Droids Talk

Rumors have it that the first Ice Cream Sandwich devices should the market around early October.

2011-08-10T15:27:00.000-04:00

Rumors have it that the first Ice Cream Sandwich (Google’s Androids 4.0) devices should the market around early October.

The rumors said that Google is trying to push its devices so it could compete with Apples iPhone5 which is suppose to be release in late September or early October.

Google's Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0)

BGR also stated, that Google, the Mountain View-based company doesn’t want potential customers coming out of contracts (especially original DROID owners) and “drooling over the iPhone 5.”

I really don’t think that Google will rush things like this. Even to try to take the shine off of Apples. Let them have at lease a 5 minute of fame so we can burst there bubble later with the best OS.

Search Amazon.com for Androids

I back.

2011-08-09T10:34:00.000-04:00

Hello all, I back on DroidsTalk! It been a while since I post anything new here, so I going to start and hopefully stay.

LG announced the world first and fastest dual-cord Smartphone, the LG Optimus 2X with Tegra 2 processor.

2010-12-15T21:46:00.000-05:00

LG announced the world first and fastest dual-cord Smartphone, the LG Optimus 2X with Tegra 2 processor. The LG Optimus 2X was said to be available to Korea next month and also to other countries too. They haven’t said anything about any carrier in the U.S but rumors had suggested it “might” be available for Verizon and/or T-Mobile. That we don’t know that yet!

The new Smartphone well come with Android 2.2 (Froyo), but can be upgraded to the new Gingerbread 2.3. As for the source code, Google is releasing the full Gingerbread source code after the Nexus S launch and it will take LG several weeks to upgrade their new phone.

Dr. Jong-seok Park, CEO and President of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company was excited about the announcement and said, “Dual-core technology is the next leap forward in mobile technology so this is no small achievement to be the first to offer a Smartphone utilizing this technology. With unique features such as HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) mirroring and exceptional graphics performance, the LG Optimus 2X is proof of LG’s commitment to high-end Smartphones in 2011.”

Sources: Androidandme.com

(Looking for a LG phone? Search in Amazon Today)

Rumors of Androids growth slowing dropping, has been laid to rest!

2010-12-09T20:51:00.000-05:00

There are rumors around the web that Android’s growth was slowing dropping and apparently Andy Rubin decided that it was time to put that myth to rest.

He has tweeted earlier today that “there are over 300,000 Android phones activated each day.” This surpasses the last iOS activated stats of 270,000+ a day, which include all of the iOS devices.

Sean Riley from Androidandme.com had said on there site, “Now at some point the growth curve is going to have to slow down simply because Android will reach a saturation point, but it doesn’t look like we’ve gotten there quite yet and with all the dual-core hardware coming down the pipeline I wouldn’t put money on it happening too soon.”

I totally agree with this, with all the new Smartphones that are coming out with Android OS and now with the release of the android 2.3 Gingerbread. It wouldn’t surprise me that we will see those numbers in the 500k’s or even more.

MetroPCS to launch 4G LTE Android handset in Q1 2011

2010-12-06T18:41:00.000-05:00

Imagine unlimited talk, text, and 4G data for only $55 per month. That is the no-contract plan that MetroPCS is offering right now on their first LTE handset, the non-Android Samsung Craft.

We don’t talk about our nation’s fifth largest carrier that much, but MetroPCS is expanding their 4G LTE network to a city near you and they plan to have an Android phone for it in Q1 2011, possibly as early as February.

Their 4G coverage, as last month, is limited currently to the Las Vegas, Dallas-Ft Worth, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia metro areas. That 4G coverage is expected to expand to Sacramento, Central Florida, Boston, North Florida, South Florida, San Francisco, Atlanta, and New York City by the end of 2010 to the early 2011. Full 4G LTE roll-out in all the MetroPCS service areas is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

To put that in perspective, MetroPCS should cover roughly 110 million people with their 4G LTE network this year, about the same size as Verizon and their newly launched 4G network.

MetroPCS did not announce who would produce their first Android LTE phone, but they did say it would support VoLTE (voice over LTE) technology so they can migrate customers from its CDMA network to its LTE network.

Samsung produced the first LTE handset for MetroPCS so chances are high we could see them also release an Android model. Rumors have suggested we could see a Galaxy S type device with LTE support sometime early next year, so we will continue to dig for more details.

For more info on MetroPCS, hit up their official web site and check out their plans.

{Via Androidandme}

Football and Android collide!

2010-12-06T18:13:00.000-05:00

Coming soon, Football and Android collide! Football fan can soon play Madden NFL 11 on the Motorola Droid X. Yeah, you heard right. Unfortunately, not everyone will be able to purchase the game because it looks like it will be an exclusive for the Droid X and be included in the next software update from Verizon.

EA Mobile has ported some of their other big franchises like Need for Speed to Android, but they have followed the Gameloft strategy and avoided the official Android Market in order to sign exclusive deals with the carriers and handset makers.

Will we see more games of EA Mobile? Hopefully, I can probably speak for every one that we want to see more games for Androids from them. A quick visit to EA Mobile’s site still list the G1 as the only supported Android phone, so clearly they have their work cut out for them.

Looking for a Droid X? Click here to find you next Android Phone

Autodesk is set to launch their iOS version on the sketch pad to the Androids OS

2010-12-02T15:55:00.000-05:00

Autodesk is set to launch their iOS version on the sketch pad to the Androids OS. After gaining million download on iPod, iPhone and the iPad since last September, they had decided to take it over to the Androids platform. Autodesk will offer a free version and a Pro version for $2.99. The app will only run on Android 2.x, so if you’re still waiting on your update to Android 2.1(Eclair) you are out of luck. Autodesk said the decision to support Android was driven not only by customer demand, but also by a distinct absence of top-notch sketching apps in the Android Market.

The company has been waiting to see if Android would bring in a large enough user bases before they released their first app. Android also has less competition for Autodesk with very few good drawing apps in the Android Market. Very similar to the iOS, the Android version of Sketchbook took six months to complete, with a slight different functionality due to the Android keys we all know and love.

Lots of big name developers have been making the jump to Android recently. This is in no doubt due to the skyrocketing sales that Android has been having. The question is will these app developers feel the same jump in sales? Android users have been notorious for favoring free apps and not buying very many apps.

This may be a problem for companies like Autodesk. These larger app developers rely almost completely on app sales to make money. Many smaller developers have made good money with ads and in-app purchases, but this isn’t how larger companies work. With a quarter of the app downloads on iTunes being the paid version, they are hoping for close to the same result on the Android Market.

It will be interesting to see the outcome of Sketchbook Mobile on the Android Market. While Android is attracting some larger app developers with its growing number of users and popularity of the OS, I wonder if that will be enough. If they don’t see the revenue they are hoping for, will they continue to release apps for Android? Will you be willing pay for it? We will have to see if Android users are ready to see more paid apps with a quality that justifies it.

source: gigaom

Hands on the LG Star [VIDEO]

2010-11-30T23:39:00.000-05:00

Back of the LG Star

It was just yesterday that we posted some pics for the LG Star, and talk about the benefits of the dual core processor. Now, with this great 7-min video by GSM Israel, we get to see the actual phone in action.

{via Androidandme and video by GSM Isral}

Twonky Mobile brings wireless media beaming to Android

2010-11-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

Most high-end Android phones now ship with wireless, media streaming apps that support DLNA devices, but many older phones can also enjoy this cool feature with free apps from the Android Market.

One of the most popular DLNA apps is Twonky Mobile which we first looked at last year. It was recently updated with a new look and you can download it free for a limited time.

Twonky Mobile scans your phone for music, photos and video and shares the media it finds with UPnP or DLNA-certified devices on your home network. This means you can take media on your Android phone and share it with your Xbox, PS3, or internet connected TV with the push of a button.

I’ve read some mixed reviews on the Market, but most of them are positive and I’ve had a good experience myself when using Twonky Mobile. Make sure you visit the Twonky site or official DLNA page if you need more information on wireless media sharing.

With Twonky Mobile, you can:

· Take a video you shot with your phone and instantly share it on the big screen
· Stream a great podcast or Pandora music to your home stereo
· Share a photo from an email with a digital picture frame

{Written by: Androidandme}

Going somewhere this holiday? Try using this Android app.

2010-11-30T22:03:00.000-05:00

Going somewhere this holiday? Well why won’t you try this new Androids app by Southwest Airline.

The Southwest Airline is by far a low cost airline in the world. They also made it easier for Androids user with this new app. The Southwest Airlines application allows Android users to use their handsets to do the following things:

· Book and manage flights

· Manage car rental information

· Check-in for your Southwest flights

· Check the status of a Southwest flight

· Review flight schedules

· View your rapid rewards account

· Access helpful contact information

Admittedly, the Southwest Airlines application usefulness is very limited due to its Southwest-only features, but it’s certainly a valuable application for anyone who prefers to travel with Southwest.

The Southwest Airlines application is currently available for all Android versions, and can be found on the Android market.

Verizon details 4G LTE launch tomorrow

2010-11-30T21:19:00.000-05:00

If you haven’t been watching the TV lately, you probably had missed the Verizon’s 4g LTE commercial hyping their big launch. We will learn more of the details tomorrow on a conference featuring Tony Melone, CTO of Verizon Wireless.

So what can the details be? We already know about Verizon’s 4g LTE is coming to 38 markets this year, but there is no carrier yet to be launched. Also we do know that there are going to be 2 USB modems will be unveiled tomorrow and Verizon hinted that LTE handsets will arrive in February.

According to a leaked slide over at Droid Life, the first LTE modem goes on sale December 5th so we expect that is the big day that Verizon flips the 4G switch.

Expectations for the service are high since Verizon is hyping it as the Fastest 4G Network in America and the largest 4G LTE network in the world.

For a preview of what’s coming soon, check out Verizon’s LTE announcement from October at CTIA.

Job posting from HTC points to 3D and e-ink displays. Will this tell us about the future of the HTC Smartphones?

2010-11-30T19:02:00.000-05:00

HTC have not officially announced to the public about the opening of a facility in Research Triangle Park, the North Carolina home to a long list of tech firms. But a recent job opening indicates that the OEM is staffing up their RTP offices. Specifically, HTC is seeking a Display and Camera Design Engineer. Most interesting is the bullet point list of desired qualities, which includes “Familiarity with multiple display technologies (TFT-LCD, PMOLED, AMOLED, E-ink, etc)” and “Familiarity with 3D display and imaging technologies.”

The successful job candidate will “lead the integration and evaluation of new display and camera technologies for next-generation mobile devices,” so this listing appears to be more revealing about what HTC is interested in terms of R&D than it is indicative about what types of products we could see in the next year from the #3 Smartphone maker in the US.

Will we see a new HTC Smartphone with 3d Screen and an Android OS of 2.3 or higher?

Via PocketNow and Engadget

Search for your new HTC Smartphone here!

Android Market rating system now available to developers

2010-11-30T16:51:00.000-05:00

About six days ago I posted a little article stating that, the Androids application soon will display content rating on the Androids Market. Well today the announcement was release and available via the developer console.

The application we be rated by the following:

Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs

Apps that include references to drugs, alcohol or tobacco products or their use should be rated “Teen” or above. Apps that focus on the consumption or sale of drugs, alcohol or tobacco should be rated “Mature”. Illegal activity or content that is targeted at minors is not allowed in Android Market.

Gambling

Apps with gambling themes or that include simulated gambling should be rated “Teen” or above. Real gambling is not allowed in Android Market.

Hate

Hate speech is not allowed in Android Market. If your app includes inflammatory content that may be offensive to many users, please rate it “Teen” or above.

Location

Applications rated “All” should not ask users for their location at any point. Apps that ask to access course or fine location data should be rated “Pre-Teen” or above. Apps that enable users to publish or share their location with others should be rated “Teen” or above.

Profanity and Crude Humor

Apps that include profanity or crude humor should be rated “Teen” or above.

Sexual and Suggestive Content

Apps that include suggestive or sexual references should be rated “Teen” or above. Apps that focus on such content should be rated “Mature”. Pornography is not allowed in Android Market.

User Generated Content and User to User Communication

Apps rated “All” should not host any user generated content or enable communication between users. Apps that focus on allowing users to find and communicate with each other should be rated “Teen” or above.

Violence

Apps that include mild cartoon or fantasy violence should be rated “Pre-Teen” or above. Realistic or intense fantasy violence should be rated “Teen” or above. Graphic violence should be rated ‘“Mature”. Gratuitous real violence is not allowed in Android Market.

New leak on the LG Star! What it have a HDMI port

2010-11-29T20:38:00.000-05:00

We had seen some pics of the LG Star before – some where around two weeks ago – and it hasn’t change that much since then. A member of Androidforums.com, some how score big with these prototypes of the LG Smartphone and show off with some pics. The only thing that did change and we didn’t knew earlier is the HDMI port

As we know, this phone will be running on Androids 2.2 AKA Froyo. Originally we heard LG was going with a stock build of Android, but the new screens reveal a UI that looks a little like Samsung’s Touchwiz UI with HTC’s Sense UI widgets thrown in.

No carrier partners have been announced, but early renders of the LG Star included Verizon branding and one of our sourced indicated that T-Mobile would pick it up. Sprint and many regional carriers also have a strong relationship with LG, so the Star could show up on a number of carriers.

With the say, if and one a more to have to say about this phone, please do so on the comment box below!

{Via phandroid and its forum}

Androids dominates Symbian in Asia

2010-11-27T12:43:00.001-05:00

With the fast growing population of the Androids OS, in no time the domination of the world will be there! In the US it seems that the market is steady growing up the charts, while there are report on the rest of the world.

Starting in Asia, Where their most popular Symbian OS was laid to rest by the Android OS surpassing its lead in the third quarter this year. This news comes according to market research firm GFK Asia, who also report overall Smartphone sales are up from 1.27 million to over 4.7 from the same time last year.

Now in the Nordic regions, research company QAim Oy has reported that Android OS is on the rise. Measuring access requests to Nordic web content, Android are in third place with 9.85 percent, while it was at .83 earlier in the year. They are projecting with this rate of increase that Android will overtake both iOS and Symbian by August 2011. This is all great news for the Android community. Such rapid growth only solidifies how popular the Android OS is becoming. Looking forward, for now at least, there really isn’t any competition.

Want a Androids Phone? Search Amazon.com Electronics for an Android

Android data theft exploit to be plugged in Gingerbread

2010-11-26T12:41:00.002-05:00

Thomas Cannon, a security expert, found a security hole in the stock Android browser. This hole allows for third-party software to read/copy data from the SD card, just through some clever HTML coding. He explains it as follows:

The Android browser doesn’t prompt the user when downloading a file, for example"payload.html", it automatically downloads to /sdcard/download/payload.html
It is possible, using JavaScript, to get this payload to automatically open, causing the browser to render the local file.
When opening an HTML file within this local context, the Android browser will run JavaScript without prompting the user.
While in this local context, the JavaScript is able to read the contents of files (and other data).

He was asked to remove some details from this list, so that the exploit would not be so easy for would-be hackers.

After these issues were brought to the big Goog’s attention, it was verified by Heise Security. Apparently the very-soon-upcoming release of 2.3 Gingerbread will address this security threat. In the meantime, be wary of evil websites and HTML-embedded emails sent from strangers (or enemies).

This exploit is detailed below in the video.

Android Data Stealing Vulnerability from Thomas Cannon on Vimeo.

Review of the AutoBot App

2010-11-25T12:41:00.000-05:00

Always losing your car? With the new Smartphone now you can’t. technology have been improving over the past few year now, and a company name Mavizon Technologies have made it easier to find lost and stolen cars via an Androids or iPhone, the new Apps will call AutoBot. Sweet, now my wife doesn’t have call me so I can help her to find her car!

The new app can give you walking direction to you vehicle or track the vehicle's location and notify police, alerts when you teen's car leaves a preset boundary, or a map view of friends' locations based on their AutoBot location or social media check-ins.

But it doesn’t stop there! If you get into and accident, AutoBot offers many security features, but doesn't require you to buy a new car to get them. For example, if you are in an accident and your airbags deploy, AutoBot can automatically send text messages with your GPS location to 911 and family members.

It also helps with auto maintenance, AutoBot knows when you need an oil change, tires rotated, and how many miles you've driven. With your permission, they share this information with their partners and offer you great savings on the things you need most. It also checks the engine and tells you what it means.

AutoBot™ is the connected car solution that takes a fresh approach to vehicle safety, location services, and maintenance by putting the user in control. The device is extremely easy to install, compatible with almost any cell phone or computer, and works with most cars 1996 or newer. AutoBot makes car technology accessible to everyone, allowing users to take advantage of features once only available in new cars or professionally installed systems.

The best of all, there are no monthly fee, but the bad thing about the device for your car doesn’t come cheap, and Mavizon Technologies just recently got chosen to showcase AutoBot at CES 2011 in January for a closed beta testing, and it is not hitting retail shelves until 2012. But it all worth it at the end!

Android apps to gain content ratings, as listed by the developers

2010-11-24T17:47:00.000-05:00

Androids application soon will display content rating on the Androids Market. Google announced today. The four ratings that apps will fall under include:

All
Pre-teen
Teen
Mature

Starting next week, developers submitting new or updated apps will have to include one of the four ratings. Existing applications also will have to be rated in the coming weeks. Ratings will be listed by the developers, so it'll be interesting to see how and if this is policed. If no rating is listed, the app will default to "mature." We also have to wonder how long it'll take the carriers to offer some sort of parental control over what can be seen in the Android Market -- and that would have some pretty serious repercussions

{Via: Android Central and Androids blog}

What? The Playstation Phone might come out on December 9th?

2010-11-24T16:10:00.000-05:00

Can anybody speak French? Sorry but I only speak English and Spanish! But a visitor from androidcentral.com said this on there comment box:

“Direct Translation (why thank you Google for your translate.google.com!): Pierre Perron and his team invite you to the most anticipated presentation of the past 10 years. Thursday, December 9 at 20h”

So is this true is it coming out on December 9^th? Well we have to wait and see!

An update on the Xperia X10

2010-11-24T15:22:00.000-05:00

Sony Ericsson talks on there Facebook page on why the Sony Ericsson hasn’t update the U.S version on the Xperia X10. Here is what they have to say:

“One factor in determining a software update is when a country first received the handset. The Xperia™ X10 has been available in some countries since March 2010 and they are also the first to receive the update. The U.S. received the X10 in August 2010 and will receive the update after the initial countries.

The second and more impactful factor of the timeline addresses the technical requirements that must be met in order for an update to take place -- no matter which country you live in. Unfortunately, we have no control of that timeline factor. Those requirements are provided to us and we work hard to meet and test them as quickly as we can. In the U.S., the testing process is especially rigorous, and can take months to complete, which is why we cannot announce the timing for availability of the X10 update in the U.S. It's not that we don't want to; it's that the timing is undefined until such testing is completed.”

All I have to say and others too is this, we do know that time is a factor but, delaying the process we bring it close to the new 2.3 aka Gingerbread. If so, then you have to make another update and then it take a lot longer.

Well if you have a comment to say. Feel free to comment below.

Looking for a Sony Ericsson Phone? Search Amazon.com for sony ericsson

A great app for Androids: OpenSezMe

2010-11-24T13:47:00.000-05:00

One more feature that Androids have that make it so darn great!

One guy made an Androids App that can open and close his garage door. On the video below it show how he made it and a little demo of the app. This app is “NOT” on the market, reason why, it only work on his garage. But with a little know how, some cash, and some good old elbow grease, you too can make one for your garage.

{Via XDA}

New Rumors on the Motorola Olympus!

2010-11-24T12:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we publish an article talking about how the Motorola’s Olympus Android phone is supposed to look like. (Click here to view that post.) But early this morning an “An anonymous source” is telling DroidDog and Gizmodo that “while the phone in the image below definitely resembles the Motorola Olympus it’s actually being referred to internally as Etna–more likely a tribute to the world’s largest active volcano than to the LG device by the same name.”

So what Phone is this!

The “Tipster” had said that the Motorola New Smartphone, (I’m going to call it like that since we are yet to confirm the new name,) is “NOT” getting the new a dual core Processor but a single core clocked at 2GHz. The “Tipster” also says “it feels like an EVO, so a 4″+ display is likely. It has front and rear cameras (as can be surmised fro the photo) and will launch on Verizon’s LTE network in Q1 with Gingerbread.”

So with this we now know that Motorola is developing “two” Smartphone one for Verizon and one (as Droiddog had said) is simply headed for another network, like AT&T.

If you have something to say about this, feel free to comment about it and share it with your friends.

Acer is Launching a new 4.8 Inch Android Smartphone soon!

2010-11-24T10:18:00.001-05:00

Acer is launching a new 4.8 inch Androids Smartphone and its name is “yet” to be known. We know that Acer have recently updated to Androids 2.2 Froyo, but with this new Smartphone the question is that if it well be using and older version or the Androids 2.2 Froyo?

We have heard, it will Comes with a large 4.8 inch screen with a resolution of 1024 x 480 pixels. Acer describes the Smartphone as “100% Smartphone and 100% tablet with a screen size of 4.8 inches.” The operating system running on the phone will be Google Android.

Acer Smartphone will have a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Processer. The Smartphone will have an 8 megapixel sensor on the back that will have auto focus. A front facing camera is also expected with a 2M sensor.

Adobe Flash 10.1 will be included. For the connectivity side it will have an 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. Bluetooth 3.0 is also expected along with a gyroscope and accelerometer.

The release date is expected On the Month of April 2011. We should get an announcement soon to confirm the name of it along with which version of Android will be running as well as information on a few other bits of missing information.

The Android 2.3 Gingerbread to be introduced on December 6th

2010-11-23T15:42:00.000-05:00

At this point Android 2.3 AKA Gingerbread can at any date be the official announcement of Android 2.3, or Gingerbread. We had been all waiting for some morsel of information.

Mr. Android, aka Andy Rubin, might be making an appearance at an imminent show in San Francisco on the 6th of December. The show is "D: Dive Into Mobile" and that's totally possible that Rubin will be dipping some sweet, sweet facts on us concerning Gingerbread. This date is fairly believable, as it falls right in line with Eric Schmidt's words saying that the Android update should be introduced with in the next couple of weeks the D: Dive Into Mobile show will be exactly three weeks since Schmidt hinted at the release.

The OS update has been extremely over-hyped, and once it drops, people will start to pick it a part. That will be the case with every update for any mobile OS, but iOS, WebOS, and WP7 are already extremely nice-looking on their own, and Gingerbread is said to be focused on user experience. If all Duarte has done is make the notification bar black and make the choice highlights green with Gingerbread, people may soon be turned off to the OS. We're putting our money on Gingerbread bringing a much snazzier UI to Android.

That thought, the real agreement is Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" OS. Android 2.3 Gingerbread will not step the OS up to 3.0 statuses, so we'll probable have to wait until the next major platform update before we see any real optimizations for tablet campaign.

Who knows at this point when we'll see Gingerbread? We know the Nexus One will get it first, and some others likely will have to remain months before they can get the latest version Android on their handset.

More on the new HTC Knight

2010-11-23T15:19:00.002-05:00

More reveal of the Smartphone, HTC Knight. HTC Knight will have 3.7 inch screen size, sliding QWERTY keyboard, 4G connectivity, Android 2.2 Froyo operating system, and 8MP camera. The most interesting thing is that HTC Knight will be equipped with a powerful dual core processor.

The phone is expected to come out in operator like Sprint on 6 January 2011, the same day which CES 2011 event will be held. Unfortunately, the price of HTC Knight is still unknown.