A Chinese site, HiAPK.com, have come across what seems to be some blurry shots of a new Droid device they believe is headed to Verizon here in the States. There is no way to confirm if this is a real device (the sheer blurriness of the photos and the super shady video might suggest its a fake to be honest. I mean who’s hands are really that shaky, seriously?!), but might be worth keeping an eye out for… Check out more pics and a quick video below and tell us what you think.

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Thanks to an Engadget reader who decided to go searching through the Droid Does website’s source code, we have what very well might be the first official images of the Motorola A955 aka the Droid 2 for Verizon (even though we’ve seen some other fuzzy, leaked shots before). Engadget is also reporting that the device is slated for August this year for all you keyboard loving Android users. Now, if only someone could find the official specs…

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So the original Motorola Droid is apparently going to be the last device without a digitally signed bootloader from Motorola. What does that mean? Well, it means that there is no flashing of custom recovery images and no easy way of flashing custom ROMs like the majority of Android devices. In a blog post on the Motorola Dev website, they explained their position on custom roms etc. basically saying that if you want to flash custom ROMs, “we highly recommend obtaining either a Google ADP1 developer phone or a Nexus One, both of which are intended for these purposes. At this time, Motorola Android-based handsets are intended for use by consumers and Android application developers, and we have currently chosen not to go into the business of providing fully unlocked developer phones.”

I don’t think Motorola realizes just how many “end consumers” love to flash custom ROMs (XDA Developers, our own site, and many others could attest to that). They are shooting themselves in the foot in my opinion. The benefit of the custom ROMs for consumers are new UI’s, optimization, customization beyond belief (just look at any Cyanogen ROM), full backups, overclocking, extra RAM (via Swap), and so much more. And as far as the manufacturer’s are concerned, all of these added features cost them NOTHING. The developers who make these custom ROMs work for donations (if that, some won’t even except them) that people who use their ROMs are generally happy to give. Motorola doesn’t have to pay them, and they are making their devices better, why wouldn’t Motorola want this?

In their blog post, they go on to state all the legal jargon about how they aren’t doing anything against the open source agreements (including GPLv2, etc.) to stop people from yelling saying if they lock the bootloader, then it isn’t “open source”. We know that they can lock the bootloader if they really want, my question isn’t if it goes against being open source, but just why, as a business decision, they decided to do it. What harm comes from giving an unlocked bootloader and even root access for that matter if you provide a disclaimer saying enabling it will void your software warranty (as the Nexus One does etc)? What does Motorola have to lose?

Anyone else think this is dumb of any manufacturer to do?

Anyone else think that more manufacturers should go the way of the Nokia N900, and just provide root access out of the box? Didn’t seem to hurt Nokia any…

Hit the source link for the full blog post from Motorola.

PS That isn’t too say we CAN’T load custom ROMs… Just check out our How To Root the Milestone, Load a Custom ROM on the Milestone, and our Custom ROMs for the Milestone section. The Milestone has a locked bootloader as well, we get around it by loading custom ROMs through ADB and Nandroid Backup. But this method still doesn’t allow us to load custom recovery images and makes for a much harder way of creating or loading custom ROMs.

Source via Androidandme

Samsung is pushing their latest Android powerhouse, the Samsung Galaxy S. It first was announced for T-Mobile as the Samsung Vibrant, then on AT&T as the Samsung Captivate, Verizon’s version will be the Samsung Fascinate, US Cellular is getting one (although we aren’t sure of the name yet), and Sprint is getting the until now, rumored, Samsung Galaxy S Pro (a Galaxy S with a slide out qwerty keyboard) and calling it the Samsung Epic 4G. Here is the rumored spec breakdown and comparison of each:

So as you can see not a lot of differences (minus the QWERTY keyboard and 4G for Sprint’s version). And it’s obvious with the HTC Evo 4G doing so well on Sprint why they didn’t want another keyboard-less device too similar (at least with the keyboard they figure they are targeting a different demographic who need a keyboard that wouldn’t have bought the Evo). Got to say this is also a nice win for Samsung, great for branding and recognition when you are on every major carrier.; customers can then choose your phone instead of the carrier.
Anyone getting one of these? Feature set seems pretty close to a certain device that just launched on AT&T… maybe this gives some people a choice they didn’t have last year…

According to a “reliable source” at DroidForums.net, Android 2.2 will be coming to the Motorola Droid by the end of July and will be coming to the Droid X in late August. So if you are into waiting for official ROM releases, mark your calendars and hope the source is right.

For you Sprint Evo users, Sprint just announced the Android 2.2 will be coming to the Evo, although they didn’t give a specific timeframe other than soon. Here is what Sprint just released about Android 2.2 for you:

“With the Android 2.2 upgrade, customers can expect improvements to include the following benefits: updates to user interface, improved EAS Support, improved browser performance, including Flash 10x Support, voice dialing over Bluetooth and application storage on external memory.”

So Froyo cometh?

Source and Source

So Engadget got to play with a Droid X for a bit and found out a few new things about it. Here’s a quick summary of all the new features, specs, and release information there is out right now.

And that’s it for now, gents! So big question; Droid Incredible or Droid X?

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Hey Droid users, are you sick of waiting for Motorola to release Android 2.2 “sometime in the near future”? Understandable. Well here’s how to get 2.2 (Froyo) right now step by step.

I. Root Your Motorola Droid

1. You must root your motorola droid by following our How To Root the Motorola Droid procedure. Once you are done, you can continue.

II. Load a Custom ROM

1. Now do our How To Load a Custom ROM on the Motorola Droid procedure BUT YOU CAN STOP AFTER YOU FINISH SECTION II (Once you have flashed the custom recovery image successfully just come back to this procedure).

III. Flash Android 2.2 Using Nandroid & a New Kernel to Enable Wifi

1. Download the Android 2.2 Nandroid Backup save it to your computer, and unzip it.

Android 2.2 Nandroid Backup for the Motorola Droid

2. Then download one of the kernel files below. (To be safe you can flash the 800mhz one, if you are feeling adventurous and want to overclock you Droid, then select any of the others to overclock it to that new speed).

800mhz Kernel
900mhz Kernel
1ghz Kernel
1.1ghz Kernel
1.2ghz Kernel
1.25ghz Kernel

2. Turn your phone off and turn it back on by holding down the X button on the keyboard and power until the recovery screen comes up.

3. Using the dpad select Nandroid then Backup and wait for it to backup.

4. Now push the power button to return to the recovery main menu and use the dpad to select Reboot and wait for the phone to reboot.

5. Once the phone is back on, plug it into the computer via USB cable and mount the sd card so we can save files to it.

6. Take the folder called 2010-06-05.06.15.32 inside the .zip file you downloaded and extracted and copy it to /sdcard/clockwork/backup folder on your sd card (save the entire folder not just what’s inside it).

7. Take the kernel file you downloaded (do NOT unzip it, leave it as a .zip file) and copy it to the root of your sd card (NOT inside any folders on the sd card, just on the sd card itself).

8. Now unplug your phone.

9. Turn the phone off and then turn it back on by holding down the X button on the slide out keyboard and power. Keep holding them until the recovery screen comes up.

10. Once the recovery menu comes up, select Nandroid then Restore and choose the file named 2010-06-05.06.15.32. Wait for it to finish restoring.

11. Now hit the power button to return to the main recovery menu and use the dpad to select install zip from sd card, then select choose zip from sdcard.

12. Select the kernel file you saved to the sdcard and wait for it to flash.

13. Once done, click the power button to get back to the main recovery menu. Then select reboot system now.

14. Once the phone reboots you are on Android 2.2, enjoy!

IV. Install Adobe Flash

1. Download the Adobe Flash 10.1 apk

Flash 10.1 APK

2. On your phone goto Settings > Applications and make sure Unknown Sources is checked ON.

3. Plug your phone in via usb cable and mount the sd card so we can save files to it.

4. Copy the .apk file you just downloaded to the root of the sd card on the phone (NOT in any folders just on the sd card itself).

5. Unplug the phone.

6. On your phone goto the Market and search for the word Linda. Then download and install Linda File Manager for free.

7. Open Linda file manager and search for the .apk file you saved to the sdcard and select it.

8. You now have Flash support on Android 2.2!

Thanks to p3Droid for the 2.2 Backup and the Kernels!!!

Not too shabby, no?
Qualcomm won’t disclose which manufacturer’s they sent the chips to, but I can take one guess at a manufacturer fond of Snapdragon processors. HTC, possibly?

Any developers/users excited to see what a phone with this kind of power could do (oh and with HSPA+ support as well)?

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So you might have seen LG’s new commercials featuring the new LG Ally in a very Iron Man 2 sorta way. Well, we now have some more details on the device. Besides the specs that follow, it seems that the phone is headed for Verizon, and most likely exclusively but we’ll have to see on that. Here are the specs we have now:

Anyone on Verizon waiting for a QWERTY keyboard phone? Might choose this over the Incredible?

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Phandroid seems to think this is for the HTC Incredible but I have to agree with Engadget, who think this is more likely for the Microsoft Pink phones. I think this because they mention sharing and getting social, which were big selling points for the Microsoft Pink phones when they were discovered a while back, not so much for the HTC Incredible. I guess we’ll find out on Monday…

Source via Engadget

So not much to this story guys, Phandroid seems to have gotten their hands on the HTC Incredible User Manual and have posted it for download. If you need a fix while waiting for your HTC Incredible to be released, check it out here (you will need to sign up for a free Android forums account to download):

HTC Incredible User Manual

Here are the specs though from the user manual:

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon at 1 GHz.
OS: Android 2.1 with Sense UI
Memory: 576MB RAM/512MB ROM
Screen: 3.7-inch AMOLED at 480×800.
Radios: 1xRTT, EVDO Rev. A.
Dimensions: 4.63×2.30×0.47 inches.
Weight: 4.6 ounces with battery.
Camera: 8MP with autofocus and flash.
Battery: 1300 mAh (talk time rated at 313 minutes, 146 hours’ standby)
aGPS
Digital compass
Proximity Sensor
Light sensor
Bluetooth 2.1
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
3.5mm headphone jack

Thanks to AmIHereRightNow for sending this is!
Thanks to Phandroid for the leak!
Thanks to AndroidandMe for digging the specs out!

So Androidandme has come across two things; a possible release date for the Verizon Incredible and some rumored specs that, I’m sure most would agree, people would secretly hope was true (whether it is or not, we have yet to find out).

According to DailyTech, a Verizon source has said that the Incredible will be available in about 2 weeks. So by the end of March dear Verizonites, you may have your Android superphone.

The second thing Androidandme reported, is that there MAY be some tweaks to the originally released specs. The original specs had the phone pegged very similar to the Nexus One (which is also supposed to release on Verizon soon), with adding a few features like an optical trackpad, FM tuner, 8MP camera, and Sense UI. Now, the new rumored specs would have it a bit more of a competitor.

So the only major changes with the new specs are no more underclocking of the Snapdragon, more ROM, and more RAM. Now, the processor being set to 1Ghz, makes perfect sense. The Nexus (being a very similar phone) has used it without any issues, so why would Verizon underclock this one (usually underclocking is done to increase battery life, but since the Nexus One seems to not be getting too many battery complaints, there would be no reason to do this).

Next the RAM, would be a great addition. More RAM = more processes and apps can be run at one time, aka multitasking. So that would be a welcome sight, but the question is, will HTC put 1GB of RAM in a phone with an OS that only allows 6 apps to be running at once? Maybe if there were some hardcore games out (or coming out soon) or if there were some serious other processes running in the background (HTC Sense? But it runs fine on the Desire with less RAM), you could possibly see them putting it in.

Now as for the 6Gb rumored ROM, this seems a bit far fetched. The ROM is the read only memory of the phone and contains things like the OS, native apps, etc. The only way Verizon would need 6GBs of ROM is if they planned to put 4GBs worth of their own proprietary software etc in the phone, which is unlikely (unless there is some crazy app they have that needs 4Gbs).

Whether the specs are the original or latest, it will still be a welcomed site to Verizon users in the next couple of weeks, I’m sure.

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So with T-Mobile launching it’s HSPA+ network in select markets this month, Verizon figured it would test it’s new data technology, LTE, in a market and post some numbers.

Verizon’s LTE technology is supposed to reach peak speeds of 40-50 Mbps (compared to HSPA+’s 21Mbps). Verizon engineers are also reporting average download speeds of between 5-12Mbps (compared to T-Mobile engineers 5-6Mbps) in actual tests.

The thing to understand here though is that LTE is a 4G technology, and as such requires new hardware to be put in it’s phones to utilize any of the speed, just like WiMaxx. So even though they are testing it in one market, there still aren’t any devices that support it coming anytime soon so it is a ways off.

On the other hand, HSPA+ requires new technology in the handset to get the FULL speed increase, but unlike LTE it is based on 3G technology instead of 4G and so all current 3G handsets will benefit from the speed increase as well (just not as much as an HSPA+ enabled handset would).

So while LTE is definitely the faster technology (and I’m sure Verizon’s engineers will optimize it more and more and the average download speed will increase from this report), T-Mobile’s approach is a nice way to get some benefits sooner than later.

Of course, once Verizon gets their LTE up and running with handsets that support it, T-Mobile data speeds will be left behind. But again, we have to give it to T-Mobile for going from an EDGE only network to HSPA+ in a very short time frame. And since HSPA+ is still a 3G technology, it is very possible that they could be using it as a stepping stone to a newer technology like LTE as well; giving people faster internet now while they work on LTE, or some other 4G technology.

Hopefully T-Mobile can keep up their break neck pace of upgrading their network and possibly be working on 4G when Verizon is launching theirs. That would be tough, but so was getting from EDGE to HSPA+ as quickly as they did.

Now if T-Mobile could only increase their coverage…

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These phones have always been viewed as the replacements for the Sidekick line up that has previously always been on T-Mobile USA. Microsoft bought Danger (the makers of the Sidekick software) a while back and we haven’t heard of much from Danger since (besides the good ol’ Sidekick Data Outage, yikes).

Since these are considered replacements for the Sidekick lineup, it seems odd that they are headed to Verizon, but we have heard rumors that there are GSM and CDMA varieties of these devices so who knows.
One thing that the Pink phones will have in common with the Sidekick line up is that they will be marketed to tweens, teenagers, and young adults.

Check out the pics:

UPDATE: Engadget got word that those GSM versions are headed to Vodafone, so sorry T-Mobile.

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The Telegraph newspaper in the UK and Neowin have each released separate reports about the Nexus One, one referring to Vodafone and one to Verizon.

According to the Telegraph, sources say that the Nexus One will be available on Vodafone in the UK in April (happens to also be the same time the HTC Desire is expected to be released there as well).

Then at the same time, sources over at Neowin, say “Verizon will release Google’s Nexus One Android device on March 23 according to sources familiar with the matter.” This also coincides well with the FCC documentation that approved the CDMA version of the Nexus One earlier this week.

Verizon users, 24 days or so and counting? Anyone excited?

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So according to some sources at AndroidandMe, all US Android devices will be getting an upgrade to Android 2.1 this year. This is in contrast to what was previously thought about how older phones couldn’t handle Android 2.1 (which we’ve seen to not be true already because of custom Android 2.1 ROMs being loaded onto G1s etc.).

There is something about this though that I find odd. Android 2.1 can’t just be loaded on all of these devices as it is. The carriers have to add their own proprietary apps into the OS, manufacturers have to load their custom user interfaces on top of the OS (like Sense UI and Blur UI), etc. So I find it very unlikely that all of these manufacturers, carriers, and Google are planning to release all of these things together at the same time…

So while Android 2.1 might be on its way to US Android phones, I have a feeling that depending on your phone, it could be at very different times during the year.

Whose ready for 2.1 already?

So the HTC Desire is sexy, I agree, and we know it’s most likely going to AT&T, but what about the CDMA version we heard rumored a while ago? Well, it’s called the HTC Incredible and judging by the video posted on YouTube, it’s definitely going to Verizon and looks to be a pretty final build (also looks like they are in a Verizon store to me, but eh who knows)

Coming soon, possibly?

Here are the specs:

1Ghz Snapdragon
256Mbs of RAM
3.7″ AMOLED Screen
Android 2.1 w/ Sense UI
WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth

And here’s the shaky vid:

So with the Nexus One (hacked with Sense UI running smoothly) on T-Mobile, the HTC Desire coming to AT&T supposedly, and the HTC Incredible coming to Verizon, we have three almost identical devices coming out (or are out in the Nexus One’s case) on 3 different carriers (and the HTC Supersonic with a slightly bigger screen and possibly WiMax for Sprint). So we actually get to choose what carrier we want based on their performance in our area, instead of being forced to choose a carrier because we want a specific phone? Wow, what a concept…

So the Devour, AKA the Calgary, is only a few days away from being launched by Verizon here in the US. So just in time for release, Rick Osterloh of Motorola, has decided to release a seven minute long demonstration of the phone to tide you BLUR lovers on Verizon till then. Take a look:

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Snapdragon 1ghz Processor
256MBs of RAM
Android 2.1 with Sense UI
Optical Mouse Pointer
Dual LED Flash
3.7″ AMOLED screen (WVGA)

The phone was also found to be running on Verizon’s frequencies so it is most likely headed there. So is the Nexus One or the Incredible coming out first?

Google unveiled the Nexus One today and called it the “Next Evolution of Android”. Here’s a quick recap of what they went over.

1. Nexus One is a close collaboration between Google and HTC
2. It is the most advanced hardware HTC has put in a device yet (Peter Chou’s words): with it’s 3.7 AMOLED touchscreen, 1GHz processor, etc.
3. Google Earth for Android has just been unveiled.

It’s not all about hardware, Nexus One has new software too:
1. All of the Droid’s apps are there
2. Android 2.1
3. 5 homescreens instead of 3
4. News and Location based Weather Widgets
5. Live/Animated Wallpapers that respond to touch
6. New launcher menu, no pulling up to open anymore
7. New Photo Album, photos float on a surface
8. Search by Voice and Voice Navigation are built in
9. Voice enabled ALL texts fields on the device, so you can talk instead of type

Purchasing the Device:
1. Simple Google Web Store for you to purchase the phone without a contract or with one from a partner.
2. You can buy the phone with T-Mobile USA today.
3. They plan to add more devices to their web store (Motorola was mentioned).
4. Adding more countries to the webstore as well.
5. The Store has a live demo of the phone that you can play with.
6. You need a Google account and a Google checkout account.

Verizon and Vodafone will jump on board with the Nexus One in Spring 2010. So you can purchase it with a contract from either of those companies then.

So the only thing that truly impresses me is the business model for the phone; selling it from Google and you can choose your carrier…

So we thought it would be available on multiple carriers at first. Then they idea died because of the spec sheet only showing T-Mobile 3G, but now according to Google it will be available on T-Mobile, Verizon and Vodafone by Spring 2010. Interesting indeed. Now the question is, if you order the phone from Google and want Verizon do they send you a CDMA version or is it a dual GSM CDMA phone? Curiouser and curiouser…

Not bad all in all, what do you guys think?

Some of it’s features include:

• 3MP Camera
• 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• Slide out QWERTY Keyboard
• GPS
• Digital Compass
• WiFi

Check out the pics, what do you think?

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