Android

The 404 785: Where it's our so-called MemeMolly (podcast)

The 404 Digest for Episode 785

Our guest today is MemeMolly, who gives us an update on the latest memes, Internet culture, and why nobody can stand the word "viral." Add Molly on Twitter and follow her Tumblr.

Top Dog: one is tough, the other is a dog. Where are they now, featuring Star Wars Kid and Numa Numa Guy? Is Cathymay15 a troll, a genius, or another victim of online bullying? EU proposes right to be forgotten online.… Read more

CNET's Best of CTIA 2011

ORLANDO, Fla.--If you asked us a week ago whether CTIA 2011 would be hectic, we would have said "probably not." But then last Sunday, two days before the show began, the news of a certain merger broke and we knew the week would be a wild ride. Indeed, CTIA delivered a fresh crop of phones and tablets, and like CES and Mobile World Congress, Android loomed large. So, as the bright Florida sun sets for the last time on CTIA, CNET takes stock to pick our favorite products form the show.

Best phone: LG G2X Despite the … Read more

RIM's PlayBook will run Android apps

So the rumors were true: Research In Motion announced today it will allow Android apps on its yet-to-be-released tablet, the PlayBook.

The forthcoming tablet will have "app players" that will run BlackBerry apps created in Java, and apps created for Android 2.3.

Having the option of downloading Android apps on BlackBerry App World "will provide our users with an even greater choice of apps and will also showcase the versatility of the platform," Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO of RIM, said in a statement.

For developers working on apps, RIM says a "high degree of API compatibility" makes it easy to port BlackBerry Java and Android apps to the BlackBerry Tablet OS that will run on the PlayBook.

Word began to spread that RIM was thinking of allowing Android apps on its tablet starting in January. Many dismissed it because RIM had spent a lot of money to buy QNX, which makes the software on which the BlackBerry Tablet OS is built, and because it had done so much work with its own BlackBerry developer community.

RIM announced a 32 percent increase in quarterly earnings today, but warned of weakness in the coming quarter. … Read more

Blu: A new Android maker on the horizon

ORLANDO, Fla.--Just when you thought you knew every cell phone maker there was to know, we stumbled across a relatively new entrant that seems to have materialized quite literally out of the blue.

Blu is a Miami-based spin-off of CT-Miami, which distributes phones in Latin America. This was the company's first technology conference, a spokesperson told CNET, and it was certainly our first time seeing the company's many wares.

First, a little background. Blu was born in 2009 with the goal of creating fun (read: colorful), interesting feature phones and Android devices for the Latin American market, … Read more

U.S. Cellular updates Samsung Mesmerize, BlackBerry Curve and Bold

The long wait is at last over for U.S. Cellular customers who have been wondering when they'll see OS updates to their Samsung Mesmerize and BlackBerry Curve 9330 and Bold 9650 phones.

That's right, the carrier began rolling out Android 2.2 Froyo to the Mesmerize and Blackberry OS 6 to the Bold and Curve.

As a refresher, Froyo includes speed improvements, an updated Android Market, Flash 10.1 support, and hotspot capability (you'll need a tethering plan for this.) Blackberry OS 6 has a brand new design, plus the extremely useful universal search.

The 404 784: Where we won't pull a houdini on Jeff's birthday (podcast)

The 404 Digest for Episode 784

Send Jeff your happy birthday wishes on Twitter! While you're there, say hi to Justin, Wilson, and Natali Urban Dictionary's definition of " ulling a houdini." Google launches U.K. online magazine "Think Quarterly." Duke Nukem never comes early. Duke Nukem's misogyny going out of style? Wireless carriers delay text donations to Japan--sign this petition to help! Baby Activity helps parents track the crap. Oatmealy comic submissions with a 404 twist from Mike McD. and Jeff. Sean Shin composes a tween theme song for The 404 that probably took longer to write than Rebecca Black's "Friday"--download the rock version or the acoustic remix! Meme Molly on the show tomorrow!

Episode 784 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Day 2 at CTIA 2011

ORLANDO, Fla.--While the first day of CTIA was full of news about 3D phones, new tablets, a certain merger, and more, the second day proved to be relatively humdrum in comparison. Still, some news did trickle in on the second day.

Huawei made an appearance at a CTIA Mobile Focus event last night with the Huawei Ascend 2 for Cricket Wireless. It's much sleeker and skinnier than its predecessor, with four touch sensor buttons at the bottom taking place of physical keys. It also has an upgraded 5-megapixel camera. Also at the event was the Samsung Galaxy Indulge for Cricket Wireless. … Read more

Xperia Play to land at Verizon by early May

ORLANDO, Fla.--Sony Ericsson didn't offer any new phones at CTIA 2011, but we did get the chance to handle the official Verizon Wireless version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. What's more, Sony Ericsson also revealed that the gaming Android phone will land in the United States either late next month or in early May.

In fact, Verizon Wireless may be the first carrier in the world to get the Xperia Play. Rogers in Canada may beat it with a release of the GSM handset on April 14, but either way it means that North America will … Read more

Does Apple's iBooks need to go Android?

Not too long ago I wrote a post about the iPad 2 as an e-reader. Recently, I read through some of the comments and noticed one that caught my attention.

"I refuse to buy books from Apple that can only be read on Apple devices," declared a CNET reader who goes by the handle GSOgymrat.

I pulled that quote out from a longer comment (see full version here), but I thought it was pretty telling. One of the big things that Amazon and Barnes & Noble have been playing up is the fact that their apps--and your digital … Read more