Google setting up music store later this year, looking for search and Android synergy

Remember that chart that pointed out the differences between Google, Apple and Microsoft? Well, it’s looking increasingly like Google is intent on filling any and all gaps in its portfolio. Those good old unnamed sources have been talking, originally to CNET last week and to the Wall Street Journal today, and disclosing Google’s supposed intent to introduce its very own music store. This would initially encompass a web store where you can stream or download tracks, with a search tie-in that’ll get your money into Google’s pocket in the fastest possible way. Subsequent plans are said to include Android integration in 2011 — something that Google rather nonchalantly demoed at its I/O conference last month. Of course, none of this is as yet confirmed, but it looks like Apple and Google will be competing across yet another front — hold on tight.

Google setting up music store later this year, looking for search and Android synergy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceCNET, Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

Samsung Acclaim arrives in US Cellular stores July 9, we’re sure somebody will care

Looks like we have a small band of US Cellular fans among our numbers, as we’ve received a slew of tips letting us know that the national carrier has dropped an official release date for the Samsung Acclaim. This most mundane of Android sliders will arrive on July 9, and… well, that’s it really. US Cellular hasn’t seen fit to entice us with any actual specs or even an Android version, though information floating about the interwebs suggests it has a 3.2-inch HVGA screen and a stock Eclair installation. We’ll just have to wait until somebody at Samsung swallows the shame of being associated with the Acclaim and finally gives us some official details.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Samsung Acclaim arrives in US Cellular stores July 9, we’re sure somebody will care originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceU.S. Cellular (Facebook)  | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy S preview

Just because the US has gone gaming crazy these past couple of days doesn’t mean the smartphone world has stopped turning. Samsung trotted out its Galaxy S handset last night in London, and we were naturally there to try and glean a better understanding of where this 4-inch Android 2.1 device fits in our wishlist hierarchy. It’s quite the stat sheet stuffer, as we’re sure you’re aware, and it strikes an alluring figure for those looking to get on the true do-it-all smartphone bandwagon. Check out our latest impressions — replete with video and a whole gallery dedicated to the Super AMOLED screen’s performance in sunlight — just past the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S preview

Samsung Galaxy S preview originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson’s 3-inch Xperia X8 made official, coming in Q3 2010 for €259

While the real Shakira may be busy gallivanting over in South Africa, Sony Ericsson’s handset that bore the same (code)name has today been unveiled as the latest member of the Xperia line. Bridging the gap between the fully formed X10 and its Mini siblings, the 3-inch Xperia X8 will run Android 1.6 somewhere deep underneath a comprehensively customized skin.That means you get Sony Ericsson’s social (Timescape) and media (Mediascape) aggregators whether you like them or not, and by the looks of the early hands-on pictures, it seems like a straight port of the UI available on the X10 Mini. A 3.2 megapixel camera is available around back, with WiFi, a 600MHz CPU, 1,200mAh battery, and interchangeable covers completing the value proposition. The X8 will cost around €259 ($318) when it launches in the third quarter of this year. Hit the sources for more pictures.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson’s 3-inch Xperia X8 made official, coming in Q3 2010 for €259

Sony Ericsson’s 3-inch Xperia X8 made official, coming in Q3 2010 for €259 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAll About Phones, GSM Helpdesk, hi-tech.mail.ru  | Email this | Comments

HTC EVO 4G fully rooted, freedom loving people everywhere rejoice

You’ve undoubtedly been following the story — hell, maybe you’ve even partaking in some serious WiFi tethering. Well, the Android Police (not an actual police force) are reporting that the EVO 4G has finally been rooted, fully and completely. What’s this mean? Well, for starters, enterprising individuals will soon be writing to /system from within the OS, removing Sprint’s apps and flashing from custom ROMs. Pretty sweet, right? Hit up the source link to get started! But please, don’t brick your phone. For real.

HTC EVO 4G fully rooted, freedom loving people everywhere rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAndroid Police  | Email this | Comments

Acer Liquid gets early Android 2.2 ROM, unstable CPU unlock (video)

Nexus One, EVO 4G, Droid and Dream sure, but the Acer Liquid? Yes, the underclocked Snapdragon slate that never made it stateside has just received its own Android 2.2 port. Though still in early alpha with no Wi-Fi or camera functionality and plenty of bugs to boot, the freshly frozen yogurt has the Liquid turning tricks already — with very playable-looking framerates in Raging Thunder II and Flash video support. Early adopters note that the phone isn’t terribly stable at higher CPU frequencies, so don’t expect to push that processor much higher than stock, but even 768MHz is reportedly nice and snappy when you’re running Android 2.2. Video proof after the break, and you’ll find the unfinished ROM at our more coverage link if you’re the adventurous sort. [Thanks, Miroslav]

Continue reading Acer Liquid gets early Android 2.2 ROM, unstable CPU unlock (video)

Acer Liquid gets early Android 2.2 ROM, unstable CPU unlock (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMoDaCo  | Email this | Comments

‘iPhone vs Android’ report finds Apple has three times Google’s market share

It’s oftentimes easy for us to get swept up in Android mania and forget that Google’s mobile platform is still in its infancy. Then we get cold hard numbers like these — showing iPhone OS owning 28 percent of the US smartphone market and closing in on RIM’s leading 35 percent — and we face up to the realization that Android handsets still account for less than one in every ten smartphones owned by Americans today. In spite of collecting 28 percent of all consumer smartphone purchases in the first quarter of 2010 (according to NPD), Google’s OS was only able to climb up a couple of percentage points in terms of total market share, showing just how long a road lies ahead of its world-conquering plans. Guess that now explains why Apple’s response to the earlier numbers was so nonchalant.

Other intriguing figures include a high rate of loyalty among iPhone OS and Android users, with 80 percent of the former and 70 percent of the latter expressing a preference for the same OS in their next phone — both rather shaming Microsoft and RIM’s numbers, which were a mediocre 34 and 47 percent, respectively. Funnily enough, despite its inflammatory title, this report finds Android and iPhone users are more similar to each other than anyone else — an uncomfortable fact for both parties to deal with, we’re sure. The source link contains some more demographic comparisons, so why not go check them out and drop some sage analysis for us in the comments?

‘iPhone vs Android’ report finds Apple has three times Google’s market share originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET  |  sourceNielsen  | Email this | Comments

Motorola Droid gets early Android 2.2 ROM, ready to download… now!

What shall we call this, Frodroid or Droyo? Either way, an Android 2.2 update has been made available for Motorola’s all-conquering slider, and it awaits eager firmware upgraders at the download link below. Produced by the good folks at My Droid World, this includes almost everything you’ll need to get your Froyo on in style, though it excludes WiFi support at this stage. Such is the way with unofficial upgrades, but if you really need consolation, there’s a whole set of superuser privileges to explore as this bad boy comes pre-rooted. You could of course skip this whole community business and wait for Moto’s official update, but that company’s idea of the “near future” is about as precise as the length of a piece of string.

Motorola Droid gets early Android 2.2 ROM, ready to download… now! originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 13:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Boy Genius Report  |  sourceMy Droid World  | Email this | Comments

PlayStation emulator coming to Android, courtesy of yongzh and ZodTTD

If you don’t know the names yongzh and ZodTTD, you can certainly be forgiven, but they’re basically the cell phone emulation dream team — where the former has been cranking out high-quality Nintendo and Sega emulators for Android, the latter is the one who brought PSX to iPhone, iPhone 3GS and the Palm Pre. Today, we hear they’re collaborating on a PSX emulator for Android that’s running faster than the 3GS version — before Froyo’s even factored into the equation — and that when his domination over the PSX is complete, ZodTTD intends to begin work on an Nintendo 64 emulator for Android, and then VLC. Without letting our enthusiasm get the better of us, let’s just say it’s an exciting time to be an Android owner, to say the least.

PlayStation emulator coming to Android, courtesy of yongzh and ZodTTD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink never know tech  |  sourceDigital Disbeliever, ZodTTD (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

Yepp, Samsung’s working on another PMP — but this one’s a four-inch Android with AMOLED

Samsung’s interstellar voyage with Android has just begun, it seems — after a host of smartphones and a freshly announced tablet, it looks like the OS will cameo in a new Yepp PMP. The YP-MB2 was recently spotted in the databases of the Bluetooth SIG, where it’s described as “a multi functional Mobile Internet Device” with GPS, Wi-Fi, TouchWiz 3.0 and a huge four-inch AMOLED touchscreen. Digging deeper into the technical documents, we can see it’s got Android as well — oh, and Bluetooth, of course. As the geographic availability section reads “Asia” and the unit’s “MB” designation typically means South Korea’s T-DMB, we don’t expect to ever see it stateside, but when the device surfaces next you can probably expect it to look like a larger one of these.

Yepp, Samsung’s working on another PMP — but this one’s a four-inch Android with AMOLED originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Samsung Hub  |  sourceBluetooth SIG (1), Bluetooth SIG (2)  | Email this | Comments