If you snagged an Epic 4G yesterday, you’re probably itching to use that front facing camera. Well there obviously isn’t a better way to use it than for video chat. Whether it’s at 10,000 feet or from the comfort of your couch, fring for Android makes an excellent alternative to the built-in Qik application.
So if you’ve got an Epic 4G (or any Android phone with a camera), grab fring and give it a try.
Rate & download: fring (Free)
eReaders. They are arguably the best thing since sliced bread (actually the best thing since Android). You can load a bunch of books to your device of choice, instead of lugging around a ton of books. I myself do not have an eReader like the Nook, Kindle, or the Sony Reader. I do, however, have the Kindle for Android app on my Droid Incredible (I had to read the Illiad over the summer). Not only does Amazon have a Kindle app on the Android Market, but Barnes and Noble has a Nook app on Android, too. There is only one eReader app missing from the Android Market. But according to Sony, that is about to change. To quote the electronics company:
The new Reader models bring a fresh level of flare to e-reading with colorful, elegant aluminum designs and all new, highly responsive touch screens. In addition to the new devices in the U.S., Sony announced development of a set of applications for iPhone and the Android Marketplace to extend the Reader experience across multiple portable devices.
Sounds pretty good if you ask me.
Anyone out their use a Sony Reader? Tell us what you think in the comments.
Keep on reading for the full press release:
As you all know, Sprint is the first United States carrier to offer 4G for their mobile devices. Sprint has chosen WiMax for their 4G, while Verizon has chosen LTE (long-term-evolution) for their 4G standard. T-Mobile and AT&T have gone the way of HSPA+, which claim download speeds equal to Sprint’s WiMax, but are not classified as a 4G network.
There was some news a couple months ago about T-Mobile maybe merging with Sprint, but nothing that would hint a merger has happened, until now. T-Mobile is reportedly interested in investing in Clearwire, Sprint’s partner in crime on the path to rolling out WiMax. This would give Clearwire the funds necessary to roll out its 4G network. T-Mobile has no current plans for 4G, and as I stated before, has opted for HSPA+ so what happens next will be interesting to say the least
[via PhoneScoop]
GigaOM’s website, NewTeeVee.com, posted an article today demoing Flash running on Android via a Nexus One. In the article they end up describing Flash for Android as ‘shockingly bad’. This raises an important question to all people using Flash 10.1 on Mobile Devices; should we expect all Flash on the web to run perfectly on our mobile devices. Here is the video demo in question:
The presenter is a guy name Kevin Tofel. I see a key flaw in Kevin’s experiment. The flaw being that he has tested Flash in just about the worst examples for mobile possible. Here is my reasoning:
France Telecom-owned Orange has announced their plan to launch a £200 Android tablet by the end of the year. If the offering proves to be successful, Orange has plans to lower the price to £100 with a contract. The device will feature 3G connectivity, and likely WiFi as well. That’s all the information that is available right now, so stay tuned for more details as they become available.
[via intomobile]
Some pieces of the puzzle are starting to fall into place regarding a mysterious Samsung device that has been popping up in the news lately. First off, the SPH in the model name is a strong indicator that the device is headed to Sprint. Secondly, the name “Transform” might be an indication that the phone will have some sort of transforming feature, whether it be a slide out QWERTY keyboard, or something totally different.
No other information is available, other than the fact it boasts 802.11b / g / n WiFi, meaning the device is likely to be a smartphone. We also still don’t know if this is even going to be an Android device, so stay tuned for more details.
[via Engadget Mobile]
We’ve certainly been hearing a lot about the Samsung Galaxy Tab lately, including the pretty strong evidence that it is headed to Verizon. The Android tablet made the rounds at the FCC recently, under the name “SHW-M180S”. From the looks of it, this device is shaping up to be more than just a bigger version of the Galaxy S, in more ways than one.
For starters, there’s a very good chance it is going to ship with Android 2.2 installed, which will add a performance boost out of the box. Also, it is boasting dual-band 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi capable of speeds up to 150Mbps. That is some pretty impressive wireless capability, which would make it one of the most powerful wireless tablets on the market.
It’s also worth noting that the device seems to include the GSM 1900 radio frequency, meaning AT&T may also be in the cards for the Galaxy Tab. It looks like we are definitely getting close to an official announcement very soon, which could come as early as this weekend at IFA. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
[via Engadget]
Motorola formally announced the Milestone 2, aka the European Droid 2, in a press release issued today. The device is essentially a Droid 2 for release outside of the United States, and is nearly identical in every way. It features Android 2.2, Motoblur, a slide out QWERTY keyboard, a 1GHz chip, and the ability to record video in 720p. There is no word yet on pricing, but it is expected to be released starting in Europe in Q4 2010.
Continue reading the official press release after the break.
So, you have your brand new Epic 4G, but maybe you’re not so fussy about TouchWiz. Well, you’re in luck, because you can actually disable it if you so desire. This process also works on the Samsung Fascinate, but not on the Captivate or Vibrant. Just follow the steps outlined below, and you’re all set!
Instructions
This process works on TouchWiz 2.5 devices. It will work on the stock Samsung Epic 4G for Sprint or Samsung Fascinate for Verizon, but it will not work on the Samsung Captivate for AT&T or the Samsung Vibrant for T-Mobile.
- Head over to the Settings application. (Press “Menu” button, Click “Settings”)
- Scroll down and click “Applications”
- Click on the “Manage Applications” button
- Press the “Menu” button, click “Filter”
- Press “All”
- Scroll almost all the way down to “TwLauncher” and click it
- Under “Launch by default” press “Clear defaults”
- Now, click your Home button
- Choosing “Home” instead of “TwLauncher” will bring you to the Vanilla Android launcher and homescreens. You can click on “Use by default for this action.”
To switch back, perform the same operation, but clear the defaults for the “Home” application. Now choose “TwLauncher” as your default home-button launcher.
[via BriefMobile]
Motorola has added a new Android phone to its ever expanding lineup, this time in the form of the Defy, a Motoblur’d Android 2.1 device which features a nearly indestructible 3.7-inch display. Once again, Gorilla glass comes to the rescue here, which is the technology behind Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen.
The device is supposed to be able to withstand being placed in up to a meter of water, so a trip to the beach or the pool might not spell disaster if the phone decides it wants to take a bath. The Defy will also feature a 800MHz chip, and is expected to launch in Europe sometime in Q4 2010. There is no word yet about pricing, or if this will ever be released in the US, but hit up the source link below for some more photos and information about the Defy.
[via Motorola]