android

Nextel landed its first Google Android phone today with the Motorola i1. In true Nextel style, the i1 protects its touch-screen design with a rugged shell that meets military specifications for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, solar radiation, humidity, and salt fog. Judging from photo it doesn't look like the prettiest Android device around, but it should withstand bumps and bruises.

The i1 Is the first Android handset with not only Direct Connect, but also Group Connect, International Direct Connect, Direct Talk, and Direct Send. Other features are plentiful. You'll find a 5-megapixel camera with video … Read more

In an effort to make it easier for you to share your thoughts, pictures, and general experiences, Google released an official widget application for Google Buzz last week.

The application gives users the capability to geotag their Buzz location information. For example: You just enjoyed a fantastic dinner and the dessert just arrived. Now you can snap a photo of the cheesecake and let your friends and followers know where they need to go if they want to try it for themselves. Using the built-in GPS feature found in Android phones, Google recognizes most establishments and adds the names for … Read more

Fragmentation remains one of the touchiest subjects for Google Android users and developers, with various official builds and different screen sizes all playing part in determining which apps your phone can handle.

Currently, four versions of the OS are available: 1.5, 1.6, 2.0, and 2.1. Though the typical consumer and new Android owner may not know there are multiple iterations powering these phones, it's enough to drive the tech-savvy enthusiast mad.

Sure, we all love choice in our devices--that's what drew us to Android to begin with--but it gets frustrating when you can't get the Android OS you want in the phone you want.

Take, for instance, last week's Cliq XT launch. Here's a brand new phone from T-Mobile, the latest Android handset to hit the market, but it features OS 1.5. Indeed, the phone is a fantastic buy for the price, with its Flash Lite, pinch zooming, five-megapixel camera, and Swype keyboard.

After only a few days with the unit, I can say that I love the form factor of the phone, but I miss some of the apps from my T-Mobile G1 that ran OS 1.6. I've lost Google Maps 4.1, Google Maps Navigator, and a few other favorites from the last few months. Also, the new Google Buzz widget won't run on 1.5 phones. As much as I like that app so far, I've had to put it on the shelf with the G1.… Read more

The wait for the Dell smartphone in the United States is finally over. Monday, AT&T announced the Dell Aero, the first domestic mobile Dell device and AT&T's second Google Android handset. Based on the previously announced Mini 3, the Aero features a candy-bar design with a prominent touch screen and few physical controls.

AT&T hasn't released many feature or availability details just yet, though we know that the Aero offers a five-megapixel camera, a 3.5-inch display, GPS, Wi-Fi, and an HTML browser with Flash Lite. Also, AT&T and Dell … Read more

Turns out, according to some developers, that the only way to get your hands on a prereleased iPad is to build it a special sealed bunker of its very own, with darkened windows and a chain so it can't get up and walk away on you. People, we are NOT making this up. Also, we dish the dish on Viacom vs. YouTube; get a good, long look at Windows Phone 7; and yeah, Molly's mad about the Android 2.1 delay. No surprise.

Google's default browser is just fine to get you started on your new Android smartphone. It's got some Grade-A tools, but style-wise it's a little bland and we have a bone to pick with its so-called tabbed browsing.

Thanks to a bustling Android Market, you have options when it comes to mobile browsing experiences. We present you with three alternatives with different looks, and in some cases, more substance: Bump off Google's default Android browser.

We don't usually review beta products, but we'll make an exception for the quite stable Opera Mini 5 beta, a browser alternative for Android phones. Almost identical to the final version of Opera Mini 5 for Java phones, this beta browser combines an eye-catching design with speedy browsing and useful features like Speed Dial: shortcut icons on the home page that open favorite sites. There's also Opera Link, which syncs bookmarks and history with your other Opera browsers, for instance if you use Opera on the desktop.

Although the browsing experience is satisfying, with tabbed browsing, searching … Read more

There's something to be said for instant gratification, and if you're the sort who wants to know where you are without pausing to open a map app, one of the handful of changes to Google Maps for Android (version 4.1) has your name on it.

To turn your wallpaper into a live, real-time map that tracks your location, press and hold the home screen, choose Wallpaper, then pick Maps from the Live Wallpaper folder. Before setting the wallpaper, you'll be able to choose satellite, terrain, or line map mode and whether you want to show traffic. … Read more

Samsung has started rolling out the upgrade to Android 2.1 for the i5700 Galaxy Spica handset. Starting in Germany, this will be a phased release across various regions. As you may already know, Rogers Wireless recently started offering the handset for Canadian customers

This won't be your traditional OTA update. Rather, Samsung is making it available through its PC Studio 7 software that can be downloaded at the Samsung's mobile Web site. Once loaded, the Spica will have nine side-scrolling home screens for users to place Samsung widgets, visual bookmarks, and shortcuts. Furthermore, the handset will also … Read more