Archive for November, 2009

It comes as no surprise to us that the Motorola DROID has been seeing some really successful sales numbers since its release. As a matter of fact, it is getting mighty close to its target of finding one million hands by the end of the fourth quarter. Actual sales figures are reported to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 700,000 to 800,000 devices sold, which is nearing Verizon and Motorola’s goal and already well over analyst predictions. If Verizon sees a big holiday push, that number can easily crawl over the one million mark. It doesn’t hurt to have a $100 million ad campaign — it’s definitely paying off, but what we want to know is how many of you contributed to those sales numbers and if you’re happy with your decision so far. Share your experience in the comments!

While others are filing this under “certainty” we are still going to have to classify this one as a “class 1 rumor.” Gizmodo is reporting that it has a trusted source, of sound mind and body, proclaiming that Google’s Android operating system will be running on Google developed/branded hardware in the immanent future. The article goes on to say, not only will Google be making its own hardware but it will also be running a version of Android that the world has yet to see. Gasp. The article is pretty light on facts and fairly high on speculation so we’ll let you guys decide how high this one ranks on the certainty meter. While we don’t see a reason that Google would want to royally piss off their hardware partners, we also don’t see them letting much get in their way of world domination.

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The Motorola Droid/Milestone is the only Android Phone currently running Android 2.0. We hear that HTC is hard at work preparing an update for their line of handsets that will catapult their Android Phones passed Android 1.6 and right back up to date with Android 2.0. But after the following screenshots of a supposed “Android 2.1″ leaked on BeGeek.fr, people are wondering if HTC is moving all the way to Flan in one single bound:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t see anything “new” in these screenshots. It simply shows HTC Sense and one of the screenshots shows Hardware Model HTC Hero with Firmware version 2.1. Now I could be wrong… but I’m pretty sure this could be easily spoofed by someone who cooked up their own custom ROM.

Or maybe this is for the launch of the Predator/Passion/Dragon? Hmmmm… what ever happened to that thing anyways?

[Thanks to all who sent this in!]

You may have read a review of the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet written by Phandroid contributor John Ashton Edgar. While overall he seemed to enjoy it his biggest issue with the device was its lack of Google App integration and the replacement of Android Market with AppsLib.

It runs an Archos version of Android. This is significant for several reasons. There is no Google integration. None, nada, zip, zero, nunca. The only integration you get is going into your Google account in the very nice webkit browser. I didn’t have any issues because the browser is nice with nearly 5″ of screen, but if you are a fan of the Google Android OS apps like Gmail, Gtalk, or Calendar, be warned. This also represents one of my largest issues with the Archos 5. They have their own app market, AppsLib.

Issues be gone! The folks at ArchosFans.com have figured out a way for owners of the Archos 5 to get Android Market and all of the Google Apps like Maps, Talk Calendar and more onto the the device!

Our friends at JKonTheRun did a nice step-by-step guide to getting the job done – keep in mind this is for Windows:

1. Download and extract this to your computer ( or search market4archos.zip ) ( Mirrors anyone? )
2. Download these files to your computer
3. Put Archos 5 to ADB mode ( settings/device storage & USB/USB mode -> ADB )
4. Connect usb and choose drivers to use and point to drivers folder on files you downloaded on step 2 to your computer ( if it fails, go to device manager – click Archos – Update drivers – Browse computer for driver – Let me pick – Have disk – Browse to drivers you downloaded )
5. On Windows -> copy folder named system from the step 1 to same folder as you have adb.exe
6. Run adb.exe on command prompt
7. Type adb push system /data/test/system [ press enter ] ( cd to the folder you have the adb.exe first.. like “cd downloads” )
8. reboot your Archos 5
9. ENJOY!

Updates to the steps suggest you need this version of the hack to get Google Maps working and you need to have 1.4.08 or 1.4.09 firmware for success. Give it a whirl and let us know how it turns out for you!

Android 2.0 has multi-touch support including pinch & zoom for 3rd party applications but, for one reason or another (probably legal in nature), Google/Verizon did NOT include this capability on its core applications for the Motorola Droid. Google Maps, Webkit Browser, Picture Galleries and other features don’t allow you to use the feature… BUT… 3rd party developers can incorporate the feature for use  in their own applications.

That is what makes Dolphin Browser so intriguing. It has been on Android Market for awhile now but they just recently added multi-touch support. So, download Dolphin Browser and use THAT for your mobile web browsing needs and it’ll be your Robin to the Droid’s batman:

It has a bunch of other features and they call it a “social browser” but multi-touch is what will make most people try it for the first time… at least for now.

Are you a long time Dolphin Browser user? How have you liked it? Just get for multi-touch on the Droid? Let us know too! And keep in mind… pinch/zoom will ONLY work on the Motorola Droid for now as it is currently the only Android 2.0 device available (at the time of publication).