So here’s the whole idea: using GMail, you can now make free phone calls to the U.S and Canada via your Gmail account online. Basically, the service uses your laptop’s microphone to send awesome call quality (I just tested it myself) to anyone that you’re calling. And you can call internationally too, by adding (cheap!) amounts of money to your account, like 2 cents per-minute to Paris.
What’s The Catch?
There really isn’t one. Except one:
If you don’t have a Google Voice account, Gmail will use a random number in storage to make that call. If your friend calls you back, he/she gets a message saying that they were called with Gmail .But since I have a Voice account, I wouldn’t care at all.
So…The Verdict?
A great idea. Pretty cool. Alright, it’s awesome. Google’s caveman video of how it works is after the cut.
So what is Chrome to Phone you ask? Let’s say you were reading an article…like this one perhaps, and you needed to log off your PC or Mac, to take a jog?
Just hit the Chrome to Phone button extension in Chrome, and your Android phone starts loading the page in seconds. In order for it to work you have to install Chrome to Phone to an Android 2.2 Froyo device from the Android Market, then install the same extension, but from the Chrome Extensions gallery. Voila, Chrome to Phone baby!
Google recently updated the Android Developers blog to broadcast some legal changes to the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement (DDA), which references some sort of carrier billing when buying apps in the app store rather than storing your credit card info on your Google Checkot account. “Authorized carriers” have been added as an indemnified party and devs have been pinged to accept these changes within 30 days.
Long story short, in 30 days carrier billing is coming to the Android Market. Do you prefer your wireless bill to be larger, or to trick yourself by paying directly with plastic?!?
While 1.5 and 1.6 are still alive, Android 2.1 is still a mostly growing OS version (or at least growing in usage due to OEMs updating their handsets). Android 2.2 on the other hand is practically on nothing except the now-defunct Nexus One, so with that out of the way, and every Android manufacturer proclaiming that their handsets will be Froyo’d by this summer, while HTC is planning to have all 2010 handsets updated to this Winter, the latest.
The Sexy Nexy, AKA the Google Nexus One, is officially out of stock, and will no longer be sold by Google directly. The purpose of the Nexus One was to inspire all OEMs to make perfect Android handsets. Now every Android phone is getting more and more advanced than before, because of the Nexus One. It had a great run, and it’ll appear on a future feature /Android 2.2 review. Stay Tuned!
Please T-Mobile, start stocking the Nexus One. If it’s possible, that is. Otherwise, so long Nexus One. Until nex time…
So last but not least to start the morning, the official update to Android 2.2 is here, coming via TA, as the final and latest build, which is technically the one Google mentioned as the source code given to devs and companies. Users are reporting that their Sexy Nexy has become FroYo’d, so I think it’s time you do the same.
Google’s comment:
In order to access the update, you will receive a message on your phone’s notification bar. Just download the update, wait for it to install, and you should be all set. This update will be rolled out gradually to phones – and most users will receive the notification by the end of the week . We hope you enjoy these new features.
So, you got a Nexus One? No? Then you lose man! Accordingly, and on time, Google has released the source code for Android 2.2 FroYo, making it available to the public and manufacturers like HTC and Motorola. Afterwards, all these companies have to do is format and program the source code to the devices they are publishing the update to, then work with the device’s carrier to push it out. By the end of this summer, all major Android phones will be in FroYo heaven.
And accordingly, once again the Nexus One has gotten its final FroYo build update first via OTA (over-the-air), as build FRF83. Users can also manually update their Sexy Nexy with the official update from Google’s servers, but need to have the FRF50 build first.
The Motorola DROID X has gotten its full presser in NYC by the CEOs of Adobe, Google, Verizon, and Motorola. First off, the DROID X allows you to stream Blockbuster video, and uses V CAST video, NFL Mobile, Skype Mobile, and a Back-Up Assistant, all on Verizon. But what does the DROID X offer against the competition?
Mainly a 4.3 inch screen with 854 x 480 pixels
Android 2.1 Eclair (the 2.2 update comes late summer), with a toned down version of MOTOBLUR
HD 720p video recording on a 8 megapixel camera
a 1GHz TI OMAP 4630 processor
8GB of internal memoryand 16GB memory card (expandable up to 32GB)
Wi-Fi Hotspot service much like the EVO, but only supporting up to 5 devices and a 2GB data cap
Will have Flash 10.1 support (with the coming 2.2 update)
A multitouch keyboard that comes pre-installed with Swype
3 antennas for noise cancelling
A 1500 mAh battery (that has the same outstanding batter of the original DROID 1)
Does this sound tantalizing to you? It does to the press and everyone else at the event. PR after the more link.
And the DROID X is priced at $199 on a 2-year contract for Verizon Wireless and launches on July 15th, with a 1930 mAh battery that will launch in the coming months and will add 1mm of thickness to the Droid X. Nice stuff.
See? Now’s the time to enjoy Google Voice to its fullest. There’s no reason for you to use your status to get an invite (like I did, I admit). Starting today, Google Voice is free with anyone who needs its services (which are awesome). Hit up the Google Blog to read more; I’m not posting a whole column about what it does (because you should know by now anyways with the video above).
In a recent (as in today) press release, Adobe has announced (or in other words mentioned) the Android handsets that will be compatible with Flash 10.1 on Android 2.2 FroYo. The devices are listed as the “Dell Streak, Google Nexus One, HTC Evo, HTC Desire, HTC Incredible, DROID by Motorola, Motorola Milestone, Samsung Galaxy S and others” (meaning the HTC Legend and Desire). Such news is a big welcome to those wondering when they’ll have a taste of some frozen yogurt. In Adobe’s sense, it’ll come soon enough. On the flipside, non-Android devices also have hope, as Adobe has released Flash 10.1 to “BlackBerry, webOS, future versions of Windows® Phone, LiMo, MeeGo and Symbian OS.” Technically meaning that Android won’t be the only mobile OS with Flash in tow. Press release after the jump!
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While 1.5 and 1.6 are still alive, Android 2.1 is still a mostly growing OS version (or at least growing in usage due to OEMs updating their handsets). Android 2.2 on the other hand is practically on nothing except the now-defunct Nexus One, so with that out of the way, and every Android manufacturer proclaiming that their handsets will be Froyo’d by this summer, while HTC is planning to have all 2010 handsets updated to this Winter, the latest.
The Sexy Nexy, AKA the Google Nexus One, is officially out of stock, and will no longer be sold by Google directly. The purpose of the Nexus One was to inspire all OEMs to make perfect Android handsets. Now every Android phone is getting more and more advanced than before, because of the Nexus One. It had a great run, and it’ll appear on a future feature /Android 2.2 review. Stay Tuned!
The Motorola DROID X has gotten its full presser in NYC by the CEOs of Adobe, Google, Verizon, and Motorola. First off, the DROID X allows you to stream Blockbuster video, and uses V CAST video, NFL Mobile, Skype Mobile, and a Back-Up Assistant, all on Verizon. But what does the DROID X offer against the competition?
In a recent (as in today) press release, Adobe has announced (or in other words mentioned) the Android handsets that will be compatible with Flash 10.1 on Android 2.2 FroYo. The devices are listed as the “Dell Streak, Google Nexus One, HTC Evo, HTC Desire, HTC Incredible, DROID by Motorola, Motorola Milestone, Samsung Galaxy S and others” (meaning the HTC Legend and Desire). Such news is a big welcome to those wondering when they’ll have a taste of some frozen yogurt. In Adobe’s sense, it’ll come soon enough. On the flipside, non-Android devices also have hope, as Adobe has released Flash 10.1 to “BlackBerry, webOS, future versions of Windows® Phone, LiMo, MeeGo and Symbian OS.” Technically meaning that Android won’t be the only mobile OS with Flash in tow. Press release after the jump!
