cupcake

Android-powered Samsung I7500 debuts

On Monday, Samsung introduced its first Google Android device, the Samsung I7500. While many were disappointed to hear that Samsung had initially delayed its Android devices till the second half of the year, the I7500 will be available in major European markets starting in June. Unfortunately, plans for a U.S. release are still unclear.

There is, however, potentially good news for us here in the States. The Samsung I7500 is a tri-band HSDPA device, supporting the 900/1700/2100MHz bands, which makes it compatible with the T-Mobile's 3G network. We talked to Samsung's public relations company this … Read more

Android 1.5's Live Folders: Looks nifty

Updated: April 24, 2009, at 1:10 p.m. PT with a comment from Google.

Last week Google tantalized Android developers with an early version of its software developer kit for Android 1.5, the upcoming version of its mobile operating system. Included with it is a laundry list of new features coming out, many of them suspiciously familiar to those Apple's iPhone already has. But here's one, highlighted on Friday, that the iPhone doesn't have: Live Folders.

Loosely lumped into the category of "more home screen widgets," Live Folders are essentially shortcut views into … Read more

Google touts Android 1.5 features to coders

Google has released an Android 1.5 software developer kit, giving programmers access to several new features, such as video support and a faster browser that will appear in a forthcoming version of the company's open-source mobile-phone operating system.

Android competes in the smartphone market with operating systems such as Apple's iPhone OS, Nokia's Symbian, and Microsoft's Windows Mobile. Although Google attracted many partners to participate in the Android project, called the Open Handset Alliance, so far, only Taiwanese handset maker HTC is offering models. New options are expected this year, though.

Google has said it … Read more

The 404 318: Where we feast on cupcakes and golden oreos

Caroline McCarthy and Tim Geisenheimer join The 404 today, while Jeff pretends to celebrate the Passover with his family. The ace reporter brings in cupcakes made with bacon cream-cheese frosting and beer. Sounds incredibly healthy. Here's the recipe.

On today's show, we cover the news that Yelp is finally letting businesses respond to negative reviews that users write. Did you know that The 404 has a Yelp page? Wilson discovers that you can actually write reviews for almost anything, including homeless people. In the same vein, feel free to write Yelp reviews for your favorite 404 hosts.

In more outrageous news today, PETA is holding an animal protest rally in World of Warcraft. WoW players are slaughtering baby seals in the "Howling Fjord." We think PETA should spend its time trying to stop Tim from killing baby seals on the weekends, rather than virtual seals. Also, a man in Texas got stabbed for farting in the room with his buddies. This happens on a daily basis in Wilson's office. More from Texas: a state legislator says that Asian American names are too confusing. And South of the border, Mexican drug dealers are sending blatant death threats on YouTube.

Thanks for sending in your survival stories. Keep them coming. E-mail them or call us at the usual number. And be sure to RSVP for the upcoming 404 meetup on April 16 next week. Here's the link. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Megan Fox will be there! (Not really, but Natali Del Conte will be.)

EPISODE 318 Download today's podcast | Subscribe in iTunes | Subscribe in RSS… Read more

Firmware update coming to T-Mobile G1 owners

Updated Feb. 4, 12:13 p.m., PT: This post has been updated with more details about the fixes and new features included in the RC33 firmware update.

On Tuesday, T-Mobile announced that it will start rolling out maintenance release (1.1 RC33) to T-Mobile G1 customers this week. The update will be delivered over the air and should reach all owners within the next two weeks, the carrier said.

Unfortunately, what it didn't reveal are the exact details of what's included in the release, simply stating that it would provide "new features and software updates." … Read more

Google reveals upcoming Android features

Imminent enhancements to Google's Android mobile platform have been revealed this week, in the form of a development effort called "Cupcake."

Android is in the process of being turned by Google from its own development project into open source. This week, some of the changes made to the mobile operating system by a private group of developers came to light in Cupcake--the Android code the group shares with the outside world. Now, according to the Android road map, the Cupcake enhancements have started to be merged into the wider, open-source Android project.

The private development branch will … Read more

A gadget that's icing on the cupcake

Once I realized I could bake, the gift-giving holidays changed completely--never to be the same again. I have a big immediate family, so for several years it was only them who got to be on the receiving end of my gift budget, while roommates, school friends, and colleagues got a verbal wish for a happy holiday. If I really liked them, maybe they would get a candy cane. It wasn't that I didn't care; it was that after the sisters and brothers, I just couldn't afford it.

Then, one year, in the wake of my first successful … Read more

The 404 120: Where we're "tight" with the NewYork.com girls

We're on our best behavior for today's show featuring the NewYork.com girls. Who are we kidding? We turn up the heat today and get a much needed female's perspective on the worst possible Father's Day gift, women's best kept secrets, stabbing Wal-Mart robots, and the girls' strange obsession with the Jolly Green Hotness. EPISODE 120 Download today's podcast