Screen Grabs: Nate Archibald dials up Google Latitude to locate poor Jenny

Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today’s movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

Oh, Jenny Humphrey — will you ever learn? It’s not at all smart to sneak out at night wearing a seductive outfit, only to find your way into a club, get drugged and open yourself up to all sorts of regrettable mischief. Thankfully, Gossip Girl‘s own Nathaniel Fitzwilliam Archibald is an experienced Droid owner, and he’s also in the business of saving damsels in distress. Having Google Latitude just a click away sure is convenient, but having this particular gal’s phone number just a Tommy Tutone jam away doesn’t hurt, either. Makeshift vid of the rescue is just past the break.

Continue reading Screen Grabs: Nate Archibald dials up Google Latitude to locate poor Jenny

Screen Grabs: Nate Archibald dials up Google Latitude to locate poor Jenny originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon begins Android 2.1 update rollout for Motorola Droid

Flippin’ finally, right? Verizon Wireless put the long-awaited Android 2.1 update on hold for its cadre of Motorola Droid owners earlier in the month, with an all-too-vague “TBD” as the only detail as to when we could look for it to actually, really land. We’ve just happened upon what looks to be an internal Verizon email that went out this morning, and sure enough, it sounds as if the update will at long last begin hitting Droid owners in just a few minutes. At noon on 3/30 (that’s today, vaquero), a grand total of 1,000 users will receive notification of the update, while 9,000 more will get a similar alert just before midnight. If all goes well, the rest of ya will see v2.1 slide down starting on Thursday, though it looks as if patience will be your only friend as you await your turn. Head on past the break for the full memo, but don’t get your hopes up too high — wouldn’t want to be let down again, would you buttercup?

Continue reading Verizon begins Android 2.1 update rollout for Motorola Droid

Verizon begins Android 2.1 update rollout for Motorola Droid originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European Milestone gets OTA 2.1 update, Droid update MIA

European Milestone gets OTA 2.1 update, Droid update MIAMotorola Milestone owners, your moment is now. The Android 2.1 update you’ve been waiting for is now available en masse. Users outside of Hong Kong (which already got served) have received notice that an over-the-air update is available to unlock the nine home-screens, Google Earth, and other goodness that comes along with the latest flavor of Google’s mobile OS. When can US-bound Verizon subscribers hope to get their point release of goodness? That, sadly, is still TBD, but we’re guessing it’ll be any day now.

[Thanks, Miao]

Filed under:

European Milestone gets OTA 2.1 update, Droid update MIA originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype Mobile for Verizon on Android hands-on (with WiFi off)

It’s been a little over a month since Verizon announced it would unleash the VoIP hounds on select smartphones, an interesting move given AT&T’s wrangling with the FCC over Google Voice and begrudging approval of Skype over 3G. Early this morning the Skype Mobile app hit the Android Marketplace for Verizon devices (and only Verizon devices), and while it does work on 3G, it curiously doesn’t work on WiFi — at all. Click on through for some screenshots and our impressions.

Continue reading Skype Mobile for Verizon on Android hands-on (with WiFi off)

Skype Mobile for Verizon on Android hands-on (with WiFi off) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MOTO touchscreen comparison recruits robotic implements for heightened precision (video)

So you saw that the first MOTO smartphone touchscreen comparison was done with a fleshy humanoid controlling the testing finger and discounted it as scientifically flawed? Well, MOTO’s back and this time the arm of judgment is operated by a coldly mechanical and ruthlessly precise robot — a machine in itself, we’ll assume the robot is intrinsically immune to developing fanboy tendencies. Joining the iPhone, Droid Eris, Droid, and Nexus One of the earlier test are Palm’s Pre and RIM’s BlackBerry Storm 2, whose results you can see at the source link below. The full test methodology is also explained there, including a list of the drawing apps used, which were selected with a view to minimizing smoothing algorithms that may prejudice the outcome. We’re not gonna tell you who won, you have eyes of your own after all, and will just direct you after the break for the full robot-on-smartphone video action.

Continue reading MOTO touchscreen comparison recruits robotic implements for heightened precision (video)

MOTO touchscreen comparison recruits robotic implements for heightened precision (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sense UI ROM available for Droid; is nothing sacred?

It seems that man’s mad quest to unite Sense UI and Droid continue at breakneck speed. This next bit of evidence comes from the blurrycam of AllDroid forum member Greek35T, and befitting its status as an experimental Alpha release, there are a few hiccups. Data is available when 3G is enabled, but not voice (although a quick perusal of the forum has indicated that at least one user has had success placing 3G calls — but none receiving them). Bluetooth is also out of the question, for the time being — as is airplane mode and the GPS (although aGPS seems to be working fine). That said, you do get Flash (as a rousing game of Alien Attack demonstrates). See for yourself after the break — or hit the source link to try it out for yourself. You know, if you’re crazy like that.

[Thanks, Steven]

Continue reading Sense UI ROM available for Droid; is nothing sacred?

Sense UI ROM available for Droid; is nothing sacred? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Milestone gets 2.1 firmware upgrade in Hong Kong, Europe to follow by ‘end of March’

Look away now, Droid owners, as Motorola’s finally uploaded the Milestone‘s Android 2.1 firmware update to its servers. It’s only officially sanctioned for users in Hong Kong and Macau for now, but judging by the inclusion of a Dutch language pack in the new firmware, it looks like it’s the same stuff that will shortly be rolling out all across Europe as well. In addition to the funky live wallpapers, users will also get a new feature called Motorola Car Home — a special interface for in-car usage — along with some speed improvements. Now, we’re not exactly sure what the rollout plan is for each nation, but Moto’s Facebook page tells us we’ll see an end to the Milestone’s upgrade saga before March is through. The source contains a direct link to the fresh firmware file, and you can find a straightforward upgrade how-to at Android World below. We’ll be right here for your upgrade stories.

[Thanks, Peter]

Motorola Milestone gets 2.1 firmware upgrade in Hong Kong, Europe to follow by ‘end of March’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO 4G, Nexus One, and Droid face off on the charted field of battle


HTC EVO 4G

Google Nexus One


Motorola Droid

Android OS2.1 with Sense UI2.12.01
CarrierSprintAll2Verizon Wireless
Network technology1x / EV-DO Rev. A / WiMAXVarious (including 3G)1x / EV-DO Rev. A
Processor1GHz Snapdragon1GHz Snapdragon550MHz TI OMAP 3430
RAM512MB512MB256MB
Screen size4.3-inch3.7-inch3.7-inch
Resolution800 x 480800 x 480854 x 480
TouchCapacitive multitouch Capacitive multitouch Capacitive multitouch
Physical keyboardSlide-out landscape QWERTY
Internal storage1GB512MB512MB
Expandable storagemicroSDmicroSDmicroSD
Rear camera8MP w/ LED flash5MP w/ LED flash5MP w/ LED flash
Video recording1280 x 720720 x 480720 x 480
Front camera1.3MP
Battery1500mAh1400mAh1400mAh
WiFi802.11b/g802.11b/g802.11b/g
HDMI outYes
KickstandYes

As you’ve probably noticed, we have something of a propensity for charts — hey, organization is key to a well-balanced life, right? Since we last tackled an Android device faceoff, the sheer number of competitors has branched out far and wide, but despite the propagation / fragmentation, including today’s unveiling of the HTC EVO 4G, three clear frontrunners have taken most of the spotlight for being the pinnacle of the Android experience: the aforementioned, HTC / Google’s Nexus One, and the Motorola Droid. Here, the latter device is looking a bit long in the tooth, but that physical QWERTY keyboard and its volcanic rise to prominence gives it some strong staying power. Cold, hard data isn’t going to tell the full story, but until you can get to try each of these yourself — all at the same time, if you’re lucky — it’s a great place to start.

Notes:
1 A purported 2.1 upgrade has been promised and delayed more times than we care to count anymore.
2 The Nexus One is currently available unlocked for T-Mobile, and on track to hit Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T’s 3G network.

HTC EVO 4G, Nexus One, and Droid face off on the charted field of battle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype mobile heading to Verizon smartphones on March 25th

We knew it was coming, and now we have a concrete date. Starting this Thursday, March 25th, Verizon Wireless customers with one of nine select smartphones (Motorola Droid and Devour, HTC Droid Eris, various BlackBerrys) and data plan will be able to use Skype over the 3G network. As we heard before, Skype-to-Skype calls will not affect your VZW minutes, and now you’ve got the option to use the app for cheaper international dialing using the mobile app. Full list of compatible devices after the break, a list we’re hoping gets expanded in the not-so-distant future.

Continue reading Skype mobile heading to Verizon smartphones on March 25th

Skype mobile heading to Verizon smartphones on March 25th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook (Still) Thinks the DROID Is the Sholes

sholes.jpg
Remember when Motorola’s DROID was under development–back then it was called the Motorola Sholes. Facebook certainly remembers, but apparently no one told the social networking site that the phone was renamed to the Motorola DROID. If you pull up Facebook’s mobile touch site (touch.facebook.com) on the DROID’s Web browser, at the bottom of the page you’ll see the following message: “Download Facebook for your Sholes.”
Motorola will likely bug Facebook to fix this, but right now the company is likely allocating all its Facebook manpower into dealing with chaos on its Facebook wall.