Android

Moto delaying Droid Bionic until summer

Three months after its unveiling, the Motorola Droid Bionic is still without a launch date or price. And now it appears that the handset won't land at Verizon Wireless until the third quarter of this year.

In a conversation with The Wall Street Journal today, a Motorola spokeswoman said Moto is delaying the Droid Bionic's release until this summer so it can incorporate several enhancements that will make "an even better consumer experience." The spokeswoman didn't offer specifics, but the original second-quarter launch window is now seen as unlikely.

Neither Motorola nor Verizon have said … Read more

Philips GoGear Connect, hands-on

Attention Android fans who wouldn't be caught dead with an iPod Touch. Philips is breathing some new life into its GoGear line of MP3 and portable media players by introducing the Connect, a new Android 2.3 device.

Due out in September with pricing starting at $179 (8GB), the GoGear Connect is chasing after the same Android-loving customer as the Samsung Galaxy Player. Most importantly, the device will come with Google's suite of mobile apps, including a fully stocked Android Market.

Fickle listeners will also appreciate the inclusion of Philips' own sound-isolating earphones, and FullSound audio enhancement. The … Read more

How to install a custom Android ROM

Congratulations, you've successfully gained root access to your Android device, maybe even using CNET's how to root your Android video as a guide. Now comes the hard part: installing a customized version of Android. We've got that covered in a video, but be careful: this one's for advanced users only.

Before we begin, let's review some of the reasons you might want to install and run a custom Android ROM. It's highly likely that there are Android features your phone company or hardware manufacturer has decided won't get pushed to your device, and … Read more

The 404 802: Where we're breaking bread with the Gut Man (podcast)

The Audiophiliac Steve Guttenberg makes an unusual midweek appearance on today's 404 episode and as usual, the discussion topics cover Steve's audiocentric stream of consciousness with a touch of disillusionment, like a Web site that takes the creativity out of naming your band, a mask that enhances audio, the unnatural origins of 3D, and the degrading quality of CD-Rs over time.

The 404 Digest for Episode 802

Korn and Hoobastank should've used Band Name Maker. Tape Op magazine offers free subscriptions to print edition. Add Steve Guttenberg on Twitter. Check out Steve's blog on all things audio, The Audiophiliac.

Episode 802 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Report: Tablet sales to hit $49 billion by 2015

The tablet industry could see sales of $49 billion in just another four years, says a new report from Strategy Analytics.

If the forecast comes true, that would mean a jump in revenues from essentially zero in 2009 and could open the door for tablet sales to surpass those of every other consumer category except TVs and PCs by 2015, according to the research firm.

The surge in demand for tablets is also expected to translate across the world, according to Strategy Analytics.

"We predict 80 percent of the value of the tablet market in 2015 will reside in … Read more

Evernote gets major Android update

As an avid Evernote user, I've really enjoyed watching both the service and its Android application evolve. That's why I was pleased today when I learned that the latest update would add security options, a new widget, and shared notebooks.

Likely to be the most welcome feature is the new ability to collaborate on notebooks using an Android phone or tablet. Mobile users now can search shared notebooks from other Evernote customers directly from their device, with full editing and sync capabilities. The person sharing the notebook must be a Premium subscriber to use the editing feature, but … Read more

Sonos launches Android Controller app

Another once-exclusive iOS app has now joined the Android family. The Sonos Controller app lets owners control any of the Sonos network audio streamers in their home.

Originally announced in February (it's arriving a few weeks after its originally intended March delivery date), the Sonos Controller is a free download from the Android Market. It's designed to be compatible with any smartphone running Android 2.1 or later with a screen size of HVGA (320 x 480), WVGA (480 x 800), or WVGA (480 x 854). Android tablets are not officially supported at the current time.

Anyone who's familiar with the Sonos Controller for iPhone will find the Android version to be all but identical, though the latter offers voice search--a nice upgrade over the iOS version. The Android app will no doubt be welcomed by Sonos owners (or prospective owners) who were looking for control options beyond the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Mac, and Windows software controllers that are currently available. But Sonos' Apple-centric fans also have two reasons to celebrate:… Read more

T-Mobile G-Slate review: To 3D or not to 3D?

I love the Honeycomb OS. It's not perfect by any stretch, but it's such an improvement over using Android 2.2 on tablets, that I'm willing to accept it and all its imperfections. I'm sure at some point I'll grow dissatisfied with it and begin blaming it for every inadequacy in my life.

You have to understand, before Honeycomb, testing tablets using the Android 2.2 OS increased chances of apoplexy by 89 percent. Really.

OK, that's not actually true, but on many tablets, it was a very frustrating experience.

The T-Mobile G-Slate by … Read more

T-Mobile G2X review: It's worth the hype

When LG first announced the T-Mobile G2X at CTIA this year, we were absolutely excited that the U.S. would finally get its own version of the LG Optimus 2X, which was the first dual-core processor smartphone at the time it was announced. Of course, with the Motorola Atrix 4G and the upcoming Droid Bionic, the G2X won't be the only dual-core phone on the block. But with plenty of multimedia features, HSPA+ support, and a clean Android interface, the G2X still manages to come out on top as one of the best Android phones we've seen this year.

Before we get into its insides, we have to note how handsome this phone is. It's sleek, with gunmetal gray accents, and a soft matte finish on the back. Weighing at around 5 ounces, it has a decidedly solid feel in the hand that tells you this is a premium handset. The 4-inch WVGA IPS LCD display is crisp, colorful, and stunning against the glossy black surface. The blacks are not quite as deep as that on a Super AMOLED or qHD display, but we still thought it was great for watching HD video and playing games.

And for those tasks, you'll appreciate the dual-core processor.… Read more

App reveals dead bugs, carcinogens in your lunch

If you're concerned about the number of foods you eat that contain pulverized insect bodies, or worry about all the ways another Coke or Pepsi might contribute to your early demise, boy, have I got an app for you.

The folks at the Center for Science in the Public Interest are wagering you're willing to fork over a buck to find out how truly disgusting and/or dangerous the ingredients in your food are with their new "Chemical Cuisine" app. Download it for 99 cents for iOS or Android and you have instant access to an encyclopedia of all those indecipherable ingredients on food labels--things like cochineal extract or carmine, which comes from those unfortunate aforementioned insects and is used to add a nice pink, purple, or reddish hue to your yogurt and other munchies.… Read more