Droid Life

The Tato Series: An Interview with ChevyNo1

Tim — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:00:30 +0000

HELLO DROID-LIFE! Well as much as I promise, I also deliver. ;-)

We had such great feedback last week that this will become a weekly series on Droid-Life! Can I get a "heck yes"?!? I have had some awesome interviews lately and I (we) really can't wait to share all it all with each and every single one of you. Me and TechDeft (TechDeft and I?) had the supreme pleasure to chat it up with Doug (aka ChevyNo1, aka Kernel Masta, aka Mr. Simply Stunning). If you are in the rooted community, then you know this name. If you are non-rooted, you know this name. Let's face it......you know his name!! So without further ado I give my second installment of The Tato Series. This place has become my second home. After Facebook of course ;-) Enjoy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TechDeft: So Mr. Chevy, could you introduce yourself for readers who may not recognize your name? ChevyNo1: Well, I call myself ChevyNo1 on all online forums (not just tech). My first name is Doug! Tim-o-tato: "ChevyNo1"...whats the story behind that? ChevyNo1: I started off in online forums I would say around 1997 - for me it was all about cars. Was looking into buying a 1998 Camaro, and wanted to get involved in the scene - so that's where the name started. Of course, I am a HUGE Chevy fan. So I belong to a few automotive forums, also known as ChevyNo1. Tim-o-tato: Excellent. Who doesnt love American muscle! :) ChevyNo1: YEA! TechDeft: So how did you chart a course from the car scene to the linux/Android scene? ChevyNo1: Well, I've been quite the tech geek for quite some time as well ... and over the years, tech I would say has pulled even with automotive for my interest level, and in the past few years has even surpassed it. I have been a programmer for 18 years now, but never mobile. I got the Droid in December of last year, and that was my first foray into ANYTHING mobile. TechDeft: What have you been programming in? 18 years, you must have learned on COBOL I'm guessing? ChevyNo1: Yep, COBOL was my primary language that I learned ... 'C' was just starting to become popular so I only got one class of that ... learned on a DEC VAX. My first job out of college though (1992) plunged me headfirst into UNIX - first 10 years was all UNIX, 'C', X-Windows/Motif. TechDeft: You have an extensive background! Some readers are nodding their heads here, others are scratching them. Was it hard to move into mobile? What about Android made you want to develop for it? ChevyNo1: I had been interested in either programming Palm or Windows (had several Palms before the Droid) ... but didn't jump in. Once I heard these phones were running a Linux OS, it was a no-brainer for me. I HAD to have one! I actually wrote an app in the emulator even before the phone arrived! TechDeft: Wow, you were excited! So you started with applications? Or you dove into kernel development? ChevyNo1: Started with apps - and I haven't written once since - that is until recently, when I started digging into Settings.apk. But after the apps - first it was a basic ROM build - THEN it was kernels - then it was more extensive ROM changes. TechDeft: What apps did you write? Should we be scouring the market for gems? ChevyNo1: Lol! No, nothing really exciting, pretty basic stuff. One of the earliest was a patcher for the wifi-tether application. There were lots of manual steps needed to make it work, so I put together an apk that did all the work, and made it a single-click widget on the desktop. Another was a brightness patcher, because the wireless driver floating around broke brightness. I have never put anything on the market - maybe one of these days! TechDeft: Some of the work you have done is fairly complex, in some cases requiring pretty deep hardware knowledge(Overclocking). Did you do this kind of work on Linux kernels previous to Android, or did you learn it fresh for the mobile platforms? ChevyNo1: I learned it fresh - I had never worked on a kernel in my life. Got 2-3 tips from Tasmanian Droid (old alldroid board) and from there I learned the rest! Tim-o-tato: That's very impressive! ChevyNo1: I think of myself as a pretty quick learner ;) Tim-o-tato: So how old were you when you got into all things programming? I did the math and if it was 18 years ago when you started, that means I was still receving milk from my mother still! LOL ChevyNo1: The first time I saw a computer was in 7th grade - a Vic 20!! First programming of any kind was done in 1987 on a SuperPet running Basic. Our science teacher wouldn't even let us touch it! Haha Tim-o-tato: Wow, 87! I wasn't even a thought lol ChevyNo1: I can't believe I've been around this long ... *sigh* lol I still feel 20! TechDeft: What kind of things do you feel are lacking in your work right now? What do you think could improve? ChevyNo1: I am constantly digging into the guts of Android - and day by day I am becoming more knowledgeable, and more comfortable. I feel like I am just starting to get a firm grasp on it. If I weren't so busy with ROMS, I would like to get into the kernel even more! I would specifically like to get into the hardware, and be able to tweak things beyond what I've done already. For example, make the screen more sensitive. Those types of things - really hardware-level stuff. Anything in the kernel is more difficult in my opinion than in the ROM. ROM programming is more intuitive, since it involves layouts, graphics, etc. Kernel development is all behind closed doors, and it's just so low-level. TechDeft: Which is some of the harder programming to do.(If you do get into it, figure a way to make 270 rotation less finicky lol) What phone do you focus your development for? Android as a whole? The "original" Droid(Moto)? ChevyNo1: Right now I'm ONLY programming for the D1. I pretty much have enough donations now to purchase an 'X' - so that is my next victim :) TechDeft: Will you continue to develop for the original Droid? Or will you focus your efforts on breaking your way through the bootloader? ChevyNo1: I plan on continuing both - I have a loyal base of clients for D1, and I don't intend to leave them in the dust. BUT cracking that bootloader will be high on the list of priorities! Tim-o-tato: Let's hope you crack it! :-) TechDeft: What do you think could most benefit the Android community as a software developer? ChevyNo1: I think so far it's doing well - it's a good community of sharing, and I think that ultimately is the key. Tim-o-tato: Agreed. It is a wonderful community. Did you ever think your work would be admired by so many people? ChevyNo1: No I didn't!!! lol Tim-o-tato: How does it make you feel to see so many people admire your kernels and the Simply Stunning ROM? ChevyNo1: It makes me very proud of the effort I put into this - and thankful that people have given me a chance when they have choices. I only dream my job could be this much fun, lol Tim-o-tato: Don't we all? lol So do you have any family or friends that use Droids?? ChevyNo1: My best buddy bought a Droid after he saw mine :) And now of course he's running my ROM! Tim-o-tato: Well he has the best user support anyone can ask for! lol ChevyNo1:That's actually one way I plan to make myself known - is by my support - I want everyone to know where the best support is. That and my attitude towards people - I feel I am very approachable and do not make anyone feel stupid for asking questions. ;-) Tim-o-tato: That's definitely a way to do it. As a user myself, having a way to get the right answers to questions is a big issue I myself have all the time. TechDeft: How many hours a week do you spend doing this stuff? ChevyNo1: Let's see...I would estimate 15? Maybe 20 if I have a release. I had a pretty big learning curve compared to the other ROM builders who have been at it for a while. Tim-o-tato: Considering that Pete (Bugless Beast) has been working on programming for about 6 months, I would say you have a huge curve! ChevyNo1: Yep, considering Pete has no programming background, I think he's done a very nice job - he's just limited as to how deep he can dig. Good work though! Tim-o-tato: Are there other Devs that you look to for answers to questions you have? Or any Devs whos work you admire a great deal? ChevyNo1: The obvious - Cyanogen, whom I've never interacted with, Koush ( have interacted some ). Another newcomer I've spoken a lot with and helped is JRummy - he's doing excellent considering he has no background either. And also Sniffle (Sapphire|CVPCS). Tim-o-tato: Sniffle is quite the comedian sometimes! ChevyNo1: Haha yea! Nice guy from all I can tell - and smart! .....So it's time for my silly Q's. Tim-o-tato: If Steve Jobs offered you a job at Apple. Would you take it? ChevyNo1: Only if he lets me make it open-source!!! Tim-o-tato: We won't get our hopes up lol Tim-o-tato: Task Killers. Do you yourself have one? ChevyNo1: Nope! I feel Android does quite a good job of managing that sort of thing - and yes, I was using one for a while. Not that I'm against it, but people must realize that if ANYTHING kills your app, it's going to take time to reload. Often times this stuff gets blamed on a ROM or kernel. Tim-o-tato: The name Simply Stunning. How did it make its way to fruition? ChevyNo1: As far as the name - I felt two 'words' seemed fitting - I think at the time I was thinking of what would sound good alongside 'Bugless Beast' ... and I really did feel my first attempt was 'stunning' ;-) Tim-o-tato: That's wonderful! I must say when I first rooted and had only a few choices. JRummy, and Simply Stunning. I went with SS 3.1! ChevyNo1: Glad you liked it! Tim-o-tato: What launcher do you use for your Droid? ChevyNo1: Just the good old stock Launcher2 that comes with the build - I am fine with it - have played around though, and if I recall correctly, I really did like LauncherPro. Would be fun to create my own Launcher as well - but so many others have done it, and have done it well ... Tim-o-tato: Tell us something no one would ever guess about you... ChevyNo1: I a huge metalhead - not sure anyone would guess that, especially at my age! I go with my son to metal concerts - not sure how many dads do that lol I DO start out the day very lite - classic rock, 60's and 70's - but by the time noon rolls around look out! TechDeft: (you just became Tims bestfriend) Tim-o-tato: I'm in love! A Dev who likes metal! This is great! So for the readers, name some of your favorite bands if you'd like. ChevyNo1: My new favorites - Lamb Of God, Devildriver, Droid (the band) Older metal - Pantera, Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica, etc Tim-o-tato: Oh yea! +1 all day long! ChevyNo1: When I moved to Pheonix 14 years ago I went into concert frenzy, because everything comes here. I've been to about 100 metal shows in the last 14 years and I have the ticket stubs and concert t's to prove it! lol Tim-o-tato: You mind giving just a bit of insight as to what your day job is or is like? Do your co workers know about your Droid fixation? ChevyNo1: I work for a Fortune 500 company as a lead programmer analyst - mostly business programming. I do more leading than coding these days, which is why it is Android to the rescue of my sanity lol. A few at work know about my obsession - they think its quite cool. It's been there 14 years now since I came to the USA. Tim-o-tato: Since you came to USA? Where do you hail from? ChevyNo1: I came from New Brunswick, Canada - that is where I grew up. Then I lived in Toronto for 2 years - then I came to the USA in 1996. Tim-o-tato: Excellent. Canada is great! Poor Milestone users though lol ChevyNo1: Hahaha I know it! TechDeft: Is there anything that you would like to ask the non-developers of the community? ChevyNo1: What can I do to become their premier ROM of choice? What is it, about "ROM x" that makes them want it more than SS? :) Tim-o-tato: That's good for sure! (So, in the comment section below people: Answer his Q!) :-) TechDeft: What is the best way for folks to get in touch with you about your ROM? Is there a best forum post to post on, or an e-mail that you want public? ChevyNo1: Sure! You can mail (chevyno1.droid@gmail.com) for any questions related to my ROM or kernels - also I have twitter (@ChevyNo1Droid) Tim-o-tato: Well Chevy, I really wanna thank you for ALL of your time. This has been a true honor for myself. It's been fun! ChevyNo1: Very cool - thanks SO MUCH! Tim-o-tato: You got it :) ---------------------------------------------- So there it is. ChevyNo1 has been doing his thing for 18 years! A true pioneer! We salute him and all his hard work to make our phones better everyday! Woo-hoo! Anyone else notice how when TechDeft and Chevy go into their 'Nerdery' I retreat and don't say much? I really am clueless about all that! So tell me everyone in the comments: What makes you choose other ROM's over Simply Stunning? Chevy wants to know! Thanks again everyone! See you in the comments! -Tim-o-tato and TechDeft Follow @ChevyNo1Droid on Twitter! And see his ROMs and Kernels HERE! You can check out: TIMS BAND They have a CD release party this Thursday in San Fran! :-) TechDefts Blog is SUPER SWEET!

LauncherPro Icons Site and App Available

Kellen — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:45:01 +0000

A few of you have been wondering which LauncherPro dock we were using in some recent screenshots, and we're just here to let you know that you can grab it now through a site called LauncherPro Icons or by downloading their app from the market. LPi is your ticket to customizing your dock and app icons without having to go digging around the internet. It offers a pretty wide variety of docks and an icon for almost any app you can think of. Check out the LauncherPro Icon site here. App available for a whoppin' $1.49 in the market. Update: Was my fault for listing as $.99 originally. That was the price a few weeks ago before the developer overhauled the app. Download:

Download Link

DROID 1 Back in Stock? Incredible Definitely Is

Kellen — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:17:51 +0000

Reports have been flying into our inbox of possible Droid 1 sightings on Verizon's website, but for whatever reason it doesn't appear that way for us. We'll just have to take your word for it and remind you that the original Droid is essentially the last device on the planet that will ship with stock Android. And now that it has Froyo, it's holding its own with the rest of the newbies on the smartphone block. (Manually update here if you haven't already.) On a related note, the Droid Incredible seems to have shaken its stock issues and is shipping on a daily basis now. Yay! Only if it had Android 2.2... Via: Android Central

Quadrant Benchmark App, Not so Awesome?

Kellen — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:00:36 +0000

You all know that we love posting Quadrant Benchmark scores for all of the latest stock or even overclocked devices, so today's laugher courtesy of Cyanogen comes as a slight disappointment. Basically, Mr. Cyan found that Quadrant isn't the most accurate of apps and in fact can be completely exploited to show some pretty remarkable numbers meaning the app should no longer be considered a standard tool. Just check out the screenies above and drop a weeping cackle along with us. Via: Twitter, Brief Mobile Cheers Kenneth!

Ask Dr. Root: Battery Life, LauncherPro Docks and Icons

MrPicolas — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:00:28 +0000

What is ask Dr. Root you say?

Well with the influx of new Droid-Life readers, and the mounting questions being asked. I thought this would be a great way to help the community. Each week I would like to take the top three most requested topics and answer them for you. This week I will be starting with my three topics. To submit your topics please send your emails to doctorpicolas@gmail.com.

____________________________________________________

Dear Dr.Root, How do I get more battery life out of my droid? Well kiddies glad you asked, SetCPU found in the market is your friend. Whether your over-clocked or not, you should take the time to set up some profiles. Setting profiles will enable you to ramp the processor up or down depending on your needs. Also using a low voltage kernel will help

This is an example of some settings that have worked for me using a p3 lv 1 ghz kernel. Check out the time and battery percentage left. How do I get those custom docks you all have? This ones easy guys first visit this LauncherPro link, then find a dock you want. Long press on the image and save to your phone. Next, go into your launcherpro settings and press appearance settings and then dock background. Select custom dock and pick it from your gallery. Back out of settings and see your new dock.

How do I get those custom icons on my homescreen? Go to the market and get folder organizer. If you need icons use Google and search for icon .png or start here. Save the images to your SD card. Next, select apps in folder organizer then find the app. Click on the arrow and select icon. Find your icon in your gallery and select it.

Now long press on your homescreen and select shortcut. Choose folder organizer item,select app and find the app name you put your custom icon on and select it. If you have done this right, you should see your shiny new icon on your homescreen. Thats it for this edition, looking forward to your questions. ----------- mrpicolas (aka.. doctorpicolas)

R2-D2 DROID 2 Pictures Flooding in

Kellen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:00:19 +0000

On September 30th, you will all have the opportunity to jump online and snag one of the 50,000 or so special edition R2-D2 Droid 2's and with such a small number to be made available, you better be ready. If you had previously been unimpressed by the first couple of photos to hit the interwebs, then maybe some of the new shots to come out over the weekend will change your mind a bit. Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] Anyone ready to pull the trigger and pick one up? Source: IGN, CNET, VZW Twitter Cheers Zareh and Luke!

Download: Custom DROID 2 Red Eye Live Wallpapers

Kellen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:00:18 +0000

The Droid 2's new red eye live wallpaper snuck out the day the phone was released and appears to be a big enough hit that the guys at XDA Forums have put together an entire batch of modded versions. You can see from the shots above that the colors and tweaks are wide ranging and super awesome...

*Note 1 - For all users. Install like you would any other .apk file. *Note 2 - If your stock browser is struggling to download the file, try in xScopre or Dolphin.

Download: Green Version, Black Version To check out the entire lineup and find download links head over to the XDA Forums. Cheers Wade!

Motorola Tablet to be Called STINGRAY?

Kellen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:17:22 +0000

Just received this cached VZW page which shows MOTMZ600, the same model number as the leaked Motorola tablet we saw this morning, only the name STRINGRAY is attached to it. We have no idea if this will continue and become the official name, but at least a Spanish Verizon site listed it. Liking that name? Cheers Neil and NAM!

DROID 2 Having Signal Issues?

Kellen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:00:24 +0000

Not exactly the post we were looking to write just 4 days after the Droid 2 was released, but there are some rumored signal issues that we unfortunately can't confirm ourselves. Almost all of the review models that were sent to MobileCrunch and Engadget reportedly experienced varying signal strength without even touching the device. Is this the next antennagate? Let's not go there. Since we'll assume that the design is likely not the problem, then a software issue could provide a fix. Do we know when or if that could happen though? We have no idea. I guess what we really need to know, is if you, the reader are experiencing anything. Anyone pick up a D2 last week? How is your signal strength? Any dropped calls? Via: MobileCrunch, Engadget Cheers acidburn!

Adobe Android Summit is Go...(1st Half)

Kellen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:41:07 +0000

And we're here at Adobe HQ. Updates and goodies on the way... 9:37AM - First up is a Flash 10.1 overview/intro from Anup:

Current devices... -Nexus One, HTC Desire, HTC EVO, and DROID 2. On future delivery to devices... -OTA updates: content triggered downloads, system software updates, and via on-device app catalogs (Android Market). -Ship pre-installed like on Droid 2

Adobe AIR overview/intro... -Support for Android is coming in Q4 2010. -No word just yet on how it will be introduced.

Digital Video and TV Delivery overview/intro: -Delivery: HD video and allow playback of online content through your television. -Gaming: Bringing Flash games to TVs.

10:05:AM - Paul Betlem Director of Flash Player...

Release Goals/Focus: -Performance and battery life -Usability and user experience -Existing content compatibility -Deliver new capabilities -Partner collboaration

The Flash device lineup. Who has it and who will get it...

How about Flash on the Droid tablet in 3D? It's under consideration...

10:55AM - Adobe AIR for Android now by Aaron Filner...

-DEMO TIME! -Aaron just demo'd Youtube, a game called Meteor and FITC event apps for AIR. So clean, so much potential. -How AIR works with Flash, deployment as applications, features and requirements, and rollout...

11:41AM - NJ talking Flex Mobile and Flash Builder... The rundown on Flex...

The rundown on Flash Builder...

LUNCH. Check out our second half post coming this evening! ...

A Froyo for DROID Question and Answer Session

Kellen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:30:22 +0000

With the rollout of Android 2.2 for the Droid in full swing, we've seen a ton of questions pop up in both our inboxes and in the comments and thought it was time to put out some answers. This likely won't cover them all, but these are the ones we see just a tad more than the rest... Q: Will I still receive the OTA update if I manually updated? A: Nope. You already have the official update if you manually updated, so there won't be a notification any time on your phone to update. Q: What happened to FRG22? Will I still receive it? A: We have reason to believe that it will come out over the next few weeks once FRG01B has finished. FRG01B finishes on the 18th, so you can expect FRG22 some time after. Q: How can I downgrade back to 2.1 from 2.2? A: You can't. Well there are ways, but your phone is only going to continue to prompt you to update. When Verizon and Motorola push an update to your phone, you just have to accept it. Q: Why isn't Flash on my phone? A: Because it is a separate application that needs to be installed. It will be in the market on August 18th (or now maybe?) to download, but if you can't wait that long, download the beta here. Q: I'm rooted, running a custom ROM, and keep getting a notification to update. Should I? A: If you are running a custom ROM, that likely means you also have a custom recovery image. If this is the case, then you should accept the update and your custom recovery will block it. This will also stop the notifications from continuing to appear. Q: Certain apps are now crashing after the update. What can I do? A: Some apps are probably not ready for 2.2 and may crash until the developer makes it compatible. One thing you can do though, is uninstall the app with issues and reinstall it. For whatever reason, the update isn't playing nice with everyone, but this can help. Q: Some of my paid apps are not showing after updating. Why? A: We have to assume that these apps are not yet compatible with Android 2.2. Just be patient, they should show up eventually when they get updated. For now, if you could list any in the comments that seem to be missing, taht would greatly help us all. Anything else you need answered? Let the community attack it in the comments!

Monday Poll: What is your favorite new feature on the DROID X?

Kellen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:42:57 +0000

The Droid X has been out for an entire month now and I'm guessing has left enough of an impression on the hundreds of thousands of you that purchased one in some way or another that this poll can be easily answered. We're talking about features today. Because with the big introduction of this new phone, Motorola and Verizon delivered a ton of them that we had only seen on 1 or 2 other devices, like the ultra large 4.3" screen and 720p video recording, so we want to know which is your favorite? [poll id="8"]

This is a sponsored post.

DROID Pro, World Edition DROID 2 and Tablet Found in Verizon System

Kellen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:00:12 +0000

See that MOTA956 and MOTA957 above? Through some leaked screenshots obtained by BGR, we have the first sighting of the Droid Pro and a Droid 2 world edition, hence the "WE" at the end of the description meaning it's marketed towards business users. Rumored specs peg the DP with a 4" screen, 1.3GHz CPU with both devices having global roaming capabilities. It also looks like we might have the business D2 coming in white? Interesting. And next up is what you really are going to start fantasizing over and that's the Droid tablet...

MOTMZ600 is the model you can start Googling immediately. Rumors surrounding the tablet have it running either 2.2, but more than likely Gingerbread, front and back cameras, 10", and is similar in size to the i*ad. Yummy. How about that for some news to get your Monday going? Source: BGR

Adobe's Android Summit Starts Today, We're Attending!

Kellen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:30:09 +0000

It feels pretty good these days being a part of the Android community, especially with companies like Adobe and Google partnering up to create so many amazing products that push the boundaries of mobile technology. Well today, Adobe is hosting an Android summit that will give them an opportunity to show off all of their latest boundary pushing goodies to a group of bloggers and we get to be a part of it! Yep, we're kickin' it down in San Francisco for the day and will most definitely come away with some mind blowing news that we'll be able to share with you, right here. We'll also have multiple opportunities throughout the day to sit down and chat with the best of the best when it comes to Flash, AIR, etc. and if you have anything in particular you'd like us to pick from their brains, then shoot us your questions in the comments. I'll continue to look back throughout the day, so keep 'em comin'! And on a related note, coverage today is going to be a little whacky as the day is completely packed, but hang in there and we'll be sure to keep you as up to date as we always do. Questions!

Rumor: Android 2.2 Hitting DROID Incredible August 18th?

Kellen — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:02:18 +0000

Is the Droid Incredible the next Android device in line to receive Android 2.2? The Motorola Droid and the HTC EVO are finishing up their updates right now and the Nexus One has had it forever, so it seems only reasonable that the DInc would be next. Mashable is reporting that August 18th will be the day we see it take off. With a couple of leaked Froyo builds in the wild already for the DI, we wouldn't be surprised if this were to happen, we just haven't had any of our sources confirm it. It should also be noted that the Droid 1 update is due to finish by the 18th. Coincidence? To see how amazing Froyo is on the Incredible, check out this post of ours. Source: Mashable Cheers Picolas!

LauncherPro Plus Adds SMS Widget to Lineup

Kellen — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:00:59 +0000

LauncherPro Plus users should find another surprise today through the update that awaits you in the market. An SMS widget has now been added to the growing lineup which also includes a bookmarks, calendar and favorite contacts add-on. If you haven't purchased the full version yet (Plus), then head over to the LaunchPro site and help feed a great developer.

Custom Theme Friday: Gala S for Lithium Mod

Tim — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:00:08 +0000

Hello everyone! Welcome to my first lil' rendition of Droid-Life's Custom Theme Friday! Today we are featuring the Gala S (Samsung Galaxy S) theme by "Hexzamatic". This theme is quite lovely in my opinion and I have been rocking it myself for a few days. Which is rare for me I may add. This theme has been ported to many ROM's, but today we will be seeing it on top of Lithium Mod. Instructions and gallery after the jump! If you haven't tried it already, I highly suggest you pick up the Lithium Mod Stock ROM here: http://bit.ly/StockTheme Lithium Mod has made it super easy for everyone to jump from theme to theme by having it already installed on the ROM. Instructions: 1. Download full ROM and theme http://bit.ly/cZdH0f and place on SD Card. 2. Open ROM Manager and select "Install from SD Card". 3. Find the .zip file and hit it. When prompted, create a backup if you do not have a current one. If coming from a non Froyo ROM then please wipe data. If already on any of the many Froyo ROMs out there then you may also skip wipe/data cache. BUT if you come across any problems please restore a backup then reinstall after wiping data/cache. 4. Select "OK" and allow Clockwork to do its thing! After reboot you should see some amazing Lithium Mod Gala Theme action! If you have any problems while installing or any such thing feel free to leave comments and our panel of experts aka community will try our best to help out! You can also jump to our IRC Channel and see if anyone can help you there! Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] Enjoy! -Tim-o-tato Source: Droid Forums LauncherPro Dock by: Grant Williamson His work :)

Clockwork Recovery Lands on DROID X

Kellen — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:54:49 +0000

Check off another step in the process to cracking or at least bypassing the Droid X and its ridiculous bootloader. Mr. Koush just tweeted the above photo which shows his Clockwork Recovery locked and loaded and ready for some custom ROM action (well not yet, but soon!). We knew the process was getting close after we heard from Birdman just a few days ago, but this news comes off even sweeter. Anyone else smiling from ear to ear?

Verizon Continues Early Upgrades for DROID 2

Kellen — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:00:34 +0000

All signs point toward Verizon allowing customers with contracts ending in 2010, the opportunity to upgrade to any smartphone early including the Droid 2. Phonescoop has confirmed with Big Red that the D2 is definitely an option, so be sure to take advantage. Here are the details of the promotion which may only run through the end of August. If haven't had a chance to play with one yet, check out our exclusive first look from Wednesday. Via: Phonescoop, Phandroid

App Roundup: Virtual World Live Wallpaper, No Lock, Mangler

Octotron — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:15:58 +0000

Virtual World Live Wallpaper (Free): I was digging pretty deep and by now you all know I like to find free stuff to share. This wallpaper delivers. Virtual World creates an 3D landscape as your background that moves according to your compass or according to the tilt of your phone. It travels as you switch screens and generally just looks awesome. You can customize the level of detail from low to ultra high, and the various shadings, etc. Maxed out settings make my Droid X kind of cower in fear, however this app was designed with a 2.2 device in mind. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

No Lock (Free): Do you hate that you have to slide to unlock your phone constantly? Wish you had nothing to hinder your progress when trying to download that new (insert Emo band here) album from Amazon? Then guess what this app/widget does! No Lock is a super stable, super easy, super effective way to get rid of your on screen lock/slider. This is a no nonsense app that I can really appreciate.

Mangler (Free): If you are like me and sit around at your computer day in and day out playing with cell phones, you also likely play video games. It could be assumed you also talk to random people on Ventrillo servers. Well my friends, I have found a way to break away from the screen and still talk about Icecrown Citadel in real time! Mangler is an in-phone Ventrillo client that lets you access all the features of Vent. Walk out into the sunshine knowing that you can now be yelled at by your raid leader even when you are out buying toilet paper. The features are no filler and simple to use. Chat and push button talk are both available.

State Farm Pocket Agent (Free): This is a bit of a departure from the norm, but I feel this app is pretty neat. Pocket Agent allows you to input your account information from State Farm Insurance and a real time look at your policy no matter where you are. You can even pay your bill from your phone with the integrated payment feature. There is also a way to view your insurance card should you get in an accident and cannot find your information in that nasty glove box of yours. What I found to be the nicest feature however is the ability to record an auto claim, right from the app. Pocket Agent even finds you repair facilities near you should you need it.

Cestos (Free): Cestos is a simple game that is played over 3G with an opponent. The object is to knock his balls into the hole or off the playing field in one of several maps. The app is straight forward and is much more difficult the more you play and think about it. There is a lobby for chatting and real time smack talk. This game is a great way to kill some time, or get abused by teenagers. Cross platform play with that other phone that we don't talk about here is coming soon.

Shinobi Barrage (Free): Do you like shoot 'em up games? Of course you do. Shinobi Barrage is a great example of a classic shoot 'em up. The difficulty curve is amazingly rough, however. I went from Easy directly to Hard and was startled at the difference. This game is more about your ability to react than your ability to shoot things. A friendly interface and intuitive controls make it a pleasure to play.

To have your application featured in future Roundups, contact us here.

Review: Tweetdeck Open Beta

Matt Demers — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:00:39 +0000

My phone plays a large part in retaining my daily sanity. I work at a summer job where there is a lot of downtime, and at the moment I do a lot of switching between my Twitter and Facebook apps to check social streams. While I've never been one of those guys to say "Man, I wish I didn't have to do the arduous process of switching between apps", I won't turn down apps that do both jobs well. I'll come out and say it: Tweetdeck for Android does that. Amazingly. Though I had an account, I had never really used Twitter intensely until I installed the Tweetdeck desktop client. The web version's interface makes is very unwieldly, as you can only see one stream at a time: sometimes friends of mine don't even notice people are tagging them in posts until way past the fact. Tweetdeck made it easier by sorting different streams into different columns: one for your friends, one for your replies, one for your direct messages and customizable columns for custom searches. Later adding FourSquare and Facebook support, Tweetdeck makes it easy to post and monitor multiple accounts from one suite. Tweetdeck for Android replicates this well by keeping the column design, which is accessed by swiping from side-to-side, like your home screens. When you start up the app for the first time, it prompts you to add as many accounts as you'd like: currently supported are Twitter (duh), Facebook, Google Buzz and Foursquare. As a result, you can see friends from each network's posts, which are color-coded for easy viewing. Along the bottom of the home screen are four buttons: from left to right, they allow you to post a new message, manage accounts and view friends (divided by account, or all at once), do a Twitter search and bring up a GPS-enabled map (I'll come back to this later). Creating a new post allows you to check off which account you'd like to post the message to. The interface for this is easy to use, as each check-button is color and label-coded, so you don't confuse accounts. You can attach pictures, location, and search an address book to tag your friends (Twitter only, at the moment) all from one screen. This is everything I expect from a full-featured Twitter client, but being able to post to the other services without having to switch to a widget or app is a great relief. The account management and friends portion is very robust, allowing for a complete listing of every friend by service and alphabetical order. This is great for messaging specific people, especially when you don't want to wade through the Twitter web interface's horribly-sorted mess of icons. You can also write directly to a friend's Facebook wall from their entry, as well as direct message them on Foursquare. Also in this part of the app is a listing of your accounts, which allow for a singular view of everything having to do with them; the support for Facebook, Google Buzz and Foursquare is amazing here, even featuring full badge icons and mayorship listings. Search is very functional, letting you find usernames and hashtags easily. Those hashtag searches can then be added as columns, allowing for real-time tracking. Ultimately, it's simple, be effective. Now, I said earlier I would come back to the map, and I'd like to say this: by itself, it has made me uninstall my Foursquare app. The reason is simple: it allows me to view nearby checkins on a map, instead of refreshing an oft-inaccurate list of nearby locations. I like this visual component of the game, as sometimes my GPS will think I'm miles away from where I know I am, and I will have to go into the text search to find my venue. This is a very large improvement over the Foursquare app, even if it requires listings to have accurate addresses. It also lists where friends have checked in by placing their icon on a map, Google Latitude style. I haven't been able to see if it works with GPS-enabled Tweets yet, as they do not show up. This would also be a big plus. The options section is a little lacking, only letting us customize which columns will send a notification to our tray. It would be nice if we had the ability to choose how often they would, but I'm sure that will be included when it comes out of beta. Another desireable feature would be the ability to change the theme, like the desktop client. But all in all, Tweetdeck has made me go against my rule of loving the first party. They have put together an amazing application that has made me uninstall my Twitter and Foursquare applications from my phone, as really, I don't need them anymore; Facebook will stay, however, as I need message/photo/event support. Improving systems that already exist by making them easy to use and visually appealing is a sign of great development, and should be what people designing Android apps should strive for. So go out and sign up for the Tweetdeck open beta; you get an .apk in your confirmation, which you can them use to install your app. Happy tweeting, and feel free to add me @mattdemers.

---

Matt Demers is a Toronto writer who can't wait for summer to be over. He writes about Android for Droid-Life and about comics, D&D and other nerdery for NerdGirlPinups.com.

DROID 2 Torn Apart, We Cover Our Eyes

Kellen — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:00:27 +0000

These teardowns make me cringe every damn time! The thought of someone purchasing a brand new phone, likely at full price, and then chopping it to pieces should be illegal, slap-worthy or involve something else completely painful. OK, I'll admit that it's still pretty cool and I'm glad someone does it so that we have posts like this! The Droid 2 is the latest victim and has few surprises under the hood, but really just provides some entertaining shots of its guts including the one below of the newly enhanced keyboard.

Check out the rest of the teardown over at iFixit. Cheers Jose!

DROID 2 Commercial: Digits

Kellen — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:00:07 +0000

This commercial won't look completely new to you, since you've already seen pictures of it through our leaked Droid 2 and Droid X commercials slides, but it's still pretty awesome. Say hello to the first Droid 2 spot know as "Digits", find your nearest D2 and turn yourself into a robot...

DROID 2 First Impressions, Free Swag with Purchase?

Kellen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:30:08 +0000

Let's hear it, who picked up a Droid 2 today? Our hands-on video from yesterday definitely left us thinking about grabbing one, but what about the rest of you? Anyone pick one up?

And did you get any free sway with your purchase like some of our other readers received?

Let us know your first impressions!

Verizon Confirms Two Froyo Updates for DROID Business Customers

Kellen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:15:37 +0000

Remember the document we showed you last week which listed FRG22 as the official Android 2.2 build for the Motorola Droid? Well, Verizon may have just confirmed that it exists and will be pushed to phones within the next couple of weeks. In an email to business customers who own Droid 1 devices, VZW said the following...

A DROID update for you and your employees DROID by Motorola - even better with Android™ 2.2 (Froyo)! Within the next few weeks, two over the air software updates will be sent to the DROID devices on your company's account. The first update will bring the device operating system to Android 2.2. The second update will enable users to download Adobe® Flash® Player 10 for Android to the device once it is available in the Android Marketplace.

No specific date was given, but we have to assume that all Droids will be receiving this. If I were a betting man, I'd say you can expect it to hit your phone before August 18th, the same day Flash will be made available in the market. Cheers Brent and Chris!

Tweetdeck Beta Released on Android!

Kellen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:30:23 +0000

One of the most popular Twitter clients has gone into public beta as of today. Supporting not only Twitter, but Facebook, Buzz and Foursquare, Tweetdeck is a staple for most social networking power users (just not me). Since this is in beta, a first walk through left us a little disappointed with a lack of features that we enjoy in other Twitter apps, but you have to expect this player to bring the heat once it leaves beta status. Head over to the Tweetdeck site and sign up now to receive the apk!

Chrome to Phone for Froyo Becomes Official

Kellen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:30:44 +0000

We've been talking about Chrome to Phone for Android 2.2 for quite some time now, but Google finally made it official today at their random presser. So what does that mean? Only that it's in the market and out of beta, but again, you need Froyo to use this. For the full write up and demo, check out these posts here and here. And don't forget to grab the extensions for your browsers! Firefox here. Chrome here. Video Action:

Download:

Download Link

Source: Google Mobile Blog

Cheers everyone!

Google Introduces New "Voice Actions" for Froyo

Kellen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:51:58 +0000

In a spurt of the moment press conference today, Google announced a couple of new features for Android 2.2 with the first being "Voice Actions." We'll let Google explain exactly that means...

Voice Actions are a series of spoken commands that let you control your phone using your voice. Call businesses and contacts, send texts and email, listen to music, browse the web, and complete common tasks, all just by speaking into your phone.

Make sense? Check out the video demo to really get it...

And like the title says, this is only available to those on Froyo meaning that Droid X and Incredible users out there are S.O.L. until we see an update. Droid 1 users and Droid 2 users though, have a blast! For the list of commands, check out the official Google Voice Actions page here. Also with this announcement, you have the option to download a new Voice Search app and a special widget. Voice search here. Widget here. Source: Google Mobile Blog Cheers everyone!

Download: DROID 2 Red Eye Non-Live Wallpaper

Kellen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:00:30 +0000

If the live version of the Droid 2 red eye wallpaper we posted for you, then how about the non-live version? If you want this version on your phone, tap on the photo above to get to the image page, long press on it and save it to your SD card. From there, set it as your wallpaper just like you would do with any image. Cheers Matt!

VR Tunnel Live Wallpaper is Purely Awesome

Kellen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:45:29 +0000

We were just sent a live wallpaper that instantly blew our minds and it's called VR Tunnel "Free Edition". Yep, this bad boy is free and so much mind-boggling fun that you would probably pay $1.99 for it. It's so simple, yet so complex and entertaining that I think I just stared at it for 15 minutes straight before pulling away to write this post. Enjoy.

Video action:

Download:

Download Link

Cheers Shadez!

Download: DROID 2 Boot Animation

Kellen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:45:14 +0000

If you want the amazing new Droid 2 red eye boot animation, then you are in luck. With the system dump still floating around in the wild, we're expecting to see a bunch of other goodies (hopefully a Froyo version of the multi-touch keyboard), but this is definitely a good one to start with. Well, assuming you haven't tried the Droid 2 live wallpaper we posted yesterday that is.

Download: bootanimation.zip (alt link)

Instructions...

*Note 1* – These steps are performed on an unrooted Droid 1 through the Android SDK.

*Note 2* – This process also works if you want this on your Droid Incredible.

*Note 3* - This can also been done very simply if you are rooted. Simply copy the file in Root Explorer into /data/local and reboot your phone.

1. Download the file from above.
2. Place the file into your android-skd/tools folder.
3. Make sure nothing is selected and hold SHIFT+right click inside your tools folder.
4. Choose “open command window here.”
5. Type in the following commands:

adb push bootanimation.zip /data/local

adb reboot

6. Your phone will now reboot with the official Droid 2 boot anim!

Enjoy! And let us know if you run into any problems.

Via: XDA Forums

Motorola Releases Series of Tips for Your New DROID 2

Kellen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:45:58 +0000

With the launch of the Droid 2, Motorola has decided that you need to know the basics of your new device from the get-go instead of being left in the dark like so many of the original Droid owners were. They have constructed a 15 video tutorial series which takes you from the very basics of making a phone call to sharing photos with your friends. Here are a few that we found to be useful... Using Quick Contact Widgets...

HomeScreens and Navigation Panel...

Capturing and Sharing Photos...

To see the rest of the videos, head over to Motorola's Youtube channel.

Tip: DROID 2 Initial Bootup Battery Fix

Kellen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:45:50 +0000

Seems weird that we're writing about an issue with the Droid 2 before it comes out right? Well we just want to make sure everyone is covered when they go pick one up or when their pre-order arrives tomorrow. (And yes, pre-orders are shipping already!) In some cases, when the battery of the D2 is first inserted into the device, you may run into an issue with the flashing of the LED light on the back followed by an error message on the screen. If this should happen to you, a simple battery pull and second attempt should fix it. Verizon is planning a permanent fix via software update in the near future.

R2-D2 DROID 2 Spotted in the Wild?

Kellen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:50:22 +0000

There you have it. The special edition R2-D2 Droid 2 hanging out in the wild. From everything I've heard, the entire device was built to resemble an actual R2 unit and would mean this picture is as legitimate as it gets.

Speaker placement - Check!
Micro USB port - Check!
Camera placement - Check!
Pure awesomeness - Triple Check!

We know this version is going to launch on September 30th (online only) and will be featured at the upcoming Star Wars celebration, so we're not surprised to have seen a glamour shot leaked. Anyone still want one or is it too over-the-top? Via: Twitter, Engadget Cheers everyone!

Download: DROID 2 Live Wallpaper

Kellen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:33:01 +0000

So that Droid 2 live wallpaper that we were raving about earlier today has already been snagged from a D2 system dump and made available to everyone. The screenshot above is the live paper fully functioning on my un-rooted Droid X which as you all know is only running Android 2.1 still. So from what I can tell, this puppy should work everywhere! Download: D2.apk (alt link) Instructions... 1. Download the file above to your SD card. 2. Tap on it when it finishes and select "install." 3. After it finishes installing, back out to a home screen. 4. Press "Menu", then "Wallpaper" and "Live Wallpapers." 5. You'll see it listed as "Droid 2". Select it. 6. Tap "Set Wallpaper." 7. Enjoy! Let us know if you run into any issues! Via: XDA Forums Cheers JT!

PingChat Hits Android Market

Kellen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:28:36 +0000

Former Blackberry users will surely be impressed with PingChat since it performs in a similar fashion to Blackberry Messenger. Add friends by username, send them audio, video, picture files, and keep conversation logs all for free. Sounds too good to be true? There are some ads scrolling around the bottom, but the app itself runs pretty nicely if you ask us. Free in the market! Download:

Download Link

Cheers Chris!

Exclusive Video: Hands-on with the DROID 2 by Motorola

Kellen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:45:36 +0000

We were fortunate enough to have some hands-on time with the Droid 2 this morning, a full day before the phone hits stores for sale and came away completely impressed. Aside from the locked bootloader we're all aware of, there weren't any real issues with this device and I can easily say that this is another winner for the Droid family. It brought back memories of the first time I held the Droid 1, only it felt lighter and obviously has unmatched speed. Oh and the pre-installed Froyo wasn't too shabby either. Full hands-on action...

As you may have noticed, that is indeed a VZW store. The Cedar Hills location in Beaverton, OR to be exact. They were kind enough to let me in early to peep the device. Big thanks guys! Thoughts or questions?

Froyo Update for DROID Expected to Finish by August 18th

Kellen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:42:33 +0000

As most Droid 1 owners know at this point, the Android 2.2 OTA update resumed its rollout last night and almost instantly we had readers receiving it. However, we wanted to make sure that the rest of you who have yet to receive notification, know that you could be waiting until the 18th! Well, up until the 18th. The chances if it hitting your phone on that last day are pretty slim, so if you don't feel like waiting then feel free to manually update now. Anyone still waiting?

DROID X Sees Custom Recovery Image, ROMs Next?

Kellen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:20:50 +0000

How far away are custom ROMs for the Droid X? Maybe not too far since the one and only Birdman has found a way to push a custom recovery image onto the device which means a couple of things: full nandroid backups and ROMs, baby. Posted to Alldroid, the method is not available for anyone else as it sounds, well, frightening...

Using a hack discovered by the folks who've done all the work on the Milestone, birdman has booted a custom recovery on his handset. The process is labor-intensive and dangerous if you're not prepared to recover from a bricked device (and technically this bricks the device since you can't reboot into Android at this moment), but it's a sucessful proof of concept. Right now he's working on getting ADB up so we can further investigate what it will take to get a fully functional recovery working (that will also allow reboot back into Android). From there the focus will move to a more robust recovery and discovery if/how we can do Nandroids and/or write a new /System image (like Froyo)

Stay tuned, we know this is going to get very interesting in the coming days. Might want to pay close attention to Birdman's Twitter account as well. Via: Alldroid Cheers Jason and Kyle!

DROID Incredible Kernel Source Code Released

Kellen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:11:24 +0000

Good news for the Droid Incredible rooted crowd came out today with the release of the kernel source code from HTC for the DI and a bundle of other devices. Apparently there are all kinds of Froyo goodies mixed into this code that should allow for developers to really start producing some bug-free ROMs, a task that has been difficult and frustrating to this point. Yay! And why is it that HTC has released Android 2.2 code for the Incredible but we have yet to see it actually on the device? An amazing question that I'm not sure anyone has the answer to. Should we start assuming that an update is imminent? Head over to HTC's Developer Center to download it all. Cheers John and sam!

Video: DROID 2 Introduced by Motorola

Kellen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:30:03 +0000

We've said the word "official" probably 100 times in the last week and are trying our hardest to hold off from saying it again, but this one last time just feels right. Please welcome, the official introduction of the Droid 2 by Motorola...

Ordering information can be found here.

DROID 2 Site is Live Through Verizon Wireless

Kellen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 05:30:55 +0000

Finally, Verizon starts recognizing the Droid 2. We had the announcement early yesterday morning and as of late last night, the official Droid 2 page launched plus the it slipped in place of the original Droid on the "Droid Does" page. It's a sad day with the fact that the D1's life has come to an end, but times for the "Droid" brand in general are as exciting as they could ever be. An entire lineup of devices now dominates the Android world, and all of you are front and center as a part of it. Oh and here is the sale page...

To pre-order head here. To check out the droiddoes.com page, head here. Who is ordering one? Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Android 2.2 OTA Update Hitting DROID Right Now!

Kellen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:28:11 +0000

Remember that report that all FRG Froyo builds for the Motorola Droid had been pulled? Please laugh that off as the FRG01B updates have resumed tonight, only a day after we predicted they would. No idea what may have caused the delay, but you should be seeing your phone with a notification to update any time over the next few days. Of course, you can still manually update through this post. Let us know in the comments if you've received it!

Dead Zebra Android Minis Available Tomorrow

Kellen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:58:12 +0000

The Android minis from Dead Zebra will be back in stock and available to purchase tomorrow! The incredibly popular geek toy has returned with demand ever increasing and a couple of new versions to toss into your collection. The Dyzplastic crew has a brand new online shop and hopes to re-populate inventory every couple of hours to ensure that you have a better than average chance of snagging one before they are long gone. Purchase them here. Via: Androinica

R2-D2 DROID 2 Verizon Site Goes Live!

Kellen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:48:25 +0000

The special edition R2-D2 DROID 2 site just launched and we are speechless... After a quick glance at the landing page, you can see that this D2 is going to come packed with all kinds of Star Wars goodies including wallpapers, sounds, videos, stills, widgets and apps. Oh and to keep up with the details, make sure to follow @DroidLanding as closely as you did during the Droid X launch. View the R2-D2 site here. Cheers to everyone who just send this in!

DROID 2 Benchmark Score Drops Jaws

Kellen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:35:36 +0000

Stock Droid 2 running Android 2.2 and crushing any phone on the planet in a Quadrant benchmark. That my friends, is real power. And as you can see, this D2 was taken straight out of the box and didn't even have the opportunity to get undressed before blowing minds. Anyone still not sure that this device is a certified winner?

Video: Flash 10.1 Running and Pre-installed on DROID 2

Kellen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:30:02 +0000

With the official announcement of the Droid 2, we're starting to get some additional confirmations as to what we can expect when it hits stores on Thursday. The first is Flash 10.1 coming pre-installed and running phenomenally on the 1.0 GHz Froyo'd beauty...

To find out more info on Flash 10 for the Droid 2, check out the official Adobe blog.

The Tato Series: An Interview with Peter Alfonso

Tim — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:45:49 +0000

Hey everyone~ Welcome to an idea I've had in my brain for a little while. I thought to myself how cool it would be to chat "Q&A" style with Androids most popular and hard to reach Developers. To try and get under the surface a bit and see just what these guys are all about. My buddy and fellow reader TechDeft have decided to track these people down and ask them the questions we think everyone wants the answers to! Last week I had a rare privilege to sit down (at a computer) with Mr. Peter Alfonso, the man behind one of the most popular custom ROMs to date, 'Bugless Beast'. As a fan and frequent user myself I was very excited and even nervous to be chatting with him. As it turns out though, he is a super easy going and NICE guy! We love that! Makes for an easy chat and we hope you like it as much as we did! :-) -Tim-o-tato ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tim-o-tato: So Mr. Pete, if you could for people who may not know (live under a rock), could you please introduce yourself and tell us what you do? Pete: Well, people call me Pete. By day I am a student and employee at Advance Auto Parts and by night I work on Bugless Beast. Currently in my second year of college. TechDeft: College student? Whats your major? Pete: Currently I'm finishing my last semester at a local community college. My major is computer science. I recently switched it. Tim-o-tato: What were you taking before? Pete: I used to want to pursue a career as an orthodontist but then I bought a Droid and my life changed :P So most of my classes I completed are no longer needed for Computer Science major so I am a bit behind in school now. TechDeft: So you wanted to give people braces and now you want to do comp sci! And you saw Droid commercials, and now you are going to program. That's quite a shift! Were friends and family surprised? Pete: Well to be honest I have no idea what sparked the orthodontist thing. I had braces when I was younger and most parents tell their kids, "Your going to be a doctor when you grow up" so I just went with it. Once I decided to switch my family was not surprised. My mom works for IBM, I think she knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Tim-o-tato: How did you hear about the Android OS? Or the Droid in general. Read the rest of the interview with Pete after the jump! Pete: I have always heard of "Android" but never really knew what it was before my Droid. One of my friends had bought an HTC Hero and I noticed how well it combined all of the Google services I was using. So I decided to do some research on these phones. At the time the Droid commercials got me hooked. Tim-o-tato: Yea, those commercials are what got me too! So have you always been sort of a tech guru? Into programming and things of that nature? Pete: Actually before buying my Droid I had opened a command prompt window only a few times! That's how I know this is what I was meant to do. I pick it up and learn this extremely fast! Tim-o-tato: So how did you learn about it? Pete: I have always been around technology, but nothing like what I do now. After buying the Droid (the day it came out) I was curious as to why some of the stock applications could not be removed. This REALLY bothered me so I decided to Google, "How to remove amazon mp3 android" or something similar. The search eventually led me to a You-tube video of a kid typing in some commands into a terminal to remove the app. I eventually found out root access was needed. After I rooted my Droid, I found these threads that would provide simple tutorials on how to add apps or remove apps but at the time I thought these people were like gods. After I became more comfortable and able to add or remove a few things I decided to make a "ROM" for my friends. Tim-o-tato: So then how is it that you got to where you are these days? 'Interwebs celebrity' status! Did you know your work would become such a success?? Pete: I decided to post my "ROM" (although at the time I had no clue what a "ROM" was) on forums and some people were daring enough to try my work! I got a lot of positive feedback so I kept working. Then I got my own section and was labeled a "developer". Just seeing that motivated me more than you could believe. I would wake up with ideas in my head and try them until they worked. TechDeft: And how did that translate to what we see today? Many hours of hard work? Inspiration? Pete: Tons of hard work! I stay up very late most nights reading and trying to learn as much as possible. Inspiration yes, the feedback I got from people using my ROM and the "Developer" label under my name pushed me to continue. TechDeft: What do you feel is currently lacking in your work? What do you wish you could improve that you do not have the knowledge to do? Pete: Well, as I mentioned earlier I am in my second year of college. Unfortunately I have not had any classes to guide me with any of this. So far its all been self taught. You can mark my words, V0.6 will be built from source. I have never had the time to set aside to teach myself how to do it. But after I release V0.5 that will be my goal. I am sure I can do it, I just need to put aside some time and learn how. Things might be quiet for a while but that's because I will be learning how :) TechDeft: That is a question I see come up often, how come there is so much time between Bugless Beast versions, would you say that is generally because you are trying incorporate a new feature that you have to teach yourself? Pete: Well when I first started I used to update about every 2 days, although I did learn a ton I did not manage my time well at all. Lately the releases have been more spread out because I learn so much in between that I try to incorporate in my release. Every release is somewhat of an expression of what I have learned, as I go on the ROM will get better and better as I learn. TechDeft: Which is extremely impressive...do your friends and family know how deep into software development you are? (TechDeft bails for work) Pete: As far as family knowing. Most don't really understand. My Mom does though. In fact when I have a question I go to her. lol Tim-o-tato: So Pete, what's it like being one of the most bugged Developers on the planet? People always asking for ETAs?? Pete: Well it's actually very difficult. When it comes to building Bugless Beast (or anything that I have made actually) I am VERY OCD about it. I feel that if my name is going to be put on it that it has to be perfect. Because of this I am the only person I trust to work on my ROM and have very limited time to do so. I love the fact that people want the latest versions though. As far as being bugged, I get an insane amount of emails a day, I wish I could reply to all of them but it is impossible. For those who have emailed me and never got a response, please do not feel that I ignored you. In my section on various forums I try to be as kind as possible to the users and answer their questions. I can relate to them and write it in a way they understand because I was there not long ago. Tim-o-tato: I'm sure everyone appreciates that! What about other Developers ROMs? Are there any Developers out there whom you admire their work a great deal or anything of that nature? Pete: Yes, the work that "Xeudoxus" does is simply amazing. I could only wish that one day I will be as knowledgeable as him. Another Dev I admire is "t3hSteve", when the Droid first came out he did some great work as well. I haven't seen any activity from him lately but maybe that just means he moved on to bigger and better things. Really, all the Devs are great in there own ways. Tim-o-tato: So what is it about your ROM's in general that you think draw SOOO MANY users? You post a ROM and servers crash! What makes your so special? Pete: I honestly have no clue. The things I see mentioned about my ROM's the most are stability, performance, and increased battery life. I suppose that's the mixture that makes the servers crash! I also feel that I relate to people a lot more than some other Devs since I just started 6 months ago. I still consider myself a noob and feel like a nuisance when I reach out to ask a Dev a question. It might sound crazy that I consider myself a "noob", but I feel that there is much much more to learn. I have only skimmed the surface. I have so many ideas that I can not implement until I have the knowledge to do so. Tim-o-tato: Then that makes me an ULTRA noob! Haha Is there anything in the works that you might want to hint readers at, at all? ;-) Pete: Well, lets just say some extra "goodies" will be included in V0.5 And on the subject of noobs, V0.5 will be the most user friendly ROM to have flashed to a noobs Droid. It will come with EVERYTHING they need. I will be doing some things that have not been done in previous ROMs. Tim-o-tato: Oh really? Care to elaborate? :) Pete: I don't want to elaborate too much because it will be kanged before it gets out :( Tim-o-tato: The name Bugless Beast. Where did it derive from? Pete: Bugless Beast started out as Bugless Beauty. I wanted to provide a completely stable ROM. At the time, most of the ROMs had a small bug here and there and were mostly for advanced users to flash. I wanted something that would give users more features yet still be completely stable. Bugless Beauty was not overclocked. Someone suggested making an overclocked version for the more daring users and deeming it "Bugless Beast". I supported both builds for a while as I learned what the Droid could handle. When I realized the Beast was still completely stable, I focused my attention on it and dropped the beauty. :) Tim-o-tato: So I'm gonna ask you a couple silly Q's. Feel free to go wild on them! Tim-o-tato: If Steve Jobs offered you a job at Apple. Would you take it? Pete: Wow! Let me think about this one lol just kidding I would turn it down. I think I'd rather continue selling auto parts at Advance then work at Apple! Tim-o-tato: Good answer! ;) Tim-o-tato: Task killers....do you use one? :) Pete: No no no! Task killers are the biggest waste of time and money for Android users. They are simply not needed, the OS handles task perfectly without them. Tim-o-tato: Tell us something that people would never know about you! :) Pete: Oh gosh, I don't know If I want to admit it lol Tim-o-tato: Do it :-P Pete: Guess what phone I had before the Droid? Tim-o-tato: Oh no!!! Say it ain't so!!! iPhone? Pete: You said it, not me :P Tim-o-tato: Well my opinion of you has changed! haha Pete: Haha! When I got my Droid I gave the iPhone to my mom. She hated it with a passion so I bought her a G1. Android family for life! Tim-o-tato: So other then Bugless, and auto parts....what takes up your time? Any Bugless lady friends? ;-) Pete: Well this is terrible but I did have a lady. Lost her to Bugless Beast I guess you could say. Too much time on the Droid lol This time I have learned how to set the Droid down and finish working on it later. Thats why BB V0.5 has been taking so long lol Tim-o-tato: Oh no! That's too bad! Pete: Its OK, everything happens for a reason! That was a while ago, back when we were running android 2.0 Now I got my eye on someone else ;) UPDATE: He got her!!! Congrats Pete! Tim-o-tato: Pssh, 2.0 was ages ago! Tim-o-tato: So I know you're busy. Is there ANYTHING you want to say to the community or in general before I let you go? Pete: Hmmmm....let me think. I really just want to say thank you to all those who use Bugless Beast and to those who have donated to me. Without their support I would have never found my true calling. I would have been stuck working on kids braces all day as a career. Now I can pursue my dreams!!! Tim-o-tato: And what are your dreams? Pete: My dreams are to work for Google. I just smiled typing that! :) Tim-o-tato: Awe! That's awesome man. I wish you the best of luck. And I am sure I speak for everyone when saying that! Pete: Thanks man, you better believe Im not gonna stop until I make it! Tim-o-tato: Pete, I wanna thank you for your time and generosity in allowing us the privilege to talk to you! Hope to see you drop by Droid-Life sometime! Pete: No problem! Anytime! --------------------------------------------------------- Hope you all have enjoyed the first of many Q&A's. If anyone has any questions for future Developers, please leave it in the comment section below and we will do our best to get it done! Thanks everyone! Tim-o-tato & TechDeft *You can stay up to date with Pete at his excellent website! *Tim is in a band! Check it out! *TechDeft is an IT wizard! Check his blog HERE.

Verizon Sending out DROID X "Thank You" Packages?

Kellen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:30:10 +0000

Attention all Droid X users, prepare to obsessively check your mail over the next couple of days and you may find a surprise waiting in your mail slot. Apparently, some owners of the 4.3" beast are receiving "thank you" packages for their DX purchase which includes a t-shirt, stick and flyer for 25% off accessories. Our reader also mentioned that he ordered just as most of you did, over the phone. Check out the package and its contents after the break! [gallery link="file" orderby="title"] Cheers Jubby!

DROID 2 Launches on Motorola Site

Kellen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:41:21 +0000

The Droid 2 page is now available for your viewing pleasure on Motorola's site and provides every detail you could possibly need if you still can't decide whether or not this is the device for you. For whatever reason, Verizon seems to not be in much of a hurry to let anyone know about this device, but at least one of the parties involved has you covered right? Oh and this is basically all of the information we leaked to you over and over again throughout the last few weeks, but at least it's been confirmed now, right? The fact sheet has also been added...

Experience speed, power and the Web like never before with the fully-loaded DROID 2 built on Android 2.2 with Adobe® Flash® Player built-in. Balance your social and work life with an improved QWERTY keyboard, fast 1GHz processor, 3G Mobile Hotspot1, push corporate e-mail and intuitive social messaging. Packed with memory and enterprise features, DROID 2 keeps pace with your life. Work Hard... Respond to e-mails quickly with an improved and more spacious QWERTY keyboard including larger keys and better tactility for easier typing. Keep connected to work with full push corporate e-mail, support for Microsoft® Exchange, unified inbox and enhanced features for IT compliance like remote wipe and password enforcement. Keep in touch quickly and easily via speedy typing with Swype® using one continuous finger motion across the virtual keyboard, or voice to text when on the run. Get Connected DROID 2 delivers the ultimate Web experience with Adobe Flash Player to browse the Web as it was meant to be seen – with rich applications and content inside the browser. Share your wireless connection using the 3G Mobile Hotspot to connect up to five of your friends’ devices including PCs, mobile devices and other Wi-Fi compatible devices. Get up close and personal, exploring your content with pinch to zoom, all built on Android 2.2. Multimedia to Boot Make your memories last with a 5 megapixel camera and DVD-quality video capture. Enjoy it all on the vibrant 3.7 inch screen with multi touch for easy navigation through enhanced media galleries. Showcase your newly captured content with family and friends using DLNA connectivity to download, stream and share on compatible devices such as a HDTV, game console or PC. ...Play Hard Stay up-to-date with friends using the preloaded social networking widgets that allow you to sync and stream your feeds and updates from Facebook®, Twitter and MySpace to one screen in real time. Store your favorite videos, images, games and apps with 8 GB of onboard memory and a pre-installed 8 GB memory card, expandable up to a total of 40 GB with the addition of a 32 GB card. Customize your DROID 2 with tens of thousands of applications available on Android Market™. Use the multimedia station to transform DROID 2 into an alarm clock or digital picture frame or place in the car mount to instantly launch a full-blown GPS navigation device2.

More here.

Motorola Providing Touchdown Licenses to DROID X Owners with Exchange Issues

Kellen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:45:54 +0000

Having already addressed the volume issue with the Droid X, Motorola is moving on to Exchange support for the DX business crowd. A well known issue with Android 2.1 is its lack of support for Exchange and while a fix is coming with Froyo, many people need an option that will work immediately. Enter TouchDown, the "most popular" third party corporate email solution for Android which you can now get for free from Moto. Follow these steps to receive a license...

To request a TouchDown license from Motorola, please send an e-mail to level3@mailwc.custhelp.com, and include the following information.

Your email address

Your name (for validation purposes)

Your Droid X cell number (for validation purposes)

Your Droid X DEC and HEX MEID numbers – dial *#06# to find them.

Please indicate what your issue is – for example: “I don’t get notifications when my Exchange email arrives.”

Once these items have been verified, a Touchdown license will be sent to you at the email address you provide. (Supplies permitting.) Our goal is to respond within 24 hours. I’m sorry, but refunds are not available for owners who have already purchased Touchdown.

Stepping up to the plate once again eh Moto? And think, unlocking your bootloader would at least be free...just saying. Via: Motorola Forums

DROID 2 Pre-Sale Starts 8/11, Officially On-sale 8/12

Kellen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:19:32 +0000

And finally, we have an announcement from Verizon. Just 1 day before the pre-sale starts and only 2 before it hits stores, the Droid 2 is official...

Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless 3G network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), a pioneer in the mobile industry, today announced that DROID™ 2 by Motorola will be available for pre-sale on August 11. Hitting all the right keys, DROID 2 is a feature-packed device that helps manage work and social life with an enhanced QWERTY keyboard, ultra high-speed Web browsing, 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities, full push corporate e-mail, intuitive social messaging and Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 for access to the full web – all built on Android 2.2.

Standard pricing as we had previously mentioned, with the device hitting stores on August 12th...

Pricing and Availability DROID 2 by Motorola will be available at www.verizonwireless.com on August 11, and it will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning August 12 for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. In addition to subscribing to a Nationwide Talk plan or a Nationwide Talk & Text plan, customers will also need to subscribe to an Email and Web for Smartphone plan. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access. Email and Web for Smartphone plans start at $29.99 for unlimited monthly access.

But what about the special edition R2-D2 unit? Oh it's coming too...

R2-D2 DROID 2 In honor of the iconic Astromech Droid from the Star Wars™ Saga, Verizon Wireless will offer a limited-edition R2-D2 version of the DROID 2, available only online in September. The special version of the phone will feature exclusive Star Wars content and external hardware designed to look like the trusty Droid from the film saga. Visitors to the upcoming Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Fla., can see a preview of the limited edition phone and sign up to receive alerts when the phone is ready for sale.

Full press release available here. Anyone headed to the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando? Would love to have a correspondent to check out the R2-D2 model first! Hit us up via contact form!

Original DROID Removed from Verizon Website, DROID 2 Hints All Over

Kellen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:53:06 +0000

You can still view the Droid 1 by hitting up droidoes.com, but after clicking on the "Buy Now" button you'll be directed to a dead page meaning the D1 is officially gone. Also, if you attempt to simply pull up the listing in VZW's smartphone section for the original beast, you are going to come up empty as you can see from the screenshot above. So where is the Droid 2 then? We're guessing it'll be popping onto the site within a couple of hours. There have already been D2 sightings, hints and leaks on Big Red's site including the 360 degree viewer we showed you yesterday plus this accessory page...

We received a tip that the Droid 2 page was even available around midnight last night in place of the D1 page, but appears to have been taken down already. The phone ID could be 5429, if that gives you a snooping start. Let us know if you find anything else! Cheers Brandon!

DROID 2 Viewer Found, 360 Degree Glory

Kellen — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:14:05 +0000

If you need any additional views of the Droid 2 before it launches on Thursday, we were just sent a link to the 360 viewer which Verizon features for all of their phones. Displayed in all its glory, is the enhanced keyboard, weird silver metallic finish, and navy blue backing. While most would have preferred the black we've seen on the Droid X and original Droid, this color scheme could quickly grow on us. View the 360 Droid 2 here. Cheers MK and Chris!

DROID X Volume Issue Will Be Fixed in "Upcoming" Software Release

Kellen — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:45:48 +0000

Droid X users, you have been heard! There has been a widely reported volume issue for both the ringer and speakerphone of the DX and Motorola has announced today that a fix is coming. They would only admit to a volume increase coming in an "upcoming software release" which we can assume means Froyo, but no date was included. Maybe the 1,800+ Droid Life readers who responded to this poll of ours had something to do with it? We'd sure like to think so. While Moto seems to be standing strong on the locked bootloader issue, you have to admit that it's pretty refreshing to see a company listen to their customers and then respond in a positive way. +1 Moto? Source: Motorola Forums Cheers @rusty_richards!

DROID 2 Units Appearing in Verizon Inventory (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:45:17 +0000

Still no "official" date from the Verizon camp, but we now know that warehouses are seeing big time stock arrivals of the Droid 2 which is set to launch this Thursday. That number (6,610) seems a little low, but our sources fully expect that number to spike within the next day or two. People love keyboards and the D2's updated version should be quite appealing to those with fat fingers...err that like...physical buttons. Update 2:17PM: It looks like D2 units are cruising into warehouses on an hourly basis. We're now seeing double the numbers from this morning...

It still seems so odd that Verizon would get to 3 days before the release of a major device like this and still not confirm it with any media outlet. Oh well, it'll be a hit anyway.

Motorola CEO Admits DROID X Has Blur, Talks Future of the Brand

Kellen — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:45:55 +0000

In a recent Q2 earnings call for Motorola, CEO Sanjay Jha talked all things Moto, but as you may have expected, highlighted a lot of mobile business including their new Droid X and its early success. One of the more interesting points though, was his acknowledgement of the DX as not being a "Google-experience" device and instead running MotoBlur. Yes, the same MotoBlur we've been telling you that it runs, but everyone else seems to be in denial over...

Remember that DROID X is not a Google-experience device. It's a Motorola-experience device and we have spent a lot of time integrating a lot of experiences, which are unique to Motorola, MOTOBLUR is one. Certainly, the user interface is meaningfully improved also from what we delivered in our first MOTOBLUR experience.

Not to jump up and down and scream "We told you so!" but seriously, the clues were all there weren't they? It should also be noted that Moto plans to move away from Blur as a brand and instead will continue to enhance the experience of the skin in the background much like we've seen on the DX and soon-to-be-released Droid 2...

With MOTOBLUR, we have found that being able to convey the value proposition around MOTOBLUR is not an easy thing to do in a 30-second ad spot. We have decided that we will focus on the value proposition of products and not MOTOBLUR as a brand name in its own right. MOTOBLUR continues to be important and I think you will see increased functionality in MOTOBLUR. This notion of push-Internet is going to be very important to us, but as a brand name, which we make matter in front of consumers as a brand name, I don’t think that’s going to be our focus going forward, but we see the experiences that we deliver is being relevant and differentiating us.

We were definitely hoping for a "Death to Blur!" mention and that a series of Google-experience phones was on the way, but that appears to be just a pipe dream. Maybe when Gingerbread arrives? Source: Morning Star Via: Android and Me

DROID Pro Listed in Verizon Roadmap

Kellen — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:05:23 +0000

A new Verizon roadmap covering the foreseeable future was just released through BGR and includes a new Droid family member that until recently, had been one giant and ridiculous rumor. We are talking about the Droid Pro. The mythical creature that has been feeding forum chatter with some outlandish specs for weeks now has some semi-hard facts attached to it...

In addition to the Motorola DROID and Motorola DROID X, we’re told Motorola will launch a new DROID handset, the Motorola DROID Pro. It is supposed to have a 1.3GHz CPU, 4″ screen and global roaming capabilities. Estimated launch of November 2010

Loving the sounds of that? We should also toss out the fact that 2 of our sources essentially called this the "Droid 2 for business users" meaning it's a global version of the Droid 2 which launches this week. Also included in the roadmap was additional talk of the Motorola tablet which we can only hope receives the "Droid" tag...

Motorola is also working on a tablet as well, except it will sport a 10″ screen, either 1GHz or 1.3GHz CPU, front-facing camera, and Android 3.0. Don’t expect the Motorola so soon though, as we’re informed that while the launch was supposed to happen in December, Android 3.0 will probably hold up the release of that device and we should expect it around February 2011.

Invest in a paper towel company now, we'll need plenty to mop up the drooling that is set to take place over the next 6 months. Anyone now thinking about holding out for the Droid Pro? Source: BGR

Easy Root Returns, Just Not in the Market

Kellen — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:00:57 +0000

One of the hot topics over the weekend was the removal of Easy Root from the Android Market. Yep, the same one that roots your Droid or Droid X with the touch of a button and has been covered by us from the get go. For reasons yet to be made public, Google decided to remove this app from their marketplace which left many of you with a pile of questions including one major one, "Will there be future support for the app?" The answer is yes. The developer behind Easy Root has figured out a way to still get paid and also provide you with updates. While this method seems a little out there and inconvenient, you might as well keep up with it since you've already paid the $.99. We're not about to go into reasoning behind the removal, but wanted to let you know that your purchase still has support for the time being. Be sure to check your main Gmail account for instructions from the dev. For more information plus support, head over to the Easy Root blog.

BlindType for Android Debuted in Video

Kellen — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:00:23 +0000

There are so many keyboards on the market these days that it takes something pretty special to grab our attention and BlindType has managed to do just that. A keyboard that is smart enough to know what you are attempting to type as long as you are in the vicinity of a key sounds too good to be true right? Not to the BT team. When an early video of BlindType surfaced with the new keyboard at work on an i*hone, our jaws dropped and obviously had us wondering about the status of an Android version. Wonder no more as we already have it in action on a Nexus One. This will also give you a much better idea of the potential in a way that no words can describe...

How can you not be excited for this keyboard? Is this the Swype killer? To find out the latest info including release dates, BT is encouraging users to follow them on Twitter. Feel free to read more at the BlindType Blog. Cheers Stephan!

DROID 2 Pricing Revealed, No Surprises Here

Kellen — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 06:00:03 +0000

Verizon continues their silence with regard to the actual release date of the Motorola Droid 2, but Best Buy has given us enough insight that we're expecting Thursday to be the day. After dummy models started arriving last week, plus some employee documents, you can only assume that VZW is simply letting the blogworld create all the press for this one. And after seeing the campaign for the Droid X, how can you blame them? So we've got the D2 set to launch at $199 with a new 2 year activation or $599 at full retail. Pretty standard right? Should we also assume that Big Red stores are going with the $299 plus $100 rebate staple? This would be a great opportunity for them to surprise everyone without it. Via: Engadget

DROID Makes Pepsi Max Appearance

Kellen — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 12:00:11 +0000

After seeing the Droid 1 hit "out of stock" status online, we decided we needed more of it on such a sad day. Even after being on the market for 9 months, we're still seeing cameos of our original beloved one in commercials and TV shows including this new Pepsi Max spot...

Cheers Sonny and Chris!

Goodbye Original DROID, Officially "Out of Stock"?

Kellen — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 10:45:10 +0000

Sad, sad day indeed. The original Motorola Droid is now listed as "out of stock" on VerizonWireless.com. We had received word that this had happened a few days ago, but were unable to produce the same image and continued to hold out some hope that it was a regional thing. It's not. It was a good almost 9 month run wouldn't you say? Time for it's replacement. A locked down beast. The Droid 2. Cheers Zer0 Cool!

DROID 2 Full Page Ad Debuts, Still No Official Date

Kellen — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 09:25:24 +0000

Yesterday we saw the first glimpse of the new Droid 2 marketing campaign when one of our readers found this flyer in a newspaper, and today it looks like Verizon took it a step further with this full page Boston Globe ad. Still no official date or announcement from Verizon, but we're all expecting that to come by Tuesday, with devices becoming available on Thursday. Cheers @petermorency!

DROID 2 Flyer, Rule Empire with Iron Thumbs

Kellen — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 09:38:39 +0000

For once I'm not going to jump to conclusions and assume that ruling the "empire" has some hidden Star Wars meaning...OK that's a lie and exactly what I'm going to do. It's pretty widely known at this point that there will be some sort of special edition R2-D2 Droid 2 running around and this could be another hint that it will drop the same day as the unofficial launch date of the stock D2 which we've all deemed to be August 12th. Getting excited yet? Motorola and Verizon definitely love them some new D2 keyboard!

Rumor: Froyo OTA Update for DROID Delayed Until August 12th? (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:30:17 +0000

There have been plenty of rumors over the last few days which suggest that Verizon/Motorola put a stop to the current Froyo OTA update FRG01B for the Droid because of some unknown bug. Well we received word from a source today that the next expected date for a big rollout is August 12th. We're sure seeing that date quite a bit aren't we? Droid training. Droid 2 release date. What else can we possibly pack into next Thursday? Like I said, still no word as to what caused the delay, but we're now fully expecting FRG22 to be the official release when this thing starts poppin' again. Update: MyDroidWorld is reporting that all FRG builds of Froyo will be pulled as it appears to not be playing well with Flash. I guess you can throw out August 12th then? (Link) Update 2: We're receiving reports that the update has been halted but has not been pulled. It should resume again on Monday. We'll be sure to fill you in as we find out more or if anything becomes offiicial. And be sure to let us know if you still receive FRG01B.

Custom Theme Friday: Golden Elegance for Lithium Mod

Kellen — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:11:45 +0000

To those of you new to the site, we'd like to welcome you to Custom Theme Friday which is a segment posted at the end of each week featuring one of the hot new custom themes on the market. You will need to be rooted to follow this process, but that should be easy after we showed you the "1-touch" method this morning (before it was suspended from the market that is). So today we have one of the new themes for JRummy's series of ROMs which is built off of FRG01B, the official Froyo release. Again for those new, you'll be seeing a lot of JRummy's work around here and that's a good thing. The guy provides more custom color schemes and themes than anyone in the business. We've also added some extra details to our usual instructions to hopefully help you out along the way...

Theme: Golden Elegance for Lithium Mod (Created by kookahdoo)

Instructions...

*Warning* - Just a reminder that rooting VOIDS your warranty and could potentially do permanent damage to your device. Installing a custom ROM or theme could also possibly brick your phone. This is not a recommended practice and you do so at your own risk.

1. Download and install ROM Manager Premium. 2. Open and tap "Download ROM".

*If it's your first time opening ROM Manager, you will need to tap the top option to "Flash Clockwork Recovery" first.

3. Choose JRummy and "Lithium Mod V1.0.12". 4. Choose "Golden Elegance" or whichever color package you prefer. 5. Choose a kernel, font, and any Addons. 6. Once the ROM and add-ons finish downloading you will be prompted with this:

7. Check the box to make a backup in case something goes wrong with the install. 8. No need to "wipe data and cache" if already running a Froyo ROM.

*If you run into issues after installing, you may need to re-flash the ROM and make sure to wipe data and cache. Just follow this same process, but check the box to wipe.

9. Press "OK" and your phone will reboot and work some magic. 10. Once it finishes, your phone will reboot and you will have Lithium Mod installed!

*If you get stuck at the boot animation, then something went wrong. Either your phone doesn't like the kernel you chose or you just need to "wipe data and cache." Boot into recovery (hold Power + X with phone off) and flash a "nandroid" backup that you created in step 7.

11. Enjoy! Let us know if you run into any issues! And feel free to leave tips for any of our readers that are new to rooting their phones. Full support thread and donate link here. Full gallery after the jump! Big Cheers to the whole Lithium Mod team: Billygalbreath, insanenemesis, N8dyddy, jdlfg, romanrish, ronx, canvs2331, and JRummy! Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"]

Best Buy Confirming August 12th for DROID 2

Kellen — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:28:44 +0000

Earlier today BGR had received word that the Droid 2 release date of August 12th might have been confirmed through Best Buy, and we've got the proof to back that up. We're still wondering why Verizon won't announce it though. After all, the 12th is next Thursday right? Interesting note in there is the reference to "not sell" before the 12th meaning they should have some in stock any day. Time to run to your local Best Buy and beg to play with one? Maybe.

Verizon Running DROID Trainings for Users on August 12th, Coincidence?

Kellen — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:06:46 +0000

Just because it's Friday, we thought it was time to rev up some conspiracy talk. Verizon is currently sending out emails (like the one above) to customers who have purchased or activated a Droid recently, asking that they come in on August 12th for training. Wait August 12th? Sound familiar? Same day that we expect the Droid 2 to launch. Normally we would just brush these emails aside, but since they've slapped the original Droid up there, and we all know that VZW is early upgrading customers (here too) like crazy, are we completely out of our minds to think that they might offer you a Droid 2 upgrade should you choose to come to a training? And...custom theme Friday on the way! Cheers Travis and Chuck!

PayPal Bump for Android Goes Live

Kellen — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:00:26 +0000

We've been waiting on PayPal's "bump" technology to hit Android for a few months now and as of yesterday, it was made official. Get ready to split that Vegas club bill with your pal Tony by performing a solid broseph fist bump. Just don't forget to blow it up afterwards...

Just like our PayPal Mobile app on the i*hone, the new Android app features bump technology – allowing you to simply tap two phones together to send money. Split the check is another great feature, which lets you automatically calculate the total cost of a bill and then collect money directly from friends when out to dinner. We hope these new features make it even easier to get paid back on the spot the next time you’re stuck picking up the tab.

Now to only get all of our friends into using PayPal. Life is tough. Source: PayPal Blog Via: MobileCrunch, Phandroid

Android 2.2 on DROID Rooted with Easy Root

Kellen — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:45:49 +0000

Remember Easy Root? You know, the "1-touch" rooting machine that rooted many of your Droid and Droid X devices just before the FRG01B manual update was released? Well guess what? The developers behind it have figured out a way to root that same official stock FRG01B that many you seem to want to revert away from for rooting purposes. And now you can do just that with again, a simple click. For those of you new to the rooting game, we ran a poll asking users why they would root their phone a while back and should provide you with any answer you might need to take the plunge. View the poll here.

*Warning* - Just a reminder that rooting VOIDS your warranty and could potentially do permanent damage to your device. This is not a recommended practice and you do so at your own risk.

Update: Easy Root has been "suspended" from the market. We're awaiting details as to why.

Let us know how it goes! Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

DROID 2 Accessories Arriving at Verizon Stores

Kellen — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:30:42 +0000

It was only a week ago that we started seeing Droid 2 accessories popping up at Best Buy stores and that seemed a little odd with out an announcement for the device, but now we're seeing the official stuff readying for launch at Verizon locations. Pretty much seals the deal for an official announcement next week, I'd say. On a related note, apparently the Droid 2 multimedia dock has an insert that will allow your D1 to fit in nicely. A ton of additional shots after the break including the car mount! Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] I'm really starting to like the look of this device especially since they've kept it so close to the original Droid in look and feel. Anyone returning their Droid X for the D2?

Flash to be Available on August 18th for DROID

Kellen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:30:31 +0000

Earlier today we reported that the availability of Flash was still unknown for Motorola Droid users who had manually updated to Froyo. And then just a few hours later, it appears as if Verizon has received an answer. August 18th is the current scheduled day for official Flash to land in the Android Market and change your browser experience forever. Yay! Makes sense, as I'm sure Adobe possibly feels like announcing it at FITC (Flash in the Can) which takes place that same week. Until then, you can download the beta here.

DROIDX Froyo Update Delayed to September?

Kellen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:17:30 +0000

Droid X users, please take a deep breath before you read this. And let me just say that "early September" is not that much different than "late August" when we're talking about Froyo updates. Why am I prefacing this? Because the Motorola forums manager just dropped some interesting news on the DX community...

Some Droid X users are experiencing an issue using Exchange 2003 email. Though the email is arriving on the Droid X, no notifications are appearing. A fix for this will be included in the upgrade to Android 2.2 scheduled for deployment by early September.

He was responding to the growing list of people having issues with Exchange support on their device and managed to slip in a surprise timeline for Froyo. September...not August. Maybe Android 2.2 and Blur aren't playing nice? And maybe this is the same reason that we still don't have an official date for the Droid 2? Thoughts anyone? Source: Motorola Forums Via: Engadget

Release: Sapphire 1.0.0 DROID Froyo

Kellen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:17:35 +0000

The latest release from Sapphire busted onto the scene today as V1.0.0 for the Motorola Droid and as usual, remains one of the few ROMs out there truly built from source. The quality of the work you'll find from this team is as good as any out there and brings a smile to my face just talking about them. (Touching right?) So download this puppy now! Built off of the latest source code, you will find 5 themes to choose from when flashing this including one with just a stock black bar. Sapphire can be found for free in ROM Manager under "CVPCS" so we'll just leave you to install from that. I should also mention that you will have no problems with Pandora on this build. For full release info on V1.0.0 visit the official Sapphire site here.

Pandora and Froyo Not Playing Nice, Issue Processing Audio Files

Kellen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:45:16 +0000

A few of you have reached out to let us know that since manually updating to official Froyo on your Droid, Pandora seems to be lacking in the sound quality department. Well according to Pandora, this is an Android 2.2 issue and should be fixed in the next release...of...Android? Whoa...

Froyo has a problem processing our AAC+ files. We have confirmed that this is an issue in the OS, and they should have it fixed in the next Android release. Thanks for your patience in the meantime. Best Regards, Pandora Listener Support

And since we have no idea when we'll see Gingerbread, maybe a fix will be issued in the mean time? I know there are a ton of Pandora addicts out there who are more than a little frustrated. Hang in there! Cheers Gady and Mark!

Verizon About to Make FRG22 Froyo for DROID Official?

Kellen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:03:03 +0000

From the document above, it appears as if the FRG22 talk from yesterday wasn't such a hoax after all. While Verizon apparently hasn't updated their support page to this document just yet, they likely will any day now. We still have no word (other than a possible security patch) as to why this new build is needed and only have one confirmation of anyone receiving it to date. Interesting stuff indeed. By the way, you should still have no problem updating to FRG01B. News on Flash 10.1 availability for the DROID after the jump! Oh and you will also notice that the first bullet has been updated with some news on Flash...

...will be available for download via Market by late summer.

Users have not been able to find Flash in the market and it appears as if Verizon has reached out to Adobe for some confirmation on the official release date...

I would say that the new Flash document also shows that FRG01B has not been halted as has previously been rumored. In fact, all signs point to its continued rollout over the next few days. We'll just assume that FRG22 will come after?

New Facebook Update is Draining Batteries? (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:45:11 +0000

Many of you have been expressing some frustrations over battery life throughout the last couple of days after manually updating to Android 2.2 on your Droid. Some even claimed that this could be one of the reasons for a rumored halt of the OTA update from Verizon, but with some news discovered today from Geek For Me, it could be something else that we all overlooked and may not be Froyo after all. Remember that Facebook overhaul that happened on the exact same day that you all updated? Yep, the one which took FB on Android into the land of the pretties? It appears as if this may be the culprit behind our battery woes. Apparently the new update includes a "partial wake lock" which means that your phone looks to be snoozing peacefully when you aren't using it, but is in fact continuing to run in the background all while hammering away on your battery. There really isn't a fix until the Facebook team patches the app, so for now your options are to logout of it or attempt to downgrade back to V1.2. Update: Facebook has acknowledged the issue and is working on a fix...(via Android Central)

Hi folks, a number of you have commented on seeing a battery drain on your device since installing the new Facebook for Android app. We have identified the bug that is causing this battery drain and are working on a fix now. As soon as the patch is ready, we will push out an update. Thanks for the quick feedback and for your patience as we get this fixed

Yay! Fix! Source: Geek For Me Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

200,000 Android Devices Sold Each Day, Hello World Domination

Kellen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:30:58 +0000

Google CEO Eric Schmidt dropped a pretty significant number on the world Tuesday when he mentioned that 200,000 Android devices are being sold each day. No, not each month or week, each day. Think about that for a second, start doing the math in your head and you'll realize the behemoth that has become Android...

"People are finally beginning to figure out how successful Android is," Schmidt said at the inaugural Techonomy conference here, pointing to recent studies showing the growth of the mobile operating system outpacing even the popular iPhone. "The number was about 100,000 (a day) about two months ago," Schmidt said. "It looks like Android is not just phenomenal but incredibly phenomenal in its growth rate. God knows how long that will continue."

So we've gone from 100K per day to 200K in just 2 months and there are so many devices on the horizon that those numbers you have to assume will only continue to rise. What if we get to 400,000 activations per day? Can you even fathom that? Source: CNET Via: Engadget

More DROID 2 Training Guide Materials

Kellen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:30:54 +0000

We thought you had all had enough Froyo info for the Droid 2, but apparently we were wrong. We've been holding on to these puppies for a few days now and after seeing the black and white version land on Engadget, why not share the rest with you? Here is the rest of the training guide for for the D2 which shows employees how to sell its top 5 features, Android 2.2, and compare it to top phones on other carriers... [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] And let me just reconfirm that August 12th is definitely the date we are looking at for the D2. Anything else you want to see from this phone?

DROID Froyo OTA Halted? FRG22 Replacing FRG01B?

Kellen — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:12:27 +0000

Rumors have begun to fly around the dark tunnels of the interwebs (here and here) that the FRG01B Froyo update for the Motorola Droid has been halted due to unnamed bugs. Seems odd right? You'd think that pretty thorough testing had been done before they decided to start launching this puppy. Right? On a related note, you may recall the leaked FRG22 Froyo build for the Droid that we posted this morning which definitely came as an extremely interesting surprise. Why would Motorola and Verizon be pumping out new builds if the OTA is rolling out and confirmed as FRG01B? Well we just received this screenshot in an email from a reader and could potentially help clear up all this confusion (or compound it). He claims to have received FRG01B, only to be prompted immediately after with a "security patch" which was about "1.6mb" and took him to build FRG22. Did that make sense? Time to start cracking on Google servers for the file! It could potentially look something like this: Update: I should add that if you updated to FRG01B yesterday manually, you are fine. There is almost 100% chance that a file will be available to upgrade you to whatever the new build is should this whole story be true. This happened to the Nexus One 2-3 times during its Froyo update. We're digging deeper... Cheers Daniel!

Having Trouble With Swype on Froyo?

Kellen — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:32:02 +0000

We've seen quite a few emails from users having trouble with Swype after manually updating to Froyo and wanted to let you know that this is normal. In fact, Swype has identified the problem already and provided a simple fix. Just uninstall and reinstall it. To uninstall the Swype Installer and Swype: 1. On the phone, go to Settings → Applications → Manage Applications → SwypeInstaller → Uninstall 2. When it asks if you want to uninstall SwypeInstaller, press OK 3. SwypeInstaller should uninstall 4. Then, in the same location choose Swype → Uninstall 5. When it asks if you want to uninstall Swype, press OK 6. Swype should uninstall After that, simply install again using the "installer" which should be somewhere on your SD card just like you did from day one. Here are the official instructions for reinstallation. Fixed! Cheers Yager for the faq link!

Motorola and Verizon Preparing DROID Tablet for Fall?

Kellen — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:20:00 +0000

The rumors of a Motorola device that will compete with Apple's i*ad have reached nuclear status. The latest suggest that Moto plans to work closely with Verizon on an a 10" Android-based tablet which will support FiOS TV on the go. Can you say "epic?" While we would love to run out and call this the "DROIDPad" we haven't been able to confirm much from our sources. The name and release date are still completely up in the air, but "autumn" has been suggested a few times meaning we are less than a month or 2 away from enjoying the first legitimate Android tablet. I know I'll be waiting in line. Anyone with me? Source: Financial Times Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

TCBY Acknowledges Google and Froyo with Grassy Message (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 08:45:20 +0000

Update: As far as we can tell, the press release is not fake. While it's not on TCBY's site, it's everywhere else in the media world including Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, SmartBrief and MarketWire. It also includes media contact info. Obviously the photo is fake, but no one is claiming it to be real. Media info here.

Update 2: We spoke with the media contact listed with the release and they've confirmed it as one big joke. So no, it's not from the Onion and was TCBY just having some fun with Google. Definitely well played.

While I can't remember the last time I ate frozen yogurt or at a TCBY, you can't help but say, "TCBY frickin' rocks!" after seeing the message they blasted in the grass across from Google's campus. The frosty treat company was so excited for the release of Android 2.2 that they took their mowers to 300 acres and created "TCBY Frozen Yogurt… We Think the NEw Android 2.2 FroYo Upgrade is Sweet!" for the world to see. Well, on Google Earth anyway. Nice timing as Froyo for the Droid releases this week. Download it now! Via: Phandroid Cheers Shadez!

Video: Official Android 2.2 Motorola DROID Walkthrough

Kellen — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 07:00:57 +0000

We had already done an Android 2.2 walkthrough a few weeks back when the leaked builds started rolling out, but an official one was definitely needed to bring those of you new to Froyo up to speed. No need for much of a writeup! Video action:

To download the official Froyo update today, head to the instruction page here. And be sure to drop your favorite Froyo tips and tricks into the comments!

Download: New Froyo Leak FRG22 for DROID

Kellen — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 06:55:04 +0000

We have no idea why a "newer" build for the Motorola Droid would already be floating around, especially on the week that the official OTA update is rolling out, but that's exactly what we have. The new build number is FRG22 and that's basically all we know. We're guessing this is a simple bug fixer and can't have anything incredibly different than FRG01B which is hitting devices as you read this, right? Only one way to find out!

Update: Feel free to read this excellent writeup by the guys who put together Sapphire to get some additional thoughts/info on FRG22 plus their upcoming ROM.

*ROOTED USERS ONLY.

Download: FRG-DEODEXED-Release.zip

*Note 1* - There is a chance that Voice Search is broken. Please let me know if you experience this or any other issues. *Note 2* - I have also not had the chance to test this, so please proceed with caution. We just wanted you to know that it existed.

Instructions... 1. Download the file to your SD card. 2. Open ROM Manager, choose “Install ROM from SD Card.” 3. Scroll down to find FRG-DEODEXED-Release.zip and tap on it. 4. When prompted, check the box to create a backup if you don’t have a recent one. 5. Skip the “wipe data and cache” box if coming from another Froyo build. 6. Phone will reboot, work magic and BAM! Enjoy the new Froyo! Let us know of any differences from FRG01B that you may stumble upon!

Cheers to CellZealot for dropping leak after leak on the Droid developer community!

ROM Via: MyDroidWorld

Android Facebook App Receives Overhaul

Kellen — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:21:34 +0000

The Android Facebook app surprised all of us with a nice update today that brings it pretty close to the i*hone version. Actually it brings it up to speed with the "touch" version you'll find if you use your browser, and that's a good thing. Still no chat, but do we really expect that to ever happen? Overall though, it is much improved and even includes a fun little scrolling picture viewer at the bottom. And yes, that is Erin Andrews and her sister. Download from the market now and then follow us on Facebook!

Download: Rooted FRG01B Froyo for DROID

Kellen — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:53:39 +0000

For those of you that stayed rooted while the Froyo OTA update was discovered, you can now have it with full root access. Yep, Pete (Mr. Bugless Beast) has already put together the FRG01B build, slipped in superuser and has it ready to rock on your Droid. What's even better, is the guy is in the middle of a camping trip and managed to hack while roasting some mallows. Dedication. Download: FRG01BODEXEDOTA.zip (alt link)

*THIS IS FOR ROOTED USERS ONLY.

Instructions... 1. Download the file to your SD card. 2. Open ROM Manager, choose “Install ROM from SD Card.” 3. Scroll down to find FRG01BODEXEDOTA.zip and tap on it. 4. When prompted, check the box to create a backup if you don’t have a recent one. 5. Skip the “wipe data and cache” box if coming from another Froyo build. 6. Phone will reboot, work magic and BAM! Enjoy the new Froyo! Let us know if you run into any issues! And again, amazing work Pete. Source: Peter Alfonso

Manual Android 2.2 Update for Motorola DROID

Kellen — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:56:00 +0000

The file has been released! No more staring at and refreshing your "About" screen to see if an update is available! Android 2.2 for the Motorola Droid is finally and officially here. Screenshots from my device:

Instructions to manually install Android 2.2 on your Motorola Droid:

*THIS IS ONLY FOR NON-ROOTED STOCK 2.1 USERS.

1. Download this file: update.zip or DIRECT FROM GOOGLE LINK 2. Place file on the root of your sdcard (not in any folder).

Make sure it is named UPDATE.ZIP! The Google link will need to be renamed.

3. Turn your phone off. 4. Boot into recovery (Hold Power + X). 5. Wait for a triangle with exclamation point to appear and release Power and X. 6. Hit the volume up and camera button (half-way down) at the same time. 7. Using the D-Pad select “apply update.zip” and press in the gold button on the D-Pad. 8. Your phone will now run the update. 9. When it finishes, use th D-Pad to select reboot phone. 10. Your phone will reboot with Android 2.2.

Update 1: If you would like FLASH installed, download it here. Update 2: Download Chrome to Phone here.

Enjoy everyone! And let us know if you run into any issues during the installation process. We've got a ton of great community members to help out. Big cheers to LarryR for figuring out the URL. We tried but realized we are bloggers, not code crackers.

DROID 2 to be Announced August 10th, Available August 12th?

Kellen — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:00:21 +0000

In the above blurry shot, we have an apparent timeline for the launch of the Droid 2. For whatever reason, Verizon has been keeping the release date of this device as locked up as Lindsay Lohan, but this new leak may give us what we've been looking for. If we are assuming the numbers listed on the left side are dates, then we have a "Publicly announce Droid 2" on the 10th followed by a August 11th pre-sale and a "Commercial launch of Droid 2" on the 12th. So does that seal it? We surely hope so. Oh, the 10th also mentions "Devices to reporters"...do we fit that criteria yet Big Red? Source: Dont Hate the Geek

Comparison: DROID vs. DROID 2 vs. DROID X vs. Incredible

Kellen — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:15:56 +0000

If you are struggling to decide which Droid family member to buy with your early upgrade, then we have the chart for you. The table above compares the Droid 2, Droid 1, Droid X and Droid Incredible in the simplest of formats and should help you make a decision. A couple of things to point out though:

The D1 column is highlighted, meaning the Droid 2 is around the corner and VZW employees are being trained into pushing customers toward other devices.
The asterisk next to the D1, DX and DI simply mean that they are scheduled to receive Froyo. We just don't know exactly when.
Doesn't the DI have 748MB of ROM, not 512MB?
And yes, the LG Ally is included, we just don't care.

Pretty impressive lineup of phones though wouldn't you say?

Video: DROID X Running Android 2.2

Kellen — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:30:34 +0000

Want to see Android 2.2 in action on the Droid X? Then check out the video below of someone who appears to have snagged a test build of the custom Blur Froyo and loaded it onto his device for our viewing pleasure. Actually, he's pretty confused as to how this could have been loaded, so maybe he was another lucky eBay user?

Still no official date for the DX update, and the rumor for this Friday is starting to seem less and less likely. In our opinion, we'll see the launch of the Droid 2 with 2.2 before we see it on the DX. How else are they going to sell it to users? Can't you see it now? "Buy the D2! The first device to launch with Android 2.2!" Via: Android Central

Official DROID Froyo Watch...

Kellen — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 07:09:51 +0000

Anything you need to know about the Android 2.2 OTA update for the Motorola Droid will be posted right here. If we hear updates from any of our sources or readers, we'll be posting straight to this thread. You can also expect a manual update method to be posted here the minute it drops. This is a good one to stay close to. In the mean time, here are a few things you may want to read up on to prepare yourself for Froyo-ness...

______________________________________________

Update 7:05AM: We have one "confirmed" update to reader Timmah. Unfortunately no way for us to confirm as he is at work with no camera or SDK for screenies. (Link) Update 8:49AM: Another "confirmed" update from reader Benfiner. This will be the last reader update we'll have unless we see video, screenshots, etc. (Link) Update 11:25AM: Android Forums moderator may have an update.zip. (Link) Update 11:59AM: Android Forums looking for official file from Google server and working on an update.zip from 2 separate users. We're close people! (Link)

Update 12:30PM: We have what we believe to be the filename once the update is downloaded to your phone. Should you be prompted to install it, hit "install later" and then proceed to look for the following filename in your cache folder first and then everywhere on your device...

Update filename: e48e48ff4252.signed-voles-FRG01B-from-ESE81.zip

Update 12:41PM: WE MAY HAVE THE FILE. DOWNLOAD HERE.

Update 4:16PM: Manual update instructions have been posted here.

And be sure to follow us on Twitter! We'll be tweeting any major updates as they come in!

Download: Official Android 2.2 User Guide

Kellen — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:30:47 +0000

Since we're expecting Android 2.2 to hit Motorola Droid devices starting today, there are probably more than a few of you out there who have no idea what to expect with this latest build. In our opinion, Froyo is the greatest update we've seen yet and packs a ton of hidden gems which you may not know about unless you had an opportunity to peruse some expert's brain or by thumbing through a 336 page official user guide. We have the latter. Download: AndroidUserGuide.pdf (alt link) (alt link2) And of course, if you still have questions after browsing this guide, hit us up below! Cheers Mr Joshua!

Easy Root, the Newest 1-Touch DROID Rooting App

Kellen — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:31:55 +0000

After the beta version of DMUpdater was taken down today, many of you were left without an option to root your Droid and only a few hours remain until the official Android 2.2 update starts rolling out. Are you freaking? Freak no more! The developer behind an app called "Easy Root" reached out to us this afternoon claiming to have an app that can root both the Droid 1 an Droid X with the touch of a button. Nice timing right? Can't say that I've tried it as my Droid 1 is sitting stock at the moment awaiting some Froyo-ness, but feel free to give it some run and let us know what happens. Not free, but only $.99 in the market. Download:

Download Link

"Copy Paste It" Will Change Your Android Experience

Kellen — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:00:15 +0000

We just received an email from an app developer who has created an app that will change Android lives forever. A copy and paste app! And yes, it even works in Gmail! I know, I know, HTC's Sense lets you copy and paste some stuff, but it doesn't even go as far as Gmail awesomeness. The app is called Copy Paste It. So how does it work? It takes a screenshot of your current screen and then allows you to select specific text with a resize-able box and then copy whatever you've selected to the clipboard. It even lets you select words on images! I'm telling you, this is epic. Oh there is one catch though...since it takes screenshots, it requires root access. So yes, that means "root users only." Trial and $3.99 versions available. Video Action:

Download:

Free | Full Version

In Preparation for Tomorrow's DROID Froyo OTA Update...

Kellen — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:45:45 +0000

There are a few topics that have really been hammering our inboxes over the last few days, and in some way all have to do with the impending Android 2.2 update which should hit Droids across the country starting tomorrow. And just as we did a couple of months ago, it seemed only fair that we re-visit these topics to get you all prepared once again on the rooting/unrooting front for those with worries, issues or simply seeking answers.

Should I unroot before 2.2 arrives?

For this question, I'm going to basically just copy and paste from our previous post...

Should you un-root? My initial reaction is to say, “Oh heck no!” My second reaction is, “Wait…why would you un-root if you’ve already rooted in the past?” I say that simply because with the release of a new Android OS, we see a flurry of rooted users frantically figuring out a way to get the update as soon as it’s released. Can’t blame them right? Who doesn’t want new goodies? The problem is, that immediately after unrooting and installing an update, they can no longer overclock, take screen shots, install custom ROMs, or do anything that drew them into rooting in the first place. And what happens when they realize all of that? They want to root their device again.

There is a growing concern in the Droid community that we will see Motorola start to lock down their devices when future OTA updates are released. You thought 2.1 was tough to root, just wait until we reach Motorola Droid X bootloader status. So should you “un-root” for Froyo? I would say that holding off for now is your best bet until we see what Moto has placed in front of us. Plus, you are already running Froyo with additional goodies, do you really want to give all of those up?

How do I unroot and get back to stock 2.1?

We're not going to post instructions to do this as they are spread around on just about every Android forum on the planet, but we'll give you a hint as to where to look. If you do a Google search for "unroot/unbrick droid" or "unbrick droid" you should find quite the selection of links that will get you back to stock. The process is almost the same as we used through our guide to rooting 2.1 with RSD Lite, Motorola USB drivers and an SBF file, only this time the SBF file wipes your phone completely clean and installs a clean Android image. Once you find a set of instructions on a forum, feel free to try this file in place of the 2.0.1 SBF.

Should I root before 2.2 arrives?

Again we'll just pull from our previous post...

Should you root? This is a much tougher question than the previous one. First, you should ask yourself, “Why do I want to root my Droid?” If you are struggling for answers, check out this poll we ran a while back asking users to give us their top reasons. If you read through the comments there and decide you still want to root, then I say now is a much better time to take on the process than after 2.2 is released. And along the same lines as the answer to the previous question, you’ve got to consider the fact that the rooting process for Android 2.2 could be much more difficult than it was for 2.1. In fact, it might be almost impossible. We really don’t know at this time. I’ll also point out that I have yet to hear of a person doing any permanent damage to their device while going through the process we have put together. Is it still risky? Of course it is. Do your research, check out our “Root/Unlock” section, and ask questions around the site before proceeding. So should you “root” before Froyo is released? Weigh the pluses and minuses and if you are still interested, hit up our “Guide to Rooting Android 2.1.”

Still have comments or questions? Be sure to drop them in the comments and our team of moderators will do our best to help you out!

We Knew Mobile Hotspot Would Be Left Out, But No Tethering for the DROID?

Kellen — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:30:33 +0000

Reports are coming out today which suggest that the Motorola Droid will not have the mobile hotspot option when Android 2.2 hits the device this week. Surprised? If you are involved in the rooting scene at all you won't be. Each Froyo build to come out over the last couple of months has never included the wi-fi or mobile hotspot feature even though it is available on the Nexus One. On the other hand, there are additional reports which suggest that tethering will also not be included and this does come as a little surprise. As you can see from the screenshot above, tethering has always been included in test builds and would be a little odd to see it excluded in the final release. It's also interesting to hear Verizon say that the device doesn't support these features when we all know that there are a variety of wired and wireless tethering options available on the market. I guess we'll know starting tomorrow! Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Nielson: Android Jumps iPhone in Q2 Sales

Kellen — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:30:23 +0000

With Android's approach of spreading their OS to as many phones as possible across as many carriers as possible, they have now jumped passed the i*hone in quarterly sales for the first time. Apparently selling over a million units during its opening weekend at the end of Q2 wasn't enough for Apple to hold an edge over our little green robotic friend. Happy times! And back to our Froyo watch... Source: Nielson Via: AndroidGuys

Motorola Milestone Receiving Android 2.2 in September?

Kellen — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 09:46:09 +0000

What's that? You can't read German tweets? All you really need to get out of that is the "Milestone mitte/ende September" which simply means, middle to end of September for Android 2.2. This is fantastic news for Milestone owners who just a few weeks ago were told the decision had yet to be made by Motorola. In case you were wondering, that Twitter account is the official German o2 account who should have a pretty good idea on software updates. On the flip-side, Motorola has yet to announce anything. Via: AndroidSpin, Eurodroid

Download: New Android 2.2 DROID Incredible Build

Kellen — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 09:00:20 +0000

Everything I've heard over the last few days suggests that Android 2.2 for the Droid Incredible is still going through a variety of tests and this latest build is evidence of just that. While we still have no official release date, these builds are starting to become about as polished as you'll find. From what we can tell, there are no major differences between this build and the last one we had a week or so ago. Well there is one thing we noticed immediately and that is the return of the old HTC IME keyboard. As you may remember from our first impressions of Froyo with Sense, the keyboard hiding button had been removed and for whatever reason returned in this build. Who knows?

*For rooted Droid Incredible users only.

Download: signed_080110_225622.zip Instructions... 1. Download the zip file above to your SD card. 2. Open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM from SD card." 3. Choose the zip file you downloaded and check the box to create a backup. 4. Skip the box to "wipe data and cache" as this build will wipe everything anyway. 5. Allow your phone to reboot and work some magic. 6. Should reboot with the new Sense Froyo love. Enjoy! As always, let us know of any issues should you run into some. This is a great build for DI owners. Flash is not included but can be downloaded here. (alt link) Cheers to our tipster for the leak and unrevoked for scrubbing this thing clean!

DROID 2 Lands on Verizon's "Advanced Device List"

Kellen — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:00:04 +0000

The "Advanced Device List" is really just Verizon's list of smartphones and netbooks that have an early termination fee of $350 rather than the $179 or so on any other device. And as one of our tipsters has pointed out, the Droid 2 has found its way onto the list even though VZW has yet to "officially" announce it. To see the full device list, head here. Cheers Valeriy!

Exclusive: Full Verizon DROID 2 Training Guide

Kellen — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 06:45:23 +0000

If you wanted to know every single detail about the upcoming Droid 2 to help your decision between any of the devices in the unstoppable Droid lineup, then we have exactly what you need. Just hitting our inbox is the full version of the D2's training guide for Verizon employees which spills the beans on all of the features, specs, and fun included with this new family member. A few of the juicy details:

Droid 2 is definitely launching with Android 2.2 and Flash 10.1.
It is also definitely coming loading with the new Motoblur skin.
Employees are being asked to push this as a replacement to the Droid 1.
Corporate exchange support has improved.
Mobile hotspot option plus the now-standard VZW bloatware.
Swype pre-loaded.
Remote wipe and lock.
"DVD quality" video recording.

A comparison to other top devices:

REMOVED AT THE REQUEST OF VERIZON.

Check out the full 12 page gallery after the jump! Gallery:

REMOVED AT THE REQUEST OF VERIZON.

The more I hear about this device, the more I'm starting to like it. Sure the screen is only 3.7", but the Droid 1 is just such a fantastic device that this will surely be a winner. Oh, and no release date included at all. Weird right?

Verizon Starts DROID 2 Training for Employees

Kellen — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:30:16 +0000

And the Droid 2 info just keeps coming...hey isn't that a picture of the same D2 dummy phone we had? The latest show training sessions being set up for VZW employees, but still no release date mentioned. Are they fighting over unlocking the bootloader and going stock Android 2.2? Are they struggling to make enough? There are obviously some last minute issues needing to be worked out or these documents floating around company systems would probably include some kind of date. Does it have to do with the R2-D2 model? What? Tell us BR (Big Red)! A few additional details on the training including Android 2.2 talk...

Thoughts on the secret release date? Any good conspiracy theories will be "liked". (Hello incentive.) Source: BGR, Phandroid

Motorola Adds 2.2 to Android Timeline, "Late Summer" for DROID X

Kellen — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:00:58 +0000

Verizon has said that the Android 2.2 for the Droid will start to roll out on Tuesday, August 3rd and Motorola basically confirmed that with a timeline update. Yes, that same dreaded timeline. While we knew about this info after receiving an email from Moto's forums manager, we now see that the Droid X has been added to the list with some not-so-specific info. "Late summer" is the word we've been hearing all along and it appears as if Verizon and Motorola are going to be as tight lipped about this one as they've been with the D1's update. Can't say we blame them. Source: Motorola

DROID 2.2 to Start Rolling Out August 3rd?

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:21:01 +0000

According to the latest leaked Verizon document, the Droid Android 2.2 update should start hitting devices on August 3rd. There is a small chance that test updates could start tonight, but the mass rollout appears to be coming this Tuesday...

Android 2.2 (Froyo) Update for DROID by Motorola Updated: 7/30/2010 5:58:38 PM(ET) Starting 8/3, the Android 2.2 (Froyo) update for DROID by Motorola becomes available. Starting 8/3/2010, Verizon Wireless introduces the Android 2.2 (Froyo) update for DROID by Motorola. The new Android 2.2 (Froyo) software update includes new enhancements and tons of shortcuts. It's like downloading a new phone! Enhancements

Improved Web browsing with Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta for Android

New security options including remote device wipe and device lock, password complexity and minimum password length.

Easily switch between the eight most recent applications.

Rotate the screen 270 degrees to work with apps in any direction.

Improvements

Enhanced audio quality

Easy shortcuts for access to the phone, application launcher and browser from any of the five home screens

Support Exchange calendars in the Calendar application.

The update will be available to customers starting 8/3/2010. For more information and step-by-step instructions on how to perform the upgrade, please visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/droidsupport.

As soon as we see an update.zip for this, we'll be sure to post it. Stay close! You never know what could leak out in the next couple of days. Via: Alldroid Cheers Picolas!

DROID Froyo Test OTA Updates Start Tonight?

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:23:40 +0000

If you were signed up through Motorola's forums to receive notification of the Android 2.2 rollout for the Droid, then you probably just received the email above. What's amazing about this? It mentions that a few test updates will start rolling out to users as early as tonight. Awesome.

Official Android 2.2 Details List for Motorola DROID

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:45:12 +0000

(Click each for full version.)

There is your official details list for FRG01B Froyo OTA update which will land on the Motorola Droid next week. Welcome to Froyo non-roots! (Kidding, kidding.) Highlights of the list?

Flash 10.1
Bluetooth voice dialing
New launcher
New camera software
270 degree rotation
Greater Exchange support

Nice way to cruise into the weekend right? Cheers zepfloyd!

Verizon DROID Support Site Shows Froyo Build as FRG01B

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:24:20 +0000

The Verizon Droid Support page has been updated to show the official Froyo build which will hit our devices next week some time. FRG01B is what we can expect. A 45.2MB download that will bring the Droid 1 ahead of the newest family member, the Droid X. FRG01B look familiar? That's because the last build to leak was FRG01, so they must have tightened up a couple of additional bugs before pressing go. Official details posted here. Via: Phandroid and Eugene!

Verizon Confirms Android 2.2 for DROID Next Week?

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:37:44 +0000

Engadget has been informed by Verizon that we can all expect to see Android 2.2 on our Droid 1 devices at "some point" next week. The original rumor that all 3 Droid devices would be receiving Froyo next Friday is starting to look more and more promising by the day. Source: Engadget Cheers Neil and Zach!

Motorola Releases DROID X Antenna Design and Quality FAQ

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:15:07 +0000

Motorola has updated their Droid X page with a full FAQ section dedicated to their antenna design and process for approval. This obviously comes after the attacks from Apple and is an intelligent idea, we're just wondering why it was tucked so deeply away. Of course this also comes at the same time as their now famous "No Jacket Required" ad. Here are a few of the key questions:

Q: When Motorola is designing a new phone, how does it take the design of the antenna into account? Is it a standard component that’s added in the same manner to each phone, or is it unique to each phone? A: Motorola begins the antenna design very early in the product design process, typically when the phone is in the initial design phases. The combination of size, features, materials, as well as the selection of the carrier customer, make the antenna design unique for each phone. Therefore each smart phone has a customized antenna design. Q: How do you test the antenna and certify that it works? What different types of tests do you run? A: Motorola has a series of internal radiated test requirements that are run before a phone can receive Motorola’s internal approval to be shipped externally. These tests are conducted in anechoic chambers that isolate the antenna performance and allow highly calibrated measurements. In addition to anechoic chamber testing, the phone is also is run through field tests with real users to gauge field performance. Q. Describe the call quality on DROID X. A: DROID X utilizes high performance dual diversity antennas along with innovative software algorithms (software code) to improve signal strength, reduce dropped calls and improve data performance. Over 80 software algorithm improvements have been developed over the last 5 years for the purpose of improving call quality.

Check out the rest of the questions at the source link below. And I promise that we'll do our best to move on from antenna talk after this... Source: Motorola Cheers Eric!

Root Android 2.1 the Easy Way with New DMUpdater

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:00:25 +0000

The DroidMod team has been quiet over the last few months working behind the scenes, but trust me when I say it appears as if they are gearing up to explode back to the forefront. We just received a beta version of their DMUpdater app which easily roots Android 2.1 on a variety of devices including the Droid 1, Droid X and EVO. Yes I just said "easily roots" 2.1 for the Droid 1. No more SBF file, no more RSD Lite, and no more Motorola USB drivers. I guess we'll need to update our rooting guide, again. And I'll let that soak in for a second... Just be warned that this is definitely a beta version of the app and is by no means official. I've tested this twice on my Droid 1 and ran into zero problems.

Update: To clarify, I have not tested this on the Droid X or EVO. I have no idea if it will in fact root either but have been told it "should." I only said "root" there, not root and recovery image. Until I get further confirmation, Droid 1 owners should probably be the only testers.

Your comments and shared experiences will be greatly appreciated.

*Warning* - This will void your warranty, possibly brick your device, and who knows what else. We are not liable should any of those things happen. Enjoy!

Download: *LINK PULLED AT REQUEST OF DEVELOPER* Instructions...

*The process outlined is for rooting the Droid 1.

1. Download and install the new DMUpdater. Open it. 2. When prompted, tap the button to "Root my phone."

3. When prompted to give access to DMUpdater, tap "Allow."

4. DMUpdater will then prompt you to flash SPRecovery onto your phone. Allow it to.

5. Once that finishes, you are rooted 2.1 with a custom recovery image. 6. Close DMUpdater and enjoy your new phone! Your next step is to boot into recovery (Power+X) and create a full nandroid backup. From there, prepare to start flashing custom ROMs, having fun with Froyo and so much more. Huge props are in store for the entire DroidMod team, Camel, trevorjay, sgx (tax), [mbm], and birdman for getting the root method to work. Visit DroidMod.org for the future support and an official release of this. You can also find them in IRC at #droidmod.

DROID X Source Code Released

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:00:16 +0000

Ready to start hacking on the source code for the Droid X? Motorola actually released the code a couple of days ago, but it seems to have been washed under the rug while everyone focused on hating the manufacturer over a locked bootloader and mythical eFuse. From what I've heard, the code seems to be missing some key pieces for the rooting/ROM-ing crowd to really jump on it, but at least it's out there. Source: Motorola Cheers Saul!

Custom Theme Friday: Alternate Dark Theme

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:00:30 +0000

Today's theme might be one of the cleanest we've seen in a while. Brought to you by roberj13, Alternate Dark is now one of my favorite black and white themes of all time. A themed ADW Launcher, widgets, settings menu and so much more make this a certified winner. Oh, he's even made separate versions for CyanogenMod and Sapphire so you've got some choices here.

Theme: roberj13's Alternate Dark

Instructions...

*Rooted Droid 1 users only.

1. Install either CM6 RC2 or Sapphire 0.8.4 from ROM Manager. 2. Open ROM Manager, choose "Download ROM" and scroll down to "roberj13." 3. Choose "Alternate Dark" and then CM6 RC2 or Sapphire 0.8.4 depending on step 1 choice. 4. Phone will reboot and apply theme! Enjoy! If you don't have ROM Manager, you can download this roberj13 theme here. Donate link here. Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"]

Lookout Clarifies Accusations Against "Suspicious" Wallpaper App

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:55:29 +0000

The Android app world was taken a little by storm yesterday when a report broke through Venturebeat, that a wallpaper app on the market, which "had been downloaded millions of times," was stealing information from users and sending it off to a mysterious server somewhere in China. (Oh no China!) The company behind these accusations was non other than mobile Android security app maker, Lookout who had just finished up, what they consider to be a major Android security project. Now at first glance, the story came off a little scary and was quickly picked up by over a dozen major news outlets, all jumping on the "Android has no control" bandwagon. And then today happened. AndroidTapp and Android Central contacted the developer of the app in question, finding out that the report is apparently, complete BS. In fact, they have thrown together a step-by-step visual guide plus an interview explaining the absurdity of the claims made by Lookout who has now clarified their claims after their initial stance was called into question. It's too bad the damage has already been done to both Android's reputation and the developer. Yikes. Hello LookoutVenturebeatMaliciousChinaServer-gate. Via: AndroidTapp, Androinica, VentureBeat, Android Central

Comcast Android App Coming Soon

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:00:34 +0000

Want to tell your Xfinity to record the Jersey Shore while creepin' at the bar just after GTL'in'? Then Comcast has your back. They managed to fist pump their way into announcing that an Android app is in the works, we just aren't really sure when...

Finally, we have introduced a mobile app that runs on the i*hone and i*od Touch and we’ve blogged about that here. While one of the most popular features of this app is the ability to remotely control your DVR so you can record your favorite shows on the go, it also provides a number of other very useful phone features. My favorite is the ability to auto-forward calls to your home phone directly to your mobile device. In this way, if you’re at the beach or out of town, you’ll never miss a call. You can also receive “push” notifications that someone has left you a voicemail at home and you can check and listen to your home voicemail via the app. We hope to make the app work on as many different devices as possible, including Blackberry and Android.

So it's like DVR with Google Voice mixed in. Wait, people have land lines? Source: Comcast Via: TalkAndroid

Check out this DIY Metal Droid Life Stand

Kellen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:25:16 +0000

Just wanted to quickly share this DIY Droid stand that one of our readers sent in made of 12ga stainless steel. Coolest. Thing. Ever. And maybe "DIY" isn't the right tag for something listing "ability to bend steel" in the instruction manual. Beastly. This isn't the first time we've had readers send in their own Droid stands. You may remember the wire hanger series we've posted for the Droid 1 and a new one for the Droid X that also rocked. Any other goodies out there that you've made for your Droid? Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="title"] Cheers Mike!

Official Verizon Blog Offers Up DROID 2 Details, August 12th Release Date Confirmed?

Kellen — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:43:32 +0000

According to shots from an official Verizon company blog (Yes, even Big Red blogs!) we have some confirmation on a few additional details for the Droid 2, plus a new rumored release date. These shots reassure us that Android 2.2 will come pre-loaded with full Flash support, the physical keyboard has been "enhanced," and a bundle of bloatware to boot. Oh you don't care? You just want the release date info? From 2 separate sources, we've heard as of today, the tentative release date for the Droid 2 remains August 12th. Does this make sense? It seems to. The 12th is a Thursday and we all know that Verizon loves Thursdays plus the following week is a pretty major Adobe/Android summit which would be an ideal time to officially announce Flash. That's 2 weeks from today! Oh and some additional details from the VZW blog...

Thoughts?

Video: Full Flash 10.1 on the DROID Incredible

Kellen — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:26:35 +0000

During yesterday's writeup of our first impressions of Android 2.2 for the Droid Incredible, we completely forgot to cover Flash 10.1. Silly right? After we realized this mistake, we went digging to see what we could find and were surprised to see an official Flash 10.1 build pre-installed and ready for action. The quality of this build (v.10.1.72.7) is pretty amazing on the DI. Check it...

With news of the EVO 4G possibly seeing this same update as early as tomorrow, should we expect it on the Incredible then as well? And who can't wait to see full Flash in action on the DX's screen? Yay!

Android Gaming Challenge Announced, Bundles of Prizes Added

Kellen — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:00:19 +0000

Get ready to take Android gaming to the next level with the first ever Android Gaming Challenge. In a format similar to PC gaming tournaments, the guys at DroidGamers are pitting competitors against each other in a ladder style tourney to determine the best Android gamer in the US. If you are into gaming at all on your Android device, this is something you should consider. There are a number of sponsors giving away some pretty impressive prizes including a Dell Streak and a phone of your choice. The tournament starts tomorrow morning at 10AM PST. Official tournament info and rules can be found here. Official prize info can be found here. Anyone down for this? Let us know if you sign up and then keep us up-to-date on your progress.

Thursday Poll: Experiencing Volume Issues With Your DROID X?

Kellen — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:57:34 +0000

There have been discussions throughout various forums and message boards since the launch of the Droid X that there is possibly a volume issue with the external speaker. Through both the ringer and on speakerphone users are experiencing a low enough volume that they are becoming increasingly frustrated with their new device. So we want to know, are you also experiencing issues? And if so, what have you done to remedy the situation? [poll id="7"]

DROID 2 Cases Spotted at Best Buy

Kellen — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:45:10 +0000

We had heard a rumor that Best Buy stores were starting to receive shipments of Droid 2 accessories, but had yet to see proof. Well until now anyway. As you can see from the shot above, your local BB might let you purchase accessories for the silver and blue beast weeks ahead of launch for a whoppin' $20.99. Any takers? Can Verizon just announce the date already? Cheers Mark!

New DROID X Commercial: Hotspot

Kellen — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:42:11 +0000

Another Droid X commercial launched today (should start running on TV tonight) and focuses on the mobile hotspot feature included in the device. As you all know, this feature is not free, well unless you root your DX that is...

DROID X Owners Missing the 3D Gallery from Stock Android? Download it Here.

Kellen — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:00:31 +0000

Not fond of the gallery application featured on your Droid X? Doesn't it feel like the simple 2.0.1 gallery we had back in the early Droid 1 days? Then feel free to check out the 2.1 multi-touch gallery that was ported long ago! Thankfully a couple of our fantastic readers reminded us of the old moneymaker and now we want to forward that reminder on to you. So far I haven't run into any major issues, but being a ported app, it will have some minor bugs. But hey, at least it pulls in your Picasa albums right? Download: Gallery3DMT.apk (alt link) And as always, this will remain in our downloads section for safe keeping. Cheers grehulk!

Exclusive: DROID 2 User Guide

Kellen — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:00:34 +0000

Want to read up on the Droid 2 before it hits stores some time in August? Then check out the user guide we just received which actually gives away a few key details as to what we can expect from this new Droid family member. Download: droid2-dl.pdf The first is the MotoBlur skin which is already featured on the Droid X and was rumored to be included on the D2. From the screen shot above, you can clearly see the same launcher with the phone and contact buttons sitting beside it. We understand that builds can change and sometimes user guides aren't always on point, but we have no reason to believe the Blur skin won't be featured. Next up are the keyboards and from what we can tell, the multi-touch version (which is awesome) plus Swype will come pre-installed for your using pleasure...

And the last thing is the likelihood that Android 2.2 will come preloaded. As you can see from this shot, we've got the Froyo Google search menu...

Thoughts? Can this phone still be a winner? Is Motorola packing in a surprise to grab our attention?

Google Setting Itself Up to Make $10 Billion Per Year From Android?

Kellen — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:07:47 +0000

With a skyrocketing number of Android device activations each day, Google is setting itself up for an opportunity to make what their CEO, Eric Schmidt thinks could be, billions. After being called a "one-trick pony" as a company making almost all of its revenue from online ads, the next step for the search giant is one many saw them positioning themselves for long ago...

He also said Google is positioning itself to earn $10 billion or more per year in the mobile device business, thanks to its Android operating system. Google is giving away the Android software for free to device makers, who are using it to power dozens of popular devices. By spreading Android, which is growing at a rate of 160,000 new handset activations per day, the company ensures that its Internet search, maps and other ad-supported services will endure as users shift to mobile devices. “If we have a billion people using Android, you think we can’t make money from that?” Schmidt asked rhetorically. All it would take, he said, is $10 per user per year. Among other things, Google might earn such sums from selling access to digital content from newspapers.

Looks like we're on the right side of the wall on this one. +1 Android! Source: Wall Street Journal

DROID X and Incredible Shipment Info, DROID 1 Reaches End of Life

Kellen — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:55:06 +0000

We just received some updated shipment schedules for those of you waiting on a new Droid X or Incredible to arrive at your doorstep. Oh, we also got some sad news for the original Droid family member, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise... Droid Incredible Orders:

If payment was made/order placed from 7/16 - 7/28 your DI will ship by 8/3.

Droid X Orders:

If payment was made/order placed from 7/24 - 7/28 your DX will ship by 8/4.

Droid 1 Status:

The Motorola DROID A855 is now in an "end of life" status and no additional shipments are expected to arrive in locations. This applies to all channels.
A replacement device for the Motorola DROID will be announced in early August.

The new breed is starting to ship in bundles and the original's life has come to an end. Sad? Happy? We already knew that Motorola had stopped production on the D1, but the replacement announcement coming in August should pique your interest a little. Should be the Droid 2 right?

First Impressions of Android 2.2 for the DROID Incredible

Kellen — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:34:45 +0000

When an "official" Android 2.2 build with Sense leaked for the Droid Incredible last night, we jumped at the opportunity to check it out. Early rumors from HTC suggested this build wouldn't be ready until X-mas, so this came as quite a nice surprise and could mean we'll see a major Froyo onslaught start next week for our entire Droid family. First Impressions: The phone is fast, but it has always been fast. This isn't the Eris here people; it's always had a 1.0GHz processor and specs to compete with the best of them. Once you start seeing phones performing at this level, it becomes tough for your eye to really notice much of a difference. The benchmarks on the other hand show quite the improvement. Check out the rest including a full gallery after the jump! Benchmarks: Our Linpack and Quadrant scores on this Froyo'd DI are off the charts. They are right up there with the Nexus One numbers we've seen in the past. The Quadrant scores come up a little short, so we'll take this as an opportunity to blame Sense. (Photos in the gallery.) SenseUI: As far as I can tell, you cannot turn off Sense like you can with the EVO. If you check under Applications, clear out the defaults on HTC Sense and hit the home key, you are not prompted to choose a different launcher. This is a major disappointment to those not all that fond of HTC's custom skin. Other than that Sense runs exactly as it used to and I haven't noticed any major differences just yet. Apps/Bloatware: The update to Froyo also includes a batch of bloatware which Droid X users have already grown accustomed to. Once upgraded to 2.2, you'll find your DI preloaded with My Verizon, Mobile Hotspot, Skype, Flashlight, Quickoffice, and VZ Navigator. You also get a new toggle widget for mobile hotspot control. (Photo in the gallery.) Camera/Video: The camera has been updated to now include 720p as was mentioned a dozen times in the past. It also has a nice flipping feature when going from portrait to landscape using the camera. (Photo in the gallery.) Keyboard: The HTC IME keyboard has been adjusted slightly and not necessarily in a bad way. The button to hide the keyboard has been removed and the speech-to-text button has replaced it. (Photo in the gallery.) Other Froyo Stuff: The market is the 2.2 version which allows for auto-updating of your apps, you can place apps on your SD card and the Google search function is much more advanced. (Photos in the gallery.) Overall: You have to give it up to HTC for pumping out a version with Sense included this fast. In the past, they have been, to put it politely, a little behind other manufacturers when it comes to updating software on their devices. However, like I said in my first impressions section, you won't notice a huge difference in performance as the phone already performed like one of the top dogs. You will be impressed by Froyo if you have not already experienced it though. While some of the changes to 2.2 seem minor, they make the overall experience of Android that much more enjoyable. You will continue to be obsessed with your DI even after this update officially rolls out. Gallery: [gallery link="file" orderby="title"] Any questions on what to expect? Anything you want us to verify or check out?

Full Gallery of DROID X Running Android 2.2

Kellen — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:56:56 +0000

If you want a Droid X running Android 2.2, just head over to eBay. Apparently that's where one of our readers picked up his brand new 4.3" beast which is running the frozen treat we're still hoping arrives on all devices next week. In the gallery below we've got a shot of "apps to SD", the System Info and Settings pages, plus the "About" screen. Need more proof than that? Oh yeah, Flash is installed. This is likely a test build, but still nice to see. If testers are selling their devices running Froyo on eBay, I'd guess we are getting close to release right? Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] On semi-disappointing/confusing note, he was able to send us Quadrant benchmarks and you won't be impressed. In fact, he ran it twice and both came in well below the numbers you get on a stock 2.1 DX...

And maybe I should have said that these would start showing up on an hourly basis.

Android Market Ready to Crack Down on Piracy

Kellen — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:00:02 +0000

The latest announcement from the Android team should bring a giant smile to the faces of application developers. It's time to finally start cracking down on Android application piracy. A new licensing service has been provided to devs and should roll out to the market within the next few months...

This simple and free service provides a secure mechanism to manage access to all Android Market paid applications targeting Android 1.5 or higher. At run time, with the inclusion of a set of libraries provided by us, your application can query the Android Market licensing server to determine the license status of your users. It returns information on whether your users are authorized to use the app based on stored sales records.

If you need a translation on that, it's really just saying that market servers can ping the apps on your device from time to time to make sure it is actually licensed to/paid for by you. And no, you don't have to worry about security, battery life, or "the man" watching over your shoulder with this new service. This is a good thing people. And time for a quick rant... If you've been in the Android game for a while, you are likely familiar with the abundance of "blackmarket" Android app sites which only ask you to pay a small fee to join in order to get unlimited access to paid apps. It's sad, pathetic and obviously illegal, but part of life in general I guess. The thing that really irritates me is the fact that developers put so much time and energy into work which supports an operating system we all hope will continue to grow past everyone, yet we still have community members willing to undermine them. Devs need to get paid if this way of life is ever going to progress to the top. (Damn that sounded preachy!) Source: Android Developers Blog Via: TechCrunch Cheers Jason!

Download: New Fennec Build for Android

Kellen — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:45:07 +0000

While Firefox was in the middle of showing off version 4 of their new web browser which features a fancy little feature called "Tab Candy" our readers were digging into their FTP site and finding new builds of Fennec for Android. As of July 24th, a new build is available and as you'll see after installing it, is much more polished than the one we wrote about back in May. Download: Fennec.apk Cheers Allen!

Full Frontal Froyo Caught Running on DROID X?

Kellen — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:30:37 +0000

Another Droid X Froyo sighting. And this time we have a picture of the full phone instead of just a screenshot. Anyone else feeling even more skeptical about this one than the last though? Same baseband and system version as the 2.1 Droid X we all currently have seems a little odd. We would normally expect both of those to be updated. (Shrug.) I'm starting to get the feeling that we'll be seeing these popping up on a daily basis until the OTA finally rolls out. Aren't you? So we've got an "official" Incredible Android 2.2 leak, 2 shots of the Droid X "allegedly" running it and who knows how many builds for the Droid 1 in the wild. I guess next Friday is starting to look more and more legit. Source: Engadget

New DROID X Ad Takes Another Shot at Apple

Kellen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:00:40 +0000

Another full page Droid X ad is hitting newspapers tomorrow and it takes a wonderful shot at the i*hone and its ridiculous free bumper giveaway...

At Motorola, we believe a customer shouldn't have to dress up their phone for it to work properly. That's why the DROID X comes with a dual antenna design. The kind that allows you to hold the phone any way you like to make crystal clear calls without a bulky phone jacket. For us it's just one of those things that comes as a given when you've been making mobile phones for over 30 years.

Apple, we're laughing at you again. If you missed the last one, check it here. Via: Motorola Facebook Cheers Christopher!

Android 2.2 Update Leaked for DROID Incredible

Kellen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:40:06 +0000

The Android 2.2 update for the Incredible, Droid X and Droid 1 might actually be on its way after a leaked version of the official OTA update for the DI just went live only a few hours after we saw this screenie of the Droid X. This is the full on updated SenseUI version with 720p recording, mobile hotspot, etc. The real deal people. Unfortunately for the non-rooted Incredible users, this is built as a ROM and requires you to be rooted, perform a full wipe and be on the newest baseband which leaked a week or so ago in order for it to work. I should also warn you that returning to stock after doing this might be difficult at this time, so please don't come asking for a way to return if the OTA update does in fact start rolling out next week.

*THIS IS FOR THE DROID INCREDIBLE ONLY.

Download: 20100727_stock_froyo_signed.zip Full support thread at the source link below. Any of our rooted DI peeps on this already or willing to give it a shot? Source: XDA Forums

Verizon Sending Email and Video Messages to Get You to Purchase a DROID X

Kellen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:30:55 +0000

If you do not currently own a Droid X, Verizon sure wants to get you into one. We saw the promo flyer from earlier that they are sending out to customers, including some that bought the Droid 1 back in November which under normal circumstances would have no business upgrading early. We've received forwarded emails from readers that Verizon is pushing to upgrade plus this video message that went out to a Blackberry owner...

This is the time people! With all of this promo material flying around, you should easily have a strong case for them to allow you to upgrade. Well, assuming that you would even want to. Good luck! Cheers Mark!

Augen Gentouch Android Tablet Pics!

Kellen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:15:34 +0000

It does exist! The Augen Gentouch has sort of taken the Android world by storm over the last 24 hours after a Kmart flyer was spotted showing it for sale at the ridiculously low price of $149. This tablet, running Android 2.1, was supposed to hit stores this week, but is seeing all sorts of excuses as to why it hasn't. Most users are flocking to Kmart and being turned away with rainchecks. (Yes rainchecks.) I'm in Portland and called 4 stores in the surrounding area and came up empty at all of them. However, one of our readers found a Kmart with 3 still in stock and sent in pics! Spec shot:

Augen Website. Cheers Jared!

DROIDX Spotted Running Android 2.2?

Kellen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:00:02 +0000

A screenshot of an apparent Droid X device running Android 2.2 has appeared today and should excite the massive amounts of new DX owners out there. We are finding it a little odd that this 2.2 build somehow has root access, hence the Drocap2 icon up top, but overall matches up pretty closely to our picture of the Droid 2 running Froyo. It sure would have been nice to see the full device like we gave you with the D2...OK now we're just being greedy. We've heard rumors that this update could happen next week along with the Droid 1 and Incredible, so hold on to your update britches! Source: MyDroidWorld Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Review: Motorola DROID 2...Dummy Phone

Kellen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:00:35 +0000

This might be the most absurd thing we have ever done, but every once in a while you just need a good laugh. Yes, we actually bought a Droid 2 dummy phone and reviewed it. And now I'll give you 20 seconds to laugh at us. Actually, the whole point of this was to show you size comparisons to other Droid devices as well the minor tweaks that have been made to the look. That didn't really help justify this post did it? Enjoy! Video Action:

Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="title"] And don't forget to check out our exclusive Droid 2 gallery to compare to the real thing.

Weekly App Roundup: Launch-X, MultiTask Manager, FlightView

Octotron — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:00:03 +0000

Launch-X (Free and $1.28): Launch-X is a customizable widget for your device. It allows the user to create their own widget with direct links to applications or contacts for direct calls and more. You can change the design of the widget to accommodate up to 49 shortcuts in one widget on the pro version. This app uses a widget that allows scrolling and smaller icons to save you space. Are you too afraid to use a home replacement or root? Launch-X can give you some of that sweet screen real estate you have been yearning to get back!

MultiTask Manager (Free): This task manager takes on a slightly different approach to ATK. Clicking on MTM enables a task bar to come up on top of your home screen. This looks much like an iOS / Windows bar with applications on it. You can click the icons to go to the application or long press to kill them. Definitely good for those who converted from a WinMo phone to our beloved Droid!

PanoPlanet Live Wallpaper ($1.98): PanoPlanet Live Wallpaper is a truly interesting experience. It takes images on your phone and allows you to set them as an interactive wallpaper in a fully 3D view. As you scroll, or move, or touch, the wallpaper moves in that direction showing you the completely panoramic image. Thousands of images are available here. To fully explain just what I mean, I am including the video sent by the creator himself! Enjoy!

PanoPlanet

FlightView (Free and $0.99): FlightView is something I wish I had a week ago. This app lets you track flights as they are in the air in real time on your phone. No more sifting through crummy airline websites. No more guessing when it is your Step Mother will show her ugly face in the terminal. FlightView lets you see current weather conditions as well as real time flight times... even when you are sitting at Newark Airport for a half hour because your sister's flight from Germany ran late coming out of Sweden and you have no A/C in your car and would have left a half hour later if only you had known it was going to be late. Enjoy!

Edwin, Speech to Speech (Free): Edwin offers a pretty simple concept. Press the microphone and ask it to do something. I asked Edwin to translate "My cat has a nasty looking face." into French. I asked it what the weather was. I asked it to open Pandora. All these things with just the push of a button. I can see that this may be something very useful while driving as well as a fun novelty. The vocabulary is expanding constantly and this app gets better and better the more you play with it!

Red Poker Club (Free): Now, if you are like my friends, you have a serious gambling addiction. Red Poker Club offers a real time, real person video poker experience on your Droid. You can pick the size table you want to play at as well as what kind of blinds you want to start out with. There is a chat function and the entire thing can be played on 3G! You get more chips daily so you can always at least play a smaller ante game. Skill levels are monitored as well so you know where you stand at a table. So if you can't manage to make it out to The Bethlehem Sands this evening, try out Red Poker Club!

To have your application featured in future Roundups, contact us here.

Root and Unroot Your DROID X with 1 Click

Kellen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:01:59 +0000

Found yourself a little frightened by the original rooting method posted last week for the Droid X? As of today, you no longer have to live in fear! A user over at Alldroid has created a one click root/unroot method for the DX and early reviews appear to be very favorable. I'll admit that I have yet to try this and it is a brand new concept, so approach with caution, but the dev has mentioned adding bloatware removal, app installation, backup, etc. in the near future and appears to be readily available for support. This is a windows-only root tool. Download: DroidXRoot.zip Full support at the source link below. And let me know if you get this to work, plus fill us in on any issues you may have run into. Source: Alldroid Cheers K!

Some Verizon Customers Targeted for Really Early Smartphone Upgrade

Kellen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:58:51 +0000

One of our readers just sent in these pictures of a new promotional piece he received in the mail from Verizon which will allow 3 of the lines on his family plan to use a "special early upgrade" to "any smartphone" including the brand spankin' new Droid X. Cool right, but what's the big deal? Our tipster is a Droid 1 owner and is not even close to his 1 year upgrade let alone his 2 year, meaning his account has been flagged for "Next Best Activity" which you may recall from this promotion. And while his line doesn't necessarily meet the guidelines posted there, we're assuming one of the lines on his account did which in turn is allowing all of the lines to upgrade. Sweet right? If we've got any Droid 1 owners out there looking for an early upgrade opportunity, this might be it. Feel free to mention this post at your local VZW store and see what happens, well until August 31st anyway when the promo ends. The rest of the promo mailer:

Cheers Steven!

FRF91 Froyo Running on Motorola Milestone

Kellen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:21:13 +0000

All of the hard work that has been put into cracking the Motorola Milestone over the last 7 months or so is starting to pay off. While I don't completely understand "second boots" and the entire process the devs of this community are using at this time, they have definitely figured out a way to get the FRF91 Froyo build onto this locked down Moto device. The port also seems to work flawlessly aside from a little camera malfunctioning. This is great news for the Milestone community just a week or so after hearing from Moto that the decision to update to Android 2.2 had not been made yet. Now you have an option! Not bad right? Video action... And here's me looking at you Birdman. How's that Droid X work coming? (smiley!) Source: ModMyMobile Cheers John!

Rumor: Android 2.2 Hitting DROID1, Incredible and DROID X Next Friday?

Kellen — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:27:30 +0000

The guys at AndroidSpin have received word from what they believe to be a reliable source within the Verizon camp that Android 2.2 could possibly hit the Droid 1, Droid X and Incredible all next week starting on August 6th. If this actually happens, it might be the greatest day in the history of the Droid Family. Reminder, this is a rumor and this date could change, so take it for what it's worth. Source: AndroidSpin

HTC Dumps AMOLED for SLCD in More Devices

Octotron — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:15:18 +0000

Apparently we are seeing a commodity so hot it is literally selling itself into extinction. Samsung's AMOLED screens are quite beautiful and apparently quite rare. Production has been slowed enough that they simply cannot meet the demand for these pixelated beauties. We have seen over the past month and a half or so, the waiting line for Droid Incredible growing longer and longer as Verizon has had to wait on them to actually be manufactured. The time table looked so grim that we were informed that HTC was going to use Sony's Super TFT LCD as a replacement. Now it seems that HTC is dropping Samsung in another way by announcing they will use Super LCD displays in their Desire, and Nexus One phones as well. Being that I have had some time with a Galaxy S phone (the Captivate), I can attest to the beauty that is AMOLED technology in general. The colors pop, the images are sharp and the screen is bright. By the way, did I mention how sexy that name is? AMOLED. How about SUPER AMOLED. It just kind of rolls off the tongue... like a buzz word. People hear AMOLED and automatically assume it is better than anything else out there. People hear it, they want it, and they will wait a month for it, but that doesn't mean the LCD is inferior to it. So what is so good about LCD as compared to AMOLED? Longer battery life, more natural colors, and perhaps most importantly, availability. LCD screens are available and ready to go with a huge backing to support their production. I can say with confidence that the Droid X has one of the best screens I have seen in real world use and it is simply a regular TFT LCD like in the first Droid. All in all, I think the customer is going to win in the end by this switch and the Droid Incredible (as well as the Nexus One and Desire) will still look fabulous. What are your thoughts? Via: SlashGear

Library of Congress Wants You to Root Your Android Phone

Kellen — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:15:29 +0000

The Library of Congress put out some interesting new exemptions today which include giving users the right to root/hack/jailbreak their phones, run them on another carrier, and install whatever "lawfully obtained" apps or software they choose to. Seriously...

Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset.

Can I get a "Library of Congress FTW!" (Professional, I know.) You have to doubt that this will have any impact on Motorola's decision to lock down their devices, but you may have some sort of action available to you should you choose to tamper with your Droid X and end up bricking it. After all, you have the right to crack that bootloader! Update: OK, that was a little over-dramatic: I just got caught up in the moment. Please do not go crack on your DX. As many of you have pointed out in the comments, Motorola still has the right to do as they please with their products. Via: Engadget, Apple Insider

Google Maps 4.4 Update Adds Dedicated "Places" App

Kellen — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:15:24 +0000

The new Google Maps update to version 4.4 is available in the market right now and includes a new dedicated app for their "Places" feature. This just puts Google that much closer to complete cell phone domination doesn't it? Their Maps and Navigation have already become everyone's #1 option and this new move should put a strain on Yelp's grasp. Funny note...the Android robot watermarking the "Bars" section is a nice touch. Source: Google Mobile Blog

Download: Road SMS App from Samsung Galaxy S

Kellen — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:30:56 +0000

The texting app Road SMS from the Galaxy S lineup of phones has been ported to just about any Android phone. I'm actually not even sure the app needed tweaking as it seems to work flawlessly on the Droid, Incredible and Droid X. Not sure what Road SMS is? It's essentially the coolest texting app around. Using your camera, you can now walk down the street texting and see exactly where you are going rather than running into the curb, angry transient or weird guy on the segway.

*For all users. Should work on Droid 1, Incredible and Droid X.

Download: roadsms 1.01.apk (alt link) (alt link2) (alt link3) Instructions... 1. Download the roadsms.apk to your SD card. 2. When it finishes, tap on it and select "install." 3. Once it finishes installing, go to your app drawer and open the app. Enjoy! Source: XDA Forums Cheers Greg!

Android 3.0 Spotted on Nexus One?

Kellen — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:45:06 +0000

The guys at Phandroid have received a picture of a Nexus One displaying a test version of Android 3.0 (Gingerbread) that is guaranteed to bring out the "Photoshopped!", "So fake! Look at that notification bar!", and "Build.prop hacked!" guys. While we should all be skeptical about the reality of 3.0 in the wild this early, why not just accept it as a rumor and have some fun with it? We should also point out that Droid Dog has found some Linpack test results showing a few different versions of Gingerbread including 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2. Interesting enough. And this news obviously prompted us to head to our own analytics which have in the past brought out some fun gems and were hoping to find Android 3.0, but instead found an Android 5.0? Huh?

We also found a unicorn tucked deep inside our "visitor loyalty" section. Thoughts? Source: Phandroid

Accessory Review: DROID X Multimedia HDMI Docking Station

Kellen — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:00:55 +0000

Droid X accessories are starting to stock back up across the nation and we snagged one of the new multimedia stations to test out the HDMI output and because for some reason we're obsessed with docking stations. Overall, this is the best docking station on the market and a lot of that has to do with the multimedia app that comes pre-loaded on the DX, but the look, feel and features on this bad boy are also top notch. Check out our review...

The Droid X multimedia dock is now available in the Droid Life store. And the Kanex HDMI cable featured in the video can be found here.

Asurion to Offer DROID X and Incredible as Replacement Options for DROID 1

Kellen — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:00:59 +0000

Our story last week concerning Asurion and their inability to replace your broken Droid 1 with another Droid 1 after Motorola decided to stop production on it caused enough of a stir for the mobile insurance heavyweight to reach out to us with some good news. While they immediately confirmed that the Droid 1 is out of production and that the Ally, Eris and Devour are your current options for replacement, they did drop a Droid X/Incredible reference as a future option. Asurion expects some limited shipments of both devices later this summer and will offer them up immediately as replacement for your broken D1. Limited is probably the key word there as Verizon can't keep either in stock, but at least it'll be an option that should be more than satisfactory. On a related note, some of you have gone through the process and had success replacing your D1 with another D1, but they assured me that will not be the case for long. When asked if they were still expecting to receive shipments of the D1, they said that will not be the case and for now, it's just the lower end Android options. Good news on the DX/DI stuff though right?

DROID X Feature: Panoramic Camera Shots

Kellen — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:00:11 +0000

There are some differing opinions as to the quality of the camera on the new Droid X, but one thing that can't be argued against is the coolness that is the "Panorama assist" feature. The DX's camera allows you to line up 6 shots consecutively while moving in whichever direction you choose to snap some pretty cool wide-range views. This is essentially the same feature seen in the new Sony Cybershot commercial with everyone's favorite country sweetheart Taylor Swift. Err...here's how it's done! Open your camera app and press "Menu" and choose "Picture modes"...

Select "Panorama assist"...

Choose the direction you'd like to take your series of photos in...

Snap your first shot and start moving in the direction you selected...

It can take up to 6 consecutive shots so just keep on rollin' until your shot is complete. Have fun! And feel free to post your own shots in the comments. Upload them to your favorite image hosting site and paste the URL to share with the rest of the DL community.

DROID X Car Mount Made During "Shadow" Days

Kellen — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:00:07 +0000

Remember the Droid Shadow? No? If you are new here that name might not mean much, but to those of you following along in our Droid X coverage over the last few months, know that this device went through various name changes before Verizon finally settled on a single letter just before launch. The first time we saw the name Shadow was all the way back in January just after the Nexus One hit Google's online store. It now appears that this original name wasn't just some rumor and in fact was expected to be final as you can clearly see from that shot of the DX's car mount above. On this new car mount, there is an insert that can be removed for those of you docking with skins and the backside references the name "Shadow." Awwww, memories. The Droid X car mount is now available in the Droid Life store. Cheers Tony!

Get Ready to Charge Android App Purchases to Your Carrier

Kellen — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:00:01 +0000

The days of being forced to use Google Checkout to purchase apps on the Android market are almost over. The Android Developers team announced on Friday that "authorized carriers" will now be available as an option for payment when app devs are pumping out new toys for us. Basically this means that when you are browsing through the paid app section and realize that you don't have $14.99 for MLB at Bat 2010 in your Google Checkout account, you can choose the option to "bill later" which lands that charge straight onto your monthly carrier bill. Anyone else realizing the amount of trouble they can get into with this option? (Insert sheepish grin?) Source: Android Developers Blog Cheers Wade and Picolas!

DROID Incredible Charging Cradle Cancelled

Kellen — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:30:41 +0000

I know, I know, it seems a little odd that we're talking accessory cancellations right? Well this is one of those things that frustrated me during my early days as an Incredible owner since I'm a big docking station kind of guy. And actually this is probably pretty important to the thousands of other Droid Incredible users out there who have been waiting patiently for a docking cradle to slap onto their desk or nightstand as well! (Wow, I justified this post to myself while typing it. Yikes.) Not only has the DI been plagued with delayed shipments due to a shortage of parts, but the accessory department for this phone has not been pretty either. For all those DI owners out there, it appears that the official docking station has not passed quality control and won't be landing on store shelves...ever. Mikradle it is then? Source: HTCpedia

Verizon CFO Denies Tiered 3G Data Plans are Imminent

Kellen — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:00:20 +0000

As you may recall, a nasty little rumor was started last week that suggested Verizon could be moving to tiered 3G data plans as early as July 29th. This completely came out of right field and at first seemed highly unlikely especially without another rumor in the wild confirming a move as big as this. Luckily our sources pulled a shot from Big Red's system which showed them only willing to address this news as "rumors", giving many of you a sigh of relief. Well, you can breathe even easier today as VZW CFO John Killian, has confirmed that tiered 3G data plans are not imminent and that the company sees plenty of opportunity without moving in that direction...

So our business is continuing to perform extremely well. You have not seen us rush out to make any kind of a change. We will continue to monitor the situation, of course, and look at opportunities that will say what is the best equation for us to drive long-term shareholder value, and we will be very focused on that. I cannot say enough, though, about the opportunity we see ahead given where we are today with smart phone penetration.

LTE (4G) on the other hand is a different story. You can almost guarantee they are coming with that launch which is on-schedule for Q4 of 2010...

We have indicated in the past, as we move to an LTE world and LTE pricing, we will probably look very hard at tiered pricing, and that continues to be our thinking right now. So more to come on that. By the way, I should say that all of our efforts, all of our plans on getting LTE launched in the fourth quarter are on schedule.

All those data hogs out there feeling better now? Source: ZDNet Via: DroidForums

Apple Tosses DROID X Into Antennagate, Here is Our Video

Kellen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:46:11 +0000

Apple just stepped into the arena, my friends. And they are about to lose. Throughout this ridiculous Antennagate situation, we kept expecting the evil empire to step up and attack either the Droid 1, Droid X, Nexus One or at least one of the other major Android players. Instead they opted for the Droid Eris, a phone that probably shouldn't have been featured under the name "Droid" as it was essentially an entry-level Android phone from day one. We just laughed that one off. Today however is a different story. They finally worked over their little testing facility enough to find a way to attack the newest Droid family member on the block and the results are completely laughable. First up is our video which is in a weak signal area and in the non-Apple spaceroom. Translation, these are real world results...

If you feel the need to see theirs, here it is...

Come on Apple. Your deflecting is not working. Oh and the funniest i*hone 4 video to date to liven up your Friday...

Have a great weekend everyone! Cheers Chris, Stan and John!

Custom Theme Friday: Minimalist for CM6

Kellen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:25:46 +0000

The name of this week's theme says it all. This theme only changes your lock screen and notification bar; that's it. There is something about keeping a theme as simple as possible that is extremely enjoyable. Basically, you get to pick from 1 of 10 colors that the dev has put together and then make the rest look as you please. You can create your own LauncherPro docks, icons, wallpapers, etc. to match perfectly to the framework that has been colored.

Theme: Minimalist for CM6

Instructions...

*Rooted Droid 1 users only.

1. Install CyanogenMod 6 from ROM Manager. 2. Download Minimalist Yellow from here. (Other colors here.) 3. Download and install MetaMorph from the market. 4. Unzip the folder from the Minimalist download and extract to "AndroidThemes" on your SD card. 5. Open MetaMorph and allow it to perform checks. 6. Choose "Pick existing theme" and the "Yellow" folder. 7. Tap on "Yellow.xml" and "Apply all!" 8. Your phone should reboot during the process and will reboot with your new theme! Full support thread and other colors schemes here. And if you are interested in the wallpaper and LauncherPro add-ons, download them here.

Enjoy!

Rooting Your DROID X? Here are some Warnings.

Kellen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:00:57 +0000

Rooting instructions for the Droid X are out there and you can conquer the task today, but there are some things you need to be aware of before doing so. One of the biggest reasons for gaining superuser access to your DX is to remove all of the bloatware that Verizon and Motorola forced upon you and we can't blame you. Just be warned that not all of this stuff can be removed. You also should know that there is not a way to make a proper backup at this time since we don't currently have a custom recovery option. Here is a running list of warnings that has been started up...

1. First off I am posting this for reasons that were obvioulsy not too obvious. 2. If you chose to delete anything other than something that can be downloaded from the market, YOU took that risk. You have potentially just bricked your device. 3. DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING THAT HAS "BLUR" IN ITS FILE NAME. 4. DO NOT try to flash a custom recovery via Rom Manager then wonder why your phone is stuck with a cool new Motorola logo. 5. This thread will be updated very frequently, before posting questions and what not, just post your problem, no questions please, I will be using this to help as many of you as possible. 6. Most importantly do not mess with the framework right now, there is many $600 papers weights laying around now. 7. DO NOT TOUCH BACK UP ASSISTANCE UNLESS ITS WINDY IN YOUR HOUSE OR OFFICE AND YOU NEED A PAPER WEIGHT.

If you have anything to add, please let us know! And be careful! Read the rest of the growing list over at DroidXForums.net. Cheers B16!

HTC Doesn't Expect Gingerbread to Stop Sense

Kellen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:54:41 +0000

By now you may have heard that Google plans to revamp the user interface (UI) of Android with version 3.0 aka Gingerbread and the question which immediately popped into most people's minds was, "What would happen to HTC's Sense?" One of the reported goals of this new spicy UI for Android was to eliminate the need of manufacturers to want to slap their own skins onto handsets, but HTC has other plans. In a conversation with Forbes, HTC's design team lead Drew Bamford had this to say...

Google, too, has indicated that it wants to make the next (3.0) version of Android more polished and user friendly. Industry observers have speculated that manufacturers like HTC will make fewer alterations on their Android phones as a result. Bamford, however, says he doesn't expect Google's tweaks, which are scheduled to debut before the end of the year, to affect his work. "Google may focus more on improving the user interface on the stock Android [software], but I don't think they'll preclude manufacturer customization," he explains.

So Sense is here to stay people, whether you are a fan of it or not. While I have mixed thoughts on it, all I want to see is HTC update their devices to the latest builds of Android faster. Sure Sense looks pretty and is incredibly stable, but the waiting game is a little much. Your thoughts? Hoping Android 3.0 would eliminate Sense or help to make it better? Source: Forbes Via: Androinica

Friday Poll: Favorite Android Apps Right Now?

Kellen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:27:44 +0000

With so many new Droid users after the launch of the Droid X plus a series of promotions by Verizon to sell off the remaining stock of the Droid 1 and Eris, it's time for the community to share some knowledge with these newbies. We've been seeing a lot of emails lately from new Droid Lifers wanting to know best or most useful apps and I just figured the best people to ask are the readers of this site. Let's do this in a top 5 sort of way, where in the comments, you list out your top 5 favorite, recommended, best root apps, etc. The list is completely up to you, but we really just want Android newbies to feel on top of the app game in a hurry. Here we go! Favorite Apps:

LauncherPro / ADW.Launcher: The top 2 home replacement/launchers on the market right now.
Dropbox: Easy access to important files plus simply sharing with friends.
Fast Web Installer: Install apps from your PC browser to your phone!
Beautiful Widgets: Been wondering what the clock is on all of our screenshots? It's BW baby.
HootSuite: The Twitter app I recommend to any power user.
Seesmic: The Twitter app I recommend to any non-power user.
Foursquare: For those of you who like to stalk your friends while they eat.
SkyDroid: At $1.99, this golf GPS app is a steal.
Google Voice: The ultimate voicemail machine. The one number for all phones feature isn't bad either.
Barcode Scanner: Been wondering what those weird black and white boxes are? Scan them with this.

That should get you all started... Cheers @louiscameron for the idea!

Videos: How to Root the DROID X

Kellen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:21:51 +0000

We were contemplating doing our own videos for rooting the Droid X, but there are already a half dozen out there that are clear enough for everyone to handle. We've picked 2 to help you out, one using the Android SDK/ADB and the other using Terminal Emulator. If you struggled installing the SDK this morning through our post on how to take screenshots, you might want to choose the Terminal Emulator option. Good luck! Files needed: droidxroot_v2.zip How to root using ADB:

How to root using Terminal Emulator:

When finished, READ THIS SET OF WARNINGS. Let us know any tips, issues or really anything involved in the process. Let's make this as easy for everyone as we can!

Andy vs. Apple T-Shirt Available Now

Kellen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:00:45 +0000

Ready to profess your undying love for Android in the battle against the evil empire? Do so today in poster or t-shirt form! The Andy versus Apple shirt or poster is available to add to your collection of uber-geek printed t-shirts. Buy one for $19 here. It looks like Exploded Andy is still available as well. Via: Phandroid

How to: Take Screenshots with the DROID X

Kellen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:30:53 +0000

This guide is almost exactly the same as our guide for taking screenshots on your Droid 1 without rooting, but wanted to make sure all of the new Droid X owners out there knew the process. The tutorial we'll walk through will first of all help you install the Android SDK which enables you to perform all kinds of fun without being rooted. The most most important though, might be the ability to take shots of your beautiful home screens. Follow the entire process after the jump! Instructions... 1. First thing we need to do is download both the Android SDK which is compatible with your operating system and the Java SDK.

2. Once they have finished downloading, go ahead and install the Java SDK. 3. Then unzip the Android SDK into a folder you will remember later. 4. While those steps are finishing up, go into your Droid app settings and check the box for "USB Debugging." (Settings>Applications>Development>USB Debugging)

5. Head back to the folder where you unzipped the Android SDK, look for the "SDKSetup.exe" and run it.

6. When the setup opens, you will be prompted with "Choose packages to install" at which point you can choose which APIs and other software you want to install. The most important package you need to install is likely at the bottom and should be titled "USB driver package." Make sure to "accept" that. At this point you can also start unselecting unwanted packages, but should probably keep the 2.2, 2.1 and 2.0.1 APIs. 7. Click "install" and allow for whichever APIs you've selected and the USB driver to download and install. 8. Once everything has finished, go ahead and connect your Droid to your PC via USB cable. 9. If for some reason your Droid is not recognized by your computer, you now have the USB drivers ready for installation in the Android SDK folder you unzipped earlier (called usb_driver). Please move forward with USB driver installation at this time if you need to. The rest of you can go forward to step 10.

In Windows, click start, right click on "My Computer" and choose "Manage." Choose "Device Manager" and you should see your Droid X listed. If there is a question mark over it, right click on it and choose "Update Driver." Navigate to the location of the USB driver you downloaded with the SDK. Choose the folder it's located in and select OK. If for some reason that USB driver doesn't work, try this one.

10. In your Android SDK folder, open the folder titled "tools" and look for "ddms.bat".

11. Open "ddms.bat" and wait for your phone to connect. You'll know it's connected when the "Log" starts becoming populated with info. Clicking on the listed device under "Name" will also connect you.

12. On your Droid X, navigate to whichever screen you wish to take a screen shot of. 13. Choose "Device" and "Screen Capture" in DDMS.

13. DDMS will take a screen shot and let you preview it.

14. Click "Save" or any other option you wish and you have officially taken your first screen shot! BAM! And feel free to share any of your fabulous screenies. I'd love to see how everyone rolls with a screen shot of your desktops. Enjoy!

DROID X Orders Shipping Early, Today Actually

Kellen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:30:42 +0000

If you missed out on the first batch of Droid X orders last Thursday and were stuck in limbo with a 7/23 or 8/3 shipping date, you'll be pleased to hear that many orders actually shipped today and will arrive tomorrow. We've heard from a half dozen readers today who all received shipping confirmation that their DX is on its way! Nothing better than adding to the 2,300 people who voted yesterday as rockin' a Droid X! Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

New NFL Mobile App Hits Android Market

Kellen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:30:01 +0000

Forget about the NFL Mobile app we leaked to you back in April. That app was pulled from the market weeks ago while Verizon reworked it so that it looked extra fantastic when the Droid X launched. Well, that time has come. The all new NFL Mobile app is available now in the Android Market and at first glance is quite the upgrade from the previous version. You can set up your favorite team, alerts and best of all, watch NFL RedZone on your 4.3" screen in case your wife forces you into a Sunday shopping trip to Nordstrom. Mid-post update: There is one major negative and it might be a deal breaker. As of 9/1, a $10 per month VCAST subscription will be needed to play video. (Yuck.) Like our $30 required data package isn't enough? And I just went from uber-excited blogger to half-way depressed blogger. I need RedZone everywhere! Download:

Download Link

Cheers Pete!

Download: HTC IME Keyboard for DROID X

Kellen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:35:30 +0000

Been wondering when someone would grab the HTC IME keyboard from the EVO 4G and port it to the Droid X? The posse at XDA are already on it. As you can see from the screenie above, landscape doesn't match up perfectly, but everything works including the speech-to-text. Portrait mode also looks like perfection. Download: EvoKeyboard.apk Instructions... 1. Download the EvoKeyboard.apk to your Droid X. 2. Once it finishes, tap on it and "Install." 3. When it finishes, return to a home screen and go to Menu>Settings>Language & Keyboard. 4. Check the box for "Touch Input." 5. Back out and long press on a text box. Choose "Input method" and "Touch Input." 6. Done! As always, let us know if you run into any issues with it. Source: XDA Forums Cheers Aleks!

Google Voice Update Possibly Kills Unlimited Calling Trick?

Kellen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:26:13 +0000

One of our readers has pointed out that there is an update to Google Voice right now in the market, but it's one you might want hold off from grabbing if you have been using GV to get unlimited free calls through your carrier. The new update includes an assignment of "direct access numbers" to each call you make...

Until today, the Google Voice app had to make a request to the Google Voice server every time you wanted to make a call to send us the phone number you wanted to dial. Then the call would be connected via a Google Voice access number. With direct access numbers, we assign a unique phone number to every person you call. This means that we no longer need to use your data network to access the server each time you make a call, so calls will be placed much faster.

In theory, this means your outgoing call number will be different each time you make a call and will no longer allow you to place a dedicated one into your favorites list through your carrier. This would remove your ability to place unlimited calls. Is that really true though? Tech pros, weigh in! Source: Google Mobile Blog Cheers Dave!

Android App Review: Awesome Drop

Matt Demers — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:15:25 +0000

When it comes to getting files onto your phone, there are numerous options; you have the USB cable that came with your phone, SD card storage, or cloud-based solutions like Dropbox or Zumodrive. These last options store your files on a server for your access; if you delete them off of your phone, they will still remain in the cloud to download later. However, both Dropbox and Zumodrive require the install of a program onto the computer they are syncing files from: this lets communication with the server occur. However, a new kid on the block, Awesome Drop, has decided to do away with all that. In an interesting development, they have created a simple way for people to transfer files on their phone without having to register for a service on install something. For times when speed is key, this is invaluable.

How the process works is:

A user installs Awesome Drop on their phone.
Then he/she will open labs.dashwire.com in a browser on their computer, which creates a fresh "drop".
They would then enter the PIN number from that drop page into the app on their phone, creating a partnership.
The user can then drag files into the browser window, transferring them from your computer to phone.

Files are not stored on Dashwire's servers, so users don't have to apply for a membership or worry about how much space they are currently taking up. The process is made possible by HTML5 features contained in modern web browsers. HTML5-enabled Java features allow for both the connection your phone and the easy drag-and-drop interface. However, there are some caveats. Along with the hard-to-remember URL (developer name instead of app name?), I had some problems opening unfamiliar file formats (such as .cbr comic files) when they were done transferring. This was confusing, as a JPEG asked which program I would like to use to open it, but not the CBR. If it did, I would be able to associated the file with Android Comic Viewer. While I'm not surprised the app has trouble with obscure file formats, it's a little weird that the option to choose which app to open the file with would be available for one and not the other. Aside from that, the only problem I have with Awesome Drop is its functionality. If a person is going to use it to keep a music collection synced on their phone, you would use service that allowed the ongoing monitoring of folders on the host computer. Dropbox does this quite well, and keeps my files stored in one central place. By changing the files in my Dropbox folder, I know which files are available and can be transferred to my computer. While the lack of cloud-stored files may help in Awesome Drop's speed and server costs, the only real use I can see for Awesome Drop is if you need to get a file off of a foreign computer that doesn't have an SD card reader. I, however, would like to nominate Awesome Drop for entry into an "Emergency App Toolbox" of sorts: like PDANet for tethering, you never know when you might need hassle-free transfer. Definitely worth an install, just in case.

Video: A Dirty Unboxing of the DROID X

Kellen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:15:57 +0000

Luckily we spared you from the 10,000th Droid X "unboxing" video once we got ours, but there is still one you may not have seen that is worth at least 4 minutes of your time. Revision 3 has put together a new series called "Unboxing P*rn" that is actually pretty funny. Like I said, you can turn it off after the 4 minute mark...(SAFE FOR WORK!)

"Well that's OK for...a screen. We're talkin' about the screen right?" Hah. Source: Revision 3 Cheers Zac!

Verizon Calls Tiered Data Plans Just "Rumors"

Kellen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:30:12 +0000

This is one of my favorite Verizon emails of all time. "Due to recent blog activity..." Who us? As expected, Big Red is reminding their employees not to comment on "speculative stories or rumors" meaning they are trying to stay as tight lipped as possible with this talk about tiered data packages on the horizon. Word on the street says that these tiered plans could be here as early as July 29th which is just 7 days away. This seems pretty unlikely, but the source behind this news has been pretty reliable over the last week. Guess we'll know next Thursday. On a related note, even if a change were to arrive, you are all locked into contracts. It is my understanding that VZW can't just slot you into a new plan unless your contract is up, so don't freak out just yet. You should also know that if they do force you into a tiered plan, that would mean a new contract, which would also mean a new phone for you!

Free Android Phone from American Eagle is Go, DROID 1 Now Included

Kellen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:30:04 +0000

American Eagle Outfitters is now running their "try on jeans get a free smartphone" promo and it appears as if you can take advantage without actually heading into a store. Simply go to ae.com/jeans and you'll be redirected to a Cell Stores sales page to complete your order. If you do feel like walking into a store and slipping on some washed out holey bootcuts, then the card above is what you will receive. Oh, it also appears as if they've added the Droid 1 to their lineup of choices. Funny thing is, these phones are all free at most places around the internet anyways, but by doing it this way you at least get a $25 gift card. Just nice to see Android get some lovin' through a major retailer promo. Update: Front of the card (which is an Eris!) and the jean pouch it came in...

Cheers Danny!

DROID X has been Rooted.

Kellen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:17:42 +0000

Birdman, you are the best. 6 days later. We have root. Droid X. Bye bye bloatware. Full instructions at the source link below. Anyone successfully done this yet? Source: Alldroid

Asurion No Longer Replacing DROIDs for DROIDs, Production Stopped by Motorola

Kellen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:30:21 +0000

We've heard rumors that the original Droid is nearing "end of life" status, but according to cell phone insurance machine Asurion, it's already there. You see, we've received a handful of emails from frustrated readers who attempted to make claims on broken Droids, but were told that it is no longer in production by Motorola and they would have to settle for something else. (See screenshot above.) The situation is this. Droid owners are paying anywhere from $6 to $8 per month for Asurion insurance in order to protect an investment they made knowing that if something tragic were to happen, they would be covered and a replacement would be on hand. Oh let's not forget that a steep deductible is also required when filing your claim, although better than paying full price for a new device, it is still nothing to snicker at. So what's happening right now? Since the D1 is "no longer in production" claimees are left with 3 options that are essentially a slap to the face. Your choices are the Droid Eris, Motorola Devour or LG Ally. Yes, instead of another Droid you can have MotoBlur and Android 1.6. Lesson of the day? Be careful with those D1 devices! If you expect to file a claim to receive a replacement, it's not happening. Yikes. Cheers Addison and Jared!

Android OS Distribution, Almost 60% on 2.1 or Higher

Kellen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:15:00 +0000

As more and more devices upgrade to Android 2.1, the lives of developers become that much easier which hopefully means higher quality apps. The times of having different versions of apps for each OS are slowly but surely coming to a close. New devices are launching with 2.1 (possibly 2.2) and older devices are being upgraded at a steady rate, so we're hoping the time for devs to spend perfecting apps is here. Now obviously this chart is going to change dramatically when Froyo hits all of the Droid lineup in August and then during the holidays when HTC polishes off the new version of Sense for 2.2, but that's a good thing. We'll continue to have fragmentation forever, but at least it'll be up-to-date fragmentation spread across just a few versions of Android. And the pie version...

Nice to know that the entire Droid Fam is up to at least 2.1. The Eris update might have been a rocky one, but at least it's there. Source: Android Developers

How to: Boot into Recovery on the DROID X

Kellen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:15:10 +0000

This little trick probably won't be used much until the Android hacking/developing crowd gains root access to our new Droid X, but you might as well know about it now. Practice up people! And no, this won't brick your phone. Instructions... 1. Turn your phone off. 2. Hold down "Home" and press "Power" until the Motorola logo appears. 3. Release "Power" and continue to hold "Home" until an exclamation appears. 4. Release "Home" and press the "Search" button once. 5. Your phone will now enter recovery. To get out of it, simply use your volume up and down buttons until "reboot system now" is highlighted and then press the camera button. Simple enough?

Wednesday Poll: Which DROID is Yours?

Kellen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:15:04 +0000

In the last week, we've accepted a new member into the Droid Family and from early reports, it sold like none other. Yes the Droid X is a certified winner and here to stay. So as we've done in the past and will continue to do going forward, we want to get a grasp on which phone people are rockin' these days. Oh, and if your DX or Incredible is en route, feel free to choose it. [poll id="6"]

Verizon Moving to Tiered Data Plans in August?

Kellen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:15:29 +0000

Rule the air, your wallet, your data. According to a source over at Engadget, Verizon is ready to drop their unlimited data packages as early as July 29th and open up tiered plans. Speculators around the internet seem to think it will fall right inline with AT&T's strategy which might or might not be true. At the same time this is Big Red, who is well known as being one of, if not the most expensive carrier on the planet so prices could exceed those of its competitor. For most, this could save them money, but we all know a select few data hogs will stand up and scream. Personally, I consider myself an above average data consumer and rarely exceed 1GB of data each month, so I'm not completely opposed to this idea. I guess that also all depends on pricing, tier structure, etc. And we thought this wasn't coming until LTE. (Shrug.) Thoughts on this? We'll put some feelers out and see what other info we can gather. Source: Engadget

Nexus One Sold Out, Gone Forever

Kellen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:31:28 +0000

Google and their online phone store experiment has come to a close...for now. While most people consider the Nexus One to be a bust, Google has continued to look at their flagship device as a complete success. They feel they have accomplished their goal of moving the smartphone market forward, and I can't say I disagree. The N1 to this day is still one of the better devices on the planet spec-wise and will be the #1 developer phone for quite some time. Do I think Google is done though? Not a chance. They claim to be done, but that just doesn't make sense. With Android growing like crazy and a lack of stock Android phones in the wild, they need something to develop on don't they?

Yahoo! Fantasy Football App Headed to Android

Kellen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:45:50 +0000

About. Frickin'. Time. After all these years without a reliable fantasy football option for your mobile device, Yahoo! steps up and has semi-announced a fantasy football Android app that we can all only hope comes out before the season starts. "Coming soon" is the tag slapped on it for now, but I'm holding out hope that we'll see a first version some time in mid-August. Can I get a "DL FF League!" Source: Yahoo! Sports Via: Phandroid

Download: Custom Droid Life LauncherPro Trays

Kellen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:00:09 +0000

Our very own Mrpicolas has modified a set of 5 LauncherPro trays plus a Droid Life launcher icon to help you completely customize your setup. Included in his set is also a batch of custom app icons so you can really take this to the next level. Check out the file and instructions below... Download: DL LauncherPro Pack.zip Instructions... 1. Download and install LauncherPro from the market or buy the Plus version. 2. Download the LauncherPro pack and extract files to your SD card. 3. To change the launcher button:

Long press the launcher button, choose App Drawer>Custom Icon. Then find the folder in your gallery that you extracted in step 2 and choose the DL logo.

4. To change the launcher tray:

Menu>Preferences>Appearance Settings>Dock background>Custom. Then find the folder in your gallery that you extracted in step 2 and choose a custom tray.

5. To change the app icons:

Long press the app you wish to replace, choose Applications, find the app you want, then choose custom icon and navigate to the "mrpicolas icon set" folder. Choose an icon.

6. Enjoy! If you weren't already aware that LauncherPro allowed this type of customization and the DL logo set isn't your thing, feel free to check out the LP forums for a very active userbase that has been creating all sorts of goodness. Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] Cheers Mrpicolas! And cheers to the original tray designers Sph1re, shimizu2005 and br_hermon!

Verizon Responds to DROID X Screen Issues, Not Widespread

Kellen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:00:11 +0000

There was a minor outcry for a "displaygate" after a few new Droid X devices started showing up online with flickering screens, but Motorola and Verizon actually have some class and have jumped all over the issue. Apparently less than 1 in a 1,000 DX's have run into screen problems, but no need to worry as the problem has been fixed...

"Verizon Wireless and Motorola are aware of a very small number of DROID X units that have experienced a flickering or banding display. Motorola has resolved the issue and is continuing to ship the phones. Any consumer who experiences a flickering or banding display should contact a Motorola customer support center or Verizon Wireless."

Any of our readers experience the issue? If so, were you able to get a replacement immediately or do you now have to wait a week or so for the next shipment? Source: Engadget

It's Official, DROID 2 will Launch with Android 2.2

Kellen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:00:07 +0000

I guess our tipster didn't magically change a build.prop in 60 seconds on the Droid 2 that he played with and took a beautiful picture of running Android 2.2 over the weekend. And how do we know that? From this leaked screenshot provided to the Phandroid camp showing OS Version "2.2". Good news right? Check out a couple of additional screenies at the source link below. Source: Phandroid

Rumor: Special Edition R2-D2 DROID 2 in the Works? August 12th a Possibility?

Kellen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:31:54 +0000

We thought the news we broke this morning that the Droid 2 will likely have Android 2.2 at launch was big, but after you check out the photo above, your mind will be blown. Rumor has it that Verizon plans to launch a special edition R2-D2 version of the D2 along side the stock version. We have no idea how many they'll have or when they'll be available, but this is pretty fun news to say the least. There is also a good chance that August 12th will be the launch day. Source: Engadget Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Download: New DROID Froyo Build FRG01

Kellen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:10:55 +0000

Don't worry, the Droid 1 hasn't been forgotten! We are still expecting official Android 2.2 some time in the next month and a half, but until then, we'll just keep enjoying all of these leaked builds. The latest version to leak is build FRG01 (by CellZealot) and has been put together completely clean and smooth courtesy of Mr. Peter Alfonso. Yes, the same one behind Bugless Beast. Download: FRG01ODEXED.zip

*Rooted users only. Follow our 2.1 rooting guide to enjoy Froyo today!

Instructions... 1. Download the FRG01ODEXED.zip file and drop it on the root of your SD card. 2. Open ROM Manager, choose "Install ROM from SD Card." 3. Scroll down to find FRG01ODEXED.zip and tap on it. 4. When prompted, check the box to create a backup if you don't have a recent one. 5. Skip the "wipe data and cache" box if coming from another Froyo build. 6. Phone will reboot, work magic and BAM! Enjoy the new Froyo! Wish I had a full changelog for you, but things like that don't usually accompany a leak. Just assume this build is newer and more stable than FRF84B. Oh, and expect a bundle of custom ROMs to start flowing out over the next few hours/days. Let us know when they drop! Thanks again Pete for putting this together! And another thanks to CellZealot for the leak!

Official DROID X Update Detail List

Kellen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:00:15 +0000

If Verizon's list of Droid X update fixes wasn't quite clear enough, here is their corporate list which includes a ton of additional details. As expected, most of the fixes are minor and won't be noticed by the average user, but feel free to read the entire list to get a good grasp of your new toy. If you have not received the update for your DX, check out this post of ours. Oh, and we'll ignore the i*ad and i*od references.

DROID X Shipping Date Pushed Back to 8/3

Kellen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:00:49 +0000

Pushed back again! We're not calling this the "next Incredible" since it's pretty widely known that there were thousands more Droid X devices available on launch than we had with the DI. Nope, this really just shows that the device is a beast and selling like hot cakes. While it's sad to see people having to wait a few weeks to get their DX, you can't hate on the success. Oh and the Incredible is holding strong at 8/3. Yay!

Anyone waiting on either device? We've heard about the tiny handful of DX's with screen issues. Sorry that you'll have to wait until the 3rd to get a replacement. Cheers Vikram and HuskerPower!

Motorola DROID X is Running MotoBlur

Kellen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:06:46 +0000

Not exactly sure who made this into or why it is an issue, but the Droid X is definitely running a version of MotoBlur. If you go into your Motorola Services Info screen by dialing *#*#4636#*#* on your dial pad, it's as plain as day. Well unless "Blur_Version" doesn't actually mean Blur. Just wanted to share and clear that all up. Enjoy your day. Cheers Brad!

Exclusive: DROID 2 Running Android 2.2

Kellen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:00:19 +0000

Over the weekend, one of our fantastic readers had the opportunity to sit down for a few minutes with a semi-mysterious future Droid family member that is expected to drop in August, the Droid 2. When I say "semi-mysterious" I'm simply referring to all of the questions surrounding the device and it's operating system, Blur or no Blur, feel, weight, Froyo or no Froyo, etc. From what he's told us, a few of those questions should now be answered...

Android 2.2 - The phone was definitely running Froyo as you can see from the screenshot above. As expected, the phone with its 1.0GHz processor was "noticeably more responsive" than his D1, but could have had something to do with 2.2 as well.

MotoBlur - The phone had the same Blur skin that we have on the Droid X. You can actually see that the notification bar is the same as the DX if you look closely. He mentioned only 5 screens though which matches the current Froyo launcher, but had the new arrow drawer button with the persistent phone and contact buttons a la Blur. He also pointed out the bundle of bloatware including the Blockbuster app, mobile hotspot and all of the Blur widgets.

Keyboard - He had nothing but great remarks for the keyboard. In fact, these comments stuck out above the rest especially when the word "phenomenal" dropped. Sounds like Motorola fixed one issue at least.

Feel/Look/Weight - Overall feel simply reminded him of the Droid 1. Same weight, same screen, just a new snazzier silver color and a "grill" on the back. Must have meant the speaker which is no longer gold.

So does this answer a few of our questions? Maybe. The one thing we all really wanted to know was whether or not the phone would actually release with Android 2.2 on it. That answer should be pretty close to a definitive "yes" at this point. To see the D2 running Froyo that has already been masked with the new Blur means we're close. This also means that Motorola and Verizon should be on schedule to deliver it to the DX and D1. It's too bad they couldn't have slapped an HDMI port in there and a front facing camera and we'd have arguably the new king of Android. Thoughts? Cheers Josh!

Spare Wire Hanger? Make a DROID X Stand!

Kellen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:00:23 +0000

We featured a home-made Motorola Droid stand a few weeks back that one of our readers had made from a simple wire hanger and today, we've got a new one. Inspired by that last version, Anthony went new school and created the first ever DIY Droid X stand.

Cheers Anthony!

DROID X OTA Update is Officially Out

Kellen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:00:37 +0000

When we told you Monday the 19th was the day for the bug fixing OTA update on the Droid X, we weren't messing around! We even tweeted you what time it would start. (+2 our sources!) And no, it's not bricking phones you crazy people. Hope you've all received it by now! If not, this update appears to be easily force started by simply visiting your Software Updates page. Not sure how to get there? Go to your home screen and do this:

Press Menu>About>System Updates

The new About page after the update...

We've also been told that this updates the bootloader. We'll hopefully have more on what this means later today. Notice anything new? Good? Bad?

Verizon Tech Support Confirms Froyo for Incredible and Droid in Early August?

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:32:36 +0000

Update: I should have been more clear with this. This is indeed just a rumor and should be taken as such.

An unofficial Verizon Tech Support Twitter account basically confirmed today that the delay of the OTA update for the Droid Incredible is because Android 2.2 will now be included. Yes, "unofficial," meaning they admitted to being official tech reps, just not ones endorsed by corporate VZW. Even so, we're guessing they still have a pretty good inside track as to update statuses. And in response to a question on the Droid 1 receiving Froyo...

Awesome. Early August is 13 days away. Countdown time!

Adobe AIR 2.5 will have P2P Video Chatting

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:00:40 +0000

How can you not love Adobe? In the upcoming release of Adobe AIR 2.5 for Android, a new P2P video chatting app will be featured, snarkily named FlashTime. Get it? (Poor Apple.) They haven't released source or a working beta yet, but from the sounds of it, this thing is close to being ready. In this new build they have included both camera and microphone features which makes the official release of AIR that much more interesting. Check out the video action below...

(In Flash of course.)

Source: Flash Mobile Blog Via: Download Squad Cheers matrix2004!

DROID 2 Hits Packaging Plant!

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:45:14 +0000

We're just going to go ahead and call today the official day of Droid 2 leaks. Engadget just received these photos of what appears to be the Droid 2 in full-on packaging mode. So when can we expect this updated version of our baby? August. That's all we can tell you. The rest of the dates out there are just rumors at this time. OK, that was cheap, we love rumors! August 23rd is still the date that gets tossed around the most, I'm just having a hard time believing in a Monday launch date. Who knows though right? Anyone still interested in the D2? The look is really nice and much improved from the D1, but the rumored specs so far aren't really. If they release this phone for $199 on contract, I'm going to be a little surprised. Source: Engadget Cheers Eggo!

Download: LauncherPro Plus

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:45:03 +0000

By now almost all of you have tried or at least heard of LauncherPro. And when I say "all" I'm talking about the over 250,000 of you who downloaded it. This is the home replacement app that essentially took the Android world by storm when the developer behind it created something similar to the Launcher 2 which at one time was only available and workable on the Nexus One. LauncherPro, most would argue, is faster and more efficient than any other launcher on the planet. Today, the developer (Fede Carnales) has released a paid version which now includes a contact widget similar to the one from HTC's SenseUI. In the future, he plans on adding more...

Bookmarks Widget – Quick access to your browser’s bookmarks

Friends Widget – Lists your friend’s status updates from Facebook and Twitter, and lets you update your own status too.

Calendar/Agenda Widget – Shows you a calendar you can scroll through to switch months, and also lets you see your agenda for any particular day right within the widget.

Messaging – Scroll through a list of your SMS messages or one by one. Quick links to delete messages, reply, etc.

So where can you get this app? It is currently not in the market since Fede lives in a country that will not allow for paid apps to be sold. You can however, buy it straight from his site. The opening price is $2.99, but once he adds the rest of the widgets listed above, the price will start going up, so get in now and support one of the top devs in Android! Check out the LauncherPro site to purchase via Paypal now.

Rumor: New Motorola DROID Slider Hitting Verizon?

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:45:49 +0000

Posting this is slightly embarrassing and sort of a slap in the face to all Droid owners... The leaked photos in this post are apparently some version of a Motorola Slider that could be headed to Verizon and includes a semi-familiar boot animation. This is also one of those rumors I hope is completely false and the last we ever see or hear of it. Let me just say up front that you can install a Droid Eye boot animation on any Android phone without root access by simply pushing the file through ADB, so just because this has some weird red blur on its screen really means nothing. And that's all I can really care to say about this. Sometimes rumors aren't pretty, this unfortunately, is one of them. It's at least worth a good laugh though right? Motorola and Verizon wouldn't really do this to us would they? It does have Droid 2 colors...same soft keys...OK I'll stop. Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] Ewww. Source: MobiFlip Via: Android and Me

New DROID X Commercial: Eagle Eye

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:00:58 +0000

The new Droid X commercial was released today and should look pretty familiar to anyone who reads this site on a regular basis. Remember those leaked commercial slides for the Droid 2 and X we brought to you back in June? One of the commercials featured in those slides called "Eagle Eye" has become a reality... Cheers acquaz10!

Rumor: DROID Incredible OTA Halted? Froyo Added?

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:10:04 +0000

Been wondering why you had not seen the Droid Incredible OTA update we were reporting on over the weekend? According to a BGR source, HTC is adding Android 2.2 to the package and plans to release it by the end of July or the beginning of August. Yes, you just read that correctly. Here is the tip and what the update will include...

We are targeting the end of the month/first part of August. As a reminder, below are the highlights:

Froyo

802.11 n

3G Mobile Hot Spot

HTC Widget: Email

HTC Widget: News

EAS Updates

720p Video Recording

Amazon MP3

Skype

My Verizon

We had been hearing "end of 2010" from HTC in recent weeks, so this news comes as quite the huge surprise. This would be one of those rumors we are crossing every finger and toe on. Excited DI owners? Source: BGR Cheers Stan!

DROID 2 Receives DLNA Certification

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:30:25 +0000

With the Droid X now a thing of leaked information's past, it is time to start focusing on the next family member which is rumored to be dropping in August. Let the official Droid 2 watch begin. First up, the DLNA certification that it received back in May. What exactly is DLNA? I'll let their website describe this multi-media loving certification...

The DLNA Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines specify the interoperable building blocks that are available to build platforms and software infrastructure. These guidelines focus on interoperability between networked entertainment and media devices for personal media uses that involve images, audio and video.

This really just shows us that the D2 will come stocked full of a bunch of media-related products including the DLNA app which is already featured on the Droid X. And the rest of the certification...

Don't forget to check out our exclusive Droid 2 gallery from back in June plus the leaked images from late last night.

My Verizon App Updated, Includes Data Usage Tracking

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:37:34 +0000

Anyone else expecting tiered data plans to be announced any day now after the newest update to the My Verizon App? Why else would we need to the ability to track our "unlimited" data usage? On a related note, we know that LTE (Verizon's 4G) is on the way and with that, we're actually expecting tiered plans. No matter how you feel about that situation, just prepare yourself because it's happening. Here is a leaked 4G SIM card...

And proof that VZW systems are readying for launch...

Thoughts? Oh, and only one of my 3 devices (Droid on Froyo) would update correctly and allow me to use this newly updated VZW app. Anyone else running into issues? Photos: Engadget, BGR

Bluetooth Tethering Available on DROID X, for Now

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:30:03 +0000

Since we don't have root access to the Droid X just yet, we also don't have a wireless tethering app available, right? True, but what we do have is a Bluetooth option! If your computer allows for Bluetooth connections, then you can have your mobile hotspot on the go without being directed to VZW for payment. Oh yeah, this feature is fully confirmed and working on Mac, Windows and Ubuntu systems. You can still USB tether using PDANet or Tether, but who doesn't love to remove that pesky cable? The only thing we have to worry about now is how long until Verizon blocks this. Will it be with the OTA update we're expecting to receive today? "Updated Bluetooth® connection for enhanced video sharing experience" is one of the fixes coming, so enjoy it while you can. Cheers Jacob and Wade!

Buy a DROID 2 Dummy Phone Today!

Kellen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:30:53 +0000

Have an extra $29.99 laying around? Then buy yourself a snazzy new Droid 2 dummy phone today! Courtesy of Cellular Nationwide Network, you can pick one up today and have it in no time. While this is a fake phone, we do get a couple of details which we are hoping do not make it to the sales floor. The first is the new MotoBlur which is featured on the Droid X. Sure, the skin isn't as overwhelming as previous versions, but there is something refreshing about a phone with stock Android on it. The second thing is the preloaded apps (like Skype) which are making any new Verizon Android phone seem like the second coming of Windows Me. More photos... [gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4" orderby="title"] And if you really want to buy one for some odd reason like I just did, head over to this site. Via: Team Android

DROID 2 Multi-Angle Pictures Found

Kellen — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:22:59 +0000

Well not to try and scoop Engadget's recent post, but their tipster Dominic sent us these Droid 2 photos and tips earlier as well...so much for saving them until Monday morning I guess. Oh and here is the official Droid 2 logo...

Download: Official DROID Incredible Boot Animation

Kellen — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:00:33 +0000

As far as we know, the Droid Incredible's OTA update has only gone out to a small test group before it begins a full on blast, and whether or not you want to believe that is completely up to you. What I do know, is that the OTA update file that's floating around in the wild has all of the goodies that'll you'll see once the update hits your phone. And one of those new features is the official DI boot animation which we have for you today. Download: DROIDINC_Boot.zip Instructions...

*Note 1* - These steps are performed on an unrooted Incredible through the Android SDK. *Note 2* - This process also works if you want this on your Droid 1. *Note 3* - The command for the audio file may not work the first time. If it doesn't, run the command 1 to 2 more times and it should work.

1. Download the file from above. 2. Unzip the 2 files into your android-skd/tools folder. 3. Make sure nothing is selected and hold SHIFT+right click inside your tools folder. 4. Choose "open command window here." 5. Type in the following commands:

adb push bootanimation.zip /data/local adb push android_audio.mp3 /data/local adb reboot

6. Your phone will now reboot with the official Droid Incredible boot anim! If you need help installing the Android SDK, check out this post we did a while back. You will also need the HTC Incredible USB driver which will install with HTC Sync from here. Cheers Antovolk!

Congrats to Andrew Webber on Winning the Cleveland DROID X!

Kellen — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:00:11 +0000

The @DroidLanding scavenger hunt has come to a close (check out the winners list here) and one of our Droid Life readers managed to win one! Andrew Webber, at full sprint through a bar in Cleveland, found the hidden certificate giving him a brand new Droid X. During his quick interview, he originally had mentioned Droid Life, but VZW decided to remove that from the final cut. Damn them! No matter what it's pretty sweet that one of our readers made Droid X history...

Congrats Andrew!

Verizon Readying DROID X Update for July 19th

Kellen — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:01:32 +0000

(Click for full size.)

Update: Our sources have given us July 19th as a possible release date. (Yep, Monday.) Phone has been out for just about 2 full days now and Verizon is apparently readying an update to be sent out OTA. No date has been given but according to Verizon's Droid X Support page, we have a list of fixes on the table just dying to be eaten... Improvements:

+ Improved battery charging status indicator. + Smoother transition for camera and camcorder functions. + Redesign of weather widget icons. + Faster Exchange ActiveSync® email loading. + Streamlined organization of newly downloaded applications. + Organized favorite contacts by call count. + Updated Bluetooth® connection for enhanced video sharing experience. + Coordinated date and time across phone displays. + Cleaner looking status bar for GPS symbol. + Improved sync capabilities for 3G Mobile Hotspot. + Faster Visual Voice Mail loading.

Enhancements:

+ Take advantage of the enhanced, preloaded My Verizon application. + Preloaded Amazon Kindle® application lets you read Kindle books on your Android™ phone, including thousands of free books.

All sounds great to me. Definitely interested to see how a Kindle book looks on this 4.3" beauty. And no, this is not Froyo. We're still expecting that in August. Source: Verizon Cheers @iSeano!

Secret DROID DOES DROID X Page? Here is the Code!

Kellen — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:24:34 +0000

Anyone notice on the new Droid Does page for the Droid X that there was a box for you to input secret codes? Check out the image below to see what we are talking about...

Follow this link and input this code to unlock a secret landing page: JXYDA QWQYD Update: Cheers to Jared for showing us that this code came from the new Droid X commercial we posted this morning! Nice work! What a fantastic campaign. Enjoy! Cheers Wade!

Calling DROID Eris Owners! Care to Prove Steve Jobs Wrong?

Kellen — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:39:58 +0000

After Apple's sickening display of excuses this morning while trying to defend their ridiculously flawed i*hone design, they managed to call out one of our original family members, the Droid Eris. Their claim is that all phones will experience signal loss if held incorrectly or by covering up its antenna. While the Droid Eris designers were intelligent and put the antenna towards the top of the device, Apple thought it would be ingenious to place theirs as a metal band on the base of the phone, precisely where every human holds it. During their ego-filled rant this morning, they showed a video of someone uncomfortably holding an Eris to try and replicate a signal loss. The video is pretty comical actually. So here is what I'd like to do! To any Droid Eris owners out there, let's prove the evil empire wrong! See if you can replicate, prove wrong or just have a good laugh at this whole antenna/signal loss thing. In fact, let's do any Droid owner out there. Upload your method for trying to cause i*hone 4 signal loss on your device and see what we can come up with. The funnier the method, the better. *Tip* - If you post the Youtube link in the comments, it will be playable on this page. Update: A couple of user submitted tests...

And another...

Have fun!

Weekly App Roundup: Tricorder, XDA, AstroCommander

Octotron — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:50:19 +0000

Tricorder: (Free) Do you have a serious Star Trek issue? If so, you probably already know about this interesting app. For the rest of us, Tricorder is simply the geekiest and possibly most creative use of your Droid. Tricorder is a fully functioning app that replicates the Tricorder used in Star Trek: TNG. It offers readings such as magnetic fields, Sunspots, decibels, a compass and more! So if you are a true Trekkie or just want to annoy your loved ones with various beeps and whistles, give Tricorder a try!

Memory Booster: (Lite and $2.99) Memory Booster offers a memory optimization app with a bit of graphical flair. The light version allows you to do a quick boost and shows exactly how much memory is being used and freed. The paid version allows you to set a threshold for the program to automatically kill tasks and boost the memory when it hits a certain percentage you decide. Paid version also offers an "Ultimate Boost".

AstroCommander: (Free) AstroCommander is reminded me of why I always liked Missile Command and then told me they could make it look awesome too. This game is a step up from the traditional point and shoot planetary defense game. With good graphics and an upgrade system, it makes this mindless alien and asteroid destroying mission pretty entertaining. Also... the price tag doesn't hurt!

DockRunner: (Free) While I am sure you have seen us talk about multimedia dock applications before, I am fairly sure we have not found one that is FREE. DockRunner is simple to use and very to the point. Run the app to turn on your docking mode and then run it again/click the notification panel to turn it off. DockRunner enables all of the features as if you had your Droid in the dock! While I am sure you may figure it out by the picture on the app itself, this is DROID ONLY!

XDA: (Free) XDA-Developers has put together a mobile app for access to their forums! The categories are well broken down and it allows you to access and post on the site with your log in. Show some love for our favorite developers as they keep us in the loop with Roms and so much more!

Bluetooth File Transfer: (Free) I used this program the other day to transfer Quake 3 to a friend with an HTC Aria. This program pings and finds Bluetooth enabled devices and then allows file transfers between them. Codes are displayed on each device to make sure you don't accidentally send those nasty pictures of your girlfriend to some guy on the subway! Fast and easy to use.

To have your application featured in future Roundups, send us an email here.

DROID Incredible OTA Update is Go! Maybe Not? (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:40:17 +0000

Update: Fake? As you can see, I was able to replicate the status bar which everyone seems to believe is photoshopped. However, until we see others receiving this, we should just sit tight. Sorry for the pre-mature hope. Just in from one of our readers, this screenshot which shows the Droid Incredible OTA update rolling out right now! Yay 720p recording! Yay mobile hotspot! Yay wireless-N! Yay other stuff! What a great Friday. Let us know if you start seeing notification on your DI...

Motorola Responds to eFuse Rumor, Phone Won't Blow Up

Kellen — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:45:44 +0000

Motorola Marketing Director James King sat down with some Facebook readers this morning and touched on a bunch of topics, but there was one in particular cleared up which has been taken completely out of context and blown into something absurd. Yes, we're talking about that damn eFuse...

Regarding e-Fuse. References to dynamite, explosions, booby traps…really?? Please….Everyone is fully versed in our policy over Bootloader access, but eFuse is the same as on Milestone and is not loaded with the purpose of preventing a consumer device from functioning, but rather ensuring for the user that the device only runs on updated and tested versions of software. If a device attempts to boot with unapproved software, it will go into recovery mode, and can re-boot once approved software is re-installed. Checking for a valid software configuration is a common practice within the industry to protect the user against potential malicious software threats. As expressed before, and that have circulated in the past, malware, hacks and various nefarious situations for owners and companies will likely to become increasingly common for smartphones as has been seen in computers, and at Motorola we have a duty to the widest consumer base and businesses to ensure we have done everything we can do to protect. JK

The bootloader essentially does what we've always thought it would do, lock you out should you try to tamper with it. How is this new? Is it because we have a locked bootloader stateside finally? Seriously, this might have been the most obnoxious rumor on the face of smartphone earth. Can we officially drop it now? He also went on to talk about Froyo for the Milestone to those of you wondering...

Next European Milestone and 2.2 (Froyo). I have expressed over the last few days that the decision is pending. The team here has been collating key pieces of information and views from this community in the last month and providing input to relevant teams in Motorola so they are aware. I am pushing for that decision to be made as quickly as possible, and we can then all go from there. Some others ask why the decisions on upgrades take so long, and why does implementation then take much longer still. What I can say and have stated recently is that upgrades are not a walk in the park. Sure there are short cuts that people can take, but when you have to integrate software to a specific hardware, then test it and integrate with third party applications, let alone any innovation from ourselves, plus then get approvals to make this all official and safe… its is a big undertaking that requires planning and resource and third party coordination to see this all through. As I say, once we have decision, we will inform. JK

That sounds like 50/50 odds for Milestone Android 2.2 to me...let's hope not. Update: As this was sitting in line to post, it looks like Engadget received a similar response from Motorola. You can read it here. Thoughts now? Source: Motorola Europe Facebook Cheers @RaptorBot!

Verizon Selling Mobile Hotspot Feature for DROID 1? OTA Update Coming?

Kellen — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:45:52 +0000

Now there is some interesting news on a Friday morning. A reader sent in a tip that you can now add the mobile hotspot feature for an additional $20 per to the original Motorola Droid. This comes as a little bit of as surprise and can mean a couple of things really... 1. Froyo is imminent - We all know that Froyo has a built in wifi tethering system which had been previously absent from leaked Droid Froyo builds, but could have possibly been added last minute. Seems pretty unlikely though right? 2. An OTA Update is coming - Similar to the one we featured this morning for the Droid Incredible, we could have an update which would bring the 3G Mobile Hotspot app to the "end of life" Droid 1. There is a chance it could still come in the future as an option through an update, but we have no word as to when. Update 1: As one of our readers pointed out, option number 3 should be, "Whoopsies Verizon intern! Let's take that option down quietly." Update 2: Sounds like it is simply a mistake on VZW's website. Mrpicolas has confirmed thru Big Red that this feature is only for the Droid X and Palm Pre and must be activated in the store. To try to get some answers, I hammered the online sales rep during checkout to try to get him to explain exactly what the feature was and how it worked, but he kept referring me on to technical support. No official answers, but this is something to keep an eye on. If you feel like playing detective today, let me know what you find out! Cheers Matt!

New DROID X Commercial: DROID X is Here

Kellen — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:48:55 +0000

Verizon has put a lot of money into the production of its latest Droid X campaign and we're not about to start complaining. They created a teaser (leaked by us) that was made to play for just a few hours pre-launch and now have an updated version which might blow your mind even more. The Droid X might just turn you into a machine...

Via: AndroidGuys

DROID X Scavenger Hunt Winners List

Octotron — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:30:07 +0000

Keeping track of the @DroidLanding DROID X scavenger hunt so that you don't have to! Here is the list of winners in case you missed your opportunity and feel like stalking someone. The Twitter account for the hunt is also deleting their coordinate posts so grouping them all into one was just so much easier... 1. Jose Larrea - Las Vegas 2. Todd Leykamp - Los Angeles 3. Justin Schauer - San Francisco 4. Francis Choung - New York City 5. Louis Cantoran - Dallas 6. Ted Webster - Orlando 7. Christena Berner - Seattle 8. Alex Abenoja - Birmingham 9. Chris Bamman - Nashville 10. Matt Garza - Houston 11. James Stepanek - Oklahoma City 12. Andrew Webber - Cleveland 13. Michael Inglet - Buffalo 14. Ryan Wallace - Chicago 15. Marc Martinez - Denver 16. Brian Luckerman - St. Louis 17. Stephen McGee - Detroit 18. Kelly Altmann - Minneapolis 19. Joseph Umanzor - Philadelphia 20. Karen Hennelly - Boston 21. Blake Ourso - Washington DC Congrats to those of you who made it to each spot first! It doesn't appear as if any Droid Life readers snagged one, but we heard from many of you that came oh so close. This was definitely a fun and well received promo. Nice work VZW.

DROID Incredible OTA Update Coming Tomorrow/Today?

Kellen — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:40:09 +0000

Remember that OTA update for the Droid Incredible we told you about that will include 720p video recording, a new boot animation, and a mobile hotspot app? Well rumors have it dropping on your DI tomorrow/today. Yep, tomorrow/today July 16th. I can't confirm the date, but I can confirm all of the goodies that are included. Those screenshots above, yeah those are from my Incredible. Let me just say that the new boot animation is a version of that first DI commercial that flashed all of its features and it definitely has 720p recording plus some mobile hotspot fun. Skype is now included, a My Verizon app and some updated widgets. It's not Android 2.2, but it's definitely going to bring this device up to speed with some of the rest of its competitors. Everyone ready your Incs! Rumor Source: Android Forums

Video: DROID X First Impressions

Kellen — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:33:12 +0000

We have only had the new Droid X for about an hour now, but wanted to quickly give you our first impressions and also let you see the device in action. We'll have a full review in the coming days after we've had a chance to dive into this device; wouldn't want to short change something this powerful. For now, check out this quick video...

And we'd love to hear questions you may have about the device. Feel free to drop them in the comments!

DROID X Stock Status, Data Issues, Cheap 32GB SD Cards

Kellen — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:41:35 +0000

Well hello there Droid X and 32GB SD card which says $99, but really only cost Droid Life $50. Yay! OK, so we're back from a little adventure to pick up the new beast on the Verizon block and have some news to share that might change your current and future orders...

Sold Out - First of all, the DX is basically sold out everywhere. We were just at a store outside of Portland that received 65 devices and had 2 left when we walked out the door.
Next Shipment - When you can place an order for one in store again? Confirmed by 2 sources, as of today (7/15), orders placed after 2:30PM will not be shipped until 7/23.
Device on Hold - If you had a DX on hold, it is likely gone. Stores were holding until 2PM today and will sell your device if you had not picked it up by then.
32GB SD cards - While Verizon had announced that the 32GB SD cards would be discounted from $149 to $99, I was able to purchase one for $50. Some stores may do this, others may not. Either way, it's worth asking to see if you can save yourself some cash. (Yes the one with the bigger geebeez.)
Data Service - If you are attempting to activate a DX right now, good luck. They have had so many activations today that a backlog is currently hampering new devices from accessing data.

Online orders now being shipped 7/23...

And our first impressions coming up shortly!

Finally, the Droid Life Incredible has been Rooted

Kellen — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:38:47 +0000

The unrEVOked team has released a one click root/recovery tool for the Droid Incredible that makes the process pretty seamless. Well, once you have proper drivers and other prep steps taken care of that is. So while we had a few minutes today (sounds weird on the Droid X launch day right?) we decided to take the plunge and see what kind of trouble we could get into. Process complete. The Droid Life Incredible has been rooted. We're working to get you video and written instructions by tomorrow. You are going to love this.

DROID Does 3D Website Action

Kellen — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:57:35 +0000

Been to droiddoes.com yet today? The dedicated Droid family page has gone full 3D for your viewing pleasure. And get this, if you have a webcam on your computer, it can follow your every move. A fun toy to at least capture your attention for a few minutes. Cheers Eric!

Motorola DROID, the End is Near

Kellen — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:30:14 +0000

News has leaked out today that the Motorola Droid 1 (our baby) has been listed as "end of life" meaning in the next few weeks, it will be phased out of Verizon's system. This news isn't surprising as the Droid 2 was made official just the other day, plus we're seeing special promos for the device ending in a few days. This is sad news, but that doesn't mean the D1 is disappearing off the face of the earth. The dev community is bigger than ever and as one of the few "developer phones" for Android, it'll like still see plenty of action. Thoughts anyone? Source: Droid Forums

Enough with the eFuse DROID X Talk Already

Kellen — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:36:10 +0000

For some reason we're seeing news all over this morning (and 1,000 emails) that there is a mysterious "eFuse" in the Droid X that will "blow up your phone" should you tamper with the encrypted bootloader. Seriously? First off, this news was reported 4 days ago as "a bit of conjecture" and has not been confirmed by, well, anyone. Second, I've heard from 2-3 sources already within the dev community that have said this is as far from the truth as possible. It's the same bootloader as the Milestone. Has anyone's Milestone blown up from an eFuse yet? Someone find me one. If this turns out to be true, then this is awful news, but until Motorola or one of their developers comes out and admits that this is the truth, take it for it's worth people, a "guess." And I'm done. Update 1: Stephen Bird is also shooting down this eFuse blow up rumor...

First we need root, then we need to figure out this boot loader business. But wait! Birdman! what about the efuse?! Guess what? google "omap3 efuse" Droid, Milestone, DroidX, Droid2...all these phones have efuse...they just really haven't been put into use...

Update 2: Boy Genius Report has weighed in...

This breaking news may not be as dire as many are claiming, as a google search of OMAP3 and e-fuse reveals that current OMAP handset already have e-fuse in place as part of the M-Shield hardware security technology built into TI’s OMAP system on a chip. It is on the very hackable DROID and the not-so-hacking-friendly Milestone, but it is not being used by Motorola to lock the bootloader of the handset. The current theory being put forth by the non-alarmists in the Android hacking community suggests that the DROID X is locked in a similar manner to the Milestone. Though it may be difficult to crack, and may lead to many hairs being pulled out, mucking with the bootloader probably won’t brick your phone.

Oh on a side note, the downtown Portland location just turned away their biggest Droid promoter because he wasn't a new customer or extending a contract and wanted to pay full retail. Yikes.

DROID X is Official, In-Store Displays are Go

Kellen — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:57:36 +0000

Today is the day! The Droid X has finally launched after months of leaked pics, spec speculation, and so much more, it is time for this beast to officially join the family. Who picked theirs up already? Send in pics from your DX adventure! Cheers Drew!

DROID X is Live on VerizonWireless.com

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:07:05 +0000

You can now order the Droid X through Verizon right now if you do so online. At an expected price of $199 after instant $100 discount (meaning no rebate) plus free overnight shipping, you can have your device by Friday. Anyone ordered yet?

DROID Incredible Ship Date Moves Up!

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:30:31 +0000

Been a lot of Droid X talk over the last day or so, but tonight we have good news to those that kept their Droid Incredible orders even after months of delays. Verizon has updating the latest shipping date, this time moving it up to 8/2 from 8/9. Woohoo! And so you know, 8/2 is really just over 2 weeks away. Not bad at all. Has HTC finally caught up on production after switching to LCD screens? After seeing this simple date change it would appear that they are at least taking steps in the right direction. Cheers Nathaniel and Cody!

DROID X Teaser TV Air Times

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:24:43 +0000

Want to see the new Droid X teaser which we leaked earlier in full HD on your big screen? We just received the air times for the debut of the DX during tonight's lineup of shows. I'm assuming those are eastern standard times, so for the rest of us on the good coast, we'll have to check our local listings. Oh and here is the teaser one more time because it's so awesome...

Yay!

DROID X On Sale Tonight at Midnight Online

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Unable to make it into a Verizon store over the next few days? Then stay up a little later tonight and order your Droid X online at midnight. Not only will you bypass the $100 mail-in-rebate, but you'll likely have your device by Friday after the free 2-day shipping which accompanies most phone orders. You'll have a couple of options:

Buy from VerizonWireless.com - We're hearing it will go on sale at 12:01EST, but that seems a little unlikely. 12:01PST or at least depending on your specific time zone sounds about right. Price will likely be $199 with no rebate mess.

Buy from Wirefly at 12:01PST - If you purchase through their Bing.com sponsored listing (this link) then you'll get $50 from Microsoft plus a usually rock bottom price.

With rumors of sporadic inventory, this might be a good option if you don't need the device immediately on launch day.

Verizon Exclusively Offering 32GB SD Cards with DROID X Orders

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:30:34 +0000

If you are readying for the purchase of a new Droid X tomorrow morning, be prepared for Verizon to sneak in a little deal for a brand new 32GB micro SD card during the transaction. According to the official DX press release from Big Red, they will have exclusive rights to sell the 32GB card before any other carrier. You can read the full presser here. Phone Scoop is also reporting that during the sale of a Droid X, you will have the opportunity to purchase these 32GB beasts for $100 rather than the $150 suggested retail price. Anyone interested? Tempting right? Discount Source: Phone Scoop

Exclusive: DROID X "See You Tomorrow" Teaser

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:56:56 +0000

We just received the new teaser commercial for the Droid X which launches tomorrow on Verizon. No need for a writeup, just enjoy the awesomeness that is the Droid campaign...

Swiftkey Beta Hits Android Market

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:01:52 +0000

We've been raving about Swiftkey as an alternative to Swype for quite some time now and even provided you a couple of betas to test and guess what? The official beta has landed on the market! For those not familiar, Swiftkey looks similar to a stock HTC IME keyboard but has this mysterious way of predicting the next word in the message you are typing. And when I say mysterioius, I should really be saying amazing. It's a fantastic keyboard. Check out the beta now! Download:

Download Link

Best Buy DROID X Shipments Arriving

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:45:11 +0000

As you can see from the shot above, Best Buy stores are starting to receive their shipments of the Droid X. (Yay!) If you remember back during their 2 pre-sale periods, one of which ended abruptly, there was concern that they may not have enough to cover demand. Well we have heard from 2 sources today that stores should have enough to cover the devices pre-ordered before July 4th which was the initial pre-sale period. On a related note, we've received emails from 2 readers who called their local Best Buy and were told that they would not be able to pick up their Droid X tomorrow because the stores had not yet received shipments. Our BB insiders definitely have shipments at their stores, so I would suggest giving your local BB a quick call before making the drive over.

Official Fox News App Hits Android Market

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:45:33 +0000

We're not about to get all political on you, but simply wanted to share that the official Fox News app is now available on the market for free. You can tell that some time was put into this app as it is very polished and includes a huge list of features. You can obviously check out news, but there are also options to watch previous shows, new videos, slideshows and even the weather. Download:

Download Link

Cheers Brian!

Motorola DROID BOGO Offer Ends July 17th

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:00:01 +0000

We received this tip that the Motorola Droid and its buy one, get one free deal will be ending as of July 17th. Not that many of you are probably still looking at the Droid 1 as an option if you are eligible for an upgrade, especially with the Droid X dropping tomorrow and the Droid 2 just a few weeks later, but wanted to make sure you knew. Might be a good time to get the kiddies started on Android though.

Thank You Droid Life Supporting Vendors!

Kellen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:30:43 +0000

We wanted to take a quick moment to thank our amazing set of supporting vendors!

xScope Browser

The fastest Android browser available! Also features the groundbreaking one finger multi-touch and a variety of custom themes. Find it in the Android Market!

Wirefly

Wirefly has been a trusted source for quality wireless solutions for almost a decade. They've grown to be the internet's premier authorized cellular retailer – and have done it by making cell phone shopping affordable, accessible, and easy.

ezeStand

ezeStand is a versatile desktop holder for your Smart Phone or Personal Media Player device. It holds all of the latest Touch Screen devices including Motorola Droid and Droid Incredible. If you have a technology or Android-related company and would like to become a supporting vendor, feel free to contact us!

Verizon Summer Device Catalog Leaked, Droid 2 is Official

Kellen — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:37:37 +0000

We showed you exclusive pictures of the Droid 2 a while back, but had been waiting patiently for Verizon to finally announce it. And through a leaked summer catalog we can see that it is officially coming in August, we just don't know exactly what day that will be yet...

And a nice comparison spec sheet of some of their top devices...

Sweet stuff right? Check out the BGR link below for the rest of the gallery. Source: BGR Cheers SBob!

Android App Inventor to Include 3rd Party Developer Integration

Kellen — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:00:12 +0000

The Android App Inventor was released yesterday and apparently supports a component development kit meaning third party developers would be able to integrate their software into Inventor apps. Twitter is apparently already listed as one of these third party devs, but Google plans on opening it up to many more (like Facebook). So in the near future, you'll be able to create weird cat noise apps that can Tweet or..."Like" things. Anyone received their invite or created any apps yet? Via: TechCrunch Cheers Shadez!

The Android Browser Super-Guide

Matt Demers — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:30:39 +0000

When you buy a smartphone, one of the features that's obviously being considered is its browser. The ability to browse the Internet is integral to the smartphone experience; without it, you lose a lot of the functionality that makes it so damned useful. API Internet calls to fuel our apps are one thing, but the inability to bring up any web page we want, whenever we want would strip smartphones of a lot of their core usability. So naturally, the browser that one uses on their phone is pretty important. Right now, there are numerous options for the discerning Android users to take into account. The ones that I have spent time with (and have detailed in this post) are all viable choices, but have little quirks that may or may not influence your decision. I originally set out to do this post at a reader's suggestion, in order to determine which browser was "best". However, I came to realize that not every browser suits every user's needs. I can't really make a clear decision if the default browser is the one that suits me, can I? Hopefully you'll find something here that suits your needs, and download accordingly. For your convenience, I've created a feature table for quick reference: it's embedded at the bottom of the post, if you don't feel like viewing it via link. To review these browsers, I used a Motorola Milestone that is on Canada's Telus network. I felt the need to omit speed comparisons, as networks differ from region to region, and under wifi connection, I found they all performed relatively the same. Testing was accomplished by a general "to do" list, which included:

creating and managing bookmarks
creating, switching and deleting tabs
sharing with the web/apps
viewing Droid-Life.com via the browser
app-specific features, like viewing a plug-in video with Skyfire or testing gesture support

So, without further ado, I present to you the Droid-Life.com Android Browser Super-guide.

The Default

So, here's the benchmark. The default Android browser has many of the tools most people need in their day-to-day operation on the Internet. It draws from your phone's global bookmark pool, handles tabs (if not a little clumsily), has the ability to share pages on a variety of different app platforms and generally works quite well. It lacks a lot of the features some browsers have, like themes and add-ons, but really, for the average user, it doesn't need that. For some people, they're content to just browse the web, period.

Default-y has the advantage of being first party, and designed by Google: what it does is do all these basic features extremely well. Honestly, the only notch I mark in the "con" column about the default browser is its unwieldy tab interface. It just takes too many clicks to change, delete or make a new tab: while I don't use it that often, its awkwardness keeps me from trying to use it more.

Download (or keep?) the default browser if you: don't care about extra features, and like the way Google designs things.

Skyfire

There was much fanfare upon Skyfire's release, as it was the only browser to offer "fake" Flash; under this browser, one would not require Android 2.2 or Flash 10.1 in order to view enabled objects on web pages. I decided to test this out by going to Gametrailers.com and viewing a video for the upcoming Nintendo DS title, Dragon Quest IX. While a screenshot of the video itself couldn't be taken, I assure you it did work; after the browser identified a Flash (or Silverlight!)-enabled video, it could load and play it. Sadly, this does not include Flash-enabled games, but really, it's better than nothing. Otherwise, the feature list is quite unremarkable: it does tabs and bookmarks and all the other things we'd expect from browsers. These functions are enabled through push buttons at the top of the bar, and perform quite nicely. They'd better: I'd take core functionality over Flash wizardry any day. Download Skyfire if: you watch a lot of plug-in-based video, and have a generous data plan.

xScope

xScope was the only browser I reviewed that had the option of a paid version. Naturally, being the cheapskate I am, I optioned to take the lite version for a try; I feel that if you're going to charge for a browser while all your competition's are free, that free version must be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder. What struck me about xScope (Lite) was the precense of its UI. Unlike its bretheren who are all too happy to get out of your way, xScope seems to like sticking around. While this makes the tab navigation extremely easy, it runs into the problem of trying to squish in too many features at once. Yes, I will admit that having to navigate a series of menus to organize tabs can be a bit annoying, it keeps me from having to wonder how I would actually close them; with title bar text and a nice little percentage-based loading indicator (instead of a bar), there isn't much room for a touch-sensitive "X" to close it. This can be achieved by a long-press, but it's not exactly apparent. What would make it better would be a (hideable) "Are you sure?" pop-up. That way, people wouldn't be closing things by accident. Inexplicably, besides a download manager it also has a task killer and file browser built right in: I didn't like this, as I have apps that do these things much better installed on my phone already. While I'm usually a fan of consolidation, I don't like when a company feels the need to shoehorn in other features needlessly. [update]: I've been since notified that it only requires a single press of the tab to close it while you're viewing it. I don't mean to doubt the devs, but I can't get this to work at all. It seems to require a long press for me. [update2]: I neglected to mention a big selling point of xScope: its one-finger zooming. By double-tapping on any point on the screen then dragging your finger left or right, you can zoom in or out accordingly. This is a great feature (when I can get the feature to trigger, which is rarely) and is actually worthy of some praise: it adds a little bit of functionality to portrait browsing. However, I have a problem with the way it's implemented: the tutorial to use this and other features is a small link at the bottom of the settings page; unformatted and lonely, I would have passed over a feature that does not make itself apparent otherwise. The least the developers could do would be to give it own graphical button. Download xScope if: you don't have ASTRO file viewer or a task killer on your system, and do a lot of one-handed browsing.

Steel

Checking out Steel, I found myself questioning my phone's graphical capabilities; it seemed like there was fine coat of Vaseline covering my screen. There's a certain something about Steel's UI that just doesn't feel right: there's a lack of sharp edges, almost like it doesn't want you to hurt yourself. Of the browsers I tried, Steel was the most like Android's default in that it is very bare bones. You'll get bookmarks (though curiously, not global bookmarks) and a download manager, along with a better tabbing system than the default; it just seems to run smoother, and you'll find that it takes less clicks to get you where you want to go. On a whole, however, Steel gives me the impression that there's a lack of ambition on the part of the developers. It's almost like they got their browser to a working state, said "good enough", then left it. Not the best browser to download if you're looking for frills. Download Steel if: you don't care about graphics and are looking for something different from the default Android browser.

Dolphin Browser HD

When Dolphin first came on the scene, its big selling point was the inclusion of a Youtube downloader; with it, people could rip videos to their phone for later viewing, saving their bandwidth and time. However, Google put the kibosh on this, but a powerful browser remained. Seen as one of the "big boys" of third-party browsers, Dolphin brings some unique features to the table with add-ons, themes and a kick ass "most visited" panel (as seen above). The tab interface is slick, except for an all-too-small "X" button to close tabs. I find my fingers have a hard time hitting it, and will either change tabs or create a new one by accident.

It also seems to have a problem of scrolling midway down the viewable page when switching tabs: because the tab itself (and its closing "X") is located at the top of the page (and isn't a wrapper), one has to scroll all the way to the top every time this happens. It's frustrating, but you can get used to it.

Dolphin also has gesture support enabled, but I've never been a big fan of it; I find that it's not very forgiving when it comes to wrong swipes, which results in some mild frustration. Some default gestures require a pooling of ink, so to speak, as well: this leads to frustration when I didn't roll my finger just quite enough to smudge enough area. They're programmable, but honestly, I have a keyboard on my phone; if I'm going to sit at a phone browser for an extended amount of time, I'll use that, instead.

Dolphin's add-on support can also let you do things like tweet from inside your browser, but really, I have better apps for that outside of my phone.

Download Dolphin Browser HD if: you want a browser with all the fixings.

Opera Mini 5

I'm not a big fan of Opera's offering into mobile browsing; it's too much eye candy and not enough functionality. It brings a lot of the features of Opera (like the Speed Dial) to the mobile platform, but it all seems very... messy. Look at the Facebook page above: some things don't line up with each other. The issue's the same on other high-traffic web pages, like Youtube, which puts me off entirely. A browser can have all the extra bells and whistles in the world, but if it doesn't do the basics right, it doesn't deserve my phone's memory. This is kind of disappointing, considering Opera is a big name in desktop browsing; you'd figure they'd have more resources devoted to a proper Android offering.

Maybe I'm being a little hard on it: it is in beta. However, Opera will need to put a lot more work into the client before I'll consider giving it another chance.

Opera handles tabs and downloads, but remains unable to import from my phone's global bookmarks: like with Steel, this is quite an annoyance, especially if I'm looking for easy data migration. It supports RSS feeds in its bookmarks manager, though, which is a plus.

Download Opera Mini 5 if: you want to try a polished product, and don't have an RSS client.

Mozilla Fennec

While initially I felt like Fennec deserved a spot in this mega-guide (and the feature table), after installation and quick prodding, I went back on this. Fennec is a pre-alpha product, which means it's very unpolished. While nightly builds are being updated to the product's page, it seems like Fennec needs a lot more work before it becomes fully functional. Therefore, it doesn't really deserve any bashing hammers of criticism I'd like to lay down on it. But from what I can see, the future looks bright: add-ons, themes, downloads, tabs and RSS will all be a part of this browser. However, curious users will have to put up with choppiness all around as well as a 30MB file size (!) on their phone/SD card if they'd like to get their feet wet. Download Fennec if: you're looking to mess around and have another browser installed, just in case.

Wrap-Up and Features Table

So, there you have it, one super-guide for all your Android browsing needs. As promised, here's a spreadsheet documenting the major features of the browsers I mentioned for quick reference. Hope you enjoyed this guide: if you have any other suggestions for super-guides in the future, feel free to comment on this page, send us a tip, or e-mail me at matt [at] mattdemers.com

(Click to enlarge.)

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Matt Demers is a Canadian Android enthusiast who wishes Telus would unlock his Milestone's bootloader, already. You can find his writing on Droid Life and his personal website, MattDemers.com. You can also listen to him on the Not So Horrible podcast on iTunes, where he and two other geeks discuss tech, pop culture and the world we live in. You can follow him on Twitter, as well: @MattDemers

Verizon on DROID X Inventory: Enough to "Meet Customer Needs" (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:00:52 +0000

After yesterday's barrage of posts from us on the amount (or lack there of) of Droid X inventory already showing up in stores, Verizon has come out and confirmed that they will have enough on launch day to "meet customer needs." We can take that as either meaning they don't expect to sell more than 25,000 or they have another enormous shipment in transit to bump up the numbers in the various locations we looked at...

"While we are currently experiencing delays on orders of one of our more popular phones. We view that as an anomaly driven by a combination of supply and popularity," Brenda Raney said. "At present, we feel that we have done everything possible to ensure we have inventory to meet customer needs around the Droid X--the proof will be in the execution on July 15."

And here's to execution going off flawlessly. We hope that as many of you as possible have the chance to get a hold of this device and enjoy all of its glory. Update: We just received new shots of the Memphis and Fontana warehouses which appear to be restocked after dropping under 10,000 yesterday. Throw a party people, Droid X's will be flowing in bundles on Thursday! Memphis...

Fontana...

On a related note, the source link below provides a thorough look at the shortages which seem to be plaguing the cell phone industry this summer. People love them some smartphones! Quote Source: CNN (Cheers @rusty_richards!)

DROID X Receives OTA Update Just Before Launch

Kellen — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:00:51 +0000

An 18MB OTA update has been pushed to Droid X devices running in the wild. We have no reports as to what this update includes but is likely just a bug fixer. It does update the phone from version 1.13.516 to version 1.13.604.en.US which really means nothing to any of us. And no, it's not Froyo. Speaking of Android 2.2, chances of it hitting the Droid today are pretty slim. There are rumors floating around now that it has been pushed back to the first week of August. Here we go again? Via: Android Central

The Onion Hits Android Market

Kellen — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:00:50 +0000

The Onion has landed on Android. That's right, you can now get your ridiculous news video fix on the go. Most of the videos appear to be decent quality, the app is as simple as it gets but works, and for some reason HTC is powering. Not much else to say...straight forward as they come. Free. Download:

Download Link

Release: CyanogenMod 6 RC1 for Motorola DROID

Kellen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:15:36 +0000

Yesterday, CyanogenMod 6 went into "release candidate" status meaning we are that much closer to the official release. What is a "release candidate"? Basically it's the pre-release that launches for testers to find any last bugs that can be fixed before the final build is ready. So should you download this? If you loved any of the previous CM ROMs then I highly suggest you do. This is a good opportunity for you to get a feel for the new stuff they've built into this much anticipated Froyo release. Features to note:

CyanogenMod Settings panel
3D Froyo drawer which was removed in FRF84B
Changelog.

Instructions: 1. Open ROM Manager and choose Download ROM>CyanogenMod. 2. Select CyanogenMod 6.0.0-RC1. 3. Choose a launcher. 4. Check the box for Google Apps. 5. When prompted make a backup if you do not have a recent one. 6. Wiping data and cache is a good idea, but up to you.

*If you didn't wipe data and run into bugs, a wipe will likely fix them.

7. Click "OK" and allow your phone to boot into recovery and flash CM6. 8. First boot may take a while so be patient. Enjoy! Black bar: Download here Fabolous's Droid X Theme: Download and support thread. 928Droid's "Black Glass" Theme: Download and support thread. Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] Let us know if you are having any issues, finding bugs, etc. Enjoy!

Is Android 2.2 for the DROID Still Coming Tomorrow?

Kellen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:00:05 +0000

There hasn't been much chatter surrounding Android 2.2 on the Motorola Droid after that whole 2.1 debacle, but tomorrow is the 13th, and the rumored release day. We had expected more rumors to leak if this date were to hold up, and so far we've heard absolutely nothing. Does that mean it won't start to roll out in the morning? Not necessarily. Did Verizon do a better job of keeping this one under wraps? Perhaps. Would they do an Eris update the same week? Would be a first. As a reminder and to keep our hopes high, we can look back to the 2.1 update that surprised almost all of us once the OTA flow finally started. Maybe Verizon simply has update word on lockdown? We'll be on watch tomorrow anyway! And to those of you that are running stock 2.1, let us know if you see anything!

Breaking: DROID Eris Receiving Update July 16th

Kellen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:04:15 +0000

According to Verizon, Droid Eris users should expect to see an OTA update starting Friday July 16th. This update is not to Android 2.2, but does feature a bundle of OS enhancements. Here are the details...

You haven't been forgotten about just yet Eris users! Nice to see Verizon and HTC still supporting one of the original Droid family members.

Android Market About to Hit 100,000 Apps

Kellen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:30:07 +0000

Look at that growth. The Android Market is booming and we're all a part of it. Sure, many of the applications flooding in are not of the highest quality, but at least developers are starting to choose good over evil. We also have this sweet new App Inventor to play with which could either be the greatest thing to happen to Android or the absolute worst. We're going with option 1! And the numbers by month...

At some point those numbers have to start leveling off right? Do we want them to? This would probably make a great poll, but I'm curious to know everyone's thoughts on the Android Market in general. Satisfied with it? Source: Androlib Via: AndroidSpin

Want More Proof? DROID X Inventory is Limited.

Kellen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:15:05 +0000

Been feeling a little heat this morning from some people not wanting to believe that the Droid X stock will be limited on launch day, as we reported earlier. Well we've just grabbed 5 additional screenshots from 5 pretty major markets and I'd say again that inventory looks to be pretty limited to me. Some of the major stores have upwards of 60+ (which I previously mentioned), but some are seeing as little as 5 (yes I said 5). Now maybe these numbers are above average for a Verizon launch, but for a device this big, I guess I just figured stores would have tried to have been overstocked. And who knows, maybe they'll load up even more devices by Thursday and these numbers are simply premature. Check out Los Angeles above and the rest of the screenies after the jump! How about Philly?

How about Houston?

How about Las Vegas?

And how about NYC?

Oh and hopefully these will help you decide which store to go camp out in front of. Your welcome! Update: My inventory guy has started fulfilling a few requests and at least locations appear to have more stock than others. Maybe the rest of their shipments are starting to arrive? I hope so! And be sure to say thanks in the comments as our source will read them... Yuma...

Boston...

Huntington Beach...(110!)

Ventura...

And that's all of them!

Monday Poll: Locked DROID X Bootloader is a Deal Breaker?

Kellen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:15:17 +0000

To those into having complete control over their Android devices, we were introduced to some pretty disappointing news over the weekend. Our newest family member, the Droid X, is reportedly stuck with the same encrypted bootloader as the Motorola Milestone which has yet to be cracked for custom ROMs after 7 months worth of attempts. If this turns out to be correct, and we're pretty sure it will, does this device still interested you? Whether you planned on buying one on this Thursday or not, please provide an answer as this is something that could cripple future devices as well. [poll id="5"] I'm going to reserve comment at this time, but as always, feel free to express your feelings on the issue while staying somewhat civilized. As a blog that covers both the rooted and non-rooted worlds of Android, this is one of those topics where we greatly appreciate your opinions.

Confirmed: Limited Stock of DROID X to be Available on Launch

Kellen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:00:22 +0000

There have been rumors over the last few days that the Droid X will have limited availability when it launches this Thursday. Some claimed that around 60 would be available per store, others are claiming even less. According to the screenshot we just received, it looks to be much less. Of the 2 Portland stores listed above, one is a kiosk and the other is a fairly small (although downtown) store meaning we could see numbers closer to 60 at bigger locations, but we can't guarantee that. Let's just say that you might want to show up to wait in line slightly earlier for this one. Oh and that screenshot we showed you earlier in the week which listed over 25,000 DX's in VZW's big Memphis warehouse has changed drastically. Shipments are definitely out to stores as the number has now dropped under 10K...

So how early are we thinking people? And are you still interested after the locked bootloader talk? Actually, save those thoughts, we'll have a poll on that later today. Update: Droid Forums is also reporting low inventory levels of the DX at launch. Their source is expecting the initial batch to run out in just a few days and to not be replenished for quite some time. Yikes. Thoughts anyone? Motorola won't allow this to be the next Incredible will they?

Google to Release Android App Inventor Today

Kellen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:15:16 +0000

Ever thought about creating your own app but have absolutely no idea where to start? Google can help you with that. The latest venture from the company behind Android, is a tool that will allow just about anyone to create their own apps with a few simple clicks. The Android App Inventor will be launched today...

You can build just about any app you can imagine with App Inventor. Often people begin by building games like WhackAMole or games that let you draw funny pictures on your friend's faces. You can even make use of the phone's sensors to move a ball through a maze based on tilting the phone. But app building is not limited to simple games. You can also build apps that inform and educate. You can create a quiz app to help you and your classmates study for a test. With Android's text-to-speech capabilities, you can even have the phone ask the questions aloud. To use App Inventor, you do not need to be a developer. App Inventor requires NO programming knowledge. This is because instead of writing code, you visually design the way the app looks and use blocks to specify the app's behavior.

Sound interesting? If you are still not following, check out this intro video...

To learn more check out the App Inventor website. To sign up to start using App Inventor, head here. Any ideas popping into those amazing brains of yours? This should get interesting. Via: New York Times Cheers to Shadez and Kevin!

DROID X Scavenger Hunt Hits Washington DC

Kellen — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:01:11 +0000

Only 1 Droid X scavenger hunt winner yesterday and we're now only 4 days away from launch. They better kick this thing into gear tomorrow and start pumping out 3 a day or they might not finish. Today the hunt took to the nation's capital. The tweet with coordinates...

The winner...

We're still waiting for that first Droid Life reader to grab one! If you do, we'll blast you all over the front page. Let's do this people!

DROID X Scavenger Hunt Hits Boston

Kellen — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:55:44 +0000

After providing coordinates to Droid X's in both NYC and Philadelphia, the @DroidLanding scavenger hunt took one to Boston on a Saturday afternoon. How long did it take to find? 3 minutes. Yikes. The tweet...

And your winner...

We're only 5 days away from launch and we still have 18 DX's in the wild that need to be found. Are we going to start seeing multiple giveaways a day? You would certainly assume so. Get ready! On a related note, we're sad to see a crew of Droid Life readers that were on their way to Boston to battle it out and apparently came up empty handed. Check out there signs pre-road trip...

Love the signs guys, drive safe back to Philly!

DROID X Bootloader Locked, Custom ROMs Unlikely?

Kellen — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:00:56 +0000

There has been a lot of behind the scenes chatter over the past few weeks on whether or not the new Droid X would come with a similar signed/locked/encrypted/sucky bootloader that has frustrated the Motorola Milestone crowd for a good 7 months now. The answer? It appears to be bad news. One of our favorite Droid developers (same one that put together our clean FRF84b ROM), Stephen Bird (aka birdman), has had a chance to dig into the DX and is confirming that this beast is indeed on lockdown. So what does that mean? There is still a good chance that root access will be gained, but custom ROMs will be a whole other challenge. Milestone developers have been attacking this encrypted bootloader for so long now and with so little success that it's tough for our hopes to be set all that high. At the same time, that's 7 months worth of research done that can now be used by the U.S. crew of devs. (Trying to stay positive here.) Thoughts on the DX now? Still interested in buying it? Via: birdman, Android Police, AndroidFeens

Want a DROID Incredible? Order it from Amazon!

Kellen — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 10:00:57 +0000

Who wants a Droid Incredible today? According to Amazon, they actually have some in stock and for only $149 on contract. So you know, I ran through as much of the ordering process as possible without fully purchasing the device and not once did it mention a shipping delay. Sweet right? After months of delays due to shortages in the AMOLED screen technology used on the Incredible, we were starting write off a device that really, can still compete with the best of them. While it looks like Verizon has delayed shipments of the DI again back to 8/9, you may want to jump on this opportunity in case the Droid X is not your cup of tea. Who knows how much longer Amazon will be able to keep them around. And let's not forget that CyanogenMod 6 is almost out for the DI and brings you some lovely Froyo action that helps it to perform like the top device on the planet. So run over to Amazon now and get your order on! Cheers Jonathan!

Early DROID X Arrivals can Now Officially be Activated

Kellen — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:00:17 +0000

All of those 170 Droid X devices that shipped early can now be properly activated according to Verizon. Just yesterday they were encouraging users to hold off until the July 15th launch to start using their DX because some of the new features were not ready for prime time. Well it looks like they've found a remedy! Activate away!

Google Makes Finding Parking Easier and Social

Kellen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:36:38 +0000

Social parking baby. Google's next application attempts to save you some gas, the environment and from breaking things. Yep, their Open Spot Android app is your way to find parking easier and help others do so as well while earning points along the way. This will need to catch on in cities before it can truly be effective and appreciated, so everyone download it now! More info at the Google Open Spot page. Download:

Download Link

Via: Phandroid, ReadWriteWeb

Android 2.2 on DROID Incredible is "Incredibly" Fast

Kellen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:05:42 +0000

Yes cheesy pun was needed. So we're expecting HTC's SenseUI for Android 2.2 to be pumped out to their lineup of devices including the Droid Incredible by the end of 2010. If that seems too far away and you don't feel like you can wait it out, then the CyanogenMod team has you covered. As most in the rooting crowd already know, CM6 is in the works and one of the new devices they have included support for is the Incredible. Fortunately for our sake, one of our brave readers has breezed through the rooting process and flashed this newest CM6 to his DI. Wait until you see his benchmarks...

Yep, that says 39.513 MFLOPs. Numbers that high look familiar? Oh yeah, that's also stock Froyo meaning no more SenseUI. Time to grab a pint and start rooting on this hot Friday night I guess. If you've already rooted your DI, you can get the newest CM6 build in ROM Manager. Good luck! Cheers Kyle!

Custom Theme Friday: Insanely Clean V1.1

Kellen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:00:59 +0000

This week's custom theme comes from a developer who is a whopping 17 years old. Yes you read that correctly. When we heard about this kid and saw him putting out this kind of work, we had to do one thing, show him some love. Going by the name InsaneNemesis, this kid has definitely caught out eye and we'll be watching for his future releases. This ROM is built from source, has a 7 screen Froyo launcher, a red flair and so much more. Enjoy everyone!

Theme: Insanely Clean V1.1

Instructions...

*Note 1* - If you want to use SPRecovery, download, rename to update.zip and install.

1. Open ROM Manager and choose Download ROM. 2. Scroll down and choose "InsaneNemesis" and "v1.1 Insanely Clean New Revolution." 3. If you want the same theme from our pictures, choose the "Insanely Clean Theme." 4. Choose a kernel. 5. Choose a boot animation. 6. Once it finishes downloading you will be prompted to backup and wipe data/cache. 7. Create a backup if you don't have a recent one. 8. You can skip wiping data and cache if coming from another Froyo ROM. 9. Phone will reboot and work some magic.

*Note 2* - So you are aware, my first boot after the install took a LONG time. Be patient.

10. Enjoy! Full support thread including ROM details here. Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] Let us know if you run into any issues or have feedback in general. Cheers 'Tato!

From Verizon: 170 DROID X Devices Shipped Early

Kellen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:45:31 +0000

This just in from Verizon... Exactly 170 DROID X devices were shipped early to customers this week. They also are doing their best to tell these early acceptees to not activate these devices until July 15th. Why? Because all of the new features included on the DX will not be active which we have to assume means the mobile hot spot feature. So it looks like you can finally stop calling and attempting to order one early. Plus, we only have 6 days left people. Not that I have an ounce of patience either, but it's time to dig deep and find some. July 15th will be here before we know it!

DROID X Scavenger Hunt Hits Philadelphia

Kellen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:08:14 +0000

The Droid X scavenger hunt continues to roll on after yesterday's first device was found in NYC. Today started with another east coast DX, this time in Philadelphia. The tweet with coordinates...

And 21 minutes later we have the winner...

Not quite the 6 minutes we had yesterday, but still pretty fast. And that takes #4 and #19 off the market, which one will be next? Any of our readers battle it out during this Philly hunt?

Cell Phone Inventor Still Rocking DROID, Loves Android

Kellen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:30:01 +0000

Cell phone inventor Martin Cooper told us back in March that he had switched over from the i*hone to the Motorola Droid to get some experience with Android. While we were thrilled to see this news, we were quite surprised today when CNN ran an interview with Marty and he mentioned the Droid once again when asked about his current device. He also had some choice words when comparing some of the new Android devices to those made by the enemy...

So this phone, even with inflation, costs about half as much as your first cell phone. Yep, and really this phone is not a really complicated phone. It does have a phonebook in it, it does reach certain parts of the Web, but it's not a PDA. You can't read e-mail on it; it doesn't have a camera on it. It really is a basic telephone. I also have a Droid. I got a Motorola Droid that I use. I also have a Jitterbug. I'm always trying whatever the latest telephone is. I had an iPhone for a while, I gave that to my grandson. Kids are really caught up in that. But I think that the Android phones are catching up now, and the latest version of the Android phones are every bit as good, if not better, than the iPhone.

We love you Marty and are honored to see that we are one of the 4 people you still follow on Twitter. Feel free to follow him! (@MartyMobile). Source: CNN Cheers Smash!

Verizon Responds to DROID X Early Arrivals

Kellen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:30:06 +0000

Our inboxes have probably seen almost a dozen reports of people receiving their Droid X early (here and here) and all along we've been searching for answers. Well this morning, one of our readers sent in this email from Verizon which provides the response we were sort of expecting...

Dear XXX, I appreciate your interest in placing an order for the soon-to-be-released Motorola DROID X. My name is Roy and in review of my resources, I have confirmed that orders for the DROID X cannot be processed until July 15, 2010. At the present time, we do not offer the ability to pre-order this device. I have also confirmed the reports that you have referenced about customers receiving these devices prior to the 15th. This was unfortunately due to a system error, allowing very few customers to receive this device prior to July 15; however, these devices cannot be activated until the phone is officially released on the 15th. I truly apologize for any concerns this may have caused. Thank you again for your email regarding the release of the Motorola DROID X. I hope you continue to find the “Contact Us” section of verizonwireless.com a helpful option to resolve any issue you may experience the first time you email us. We appreciate your business and thank you for being a valued Verizon Wireless customer. Sincerely, Roy Verizon Wireless Customer Service

The interesting thing to note is the remark about the activation of the device. This CS rep claims that all of the early arrivals in the wild cannot actually be activated until next week. That's funny, because our tipsters are sending us emails straight from theirs. Roy also mentions that the system error has been fixed yet we heard from at least 2 people yesterday who managed to order their device on Wednesday morning. Maybe they just cleaned out the error? No matter what, we're just glad to see some of you enjoying this new family member early!

ACircuit Board Live Wallpaper Brings the Geek

Kellen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:43:36 +0000

I love live wallpapers, but even this new one might be a little too geeky for me. (Maybe.) The aCircuit Board live wallpaper has launched and shows you what the inside of your phone could possibly look like, only on your screen. It's fully interactive, changes lights when you toggle on or off certain settings, gets crazy lit up, and costs about a $1.13. Video Action:

Download:

Download Link

Via: Pocketnow, Engadget

Cheers Ben and JoelSeph!

Trillian Headed to Android!

Kellen — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:05:19 +0000

Trillian, the ultimate instant messaging program, is headed to Android in the next few weeks. If you can't handle Meebo or some of the other IM options currently available, then this should be locked into your radar. I can remember when Trillian was just getting its start back in the early 2000s and to see it heading to the good guy mobile OS is definitely exciting. The features you can expect...

Connect to Facebook Chat, Windows Live, Yahoo!, AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP and MySpaceIM

Synchronize your contacts, avatars, status, accounts and more with your Trillian-enabled desktop or mobile apps

Get notified easily with Android notification system integration

Contact list sorting, grouping, metacontacts support, privacy settings and various ways to organize

Set status, avatar and display name quickly in one simple screen

Tabbed chat windows with bubble view, photo transfer, buzz and emoticon support

Support for Android phones as far back as version 1.6 – works with your good old T-Mobile G1 or the newest HTC Evo 4G or Motorola Droid!

We took special care and respect to design and build the user interface to smoothly integrate with Android – this is not just a clone from the iPhone!

Anyone else feelin' some Trillian? Facebook chat anyone? Source: Trillian Via: Phandroid

DROID X Scavenger Hunt Announces First Location in NYC

Kellen — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:41:28 +0000

The Droid X (@DroidLanding) scavenger hunt announced its first set of coordinates today which pointed to the docks in NYC. Yep, some 3,000 New Yorkers are flocking there as I'm typing this to fight over a certificate which entitles them to one DX. Here is the tweet with the coordinates...

And the winner in about 6 minutes time...

While that Droid X is gone, I wanted to post this to show all of you that you can plug the coordinates directly into your Google Maps to find the location. Typing them in exactly as shown will get you to the spot...

Get ready for your city! It could be next!

How to: Root Android 2.1 and Install Android 2.2 on Motorola DROID

Kellen — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:41:44 +0000

With the official Android 2.2 for the Motorola Droid hopefully arriving next Tuesday, this may seem a little late, but we still wanted to make sure we had a full guide on file which can take you from Android 2.1 to rooted Android 2.2 with ease. This is really just an update to our previous guide which helped thousands of users find life as a rooted beast, but wanted to give those on the fence some easier instructions. So for many of you, this is old news, but to the group of new Droid Life readers, I hope this helps. Good luck! Now read the warning below and we'll jump right into this...

*Warning* – The process we are about to layout is extremely risky. If you choose to do this, we are not liable should you brick your phone or cause any sort of permanent damage. If you do harm to your phone, please do not email us asking for help as you have already been warned and accept all risk involved. Cheers!

Full rooting instructions after the jump!

*Note 1* - So we are clear, this is for Motorola Droid users running stock Android 2.1. If you are running 2.0.1 or rooted 2.0.1, this process is not for you. *Note 2* - This is for PC users only. I'm sure it can be done on a Mac, but I have no way of taking you through that process. Feel free to ask in the comments though as one of our readers may be able to help you. *Note 3* - This will not work on the Motorola Milestone.

STEP 1:

Flashing SPRecovery onto your device: The first and most important step is to use a program called RSD Lite to flash/install the SPRecovery image onto your phone. This recovery will replace the stock Android recovery image and allow you to install a 2.2 ROM with root access. This step does not root your device, it simply allows us to install a ROM that has superuser/root access included. Make sense? Proceed. How to Install SPRecovery... 1. Download the SPRecovery SBF file: SPRecovery_ESE81.sbf 2. Place the file somewhere other than your desktop.

DO NOT RENAME OR ATTEMPT TO UNZIP OR ANYTHING.

3. Download the correct Motorola USB drivers and install to your PC. (32-bit) (64-bit)

32-bit for a 32-bit Windows OS and 64-bit for a 64-bit Windows OS. To find out what your Windows OS is, go to Control Panel>System and it will tell you.

4. Download and install RSD Lite 4.6. (Download Link) 5. Once you've completed steps 1-4, you can follow the video instructions below or skip right to step 6 to complete the process...

6. Connect your phone to a USB and your PC and turn it off. 7. Open RSD Lite (run as administrator). 8. Slide open your keyboard, hold up on the d-pad, then the power button for 5 seconds and release.

Your phone should then boot to a black screen which is your bootloader.

9. Click the … next to the filename box and browse to where you saved the SPRecover_ESE81.sbf file. 10. Double click and open the file. 11. Click “start” and allow the SPRecovery SBF to flash. This should not take long. 12. Allow for your phone to reboot and for RSD Lite to show that you are 100% and completed. 13. Close RSD Lite and disconnect your phone. You now have SPRecovery installed on your Droid. 14. Proceed to STEP 2.

STEP 2:

Installing a 2.2 rooted ROM: This final step involves flashing/installing a 2.2 ROM with root access onto your device using SPRecovery. For these instructions, we have chosen a stock 2.2 rooted ROM, but you can go straight to a custom ROM doing this same procedure if you'd like. Instructions for that here. How to Install a 2.2 ROM Using SPRecovery... 1. Update and backup any files you wish to restore, this will wipe all data. 2. Download this file to your computer: sapphire-0.7.0-update.zip 3. Once you've completed steps 1-2, you can follow the video instructions below or skip right to step 4 to complete the process...

4. Rename the file to "update.zip"

MAKE SURE IT'S NOT NAMED "UPDATE.ZIP.ZIP" or the process will be aborted. If using Windows XP and your files are not showing file extensions, simply rename to "update".

5. Place the update.zip on the root of your sdcard. (Meaning not in a folder) 6. Reboot into recovery mode (hold the power and “x” button at the same time). 7. Using the volume up/down switch highlight “Wipe data/factory reset” and select with the camera button. 8. Choose “Wipe cache partition.” 9. Choose “Install.” 10. Choose “Allow update.zip installation.” 11. Choose “Install /sdcard/update.zip (deprecated).” 12. The update.zip will now be installed. 13. When it finishes, select reboot. 14. When your phone boots up, you will have to re-add your Google accounts. 15. You are done. You now have a Motorola Droid with a rooted 2.2 ROM installed. If you would like to change to a custom ROM, I highly suggest that you download ROM Manager from the market. It will give you various options and will also simplify this process. You will also find a bundle of videos on how to use ROM Manager in our Root(unlock) section.

Other Info:

Overclocking: If you are interested in overclocking your device, you can find some general information about it at this post. Root-Only Apps: Here is a list of apps worth checking out that work once you have root access. Trust me when I say that these will make your phone that much more amazing...

SetCPU: App used to overclock your device.
Root Explorer: File manager that lets you browse every file on your Droid.
ROM Manager: The easiest way to install new ROMs.
ShootMe and Drocap2: Screen shot apps.
Barnacle Wifi Tether: App for wifi tethering your Droid.
LEDs Hack: Gives you control over your LED soft-keys.
MetaMorph: Allows you to install custom themes.
Titanium Backup: For making custom backups including your apps.

Questions or comments? Make sure to drop them below so the entire community can attack them!

YouTube Mobile Gets Major Make-Over

Kellen — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:00:57 +0000

The mobile YouTube site (m.youtube.com) has undergone some much-needed updates over the past few days and now functions more consistently over various platforms. With mobile browsing and video watching seeing more action than ever, all we can say is, "Thank you Google and YouTube." What's new about it?

It's really fast.

The new user interface incorporates larger, more touch friendly elements, making it easier to access videos on the go.

It incorporates the features and functionality you’ve come to expect from the .com site, like search query suggestions, the options to create playlists,the ability to designate “favorite,” “like,” or “unlike” videos directly from your device.

As we make improvements to Youtube.com, you’ll see them quickly follow on our mobile site, unlike native apps which are not updated as frequently.

Oh and don't forget to subscribe to the Droid Life channel! Via: Google Mobile Blog

OpenFeint Hopes to Legitimize Android Gaming

Kellen — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:02:32 +0000

The big dog of iOS mobile gaming is readying an Android onslaught later this summer. OpenFeint, who claims to have the largest mobile gaming developer community on the planet, is bringing their crew over to the good side of life and hopes to bring some much needed quality to its gaming sector. A piece of the presser...

Android will Accompany Titles from Glu Mobile, Digital Chocolate, And Hudson Entertainment. Burlingame, CA – July 8, 2010 – OpenFeint, the leading mobile social gaming ecosystem for iOS devices, today announced that its 9,200 member game developer community with thousands of published games will soon have a complete solution to thrive in the Android apps economy. Launching later this summer, the company's complete solution will include its de facto standard SDK, a game discovery store and mobile payment options. It will also include high quality content from leading publishers Astraware, Digital Chocolate, Glu Mobile, Hudson Soft and independent studios like Distinct Dev (Moron Test), ustwo (Dot Dot Dot), Pik Pok (Flick Kick Football) and RocketCat Games (Hook Champ). With a strong set of partners at launch, OpenFeint's ecosystem provides Android users the most compelling way to discover and buy high quality online games. In addition to incorporating Google Checkout and leading community features into its developer SDK, OpenFeint will extend its wildly successful Game Spotlight discovery app to Android. Interested parties can register at www.openfeint.com/developers/android for details as they emerge.

Excited? I know the gaming arena on Android has been pretty weak for so long that it's about time a major player comes our way. Via: Gizmodo

Another DROID X Arrives Early. Last One?

Kellen — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:23:36 +0000

This is getting out of control! Another of our readers has received a Droid X well ahead of the actual July 15th launch date. And from what he's told us, he ordered it yesterday morning around the time we posted our additional info on these early arrivals. Oh and don't be surprised at the quick delivery time, I've ordered stuff through Big Red and had it show up over night as well. Now to counteract all of this, I have heard from countless Verizon customer service reps over the last few days who claim that this could just be hype and marketing from corporate and that the SKU for the DX has been on lock down ever since the first device arrived earlier this week. But then we got this email this morning showing that it may still be possible...one giant mystery. So here is the deal, I want to know how many of you were able to call consumer sales and actually place an order. I also want to know how many of you were denied. Let us know!

AMOLED Shortage Could Hurt for Years to Come

Kellen — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:14:35 +0000

The Droid Incredible might want to consider making a permanent change to LCD screens after seeing the latest report from iSuppli on the shortage of AMOLED screens in the mobile market. In fact, maybe HTC should decide to move completely away from them as this new report is predicting shortages for years to come. With Samsung and LG as the only major AMOLED producers in the world, neither has been able to keep up with demand for their screen technology. And now that Samsung has its own line of high-end Android devices, they plan on using what they can produce for themselves, which only makes sense. Does this mean the end of AMOLED technology? Source: iSuppli Via: Android and Me

Try on American Eagle Jeans, Receive a Free Android Phone

Kellen — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:22:01 +0000

Either American Eagle is really struggling or they just really love their new jean lineup. According to, well, American Eagle, then plan on running a promotion which will land you a free smartphone as long as you try on a pair of their jeans. Yes I said "try on" not buy. The story from AE...

...every customer who tries on a pair of AE jeans receives a free smartphone after instant discount with a new two-year service plan, from July 21 to August 3. Customers can choose from more than 40 phones from a variety of top brands including BlackBerry® and Android™ smartphones and many others. Every customer who takes advantage of the promotion will also receive a $25 AE "Money Card" redeemable online or in stores.

How it works...

As customers exit the AE fitting rooms after trying on jeans, they will receive a special card that explains how to select their phone and carrier at www.ae.com/jeans.

The new phone and $25 AE Money Card is sent to the customer via FedEx.

Users will be given the opportunity to download an AE logo to their phone deck that acts as a direct link to the AE mobile site.

Online shoppers will receive the special card in their order shipment with every denim purchase.

Update: Here is your list of phones courtesy of @Evolvehawk! Come July 21st, you better be out getting your skinny jean on. (Hah!) Oh, and if you know anyone at American Eagle, tell them to be on the lookup for new marketing materials! Source: American Eagle Outfitters Via: BGR

Official @DroidLanding DROID X Scavenger Hunt Rules

Kellen — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:30:17 +0000

(Click for big boy version.)

Well we now know that the Droid X's which appear to be arriving early have nothing to do with the @DroidLanding scavenger hunt that many of you have been following. How do we know this? Because the official rules have been released. The most important part has to do with actually finding one of the hidden devices...

3. How to Participate in the Promotion and Claim a Prize: During the Promotion Period, there will be a Scavenger Hunt, where 21 Certificates for a free Droid Phone will be hidden across the country. Clues as to where the 21 Droid Certificates ("Certificates") will be hidden will be tweeted on a regular basis from @DroidLanding. To view the tweets, visit http://www.twitter.com/droidlanding. Dates and times of Certificate placement will vary, but the final clue of each GPS location for each Certificate will be tweeted at the time it is hidden. Participants will have 4 hours from the time of the posting of the final clue to find the Certificate and once it is found, follow the instructions on the Certificate to claim their prizes, subject to verification...

So basically, @DroidLanding will tweet GPS coordinates over the next 7-8 days and if your city has one hidden, you have 4 hours to find the representative who is holding a certificate for a Droid X. Let the battles begin! Oh they also mention the full retail price of the DX...

4. Prizes and Approximate Retail Value ("ARV"): Prizes (21): A Verizon Wireless Droid Phone ARV $569.99 each.

If the image above doesn't suit your reading needs, check out the official rules here. My eye is on #7. Which one are you following? Cheers Tabe!

Official ESPN Radio App Hits Android Market

Kellen — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:45:47 +0000

After releasing their ScoreCenter app just a few weeks ago, ESPN has launched the official ESPN Radio app on Android. You can listen to live radio, check out an extensive lineup of podcasts, get Sportscenter updates every 20 minutes, and even send text messages into your favorite shows. I'm actually pretty pleased after having it for an hour or so now. The app has a nice UI, a scrolling score ticker, can run in the background while using other apps and overall appears to be a winner. Feel free to check it out if you have a few extra bucks and are obsessed with all things sports. Not free, $4.99. Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4" orderby="title"] Download:

Download Link

Cheers @richardsonadm!

Android 2.2 Dominates iOS4 in Browser Battle?

Kellen — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:45:27 +0000

News came out earlier today confirming what we had heard back at Google I/O, that the new Froyo browser would crush any mobile browser that Apple could create. Ars Technica took the new iPhone 4, placed it against a Nexus One with Android 2.2 and then ran some javascript speed tests. As you can see from the chart above, the results were pretty one-sided. But are they accurate? Engadget attempted a visual test which produced much more competitive results with the Nexus One still coming out on top as long as Flash 10.1 was disabled. With Flash enabled, they essentially tied with load times. While we're not surprised by these results, it is interesting to see a smartphone which has been on the market for 7 months outperform one that is as new as they come. Oh, and only comes out once per year. Yay Android! Let's hope that our July 13th Froyo info for the Droid 1 holds up. Can't wait. Via: Ars Technica, Engadget

AppBrain Allows PC to Phone App Installs

Kellen — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:56:21 +0000

AppBrain dropped an app on the Android world today which unlocks a feature that most weren't expecting until Android 3.0 or Gingerbread. The app is called Fast Web Installer and allows users to choose apps through the AppBrain Market in a web browser and install them wirelessly onto their Android device. If that doesn't make complete sense, check out the video below... Video Action and Instructions:

First Download:

AppBrain Market

Second Download:

Fast Web Installer

Anyone already enjoying this fantastic new app? Let us know if you run into issues or have other tips!

Weekly App Roundup: Lithium Music Player, Nature Alarm, GeoStar

Octotron — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:00:21 +0000

This is your weekly Roundup of Apps submitted by readers and developers alike. We look to keep our readers informed of the latest apps in the ever growing Android Marketplace! We are constantly looking for new and useful apps to show and promote to our readers. To have your application featured in future Roundups, send us an email here. Lithium Music Player: (Free Trial and $1.99) I just downloaded this great little music player on a free trial basis. Seems that the folks who made Lithium Music Player have it available for free for a few more days to try it out, so get on over there and give it a shot! It sports a highly interactive interface with intuitive controls and sync support for Last.Fm. I personally really enjoy this one!

Nature Alarm: ($1.00) Looking for a more pleasant way to wake up in the morning? Nature Alarm brings you soothing natural sounds and a vibrant interface. There is a button to download more ringtones and alarms as well as the ability to use your own files as alarms and ringtones built in.

Credit Alarm: (about $1.50) Credit Alarm is a handy tool that reminds you when you are about to reach the limit of your minutes and texting allowances. It can be set to either standard, bundle, or prepaid plans. It can also calculate and factor in roll over minutes. This can be an extremely handy tool for those of us who like to talk a lot!

GeoStar: (about $1.25) GeoStar is a geography quiz on the market that takes countries from around the world and tests the users knowledge about them. This program is fantastic for those looking to brush up on their world capitals and such. Settings can be adjusted for the user making this a great way to learn for people of any age.

PhoneFraze Pro: (Lite/Free Themes and $0.99) Phone Fraze is an interactive game experience that is akin to Charades. Each person passes the phone back and forth or around a circle (or head to head), trying to get others to guess what phrase they are gesturing. Last one holding the phone loses! Many different theme packs and more words available with Pro version.

Blink: (Free) Ever wonder why the only color you seem to get on your Droid's LED notification light is Green? Wonder no more my dear friends! With Blink, you can customize that little LED into whatever color you choose! This app allows you to choose from a variety of colors for each different situation so you can differentiate between SMS, MMS, Phone Calls, and even Low Batteries.

Borders eBooks Hits Android Market

Kellen — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:47:50 +0000

With the Kindle app hitting the Android Market, it only makes sense for the rest of the eBook crowd to jump on board. Enter Borders. (Wait, they still exist? Apparently!) Just like other eBook apps, they've put together a nice catalog which allows for free sampling of books before purchase. The rest is pretty straight forward. Free. Download:

Download Link

More Details on Early Arriving DROID X

Kellen — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:24 +0000

When we broke the news yesterday that certain lucky Verizon customers were receiving Droid X's early, we started hitting up our contacts to see what else we could find out. With no pre-sale through Big Red, plus an order denial while calling customer service ourselves, the idea of customers still finding ways to order the Droid X before July 15th is mind-boggling. So here is what we've got... As you can see from Verizon inventory screenie above, one of their Memphis warehouses is stocked with well over 25,000 Droid X's, but as you'll also see, our source received an error when trying to order. He also went as far as trying to find a SKU for the device as another work-around to ordering and again, no luck...

Apparently this has to be done over the phone with consumer sales or customer service because all of the stores we checked with had no luck. We also received the following email from a reader who was successful...

I just called Verizon as a new customer and they accepted my preorder on a Droid X, stating once they get the SKU numbers they will order the equipment and ship it to me. As of right now that is set for 7/15/2010, but will contact me if they receive them sooner!

So what do you think? Anyone else had any luck calling customer care? If you did, what device do you currently have? Our Texas tipster earlier was coming from a Blackberry, which could be another angle to take. Might as well give them a call to see if you can become one of the lucky early X-ers, right?

Ultimate Smartphone Battle: DROID Incredible vs. Palm Pre Plus

Kellen — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 07:20:48 +0000

Last week, we took the Droid Incredible past the Nexus One to claim the Android Cup championship. This week, we've been invited to do it one last time against a surprisingly formidable opponent. Remember back in March when the Palm Pre Plus took out the Motorola Droid in dominating fashion? Well today we get a chance to redeem our fallen brother. While it's the DI we're getting behind this time, it's still an opportunity for the Droid family to come together and take down a failed company... Check out LaptopMag for the full writeup. Remember to retweet this thing if you can. We are going to need the whole Android community involved to take this one I'm afraid.

Random DROID X Orders Arriving Early?

Kellen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:49:24 +0000

We're not really even sure where to go with this because it might be the oddest Droid X news we've reported, but one of our readers just sent in photos of what appears to be a Droid X straight from Verizon Wireless Customer Care. His brother, who lives in Texas received the device today after calling Verizon and somehow setting up an order. Weird right? Update 1: I ran the tracking number on that box and it shipped July 1st from Ontario, CA and arrived in El Paso, TX today. Ontario is the same site that everything I have ever ordered from Verizon has come from. Update 2: Our Texas tipster said he attempted to place an order for one 10 days ago and was told he could not, but that the rep would call him back as soon the system would allow him to. A few days later, the rep called back and he had placed the order, receiving it today. Well get this. As I was typing this post out, I received another email from someone in Huntsville, AL who works at a Verizon call center and has reported that they just took a call from someone who had some questions about the new Droid X which just showed up on their doorstep. After hitting up some other reps in his center, they too are reporting more than a few calls of people trying to activate Droid X devices. We're also starting to believe that the @DroidLanding Twitter account is somehow reporting early deliveries of devices rather than clues to a scavenger hunt (SEE UPDATE BELOW). While this is just a loose theory, it could explain why we keep seeing new devices referenced on that account which are numbered into the 20s. And check out this tweet specifically from 4 hours ago which references a state that could be Texas. The timing of this runs pretty close with the email we received from our original tipster...

Update 3: We're thinking the @DroidLanding thing is just a coincidence and will continue to assume it is still a scavenger hunt. To attempt to debunk this whole situation, we made a call to the consumer sales number of Verizon and were turned down when asking about the DX. The rep we spoke with said that a VZW pre-sale is not coming and that I would have to wait until the 15th when it hit stores. So on our end, we were unable to confirm the ability to purchase one early. Update 3: Another possible theory - Could some of these be from customers who were allowed to switch their Droid Incredible order over to the Droid X? Stay tuned for more... Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="title"]

Download: Adobe AIR Froyo 7-5-2010 Build

Kellen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:14:12 +0000

So we leaked a build of Adobe AIR for Android over the weekend plus a bunch of apps and since then, a new version has been released. This new version is by no means a leak and is readily available to people who have signed up to the pre-release AIR program. Below is the file we received almost 2 days ago on Sunday night (Monday morning) at 2:34AM. Specific right? Download: Adobe AIR Froyo 7-5-2010 This version is for Froyo only. Works with the Froyo folder of apps posted here. Cheers Luda!

Release: SAPPHIRE 0.7.0 Froyo ROM

Kellen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:23:56 +0000

This post is long overdue and I deserve a slap on the wrist for not posting it sooner! For those of you looking for a truly "built from source" ROM that is not based at all off of CyanogenMod, then you need to check out SAPPHIRE. There are only a few developers out there who can actually say "from source" without getting castrated by the community and this is one of them. While SAPPHIRE is still very new and currently has just a few themes (for those not loving stock), their builds will be something to pay attention to for a long time. These releases are fast, incredibly stable and come packed with all the features you've come to expect from the Droid developer community. Today's release is their 0.7.0 Froyo build which as far as I can tell is based off of FRF84B and has been running flawlessy on my Droid for a full day now. Give these guys a run ya'll! Download: sapphire-0.7.0-update.zip (alt link) Instructions...

*For SPRecovery, simple rename to update.zip and install.

1. Download the above file and drop on the root of your SD card. 2. Open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM from SD Card." 3. Scroll down and find sapphire-0.7.0-update.zip and tap on it. 4. Check the box to make a backup of your current ROM. 5. Skip "wipe data and cache" if coming from another Froyo build. 6. Phone will reboot, install SAPPHIRE and you are done! Full support including donate link at the SAPPHIRE website. They are currently porting themes over to this 0.7.0 build, but you can find themes for their 0.6.2 build right now if you just can't wait any longer. Again, check these guys out, give them some Droid Life love and a big belated welcome to the community! Cheers 'Tato and 'Picolas!

Motorola Milestone Receives MR2.5 Update

Kellen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:10:39 +0000

Our semi-forgotten, long lost half-cousin, the Motorola Milestone, is currently receiving an update which fixes all sorts of little bugs and functionality issues. Below is a list of the changes...

After downloading and installing the software, you will notice the following improvements:

Improved Stability Prevents the phone from random power cycling (turning off and on), and minimizes force closes in certain applications.

Alarm Improvements Resolves issues with alarm functionality.

Music Player Functionality

Eliminates accidental starting of music.

Audio Quality Enhancements Eliminates instances of choppy audio experienced by some users.

PIN Lock Improvements Allows users more flexibility in setting the PIN Lock timer when using Exchange email.

Proximity Sensor Enhancement

Provides more accurate proximity sensing during phone calls.

Flight Mode Enhancement

Ensures phone service is restored after leaving airplane mode.

“My Location” Improvements

Resolves the issue of Google Maps failing to find "My Location" when "Use Wireless Network" is enabled without using GPS.

If you'd like to manually update your Milestone right now, head over to this site. Update: This MR2.5 update was momentarily pulled and is apparently only for Greece users...

Motorola Europe - Ok, so here's the deal: apologies for the earlier update, some eager people jumped the gun. We confirm FOTA update for Greece is available now for the latest Milestone software enhancements and MSU will follow in the future. Poland, Netherlands & other European countries will also roll out in the future and we will update when these are ready. Update & install details available on the Discussion tab.

Source: Motorola Europe Facebook

DROID Incredible Delayed to 8/3

Kellen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:39:46 +0000

Really? Another delay? Just 6 days after pushing the shipping date on the Droid Incredible to 7/28, it has been moved back even further; this time into early August. As you may remember, the DI launched on April 29th and was out of stock within minutes and has been unable to catch up ever since. It's a shame as the device has top notch specs and is slated to receive an OTA update with some nice features followed by Froyo at the end of the year. But how much longer can Verizon continue this kind of support for a device that has left customers so frustrated? The Droid X comes out next week and reports have Big Red allowing users to cancel their DI orders if they wish to switch. Let's also not forget that the DX has been promised Android 2.2 by the end of August, so why would you not switch? Come on HTC!

Download: Fix Wifi Notification Icon for JRummy's Kangerade

Kellen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:19:17 +0000

If you are running the newest version of JRummy's Kangerade which we posted on Friday, chances are that you have thought about breaking your phone due to a constant wi-fi icon in your notification bar. Well peeps, the man has issued a fix so that you can return to your non-hair pulling lives. Download: Stock Theme Fix Download: Custom Theme Fix Instructions... 1. Download the file necessary for your ROM to the root of your SD Card. 2. Open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM from SD Card." 3. Scroll down until you find the file you just downloaded and tap on it. 4. Check the box to make a backup if you'd like; no need to "wipe data and cache." 5. Phone will reboot and that notification should be gone! Big thanks to JRummy! Let us know if this fix doesn't seem to be working for you. Cheers Chris!

Video: Flash 10.1 on the DROID X

Kellen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 06:30:36 +0000

Prepare to be teased! While many of us have been enjoying Adobe's Flash 10.1 on our Motorola Droids due to a bundle of Android 2.2 leaks over the last few weeks, this new video should get you all really excited. Seeing the Droid X in all its 4.3" glory with full Flash is quite a sight...

We know that the plan is for the DX to launch with Android 2.1 on the 15th and then receive Froyo some time in August, but tell me, how hard is that wait going to be? Especially with the rest of the Droid 1 owners possibly getting it throughout the week of the 13th. This truly is the "Summer of Droid." Via: Flash Platform Blog

Google Says "No" to Nexus Two?

Kellen — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:06:29 +0000

Back when the Nexus One was released through Google's phone store in January, there were immediate rumors of a Nexus Two / Droid 2 combo device in the works. Well we now know that Droid 2 is only a month away and definitely has nothing to do with a new Nexus device, but we still haven't heard a peep from Google on a possible follow-up to their initial developer release. Until now anyway. In an interview with the Telegraph, Google CEO Eric Schmidt touched on the N2...

“The idea a year and a half ago was to do the Nexus One to try to move the phone platform hardware business forward. It clearly did. It was so successful, we didn't have to do a second one. We would view that as positive but people criticised us heavily for that. I called up the board and said: 'Ok, it worked. Congratulations - we're stopping'. We like that flexibility, we think that flexibility is characteristic of nimbleness at our scale."

So no Nexus Two? For some reason I'm having a hard time completely buying into that. With 4G networks on the rise, why would Google not want to make an unlocked 4G version to act as the next ultimate Android developer device? Plus, it just feels like they might want to take another stab at the phone sales business and redeem themselves after that first lukewarm try. *Side note* - If you are wondering why we cover Nexus One chatter, it's simply because it is the one Android device that leads the way when we start talking OS updates. When the N1 sees some OTA fun, it's a pretty good indication that our beloved Droid 1 is next. Thoughts? Source: Telegraph

HTC Still Won't Specify Android 2.2 Update Timeline

Kellen — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:55 +0000

We just caught word of additional Droid Incredible's receiving the update which includes 720p recording, the new boot animation, Amazon MP3 store, and mobile hotspot capabilities, but we're still wondering when Froyo is going to show up. Reaching out to HTC gets you the following message...

I understand how important it is to have the latest news about updates for your Incredible. We are working closely with Google and our other partners to ensure we have the earliest access to everything we need to provide a complete and solid Sense experience on Froyo. We expect to release all updates in the second half of this year but can't be more specific yet. Please keep an eye on www.twitter.com/htc for the latest news, and thank you for your patience.

And since we're 5 days into the second half of 2010, should we start an official countdown? We definitely don't want this turning into another HTC Hero update situation. Oh, and how was your 4th?

Happy Fourth of July from Droid Life!

Kellen — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 09:00:31 +0000

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy Fourth of July! This is a great time for everyone to unplug from the internet, grab a cold one, fine some sun and enjoy the company of friends and family. Hope you all have the safest of days!

DROID X Pre-sale Restarts at Best Buy, Won't Guarantee Availability

Kellen — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:00:06 +0000

When we broke the news that Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile had stopped their Droid X pre-sale after hitting their alloted inventory number in just 5 days, we didn't expect them to restart it. Well, guess what? They have...sort of. We've confirm with 2 Best Buy Mobile stores that a limited pre-sale will begin starting tomorrow (July 4th) and will end on Saturday (July 10th). Why are we calling it "limited"? Because they aren't guaranteeing that these pre-sale units will be available to you on launch day which is the 15th and in fact are also warning employees to not allow buyers during this new pre-sale to make appointments for pick up. Yikes? And for further confirmation on this news, check out these bullets from Best Buy's Community forums...

Does pre-ordering the Droid X by Motorola at Best Buy® guarantee me a phone on launch day? No. However, we do fulfill pre-orders in the order they were placed. Did Best Buy® take pre-orders for the Droid X by Motorola? Yes. We began accepting pre-orders for the Droid X on June 25th, 2010, but we stopped taking pre-orders on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010. If I pre-ordered the Droid X by Motorola at Best Buy®, does that mean I am supposed to get it on launch day? Ideally, yes. But, this is not supposed to be guaranteed and is completely dependent on how many the store receives from the supplier. Any inventory received will be used to fulfill outstanding pre-orders in the order they were placed. For example, if the store has twenty pre-orders on launch day but only received fifteen phones, then the first fifteen pre-orders should receive their phone on launch day.

Anyone willing to take this pre-sale risk? With Verizon not having a pre-sale, you might be better off just waiting at this point and walking into one of their stores on launch day. Interesting stuff. We're just hoping it all works out! Oh, and someone grab page 5 of their ad this week! Should have the Droid X all over it. Cheers to Androidspin for the forum link!

Quick Tip: Extend Your DROID Incredible Battery Life

Kellen — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:00:50 +0000

One of the only issues to continue to frustrate many Droid Incredible users is the poor battery life. Whether your phone is sitting idle, you are using it sparingly or even heavily, there are reports of batteries draining from 100% to 85% within minutes. Users have been forced to entertain gimmicky fixes and today, we have another for you to test out. The guys at XDA have put together 2 methods, 1 for rooted users and another for all users. We have yet to test either on our own DI, but will definitely be doing so some time this weekend... Method 1 (STOCK or ROOT)

- Charge your battery like normal - When you see the green light unplug the phone and power it down - Plug it back up (you should see the orange light again for a while) - When the light turns green again, then you are fully charged.

Method 2 (ROOT ONLY)

-Charge your phone fully (don't just go by the orange light turning green check your battery under settings>about phone>>battery) - Reboot in Recovery and get adb shell running - Once you have adb shell (#) running type in the following commands: mount -a rm /data/system/batterystats.bin - Reboot the phone immediately after running the commands - When your phone reboots disconnect your cable and DO NOT CHARGE until the battery dies (the phone will shut off) - When the battery dies out charge the phone like you normally would.

Please let us know if either method helps! Source: XDA Forums Via: CalebNance Cheers Taylor!

Download: More Adobe AIR Apps

Kellen — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 09:00:41 +0000

Yesterday we snagged a copy of Adobe AIR to give to everyone, and today we've received an additional handful of apps for you to toy around with. There are 2 folders included, 1 for Froyo only builds and the other with apps working on both 2.1 and 2.2. In order to run the Froyo specific apps, there is a runtime which will patch your Adobe AIR. This will also make the other folder of apps non-playable. I suggest starting with the "2.1-2.2" folder and when you get bored, move onto the Froyo-specific folder. Download: Adobe Android Package.zip Have fun!

Custom Theme Friday: JRummy's Nex-Tang

Kellen — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:15:30 +0000

Pretty sure this is 2 JRummy posts in one week, but the guy just seems to never stop working. (We also tried to install this theme and failed miserably.) Late last night or early this morning, Mr. Rummy released his entire lineup of FRF84B themes which as you may know, is the newest Froyo build out for the Motorola Droid. What does that mean? Stability. Oh and we've also chosen one of his newer themes called Nex-Tang (made by @manup456) to change it up a little bit. Instructions: 1. Open ROM Manager, choose Download ROM>JRummy>Froyo Kangerade V4.0.7 2. Scroll down to choose Nex-Tang. 3. Then finish up with whatever options you'd like. 4. Make a backup if you don't have a current one. 5. No need to wipe data and cache if coming from another Froyo build. 6. Phone reboots, loads ROM, and done! Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] Full support thread and donate link here. Thoughts or issues?

Download: Adobe AIR for Android

Kellen — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:43:32 +0000

Who wants an early build of Adobe AIR for Android? We just got our hands on a copy plus a couple of simple apps that work with it. You won't be blown away right now because when we say "early" we mean EARLY. Still, who doesn't love leaked apps which will eventually be game changers? And what is Adobe AIR? In my non-techie talk, here is my take on it. It essentially allows developers to easily make applications or tools that can be used across multiple platforms/operating systems.

*Works on both Android 2.1 and 2.2

Download: AIR.apk Install as you would any other application. Once you have it installed, here are a couple of apps to be used with AIR: air_apps.zip For information on exactly what Adobe AIR is, check out the official Android site. And as soon as we have more apps, we'll be sure to post them!

Android Cup Finals: DROID Incredible vs. Nexus One

Kellen — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:16:53 +0000

After yesterday's epic (semi-controversial) battle between the Droid 1 and Droid Incredible which may have been a disappointment to some, it's time to put your biases aside and help out a team member. The Nexus One meets one of our Droid family members in the finals of the Android Cup. Let's do work... Check out the full write-up from LaptopMag here.

Google Music Launching this Winter with Gingerbread?

Kellen — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:37:18 +0000

A ton of good news floating around today... According to Android's product manager, Gaurav Jain, we should expect a version of Google Music to launch alongside the next version of Android (Gingerbread) some time in late 2010. We had originally heard of a fall release, but a fall-winter timeline gives them a little more cushioning. If Android really wants to take over the smartphone market, this is a logical next step. Exciting stuff indeed. Ready to drop i*unes and switch over to a Google powered music client? Source: Calcalist Cheers Tim!

Rumor: Motorola DROID Receiving Android 2.2 July 13th

Kellen — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:00:13 +0000

We just received word from one of our most reliable sources that the official Android 2.2 update will be hitting the Motorola Droid starting July 13th. I know, I know, here we go again right? After the pain we all experienced with 2.1, it's hard to even mention a rumored Froyo update date, but this one feels legitimate enough to share. Let me just toss out some thoughts as to why this could easily happen...

We've already seen July mentioned in a couple of Verizon systems.

The Droid X arrives 2 days later on the 15th. What better way to keep your millions of Droid 1 customers happy than by dropping a major OS update on them a few days before a new device takes over the Droid throne.

July 13th is a Tuesday, and if you remember the 2.1 update, Verizon tends to like Tuesdays.

We saw the release of an extremely polished Droid Froyo build (FRF84B) this week which should mean we're closer than ever.

Thoughts? Fingers and toes crossed?

Site Reminder Time...

Kellen — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:52:38 +0000

Before we head into a long weekend, it felt like a great time to remind the readers of this site that we hope you can continue to do your best to follow some simple rules that will create the best reading experience for everyone. With the Droid franchise as popular as ever, this site is definitely reaping the benefits, but sometimes with success, comes some negativity that isn't always easy to push aside. However, with the continued support of all of you, we can make this happen for a long, long time. So here we go! Three quick ones...

Conversations - This site grew up really fast because of the positive reader conversations that took place almost from day 1. We want to keep it that way. We've been seeing more and more flaming going on lately and ask that it stop immediately. Let's continue to keep this baby clean, light and fun. There are some great personalities out there, and we want those to shine, just do it in a PG13 manner.
Using the "Flag" link - We'll continue to do our best to remove spam, trolls, and flaming from the comments, but with many posts seeing well over 100 comments these days, we need your help. If you ever see something that includes excessive swearing, flaming or simply makes you uncomfortable, feel free to hit the little "Flag" link.
Moderators - Update: Requests to be a moderator have closed. Thanks for applying! We won't be able to respond to everyone as we received a mass amount of requests. Thanks again.

Thanks for your help everyone! We couldn't do this without all of you.

LauncherPro Update Adds Notifications to Shortcuts

Kellen — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:53:43 +0000

It's been a while since we reported on a LauncherPro update because they were coming so often, but today's update needs to be mentioned. As you can clearly see from the screenshot I just took, you now have notifications on your shortcuts. Amazing right? Federico, you are seriously one of the best. I should also mention that LauncherPro has eclipsed 250K downloads. Quite the Android success story I'd say. Get the update from the market here. More release notes here. Cheers Tim!

Google Shuts Down Gingerbread Rumors

Kellen — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:11:26 +0000

Well, Wednesday's Gingerbread rumors have officially been shut down by one of Google's lead Android techs. (All Droid 1 users please exhale.) In a series of tweets yesterday, Dan Morril went off about the latest Android 3.0 rumors, reminding anyone who would listen that "rumors are not official announcements" and that we all "shouldn't believe everything we read." Nice reminders Mr. Morril. Sometimes we all get a little too excited when news about the next Android OS is floating around in the wild. We just love us some Android baby. And man are we excited to hear that our Droid 1 will still have a chance at some Gingerbread love. Oh and hat tip to Koush for calling out the original source immediately. Who's throwing the party this morning?

DROID Incredible to Receive OTA Update Adding 720p and Mobile Hotspot

Kellen — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:42:37 +0000

Droid Incredible owners, prepare yourselves to become upgraded. According to our sources, an OTA update is readying for deployment to the DI which will add some much needed features that were missing during the device's initial launch. Can you say 720p recording? Mobile hotspot feature? The Droid Red Eye boot animation it should have always had? Yep. All of that is on the way. The photo proof above is from a DI owner with a test model that has already received the update. He's also provided video of the new boot animation...

Like I said, his video and photos are 100% legit. While I wish I had a date for you, at this time I can only confirm that it is indeed real. Not a rumor people. And we'll keep digging for that date... Who's switching their Droid X order back to the Incredible? Images: Keep in Touch Wireless, Android Forums

Another Nexus One OTA Update? FRF91?

Kellen — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:02:27 +0000

Weighing in at a whopping 909KB, we have another Nexus One OTA update flying around. This time we get build FRF91 and will update anyone running the FRF85B build for the N1 that came out just 3 days ago. Still no word one what this minor update is fixing, but feel free to update your phone if you haven't been prompted yet.

*DO NOT INSTALL THIS ON A MOTOROLA DROID. DON'T ASK. DON'T TRY.

Download the update from Google here. Image: XDA Forums

Thursday Poll: Interested in a Droid Life Podcast?

Kellen — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:49:09 +0000

We have been approached with an opportunity to possibly create or at least take part in a podcast and wanted to know the thoughts of the most important people involved, all of our readers. We had never really thought of doing a podcast, but with a number of them running on other sites, we figure there has to be some sort of an audience out there. So what do you guys think? [poll id="4"]

Download: New Swiftkey Beta

Kellen — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:15:57 +0000

The previous version of Swiftkey beta has expired, but don't worry, we have the new version for you today! If you are not familiar with Swiftkey, let me just say that if you aren't a fan of Swype, then this should be your on-screen keyboard. It predicts words and sentences like none other. Oh, it also supports at least a dozen different languages which could come in handy. *For all users.

Improvements include: - User language module handling - Appearance and GUI rendering - Punctuation handling - Autocompletion / correction - Third party app integration - URL and email handling - Decimal number entry

Download: Swiftkey-NEW.apk Before installing this new version, make sure you UN-INSTALL the previous one. Let us all know what you think! Cheers Tim!

Release: DROID X Froyo Theme for Motorola DROID

Kellen — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:20:26 +0000

Missed the Droid X pre-sale? Can't upgrade this year anyway? Maybe you want your Droid 1 to at least resemble it? You are in luck! A Droid X theme has been ported over to the Motorola Droid and now works on the most recent FRF84B build that we gave to you just the other day.

*Have to be rooted and on a Froyo ROM.

Download: Fabolous_xTheme_03.zip Instructions...

*Note 1* - If you want to use SPRecovery, simply drop on the root of your SD card, rename to update.zip and install. *Note 2* - This theme does have a black text on black box issue. You'll know what I mean if you open Beautiful Widgets. To me, it's not a deal breaker.

1. Download the file above and place on the root of your SD card. 2. Open ROM Manager and select "Install ROM from SD Card." 3. Scroll down and tap on Fabolous_xTheme_03.zip. 4. Check the box to create a backup if you do not have a recent one. 5. Skip the box to "wipe data and cache." 6. Your phone will reboot and apply the Droid X theme. 7. Once the magic has completed, it will reboot and you are done! Enjoy! Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="title"] Full support thread can be found here. Comments, questions or issues? Let me know if you can't get this to install correctly with the name and version of your Froyo ROM.

AT&T Hates Supporting the Android Market

Kellen — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 09:59:32 +0000

As a Droid blog, we try to keep a pretty healthy distance from AT&T, both for their nauseating love of the i*hone and for their minimal support for Android in general. In fact, we're almost appalled at their attempt to support this mobile OS. For those not aware, AT&T has basically taken the lower-end Android devices on their network and turned them into glorified feature phones. What do I mean by that? Well for the simple fact that they lock users from fully experiencing the true essence of Android by removing the ability to install non-Android Market apps (3rd party apps). Below is their spin...

Q. Why can't apps be installed from sources outside of the Android Market? A. Android Market, managed by Google, is open to all developers. There is no approval process for applications, they are all accepted by default and Google has stated that they place apps in the Android Market within 24 hours of their submission. AT&T selected Android Market as the exclusive source for applications because it forces developers to be accountable for the apps they submit. If the Android community has issues with an app, the app can be flagged and removed. This minimizes the risk of malicious apps harming customers and provides more protection to the customer’s private data stored on the phone.

Don't you just feel icky after reading that? So happy to be with the Droid brand and Big Red. Source: AT&T Via: Engadget

Yahoo Releases Mail, Messenger, Search Android Apps

Kellen — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 08:45:01 +0000

To all the Yahoo! heads out there, your app pack is officially ready! Yahoo Messenger, Mail and even a search widget were launched today in the Android market. It's a little surprising that it took Yahoo! this long to create a search widget knowing that Google has been killing it in the smartphone market because of their search's integration, but at least they made it. Here are some of the details from Yahoo!:

With the new Yahoo! Mail App for Android, consumers can:

Receive push notification of new email messages

Send emails to contacts from the Yahoo! Address Book as well as contacts in the native phone address book

Search email messages by sender, recipient, subject and keywords in the body of the email

Upload photos as attachments directly from camera or the photo gallery

View and download attachments

Insert emoticons and rich text formatting into emails

Effectively manage and organize their Yahoo! Mail messages, folders and manage spam

Toggle between the Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Messenger apps with ease

With the new Yahoo! Messenger App for Android, consumers can:

Easily message friends, check friends’ status updates & availability as well as update their own status & availability

Send instant messages to friends via SMS text messages*

Stay connected with full support for multitasking allowing the app to work in the background; with push notifications consumers can easily catch new messages and friend requests

Full use of emoticons and rich text formatting

Send photos to friends directly from the phone’s camera or the photo gallery

All free. Download:

Source: YMobileBlog

Android Cup: DROID Incredible vs. Motorola DROID

Kellen — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:54:18 +0000

Starting off the day with two Droid family members battling it out in the semi-finals of the Android Cup is necessarily bringing a smile to my face. Think about it. Had these 2 been on separate sides of the bracket, we would have easily had an all Droid final. Too bad really. With that said, let the battle between Droid Life readers begin! Check out the full writeup over at LapTopMag. And no matter what happens, we're taking down that pesky Nexus One!

Upgraded Your DROID to Froyo? Don't Tether it!

Kellen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:30:21 +0000

For those of you already running one of the many Android 2.2 builds in the wild, you might want to steer clear of using the USB tethering option that is built in. In fact, if you do, you will be directed immediately to this page which asks you to sign up for Mobile Broadband Connect. Problem with that? There is no package for the Droid at this time. Update: I should clarify this a little after reading some of the comments. This appears to be something new and only happening with the native Froyo tethering app. That would be the tethering included in the newest FRF84B build. Wi-fi tethering should still work and quite possibly, the rest of the tethering apps on the market. Check out some reader emails we just received...

If you try and tether your phone using froyo, it will not work and it'll send you to a vzw page prompting you to buy a package that doesnt exist. I called verizon and they could not upgrade me to the package because it doesnt exist for moto droid.

More from VZW customer service and their thoughts on Froyo...

Just got back off the phone with vz and they stated that I should not have 2.2 and they wanted to know where I got it. I refused to answer that because I just read and am not an active participant in the Droid Life community. They said if they find out anyone is tethering they can suspend or terminate there contract. As well as they refused to release whatever they put on my account to stop me from tethering.

We know that the Droid X will have mobile hot spot capabilities at an extra $20 per month, but what is Big Red going to do about straight up tethering? Also, you'll notice on the Mobile Broadband Connect page that package pricing is ending on July 15th, which is? The Droid X release date. Fun stuff for sure. Just be careful! And let me know if you are able to continue to use the native tethering app while on Froyo without receiving that URL we posted above. Also, list your Froyo build number.

DROID X Full Page Ad Takes Shot at iPhone

Kellen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:25:18 +0000

The Droid X pre-sale at Best Buy may have come to an end, but the marketing campaign for this new device from Verizon is just getting started. The New York Times today featured a full page ad for the newest Droid family member that managed to slip in a shot at the new i*hone and its growing list of issues...

"And most importantly, it comes with a double antenna design. The kind that allows you to hold the phone any way you like and use it just about anywhere to make crystal clear calls."

Poor i*hone. The Droid X will definitely be here on July 15th. Via: TechCrunch Cheers Stephan and Louis!

Gingerbread aka Android 3.0 Details Released, Bad News for DROID 1?

Kellen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:49:59 +0000

Mobile-review.com’s Eldar Murtazin went off in a recent podcast on the subject of the next Android release we are expecting by the holidays, Gingerbread. Normally we love to hear rumors about the next big upgrade, but these details have our split our hearts down the middle in more ways than one. This news will scare the hell out of Motorola Droid 1 users and bring great joy to owners of the Droid Incredible...

Android 3.0 Gingerbread will be released in mid- October (around 15 -16th), 2010. First handsets shipping in November/December – for the Holiday Season.

Minimum hardware requirements for Android 3.0 devices are: 1GHZ CPU, 512MB or RAM, displays from 3.5” and higher. (We all, of course, heard that Android handsets with 2GHz CPU’s are coming)

New 1280×760 resolution available for the devices with displays of 4” and higher. (Anyone thinking about Android tablets now? )

Completely revamped user interface. If you want to get a feeling of what Android 3.0 Gingerbread UX is like, check out the Gallery App on Nexus One. The same overall feel, light animated transitions,etc. Natively, through all the UI.

Android’s split into 2 branches becomes official. 3.0 for top of the line/high end devices. Cheap, low-end mass market handsets will keep Android 2.1/2.2

Basically we've got higher end devices moving forward onto some amazing things while every other device prior to the Incredible will be pushed aside and stuck with Froyo. Of course, we can still expect more updates to Android 2.2, but the fragmentation created between 3.0 and 2.0 devices will be dramatic. Just what Android needed right? More fragmentation.

Update: As many of you have pointed out, who the heck is Eldar Murtazin and why is he any sort of authority on Android releases? And are we even sure Gingerbread will be 3.0? Questions which will likely go unanswered until we hear from Google.

One thing I will say to those of you still holding a Droid 1, Verizon does offer 1 year upgrades, so you'll be able to pick up one of these 3.0 devices as an X-mas present to yourself. Thoughts? Via: UnwiredView

Best Buy Mobile No Longer Taking DROID X Pre-Orders

Kellen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:51:21 +0000

Just 5 days after the pre-sale started for the Droid X at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile, future orders have been cut off. We received word from 2 separate Best Buy Mobile stores and called a third who all confirmed that the number of pre-sales for the Droid X has essentially matched the amount of inventory they expect to receive. A good sign for the Droid brand, not a good sign if this turns into the next Incredible debacle.

IMDb App Hits Android Market

Kellen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:30:13 +0000

The greatest movie database on the planet has finally come to our Android handsets. The IMDb app just launched and is available for free in the market. Check showtimes, release dates, TV listings, or even search for celebrity gossip. Today is a great day for movie aficionados. You can even watch movie trailers straight from the app...

Download:

Download Link

Spare Wire Hanger? Make a DROID Stand!

Kellen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:00:54 +0000

Welcome to the DIY Droid Life Channel! It's time for anyone with a spare wire hanger laying around, to put it to use and make themselves a nice little Droid stand. Obviously it doesn't have the visual appeal of a Mikradle or ezeStand, but at least it's free! We should have instructions soon, but wanted to share the pics with you for now. Is it weird that I'm super impressed by the wire hanger creativity of our readers? Awesome. [gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4" orderby="title"] Cheers Hiral! Nice work!

Verizon Sending $25 Gift Cards with DROID Incredible Orders

Kellen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:00:06 +0000

Dear, Droid Incredible back-orderees, Verizon would like to make you happy once again by offering you $25 gift cards whenever your DI actually arrives. But why? Well because, after months of delays and rumors of it being phased out, the Incredible is gearing up for a major comeback! Here is the email being sent out by VZW to those with a pending order...

“Dear Valued Customer, Thank you for your recent order of the DROID Incredible by HTC. Due to overwhelming demand for this innovative device, we are currently experiencing inventory delays. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and are working to resolve this issue. If your order shipping date was June 28 or prior, you may experience an additional delay of up to 7 business days. We will send an update with tracking information once your device has been shipped. If you have already received your device, please disregard this notice. Your satisfaction is important to us, so we’re also sending you a $25 Verizon Wireless gift card which may be redeemed online or at any Verizon Wireless retail store as a way of saying “thank you” for your patience in this matter. No additional action on your part is required – we will send the gift card to the address you provided with your order in the next two weeks. If you have further questions regarding your order, please contact Verizon Wireless customer service by dialing *611 from your mobile or calling 800-922-0204. Regards, Verizon Wireless Fulfillment”

Nice move on their part, right? While the hype these days seems to be all around the Droid X, it's still pretty hard to argue with the specs of the DI. Sure, it may never see 2.2 (kidding!), but even after 2 full months on the market now, there are few devices that can equally match up to it. Source: Phandroid Cheers Tim!

Mario Live Wallpaper Brings Back Memories

Kellen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:00:52 +0000

It appears now as if the Mario Live Wallpaper has taken the Android world by storm and I had no idea it was something new! So I'm sorry if this appears to be about 2 days late, but when I got the tip on it, I simply said, "Whoa sweet!" while thinking it was something old. Man, do I feel dumb. To everyone that hasn't already seen this and was at one time a video game machine, you need to head to the market immediately and download the Mario Live Wallpaper. To bring back the memories of our childhoods, this app showcases Mario in all his 80s glory, going level-by-level on your home screens. Download:

Download Link

Huge Cheers to Dan for suggesting this back on the 25th! Sorry buddy!

Download: FRF84B Froyo Droid Build with Dev Kernel

Kellen — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:09:55 +0000

Sorry to drop two Froyo FRF84B ROMs on you in one day, but we were just sent a cleaned up version which sports the developer Android kernel (800MHz). (How does only 59MB sound?) You won't find a ton of differences between this version and the one from this morning, but for those purists out there like me, you'll know what I'm getting at. It definitely includes root. Some of the stock apps including Google Maps and Facebook have been removed and can be downloaded from the market to insure a smoother install. (Those of you with GMaps issues will enjoy this.) Download: cleanFRF84B.zip Instructions are the same as earlier. Download to SD card, open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM from SD card." Let me know if you have any issues! Cheers Stephen for putting this together!

Download: "Rule the Air" Droid Life Wallpapers

Kellen — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:15:09 +0000

After the yucky new rumor that Verizon will indeed be carrying the i*hone, we thought we'd bring you some new reader created goodies to download. The "Rule the Air" campaign kicked off for Verizon yesterday and features an updated logo that our boy Coffee, has already tweaked to fit the Droid Life style. To download any, click on the image to get to its dedicated page, then long press and "save." [gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4" orderby="title"] Cheers Coffee for the amazing work!

Rumor: Verizon Will Carry iPhone in January?

Kellen — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:02:46 +0000

Just 2 days after Verizon Wireless closed stores across the country to announce a major marketing shift plus the "Summer of Droid," news has leaked that they will likely be carrying the i*hone starting January of 2011. Bloomberg is reporting that 2 sources close to the situation have confirmed, but of course, declined to be named...

The device will be available to customers in January, according to the people, who declined to be named because the information isn’t public. Brenda Raney, a spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless, didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment. Natalie Kerris, an Apple spokeswoman, and Peter Thonis, a Verizon Communications Inc. spokesman, declined to comment.

This really is not surprising at all since we had reported 2 weeks ago that T-Mobile had been axed from negotiations and Verizon had stepped up with a chunk of change to finally complete a deal which had been eluding them for years. What is surprising is the fact that Verizon poked fun at the i*hone and its issues throughout their company-wide meeting on Sunday. It's just an interesting move for a company this large to close down nation-wide, profess love to Android, all while knowing they would be releasing its biggest competitor 7 months later. We're on the trail for more details... Source: Bloomberg Via: BGR

Android Cup: Motorola DROID vs. HTC Hero

Kellen — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:00:59 +0000

Time to head back into battle... Our beloved Motorola Droid is taking on the HTC hero in another Android Cup battle we figured to be blowout. Is it? Not yet. Let's go get 'em! For the full write-up, head over to LapTopMag. On a related note, I'm embarrassed to say that we missed the battle between the Nexus One and the Droid Eris. The Eris was taken down by a slim margin that our readers could have easily made up for. Sorry Eris users!

Download: New Motorola DROID Froyo FRF84B Build

Kellen — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:01:18 +0000

We broke the news yesterday that a select Motorola Droid test group was receiving Android 2.2 and it appears now, that the version hitting those devices has been leaked as build FRF84B. Time to get your updated Droid Froyo on! This is essentially a ROM as it has root included plus a custom kernel so it's tough to call it "official," but it's pretty close.

*Currently for rooted users only. Rooting instructions here.

Download: UPDATED FRF84B BUILD HERE! Instructions... 1. Download the FRF84B-Released.zip file to your SD card. 2. Open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM from SD card." 3. Navigate to the location you just downloaded the file to. 4. Tap on the file. 5. Check the box to create a backup in case something happens with the install. 6. No need to wipe data and cache if coming from another Froyo ROM. 7. Allow your phone to boot into recovery and work some magic. 8. First reboot could take a while so be patient. 9. Enjoy! Drop your comments, questions or issues below! We'll have more coming as we have some time to play around with this new build. Source: MyDroidWorld

HTC Planning Froyo Updates in Q3, Fails to Mention Incredible

Kellen — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:30:01 +0000

UK tech site Recombu recently reached out to HTC to check on the status of Froyo for their newer lineup of devices and actually received a pretty favorable response. It sounds like early Q3 which could mean as early as Thursday! OK, that's not likely, but they did say "beginning of Q3" which should have you at least a little excited...

“We are working hard with our partners to update the HTC Sense experience on Froyo and distribute it to our customers as fast as possible. We expect to release updates for several of our 2010 models including Desire, Legend and Wildfire beginning in Q3.”

OK, so here is the problem. While our sources, along with various Verizon spokespersons, have all confirmed that the Droid Incredible is by no means on the way out, HTC still failed to even mention the device. But before we dig too deeply into this painful omission, it should be noted that the 3 devices they have listed are all European devices which would make sense, especially since the site requesting info is Euro-based. They also said "several" meaning the Incredible was probably not specifically asked about, but will likely be included. (How could they not?) And I just had a full on argument with myself in the middle of a post. Wow. Enough on this conspiracy already...we'll assume that they plan on updating our Droid family member in the next month. Right? Don't say we didn't warn you though. Source: Recombu

SetCPU 2.0 Hits Android Market, Includes Major Changes

Kellen — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:30:33 +0000

The must-have app for any rooted device just received a major facelift. SetCPU, the app now synonymous with overclocking Android phones, found its way to V2.0 over the weekend after a secret beta testing (which we were a part of) and is available for you to update to in the market right now. The main difference you'll notice right away is the overhaul to the UI. We now have tabs people! The profile section has also been updated along with too many other tweaks to list. Oh yeah, it also comes pre-loaded with a bunch of themes. Paid app. Download:

Download Link

New Verizon Commercial "Towers" Features DROID X

Kellen — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:14:02 +0000

The new Verizon ad campaign we told you about last week has officially taken off! Featuring a new logo, new slogan and no Test Man, this new look was a much needed overhaul. In VZW's latest commercial, the new slogan of "Rule the Air" is in full force along with the inclusion of a device that we actually care about, the Droid X. While I'm not about to go play-by-play over a commercial, I do want to point out some subtle hints that Big Red is dropping on viewers. First of all, the young/petite girl in the spot clearly whips out her Droid X as she's walking down the street checking into FourSquare from wherever she just was. (Hello 20 somethings?) What's interesting though, is the camera purposely shows her pulling the 4.3" beast out of the back pocket of her skinny jeans. Yep, clearly they want you to realize this device may sound HUGE, but is manageable just like any other smartphone. They also give you a nice shot of her hands with the device, which by no means looks too large for her to carry. In fact, I drool every time I scroll up to see Mr. X in all his shiny glory. Oh, and here is the new logo...

"Towers" commercial...

Google Announces Official Nexus One OTA Update

Kellen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:50:40 +0000

The FRF85B Froyo build that starting hitting Nexus One devices earlier today is definitely the real deal. Google's official Nexus One blog confirmed that all N1 users will start receiving an OTA update immediately. Enjoy! And now on to the Motorola Droid, please. Source: Nexus One Blog

Nexus One Receiving Froyo OTA Update FRF85B?

Kellen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:19:26 +0000

First it was FRF50, then FRF72 and FRF83 and now FRF85b? According to Nexus One owners, a new OTA update is arriving as we're typing this out. The file is small (only 506K) and obviously patches something from the FRF83 build. No telling exactly what that is, but we'll do our best to keep you posted once we find out.

*NOT FOR THE MOTOROLA DROID. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INSTALL ON ONE.

Download: FRF85b.zip (alt link)

Kindle Android App Available Now

Kellen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:00:59 +0000

Ready to get your Android Kindle on? Amazon has finally released the Kindle app to the Android Market in hopes of satisfying all of your mobile book reading needs. As you may have guessed, this app allows you to access all of your previous Kindle purchases, works in both landscape and portrait mode, and most importantly, let's you act like a Kindle owner without actually purchasing one. Free baby! Download:

Download Link

Rumor: DROID 2 Hitting Stores on August 23rd?

Kellen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Now that the Droid X has been announced and will launch on July 15th, it's time to start up the Droid 2 release date wagon. We've been under the impression for quite some time now that it will drop in August, but a specific date had yet to be pinpointed. Well according to new reports, August 23rd could indeed be the day. I'm a little hesitant to take the 23rd as that happens to be a Monday and would be really out of character for a phone release, but you never know. Maybe we should really start looking at either the 19th or 26th? In the mean time, feel free to check out our exclusive gallery of the Droid 2. We've reached out to our sources to get confirmation. Stay tuned... Source: Android and Me

Google Docs Viewer Receives Mobile Upgrade

Kellen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:10:56 +0000

The Google crew is at it again. This time they've updated the Docs viewer to be much more mobile friendly in your Android browser. You can now view .docx and PDFs with ease. Happy?

Today we’re also releasing a mobile version of the Google Docs viewer for Android, i*hone and i*ad to help you view PDFs, .ppt, .doc and .docx files you’ve uploaded to your documents list, without needing to download the file. With our mobile viewer you can switch quickly between pages and pan/zoom within a page. On your iPhone and iPad, you can pinch to zoom in or out.

Oh and those screenshots are of the Droid X userguide which for some reason, people seem to think has been "leaked." This thing has been out since Wednesday when the media received their review models. Download the full non-watermarked version here. Source: Google Mobile Blog

Release: Bugless Beast V0.3 Froyo FRF83

Kellen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:30:07 +0000

Ahhh yes, the new Bugless Beast by Mr. Peter Alfonso was released this weekend and as you may have expected is of the highest quality. This newest BB is V0.3 based off of FRF83 which is the final Froyo build from Google that hit the Nexus One just after the 2.2 source code was released. He's kept it simple and mostly stock, but has made enough tweaks and changes to make this so worth your while. He added the Droid X boot animation (and ringtones) we gave you on Friday plus some quick shortcuts for rebooting or booting into recovery. The biggest change however, might be the addition of the Bugless Beast Toolkit. The BB Toolkit allows those of you who are overwhelmed by scripts to run them with ease, shows you changelogs, and will eventually allow you to update to the new BB once we have one. Yay! Benchmarks (800MHz "performance")...

Instructions... 1. Open ROM Manager>Download ROM>Bugless Beast. 2. Choose "Bugless Beast V0.3." 3. Once it finishes downloading it will prompt you to "Backup" and "Wipe data and cache."

*If coming from another Froyo build you do not need to wipe data and cache. *It's probably a good idea to make a backup.

4. Once you've chosen options, tap "OK" and allow the phone to reboot and work its magic. 5. It may take a while to boot the first time, so be patient. 6. Done! Full support thread plus Pete's donate button here. Comments, questions or issues?

Rumor: Google Sending Froyo OTA to Motorola DROID Test Group

Kellen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:30:09 +0000

We just received word that an internal testing group at Google has been receiving Android 2.2 OTA updates for the Motorola Droid 1. No other additional info was given, but these are steps we like to see since most Droid users are impatiently awaiting the Froyo love. Plus, this at least shows that we may still be on target for the "late July" time frame from Verizon. No one wants to see another Android 2.1 update situation, right? And let's not forget that you can have the new FRF83 Froyo build on your Droid right now should you choose to root it.

MSpot Releases Cloud-based Android Music Service

Kellen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:27:09 +0000

The newest cloud-based streaming music service to hit Android is a fine little product called mSpot. At first glance/use, it appears to be much more efficient and stable than HomePipe which you may remember as the first streaming music service. MSpot does have some nice features, like the ability to limit how much and where it actually stores data on your device plus it auto-updates your collection whenever there is a change. Free in the market, check it out now. Download link. Source: mSpot Via: TechCrunch Cheers Tim!

Weekend Recap: Verizon says "No" iPhone 4, Droid X Live Wallpaper, New Incredible Screens

Kellen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 06:30:09 +0000

A recap from a weekend full of Droid Life goodness that you may have missed while spending too many hours away from your computer. We wouldn’t want you missing out on the latest rumors, news, hacks, apps or ROMs now would we? Catch up!

Verizon Professes Love for Android, Not for iPhone - We broke the news on Friday morning that Verizon would be saying "no" to the iPhone 4 and professing its love for Android on Sunday. It was all confirmed.
Details on Verizon's 3G Smartphone Upgrade - Ready to upgrade to the Droid X, Incredible or maybe even Droid 2? Verizon is hooking up 2010 upgradees with an early option.
Custom ROM Friday: JRummy FRF83 Froyo - The "from source" ROMs are starting to go live across the interwebs and we went with one of our favorite developers to break the ice.
Download: Droid X Live Wallpaper - The creepy watching red eye live wallpaper from the Droid X has been ported over to any Android phone running 2.1 or higher.
Download: Droid X Non-live Wallpaper - And for those that experienced slowness with that live version, we also gave you the basic wallpaper style of the creepy red eye.
HTC Changing Screens on Incredible? - The Incredible has been a part of all sorts of rumors lately and the newest has it shipping with new Sony LCD screens instead of its original AMOLEDs.
Follow the Droid X Scavenger Hunt - The @DroidLanding Twitter account scavenger hunt is in full force. Time to start following along!

With the addition of the Droid X to the Droid family last week and another expected in August, things are really ramping up. It feels really good to be a part of what many consider the best lineup of Android devices on the planet. Yay Droid!

Download: DROID X Red Eye Wallpaper

Kellen — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:59:23 +0000

If anyone is having performance issues on their Droid after installing the Droid X Live Wallpaper from yesterday, then we have another option for you. One of our fabulous readers sent in the non-live wallpaper version. Enjoy! Download it here. Cheers Dominic!

DROID X Twitter Scavenger Hunt Starts Naming Cities, Time to Follow Along

Kellen — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:57:29 +0000

Over 12,000 people are now following the Droid X scavenger hunt which has been established through @DroidLanding, a Twitter account which plans on giving away at least 12 Droid X devices sometime before its July 15th release date. While the account has already had one major slip-up, we wanted to point out that its clues have become much more specific over the weekend. We have specific states mentioned! Time to start following... We've got one in California...

Another in Nevada...

One south of Nebraska, likely heading to Texas...

We should start to see more of these posts providing greater details throughout the next week. If they plan on handing out free Droid X's before launch, they don't have a ton of time left. Anyone tracking this obsessively?

DROID Incredible Changes to Super TFT LCD Screens

Kellen — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:40:29 +0000

Remember that Verizon closeout/phaseout list which featured the Droid Incredible? According to the latest rumors surrounding the delays of the device, the DI could have found its way onto that list because of a screen change which is apparently happening as you read this. While the Samsung AMOLED screens sported by the Incredible are beautiful and a key selling feature, HTC is looking at the Sony Super TFT LCD as a replacement while they attempt to catch up with demand. HTC claims that there are "no discernible difference between the displays" and they even expect the change to fly under the radar. We'll be interested to see what these new LCD's look like, especially out in the sun. We'll also do what we can to try and get a hold of one so that we can put them through a side-by-side comparison to look for any dramatic differences. And on a related note, we've been told that the Incredible is definitely not on a closeout schedule and we should instead expect a big ramp-up for the device once the shortages have disappeared. Cheers to everyone who sent this in! Source: Android Community

http://www.droid-life.com/2010/05/16/droid-incredible-would-definitely-outsell-the-droid/

Download: DROID X Live Wallpaper

Kellen — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 10:01:00 +0000

We knew it was only a matter of days before the Droid X Eye live wallpaper was ported to the rest of the big dog Android devices. This is the live wallpaper with the scary Droid eye that follows you as you swipe between screens. It's pretty much the most fantastic live wallpaper available. And as you can see from the screenshots above, there are a variety of colors to choose from instead of just the standard red.

*For all users. Both rooted and non-rooted. *Worked on my stock Incredible and Froyo Droid 1.

Download: GREEN | RED | GOLD | CYAN | BLUE Instructions... 1. Download your color of choice. 2. You may need to download via PC and transfer over through USB. 3. Open Astro File Manager and find the file you downloaded. 4. Tap on it, select "Open App Manager." 5. Select "Install." 6. Once it finishes, back out to your home screen. 7. Select Menu>Wallpapers>Live Wallpapers>DROID X 8. Done! Source: XDA Forums Cheers James!

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More Droid X Goodies: Multi-touch Keyboard | Boot Animation | Wallpapers | Live Wallpaper

DROID Incredible Does Droid Life

Kellen — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:00:53 +0000

So it appears as if the Verizon Droid Incredible page is a fan of Droid Life too and even follows our feed! From the screenie above you can clearly see our latest poll posted in their "Buzz" section. (Too funny.) Completely random I know, but thought it was worth pointing out. Again, even minor things like this would not be happening had we not been so accepted by such a fantastic community of Droid owners. Thanks again everyone! Hope you all have a great start to your weekend. Source: Verizon Wireless (or is it just Verizon?)

Friday Poll: Willing to Wait in Line for a New DROID?

Kellen — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:15:17 +0000

Over the last few weeks we've watched the lines for the HTC EVO 4G and iPhone 4 bend around corners and I"m starting to wonder what will happen when the next couple of Droid devices launch. When the Incredible hit, they were sold out online and at stores in minutes, so I'm not sure lines ever had a chance to form. In fact, when I bought mine, I walked straight up to a VZW kiosk and was the second person there and had zero wait time. However, there seems to be something different about the Droid X... [poll id="3"] And for those of you in Portland, let me know which store and I may join you!

Custom ROM Friday: JRummy's FRF83 Froyo ROM

Kellen — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:22:26 +0000

This isn't necessarily a "theme" but it is one of the first "from source" ROMs to be built now that the official Froyo (FRF83) source code has been released. And seeing as it's from JRummy, you know we're going to show support. This is as stock as it comes, but includes root, busybox and the new Froyo Google apps. Don't expect any specific color schemes yet, although I'm sure they are just around the corner. Check out the stock kernel benchies...

Download: generic_sholes-ota-eng.jrummy.zip

Update: Apparently this is already in ROM Manager. Feel free to load through there as we have done a million times in the past. (Cheers Ace)

Instructions...

*Note 1* - This is performed in Clockwork Recovery. *Note 2* - This will wipe settings. Make a backup. *Note 3* - The first boot make take a while, be patient.

1. Download generic_sholes-ota-eng.jrummy.zip to your device. 2. Move the file to the root of your SD card. 3. Boot your phone into recovery. (Power + X) 4. Choose "install zip from sd card." 5. "Choose zip from sd card." 6. Choose the generic_sholes-ota-eng.jrummy.zip. 7. Allow the phone to work magic and install the new Froyo. 8. Once it finishes, hit POWER to back out and select "reboot system now." 9. Done! Full support thread can be found here. Let me know if you run into any issues through the comments.

Verizon's 3G Smartphone Early Upgrade Details

Kellen — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:30:19 +0000

The details for an option to upgrade your smartphone early to the Droid X (or any smartphone) have been finalized. The deal was originally announced at the Droid X launch on Wednesday and will give any customer with a contract end date in 2010, the opportunity to upgrade between June 23rd and August 31st.

Promotional Details:

Each eligible Mobile Telephone Number (MTN) can upgrade only once during the promotional period

Upon taking advantage of the promotion, the MTN will not be eligible to upgrade that line again for 12 months; which must be disclosed to the customer

This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer/promotions (including Bill Incentive Credits)

Requires data package $29.99 or higher

Contract end dates will be extended 24 months.

Device eligibility dates and NE2 will be extended 20 months

Are you eligible?

Eligibility Requirements: All customers who qualify will be loaded into the Next Best Activity (NBA) Tool. COOS will be ensuring that eligible customers are included in NBA; if the customer is not listed, they are not eligible for the promotion.

Any customer with a service contract end date of 12/31/10 or earlier, including: Consumer, Employee Liable (ELEU), Corporate Non-Contracted, Corporate Liable (CLEU) up to 99 lines

-Excludes Fed Govt and Local/State Govt purchasing off the GSA-FSS

Not currently NE2 (New Every Two), EUP (Equipment Upgrade), AUP (Annual Upgrade) eligible

Account must be current

Promotion cannot be used for a "Buddy Upgrade." The eligible line must upgrade and keep the 3G Smartphone

Now before you all run out to Best Buy today and pre-order the Droid X, remember that the Droid 2 should be launching in August which would also be covered by this deal. Source: DroidForums.net

DROID X Gets Dissected

Kellen — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:12:32 +0000

If anyone is interesting in crying on a Friday morning, then check out the source link below. The guys at DroidX.net have snagged a Droid X and completely torn it apart. In fact, they take you through the process step by step, so if you've put in your pre-order at Best Buy already, you can start prepping to destroy your newest $600 investment. These guys should be arrested for destroying a smartphone as beautiful as the Droid X. (We're only kidding. Sort of.) Source: DroidX.net

Rumor: (Updated) Verizon's Big Sunday Meeting Means Name Change and No iPhone

Kellen — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:37:54 +0000

We just got a hot tip that corporate Verizon Wireless employees are in the middle of a meeting which is a pre-cursor to Sunday's store closures. You know, the store closures which never happen, but are happening in some areas today and throughout the rest of the company on Sunday. So what's the big news? Name change and no iPhone baby. From what sounds like a pretty amped up webcast, Verizon Wireless has announced that as of Monday, they will just be "Verizon" without the Wireless tag. We were not given reasons as to the change, but it's definitely coming. Their new slogan will be "Verizon, Rule the Air!"

Update 10:03AM: We're getting more info on the name change and it's looking less like a permanent name change and more like an advertising adjustment. What I mean by that is the "Wireless" tag will just be dropped in their new marketing campaign. The thought is that the single word "Verizon" appears bigger and bolder than the 2-word combo of "Verizon Wireless." (Cheers Tabe) Update 10:19AM: Engadget has snagged an image from the upcoming Verizon ad campaign which features the new "Rule the Air!" slogan...

And the second part of the meeting (and most important to us) was to announce that they will not be interested in the iPhone 4 (as of now) and are putting full effort behind Android and the new lineup of Droid devices. From what I've gathered, the Droid X promo video that was shown at the launch was played again plus the announcement of an August release of the Droid 2. They basically called it the "Summer of DROID." Lovin' the sounds of Verizon backing away from iPhone rumors and sticking to the hottest mobile OS on the planet. Thoughts?

DROID X Pre-sale Starts Today at Best Buy

Kellen — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:15:13 +0000

Pre-order the newest Droid family member today at Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile! Time to go wait in line for the Droid X, people. As they've done previously with the Incredible, BB scooped an early pre-order spot almost 3 weeks before launch which also allows you to avoid that ridiculous $100 mail-in rebate card that Verizon will rarely wave.

Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile have truly become the leading destination this summer for all your mobile smartphone needs – from HTC EVO 4G from Sprint to the iPhone 4 on AT&T to the upcoming DROID X on Verizon. Enthusiasts of the Android platform can be the first to reserve a copy of the new Verizon DROID X by Motorola today at Best Buy. The pre-sale begins June 25 and the smartphone will land in stores on July 15. "With the buzz we've seen around the Android platform, Best Buy is confident that consumers will be thrilled about the Verizon DROID X by Motorola pre-sale," said Scott Anderson, senior director of merchandising at Best Buy Mobile. "It has been a great summer for smartphones with the HTC EVO and iPhone 4 launches, and the addition of the DROID X adds another strong option for our customers to consider." The Verizon DROID X by Motorola features Google's Android 2.1 operating system, 4.3-inch screen and 720P HD video recording and playback. Android 2.2 will arrive to customers on the DROID X later this summer. The DROID X is available at Best Buy for $199.99 with 2-year activation, with no mail-in rebate hassle.

Anyone on their way right now? Source: Engadget Cheers Eggo and Tabe!

Official DROID X Spec Sheet

Kellen — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:30:39 +0000

Source: MotoDev Cheers @RealDurangoJim!

Download: DROID X Boot Animation

Kellen — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:23:24 +0000

More Droid X goodies! (Multi-touch keyboard and Wallpapers.) This time, one of our readers pointed out the new boot animation from the Droid X system dump that's floating around and gave some quick instructions on how anyone (both rooted and non-rooted) can install it. Check out the quick video of it in action and then follow up with the instructions. I love system dumps. Oh, and yes, this should work on both the Motorola Droid and Droid Incredible. Video action...

Download: bootanimation.zip (alt link) Instructions...

*Note 1* - Need to have the Android SDK installed. Instructions here. *Note 2* - If you are rooted, you can just follow these instructions.

1. Open up your Android SDK folder 2. Download the bootanimation.zip above to your PC and drop it in your SDK\tools folder. 3. In your SDK tools folder, hold SHIFT and right click in a blank area. 4. Select "Open command window here." 5. Type the following command:

adb push bootanimation.zip /data/local

6. Once it finishes, reboot your phone and watch the new boot animation in action! Let me know if you run into issues on any device. Cheers droiddev! Via comment.

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More Droid X Goodies: Multi-touch Keyboard | Boot Animation | Wallpapers | Live Wallpaper

Download: Wallpapers from the DROID X

Kellen — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:20:31 +0000

More Droid X goodies for you to use and pimp out your Droid 1 or Droid Incredible! (If you missed the new multi-touch keyboard, grab it here.) The guys at Alldroid have snagged all of the new wallpapers featured on the Droid X. There are definitely some good ones and you might as well add them to your device to see if they meet your needs. Who doesn't love a shiny new background? Oh, and the live wallpapers are in the hands of developers as we speak. Hopefully we'll see them soon. Download: xpapers.zip Source: Alldroid

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More Droid X Goodies: Multi-touch Keyboard | Boot Animation | Wallpapers | Live Wallpaper

Download: Multi-Touch Keyboard from DROID X

Kellen — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:09:24 +0000

That was quick. Phone just got released to media members yesterday and someone has already started ripping goodies from it. First up, the multi-touch keyboard. Yay! I was able to get this to work on my non-rooted Droid Incredible flawlessly and should also work on a 2.1 Droid. With that said, I was unable to get it to work on my 2.2 Froyo Droid. Apparently it will work with Froyo, but my JRummy'd version didn't like it. Video action...

Instructions...

*For all users. Rooted and non-rooted.

1. Download this file to your SD card: repackaged-signed.apk 2. Once it finishes, tap on it and then click "Install." 3. When that finishes, exit out and go into Settings>Language & Keyboard 4. Check the box for "Multi-touch keyboad." 5. Exit out and open a text box, long press and choose "input method." 6. Select "multi-touch keyboard." 7. Done! Please let us know in the comments if you get this to work on a 2.2 ROM or stock 2.1 Droid. Thanks! And another big thanks is in store for the guys at XDA Forums for porting this over. Amazing work again. This has also been added to our downloads page. Source: XDA Forums Cheers Greg!

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More Droid X Goodies: Multi-touch Keyboard | Boot Animation | Wallpapers | Live Wallpaper

Video: DROID X Makes Jimmy Fallon Appearance

Kellen — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:00:42 +0000

After the launch of the Droid X yesterday, it also made an appearance on Jimmy Fallon's show last night courtesy of Joshua Topolsky (Engadget Editor) to battle the iPhone 4. Not that we're Fallon lovers, but he did profess his newly found love of Android and admitted he will not be getting the new version of the enemy phone...

(Can't see the Flash video? Get Froyo on your Droid now!)

Another win for Android. Cheers Ed and Renzo!

Google has Your Back, Can Remotely Remove Android Apps

Kellen — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:08:15 +0000

Just so you know, Google has the power to remotely access your phone whenever they need to. Don't freak out. It's a good thing. They were recently made aware of a couple of applications released onto the market that were being using for security testing purposes and to protect all of the users who had downloaded these apps, Google stepped up and manually removed them...

Recently, we became aware of two free applications built by a security researcher for research purposes. These applications intentionally misrepresented their purpose in order to encourage user downloads, but they were not designed to be used maliciously, and did not have permission to access private data — or system resources beyond permission.INTERNET. As the applications were practically useless, most users uninstalled the applications shortly after downloading them. After the researcher voluntarily removed these applications from Android Market, we decided to exercise our remote application removal feature on the remaining installed copies to complete the cleanup. The remote application removal feature is one of many security controls Android possesses to help protect users from malicious applications. In case of an emergency, a dangerous application could be removed from active circulation in a rapid and scalable manner to prevent further exposure to users. While we hope to not have to use it, we know that we have the capability to take swift action on behalf of users’ safety when needed.

Like they said, it's nice to know they have the capability should they ever need to use it. Thoughts? Source: Android Developers Blog

Nexus One Receives OTA Update FRF83

Kellen — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:07:15 +0000

On Tuesday, Google came out and said that FRF72 was not official and that they were working feverishly to get the final build of Froyo out to Nexus One owners. They weren't lying. Last night, the FRF83 starting hitting N1's via OTA and is the real deal. And of course, someone found the file on one of Google's servers for those of of you willing to manually update. Originally the update appeared to only work for those running the FRF50 version of Froyo, but in only a matter of hours someone found the version to work with FRF72..

*THIS IS NOT FOR THE MOTOROLA DROID. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INSTALL THIS ON ONE.

If coming from FRF50, download FRF83 here. If coming from FRF72, download FRF83 here. Don't feel left out though Droidies! Source was released yesterday! Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Android 2.2 Source Code Released

Kellen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:39:19 +0000

We were all prepped to post this after hearing Andy Rubin announce the release of Froyo during his speech at the Droid X launch today, and then as many of you know, some troubling times were cast upon Droid Life. Well, we're back now and have pushed most of the Droid X goodies out of the way (for now) which will allow us to focus for a second on the next Android release. It's officially Android 2.2 time baby! Yay! With the source code now out in the wild, you can expect official Froyo ROMs to be hitting our Droids any day. And so you know, Cyanogen and Koush are already on it. For the full Froyo scoop, check out Tim Bray's latest piece at the Android Developers blog. Cheers to everyone for reminding me about this!

Motorola Droid Receiving Android 2.2 in July?

Kellen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:09:26 +0000

DroidForums just received this shot from an internal Verizon system showing that the Motorola Droid is scheduled to receive Android 2.2 by the end of July. Our sources have been in our ear claiming that the Droid 1 would actually receive Froyo some time before the Droid X launch, but we'll take end of July. And I hate to say this, but while that says "currently planned" we should also brace ourselves for possible letdowns. Not that I need to remind anyone, but you all remember the 2.1 fun. Source: DroidForums.net

DROID X Accessory Time! New HDMI Multimedia Station and Car Mount

Kellen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:52:03 +0000

Mototorola is calling the new docking station for the Droid X an "HDMI Multimedia Station" meaning you'll be able to dock your Droid X, charge it and stream HDMI video to your TV. It also appears to have some nicely refined styling which makes the Droid 1 docking station look, well, ancient. And check out the car mount and HDMI cable which will soon be available as well...

No pricing has been finalized, but you can find them all here. Update: Pricing has been finalized - HDMI Station ($49.99), Car Mount ($39.99), HDMI Cable ($19.99) and Silicon Skins ($19.99). Cheers Mike!

DROID X Officially Launching July 15th for $199

Kellen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:33:39 +0000

Verizon announced today that July 15th would be the official launch day of the new Droid X. We knew there was a range for the release which could have been anywhere from the 15th through the 19th and it appears as if Verizon jumped it up to the front end. So with this announcement, we get some amazing news. Verizon will allow anyone who has an upgrade option during 2010 to upgrade immediately. That's right, if your contract is up in December, you can sneak into a Verizon Wireless store and grab one of these beasts on July 15th. Pricing is pretty standard and comes it at $199 after a $100 mail-in rebate. Oh, and as you'll see from the pic above, their site has been updated again to include some fantastic new details. Check it here.

Video: DROID X by Motorola Promo Vid

Kellen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:10:19 +0000

Through the live webcast that we were invited to today for the launch of the Droid X, a quick promo video went up that most of you will likely never see. And guess what? We grabbed most of it! It did go up so quickly that I missed the initial intro to it, but you still get the majority which highlights all of the features...

And don't forget to check out the gallery of slides we put together from the event.

DROID X Launch Event Slide Gallery

Kellen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:11:49 +0000

Through the Droid X live media webcast we were invited to join, we were able to cap many of the slides which we featured throughout the event. If you ever wanted the official details of this ridiculous device, we've got them for you. Full gallery from the event: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4" orderby="title"] More on its way!

DROID X by Motorola Launch Event Live Blog

Kellen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:57:08 +0000

We'll be live blogging the Droid X launch event which starts at 10AM PST right here! Expected at the event:

Verizon Wireless VP, John Stratton
Google VP, Andy Rubin
Motorola CEO, Sanjay Jha
Adobe CEO, Shantanv Narayen

Google and Adobe at a Droid event? Yessir. We're hoping for some Froyo timelines plus a Flash demo on the Droid X and its 4.3" screen. This is going to be one huge day for the Droid franchise. Stay here for post updates...

_____________________________________________________

Apologies...follow us on Twitter!

Download: Samsung Galaxy S Live Wallpapers for your Droid

Kellen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:00:37 +0000

Another day, another ported app from another Android device. Yep, we're laughing at you Apple. Who wants the new live wallpapers which can be found on the new Samsung Galaxy S? These feel a little more artsy than some of the live wallpapers we've seen in the past on Android devices, but I must say that they are very impressive. While the jury is still out on whether or not the Droid and Nexus One can run these efficiently, feel free to give them a shot and put your overclocked baby to the test.

*Rooted users only.*

Video action...

Instructions... 1. Download this file to your SD Card: signed-SamsungLWPs.zip 2. Open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM from SD Card." 3. Navigate to the location of the file you just downloaded and tap on it. 4. Choose "OK" when prompted. 5. Skip "wipe data and cache" and make a backup if you'd like. 6. Phone will reboot into recovery and work its magic. 7. When it boots back up, go into Menu>Wallpapers>Live Wallpapers. 8. Done! Let me know if you run into any issues. Also, let me know if your 1.0+GHz Droid handles these any better than my Droid on a stock kernel did. Big thanks again to the guys at XDA Forums for putting this together! Source: XDA Forums

Say Hello to the New Droid Life Logo!

Kellen — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:00:20 +0000

On Monday, we asked for the readers of Droid Life to put in a little work and show off their logo making skills. On Tuesday, we narrowed the dozens and dozens of entries down to a final 12, for those sames readers to have a chance to vote on the next DL logo. You have spoken. (4,200 votes!) The next Droid Life logo is...

Logo 1 from reader Wayne W! With an astonishing 781 votes, and just edging out Logo 8 by 15, we now have a new face to Droid Life. And as many of you have already seen, the logo is up on Twitter, in our comments and on a few other prominent sites. We're definitely excited.

Congrats Wayne!

Android App Review: 2010 World Cup

Matt Demers — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:00:46 +0000

Ah, World Cup years; they're like the Olympics in that everyone remembers their mother nation and get overly patriotic for a month. It's also chance for all of us to get to know another time zone, because damnit, if we're going to stay up to 3AM to catch the beginning of a soccer game, it might as well be a good one. For those of us who might want their Cup madness on the go, I managed to find a full-featured app which comes with a major advantage: it's free. Yes, I know, there are other free World Cup apps out there, but it's almost like the tournament's commencement caused a gold rush: everyone wanted to be the app that everyone chose, and gave their ad impressions to. 2010 World Cup still had an ad bar at the bottom of nearly every screen, but it makes up for it by providing a very comprehensive feature package for following the events in South Africa. You want a calendar and game scores? You got them. Live updates and notifications? They're there too. Team rosters, player news and group standings will keep stat-hungry fans happy, too. The big thing that 2010 World Cup doesn't offer is streaming; while some might throw up their arms in frustration, I don't see it as that big a deal. If you want to actually watch the football and listen to those god-awful vuvuzuelas, there are many other options that won't be as taxing on your data plan, or phone's battery. If you're looking for something simple that you can glance at every once and awhile at work, this will suit you quite nicely. Scan to Download:

[gallery link="file" orderby="rand"]

Google Maps 4.3 Fix for Droid Froyo Users

Kellen — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:57:26 +0000

See that screenie? That's my JRummy Kangeraded Froyo Droid running the new Google Maps 4.3 which was released earlier today. Reader scrizzo just sent over a set of instructions I had yet to try that worked like butter. Seriously, I had tried the adb shell instructions out there, the .xml file update method, and couple of others with zero success. And then I received this magic... Instructions...

*Note 1* - If you don't have Terminal Emulator, download it from the market.

1. Open Terminal Emulator and type in the follow commands:

For JRummy ROMs: su mountsys rm system/app/Maps.apk cd system/bin sh pm uninstall com.google.android.apps.maps unmountsys For all other ROMs: su mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 dev/block/mtdblock4 system busybox rm system/app/Maps.apk cd system/bin sh pm uninstall com.google.android.apps.maps cd .. cd .. mount -o ro,remount -t yaffs2 dev/block/mtdblock4 system sync

2. You can now attempt to install the Google Maps update. 3. If it fails the first time, just cancel the download and try again. If it fails again, reboot and try. 4. Done! If this set of instructions still doesn't work for you, please drop the name and version of the ROM you have in the comments. Maybe we can pinpoint which methods are working for different ROMs. Questions? Cheers again scrizzo!

Google: Android 2.2 FRF72 Build is Not Official

Kellen — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:07:16 +0000

This should come as no surprise, but as you'll see from the screenshot above, the Android 2.2 FRF72 build that was leaked out over the weekend to Nexus One owners is not official. According to Ry Guy, a Google employee, the team is working "feverishly" on the final version and hope to have it out the door soon. And this, is awful news for Motorola Droid users. If Google hasn't even put together the final build of Froyo for their precious Nexus One, then shouldn't we expect another lengthy waiting period from Motorola and Verizon hacking away at it? We have sources who claim that Verizon and Motorola already have Froyo and that the Droid 1 should see it before the Droid X and Droid 2 come out, but with this news today, we're becoming less and less optimistic. We should remind you that you can experience Froyo today by following our rooting guide which prepares your installation of Android 2.2. Thoughts anyone? Source: Nexus One Help Forum Via: Android Police

Google Maps Update, Includes Transit Info and Latitude Goodies

Kellen — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:49:40 +0000

A Google Maps update to version 4.3 should be available to everyone in the Android Market and includes some nice new features you'll enjoy. The first is an update to search results when looking for say, a place to eat. You can now check out current ratings, thoughts and overall feel for a place to help you with your decision. The second update and probably most important, is the addition of transit schedules and locations. It's funny that this update came out this week as some of my friends and I were just complaining about the lack of this feature over the weekend. Yay Google! And the last of the new features is a major Google Latitude overhaul. You can now find friends and family plus share your location with them so much easier. Anyone tested the new goodies yet? *Note* - To those running a Droid Froyo ROM, you may run into issues with the update. Stay tuned for a permanent fix. Source: Google Mobile Blog

Google Voice Now Open for Everyone!

Kellen — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:28:54 +0000

Other than me announcing the launch of Android 2.2 on your Motorola Droid, can you think of better news right now? We hear from people looking for a Google Voice invite on an almost daily basis. Yay! Our inbox just shrunk!

Sign up for Google Voice now!

Promo video for those not familiar with Google Voice...

Source: Google Mobile Blog, Google Voice Blog

Contest: Vote for the Next Droid Life Logo!

Kellen — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:56:34 +0000

Yesterday we announced the Droid Life logo contest and were completely blown away by all of the quality entries. Our initial thought was to pick out a top 5, but it was impossible for us to narrow it down to so few. Instead, we've picked the top 12 for you to vote on! Browse over all of the entries carefully and then vote down at the bottom for your favorite. Remember though, that this will be the next Droid Life logo you'll see pretty much everywhere, so choose carefully!

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

9. 10. 11. 12.

[poll id="2"] A huge thanks goes out to everyone who submitted. There were so many quality pieces out there that I can't even tell you how difficult it was to trim it down to a final 12. Thanks again everyone for making this a joy to continue to do each day. And good luck to the finalists! The winner will be announced tomorrow morning!

DROID X Actually Launching on July 2nd?

Kellen — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:33:29 +0000

Yesterday's new Droid X commercial deserves an award for social media buzz. This thing has been packed with enough nuggets to generate 3-4 posts from us. Nice work Verizon DROID campaign. So the latest gem comes from the final second of the video when a July (7.2010) release date is displayed on screen. If you pause and capture the video right at the 15 second mark it sort of looks like 07.2.2010 which could mean we'll see the device earlier than our predicted July 19th date. Thoughts? I'm leaning towards this one just being a coincidence, but after the months of speculation and random rumors surrounding this device, I'm done calling anything. Source: BriefMobile Cheers Joe!

Exclusive: New Droid 2 and Droid X Live Wallpaper

Kellen — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:00:19 +0000

Check out another exclusive we just received of the Motorola Droid 2 and its new live wallpaper. I have to admit that part of me is leaning toward this actually being the live wallpaper you'll see with the Droid X as this is the same Droid 2 which we got the boot animation and first shots of. If you followed our Droid red eye spiel, then you'll know that boot animation is the one you'll see with the Droid X next month. And back to the live paper! Apologies up front for the quality, but you can clearly see the eye rotating with some sort of cloud surrounding it. Lovin' it...

Who can't wait for Wednesday when this all becomes official?

Verizon Waves Goodbye to DROID Eris, Incredible Next?

Kellen — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:00:12 +0000

In the screenie above, I've filtered Big Red's site by smartphone>Android>HTC and you can clearly see that the Droid Eris has been removed. In fact, you can search for Eris all over their site and find nothing but past support documents and accessories. The Droid Eris has been officially put to bed. Moment of silence please. OK, moving on... Now, this is a pretty nasty rumor to get started, but after seeing the Verizon closeout/phaseout list which floated around over the weekend featuring the Droid Incredible, we're starting to think it may have been the real deal. What has me concerned about the Incredible is the fact that the Eris was on that list as well as the Blackberry Tour which is now set to "Out of Stock" and appears to have been replaced by the Blackberry Bold. Yikes. Oh and I'm not buying the SKU change for new packaging idea; that already happened. Update: It is possible that the Incredible has landed on a closeout list because they are rumored to be switching to LCD screens over the AMOLED screens made by Samsung. Check out all the info here. Any Incredible owners out there annoyed/frustrated/confused/completely pissed off yet? Cheers Dave!

UPDATED! Breaking: Droid 2 and Droid X will NOT Have 1.0GHz Snapdragon Processors

Kellen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:35:33 +0000

COMPLETE UPDATE: Sometimes a correction is needed on your initial words. Just a minor adjustment...the Droid X and Droid 2 will NOT be running 1.0GHz Snapdragon processors. Let me just confirm that they are definitely running OMAP 1.0GHz processors. (3630 or 3640? I'm not calling that one. I've got 3630, but apparently only the 3640 runs easily at 1.0GHz.) Yikes. At least our sources were about as quick as @DroidLanding to correct themselves. Don't hate me too much. At least laugh along with me on this one. Everyone resume the OMAP party train again. (Is it April 1st?)

DROID X Actually has Snapdragon Processor?

Kellen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:42:20 +0000

What? Snadragon processor? Since when? The new @DroidLanding Twitter account is already causing quite a stir. In its first meaningful tweet, a "1Ghz Snapdragon processor" is mentioned for the Droid X and has us all completely confused and disappointed. Really? The benchmark numbers we've seen blow away anything on a Snapdragon other than the Nexus One running Froyo leading us to believe this is all one big joke. Every other report we've seen has mentioned a Texas Instruments OMAP processor...we're needing answers here people. Stat. If this is another blunder similar to the 720p screen slip-up, then someone else needs to take over the Droid X campagin.

Update: Looks like another Verizon blunder. That tweet has now been removed. Can we take the interns off of the social campaign for the biggest device launch of the summer already?

Are we ready to call this Twitter account a fantastic hoax yet? Thoughts? Cheers Martin and Deathshead!

Follow @DroidLanding and Find a Free DROID X

Kellen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:10:08 +0000

The new commercial for the Droid X launched earlier through Verizon's Youtube channel and as the day progresses, readers keep pointing out more and more goodies that are hidden deep within it. We knew that the video included a quick snapshot of a new Twitter account (@DroidLanding) dedicated to the Droid X, but were just waiting for a first tweet and description to come across. And 45 minutes ago we got both...

First tweet: "REPORT: Droid X units have escaped! Get the stats on them at . Forewarned is forearmed." Description: "The next generation of of does is coming soon, but you might get yours before that. Droid X phones are hidden across the country. Follow us for clues."

It appears that Verizon is really going to blow this device up by starting a nationwide Twitter scavenger hunt for hidden Droid X devices. Yep, just by following this new Twitter account, you'll have the chance via clues to find a free Droid X. Stay tuned! Oh, and follow us too. (Plug!) Cheers Tabe!

Contest: Create a New Droid Life Logo

Kellen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:54:51 +0000

Ok, we need some serious help from the creative crowd this week!

As you have probably seen (and laughed at) next to all of my comments and from back in the early stages of this site, is my attempt at creating a quick Droid Life 125x125 logo that could be used as an avatar across the web (Comments, Twitter, forums, etc). Well, we've grown up a little bit and have quickly grown embarrassed of that awful piece of whatever you want to call it and are ready for some freshness...Contest time! So here is the deal!

1. Create a new 125x125 Droid Life logo. 2. Upload it somewhere and paste the link to it as a comment below. 3. We'll browse through the submissions tonight and pick a top 5. 4. We'll then post them on the site tomorrow morning for readers to vote for their favorites. 5. And Wednesday morning, the winner will be announced!

What do you win?

An accessory of choice from our store at a $25 value.

Good luck everyone!

QuickDesk Beta Hits Android Market

Kellen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:45:05 +0000

QuickDesk might be one of the simplest yet most functional apps you'll ever use. In fact, I'd call it groundbreaking. From the developer behind the HelixLaunchers, this app allows you to set up sort of a virtual or secret homescreen which can be accessed with a simple double tap of the "Home" key while in another app. And what's so "groundbreaking" about that? Well how often have you been in app and either forgot to turn on your wi-fi, wanted to stop your music player, or even quickly switch to another favorite app without actually going back to your default home screen? QuickDesk allows you to do all of that.

*Quick Tip* - After you install this, set QuickDesk as your default home app. Then open QuickDesk, go to Menu>Configure and change your "Default Home" back to whichever launcher is your favorite.

And yes, it's free. Awesome work again Faruq. Download:

Download Link

Download: KS and Droid Life Wallpaper Pack

Kellen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:45:33 +0000

Since the last wallpaper pack we released to readers was a definite success, we were ecstatic to wake up Saturday morning and find a new, specially made batch for us to drop this morning. This time, reader Kevin S. brought the house down by tossing together 50 amazing pieces of work, subtly branded with the Droid Life logo. Thanks Kevin! Download: droid_life_wallpaper_pack.zip Instructions... 1. Download the wallpaper pack to your SD card. 2. Open the file in Astro File Manager. 3. Long press on the folder "droid_life_wallpaper_pack", select "Edit" and then "Copy." 4. Hit the back button once to return to your "downloads" folder. 5. Hit Menu, "Edit" and "Paste." 6. Open your Gallery and you should now have a new folder with all of the wallpapers. 7. Choose the one you love and "Set as" your background. Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4" orderby="title"] Again, huge thanks go out to Kevin for putting these together! It's been 9 months now, and you all continue to amaze me on a daily basis. I know I've said this a few times and it might sound cheesy, but this site would be nothing without it's readers. Thanks everyone for making this what I consider, the best Droid community on the planet!

New Droid X Commercial Launches, Looks Familiar

Kellen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 07:04:17 +0000

And it appears that the Droid X advertising campaign is about to step on the gas pedal. Remember those Droid X and Droid 2 commercials we leaked out last week? It looks like we're starting to see variations of those hitting the airwaves. Within the last hour, the new Droid X spot "Never Miss" was uploaded to Verizon's Youtube channel for your viewing pleasure... Update: If you have super keen eyes (like most of our readers), you would have noticed the flashing of device specs throughout the video. Here are a few that were captured...

DROID Landing (Androidguys actually found that this leads to a new DROID Twitter acct.)
4.3" WVGA Screen
HDMI Output
8MP Camera

Cheers Josh!

Video: Droid 2 Compared to Droid 1, Not Many Differences

Kellen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 06:30:35 +0000

The guys at Android and Me snagged a few moments with both the Droid X and Droid 2 this weekend, and really give you the first side-by-side between our old staple and its follow-up which we expect to drop in August. Overall they've given it essentially the same thoughts that we had from our first exclusive photos a few weeks back, meaning it's identical to the Droid 1 but with a much faster processor and the addition of the new Motoblur. We expect the announcement of this device to be made on Wednesday which should also clear up some confusion about the OS that Verizon and Motorola plan to ship with it. Video action...

And we're now just sitting tight and waiting for their Droid X video to hit the big screen... Source: Android and Me Cheers everyone who sent this in!

Verizon Releases Droid Incredible Video Tutorial Series

Kellen — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:12:16 +0000

We still haven't received word on whether or not Verizon is phasing out the Droid Incredible, but we do know that over the last week they've released an entire series of DI tutorials for all of those beginner Android users out there. Most are under a minute long and cover topics like personalizing home screens, adding additional Google accounts, and using the Android Market. These videos are definitely worth a watch if you are new at all to the Android game. Check out a few of them below including the new Droid Incredible intro video...

Using Google Search...

Navigating the home screen...

To view the rest of the series, check out Verizon's Youtube channel.

Use Google Maps to Find World Cup Viewing Venues

Kellen — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 08:00:14 +0000

Google Maps has added a new Layer which allows you to locate World Cup viewing parties throughout your city. All you need to do is open up Maps, go into Layers, then "More Layers" and you should see the option to "Watch the World Cup." Select it, zoom out on your map a little and wait for the soccer balls to appear. We love you Google. Source: Google Maps

DROID X Lands on Motorola's Website

Kellen — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 17:40:18 +0000

Verizon and Motorola are sure taking all the steps necessary to prepare for the big announcement of their two new Droid's next Wednesday. The latest, a dedicated page for the Droid X at Motorola's website. This is also our first official look at the new Motoblur 2.0 which for whatever reason includes the Froyo Tip widget, but apparently is only running Android 2.1. Can't wait to find out the real goodies on Wednesday. Oh, we also get another shot of the Droid X's red eye. Cheers Mike!

New Android 2.2 Update for Nexus One Owners

Kellen — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 17:00:47 +0000

The FRF72 patch of Android 2.2 for the Nexus One is now available for those coming from the FRF50 build that was leaked out some time ago. No one is really sure yet what this patch does, but there are rumors of browser and Flash improvement. Instructions...

THIS IS ONLY FOR NEXUS ONE OWNERS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INSTALL ON YOUR DROID. *Note 1* - You have to come from the FRF50 build or this could do some damage.

1. Download the FRF72 patch here. (alt link) 2. Drop it on the root of your SD card and rename it to update.zip. 3. Boot into recovery and let the magic happen. Let us know how it goes Nexus One owners!

AGAIN, THIS IS NOT FOR THE DROID. PLEASE DO NOT EVEN ASK.

Source: XDA Forums Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Droid Incredible Set for Verizon Closeout? Already?

Kellen — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:58:35 +0000

There have been rumors for months now that the Droid Eris would be on the way out, but in the document above, it's the device listed right below that which caught us off guard. The Droid Incredible on a closeout list? Seeing a device that hasn't even been out for a full 2 months on a closeout list is a little alarming, don't you think? Verizon still struggling to keep up with demand? Have they given up on the DI already? What does this mean for future updates? Most would argue that the Incredible is one of the top 2 or 3 Android devices available. The specs definitely say so. Down with Samsung screens! We'll be searching for further clarification on this one. Stay tuned... Source: Android Forums

Droid Incredible Finally Receives New Packaging

Kellen — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:27:29 +0000

It looks like the Droid Incredible is finally shipping with DROID themed packaging after almost 2 months of life in the wild. We knew it was coming, but had almost forgotten about it after all of the delays. A few additional shots... [gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4" orderby="title"] Not sure I totally understand the neon green accents, but at least we're a matching family again. And I've got to admit that I feel a little robbed. That original white box just wasn't all that fascinating. Cheers Joey!

DROID X Accessories Starting to Show Up Online

Kellen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:24:35 +0000

We knew it was only a matter of time before these things started popping up right? Even though the Droid X has barely been made official by Verizon, the first accessory has hit Amazon. The date of availability is listed as June 22 which is pretty interesting. We know that the big Verizon announcement for the Droid 2 and X is slated to happen next week on the 23rd, but thought that neither one was actually hitting stores until July 19th. Do the folks at Skinomi know something we don't? Cheers Erik!

Friday Poll: What would you change about the Droid 2?

Kellen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:30:28 +0000

The rumored specs for the Droid 2 by Motorola are all over the place these days, and definitely seem to vary from post to post. The overwhelming response on these rumored specs also seems to be pretty unfavorable and we want to know what you would change about it to make it your device of choice. Bigger screen? Wi-Fi tethering? What? If they shipped it with stock Android 2.2 and no extra fluff, I'd probably be happy with it. Would a front facing camera be cool? Sure. Do I know anyone else that has a phone with a front facing camera? Sure don't. I really just want the newest OS as I know the internals of this thing should be enough to satisfy my Droid hunger. What'd you choose? Why?

Verizon Waving Bye Bye to Unlimited Data Plans?

Kellen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:31:58 +0000

OK, now after reading that post title, try to refrain from completely freaking out for a minute. We're talking LTE (4G) here, not 3G. In New York today, Verizon's CFO hinted at some major changes coming once their 4G network and devices are ready to start consuming data...

“We will probably need to change the design of our pricing where it will not be totally unlimited, flat rate,” John Killian, chief financial officer of Verizon Communications Inc., the wireless unit’s parent, said in an interview at Bloomberg’s headquarters in New York today. The company anticipates “explosions in data traffic” over wireless networks as new phones on 4G networks incorporate data- heavy applications, such as video downloads, he said. Verizon is working to keep its network running smoothly as more of its customers switch to smartphones that connect to the Internet.

I'll admit initially that Big Red makes a semi-valid point here. The main idea behind 4G is to allow customers to transfer greater amounts of data even faster than they already do, so you can see how the amount of that data being transferred could become an issue. And now after reading that aren't you wondering why Verizon would build a brand new 4G network and 2 years before it goes lives, admit that it won't be able to handle massive amounts of data usage? Yikes. Back on topic now...like I said in the beginning, the rumors of these tiered plans appear to be geared towards Verizon's new LTE (4G) network. Will we eventually see the 3G side of things follow along in those footsteps? Probably. Will life come to an end? Only to those that actually use their smartphone like a smartphone. Source: BusinessWeek Cheers Anthony!

Quick Tip: Long Press in Flash for Full Screen Videos

Kellen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:00:26 +0000

If you've rooted your Droid and installed a Froyo ROM plus one of the Flash 10.1 betas, then we've got a little trick for you. While watching a Flash video on any website, you can long press on it, prompting an option to go to full screen. As you can see from the sceenie above, the grey box in the top left of the video is what it should look like. And if you decide you don't actually want full screen, you even get an "X" to close out. Sweet right? Any other Flash or Froyo tips out there that we can't live without? Cheers Aleks!

Custom Theme Friday: Chevy's Simply Stunning Froyo V4.1

Kellen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:00:40 +0000

This is a first here at Droid Life. For whatever reason, we have yet to feature one of ChevyNo1's ROMs and I'm not really sure why. His ROMs are always top notch, completely stable and deserving of the publicity that many of the other custom Droid ROMs in the wild receive. Always touched with a simple blue, you can't go wrong. Oh, his top of the line kernels come standard and as you may have expected, work flawlessly. More Froyo!

Theme: Chevy's Simply Stunning Froyo V4.1

Instructions...

*Note 1* - When coming from JRummy's Kangerade, I had to do a full wipe data and cache to get everything to function properly.

1. Open ROM Manager, choose Download ROM and ChevyNo1. 2. Choose FROYO v4.1 and allow the ROM to download. 3. When prompted, check both boxes to backup and wipe data/cache. 4. Phone will reboot, work some magic and BAM! 5. Simply Stunning Froyo, enjoy. Full support thread and additional goodies can be found here. Gallery: [gallery link="file" orderby="title"] Comments or questions?

Accessory Review: Motorola Droid Car Mount

Kellen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:15:10 +0000

We probably should have reviewed one of these 9 months ago, but we just got one from the guys at Wireless Ground who were thoughtful enough to send us an official Motorola Droid car mount to check out; a quick review was definitely needed. If you haven't picked one up yet, I've got to say that it's actually a pretty solid little car mount.

Build quality is top notch
Good suction (Did I really just say that?)
Option to stick it straight to your dash
Small enough to store almost anywhere
Super adjustable

I'm also loving the new Froyo car app on it! (Pictured above.) Oh, and Google Maps trumps outdated Pioneer navigations any day. My one issue: the camera is covered while mounted and limits the use of some great 3rd party navigation software like Wikitude Drive. Deal breaker? Maybe, but again, Google Maps is so top notch. I believe the price for one of these puppies is $29.95 just about everywhere, including our store. (Friday shameless plug!) Gallery: [gallery link="file" orderby="title"] Thoughts on this car mount? Any others out there worth reviewing? Anyone tried the Seidio car mount?

Contest: Why Android can Beat up your iPhone

Kellen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:15:45 +0000

AndroidSpin and Wirefly have teamed up to run a contest which gives you a chance to win any Android phone on the planet while doing what you do best, taking shots at Apple and their little iPhone. All you have to do is head over to the contest page below and submit your reasoning as to why an Android device could beat up an iPhone. (Think about the possibilities here!) Come up with something creative enough to receive the most votes out of any other entrant and you can walk away with a brand new Android beast. (Incredible? EVO 4G? Yep.) Contest page: http://wireflycontest.com/android

Droid 2 Device Caught in the Wild Again

Kellen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:52:07 +0000

Hey look, the Droid 2 again! It sounds like one of Gizmodo's readers experienced a little hands-on time with the Motorola Droid 2 recently and came away with the same impressions and stats as we did. (Check out our exclusive photos here.) -Same look and feel as Droid 1 -Better keyboard -8GB internal with 8GB SD card -Android 2.1 with Motoblur 2.0 -5MP camera -Same dark chrome color with blue bottom I'm really starting to believe more and more that this chrome and blue model with Android 2.1 and Motoblur 2.0 is in fact just a test model. The color scheme doesn't match up to the rest of the lineup's black/gold/red exteriors and remember that the Droid X even seemed to morph each time we saw a new shot of it. Oh and Gizzie's reader mentioned "Droid 2" not being the final name, but our official commercial slides definitely said Droid 2 on them. A last minute name change seems a little unlikely.

Source: Gizmodo Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Download: Pure Messenger Widget Beta

Kellen — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:50:27 +0000

The Pure Messenger Widget beta which works with both the ADW Launcher and LauncherPro is free for a limited time for testing purposes. This is a "must-have." These are the kinds of widgets we need to see from more developers if Android ever wants to overtake iOS. What is Pure Messenger Widget? This is your all in one Gmail, email, Facebook, Twitter, and SMS gathering place. It can be skinned just like Beautiful Widgets. You can read, respond and delete messages. You can add special ringtones, notifications, and so many other customizations. Check it out now before the beta period ends.

*Installs just like any other application.* *Should work for all users both non-rooted and rooted.*

Download it here. Cheers Tim!

Download: Flash 10.1 Beta 3 for Motorola Droid

Kellen — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:00:09 +0000

The newest version of the Flash 10.1 beta was released today as build V10.1.72.7 and as you may have guessed, is not available to Motorola Droid users in the market like it is for the Nexus One. Luckily for us, we have an amazing developer community who uploads just about everything needed to fulfill our dreams. Haven't seen a changelog just yet, but we are getting word that switching your phone from portrait to landscape while watching something in Flash works seamlessly and it also loads website and Flash material separately. Obviously you need to be on Froyo for this to work. (Guide to rooting and installing Froyo.) Download: com.adobe.flashplayer-1.apk Instructions... 1. Download the apk to your SD card. 2. Open the app when it finishes, select "upgrade" and let it work its magic. 3. Enjoy! Please thank the guys at XDA again for providing the apk. And drop your thoughts on this new version in the comments. Is it better? Worse? Tricks? New sites working? Source: XDA Forums Cheers scrizzo!

Verizon Already Fixes DROID X Screen Error

Kellen — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:48:55 +0000

See anything different in the screenie above? The previous version, posted just hours ago mentioned that the Droid X has a "720p screen." That was instantly questioned by just about every techie on the planet and sure enough, the folks at Verizon have updated it. How does "Captures 720p" sound? Better? Cheers Tabe!

DROID Red Eyes, A Different One for Each Device

Kellen — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:00:44 +0000

If you look closely at the picture we grabbed from the new Droid X site from Verizon, you'll notice that the red Droid eyes on each device are completely unique in design. This was obviously done intentionally and I'm surprised that no one has pointed it out or that Verizon hasn't made at least a mini-bullet point anywhere about it. My sources also have confirmed to me that this will continue on into the future with new Droid family members including the Droid 2. Yep, all Droids will have their own unique red eye, which for whatever reason, I think is pretty cool. DROID X You may remember that Droid 2 boot animation we posted along with our exclusive photo shoot?? If not, here is a shot of the red eye featured...

What's interesting about that shot is the fact that this boot animation is actually the boot animation for the Droid X meaning we'll have something completely different once the device is made official and loaded with it's own set of goodies. So when will Droid Life show everyone the real Droid 2 boot anim? We already have! DROID 2 Remember those exclusive commercial slides from Monday? If you look closely at the "Digits" commercial slide which features the Droid 2, you'll see the new red eye plain as day. Here is a close-up...

Not tremendously different than the Droid 1's but definitely upgraded. And yes, that's been confirmed by our sources as well and is definitely the version you'll see when the device is released in August. DROID Incredible And what about the Droid Incredible? We sort of gave you a version for your Motorola Droid and someone has even patched together one that can be pushed to your DI, but there has been no word as to when the official one will be sent out. I can say that it was expected to be sent out via OTA to the Incredible already and for whatever reason keeps getting delayed. I'm wondering if it'll ship with new Incredibles and their fancy new packaging?

So now that I've spoiled the surprise for both new devices, I should probably apologize, but don't worry, there are plenty more exclusives coming in the near future. This is just such a fascinating brand and there are so many intricacies that most people overlook and we are hear to point them out!

iPod Dock Hacked to Work with Motorola Droid

Kellen — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:00:59 +0000

Can you imagine a world that doesn't require a different docking station for every single one of your media devices? The picture you are seeing above is an attempt to change that world and is the work of one Thijs Bosschert, on his journey to make a universal iPod docking option for the Motorola Droid. Check out the mockup of his idea...

The finished product...

The result...

When the Motorola Milestone is connected to the adapter it will go into multimedia docking mode right away and start charging. After connecting the audio cable to the headphone connector it will output its audio to the dock as well. The Motorola Milestone is standing solid on the adapter and works great.

To follow along throughout his entire thought process from initial idea to finished product, check out the source link below. I highly recommend you nerd out for a minute and read through the whole thing. While most of the verbiage is beyond my technical knowledge, it's pretty fascinating stuff. Who wants one? (Me! Me!) Source: Thice

Android Cup: Motorola Droid vs. Dell Streak

Kellen — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:43:42 +0000

Time for us to propel another DROID family member forward in another bracket challenge and this time it's our leading man, the Motorola Droid. LapTopMag continues on with their World Cup inspired Android challenge and it is our duty to attempt to advance all of our DROID friends as far as possible. Our Droid Incredible push was, well, "incredible." Moto Droid vs. Dell Streak...interesting... If we can advance the Droid to the finals (which should be no problem), we could face either the Nexus One, EVO 4G or perhaps the Droid Eris? After seeing yesterday's Android market stats, the Eris should have enough backing to take almost anyone down. Let's do this!

Verizon's Droid Site Updated, Includes Droid X

Kellen — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:02:59 +0000

The Droid X by Motorola is officially official my friends. Verizon has added the new 4.3" beast to their lineup of Droid devices and also given it a new dedicated page you can see here. If you hover over the device at Verizon's site, you get 3 bullet points:

4.3" display (NOT 4.4")
HDMI output
720p screen

Update: (Credit to Androidguys for this) In the meta info on the site (CTRL+U) you will find these interesting tidbits...

"Be the first to discover the new Droid Touch equipped with a 8-megapixel camera, 1 GHZ of power, a 4.3in display and high-speed mobile browsing. Check out the Next Generation of Does with the new Droid by Verizon Wireless."

Droid Touch? What? You can also signup to receive info on the Droid X. Here is the initial email...

Can we get to July 19th already? Cheers Deathshead and T!

http://twitter.com/AndroidGuys/status/16399142340

Motorola Droid Owns a Third of the Android Market

Kellen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:11:18 +0000

Online ad company Chitika, released information today showing Android distribution numbers by handset and carrier. As you may have expected, your Motorola Droid is completely stealing the show. Making up for just over a 3rd of all Android handsets on the market, you can easily attribute the success to the monstrosity of a marketing campaign which continues to this date, and a nicely timed holiday release in 2009. Seriously though, one third. Wow. And if you want to see carrier stats, as you may have figured, the entire Droid lineup from Verizon has been putting in work, making up for almost half of all Android devices on the mean streets of the U.S...

I find it a little interesting that the Droid Incredible managed to come in at the 8th spot, well ahead of the Nexus One and after weeks of backorders dating back to its release date. The Droid Eris at 3rd overall is also worth noting and has me thinking about showing it a little more love...well until Verizon discontinues it anyway. And I don't think anyone needs a reminder that the Droid X and Droid 2 are just weeks away and should easily propel 2 more Verizon devices into the top 10 all while helping Big Red grab more than 50% of the entire Android market. Oh and AT&T at 1%? No comment. Thoughts? Source: Chitika

Wanted: Moms and Dads with Teens to Beta Test App

Kellen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:43:33 +0000

We were just presented with an interesting opportunity that involves a particular group of our Droid Life readers. What we need, are the Moms and Dads out there who have teenagers with a license to drive plus an Android device. (Scary! Hah.) Let me say that one more time...we need Moms and Dads with Android devices who have teenagers with Android devices that can can drive. A family full of Droids! Got it? Cool. What is the app? If you fit those requirements, then you will have a chance to beta test an app for 2 weeks which from the info I've been given, will allow you to view and interact with data from your driving teen through your Android handset and a web portal. How to sign up? Once again, if you are a family full of Droid devices and want to test out an app (and possibly receive some cash for your efforts), then please send your info to the email address below:

betatesters@mobilitypr.com

And again, if you don't meet the requirements, then try not to submit a request. We don't want to completely overwhelm them. Thanks all!

FrostWire Alpha Testers Needed!

Kellen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:15:40 +0000

Want to alpha test an Android file sharing/peer-to-peer app? Then you must check out a brand new app called FrostWire. FrostWire is a short range peer-to-peer (p2p) client that allows users who are connected to the same wireless network to interact and share files. This is pure gold if you ask me. Through initial tests, the developers were able to see transfer speeds of 1.2Mb/s which is nothing to be ashamed of on a mobile device. Sounds solid right? Check out their video promo...

You can sign up for their alpha testing program, but they want to see some of the following info when filling out your application:

Have one or more Android Devices (+1.6)
See other people with Android Devices (+1.6) on a daily basis
Can express yourself clearly
Experience with Alpha Testing and Bug Reporting is a plus
Understand Filesharing and Love Technology
Love FrostWire

If you meet most of those needs, then head over to the signup page. Press release here. Cheers @NikoBasile!

Google Music Launching this Fall?

Kellen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:45:31 +0000

Been waiting for a legitimate music alternative for your Android device? You know, something other than Amazon MP3 and something that doesn't try and mimic iTunes? Say hello to Google Music.

CNET has heard from several music industry insiders that were all able to confirm Google's next big move which could launch this fall...

Google has already signaled that it wishes to give users of phones equipped with Google's Android operating system a better music offering. At Google's I/O conference last month, the search engine offered attendees a demonstration of a Web-based iTunes competitor.

Of course, they also want to take this further and into search results...

...Google's plans go beyond Android, say music sector insiders. CNET has learned that Google first stoked excitement among executives at some of the top four major labels during the Consumer Electronics Show in January. That's where they revealed some of the features that a Google music store might include, such as tying digital downloads and streaming music to Google's search results.

And let's also not forget Google's announcement during Google I/O that it had acquired streaming music guru Simplify Media. While fall seems a little early, a GMusic launch coupled with Gingerbread doesn't.

You ready for the next Google takeover? This one really excites me.

Source: CNET

New Android UI Coming on Gingerbread?

Kellen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:00:15 +0000

TechCrunch is reporting that a major UI(user interface) overhaul is in store for the next Android release, rumored to be titled Gingerbread. The overall goal is to remove the desire from manufacturers to want to put their own skin over the standard Google Experience and to come closer to the polished feel of the enemy's iOS. When we talk about "skins" we're referring to HTC's SenseUI and Motorola's Motoblur which over time have received feedback from all over the map. Some love them, some really hate them. Google hopes to make them "pointless." This news shouldn't come as a complete surprise either after seeing Google's signing of Palm's Web OS designer, Matias Duarte. Thoughts on some major user experience changes? Is standard Android too plain? Do we need more flash? Source: TechCrunch

Swype Beta Available to Everyone Today

Kellen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:30:31 +0000

No more hacked or leaked versions! No more beta period ending freakouts! Yay! As of today, Swype has opened up their beta to the public giving all of you who missed their initial closed sign-up period, a chance to get in on the official action. To download yours, visit Swype's site here.

T-Mobile Axed from Apple Deal, Verizon Comes Up with Cash?

Kellen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:15:17 +0000

In practically non-Android or Droid related news, I've received a tip that is just screaming to be released. And while this seems completely off topic at first, I should point out that with Verizon involved and the release of 2 new Droids on the horizon, that this does sort of impact you. So here we go... T-Mobile Almost Makes Deal As many of you know, the rumors of contract negotiations between T-Mobile and Apple have been going on for a few months and a deal appeared to be imminent. Well, until now according to my sources. Apparently T-Mobile was unable to finalize that deal for a couple of reasons. The first was their inability to come up with the amount of cash that Apple was demanding which had the potential to significantly cripple the 4th ranked carrier in the U.S. even further should more advanced smartphones come along. When I say "cripple", I mean that the commitment needed from T-Mobile would have made it only profitable to sell iPhones and with the ever-expanding features and power of devices supporting Android, the end would have almost been inevitable. The second reason being the timing of an announcement and the release of the iPhone 4 next week on AT&T. T-Mobile was angered over the fact that their partnership could not be made public until after AT&T had launched Apple's new baby on Thursday, locking up thousands of potential customers. You have to remember that AT&T has for the first time in the existence of the iPhone, adjusted customer contracts, allowing them to upgrade to this newest version early all while keeping them under the AT&T blanket for another 2 years. You think this idea was simply a coincidence? Verizon Comes In Just days ago, after negotiations had fallen out between T-Mobile and Apple, the official news of Verizon inking their deal was being faxed to those needing to know, of course accompanied by a pound of non-disclosures. Apparently Verizon hopes that an iPhone deal will make them money in the long run as the rumored amount of cash they forked over for this was more than something extraordinary. So when does Verizon plan on making their announcement? My source says July, but I'm hesitant to jump on that as Big Red has the Droid X launching on July 19th and the Droid 2 coming just weeks later. Would they really undermine all that the DROID brand has done for them over the last 9 months just to sell out to a product they won't have for 2 more years? I guess with AT&T's exclusive deal through 2012, VZW customers purchasing a phone now would not be effected. At the same time, a Verizon Executive did come out just 2 days ago and call a CDMA iPhone "inevitable." Take it for what it's worth...just wanted those of you who may be fed up with AT&T to know that you will soon have another option, even if you want a phone from the enemy. With that said, Android > iPhone.

Droid X by Motorola Preview from Engadget

Kellen — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:22:25 +0000

Engadget appears to be the first tech site to get a hold of the new Droid X by Motorola long enough to do a quick writeup. They put this beast to test by showing off it's 720p video capabilities, new Motoblur, its size in comparison to competitors, a new keyboard, and so much more. This comes only hours after we broke the release date news and the official announcement which is coming next week. Some of the highlights...

Hardware: Looks slightly bigger than the EVO and has far more exterior details.
Screen: Might actually be 4.4" and is incredibly crisp.
Motoblur: Running Android 2.1 and not what anyone expected but seems to be solid.
Camera: 8MP is nice, but the actual camera button made pics unclear at times.
Keyboard: Official Swype comes preinstalled and includes multi-touch.
Performance: The speed is remarkable.

Like I said, they put together a pretty good review for only having the device for a short period of time. They also have videos and an entire gallery that you must see. Check out the rest of their writeup here.

Motorola and Verizon to Announce New DROIDs June 23rd

Kellen — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:32:36 +0000

We told you that the official Droid X announcement was coming next week. (Insert giant smiley.) Next Wednesday, June 23rd, Motorola and Verizon will take the stage with Google and Adobe to announce their next lineup of Droid devices which we've given a ton of coverage to over the last few weeks. (Droid 2 exclusives anyone?) We won't be there, but don't worry, we'll have plenty of coverage as always. Coincidence that this comes the day before the iPhone is released? Source: Engadget Cheers Tabe and Eugene!

Release: JRummy's Froyo Kangerade V1.0

Kellen — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:44:17 +0000

We've been waiting for our boy JRummy to finish up his Froyo ROM and the time is finally upon us. Please say hello to Froyo Kangerade V1.0 in just about any color you could imagine. He's actually ported over all of his REMIX themes into this new Froyo build. It's as beautiful as everything that he's done in the past. Oh, and this might be the fastest ROM I have ever used...and that's not a joke. Color choices... -Blueberry Flavored Froyo (Blue Theme) -Daiquri Ice Flavored Froyo (Cyan Theme) -Key Lime Pie Flavored Froyo (Green Theme) -Pink Lemonade Flavored Froyo (Pink-Life Theme) -Strawberry Flavored Froyo (Red Theme) -Plain Froyo (Stock Theme) -Froyo with Nex-Theme Instructions... 1. Open ROM Manager and choose Download ROM and then JRummy. 2. Choose the Froyo Kangerade V1.0 Customizer. 3. Follow each screen you are presented with to customize the Froyo ROM. 4. Once finished, check the box to make a back up if you do not have a current one. 5. You can skip "wipe data and cache" if coming from another Froyo ROM. 6. Allow the phone to boot into recovery and work some magic. 7. Once it finishes, it will boot back up into Kangerade. Enjoy! For the full support thread, donate link, and installation without ROM Manager, visit this post. Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="title"] JRummy, you are the man.

ESPN ScoreCenter App Hits Android Market

Kellen — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:08:06 +0000

Our initial impression was that the ESPN ScoreCenter app would finally be hitting the Android Market before June, but 2 weeks later is fine with us. I mean, we've been waiting how long already? Moving on... Yeah people! If you are sports fanatic like myself, you should be jumping for joy right now. The ESPN ScoreCenter app has finally launched and appears to be as good as the iPhone version which as most of us know, is one heck of a sports app. Updates happen almost instantaneously, you can add your favorite teams, sports and even login with your ESPN account. Today is a great day. Whether you are a fan of the Mothership or not, this app is the best you'll find. And yep, it's free. Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="title"] Download:

Download Link

Cheers Brian!

Breaking: Droid X Launching on Verizon July 19th

Kellen — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:45:26 +0000

Usually our breaking news has to do with pictures or videos of new devices and their specs, but today, we're going straight off of Verizon word. There has been a ton of speculation surrounding the release of the Droid X and Droid 2 by Motorola and we finally have a date for the release of at least one of them from multiple sources. Over the last couple of days, Verizon stores were told to place t-shirt orders (like during the Droid Incredible launch) and prepare for an early opening with full staff on July 19th for the Droid X with new merchandising taking over store windows on the 18th. The official announcement will be made by Verizon next week. (About time right?) Start saving people, you have 34 days to find an extra lump of cash. Who's getting one?

Download: New Swype Beta

Kellen — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:57:11 +0000

You would have thought that the world had come to an end once the clock started striking midnight across the world last night and everyone's Swype beta died off. Well here you go...

*UNINSTALL YOUR OLD SWYPE FIRST.*

For the DROID/Milestone:

Download: swype-1.56-multi-MilestoneEdition.apk

For the Incredible:

Download: com.swype.android.inputmethod (1).apk Give it up once again to the XDA Forums for putting these together. We all owe those guys a giant hug and some donations. Source: XDA Forums Cheers Dan!

Download: Tether Beta for Android

Kellen — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:03:19 +0000

Made popular as Tetherberry in the Blackberry community, Tether Beta has been released on Android as a tethering option with some reputation. The open beta probably won't be open for long, so now is the time to check it out before the full/paid version hits the market. No idea on what that price will be once that happens, but this beta is free...for now. To download the Android Beta of Tether follow these simple instructions: 1. Download and install the Tether PC software. We strongly recommend if you were using TetherBerry or a previous version of Tether to uninstall before installing this version.

(If asked to reboot, wait until the installer is fully finished)

2. On your Android phone go to Settings->Applications->Development and check USB debugging. 3. Download the software onto your Android by visiting the following URL in your browser:

Then run the file. It may ask you for permission to run software from outside of the Android Marketplace, make sure to give it permission.

4. Run Tether on the PC and select Android, then USB for the connection method. Then connect your Android to the computer with a USB cable and run Tether on your Android. The two should establish a connection and you should see data being sent and received on your PC. 5. Done. Took me about 5 minutes to setup and start tethering on my Incredible. Check it!

Android Cup: Droid Incredible vs. Samsung Behold II

Kellen — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:43:56 +0000

LaptopMag has put together another bracket style challenge of smartphones (Remember the March Madness of Smartphones?). This time the World Cup is the theme and Android smartphones were the only ones invited to the party. Should be good right? In the bracket you'll see all of our current family members including the Droid Incredible, Motorola Droid and even the Droid Eris. Let's see if we can push them all through! The first match-up is between the Droid Incredible and the Samsung Behold II; no contest right? Do work people. Follow all of the action at LaptopMag's official page.

Android Stealing Plenty of Market Share from Apple These Days

Kellen — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:30:20 +0000

Quantcast just released a report detailing mobile web OS consumption in the U.S. and you'll find that Android could possibly take over the top dog crown in a just few short months. Please ay, "Hello Android domination." The bottom section from the chart above gives you a pretty clear idea of the giant strides that Android has made towards a stranglehold on the smartphone market through just 5 months in 2010. A plus 12.2% increase with 8.1% of that coming from the iPhone OS? Wow. And to be fair to the article, we should also show you the current totals which will initially lead you to believe that the iPhone OS at 58.8% is clearly the front runner. Not so fast actually. You have to realize that the iPhone OS includes all versions of the iPod Touch plus the new iPad. When you compare actual iPhones in the U.S. (10.7 million) to Android devices (8.7 million), this race is almost dead even.

As a reminder, these numbers do not include the Droid Incredible or EVO 4G sales which in future reports will give the numbers an even greater spike. Oh, and don't we have two new Motorola Droid devices dropping on Verizon any day now? Yikes Apple. You might want to re-think your 1 device per year, one carrier model. Source: Quantcast Via: ReadWriteWeb Cheers Dad!

Otterbox Cases Headed to Droid Incredible

Kellen — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:45:17 +0000

Remember those reader shots we had of the Droid Incredible displaying its inability to withstand a simple pocket drop? Well guess what DI users! Otterbox and their series of ultra-protective cases are on their way! You can compare these to the Body Glove cases you've seen in the past for the Motorola Droid which many consider the top dog for maximum protection. Follow this link to choose your case and sign-up to be notified when it's ready. Cheers Anthony!

How to: Root and Unroot the Droid Incredible

Kellen — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:30:25 +0000

Last week an official Incredible root exploit was discovered and presented in a way that scared the heck out of most of us. And then this weekend happened. Someone took on the task of creating a 10-minute DI rooting video which was followed up by an un-rooting version similar to the step-by-step tutorials we've done in the past. While the method to gain root access still appears to be semi-painful and users are experiencing all sorts of issues with drivers, this is much easier to follow than those initial instructions were. Plus, you've got to be excited about a method to un-root already right? So here we go...full instructional videos plus the files you need to complete the task below. Video action on rooting your Incredible: (Download this file first.)

Unrooting video after the jump! Video action on unrooting your Incredible: (Download this file first.)

I haven't had the chance to attempt this just yet, but I'm hoping to have some time tomorrow and will share my thoughts on the process at that time. If I see a way to improve the clarity of the instructions in these videos, I will do so and make another version. In the mean time, good luck! Cheers everyone who sent these in!

Is this the New EyeCon App from the Droid X?

Kellen — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:02:33 +0000

In one of the new Droid X commercials just leaked by DL, we were introduced to a new multimedia app called EyeCon which sounded as if it could give you full control to every media device in your house. It also had us drooling. So what exactly is EyeCon? We just received this EyeCon site from a reader which looks to be the exact software mentioned in that commercial spot. I recommend that you take a few minutes to browse through some of their video overviews and you'll immediately see how amazing this app would be on a 4.3" Droid X display. You'll also notice the "Android coming soon!" note in the top right corner. Update: The EyeconTroller app is actually available in the market right now. Grab it for free from this link. After that, head over to this link to register. Cheers matrix2004!

Exclusive: Droid 2 and Droid X Commercial Slides, New Juicy Details

Kellen — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:15:50 +0000

Over the weekend we got a hold of the commercial slides and scripts for the new batch of Motorola Droid 2 and Droid X commercials that are slated to run as we get closer to launch next month. After reading the scripts on these slides, you get a great feel for the level of power plus the new user experience you can expect from these 2 devices. You should really be excited after reading these. First up is the slide at the top of the post and is the new commercial called "Digits", made specifically for the Droid 2 (or D2). The biggest details we get from this appear to be its newly found grasp of Email Exchange, the upgraded keyboard and a 1.0GHz processor. Yep, the same 1.0GHz processor our initial source mentioned back in April. Here is the voice over part of the script...

"'Does' used to do a lot. Now it does even more. Now it does Email Exchange, so you can be hooked up to everything thing you need to do. Now it does 1.0GHz speed on a sleeker, more intuitive keyboard. It does and does and does. And the only thing it doesn't do is ask for time off."

Does 1.0GHz change your mind on the Droid 2? It definitely helps ease mine. Two more commercial slides for the Droid X after the jump! The second and third commercials were made to promote the Droid X, its 4.3" display and a new multimedia app which we can assume is a part of the new Moto/Shadow/Ninjablur that has been rumored to be included in all new Motorola Android devices... First up is the "Eagle Eye (NFL App)" commercial which talks specifically about the device's 4.3" screen and its ability to watch the NFL on the go in unbelievable quality.

And lastly, the "Media Mogul" commercial. In this commercial, a new EyeCon app is highlighted and apparently will come standard with the Droid X and allow you to manage every multimedia device in your entire house. A mobile media center as your smartphone? Sign me up.

Now obviously these could have been commercials that received the axe, but my gut is telling me that these have made the cut and will be hitting the airwaves in no time. I love the "Gattaca" feel that they all seem to be focused on and the features mentioned should help sell a ton of both devices, especially with the "Droid" tag slapped on them. Yay July release! Can Verizon or Motorola announce these already?

Weekend Recap: Droid X Comparisons and Pics, Froyo Tips, Price Drops

Kellen — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 07:00:23 +0000

Droid X Compared to EVO - The photos of the Droid X keep popping up everywhere. The latest give us a pretty clear picture of how big this device is. It puts the EVO to shame.
Clearest Pics of the Droid X to Date - The guys at Gadget University got their hands on what looks to be a retail model of the Droid X. All black with red accents. It's pretty.
Droid X Launching in July? Droid 2 in August? - BGR is reporting that the Droid X will launch in July and the Droid 2 sometime in August. Our sources beg to differ, but who really cares right? Two months and 2 new beasts from Motorola...can't beat that.
Froyo Tip: Show All Apps in Market - If you are having trouble seeing all apps in the Market while running Froyo, try this trick courtesy of Team Chaos.
Verizon Drops Droid 1 Price - Verizon has finally dropped the price of the Droid 1 down to $149.99. It's also almost free everywhere else. Ready for the new Droids?
Friday App Roundup - Our weekly round up of apps. Check 'em!

It feels weird to keep saying "Big week ahead!" but we really do have so much going on these days. The official Froyo could be here any day, the Droid X and Droid 2 are just around the corner and it doesn't stop there. Who wants to root their Incredible? Actually, who wants a few more exclusive juicy Droid 2 and Droid X details? We've got some for you in about an hour. (Monday tease!)

Tip: Market App Issue in Froyo

Kellen — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 10:30:58 +0000

We've already had 2 Team Chaos Froyo themes posted this week and it looks like we've got another gem from them. Bgill55 posted a Froyo market fix the other day that should allow your Droid to see all apps available. It is my understanding that this fix simply tweaks the build.prop to trick the market a little. This is an easy one... Download: market_fix_bgill55.zip Instructions: 1. Download the market_fix_bgill55.zip file to your SD card. 2. Open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM from SD Card." 3. Navigate to the location of the file you just downloaded and tap on it. 4. No need to backup/wipe data and cache, so press "OK." 5. Phone will boot into recovery and flash the market fix file. 6. Done! Source: DroidForums (Thanks bgill55 and Team Chaos!) Cheers Jon!

Comparison: Motorola Droid X vs. HTC EVO 4G vs. iPhone vs. Eris

Kellen — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 09:08:54 +0000

The Droid X is popping up everywhere and in new fashions all the time. Check out the latest photos which compare it to the size of the EVO 4G, the iPhone and in a battle that brought instant cackling laughter, to the Droid Eris. If you thought the EVO was maybe a little too big and bulky, you can think again. The Droid X is well, big baby. (Not Davis.)

We also get a couple of additional details with these pics. That is definitely the new version of MotoBlur. You can see the Twitter widget on screen, plus a new calendar/clock/Beautiful Widgets looking thing. Damn that screen has some real estate. And lastly, some specs from the postee (maddigital):

No front facing camera Magnet sensors trigger dock and car mount modes Quadrant System info reads.. CPU (if i keep refreshing the current cpu freq modulates) Name: ARMV7 Processor Rev 2 (V7i) Current Req: 1000mhz Max req: 1000MHZ Min FReq: 300 MHZ Cores - 1 Architecture:7 BogoMIPS: 598.90 Hardware: Mapphone_CDMA Revision:2 OPENGL Vendor: IMAGINATION TECHNLOGIES Renderer: PowerVR SGX 530 Version: OpenGL ES-CM 1.1 1500mAh battery No Sim Slot Power button and Home button wake the screen when locked

Yessir. Source: Android Forums Cheers Erik, Joe, Matrix2004!

Droid X Launching in July? Droid 2 in August?

Kellen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:02:39 +0000

Rumors just surfaced that the Droid X (Xtreme) will be launching sometime in July (Yay!) and will feature a custom UI which is now being called "ShadowBlur" instead of Motorola's previously awful MotoBlur. That pretty much matches up to what our sources have been saying for quite some time now.

The second part of these latest rumors pegs an August release date for the Droid 2 which will surprisingly be upgraded to Android 2.2. And then this is where varying stories from sources make everything a giant mess. Our sources are standing by a July release date for both the Droid 2 and the Droid X. It should also be pointed out that the Droid 2 that we showed you yesterday was still running Android 2.1, so unless there has been some sort of a last minute delay to include 2.2 and a pushed back release date, there is still a good chance we'll see them both in a matter of weeks. Either way, we should all be getting "Xtremely" excited for both devices. (Yes! My Friday cheeseball moment.) Source: BGR

Custom Theme Friday: Black Ice Froyo V1.3

Kellen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:04:49 +0000

We initially had planned on doing a dual-Froyo theme Friday with this new Team Chaos theme and JRummy's Kangerade, but Rummy's is still going through some testing so it's just this one for now. You can bet that we'll have the Kangerade for you once he gets it finalized though. With that said, check out the second Team Chaos theme of the week!

Theme: Black Ice Froyo V1.3 by Team Chaos

Instructions...

*Note 1* - Make sure you have the updated version of ROM Manager.

1. Open ROM Manager, select Download ROM and then Team Chaos. 2. Choose Team CHAOS Froyo Themes. 3. Then check the box for Black Ice Froyo V1.3 and select OK. 4. When it finishes, check the box to make a backup if you do not have a recent one. 5. You can skip "wipe data and cache" if already running another Froyo ROM. 6. Hit "OK" to allow your phone to boot into recovery and work some magic. 7. When it finishes, it will reboot and you should be Onix Froyo'd! Full support thread for Team Chaos here. Comments or questions? I know I"m loving all of these new Froyo ROMs and themes.

New Droid X Pictures Leaked

Kellen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:29:05 +0000

Needed further confirmation that one of the new Motorola Android devices is now officially the Droid X by Motorola? Check out the pictures we just received from Gadget University...

No AMOLED. 4.3 inches of goodness. DROIDX. New MotoBlur. Who's even more excited for this device now? According to today's poll, it looks like a ton of you are. And check out that top pic again...might be the prettiest we've seen yet. Wow. Sorry Droid 2, it looks like we've found our follow-up device. Source: Gadget University

Verizon Drops Motorola Droid Price, Xtreme Release Imminent?

Kellen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:00:39 +0000

Seven months later and Verizon finally drops the price of the Motorola Droid to $149.99 on contract. Does this mean that the Droid X (Xtreme) or Droid 2 are ready to be announced? We've talked about a possible Father's Day release, but figured July seemed more likely after hearing new hints from our sources. And since the Xtreme has been leaking out for some time now, and we were the first to show you the Droid 2 only yesterday, I would bet that the we'll see the newly named "Droid X" within a few weeks. Cheers thejupiter!

V CAST Video App: Watch the World Cup at Work

Kellen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:15:44 +0000

Anyone stuck in the office today while the opening matches of the World Cup are going on? My inbox is telling me that at least a few of you are! So Verizon, finally launched their V CAST video app and most people's initial impression was, "Really? $10 per month? $3 per day? On top of our data plan? You kidding?!?" A few of us though, realized immediately that this thing is actually pure gold. For $10 bucks this month, you can watch all the World Cup you want while attempting to remain productive in your cubicle. +1 right there. And for those of you not into soccer or sports, this V CAST app also does full TV episodes, news clips, pop culture and quite a bit more. While this isn't ground breaking or world changing, it is a nice option to have. The app itself is free in the Android Market. Huge thanks to @jamerson90 for forking out the $3 and capping all of these photos! Gallery: [gallery link="file" orderby="title"] Download:

Download Link

Friday App Roundup: XBMC Remote, On My Way, Shapewriter

Matt Demers — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:00:21 +0000

A new feature with one purpose, to spread some application love. The Android Market is growing exponentially and what better way to help that continue than by supplying you with a weekly roundup of the apps which land in our inbox. Mostly new, some old, all Android. To have your application featured in future Roundups, send us an email here. LinkPush- The wait for 2.2 is a long and difficult road, but we've found a way to emulate the push-to-Android functionality in 2.1! We've written about this app before, but it couldn't hurt to give everyone a quick link. Push URLs from Chrome to your phone using this app and the associated Chrome extension! Scan to Download:

On My Way - I love this concept. OMW generates a URL to send to your friends, which in turn lets them view in real time where you are using GPS. Perfect for those not quite trusting of their potentially unfaithful lovers, and those who hate that awkward waiting time between when friends say they're getting in the car and when they actually show up.

Scan to Download:

TiKL - Weird acronym aside, TiKL looks to turn your phone into a Push To Talk Walkie Talkie; apparently, all you need is your friends' user number to make it work, and it claims to not incur voice or text fees. I'm skeptical to how it works, but it might be worth a look. Scan to Download:

XBMC Remote - For all you people with Xbox Media Centre installed on your modded console or PC, XMBC Remote gives your phone the ability to manipulate the program. This is great for those people who want a cheap remote, or one that won't get lost between the couch cushions. Works on wifi, so you'll be able to channel change from across the house, as long as you're on the same network as your XMBC box. Scan to Download: (UPDATED with current version)

Shapewriter - For those who didn't get into the Swype beta, Shapewriter is a similar system that uses dragging gestures on a keyboard to type out words. I've tried Shapewriter before, and I can say I wasn't impressed; it just doesn't seem to work as well as Swype; the controls are less intuitive, and the dictionary doesn't seem to be as refined. There also isn't a robust tutorial like Swype, which contributed to some confusion as I tried to make the switch, and thought some controls would carry over. Give it a try if you haven't tried Swype. Scan to Download:

Tedd's Droid Tools - Interestingly enough, the app's name is a bit misleading: it only has one "tool" at the moment, which is the ability to answer phone calls without pressing an on-screen button. This, as the app description says, is useful for phones (like our Droids) which don't have dedicated "answer call" buttons. I'll be definitely will be giving this one a try, but I don't get calls all that often. Scan to Download:

Friday Poll: Droid X or Droid 2?

Kellen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 07:30:38 +0000

Last week we brought you some exclusive shots of the Droid Xtreme (Droid X?) and just yesterday gave you the first ever shots of the Motorola Droid 2. So you know what happens now, right? We want to know which one you'd buy? Droid 2 or Droid X? And remember, the rumor is that they'll both be released in July, so this could be a real decision for you in just a couple of weeks.

We sort of asked you this same question a few weeks ago...I'm guessing the results may be a little different this time around. Thoughts?

Droid Xtreme Officially Becomes Droid X?

Kellen — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:30:04 +0000

How many times is this damn device going to change names? The guys over at Phandroid just got a hold of some shots from what appears to be a Verizon marketing system. The shots all clearly state that our pal the Droid Xtreme, is actually the Droid X by Motorola. From the shots below you'll see a couple of interesting tidbits...

4.3" screen. NOT 4.1". (Just like we said.)
Browser type "Safari." Huh? Is that a type-o?

Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="title"] And head over to Phandroid to see the rest of the shots.

Exclusive: First Photos of the Motorola Droid 2

Kellen — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:40:59 +0000

Well, hello there Motorola Droid 2. We would like to officially introduce you to the readers of Droid Life. We saw your activation screen just the other day, but we'll admit that it's nice to finally see the rest of you. What do you think everyone? Should we just sit back and gaze at it for a bit? Moment of silence for Droid 1? Throw a party? Be confused? Start saving? As you can see, externally, it looks almost identical to the Droid 1. The keyboard is really the only thing to have undergone a complete overhaul and now lacks that giant gold D-pad (which no one used) and includes some puffier looking keys. There are also some minor tweaks to the lip which is covered, giving off a slightly smoother appearance. The battery cover no longer has that fingernail insert. And that's basically it for the outside. The Droid 2 is all about the internal specs and a new version of Motoblur which doesn't appear to be quite as intrusive as the versions we've seen on the Devour and Backflip. Some of the juicy details we were given: -Android 2.1 (unless Verizon pumps out a last minute 2.2 update to it) -3.7" screen -750MHz OMAP processor -Wi-Fi tethering -8GB internal -8GB SD card preinstalled -Updated keyboard -5MP camera -New version of Motoblur -No HDMI port -No front facing camera Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="title"] I wish I had a release date for you, but at this time, nothing has been completely confirmed to us. The Q3 rumors for which peg both the Droid Xtreme and the Droid 2 to be launched on the same day still seem pretty likely to tell you the truth. One of our sources also informed us of a 3 hour long training session taking place on June 22nd for all retail employees which could mean training for these 2 new devices and Froyo. Yay! Oh, and one last gem for you... Droid 2 Boot Animation:

Thoughts? No HDMI port or front facing camera, but the internals should make it worth it right? You all loved the Droid 1 styling so much and this is almost identical. Does that make it a must-have?

Tip: How to Bypass Android Activation Screen on Motorola Droid

Kellen — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:15:35 +0000

A reader just sent over this tip and I've got to say, this is amazing. I had heard of this maybe once or twice before, but completely forgot about it and also assumed it did not work. Apparently I was wrong! So here's the tip... If you are ever stuck at your activation screen and want to bypass it, you can press the 4 corners of the screen in a clockwork fashion and your device will jump straight to your desktop. Amazing right? And why is this useful? Well it's useful to anyone that doesn't want to actually activate a Droid through Verizon. There are developers out there who work on devices like the Droid but don't use it as their main line. I've also run into a situation where after flashing a new ROM, I was unable to re-activate because of an issue with Verizon's activation service. With a trick like this, at least you can get back into your phone to use wifi, play with apps, check email, etc. Source: OReilly Answers Cheers @tbaybe02!

Motorola Droid Takes Down Nexus One, EVO, Incredible in Graphics Battle

Kellen — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:44:14 +0000

Using an app from GLBenchmark, the guys over at Android and Me have taken the 4 big dogs of the Android world and matched them up in a head-to-head battle over graphics performance. When I say the big dogs, I mean the EVO 4G, Nexus One, Droid Incredible and the 7 month old Motorola Droid. Who wins? Your Motorola Droid of course. Even with a meager 550MHz processor and just 256MB of RAM, our baby is still the best thanks to a fantastic GPU that HTC products can't seem to compete with. Video action:

So if the original Droid can still hang with the best of them, what about the Droid 2 and Xtreme that should be out next month? Can you say, "Moto Takeover"? Oh and feel free to download the GL Benchmark app and run your own tests. Let's see what kind of scores we can put up with our new Froyo Droids! Cheers Wade!

Motorola Launching 2GHz Android Phone in 2010?

Kellen — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:20:51 +0000

We already knew that Motorola had plans to release 2-4 new Android smartphones by the end of the year, but what we didn't know is that they are hoping to make one of those the most ridiculously powerful devices ever. Moto CEO Sanjay Jha, snuck in the gem of all gems yesterday in his speech at the Executives Club of Chicago, by announcing a 2GHz powered Android smartphone which should be released before the end of 2010. Wow. Another Moto big wig also chimed in with a few more of the device's details...

...this new phone is intended to incorporate everything that is technologically possible in a smartphone today. It will be based on Android, and include, like the iPhone 4, a gyroscope and add an Nvidia Tegra-based graphics processor with full Flash 10.1 hardware acceleration...

Anyone else speechless? Via: Know Your Cell, Conceivably Tech

Download: Flash 10 Beta 2 for Froyo

Kellen — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:04:46 +0000

A new version of the Flash 10 beta has been released for anyone running Froyo. I wish I could tell you exactly what they've updated in this build, but their release notes are something else. Just enjoy it! Download: com.adobe.flashplayer-2.apk Instructions: 1. Download the apk to your phone. 2. When it finishes, tap on it to install. 3. It will replace the previous version of Flash. Here are a few other sites to check out that readers have sent in:

http://www.fancast.com

*Note 1* - The guys at the XDA Forums have apparently released a version which has a Hulu fix, but I was unable to get it to work. Feel free to check this post out and try it yourself. File Source: XDA Forums Cheers Jeff and Joel!

Droid Incredible has been Rooted!

Kellen — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 08:02:54 +0000

Seriously! The Droid Incredible has been rooted! After all those fake postings, speculation and overall nastiness, there are actual instructions on how to root your keyboardless beast. Should you try it? If you are one brave soul. It appears to be quite the difficult process and one that I'm even a little scared to try. Good luck! Full instructions here. Cheers everyone who sent this in!

Release: Bugless Beast Froyo V0.1

Kellen — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:35:00 +0000

Finally, after 25 emails and tweets of "Bugless Beast Froyo is out!" we have a post! Haha. You guys all really love you some Pete! Below are a bunch of download links that should work for now. If you have others, feel free to post them in the comments so that everyone who wants this can get a hold of it. I'm not currently in a spot where I can upload. Sorry!

*Rooted users only. Still not rooted? Follow our full guide here.

This is not in ROM Manager yet, but should be soon. Download: BBFroyoV01.zip (alt link) (alt link2) (alt link3) Instructions... 1. Download Bugless Beast Froyo V0.1 from one of the links above to your SD Card. 2. Open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM from SD Card." 3. Navigate to the folder that has the BB Froyo file you just downloaded and tap on it. 4. Probably a good idea to check the box to make a backup. 5. It's up to you if you want to check the box to "wipe data and cache."

I came from FRF57 Froyo and this new BB installed just fine. However, if you run into issues, flash your backup, re-install BB with at least one wipe.

6. Allow your phone to boot into recovery, work some magic and BAM! Done! Full support thread and Pete's donate link here. Feature list after the jump.

Features: -Base FRF57 (credit to Google) -Fully Zipaligned System (credit to Pete) -Fully Deodexed System (credit to Pete) -Chrome To Phone App (credit to Google) -Native Flash Player (credit to Adobe) -Milestone Video Player App (credit to Pete) -Native Sound Recorder App (credit to Pete) -Native Usable Quick Office App (credit to Pete) -Spare Parts App (modded by Pete) -Neural Network Live Wallpaper with Google Colors (credit to Pete) -Huge Library of System Audio (credit to Pete) *All 2.0 & 2.1 Sounds* -Longer Duration Between Wifi Scans Tweak *Battery Saver* (credit to Pete) -Version Information In Settings > About Phone (credit to Pete) -SuperUser App V2.1 w/ new UI (credit to ChainsDD) -Ads blocked by default in apps & browser (credit to Pete) -Eliminated the need for SetCPU, AutoKiller, AdFree, TaskManagers, etc. (credit to Pete) -Camera Sounds Silenced by default *shutter & video recording* (credit to Pete) -Nearly 100MB free at boot (credit to Pete) -Over 50MB of free memory at all times (credit to Pete) -Busybox & Toolbox commands installed at boot (thanks Koush) -No longer need to "EnableScripts" (credit to Pete) -Backup/Delete Apps Using Astro & godmode -Percentage in Battery Icon (images by xeudoxus) -Less CPU Intensive LWPs (idea by ChevyNo1 & ReverendYo)

Comments, questions or issues? Drop them below!

Motorola: Droid Sales "Extremely" Strong

Kellen — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:59:14 +0000

Even after 7 months of life in the Android world, the Motorola Droid is apparently doing just fine. Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha, told reporters today that their savior is still dominating the smartphone market even as they appear to be suffering from similar component shortages that have plagued the HTC Droid Incredible. He also announced that Motorola would have 2-4 new devices this year which would have front facing cameras like we've now seen on the EVO 4G and the new iPhone. Unless the Xtreme and Droid 2 undergo last minute face lifts which will include these cameras, it sounds like there might be 2 additional devices to watch out for come the holiday season. Very exciting. Oh and this quote from Jha fit nicely into the rumors we've been all over...

"(Droid) sales are going extremely well. If I could build more I'd sell more," Jha said without discussing which components were in short supply.

"Extremely well." We'll all be doing Xtreme-ly well when July gives us 2 new devices. Via: Phandroid Source: Reuters

Video Review: Mikradle Evolution Droid Dock

Kellen — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:15:11 +0000

We got our little Droid paws on a docking accessory that actually works with the Droid Incredible and as far as I know, is the first and only one you'll find at this time. Please say hello to the Mikradle Evolution, a custom wood and metal docking station that trounces the competition when it comes to quality. For a price of $32.99, your initial reaction may be to roll your eyes, but I'm telling you, this docking station is as nice as you'll find and should work with almost every device on the planet. Video action:

Gallery: [gallery link="file" orderby="title"] No website yet, but you can check out the entire Mikradle lineup and find ordering information here.

Adobe's Flash Showcase, the One Stop Flash Shop

Kellen — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:00:26 +0000

When Android 2.2 finally became semi-available to the Motorola Droid, one of the first posts we did included the apk for the Flash 10.1 beta. This is one of those apps/plugins that has had almost as much hype as Froyo and was supposed to change the way we used our mobile browsers forever. Remember? Well, right after we all got it up and running, many of us said to ourselves, "OK, what now? What sites can I use this on? Hulu hates us, so...." Guess what? Adobe already has us covered. They've released the Adobe Flash Showcase which gives you a listing of the top mobile Flash enhanced sites so that you can take full advantage of your new toy. Check out the Adobe Flash Showcase here. Cheers Rodney!

Tip: Froyo Market Now Suggests Apps

Kellen — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:45:19 +0000

As you can see from the two screenies above, Froyo being on the left and 2.1 on the right, one of the new features of Android 2.2 is app suggestions for misspelled words in the Market. Pretty handy right? I'm actually surprised it took this long seeing as Google is known for well, being a top notch search engine. Any other tips out there for the Froyo leak we gave to you yesterday? Cheers Scott!

Download: HTC IME Keyboard for Froyo

Kellen — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:30:54 +0000

The ported HTC IME keyboard has already been updated by Gimpsta to work with all of the newest Froyo leaks to hit our Droid worlds. The "themer" he put together still functions just the same, giving you the opportunity to create the custom HTC IME of your dreams. Visit the link below to get yours! Don't forget to donate if you have the chance!

Norton Security Released on Android

Kellen — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:15:21 +0000

We had a pretty good idea that the new Norton Security app was coming down the pipeline soon, but didn't realize it would be this soon. If anyone is up for a new security app courtesy of one of the big dogs in the internet security world, then feel free to check this one out. (Yes, it's free.) Features:

Secure remote device locking
Blocking unwanted calls
Malware scanning

Gallery: [gallery link="file" orderby="title"] Download:

Download Link

Cheers Stephan!

Exclusive: Motorola Droid 2 Activation Screen

Kellen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:00:37 +0000

Check out our latest Droid Life exclusive screenie. See anything unusually fantastic? Motorola logo at the top. A955 on the activation screen. You betcha. That looks like the Droid 2 to me baby. And feel free to compare this to all of the Droid Xtreme shots we had last week (here and here) so you can see that they are without a doubt different devices. Thoughts?

Download: Swype Beta for Droid Incredible

Kellen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:20:58 +0000

It's hard to believe that this wasn't posted earlier on this site, but I realized it wasn't after sending to a friend earlier today who just got his Droid Incredible. Sorry! I promise I haven't been holding out on our DI readers. As many of you probably know after trial and error, the original Swype beta's resolution did not function correctly on the Incredible, so we've been waiting impatiently for someone to port it. That time actually came a month ago, but someone on this site seemed to, well, space it out. Today's release of the new Swype beta for the Droid was also a nice reminder. Download: File no longer works. Instructions... 1. Download the SwypeIncredible.apk onto your SD card. 2. Tap on the file once it has finished. 3. Choose "Install." 4. When it finishes, exit out and open up Settings>Language and Keyboard. 5. Check the box for Swype and exit out. 6. Open a text box, long press, choose "input method" and "swype." 7. Done! Cheers Jeremy for the reminder! Source: XDA Forums

Download: Another New Baseband for your Froyo Droid

Kellen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:45:03 +0000

There is another new baseband update available to anyone running the new FRF57 Froyo build we posted this morning. At this point I'm sort of confused as to what the previous baseband actually did if we have this new one which appears much more in line with previous baseband updates. No matter what, this should help out call quality, signal strength, etc. Now read all warnings...

*Warning 1* - It is highly recommended that you install the previous baseband (C_01.41.00R) before you install this one. *Warning 2* – There is no proof that this is 100% legit or will not have a negative effect on your device. It is also not all that easy to return to the previous baseband. If you choose to install this, you are doing so at your own risk. *Warning 3* – You will have to re-activate your phone if you apply the new baseband.

Instructions... 1. Download: baseband-update.zip 2. Place file on the root of your SD card. 3. Open ROM Manager and choose “Install ROM from SD Card.” 4. Scroll down and find the baseband-update.zip. Tap on it. 5. Skip “wipe data and cache.” 6. Check the box to make a backup. 7. Press “OK” and allow the new baseband to be installed. 8. When your phone reboots, you will have to re-activate your phone. 9. Done! Comments or questions? Issues experienced? Source: MyDroidWorld

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Download: LinkPush - Chrome to Phone for Everyone

Kellen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:32:53 +0000

For all the non-rooted 2.1 users out there, we have not forgotten about you! One of our tipsters just sent in this app called LinkPush which is essentially Chrome to Phone, only it works on Android 2.1 and you don't have to be rooted. Just tried it on my Incredible and it worked as advertised. First you need to download the Google Chrome extension. Try this link, otherwise just search extensions for "Linkpush" and install it. Then using the link or QR code below, download the free LinkPush app to your Droid. After that, browse to a page you would like to send to your device, hit the LinkPush extension button in Chrome, give it a few seconds, open the LinkPush app on your device, and BAM! Enjoy! Download...

Download Link

Cheers Jonathan B!

Tip: Use Chrome to Phone in Froyo

Kellen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:15:43 +0000

Remember all of those amazing new Android 2.2 features we were introduced to at Google I/O? One of them being Chrome to Phone, which allows you to send directions, URLs and even files straight to your device without connecting it? Well, now that we have a full leaked version of Froyo in the wild and available for download, you can finally take advantage of such brilliance. Instructions... 1. Visit the Chrome to Phone project site. 2. If you are using Google Chrome, install the extension they have into your browser. 3. If you use Firefox as a browser, install this add-on. 4. Download the Chrome to Phone app to your phone and install it. 5. Open the Chrome to Phone app, and select "register device." 6. Once it finishes, you are done. 7. Now navigate to a website on your Chrome browser, and tap the cell phone extension button. 8. It will likely ask you to login to a Google account. Login with whatever acct you registered. 9. Link sent! Pretty sweet right? Are you starting to realize the potential this app and extension have?

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Download: Newer Motorola Droid Froyo Leak FRF57

Kellen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:00:42 +0000

Who wants a full Motorola Droid Android 2.2 build instead of just a ROM? A big "thanks" needs to go out to DroidMod and Alldroid for leaking and cracking this new build first. Yes, this is newer than the build you had on Saturday. This comes with the stock kernel that can actually be overclocked to 800Mhz, the wifi works out of the box, and is as legit as it comes. There is nothing hidden about this Froyo. Again, huge thanks to to those that had this first. Unfortunately, the original version did not have root access, so we've tossed in root and created our own nandroid for you to flash. In a way, it's almost like the Droid Life Froyo build. (Funny.)

*Reminder* - You have to be rooted to do this. New to rooting? Follow our full guide here.

Download: droidlifefroyo-BS-20100608-0521.zip Instructions...

*Note 1* - THIS IS IN SPRECOVERY. WILL NOT WORK IN CLOCKWORK RECOVERY. *Note 2* -If you are coming from the previous Froyo build, you do not need to wipe data and cache. If this is your first time getting Froyo'd, please perform a factory reset before step 5 in recovery.

1. Download the new nandroid Froyo build from above. 2. Unzip and drop folder in the "nandroid" folder on your SD card. 3. Open ROM Manager and flash "alternate recovery" (SPRecovery). 4. When it finishes, scroll up and choose the option to "Reboot into Recovery." 5. When SPRecovery loads, choose "backup/restore." 6. Choose "Advanced nandroid restore." 7. Select "Choose backup" and find the "droidlifefroyo-BS-20100608-0521" backup. 8. Select "Perform restore." 9. When it finishes, hit the "power" key to go back to the main menu and choose "reboot." 10. When it reboots, you should be Froyo'd with root! Questions or comments? Chrome to Phone time! Updates: Time to answer some questions from the comments...

-Q: Is this stable? -A: Yes it is. We wouldn't post it if it wasn't. -Q: I lost root! Now what? -A: Boot into recovery and apply this update.zip. -Q: Can this be overclocked? -A: Yes. The previous kernels we posted should all work. -Q: Is this the same build as the one posted everywhere last night? -A: No idea. I got this from the original leak. -Q: Will the previous radio update work? -A: Yes it should still work. -Q: What does "unrar" mean? -A: Unraring is like unzipping.

Cheers to Wade for helping me out with this! Go buy xScope.

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Video: Chrome to Phone on a Motorola Droid

Kellen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:20:05 +0000

Who said Chrome to Phone doesn't work on the Motorola Droid's Froyo? Check it...

New Froyo build instructions coming soon!

Update: Download the new Froyo FRF57 build now!

Hulu Hates Motorola Droid Users

Kellen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:08:50 +0000

So much for that trick we posted yesterday which gave you and your Droid access to all of your favorite shows on Hulu. In their never ending battle to keep Android users from watching Flash videos on the run, they seem to have patched another exploit. Anyone else seeing the above message? Anyone have another trick up their sleeve?

Comparison: iPhone 4 vs. Droid Incredible, EVO 4G, Nexus One

Kellen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:00:48 +0000

Ever wondered what it would feel like to build up momentum on something for an entire year that was supposed to be monumental only to see your direct competition release something superior the week prior? Just ask Steve Jobs how he feels today. BAM! (Damn it felt good typing that!) (OK, I'll quit and stick to blogging.) Android Central and their sister site TiPB put together that fancy little chart above which compares the new iPhone 4 to the top Android devices on the market. While it doesn't stand up at all to the EVO (in more ways than one), we still wonder if the iPhone 4 could even hold its own against the Droid Incredible or Nexus One? At first glance, you could give it a slight edge because they both lack front facing cameras, but then you quickly realize it has no expandable storage, no Flash, only a 5MP camera, and a smaller screen. Hmmm. Yikes? While I usually avoid fueling the hatred between the Apple fanboys and the Fandroids, it's pretty hard not to chuckle a little bit today when you roll with the good guys. Who's hosting the Android party tonight? I'll buy the first round. Source: Android Central and TiPB

Additional Froyo Tips for Motorola Droid

Kellen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:45:54 +0000

In the video walk-through we did of Android 2.2 on the Motorola Droid earlier, we failed to touch on a couple of shortcuts or features that definitely need to be mentioned. There are just so many new tweaks and minor adjustments made to Froyo that it's hard to grab them all at once. We seem to be finding new gems almost every hour! Found these tips yet?

New auto-brightness feature on power widget
Multiple Gmail calendars
New camera software
Threaded download history
Show numbers with keyboard up-swipe
More recent shortcuts (long press on "home")

Gallery of tips: [gallery link="file" orderby="title"] What else have we missed?

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Release: Team Chaos Clean Black Froyo

Kellen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:15:00 +0000

Already sick of your stock Android 2.2 ROM? How about a simple black theme to slap on top of it? Team Chaos already put together a simple black theme to spice up the Froyo goodness a little. Check it... Gallery: [gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4" orderby="title"] Download: Team_CHAOS_Clean_black_froyov1.2.zip Instructions: 1. You have to have Android 2.2 already installed. 2. Download the Team Chaos Clean Black Theme to the root of your SD Card. 3. Open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM from SD Card." 4. Choose the "Team_CHAOS_Clean_black_froyov1.2.zip". 5. No need to "wipe data and cache," but you should probably make a backup. 6. Allow your phone to boot into recovery and work its magic. 7. It will reboot, and BAM! Done!

Update: v1.2 is now available in ROM Manager. (Download ROM>Team Chaos>Team Chaos Themes>Clean Black for Froyo)

For the full support thread, visit DroidForums. Awesome work as always from Team Chaos and BGill55! Comments or questions?

Numbers Don't Lie, Android is Still Far from the Top

Matt Demers — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:00:56 +0000

We were riding the crest of a wave. This wave started nearly a month ago, with the NPD group putting out a release that said Android had outsold the iPhone in the first quarter of 2010. As Android users, we were happy. We were proud. Though Apple shrugged these numbers off, we wouldn't have any of it; Android fanboys came out of the woodwork, touting our open-source playground and taunting iPhone users with our ability to run multiple apps. We held up our Droids and our Nexus Ones and our numerous other models, saluting that little OS that had finally scored a major victory against the Apple juggernaut - or so we thought. After some new numbers from Nielsen (you know, the marketing guys who monitor cable and radio ratings), that wave has come crashing down. As illustrated by the graph below, Android only holds a 9% market share in US smartphones; though it has grown 2% in the last quarter, it still remains fourth overall. RIM's Blackberry holds a 35% share (down 2%), while the iPhone comes in a close second with 28%. Even the much-maligned Windows Mobile platform holds a 10% lead on Android. Things won't be getting any better, either: RIM is releasing a new version of their Blackberry OS in the coming months, keeping the platform attractive to the massive corporate market that it caters to. Windows Phone 7 remains on the horizon, and Apple will be launching their newest iPhone hardware this week. Coupled with iPhone OS 4.0, this new tech will take away much of fanboys' ammunition: the iPhone will finally be able to run multiple applications at once, store icons in folders and customize aspects of its look. And you know what? I couldn't be happier. In fact, I welcome the challenge. Instead of being concerned with who can yell the loudest, Android will be judged on its own merits and succeed or fail accordingly. When those NPD numbers came out showing we had bested our chief rival, the Android communitys' collective heads swelled a little. They became overconfident. Google I/O came and went, and they basked in our victory, as well as the ones surely to come. They watched Froyo run laps around the iPad without wondering why an iPhone wasn't up on the stage, as well. They took jabs at "the other guys", without thinking of when they might shut them up. Now the numbers have been released and the community has (hopefully) been humbled a little bit; it can now go back to the task at hand: rising up once again. Platforms are not made solely by the fans that enjoy them: like it or not, a product that lacks quality will fail, no matter how many people support it. It is up to the developers of Android (from Google to that guy coding apps in his basement) to make the platform attractive for nerds who love every last bit of what's inside their phone to the moms and dads of this world who are just looking for something easy to use. There is good to come from these numbers, though: 70% of surveyed Android users said that their next phone would be an Android, as well. This shows a trust in the platform that is building, and one that can hopefully be built upon. Brand loyalty is a powerful tool, especially when Android has such a diverse array of hardware to consider: it shows that users are happy with the system they are using, independent of what the phone manufacturers might be offering. It's notable that while the gender split of Android users is 54% males to 46% female, the same split is 55%/45% on the iPhone; hopefully this doesn't lead to a new type of fanboy chant: "We have more women!"

Video: Android 2.2 Walk-through on Motorola Droid

Kellen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:30:53 +0000

We finally had a chance last night to sit down and do a quick walk-through of Android 2.2 and attempt to give you some sort of an idea of what you can expect from the official release. While the Froyo build which was released over the weekend is technically just a ROM, it's a pretty polished ROM based off of an official Droid build. Video action below! Part 1:

Part 2:

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Download: New Baseband for Froyo

Kellen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:15:59 +0000

Another release to make your Android 2.2 experience even more yogurt-y. The baseband, which is rumored to be included in the official Froyo build, should make your phone communicate with cell towers in your area much better. Basically, this should create better call quality, more bars in more places, and less dropped calls. At least in theory anyway... Instructions...

*Warning 1* - There is no proof that this is 100% legit or will not have a negative effect on your device. It is also not all that easy to return to the previous baseband. If you choose to install this, you are doing so at your own risk. *Warning 2* - You will have to re-activate your phone if you apply the new baseband.

1. Download: baseband-update.zip 2. Place file on the root of your SD card. 3. Open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM from SD Card." 4. Scroll down and find the baseband-update.zip. Tap on it. 5. Skip "wipe data and cache." 6. Check the box to make a backup. 7. Press "OK" and allow the new baseband to be installed. 8. When your phone reboots, you will have to re-activate your phone. 9. Done! Comments or questions? Source: MyDroidWorld

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Weekend Recap: Froyo ROM, Flash for Froyo, More Xtreme Pics

Kellen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:15:41 +0000

Download: Froyo for your Motorola Droid - The first real Android 2.2 ROM for the Motorola Droid was released on Saturday and the world went crazy. If you want it, get it while it's hot.
Download: Flash 10.1 for your Droid - And of course with Froyo comes Flash. Once you install the 2.2 ROM on your Droid, you can install Flash and start enjoying the real internet.
Download: New Droid kernels for Froyo - After getting Froyo and Flash on your phone, then it's time to install one of these new kernels which will fix your wifi and make your Droid even more amazing.
Post your Quadrant Froyo scores! - We put together a little gathering of Quadrant benchmarks from everyone who installed the new 2.2 ROM. Post yours!
Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid - Here is how you can watch Hulu shows now that you have Flash installed.
Tip: Move Apps to SD Card - You can also start moving your applications to your SD card! Not all work out of the box, but if you have Titanium Backup you can force move them.
Video: Android Phone is for Porn - Quite possibly the funniest Steve Jobs video ever. Watch and enjoy over and over again.
More exclusive Droid Xtreme pics - Yep, we got more exclusive pics of the Motorola Droid Xtreme. This is the first time any of you will have seen the backside of this beast.
Should you unroot or root before Froyo? - We had a little chat with readers on why you should root or unroot before the official Froyo build is released to your device. Read up!

Wow, what a weekend. We usually try to hold back during weekends, but Saturday just had so much stuff packed into it that we couldn't help ourselves. It feels like a new beginning almost. I know that sounds a little crazy, but I just get the feeling that something huge is about to happen either this week or next... How we doin' today? Feeling good after a quick, yet action packed weekend? Get ready for this week.

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card in Froyo

Kellen — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 10:30:20 +0000

Moving applications over to your SD card in Android 2.2 is actually incredibly simple. The problem right now though, is that it's up to developers to actually allow their apps to be moved to the SD card. While many of you are not seeing the option to move them, as you can see from the screenie above, I was able to do it with a select few. Just be patient! Developers are still just getting used to Froyo! Instructions... 1. Open Settings>Applications>Manage Applications. 2. Tap on the application you wish to move. 3. Tap on the box to "Move to SD card." 4. Done! Now tap on the "On SD card" tab to see that your app has moved. You can also move the app back to your phone by tapping on the the same app and selecting the "Move to phone" button. Update: If you want to force move an app to the SD card, you can do so in Titanium backup. Simply long press on the app you want to move and choose "Move to SD Card." Then if you go into Settings>Applications>Manage Applications>SD Card tab, you'll see your app listed. You will also see a "Move to phone" option if you tap on it now. Awesome right? Cheers Androfan! Simple right? Besides the 2 up above, what other apps have you found that will allow SD card storage?

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Tip: Watch Hulu on your Motorola Droid

Kellen — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 09:24:34 +0000

Still enjoying Android 2.2 on your Motorola Droid? What about Flash? Ready to watch your favorite shows on Hulu yet? This seems to be goal number 1 for many of you and we're pleased to announce that it can be done fairly easily. Instructions... 1. Obviously you need to have Froyo installed. 2. Obviously you need to have Flash 10.1 installed. 3. Open up your stock browser. 4. Type "about:debug" and press enter. (No quotations)

5. Hit "menu" and then select "Settings." 6. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the settings and tap on "UAString."

7. Select "Desktop."

8. Back out of settings and go to this URL: hulu.com/widget/player

9. From there, find a show to watch and done! Comments or questions? Who is not loving life right now? Cheers Ray!

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Post Your Motorola Droid Froyo Quadrant Scores!

Kellen — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:00:57 +0000

Time to show off a little bit! After flashing the Android 2.2 ROM onto your Droid and then tossing in one of the new kernels which fixes wifi, let's see how high we can get these benchmark numbers. I'm only using the 1.0Ghz kernel, but it's cranked to the max for this app. (Don't have Quadrant? Find it in the market for free here.)

So...how bad is your Droid now?

-Post your kernel -What you are clocked at -And the screenie URL

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Android 2.2 Kernels Released - Fixes WiFi

Kellen — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 13:24:52 +0000

P3Droid just released 6 new kernels which will replace the one included in the Android 2.2 ROM you all loaded earlier and will also fix the broken wifi issue. Yessir, we're all good now, right? Flash 10.1 running nicely on top of Froyo; what else could you want on a sunny Saturday afternoon? Pick a kernel: (If any of these links go down, you can get them all from the source link down below.) -800Mhz -900Mhz -1000Mhz -1100Mhz -1250Mhz Instructions for installing:

*Note 1* - This process is done in ClockworkMod Recovery.

1. Download a kernel from the list above to your Droid. 2. Open ROM Manager and choose "Install ROM Ffrom SD Card." 3. Navigate to the location of the kernel you just downloaded. 4. Select it and skip "wipe data and cache." Make a backup just in case. 5. Allow the phone to reboot into recovery and install your new kernel. 6. Reboot the phone and BAM! All done. Wifi ready. Update: If you are having trouble booting into recovery, go into ROM Manager and flash SPRecovery. Once that finishes, flash Clockwork Recovery again and all should be well. Comments or Questions? Source: MyDroidWorld (Huge thanks again to MDW for all these goodies!) Cheers Chris for the heads up!

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Video: Android Phone is for Porn

Kellen — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 10:12:09 +0000

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference happens on Monday and many expect the next iPhone to be announced. On a related note, the video of the year was just released...

Cheers Chris!

Download: Flash Player 10.1 for Motorola Droid

Kellen — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 08:28:45 +0000

And now that you have Android 2.2 running on your Motorola Droid, it's time to get the Flash 10.1 beta right? If you go to the official Adobe site and attempt to download, you will likely get an error. So just download the apk below... Download: Adobe Flash Player 10.1 *Installs just like any other APK does. *Doubt it will work on 2.1, but feel free to try. Tried on Incredible with no success. Source: MyDroidWorld

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Download: Android 2.2 for Motorola Droid

Kellen — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 07:01:00 +0000

UPDATE: A NEWER FROYO BUILD IS OUT. DOWNLOAD IT HERE.

The Froyo build which we saw here and here is finally in the wild and ready for your personal viewing pleasure. Yes that sounded dirty on purpose as I crawled my lazy bones out of bed at 6:30AM on a Saturday, just for you (OK, that's probably a lie. Who wouldn't wake up for Froyo?). So what do we have here? An apparent early 2.2 build for the Motorola Droid. I say early because it appears to have a ton of missing features from the Nexus One Froyo and also has a few bugs. With that said, the MyDroidWorld guys have made it easily installable via nandroid backup in both ClockworkMod and SPRecovery, so anyone with root access can check it out. When you are finished, you will keep root access and your custom recovery, so just make sure to backup your current settings in case something bad happens. This also comes with a custom kernel, so you can overclock to 800Mhz right away. (Want to root your Droid and try this? Check out our full 2.1 rooting guide.) Early feature list:

It is indeed Android 2.2
New Market with "auto-update" feature
Apps2SD
Froyo Launcher with 3D app drawer
USB Tethering (no Wi-Fi tethering)
New camera software
Wi-Fi doesn't work (FIX HERE!)
Update: Might have JIT. See benchmark below.
Update: Gallery works, just took 30 minutes to load photos.

Update 7:37am: Had this 2.2 build up and running for a good 45 minutes now and I've got to admit that it is pretty damn fast. It seems like the longer you play with it, the faster it gets. Interesting. While the MFLOPS in Linpack aren't there, check out this Quadrant benchmark I just ran. If only wi-fi worked...

Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] Ready to do this?

*Warning* - This has the potential to be disastrous on your Droid. You take all responsibility should something happen when you go through this process. Droid Life is not responsible for dead devices.*

*ROOTED USERS ONLY.

Download: P3DF-CW.zip Installation Instructions...

*Note 1* - This process uses ClockworkMod Recovery. SPRecovery method/file at source link.

1. Make a backup of your current ROM. 2. Download the P3DF-CW.zip file from above. 3. Extract folder named 2010-06-05.06.15.32 4. Place folder 2010-06-05.06.15.32 in the /sdcard/clockwork/backup folder on your sdcard 5. Restart phone in recovery 6. Go to nandroid, select restore, select the above folder and press the camera button.

*Note 2* - After installing this nandroid, update the kernel to fix wifi. Kernels here.

Comments or questions? Update 10:53am: If you used the SPRecovery file and have lost root access, please install this file. Source: MyDroidWorld (Big "thanks!" for releasing this!)

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Other Motorola Droid Froyo Goodies:

Download and Install Froyo | Download Flash 10.1 for Froyo | Video: Froyo Walk-through/Overview

Froyo Overclock Kernels | New Froyo Baseband | More Froyo Tips

Tip: Move Apps to your SD Card | Tip: Watch Hulu on your Droid | Tip: Use Chrome to Phone

Exclusive: More Droid Xtreme Shots Released

Kellen — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:38:33 +0000

Who wanted a back shot of the Motorola Droid Xtreme? Well here you go. You can see the beastly 8MP camera is embedded in that hump which we all have mixed feelings about. And it indeed says "HD VIDEO" up there. It is also definitely running Android 2.1 which I know differs from our previous post. These new photos also confirm that it has the same styling as the Droid1 which is exciting to see. One more front shot showing off the operating system:

Still not 100% sure on whether or not that is MotoBlur but it sure looks sort of like it doesn't it? Our source also completely squashed the "Shadow" codename. It's definitely the Xtreme people. We will no longer be using it. And if you missed out on our previous exclusive Xtreme shots? Check them out here.

Verizon V CAST Video Headed to Android Devices Monday?

Kellen — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:38:17 +0000

Ready to watch full length TV episodes on your Droid or Droid Incredible? According to a Philly Verizon rep, you should be catching the newest edition of So You Think You Can Dance? on Monday through your Android device! Yay? According to Verizon's website, V CAST Video is still $3 per day or $10 per month. Excited? Via: Android Authority, Phandroid

Motorola Droid: Unroot for Froyo? Root Before Froyo?

Kellen — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:11:20 +0000

As the release of Android 2.2 becomes more of a reality on the Motorola Droid, there are a couple of questions that are asked quite frequently from both rooted and non-rooted users. The first is, "Should I un-root before Froyo?" The second is, "Should I root before Froyo is released?" Both excellent questions, and two that I probably should have answered a week or so ago. Let's get to it...

1. "Should I un-root my Droid before Froyo is released?"

Should you un-root? My initial reaction is to say, "Oh heck no!" My second reaction is, "Wait...why would you un-root if you've already rooted in the past?" I say that simply because with the release of a new Android OS, we see a flurry of rooted users frantically figuring out a way to get the update as soon as it's released. Can't blame them right? Who doesn't want new goodies? The problem is, that immediately after unrooting and installing an update, they can no longer overclock, take screen shots, install custom ROMs, or do anything that drew them into rooting in the first place. And what happens when they realize all of that? They want to root their device again. It should be pointed out that the 2.1-Update1 has still never been rooted in a similar way to 2.0.1 and we can assume that 2.2 could follow in its predecessor's footsteps. Remember the process that we outlined for rooting 2.1? Not fun right? And lastly, there is a growing concern in the Droid community that we will see Motorola start to lock down their devices when future OTA updates are released. You thought 2.1 was tough to root, just wait until we reach Motorola Milestone bootloader status. So should you "un-root" for Froyo? I would say that holding off is your best bet. Once we see some Froyo source code, you can expect 2.2 ROMs to be released long before an OTA update is even sniffed by your device.

2. "Should I root my Droid before Froyo is released?"

Should you root? This is a much tougher question than the previous one. First, you should ask yourself, "Why do I want to root my Droid?" If you are struggling for answers, check out this poll we ran a while back asking users to give us their top reasons. If you read through the comments there and decide you still want to root, then I say now is a much better time to take on the process than after 2.2 is released. And along the same lines as the answer to the previous question, you've got to consider the fact that the rooting process for Android 2.2 could be much more difficult than it was for 2.1. In fact, it might be almost impossible. We really don't know at this time. I'll also point out that I have yet to hear of a person doing any permanent damage to their device while going through the process we have put together. Is it still risky? Of course it is. Do your research, check out our "Root/Unlock" section, and ask questions around the site before proceeding. So should you "root" before Froyo is released? Weigh the pluses and minuses and if you are still interested, hit up our "Guide to Rooting Android 2.1."

___________________________________________________

I'd also like to ask our rooted crowd for their opinions on these subjects as I know many of you have far deeper knowledge than even I do. Thanks!

Custom Theme Friday: Blue Energy V1.0.3

Kellen — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:00:33 +0000

It's been raining for 20 consecutive days here in Portland, so what better way to celebrate that than with an all blue theme. Actually, this was a special request from one of our long time readers and we always try our best to meet their needs.

Theme: Blue Energy V1.0.3 for CyanogenMod V5.0.7.1

Instructions... 1. Your phone needs to be rooted. (Full guide on rooting here.) 2. You need to have CyanogenMod V5.0.7.1 installed. 3. Open ROM Manager and choose Download ROM. 4. Scroll down to "roberj13" and tap. 5. Then choose the Blue Energy Theme option for Cyanogen. 6. When prompted, check the box for "App Pack for CM." 7. Once finished downloading, you do not need to "wipe data and cache." 8. Check the box to "backup" if you don't have a recent one. 9. Press "OK" and your phone will reboot. 10. Let it work its installation magic, reboot and BAM! Done! For users without ROM Manager premium and for the full support thread visit here. Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] *Side Note* - The goal was to show off Blue Energy for Bugless Beast, but ever since Pete upgraded to V1.1 my phone boots and boots and boots. It's stable for about 10 minutes and then goes into a lovely boot cycle. Tried 4 different kernels, wiped data and cache 15 times, and no good. Anyone else running into stability issues with BB? Comments or questions?

Friday Poll: Interested in the EVO 4G?

Kellen — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:26:50 +0000

The HTC EVO 4G launched today...anyone interested? Maybe it's because it's not a "Droid", but I'm finding a hard time getting excited about this one. I know it's a beast and probably the best Android device on the market right now, so I'm willing to hear arguments from everyone as to why this is a "must-have"...

HTC Scorpion Rumors Start Again, Headed to Verizon?

Kellen — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:13:34 +0000

We're definitely suckers for rumors, but this latest one which brings to light a new HTC phone called the Scorpion (or Scorpio) seems just a little too light to be taken all that serious right now. While MobileCrunch is incredibly solid when it comes to breaking news, I just feel like we need more before we can really get excited about this one. With that said, this needs to be mentioned because the latest tidbit regarding its release pegs it as one of the next big Android devices on Verizon. And what exactly does that mean? Another Droid family member of course! Rumored at 1.5Ghz and running Android 2.2, this device sounds fantastic. Now we just need pics. Oh and this tweet from ROM machine Conflipper sort of tipped everyone off...

Thoughts? How does Droid Scorpio(n) sound? Not bad, not bad. Source: MobileCrunch

LauncherPro Updated Again, Includes Froyo Style

Kellen — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:25:48 +0000

The developer behind the LauncherPro is on a mission to take down every who poses even a minor threat to his newly found stranglehold on the home replacement Android market. This latest update includes some major goodies like the Froyo-esque tray buttons and the ability to load up more apps on homescreens...

New: Option to choose the number of icons per row in both portrait and landscape mode. The options are 4 and 5 for portrait mode, and from 4 to 8 in landscape mode. (Advanced settings)
New: Option to have a 4×5 grid on homescreens instead of the default 4×4. Please note this is experimental. It only works with widescreen devices and in portrait mode. In any other scenario you’ll probably end up with icons and widgets overlaying each other. (Advanced settings)
New: Now you can choose a background for the shortcut dock. For now there are three options; No background, Glass shelf, and Froyo-style. More backgrounds coming in future releases.

Amazing work as always. That makes 2 market launchers with Froyo styling. Who isn't using LauncherPro?

Download Link

(Change log)

Gizmodo Shows Plenty of Android Love Today

Kellen — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:07:32 +0000

At times, a handful of the major technology blogs still seem a little too in love with Apple and the iPhone while the rest of the world is realizing Android is already blowing past it. Then today happened. While I don't follow Gizmodo enough to know their coverage of the iPhone, they sure seem to be loving them some Android today. Two "top 10" lists dropped, one of which will surely cause a stir in the black turtle-neck crowd... 10 Things Android Does Better Than iPhone OS *I just grabbed the headlines, but the link above gives the full descriptions. 1. Android can run multiple apps. 2. Android keeps information visible on your home screens. 3. Android has a better app market. 4. Android gives you better notifications. 5. Android lets you choose your hardware. 6. Android lets you choose your carrier. 7. Android lets you install custom ROMs. 8. Android lets you change your settings faster. 9. Android does social and Google integration. 10. Android gives you more options to fit your budget. It's tough to argue against that list, right? While #3 is easily debatable, the rest of the list pretty much sums up the basic greatness that is Android. It's all about freedom baby. They also tossed out a 10 of the Best Android Apps list, most of which have been covered by us already. Thoughts on Gizmodo's lists? How far has Android really come? Sure, the next-gen iPhone is coming, but is anyone worried at this point? We've got Froyo and a handful of new devices on the horizon!

HootSuite Quick Contest Winners!

Kellen — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 10:14:19 +0000

Our Hootsuite Quick Contest winners have been picked! As a reminder, we're giving away 2 prize packages from Hootsuite which include a beer koozie, buttons, and a sticker and tattoo pack. Awesome right?

And the winners are...

from Twitter... Matt K (@matthileo)! from Facebook... Eric Y!

Congrats guys! You should have received a message from us with your next steps.

Big thanks again to @Hootsuite for all the swag!

Thursday App Roundup: aCar, FolderOrganizer, Cestos

Matt Demers — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:15:57 +0000

[gallery link="file" order="DESC" orderby="title"]

______________________________________________________

aCar - (free) - Ever want to track car details (make, license plate) and information like maintenance schedule? Want to calculate your fuel efficiency? Want to see it on shiny graphs? aCar is a must for petrolheads. Scan to Download:

FolderOrganizer - (lite and $1.20) - Organizes folders on your desktop, and allows you to use custom icons to represent them. Definitely a plus for those who like their skins to be just so. Scan to Download:

Wheres My Droid - (free) - Text your phone to turn it off silent and get it ringing. Also allows for GPS tracking, if your phone supports it. Definitely awesome for you chronic misplacers out there. Scan to Download:

Calendar Pad - (free and $1.98) - Widget support for multiple calendars, along with the ability to view each week's events at a glance. Scan to Download:

Cestos - (free) - Free multiplayer head-to-head action for Android. A rarity in mobile games in that it's free, but what do you have to lose? Scan to Download:

Corporate Directory - (free) - Syncs with Microsoft Exchange for contact and e-mail data. Definitely great if you're part of a large corporation. Scan to Download:

HomePipe is First to Stream iTunes Music to Android Devices

Kellen — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 08:18:54 +0000

A couple of weeks ago during an App Roundup, we pointed out the release of HomePipe into the Android Market as a competitor to Dropbox and LogMeIn. Well as of today, it may have just taken a giant step ahead of both by announcing a feature which allows you to stream your iTunes library from a home computer through your Android device over both 3G and wi-fi. Crazy right? We weren't supposed to see something like this until Froyo dropped! App has a free and ad-free paid version. And my life just took a giant step closer to being complete. Update: Many of you have expressed concerns with it being "iTunes friendly" only. Let me just say that it actually just grabs your music folder and then streams it to your phone. As far as I can tell it doesn't use iTunes at all. I simply used that term for blogging purposes, if you know what I mean. Instructions... 1. Download Homepipe from the market. 2. Sign up for a free account. 3. Login to your account through a computer browser. 4. Add your computer's music folder. 5. Open your Android app and login. 6. You should see a folder called "Music." Select it. 7. Pick an album and BAM! Press Release.

Google Mobile Search Now Includes Apps

Kellen — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:23:06 +0000

As of today, you will see apps listed when doing searches on your Android device through either Google.com or by using your search button. Once the results are displayed, like you see above, a simple tap takes you straight to the Android Market for download. It might not be a full browser version of the market, but this is almost easier. So much for Double Twist's new announcement which Matt had a blast with earlier. Yikes. Source: Google Mobile Blog

Video: Froyo in Action on Motorola Droid

Kellen — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:30:11 +0000

The guys over at MyDroidWorld who have the only known Android 2.2 build for the Motorola Droid, finally released some videos for your viewing pleasure. In fact, they plan on releasing a whole series of them and we've got the first two. Apps2SD and USB Tethering:

New Lock Screen Options:

We'll post more as we have them... Source: MyDroidWorld

Exclusive: Motorola Droid Xtreme Pics

Kellen — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:33:03 +0000

The Motorola Droid X/Xtreme/Shadow is definitely turning into a must-have after seeing these latest pics. Look at that screen. It's a thing of beauty. So here is what our tipster gave us:

Android 2.2
9 home screens
No Motoblur
Dedicated camera button
"Very metal"
HDMI out

One more sideview:

Thoughts? With that "metal" casing it's really shaping into a device that has that original Droid 1 feel sans keyboard. The last thing we needed was another plastic Incredible which lasts all of one pocket drop. Stay tuned for more details...

Fake Chinese Motorola Droid Runs Windows 6.5?

Kellen — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:30:09 +0000

Check out the latest Chinese clone of the Motorola Droid. Not bad right? This look-a-like is packed with a 533Mhz processor, 256MB RAM, and a 3.7" screen. There really aren't a lot of differences from this fake version and the real deal except for the 5MP camera and...wait for it...Android! Yep, the creator went with a Winmo 6.5 port instead of the best operating system in the land. Whoops.

Just the laugh I needed today. Via: CrunchGear Source: M8 Cool Cheers Jose!

Receive Notification From Motorola When Android 2.2 is Ready

Kellen — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:30:07 +0000

Just as they did when Android 2.1 was on its way, Motorola is allowing users to sign up to receive notification when Froyo launches on the Motorola Droid. While you should refrain from throwing a Froyo party today, this does at least help confirm that our beloved Droid will receive 2.2 in the future. When exactly? Sometime in June still? We can only hope. Sign up to be notified here. Cheers Story!

DoubleTwist updates client to include Android Market, is still near-useless

Matt Demers — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:30:07 +0000

I've written about Android needing a client before, so I was a bit happy when I discovered DoubleTwist. It was pretty much what I wanted for my phone: a program I can run on my desktop that allows me to interact with the contents of my Droid. It even allows me to search the Android marketplace, which, up until recently, I couldn't even do on Google's official site! However, at the time of my first interest, that feature wasn't available for Windows - I decided to give it a pass until I could actually, you know, use it. Hearing that it had been updated today, however, had me installing faster than a pirate with unlimited bandwidth. But then I found out how bad it was. See, I was under the impression that DoubleTwist would actually be useful to me in some way. Here, let me illustrate.

Click to embiggen.

This is an example of a listing on the Android Marketplace within DoubleTwist. As you can see, it deceptively looks useful: it has ratings, comments, a well-laid out listing, hi-res logo, and QR code.

Wait, what? QR code? Why would we need that if we're downloading apps using the client?

Oh wait.

That's right. A client with access to the Android Marketplace does not allow you to download apps: DoubleTwist themselves tell you to download a bar code scanner app for that. It doesn't allow you to bookmark, list, sync, update or share them, either. It doesn't even let you comment/rate applications within it's window: the site's FAQ tells you to go to back to your phone for that, too. In essence, it doesn't do anything of the things that I would expect a client to do, nor does it make it any easier to use my phone. The only advantage I can think to using this program is because the listings are ad-free and look pretty. That's it.

Another thing I would consider using a client for would be to view what's on my phone already - not applications or anything (because DoubleTwist doesn't do that, either), but pictures and video. DoubleTwist does do this, but there seems to be a big roadblock: I can't get them off my phone.

While the issues I had with the marketplace integration were answered within the site's FAQ, for this I might just be a little bit shortsighted: can anyone see in the above screenshot (click to enlarge) where I might be able to transfer my photo off? I mean, the "Play" and "Close" buttons do just that: start a slide show and close the window. The "Flickr" and "Send" buttons upload to Flickr and send media by e-mail, respectively; you can also upload videos to Youtube. The "remove" button deletes the media.

Apparently, a "Save As" button is too much to ask for. Even the Motorola web interface has that.

DoubleTwist's big selling point is that it allows you to sync music and video folders (along with podcasts) to your phone. However, I don't really see the point: if I'm going to be in my SD card folder in Windows Explorer to copy pictures I've taken over to my hard drive, why not just spend the few extra seconds to transfer a folder of music over?

Ultimately, I simply can't find a use for DoubleTwist, and can see it becoming obsolete when Froyo comes out for the Droid: I mean, we'll have a better-featured market, and the ability to stream our music from our computers without the need for any transferring. Hell, we'll even have a better marketplace!

Kind of makes you wonder what roadblock was in their way towards making something functional. There are numerous methods of syncing files and photos using the cloud (Dropbox, Zumodrive, etc) as well as apps that have made updating/installing a near-automatic process (AppBrain); what stopped DoubleTwist from being successful? If anything, they should have had an easier time, as they have the benefit of a USB connection.

With the announcement of the new browser-client hybrid that comes with Android 2.2, my pipe-dreams of a desktop browser might just be dead. Who knows? Maybe Google will surprise us, as they have before, and give us something better.

Quick Contest: Win Hootsuite Swag!

Kellen — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:30:04 +0000

What better way to smooth over last night's NemoPlayer debacle than by giving away some free goodies? It's contest time! Who wants the Hootsuite swag I teased you all with over the weekend? We've got stickers, buttons, tattoos and a couple of beer koozies all packaged up and ready to hand out to 2 lucky Droid Life readers. And even better, we're giving them away today! Prizes: 2 prize packages from Hootsuite which include a beer koozie, buttons, and a sticker and tattoo pack. How to enter: 1. Leave a comment on this post. 2. Retweet this message:

Win free @Hootsuite swag today from @Droid_Life! - http://goo.gl/XBwZ #android #free

3. And feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter! Winners: We'll pick out 2 winners from the comments at the end of the day and send you a confirmation email to get shipping info. Good luck!

_________________________________________

Thanks again everyone for sticking with us, even through a couple of tiny bumps in the road! And don't forget to follow @Hootsuite and check out the review we did on our favorite Twitter app back in the early days.

NemoPlayer Force Close Fix

Kellen — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:52:13 +0000

If you were one of the unlucky risk takers who ran into issues with the NemoPlayer, then here are some steps which should get your gallery fixed without having to completely factory reset your Droid. Instructions for non-rooted users... 1. Uninstall NemoPlayer. 2. Mount your Droid to your computer. 3. Copy every single file on your SD card over to a folder on your computer. 4. Delete the "Android" folder. 5. Unmount your Droid and go into Settings>SD Card>Unmount SD Card>Format SD Card. 6. When that finishes, mount your Droid to your PC again. 7. Copy back over all of your SD card files to your Droid. 8. Unmount your Droid. 9. Done. Fixed. Instructions for rooted users... 1. Restore a backup or flash a new ROM. 2. Done. Thanks to @jamerson90 for the fix!

Download: NemoPlayer

Kellen — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:38:08 +0000

The NemoPlayer from the Acer Liquid Stream has been ported over to the Motorola Droid and so far appears to be fantastic. You can officially ignore that RealPlayer post we tossed up over the weekend and think about using this for all of your multimedia needs. Big thanks are in store for Xeudoxus (Matt) on this one. You might remember him from that beautiful DarkEdge theme?

Update: Apparently this thing breaks the gallery, so the download links have been removed. On a side note, maybe someone should email me the next time an app is not working properly? If I could be on here 24/7 I would, but that's not possible. Sorry for the issues. I'll look into an easy fix.

Download: NemoPlayer.apk

*For all users.

Instructions... 1. Download the NemoPlayer.apk. 2. When it finishes, tap on it and click "Install." 3. Allow it to finish and tap "Open." 4. Enjoy! Source: Droid Forums

New @Androidevicespy Tweets for Droid 2 and Droid Xtreme

Kellen — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:05:06 +0000

We posted tweets from @androidevicespy in early May to show everyone interested that the Droid 2 and Xtreme/Shadow are indeed different devices. Also included in that post was a notification that the Droid 2 had passed through wi-fi certification leading me to believe that these new tweets would suggest that other important release checks have been completed for both devices. We've now seen the Xtreme battery, an accessory list, and Verizon inventory info (Droid2 / Xtreme). How can you not be excited for June? Anyone want some homework? Find out what these new tweets mean!

Here is Your Motorola Droid Xtreme Battery

Kellen — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 09:58:27 +0000

Without going into super intense battery breakdown, let's just say that from the picture above you can gather that the Droid Xtreme's battery is thinner than the Droid1's and will have longer life. Source: Howard Forums Cheers Joseph!

Shadow Officially Becomes Droid Xtreme? Releasing Soon?

Kellen — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:45:16 +0000

A new screenshot from Verizon's inventory system has serviced showing a list of accessories for what can now be called the Motorola Droid Xtreme (previously the Shadow). While that listing doesn't specifically say "Xtreme", it does say "MOTDRDX" with the "X" being the key to us believing what has been rumored for weeks now. We broke the news over the weekend that the MB810 had landed in Big Red's system, but after seeing accessories listed, you've got to think this device could drop any day. Father's day baby! Source: Phone Arena

Long Weekend Recap: Droid 2 and Shadow Hit Inventory, Dual July Launch

Kellen — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:00:04 +0000

Droid 2 lands in VZW inventory - Is a release just weeks away? It's sure starting to look that way isn't it? Seems too soon for some reason though.
Shadow also landed in inventory - Yep, this landed too.
Droid 2's keyboard made an appearance - A possible Droid 2 keyboard spotted in the wild and looks, well, sort of real. If this is the real deal, it's an improvement, but who knows right?
Both devices launching in July? - Could the Shadow and Droid 2 launch at the same time? Again, seems odd and soon, but we wouldn't be saddened by a dual release.
If they do launch, which are you buying? - The Sunday poll asked which one would you buy should the Droid 2 and Shadow come out on the same day. And you are taking?
Download: LG Ally Socialite - A nice alternative to the stock Android Facebook app. It actually does Twitter and Facebook and has widget capabilities. Worth a look. Just keep track of your battery to make sure it's not eating it alive.
Quick tip on installing apks - Using Dropbox to store apps for downloading and installing is a great way to avoid having to use a USB cable.
Norton arrives on Android! - Just when you thought there weren't enough remote locking apps on the market, Symantec announced their entry into the battle.

Anyone else feeling refreshed after a long weekend? Don't relax too long though! The month of June has officially started and that could mean the release of Froyo and Flash, so you better be ready. Let's get it started...

Qualcomm Announces Dual-CPU Snapdragon

Kellen — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:24:31 +0000

The introduction of a 1.2Ghz dual-core Snapdragon process is a pretty nice way to start the month of June, right? That's exactly what Qualcomm blessed us with this morning...

Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of wireless technologies, products and services, today announced the Company has sampled its first dual-CPU Snapdragon™ chipsets. The Mobile Station Modem™ (MSM™) MSM8260™ and MSM8660™ solutions integrate two of the Company’s enhanced cores running at up to 1.2GHz. Targeted at enabling high-end smartphones, the MSM8x60 solutions are third-generation chipsets from the Company’s expanded Snapdragon platform, which has been powering smartphones, tablets and smartbook devices in markets around the world.

Their current lineup of chipsets...

First-generation products: QSD8x50™ with 1GHz enhanced core
Second-generation products: MSM8x55™ and QSD8x50A™ with 1GHz enhanced core, including multimedia optimizations and 1.3GHz enhanced core, respectively
Third-generation products: MSM8260, MSM8660 and QSD8672 with dual-CPU architecture featuring enhanced cores running at up to 1.2GHz and 1.5GHz, respectively

No news as to if or when we would see one of these in a device, but I can't imagine it being too far off. Source: Qualcomm Cheers Mark!

http://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2010/06/01/qualcomm-ships-first-dual-cpu-snapdragon-chipset

Norton Smartphone Security Headed to Android

Kellen — Mon, 31 May 2010 10:57:51 +0000

It was only a matter of time before Symantec and their line of internet security products found a way onto mobile devices. They plan to introduce Norton Smartphone Security for Android in the coming weeks, a service which could give WaveSecure and Lookout a run for their money. Here are the highlights pulled from Norton's Android site...

Prevents strangers from using your mobile device in case of loss or theft

Remotely locks your mobile device if it’s stolen so thieves can’t use it and run up your bill

Instantly locks your mobile device if its SIM card is removed, so it can’t be used with another SIM card

Protects your privacy and the personal information on your mobile device

Prevents access to your private information if your mobile device is lost or stolen

Remotely erases all information from your mobile device, if you choose

Lets you block annoying and unwanted calls and text messages

Eliminates mobile threats before they can cause you problems

Detects and removes threats and forbidden files without affecting your mobile device’s performance

Scans all the files and app updates you download to your mobile device for threats

We've seen the remote locking feature on other apps, but the "block annoying and unwanted calls and text messages" is something that has me interested. Your thoughts? This should be available in the Android market sometime in the near future. With a name like "Norton" attached, would you be willing to pay for it? Visit http://www.norton.mobi from your phone's browser to check for download availability. Source: Symantec

Quick Tip: Install APKs Easier using Dropbox

Kellen — Mon, 31 May 2010 09:30:50 +0000

If you've ever been unable to download an APK file straight to your Droid or didn't have a USB cable handy, one of the easiest ways to get that file to your device is through Dropbox. Instructions... 1. Download and install Dropbox from the market. (It's free) 2. Set up an account if you do not already have one. 3. Download a file on your computer and upload to your Dropbox account. 4. Open the Dropbox app on your device and login. 5. Browse to the folder you just uploaded your file to. 6. Tap on it to download. 7. When prompted, click "Install!" Comments or questions? Cheers @Jamerson90!

Droid Incredible has been Rooted?

Kellen — Mon, 31 May 2010 08:28:43 +0000

Update: FAKE. FAKE. FAKE. Links removed. Children on forums. Read. Memorial Day = party day for Droid Incredible owners. In an attempt to revive Alldroid.org, a couple of their users apparently took on the task of trying to root the DI and succeeded! Yay! They now have superuser access and even some custom kernels pumping in 1.3Ghz to this already beastly device. No instructions have been released, but should be "soon." Cheers Joseph and Tim!

Sunday Poll: Motorola Shadow or Droid 2?

Kellen — Sun, 30 May 2010 10:36:36 +0000

Now that we've seen both the Motorola Droid 2 and Shadow hit Verizon's inventory system, those rumors of a similar release date seem much more realistic. We've also been tipped off to some of the specs on these 2 new devices and we're wondering what would happen should they both hit stores within a couple of weeks of each other? Which would you pick? The keyboard-less wonder aka the Shadow or a revamped and even more powerful version of the Droid?

RealPlayer Beta Released to Android Market

Kellen — Sat, 29 May 2010 10:30:07 +0000

RealNetworks has released the first version of their RealPlayer on Android. It's free and acts as sort of an all-in-one media player for your photos, videos and of course, music. They've slapped a "beta" tag on it and after just a couple of minutes with it, you can tell that it lives up to that status. While the overall idea of this app is likeable, Real has some polishing and bug fixes to take care of before this can be a contender. Download...

Download Link

Cheers Michael and Stephan!

Download: LG Ally Socialite App

Kellen — Sat, 29 May 2010 09:00:17 +0000

The LG Ally's Socialite app has been pulled and so far, appears to work on any Android phone running 2.1. After installing on both my Moto Droid and Incredible, there have been zero issues and the stock Android Facebook app may be a thing of the past. The Socialite app is essentially a dual Twitter/Facebook machine. It has a full screen widget and a much nicer UI than your stock Facebook app. Definitely worth a look.

*For ALL users.

Download: REMOVED AT REQUEST OF OWNER. Instructions... 1. Download Socialite from your phone. 2. Once it finishes, tap on it to install. 3. Done! Via: XDA Forums Cheers Brandon!

Motorola Shadow Also Lands in Verizon Inventory

Kellen — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:00:17 +0000

So we got a little pre-mature on the Motorola Shadow is "no where to be found" comment in the previous Droid 2 post. It is definitely there. MB810, CHECK. Maybe these 2 devices will both appear in July as the WSJ stated earlier? I'm still going with my gut and saying Shadow in June and Droid 2 in Q4. Thoughts? Which would you choose if they were to come out on the same day? (Ooh, that might be a good poll!)

Droid 2 Keyboard Makes an Appearance?

Kellen — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:00:02 +0000

One more Droid 2 rumor before we head into the weekend? Engadget received the above photo from a tipster claiming that the bottom keyboard is the revolutionized Motorola Droid 2 keyboard. Apparently his buddy had one and that's really all we know. If it is true, throw a party. This keyboard looks to actually be functional for more than 30 seconds at a time. Loving the puffy buttons and the missing d-pad. No more reaching right thumb! Source: Engadget Cheers Patrick and everyone else!

Motorola Droid 2 Hits Verizon Inventory System

Kellen — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:04:07 +0000

How about we change it up and bring you some Motorola Droid 2 breaking news for once? It seems to be all Motorola Shadow these days doesn't it? One of our tipsters just sent over this screenie from Verizon's inventory system which shows the Droid 2 (A955) alive and well. So what does this mean? That it could be hitting stores sooner than we had initially expected. But what about the Shadow (MB810)? Update: Motorola Shadow also appearing in Big Red's inventory.

Custom Theme Friday: DropTheme

Kellen — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:42:32 +0000

Similar in ways to the DarkEdge theme, DropTheme is an impressive MetaMorph theme which works on the newest CyanogenMod, BB 1.0, and others. It's still in beta, but I've run into zero issues so far. In fact, this thing is beautiful.

Theme: DropThem [MM]

Instructions for installation...

*Rooted users only.

1. Download and install MetaMorph from the market. 2. Download the correct DropTheme for your particular ROM:

Cyanogen 5.0.7: Download
Bugless Beast 1.0: Download

3. Unzip DropTheme folder and place in "AndroidThemes" folder on SD card. 4. Open MetaMorph and choose "pick existing theme." 5. Open the DropTheme folder and choose 6. Click "apply all!" 7. Let all 23 files load and your phone should reboot. If it doesn't force it to. 8. Your phone should reboot with DropTheme! Full support and release thread here.

*Note 1* - If you wanted a themed launcher, follow the instructions at the support thread to get your launcher apps in /system/app. *Note 2* - Font color on dates, time and notification menu will need to be changed in Spare Parts. *Note 3* - If download links go down, let me know!

Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="title"] Comments or questions?

ROM Releases: Cyanogen V5.0.7, Bugless Beast V1.1, The Shiz

Kellen — Fri, 28 May 2010 10:13:55 +0000

Well, we still haven't seen a Froyo ROM come to fruition just yet, but we did see new releases from 3 powerhouses. Earlier in the week we got the new Cyanogenmod, followed by the new Bugless Beast and moments later the new JRummy which is now called "The SHIZ." No need to post screenies as these all essentially look the same as their predecessors. We really just have a bunch of internal goodies to make the ROMs more stable and much snappier. Here is a list with links to more information including a few highlights...

CyanogenMod V5.0.7 - Change log.

-Dim the deskclock screensaver colors -Email signature support -Downloader allows any file to download

Bugless Beast V1.1 - Forum thread. Chang log.

-Froyo Amazon MP3 App -Froyo Media Uploader App -Froyo Talkback App

The SHIZ - Forum thread.

-Built from source -7 Theme Choices -A whole bunch of other shiz

Do I have a favorite? Not necessarily. These are all high quality ROMs and I've been bouncing between them all for a few days now. I'd suggest that you check each one out as you shouldn't need to wipe data and cache if coming from a recent ESE81 ROM and decide which one gives you a better overall feel. To install, simply open ROM Manager and pick your poison. Thoughts from anyone on their favorite? Which one are you running and why?

Both Motorola Shadow and Droid 2 Launching in July?

Kellen — Fri, 28 May 2010 09:00:01 +0000

Someone needs to write a song about Motorola Shadow rumors because we get a new one from a new publication almost every day. The most recent, from the Wall Street Journal, pegs July as the month we'll see the Motorola Shadow and quite possibly the Droid 2 alongside it. (What?!?)

Mr. Jha has bet heavily on phones powered by Google Inc.'s Android software and sold by Verizon Wireless, such as last fall's Motorola Droid. Verizon Wireless, which plans to add two Motorola smartphones in July, spent $100 million marketing the original Droid, helping to boost Motorola's sales in the first quarter.

Now, this may be sinful to call out the WSJ, but Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha didn't actually say July. They pointed this out later in the article...

"We will introduce new Droid products in the Verizon franchise," he said, but didn't provide more details.

I think I'll continue to stick to our Father's Day prediction for now. On a side note, you'll be excited to hear what Jha had to say about Android 2.2 and Flash on Motorola Devices...

You’ve got to be precise. So 2.0 which is what Droid was, 2.0 to 2.1 I didn’t think there was a big change. 2.1 to 2.2, which was announced at Google I/O, I think there are some pretty important things there. But you’ll see us being very aggressive in introducing 2.2 product. After that, as I understand it, I think Google will decide. But I think there’s a 3.0 or a 2.5. I think that will be a fairly big rev. So 2.0 to 2.1 wasn’t a big thing. 2.2 I think you will see we will introduce flash, which I think is very important for Internet. Some don’t, I understand…I think if you could play flash 10.1, you could render 98% of the content of the web. That’s why it’s important I think.

Yay! Thoughts? Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Sirius XM App Hits Android, Free for 7 Days

Kellen — Fri, 28 May 2010 08:00:46 +0000

The Sirius XM Android app finally went live today and even offers a free 7 day trial of their service. At least they made it before the end of May right? Nice deadline action there guys. To drop your email and receive the download link, visit here. Or you can just download it from here. Cheers GarbageD and Tony!

ADW Launcher Hits Android Market

Kellen — Fri, 28 May 2010 07:00:42 +0000

On Tuesday we were bragging to rooted users about the latest release of the ADW Launcher and how it had a Froyo feel to it plus some of the options featured on the LauncherPro. Well guess what non-roots? The developer made it available in the Android Market to everyone. Yay! No need for an additional full writeup on the dozens of options it has; you can find that here. Free! Download...

Download Link

Hide Weather Icon in Beautiful Widgets

Kellen — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:31:26 +0000

Who wasn't a little weirded out by the dual moon/sun effect while using Beautiful Widgets and Beautiful Live Weather at the same time? I know at least a few of you were after reading just a couple of the comments from our post on this fantastic new live wallpaper. Well guess what? One of our readers came through in a big way again! Drew Richard created a weather skin for Beautiful Widgets called "None" which will hide the weather so that only your Beautiful Live Weather will display and those Event Horizon-esque moons will be back to normal. Amazing. Obviously I'm biased, but Droid Life readers are the best on the planet. Instructions for hiding... 1. In Beautiful Widgets configuration, scroll down to "Select Weather Skin." 2. Tap on the "Download Skins" tab. 3. Scroll to the bottom, locate "None" and tap to download it. 4. Tap "Download." 5. Once it finishes, move back to the "Installed Skins" tab. 6. Tap on "None" and click "Apply." 7. Click "Save & Apply" at the bottom and then again on the next screen. 8. Done! Update: Here is the "None" weather skin direct download: None.zip

To install this, extract the "none" folder and place in /sdcard/data/beautifulwidgets/wskins/

Fantastic work Drew!