android
Stop it
Android's goggles
We tip our hat to Google for creating a novel mobile app that uses pictures to prompt a search, not just text or vocal input. When you take a photo through Goggles, the free app scans the image, matching your picture against its database and returning a result. Goggles can read bar codes, landmarks, logos, books and DVDs, signs, and products. Things like plants still give Goggles trouble, and results aren't always consistent scan to scan. As Goggles is still a product of Google Labs, it's more experimental than fully baked. But it's a good experiment, and … Read more
This browser makes a splash
Three tools in one
If you've got a third-party file manager, you can go through menu screens to uninstall an app. But you could also open up the Android Market to achieve the same banishing results. Quick Uninstaller is a much more direct route. The free, ad-supported app replicates your program window to show you your app icons. You can also view in List form instead. Menu options let you sort by name, date, and size to help you more quickly zero in on your prey. Then, simply tap one of the app icons to select it, and tap again to uninstall. The … Read more
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 clears FCC
This post was updated on 12/21, 1:17 p.m., PT with information about a second version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 getting FCC approval.
The FCC has given the green light to Sony Ericsson's first Google Android phone, the Xperia X10. Filed documents show that the quad-band GSM smartphone supports T-Mobile's 3G network, though it remains to be seen whether the carrier will offer the device or whether it will be sold unlocked.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 looks to be a powerhouse with a 4-inch, 854x480-pixel touch screen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 8.1-megapixel … Read more
Android team embraces developers
Google has been busy the last few days with updates to the official Android Developers blog. With new code samples and resources, the blog is becoming a better resource for the very people who Google depends on to elevate the platform.
On Thursday, Google unveiled the Device Dashboard, which breaks down the current composition of devices accessing the Android Market. The tool is designed to help current and prospective developers get a feel for which versions of Android they should be coding.
The Dashboard already shows that writing for Android 1.1 would be a waste of time, as only … Read more
Android 2.1 coming to Sprint HTC Hero, Samsung Moment
On Thursday, Sprint revised a tweet it sent out last week regarding an Android update for the Samsung Moment and HTC Hero. Both smartphones won't be getting an Android 2.0 update; instead, they will get Android 2.1. (Pause for applause.)
The carrier made the announcement via its Twitter account, but unfortunately didn't provide any more specific details as to when the updates might be rolled out other than it would be sometime in the first half of 2010.
Currently, only the Nexus One is running Android 2.1. While features of this version of the operating … Read more
T-Mobile expands app picks on Android Market
So far, there are 20 applications listed in the Top Picks. Though a quarter of the titles were developed by T-Mobile, most of the apps are free. The … Read more
Maturing Android Market hits 20,000 applications
The Android Market has grown from zero applications to 20,000 strong in a little over a year. According to Androidlib, a Web site dedicated to tracking the Android Market, the milestone was reached on Tuesday. While this is an unofficial tally, it's a telling figure nonetheless.
Android shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, the number of applications is growing from month to month. After taking nearly 10 months to cross the 10,000 mark, the market doubled in size over the next five months.
With all the talk of unhappy developers, it's still becoming increasingly … Read more