wasn’t that nice of google to release google earth yesterday to all 2.1 users?  all i have to say is, “nice try big g.” this is android we’re talking about remember?  did you really think that this community of android machines and amazing developers would not conquer all?  well it has.  again!

instructions for installation…

1.  go into settings -> applications and check the “unknown sources” box.
2.  make sure you have “astro file manager” installed on your phone.
2.  visit this post from your phone’s browser.
3.  tap and download this file onto your phone:  google_earth.apk  (alt link) (alt link2)
4.  when finished downloading, open up astro file manager.
5.  find your “downloads” folder and and tap the “google earth” file.
6.  tap “open app manger” and then “install”.
7.  bam.

let me know if you have any issues!

it has been quite the start for the motorola droid hasn’t it?  it launched back around november, sold 250,000 units in its first month,  quickly became time magazine’s gadget of the year, and now finished up february by cleaning house in the engadget awards.  purely awesome.

we’ll just make this quick and list them right out for you…

reader’s choice section: 

gadget of the year, smartphone of the year, and GPS device of the year.

editor’s choice section:

gadget of the year and GPS device of the year.

not bad right?  maybe this latest news will force motorola and verizon to step on the ota update gas pedal?  keep this success story rollin’ before this amazing device gets left behind!

we’ve had a lot of chatter lately about “rooting” and “unrooting” your droid and wanted to point out a couple of quick tips that will help you through the process.  last night we posted information about rooting and installing a custom rom which included live wallpapers using the droidmod updater.  we then followed that up with a q&a session from comments people had been leaving which we thought would make your life easier throughout the install.

well one that really stuck out that i want to make sure all of you see is the issue that arises when “unrooting” your device through the DMUpdater.  for those of you like me who are voice search machines, you probably noticed that your voice search microphone no longer existed after unrooting.  don’t panic!  there is an easy fix which was pointed out by reader Chris.  (who has been amazing at answering questions for people.  huge thanks goes out to him.)

voice search fix instructions…

1) Go into Settings->Applications->Manage Applications->Menu button->Filter->All
2) Find “com.google.android.voicesearch” and click on it.
3) Click “Uninstall”.
4) Reboot your phone.

and that should do it.  if for some reason that does not fix your problem, please let me know.

and the price just keeps on droppin’ for the motorola droid.  well, through wirefly that is.  if you sign up for a new contract with verizon wireless or just use your 2-year contract update, you can now get a droid for $49.99.  amazing.

this deal added as our “deal of the week.”

let me just start this off by saying “go download the city caller id app now!”  the creator of this fantastic app which provides the city of your incoming calls is being sued by mega-caller id company cequint because he is offering the app for…well…free.  sound like the most ridiculous lawsuit you’ve ever heard of?  i’d sure say so.

update 2/22 12:32pm:  it looks like the app creator has fallen to cequint.  the app has been removed from the market and his blog has been updated.  i’m working on getting the apk. 

it now appears as though the app creator is asking for help to fight off cequint by writing this post where you can donate to the cause.  here is some of the story…

Cequint has sued me for displaying a City name with a number.  They have a patent on displaying a city name and state on a LCD screen with a limited processor.

Now, I understand the importance of patents and protection of an invention.  But, this is simply not an invention.  This is a frivolous patent lawsuit on a technology that most people already have in their heads.  Most people know where some numbers are calling from.  My application was put out to help people, not charge them!

it’s a crazy world out there.  fight the “man.”

cheers @guanako!

the long awaited google earth app has finally arrived in the android market.  for those of you not familiar with google earth, just think of it as google maps on steroids and a super fun toy to mess with in your spare time.  practical uses?  not many that i can think of, but would love for someone to enlighten me.

there was talk of this only being available for the nexus one and 2.1 phones, but it showed up for me first try in the market.  (i am currently rooted which may have something to do with it.) and now that it has finished downloading and installing, i can tell you that i am definitely flying around the planet using 2.0.1.

update 2/22 9:23am:  apparently you can only access this app on your moto droid if you are rooted. interesting for sure…that 2.1 update better be coming this week.

features include multi-touch and voice search.  (quick tip:  using 2 fingers, do a twisting motion and you will get the earth to spin.)

how about some pics of the dubai earth islands?  eiffel tower?

download…

after posting our droidmod 1.0 experiences last night and including a video of the outcome, we received a ton of questions; many we expected, and a few others we were looking for answers to as well.  so rather than hanging you out to dry, we decided to throw most of the questions from that post into a separate post to act as a q&a session to help you along if you decide to go this route.

if you do not find the answers to certain questions you may have, feel free to ask in the comments or head over to droidmod.org and check out their forums.  they are the experts as this is their work.

*note* – i want to remind you all again that rooting and flashing your droid is incredibly risky and we are not liable if something happens during this process.  we are also not recommending that you do this, but just showing you some of the options you have out there and also how amazing this device truly is.

q:  Do you have step-by-step instructions for using DroidMod 1.0?

a:  You can find them at the DroidMod.org forums here.

q:  Think Flash will work on DroidMod or rooted phones in general right off the bat?

a:  That’s a good question. I would say probably not as it’ll be built for 2.1, but the developers that work on all these will likely make a fix right away.

q:  Is this still as easy to unroot at sholes? I’m getting tired of waiting for the 2.1 update, and this is looking more and more tempting.

a:  It is as easy. I think the recovery image might be the same exact one.

q:  Does it work on milestone?

a:  As far as I know, it does not. If you have 2.0.1 it might but I suggest going to the DroidMod.org website and asking around.

q:  I have never rooted my droid. What is the possibility of someone bricking their phone doing this.

a:  Pretty unlikely as the process is almost completely automated, but the risk is still there.  Remember that this will also void your warranty.

q:  Is that you in the video or someone else?

a:  That is definitely me and my lovely little phone.

q:  How long does this take?  It seems like the process is frozen.

a:  Be patient, it could take up to 20 minutes to complete although will likely take less than 10.

q:  The Live Wallpapers show up, but will not respond to touch?

a:  You need to install the 2.1 Launcher in order for these to respond to touch.

q:  Are there other Live Wallpapers than the stock ones?

a:  Yes.  Many are available in the market and work without the buggy 2.1 Launcher.

q:  Who created the Live Wallpapers?

a:  Xeudoxus who also created the 2.1 Sense UI Launcher.

q:  Are you noticing any lag or bugs with 2.1 launcher?

a:  Yes.  This is the same version of the Launcher as used before with the same bugs.  Overclocking does help with the lag, but it will still lock up from time to time.

q:  How do you overclock?

a:  There is an app in the market called SetCPU.  After installing, and it asks for your device, select “Autodetect” not “Motorola Droid/Milestone.”

q:  So what all do I need to run this mod and then go back to stock?

a:  Download the DroidMod Updater, follow it’s instructions on rooting and flashing.  If you do not like what you get, open up the Updater>ROM Menu>Stock 2.0.1 (no root).

 q:  After unrooting, voice search disappeared.  How do I get it back?

a:  Try these steps:

1) Going to Settings -> Applications -> Manage Applications -> Menu button -> Filter -> All
2) Find com.google.android.voicesearch (that may not be the exact name but it will look similar…) and click on it
3) Click “Uninstall”
4) Reboot your phone

q:  Will I receive the 2.1 OTA update if I have DroidMod installed?

a:  To my knowledge, no.  When that update rolls out you will have to unroot your device which DroidMod allows you to do.