android

Google Docs Editing Finally Coming For Android and iPad

September 20

It’s a feature every mobile user is dying for. Well, not dying, literally, but they’re hungry for it (not literally either).

The Google Docs suite is a cloud-based word processing, spreadsheet and presentation platform, and as long as you have a Google account you’re in. GDocs has such a major fanbase and reach that Microsoft has released a free online suite of its Microsoft Office 2010 software, but is nowhere near as good as Google’s.

Moving on, a statement from Google today on one of their numerous blogs indicates that editing of Google Docs will be coming to Android and the iPad in “the next few weeks”; hopefully as a full-featured Google Docs editing app. And until these apps are released, users have (and had) to rely on third-party applications.

Via: jkOnTheRun, Google Blog

HTC dual-mode CDMA/GSM Android slider sported in Verizon colors at the FCC

September 5

What have we here? The new king of Droids, actually. This report is coming to you at 12:21 AM Eastern time, so bear with me here. Essentially what’s going on is that the Android slider that made an EVO 4G look small is back, this time being tested by the FCC. The possible specs of the HTC PD42100 (it hasn’t gotten a “proper” codename) are CDMA 2000 and GSM 850 plus Bluetooth and 802.11b/g/n WiFi at 2.4GHz frequencies. And then a 1.2GHz processor or 4-inch display with removable battery. This thing is a monster, and I can’t wait to try it out for myself.

I mean, LaptopMemo, the site, the readers; my audience. Of course.

Source: FCC

Editor’s Column: Why I’m Going For An iPhone 4 Over Android. For Now.

September 4

Strangely, it has occurred to me that AT&T has approved a request of mine to be added to their network. In fact they told me, the 13-Year-Old Gadget Blogger, that I was eligible for 2 lines, no deposit. This left me with two choices: an iPhone 4, or a Samsung Captivate. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve covered the Captivate plenty of times here on the site, and I find it to be a great Android phone, albeit the least interesting of the Galaxy S line, mainly being that side loading of non-Market apps is a simple act of being idiotic by AT&T.

And this left me feeling utterly torn. Dare I say it, but I have a very mushy and soft spot for Android. And yet this recent turn of events tells me I’m getting an iPhone 4.

But I do have one excuse to those that may feel betrayed by my decision. I’m a gadget blogger, and as one (although being incredibly young), it’s my job to know what I’m talking about. If you asked me what Angry Birds was 48 hours ago before the Android beta release, I’d say you’re talking about a male duck that’s quacking at something. So by buying an iPhone 4, I get to have the best of both worlds I guess. And anyways people, it’s just a phone.

Well not any phone, it’s an iPhone 4. What have I gone and said now? Darn it.

Dell Streak unboxing!

August 16

So the Dell Streak arrived in the LaptopMemo office today, a week late.

At least it’s finally here, and so far I have this to say about it: it’ll struggle to find its place, much like Apple’s iPad, but it’s still a winner. So far the 1GHz Snapdragon never has given me a single pout, freeze, or whatever you’d want to call “lag”. The front-facing camera is VGA quality, but it’s still a front-facing camera (hey iPad!), the 5 megapixel on the back could’ve been better, and Android 1.6 doesn’t allow all the features of 2.2 (duh!), but there’s still great multitouch in the browser (it’s freaky fast), Google Maps Navigation, and the Android 1.6 version of Android Market.

The custom Dell UI is actually one of the few pleasant custom skins I’ve seen on Android, besides HTC’s Sense. Expect the review to come up later this week, complete with video and the full review.

For now, check out the unboxing pics, after the cut!

NASA Using A Nexus One The Fun Way: By Sending It To Space As A Satellite

August 5

According to NASA, a Nexus One (or any other superphone/smartphone for that matter) has enough proximity sensors, video and picture quality, as well as apps and processing power to be a low-cost satellite. That’s right, you can gloat to your friend that you own a satellite phone:

NASA’s babble:

The purpose of flying the Nexus One is to find a low-cost satellite solution. The radio, processing power, sensors and cameras in smartphones potentially have the same capability as those in satellites. The idea is to drive down satellite cost by using off-the-shelf products and components. Today’s satellites are the size of Greyhound buses, but I believe they are going to get smaller and more frequently deployed. This is a first-step effort.

In order to see how tough the Nexus One is, they simply strapped it to a rocket and blasted off. In fact, two phones were sent, one of which crashed due to landing failure. Both handsets reached 1,800 MPH, which is Mach 2.4; the speed was measured by the Nexus One’s accelerometer. Above is the video that would make any owner of an Android phone, boastful (in a good way).

Via: WIRED

Carrier billing headed straightaway to Android Market

July 25

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?!?

Source: Android Guys

NOOK for Android released today as a free app

July 22

Barnes & Noble already has BN eReader apps for both the iPad and iphone, which are in essence, NOOK apps. Starting today at the Android Market or http://www.bn.com/nookforandroid, the free NOOK for Android app allows for several type fonts, sizes, the lending feature found on the physical Nook eBook Reader, and you’ll need at least Android 1.6 for it to work, with a B&N account which will allow you to sync all of the books that you’ve been reading, even on the different platforms. PR after the “more” link.

Source: BusinessWire

Hands-On: Samsung Intercept with Sprint (yay, video!)

July 13

The Samsung Intercept, aka Moment2, just strolled by (in the form of a BBQ-eating family attendee). To cut the story short, the lighting conditions and amount of space available was epically abysmal, on top of the Panasonic LUMIX G10′s poor ISO performance. Forgive me for the shots, but you can take a short look at the Intercept by watching the video after the cut.

Hands-On With The Samsung Intercept

The handset itself is plasticky, with a 3.2 megapixel camera with poor ISO performance, but great daylight shots. Coupled with Sprint 3G, Android 2.1 with a light version of Touchwiz 3.0 (FroYo comes this summer), and a 3.2-inch 800 x 480 WVGA resolution AMOLED display, which for some reason didn’t quite impress me much like other AMOLED Android offerings. The same also goes for the entire phone, though the keyboard can beat the Ally’s and Droid’s by a mile. Video after the break!