Looking for a weekly nutshell of Android news? The Saturday Wrap is for you.

Ahh, this week felt like a good week to take a breather, eh? Not this past week, but the week before, we saw the release of the Vibrant, DROID X, and the Samsung Captivate. This week, device news has slowed down a bit. I mean, c’mon, a release week like that would take a lot to top. Don’t worry though, the leak news is only taking a break before it explodes in the fall. Of course, there is still more of everything else we always cover in the Wrap to go over (apps, reviews, hacking), including some great opinion editorial posts, so let’s get right into this:

Device news:

As I mentioned just a sentence ago, a couple of the writers from DroidDog wrote some very heartfelt opinion editorials this past week; Justin Hubbard and Alberto Vildosola. Justin wrote about a subject dear to many of our readers hearts, his Nexus One. His piece titled “My Nexus One Is Still My Number One” is about how he still sees his Nexus as the best phone for him. Forget all these bogged down UIs and cheap feeling, locked down devices. Bring on the Nexus. Alberto’s post is a bit more controversial; the great topic of how bad custom UIs are on Android devices everywhere. There is still hope though. Read on to find out more.

So what else was going on in the world of Android device news? Among things like the first PTT Android device being released on Boost Mobile, and a couple of Android tablets (one REALLY cheap) making headlines, there’s definitely some more articles out there worth checking out:

DROID X display issues turning up
DROID X Eagle Eye commercial
Droid X uses Five times more Data Bandwidth than other Phones
Official DROID 2 images leaked, dummy for sale
DROID 2 running Froyo, MOTOBLUR in the wild
Motorola Charm planned for 8/25
Motorola i1 to drop July 25th
New Moto DROID slider in the works
T-Mobile’s HSPA+ taking over
Nexus One via Google direct gone
Prepare for the Dell Streak pre-sale
Samsung Captivate commercial

Software news:

It’s almost comforting to see updates steal the headlines in the software news don’t you think? It felt like everyone was seeing an update one way or another. I’d have to say the list of devices that didn’t make update news, would be shorter than the devices that did; The Ally, Galaxy S, DROID X, and the Incredible to name a few of the devices getting updated. Here’s a couple more:

Cellular South updating Hero to 2.1
Moto Cliq; 2.1 in the wild
Incredible looking at Froyo in late July or early August
Droid X Rooted in spite of all the eFuse ballyhoo
Android finds usage in Battle and other Field Operations

Apps news:

What a great week for app news. We saw things like an amazingly ingenious live wallpaper, and a great new way to send files to your phone. We got to check out a couple of apps geared towards the readers out there; NOOK for Android and Audible.com digital audio books. We even took a brief look into the future of Android and it’s mainstream influence when AOL announced they’d be releasing their apps on the Android platform. Oh, and I can’t forget the piece we did on a new way to download Android apps; GetJar alternative market. With over 75,000 apps and Android as their fastest growing OS, it’s definitely worth a look.

Videos and reviews:

We have a ton of videos and reviews to go over this week, including one very special video post I think some of you will enjoy; the Anti-glare screen protector giveaway. Right now, Carlos has 4 screen protectors for the Nexus he is giving away for YOU to win… if you can pay attention and follow the rules. Check out the video above and read the post here for how to play. Good luck! Oh, and while you’re at it, check out Carlos’ review of the IMDB app. Very nice.

John was very busy with videos this week again, and as per the usual, we get a great look at some great devices. This week we have a video unboxing of the SE Xperia X10 Mini Pro, a walk-through of some interesting features and cool stuff on the Samsung Vibrant, and a glimpse of what CyanogenMod 6 on the HTC EVO will become.

Last but not least in video and review news, we have Marques’ review of the Fox News app. This review is geared more towards the design and UI of the app, not the content.

———-

Well that’s all for this week guys. Be sure to keep checking back with us here at DroidDog for more of all the Android coverage you’ve come to know and love. What shall I leave you with this week? How about Chili’s 4sqr free chips and salsa extravaganza. Sound good? I’ll see ya there. Alright everyone, until next time, enjoy!

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Looking for a weekly nutshell of Android news? The Saturday Wrap is for you.

Hello there DroidDog readers, what a week gone by. Not only was there quite the epic handset released this week for T-Mobile users… but Verizon also saw a new Android behemoth. Of course I’m talking about the Samsung Vibrant and the Motorola DROID X, and believe me, both handsets received a ton of press. We have reviews, unboxings, promo material… the works. Don’t be too quick to think that’s all though. There is still a plethora of Android news in every other category you can imagine. So sit back, relax, and get ready to read. Let’s get right into this:

Device news:

Now, like I mentioned earlier, the big device news of the week was the release of the Vibrant and DROID X. John went and got his hands on a Vibrant and already has a couple videos up on the device, but I’ll cover more on that later. For now, check out the Vibrant promo video, and Noah from over at PhoneDog and his first impressions video.

We’ve also seen a whole slew of DROID X material this past week, with a bunch more to come:

DROID X: pre launch-day mini roundup
DROID X updated again; still not officially released
DROID X bootloader locked tight
Motorola Droid X: Secret Code and must have Apps
Droid X Root: Self-destruct Rumors and Facts

Just because the Vibrant and DROID X were the center of attraction, doesn’t mean there hasn’t been more rumors and leaks floating around out there. My personal favorite? The Desire HD. All you need to say is aluminum unibody, and I’m hooked.

Samsung Galaxy Teos and Naos
Velocity Micro Cruz series eReader tablets
Verizon summer catalog leaked; DROID 2 inside
What is the HTC Ace?
Telus confirms HTC Desire
Fujitsu working on first Android device
Original DROID, Devour headed for pasture
Google reaching end of web store Nexus sales
EVO 4G delays hurting more than just your feelings

Software news:

I never though I’d say this, but there is almost no update news to cover this week. The only thing I have to mention is the HTC Incredible getting an update soon that will support hot-spot capabilities, and 720p video capture. Oh and FYI, the Incredible was also rooted this past week. Thanks rEVOked! Speaking of rooting… the X10 was finally rooted recently, and CyanogenMod 6 is finally hitting the public. Stay tuned for more on that!

App news:

This week’s app news was full of development headlines and some groundbreaking numbers. The Android Market has finally reached 70k apps. The last three months have seen a growth rate of nearly 7,000 new apps per month. Amazing. Here’s some more app news to look into, including the first post from our newest edition here at DroidDog, Chinmoy Kanjilal. Say hi will ya?

PHP for Android adds a new Dimension to app development
Android App Inventor
TweetDeck for Android is moving closer to reality
Onion News Network app for Android
App: Almost Hands Free
Opera Mini 5.1: out of beta

Videos and reviews:

Remember how I said I’d have more on John’s shiny new Vibrant? Well here it is:

Just in case you aren’t familiar with how this works yet… You can get your questions and requests in now, via Twitter @PhoneDog_John, or via text: 503-MOB BARK. Include the tag, #Vibrant in your message or you probably won’t get an answer. Also, no calls please. John also made a video on the Vibrant’s live wallpapers and widgets, along with some image and video samples, so be sure to check that out. Many more videos to come as well. What other goodies do we have in store for you in the videos and reviews section? Take a look:

Noah’s DROID X video review | Updated
CyanogenMod 6.0.0 RC1 Review
Samsung Intercept (Sprint) unboxing and hands on
MKB Reviews: K-9 Mail
Unboxed: Arkon universal docks/mounting kits

———–

Alright guys, that’s all for this week. Be sure to stay tuned for more coverage on the Vibrant, DROID X, and whatever else we can get our hands on. As a parting gift, I present you with this: Noah from over at PhoneDog has made a great little summer buying guide featuring ten of the hottest phones on the market. Guess what? Nine of them are Androids. Oh yeah. Until next time, enjoy!

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Greetings DroidDog readers, and welcome to another Saturday Wrap. Is everyone ready for some good old fashioned Android catch up? The past couple weeks, I’ve been going on and on about how summer is coming, and now summer is here, and now… well now there is already fall road-maps leaking and talk of back to school sales. No complaints though, it does make for great news. So what exactly went down this past week? Any more leaks? Updates? Hacks? Oh yes, a lot. In fact… Let’s get right into this:

Device news:

The big device news this past week was hands down all the Galaxy S series leaks. With release of said devices only a mere week away, it’s not really surprising. We originally got word that the Samsung Vibrant for T-Mobile may be released earlier than the original projected date of July 21st. Leave it to the Tmo Twitter account to go ahead and confirm the new release date of July 15th, only 5 days away. The Vibrant page is live on T-Mobile’s website now for your viewing pleasure. Of course, the Captivate wouldn’t let the Vibrant have all the fun. The Captivate is set to release just 3 days after the Vibrant, July 18th. You can check out a promo video for the Captivate now. So what else has been going on in device news?

DroidLanding hints get real
First DroidLanding loot located
HTC EVO white unboxing
White EVO cometh UPDATE: video
DROID X arriving already?
Motorola Charm announced, promo video released
Motorola MB710 passes FCC
Samsung Intercept now official
Samsung Intercept on video
North American Desire passes FCC
HTC Vision in the flesh
Samsung Galaxy S 2
LG pumping out the Androids
Hummingbird processor shows off on video

Software news:

Surprisingly, this weeks software news isn’t all about updates. There’s still some update news regrading the Backflip. And there may be some whisperings of HTC’s plans on how they will be rolling out 2.2… but all the big software news this past week was all about hacking:

HTC EVO 4G kernel source released
HTC comes clean about the EVO’s 30fps cap
New EVO rooting method
Nexus One runs Ubuntu
Superhack: mad tinkerer builds Android/LEGO robot
Froyo 2.2 VS iOS4 browser speed
Android 2.2 debuts on the Platform Versions chart
Android SDK Updated

Apps:

This past week in apps news was kinda slow, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some good stuff. My personal favorite? Voice input coming soon to Swype. Exciting stuff!

Trillian for Android coming soon
YouTube mobile sees large improvement
Coast to Coast AM for Android: one step closer
Twidroid purchased, becomes Twidroyd
OPENFEINT BRINGING SOCIAL GAMING NETWORK TO ANDROID
Fring fraks Skype access, iPhone blamed

Videos and reviews:

Another week gone by here at DroidDog means one thing for sure, another excellent review from Marques. This week, MKB takes a look at News Rob, an RSS reader. Once you watch the video and read the review, I think you’ll have to agree with me that it looks amazing. Definitely worth a download.

John has busy again this week, this time with a new device unboxing and quick hands on. He has a brand spankin’ new Sony Xperia X10 Mini, and well… it sure is Mini. The entire device is about the same size as the just the screen on the EVO. Speaking of which, don’t forget to check out the newest entry in the EVO vs. iPhone 4 series: camera usability. This stuff is getting intense guys. Intense.

———-

Alright everyone, that’s all for this week. Stay tuned here to DroidDog for more coverage on everything we can grab including news, reviews, and everything in-between. Before I go, I’ll leave you with one more small article to read. This one can be summed up in one quote from the inventor of the cell phone, Martin Cooper:

“I think that the Android phones are catching up now, and the latest version of the Android phones are every bit as good, if not better, than the iPhone.”

We love you too Marty.

@dustinearley

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Hello there readers of DroidDog, happy 4th of July. Time to BBQ, swim, watch fireworks, and read about your favorite operating system; Android. This week was not only huge for Android, but huge for DroidDog. John has in his possession an HTC EVO 4G, and an Apple iPhone 4. The best of the best people. We have some killer content on the battle of the titans, with more to come. As per the usual, there’s also more Android news to cover than you can shake a stick at, so let’s get things started:

Device news:

One of the main focal points of the week regarding upcoming devices was the Samsung event where they showed off their Galaxy S US lineup. There isn’t much we have already gone over a million times here at DroidDog, but every refresher counts. The event gave everyone in the tech world a chance to play with the Tmo Vibrant (or Bell Vibrant), Verizon Fascinate, AT&T Captivate, and the Sprint Epic 4G. Everyone has had a chance to play around with the original Euro Galaxy S (same as the US Cellular version), but the US versions are all a little different. You can find a link list here where there’s enough information on those idfferences to go around, including some extra stuff definitely worth a look.

In other slightly less exciting Samsung news, pictures of what are claimed to be the Intercept, or Moment II, have surfaced with quite the slick looking keyboard. More details on the device to come.

Motorola was back in the news this week with, you guessed it, more funky form factors. There are two devices to check out from Moto; the Moto Flipout (which is headed to AT&T), and the slightly more appealing Moto charm, or Basil. The Basil is rumored to head to T-Mobile in the next month along with an update to 2.1 for the Cliq and Cliq XT.

If the Charm and Flipout aren’t your thing, and the DROID X is, check out Breon’s initial impressions on the device. More coverage to come there as well.

Two Huawei devices have made their way into the news, one released and one coming soon. The S7, a 7″ tablet, has arrived at eXpansys for $450, and an unnamed Huawei which features a considerably smaller screen (2.8″) is coming to China soon. The unnamed Huawei has received some good press due to the fact that it is rumored to ship with Android 2.2. The device is being reported to head out in August.

One more obscure upcoming device to mention, the Cisco Cius. The Cius is a business centric tablet which features a Intel Atom processor and 4G connectivity. Be on the lookout for more info on the Cius coming shortly.

The Dell Dell Streak is no longer an upcoming device, but continues to make it into the news every week. The Dell Streak is available for unlocked purchase now at the hefty price tag of $680. Do let us know if you grab one.

In hardware manufacturer related news, there is two stories worth a read; HTC is switching to Sony Super LCD (just might be used in that crazy new Sabor) due to some AMOLED screen shortages, and Qualcomm has officially started shipping dual-core processors for testing. Exciting stuff.

Apps:

Quite a few apps were released this week that definitely deserve a mention. Among them are the Kindle app for Android, IMDb official app, Pure Calendar with scrollable widgets, and a plethora of Yahoo! services (mail, messenger, search).

Google has announced a new way to pay for apps in the Android market. The Google Chrome Android Payment Extension will allow you to purchase content on the web, and then generate you a QR code to download said content. Yet another way Google is working to make your Google connected experience, even easier.

If you’re looking for a good read on apps and features coming soon, take a look at this piece on Google’s music store. Of course, if music isn’t your thing, you can always read about Angry Birds. Just saying.

Last but not least in app related news is a great review from Marques on QuickDesk Beta. This app have been VERY well received and is most certainly worth a download.

Updates:

Will there ever be a week where there isn’t a ton of update news to cover? Gingerbread hopes to break that, but for now, we have some Froyo to talk.

As far as Nexus One Froyo updates have gone lately, if you want to stay truly up to date be sure to keep checking back with us. There has been so many lately, the builds update fast enough for news on a leak to be obsolete in 2 days max.

Moto DROID on the other hand, has only one update to Froyo beside FRF84B that just released. If you have a DROID, you might wann get to flashin’.

In other Froyo news, HTC has confirmed that the Legend, Desire, and Wildfire will all see 2.2. Look for the update in Q3.

And finally in update news, 2.1. The unlocked version of the HTC Hero is now seeing 2.1, The HTC Incredible will see an update that’s still 2.1 but will support 720p video (hopefully $25 dollars is enough to hold you off if you haven’t got a hold of one yet…), and after some long unnecessary bricking drama… the HTC EVO 4G got an update with featuring WiFi and battery life fixes.

HTC EVO vs iPhone 4:

I know I mentioned it earlier, but now it’s time to really dig in. Of course, both of these devices are amazing in their own right. When it comes down to it… who really outshines who? While there is no definite answer, these links should help you decide for yourself.

-Unboxing
-Photo and video samples
-Photo and video samples part II
-Displays in direct sunlight
-Data speeds

So guys, what do you think so far? Be sure to let us know.

———–

Alright everyone, that’s a wrap! Be sure to enjoy the rest of your weekend, but before you go, might I recommend just three more good reads? OK, here I go. n900 hacked to use Android, myTouch Slide final Q & R, and a very insightful post by Nick Asmar about iPhone’s effect on Android. Enjoy!

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It’s official people, summer is here. There are leaks and updates EVERYWHERE. For all of us in the Android Community, it’s no surprise that Android is leading the pack. Want some major proof? Please keep in mind that this is a rumor, but if it’s true, it’s definitely major proof. Verizon Wireless, the nation’s number one wireless carrier, is holding a meeting Sunday. During that meeting, they plan on announcing that they are dropping the ‘Wireless’ from their name, and they will be letting employees know that they have no interest in obtaining the iPhone. They want to push Android, hard. How does it feel to be involved with the next big thing people? Pretty awesome, I know. So what else has our green little monster been up to this past week? Let’s get right into this:

Upcoming devices

If there was one Android device that stole most of the upcoming Android device news this past week, it was the Motorola DROID X. Ready for the onslaught? Deep breath. Verizon held a press conference for the (BLURless) DROID X and that was only the beginning.  Since then, it has been torn apart for the world to see, benchmarked, shown off gaming style, and put up for preorder. Let’s face it guys, this phone is going to be big. Motorola is also still kicking around the DROID 2, but it’s not getting nearly as much press.

Samsung stuck to the one device press tactic this week with the Galaxy S, and for good reason; the Galaxy S is being thrown at every carrier who will accept it. Sprint has the GS Pro, AT&T has the Captivate, and now T-Mobile has the Vibrant. It took quite the head-game for the Vibrant to go official, but at least it’s there. PhoneDog will have plenty coverage coming on the Vibrant, so be on the lookout for that. In the meantime, check out the official support page type thing.

Still hungry for more? Check out these last three links worth a read: Alcatel rockin’ some pre-paid Androids, Aria free on contract, and T-Mobile’s rumored new monster phone.

Apps, updates, and hacks

This week was huge for hacking news, but first, let’s cover some app and update news.

Google has been busy this week updating and opening up a few apps, as well as flexing some control over apps that may contain malware and what have you… but that’s not all. They have also released the source code for Froyo 2.2, which I will touch on in a minute.

Other app news includes a quick over view of Mash-App.com (a new service to help discover the Android market) from John and some thoughts on an experimental app that would change the way you interact with your phone while driving from Nicole. Interesting… very interesting.

Speaking on interesting… this weeks update news was just that. Especially official Froyo builds. Not only did FRF72 get a leak, but supposedly FRF83 (the official release of Froyo) is going OTA now. We’re still trying to gather more on that one, but in the meantime, there’s still more…

Sticking with 2.2, the DROID is slated to receive Froyo in July (and the DROID X in August), The Samsung Moment (and HTC Hero) will not see 2.2, and the Behold II is finally being updated to 1.6. *Sad horn*

Time for something fun… hacking, rooting, and modding. The Android community has been super busy making our awesome new devices even awesomer. Here’s a rundown of what’s been going on: Remember that 30fps cap on the EVO? Well that’s been fixed, along with wireless N being added to the device. What about rooting devices? John rooted the myTouch Slide on a Mac for all to see, the Galaxy S was rooted, the SE X10 was rooted, and well… so was just about every HTC device you could want.

What was the best hacking news to come out of this past week? It’s a fair toss up between two things. The HTC HD2 has almost been conquered. It’s about time. It won’t be long now, and you should have Android up and running on what is quite possibly one of the most sexy devices HTC has ever built. What could be greater than, or just as great as this? CyanogenMod 6. Cyanogen and his team has their hands on the source code for 2.2 and they are working feverishly on getting the ROM out to EVERYONE. That means Dream, Magic, DROID, Nexus, Desire, EVO, and the myTouch Slide. !!!

Reviews

We don’t have a ton of review news for you this week, but what we do have is pretty cool. Marques has put up an amazing review (see above) on Smart Keyboard Pro which looks well worth the $1.99. Look for more reviews from MKB coming soon.

———-

Well guys and gals, that’s all for this week. Be sure to come back here for more news on everything Android as soon as it hits the pipes. While you wait, I would highly recommend reading these two posts and pondering the possible: Intel and Android x86; Dell and Google sittin’ in a tree. Sound good? Good. See ya soon! Enjoy!

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When you’re a phone nerd, like I assume most of our readers are, you know there is always one sure fire sign that summer is getting nearer. The length between device leaks becomes shorter and shorter. So much has gone down this past week, it’s hard to take it all in. Just about every manufacturer making handsets in the US has a hat in the ring. Motorola, Samsung, HTC, Apple, RIM… the competition is getting fierce, and as consumers, we reap all the rewards. Just what exactly are those rewards I’m talking about? Let’s get right into this:

Still no cure for EVO fever

(don’t worry, I’ll keep this short) The EVO 4G was still making major news this past week, but it wasn’t all good. Problems have been plaguing EVO owners to the tune of non-responsive screens that seem to be magically levitating. Fear not though, HTC does have a fix in the works. The good EVO news this week more than makes up for the bad news. You can now pre-order the HTC EVO in white from Best Buy, and… you know… hack it to work with a Touchstone charger. Awesome.

Upcoming devices

Where to start, where to start. Should I organize the upcoming device news by manufacturer again? I think I will, starting with Motorola. Motorola’s two new handsets (the DROID X and 2) have been EVERYWHERE lately. Even NASA… That’s right. While the DROID 2 may have not made many appearances this past week, where it did show up realllly counts. Where the DROID X showed up was even better though… an official coming soon site! According to Droid Life, you’ve got exactly one month to mill over whether or not the X is the device for you. Honestly, shouldn’t be too hard.

Samsung was ultra busy this week putting Android on phones and tablets. The new 7″ tablet Samsung has been working has been named the Tab. Could be better, but meh. Another Samsung device that is very un-meh, the Galaxy S, has *ahem* “gone hard” making the rounds this week. In one week, the Galaxy S has passed through the FCC, been torn down/rebuilt, showed off in some much needed sample videos, and took on an alias (the Samsung Captivate) to head out on AT&T. Just in case the Galaxy S wasn’t enough.. how about the GS Pro? The Galaxy S Pro for Sprint was spotted with the exact same specs as it’s non-Pro brother, but with 4G and a keyboard. But wait, there’s more! Just when you thought you couldn’t get any more Galaxy, Samsung teases us with the Galaxy Beam, and Galaxy Q. Oi. Hopefully some of this gets sorted out on the 29th.

When HTC wasn’t enjoying putting the Legend on Bell or announcing how they will be putting the Desire on US Cellular, they were busy announcing how the HTC Aria would be coming to AT&T. The Aria looks great, and according to benchmark tests, preforms great too. Too bad though… It’s just so terrible how AT&T treats their Androids.

Last but not least in upcoming device new this week, we have three more devices worth checking out. Sony Ericsson and the X8, a 14MP camera with phone capabilities from Altek (whoa), and a BlackBerry-esque Android from Acer.

Apps

Usually, I like to lump app news, and update news into the same category. This week held so much update news, it really needed to be broken up into two. Anyway… App news this week was pretty interesting. More and more carriers want a say in how their Android devices preform. Generally, that has been limited to a recommend app area, or some account management tools. Well not only is Vodafone now getting into app development, T-Mobile US has actually done it. They have released a phone resource manager titled Device Tune-up that is now live in beta form. Exciting, no? Of course, there was other more traditional app news too. Swype has entered another open beta for a limited time, Kobo has released an e-reader app, SoundHound is available now to tell you which Mr. Bungle song you are listening too, and Vlingo voice control is free for a limited time to myTouch Slide users. Nice. One last thing, if you are looking for a good read about Android apps, check out The Guide For Discriminating Downloaders. I know I will.

Updates

So I heard you wanted some update news… well we got some update news. How about updates to 2.1 (which about half of all Android devices are using)? Motorola updated a list of devices that will, might, or won’t see 2.1 this year. Thanks to the Android community, at least one device won’t have to wait. 2.1 has been ported to the Moto Cliq with no BLUR in sight. That’s what ya get for rooting. Speaking of rooting… the myTouch Slide was finally rooted and received it’s first ROM. More should be coming anytime now. In more legit 2.1 news, Sony Ericsson has moved the 2.1 update for the X10 line from Q4 to late Q3. Isn’t that nice. Of course, it would be nice to hear about 2.2 (like the firmware from those Nexus One’s being shipped in Korea that can be downloaded now at Android community), but 2.1 is better than nothing. If you’re hankering for more 2.2 news like how the DROID Incredible is gearing up for Froyo with WiFi n support, PC World has a list of 2.2 recipients that seems to be pretty accurate. Looking even further into the future, I’d also check out a wonderful read on the UI changes coming to Gingerbread. Very exciting stuff.

Videos and reviews

John got his hands on the same T-Mobile Garminfone Noah from over at PhoneDog reviewed for Fox Business this past week, and you know what the means. Tons of Graminfone coverage! You can check out the unboxing vid above, or check out some photo and video samples along with a navigation demo video. Don’t forget, if you have any questions you can do so on John’s twitter (using the #Garminfone hashtag) or through a text to 502-MOB-BARK (TEXT ONLY. Don’t forget to mention Garminfone). What else has John been up to? He also has a myTouch 3G Slide that he used to make part 1 or your questions and requests video, with part 2 coming soon. Stay tuned for that.

Carlos put up some excellent review videos this week on Sedio’s Innocell extended battery, and Rom Manager for rooted users. They don’t call him Hacks and Mods Editor for nothing!

Our final review this week comes from Nicole who did a piece on the Otterbox Commuter case. After reading I must say, I’m convinced to at least give it a try.

—–

Alright guys, that’s it for this week. My last reading suggestions for the end of the week definitely aren’t about an Android running iPad knock-off, but is about Google TV. To see what Google TV is all about, check out this out, and while you’re at it… check out what Logitech has in store for us. Cool? Oh geeze, one more thing, don’t forget to vote in our “Which phone are you dying to have?” poll. Last time I checked, the Galaxy S (which I intend to own) was winning. You OK with that?

@dustinearley

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Oh me, oh my, what a week gone by. Have you noticed things may have seemed a little quiet around DroidDog this past week? That would be due to a large move where, when all is said and done, everything associated with the site will be faster and error free. Yay! This may come as a shock to you, but just because we here at DroidDog aren’t pumping out articles, doesn’t mean the Android world has stopped spinning. We still have tons of the usual to go over in this week’s Wrap, so let’s get right into it:

EVO fever

Ooww!! There is a bad case of EVO fever hitting the country. While I myself haven’t come down with even the slightest tickle (mostly because at the rate Android phones are coming out… the next big thing will be a season away), the HTC EVO 4G is everywhere. I think this line from Sprint gives you a good idea of what’s going on, “The total number of HTC EVO 4G devices sold on launch day was in line with the number of Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre devices sold over their first three days on the market combined.” That’s a lot of EVO. What else has Sprint’s flagship been up this week? We saw just about everything EVO with a SICK SAD scratch test (who the hell made these things popular anyway?), an AWESOME magnetic macro lens, and the EVO’s very own first ROM. It sounded like #teamandroid’s newest front man could do no bad until it was revealed that it’s running at a max of 30fps… that may not sound bad, but my myTouch 3G is running at 57. It’s being said the problem isn’t just the EVO though, it’s all new HTC devies. Look for more on this ASAP.

Upcoming devices

With all the EVO excitement going around, you’d think that’s all anyone cared about. That is quite untrue. Motorla made the news this past week with a couple of very interesting leaks. You may have been teased one too many times with spy shots of the DROID 2 lately, but at least the DROID X got some serious HD camera time. Another Motorola getting some attention was the Milestone XT720. Not only did the XT720 get a spec boost to a 700+mhz processor and 512MB RAM, it is also available for pre-order over at eXpansys for about $650 with T-Mobile 3G and all.

HTC has been the subject of  some very confusing leaks this past week. We think the Inturder… err I mean Aria Liberty should be coming to AT&T soon. Hopefully we can clear up what this little guys name is, because I can’t take much more of this. One upcoming HTC device we know a lot about, the Legend, is coming to Virgin Mobile soon for a very modest price. The Legend is yet another device rumored to still come to AT&T.

The Samsung Galaxy S (with it’s superior S-AMOLED screen) has made it’s round for the week. The Galaxy S now has it’s own website, along with a June 15th delivery date on Vodafone UK, and July 21st projected date for T-mobile US. The Galaxy S isn’t the only Galaxy coming soon, say hello to the Apollo. The Apollo is a smaller feature rich Samsung Android that you can expect to see more info on soon. If you really can’t wait for more info on the Apollo (I have no idea why that would be… … seriously…), then check out the Samsung Acclaim… because that one looks super.. cool.. too.

Of course, our manufacturer roundup of upcoming Android devices wouldn’t be complete without LG and SE. LG is said to be working on 20 (!!??!!) Android devices in the next 6 months, and Sony Ericsson is working on at least 2.

Updates, apps, and rooting hacks

App and update news was sloooow this week. The best we saw from both categories was a TV guide app, multi-touch in the newest Fennec build, new 4sqr functionality, and news of an update possibly coming soon for the Samsung Behold II to 1.6. Wasn’t this thing supposed to get 2.1?

Even though app and update news was slow, the hacking and rooting community way more than made up for it. Not only did the HTC Incredible get root access, but the Legend and Dell Streak did too! Could the Android community get any cooler? They could if they hacked the Nexus One to record in 720p HD. Oh wait… they did. Win.

Reviews and… Dogfights!

Noah from over at PhoneDog has been super busy this past week, and guess who gets to reap all the rewards? If you would kindly look up, you can watch a tantalizing part 1 to the Incredible VS EVO Dogfight that is shaping up to be intense. I love Dogfights and I can’t WAIT for the iPhone 4 vs Incredible vs EVO vs Galaxy S fight. Check out the preview and look for that coming this summer. While you wait though, check out Noah’s other Android vids with his myTouch Slide software review part one and part two.

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Well guys, that’s about all for this week. Before I go, don’t forget to check out the new freshly released Garminfone commercial, which just may be a part of T-Mobile’s big plans for June 19th. Ugh, please let there be a retail Nexus, please let there be a retail Nexus.

- @DustinEarley

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What a month, what a month. May has come and gone and we are officially into the six month of the year… almost the second half (you know, the half with the craziest deals on phones and all those holiday releases). Before I get too ahead of myself, we already have all of this summer to look forward to; it hasn’t even really started yet! We knew summer 2010 would be the time for some amazing releases, and in just this past week alone we saw two that are no laughing matter. Of course, we got a ton of other stuff to cover too, so let’s get right into this:

They used to be upcoming…

…and now they are finally here. Yeah, I’m talking about the myTouch Slide and the HTC EVO. Let’s save the best for last shall we?

The myTouch Slide slid into stores on the second, and the reviews are still looking good. You can go to your local T-Mo store and order now for $179 after mail in rebate. If you need some extra help deciding if this is the device for you, check out John’s unboxing and T-Mo’s very own how to guides.

The HTC EVO 4G finally dropped on the Sprint network this week. For those of you who can grab the EVO (or for those who plan on trying again tomorrow), you can do so for $199.99 with a new 2 year contract. Just looking to upgrade? You can do that for $299.99. If you’re looking to go all out and just buy the darn thing, well, $549.99 please. Of course, if you can wait, you can always grab it from WireFly for $140. The choice is yours. If you do decide to order one and wait, sit down and cozy up with Beron’s full written review to hold you over.

Upcoming devices

OK, there was seriously A LOT of info and leaks this week on upcoming devices so pay attention. I’ll try to make this painless.

Two of the bigger more exciting upcoming devices to receive some more press this week were the Verizon Shadow and Extreme. The Droid Extreme is looking good in the not one, but two photo shoots it was involved in this week. While the Shadow wasn’t in any pictures, it was the subject of some interesting benchmark tests. Both of these Verizon beasts look intense, but the Scorpion is what has me excited. 1.5ghz processor? No need to continue…

Another big (I mean that literally) upcoming device that was out and about was a device I have been seriously considering myself, the Dell Streak. Tangent time: I ran into a forum post this week talking about how one member made a cardboard cutout of the Streak to see if it would be possible to carry around… sounds funny but it’s a great idea. Try it yourself kids! Also, I know 5 inches in big… but SE has a 5.5 inch prototype floating around with a physical keyboard. Beat that Dell! Tangent over. For now, the Streak is said to be launched subsidized on AT&T  at an unknown price(I’m still holding out for that T-Mobile version that passed through the FCC)  and unlocked on Dell.com for $500. For now, you can check out an unboxing vid of the freshly launched UK Streak and a quick hands on of the amazing looking HDMI dock.

The prepaid market will see some Android love soon. Boost Mobile is launching the i1 on the 20th, and Metro PCS is getting a very Cliqesque Moto slider that looks and sounds pretty nice for the price.

Another Motorola device went official this past week, and it’s one you may remember too. Take a look at the terrible mess interesting device that is the Motorola Flipout. The Flipout has only been announced for the UK so far, but if you ask me, it looks to be right up AT&T’s alley. Of course, if I was on AT&T, I would just wait for the HTC Aria.

Here’s a ton of other upcoming devies you may also want to check out: Acer beTouch 120; Acer Ferrari phone; Acer eBook reader; Viliv X10; Toshiba TC100-114; Huawei S7; Big ol’ Samsung Tablet

Apps and updates

This week in apps news, famous media-syncing program Double Twist got a very good looking media player into the Android Market. Hop on over to DoubleTwist.com to download their desktop client and to read more about the servies they have to offer.

Another famous service that went private beta this week was Audible. Beron got an invite to the private beta and so far so good. Look for more info and a release date shortly.

Last but not least in app news, I took a second to go over one of my favorite apps in the Android Market, a police scanner by the name of Scanner Radio. Check out the post for quick instructions on how to get the scanner up and running for you.

We saw more of the usual update news this week with the HTC Hero GSM flavor finally receiving an update to 2.1, and Moto Cliq being pegged to receive 2.1 beginning next month.

Speaking of Motorola… Just in case you were waiting for those Froyo notifications to come through and tell you when 2.2 would be available for your Moto DROID, wait no longer. It’s by no means official, or perfect, but a Froyo 2.2 ROM has surfaced for the Motorola DROOOOIIIIDDD that’s ready to be downloaded now.

Fun stuff

Oh yeah, it’s back this week. And with a vengeance I might add. Among the EVO getting it’s first commercial, and Zong coming to the rescue for your in-game credit purchasing needs, we saw some awesome news about Google’s web-centric Chrome OS coming soon and some ever awesomer news about a PSX (Playstation) EMU (emulator) coming to Android. Oh man I wanna play FFVII on a Nexus. If you’re looking for a little more desktop or phone customization, we’ve got you you covered. Alberto made an awesome Google homepage skin with Andy the pirate pillaging your computer and Jon Quatch from tehkseven made 6 different wallpapers for DroidDog fans to enjoy on their devices. Thanks Jon!

Giveaway alert

Remember earlier when I said I was saving the best for last? I wasn’t just talking about the newly released phones! Our Very Own Carlos Graves is at it again this week with.. oh wait… I know what you’re thinking… Didn’t we just end a give away last week? Didn’t Keith H. from Sabattus, ME just win an extended battery for his Nexus One? Yes, but, guess what? It’s summer and we can do what we want! This weeks giveaway is for a shiny Nexus One desktop dock. Watch the video above, and check out the post here for all the info you need to win. Good luck guys!

Well that’s it for this week. Don’t forget to come back here for everything Android and more, alright? Check ya later skater, enjoy!

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Happy Memorial day weekend DroidDog fans and fanettes. I hope everyone has big plans this three day weekend to do something like BBQ outside, play a game of golf (or disc golf), head out to the beach, or just enjoy the summer air. Boy it sure feels good to get out of the house again. Before you go though, how about you sit back and take in your weekly dose of Android news you’ve come to know and love as the Saturday Wrap? This past week we saw everything from HTC’s “Facebook andCougar Town” tablet demographic to Lenovo dumping off Skylight OS and switching over to Android. We got lots more to talk about today, so let’s get right into this:

Upcoming devices

In confirmed upcoming device news, the Motorola i1 got to spend some time in the lime light this past week. Not only is the PTT mid-range Android headed for Boost Mobile, but PhoneDog also has screenshots to prove the device will also hit Sprint shelves on or around the 20th of June. Of course most of you Sprint users are looking forward to the freshly rooted HTC EVO with your new fancy HDMI dock and your free (or premium) video calling, but I figured I’d mention the i1 none-the-less. Speaking of the EVO, if you are looking for more info on the device, check out Breon’s quick preview, which will soon turn into a full review.

In other confirmed upcoming  device news, Orange Spain has an interesting new entry level handset available known as the Orange Boston. Head on over to EuroDroid where you can try to decipher pricing, specs, and all that jazz… depending on how good your Spanish is.

As per the usual, rumors and whispers were not hard to come by this past week. I have to admit, we do have some pretty juicy ones. Not only did the Samsung i897 Vegas get a full on app dump from the guys over at XDA, it also made a more physical appearance sporting a very AT&T look. Another AT&T device, the HTC Aria, has made it’s rumor debut. The Aria is rumored to come to AT&T with Android 2.1 and Sense UI, so be sure to be on the lookout for that one.

T-Mobile US also got in on the rumor game this week with whispers of a “major” mystery Samsung device launch in July, and something “BIG” also going down on the 19th of June. The 19th is being rumored to be one of five things: Samsung Galaxy S release (which would make the “major” July release seem pretty bogus), myTouch Slide promotion/full on release (which doesn’t quite make sense considering the Slide launches the 2nd, a promotion doesn’t warrant opening the doors to all corporate offices at 8AM, and Wally World will already be selling it for $130), myTouch Slide software update (open the doors at 8AM for an OTA software update?), Nexus One hitting retail shelves, or something else entirely like the Sidekick Twist. At this point, only time will tell.

Of course Verizon got down with some rumors too. Motorola tried to recapture the success of the RAZR for quite some time. Since they have (in my eyes) officially done it with Android and the Moto DROID, you know they aren’t going to stop yet. New device pictures of what could possibly be the Motorola Shadow have shown up not once, but twice, and wow is it looking nice. What could also be Motorla’s DROID 2 made a quick cameo this week (I guess I should the keyboard make a quick cameo). The rumored Droid 2 is said to be in Verizon’s system now, along with the MB810 Shadow, so expect to see more shortly.

Last, but not least, I want to mention three more things; Acer has announced they will be making a tablet to release in Q4, the Acer Stream super-phone has gone official (glamor shots, video samples, and all), and a WiFi only version of the Nook has passed through the FCC. Let’s hope for low price points all around shall we?

App reviews/previews

Apparently this was a good week for app reviews because we have quite a few to share with you guys from the DroidDog team, but first I want to mention our newest addition to that team, Marques Brownlee. Marques will be doing a weekly review here at DroidDog, starting with the Seesmic review above. Be sure to check it out and stay tuned for more.

John got a chance to review ADW Launcher. While I could go on and on about the functionality and customization of ADW Launcher, John says it best when he says “It’s free, it’s functional, and it allows you to do some things that the Froyo launcher won’t.”

Carlos put up a review of Twitoc, a voice enabled widget-only based Twitter client, that is definitely worth a download.

Nicole Cozma made a stop by this week to do a review on PhoneTell. PhoneTell is essentially a mini built in receptionist that can handle just about anything you can throw at it. Check out Nicole’s review for a quick run down of everything PhoneTell can do.

There are a couple of interesting upcoming apps to mention that are most certainly NOT Tetris clones. Going over them quickly, we’ve got Vlingo, a slightly more deeply integrated voice assistance client, a SlingPlayer demo to check out, and a little more news on TweetDeck for Android. Sure Vlingo and SlingPlayer are amazing applications, but I am stoked for TweetDeck to make it’s debut.

Other reviews

You know, I couldn’t quite decide where to put these next posts, so I decided to throw them in a hodgepodge category of other reviews.

John did one of his famous “your questions and requests” videos, this time with the Droid Incredible. There is two videos up right now that cover topics like FriendStream widgets, mail widget, Myspace widgets, turning Sense off, multi-touch keyboard, battery and preservation, processor clock speed rumor, Flash, and a discarded unboxing segment. Don’t forget to keep checking back for a full written review.

Now that Froyo (Android 2.2) has been floating around for a minute, the DroidDog team is starting to weigh in. Nicole put up a post on her third day with Froyo pointing out some helpful changes, along with John and Andrew Steffy putting up not one… not two… but seven videos showing off what Froyo is all about. That;s right around 33 minutes of Froyo goodness guys, better get to watchin’.

The final post in my “other reviews” category is a full fledged unboxing from the ever-entertaining master unboxing expert Noah Kravitz. Man… you think I make bad jokes… Just watch.

—–

Well that’s all I got for you guys this week. I’m sure by now you know the drill right? Stop back by with us here at DroidDog.com for all the Android news you can handle and more. Keep on fighting for those updates, try not to lose your lunch if you stumble upon any screen durability testing videos, and have a great weekend. Enjoy!

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I’m just going to say it right off the bat, this past week in Android news was the biggest week for news this year. Google I/O may have only been two days long, but those two days were chock-full of enough information to fill an entire Saturday Wrap. Of course, I won’t do that to you. There was just as much of the usual leaks, updates, and reviews going on as well as one special giveaway that I think you need to know about. Whatta ya say we get right into this?

Google I/O

Where to begin, where to begin. I guess I should start off with saying that if you want some great comprehensive summaries of day 1 and day 2, including videos of the keynote speeches, then Breon has you covered. If you haven’t had time to check those out, I would highly recommend you do so. I/O wasn’t just about announcements and speeches, the Kindle app for Android was on display along with the Galaxy S, HTC Evo 4G (which every attendee took home… seriously), and uhh well just about every other Android phone ever made. Of course none of them were running 2.2, but I’m sure… oh wait… 2.2. The biggest thing to come out of Google I/O was hands down the official announcement of the next version of Android, FroYo 2.2. At this point, you should know everything about 2.2, but I guess it can’t hurt to reiterate: 450% speed increase, Apps2SD, JIT, new static icons, tethering, and whole lot of awesome. You know what else contains a whole lot of awesome? Google TV. You may not think Google TV is super android related, but “Google TV blends live TV, your DVR content, web content and Android apps into one, cohesive user experience.” I cannot wait for Google TV to pan out. For the official site, check out Google.com/TV. I could keep going, but I’m going to move on and leave you with the suggestion to read those daily summaries. Cool? Cool.

Upcoming devices

Google I/O didn’t steal all the limelight this week, the was some nice upcoming phone news that deserves attention too, like the HTC Wildfire. I think it’s a lame name, but the cute customizable 2.1 rockin’ little guy doesn’t sound half bad. I’d probably be more excited about the Wildfire if we hadn’t caught wind of a superphone that could very well come out for T-Mobile US. The HTC Vision is basically an HTC Desire with a physical QWERTY keyboard… but seriously… do you need more? Word is this may be the new Sidekick rumored for Project Emerald. If this is true, oh boy, you got one happy android blogger on your hands. In other ultra-rumor news, what could possibly be the Motorola Shadow was spotted in a “getting started” book on Howard Forums. The device looks really nice judging from that one picture. The Shadow is rumored to have a 4.3″ screen, 1ghz processor, and now it looks like it has… Moto…. BLUR. Sorry, but BLUR is just not for me. This past week the LG Ally made a few more rounds including pre-order and a possible delay. There’s no given reason for the delay quite yet, but you’ll be the first to know. The myTouch Slide made another appearance this week when it was unboxed from it’s shiny metal case and reviewed by WireFly. So far the Slide has been pretty well received. Look for it to launch in t-minus 11 days on June 2nd. One upcoming phone we still don’t have a date on is the Dell Streak. We’re still hearing late summer, and considering that someone was out and about checking the Streak’s e-911 performance on AT&T’s network, that time frame looks to be holding up. Last but not least in the upcoming phone news, an identical to the Sprint version of the CDMA Hero was spotted recently running on the Cox network. The device was said to have been purchased for $230 dollars on Craigsist… seriously. We only got one bit of news for non-phone upcoming devices, but it’s a doozy. Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam came out and said that Verizon would be releasing tablets running Android manufactured  by Motorola, Samsung, and LG (possibly powered by nVIDIA Tegras?) near Q4 of this year. The best part of the tablets can be summed up in three letters, L – T – E.

Updates and apps

This past week brought about some great news for HTC device updates, especially the Nexus One. Yeah, that’s right. Some lucky users can officially grab FroYo 2.2 OTA for their Nexus Ones. I guess it really pays to shop with Google. More great news for HTC users, HTC phones that have launched or will launch in 2010 will most likely see 2.2. I know we all wish they could be more specific, but hey, we’ll take what we can get.  The G1 is going to have a first release ROM for 2.2 very soon which is wonderful considering that the first Android device to grace our Earth has seen it’s last official update. Don’t worry early adopters, the Android community has your back. If you’re a Sprint Hero owner and still waiting for an official version of 2.1 (which I know quite a few of you are), then wait no longer. Breon has already posted a video of the Hero’s 2.1 leak installation, and he says that the leak he installed was very much the real deal. Trust me, this guys knows his stuff. Another device that will see 2.1 soon enough will be the original myTouch. Android Spin has good word that the MT will see an update to the new myTouch Slide UI as early as June 10th. That’s really soon so let’s hope that remains true. OK? App news was kinda slow this week. Among Google buying more VOIP companies (hopefully to help Voice progress),  we did see AT&T get it’s own personal “myWireless Mobile App“… and well I’m sure there’s gotta be someone out there on AT&T using it… Ahem, moving on. Square, a cell phone accessory that plugs into your headphone jack to read credit cards, will finally get useful for Android users.  Check out this post for more info on how Square works and how to get one of your own. That’s about all for app news, but before I move on… There was one post regarding apps here on DroidDog this last week that you may want to check out. All the writers here at DroidDog made a list of their 5 favorite apps and Breon put them together with QR images so you can quickly download them and try ‘em for yourself. There may be a repeat or two but it’s only because we all have such good taste.

Reviews

I said we had a little bit of everything to talk about this Wrap, so you knew that meant you’d see a few reviews. I couldn’t decide whether to put this post up with the apps or down here, but my choice should be obvious at this point. Carlos did a video review of Launcher Pro Beta that is definitely worth a watch, and just let me say, I think it looks pretty darn neat. This app is gaining steam in the Android community with a lot of good reviews. All I ask of you is to not make the same mistake I did and freak out when you can’t find it in the market when your using a non-2.1 device… It’s slightly embarrassing. You may remember me mentioning earlier that I/O attendees received one very special gift for attending, a Sense packing (which you can now turn off?) HTC Evo 4G. Noah from PhoneDog was at I/O, and yes, he has not only a quick unboxing for you to check out, but he also has some sample video from the front facing Camera. There is no denying that the Evo is one amazing piece of hardware. June 4th couldn’t possibly come any sooner. For those of you still in shock after reading about the Ally being delayed, Breon has a full video review up that should help soothe the pain. I’m not the biggest fan of this phone, but for $99 on contract, you really can’t go wrong. I saved Carlos’s review of the Nexus One extended battery from WirelessGround.com for last, because guess what? He’s giving it away! That’s right, all 3200 mAH can be had by anyone in the world just by following a few simple rules. Watch the video above and read the post and you’ll know just how to be easily entered to win. C’mon now… you know you want it…

Fun stuff

You guys already know this is my favorite part of the Wrap so I don’t even need to say it anymore. Erm, wait, I just said it didn’t I? OK, next week I won’t have to say it. Promise. This week’s fun stuff is mostly about ads, which you probably know by now I don’t have a problem with. Verizon wireless put out not just one, but two ads for the Incredible this week. I don’t use Big Red for my phone needs, but I love what they are doimg for Android’s popularity. Keep it up guys. My favorite ad this week has to do with augmented reality and the Prince of Persia movie. Let’s see, I like AR. I like movies. And I love video games. How could it get any cooler? Speaking of video games, I wanted to mention Gameloft’s announcement of 10 new 3D Android games. What would I suggest checking out? Assassin’s Creed and H.A.W.X. fah sho. Last but not least is Chevrolet’s promo video showing off their new car, the Volt, and how OnStar works with Google Maps (and other services) via your Android device. Great, now do I not only need several new Android phones…. but I need a new car too.

Well that’s all we got this week. Next week will be over before you know it, and that means another Wrap will be here before you know it too. Be sure to stay tuned to DroidDog for all the news we can get our hands on and more. The very last thing I’ll say this week is about a technology “un-conference” in Minnesota known as MinneBar. Breon will be there trying to cover what he can, so check out his post on it for more info on how to keep track. Alright guys, I’ll see you all next week. Until then, enjoy!

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