As someone who has used Windows Mobile for quite some time, I know first hand that it can grow quite mundane. If this has happened to any of you out there, thankfully, now we have a solution-Android! It seems those crazy kids over at XDAndroid have been working on a project to port Android to Windows Mobile devices and now their latest build is proving to be a huge success. Demonstrated on a HTC Touch Pro 2, the Android installation experiences no difficulty in making calls, sending SMS, downloading apps, or browsing the web. In fact, pretty much everything works besides GPS, Bluetooth, and the camera. Impressive!
After reading about this yesterday, I set out to try it myself on an old HTC Touch Pro 2 I had. Surprisingly, the hack proved to be pretty easy. If you’re tech savy and into roms, I really suggest trying it yourself. You can find the directions here! As always, flash with caution so you don’t brick your device.
Well, it looks like T-Mobile delivered on its promise of releasing an OTA(Over-The-Air) update for G1 users by their self-imposed deadline of March 15th. Even though this update only brings forth an improvement in call quality, it’s nice to see that is was able without issue; unlike the experience Motorola Cliq and Droid Eris users suffered. If you haven’t seen the update yet, you should be seeing it very soon. So, the next question is will the G1 get another update? Android 2.1, here we come? Time will tell, but we hope so!
Let me just start off by saying that this is NOT the update G1 owners have been patiently waiting for. Instead, it’s a minor update exactly like the one the original myTouch 3G received earlier this month. The Android 1.6 update (DMD64) OTA is rolling out starting today, February 26th, and will gradually make it to the masses by March 15th. The update improves G1 user’s call performance and does not include any additional feature enhancements. To receive the update, G1 owners must have the required Android data plan added. G1 owners will receive a notification on their device giving them to choice to “Install Now” or “Install Later”. After you install the update, the handset will reboot and you’re done! Enjoy the improved call quality!
Do you have an Android phone? Do you like viewing your account and changing account settings on the fly? Then this update it for you. T-Mobile has updated the App to include two menu icons, My Account and Help, and it now allows you to switch to paperless billing or make payments using previously stored information. They also added some extra security, making you sign in with your My T-Mobile password or the last 4 digits of your social security number. You can find the update in the market, but chances are you have already received that notification, maybe.
Let me just be honest here, I want to be excited about this, I was hoping to be excited about this but I’m not. The last Garmin phone to enter the US market met less thanfavorable reviews. Check that, the reviews were downright nasty. We’ve been waiting for some more info on this phone since its FCC debut back in early January. That being said, while the phone itself looks cool, one of our super ninjas whose had some hands on time with this phone says it’s slow, super slow. In fact, we’re told to already chalk this up in the “pass” category. Either way, we’re learning the phone will sport a 3.5 inch 480×320 capacitive touchscreen, 4 GB of internal storage with the usual microSD expanded storage option. Of course the major selling point is the pre-loaded Garmin navigation system with all the standard bells and whistles that you would get in an off the shelf unit. According to Engadget you’ll also get sync with Microsoft Exchange server and includes all the usual Google mobile services like search by voice, Maps with Street View, Gmail, YouTube, and Android Market. Rounding things out are a multitouch WebKit-based browser and 3 megapixel autofocus camera that automatically geo-tags your snaps.
Sounds like a pretty standard set of features, yet the unfortunate news is what we’re hearing behind the scenes and the sluggish behavior of the device itself. The only savior is that our ninjas are using pre-release software and t hat things can change prior to its expected launch May 5th. The only savior is that our ninjas are using pre-release software and t hat things can change prior to launch. We’ll be watching MWC for more news here, but we’re already suggesting you look elsewhere for Android goodness unless you absolutely, positively need turn by turn navigation pre-loaded on your phone.
When we first heard the words back in October, “Dark Project” took on a completely new meaning. What we thought would be a gracing savior rescuing T-Mobile from a spot as the 4th place wireless carrier turned out to be little more than a hype machine. The Dark Project rate plans, while revolutionary in the United States were not capable of meeting all the hype the interwebs had placed on them. We are as guilty as anyone for being a hype machine, but here we are again, faced with a training calendar inscribed with the words “Dark Project Training.” This time we are not certain at all what it pertains to but we have a good guess, or what we would like to think is an educated, well-informed guess. (We should preface this by saying that we now know the words “Dark Project” simply pertains to information T-Mobile wishes not to disclose.) Of course, in reality, it is really none of those things and we are just stabbing in the dark here thinking we know what it is. Therefore, bear with me as I say this training, which starts February 17th and ends March 9th is a possible run up to the launch of the HTC HD2 and/or a Motorola Android (Zeppelin?) launch. What am I basing this on? My super human knowledge of all things. Our confirmed rumored launch date info tells us that a Motorola Android device codename-Zeppelin is launching on March 10th, along with as of yet unknown HTC phone. Coincidence that the training for this “Dark Project” ends March 9th? Time will tell…
For those of you with an Android phone, you may have found it a bit difficult to sync any, and all, media to your phone (especially if you are tied into that iTunes ecosystem). Well, T-Mobile really understands that and is embarking on a campaign to bring an app that syncs media to Android phones. The answer, DoubleTwist, which is basically an iTunes for every other device, plus it looks like it so no relearning. It is being said that T-Mobile is partnering with DoubleTwist to pre-load the software onto upcoming Android phones, and not just limiting it to the Fender MyTouch. Leave your thoughts in the comments!
There is little debate as to what constitutes the hottest OS platform in the mobile industry right now, Android. T-Mobile was the first to bring the Android platform to the masses and has led the pack with the widest selection of devices from the get go. This nifty cheat sheet straight from the T-Mobile website shows some basic breakdowns of the T-Mobile selection and also re-confirms that 256mb of RAM in the MyTouch LE. If you were having a hard time making some Android decisions this may or may not influence you, but it’s certainly an easy breakdown of the main differences among the devices. Of course what it doesn’t tell you is the benefits and/or pitfalls of using a carriers dressed up interface like TouchWiz or MotoBlur which are very much love it or hate it. Regardless, if you’ve been on the fence about picking up an Android device, perhaps this will help.
Suspiciously missing here is the Nexus One, though not directly sold by T-Mobile definitely has the specs to compete and as such, should be listed.
Ever since Google announced Android 2.0 on the Motorola Droid, everyone has eagerly wanted a piece of the scrumptious Eclair, but the future wasn’t looking too good for faithful G1 owners. There were a few rumors stating Android 2.0 for the G1 was coming, but no release date was specified. But now, according to an internal T-Mobile Forum, a Moderator states that Android 2.0 for the G1 is rumored to make its way to G1 handsets by the end of January. Of course this should be taken as a grain of salt, and until there is further confirmation, this is going under rumors column for now. Leave your thoughts and hopes in the comments!
Good afternoon TmoNews minions readers! There has been a lot going on in Magenta’s world in the past few weeks, and it looks like the news just keeps on coming. Yesterday we received quite a few emails from our sources stating that a new Android device was in the works, codenamed the MyTouch Slide/MyTouch 2. Our sources pegged the device for a May 17th release. Today another one of our trusty ninjas has hit us up claiming that T-Mobile has more up its sleeve. T-Mobile is rumored to be releasing another Motorola Android device (Sholes Tablet?) on March 10th. Our source also claims that on March 17th, T-Mobile will be releasing a Nokia Smartphone (N900 anyone?). Sony Ericsson lovers if the original Equinox color didn’t appeal to you, you can pick up the Equinox January 20th in the shade of Ocean Blue. Our sources are also stating that the Samsung T139 will be hitting the shelves February 3rd. Hooray! First in line for this one!
As always all these dates are super tentative and subject to change.
Stay tuned and leave your thoughts and hopes in the comments!
