Rogers' Samsung Captivate Froyo upgrade source code released

Samsung has released the Android 2.2 source code for the Rogers Samsung Captivate. Anyone who may be interested in making some ROMs or just checking out the source codes a bit can head on over to the Open Source Release Center and enter the model number "SGH-i896." under the mobile phone section. [Samsung Open Source Release Center] Thanks Conan!

Source: Androidcentral.com

So you want to crochet your own Android figure?

No problem! We got just the thing to help you get started. Although I've never looked at crocheting anything before in my life, the little Android guy above is making me think I may need to take up a new hobby -- or at the very least ask my fiance to make me one since she knows how to crochet. If you're wanting to make one of these yourself, you can find the pattern at by hitting the source link. Now, who is gonna make us all a Lloyd version? Thanks Andrew! [Bethsco]

Source: Androidcentral.com

Hands-on with WeatherBug for tablets

Let's talk about the weather. Or, more specifically, let's talk about WeatherBug, which has been redesigned for Android Honeycomb tablets. It's a pretty striking change, thanks to the new framework in Android 3.0.
The new app spends a good deal of energy on flipping through the weather of various cities. It looks pretty cool, but how often do you really need to do that?
Where it gets much more useful is with the radar mapping, which looks pretty spectacular on a 10-inch screen. Check it all out above.

Source: Androidcentral.com

VLC for Android gets progress update

The VideoLAN team is hard at work on the Android version of VLC media player, and yesterday one of the developers working on bringing this leading video player to Android gave a quick update on the current state of development.
While a public release is still quite a way off, the team currently has a basic prototype of VLC running in the Android emulator, as well as the Nexus S, Nexus One and HTC Desire. Several features remain to be completed, such as the GUI and support for screen orientation changes. Various codecs and libraries must also be ported across to Android in the coming months.

"VLC media player on Android is working quite well. Anyway we are not ready to release a version until some months because we want something stable and nice to use. Be patient, we are working on it, even if this job is only done on our free time."

We look forward to seeing what the VLC team can conjure up as development continues.[Ivoire Blog]

Source: Androidcentral.com

Hands-on with Swiftkey for Android tablets

Typing on a tablet can be a bit of a challenge. It's not as finger-friendly as a smaller smartphone, and it's not as tactile as a traditional physical keyboard. Swiftkey has long been one of our favorite keyboards, in no small part due to its excellent text prediction.

Swiftkey's tablet keyboard does something new in that it splits the keyboard in half, with half the letters at the far left, the other half at the far right, and a numerical keypad in the center. It takes a little getting used to, to be sure.

But the text prediction remains top-notch, and dual space bars make things that much faster. We'll give this keyboard the what-for when Android tablets are officially released (and the app, which is still in development, is ready). For now, check out the video.

Source: Androidcentral.com

CNN's Android tablet app a model of how to present an overflow of news

Say what you want about CNN -- and between the new "HLN" and Nancy Grace, I could say plenty -- you have to hand it to whomever designed its new Honeycomb tablet app. It's a model for how to deftly handle an overflow of news without completely overwhelming the senses.
That's not to say I don't continue to chuckle at the main screen, which can display thumbnails of some 300-odd stories and as nicknamed the "broadsheet" -- an old print term. But for the most part, it's a very well done news app. You have nice thumbnails of stories, which take you to nicely designed story pages. There's plenty of rich content to go around, including video and photo galleries.
For you budding "iReporters" -- don't get me started on that one, either -- you can record and upload "iReports" (sign) straight from the tablet, as it should be.
So while the quality of the news ain't exactly Daniel Schorr anymore, the quality of the CNN tablet app does more than enough to prop it up.

Source: Androidcentral.com

Motorola Cliq XT left to die with Cupcake

Can't say we didn't see this coming, but Motorola's now made it official: T-Mobile's Cliq XT won't be getting an official upgrade past Android 1.5. Ever.

Moto Matt, in the Motorola Support Forums, dropped the bombshell, which also has been posted on Motorola's updates chart:

"After comprehensive testing of the Android 2.1 upgrade for the CLIQ XT, we have concluded that this device will remain on Android 1.5. We realize many of you were anxiously awaiting this upgrade, but we aim to deliver software upgrades only when it will provide a better customer experience."

Something about lipstick on a pig comes to mind, we guess. To Matt's credit, though, he goes into a little more detail about the process -- something we'd love other manufacturers to do:

For many of you on our forums, I know this is disappointing news. Mark and I were optimistic about the outcome of the CLIQ XT development process and were also disappointed in the final result.
Our product team members worked for months to attempt to create a version of Android 2.1 that would perform well on the CLIQ XT. When the software could not meet the basic performance standards required, they went back to the drawing board multiple times. They gave it everything they had. We even took the unprecedented step of investigating the benefits of code provided by the independent developer community to try to improve XT performance. In the end, we were not able to develop a version of Android 2.1 for CLIQ XT that would deliver an optimal customer experience.
Some of you will wonder why we didn't announce this sooner. For one, we didn't learn about this all that long ago. Then, it has taken some time to coordinate with T-Mobile and alert our call center agents and others of the decision.
We recognize that many of you will be frustrated by this news. As always, you are free to post your comments, but please keep them civil and within the bounds of our site rules.

It certainly sucks that the Cliq XT won't be going any further down the Android path, but kudos to Motorola for being up front about it.

Source: Androidcentral.com

Dropcam app comes to Android, lets you monitor your security cameras from afar

iPhone users have been able to keep watch on their Dropcam security cameras from the convenience of a dedicated app since the Dropcam Echo launched last summer, but Android users have unfortunately been left with no other option than to simply use the standard, less-than-mobile-friendly web interface. The company's now finally corrected that oversight, however, and released a full-fledged app for Android smartphones running Android 2.2 or higher. The key advantage with a Dropcam setup -- as we noted in our review of the camera itself -- is that it's entirely cloud-based, and doesn't need to be connected to your home computer to record or share video (unfortunately, that convenience comes at quite a cost). As for the Android app, it will let you receive things like motion and audio alerts, and of course let you check in on a live stream or access recordings -- those just looking try the service can also simply access some public webcams to test it out.

Source: Engadget.com

Watch Google's Android event in full: Honeycomb on the Xoom, Android Market website, in-app purchases, and Cee-Lo Green

There was plenty about yesterday's Android event that didn't make headlines but was worth noting. Hardware acceleration of both 2D and 3D UI elements -- shown off to great effect by Google's Hugo Barra, who managed to scroll through three lists simultaneously without inducing any lag on the Motorola Xoom -- should make Honeycomb as delicious to look at as it sounds, while our personal favorite, the new tablet-specific email interface, should be part of Gmail yesterday. The email UI is built out of elements Google calls fragments, which will supposedly be easy to transition down to smartphones, so thumbs up all around. The video above also runs you through the big news of the day, namely that Android Market can now be accessed via a dedicated website and apps downloaded to your device remotely, along with the equally important (for devs) addition of in-app purchases. Finally, Cee-Lo Green pops in for a video chat session from wherever he is on the internets, and we're all treated to an exhibition of lag-afflicted, awkward conversation. What's not to love?

Source: Engadget.com

HTC Pyramid emerges from the mists of speculation with a 1.2GHz dual-core, 4.3-inch screen, T-Mobile 4G

First Sprint got a 4G-capable, 4.3-inch Android phone from HTC, then this January AT&T (Inspire 4G) and Verizon (Thunderbolt) received promises of the same. Is T-Mobile feeling left out? It might not be for long, as the rumor mill has just churned out a rather mighty 1.2GHz dual-core beast of a handset and is ascribing it to the Magenta network for a launch some time around May or June. We're hearing it'll come with qHD resolution (960 x 540, just like the Atrix 4G) and the SOC within will be that famed Snapdragon MSM8260 that Qualcomm teased briefly at CES a couple of weeks ago. Lending credence to this scuttlebutt is the fact that both TmoNews and Android and Me found sources affirming the Pyramid's existence, leaving us only to wait and wonder about what we can do with a device of its kind.


Source: Engadget.com

Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play retail booths exposed

We said it at the Show and we'll say it again, Sony Ericsson just can't keep a lid on (any) secret information. The Xperia Play, formerly and more poetically known as the PlayStation Phone, has been previewed, videoed, and loved (mostly by us), but today we can add even more to our foreknowledge about this still unannounced device in the form of its in-store booths. Yes, SE has planned out how resellers and carriers will pimp its gaming smartphone at retail, and yes, renders of that "brand experience" have leaked out. It's nothing jaw-dropping, just some upright pedestals with the words "smart phone, smart gaming" on its side, but at least it signals that we're at an advanced stage of preparations ahead of the handset's launch. There is a T-Mobile logo on there too, but that could be just a placeholder or could refer to territories outside the US. Either way, spring does sound like the perfect time for some more Gingerbread in our lives.

Update: Although we've been assured that the layout above is genuine, the slim device pictured on top of the stands looks like the Xperia Arc. The device at the bottom looks more like a cross between a PSP Go and the Xperia Play. Of course, we're expecting to see a myriad of Android devices announced with PlayStation Suite support, so who knows.

Source: Engadget.com

Skifta Android app nabs DLNA certification: tablets and smartphones now streaming to STBs and more

Using your Android phone as a remote is hardly new, but using it to actually send content to a TV-connected set-top box? Now that's a novel concept. Skifta for Android has just become the first piece of software to be certified by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) under its new Software Certification program, enabling any Android-based smartphone or tablet to stream onboard media to any DLNA source, including TVs, stereos, PCs and Sony's PS3. It's hard to say what kind of phone (and what kind of bandwidth) will be needed for this to actually be an enjoyable experience, but those curious to find out can download the app for free in the Android Marketplace... provided you're using a device with Android 2.2 (Froyo) or higher, of course. Head on past the break for a explanatory video.

Source: Engadget.com

Xperia Play commercial surfaces, makes back alley surgery fun again (video)

You know, it just wouldn't be an ad campaign for a Sony game system without a suitable "WTF?" moment. And why would Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play (a.k.a. PlayStation phone, a.k.a. the Worst Kept Secret in the Business) be any different? There isn't much to say about this ad, except that the fine folks at Droid NYTT got hold of a copy, and that we hope these back-alley thumb transplant goons know a thing or two about anesthetics. See for yourself after the break.


Source: Engadget.com

Samsung refutes high Galaxy Tab returns, says rate is 'below 2 percent'

Poor Samsung can't catch a break. First executive Lee Young-hee was misunderstood, saying that sales of the Galaxy Tab were "quite smooth" but the transcript of that conversation saying that they were instead "quite small." Now the company is refuting another claim, that return rates for the Tab are near 16 percent. The company did so in a statement so tersely worded we can feature its entirety right here:

The return rate of the Galaxy Tab in the US as claimed by an North American market research firm is incorrect. According to Samsung Electronics Mobile Communications Business the return rate is below 2 percent.

So, there you have it. Below two percent, and right on par with what we've heard for the iPad.

Source: Engadget.com

Rest time ^^

I had a funny rest-time for Lunar newYear holiday with my family, It's not bad but so awful because of my toothace..
So now I still "copy" news from the famous technology sites, why do I do that? because I hope I can help you read the information about your android faster than explorer those one by one, I really love Android, and I hop so do you!
Thanks!
LetAndroid.