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Gmail releases Priority Inbox feature

Google, maker of Android OS and soon-to-be universe dominator, has released a new feature into your Gmail mailbox. The new feature, known as “priority inbox”, splits your email into three seperate yet equally imoprtant groups:

• Important and Unread
• Starred
• Everything Else

This is a special filtering system that will do it’s best to keep your inbox organized by what is most important to you. The system is shown in an example here:

Sounds pretty cool to this writer. Have you tried the feature? Have thoughts on it, good or bad? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

[via Gmail Blog]

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R2-D2 Droid 2 website updated

The newest edition to the Droid family is kicking things off with a bang. The Droid 2 features a lot of improvements over its predecessor, the Droid 1. Features include a revamped keyboard, revamped processor, and Froyo. But the most interesting thing about the device from Verizon is that it is set to launch two more versions of the device. One will be a world phone, and the other will be a little more interesting.

The Droid 2 will have a special edition R2-D2 theme. The website for said device has added new info. When you first launch the site, you will be greeted with Star Wars music blasting out of your speakers, and the familiar scrolling text, seen at the beginning of Star Wars movies. Even better, people are now able to search for “lost plans” which unlocks information about the device, like its boot animation. Hit up the source link to check out the revamped website.

[via DroidDoes]

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Huawei looking to Android for new smartphones

Huawei has plans to release a new smartphone running Android next week. The Chinese manufacturer has released some other Android devices, and we hope to continue to see more released. While there isn’t any information on the exact cost of the new device, Huawei spokesperson Glory Cheung was cited as saying the new phone would be “highly competitive price-wise”. There is also no news as to which market, globally, the device will be offered in.

The official announcement should be on Thursday, at which point we will make sure to keep all our readers up to date. So be sure to keep it here for more!

[via WSJ]

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ConnectWise released for Android

ConnectWise is a new app for Android that has been made specifically IT service providers. The app allows instant access from your Android device to ConnectWise. According to the official press release, the app will include:

• Automated collection of billable time and schedule management
• Improved customer response times and customer sign-off
• Quicker deployment of IT troops by their managers, as detailed service tickets can be created in the field anytime, anywhere
• Improved SLA compliance by maintaining immediate access to essential information at all times
• Enhanced communication between dispatchers, technicians and service managers

In addition to the app announcement, ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini stated that “With ConnectWise Mobile, sales, technical and executive staff members are fully armed with the tools they need to manage, share, report and measure the effectiveness of their business operations anytime and anywhere,” said ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini. “ConnectWise mobile is unique among mobile apps because of its ability to put the world’s most powerful business operating system in a service provider’s pocket, significantly enhancing their business effectiveness.”

As an IT professional, I can tell you from personal experience that this kind of app can be a godsend. To check out the app for yourself, be sure to hit up the ConnectWise Mobile page. Full presser after the break.

Read More…

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New app “EpicMix”, allowing skiers and riders a way to document mountain experiences

A new app for Android called “EpicMix” is allowing mountain riders and skiers a way to bring their mountaintop experiences to a whole new level. The new app from Vail Resorts is described as follows:

• EpicMix leverages radio frequency (RF) technology installed at each of the Company’s 89 lifts across its five mountain resorts and RF chips embedded in the Company’s season passes and lift tickets.
• EpicMix will allow guests to track vertical feet skied and days on the mountain.
• EpicMix enables guests to share their experiences with family and friends on Facebook and Twitter.
• EpicMix will recognize special achievements by rewarding guests with collectible digital pins.
• The free EpicMix mobile app will alert guests when their Facebook friends are on the mountain, and can be used to send private messages to meet up.
• An EpicMix site for kids will feature special content and privacy restrictions.

While this author isn’t much of a skier (what do you want, I grew up in AZ!), this sounds like a pretty cool app. The app is available to Vail Resorts guests with PEAK lift tickets or season passes. Full presser after the break.

Read More…

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Google not attending JavaOne conference

In light of the lawsuit between Oracle and Google, Google has made their thoughts clear on the matter, and thus has officially announced that they will not be attending the upcoming JavaOne conference. The conference will be taking place in San Fransisco during the week of September 19th.

In the official announcement,Joshua Bloch of the Google Open Source Project states:

“We wish that we could [present at the show], but Oracle’s recent lawsuit against Google and open source has made it impossible for us to freely share our thoughts about the future of Java and open source generally. This is a painful realization for us, as we’ve participated in every JavaOne since 2004, and I personally have spoken at all but the first in 1996. Like many of you, every year we look forward to the workshops, conferences, and events related to open source software. In our view, these are among the best ways we can engage the community, by sharing our experiences and learning from yours. So we’re sad to announce that we won’t be able to present at JavaOne this year.”

What do you think of Google’s decision to not participate? Be sure to let us know in the comments.

[via reuters]

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Verizon Fascinate lands on Samsung Galaxy S site

Well now that three Galaxy S phones have made it into our hands, the Captivate, Vibrant and Epic 4G, what’s left? Big Red’s Fascinate of course!

If you’ve been holding out for Verizon’s Galaxy S phone, then head over to the Samsung’s Galaxy S site to read all about it.

[via samsung]

Thanks John for the tip!

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Angry Birds for Android (Beta) coming on Friday

Update: Officially Confirmed!

That’s right folks! The hottest app on the iTunes Store is finally making it’s way to our favourite OS. Readers who have played the iPhone version will understand when I say that Angry Birds has to be one of the most addictive mobile games ever made.

We told you a few weeks ago that Angry Birds would be released by the end of August and it turns out that we were pretty close. The news comes from a reader of the website ‘Droid Life’. He received an email from the support department at Angry Birds that read like this:

Read More…

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Yahoo’s Fantasy Football app available in the Android Market

Yahoo has brought their Fantasy Football app to Android. While Yahoo has not yet officially announced the application in the Android Market, it should be there for everyone (at least in the US). Be sure to hit up the Market link or scan the QR code with your barcode scanner to try it out, and let us know what you think in the comments!

Market Link

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Samsung Epic 4G strips down and bares it all for some close-up shots

With the launch of the Samsung Epic 4G having officially hit, the FCC has snapped some pics of this new fire starter in a whole new light: totally naked.

Wireless Goodness managed to dig up some pictures of the Epic stripped down to it’s birthday suit, and has given us a nice new view of the device. Take a look at the circuitry, boards, CPU, ports, everything. Full gallery below.

[via wirelessgoodness]

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