it is pretty awesome. Because of the outburst of demand for such a feature it looks like the next version of CyanogenMod (CM6.1) may just include it. Cyanogen added the feature and shows it off in the video below. Although it isn’t necessarily as fast as the HTC version, it is still being worked on and may just get to that speed. What’s a couple of seconds anyways? The speed at which the device “boots” is extremely impressive and will be a great added feature to the upcoming version of CyanogenMod. Personally, I don’t really have a use for this type of thing as my phone is on all day long. If I do turn it off and on it’s to do a soft reset or quick install of a theme or ROM. I could see myself using it in a meeting or class situation, but even then I just have Tasker turn silent mode on. I see it as a “check-box” feature added to CyanogenMod and think that it will be a nifty add-on. Via [ Phandroid ]
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Sony Ericsson has a new accessory for Android phones in the works called LiveView ™. The device is similar in appearance to a digital wrist-watch, and it’s meant to act as a second display for your phone. Besides showing instant notifications for text messages and incoming calls, LiveView™ can display Facebook and Twitter updates, as well as RSS feeds and calendar reminders. The device may also serve as a remote control for your music app, a phone finder and a regular watch. LiveView™ isn’t just intended for Sony Ericsson devices, since it should be compatible with most Bluetooth enabled phones running Android 2.0 and above. The functionality of the accessory can be extended with various LiveView compatible third-party apps. An application that has already implemented LiveView support is the work-out tool SportyPal . One battery charge will typically last 4 days according to SE, and the accessory measures 3.5 x 3.5 × 1.1cm. LiveView™ features a 1.3-inch OLED display with a 128×128 resolution and will be available in select markets Q4 2010. Music player control Play, pause, next, previous track and volume adjustment. Track title display Social Networking Services Display Facebook™ updates. Display Twitter™ updates Messaging Display incoming texts. Display RSS feeds Calls Show phone number for incoming calls. Mute ringer for incoming phone calls. List of missed calls. Other Calendar reminders. Find your phone. Display time and date. Connectivity Bluetooth™ technology. Micro USB connector. Bluetooth™ range approximately 10m Screen 1,3”colour OLED display, 128×128 pixels Compatibility Compatible with the Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10, Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 mini and Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 mini pro and most other brands on Android 2.0 and above. For updated compability chart see www.sonyericsson.com/liveview Facts 1) 2) Size:3.5 x 3.5×1.1cm. Typical consumer battery usage time: 4 days Availability and versions Available in selected markets from Q4 2010 Colour Black Standard kit content Sony Ericsson LiveView™ Clip Wristband MicroUSB charger User guide Via [ Sony Ericsson LiveView , SweDroid ]
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People can say what they wish about Verizon’s recent antics, but make no mistake about it: nobody pushes as hard on Android as Big Red. The big brand deals and the big ticket devices seem to keep drifting towards Verizon, and this may be the latest. A new HTC device with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard has been spotted by BGR . The device looks like the unnamed Verizon phone we saw a few weeks back, but with a different color scheme and front finish. The phone looks gorgeous and will probably be the first Sense phone with a physical keyboard to make it to the States. Rumors paint this device as a CDMA/GSM world phone capable of being used almost anywhere, which is important for business users who want an Android phone that will perform as well in Las Vegas as it will in London. And yes, that’s a Bing logo on the homescreen. Cue angry comments in 5, 4, 3…
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Nokia’s Symbian powered handsets are able to say the name of who’s calling, all while playing the default ringtone. It lets you know who is giving you a ring without even having to look at your phone. An app that brings this kind of functionality to Android along with plenty of extras is SayMyName Dessert . The open-source (always a nice bonus) app has been around for awhile now, but the developer recently released a new version that should take care of nearly all known issues. The interface of SayMyName just consists of a series of settings, but all the interesting stuff goes on behind the scenes. Besides saying the name of a caller out loud, as well as the name of the person who just sent you an email or an SMS, the app can automatically read entire text messages and the subject of emails. Let’s say you just got an email. Usually you need to pick up your device to find out who sent you the message and what it’s about, but with SayMyName you can not only know the sender, but the subject of the email as well without moving a muscle. SayMyName Dessert is available for free in the Market, and if you want to support the developer you can purchase the donate version for €1.50. There is also a version of the app that is simply called SayMyName, but it should only be installed if you can’t find Dessert. The bottom line: if you feel you need this kind of functionality, you need this app. KEY FEATURES Reads text messages, Gmails and K9-Mail Calls out the name of who’s calling Mute gestures Customizable Discreet mode (headphones only) Bluetooth support Supports Locale and Tasker Can handle non-Latin languages App: SayMyName Dessert Price: Free (open-source) Website: http://code.google.com/p/roadtoadc/
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French telecom operator Orange, the fifth largest carrier in the world, has now released its San Francisco (a.k.a. ZTE Blade) Android handset in the UK. The remarkable thing about this particular device isn’t the phone itself, but its price: for just £99 ($150) off-contract, you get a 3.5-inch capacitive AMOLED touchscreen with multitouch and a WVGA resolution, 424MB of RAM, Android 2.1, a FM radio, 3.2MP camera, 3G+ (7.2 Mbit/s) as well as Bluetooth. It’s powered by a Qualcomm MSM7227 600MHz processor – the same CPU that is featured on the HTC Legend and Sony Ericsson X10 Mini, and it has a decent Adreno 200 GPU. The San Francisco supposedly reaches 38 FPS in the 3D benchmark app Neocore 3D, which is 10 FPS higher than the HTC Desire, Nexus One and Sony Ericsson X10. An Orange SIM card needs to be purchased for £10 along with the device, but it’s still a great price for such a comparatively capable Android phone. Head to the Orange web store if you want to grab a San Francisco yourself. Via [ EuroDroid , SweDroid ]
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So I’m minding my business watching the pre-show of This Week in Google and Leo Laporte showed a great tip that I don’t remember using before. Maybe you’ve stumbled across it, but on the off chance that you haven’t, here goes. Whenever you get the urge to share a webpage that you come across when browsing, users typically press Menu > More > Share in their browser. However, there’s an easier method that requires only-long pressing on the address bar. Tap and hold the address bar and the “Share page URL” dialog will appear. This trick works in the default Android browser and Xscope, but not Dolphin, Opera, or Skyfire. We’ve long stressed the importance of using the long-press function to discover features that you often don’t consider. However, that was mainly for the homescreen. It’s good to know that you may find similar value within certain apps. Have you noticed long-press shortcuts in any other apps? Via [ Leo Laporte , TWIG ]
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An update to the Angry Birds Lite beta application is now available in the Android Market. The game is in many ways what users have already seen but there have been some improvements made as developer, Rovio, works to get Angry Birds ready for official release. The most noticeable change is support for more phones. Several users of the HTC EVO reported that the game would not play on their phone, but I just downloaded Angry Birds and it works on my EVO. Gameplay is slower than expected, but it’s finally operational. Other users reported being unable to play on Froyo or custom ROM’s, but there’s an increased chance that they should find better results now. Keep in mind that this is still a beta and requires some polish before the app is ready for sale and a full release. To entice players to provide feedback in a survey, Rovio Mobile promises to give ten testers Angry Birds Toys. Download the game from the Android Market and then fill-out the survey .
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Motorola has raced to the front of the pack with its Droid phones, but the company will be playing catch-up when it comes to the tablet market. Despite original rumors that it would have an Android-based tablet in stores by the 2010 holiday season, Motorola will not deliver a tablet until 2011. According to the Wall Street Journal , Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha said at an investor conference that the company will offer a tablet next year. “We want to make sure that any tablet that we deliver is competitive in the marketplace, and I think all of us will make sure that we will only deliver that when that occurs…Hopefully, that’s early next year.” – Sanjay Jha Time is of the essence, especially in light of the disappointment caused by the Dell Streak’s long waiting period and Samsung announcing that all four major U.S. carriers will offer its Galaxy Tab . When Motorola delivers its Android tablet next year, it will be several months behind competitors and miss out on the largest consumer spending period of the year. However, it may be better to have a great product that’s late than have a poor one that’s on time. We could see a tablet-optimized version of Android ready by then, so perhaps Motorola will be able to succeed in the tablet game after all.
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Droid Eris owners will suffer the same fate as their Sprint HTC Hero kin; no Froyo for you. ComputerWorld reports that Verizon has officially confirmed that Android 2.2 will not come to the Eris, the first HTC Android device that the carrier offered. After a long period of remaining silent on the issue and working on getting Froyo to its other devices (Droid, Droid Incredible, Droid X), Verizon has finally admitted that Android 2.1 is the end of the line for Eris updates. “We have other options in Android devices, so this is part of the normal evolution of our portfolio,” Verizon spokesperson Brenda Raney told ComputerWorld in an email. So what are consumer’s options? For starters, they can try workarounds for key Froyo features like ChrometoPhone and Flash video. The Android app LinkPush mimics ChrometoPhone functionality, and browser alternative Skyfire can make some Flash video compatible on the Eris. However, there will not be a fix for the sizeable speed increases that come with Froyo’s Just-in-Time compiler (JIT). For a more plentiful Froyo experience, users will have to root their phone and hope someone develops a working ROM that supports Android 2.2. I’ve seen AOSP or CyanogenMod ported ROM’s, but I’m not aware of any Sense 2.2 ROM’s for the Eris. Looks like people will have to be satisfied with Éclair or purchase a new phone capable of the update.
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The Samsung Media Hub debuted today as Samsung’s play for making its devices more suited for consuming multimedia. However, only the U.S. versions of those devices will be able to access it. An information sheet next to a demo unit here at the Samsung Experience event in New York City lists the media hub as a Galaxy exclusive; however the sheet notes that it applies to the U.S. only. I spoke with a Samsung rep to confirm and that is indeed the case (this may have been said during the presentation, so forgive me if you knew that already). It’s likely that because Media Hub uses television partners with U.S. sources – Nickelodeon, MTV, NBC, Comedy Central, etc. – that licensing deals would have prevented them from being included on international versions. Multiple Samsung reps I asked were unable to answer if international versions would be available but repeated the similar line that they are focused on launching in the United States. Here is a hands-on video with the media hub feature. View our original announcement article for more information on the Galaxy Tab. Click here to see image
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Samsung invited a large group of journalists and bloggers to visit its New York City store and see the unveiling of Media Hub. The house was packed, and in many ways, so is Samsung Media Hub. Launched tonight for Samsung Galaxy S devices, Media Hub is a content center that houses a variety of video entertainment options. There are television episodes for TV addicts, and a large library of movies available for enhancing the media experience on the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S phones. Tonight was the coming out party for the Galaxy Tab in the U.S., and the previously-seen-at-IFA tablet will work well with Media Hub. The 7-inch tablet with phone capabilitie s is heavily geared towards content consumption, however the Android Market is heavy on apps and light on the entertainment works that a device of this nature can use to its advantage. That’s where Media Hub comes in; here’s what we’ve learned about it so far tonight. It’s a cloud-based media streaming option. Users will be able to purchase a television episode or movie and watch it on multiple devices New releases and libraries will be available for purchase or rent. You will also be able to get TV episodes the next day after original air date, so wake up and watch 30 Rock on the way to work Friday morning. Share purchased content with up to 5 devices with Media Hub. Watch on Galaxy Tab, your Epic 4G, and your kids can watch on their Vibrant, Captivate, or Fascinate. AllShare to use DLNA media sharing from tablet to other compatible devices NBC, MTV, and Paramount are among the companies named as content partners. Looks like you won’t be able to escape Jersey Shore here either. UPDATE The Galaxy Tab does not support phone calls in the U.S. version.
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The Samsung Galaxy Tab is coming to all four major carriers in the United States. That’s right: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon will all arrive in your local stores. No need to worry about having to switch to a new carrier. This follows the same available-everywhere strategy that Samsung Mobile embraced for its Galaxy S line of phones. Samsung has big plans for the Galaxy Tab, the first Android-based portable device to warrant a reasonable comparison to Apple’s genre-leading iPad. According to Omar Khan, Samsung’s Chief Strategy Officer, “The Galaxy Tab will set the standard for tablets.” At 13 ounces, the Tab weighs a little more than a full can of soda. To illustrate its svelte size, Khan managed to slip the Tab into his coat inside pocket and jeans back pocket. The device packs Swype for single-hand gesture typing, an enhanced TFT LCD screen with 1024 x 600 resolution, and Android 2.2. Will that entice you? Samsung thinks so.
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The Samsung Epic 4G will get an update to version DI07 shortly. The over the air update, initiated through settings or a notification, will provide some bug fixes and the ability to run the Samsung Media Hub expected to be unveiled tonight. There are some useful fixes like improved running of the 3G Hotspot mode to conserve battery and use 32GB microSD cards that were formatted within the device. However, the feature that users will most care about is Media Hub, Samsung’s upcoming content distribution tool. Hub is expected to deliver eBooks, music, and videos compatible with mobile devices. The upcoming Samsung tablet is ideal for such material, but the Epic 4G’s pretty but sizeable 4-inch screen should be able to handle it. Be sure to follow @androinica.com on Twitter tonight as we live tweet from the Samsung unveiling in New York City. Here’s the full list of updates found in the Epic. Hit the source link for directions on how check for the update. Source: Samsung via AndroidCentral DI07 Update Details Please see the list below for details of some changes found in the DI07 update. Optimized, HotSpot in 3G idle mode to help conserve battery power Optimized, Applied Qualcomm patch for performance enhancement Added, Media Hub Modified, WiMAX exit delay Modified, UI “Noisey” One to “Noisy One” Fixed, 32GB mSD card is not recongized when formatted in device Fixed, When playing video, the playback is paused if a headset is connected/disconnected Fixed, Sorry popup when DRM file is selected in the Gallery Fixed, Hotspot registration/deregistration
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Does your city have an NFL franchise? If the answer is yes and you are a Verizon customer, you just might be among the first to experience 4G on Big Red. eWeek reports that Verizon will have 30 large U.S. cities up and running with LTE by the end of 2010. Verizon executives recently promised to have its LTE network operational in 30 major metropolitan areas by the end of the year, with the remaining markets to gain access in stages until 2013. The NFL has 32 teams, but the “shortage” of 30 could be due to four franchises representing the same metropolitan area (Giants and Jets in New York, 49ers and Raiders in San Francisco/Oakland). Verizon declined to say the order in which those cities would receive service, according to eWeek. It will be interesting to hear the reasoning behind why Verizon opted to choose “NFL cities.” It could be Verizon running a marketing tie-in with its substantial ties to the NFL or merely the fact that most major markets in the United States also have an NFL franchise (except for Los Angeles, of course). We have seen with the rollouts of Sprint’s WiMax and T-Mobile’s HSPA+ networks that a new network isn’t promised to major cities first. However, both have been working hard to increase coverage and attract more customers. Let’s see if those efforts are augmented once Verizon jumps into the mix.
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Today, Motorola purchased Aloqa, a location-aware recommendation app for Android. With Aloqa just passing one million users in the last few days, it’s no wonder that Motorola would want to get in the game of location aware services, especially when they are being used so much on their handsets. Aloqa is a location-aware app that allows the user to set up channels of the type of information and businesses that they are interested in. The app uses the device’s location and provides the user with aggregated suggestions of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, stores, etc. that they may be interested in. Aloqa also recently launched a “Wall” feature where users close by can post status updates or even pictures. Motorola is adding Aloqa to their mobile application properties because location based data is only going to get more and more popular as new smartphone users enter the market. Moto wants to add this to their mobile strategy by using Aloqa’s technologies to provide a “context delivery architecture” within Motoblur (Motorola’s custom UI that sits on top of Android). This may mean a way for your phone to change user settings based on your location or some other type of context. This could help Moto differentiate themselves with Motoblur, especially as the Motorblur line and brand still seems very unfocused. Hopefully Aloqa can be used and built upon to add custom location-based features to Moto handsets. Aloqa also let their users know that they are committed to them and that their service will only be improved after being purchased by the mobile giant.
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