Hasta La Gadget!

Man, remember LiMo? Amazingly, there are some 40 handsets on the market today based on the platform, but precisely none of them are boasting a profile as high as any one of the Android smartphones also on store shelves. As Motorola scrambles to re-make itself and prove that its CLIQ is a force to be reckoned with in the burgeoning Android phone sector, the company has also decided to remove itself as a “founding member” of the LiMo Foundation. The company recently noted that the outfit was sliding down to “associate member,” stating that “at this time it feels that the Android platform gives it a richer, more consistent foundation with strong support for the ecosystem and developer community.” That’s a pretty damning statement to our ears, but we won’t go so far as to call the breakup between Moto and LiMo official; we’re guessing “it’s complicated” would be entirely more appropriate here.

[Via phonescoop]

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

Motorola quietly takes one step away from LiMo, looks to Android for consolation originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It was only just allowed out to play, but Archos’ five-inch, Android-sporting internet tablet has been called back in by its fastidious mother, a role played by Amazon in this case. Only the hard drive-based 160GB model is affected at present, with the 32GB version selling as normal and the half terabyte option out of stock already. Charbax of ArchosFans.com, a man in the know on this subject, has suggested this might have been caused by a firmware update wiping out some pre-installed Android apps, which is now being addressed. His site’s forums and Amazon customer reviews, however, paint a different picture: there are consistent complaints about bugs and lock ups — software issues that could well affect the other models in the line — with some going so far as to suggest Archos has used its customers as Beta testers. There doesn’t appear to be anything structurally wrong with the device, meaning a robust firmware update could remedy all ills, so now it’s just a matter of waiting for Archos to do what it should have done before release.

[Via Pocketables]

Read – Amazon product page
Read – Archos Fans forums

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Archos 5 has 99 problems and a glitch is one, 160GB version pulled by Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Imagine if you could browse the web through your eye vision: A review of a restaurant when you stare at its sign, or the times that a bus will arrive while standing at a stop.

That’s the idea behind Layar, an augmented-reality browser available for Google Android smartphones. Layar allows a user to view their environment through their camera lens and see real-time Points of Interest (POIs) from the physical world, providing a mixed reality. In the Layar Reality Browser, you can discover and save specific POIs depending on what you are looking for.

Layar is a unique AR app because it allows third-party developers to contribute layers to their platform. Other AR apps pull their data from search engines, Wikipedia or review-based sites. As location-based features grow, such as Flickr and Twitter, allowing you to tag your location to your content, the ability to see how others are interacting around you in real-time is a compelling element in AR technology.

Layar provides an easy-to-use interface with four clear sections that list layers by name and description. For example, “i-Metro, locate the public transportation stations and stops around your area” allows you to judge its relevance without having to open it. You can sort the layers by popularity, search terms and favorites.

During my testing, I found many of the layers were well done and useful. However, the open platform of Layar has attracted some not-so-polished layers with kinks that need to be worked out, mostly involving usability. For example, BuildAR, a layer that allows you to create your own POIs, has a difficult account sign-up process: You need to type their domain into a separate browser, sign up, then return to BuildAR, and it’s not clear where you’re exactly putting your POI.

This small example could serve as a clue for Layar to implement a user-rating system to hold developers accountable and maintain a standard of experience. Personally, I wish I didn’t spend as much time as I did fiddling with BuildAR. The description made it sound interesting, and I initially thought I was doing something wrong; a rating system would have informed me that the problems were with the software.

In November, Layar will be further expanding their platform by incorporating a 3D grid into their layers. Developers will be able to build 3D objects and assign actions such as sounds or clicking on the object for a link.

Layar is a free application available in the Android Market.

See Also:

• At the Dawn of the Augmented Reality Industry
• If You’re Not Seeing Data, You’re Not Seeing
• Digital Contacts Will Keep an Eye on Your Vital Signs

This review has disappointingly little direct, I’m-going-to-go-buy-this-right-now relevance to North American Android fans — but if you want to keep tabs on the sweet gear our friends over in Europe are now able to buy, head on over to Engadget Mobile where we’ve got an in-depth review of the Huawei-sourced Pulse for T-Mobile UK. With a 3.5-inch HVGA display, 3.5mm jack, and every spec this side of US 3G, it’s a contender — so if you’re in the Old World, go have a look at what you’re now able to buy, and if you’re on the other side of the Atlantic, go check out another reason to be insanely jealous.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

T-Mobile Pulse review over on Engadget Mobile! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With plenty of heat on AT&T this past year, hopes have been running high for Apple to share its iPhone with Verizon. However, an analyst does not foresee a Verizon iPhone arriving anytime soon.

That’s because Verizon recently announced a partnership with Google to offer two new Google Android-powered handsets this year. That would suggest Verizon’s near-term direction is with Android, said Scott Ellison, an IDC analyst, in a ComputerWorld article.

Ellison added that there’s no sign Apple is ready to share its iPhone with another carrier. Also, three IDC analysts said Verizon probably won’t receive the iPhone until it converts to its fourth-generation Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

Several months ago, some analysts speculated the iPhone would be shared with the Verizon network by 2010. Many sources have claimed AT&T’s exclusive contract with Apple ends next year, though this remains unconfirmed. Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg told The Wall Street Journal that Apple is more likely to bring the iPhone to Verizon once the telecom company deploys its LTE network. He explained the majority of the wireless industry plans to transition to LTE in the next few years, and it would then make sense for Apple to bring Verizon on board. Verizon has said it is rolling out LTE next year.

Of course, cellular networks take several years to deploy and optimize, so we didn’t believe Verizon would get the iPhone as soon as it began rolling out LTE. Thus, IDC’s reasoning is plausible. Meanwhile, iPhone owners disgruntled with AT&T, or Verizon customers eagerly awaiting the iPhone to land on their network, can keep wishing for the day Apple ends its exclusive relationship with AT&T.

See Also:

• Verizon iPhone Could be Here Next Year
• Verizon Promises Two New Android Phones This Year
• 4 Reasons Apple Should Share the iPhone With Verizon
• Rumor: Apple Developing Two New iPhones for Verizon
• How AT&T Stumbled Through the iPhone 3GS Launch
• iPhone Owner Sues AT&T, Apple for Tricky MMS Marketing

Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com