Hasta La Gadget!

As you may or may not be already aware, the Nexus One and HTC Desire have the same Broadcom chip. Seems trivial at cursory glance until you realize the Desire has a FM radio app, which should ergo be just as feasible on the Google-branded device. Cut to xda-developers’ intersectRaven, who’s released a custom N1 kernel that theoretically brings life to the FM receptor. It’s available to download, but as for when you’ll get a chance to really use this yourself, that’s entirely up to the custom ROM developers updating their respective wares. For his part, Paul O’Brien said today he’s already got it working on an upcoming Froyo Sense build for the device — hang tight, folks, it’s coming.

[Thanks, John]

Nexus One now a step closer to FM radio support, thanks to modified kernel originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Police  |  xda-developers  | Email this | Comments

Well, this is genuinely awesome: it seems AT&T is pulling back from its ban on third-party sideloaded apps on its Android devices, because HTC has just released an Aria update that enables them (either that or HTC just went rogue here, but we highly doubt it). While that doesn’t have much practical implication for your typical smartphone user, it’s a strong sign that AT&T might be ready to take a more reasonable stance on the openness of its branded devices that would put it inline with the attitudes Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile have all taken with their Android phones so far. Additionally, the update includes “the Mobile Network sharing function,” which we take to mean a mobile hotspot app in the same vein as the one that’s shipping with Froyo — if we had to guess, it probably requires AT&T’s 2GB DataPro plan plus the tethering add-on, which would put it in line with what they’re charging on the iPhone. Onward and upward, AT&T.

Update: We got downright excited for a second there, but an HTC spokesman just called to inform us there’s been a mistake — this download is only for the desktop HTC Sync client and doesn’t actually enable anything on the phone. We’re working to get more information right now, but it sounds like the sideloading ball is still squarely in AT&T’s court.

Update 2: HTC apologizes for the confusion, saying the update description was in error — it was merely supposed to read that the Aria now works with the company’s desktop sync client. On Monday, the text will be updated to remove every last ounce of false hope.

Update 3: Sideloading works after all! Read all about it.

[Thanks, Dylan T.]

HTC Aria update for AT&T enables mobile hotspot, sideloaded app support (update: partially working!) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  HTC  | Email this | Comments

No patience to wait until Q3 for an official Froyo build? Fret not, dear Desire owners, as udK_dev has managed to push out a near-perfect Android 2.2 port that’s working spectacularly well so far. As you’d expect, HTC’s Sense overlay is indeed baked in, and while there are still a few quirks here and there, users seem to be generally pleased with how it’s going. Better still, the camera has been upgraded to handle 720p video recording, so there’s that. Hit the source link for the how-to, but make sure you set aside a few hours first. Or maybe just one.

[Thanks, seaders]

Android 2.2 ported to HTC Desire, working quite well originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  xda-developers  | Email this | Comments

Good news, EVO 4G lovers! The striking white version of Sprint’s most gargantuan (by diagonal screen size, anyway) smartphone has started to splash down into Best Buy stores across the nation a full five days early. If you’ll recall, the white EVO 4G wasn’t supposed to land in the hands of those who pre-ordered until July 11th, but we’ve received two independent confirmations that they are indeed arriving early in select locales. Stay close to your current phone — you may be getting a pick-up call in the not-too-distant future.

Update: A tipster has just sent in a gallery’s worth of unboxing shots — looks like these are indeed being handed out early! Huzzah!

[Thanks, Anonymous and Justin]

White HTC EVO 4G lands early in Best Buy stores (update: unboxing!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

While all of you Droid, Incredible and EVO 4G owners wait patiently for an official Froyo update to call your own, LG’s wasting no time introducing its first phones based on the latest and greatest Android build. Over in the UK today, the company has decided to launch the Optimus Series, a family of smartphones that’ll run “on a range of operating systems as well as Android.” If all goes well, LG will introduce around ten new smart devices worldwide in the second half of this year under the Optimus label, though only two are being partially revealed for now. The Optimus One with Google and Optimus Chic will both ship with Android 2.2 onboard, with the latter being specifically aimed at fashionistas who just might appreciate the “sleek curves” that make themselves so apparent. Further details surrounding pricing, availability and specifications remain to be seen, but here’s hoping this is just the beginning of the Froyo flood to come.

Continue reading LG debuts Optimus smartphone series, Froyo-powered ‘One’ and ‘Chic’ arriving first

LG debuts Optimus smartphone series, Froyo-powered ‘One’ and ‘Chic’ arriving first originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments