by Chris Ullrich, Mar 19 2010 // 4:00 PM
Over at the terrific Boy Genius Report, they’ve got
/18/motorola-droid-update-schedule-detailed/”>the reported details on the upcoming update to the Motorola DROID. This update will bring the DROID to Android Software version 2.1.
Sadly, as exciting as that is for DROID owners, the rollout details are somewhat underwhelming, especially if you’re not a an of waiting. Check ‘em out:
• At noon EDT on 3/18, 1,000 users will receive notification of the update
• At 11:59 PM EDT on 3/18, 9,000 more users will receive the update notification
• After the first 10,000 users receive the update on 3/18, there will be a 24-hour period when no additional upgrades will be delivered
• On Day 3 (3/20), 200,000 users will receive the update notification at 11:59 PM EDT
• This schedule will continue each day thereafter until the update has been delivered to all users
• And here are a few conditions needed for the update to be applied:
• An OTA download requires 40% or more power availability
• If the device is not connected to an external power source or 20% or more power if it is connected to an external source
• If roaming, the customer will not receive the update
So it seems those of you getting the update the “legit” way will have some time to wait. Those of you who can’t wait that long and will acquire the update by other means, well, you’re wait won’t be as long. Happy updating.
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Posted in: Google · Hardware · News · Software · Tech
Tagged: Android, DROID, Gadgets, Google, Motorola, Smartphone, Tech, Verizon, Wireless
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by Chris Ullrich, Mar 2 2010 // 10:00 AM
It’s Tuesday so that must mean it’s a day for lawsuits, at least where Apple, Inc. is concerned. Case in point, our favorite fruit flavored technology company is suing hardware maker HTC for infringement of 20 patents concerning the iPhone user interface and its hardware and architecture. The lawsuit was filed with the U.S. International Trade Comission and in the U.S. District Court of Deleware.
Steve Jobs himself had this to say about the lawsuit: “We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it,” said Jobs. “We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.” Yeah, he seems a bit miffed about the whole thing.
Although the Google Nexus One is not mentioned specifically in the lawsuit and HTC does make several other Android handsets, some could argue the touchscreen models interface does look quite a bit like the iPhone’s. Still, “quite a bit” does not necessarily a lawsuit make. Could it just be a bit of posturing to warn others away from trying to steal Apple’s ideas or to slow down the progress Android is making in the marketplace? Maybe.
Apple has the right to defend it’s ideas and the cash to try and punish those it deems responsible for stealing said ideas. However, I was kinda hoping to get my hands on a Nexus One when it is released for Verizon. I hope this lawsuit doesn’t hold that up. Neither HTC nor Google has issued a statement yet concerning the lawsuit.
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Posted in: Announcements · Apple · Business · Google · Legal · News
Tagged: Android, Apple, Google, Hardware, HTC, iPhone, iPhone 3GS, Legal, Multi-Touch, Nexus One, Smart Phones, Software, Tech
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by Chris Ullrich, Feb 9 2010 // 1:00 PM

During a special event today at Google Headquarters in Mountain View, CA, the search giant unveiled its new Google Buzz approach to sharing and several new features designed to enhance its Gmail service and bring it more in line with other mainstream social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Google Buzz, which works inside the Gmail interface, includes the following features:
• Auto-following. We didn’t want users to have to peck out a totally new social graph. There has always been a giant social network under Gmail.
• Rich, fast sharing experience. Same nice Gmail UI and keyboard shortcuts. Special attention to media.
• Public and private sharing. We want things Google can index, but also private messages.
• Inbox integration. The inbox is the center for communication.
• Just the good stuff. Some much social data, we need to filter the noise.
• Go to google.com on your iPhone or Android phone web browser.
• New application for Buzz.
• Update to Google Maps for mobiles. Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian today
According to Google, they will be rolling out the starting today so keep an eye out. One question to consider, though, is if Google’s answer to social networking will actually be successful or not? As someone who uses Twitter and Facebook daily but has less time for something like Friendfeed (which Buzz is similar to) I wonder if users will take to these new features or not.
Also, if you’re interested, there’s a video produced by Google that explains Buzz a bit more after the jump.
Continue Reading →
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Posted in: Google · News · Social Networking · Software
Tagged: Android, Facebook, Google, Google Buzz, iPhone, Mobile, Social Networking, Software, Twitter
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by Chris Ullrich, Feb 8 2010 // 2:00 PM
There’s no denying Twitter’s popularity. It’s everywhere and many people use it all day, every day. So, if you need to Tweet while on the go, you need an smartphone with a Twitter app on it. The iPhone has several, with Tweetie and Twitterific probably being the most popular.
That’s great, but what if you’re using a cool Android powered smartphone like Verizon’s DROID? Fortunately, there’s a app for you too in the form of Seesmic. And now, the folks who make Seesmic have updated their app with some cool new features.
Among the new features are multiple account support with cross-posting, extra large font size, auto-correction of typing, automatic profile updates, on device twitter password management and optional timeline position memory so you jump back to the last tweets that you were reading.
The latest version of Seesmic is available now for free from the Android Market. If you check it out, be sure to come back and let us know how it compares to other Android Twitter apps like Twidroid and Tweetcaster.
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Posted in: Google · Mobile Apps · News · Software · Tech
Tagged: Android, DROID, Geek, Google, iPhone, iTunes Store, Seesmic, Social Networking, Software, Tech, Tweetie, Twitter, Twitterific
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by Chris Ullrich, Dec 1 2009 // 12:00 PM
As most people are surely aware, Apple’s iPhone is a dominant force in the explosive smartphone market. People are attracted to its ease of use and iTunes integration have purchased the device in droves, in some ways because their wasn’t really a viable alternative. That is, until now.
That alternative is the DROID from Motorola and Verizon. Powered by Google’s Android OS and featuring many of the same features as the iPhone, the DROID is poised to become the newest “must have” device for this holiday season. That said, it should come as no surprise that the DROID has been seeing some really successful sales numbers since its release in early November.
In fact, it is getting very close to its target of one million units sold by the end of the fourth quarter. Actual sales figures are reported to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 700,000 to 800,000 devices sold, which is nearing Verizon and Motorola’s goal and already well over analyst predictions.
If Verizon sees a big holiday sales bump, that number can easily top one million. As someone who is currently evaluating a DROID, I can say it definitely is a great device. But is it better than the iPhone? Time will tell.
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Posted in: Gear · Geek · Hardware · News · Tech
Tagged: Android, Apple, DROID, Gear, Geek, Google, Hardware, iPhone, Motorola, Smartphone, Tech, Verizon
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by Cortney Zamm, Oct 30 2009 // 3:15 PM
Verizon Wireless is finally getting a smartphone equipped with Google’s Android software, in the form of the Motorola “DROID.”
The phone has 3.7″ WVGA capacitive display, sliding QWERTY keypad, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash, 720×480 video capture at 24 fps, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Exchange support, 6.4 hours of talk time and a pre-installed 16GB memory card. The phone also the first device to feature Google Maps Navigation which provides free turn-by-turn voice navigation.
The “DROID” looks a lot like T-Mobile’s Android, but because it’s on Verizon and with an amazing new screen, this phone looks like a worthy addition to the smartphone game.
You can get your hands on the Motorola “DROID” on November 6th, for $199.99 with a two-year contract.
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Posted in: Gear · Geek · News · Tech
Tagged: Android, Motorola Droid
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