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September, 2009 Articles

Sprint HTC Hero Unboxed

by Rob Jackson on September 27th, 2009 15 Comments

I’ve got the Sprint HTC Hero in the Phandroid PhanCave… I’ll be putting it through the paces and publishing a full length review later in the week. I probably won’t rehash all the HTC Sense stuff since the review from the original HTC Hero applies perfectly well… but I will try to provide a thorough [...]

Acer A1 Gets Unofficial Pre-Order Page

by Rob Jackson on September 27th, 2009 16 Comments

Look what has just popped up for pre-order at Expansys, the folks who perpetually leak lots of lovely devices month in and month out… it’s the Acer A1 Android Phone! This thing has seen MORE than its fair share of leaks and rumors over the past year, so to see this latest development is encouraging [...]

Eff Google, Screw Android: The Backlash Begins

by Rob Jackson on September 25th, 2009 155 Comments

This is bad. Really bad. So bad that one of the lead Android developers themselves are insinuating this is worth walking away from the platform. Jean-Baptiste Queru has just tweeted, “To my Apple, Microsoft and Palm buddies: are you hiring to work on mobile stuff?” OUCH. First we heard it as a rumor – Google [...]

Google Responds To Cyanogen Uproar

by Rob Jackson on September 25th, 2009 88 Comments

If you haven’t heard about the cease and desist letter that Google sent to famed Android OS modder Cyanogen, I suggest you read up before continuing this post. Google has posted a “response” of sorts, hoping to clear the air of their good name in light of “misconceptions” amidst the criticism. Here is an excerpt [...]

The Best Cell Phone Is…

by Rob Jackson on September 25th, 2009 59 Comments

(do not scroll to the comments, it will spoil the surprise!) CNET just had their “expert” cell phone guy Kent German do a video of the BEST 5 Cellphones. Not top value. Not most popular. THE BEST. I want you to guess where Android is on this list of the Top 5. Then I want [...]

HTC Tattoo Video Overview By Arne

by Rob Jackson on September 25th, 2009 3 Comments

Look who got their hands on the HTC Tattoo – Arne from TheUnwired! He put together a quick video overview of the device for your viewing pleasure but we can’t embed it… so you’ll have to visit their site to check it out (you’re killin’ us Arne!). I love how he pronounces it “tuh-two” (seriously, [...]

Cyanogen Gets C&D From Google

by Rob Jackson on September 25th, 2009 48 Comments

I was reluctant to make this post. Not because I have allegiances or loyalties, but because it is a touchy legal situation that I have only heard about… I don’t have first hand details. Before I write an article like this, where I really WANT to voice my opinion, I want to have my facts [...]

Review: ADC 2 Judging Application

by Rob Jackson on September 24th, 2009 27 Comments

[Talk about ADC 2 and all the apps in our ADC2 Forum!] So we just downloaded the Android Developer Challenge 2 Application from the Android Market and wanted to give a review for those that haven’t downloaded it yet. So watch the video and read the text review below! First of all, if you’re looking [...]

ADC 2 Judging Just Started – Download The App!

by Rob Jackson on September 24th, 2009 6 Comments

The Android Developer Challenge 2 has just begun and you can now download the judging application from Android Market! It is called “Android Developer Challenge 2″ so search for it, download it and start testing and judging applications now! The second round of judging will last at least 2 weeks so you’ve got plenty of [...]

Layar 3D Video Demos Looks Sick

by Rob Jackson on September 24th, 2009 8 Comments

If you haven’t heard (and you probably have), Layar has added 3D capabilities to their Augmented Reality Browser. You may wonder what that means and rather then try to explain in some technical terms, check out these videos that the company put together to illustrate: The pacman characters, airplane and 3D text were all rendered [...]

Live Pics and Impresions Of The HTC Tattoo

by Rob Jackson on September 24th, 2009 2 Comments

Our friends over at the HD Blog got their hands on a Tattoo and not the drunken girlfriend hearty ink you’ve got on your arm – the HTC Tattoo! The Tattoo will be the second Android Phone with HTC Sense and it should be launching at the end of October… aapparently with 1.6 Donut according [...]

HTC Tattoo Etched In FCC Files

by Rob Jackson on September 24th, 2009 1 Comments

Looks like our little buddy knownas the HTC Tattoo has passed through the FCC with flying colors. It came with model number CLIC100 and as you may have noticed in our phone guide, was formerly referred to as the HTC Click. I’m guessing the whole Motorola CLIQ thing jinxed that naming effort. A stack of [...]

Wallet Android MID By eviGroup in France

by Rob Jackson on September 23rd, 2009 11 Comments

We can’t be exactly sure about the details surrounding the latest Android device to get an up-and-coming status, the eviGroup Wallet MID, because everything we’ve found on the announcement has been based in French. Including the following video: From what we can see the device looks pretty sweet and sitting directly next to the Apple [...]

HTC Only Sticks Its Chin Out For Android

by Rob Jackson on September 23rd, 2009 31 Comments

If you overhear a conversation about phones and hear the word “chin”, chances are an HTC Android phone is the topic of discussion. The first generation T-Mobile G1 didn’t fare so well in that department, getting slandered and skewered for its Leno-like feature. But by the time the HTC Hero was launched the signature characteristic [...]

Digg, Telenav, Mint Android Applications Coming Pre-Loaded On CLIQ?

by Rob Jackson on September 23rd, 2009 16 Comments

It looks like Motorola may have been hiding a lot of the Motorola CLIQ goodness from us but after some snooping I found they slipped some stuff right under our nose! Take a look at this CLIQ Applications page on Motorola.com! HOLY CLIQOLI! According to this page, all the apps listed here come “Pre-loaded and [...]

Samsung Galaxy Lite Pictures Peak Out, Touchwiz Included?

by Rob Jackson on September 23rd, 2009 25 Comments

We’ve got juicy new information about the rumored Samsung Galaxy Lite that you’re definitely going to want to hear. Let’s start off with pictures of the front and back of the phone, shown in both White/Lime and Black/Red and adorning an adorable Android Robot on both sides: Three are two VERY interesting debates that come [...]

Sprint Developer Website Now With Android Support

by Rob Jackson on September 22nd, 2009 10 Comments

The first meaningful chunk of information from the Sprint Developer Website came a few weeks ago when they used it to break the news of the Sprint HTC Hero. Now the developer portal has been filled out with a truckload of information for the developer-type. Don’t plan on going over there and enjoying yourself if [...]

Phandroid Podcast: Episode 8

by Rob Jackson on September 22nd, 2009 8 Comments

Come one, come all… it’s Phandroid Podcast Episode 8! This week your hosts Rob Jackson and David Demarest (Shivers316 from Android Forums) discuss the various upcoming and rumored Android Phones and explore software with the 1.6 Donut additions. [audio:http://phandroid.com/podcasts/phandroidpodcast-8.mp3] Download the MP3 As David suggests in the podcast, show your support via Twibbon! The next [...]

Samsung InstinctQ Passes FCC

by Rob Jackson on September 22nd, 2009 9 Comments

Another obligatory hurdle has been hopped for the Samsung InstinctQ, the 4th phone in the Instinct series headed to Sprint. Ryan wrote in to tell us about the FCC spotting and we couldn’t have explained its implications any better: The only useful information is in the “HAC Production Key Feature Letter,” in which it describes [...]

HTC Hero Hitting Cellular South

by Rob Jackson on September 22nd, 2009 24 Comments

Well THIS is an interesting turn of events. You know the Sprint HTC Hero? The one that adds a brushed metallic finish and removes the angled curvature in the mouthpiece? We thought this phone might be exclusive to Sprint – at least in the United States – but a relatively small carrier called Cellular South [...]