On Friday, a company called Carrier Coverage reached out to us with a new app that they referred to as being like Carrier-IQ, only it aims to help consumers rather than carriers. Using the term “Carrier-IQ” was an odd way of framing their position, but they had a snazzy video and what seemed like a decent enough idea that we gave it a look.

So what exactly is it? Carrier Coverage wants to have enough data to be able to tell you which carrier and phone is the best in the areas that you visit most frequently. Actually, it goes beyond that. Let’s say you plan to take a vacation or move into a new house – this app will eventually tell you if your particular carrier and phone will be able to perform at the level you need it to. By gathering data through their app (location, carrier, signal strength, and more), they should be able produce some useful info, assuming they get enough users. 

The latest t-shirt design from our favorite Android t-shirt designers is known as “ANDROID WINNING.” It’s a slide redesign of their Andy vs. shirt, omitting the late Steve Jobs and including some additional green power. I’d have to agree that Android is winning this battle. As always, the shirt is $17 and is printed on high-quality American Apparel cotton. Another to add to your growing collection.

Buy.

The ability to rent Redbox movies on your Android device is just around the corner, thanks to a join venture between Redbox and Verizon that was announced this morning. It’s not exactly clear how they plan to make movie magic together, as they would only mention that details of their product portfolio will be revealed in the coming months. We do see a mention of “mobile” in the press release though, and a time frame of “second half of 2012,” so before long these companies will be “freeing people to spontaneously enjoy the entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the devices and media they prefer, at home or away.” 

Motorola has released its full changelog for the 6.12.173 update that will arrive on DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX handsets in the coming days (soak test members only). This list differs slightly from the one that Verizon released a week ago, providing a few additional details into the new MotoCast, battery life increases, and camera enhancements. Seems odd that these two companies would produce such different lists or view pieces of the update as more important than others, but that’s what we’ve got. The more details the better, right?

And remember, you can manually upgrade to this software using our instructions if you are not interested in waiting for the update to become available.

Full list below.  

Well, the Swype team promised us ICS action at the end of January, but mid-February will have to do. According to their Twitter account, we are just “days away” from an update that brings with it Android 4.0 support and a number of other “goodies.”

Most of you have been enjoying Swype in a variety of colors on your Galaxy Nexus for weeks already, however, it appears as if many if not all of those files have been removed from the internet altogether. As much as we love Swype, they continue to be sticklers on the modification front. They do have IP to protect, but if they would just give us the ability to theme in a new update, the Swype Black Market would come to a screeching halt.

Ready for official ICS-supported Swype?

Via:  Twitter

According to the Financial Times, Facebook will begin showing advertising to mobile devices in March as a way to tap into a new revenue stream. The wording on this new news indicates that ads may not be your typical bottom or top locked banner, but may instead be worked in as a “featured story” through your feed. So rather than just seeing your friends’ life story spamming that no one cares about posts, you may also see something labeled “featured” that would essentially be an ad.

We aren’t sure if this will also apply to the Facebook Android app, but you can imagine that it will at some point.

Via:  Reuters

Arguably the coolest video of 2011 was Corning’s “A Day Made of Glass.” It racked up over 17 million views and gave us a look into a future that includes nothing but touchable surfaces, almost Minority Report style. It could be years and years before we see anything close to a world like this, but after watching this new version, you will again wish that it was happening now. Fully touch-capable walls that can share in real time with tablets and are interactive? Yes, please. Changing the theme of your car through a tablet and a swipe? Mmmhmm. How about live augmented reality video using a tablet in something like a state park? Corning believes in it.