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April, 2010 Articles

HTC Says “Sorry” to Hero Owners for 2.1 Delays

by Kevin Krause on April 26th, 2010

If any Android handset is the most snubbed when it comes to receiving OS updates, it would have the be the HTC Hero. The Hero was released a year ago and still runs Android 1.5, even after promises of 1.6, 2.0, and now 2.1 have been delayed and then delayed again. HTC isn’t throwing bananas [...]

HTC Desire on Telstra Gives Aussies GPS Connection Issues

by Kevin Krause on April 26th, 2010

Telstra just dropped the HTC Desire on the Australian masses last week, and it looks like the handsets aren’t without some Telstra-specific issues. Several users over at Whirlpool have noticed GPS connectivity problems with their new Androids. Both Telstra and HTC had little to say on the issue when contacted by members of the forum. [...]

Cisco to Introduce Android Tablet?

by Kevin Krause on April 26th, 2010

The latest tablet rumor comes from the Cisco camp, with an insider tip appearing on CNET’s Buzz Out Loud podcast. A listener wrote in claiming the Cisco will be releasing a 7-inch Android tablet for the business market. Features would focus on productivity and include front-facing camera, dual microphones with noise cancellation, and advanced VPN [...]

Is Motorola Bringing 3D to Android Phones? [SPECULATION]

by Kevin Krause on April 26th, 2010

Could Motorola be ushering in a new era of cellular phones sporting 3D capabilities much sooner than expected? Our friend Carl over at AndroidForums was quick to point out some striking similarities between the latest images of Motorola’s new MT820 and a recent patent filing for three-dimensional display technology. Lets take a look at the [...]

Near Field Communications Coming to Android Handsets

by Kevin Krause on April 26th, 2010

Near Field Communication (NFC), a short-range radio standard, is the technology behind Apple’s recently patented iTravel system, which allows users to purchase travel and concert tickets electronically and use their phone to gain admission. However, NXP Semiconductors, a manufacturer of NFC hardware, claims that it will be Android handsets that will see the first large-scale [...]

AT&T Presents Banana Phone as Next Android Handset, JK

by Kevin Krause on April 26th, 2010

In response to a frustrated customer on their Facebook page, AT&T presented a top-secret photo of their latest and greatest Android device. This one may come as a shocker to many of you, but you’ll have to see it to believe it: OK, OK. No that isn’t really the next Android phone (wait, it isn’t?), [...]

HTC Sued Over Visual Voicemail Patents

by Kevin Krause on April 26th, 2010

Why is everyone always picking on poor HTC about patent infringement? Now Judah Klausner wants in on the action, brandishing a set of patents related to visual voicemail that have already won settlements from Apple and LG. Also included in the suit are Motorola and RIM. The brunt of his attack is focused at HTC’s [...]

Garminfone Wants to Navigate Your Life, Sign Up Now

by Kevin Krause on April 26th, 2010

The Garminfone was just made official last week, and now those eager to get their hands on this navigation-centric phone on T-Mobile can sign up to get all the updates their little hearts desire. T-Mobile has launched it’s Garminfone page, offering little in the way of shocking or surprising detail. The basics are covered: the [...]

Streaming Music Showdown: Rhapsody

by Kevin Krause on April 26th, 2010

Rhapsody was one of the first online services to offer on-demand streaming music during a time when Napster was rebranding itself as a pay service and iTunes was just beginning its rise to music market domination. Surprisingly, while their service predates many of the others with apps currently in the Android Market, Rhapsody is one [...]

[Update] Motorola Dumps Google Maps For Skyhook

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 26th, 2010

Besides the fact that this press release is dated for April 27th, 2010, we’re appalled by the information that it brings us: Motorola will preload Skyhook’s location services on its Android-based devices in place of Google Maps and Navigation Beta. In an unexpected “it’s not you, it’s me” type of event, Motorola’s vice president of [...]

Motorola CLIQ XT Update Preview To Commence Today

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 26th, 2010

Look what slipped under our radar over the weekend: Motorola’s getting ready to preview and test a new update for the Motorola CLIQ XT. Before any of you get excited: no, this isn’t the big 2.1. If any of the following enhancements are something you’d love to have on your phone, however, then you might [...]

HDigit Dials In And Brings Us An Android-powered DAB Radio

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 26th, 2010

When Android was being built, many only visualized it as a phone operating system: for a long time, phones were the only things you could find Android running on. Since then, we’ve seen kitchen appliances, cars, netbooks, tablets, robots – you name it, and Android has probably already seen it. Now, it’ll be seeing a [...]

Motorola MT820 Makes Another Appearance

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 26th, 2010

Last week, we got our first look at a new Motorola phone which brought us a flip phone form factor: a first for any Android device. Another set of pictures have come together, though, but the hardware is slightly different from what we remember. For starters, the home button has been moved to the bottom [...]

Droid Incredible Early Adopters To Get 2GB microSD Card Free

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 26th, 2010

A lot of people were upset to find out that the HTC Droid Incredible wouldn’t come with any external storage options (even more-so because of the fact that, at least for now, apps are unable to use or see the phone’s 8gb of internal storage). Thankfully, Verizon seems to be offering a 2gig microSD card [...]

Rogers Getting Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini and Mini Pro May or June

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 26th, 2010

MobileSyrup’s Rogers tipster came through with some good news for X10 Mini fans: the pair of phones could be here in May or June. The original projection has always been “Summer”, but now we can at least say early Summer you’ll have something to look forward to. They’ve come through with some initial pricing details, [...]

[UPDATE] Google Nexus One No Longer Coming To Verizon, Get An Incredible Instead

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 26th, 2010

We’re not sure if this was just to hold people over until Verizon finally adopts the Nexus One, or if they are replacing it with the introduction of their HTC Droid Incredible altogether, but Google’s phone storefront urges interested customers to pick up the Nexus One’s “cousin” instead of getting a Nexus One. For Verizon’s [...]

Yahoo! and Samsung Team Up To Become Your Default Search Provider

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 26th, 2010

It began with the Motorola Backflip: Yahoo! would become the default search provider on Google’s own operating system. There’s not much you can say to damn them seeing as how Android is an open platform, but the current continues to flow in that direction with other companies, as well. Today, Samsung and Yahoo! announced a [...]

Vodafone To Launch The Nexus One Friday, April 30th

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 26th, 2010

The end of April looks to be a great time for select Android fans. Not only will some of us be getting the HTC Droid Incredible on April 29th over in the US, but Vodafone users (UK) can expect to purchase a brand new Nexus One, as well. Something which surprises me, though, is that [...]

Dell Gets Even Crazier With Their Latest Roadmap, Now Featuring the Sparta and Athens

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 25th, 2010

As I sit here typing this, I can’t help but wonder what’s gotten into Dell recently: at one point, everyone was ready to count them out of the mobile phone and devices game for good. To everyone’s surprise, though, they’ve bounced back with unbelievable velocity and they aren’t showing any signs of slowing down. AndroidCentral [...]

PayPal Becomes An Additional Payment Option For Android Market

by Quentyn Kennemer on April 25th, 2010

There’s some good news for our phans who can’t use Google Checkout in their countries (or aren’t particular fans of it): PayPal has found a way to incorporate its payments system with Android and will soon be offered as an option in the Android Market. They expect the service to be ready in Q2 2010 [...]