Android

Mobile stargazing

Leave it to Google to siphon one of the more interesting offshoots of Google Earth into an Android app. Google Sky Map uses GPS and the Android accelerometer to project an augmented reality of the night sky. Fire up this free app, point it all around you, and Google Sky Map shows you the constellations, stars, and planets above. This being a Google app, you can also search for your astronomical quarry; the phone tell you which direction to point and turn to find it. While the practical application of Google Sky Map isn't immediately apparent, it's one … Read more

Computational dining

If you're too deep into your food coma to adequately calculate how much each party owes for the bill, tap open Tip Calculator. The free app, like others in its class, is simple, but rapidly breaks down the total each diner owes. Thankfully, this tip calculator requires that you only type in the number of people and the total bill; then select a preset tip percentage or add your own. Tip Calculator reads out the tip amount, the total bill, and how much each diner owes. Having the app remember your usual tip setting between sessions would improve it, … Read more

Find it fast

Where's free, ad-supported app aggregates widgets powered by various online services to supply localized information ranging from weather and news to a theater lookup, traffic reports, and gas prices near you. There's a search bar powered by Yellow Pages.com that supports text and voice, and the ability to flag businesses as favorites. Where also integrates a social aspect in the form of a localized Twitterstream and the Where "wall." Though we could do without these last two features, it's easy to ignore them and concentrate on quickly finding what you're seeking nearby.

Find food from your phone

Yelp's version of its business review site for Android phones is developing apace, but it's still behind the iPhone app in terms of what it can do. There's the usual search for restaurants and businesses nearby, which Yelp sniffs out using GPS or cell tower triangulation. Results records include ratings, reviews, and photos you can view from the phone. You can click or press a button to call the business. There's another button to map the location to a movable Google map, and this version thankfully includes our favorite new feature: a link to pop open … Read more

Photo fun

You don't have to have a 5-megapixel Droid to get good results with FxCamera. The fun, free app contains a set of filters that simulate photo treatment from a Polaroid or toy camera effect to a Warholesque snap. Our favorite? The SymmetriCam view, which drops a flipped copy next to the original image. Autofocus helps keep photos sharp, and a sharing feature helps spread the word. Of course, we'd like to see more filters, and we wish that FxCamera--like every other camera app of its kind--also rolled in some basic editing tools.

It's no slouch

As with Slacker Radio on other mobile platforms, the Android app lets you stream music from preprogrammed genres and stations, or from stations you set up yourself online. You'll be able to view album art and bios, block a song or vote it a favorite, and skip ahead--this is limited in the free version and limitless in the premium upgrade. If you like what you hear, you can share a link to that station on SlackerRadio.com via e-mail, SMS, or MMS.

Upgrading to the premium Radio Plus subscription service brings you song lyrics in addition to those unlimited … Read more

NPR News for Android is a solid initial offering

Fans of radio shows like "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered" will be happy to learn that NPR Digital Media released its first application for Android devices. In addition to the above shows, NPR News offers many of the network's popular programs. You can download NPR News from the Android Market for free today.

I've already logged considerable time playing with NPR News over the last day or so and have found it to a welcome addition to my handset. The app has a very simple and intuitive interface that makes learning a breeze. … Read more

Google Nexus One hands-on

Thanks to a clandestine meeting with a source, I got a chance to play with and try out the Nexus One. It's basically, from my time with it, Google's Droid killer. It's thin, it's fast, it's better in every way.

My source was very firm about no photography, and I didn't want to jeopardize anything on my source's end, so there are no photos, hence these photos are ones we've already shown you. But, based on all the leaked shots this week, plus the very pretty and very clear one last week from Boy Genius, everyone knows what the phone looks like already. Hell, there's even a complete UI walkthrough today that's on YouTube. So I'm going to focus on the experience, and how it compares to the Droid and the iPhone 3GS. … Read more

Nexus One to go on sale January 5 by invite only?

We know that one of the hottest Google Android phones out there is the one you can't get yet. Well, unless you're a Google employee of course. So the question remains, when will the general public be able to get a Nexus One of their very own? Well, according to the latest rumor, it could be as early as January 5.

A tipster told Engadget Mobile on Wednesday that the Nexus One will be available on that date but by invite only. The invitations will be sent out by Google but the tipster didn't have any information … Read more