Hasta La Gadget!

While we absolutely adore our Nexus One — now that it’s got a bellyful of that fabulous frozen yogurt — one of the most exciting Android additions shown off at Google I/O isn’t actually slated for Froyo: the ability to push apps and music over the air from computer to phone. The underlying framework apparently is, though, and thus a bite-sized version of the functionality is already available at Google Code. If you’re one of the lucky few running Android 2.2, you can get an extension for Chrome and Firefox web browsers that will let you push URLs, Maps and YouTube video links direct to your device using a Google Account. You can think of it as an early foray into a Continuous Client, perhaps, sharing with yourself before you head to a business meeting. Better yet, share an account with a group of friends and push interesting items to everyone on the go. See how (and see it in action) right after the break.

Continue reading How-to: push Chrome / Firefox links to your Android 2.2 Froyo device (video)

How-to: push Chrome / Firefox links to your Android 2.2 Froyo device (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 May 2010 20:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If the whole “smoke -> fire” adage proves true once more, it’s looking like Verizon loyalists can expect to see a Shadow at least a few milliseconds before a CDMA iPhone. Following up on months of leaks and rumors, we’ve got yet another snippet of evidence pointing towards a VZW release of the so-called Motorola Shadow. Spotted here in the carrier’s inventory database, the MB810 moniker aligns perfectly with that WiFi certification we saw earlier in the month. Combine that with the fact that this is definitely some sort of Motorola smartphone, and you’ve got everything you need to start pinching those pennies for a June / July debut. Oh, you already threw down a Benjamin for Memorial Day grub? Good luck with that return policy.

[Thanks, tuan tran]

Motorola Shadow slithers into Verizon’s inventory database as MB810 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 May 2010 12:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brace for a storm of craptablets: this week, Taiwanese semiconductor firm VIA said its processors will appear in a new slate of cheap Android tablets destined for the US in the second half of this year. Speaking to Bloomberg, VIA marketing head Richard Brown said the company’s Chinese customers will ship around five tablets, that they’ll appear at $100 to $150 price points, and that “the tablet market has been legitimized by Apple” — that last likely in an attempt to make Bloomberg utter the words “VIA” and “iPad” in the same breath. (It worked.) Mind you, the iPad certainly isn’t the be-all, end-all of tablet computing, but we wouldn’t expect to get a legitimate iPad killer for $100, either. We think we said it best in April: you get what you pay for.

Shanzai shocker! VIA processors in $100 Android tablets later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 11:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pandigital’s best known for its hard, hard work in the game-changing digital photo frame world, but the company’s feeling a bit froggy of late. It’s latest leap is into the burgeoning e-reader market, and unlike those from Barnes & Noble and Amazon, this one’s sporting a 7-inch LCD — you know, now that Apple has suddenly made that “okay” again. At any rate, the forthcoming Novel boasts a full-color 800 x 600 resolution touchscreen, inbuilt WiFi and dimensions of 5.5- x 7.5- x 0.5-inches. The highlight here is the partnership with B&N, which gives this guy access to the bookseller’s eBookstore, not to mention the ability to share content via LendMe. Pandigital also throws in 1GB of internal memory, an SD / MMC card slot, orientation sensor, and the rechargeable battery is said to be good for a mediocre six hours on a full charge. The $199.99 Novel should be out and about next month supporting PDF, ePUB and HTML formats (yeah, there’s a web browser), and in case you were wondering, it’s based around Android and gets powered by an ARM 11 processor. Did Pandigital — of all companies — just out a remotely interesting e-reader? Yes, yes it did.

Continue reading Pandigital intros 7-inch Novel e-reader, nabs access to B&N eBookstore

Pandigital intros 7-inch Novel e-reader, nabs access to B&N eBookstore originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 May 2010 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It was only a matter of time. The direct link to download the Android 2.2 “Froyo” update from Google’s servers has been found. According to XDA-Developers, it only works if you have a “non-rooted stock ERE27 system” Nexus One. Meet the requirements? Can’t wait any longer? Download link below.

Update: Want no pre-conditions? Here’s another link, albeit less official so proceed at your own risk. [Thanks, Justin!]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Android 2.2 Froyo manual update found, now available for select Nexus One devices originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 May 2010 16:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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