News and Tips

Rumor: Desire HD coming to Verizon as the Incredible HD

2010-10-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

Last month in Europe, HTC unveiled their next generation of Android smartphones which included the Desire Z and the Desire HD. We already knew the Desire Z was coming to the Verizon as the Merge, but new information is suggesting the Desire HD will also come stateside as the Incredible HD. Will Verizon finally get their own EVO-ish device? Read on after the jump for the full rumor, the original source, and one insider’s take on it.

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Chrome Extension for Google OS Blog

2010-10-27T09:59:00.001-07:00

Jay Wang developed a Google Chrome extension for this blog. The extension lets you read all the posts, it keeps track of the posts you've read and it notifies you when there's a new post. The search feature lets you find posts from this blog and from Google's official blogs.

Jay Wang's extension is a great combination between Firefox's live bookmarks and Google Reader, so it might eventually be used to subscribe to any site.

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What's New in Google Chrome 6?

2010-10-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

Google released the first stable build for Chrome 6. The new version has a simplified user interface: there's a single menu, the "go" button has been removed, the browser no longer shows "http://" in the address bar, the bookmark button has been moved to the right and the toolbar has a new color scheme.

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Google Chrome Latest Version

2010-10-27T09:50:00.001-07:00

The nice thing about Google Chrome's auto-update feature is that almost all users are running the latest version of the software. This is really important for web developers, who no longer have to worry that a large number of users haven't upgraded from Chrome 2 or Chrome 3. It's not necessary to test a site in multiple versions of Google Chrome and it's safe to use features added in the latest version of the browser.

Gmail's help center lists the supported browsers and includes the minimum version number required next to each browser, except Google Chrome.

Unfortunately, even if Chrome installs the latest version, you can't use it until you restart the browser. Google started to add a little orange dot next to the wrench icon and show messages like: "Old school's not cool. Google Chrome is woefully out of date because it hasn't crashed or restarted in a while. Restart Chrome to apply update."

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Google Instant Shortcuts

2010-10-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

Google Instant Search, the feature that shows search results as you type, is now publicly available. According to a press site, "Google Instant is starting to roll-out to users on Google domains in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia who use the latest browsers (Chrome versions 5 and later, Firefox version 3 and later, Safari version 5 for Mac and Internet Explorer version 8). Please note, users on domains other than Google.com and Google.ru can only access Google Instant if they are signed in to a Google Account."

If you don't see the new feature, go to Google's homepage, click on "Google.com in English" and log in to a Google account. If you still don't see it, try this URL: http://www.google.com/webhp?sclient=psy.

When you start to type a query, Google moves the search box to the top of the page and shows a list of 4 suggestions, followed by the search results for the first suggestion. That means you can just type "ny" and get the search results for [ny times] almost instantly. Google shows the predicted query in the search box, but the characters automatically added by Google are grayed out.

If you intend to type [ny times crossword], you can press Tab or use the right arrow to add "times" to your query and continue typing "crossword". Use the up/down arrows to pick a different suggestion and you'll notice that the results are displayed without

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Start the clock, Samsung Galaxy S gets Android 2.2 in Europe

2010-10-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

We still have absolutely no idea when U.S. customers with a Galaxy S phone will receive Android 2.2, but Samsung Mobile just issued a press release to let everyone know they are pushing it out across Europe to the international version starting today.
Hopefully the U.S. versions of the Galaxy S (Vibrant, Captivate, Epic 4G, and Fascinate) will see the Android 2.2 update later this year, but you never know when it’s in the hands of the carriers. It took AT&T and T-Mobile months to roll out the GPS fix so don’t get too excited about seeing this new system update yet.
Samsung made a strong effort at their Galaxy S launch party back in June to let everyone know their flagship phone would be receiving Android 2.2 and I thought it was a great opportunity for them to upgrade their reputation, but they have failed to…

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HTC Gratia heading to Europe in November

2010-10-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

Early next month, Europe will have another Android 2.2 handset to choose from. HTC has just announced that the HTC Aria will be heading to European shores as the HTC Gratia. The HTC Gratia will be a great new device for anyone looking to jump onto the Android boat but who wants to stay away from those expensive rate plans. The 600 MHz processor, 3.2 inch display, and 5 MP camera (with no flash) will certainly not be turning any heads, but it’s certainly a step up over the HTC Wildfire or any of Motorola’s new phones running outdated versions of Android.
Pricing for the HTC Gratia will be determined by local carriers when it show up in stores across Europe next month. We know that most of you will pass on the HTC Gratia, but it might be a great Christmas present for your grandparents or little sister.

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Print Selection in Google Chrome

2010-10-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

Printing is one of Google Chrome's weakest points. Google's browser still doesn't offer print preview and, until recently, you couldn't print selected text. In Google Chrome 6 for Windows, you can select some text and some images from a web page, click on "Print" in the unified menu and choose the "selection" option.

If you frequently print pages in Google Chrome, you can add a print button and install iReader, an extension based on Readability that removes clutter from web pages, makes pages easier to read and adds the option to hide images.

In other Chrome-related news, Chrome 7 beta will be released next Monday and print preview has been pushed back to the next release (Chrome 8). "Because the M7 feature freeze was on Aug 30, moving this to M8. Each cycle is six weeks."

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Google Updates Gmail's Android App

2010-10-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

More and more Android apps developed by Google are available in the Android Market. Until recently, applications like Voice Search or Gmail couldn't be installed from the Android Market. They were usually included in the firmware by phone manufacturers as part of a deal with Google.

The latest Google application added to the Android Market is Gmail. There aren't many changes: message headers are displayed at the top of the window even when you scroll down, you can click on "show quoted text" to see the text that prompted a reply and the built-in "important" label has been added to the interface.

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Behind the Scenes of Gmail's Priority Inbox

2010-10-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

Ario Jafarzadeh, Experience Designer on the Gmail team, gave a great talk about Priority Inbox at the Google Zürich headquarters. "Priority Inbox, to me, typifies what I hope will be a much larger trend in online consumption... one that gives users more control over what can grab their attention vs the pure chronology based world that has dominated the web for so long," says Ario.

Priority Inbox started as a "20 percent project" at Google Zürich, back in 2008. It's been initially called Magic Inbox, a name that was referenced in Gmail's source code last year. Google wanted to hide the complexity of the feature by using a simple interface that can be customized to suit your needs. The "+"/"-" buttons that let you change the importance of a message were inspired by the street signs from Zürich.

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HTC Desire Z set to launch on Bell in early November

2010-10-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

Here in the U.S we’ve been enjoying the T-Mobile G2 for nearly a month, but it looks like our friends up in Canada may soon be getting a G2 of their own. OK, it’s not really the G2, but leaked documents show that Bell will be launching the HTC Desire Z (think of it as the G2’s cousin loaded up with HTC Sense) on November 3rd. Just like its U.S. cousin, the Desire Z will also be supporting HSPA+ support which should make it the fastest smartphone on Bell’s 3G network.
The HTC Desire Z will be the first phone in North America to sport the new HTC Sense 2.0 which integrates into the HTCsense.com site. Users will be able to visit the site to remotely monitor, wipe, and customize their phones. The new HTC Sense 2.0 also includes a variety of skins to give your handset a more unique…

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Google launches new version of Youtube application, now in Market for 2.2+ devices

2010-10-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Youtube application has received both an update and a new method of delivery today, with Google launching their redesigned application onto the Android market. This move is not entirely unexpected, as Google has recently brought other core applications such as Gmail and Google search to the Android market, which allows users to customize their Android experience by deciding which applications they do/don’t want on their phone.
With this version update, the Youtube application brings pretty significant changes in both user interface and functionality. Upon launch, users are provided a personalized video feed based on their preferences as well as general popular videos. The new UI makes the application simpler to use, and adds easy access to take a video using Camcorder as well as video search on the main screen.
One of the bigger feature additions is the ability to view videos in portrait mode, allowing you to simultaneously…

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Synapse-Phones offers fully rooted, customizable Android phones

2010-10-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

There’s certainly no shortage of great Android phones out there, but at times it feels like you must make a compromise when you walk in to your local carrier looking for a phone that truly suits your needs and wants. But that may soon be a dilemma of the past with the introduction of the new Synapse-Phone.
The Synapse-Phone is planning on delivering a fully rooted Android handsets right out of the box. If that wasn’t enough, each phone can be tailored to the exact user’s needs. Some of the customization options for the handset include: mobile network support, Bluetooth version, Wi-Fi, megapixel count, flash type, front facing camera, digital television tuner, internal working memory, capacitive or physical buttons, battery size, and handset color.
Pricing for the Synapse One will range from €299 ($417) for the base configuration to €584 ($815) for a fully loaded device. Synapse-Phones is currently taking…

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T-Mobile’s Motorola Defy launching November 3rd

2010-10-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

T-Mobile has finally announced the launch date and price for the Motorola Defy. The Android 2.1 handset is scheduled to go on sale on November 3rd for only $99.99 with a new two year contract. The Defy is certainly not the fastest handset in T-Mobile’s lineup, but with an 800 MHz OMAP 3610 processor, 3.7 inch display, 1540 mAh battery, 1.25GB onboard memory, and 5MP camera with LED it’s certainly no slouch.
The Motorola Defy will feature the new MotoBLUR 1.5 running on Android 2.1. When the handset was initially unveiled, Motorola mentioned that an Android 2.2 upgrade is being considered, but they were unwilling to make any commitments
While the specs may be mildly impressive, the main selling feature of the Motorola Defy is its ability to resist impact, dust, water, and scratches. Those who work at more physically intensive jobs or find themselves in the great outdoors a lot more than…

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Google Suggest Filtering

2010-10-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

Google Suggest was supposed to help users type a query by providing useful suggestions. Unfortunately, some of the suggestions are offensive and Google had to filter the searches related to pornography, violence, and hate speech.

Google's over-protective algorithms now filter all the suggestions that include "is evil", "I hate", "[ethnic group] are" (for example, "chinese are"). Google Suggest also filters "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the name of a popular Nirvana song.

Google Docs Adds a Revision History Sidebar

2010-10-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

When Google released the new version of Google Docs, one of the missing features was comparing revisions. The latest update to Google Docs brings this feature back, but only for consecutive revisions.

Google Docs adds a sidebar that lists the most recent revisions and lets you preview them. "Click on a time stamp in the right column to see what changes were made at a given time or use the arrow keys to quickly scan through many revisions. Changes are color-coded based on each collaborator, making it easy to tell what has been added or deleted," explains Google.

Google groups the changes from a short period of time into a single revision, but you can click on "Show more detailed revisions" to see all the changes.

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SCVNGR gets a facelift, new features in 3.5 release

2010-10-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

SCVNGR has announced a massive update to their Android application, including a UI-facelift as well as several new features. For those of you not familiar with SCVNGR, SCVNGR is a check-in-based game that challenges users to go places and complete mini-challenges to earn points. In the past few months, SCVNGR has partnered with retailers such as Journey’s, AT&T, and Gamestop to bring real-life rewards to users who rack up a certain number of points at their locations.
In the 3.5 version release, SCVNGR has conducted a massive UI-overhaul, completely reworking the main dashboard and sub-menus, as well as their activity stream to make things much easier on the eyes and easier to use. Additional features of the release include the following:

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Google Tests Search Preview

2010-10-26T03:39:00.000-07:00

Google experiments with a new feature that previews search results when you mouse over them. Benjamin Rubin, who sent the screenshots, has more information about this feature:

"Starting this morning, I started to get a highlighted-box mouse-over effect along with that magnifying glass icon on most of my search result entries. Clicking on it toggles a preview image with some text highlighted as well. The image preview differs slightly depending on where the aforementioned text appears on the page."

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Android 2.1 update for the Motorola Cliq now available

2010-10-26T03:37:00.000-07:00

Android 2.1 for the Motorola Cliq has arrived! Just one day after Motorola posted that they were looking for Android 2.1 testers, they have decided to make the Eclair update to everyone. The new build number for the Motorola Cliq is Blur_Version.2.1.5.MB200.T-Mobile.en.US and will require users to have at least 100 MB of free space available on their memory card. Motorola will be permanently reducing your internal memory since the update requires a bit more room than the original Android 1.5 build did.
Motorola has put up five pages of detailed instructions on how to prepare, download, and install the latest Android update to the Cliq. So what are you waiting for? Once your Cliq is up and running on Android 2.1, be sure to let us know how the update process went and which Android 2.1 feature you like the most.

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Acer Liquid Metal hits the FCC with AT&T 3G support

2010-10-26T03:34:00.000-07:00

Anyone remember the aluminum clad Acer Liquid Metal that surfaced last month? It turns out that the Android 2.2 handset has made an appearance over on the FCC website with support for AT&T’s 3G bands. We’re pretty sure that very few of you have ever owned an Acer phone in the past, but with Android 2.2, a second generation 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7230 Snapdragon process, 3.6-inch display (800 x 480), and the usual GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi b/g/n connections, we can guarantee that the Acer Liquid Metal will be running with the big boys.

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Google's John Lennon Doodle

2010-10-26T03:32:00.000-07:00

Google's doodle that celebrates the 70th anniversary of John Lennon's birthday doesn't seem special until you click on it.

Google embeds a short animated video for John Lennon's "Imagine". After using bigger doodles, image animations, particle simulations and JavaScript games, it's time for video

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Samsung Galaxy Tab arrives on Sprint November 14th for $399

2010-10-26T03:23:00.000-07:00

Sprint just spilled the beans about their Galaxy Tab launch, which is now available for pre-order on sprint.com/tab. Their first 7-inch Android tablet will debut on November 14th for the price of $399.99 with a two-year contract or eligible upgrade.
Customers will have two options for data plans. Power users can get 5 GB of data for $59.99 per month and the budget-minded can get a 2 GB plan for $29.99 per month. Both plans also include unlimited messaging. If customers want to use their Tab as a WiFi hotspot (for up to five devices), Sprint will charge an additional $29.99 per month.
Based on the current pricing the total cost of ownership for Sprint’s Tab will be $1119.75 (2GB), $1839.75 (5GB), or $2559.51 (5GB + hotspot) plus taxes and fees.
Data is data, so I’m a little disappointed Sprint is charging an additional $30 for the option to tether.

Hands-on the Motorola Droid Pro coming soon to Verizon for $299

2010-10-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to pick up the BlackBerry-inspired Droid Pro on Verizon, circle November 11th on your calendar and expect to fork over at least $300, according to a leak from our friends at Droid Life. This high-end Android phone is one of the first to be specifically targeted at the business crowd, so it makes sense that Verizon is pricing this as one of their most expensive smartphones.
Motorola Co-CEO Sanjay Jha thinks it will be a hit with the business crowd and says that 34% of BlackBerry users are ready to switch to Android. We recently go some hands-on time with the device at CTIA earlier this month and I was really impressed with the overall build quality, but the style just isn’t for me.
If you were waiting on Verizon to ship the Droid Pro, does the high price change your mind about…

Google Chrome 7, Ready for the Web Store

2010-10-26T02:45:00.000-07:00

If you read the blog post from Google Chrome Releases, you might say there's no significant new feature in Google Chrome 7 Beta. It's the first major version after Chrome's team changed the release cycle to 6 weeks, so the engineers couldn't add too many new features. "A lot of the work that's being done in 7.0 is largely not user facing and in some cases is a legitimate work in progress," admits a Google Chrome developer.

So what's new in Google Chrome 7?

1. Web apps are enabled by default, just in time for the Chrome Web Store launch.

2. Web apps are synchronized, like regular extensions and themes.

3. A slightly updated new tab page, with support for web apps.

Google Goggles for iPhone

2010-10-26T02:42:00.000-07:00

Google Mobile App for iPhone started to become a bloated app, just like Google Toolbar. Instead of developing new applications, Google adds extra features to the Google Mobile App.

The latest new feature added to the application is Google Goggles, a visual search tool that helps you identify objects in a picture. "Computer vision is a hard problem and Google Goggles is still a Labs product. It works well for things such as landmarks, logos and the covers of books, DVDs and games. However, it doesn't yet work for some things you might want to try like animals, plants or food," explains Google.

Google Goggles is available in the Google Mobile App if you use an iPhone 3GS running iOS 4 or an iPhone 4. Goggles is also a standalone Android application.

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