Mobile Phone News

One phone we’ve been hearing about for what seems like an eternity is the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.  After getting announced back in 2009, we’ve been patiently awaiting its arrival here in the US.  The biggest problem we’ve seen facing the X10 is that it’s slated to arrive with Android 1.6 under the hood.  According to CNET Asia, the Xperia line of handsets could get an update  to Android 2.2/Froyo  later this year. We’d previously heard that the phones will ultimately get an update to a newer version of Android, but which exact iteration wasn’t clear.

We assumed this would be version 2.1 but were informed today that it “will be an Eclair variant, so it could be 2.1 or even 2.2″, according to the spokesperson.

To dampen your enthusiasm just bit, we should point out that “later this year” has a 9-month window. This could be pushed out near the end of the year and possibly later than other handset makers. For all we know, Android could be at 2.5 or 3.0 by then.

Mobistealth doesn’t play coy when describing their services.  Right out of the gate, they bill their software as “Spy Software for Android”.  For as low as $49.99 (3 mo subscription), users can catch a cheating spouse with real-time updates of phone calls, pictures, location and more.  In fact, as I read through the bullet point list of features, Mobistealth seems as if it could provide darn near everything there is to know about your suspected mate.

• Record all calls made from/to specific numbers
• Find out when and who is being called.
• Exact call duration of each call.
• Remotely record all conversations in the surrounding of the phone.
• Monitor movement and location history.
• View all photos and videos from handset
• Web history, bookmarks, text messages, emails, and more

All kidding aside, there are some very practical features to be found with Mobistealth.  As a parent, the subscription costs are a small price to pay for peace of mind in knowing where their children are or where they’ve been.  Employers can keep an eye on their staff and wherebouts in addition to what they’re doing with the phone in downtime.

To read more about Mobistealth, or to make a purchase, head to https://mobistealth.com/spy-software-buy.php

The Jetsons kitchen of the future is upon us with SnS Design’s Ikan kitchen appliance. Either that, or we’re looking at quite possibly the most expensive and glorified grocery app yet. With its 7-inch touch screen, WiFi integration, and voice input capability, the device builds a shopping list from items you scan or input before disposing of them. Oh, and it runs Android.  Simply place this on the counter or mount it near the trash can and add +50 productivity point to your life!

Once recorded, the items are sent to your mobile phone or directly to an online grocery retailer’s shopping cart, providing they support Ikan. Schedule your list to be sent to you on preset days so you can be ready to knock out your shopping on the way home from work! With the kitchen appliance, users can include their own branded retailer apps and view specials, recipes, promotions, and more from etc. right from their kitchen or Android phone.

The biggest obstacle I see with a device like this is price. At $400 a pop, I can imagine a bunch of people turned away simply because of the sticker. Even at half that cost, I have a hard time imagining myself “getting my money’s worth” out of it. However, if SnS Design were to send me one to change my mind, I’d love the opportunity.

So what’s your take on the Ikan?  Glorified shopping app?  Does it scratch a real itch for you?  Leave a comment below.

We have a few pictures of the Android version below, thanks to Bill over at Ikan!

The two-day Game Developers Conference kicks off today in San Francisco and Google will be there promoting Android. In fact, members of the Android team will be presenting a handful of sessions including development in Java and/or C++.  They’ll also make themselves available for Q&A’a, product demonstrations, and feedback for budding developers.  For the lucky folks who pre-registered for conference, you’ll be walking away with a Droid or Nexus One.

In a related note, Google announced yesterday their updated Android NDK (r3) is out and offers direct access to OpenGL ES 2.0 features.  Essentially this means developers are able to create better, richer, and more detailed games with the tools in the NDK.

We’ve yet to hear anything official from Motorola or T-Mobile in regards to the release of the Cliq XT.  For a phone that’s rumored to launch tomorrow, both the carrier and handset manufacturer have been super silent.  To confirm that the phone is ready for release,   I spoke with the manager at my local T-Mobile store.  Sounds like it’s ready to go as I was advised they’ve received both dummy, non-working displays as well as the floor model for demonstration.

Engadget was recently passed some images of the brochure for the CLIQ XT showing how sales reps can effectively sell the handset.  Details include talking about the web browser with Flash Lite, the 5 megapixel camera, and MOTOBLUR.  The smart phone also features Flash Lite, multi-touch, and preloaded apps SHOUTcast, Midomi, GoTV, Last.fm, TuneWiki, and SoundHound.

Look for the CLIQ XT to sneak out tomorrow for $129 with a 2-year agreement.

Etsy seller Craftsquatch may have just bitten off more than they can chew with their made to order Android pillows.  These 12″x12″ squares are made with fleece and stuffed with polyester and run $19.99 a piece.  Order a few for yourself and hold onto them as you wait for your phone to get updated from Android 1.6 to 2.1.

If you’d like to pick one of these up, head over to Etsy!

Well folks, if you haven’t heard by now, AT&T’s first Android Handset, the Motorola Backflip, has been locked down and crippled.  In doing this, AT&T has not only removed Google search, but disabled Android’s ability to install non-market apk files outside of the official Android Market by removing the option for BACKFLIP users to install applications from unknown sources.

Why this was done is unknown, but users will no longer be able to install apps purchased on alternative markets.  For developers that utilize the BACKFLIP, this will will also prove troublesome as they will be unable to test apps on the device. The app experience has truly been IPhonified.  Quite frankly, I am disappointed, but not really surprised as AT&T has attempted to control phones and apps within their realm for quite some time.

We know that AT&T is trying very hard to be a gatekeeper. We also know they are not a fan of open standards. What are your thoughts?  Would you buy  this phone? How far do you think this will this go? Did Apple have a role in this?  I know what I think and that is that you should not purchase this phone.  Sorry.

Source: TechCrunch

I’m a big sucker for brain games, puzzles, and casual time wasters on my Android handsets.  I recently learned of a game called ConnecToo and it’s right up my alley.  The premise is simple enough – connect every two elements of same color by drawing a line between them.  The tricky part is that you cannot cross other lines and must work within a defined grid.  Oh, you also have to work against the clock.

Use BARCODE SCANNER to Download ConnecToo

There are two version of ConnecToo in the Android Market.  The free version features 12 levels spread out over 3 degrees of difficulty.  Once you’re hooked, you’ll want to purchase the full version for ?0.69 (approximately $1.11 US).  At that point, you’ll have 200 levels to master!

Verizon recently announced that they’ve worked out an exclusive deal to offer Skype Mobile on their Android handsets.  Starting this month, the Droid, Droid Eris, and Devour handsets will come loaded with the “new” feature that allows for calls anywhere in the world without using minutes.  Since neither Skype nor Skype Mobile are technically new, we’d understand if you already know how the respective services work.  However, there’s a large segment of the population who have yet to learn of Voice over IP (VoIP). 

Verizon has taken to a cute little YouTube video to show us how their exclusive agreement stands to benefit current and potential Android users on the nation’s largest network.  Never one to resist taking a dig at the iPhone, Verizon reminds us that “these phones can run more than one app at a time”.