Android

This week has been dominated by mobile-gaming news, with Sony, Nintendo, and possibly even RIM now gearing up to win room in your backpack (or frontpack, as the case may be). But other news went down while we were busy comparing the NGP and the 3DS.

• We asked: Are app stores killing point 'n' shoots?

• Volkswagen showed off a futuristic all-electric car that makes big promises.

• Finally! Kindle books started outselling paperbacks on Amazon.

• Google offered more Honeycomb details, plus an official new logo.

• Those unlimited data plans for AT&T iPhones are back--kinda. Maybe. Sorta. … Read more

Verizon Wireless today rolled out an update to its Samsung Continuum Android smartphone. It's not an OS upgrade, but you do get an impressive array of feature improvements and interface tweaks. We'll let Verizon's official list (PDF) speak for itself, so check it out below. As with other over-the-air updates, it will go out to users in stages. But if you'd rather not wait, you can initiate (PDF) the update yourself from your handset's Settings menu.

Reply/Forward Visual Voice Mail audio files as attachments using a variety of e-mail providers.

Improved Visual Voice Mail … Read more

Yesterday we gave you a taste of exactly what's inside Google's Android 3.0 operating system for tablets, code-named Honeycomb. Next Wednesday, CNET is planning to bring you another hands-on view.

We received the above teaser invitation (logo and border our additions) to Google's Mountain View, Calif., headquarters. Google will be providing much greater detail about Android's tablet capabilities at the event, plus time for more hands-on examination.

We'll be there covering the news and getting our mitts on tablets, so check back in next Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT … Read more

A recently leaked document from inside the Samsung camp confirms the handset maker's plans to unveil successors to its popular Galaxy devices at next month's Mobile World Congress.

The sheet, which has since been pulled offline, detailed PR planning for the company's Unpacked event. It looks like Samsung expects to debut the Galaxy S 2 and Galaxy Tab 2 on February 13. Being that this is as close as we have come to any actual confirmation of the devices, we don't know know what the hardware and software will look like. Officially, that is.

The Galaxy … Read more

In the 3-plus years we've been recording The 404 Podcast, we've gotten really good at pissing people off, and today I messed with the wrong group: New York pizza snobs. It was probably my fault for admitting my excitement over a new Papa John's opening up in my neighborhood, but the secret's out and I can't hide my love for generic pizza anymore. What can I say--I'm a free-agent pizza guy, and what's wrong with Sbarro, anyway?

Getting into some of today's tech headlines, Sony released some kind of handheld gaming device that nobody cares about. Just kidding. Jeff cares so much he took the day off work yesterday to focus entirely on the Sony Next Generation Portable that Brooke Crothers accurately describes as the Apple iPad on steroids.

Jeff breaks down the impressive updates on the NGP including its ARM processor design with four cores that give it about four times the CPU and GPU performance of the iPhone 4, according to Lineley Group senior analyst Joe Byrne.

Another great feature on the NGP is the dual capacitive touch areas on the front and rear that let gamers interact with the device without their fingers blocking the viewing area on the front screen.

It'll certainly require a semisteep learning curve for first-time users, but at least we finally get a portable device that combines the iPhone's capacitive screen with physical gaming buttons.

Caroline McCarthy writes an insanely popular blog on CNET that's now reserved her a spot on a search marketing firm's infographic that asks "Which Female Tech Influencer Are You?"

We have no idea whether or not she approves of this flowchart that kind of looks like something out of YM Magazine in the '90s, but we're proud nevertheless of Caroline for being included alongside other tech pundits like Google VP Marissa Mayer and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. Take the test and hope for the best!

We also have a few decent voice mails to play today, but the well is running dry, so keep them coming! Give us a call at 1-866-404-CNET or record a video voice mail on YouTube and send the link to the404(at)cnet(dot)com and we'll play it on a future episode! And yes, Wilson looks ridiculous in his skully--LEAVE HIM ALONE!! (haha)

What do you get if you cross a honey bee with an Android? Internet buzz! Google has unveiled the official logo for version 3.0 of the Android mobile operating system, code-named Honeycomb.

The glowing cybernetic bee sports blue stripes, an ethereal glow, and a definite sting. It's by far the slickest Android logo so far: click through our photos to see previous versions, including our own cack-handed attempts.

Read more of "Android 3.0 Honeycomb official logo gets Google buzzing" at Crave UK.

Google thinks you and I should be paying for more applications from the Android Market.

Speaking recently at the Inside Social Apps conference in San Francisco, Android manager Eric Chu admitted that Google was not happy with the number of applications purchased by users. Apparently all of the recent changes to the Android Market haven't been enough to convince people to open their wallets a little wider.

In the future, Chu expects to roll out a few alternative payment methods, hoping that one will catch on with users. Expect the ability make purchases within apps and more carriers offering deferred billing.

Already, AT&T customers are able to have app purchases added to their monthly bills, rather than using Google Checkout. PayPal has been expected to get Market integration for months now, but nothing has materialized.

With in-app purchases, I suspect that this might usher in a host of apps that are free up front, with add-on features costing users. This model could get expensive fast--think cheap razors and costly blades and you get the picture.

Don't get me wrong here, I think the Market is considerably better than it was just six months ago. Looking back to when it launched with the T-Mobile G1, it was a bare-bones, pitiful repository compared with today's model.

However, as much as I love the bigger descriptions, additional screenshots, and revised layout, I am still anxiously awaiting an Internet-based model, content ratings, and YouTube integration. … Read more

My first thought when I saw the Casio Tryx camera announced at CES 2011 was that Casio took a smartphone and turned into a single-function device. It has the dimensions of a smartphone, has a 3-inch touch screen, and a fixed focal length lens similar to what's on a phone (though with better specs and quality). Take away the swiveling and rotating screen and lens design and you essentially have the body of a smartphone.

On top of that, one of the Tryx's key shooting features is high dynamic range (HDR) photos. HDR photography isn't new, but … Read more

We already knew about Android 3.0's (Honeycomb) 3D capability and its new look with larger, revamped icons and the like. But now Google has revealed the details on many more feature updates and additions in its Android operating system for tablets.

The Goog's theme for tablets is bigger, better, and more. Tablets' larger screen size encourages a proportionately larger design and gives developers more room to play around with 3D graphics, live streaming, and deeper connections with Bluetooth devices.

It's clear that with Honeycomb, Google is urging Android 3.0 tablet makers to market tablets as … Read more