Archive for November, 2008
Round Robin: AT&T Fuze Video
Kicking off the second week of the Smartphone Round Robin, Android Central gives you a Video Review of the AT&T Fuze. Like the T-Mobile G1, the AT&T Fuze is made by HTC but re-branded and re-named under the carrier. Those familiar with the device will recognize its similarities to the HTC Touch Diamond and for Sprint, the HTC Touch Pro.
The AT&T Fuze’s main OS is Windows Mobile 6.1 but it gets prettied up with TouchFlo 3D, an HTC specific User Interface made for the HTC’s Touch Family. Our thoughts on TouchFlo 3D is that it certainly is pretty and useable. Our thoughts on Windows Mobile? Well, check out the video!
Though people have compared the G1 to the iPhone, I think the more apt comparison would be Android and Windows Mobile. Remember, Windows Mobile runs on a plethora of devices–something that Android hopes to do in the near future. So how do they compare? Quick preview: Windows Mobile is all about the power. Check out the video for Android Central’s first impression of the AT&T Fuze!
Note: I totally forgot to mention the stylus–its magnetically attached to the Fuze, which is a great touch. The stylus doesn’t seem to be necessary, you can get almost everything done without it.
This is an Official Round Robin Contest Post, Comment To Win a T-Mobile G1! – Details Here
Google Lay Offs, 10,000 Workers at Risk?
The economic downturn shows no favor. Even the almighty Google is taking a hit and re-arranging the books in order to seem steady. Google’s been quietly laying off hundreds of employees and there are whispers suggesting that the final tally may total 10,000 workers.
Though the SEC requires public companies to publicly report layoffs, Google is circumventing the law by terming the workers as temporary operational expenses. Basically full time workers without full time benefits and a boost to their stock because of their high productivity per employee. Yeah, we know. Sad and almost evil.
We’re not sure which specific sectors this is going to affect, hopefully the economy gets on an upswing so we won’t see any delays in Android development and everybody can get their job back. Until then, be thankful.
[BGR]
Google Wants to Trademark Android
Google had tried to trademark “Android” back in August and was turned down. But they’re not going down without a fight, we have word that Google is going to appeal the decision before the board and hope for the best.
We at Android Central think Android is much too hard a term to trademark, there’s just too many wide ranging definitions. But seriously, is there any difference if they succeed or not?
[uspto via Android Community]
Colorware Offers Custom Colors for T-Mobile G1
Do you think the black, bronze, or white color options on the T-Mobile G1 is just too plain? Do you want your G1 to stick out in a crowd? Well, insert Colorware. Colorware is a company known for its customization capabilities for basically any relevant electronic device–and that includes our favorite T-Mobile G1.
Though the prices are high for the average consumer ($220 to color the whole phone, $770 to buy brand new with no contract), we’ve heard nothing but good things about Colorware’s quality if that’s any consolation. So we guess if pink or Android green are really your thing, you can find some way to justify it. Let us know how it goes!
Asus Offering Android Phones in 2009
In an effort to stay toe-to-toe with their nemesis HTC, Asus will be very busy releasing up to ten new phone models in 2009. Most of the new models will include 3G and touch screens, and at least one will be based on the Android OS.
If I were a betting man, I’d say Asus will introduce more than just one Android phone, so this is good news for the Android community - more models to choose from!
[talkandroid via DigiTimes]
Opera Mini & Visual Voicemail for G1
These are exciting times to be on the Android bandwagon. If you possess a T-Mobile G1 Android phone, you should indulge yourself a little and try out a couple apps that have made their way to the Android platform - Opera Mini 4.2 beta and Fusion Voicemail Plus. Both are free and, according to Matthew Miller over at ZDNet.com, are worthy for trial runs on your G1.
Opera Mini 4.2 beta is a browser alternative, providing fast internet access and bookmark portability and consistency to your desktop and all other devices due to the Opera server carrying most of the load.
Fusion Voicemail Plus is a free app that brings visual voicemail to your G1 via signing up for an account on their website. The process is free and virtually painless. There will be a more detailed look at Fusion Voicemail Plus forthcoming.
Round Robin: Answers to Your iPhone 3G Questions
Since we’re in that odd spot where the first week of the Smartphone Round Robin is over and I’ve yet to post the video review (AT&T Fuze, tomorrow!) to kick off the second week, I thought it’d be a good time to answer all the questions you guys had about the iPhone 3G.
Though the iPhone 3G is an uber-popular device there are still features (or lack thereof) that some may not know about!
Read more to see the answers to your iPhone 3G questions!
Also, this is an Official Round Robin Contest Post, Comment to Win a T-Mobile G1 !— More Details Here
HTC Raise Shipment Forecast for T-Mobile G1
Looks like the sales of the T-Mobile G1 did go better than expected. HTC CEO Peter Chou expects T-Mobile G1 cumulative shipments to reach 1 million units by the end of 2008. It marks a significant number more than what was initially projected.
I think we can consider the T-Mobile G1 a success and that it’ll continue to raise the profile for Android and hopefully spur growth in development and leave room for new phones. Android Central is excited for what’s to come.
[DigiTimes via Talk Android]
zzzPhone is Second Android Device
zzzPhone has seemingly come through on their promise in combining the notorious zzzPhone with the exciting Android OS. We at Android Central are definitely surprised that zzzPhone has become the 2nd Android Device on the market over the likes of bigger, more capable companies. Ahem, Moto.
We had cracked that their website was ridden in spelling errors and poor design, and well, it looks like the website still sucks. If you’re daring, the base price of the zzzPhone Android is only $119. Look out for those options though, they can add up quick! Tell us what you think!
T-Mobile Chooses Yahoo for Search
Just when it seemed that Google had solidified their foothold as T-Mobile’s default search engine (given the release of the G1 Android phone), Yahoo is waving their finger and saying “not so fast!” Even as Yahoo stock prices tumble from a lofty $30.00+ per share down to $9-ish, they have scored a sweet deal with T-Mobile, their Yahoo OneSearch search engine winning as the default search engine on T-Mobile’s handsets. This deal will not affect the Google-based G1 at this time, but it’s still remarkable that Yahoo won out over the seemingly-impervious Google. According to Rob Jackson over at Phandroid:
Even though it’s not affecting the G1 now, will this win by Yahoo affect the G1 in the future? Is it really true that people don’t care very much what search engine is offered on their phone?While Google is (according to most) the dominantly better search engine, that doesn’t matter so much on mobile phones. Consumers are much less likely to download and use applications and extras on their mobile phones and are MUCH more likely to go with the default capabilities. Its the same reason Microsoft’s Internet Explorer has dominated the Browser Wars for so long… and that same initial real estate stakes era is occurring in the mobile world as we speak.
