A mysterious HTC phone called the Touch.B and codenamed “Rome” has been seen in France (now that is weird). It is rumored to run Android, despite it looking like another Windows Mobile 6.5 handset. The bloggers at MobiFrance said they would have more details tomorrow.
[Via MobiFrance]
Where you simply waiting for Android 2.1? Do you have a HTC Hero, and are desperately waiting for Android 2.1 with Sense UI? Well, here is the leaked Android 2.1 ROM. It takes a couple of steps, but it shouldn’t be too hard.
[via XDA Developers]
The Ziilabs creation, the Zii Trinity is a go (sort of)! This smartphone truly has the power to be one of the coolest phones of all time: Packing Full HD video, 3.5 / 4G wireless, built-in WiFi, 5 megapixel autofocus camera, accelerated 3D graphics, and mini-HDMI and Composite video outputs, as well as Android with ZiiLife – a content delivery and productivity suite. And then, and then, it’s powered by either that awesome powerful ZMS-08 chip or ZMS-05. Who wouldn’t love this thing? Who?
Right now the geniuses at ZiiLabs are looking for OEMs in China to produce and manufacture this – this, beast.
[ZiiLabs]
A couple of shots of the HTC Hero running Android 2.1. No idea why the blurred lines are there, all we know is that it’s supposed to be a Hero running Android 2.1, an update that should come out later this year. Maybe HTC was saying the truth when thy promised to get the Sense UI ready for the new Android? Time will tell.
[Be Geek via SlashGear]
It’s more breaking news in gadget world today. Google Navigation, you know, what you’re enjoying on your Droid right now, is finally coming to Android 1.6 phones now, leaving only 1.5 users in the dark. The only difference between the 1.6 version and 2.0 is:
Some features of Android 2.0 are not available on Android 1.6, for example, the ability to use the “navigate to” voice command as shown in our demo video. However, you can still create a shortcut that will allow you to launch Navigation and start getting directions to a specific place from your current location with just a single touch from your home screen. For example, you can create a “Home” shortcut to quickly navigate home, no matter where you are. Just use the “Add” menu item from the home screen, then choose “Shortcuts”, then “Directions.” Please visit our forum to give us feedback, or our Help Center to get help using Google Maps Navigation.
But remember: it’s free. All you have to do is go to the Market and download the new Google Maps and it will be hiding somewhere in there. I’m sure you know whether or not you have Android 1.6: The G1 has it, myTouch, and well, every Android phone that has firmware 1.6.
[Official Google Blog]
Android · Breaking · Commercials
This is getting phenomenal. AT&T files a lawsuit, Verizon launches more ads, AT&T loses round 1, and comes out swinging with its own attack. But now, now Apple has gotten into the fray. These 2 ads launch tonight, and in the ads essentially what they show you is that you can get yourself out of any situation with the iPhone and AT&T’s network. Watch them below.
[via Engadget]
Ebay, the auctioning site of despair (I’m not kidding). But hey, here’s a Motorola Droid prototype! Maybe this is real?? After all, you can tell that it doesn’t look like a normal Droid with all of the bright LEDs and chrome bezel, and it’s not priced like one either; bidding starts at $485. Although this could also be a modded Droid, so it could look like a prototype. It’s your take I guess.
[eBay via Engadget]
Android · Mobile · Sony · Sony Ericsson
That’s what we know now. AT&T will have its first Android-based handset, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10. The guys at Phandroid uncovered the specs on the X10, and found that the 800/850/1900/2100 bands only fit AT&T’s network. So it won’t be connecting to T-Mobile as we all hoped. But here’s one tiny sliver of hope:
UMTS HSPA 800/850/1900 only available for phones sold in Americas (except Brazil) and Australia. UMTS HSPA 900/1700 not available for phones sold in Americas. UMTS HSPA 1900/2100 available worldwide.
This means the X10 can work on T-Mobile, but it won’t be on T-Mobile in the US. Yeah, that’s not a sliver of hope at all.
[via Phandroid]
Oh this is great for Barnes & Noble, and terrible for Nook fans. The Nook is so popular (even though no one has it yet) that it’s sold out for the holidays. To calm down the angry consumer who expected a Nook for Christmas, B&N is offering placeholder certificates to help with the tremendous loss. So now your Nook should start shipping on January 4th. Just. Great.
Via: New York Times
Over at BGR another one of their “connects” got them the full specs of the Motorola Motus. So here they are. Contrary from the look of the phone in that blurry shot, the Motus is not a slider, but a flip phone. It also has AT&T 3G support. Interesting.
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