Android Community Forums - Talkback

Now, When Using Android, GTalk Status Icons Become Exactly that, Androids

STARGATE — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:14:01 GMT

Okay, so this one is cool, it could be fun for many, but it could also mean a privacy attack to many others. What am I talking about? Well, about the new way to identify if you are using Android or not. First, lets check the image below to see what this is about.

Apparently, the way this works is; the green robot/android icon means you are online with Android. The green dot means that you are using regular Gmail chat. The orange robot means that you are using Android but currently away. And the red robot means you are a mad robot, no, I'm just joking, it means you are currently busy but still using Android.

So there you have it folks, Google has name this the Turn on Green Robot, which is a new experiment in Gmail Labs. Cool, right? Well, like I mentioned before, many will find this as an attack to their privacy. Let us know in the comments what you think about it.

Article Link : Now, When Using Android, GTalk Status Icons Become Exactly that, Androids

Sprint airs a new Now Network Commercial with the HTC Hero in it [Video]

STARGATE — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:41:20 GMT

If you have seen one of the new Now Network TV Commercials from Sprint/Nextel, then you have notice how different - and better - those are in comparison to the old black and white with Dan Hesse in them. Well, Sprint is now airing one of those nicer Now Network ads with the HTC Hero in it.

This new TV commercial is for the holiday shoppers to see some of the best handsets that Sprint carries. In it you can see the little black pebble; the Palm Pre, the chinless (and better looking, at least in my opinion) HTC Hero and the BlackBerry Tour.

Unfortunately, the Samsung Moment is missing on this commercial, why Sprint did not include the Samsung smartphone is a mystery. But at least is finally releasing commercials for Android devices, and calls the Sprint HTC Hero as a customizable phone with access to thousands of applications.

Article Link : Sprint airs a new Now Network Commercial with the HTC Hero in it [Video]

ZTE Might Launch Android-based smartphone in America by Next Year

STARGATE — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:16:39 GMT

As of lately, China has been busy with the Android news, it would seem. There's the Mini 3i from Dell, which will become available first on that country. Also, according to Chinese Commercial Times the Dell Streak MID will be landing in AT&T, here in the States. And how to forget Zii Labs, who will showcase a "Phone with Fully featured Android Platform" next month.

Now, once more, China is making Android headlines. According to Total Telecom, Chinese manufacturer ZTE Corp. is in talks with different carriers throughout Europe to launch a new smartphone based on Google's mobile OS. Apparently, ZTE wants to beef up its business by making smartphones, traditionally, the company has been supplying low-cost telecom equipment to companies such as China Mobile Ltd.

ZTE's Managing director of handset business marketing, Dale Ying, told Dow Jones Newswires - in an interview on the sidelines of the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress in Hong Kong - the following:

We hope to sell our smartphone to these operators next year. We see big potential in the smartphone market. We are targeting to ship more smartphones in the coming few years which will help to improve our gross margin.

ZTE is in discussions and conducting testing with carriers in North America - according to Dale Ying - comprising T-Mobile USA, AT&T Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp., and Verizon Wireless.

Article Link : ZTE Might Launch Android-based smartphone in America by Next Year

Samsung Behold 2 Available since Yesterday

STARGATE — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:03:23 GMT

So yesterday was the day the Samsung Behold 2 came out to the general public, woohoo! But, what happened? T-mobile sure didn't do anything exciting about it. I guess they knew that the $229.99 sticker price on it was a little too high.

Well, I guess the price we announced was right, but unfortunately, we also were right about people not been happy with that price. I mean, $230 after discounts and a two year agreement! Especially when there are other choices, better and cheaper, like the Verizon DROID by Motorola.

So what do you think folks, you think T-Mobile is holding the big sale until black Friday? It could be, but why not start with a low price right away? The display on the Behold 2 looks great, but looks are not enough for some people. Anyway, check here for more on this new Android smartphone by Samsung.

And if you buy it, you'll find inside the box the following accessories; Battery, Charger, USB cable, the Stereo Hands-Free Headset, a 2GB SD Card (yea, I was hoping for at least a 4GB, but hey) and the Carrying case.

Article Link : Samsung Behold 2 Available since Yesterday

Japan to Release Android Phone next year made by Sharp

STARGATE — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:42:00 GMT

While we are having a blast here in the US with the latest Android-based smartphones, and other countries are waiting anxiously for them to arrive. Japan, apparently, is missing on the Android fun. But all that is about to change, thanks to SoftBank and Sharp.

About a year ago that we had a story on NTT DoCoMo, planning to make an Android-based phone in Japan. This time, Sharp and SoftBank are the ones making waves, first, SoftBank, which is Japan?s third biggest cell phone carrier, announced last week an Android-powered phone for next year. Then, we have Sharp, who just two days ago in Tokyo, promised to roll out a number of Android-based handsets on the first half of 2010. Exactly how many phones? Well, we have no idea just yet.

In Japan, Sharp has the biggest market share out of eight cell phone makers, so, if they really jump in the Android bandwagon, it translates to great news for the Google OS, since Japan is consider the most advanced mobile society in the world. There's no word from Sharp on which of the three big carriers in Japan will get the Android handsets. But they did say that the features on said handsets, will be unique to the Japanese market. One of the possible specific features might be a tuner for 1seg, which is a digital TV standard used not only in Japan, but also in some parts of South America.

[Via TechCrunch]

Article Link : Japan to Release Android Phone next year made by Sharp

According to \"Well-Sourced Rumors\", the GPhone is Coming Next Year, But Maybe as a Data Only Device

STARGATE — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:06:07 GMT

Well, place this one on the maybe, maybe not section, or rumors section, if you will. But according to "well-sourced rumors", the good folks over at TechCrunch reported yesterday that the famous Google Phone was in fact coming in 2010. Today, they have an updated post on the same topic, but saying that the GPhone might end up being just a data-only device with VoIP.

We thought all this rumors were over last time when Google?s Andy Rubin, head of the company?s Android development, said that Google was not in the phone-making business. But yesterday's post at TC ended with: "That?s all we have for now. We don?t yet know what the device will look like, how big it will be, or even if it has a physical keyboard. But we do know that Google is getting into the phone building business directly, and doesn?t seem too concerned about competing with all the other device manufacturers building Android phones."

Today, the possibility of Google not ?competing with customers? by launching their own device, seems a little more logical, since, "technically, it may not be a phone." According to TC, "The GPhone may be a data only, VoIP driven device." They're also claiming talking with a person who hinted towards AT&T to be the provider of data services for the Google Phone.

The truth is, no body knows exactly what the future is bringing, or if Google will ever enter the phone market with actual hardware. But it is exciting to read about the rumors that show us the endless possibilities. Head on to the comments section and let us know what is your take on this matter.

Article Link : According to \"Well-Sourced Rumors\", the GPhone is Coming Next Year, But Maybe as a Data Only Device

Dell Streak MID to be first Android device on AT&T?

STARGATE — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:24:22 GMT

We hear from sister site SlashGear about the Dell Streak MID, which will use Android as its Operating System. Chinese Commercial Times is claiming that AT&T will be the US carrier of this Dell device, and that it will be built by Qisda. An exact release date was not given, just the year, which is 2010.

Now at this point in time, all this is just rumors, but it is kind of weird and funny that the company that hasn't release a single Android device and the company who doesn't want to release an Android phone in the US - at least not yet - join forces to release this device. Maybe it makes sense, maybe I'm just crazy, nevertheless, it is weird. Don't you think? Let us know in the comments what you think is going on.

Anyway, the Dell Streak seems to be a nice device, and as far as we know, it sports a 5-inch WVGA 800 x 480 touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G WWAN connectivity. It also has a 5-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, a microSD card slot for extra storage, and a 1,300mAh battery.

Article Link : Dell Streak MID to be first Android device on AT&T?

UK to Receive the Acer Liquid A1 in late November

STARGATE — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:37:15 GMT

Back on the first week of this month, we talked about a new Android phone named Acer Liquid A1, which was believed to have the same Snapdragon processor as the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10. But over at the::unwired, Arne Hess - who played with one - put together a ?preview? review of the Acer Liquid confirming the processor, and concluding that it was underclocked.

Now we have news that Acer have confirmed that the Liquid A1 - which is Acer's first Android smartphone - will arrive in late November. But in the UK at first, which is unfortunate for those who like to get their hands on this phone here in the American Continent. According to retailer Clove - who is taking orders for this Acer phone already - Android Donut (1.6) will run on the Liquid A1, instead of the Eclair (2.0).

After reading that last sentence, the good news is that according to Clove's site; the Qualcomm Snapdragon based smartphone will not be underclocked. Last time we heard about this Acer phone, the bad news was that the processor would only run at 768Mhz. Apparently, unless there is a mistake on Clove's site, Acer had a change of hearth, which translates into happiness for the potential buyers of this Android smartphone, which by the way, will be priced at �286 pre-tax ($479).

According to Clove, the following are the features of the A1, as well as the contents of the A1's box:

Features of Acer Liquid A1

* Qualcomm 8250 1GHz processor * Andriod 1.6 (Donut) Operating System * Slim design just over 12.5mm thick * 3.5" WQVGA Touchscreen Display * Quad-band GSM / Dual-band HSDPA * Tri-band 900/1900/2100 MHz * 512MB ROM / 256MB RAM * 5 Megapixel Camera * Bluetooth 2 with EDR

What's in the box of Acer Liquid A1?

* Acer Liquid A1 * Battery * Mains Charger * Data Cable * Software CD * Quick Start Guide

Article Link : UK to Receive the Acer Liquid A1 in late November

Fring Lands in Android Market, Makes a lot of People Happy [Video]

STARGATE — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:18:00 GMT

Many Android users are very happy to find out about Fring making its way into the Android Market. Yes, you are reading right, Fring has just released its first version for Android phones, enabling the world?s first free voice calls (VoIP) over Fring and Skype, MSN and Google talk. Beginning today, Android users will have a chance to use free VoIP calls not only over Fring, Skype, MSN and GoogleTalk, but also on hundreds of SIP providers.

With Fring you can see real-time presence and live chat with your ICQ, Yahoo! And AIM buddies, oh, and you can also use Twitter as part of your integrated contact list. Fring on Android works over 3G, GPRS or Wi-Fi internet connection. In addition to Android, Fring is also supported worldwide on thousands of Symbian S60, iPhone, iPod touch, Windows Mobile, J2ME and Linux devices.

If you are one of those happy Android users who like to get Fring on your Android phone, you can download it via Fring?s WAP site at m.fring.com or directly via the Android Market. Also, the Fring Team wants you to know there are a few known Issues that will be fixed in the next version. Here you go:

- GSM contacts do not appear in fring?s buddy list on the Motorola DROID device - Call disconnection tone may be heard a few times when terminating a call - SIP and SkypeOut calls are not yet available on the Motorola DROID device

And now, to learn more from Fring themselves, watch the video below:

Article Link : Fring Lands in Android Market, Makes a lot of People Happy [Video]

Another Video Demo for the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Working its Magic

STARGATE — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:51:14 GMT

As if one post on the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 isn't enough for one day, we bring another one, this time, for your viewing pleasure. And lets be honest, neither one of us can't get enough of this Android-powered smartphone. So lets get on with it.

By now most, if not all of you already know that the SE XPERIA X10 will be available in the UK right around Valentine's day. So there will be a lot people falling in love with, or over this new Android phone on February. When Chris had a hands-on with this SE phone in London, the speed was not up to par with a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

But this time, as you will be able to notice on the video below from HDblog, who apparently had access to a newer prototype, the speed has been drastically improved. The company?s homegrown apps; Timescape and Mediascape now run snappier. But I don't want to bother you with more of this, so just go on and enjoy the video below.

Article Link : Another Video Demo for the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Working its Magic