Filed under: Cellphones, Features

Thanks to the helpful Android OS emulator included with the SDK, we’ve been able to take a magical journey through Google’s new mobile phone platform. We’ll just tell you now… the ride was a bit familiar — but hey, that’s what the open source community is there for. Take a look at the gallery and feel the OHA vibes.

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Filed under: Cellphones

Just like the good folks promised, the early look software development kit for Google’s soon-to-be huge phone OS has hit the streets… er, internet. From what we can tell, the OS is as comfortable on larger, VGA devices as it is on more traditional smartphone layouts. Oh yeah… and it plays Quake. Here’s what we know the software will support out of the box:

• Touchscreen
• 3G
• Webkit-based browser
• Optimized Java runtime layer (known as Dalvik Virtual Machine)
• Threaded text messaging
• MPEG-4, h.264, MP3, and AAC file formats
• Accelerated 3D graphics

Below you can see an alternate fullscreen version of the phone (a hardware reference model, not a device you can expect to buy anytime soon) up and running its browser app. If you really want to get serious, pedal your steam-engine over to the Open Handset Alliance site where you can download the SDK for a variety of platforms. You might want to get cracking on that code, too, as Google has created the Android Developer Challege, a contest meant to spur production on the devices, with a sweet $10 million pot that will be divided amongst winners. If you’re not ready to jump into that game just yet, check out the gallery and view some videos after the break — you’ll see and hear more info about Android than you can shake a stick at.

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Continue reading Google’s Android OS early look SDK now available

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Filed under: Cellphones

There’s not exactly a flood of information here, but HTC CEO Peter Chou reportedly let loose a few details about the company’s plans during a recent analyst meeting, including the tantalyzing tidbit that it plans to release 2 or 3 Android-based handsets in 2008. While the so-called “Dream” handset (pictured above) would seem to be a sure bet for one of those, Chou apparently didn’t drop any hints as to what we might be able to expect from the other handsets. In other HTC news, according to DigiTimes, Chou also said the company plans to release a non-Qualcomm-based 3G handset in the “near future,” along with a new user interface that’ll be “better than its current TouchFlo technology,” with a couple of WiMAX / TD-WCDMA devices thrown in for good measure as well.

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Filed under: Cellphones

Hot on the heels of the official announcement of HTC’s Touch Cruise — the company’s new, touch-sensitive, GPS equipped wonder-device — come these “in the wild” pictures and video from CoolSmartPhone. As you can see, the Touch Cruise is sporting the now-familiar HTC TouchFLO interface, though apparently the handset-maker has updated the picture and video album UI. The site also hosts some shots of the GPS navigation in action, and examples of the updated onscreen keyboard. Check the video after the break, then point your browser towards the read link and see all the shots.

Continue reading HTC’s Touch Cruise caught on video

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Filed under: Cellphones

HTC just went live with their Touch Cruise. “Touch” as in that TouchFLO interface, “Cruise” as in GPS-enabled. The third addition to HTC’s Touch lineup packs HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, a 3 megapixel camera, microSD expansion, and a 2.8-inch touch-screen lying on top of a Windows Mobile 6 foundation. Oh, and it’s loaded with TomTom Navigator 6 software to make the most of that GPS receiver. Yup, everything mostly what we thought it would be. Available this month from European retailers or SIM-free direct from HTC.

Update: We’re still digging but HTC was a bit unkind by not providing specific country launch information or supported radio bands. At the moment, this looks like Europe-only.

Update 2: Good news, specs are now posted and it’s quad-band GSM like we originally heard with HSDPA/UMTS riding 2100MHz for Europe and 850/1900MHz for the ol’ US. Hoozah!
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[Via Pocket-lint]

Read — Press Release [warning: PDF]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

The Inquirer is reporting that Vodafone UK’s customer service line used for defecting customers is down. In fact, it’s been down the entire weekend since the iPhone’s Friday launch. Instead, Vodafone customers looking to change their status to O2 customers are being greeted with an automated voice response asking them to try again later. Coincidence? Maybe. It’s certainly timely having already witnessed the carrier defection rate following the US launch.

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In this clip, “Sergey Brin and Steve Horowitz discuss the availability of the SDK, that it will be open source in the future, and demo applications on the Android platform.” Video after the jump.

The former shows off text messaging and Google maps (which looks pretty great, btw), and the latter shows off 3G desktop-quality web browsing using webkit. There’s also 3D OpenGL rendering, application feature sharing, and iPhone-esque finger gesturing

[via Gizmodo]

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That’s right, the Mars Analogue Research Station (MARS) program aims to simulate the red planet’s atmosphere on earth. Click here for more pictures.

..allowing people to “test out protocols and procedures that will be required for human operations on Mars, and to test equipment that may be carried and used by human mission to the Red Planet.”

[via Gizmodo]

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Gibson has developed a new guitar that can tune itself, but unfortunately, it won’t make you a better player. Video after the break.

Sure, it won’t fix you breakfast, watch the children, or make a logical decision to wipe out all human life on the planet, but on December 12th, it will tune the hell out of your Ernie Balls

[via Engadget]

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Filed under: Gaming

We know that the Atari 2600 doesn’t really need more accolades, but it’s always nice to see the system get propers from the man upstairs. In this particular case, the man upstairs happens to be the Strong National Museum of Play’s Toy Hall of Fame (that’s a mouthful). To date, the museum has only added 38 toys to its list, so Atari’s old pixel pusher joins the ranks of luminaries such as G.I. Joe, Barbie, the Slinky, Hula Hoops, and the Kite. In addition to being the newest entry, the console also has the distinction of being the most recently invented toy in the Hall of Fame, though we understand that claim was nearly edged out by Silly Putty. Congratulations, 2600, you’ve come a long way.

[Via Next Generation]

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