ThickButtons for Android
ThickButtons makes it convenient to type on touchscreen smartphones. As you type a word, ThickButtons enlarges and highlights useful buttons and shrinks useless ones. ThickButtons learns your dictionary, so the more you type -- the easier it is to type
Labels: Android
Google Buzz Widget for Android
Google has recently presented a new widget for Android handsets, which works with the recently launched Google Buzz service.
In other words, the Google Buzz Widget can be placed on the home screen of your Android for easier and quicker access. Users can easily create text messages and attach images directly from the widget, which is able to access the camera controls as well as the gallery.
At the moment the Google Buzz Widget is supported by handsets running the version 1.6 of Android.
Labels: Android, Google Buzz
Opera Mini 5 beta Released for Android
While the rest of the platforms have been getting lots of love from Opera, Android was stuck with Opera Mini 4 for a year now, but they’ve recently received the new version as well. Thus, Opera Mini 5 beta is now ready to go on Google’s platform, complete with the newest features.
The most important new feat is certainly the implementation of tabbed browsing, that has become a default option on most modern browsers. Opera Mini 5 also brings Speed Dial and Password Manager on Android, with the first function allowing the user to access one of 9 favorite sites with a single click. Opera Link is also on board, syncing bookmarks between the desktop browser and the mobile one.
We all know what the main appeal of the Opera Mini browser is: its ability to compress data, in order to save money for folks with expensive data plans. Does this version compete with the default Android browser? What do you say?
Labels: Android, Opera Mini 5
YouMail App for BlackBerry, Android, and iPhone
One of my dear friends, Rock, suffered a terrible loss the other day. Her sweet elderly Verizon phone suffered a total malfunction and died. It was a sad day. Not just for her, but for those of us who want to contact her. Lacking an adequate equipment replacement program, she has been incommunicado for days. Until YouMail came to save the day.
YouMail was able to recover the voicemails from her lost phone and play them on her iPod. I know, voicemail is a little 2000. But it’ll do in a pinch, or in an emergency.
YouMail also does other things. It will translate your voicemails into texts, which is perfect for people like me who only communicate via textual means, and it will join all your voice messages into one box so that your home, office and cell messages are all available in one place. It also does this really creepy thing: it calls your callers by name when they leave a message. Weird, but I’m sure someone finds this useful.
From Android Phone News
Labels: Android, BlackBerry, iPhone
Motorola Quench Ready for March Launch Via TIM Brazil
Motorola Quench, also known as Cliq XT for the US market was officially unveiled last week during MWC 2010 and we learn that the handset will soon be available in Brazil, via local carrier TIM. This company is the country’s third largest mobile carrier, with over 40 million subscribers.
Moto Quench runs Android 1.5, uses MotoBlur and incorporates a 3.1 inch HVGA touchscreen display, an accelerometer, HSPA support, WiFi, A-GPS and a HTML browser. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack on board, stereo Bluetooth, FM radio and a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with Flash.
As far as memory is concerned, you get 512MB of ROM, 256MB RAM and there’s a Qualcomm MSM7201A 528 MHz CPU under the hood. TIM Brazil will sell the device starting late March for a yet unannounced price. The handset will also hit Europe and US via T-Mobile USA.
Via Android Phone News
Labels: Android, Android Phone, Motorola, Motorola Quench
Google Earth has landed for Android 2.1
After launching the Nexus One smartphone, Google realised that it would be a pity to let all that potential go to waste and put the 1GHz processor and 3D graphics to good use, by launching Google Earth for Android. This is the fastest version of the software, with smooth framerate and 800 x 480 resolution supported.
Together with this release, Google launched the Roads layer, already available in the desktop version of Google Earth. This option allows users to see the roads they’re driving on, placed on top of satellite imagery, for better orientation. Voice recognition is also used in Google Earth for Android, through a feature that looks like a pocket globe, responding to the user’s commands.
For example, saying “Eiffel Tower” or “a hotel in the San Francisco area” will take you to the desired results, thanks to the technology of Google Search by Voice and Google Local Search. Just like the other Google Earth versions, this software allows you to browse photos, places and businesses, while clicking icons for more info.
The software is available in the Android Market and supported on most Android 2.1 devices.
Via Mobile Phone News
Labels: Android, Android 2.1, Android OS, Google
LiveAndroid runs Android on your PC without installing
If you’ve been dying to give Android a spin ever since it was announced to be a working PC OS but don’t want to sacrifice any of your files or time installing it, nows your chance.
LiveAndroid version 0.2 has recently been released to the public. This software is a LiveCD that will allow users to run the operating system without installing anything. All you do is download the LiveAndroid ISO, burn it onto a CD, reboot your PC and then run it.
Furthermore, the LiveAndroid team notifies us that you can also run the software in a virtualization app such as Microsoft Virtual PC or VirtualBox.
Labels: Android
Android BigFoot Details
Here are some previously unknown details about the BigFoot (the upcoming Android phone), which featured in T-Mobile roadmap leaks before. Apparently, made by Motorola and will be selling as T-Mobile G1 v2... Yeah... Technical specifications below:
* Size: 115.7x53x16.3 mm;
* GSM Quad-band, HSDPA 900/1700/2100;
* 3" QAVGA LCD display;
* 3Mpix camera;
* 1500 mAh battery;
* 100MB + Micro SD slot;
* USB 2.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS+Compass;
* OS: Android "donut";
* Accelerometer
Labels: Android
Android smartphone shipments expected to grow 900% in 2009
According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global Android smartphone shipments will grow 900 percent in 2009. Healthy support from operators, vendors and developers is driving adoption. Apple iPhone OS will be the next fastest-growing smartphone operating system in 2009, with a 79 percent growth rate.Tom Kang, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, “We forecast global Android smartphone shipments to grow an impressive 900 percent annually during 2009. The Android mobile operating system from Google gained early traction in the United States in the second half of 2008 and it is gradually spreading its presence into Europe and Asia during 2009. Android is expanding from a low base and it is consequently outgrowing the iPhone OS from Apple, which we estimate will grow at a relatively lower 79 percent annually in 2009.”
Neil Mawston, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Android has fast been winning healthy support among operators, vendors and developers.
A relatively low-cost licensing model, its semi-open-source structure and Google’s support for cloud services have encouraged companies such as HTC, Motorola, Samsung, T Mobile, Vodafone and others to support the Android operating system. Android is now in a good position to become a top-tier player in smartphones over the next two to three years.”
The full report, Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: 2008, is published by the Strategy Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies service.
Labels: Android
Android 1.5 features YouTube and Picasa uploading
Google today announced that you can now use your Android-powered phone to record and then even upload them to Youtube.
Video uploads is one of several new features and improvements for the new Android 1.5 release:
* YouTube: record and easily upload videos to YouTube.
* Picasa Web Albums: upload photos directly to your Picasa Web Albums.
* Gmail: multiple-thread selection to easily archive, delete, label or mute several threads at once.
* Search by voice: improved speech recognition.
When uploading your video to YouTube you will have full control of your privacy. You can make your videos available to the entire Internet or to invited friends. This Android update also enables easier Picasa uploading by reducing the number of clicks needed to share your pictures with others. Like YouTube, after taking a picture tap 'share' when viewing a photo and select Picasa.
Like Gmail on the desktop, Gmail for Android 1.5 allows "batch edit". Instead of selecting and archiving dozens of emails on the phone, one email at a time, you can now select multiple Gmail conversations and act on all of them as a group, saving time for the more important stuff.
Google has also made it even easier to search with your voice by improving speech recognition.
Read more...
Video uploads is one of several new features and improvements for the new Android 1.5 release:
* YouTube: record and easily upload videos to YouTube.
* Picasa Web Albums: upload photos directly to your Picasa Web Albums.
* Gmail: multiple-thread selection to easily archive, delete, label or mute several threads at once.
* Search by voice: improved speech recognition.
When uploading your video to YouTube you will have full control of your privacy. You can make your videos available to the entire Internet or to invited friends. This Android update also enables easier Picasa uploading by reducing the number of clicks needed to share your pictures with others. Like YouTube, after taking a picture tap 'share' when viewing a photo and select Picasa.
Like Gmail on the desktop, Gmail for Android 1.5 allows "batch edit". Instead of selecting and archiving dozens of emails on the phone, one email at a time, you can now select multiple Gmail conversations and act on all of them as a group, saving time for the more important stuff.
Google has also made it even easier to search with your voice by improving speech recognition.
Labels: Android
Android 1.5 with "Cupcake" Coming Soon to the T-Mobile G1
T-Mobile has announced the upcoming release of Android 1.5 with "Cupcake" coming soon to the T-Mobile G.
"Cupcake" is the codename for the set of improvements for the T-Mobile G1. Much of Cupcake is included in Android 1.5. (See video below)
T-Mobile plans to begin sending out the update starting the end of next week. As with previous software maintenance releases, the update will be randomly sent "over the air" to T-Mobile G1 customers. T-Mobile expects everyone will have their update by the end of May. The update will feature the following:
User interface refinements
* System-wide:
o Refinement of all core UI elements
o Animated window transitions (off by default)
o Accelerometer-based application rotations
t-mobile-android-cupcake
* UI polish for:
o In-call experience
o Contacts, Call log, and Favorites
o SMS & MMS
o Browser
o Gmail
o Calendar
o Email
o Camera & Gallery
o Application management
Performance improvements
* Faster Camera start-up and image capture
* Much faster acquisition of GPS location (powered by SUPL AGPS)
* Smoother page scrolling in Browser
* Speedier GMail conversation list scrolling
New features
* On-screen soft keyboard
o Works in both portrait and landscape orientation
o Support for user installation of 3rd party keyboards
o User dictionary for custom words
* Home screen
o Widgets
+ Bundled home screen widgets include: analog clock, calendar, music player, picture frame, and search
o Live folders
* Camera & Gallery
o Video recording
o Video playback (MPEG-4 & 3GP formats)
* Bluetooth
o Stereo Bluetooth support (A2DP and AVCRP profiles)
o Auto-pairing
o Improved handsfree experience
* Browser
o Updated with latest Webkit browser & Squirrelfish Javascript engines
o Copy 'n paste in browser
o Search within a page
o User-selectable text-encoding
o UI changes include:
+ Unified Go and Search box
+ Tabbed bookmarks/history/most-visited screen
* Contacts
o Shows user picture for Favorites
o Specific date/time stamp for events in call log
o One-touch access to a contact card from call log event
* System
o New Linux kernel (version 2.6.27)
o SD card filesystem auto-checking and repair
o SIM Application Toolkit 1.0
* Google applications
o View Google Talk friends' status in Contacts, SMS, MMS, GMail, and Email applications
o Batch actions such as archive, delete, and label on Gmail messages
o Upload videos to Youtube
o Upload photos on Picasa
Read more...
"Cupcake" is the codename for the set of improvements for the T-Mobile G1. Much of Cupcake is included in Android 1.5. (See video below)
T-Mobile plans to begin sending out the update starting the end of next week. As with previous software maintenance releases, the update will be randomly sent "over the air" to T-Mobile G1 customers. T-Mobile expects everyone will have their update by the end of May. The update will feature the following:
User interface refinements
* System-wide:
o Refinement of all core UI elements
o Animated window transitions (off by default)
o Accelerometer-based application rotations
t-mobile-android-cupcake
* UI polish for:
o In-call experience
o Contacts, Call log, and Favorites
o SMS & MMS
o Browser
o Gmail
o Calendar
o Email
o Camera & Gallery
o Application management
Performance improvements
* Faster Camera start-up and image capture
* Much faster acquisition of GPS location (powered by SUPL AGPS)
* Smoother page scrolling in Browser
* Speedier GMail conversation list scrolling
New features
* On-screen soft keyboard
o Works in both portrait and landscape orientation
o Support for user installation of 3rd party keyboards
o User dictionary for custom words
* Home screen
o Widgets
+ Bundled home screen widgets include: analog clock, calendar, music player, picture frame, and search
o Live folders
* Camera & Gallery
o Video recording
o Video playback (MPEG-4 & 3GP formats)
* Bluetooth
o Stereo Bluetooth support (A2DP and AVCRP profiles)
o Auto-pairing
o Improved handsfree experience
* Browser
o Updated with latest Webkit browser & Squirrelfish Javascript engines
o Copy 'n paste in browser
o Search within a page
o User-selectable text-encoding
o UI changes include:
+ Unified Go and Search box
+ Tabbed bookmarks/history/most-visited screen
* Contacts
o Shows user picture for Favorites
o Specific date/time stamp for events in call log
o One-touch access to a contact card from call log event
* System
o New Linux kernel (version 2.6.27)
o SD card filesystem auto-checking and repair
o SIM Application Toolkit 1.0
* Google applications
o View Google Talk friends' status in Contacts, SMS, MMS, GMail, and Email applications
o Batch actions such as archive, delete, and label on Gmail messages
o Upload videos to Youtube
o Upload photos on Picasa
Labels: Android
Android 1.5 Update Available
T-Mobile has released the Android Cupcake 1.5 update for its HTC G1 users. The problem is that if you're using a custom ROM, you won't be able to download the update. Thus be sure to return to the official ROM, if you want to play with the Cupcake.
Labels: Android
T-Mobile Germany Android 1.5 Update to be available In May
T-Mobile Germany have announced that the anticipated Android 1.5 Cupcake update will be available to G1 owners in May. Here are some of the new features included in the update:
* Additional on-screen keyboard - you decide how you enter your messages;
* Video recording and playback;
* Pictures and video include one-click Picasa and YouTube uploads;
* Automatic adjustment of the touchscreen when the G1 is held horizontal or vertical;
* Support for Bluetooth stereo headsets
Labels: Android
DataViz Documents To Go Office Suite Now Available for Android
DataViz is now shipping Documents To Go Standard Edition version 1.0 for Android. The office suite enables the ability to view, edit and create native Microsoft Word and Excel files instantly on the smartphone. Files can be transferred via Bluetooth, USB, memory cards as well as e-mail attachments.
In addition, a free beta version of DataViz’s award-winning RoadSync application is also now available in Android Market. RoadSync uses the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol to provide secure, wireless and direct push synchronization with Exchange Server 2003 and 2007 and the beta supports push e-mail, attachments and contacts. The Documents To Go supports all of the latest Microsoft Office file formats including 97, 2000, X, XP, 2003 and 2007 for Windows as well as 98, 2001, 2004, 2008 for Macintosh.
Documents To Go is available through Android Market for a limited-time introductory price of $19.99 (regularly $29.99.) The RoadSync beta is free through May 31, 2009 and also immediately available through Android Market.
Read more...
In addition, a free beta version of DataViz’s award-winning RoadSync application is also now available in Android Market. RoadSync uses the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol to provide secure, wireless and direct push synchronization with Exchange Server 2003 and 2007 and the beta supports push e-mail, attachments and contacts. The Documents To Go supports all of the latest Microsoft Office file formats including 97, 2000, X, XP, 2003 and 2007 for Windows as well as 98, 2001, 2004, 2008 for Macintosh.
Documents To Go is available through Android Market for a limited-time introductory price of $19.99 (regularly $29.99.) The RoadSync beta is free through May 31, 2009 and also immediately available through Android Market.
Labels: Android, DataViz, Documents To Go Office
Running Android At VGA Resolution
SIM Technology has presented a custom version of its U1 handset at the MWC. What's so special about it? Well, it was running a fully functional Android OS on a VGA screen. This alone will make a lot of consumers interested in the said device. As for the features, the phone comes with:
* Android OS;
* Quad-band EDGE support;
* Tri-band HSDPA support;
* 2.8" VGA display;
* 3Mpix camera;
* A-GPS;
* Wi-Fi;
* TV-out;
* microSD card slot
Labels: Android
Rumor: Motorola 5Mp coming soon ?
Unofficial images of the rumored 5-megapixel-camera phone by Motorola have been captured on the Internet. The gadget was said to be Motorola’s first of a kind in the sense that it is the first touchscreen phone ever produced in the history of Motorola.
A Xenon flash backs up the phone’s 5MP camera while a TV-Out facilitates easy sharing of images. The phone is rumored to be Android-powered.
SEVEN to Support Android OS for Mobile Email Solutions
SEVEN today announced the availability of itsmobile messaging solution for the Android platform. The SEVEN Android client is available today for carriers and device manufacturers who plan to embed mobile email solutions on Android devices. SEVEN is currently demonstrating Android solutions at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Other than supporting standard email protocol and email provider like AOL, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, SEVEN can also be used for Microsoft Exchange or IBM Lotus Domino corporate email. This includes the access to calendar and address book on Microsoft Exchange.
“We are experiencing strong demand from both carriers and device manufacturer partners for Android solutions”, said David Ratner Senior Vice President, Engineering and Delivery. “We see tremendous opportunity to improve on what is currently available and provide richer, more functional Android devices to end-users around the world. Support of Android is a natural evolution of our strategy to enable mobile network operators, service providers and handset makers to offer a superior messaging experience across a wide range of mobile devices.”
Starting in Q2, users with compatible phones will be able to download the Android Mobile email client from the SEVEN community site at http://community.seven.com or directly from the Android market.
Read more...
Other than supporting standard email protocol and email provider like AOL, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, SEVEN can also be used for Microsoft Exchange or IBM Lotus Domino corporate email. This includes the access to calendar and address book on Microsoft Exchange.
“We are experiencing strong demand from both carriers and device manufacturer partners for Android solutions”, said David Ratner Senior Vice President, Engineering and Delivery. “We see tremendous opportunity to improve on what is currently available and provide richer, more functional Android devices to end-users around the world. Support of Android is a natural evolution of our strategy to enable mobile network operators, service providers and handset makers to offer a superior messaging experience across a wide range of mobile devices.”
Starting in Q2, users with compatible phones will be able to download the Android Mobile email client from the SEVEN community site at http://community.seven.com or directly from the Android market.
Labels: Android
Android Market Paid Applications Coming Soon
Google has started to accept paid Android applications submission from developers last week, promised to make the paid applications available next week. When available, the paid applications will be available to US users and followed by additional countries in the coming months. More roll out plan will be announced by the end of this quarter.
According to google, Google Checkout will be used as the online payment solution for Android Market. Other than the paid applications announcement, Android Market will start to be available to Singapore users in few weeks time and Australia next week.
Read more...
According to google, Google Checkout will be used as the online payment solution for Android Market. Other than the paid applications announcement, Android Market will start to be available to Singapore users in few weeks time and Australia next week.
Labels: Android
T-Mobile G1 Android Firmware Update 1.1 Now Available
According to Gizmodo, the latest T-Mobile G1 Android firmware update version 1.1 is now available for everyone to download. For more details hit the source link.
Source
Skype Launches Over 100 Android Java-Enabled Apps
Skype today announced the release of a lite version of Skype, a 'thin' client for Skype that can be downloaded on Android-powered devices, as well as more than 100 other Java-enabled mobile phones.
This launch builds on successful public testing last year and the incorporation of user feedback to an earlier beta version which was only available on a limited number of mobile devices. The updated beta now makes Skype software broadly available to millions of mobile users worldwide, including for the first time, mobile users in the U.S. The lite version delivers core Skype capabilities including:
* Make Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world
* Send/receive instant messages to/from individuals or groups
* Make Skype calls at low rates to people on landline or mobile phones
* Receive calls to your online personal phone number on Skype
* See when your Skype contacts are online/available to chat
By bringing the world's leading Internet communications software to mobile phones, Skype users can save money on calls to landlines and mobiles abroad, and stay connected with friends and family over Skype while on the go. The lite version of Skype works wherever your mobile phone works, without requiring a WiFi connection. The lite version of Skype uses local air time and a mobile internet connection in order to sign in to Skype, update your contact list, update presence and send/receive calls or messages, so you must have both a calling plan and a data plan on your mobile phone to use it.
The lite version of Skype is currently available for Android devices, which today include the T-Mobile G1, the first Android-powered mobile phone currently available in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is expected to also work on other future Android devices. Android device users can download this beta version of Skype by visiting Android Market.
It also works on more than 100 of the most popular Java-enabled phones from the world's top five handset manufacturers - LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. For instructions on downloading the lite version of Skype to LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson phones, users can visit www.skype.com/m using the mobile browser on their phone or www.skype.com/go/mobiledownload from a computer. The web page includes a directory of the mobile phones currently supported.
The lite version of Skype is available globally, with the ability to make Skype-to-Skype calls and low cost calls to landlines and mobiles abroad currently available in ten countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Poland, Brazil (Rio and Sao Paolo), Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Australia and New Zealand.
Read more...
This launch builds on successful public testing last year and the incorporation of user feedback to an earlier beta version which was only available on a limited number of mobile devices. The updated beta now makes Skype software broadly available to millions of mobile users worldwide, including for the first time, mobile users in the U.S. The lite version delivers core Skype capabilities including:
* Make Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world
* Send/receive instant messages to/from individuals or groups
* Make Skype calls at low rates to people on landline or mobile phones
* Receive calls to your online personal phone number on Skype
* See when your Skype contacts are online/available to chat
By bringing the world's leading Internet communications software to mobile phones, Skype users can save money on calls to landlines and mobiles abroad, and stay connected with friends and family over Skype while on the go. The lite version of Skype works wherever your mobile phone works, without requiring a WiFi connection. The lite version of Skype uses local air time and a mobile internet connection in order to sign in to Skype, update your contact list, update presence and send/receive calls or messages, so you must have both a calling plan and a data plan on your mobile phone to use it.
The lite version of Skype is currently available for Android devices, which today include the T-Mobile G1, the first Android-powered mobile phone currently available in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is expected to also work on other future Android devices. Android device users can download this beta version of Skype by visiting Android Market.
It also works on more than 100 of the most popular Java-enabled phones from the world's top five handset manufacturers - LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. For instructions on downloading the lite version of Skype to LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson phones, users can visit www.skype.com/m using the mobile browser on their phone or www.skype.com/go/mobiledownload from a computer. The web page includes a directory of the mobile phones currently supported.
The lite version of Skype is available globally, with the ability to make Skype-to-Skype calls and low cost calls to landlines and mobiles abroad currently available in ten countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Poland, Brazil (Rio and Sao Paolo), Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Australia and New Zealand.