Droid

Why Google's Nexus One hasn't flopped (yet)

The tech industry wants Google to deliver an iPhone "killer," and continues to be disappointed that Google doesn't share that interest.

The reaction to a report issued Tuesday by Flurry Analytics managed to completely overlook some interesting news--the Android-based Motorola Droid outsold the original iPhone over the same period of time following their respective launches--to focus instead on the sales numbers for the Nexus One.

Google has sold an estimated 135,000 Nexus One phones in the 74 days since it arrived, according to Flurry, a time frame chosen for comparison purposes because Apple sold 1 million iPhones in the first 74 days of its existence in 2007.

Given that 135,000 units add up to way fewer than 1 million units, it's easy to label the Nexus One launch a "flop." But that conclusion assumes that Google intended to sell a mass-market phone all along.

We've said it before, but we'll say it again: the Nexus One is not the One True Phone descended from on high to restore order to an iPhone-dominated world. Google is indeed very interested in having its Android operating system become the alternative to the iPhone, but it is not fighting the same fight with the Nexus One that Apple, Palm, Research In Motion, Nokia, and countless others are fighting.

When it launched in January, Google Android chief Andy Rubin told GigaOm that he expected the company would sell 150,000 Nexus Ones. He didn't specify a time frame, but he didn't say "74 days" either. So it's just as easy to make the argument that the Nexus One is actually a huge success based on the Flurry numbers and Google's own expectations.

That would also be a stretch, to be sure. The reality is that selling the Nexus One is a very complicated dance.… Read more

Cell phone pioneer Cooper an Android man

Martin Cooper knows a thing or two about cell phones, having placed what is believed to have been the first public call from a portable cell phone and all. And while he's owned an iPhone before, he revealed in a recent interview on C-SPAN that his current handset of choice runs Android. Guess which.

If you said Droid, well done! Apparently--like most of us, in so many situations--he's opted for the popular choice instead of arguably the best one. Or maybe he just likes the physical keyboard.

The entire interview is below and worth watching, but know that … Read more

HTC Sense UI installed on Motorola Droid

Looks like those who love messing around with HTC software can't get enough of the Desire's Sense UI. After its first appearance on the Nexus One, someone has now installed it on a Motorola Droid (Milestone for us GSM folks). From the discussion thread on AllDroid, capabilities such as pinch to zoom and Flash on the browser are demonstrated in images and videos.

In the video embedded above, certain aspects of the implementation still appear a little unresponsive, but that's to be expected since the software wasn't designed for the Motorola hardware.

(Source: Crave Asia via … Read more

Using your Android phone with your car stereo (How To)

In a world populated with devices that are "Made for iPod" and that "Work with iPhone," the uninformed Android phone owner might mistakenly feel neglected and confused by the lack of Android-specific solutions for using their handsets in their vehicles--specifically for listening to music on the road. Fret not, ye Android loyal. Thanks to the magic of standards, there is no need for a "Made for Android" badge, because chances are that the technology is already there for you to utilize.

In this How-To Guide, we'll be outlining three ways to play music stored on your Android handset (and in some cases, on the cloud) through your car stereo. We'll be using the Motorola Droid running Android OS 2.0.1 and a variety of aftermarket and OEM car stereos, but these instructions should work with any Android phone and any stereo that meets the requirements listed below.… Read more

Get $100 from Bing when you buy from Wirefly

Do you need a new phone? How about a 3G-powered Netbook? This might be the perfect time to buy. Wirefly.com has hooked up with Bing Cashback to offer a $100 rebate on all phones, Netbooks, and even aircards.

A few examples of how that would translate to real-world savings:

Make $50 from buying a Motorola Droid. Current and new Verizon customers can get this popular model for $49.99 with a two-year service plan. The $100 Bing bonus means you actually pocket 50 bucks on the deal. Make $100 on an AT&T phone. Wirefly stocks a couple … Read more

Devouring Moto's Devour

Just days after I first got to touch it at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, I have the Motorola Devour in my hands. Also known as the Calgary (blame Canada!), the Devour is Verizon's third Google Android phone and its first handset with MotoBlur.

I'll have a full review for you soon, but I can offer some initial impressions in the meantime. The earlier analysis indicating that the Devour looks like the Moto's Droid's little brother is indeed true. The Devour is about the same size and shape as its predecessor, but its tapered ends … Read more

HTC: Hero, Droid Eris getting Android 2.1 update

BARCELONA, Spain--In addition to introducing two new Android phones, HTC revealed on Tuesday that it will release an Android 2.1 update for the HTC Droid Eris as well as the Sprint and GSM versions of the HTC Hero.

The company said the devices should be getting most of the features of Android 2.1 as well as the enhanced HTC Sense user experience that was announced today. However, it will ultimately be up to the carriers to determine which features make it onto the device. Unfortunately, HTC did not give any time frame for when the update might be … Read more

Motorola now says Android 2.1 coming soon for Droid, not this week

Looks like we've got another case of someone pulling the trigger a little too early. After posting a Facebook update on Monday stating that an Android 2.1 update would be coming to Droid owners this week, Motorola is now backtracking and saying that it's coming soon.

The bad news came when a Motorola Owners' Forum manager said on Wednesday that the company "jumped the gun" on posting details of the update, which have now been removed from the forum and Moto support site. Motorola didn't have any more to say, other than a rollout … Read more

Motorola: Android 2.1 coming to Droid this week

Just last week, the Motorola Droid got partial multitouch support with Google Maps 3.4, but that was little consolation for Droid customers who still had to look on in jealously as Nexus One owners got to enjoy multitouch in the browser and photo gallery as well as Google Goggles support. Well, retract your claws Droid owners because it now looks you're getting the whole shebang too.

On Monday, Motorola announced on its Facebook page that the Android 2.1 update will start to roll out this week. According to Engadget Mobile, the update won't bring live wallpaper … Read more

Google Maps 3.4 brings partial multitouch support to Motorola Droid

Google released an over-the-air update for the Nexus One on Tuesday that brought, among other things, multitouch and Google Maps 3.4 to the smartphone. This is great news for Nexus One owners, but what about the rest of the Android family?

Well, here's some partial good news for Motorola Droid customers. Google Maps 3.4 is now available for download through the Android Market, which brings star syncing, personalized page suggestions based on personal history, night mode, and yes, the use of pinch-to-zoom.

For now, it seems the multitouch capabilities are limited to just Google Maps, but hey, … Read more