Apparently, the way this works is; the green robot/android icon means you are online with Android. The green dot means that you are using regular Gmail chat. The orange robot means that you are using Android but currently away. And the red robot means you are a mad robot, no, I’m just joking, it means you are currently busy but still using Android.

So there you have it folks, Google has name this the Turn on Green Robot, which is a new experiment in Gmail Labs. Cool, right? Well, like I mentioned before, many will find this as an attack to their privacy. Let us know in the comments what you think about it.

This new TV commercial is for the holiday shoppers to see some of the best handsets that Sprint carries. In it you can see the little black pebble; the Palm Pre, the chinless (and better looking, at least in my opinion) HTC Hero and the BlackBerry Tour.

Unfortunately, the Samsung Moment is missing on this commercial, why Sprint did not include the Samsung smartphone is a mystery. But at least is finally releasing commercials for Android devices, and calls the Sprint HTC Hero as a customizable phone with access to thousands of applications.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now, once more, China is making Android headlines. According to Total Telecom, Chinese manufacturer ZTE Corp. is in talks with different carriers throughout Europe to launch a new smartphone based on Google’s mobile OS. Apparently, ZTE wants to beef up its business by making smartphones, traditionally, the company has been supplying low-cost telecom equipment to companies such as China Mobile Ltd.

ZTE’s Managing director of handset business marketing, Dale Ying, told Dow Jones Newswires – in an interview on the sidelines of the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress in Hong Kong – the following:

We hope to sell our smartphone to these operators next year. We see big potential in the smartphone market. We are targeting to ship more smartphones in the coming few years which will help to improve our gross margin.

ZTE is in discussions and conducting testing with carriers in North America – according to Dale Ying – comprising T-Mobile USA, AT&T Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp., and Verizon Wireless.

Well, I guess the price we announced was right, but unfortunately, we also were right about people not been happy with that price. I mean, $230 after discounts and a two year agreement! Especially when there are other choices, better and cheaper, like the Verizon DROID by Motorola.

So what do you think folks, you think T-Mobile is holding the big sale until black Friday? It could be, but why not start with a low price right away? The display on the Behold 2 looks great, but looks are not enough for some people. Anyway, check here for more on this new Android smartphone by Samsung.

And if you buy it, you’ll find inside the box the following accessories; Battery, Charger, USB cable, the Stereo Hands-Free Headset, a 2GB SD Card (yea, I was hoping for at least a 4GB, but hey) and the Carrying case.

About a year ago that we had a story on NTT DoCoMo, planning to make an Android-based phone in Japan. This time, Sharp and SoftBank are the ones making waves, first, SoftBank, which is Japan’s third biggest cell phone carrier, announced last week an Android-powered phone for next year. Then, we have Sharp, who just two days ago in Tokyo, promised to roll out a number of Android-based handsets on the first half of 2010. Exactly how many phones? Well, we have no idea just yet.

In Japan, Sharp has the biggest market share out of eight cell phone makers, so, if they really jump in the Android bandwagon, it translates to great news for the Google OS, since Japan is consider the most advanced mobile society in the world. There’s no word from Sharp on which of the three big carriers in Japan will get the Android handsets. But they did say that the features on said handsets, will be unique to the Japanese market. One of the possible specific features might be a tuner for 1seg, which is a digital TV standard used not only in Japan, but also in some parts of South America.

[Via TechCrunch]

We thought all this rumors were over last time when Google’s Andy Rubin, head of the company’s Android development, said that Google was not in the phone-making business. But yesterday’s post at TC ended with: “That’s all we have for now. We don’t yet know what the device will look like, how big it will be, or even if it has a physical keyboard. But we do know that Google is getting into the phone building business directly, and doesn’t seem too concerned about competing with all the other device manufacturers building Android phones.”

Today, the possibility of Google not “competing with customers” by launching their own device, seems a little more logical, since, “technically, it may not be a phone.” According to TC, “The GPhone may be a data only, VoIP driven device.” They’re also claiming talking with a person who hinted towards AT&T to be the provider of data services for the Google Phone.

The truth is, no body knows exactly what the future is bringing, or if Google will ever enter the phone market with actual hardware. But it is exciting to read about the rumors that show us the endless possibilities. Head on to the comments section and let us know what is your take on this matter.

Now at this point in time, all this is just rumors, but it is kind of weird and funny that the company that hasn’t release a single Android device and the company who doesn’t want to release an Android phone in the US – at least not yet – join forces to release this device. Maybe it makes sense, maybe I’m just crazy, nevertheless, it is weird. Don’t you think? Let us know in the comments what you think is going on.

Anyway, the Dell Streak seems to be a nice device, and as far as we know, it sports a 5-inch WVGA 800 x 480 touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G WWAN connectivity. It also has a 5-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, a microSD card slot for extra storage, and a 1,300mAh battery.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now we have news that Acer have confirmed that the Liquid A1 – which is Acer’s first Android smartphone – will arrive in late November. But in the UK at first, which is unfortunate for those who like to get their hands on this phone here in the American Continent. According to retailer Clove – who is taking orders for this Acer phone already – Android Donut (1.6) will run on the Liquid A1, instead of the Eclair (2.0).

After reading that last sentence, the good news is that according to Clove’s site; the Qualcomm Snapdragon based smartphone will not be underclocked. Last time we heard about this Acer phone, the bad news was that the processor would only run at 768Mhz. Apparently, unless there is a mistake on Clove’s site, Acer had a change of hearth, which translates into happiness for the potential buyers of this Android smartphone, which by the way, will be priced at £286 pre-tax ($479).

According to Clove, the following are the features of the A1, as well as the contents of the A1’s box:

Features of Acer Liquid A1

* Qualcomm 8250 1GHz processor
* Andriod 1.6 (Donut) Operating System
* Slim design just over 12.5mm thick
* 3.5″ WQVGA Touchscreen Display
* Quad-band GSM / Dual-band HSDPA
* Tri-band 900/1900/2100 MHz
* 512MB ROM / 256MB RAM
* 5 Megapixel Camera
* Bluetooth 2 with EDR

What’s in the box of Acer Liquid A1?

* Acer Liquid A1
* Battery
* Mains Charger
* Data Cable
* Software CD
* Quick Start Guide

With Fring you can see real-time presence and live chat with your ICQ, Yahoo! And AIM buddies, oh, and you can also use Twitter as part of your integrated contact list. Fring on Android works over 3G, GPRS or Wi-Fi internet connection. In addition to Android, Fring is also supported worldwide on thousands of Symbian S60, iPhone, iPod touch, Windows Mobile, J2ME and Linux devices.

If you are one of those happy Android users who like to get Fring on your Android phone, you can download it via Fring’s WAP site at m.fring.com or directly via the Android Market. Also, the Fring Team wants you to know there are a few known Issues that will be fixed in the next version. Here you go:

- GSM contacts do not appear in fring’s buddy list on the Motorola DROID device
- Call disconnection tone may be heard a few times when terminating a call
- SIP and SkypeOut calls are not yet available on the Motorola DROID device

And now, to learn more from Fring themselves, watch the video below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

By now most, if not all of you already know that the SE XPERIA X10 will be available in the UK right around Valentine’s day. So there will be a lot people falling in love with, or over this new Android phone on February. When Chris had a hands-on with this SE phone in London, the speed was not up to par with a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

But this time, as you will be able to notice on the video below from HDblog, who apparently had access to a newer prototype, the speed has been drastically improved. The company’s homegrown apps; Timescape and Mediascape now run snappier. But I don’t want to bother you with more of this, so just go on and enjoy the video below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

According to this latest announcement from Samsung Electronics HQ, this new Android-powered smartphone has an 800MHz processor, 3.2-megapixel camera and 3.5mm headphone jack, all in a casing measuring 13.2mm thick. Which we already knew, but now has been confirmed.

Also, the Samsung Galaxy Spica I5700 is already on sale in various European and CIS countries (Commonwealth of Independent States; like Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and others), but will soon be launching in the Middle East and Africa. Below, you can read the press release for this Android phone.

November 16, 2009 11:06 AM

Samsung unveils Galaxy Spica (I5700), its newest Android-powered smartphone

Seoul (Korea Newswire) November 16, 2009 — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today officially announced its newest Android-powered smartphone, the ‘Galaxy Spica’ (I5700).

Samsung Galaxy Spica is a powerful Android-powered smartphone that offers seamless connectivity, highlighted by smooth access to Google™ mobile services and easy connection to popular social network sites such as Facebook and MySpace.

The Galaxy Spica shows faster and more powerful performance than ever before by providing 800 MHZ application processor, so users can enjoy a variety of applications that can be downloaded from Android Market™.

“Samsung has made a great effort to strengthen our smartphone line up with a wide range of innovative products for every user,” said JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of the Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung Galaxy Spica, powered by Android, is the perfect fit for users who want to enjoy a powerful and fast mobile experience”, he added.

Samsung Galaxy Spica provides an exceptional multimedia experience by supporting DivX for the first time on Android-powered phones to eliminate the hassle of file format conversions. Equipped with DNSe 2.0 for better sound quality and 3.5 mm ear jack, the Galaxy Spica offers the fully comprehensive multimedia feature set. Moreover, a long enough battery life (1500mAh) allows its users to enjoy all the applications and multimedia content. The phone also boasts its slim and compact design with mere 13.2 mm thickness.

The Samsung Galaxy Spica supportsthe full suite of Google services, including Google Search™, Google Maps™, Gmail™, YouTube™, and Google Talk™, letting users enjoy the familiar desktop computer experience while on the move.

The Samsung Galaxy Spica is now available in Europe, CIS, and will be expanded to MEA region.
News Source: Samsung Electronics

For some reason, China is becoming the promise land to many companies, as we know Dell will be releasing the Mini 3i Android smartphone on that country first. Also in that country, on December 1st, a Zii Optimized Android Phone platform will be showcased, at the Zii Summit 2009.

The company called Zii Labs is owned by Creative, and will be showcasing green solutions for developers on next month’s Zii Summit. But lets not get crazy going through all the products and services, instead, check below for the main dish – at least for us on this Android site – which promises to be a real media powerhouse. Now don’t get me wrong, I like a greener planet too, so if you want to learn more about this summit, check here for more info.

Zii Powered Devices
A range of OEM-ready Zii Powered devices will be showcased – powered by ZiiLABS ZMS-05 and ZMS-08 media-rich application processors. The line-up of devices on display include: a Touch Tablet PC, a Netbook, a Web-Box, a 360o Multi-View Camera System, ultra high-performance Speakers, a Piano Keyboard for the PC, and a Portable e-Book Reader. But the highlight of our devices line-up is our Mobile Phone platform. ZiiLABS ushers in a new era of explosive high definition 3D with the Zii Optimized Android Phone platform. The Zii Optimized Android Phone platform gives developers the chance to use the familiar Android OS, but with a difference. Harnessing StemCell Computing Technology found on the ZMS-05 Media Rich Processor, Android is now super-charged with seamless 3D graphics and High Definition video playback performance.

* Phone with Fully featured Android Platform
* OpenGL ES 3D graphics
* 1080p HD video output
* Accelerated video, graphic and imaging
* Full integration with SurfaceFlinger
* High Quality Audio
* Enhanced User Interfaces
* Image Processing
* Accelerated Web Browsing

This time is Sony Ericsson UK who are telling the world to expect the Xperia X10 by February 10th, 2010. That’s just in time so you can give – or get – an early Valentine’s Day gift. Personally, I love to get this upcoming Android phone from SE as a gift, rather then give it. And please do not tell me you don’t feel the same way. The only downside to this gift, is that it doesn’t have a US release date just yet.

At least the folks across the pond will have some fun with this Sony Ericsson device and its fast 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset in a couple of months. If you live on or close to the UK, and want to get this Android phone from SE called the Xperia x10, well, you can pre-register for more info on this new device here.

Below is the information from that pre-registration page:

Pre-Register – Expected launch: Feb , 10
Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10

Sony Ericsson XPERIATM X10 – The most human and intuitive user experience yet.

The all new XPERIATM X10 showcase a revolution in mobile entertainment and highlights the world class abilities of Sony Ericsson technology.

Powered by the new Android operating system with 1 Gigabyte of internal memory and a superfast 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the touch screen X10 provides quick access to social media services and contacts via a rich graphical user interface.

With a remarkable 8 megapixel camera, fitted with Smile detection, Touch focus and Send to web, the XPERIATM X10 breaks boundaries by being the first android phone to feature an 8 mega pixel camera.

The X10 also features a variety of social media applications such as Mediascape and TimescapeTM, allowing you to manage all of your communications in one place, browse conversations, check out your tweets on TwitterTM or photos, emails and texts.

The Sony Ericsson XperiaTM X10, raising the bar in mobile technology.

The XPERIATM X10 will be available in Sensuous Black from Q1.

The folks over at Engadget got their hands on a Samsung Behold II and did an unboxing. They confirm the Android 1.5, and at first impression, they like the phone so far. But they really don’t feel too happy about the 3D cube making its way to the beautiful AMOLED display of this phone. Unfortunately, there isn’t an exact price for the phone, just a release date; November 18th, which was confirmed by T-Mobile (check the press release below).

As mentioned above, there’s no confirmation on the price for this new Android phone. According to many, the price for this Samsung device will be $229.99 with a two year contract. Now that’s a lot, especially with new Android phones starting at just $99.99 and the Motorola DROID at $199.99. What do you think? Will you still buy it at that price, having other options out there?

Next is the press release from T-Mobile:

T-Mobile USA Launches the Samsung Behold II on November 18
Multimedia Powerhouse Joins Broad Selection of Android-Powered Smartphones for T-Mobile Customers

BELLEVUE, Wash., and DALLAS — Nov. 13, 2009

Available exclusively from T-Mobile USA, the Behold II is the first phone from T-Mobile to feature a 3.2-inch AMOLED screen for crisper colors and wider viewing angles, which is paired with a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, zoom, flash, five shooting modes and video capabilities. Samsung’s intuitive cube menu also provides quick access to six top multimedia features: music, photos, videos, the Web, YouTube™ and Amazon MP3 for music downloads.

“With its first-rate multimedia capabilities front and center, the Samsung Behold II adds an exclamation point to T-Mobile’s already impressive Android lineup for the holidays,” said Wendy Piñero-DePencier, vice president, brand and calendar marketing, T-Mobile USA. “The combination of 3G speeds, its high-resolution touch-screen, and access to loads of entertainment features is sure to make the Behold II into a holiday hit.”

The Android-powered phone is equipped with Samsung’s innovative TouchWiz™ user interface for easy customization through movable widgets and one-touch access to commonly used features and applications. The Behold II offers three different home screens to organize multiple workspaces with favorite widgets and application shortcuts.

“The Behold II raises the bar to the next level to create a rich, customizable set of different user experiences,” said Omar Khan, senior vice president of strategy and product management for Samsung Mobile. “Combined with Samsung’s advanced AMOLED display technology, innovative TouchWiz user interface and the Android platform, users can create and enjoy a mobile experience unique to their needs.”

The Behold II features built-in Google™ mobile services, including Google Search™, Google Maps™, Gmail™, YouTube and Google Talk™, as well as thousands of applications and games available for download from Android Market™. The Wi-Fi-enabled Behold II also supports personal e-mail and corporate e-mail with Exchange ActiveSync, as well as instant messaging, and text, picture and video messaging. Additional features include assisted GPS, Bluetooth® 2.1, visual voicemail that allows for easier access and response to voice mail, support for up to 16GB of external memory, and includes a 2GB microSD memory card.

With support for T-Mobile’s rapidly expanding 3G network, Behold II customers can take advantage of a reliable wireless connection and fast download speeds when browsing the Web or downloading applications from Android Market. T-Mobile’s 3G network is currently available in 240 cities across the country. By the end of 2009, T-Mobile USA expects its 3G network to be available to reach approximately two-thirds of the U.S. population.

The Samsung Behold II will be available nationwide at T-Mobile retail stores, select authorized dealers and online at http://www.T-Mobile.com beginning Nov. 18, 2009.

— T-Mobile USA, Inc., the wireless leader in offering the broadest selection of Android™-powered smartphones in the United States, today announced that the Samsung Behold® II will be available beginning Nov. 18. The full touch-screen Behold II is a multimedia powerhouse with fast Web and data supported by Wi-Fi® and T-Mobile’s high-speed 3G network.

According to SarahKS (Sprint Admin.), a “maintenance release is being developed for the Hero to address key items such as SMS and DST issues.” She also said that the target launch will be in the “next few weeks”, but she doesn’t know the exact date or what is going to be included on this MR. She ends her post making a promise to update as soon as she gets more info on the matter.

Now better news, at least for those who want to get a new HTC Hero. If you are amongst those who don’t like the HTC Eris, but do like the shape of the Sprint Hero, BestBuy has a deal for you. They are selling the Sprint HTC Hero for $99.99 after instant discount with a new Sprint account. I personally like the Hero from Sprint better, and besides, the plans with that carrier are cheaper and give you more for your hard earn. Although that doesn’t matter if you don’t have good Sprint coverage where you live.

For some reason, Dell decided that a 3.5mm headphone jack – which any respectable phone has nowadays – is not important to have on this smartphone. Instead, they included a handsfree kit of their own, which connects to the miniUSB port. The good thing for those who want to use their own headphones is that Dell also included a miniUSB to 3.5mm headphones adapter socket.

Another surprise is that they put a stylus as part of the goodies inside the box of the Mini 3i. But don’t worry, the phone does have a 3.5-inch capacitive display, the stylus is similar to the Pogo stylus for the iDon’t phone. And the truth is that many people in China will appreciate this when they get to input Chinese characters. When exactly will this new Android phone make its way to the US is uncertain. But we’ll keep you up to date.

[Via SlashGear]

Of course there are many who will say sacrilege to this, but many others will say thanks, its all on the eyes of the beholder. The truth is that, most of the famous devices always get some type of surgery. The Verizon DROID by Motorola was taken apart so we can all see what makes it tick.

By the comments of the folks over at phonewreck, getting the Motorola DROID open was not an easy task. And apparently, Motorola was very sneaky by placing a screw underneath the google label and camera lens cover. So taking this DROID apart was pretty difficult, which speaks high of the quality build of this new Motorola device.

And if you were wondering about the sliding mechanism, well, they said that the DROID’s sliding keyboard is the simplest they’ve ever seen. According to them, this “mechanism is essentially just two rails that are imbedded within the screen portion of the device”. Well, simple or not, the good news is that it does its job just fine.

Why in those two countries first? Well, according to Dell, size baby, size, China Mobile has over 500 million subscribers, and Claro in Brazil serves more than 42 million people. I personally do not believe all those 500 million in China will buy a Dell phone, but hey, what can I say, Dell wants them to.

Dell has already an existing telecom partnership with both, China Mobile and Brazil’s Claro. Lets not forget that back in April, Dell was the first to embed China Mobile’s technology into the Mini 10 netbook.

Here’s what Ron Garriques, President of Dell Global Consumer Group had to say:

Our entry into the smart phone category is a logical extension of Dell’s consumer product evolution over the past two years. We are developing smaller and smarter mobile products that enable our customers to take their internet experience out of the home and do the things they want to do whenever and wherever they want.

According to Saygus executives, the Saygus VPhone V1 is expected to launch late on this year or early 2010, and there’s no official price just yet. The handset will ship with the Android version 1.6, but will be updated OTA (Over The Air) to Android 2.0 at some time in the near future. This device will be available to Verizon Wireless customers, but it wont be supported by the carrier, but by Saygus themselves since this smartphone is an Open Development Initiative device.

The main differentiators, according to Saygus Execs for this phone are that, it will work as a wireless access point and the front-facing camera. This front VGA camera is actually the main reason this phone is important to many people. It will allow for video conferencing on the mobile device, so its users can do video calling, either handset to handset or over VoIP clients that support this device.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thanks to forum member djunio for the tip!

Samsung bada is a new open platform that enables a richer user experience in applications on Samsung mobile devices, according to Samsung, of course. Lets be fair, Android is hot on the iPhone heels, and behind Android we see the webOS from Palm. Where does Samsung think is going? Joke aside though, Samsung probably wants to make better feature phones, and not smartphones.

I honestly do not see the point of Samsung trying to capitalize on its own platform, but hey, I’m not a part of Samsung, so what do I know. Anyway, why would they want to compete with their own Android phones? Well, it beats me. But below is the Press release from Samsung about bada, let us know in the comments area what do you think about all this.

10th November , 2009
Samsung Launches Open Mobile Platform

Samsung Launches Open Mobile Platform:
Samsung bada – The Next Wave Of The Mobile Industry

Developers get the chance to create mobile applications
for millions of new Samsung handsets

November 10th, 2009, Seoul, Korea – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today announced the launch of its own open mobile platform, Samsung bada [bada] in December. This new addition to Samsung’s mobile ecosystem enables developers to create applications for millions of new Samsung mobile phones, and consumers to enjoy a fun and diverse mobile experience.

In order to build a rich smartphone experience accessible to a wider range of consumers across the world, Samsung brings bada, a new platform with a variety of mobile applications and content.

The name ‘bada’, which means ‘ocean’ in Korean, was chosen to convey the limitless variety of potential applications which can be created using the new platform. It also alludes to Samsung’s commitment to a variety of open platforms in the mobile industry. Samsung bada also represents the fresh challenges and opportunities available to developers, as well as the entertainment which consumers will enjoy once the new platform is open.

Based on Samsung’s experience in developing previous proprietary platforms on Samsung mobile phones, Samsung can create the new platform and provide opportunities for developers. Samsung bada is also simple for developers to use, meaning it’s one of the most developer-friendly environments available, particularly in the area of applications using Web services. Lastly, bada’s ground-breaking User Interface (UI) can be transferred into a sophisticated and attractive UI design for developers.

Samsung will be able to expand the range of choices for mobile phone users to enjoy the smartphone experiences. By adopting Samsung bada, users will be able to easily enjoy various applications on their mobile.

Samsung bada also offers an easy-to-integrate platform for mobile operators so that mobile operators can provide unique and differentiated services to their customers.

Samsung established its mobile application ecosystem through the launch of Samsung Mobile Innovator in 2008 and the Samsung Application Seller Site followed by Samsung Application Store as another key element of this offering.

Dr Hosoo Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Media Solution Center at Samsung Electronics said, “By opening Samsung’s mobile platforms we will be able to provide rich mobile experiences on an increasing number of accessible smartphones.” He added, “bada will be Samsung’s landmark, iconic new platform that brings an unprecedented opportunity for operators, developers and Samsung mobile phone users around the world.”

The official website (www.bada.com) will open on November 10th and will feature a range of information on bada including updates on product launches, features, and event notices. Samsung will also host an official launch event for bada in London, UK in December and will also unveil its bada software development kit (SDK) to developers for the first time on this date.

About Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008 consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 164,600 people in 179 offices across 61 countries, the company consists of two business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com