The Android Site

Android version 2.1 for the Motorola Droid is in testing phases over at Verizon, with a rollout coming soon, but no defined date. Here’s the details on the upgrade from Engadget:

• It’s based on Android 2.1. The build currently being circulated is identified as 2.1 version 1, mirroring the update just pushed to the Nexus One last week.
• Google Goggles is now pre-installed (no matter how unhelpful it may be).
• The browser’s now multitouch enabled, just like Google Maps 3.4. Huzzah! No Flash, but then again, we weren’t really expecting that.
• Interestingly, the home screen’s still got the same look as 2.0.1, meaning it doesn’t adopt the Nexus One’s rotating 3D grid of app icons — it’s still got the pull-up drawer tab at the bottom.
• No active wallpapers. Bummer!
• The news and weather widgets introduced on the Nexus One are included. Maybe certain capabilities of 2.1 are going to be restricted to devices with minimum performance benchmarks?

Ben Marvin Motorola, Rumors, Software, Verizon 2.1, Droid, Motorola, News, Software, Update, Upgrade, Verizon

You’re looking at a chat transcription between a Cliq owner and what appears to be a Motorola rep about 1.6 coming to the Cliq. The rumor seems that it’s in development and should be released next month. Of course, with no official announcement, it’s still in the rumors section. Seems about time for an update, or is Motorola hoping everyone forgot about the Cliq when the Droid came out?

Thanks Rezzenonne for the tip!

Ben Marvin Motorola, Rumors, Software, T-Mobile CLIQ, donut, Motorola, OTA, Rumors, Software, T-Mobile, updates

Perhaps a bit steep at $6.99 just for a theme, but Elecite has a HTC Hero, Sense UI theme for your Blackberry Bold, Storm, Tour and 8900 series device. But if you’re locked into a Blackberry for the foreseeable future, this might be the only way to get your Android fix. Here’s the full details on the theme, and check out the video below for a full demo of what you’re dishing out 7 bucks for:

The massive homescreen allows for 5-6 customizable icons, profiles/manage connections buttons, a Today page with hidden today items for phone log, messages and calendar icons, a Media page with quick access buttons to music, media and pictures, and finally, a dedicated menu for quick access to your options, contacts, and more.

[Product Page] [via CrackBerry]

Ben Marvin Software Android, Blackberry, theme

T-Mobile has started their OTA rollout of the Android 1.6 Donut update. We’ve all been anxiously waiting, but if you don’t feel like waiting anymore, here’s how to do the update manually:

1. Download the update file here for the G1. And here for the myTouch 3G.
2. Rename the file update.zip and copy it to the root directory of your SD card. If you are on Windows and have file extensions hidden, then just name it update.
3. After the file is copied, unmount the SD card and turn off you phone. Turn it back on by holding HOME+END.
4. It will boot into a special update screen, then press Alt+S to apply the update from your SD card.
5. Wait till it finishes, then hit HOME+BACK to reboot
6. The bootup will take longer than normal, just let it finish.
7. Enjoy some tasty Donuts!

A quick note, you do not have to have your phone rooted to update, but if you are rooted, this update will lose your root access. Questions, comments, issues? Let us know in the comments.

UPDATE: A reader wrote in with the process for myTouch owners:

There is no need to root or flash from a computer and upgrading is just as easy as with the G1. Put the update.zip file on the SD card, hold home+power until you get to the screen with the exclamation mark in a triangle. Once at that screen just press home+power again. It will take you to the recovery screen where you can use the trackball to to select “update from sd card”.

Ben Marvin How-To, Software, T-Mobile 1.6 Android, donut, Firmware, G1, MyTouch 3G, T-Mobile, updates

All cheesy post titles aside, TmoNews is reporting that T-Mobile US is starting to deliver OTA Donut (Android 1.6) updates to select G1 handsets as of midnight last night, and select myTouch handsets later on tonight. As with the previous Cupcake update, it’s very slow at first, presumably to catch and issues before everyone can be affected. And if all goes well, everyone (excluding rooted, custom ROM phones) will get a delicious box of Donuts in their inbox. It comes as no surprise since they updated the My Account application just last night to be Donut-compatible.

Drop us a comment if you have gotten an update yet, or if you haven’t and just want to share your excitement. And we’ll keep you posted once we dig up a link to the official firmware for those wishing to do manual updates.

And in case you’ve been under a rock, here’s what the update brings:

• An improved Android Market experience that makes it easier to discover great applications.
• An integrated camera, camcorder, and gallery interface.
• Updated Voice Search, with faster response and deeper integration with native applications, including the ability to dial contacts.
• Updated search experience that make it easier to search various sources, such as browser bookmarks & history, contacts, music, and the web, directly from the home screen.

[TmoNews]

*UPDATE* There’s now an official announcement on the T-Mobile forums.

Ben Marvin News, Rumors, Software, T-Mobile Android 1.6, donut, Firmware, OTA, Rumors, T-Mobile, updates

From the Android Developer’s Blog:

I am happy to announce that Android Developer Challenge 2’s first round of judging has begun!

As a reminder, user voting determines which apps will make it to the second round. Voting will occur through an application called Android Developer Challenge 2, which is now available for download from Android Market. Android Developer Challenge 2 presents apps for each user to download and score according to a set of criteria, such as originality and effective use of the Android platform, among others. The first round of judging will last at least two weeks from today. Judging will continue until we receive a sufficient number of votes to identify the top 20 applications in each of the 10 categories (200 apps total) that qualify for the second round.

During the second round, judging will occur through a combination of user voting and input from a panel of industry experts. User voting will continue to occur via Android Developer Challenge 2 and will account for 40% of the final score that each app receives in round two. The remaining 60% of the final score will be determined by the industry expert panel.

It has been a little less than a year since the first Android-powered phones became available. Today, there are more than 10,000 applications available in Android Market. We are pleased by the energy and commitment demonstrated by developers in such a short period of time. Our goal with Android Developer Challenge 2 is to inspire the developer community to produce even more innovative apps for Android. Now on to the voting!

Search for “Android Developer Challenge” in the market, or scan this QR code with your phone to download:

Ben Marvin Google, Software ADC2, Android Developer Challenge 2, Android Market, apps, developers, Software

HTC has a new ROM upgrade for your Hero. Version 2.73.405.5 is up now at the HTC UK site, for owners of Orange, T-mobile, and other UK Hero users. To upgrade, head over to the HTC support page for full instructions on installing the new firmware.

The update will speed things up a bit for a snappier experience and touch-to-focus for the your 5MP camera. And unlike other software upgrades for Android phones, you will need a Windows PC to install the update, sorry Mac and Linux users.
[thanks to @burrom for the tip]

Ben Marvin HTC, Orange, Software, T-Mobile HTC Hero, official, ROM, software upgrade, UK

Well it looks like we finally got that Facebook application that we’ve been waiting for. It’s fairly simple, if not lacking in features. Wall posts, profile views, post photos, and that’s about it. No chat, events or even messaging, but it does have notifications and enough features to keep the Facebook addict happy for now till we see an update. Although you may want to hit up x.facebook.com from your Android browser if you want a few more features and a more polished look.

There’s some speculation floating around that this may not be the official application from Facebook and I don’t see much merit to that, just my opinion. Phandroid is calling attention to the fact that the developer email address is Facebook.Android@gmail.com instead of something more official, but is that really far fetched that Facebook would use a Gmail address? Although the application is still not listed on Facebook’s mobile applications list, and the counterpart on Facebook shows the application as “not developed by Facebook”, but as it is pointed out by a commenter on that page, the applications for Palm and Blackberry say the same thing. Perhaps a simple announcement from Facebook would have saved me from having to write this paragraph.

Either way, most people probably don’t care. You can access Facebook, and it works, bottom line. The mere fact that it’s called “Facebook” is enough to show you that it’s probably not an impostor. You can bet the developers of “Babbler”, “Bloo”, “Fbook” all wanted that name.

The app is available in the Android Market now. Download it, try it out, leave a comment with your thoughts.

Edit: Just another quick note, a few users are reporting this crashes on the HTC Hero and those running custom ROMs such as Cyanogen. Let us know if you’re having trouble with the app.

Ben Marvin Rumors, Software applications, Facebook, Rumors, Software

There are now new categories in the Android Market making it easier to browse applications. New categories include Comics, Health, Sports, and Themes. This is a small, but much needed update to the ever growing Android Market. Future updates include the ability for developers to upload screenshots, promo icons, and improved descriptions. As well as refreshed look, as shown in this video:

It would be nice to see more sorting options, ability to mark apps as favorite, and perhaps share an application with a friend via email. I guess that desktop version of the Market is still a long way out.

Ben Marvin Games, Google, News, Software Android Market, News

Flyscreen is an application that came from non-smart phones, and is just now being worked for Android, and soon Blackberry devices. Like the Symbian version, it’s essentially a layer on top of your normal Android lock screen that gives you access to widgets and RSS feeds. Integrating Twitter, Facebook, or your favorite blog, and access to weather and news. And it’s not just a one-way information center, there’s also sharing options and integrated search. If it catches on, people are going to be spending a lot more time on their lock screen than just checking the time or battery life.

TechCruch is giving away 1,000 invites to try out the application before it’s released to the general public. Not sure if they’re all used up or not, but you can still head over to the FlyScreen site and check out all the features of this unique application. We have yet to try it ourselves (still waiting on an invite) but you can be sure we’ll put it through its paces.

[FlyScreen via TechCrunch]

Ben Marvin Software Android, Facebook, Flyscreen, lockscreen, News, Software, Twitter, weather, widgets