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ARTICLE: Geektech: how to run Android apps under Ubuntu

7/1/2009 8:40:00 AM

So you want to see what the Android fuss is about but don't want to ditch your contract or can't afford a new phone? Well you can try out an Android emulator on your Ubuntu computer, and it's really not too difficult. Marius Nestor has put together a super-easy tutorial for setting up an Android virtual device.

It's basically a list if copy/paste commands, though you'll need to change your username and the directory if you prefer a simpler name like the one I used; ~/androidsdk. The SDK is useful for Android phone owners as well. For example, when performing processes that require adb.

If you are new to Ubuntu and/or run into any problems on the way, I strongly suggest hitting up the Ubuntu Forums. The friendly and helpful folks over there are responsible for literally hundreds of thousands of converts to the Linux fold. I already had the SDK, so the process literally took less than five minutes for me. The Cupcake Emulator isn't nearly as quick (on my box) as an actual Android phone, so patience is required--especially during boot time.

ARTICLE: T-Mobile's next Android phone

6/3/2009 4:45:00 PM

It's official. Early Summer is when we can expect the next US Android device from T-Mo. The US Sapphire/Magic, MyTouch 3G, whatever you want to call it - it is arriving soon. I got my paws on an Ion very recently. And even though most of you have seen it already, I thought I'd share some snaps. I had to take them very quickly with a Kodak Zi6 so you'll have to excuse the focus.

More info on why I was sitting in Starbucks with two G1s, an Ion, a Portlander in PR and a Chile-based entrepreneur will be posted soon.

VIDEO: Students using Android for home control and automation

3/3/2009 10:15:00 PM

This is just a quick post intended to emphasize the cool geekiness of open source software. Because if there's one thing I've been neglecting, that is it. All kidding aside, this really is important. Two computer science students have been working on a school project in which they use their G1 to turn home lights off and on, read the temperature inside the house, and receive alerts from a carbon monoxide detector.

I had just finished reading Adrianna's post (with vid) about the guy feeding his dog with an iPhone, when I stumbled onto the video below over at droideo.com. I love the idea of home automation and control from afar. Not only is it cool and fun, it's practical. And for these young men, a strong entrance into the world of technology.

The coders are Alex Neighbors and Kit Hoffman - seniors at Oregon State University. The venture, as Alex states, is part of a Capstone Course requiring real-world applications for real-world clients - designed to allow them to "experience the joys and pains of software development." Maybe their work will spill over into a paid Market application? Potential entrepreneurs, right here.

VIDEO: Android update to RC33 and my first app purchase

3/3/2009 12:05:00 AM

I finally got the RC33 update, which means I can purchase items from the Android Market now. I think waiting for something slows down time. In this video, I run through the entire update process, set up a Google Checkout account (off-screen), and make my first Market purchase... well, donation.

ARTICLE: Android app review: ixMAT Scanner

3/2/2009 11:05:00 AM

Did you ever speak with your friends in a secret language as a kid? Me neither. I wasn't bright enough to keep that stuff straight. But now, thanks to modern technology, I too have the ability to alienate outsiders and trade information on the down-low.

There are a lot of ways to do this, like encoding a jpeg with an entire song or using some arcane hexadecimal gobbledygook to ask a girl out on a date (reliable sources say it works every time). Or if you're a total show-off you can learn to read a binary clock. I don't know how to do any of that, but check out what I can do:

Who cares, right? It's a two-dimensional bar code. Well, people who like to move fast and keep their contacts organized, that's who. Not only does that contain all of my (fake) contact info, it's arranged for easy importing. Scan this with ixMAT from the Android Market, and you can instantly add me to your contacts - all of the information will go where it belongs; name, email, website, etc.

Tane Piper, the coder writing Brightroid - an Android client based on the location-aware social network, Brightkite - turned me on to ixMAT Scanner. (I'll be reviewing his program later - it's in the early stages now.) He sent out his contact info in the form of a QR image, and I had to know how he did it. There are plenty of sites that can make one of these for you, but the link he offered has the most consistent, standardized formatting of the five-or-so I tested.

You can render in three different sizes, making them perfect for the sidebar of a blog, the signature at the bottom of an email, or as the wallpaper on the homescreen of your G1. Now that's a practical application. And you'll WIN at any gathering of geeks.

VIDEO: Android app two-fer, part 1 - Shazam

2/25/2009 8:25:00 PM

The Android community already knows about Shazam, thanks to free advertising from Apple. Hear a track on the radio and can't remember who recorded it? Shazam's what you need. Currently free in the Android Market.

VIDEO: Android app two-fer, part 2 - Snaptell

2/25/2009 8:20:00 PM

Snaptell does with visual data what Shazam does with audio information. See a great flick at your buddy's house and want your own copy? Take a photo. Later on, open that photo up with Snaptell and find a store online or nearby to purchase it. Another freebie - for now.

ARTICLE: Stream your home music library with imeem Mobile for Android

2/24/2009 11:05:00 PM

When I wrote about music players for Android, I mentioned my struggles with getting Jinzora to stream my home library to my G1 by turning my primary Linux box into a LAMP server. The server is up and running, but I can't get Jinzora to download the music. I haven't taken my new Mac for a spin down this road yet, so maybe that's next week's project.

Until then, I can upload audio, video, and image files to imeem's server and painlessly stream them to my G1 from there. The old imeem software has been replaced in the Android Market by the new imeem Mobile, and it provides a new tab for My Music. Along with the announcement of this software, which was sent to the imeem mailing list I belong to, was a link for getting the standalone uploader. You can accomplish the same tasks through the website as well.

The uploader works with Windows, Mac, and Linux. (Much appreciation for playing nice with everyone, imeem.) It does require Adobe Air 1.5, though - which isn't easy to accomplish under the 64-bit Linux on my laptop. So I went for the Mac version, as you can see in the screen-grab below. The uploads worked fine, and my streams were almost instantly available.

Check out a somewhat informative and highly entertaining spot featuring a band called We are Scientists talking about the new program. When you're done with that, snag the free software in the Market, and get the beta uploader for your computer. You've got to log in to download.

I ran the app and chose to upload from iTunes, rather than browsing files in the finder. So the "null" marks below indicate that I haven't labeled, tagged, or categorized those songs. It is a new computer. You may also see the blurb that says DRM-addled tracks from iTunes won't work - in case you have a few thousand of those laying around. Of course you could always remove the DRM from the entire batch with a couple of clicks or replace those songs with good files via BitTorrent.

VIDEO: Android app review - Air Hockey

2/23/2009 11:45:00 PM

Air Hockey is always ready - there's no learning curve, no back-story, and no need to pause or save. It's the perfect distraction for those little periods of waiting that are scattered throughout your day. The two-player action is weak at the moment, but don't blame the developer. As soon as wireless gaming is supported, a pair can showdown from different Android devices. Air Hockey is 99 cents. Check out the dev's site: JJCgames

ARTICLE: MWC: QuickOffice for Android (and other prospects)

2/19/2009 1:15:00 PM

A few people have expressed some disappointment regarding the MWC announcement of QuickOffice for Android. The app that gave Symbian users read/write access to Microsoft Office 2007 files - Word, Excel, and Powerpoint (.docx, .xsls, and .ppt, respectively) - only offers Android users viewing and management of some Office 2003 files. Word, Excel, and standard .txt files are supported - no Powerpoint. The app will cost $7.99 in the Android Market.

Despite these limitations, the functionality that is available sounds great - like auto-linking of email addys to the email client, phone numbers to the dialing app, beautiful zooming, and the ability to receive compatible files as attachments. Considering that this may be the first priced program in the Market, I think we can expect some fairly rapid development as a result of funding and demand.

A company called DataViz, creators of the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync client, are looking to bring their email product and the Office-friendly Documents To Go into the Google fold soon enough. Previous versions provided Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe .pdf access to other platforms, so hopefully we'll see the same pattern followed with Android. Adobe announced their own plans at MWC for accommodating Android by way of offering a full-version Flash 10 download some time early next year.

While it probably won't meet the needs of hardcore Microsoft adherents (and therefore, a good chunk of today's business market) Androffice brings some high-demand, practical workplace functionality to Android. The Open Handset Alliance's open-source project aims to approximate all of the primary features loved by MS Office customers, albeit in the realm of open standards. Instead of .doc files, word processing documents are saved with the extension .odf.

There are some videos over at the Androffice homepage showing off some spreadsheet editing, and it looks pretty decent. While the project is nowhere near duplicating all of Microsoft's Office functions, Androffice is off to a good start. It is not yet available for download. As the developers state on the website, Spreadsheet was just the beginning - they plan on developing a complete suite. With the backing of the OHA, chances are good that they will accomplish that goal.

VIDEO: Android app review - TippoBilloSplitamus

2/18/2009 3:55:00 PM

Of all the Android programs available for calculating tips and splitting bills, this one is the silliest. I also think it's the most practical, functional, and fun to use. It definitely has the best name: TippoBilloSplitamus. Say that five times fast. It's not difficult, but it's fun! This program will be in the *new* Android Market as well as the Apple App Store very soon. The cost is $2.00.

ARTICLE: MWC News: Tegra-based Android device, the $99 HD MID, and the future of 'Google Phones'

2/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

That's right, folks. 2009 is a big year for NVIDIA's smaller-than-a-dime Tegra chips, and it's a big year for Android as well. For those who haven't followed Tegra news, the two system-on-a-chip products (the Tegra 600 series and Tegra APX) are together capable of full HD capture at 720p, and playback at 1080p. The results can be seen on an external Hi-Def display in Noah's video from the 2008 NVision Conference in San Jose. Check out the ultra-responsive 3D UI.

Today's announcement goes beyond introducing the killer combination of Android and Tegra. NVIDIA says that the world's first $99 HD MID is coming. It runs Windows CE and promises ten times the battery life of Atom-based Mobile Internet Devices. Not to mention that they're pushing this "product" as always on, always connected while promising days between charges. The $99 deal seems to be based on a theoretical device that the Tegra chips are likely to make possible - thanks to its cost and energy efficiency. Android phones with Tegra under the hood should see significantly improved battery life over say... the G1.

Along with the press release came projections for the growth of the Google-Phone market. I'm not entirely sure what kind of research the graphs I saw are based on. But if NVIDIA's call is correct, we'll find Android on half as many smartphones sold in 2010 as those running Windows Mobile. By 2012, Android-powered devices will outsell Win-Mo products by approximately ten million units.

You can see what looks to be a mock-up of an Android / Tegra device below. Two Windows CE models - with Tegra specs - can be seen here. I don't believe the phones to be actual products, but rather example platforms for conceptually selling the Tegra chips. As Noah points out, these industry announcements can be tricky to decipher. Hype makes the (business) world go 'round.

ARTICLE: TeleNav launching full-blown GPS navigation for Android

2/13/2009 11:30:00 AM

On February 24th, G1 owners can have full color, 3D, turn-by-turn TeleNav navigation in their hands. The software features voice recognition, traffic alerts, and one-touch re-routing. The first 30 days are free, but after that you've got to cough up $9.99 per month. Considering the massive database of maps and points of interest at your fingertips, that might be a pretty good deal. Sounds like a good way to drain your battery, though.

We'll have a video review as soon as possible, and I have a feeling I'll be using my windshield-mountable charging cradle from WirelessGround. There's a video review coming soon for that as well.

ARTICLE: CompuLab offers made-to-order enterprise handsets

2/11/2009 4:15:00 PM

This one has been talked about for a little while, but I never got around to writing a post. It won't be available until March, so I think it's still got some pre-release post-worthiness. CompuLab recently announced the Exeda - a squared-off embedded device intended for enterprise customization.

Not only can customers chose between quadband GSM / GPRS, CDMA, and 3G UMTS; they can choose between Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Android, and Linux. The company hasn't said which Tux flavor(s) is/are on the menu. If you like, you can skip telephony altogether and have the strangest PDA on the block.

Not only does it have a touchscreen that can be viewed in the sun, it features a capacitive touchpad that functions as a mouse. Did I mention the ethernet port? Weird. And cool. It's like a customizable, open source Slate. Check out the specs here.

ARTICLE: Getting social with Android, part 3: Twidroid

2/9/2009 12:20:00 PM

No social networking apparatus is complete without a few tweets. While there is a long list of apps in the Android Market that feature Twitter integration as a bonus, and a good handful of programs that are dedicated specifically to Twitter, one stands above the rest - Twidroid. It's got 4 stars in the Market, which isn't common. And considering that this one falls in the 10,000 to 50,000 downloads category, I'd say the star ratings are a good indicator of what to expect. That's not always the case.

With Twidroid, you can view the tweets of those you follow, post your own tweets, direct message, and reply. One of the coolest features is the ability to post photos. Well, kinda. Images are sent to phodroid.com and then linked in your tweet. Hint: attach the photo first, or the URL will over-write anything you've typed - same goes for the following paragraph.

There is some GPS functionality, but go to portrait mode too see all of your options on the non-scrolling menu (little bug there). They are: Insert Maplink, Insert Location Name, Insert Latitude/Longitude (seriously?), and Update Profile - for those who are just to lazy to type the full name of their city. Google Maps URLs are abbreviated via short.to, so none of the data should cramp your 140-character-limited micro-blogging style.

nanoTweeter, aTweeter, and a host of other dedicated programs may get the job done, but not as well as Twidroid. If you're looking for a more complete social networking solution, search the market for Twitter and you'll see which apps are compatible. BuddyMob comes to mind. But personally, I like dedicated apps. I don't want to carry any dead weight. Of course, what would go unused for me would be essential for others.

Twidroid's creators are called Zimmermann and Marban, which makes me think of an old-timey magic show. So I give it 5 stars.

VIDEO: Recording video with audio on a G1

2/9/2009 2:55:00 AM

Until now, Continuous Shoot by Mamoru Tokashiki was the closest G1 owners could get to recording video. The app does what it says; takes a stream of photographs, one almost immediately after the other. That makes for a cool effect, but a poor substitute for video.

This new solution - dotphone.org's Video Recorder with Voice Client - is far from perfect. But it indicates independent progress. I'm sure Google will render all of this moot in a short time. But for now, it is fun stuff. And it demonstrates what a great venue the Android Market is for experienced and budding programmers alike.

This was an impromptu video, and I didn't think anyone would see it at first. I promise to shower after exercising, and to clean the kitchen table for future videos.

ARTICLE: Getting social with Android, part 2: fBook

2/8/2009 3:10:00 PM

fBook wraps the iPhone Facebook application, and as the developer states, "fixes it." I am not an iPhone owner, but I've seen the Facebook app for iPhone. Without getting into detailed comparisons based on videos and my foggy memory, I can say that the Android version is a bit less polished. But it functions well and looks nice in both portrait and landscape modes.

fBook is the most full-featured Facebook app available for Android, and the most stable. This is the Market's FB flagship, and since all available functions work correctly, I don't expect many changes outside of some little code tweaks, and perhaps a bit more sheen. I don't see the need for any more Facebook apps in the Market, either. But if you just want to update your status, check out Statusinator by Joe LaPenna.

fBook's main screen has two buttons that allow you to update your own status and search. Beneath the buttons are five tabs; each with categorized features. Tapping one initiates an animation - your destination screen slides into place. The tabs and their options are:

Home - news feed, events, requests
Profile - info, wall, photos
Friends - status, online, photos
Inbox - compose, sent, edit

The menu button allows for uploading photos and enabling what the Market description calls "the push notification of messages - an Android-only feature." That's not an accurate choice of words, though. The notification settings allow you to adjust the frequency at which the app will check for new messages. That means spent battery life and kilobytes, for some - not push-messaging. Still, it's useful and user-definable. I just don't like the misleading description. Vibrate message alerts and notification bar display are the other options.

fBook has 3.5 stars in the market, but I'd bump it up at least half a star, in my own rating.

ARTICLE: Getting social with Android, part 1: BuddyMob

2/7/2009 2:00:00 PM

Rather than ranking the social networking apps available in the Android Market, I've decided just to write about them in small clusters. Programs that demand more words will get their own blog entries. One of the most deserving is the subject of this post. I'm throwing IM clients, Twitter programs, Facebook apps, and the like, all under the same banner here, as the lines are starting to blur. I'm not sure how many parts there will be in this series, but it's probably best left open-ended. I'll add as I see fit or as you suggest. Speak up in the comments.

BuddyMob aims to be your all-in-one social app by combining support for multiple IM protocols with GPS tracking and Twitter functionality. The interface is slick - probably the most polished of all the Android IM clients. I didn't run into any problems while testing out this capable beta, but found one of BuddyMob's greatest assets - GPS integration - to be a crippling drain for my G1. Still, while plugged in, it was a lot of fun. Future Android phones may bring BuddyMob to the forefront of Android's social scene.

I signed up with a new BuddyMob account, and can IM with people who are on AIM, GTalk, Live Messenger (MSN), and Jabber. Though BuddyMob only allows you to sign in as a BuddyMob, Windows Live, or AIM user. This limitation isn't such a big deal because Android comes with a built-in Google-talk client, and there are other IM clients available. But it would be nice to use another Google ID to separate business from pleasure. And if BuddyMob is to be an all-in-one solution, I'd like to see Yahoo support.

The BuddyMob interface consists of five tabs and a content window.

The Home tab describes the app and offers to help you find buddies in your area.

The Timeline tab is where your micro-blog sits, and where you'll see the tweets of those you follow on Twitter. If you choose not to cross-post to Twitter, your entries will be viewable by other users of BuddyMob via a micro-blogging platform of its own. Privacy settings are available for individual posts - it isn't an on or off kind of thing, which is nice. You can attach photos, video, and audio files to entries. Posts can be localized (geo-tagged) as well.

The Roster tab is your contact list. It allows you to invite new buddies, initiate a chat, choose to track your friends in real time on a map, change your avatar, and set your status.

The Location tab lets you start/stop publishing your location, activate proximity alerts and adjust the sensitivity, and track the locale of friends in real-time - even if they're moving. This is where BuddyMob really shines. Click the menu button, and tap "layers" to combine satellite images of the earth with pinpoints of your friends' locations, and little chat bubbles literally where a comment has been made. It's a wonderful concept, and is implemented beautifully.

The Chat tab is exactly what it sounds like. It functions well and looks nice.

BuddyMob has huge potential, and I expect its popularity to increase drastically with the release of an Android phone that has a battery stronger than that of the G1. For right now, it works pretty well as a Twitter and IM client, and it's definitely near the top of the list in both categories. BuddyMob has 4.5 stars in the Android Market.

I say, killer app. I wish it came with a free battery.

ARTICLE: Android's personal task list apps

2/4/2009 8:10:00 AM

If you read this site regularly, you may have seen a post of mine referring to Astrid or Remember the Milk. I'm not going to rehash anything that's already been said - just follow the links if you're interested. But I thought it might be helpful to make a list of the available to-do lists, or personal task managers, and point out some of their strengths and weaknesses - as well as the changes they've seen since I last wrote about them.

Astrid is Google's official personal task manager for Android, and it shows. This app won me over with its rich features and navigable design a few weeks ago. It is the highest rated in the Market of all such apps, with 4.5 stars.

TooDo is a powerful organizer that has read/write synchronization with Remember the Milk and ToodleDo. My primary complaint with the program the last time I looked at it was unnecessary weight - I only wanted the RTM functionality. While there isn't an RTM-only functionality, significant changes have been made. The app now has a "lite mode" - where categories and context are disabled. It makes for a simple, light checklist. However, the "non-light" mode has become even more robust. With notification bar and color-coded LED integration, TooDo is looking better than ever. There's a bit of a learning curve, but if you are looking for an all-in-one solution, this is one is worth some of your time. TooDo has 3 stars in the market.

Tasks, by VNSN has 3 stars in the Market. The app's description points out its small size as a selling point (Tasks is free). It uses a two-level hierarchical system: lists and notes. You create a list, say "Homework," and you put notes within that list. It is simple, solid, and conforms to the user; rather than the other way around. I like this program.

Tag ToDo List by Teo stands out in the market. Not only can you tag your tasks as the name implies, you can record voice notes to your SD Card, draw graphical notes, and look at statistics. This is also a good one for people who love keyboard shortcuts. It comes with a task list for learning how to use the app, and has a polished, clean interface. Tag ToDo has 3 stars in the Market, but probably deserves more.

RTM ToDo Viewer has 2.5 stars in the Market, which would normally cause me to pass it by. But I am a supporter of Remember the Milk on all platforms and am happy to see someone is working on a dedicated Android client. It is currently read-only. The programmer, Marcel, started it for fun and learning. He did say he hopes to implement write functionality in the future. That would increase the ratings, for sure. RTM clients are available for your computer, and having them all sync up is great.

Doogle is another exception to my 3-stars-and-above-only rule, with 2.5. Here's why. Tasks include contact integration and hardware functions, like making a call at a certain time. It needs some time to mature, but I like the idea. I'll be looking for updates. Maybe we'll take a look back at this one later.

ToDo List Free is a demo with shoddy graphics and 3 stars. I wouldn't recommend this program. It is the only one on this list (that I know of) with a price. It is also the least deserving of your cash. Sorry, creators. I'm not sure what you're up to here.

ARTICLE: Android radio round-up: 8, 7

2/3/2009 3:15:00 PM

Despite the disclaimer in the following paragraph, I'll be sticking with the apps that have achieved three-plus star ratings in the Android Market for this round-up - which is why I'm counting down from eight instead of ten. If I've missed a program that deserves mention, please speak up in the comments. I don't want to leave anyone out. Not all of the programs listed actually stream radio broadcasts, but rather, other kinds of pre-recorded content. But I think it's appropriate to group them together in this manner. Come on, whaddaya want from me?

Streaming apps generally get a bad rap in the Market ratings - or at least fewer stars than they deserve, thanks to buffering issues. These rarely have anything to do with the app itself. And most of the programs listed in this series access various servers that belong to media outlets, not their own. I'm on Wi-Fi and have pretty decent 3G access, so buffering is rarely an issue for me. My primary complaint is... Why is the speaker on the BACK of my G1? Here we go.

#8 Android Radio (Listed in the market as Web Radio) offers over 800 stations from around the world. A catalog of this magnitude may be appealing for some, but to me, it's intimidating. How am I supposed to navigate through this ocean of off-shoots of branches of forks of sub-genres of genres? The user can rate and favorite stations, but the app does nothing to take your listening habits into account for the purpose of recommending other content.

Considering that's the direction the big dogs are headed, I'm not sure Android Radio has much of a chance. The interface is decent, and there are some nice features. But I can't see many folks forking over $1.99 to unlock the app when superior programs are freely available. This program includes the ability to access lyrics and record music to your own media library, which may be worth the Paypal purchase to some. Not me, though. My apologies to the creator; you deserve something for your work. I hope you get enough support to continue developing the program, and to implement new features.

Android Radio buffers a lot of material at startup. This probably minimizes problems later on in the stream, but it might be a bit excessive.

#7 Nagare is the ultimate DIY radio streamer. Enter an address that contains Shoutcast or Icecast streaming audio, and Nagare will play it and remember the address. That's it. Light, functional. There isn't much there, so there isn't much to say. But that's just what many of you are looking for.

Click here for part 2

ARTICLE: Android radio round-up: 6, 5, 4

2/3/2009 3:10:00 PM

#6 StreamFurious is a Shoutcast/Icecast streamer that can handle PLS/M3U from the G1 stock or Steel browsers. It's pretty basic, but gets the job done. The problem I have with this app is organization. The user is presented with a long list of stations, and there's really no way to categorize or sort them. Still, for those who want a quick, nimble app, and don't want to mess with a bunch of options, SF works great. This is my default client for talk radio. It runs in the notification bar.

#5 Jinzora... Jinzora. Oh, you evil seductress. How, at once, I love and loathe thee. This app is supposed to stream media from your home library to your phone. I got pretty excited about this one because I'm already a Linux user. Properly setting up the LAMP server for Jinzora is a matter of following some fairly simple cut-and-paste instructions. However, dealing with the way Comcast handles IP assignment and the way my router forwards ports, are different matters. It's been a long time since I messed with this stuff.

I experimented, but my cable modem upload speeds are so bad that each change of a setting required me to wait for five minutes while Jinzora client tried to get the media. When it couldn't, I wasn't given any errors or other information, so it was too frustrating to continue. If I had more free time, you can bet I'd have Jinzora running trouble-free... or I'd die trying to make it happen.

There are Windows and Mac servers available, but I did not test either. They may or may not simplify the server set-up process. Unless you have some killer upstream flow, it isn't worth your time. This one is here for the tinkerers. Some of you will fall in love. Some will go mad. When you do, please let me know. I'll give this one another shot when my Mac Mini arrives. If things work out, I'll write a post dedicated to Jinzora. (And possibly switch to FiOS.) I rated this one on concept.

#4 AntPlayer accesses Shoutcast streams. You can search and bookmark your favorite stations, as well as add your own. This is a bare-bones program, which is exactly what some people want. I use it to listen to archived episodes of Coast to Coast A.M., which gives a voice to UFO witnesses and abductees, witches, people who are trapped in the future, the possessed, the haunted, the psychic, the keepers of ancient secrets, victims of government brainwashing, those who travel outside of their bodies, conspiracy theorists, grand conspirators, and people who have been to heaven, hell and Bigfoot's stinky cottage. Search for George Noory or Art Bell. It's a real kick in the pants.

Click here for part 3

ARTICLE: Android radio round-up: 3, 2

2/3/2009 3:05:00 PM

#3 FlyCast is a full-featured, ad-driven radio solution that offers options you aren't going to find in any other Android app. Over 1500 "channels" are available - featuring live radio and podcast streams. Stations are organized by city, genre, and even bandwidth. For example, when I browsed by city and selected Los Angeles, I found three high-quality streams for those on W-Fi 3G and EVDO, and one standard quality stream for EDGE. FlyCast also offers dedicated access to Weather and Traffic.

There are five buttons at the bottom of the screen: Guide, Search, Favorites, History, and Settings. There is a bar at the top that usually has a back button, and always a quick press to the now playing screen. I like the feel of the window, but I'd prefer some slicker graphics in the content area. Still, FlyCast is a cool app, and can be integrated with your Facebook account.

The version available at the time of this writing is a public beta. Check out Noah's video review here.

#2 imeem. The Android imeem client has been around longer than most (all?) of the programs on this list. And it was excellent from the get-go. The interface the sexiest of all the radio apps, with last.fm coming in a close second for that category. Like Last.fm, imeem also has love/hate buttons so it can learn about your tastes and deliver personalized content.

The main screen has four tabs: Featured, Saved, Recent, and Search. Extremely subtle ads grace the screen in such a way that I almost thought "KIA" was a function of the program. The Now Playing screen has Hate, Love, Pause and Next controls, not unlike Last.fm. Clicking the info button will tell you about the band, allow you to add them as a favorite, and find similar stations.

imeem also directs you to purchase from Amazon, should you want to download a song. Oh, did I mention how sexy the interface is?

Click here for the super, ultra, mega-grand finale!

ARTICLE: Android radio round-up: And the winner is...

2/3/2009 3:00:00 PM

#1 Last.fm. The official Last.fm client, Personal Radio, is of a caliber even better than I expected from the team that's done more than any other to analyze and interpret the listening habits of music fans on every platform possible. The interface is beautiful, and features all the things you'll find on the site so many have come to love. But this app is more efficiently organized than the website.

The limited space eliminates ads and superfluous options. This app is about rapid access, but cuts no corners. This is meat-and-potatoes Last.fm. Tagging, searching similars, buying on Amazon, creating stations, managing friends, band info, album covers, and everything you could possibly hope for is here. And despite my not participating in much scrobbling (running a little app that keeps track of your taste), Last.fm knows me all too well. I'm constantly falling in love with bands, first listen.

After login, the user is prompted with two options: pre-existing account library, and suggestions. I go for suggestions and am presented with some shoegazey, noise-laden dream pop. Ride's Dreams Burn Down. Good stuff. When it's done, I select "listen to similar artists," and I'm appropriately given Sometimes, by the seminal, My Bloody Valentine. The horror flick ripped that name off, kids. And if movie previews are the only place you've heard it, may the cosmos have mercy on your soul. The album cover displays a red ribbon on the corner, which indicates the band is on tour. Wait... really? Hmmm. Not for me. There's more to the States than California, MBV.

Last.fm plays in the background and stays in the notification bar for easy access. It's great to be able to get back to it so quickly to rate a song that just ended. I don't think this thing scrobbles. But you can vote love or hate on the tracks the app streams.

There is a non-official client in the Market called aLastFM, which functions fine, but was depreciated with the release of an official client. There was a third, that fell below my three star minimum.

Oh man, the Flys. I forgot all about them. Holiday Man is such a fun album. Therein lies the joy of Last.fm.

ARTICLE: Android app review: TED

1/28/2009 10:50:00 PM

TED is an acronym for Technology, Entertainment, Design. The gatherings, also known as TED Talks, are an annual conference at which some of the brightest minds in the world discuss science, technology, socio-economic, and environmental issues... among other things. The revolving consortium's tagline is ideas worth spreading. And the happenings produce such ideas on a consistent basis.

TED was an exclusive event for over twenty years. High admission fees and invitation-only status gave the congregations an air of surreptitious importance. The inspirational speeches of charismatic people and the profound insights of luminous minds characteristic of TED were limited to a privileged, wealthy few.

Beginning in 2007, TED Talks were made available to anyone with an inkling to listen. And in case I haven't already done enough to imply so, I highly recommend you check some out. They are a reliable resource of invaluable proposals and considerations regarding the understanding and improving of the quality of life on Earth; as well as the exploration of the Universe.

A software developer called VenueM makes TED audio and video feeds available to iPhone and Android users via a slick, navigable interface. I tested the app on the G1 only, and the iPhone experience may differ.

TED (the app) consists of a branding banner at the top of the screen, a large content section, and four buttons at the bottom: Home, Videos, Audio, and Favorites. The home screen offers a general description of TED Talks and a listing of newly-added content. These additions are not necessarily from the most recent conference. For instance, the current top item is a video of Aimee Mullins from 1998 in a video entitled, "Running without legs."

Whether selecting a Talk from the FeedBurner-powered home screen, or clicking first on the Audio or Video button for an expanded list, the user is taken to a description page with a play button. The play button launches the browser, which immediately loads a full-screen video (or the audio player). I was happy to find that the video's orientation relies solely on the accelerometers and is not affected by sliding the G1's keyboard in our out. Response was snappy. As for the video stream, I experienced no buffering issues.

While accessing a Talk, hitting the back button once takes you to a blank browser page. Hitting it again takes you back to the app's description page - where you can tap one of the four main buttons at the bottom to select new content. So, while not completely self-contained, the program is polished and consistent with TED's web presence. The description page also enables some menu button functions, like sharing a link to an online video via GMail.

If you don't have Android or an iPhone, take the time to watch a few presentations at the TED website. If you poke around and give it a chance, I promise you'll find something that will change - at a minimum - your mindset for the day.

ARTICLE: Android app review: Hot or Not

1/28/2009 9:05:00 AM

I'm ashamed to be writing this because I have to admit that I knew what this app was before downloading it. Hot or Not is a website where people post pictures of themselves and others rate their appearance. It's a secret time-killing vice for millions of office workers and students around the globe.

I must confess, I spent some time on that site in my cubicle days. But I generally did my best to regulate the self-image of those portrayed. (Seriously, who do I think I am?) Some are modest, normal people who are looking for love or a post-relationship pick-me-up. Many are lonely and feeling a bit insecure. A good chunk pout, pose, flex, and sneer their wankstah way to the top of my scat list. This last type have more than their fair share of confidence, and I think the excess should be given to those in need.

The homely bookworm with a warm smile and a glint in her eye gets a ten. The bleached, silicone blond that glitters with the gifts that shallow, rich suckers have bestowed upon her gets a one. I know, it's reverse looks-ism. I won't get into the "reverse-ism" thing: isms are isms, and I'm guilty. But as I see it, I am the Robin Hood of Hot or Not.

The software works well, and is appropriately arranged for portrait mode. Landscape allows you to rate with the keyboard, rather than the touchscreen. You can set the app to display a certain gender and age range, or you can just check everyone out. So give it a go and shorten your bus ride. But remember: the nines are feeling pretty good about themselves already, the twos... maybe not so much.

VIDEO: Android weaponry

1/27/2009 12:05:00 PM

There are many kinds of geeks in the world: phone geeks, computer geeks, physics geeks, film geeks, renaissance faire geeks, comic book (sorry, graphic novel) geeks, music geeks, etc. The cataloging continues.

No geek culture supersedes another, but this post is in honor of geeks of the horror and sci-fi variety. They are the ones who will most appreciate these apps, and they are the ones most likely to find themselves in a situation where their use is warranted and socially acceptable.

The video embedded below probably contains numerous errors designated as blasphemy by true fans. I am not a true fan. But I can appreciate your passion, folks. For those who don't know what Spaceballs is, check out the imdb page and see the flick. It's grand.

The video linked here is of an app called G1 Psycho. It was difficult to get decent footage, as the phone must be constantly moving to cause any action. It really needs to be downloaded to be fully appreciated. It's a sharp knife that splatters blood on some bathroom tile when the phone is abused with a jarring, stabbing motion.

The music is great, but I would like it better if the deep, haunting cello continued after the violent bloodshed - without the need to continue jolting my G1. My cat disagrees. He is very scared of the app.

ARTICLE: Android app review: NesEmu

1/27/2009 10:10:00 AM

A Nintendo on my telephone? Yeah, kid. You read that right. What may seem like tragically hip kitsch to some a few years ahead of me (and probably like ancient, pathetic history to those a few years behind) is recognized by many as the 8-bit babysitter who raised them. Taught them. Loved them.

The name NesEmu, for those that haven't spent much time illegally trading the copyrighted property of Japanese companies from the 80s, is a combination of the acronym for the Nintendo Entertainment System and the commonly used abbreviation for an emulator.

Video game platform systems are emulated, usually on a computer, and run ROMs; Read-Only Memory chips. Only in this case, ROM refers to a digital copy of the chip that was originally housed in a cartridge and run on your real, physical Nintendo. So, now that I've gotten the background out of the way and lost all of the people who consider this stuff common knowledge and would care enough to download the app, why not get to the review?

NesEmu comes with fourteen games (titled as in the program):

Super Mario
Contra
Circus Charlie
Bomber Man
Pac Man
Muscle
B-Wings
Battle City
Ice Climber
Antarctic Adventure
Golf
Lode Runner
Binary.Land
Donkey Kong

The controls are simple and intuitive enough, after five minutes or so of play.

w=up
s=down
a=left
d=right
Enter=start
Space=select

For your A and B buttons, you have two choices:

k=B1
l=A1
m=B2
,=A2

The most appealing to the masses in this collection of games, Super Mario, is pretty buggy and often non-responsive. Contra needs more horsepower. Others function perfectly. The app as available at the time of this writing is an early version.

The dev, Rainbow-Ming, states in the about menu selection that sound, save, load, and snapshot will turn up in the next version. This one is also referred to as a demo, so perhaps a priced version will appear. It would be great if the end-user could load one of the thousands of NES ROMs that are freely available online. Then, you'd really have a Nintendo in your pocket.

As I alluded to earlier, intellectual copyright infringement is at work here, so I can't see this getting approved in a pay-per-download situation. We'll see. Reports of malware in the Market are turning up, so maybe the gatekeepers are looking the other way. If that's the case, you can bet it's a temporary circumstance.

VIDEO: Android multi-touch: it will happen

1/26/2009 3:05:00 PM

Remember that video from a while back that demonstrated rudimentary multi-touch support on a G1that basically amounted to unreliable finger painting? Well, it's happened incrementally, but the tech has come a long way, baby. Videos have popped up here and there but this is by far the most impressive I've seen. And while Google has announced nothing, the footage below is pretty exciting. Is it just me or is the music exhausting after thirty seconds? Maybe I've just watched the video way too many times.

ARTICLE: G2: HTC Touch HD may be T-Mobile's next Android phone

9/29/2008 12:45:00 PM

I'm publishing this one as much because I want it to happen as anything else. I got it from two unrelated sources late last week that T-Mobile is prepping a version of HTC's Touch HD as their next Android phone. One of the sources was the ever talkative Anonymous Tipster, but the other one was somebody with a decent track record when it comes to accurately leaking info on upcoming handset releases. Neither of them are inside the folds of HTC or T-Mo, and no I haven't signed an NDA I'm trying to get around here.

Personally, I'd love to see a T-Mo branded (and subsidized) Touch HD running Android on the carrier's lovely new 3G network here in the U.S. Touch HD would give T-mo two things I think it needs: A flashy Android phone, and a tricked-out, high-end iPhone competitor.

Treat this as rumor and nothing more at this point, but if anything more comes of this one I'll be sure to let you know. I promise.

ARTICLE: G1: Google & T-Mobile hit a double when they should have knocked it out of the park

9/25/2008 2:30:00 PM

Like the rest of the phone world and half the tech-savvy public in general, I too awaited this past Tuesday's Google/T-Mobile press event with baited breath. Mainly, I wanted to know two things: What would the G1 Android phone cost, both up front and per month, and would the phone look like the one shown in all of those leaked photos or did Google have something sexier up their sleeves.

The news Tuesday was both good and bad. The good is that $179 on contract and $25/month for data (on top of a voice plan) isn't too steep a price of entry. The bad is that the G1 is, in fact, the same Plain Jane handset that was leaked all over the Web during the past few months. While I firmly believe that the Android platform has a great chance to shake up the mobile world in an iPhone-esque manner and further usher in the age of "mobile computing" (as pretentious as that sounds), I also think Google and T-Mobile just let a huge opportunity slip through their fingertips, and the indefatigable nerdy spirit of Google co-founders Larry and Sergey just might be to blame.

Straight up, the G1 is NOT a sexy phone. Not in photos and on video, anyway (I hear it's nicer in person). As responsive as the hardware and software seem to be - and bear in mind I'm reporting on reports here; I eagerly await my chance to play with a G1 hands-on - nobody's going to see a G1 on the street and do a double-take. Well, nobody who's not already a tech geek will, anyway. Where iPhone is sleek and sexy in its black and chrome and the Sidekicks are iconic in their bulky, flashing colored lights kind of way, G1 is pretty boring looking. The swivel-out touchscreen is kind of neat, but that's about it. Sure, the modest "with Google" logo on the back of the device fits into the search giant's less-is-more design philosophy, but have you looked at cell phones lately? Consumers don't want boring, they want colorful, shiny, and customizable. Even BlackBerry's gotten this, as evidenced by their new fleet of colored Curves and Pearls and the black and chrome Bold.

And where's the internal storage - nay native video player - to satiate our currently unquenchable thirst for media on the go? iPhone has 8/16 GB of storage built in and G1 packs a measly 256 MB with a 1 GB microSD card packed in? Meh. Geeks know a 16GB microSDHC card is an easy answer to the storage problem, but mainstream buyers want to rock and roll right out of the box, like the can on an iPhone, Nokia N96, or HTC Touch Diamond.

While I don't know anything firm on this for sure, I'm not going to blame HTC for the G1's lackluster design. The new wave of HTC's - the Touch Diamond, Touch Pro, and Touch HD - are sexy pieces of kit, so they clearly know how to make an eye-catching mobile. Word around the industry is that HTC will make whatever their client wants (witness the smooth backs on Sprint's Touch Diamond/Pro vs. the diamond-faceted back on the unbranded versions), so my money's on Google's being at fault for the lame look of G1.

The now infamous "Ex-Google Product Manager Who Criticized Android" had this to say about G1's looks, "In terms of LOOKS, compared to other HTC devices (such as the Touch or Touch HD) and competitive devices, such as the iPhone I believe the look of the G1 Hardware is somewhat...well...dated."

Beauty isn't only skin deep, though, and for as much as G1's design leaves something to be desired so too does its feature set. I understand that this is just the first in what should be a long line of Android-powered phones, and that the platform was built both to accommodate a wide range of hardware designs and to be extendable via open-source software add-ons. But come on! You know the cell phone market is hot and super-competitive, so why not build out your first device with every hot consumer feature?

Stereo Bluetooth on the G1? Not yet. Video capture on the G1? Not yet. Flash on the camera? No. Integrated headphone jack? It's USB!

Let me get this straight: You partner with Amazon to offer 89 cent per track over the air downloads to the device, but you saddle the thing with a USB headphone jack? Are you kidding me? Have you not paid any attention to the mobile phone and electronics marketplace over the past few years? Build in a headphone jack and roll it out with A2DP built-in from the get-go. Consumers want to jack their phones into their headphones, their car stereos, and anything else they use to listen to music. Why not let them?

And no video capture? YouTube is the hottest thing since fried eggs - and Google owns it, for Goodness' sake - and there's no video capture on the first Android phone? Don't tell me about the Open Source community's ability to develop killer apps like video capture; consumers want to see "camcorder mode" on the packaging. They don't care who the open source community is, and frankly they shouldn't have to.

I really just don't get it. As commenter nuggetz on Gizmodo put it:

"You would think that with such an important thing like Android that the developers of the phone would have ensured that it met all our expectations and more importantly be the real iPhone killer but I guess not. I'm convinced that people are pretty stupid. This confirms it."

Beyond that, you have to manually download and install the video player (what?) and from what I've heard and seen on video, the mp3 player isn't exactly top-notch. Engadget actually called it, "B-Team." Ouch.

A little industrial design work, a few lines of code, and a few fifty-nine cent parts and I'd be raving about the G1 instead of picking at its flaws. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to be excited about on the heels of Tuesday's launch event. But in my eyes the excitement has a lot more to do with Android getting off the ground than the G1itself.

Now I may well change my tune on some of this when I get a G1 in my mitts. And like I said, I'm very excited about Android's potential to push the mobile industry forward and open up the carriers' death grip on the US cellular marketplace. But so far as coming through on a highly anticipated launch goes, I really think that Google and T-Mo hit a double when a monster home run was well within their sites.

Ah well, there's always the G2 launch to get excited about.

VIDEO: T-Mobile G1 Google Android phone expanded demo

9/24/2008 12:30:00 PM

Deeper hands-on demo at the T-Mobile G1 / HTC / Google Android phone launch event. Featuring "street view" demo, and in-depth Android Market (apps store) details.

VIDEO: T-Mobile G1 Android Phone Hands-On

9/23/2008 7:10:00 PM

Doug gets a hands-on tour of the new T-Mobile G1 Google Android phone live at the launch event in NYC. Get a first look at the first Android phone from T-Mobile, Google, and HTC.

VIDEO: T-Mobile Launches G1 Google Phone - HTC Android Phone

9/23/2008 2:40:00 PM

T-Mobile, Google, and HTC just launched the G1 - the world's first Android-powered phone. Check it out, with launch and pricing info. More video coming soon!

ARTICLE: T-Mobile G1: Google video of Google Apps on Android phone

9/23/2008 11:45:00 AM

Google just posted this video of "Google Mobile Products on Android." Pretty cool walk-through of Google Apps running on Android. Check it out if you want to get all hyped up to go mobile with your Google Apps Addiction (not that that's a bad thing):

VIDEO: T-Mobile G1 Android hands on feature demo

9/23/2008 2:00:00 AM

Doug gets another hands-on tour of the new T-Mobile G1 Google Android phone live at the launch event in NYC. Get a first look at browsing, messaging, Android Market.

ARTICLE: Android watch: First official photos of T-Mobile G1 leaked?

9/23/2008 12:15:00 AM

There's a big ol' comment war going on between Engadget loyalists and TmoNews fans. Sigh. But you don't care. You just want the pics. And the specs. Yeah, me too. MAN, I hope this is a planted hoax. I just really don't get the design here, especially when HTC's other new devices are so cool looking. Maybe I can hack Android onto an unlocked Touch Pro?

Eh, actually, you know me - in two weeks I'll probably be all ga-ga for G1, no matter what I say now :-P

Anyway, here you go (via T-MoNews):

3G support
GPS
4.6 x 2.16 x 0.63 in, 5.6 ounces
65K color screen, HVGA resolution (480×320)
Battery: Talk Time 5 hours; Standby Time 130 hours
Expandable up to 8 gig memory (That's it?)
3.1 MP camera; No Video capture (Wha?)
Stereo Bluetooth is NOT supported (Huh?)
Gmail account required; no corporate email email support
Data plan required
PrePay accounts not supported

So decide for yourself. Is this really the T-Mobile G1 "Dream" - aka "Google Phone" - that's about to be unveiled later this morning in New York City? If it is, is it Dreamy or fugly? You tell me.

ARTICLE: Android watch: T-Mobile G1 $179 on two-year contract

9/23/2008 12:00:00 AM

Doug's live at the T-Mobile G1 with Google launch event in New York and I'm here in California covering the live webstream. Meantime, T-Mo just sent out the press release: The G1 will sell for $179 on a two-year contract:

T-Mobile customers in the U.S. have the opportunity to pre-order the T-Mobile G1, in limited quantities, beginning today at www.T-MobileG1.com and be among the first to experience this game-changing phone. The device will be available at select T-Mobile retail stores and online in the U.S. beginning Oct. 22, for a price of $179 with a two-year voice and data agreement. The T-Mobile G1 will also be available in the United Kingdom beginning in November, and across Europe in the first quarter of 2009. Countries include Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

Delivering the Familiarity of Google for a Superior Mobile Internet Experience:

The T-Mobile G1 with Google delivers a premium, easy-to-use mobile Web and communications experience in one device. Working together, T-Mobile, Google and HTC integrated Android and T-Mobile services into the phone's form and function. The T-Mobile G1's vibrant, high-quality screen slides open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, great for communicating with friends online or using the phone's e-mail, IM and mobile messaging capabilities. As another option for accessing the device, the T-Mobile G1 comes equipped with a convenient trackball for more precise, one-handed navigation.

"T-Mobile, Google and HTC share a similar vision for making the mobile Internet practical, relevant and fun," said Peter Chou, president and CEO, HTC Corp. "The T-Mobile G1 represents the culmination of this vision by offering a variety of services, applications and content that introduces an Internet experience that everyone can enjoy. We are honored to be joining T-Mobile and Google today for this historic unveiling of the T-Mobile G1."

With one-click contextual search, T-Mobile G1 customers in a flash can search for relevant information with a touch of a finger. A full HTML Web browser allows users to see any Web page the way it was designed to be seen, and then easily zoom in to expand any section by simply tapping on the screen. With built-in support for T-Mobile's 3G and EDGE network as well as Wi-Fi, the T-Mobile G1 can connect to the best available high-speed data connection for surfing the Web and downloading information quickly and effortlessly.

Google Maps Street View:

With Google Maps, Google's groundbreaking maps service, T-Mobile G1 users can instantly view maps and satellite imagery, as well as find local business and get driving directions, all from the phone's easy-to-use touch interface. The T-Mobile G1 also includes Google Maps Street View, allowing customers to explore cities at street-level virtually while on the go. Without taking a step, customers can tour a far-away place as if they were there — standing on the street corner. Even better, the Google Maps feature syncs with the built-in compass on the phone — an industry first — to allow users to view locations and navigate 360 degrees by simply moving the phone with their hand. Google Maps Street View is available today in many U.S. locations and soon in European countries.

Communicating on the Go:

The T-Mobile G1 features a rich HTML e-mail client, which seamlessly syncs your e-mail, calendar and contacts from Gmail as well as most other POP3 or IMAP e-mail services. The T-Mobile G1 multitasks, so you can read a Web page while also downloading your e-mail in the background. It combines Instant Messaging support for Google Talk™, as well as AOL®, Yahoo! Messenger ® and Windows Live Messenger in the U.S. With access to high-speed Web browsing and a 3-megapixel camera with photo-sharing capabilities, the T-Mobile G1 is ideal for balancing a busy lifestyle, whether sharing pictures, checking the latest sports scores or accessing social networking sites.

Embracing User-Generated Content:

Customers can use the T-Mobile G1's 3G and Wi-Fi connection to attach and share pictures over email and MMS or download music from their favorite Web sites, and soon, upload and post pictures to their personal blog. Built-in support for YouTube allows customers to enjoy YouTube's originally-created content, easily navigate through YouTube's familiar video browsing categories or search for specific videos.

Music at Your Fingertips:

The T-Mobile G1 comes pre-loaded with a new application developed by Amazon.com that gives customers easy access to Amazon MP3, Amazon.com's digital music download store with more than 6 million DRM-free MP3 tracks. Using the new application, T-Mobile G1 customers are able to search, sample, purchase and download music from Amazon MP3 directly to their device (downloading music from Amazon MP3 using the T-Mobile G1 requires a Wi-Fi connection; searching, sampling and purchasing music can be done anywhere with a cellular connection). The T-Mobile G1 will be the first device with the Amazon MP3 mobile application pre-loaded.

Android Market:

The T-Mobile G1 is the first phone to offer access to Android Market, which hosts unique applications and mash ups of existing and new services from developers around the world. With just a couple of short clicks, customers can find and download a wide range of innovative software applications — from games to social networking and on-the-go shopping — to personalize their phone and enhance their mobile lifestyle. When the phone launches next month, dozens of unique, first-of-a-kind Android applications will be available for download on Android Market, including:

ShopSavvy: an application designed to help people do comparative shopping. Users scan the UPC code of a product with their phone's camera while they are shopping, and can instantly compare prices from online merchants and nearby local stores.

Ecorio: a new application developed to help people keep track of their daily travels and view what their carbon footprint looks like. With access to tips and tricks, Ecorio allows users to record the steps they take throughout their day to help offset their impact on the environment.

BreadCrumbz: a new application that enables people to create a step-by-step visual map using photos. Customers can create their own routes, share them with friends or with the world.

For more information on the T-Mobile G1 in the U.S., please visit www.T-MobileG1.com. For more information on the T-Mobile G1 in the United Kingdom, please visit www.T-Mobile.co.uk/G1.

ARTICLE: Google phone launch: Live coverage right here, Tuesday 9/23 at 10:30 AM ET

9/22/2008 8:05:00 PM

Here comes the first Android phone! Bookmark this page and come back starting at 10:30 AM ET on Tuesday morning, Sep. 23 for live coverage of the T-Mobile/Google press event to launch the first Android phone. Doug will be live at the event in New York City and I'll be watching the Webcast (media only, sorry) and liveblogging the proceedings right here for your viewing pleasure.

Will the HTC G1 "Dream" look like it does in all of those spy shots? Will it live up to the hype? What surprises do T-Mo and Google have in store for all of us phone phanatics? There's only one way to find out: Tune in for the Webcast Tuesday morning!

NOTE: Please manually refresh this page every minute or so to see the latest content. New posts will appear at the top.

11:14 ET: The Google Guys talked awhile. I'm not trying to gloss over or ignore what they said, but it wasn't all that exciting or newsworthy, to be frank. Now they're taking photos of the execs with their G1s. Now they're moving the press people downstairs to play with the phones. Go get 'em Doug!

11:10 ET: Hey, it's Larry and Sergy from Google!

11:09 ET: Works internationally? Yes. Quad-band GSM.

11:09 ET: Skype? Not at this time.
11:08 ET: Will it work with iTunes? Works with DRM-free content, supports AAC, MP3, etc. Won't work with music purchased at iTunes Store.
11:08 ET: Will GMail do anything new or different on G1? Robust GMail experience, fast, searching, etc. First implementation of online presence via Google Talk phone book.
11:07 ET: Who is the device aimed at? Business? Corporate? Personal? "Mass appeal ... aimed at everybody ... Expect it to be more of a consumer device ... but we expect you'll see a lot of enterprise workers use the device."
11:07 ET: Chrome browser? "Think of it as Chrome Lite, if you will."
11:06 ET: With no desktop sync, how does it work? Pretty much a non-answer from Andy. No Stereo Bluetooth off the bat; "We'll get to it in a future release."
11:05 ET: Marketing with Google - begins in October, biggest marketing campaign ever for a T-Mo device.
11:04 ET: Not an unlocked device b/c of all of the T-Mobile services behind the device.
11:03 ET: Available outside of 3G markets? Yes, but you have to order via Internet in non-3G networks. Device includes WiFi. "We believe it will be a good experience on 2G, but best experience will be on WiFi or T-Mobile 3G network."
11:02 ET: Desktop app for syncing information to your PC? No.
11:02 ET: Push Email? GMail - Yes. Other IMAP - No.
11:01 ET: MS Office support? Yes: Word, PDF, Excel. MS Exchange compatibiliity is a "perfect opportunity for 3rd party developer." Device will be SIM locked to T-Mobile.
11:00 ET: Laptop tethering? No. Will device require voice and data plans? Yes.
10:59 ET: G1 available in UK in early November. Available across Europe in early 2009.
10:58 ET: Talking about 3G rollout. Live in 27 markets across US by Mid-November.
10:57 ET: Pricing info: Pre-order now for T-Mobile customers. Oct 22 launch date. $179 on contract. Two data plans: $25 for unlimited Web/Net/Some Messaging; $35 for unlimited Web/Net/Messaging
10:56 ET: It's Q&A time.

10:55 ET: Talking about open source development, showing a reel highlighting developers. Talking about an app called, "Shop Savvy." Turns phone into a mobile barcode scanner connected to the Net to help you find the best prices on products while you shop.
10:51 ET: Demo reel is over. Lots of talk now about embracing 3rd party developers: "Third parties will drive innovation in the future of the mobile internet."
10:50 ET: Lots of talk about using the "long press" to trigger various actions. Showing off the application store using Pac-Man. Does anyone who uses T-Mobile even know what Pac-Man is? Seriously, all of those Sidekick-toting kids on the subways - they don't remember Pac-Man.
10:46 ET: They unveiled the phone. It's the one in the spy photos, which I still think is funny looking. $179 on two year contract, available Oct 22 in the US. Watching demo video now: Amazon partnership, multitasking, QWERTY, drag & drop, instant messaging, lots of gesture-based stuff, live searching from home screen. Looks a lot like in iPhone in terms of the way they're presenting it, but a little geekier and a little less slick than Apple's presentation.

10:40 ET: The official T-Mobile press release just showed up in my Inbox. :-)
10:39 ET: Peter's talking a lot about working with T-Mo and Google to create an "iconic design" to maximize the mobile Internet experience. "The T-Mobile G1 will appeal to a broad variety of people."
10:36 ET: So far it's kind of boring exec-speak. Now Google's Andy Rubin is talking about how Android as a platform is futureproof because it's an open platform. Andy's not the most, uh, dynamic speaker. Now he introduces Peter Chou, the head of HTC.
10:33 ET: Launched simultaneously in USA and Europe
10:33 ET: It's an exec fest, with reps from T-Mobile, Deustche Telekom, Google, and HTC on stage
10:32 ET: BTW, the phone is officially called T-Mobile G1 with Google
10:30 ET: We're gettin' started. Some cheesey rock guitars and a video of people playing with a globe means it's go-time. BTW, in case you missed it: Amazon will be powering 89 cent per song DRM-free mp3 downloads on G1. Wi-Fi only; no 3G downloading.

10:25 ET: Morning, everyone! I'm here in California watching the Webcast and Doug is in Manhattan at the event. Just spoke with him. He said there are probably a couple hundred people at the site and that he'll be the guy in the crowd, "Wearing face paint and waving a pennant, chanting, 'Android, Android, Android!'" Awesome