Skype’s Verizon exclusivity waning, app coming to Android Market

A Skype PR rep confirmed to SkatterTech today that an Android app is coming to the Android Market, never mind that it’s currently exclusive to Verizon. In an e-mail, the rep wrote: "We will be bringing a direct to consumer app to the Android marketplace later this year. This application will be available for all consumers [...]

Android Central Podcast Episode 14

Short Description:  Phil and Jerry spill everything they've learned about Android 2.2 Froyo, Phil's time with the Evo 4G and still find time for a bunch of your voicemails and e-mails. Listen in! Podcast MP3 URL:  http://media.libsyn.com/media/androidcentral/acpc14.mp3 Android 2.2 Froyo features Video walkthough Benchmarking Android 2.2 (Froyo) and the JIT against Android 2.1 (Eclair) Google [...]

Hands-on with the LG Optimus (GT540) [#io2010]

[YouTube link] And here’s a look at the LG Optimus — aka the GT540 — which we previously toyed with at CES in January. Nothing’s really changed since then. Same 3-inch HVGA touchscreen (no keyboard on this one), same Android 1.6, same 3.1-megapixel camera. We know LG’s capable of making some above-average devices — we’ve just yet to [...]

Android Quick App – Sirius XM satellite radio

Finally, for those of us waiting patiently for Sirius XM to bring satellite radio to Android, our day has come. The same satellite radio you’ve come to know and love in your car (it’s a life-saver) and on your desktop is now available on your Android phone. For those of you new to satellite radio, [...]

Froyo Feature: Screen brightness widget

The power widget you see here isn’t really new in Android 2.2, but it’s been tweaked for Froyo. The screen brightness selector now includes an auto brightness setting (using the ambient light sensor) in addition to the three static settings (low, medium and high). It’s a nice little addition for those of us who prefer [...]

The rumors are true: Qik video chat will cost extra on the Evo 4G

Time to get the pitchforks out, people. We slept on it in hopes it was all a nightmare, but the ugly rumor that began yesterday (first by Android Guys and later confirmed by Engadget) is true: Video chat on Qik on the Evo 4G is going to cost an extra $4.99 a month, payable by Paypal. It’s [...]

Hands-on with Fring video calling on the Sprint HTC Evo 4G

[YouTube link] It’s a brave new world with the addition of video chat on the Sprint HTC Evo 4G. And what better way to break in Fring’s new free video calling service than with one of our deepest darkest competitors dear friends in this Android world. In the video above, we chat it up with Taylor [...]

Hands-on with Fring video calling on the Sprint HTC Evo 4G

[YouTube link] It’s a brave new world with the addition of video chat on the Sprint HTC Evo 4G. And what better way to break in Fring’s new free video calling service than with one of our deepest darkest competitors dear friends in this Android world. In the video above, we chat it up with Taylor [...]

Sling Player, Android, Evo 4G – ’nuff said

[YouTube link] Not sure which one of these we wan to see released more — the Evo 4G, or Sling Player. Regardless, here they are together. That’s right, Sling Player on the Evo 4G. It’s still in private beta and said to be "coming soon," so you’ll have to make do with this teaser for [...]

Evo 4G’s front-facing camera shoots images in reverse

Notice anything unusual in this picture? (Besides the obvious, of course — I didn’t do a thing with my hair today.) That’s right, the front-facing 1.3MP camera on the Sprint HTC Evo 4G records things backward, at the moment. (Our pal Andrew from Androinica broke the news in a much cooler test.) As to if and when it’ll [...]

Fring nearly as excited about the Evo 4G as you, launches video calling

[YouTube link] The folks at Fring are screaming from the rooftops today about their latest update, which brings video calling to the popular VOIP-chat (and now video) service. Using the new Evo 4G (you might have seen us write about it a little lately) and its front-facing camera, you can call your friends, and each have [...]

Google snags Palm webOS UI guru Matias Duarte to work on Android

You might have heard us (erm, OK, me) gush on occasion about certain aspects of Palm’s webOS user interface. Now let us (erm, me again) gush a little about Matia Duarte, who has left Palm and is now User Experience Director for Android. And he’s a friendly face among the Android leadership, having worked on [...]

Verizon reportedly ended intership for kid who snapped this pic

You mean you can get fired (in this case, it was an intern whose stint ended all of a week early) if you find an unreleased phone and take a picture of it, which your "friend" sends to a tech blog? Go figure. Discuss. [via Gizmodo] This is a post by Android Central. It is sponsored [...]

Facebook for Android having hiccups today

Looks like the Facebook Android app is having a bit of a conniption fit today. Could just be network problems, or maybe it’s unhappy that my privacy settings quit grabbing their ankles today. Anybody else having issues? (Thanks, @vizzle07 and @hmdearras) This is a post by Android Central. It is sponsored by the Android Central [...]

Froyo Feature: A better Android Market

Along with Android 2.2 comes a new version of the Android Market. While we still wish something could be done in regards to content (the Wild West still is in effect), Google’s begun to at least clean up the interface a bit. Comments are now in their own tab — no more scrolling down to see [...]

Hands-on with the LG Eve (GW620) [#io2010]

[YouTube link] Here’s a look at the LG Eve — aka the GW620 — which was announced last fall and later released in the U.K. but is nary to be seen here in the states. Specs include a 3-inch HVGA touchscreen and horizontal sliding QWERTY keyboard. It also sports a 5-megapixel camera and FM radio, all [...]

Exploded Andy shows Android’s heart, brain (but where’s the JIT?)

Just look at that. Somebody’s Android’s gone and exploded all over this poster, spilling the heart and brain for all to see (and putting it in a convenient T-shirt and poster form and making it available for purchase). One thing’s missing, though: The speed-demon Just-in-Time compiler. Maybe that’ll be in Exploded Andy 2.2. [Exploded Andy via Gizmodo] [...]

Sprint Evo 4G software walkthrough

If you get a sense of deja vu watching this software walkthrough of the Sprint HTC Evo 4G, we don’t blame you. We’ve seen the new Sense user interface on a number of devices (the HTC Legend, Droid Incredible and Desire, to name three) since we first got our hands on it at Mobile World Congress, and [...]

Froyo Feature: Android 2.2 screen rotation

[YouTube link] Another welcome feature uncovered by many of you in Android 2.2 is the ability to work in apps through 270 degrees of rotation. That is, if you turn the phone to the landscape position to the left, it’ll rotate. And it’ll rotate to the right now, as well. But, wait, there’s more. The car [...]

The future of print online is in a 500MB download? (We don’t think so)

One of the pictures you see here represents the online future of print journalism in a sleek, easy-to-access open Google web app format. The other comes in a 500-megabyte (that’s half a gigabyte, people) download on a tightly locked-down device. Above is Sports Illustrated editor Terry McDonell at Google I/O, showing us the new HTML5-optimized [...]

T-Mobile Garminfone coming June 9 for $199 after rebate

The good news, for those of you hankering for Garmin’s special blend of navigation software, is that the Garminfone will be available June 9 on T-Mobile. What we’re still scratching our heads over, however, is the $200 price tag — and that’s after the $50 mail-in rebate card that you won’t get for a month [...]

Docs to Go version 3.0 [#io2010]

[YouTube link] Sat down (erm, stood up) at Google IO with our pals from Dataviz to take a look at Docs to Go version 3.0. We got a glimpse of it at Mobile World Congress in February, but now it’s ready for public consumption, though it won’t be available in the Android Market for a [...]

Google Android developer explains more about Dalvik and the JIT in Froyo

Don’t worry so much about not understanding that headline. We don’t blame you. The Dalvik Virtual Machine is a behind-the-scenes tool that most of you never see, let alone need to worry about. Same goes for the Just-in-Time compiler — aka the JIT. But those two things are among the main reasons Android 2.2 — [...]

Shots of space – from the HTC Incredible

Here’s ye another example of why our forum members are the best. Locoman shot this picture of the moon through a 10-inch Dobsonian telescope — with the HTC Incredible, putting that 8-megapixel camera to good use. But it gets even better. Check out his shot of Saturn — yeah, the one with the rings that’s way, [...]

Three-quarters of all Android phones are in North America, AdMob reports

Mobile advertising server AdMob — whose purchase by Google, by the way, was approved by the feds last Friday — just released its April numbers today. (AdMob servers up many of the in-app ads you see on your Android phone.) Let’s look at the bullet points: Some 75 percent of unique Android devices are in North America. [...]

Yes, the version of Froyo we’re using isn’t final, but you knew that, right?

Yes, folks, we’re well aware that the Froyo ROM we’re all running on our Nexus Ones isn’t a final build. We said as much on Monday, and it was confirmed by Google just a couple of hours later and has been reiterated several times since. Think it through: The Froyo update first started showing up on a few [...]

How to turn off Sense on the Evo 4G and return the stock Android home screens

We still think it’s kind of cheating to want to run an HTC phone without the Sense user interface, but we’re also champions of choice. And so, we bring you instructions on how to turn off the Sense UI on the Sprint Evo 4G. And we ran a couple more benchmarking tests to see if there was [...]

Froyo Feature: Easily switch between your eight-most recent applications

We’ve heard people on other platforms complain that it’s not easy to switch apps on Android. Apparently they weren’t aware that all you have to do is hold down the Home button, and you get an app switcher. And it’s gotten better in Android 2.2, with Froyo giving access to the eight most recent applications, [...]

Benchmarking Android 2.2 (Froyo) and the JIT against Android 2.1 (Eclair)

[YouTube link] We were there when Google showed off the power of Android 2.2 and Froyo’s new Just-in-Time compiler — think zoom zoom! — but you know the old saying … trust, by verify. And so we shall. Above we have the Nexus One with Froyo, the Evo 4G with Android 2.1 and Sense, and [...]

Sprint Evo 4G sized up alongside the Palm Pre

We hear ya. There are a lot of you out there on Sprint who are looking at your Palm Pre and wondering how it would be to hold the Evo 4G in its place. Ask and ye shall receive. After the break are more photos and video of the Android 2.1 Evo 4G alongside the [...]

Froyo Feature: A better stock Android keyboard

Not quite sure the stock Android 2.2 keyboard is going to take over the top spot from some of our favorites, but it’s definitely getting better. Used to be to type a number or symbol, you’d have to hit the button at the lower left, then hit the key you want. Let’s just say I [...]

Vlingo speech app now available in the Market

We’ve been using Vlingo during its brief beta process, and now you can too, as it’s finally in the Android Market. In a nutshell, Vlingo takes the place of Google’s built-in voice-to-text service, but it goes even farther (and dare we say, at times works better). In addition to allowing you to dictate just about [...]

Video: Multitouch on the Sprint Evo 4G

[YouTube link] Let’s take a quick look at multitouch on the Sprint Evo 4G, shall we? In daily use, it’s been holding up just fine. Pinch-to-zoom works as it should, and the touchscreen is as responsive as you’d expect. In comparing it to the Nexus One — which has well-documented quirks with its touchscreen — [...]

Hands-on with the LG Ally [#io2010]

[YouTube link] That’s right, we’re not nearly done with the Google IO cover. Here we have the LG Ally, a mid-level Android phone that’s going for $99 after rebate with Verizon. In and of itself, it’s not a bad little phone. But when you consider that you can get another horizontal slider on Verizon — what’s it [...]

Sprint Evo 4G hardware hands-on

The Sprint Evo 4G isn’t all that new to us, having been at its announcement at CTIA in March and its coming-out party in New York City just a few short weeks ago. But it’s finally time to properly put the 4.3-inch WiMax monster through its paces. And we’re going to start with the hardware. [...]

Froyo Feature: How to use the Google Chrome to Phone Extension

Another of the very cool features we saw during the Android 2.2. Froyo announcement at Google IO was the "Chrome to Phone" extension, available for Google’s Chrome browser. In a nutshell, it sends a web page from your desktop or laptop browser to your phone, in just a matter of seconds. Here’s how you do it: Download [...]

For what it’s worth: Motorola says Droid getting Froyo ‘in the near future’

OMG! The Motorola Droid’s getting the Android 2.2 Froyo update "in the near future." Which makes sense, because we don’t have it at the moment, and we can’t get it in the past. So the future makes sense, right? As for the "near future?" Heh. We’ve heard that before, right? Here’s the actual quote from Moto: “We’re excited to [...]

Froyo Feature: New security lock options

For those of you who worry about locking down your phone — just in case it gets lost or stolen or your wife likes to check up on your calling and browsing habits — you now have a couple of new options in Android 2.2 Froyo. The old pattern unlock is still there, and works [...]

Froyo Feature: USB and wireless hotspot tethering

Internet tethering — over USB and as a wireless hotspot — is one of the bigger features built into Android 2.2 Froyo. And it’s stupidly easy to set up and use. Just dive into the main wireless settings, tap the appropriate button, and connect your computer. Check out the video after the break as we [...]

Why carriers need time to upgrade their Android versions [#io2010]

This is Vic Gundotra, vice president of engineering with Android. And he’s about to say something you need to listen to. Something you all need to listen to. And when he’s finished, go back and listen to it again. And when your ears are done steaming and you’re through stomping your feet into the ground, [...]

Android Central Podcast Episode 13

Android 2.2 – Froyo and Flash Google IO Day 2 Keynote: Froyo time! [#io2010] Android 2.2, Froyo, officially announced Most 2010 HTC Android phones will get Froyo …in 2010 No Froyo just yet, Google says Android 2.2 / Froyo to bring Bluetooth voice dialing Google takes plenty of shots at Apple Android 2.2 SDK available [...]

Android 2.2 Froyo video walkthrough on the Nexus One

Here you go, folks, the down and dirty walkthrough with Froyo — aka Android 2.2 — on the Nexus One. Remember that there’s a lot of back-end stuff that’s been optimized, and we’re really just starting to scratch the surface. But here’s a quick look at some of the highlights of the latest version of [...]

How’s your color reproduction look on Android 2.2?

Now we don’t mean to cause any undue alarm here, but check out the live wallpaper on the Nexus One above. It doesn’t reproduce perfectly in the picture, but there’s definitely some major color banding going on, just like we saw with the photo gallery in Android 2.1, first with the Nexus One, and later [...]

Now that we have Froyo, it’s time to feed Flash to Android 2.2

Stop. Do not pass go. Now that you have Froyo up and running on your Nexus One, it’s time to take part in the Adobe Flash 10.1 beta. Just click here in your Android browser, install it, and start watching Flash video, playing Flash games and doing all that other stuff that Android and Flash do [...]

Running a modded Nexus One? Here’s the easiest way to get Froyo

For those of you who are running rooted and ROM’d Nexus Ones with a custom recovery module — either Amon Ra or ClockworkMod or the like — it’s now stupidly easy to upgrade to Android 2.2 Paul at MoDaCo did the legwork. All you have to do is download his patched (and already rooted) version [...]

Might this be the next Droid?

  Let’s all pause from the Froyo mania for a second and ponder the above picture, brought to us via Howard Forums. This purportedly is the Motorola Shadow, which kind of looks like a mashup between an HTC and Moto device, borrowing a number of stylings from the former. That’s about all we know at [...]

How to update Android 2.2 Froyo to your Nexus One, the manual way

It took what for most Nexus One owners seemed to be a lifetime, but we now have the download location for Android 2.2 (Froyo). Here’s what you need to do to flash it to your phone: Update: Yeah. Hang on a sec guys. Sorry bout that. We’re doing ours right now, so stand buy, and [...]

New Android app crash report tool already up and running

One thing that apparently already is working its way out in the open (unlike the mythical Nexus One Froyo update that’s only reaching a blessed few) is the new crash report tool for Android applications. We got a look at this during the keynote on Thursday at Google IO, and it’s a nice little feature. [...]

A handful of lucky Nexus One owners seeing Android 2.2 Froyo already

So here’s the thing: TechCrunch’s M.G. Siegler apparently awoke to an over-the-air update of Android 2.2 (Froyo) on his Nexus One. And immediately, everybody and their mother started posting "Froyo being pushed out to the Nexus One!" Thing is, only a scant few people seem to actually have gotten the update thus far. So maybe it’s being [...]

Hands-on with the Bump contact-sharing app for Android [#io2010]

See here! There’s the Bump contact-sharing Android application. And it’s just like it sounds: Bump your phone against another with the app, and it shares the info. Oh, and see that iPhone cowering in the corner? It’s there for a reason. You can now Bump from one platform to another, which has to be some crime [...]

The Great Wall of Android [#io2010]

Take a glass case. Fill it with a boatload of Android phones, tablets and MIDs. Stick it in the middle of a conference full of Android faithful. What do you get? A neon-green siren that beckoned even the most seasoned smartphone veteran. What all is in the case? Check out the video after the break.  read [...]

Hands-on with the Android Kindle app [#io2010]

The Android Amazon Kindle app: Coming this summer. The Android Amazon Kindle hands-on video: Coming right now, after the break. It’s not a bad little app. Download and read ebooks right on your phone, change the font size and background color, and all the usual bells and whistles you’d expect. Check it out. read more

What else is going on at Google IO?

What!?!?!?! No Froyo? No Android 2.2? No Flash? Sorry, folks, the first day of Google I/O is a slight snoozer as far as hard Android news is concerned. (Don’t worry, it’s coming on Thursday.) But there are plenty of application developers and even some new hardware (new to you, anyway) here at Moscone West. So stay tuned. [...]

Sports Illustrated shows what print publications can (and should) do online

Sure, HTML5 is important and all — but let’s face it, most of us are more concerned with the end result. And one of the more impressive things we saw at this morning’s keynote was Sports Illustrated’s HTML5-based web version of its magazine. Let’s talk more about that after the break, and what it may [...]

Google IO Keynote liveblog — live at noon EDT / 9 a.m. PDT

We’re live at the Google IO keynote at Moscone West in San Francisco, where we expect to see the latest version of Android — called Froyo — announced any second now. We hope. Only one way to find out. Join us after the break to get it all as it happens. read more

Android, iPhone now make up one-quarter of all smartphones

How about another story about just how quickly Android’s going? According to analyst Gartner, Android had a 1.9 percent worldwide smartphone market share in the first quarter of 2009. Fast forward to the first quarter of 2010, and that number has jumped to 9.6 percent. (Obviously the success of the Motorola Droid and its variants [...]

Google co-founder says bad apps to blame for poor Android battery life

Google co-founder gets a day’s life out of his Android battery, and he thinks you should, too. Speaking at Google’s Zeitgeist forum (alongside CEO Eric Schmidt), Page said poorly written third-party apps likely are to blame. "I have noticed there are a few people who have phones where there is software running in the background [...]

Android 2.1 for the Sprint Hero is now officially official (update with link)

If you weren’t quite up to installing the leaked Android 2.1 update for the Sprint HTC Hero, fair not — it’s now all official and everything on Sprint’s Web site, sort of. It’s listed as being released today on Sprint’s support page, though the download link is notably absent still. Note that the upgrade will wipe [...]

Official Google I/O T-shirt has a few surprises [#io2010]

Here’s the official Google I/O T-shirt — and will you look at that, it’s got some QR codes on it. Any attendees want to spill the beans as to what they link to?  Update: Fine. Spoilsports.

Incredible’s screen causing consternation for some – how about you?

There’s a bit of gnashing of teeth apparently going on over the HTC Droid Incredible and its capacitive screen. Chris Tabor — aka igl007 in just about every forum there is — has been screaming from the rooftops about the Incredible’s screen and how sometimes it won’t respond unless you’re holding it. And that’s a problem, [...]

Android Writers Roundtable: Predictions for Google I/O

We’re winging our way out to Google I/O development conference in San Francisco (follow us on Twitter for the inside scoop), where we’ll spend a couple of days deep within the Google development community, hear a couple of keynote addresses — oh, and likely get our first real look at the next major version of [...]

GM announces OnStar-Google partnership, will show more at Google IO

General Motors this morning announced it is adding even more Android to the upcoming Chevy Volt — and we’ll check it all out this week at Google IO. We’ve already seen the Chevy Volt app for Android when it debuted at CES in January, and it’ll be upgrated later this year to add Google Maps [...]

GM announces OnStar-Google partnership, will show more at Google IO

General Motors this morning announced it is adding even more Android to the upcoming Chevy Volt — and we’ll check it all out this week at Google IO. We’ve already seen the Chevy Volt app for Android when it debuted at CES in January, and it’ll be upgrated later this year to add Google Maps [...]

Google purchases VoIP firm, could lead to video chat for Android

Google today purchased Global IP Solutions, a $68 million move that could pave the way for a more native video chat solution (sorry, Qik and Sprint) for Android smartphones, possibly in gmail, or Google Talk, or maybe some new native app. GIPS recently showed off its VideoEngine software, which you can see above. And between this, the [...]

Coming Wednesday: Google IO Keynote

Just a reminder, everybody, that we’ll be liveblogging the keynotes Wednesday and Thursday from Google IO in San Francisco. Be sure to check back in if you want the latest in Android news, as it happens.

Android devices on Eclair inch up as Cupcake, Donut wither ever so slightly

The latest numbers are in showing how many devices are using a given version of Android, and we’re slowly but surely getting more and more on Android 2.1. Devices on the latest version of Android ticked up to 37.2 percent, from 23.4 percent for the two weeks ending May 3. Android 1.5 (Cupcake) and 1.6 [...]

Verizon CEO says LTE Android tablets will debut next year

What’s better than one Android tablet on Verizon? How about tablet(s). Big Red CEO Lowell McAdam said as much over the weekend at the Reuters Global Technology Summit in New York. But before we get to that, let’s talk LTE — Verizon’s 4G network that it expects to have ready to rock in the first half of [...]

Android Market web page revamped, is only slightly more useful now

The good news: The Android Market web page has gotten a bit of a freshening up ahead of Google IO this week. The bad news: It’s not that much more useful. Sure, you can browse more apps (and do so in a much more intuitive way). But what we really want to see is some actual [...]

HTC Hero with Cox branding spotted

It’s no great secret that Cox (as in Cox Cable) is working on on its own wireless service. And low and behold, it appears that Cox may have been using at least one Android phone for what likely is network testing, but maybe more. Behold, an unbranded CDMA HTC Hero (of the Sprint design variety), purchased off [...]

Win a free Evo 4G from Android Central! [contest]

You didn’t think we’d let the Sprint Evo 4G launch without giving one away, did you? Here’s what you have to do to win the biggest, baddest Android smartphone from the biggest, baddest Android blog: Just reply to this thread in our forums and tell us what feature you’re most excited about in the Evo [...]

HTC Wildfire — a smaller Desire — announced in the U.K.

HTC today announced the Wildfire (you might remember that name from a contest HTC ran), essentially the Desire squeezed down into a 3.2-inch screen, with a lower price the end result. (That’s also known as "entry level" these days.) The screen itself is QVGA, so it’s not as high-resolution as you get on the Desire, Nexus [...]

Twitter releases its official Android app

Android 2.1+ Two weeks ago, Twitter announced it was developing its own official Android app. Today, that client was released. You can find it now in the Android Market. [link] There’s been a bit of gnashing of teeth over whether Twitter is effectively stabbing outside developers in the back. But after just a few minutes [...]

LG Ally spotted in new Iron Man 2 commercial

Want more on the LG Ally for Verizon? We’ve got it. It’s in a commercial for "Iron Man 2," and it’s clearly running Android. That keyboard looks pretty darn usable, but the D-pad could be interesting. We’ve confirmed that in fact it’s Android 2.1 with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and 5MP camera, with all the usual bells [...]

Cliq XT maintenance update being rolled out now

Looks like the maintenance update that was being tested on the Cliq XT is now being rolled out to everybody. It’s in two parts, so you’ll need to do both of them. The update brings you fixes to: Improves Overall Phone Performance Visual Voice Mail Enhancements Bluetooth Audio Camera Correction Screen/Display Performance Text Messaging Improvements Touch [...]

HTC releases GPS fix for Telstra Desire

For you folks in Australia using the HTC Desire on Telstra, know that there’s a software update available that should en your GPS woes. You can download it over the air (either WiFi or network), or directly from HTC, though doing it from the desktop will wipe the device. [HTC]

Public Flash preview on Android at Google IO; general release in June

Adobe responded to Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ attack on Flash yesterday by dropping a fair big (and well-directed) bombshell of its own: A public preview will be given in a few weeks at Google IO (we’ll be there for it), and Flash will see general release for Android in June. Said Adobe CTO Kevin Lunch in his [...]

Best Buy gears up for an HTC Hero update; Cyanogen releases for G1, myTouch

While you slept, Cyanogen released his Android 2.1 ROM for the HTC Hero Dream and Magic (that’s the G1 and myTouch 3G, respectively). Most of the bells and whistles are there, save for the new launcher (app drawer) and stock live wallpapers. And while his ROMs for the Droid and Nexus One are painless (and [...]

HP Compaq Airlife 100 Android netbook now available in Spain

Seems like only yesterday that we were talking about the HP Compaq Airlife 100 Android netbook — oh, wait, it was, both here and on the special Emergency PalmCast Broadcast in the wake of HP buying Palm for $1.2 billion. Anyhoo, we got a good look at the Airlife 100 at Mobile World Congress but had seen [...]

LG Aloha will be the Ally on Verizon

Oh, you wanted to know about the LG Aloha, did you ? Sorry, alls we have here is the LG Ally — which is what we’re told the Aloha actually will be called — and it’s said to be destined for Verizon in the middle of May. Specs should still be about what we’ve been told for [...]

Hands on with the Skyfire 2.0 Android browser

Let’s take a quick look at the new Skyfire 2.0 browser for Android, shall we? Full page rendering? Check. Flash video? Check. Bells and whistles? Check and check. Our quick verdict: So long as you’re not worried about any privacy concerns regarding proxy browsers, this could easily become your main browser.

Verizon’s Droid Incredible commercial shows specs, doesn’t show phone

It’s Verizon’s first commercial for the Droid Incredible. Impressive. Most impressive. [YouTube link]

Skyfire 2.0 now available for Android (erm, or it will be)

Here’s Skyfire’s promo video for its new Version 2.0 browser, which should be available for Android any time now. (It’s not appearing in the market, and the manual download link’s not working yet either.) Anyhoo, check out the video above, and we’ll give Skyfire the what-for just as soon as we can. [Skyfire]

Want an Incredible? Better hit a store — fast

If for some reason you can’t make it to a Verizon store to buy an Incredible in person, you’re going to have to wait a few days. Verizon’s website says new orders won’t ship until May 4 — a testament to the phone’s popularity (or initial low inventory). That’s echoed by reports in our forums [...]

Motorola announces its Q1 results, sold 2.3 million smartphones

Motorola this morning announced its Q1 2010 earnings, with the manufacturer seeing total sales of $5 billion. Its mobile device arm brought in $1.6 billion and shipped 8.5 million phones, including 2.3 million smartphones, while seeing an operating loss of $192 million. That’s down 9 percent compared to the first quarter of 2009, though this [...]

Droid Incredible available today in Verizon stores, in your hands

Today’s the day, folks. After a couple of long weeks, the Verizon HTC Droid Incredible finally is available. Your pre-orders (if they didn’t arrive early) should come today. You can buy one in Verizon stores for $199 after the standard contract deals. And cheaper prices are (ahem) out there on the Internet. But let’s get to [...]

HP buys Palm, plans to continue offering ‘choices of OS’ (meaning Android?)

HP’s buying Palm, in case you haven’t heard, for $1.2 billion. While we doubt many of you were waiting up nights for the Compaq Airlife 100, HP’s Android-powered netbook that we took a look at back at Mobile World Congress, it remains to be seen if HP will be willing (or able, for that matter) to [...]

Google revamps mobile image search for Android, makes it look nearly native

Google just made a fairly major tweak to its mobile image search. As you can see above, a web-based image search now looks and feels almost like it’s being done natively, on your Android phone. Thumbnails have been optimized for speed, you can flick your way through photos and the black background makes you forget [...]

Win Phil’s (and Dieter’s, too!) Nexus Ones: Fifth batch of entries [contest]

I keep thinking entries will wind down as we reach the end of this contest, but you guys keep sending in more and more epic videos. The latest batch (and it’s not the last batch) comprises robots, electrocution, the Black Crowes, free credit reports and an old myTouch 3G that’s no longer loved. Check ‘em [...]

Motorola Backflip now available on Telus

If you’re in Canada and have a hankering for some twisted, flippy Android keyboard action, know that the Motorola Backflip is now available on Telus. It runs a very respectable $399 off-contract and goes as low as $249 with the Canadian-standard three-year deal. [Telus] Thanks, Jon!

A look at Verizon’s silcone case accessory for the HTC Droid Incredible

Android Central Forum member alear got himself a look at Verizon’s silicone case for the HTC Droid Incredible. Looks like all the essential parts are there. But what do you guys think about the texture and design? And what accessories are you most looking forward to for the Incredible? Let’s hear it in the comments, and check [...]

HTC Desire root process is released!

Paul from MoDaCo promised root for the HTC Desire, and today, he delivered. Root for the HTC Legend is close, too, he says, and it likely won’t take too terribly long to get inside the Verizon Droid Incredible (we hope). Well played, Paul. [MoDaCo]

And the winners of the HTC Incredibles are …

Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we? We offered up a pair of Verizon HTC Droid Incredibles, and you guys delivered, submitting nearly 4,000 entries. But there can be only two winners. And they are: Brettbrett: He can now get rid of his sorry LG dumb phone and buy his roommate a beer. Gideion: So long as [...]

HTC to pay royalties to Microsoft after being told Android steps on its patents

Microsoft issued a news release late late night, announcing it signed a patent agreement with HTC over its entire line of smartphones running the Android operating system. Specific terms of the deal, including how many patents or what they cover, were not immediately released. Microsoft’s statement did say the agreement "provides broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent [...]

Hands-on with the Firefox browser for Android phones

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Firefox mobile browser running on Android, but it’s the first time that Mozilla’s been comfortable enough with it to compile the app for us mere mortals to test out. Why do we care so much about another browser for Android when the stock Webkit browser works pretty [...]

Want a custom HTC keyboard for your Android phone?

That’s right. It’s a Hello Kitty skin on top of the HTC on-screen keyboard. I’m OK with that. And you should be, too. (There’s also Batman, Spider-Man, a panda, Jango Fett, Autobots, Ohio State, Atari and the N.Y. Giants, if you don’t want to make your own.) Available with or without root. [Droid-Life] Thanks, Kellen!

HTC Android slider makes it through the FCC with AT&T 3G bands

Why, hello there, little HTC Android phone with a nice, fat keyboard. We’ve been waiting for one of you guys for quite some time now. That’s right, it’s a new (and probably) Android device going through the FCC (the buttons give it away, right?), and it has a keyboard that looks pretty much like what we’ve [...]

Andy Rubin says Flash is coming in Froyo version of Android operating system

Andy Rubin, VP of engineering for Google and one of the chiefs behind Android smartphones, just slipped a little bombshell into an interview with the New York Times’ Bits blog. In it he says that Flash will be coming with the Froyo version of Android. Much of the interview is paraphrased, but writer Brad Stone [...]

That new BlackBerry OS sure is shiny

We know a lot of you guys and gals out there are former BlackBerry users and abusers. And so we’ll put the question to you? With the unveiling today of the BlackBerry 6 operating system, how does it stand up to the likes of Android and the various flavors it comes in? (Sense, Motoblur, Touchwiz, [...]

Rent movies now on YouTube (and let’s get ‘em on Android soonest)

Played around a little bit over the weekend with renting a movie on YouTube. And when I say "played around," I mean clicked about three times and had "Reservoir Dogs" available for 24 hours for just $1.99. No muss, no fuss. And best of all, no third-party app or download to do it. Watching full-screen wasn’t [...]

AdMob numbers show Android overtaking iPhone requests in the U.S.

AdMob, which serves up many (for 18,000 sites and apps, it says) of those little ads you see in Android applications, has released its March findings. The bullet points: Of smartphones in the United States, Android overtook iPhone usage, 46 percent to 39 percent. (In the UK there’s much greater disparity, with the iPhone leading [...]