Thursday, 26 August 2010

Android Community

Android Community

HTC Droid Incredible for Verizon Updating to Android 2.2 Beginning August 27th

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 10:37 AM PDT

Well, fancy that. After hearing a new rumor suggesting that the Droid Incredible, manufactured by HTC, would be seeing its update to Android 2.2 officially beginning September 1st, we get this brand new leak, which suggests something quite different. Thanks to a tipster, it looks like the Incredible’s update is actually coming tomorrow. That’s right, Incredible owners who aren’t rooted (and already on 2.2), it looks like you get your time in the sunshine very soon.

The full list of updates is below, in screenshot format for your viewing pleasure, but here’s a quick run down of what you can expect to see. 720p HD video recording; 3G mobile hotspot appliication; pre-installed VZ Navigator software; integrated Adobe Flash Player 10.1; and the ability to rotate your device 270-degrees (left or right). The update is an Over the Air (OTA) version, so expect it to start in a rolling wave, which means if you don’t get it tomorrow as soon as you wake up (if you go to sleep), don’t freak out. You’ll get it.

[via Droid-Life]

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Samsung Fascinate for Verizon Landing in Warehouses, Launch Imminent?

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 10:00 AM PDT

Here in just a few days, all of the major wireless carriers in the United States will have launched their own versions of the Samsung Galaxy S device. All of them, except Verizon. In all honesty, it probably makes sense that Verizon hasn’t launched the Fascinate yet, simply because they’ve been putting a lot of backing on their Droid line of Android-powered handsets, and off setting that with the launch of the Fascinate is probably counter-productive to whatever their game plan is. That being said, it looks like the Super AMOLED-toting device is starting to show up in Verizon warehouses.

Thanks to an anonymous tipster, the leaked images indeed show that the Fascinate is beginning to make an appearance in Verizon-related buildings somewhere out there. The speculation about when the device will launch is certainly picking up now, even if the device still isn’t listed in Verizon’s equipment guide yet. A rumor we had heard a couple of weeks ago pegged the Fascinate as an October launch, but not counting the R2-D2 model Motorola Droid 2, that would mean Verizon would have the entire month of September without an Android device.

So, is the Fascinate going to launch at the beginning of September, or will Verizon take a break this next month, and still launch it in the Halloween month? Anyone’s guess at this point, but hopefully it gets cleared up sooner than later. There’s plenty of people out there waiting for this phone, Verizon.

[via Phandroid]

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Samsung Epic 4G for Sprint User Manual Available for Viewing

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 09:38 AM PDT

Pretty standard fare here. With the launch of the second 4G-enabled device, Samsung’s Galaxy S variant called Epic, getting ready launch in just a few days now, it’s no surprise that the user manual has managed to show up online. And sure enough, if you’re into reading brand-spanking-new (as of August 17th, technically) digital PDF files for a phone you don’t quite have yet, here’s your chance.

So far, there doesn’t seem to be anything all that groundbreaking. No word has come from the depths of the community to make us think otherwise, anyway. If you want to take a look at it yourself, you can view it right here [PDF file]. And if you do find something interesting in there, and you want to share it with the world, go ahead and leave a comment below.

[via Android Central]

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HTC Merge Spotted on Global Certification Forum, Gets Approved

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 09:27 AM PDT

As usual, there’s plenty of different handsets the Merge could be. It makes it hard to guess when we know about plenty of other devices heading to the market soon enough, and there’s just one out there, without any real defining feature list or images, that alludes us. This month, it’s the Merge. Manufactured by HTC, with a model number ADR6325, the Merge is a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

When Phandroid got a tip that the device with the model number and name appeared in a Verizon database somewhere, people got pretty excited. Especially knowing what’s coming to Verizon in their Android line-up later this year, the possibilities for that device to feature a 10MP camera on the back and a bunch of other goodies, while launching on the largest wireless carrier here in the United States is pretty exciting. That being said, we still don’t know what it is — a tablet? Maybe. A smartphone/superphone? It’s certainly possible.

Softpedia saw the device pop up again on radar, with the same ADR6325 model number, but this time over at the Global Certification Forum. With it, a few more details were released: this version, at least, is coming with quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity, with single band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA at the 2100MHz frequency. That means this one’s heading for Asia or Europe. Or maybe both.

As you might expect, the speculation follows closely. Is this the Asian version of the Desire HD or Desire Z? Or is this something completely different? So many questions, and yet there’s not enough information to tell us any answers quite yet. As many times as this guy has popped up recently, we’re sure it’s only going to pick up the pace, so stay tuned. Something will turn up soon enough.

[via Softpedia]

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Motorola DROID gets Flash Player 10.1 update

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 08:45 AM PDT

Verizon has just pinged us to let us know that DROID owners should expect an OTA update sometime from today, that will allow them to download and install the Adobe Flash Player 10.1 app from the Android Market.  That means access to in-browser Flash animations, videos and games.

You’ll need to be running Android 2.2 in order to install Flash Player 10.1, which Verizon began distributing to owners of the original DROID earlier this month.

“Verizon Wireless has begun pushing an update  today to the DROID by Motorola (introduced November 2009) that will  allow customers to download Adobe Flash 10.1 via Android Market. Flash Player 10.1 provides access to millions of sites  with rich content including animations, casual games, videos, rich internet  applications, audio and much more.”

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T-Mobile Motorola Charm on sale today

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 02:33 AM PDT

We can’t imagine there are queues around the block, but T-Mobile’s latest Android handset – the Motorola Charm – has gone on sale today.  The blocky, distinctive candybar slaps a 2.8-inch touchscreen on top of a hardware QWERTY keyboard, with Android 2.1, a 3-megapixel camera on the back and Motorola’s MOTOBLUR social networking integration.

Two color variants of the Charm are on offer, golden bronze and cabernet, and both are priced at $74.99 presuming a new, two-year agreement.  Alternatively you can get the Charm free if you sign up to a new family plan.

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Verizon End of Life Sheet Says Current Droids Fading in 2011

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 02:30 PM PDT

Marking a device for end of life, especially so early, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t expect future updates from this point on. As usual, an internal document from any company is meant to stay internal, so if you think just because your Droid Incredible is listed here it means it’s over and done with, no worries. You’ve still got some time.

The new document goes through the process of listing all of Verizon’s current generation devices, ranging from BlackBerry’s, and encompassing all of their Android offerings. The Motorola Devour? Despite the fact it actually isn’t even getting an update, it’s still listed here as not going through its death throes until March of next year.

Noteworthy handsets are the HTC Droid Incredible (03/31/20100), the Motorola Droid 2 (03/31/2011), and the Motorola Droid X (03/31/2011). That’s only seven months from now, so while it may not be as long as the original Motorola Droid’s 10 month lifecycle, we’d be willing to bet that that’s going to be a hearty life for the devices. Especially if a slew of new Android-based devices, and tablets, are really coming by early next year.

[via PhoneDog]

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Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 Photographed During FCC Visit

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 02:16 PM PDT

Sony Ericsson managed to unveil the Xperia X8 back in June, but the most surprising announcement back then was the fact that it would actually be released in a normal time frame, unlike its bigger cousin, the X10. And while we do hope that SE can manage to officially release the device some time in the third quarter of this year, like they iniitally planned, just because it’s making the rounds in the FCC right now doesn’t mean they’ll make that window.

The X8 isn’t as high-profile a device as the X10, nor will it catch as many eyes as the X10 Mini. While the white handset definitely is striking in its own right. It features a 3-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 320×480, and there’s a 600MHz processor tucked under the hood. You get 128MB of RAM, and the real unfortunate part: Android 1.6. You get integrated WiFI, a-GPS, and Bluetooth connectivity. There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 3.2MP camera on the back.

There’s no word on what carriers are going to launch the X8, but considering AT&T just announced the Vivaz and already carries the X10, it wouldn’t be a huge stretch of the imagination to think they’d launch the X8, too. As soon as we know more, we’ll pass it along.

[via Gadgetell]

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T-Mobile G2 ROM Leaked to the Internet

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 02:05 PM PDT

While we’re waiting for T-Mobile and HTC to actually officially announce the device, we’re seeing it pop up everywhere. Not only have we already seen what it looks like, now bold individuals out there can even play with the device’s ROM. The ROM in particular is meant for a test build of the G2, but it is running Android 2.2. And, from what we’ve heard from chatter around the ‘web, we’re hearing that it’s actually stock Android, without any User Interface skinning.

We can also confirm that the device that made its way into the FCC yesterday, with model code PC101000 is indeed the G2. We’re guessing that there’s plenty of people out there already playing around with this, inspecting it for all the gory details and secrets, and that’s a good thing. It hit the Internet earlier today, and with how fast developments happen in the development field, we’re not surprised it’s not already showing up on devices. If that’s even possible at this point. But if you do get some time to play with it, let us know in the comments what you find. You can find the download through the source link below.

[via AndroidGuys]

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HTC EVO 4G’s Car Upgrade Kit Now Available for $59.99

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 01:53 PM PDT

It’s been a little while now since the HTC EVO 4G launched for Sprint. Awhile enough for the phone to be a relative hit for the network, and to leave plenty of customers out there eagerly anticipating the “official” car dock for the device. Well, sure enough, today’s the day that you can finally head into a Sprint store and get your hands on one.

The “car upgrade kit” lets you do all the cool things you’ve wanted to do: put your EVO into it, and use it as a real GPS unit. You can plug your car charger into the dock itself, which connects to the EVO via its micro-USB port, so your phone shouldn’t die while you drive around aimlessly, finding new places you’ve never visited.

However, here’s a few things you should take note of: you can’t access the SD card when the EVO’s plugged into the car dock. It only works in landscape mode (we can’t really see that being a problem), and your phone won’t do data transfers while it’s plugged into the dock, either. Truth be told, we don’t see any of these things being a real issue while you’re driving, because you’re focusing on the road, right? Right?

[via GoodandEvo]

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HTC Droid Incredible for Verizon Getting Android 2.2 on September 1st, Rumors Suggest

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 01:40 PM PDT

With the Motorola Droid 2 having launched with 2.2, and the original Motorola Droid having received at least two different OTA updates for Froyo over the last few weeks, there’s plenty of people out there wondering when the Droid Incredible, manufactured by HTC, will get the prodigal update. Considering other HTC devices featuring Sense UI, like Sprint’s EVO 4G, have already received their official update, people are beginning to scratch their head. And after plenty of other rumors, here’s a new one to whet your appetite for at least a little while.

A tipster has suggested to Droid-Life that the Incredible’s update to Froyo is actually coming next week, and will begin its roll out starting September 1st. While an OTA update isn’t specifically mentioned, we can probably safely assume that’s how the update will happen. The source also mentions that the Verizon marketing team is already preparing to start pumping out new Incredible commercials next week, to promote the device’s new features.

Those features include 720p HD video recording, better voice calls, and 3G mobile hotspot. Nothing new, as we’ve heard plenty of those features listed in the past. We’re not looking forward to all the bloatware that’s supposedly coming along for the ride, too, but beggar’s can’t be choosers, we imagine. If this does indeed turn out to be true, we should start seeing leaked documents outlining the update process soon enough, so stay tuned. Though, we don’t think anyone’s going to start holding their breath quite yet.

[via Droid-Life]

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verizon’s android strategy may put them way out in front

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 12:20 PM PDT

We all know that Verizon is the smartphone leader when it comes to customer base. AT&T and the iPhone are not far behind them. With AT&T possibly losing the iPhone exclusivity soon and not focusing on Android devices, will Verizon take a huge lead in the marketplace?

It’s no doubt that the buzz word on the streets, when it comes to Android handsets, is the word DROID. You hear it spoken everywhere now, along with the ever so popular iPhone. Almost as if Verizon rebranded Google’s Android OS. The Droid X, Droid Incredible, and the Droid 2, have accounted for 27% of the Android sales in the second quater, which is quite impressive. Sprint and T-Mobile of course have great Android handsets, but it’s Verizon that’s getting the the majority of the flagship devices for the US. We have also seen the roadmap that was showing Verizon has more Droid branded phone’s in the close future, also with a mention of Android tablets from Motorola and Samsung.

So where does this put Verizon? In a very good position. If the speculation is true and Verizon does land the iPhone along with it’s Droid lineup, the combination could be dangerous. Let’s hope we see more Android flagship devices on the other carriers, but as far as we are concerned, Verizon can keep on pumping out those Android OS devices and things can only go up from here.

[via The Street]

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