An update for the Android Facebook app hit late last night and for some reason seems to be confusing everyone.  The update included “Deals” which is really just an addition to the “Places” tab that we were introduced to a couple of months back.  In order to see what deals are near you, you open up the Places tab, tap on “Check In” and start browsing locations in your area.  As you cruise through listings, ifyou notice a little yellow notepad looking icon then that means there is a deal there.

Download it now from the market.

This interesting video popped up on Verizon’s YouTube channel yesterday starring a new VZ Navigator product that they are calling Version X.  No date or price was given for it, but it’s definitely trying to compete with Google Maps and every other big time navigation product.  We’re not sure if it actually can compete, especially knowing that Google Maps can be downloaded onto any device  for free and is always seeing significant updates, but we’ll applaud them for trying.  It’ll be interesting to see what price point Verizon comes in at with this one.

We should point out that the video only shows the DROID X and Incredible running the software, but we’ll try to hold off from determining that it won’t see any other devices.  And we’ve listed out a majority of the features in this new product below, although you’ll want to watch the video to get the full experience.

Carriers obviously feel like they can make money off of these products, but to die-hards like us, this just seems like a giant waste of money, doesn’t it?  Your thoughts?

Update:  And the press release is now available with the last bit of details including price and availability.  The service will cost $9.99 per month, $4.99 for weekly usage or $2.99 for a one-day/24-hour use.  It will be available to only the DROID X, Incredible and Samsung Fascinate.  You can download the latest version of VZ Navigator in the market right now if you have one of those 3 and it should include all of the features for “Version X.”

Motorola is preparing a “small software update” for the original DROID that will go out to a select number of users in their Feedback Network over the next day or so.  The update is definitely not Gingerbread (Android 2.3) or they wouldn’t be classifying it as “small.”

Hi.

We’ve learned recently that the original Droid will soon get a small software update. A limited number of owners will receive the update as part of a pre-launch “soak” test before it’s more widely released. This has become standard practice, so we can observe for a few days to make sure there are no hidden problems before wide release.

There is a window of opportunity to be included in the pre-launch soak if you like. We would appreciate it if you would, and then provide us with some brief feedback on the update. Simply take this very short registration survey to sign up. Unfortunately, we have to provide a list very soon, so please take the survey right away if you are interested. There are a limited – but generous — number of slots available.

(If you now own a different Motorola phone and wish to update your Motorola Feedback Network information, please click here.)

Thanks for your participation in the Motorola Feedback Network.

- Matt
Motorola Owners’ Forums
Motorola Feedback Network

We’re guessing it’ll be 2.2.2 which is the same update the Nexus One saw just last week.  So if you are a part of the Moto Feedback Network, start checking your inboxes for instructions and be sure to let the rest of us know how it goes.

After it passes all of the tests, and we’re it will, it will probably spread to the masses on Verizon within the next 2 weeks.

Cheers M!

We first reported the news that Verizon had plans for follow-up devices to its entire DROID lineup which would include the Incredible 2, DROID X2, and DROID 3.  The news was exactly what we needed to hear after seeing only 1 DROID-branded phone at CES, but it also means it’s time we ask users for their opinions on the 2011 versions of our favorite family.  The picture above could possibly be the Incredible 2 and looks amazing, but there is also that new DX2 on the way which could come equipped with a dual-core processor and qHD screen.  And of course, we also can’t forget about the OG’s 3rd brother, the DROID 3 which is a complete surprise at this point.  So tell us, which of these devices has you most excited?  Or are you just waiting for 4G LTE?

We know it’s early for a poll like this, but we also know that you have strong opinions on your current devices that could reflect on future purchases.

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Google’s Android platform manager Eric Chu had a chance to chat with the folks at the Inside Social Apps conference on Tuesday and made it very clear that they are not satisfied right now with the performance of the paid app market on Android.  In fact, he even rattled off a list of changes that will take place over the next few months to help developers succeed on this platform.  While they are activating hundreds of thousands of phones each day, they want this platform to succeed in other key areas, most importantly, through a market.

• The list topper and one that we’ll likely see very soon is an in-app payment system which means that developers will be able to include add-ons to their apps that users  can purchase.  Not only will this help increase revenues for the devs, but it’s also a way to bring additional features to users who need some new spice in their applications.

• The second step will be to offer carrier billing to more than just AT&T.  The plan is to give users the opportunity to add application charges straight to their bill, which in theory, increases app purchases.  This method is apparently very expensive and time consuming, but Chu made it clear that they are working on it.

• There is a team at Google dedicated to making apps easier to find.  They are also in charge of weeding out the bad apps, but moving the best stuff forward will likely help out the entire market.  We all know how difficult it can be to find new and useful apps, so this is great news for everyone.

Here’s to hoping that these changes are almost ready to go.  We’ve seen a nice spike in quality apps over the last couple of months, but we also want the developers behind these apps to feel welcomed and to be rewarded for their outstanding work.

And on a now-related note, a VP of mobile at Paypal has decided to brings his talents to the Google side of the world.  His role with Paypal was to help bring them up to speed on all things mobile, so he seems like a great choice to help lead a new payment system for our favorite mobile OS.  This could mean that an option to buy apps using Paypal is out, but we’d rather have a native Google option anyway, right?

Via:  Forbes, GigaOM

Cheers Andrew!

This story is just too cool not to share with everyone.  Do you all remember Verizon’s Extreme NFL Experience contest that we wrote about back in November?  You know, the one that would send 2 people to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas for 4 nights, give them round trip tickets, game tickets, ground transportation, $250 in spending cash and a bunch of swag?  A Droid Life reader won it!

David from Pittsburgh texted from his Droid just as the contest had asked and will now take his son down to Texas to enjoy this year’s Super Bowl.  Fitting that they are from Pittsburgh and that they are huge sports fans, right?  Congrats guys!  And have a blast!

And to brag for just a moment, that puts the Droid Life winner total up to at least 7 or 8 I think.  We’ve had multiple Droid X scavenger hunt winners, multiple R2-D2 hunt winners, a Galaxy Tab contest winner, an awards show winner, and now this.  I guess reading DL pays off?

The Android 3.0 Preview SDK system dump just popped into our inbox thanks to Mr. Peter Alfonso and we thought you might like to dig around in it for a couple of minutes.  The file is 64.7 MB and contains all of the apps, framework,  and goodies you’ve seen from the 52-picture gallery we posted this morning.

Download:  honeycombsdkdump.zip

Oh, and if you want a couple of wallpapers from the dump, then we’ve added them below.

You can thank Matt R. for these.