Hasta La Gadget!

We’re not sure what Sony Ericsson’s gotten to lately with its mythological codenames, but if Xperia X10 Blog’s source is to be trusted, what we’re looking at here is supposedly an upcoming handset codenamed “Anzu” (a lesser god of Akkadian mythology), or simply the X12 according to the often reliable Eldar Murtazin. Details are thin right now, but the leakster claims that said device is “very, very slim” yet packing a 4.3-inch display and HDMI output — sounds very much like the Droid X, if you ask us. Although this particular photo shows an Android 2.1 build on the phone, rumor has it that it’ll be shipped with Gingerbread (which is now pretty much officially 2.3) in Q1 next year.

Here’s another interesting bit of gossip to take with you: we’ve heard from a couple of reliable sources close to the matter that the Anzu lies in the same category as the PlayStation Phone “Zeus” (also on Gingerbread but lacking the Xperia branding), and that they’re being tested alongside each other. Whether this is an indication that the mystical Z-System gaming platform is heading to the Anzu, we don’t know, but it makes sense given that both upcoming SE devices appear to bear the same screen size, or at least the same aspect ratio. Either way, we’re told the pair will be officially announced some time before or shortly after Christmas, which again supports Xperia X10 Blog’s leak. Time to stock up on some fine champagne, folks — looks like 2011 is going to be a good year.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: Well that was quick. Xperia X10 Blog’s just posted a few more lovely pics of the Anzu, and boy it sure is thin — check out the profile shot after the break. The site’s also just heard that said phone can capture 1080p video and will have a front-facing camera. [Thanks, Tejstar]

Continue reading Sony Ericsson’s Anzu / X12 to be Xperia Gingerbread flagship? (Update: more pics!)

Sony Ericsson’s Anzu / X12 to be Xperia Gingerbread flagship? (Update: more pics!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 07:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, that new 2.3 version of Gmail that launched in September? Yeah, we’d steer clear if you haven’t nabbed it yet. Google’s currently trying to track down a bug that’s leaving many users (including our own hapless Chris Ziegler) unable to download any attachments. Interestingly, or disconcertingly if you’re of the pessimistic sort, Google actually has a “Gmail attachment issues investigation” page set up to allow highly technical users to submit debug reports of the problem. Sure, we’re all for crowd sourcing, but we also wouldn’t mind a big sturdy “hey guys, we’ve got this” on an issue of this magnitude. The worst part? You can’t revert to the old version of Gmail if you’ve got the latest OTA update on your fancy new T-Mobile G2.

Interestingly, while we were discussing this issue, ensconced in the Engadget HQ jacuzzi, adult beverages in hand, we got a tip from some poor soul detailing a bug that’s been in Android since the G1 days. Basically, if you fail at the pattern unlock too many times, the phone will ask you to enter your Google account info to unlock your phone. Sounds like a smart security feature, but unfortunately it doesn’t work. The insanely detailed thread on Google’s Android bug tracker reads like a history of the Android platform and the futility of man rolled into one, with various workarounds being discovered for different phones, and many desperate users resorting to wiping their phones and starting over. Sure it’s minimal in the grand scheme of things, and plenty of platforms have outstanding bugs years after release, but we figured a little *bump* couldn’t do anyone any harm. This one’s for you, Dylan R.

Rough edges cut deep: Android still facing years-old unlock screen bug, Gmail 2.3 attachment woes have Google stumped originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need some more bedbugs in your life? Good news–now you can
get the terrifying little monsters on you iPhone, thanks to the folks at Bell
Environmental Service. The extermination company has released Roscoe’s Tips, a
new game for the Apple handset that lets you play as the eponymous bedbug
sniffing beagle.

The game finds the dog tasked with hunting out and
destroying the pests in furniture and walls.

The game is also available for Android and BlackBerry
handsets, because we all need a few more bedbugs in our lives, right?

Timeline (the condensed version): Google launches Android 2.1 on January 5th, Motorola promises to eventually offer 2.1 for all its Android handsets (including the heavily skinned CLIQ) on January 6th, Google’s Nexus One gets 2.1 on January 11th. We wait. Motorola CLIQ gets 2.1 today, a mere 11 months later. Sure, maybe we were young and naive, but who could’ve known then that this update would be so long coming? Nobody really knows the solution to this problem in a general sense, especially since vanilla Android seems to be off the table for the majority of phones. What could compel a handset manufacturer and a carrier to work up timely software updates on heftily-skinned handsets past their shelf life, potentially competing with their own newer handsets in the process? Maybe paying for updates? Real Genuine Tears of Desperation? You tell us. Anyway, congrats to the saintly CLIQ owners out there who have waited patiently for 2.1, and a grumble grumble thanks to Motorola for keeping its promise.

Motorola CLIQ gets Android 2.1 at long last originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As promised, the boys and girls at Opera have pushed out an Android-flavored beta version of their Opera Mobile 10.1 product today — and considering the company’s track record for making awesome replacement browsers, odds are good that you’re going to want to check it out. Besides pinch-to-zoom and support for location services, you’ll find fan favorites like desktop browser sync and Opera’s Speed Dial, a touchable grid of bookmarks. What’s more, the visual tab management is downright slick (then again, outdoing the tab management in-built to Android doesn’t take much), so you might want to take it for a test drive today — can we suggest engadget.com as a fine starting point? The app’s available from the Android Market right now; follow the break for the press release and an official demo of pinch-to-zoom in action. Or, you know, just download it and do some pinch-to-zooming of your own. Your call.

Continue reading Opera Mobile 10.1 for Android hits public beta

Opera Mobile 10.1 for Android hits public beta originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 02:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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