Firefox for Mobile goes Official

Mozilla’s Firefox Web Browser has been made official. The popular desktop browser has had many updates over the past few weeks so it can run as good on our phones. The biggest issue many are having is the fact that there is no support for Adobe Flash, so no watching videos from the internet or playing games, something Opera Mobile and others can offer.

Although you can’t play Flash it will be on its way and in the meantime you can take advantage of  tabbed browsing, and sync your bookmarks, tabs, history via Firefox Sync. Pity that there is no Flash but it’s free so can’t grumble at that and it’s good to know Flash will be on its way.

You can get Firefox for your Android device at the Android Market.

Root for Wi-Fi Only Motorola XOOM Now Available

Root Your Wi-Fi Only Motorola Xoom!

Ok, for the sake of the story, I’ll pretend to be surprised here. The always reliable gang over at XDA Developers have managed to release a root method for the Wi-Fi Only Motorola XOOM tablet. This is good news for those users who have bricked their XOOMs using the standard method. Please remember, unlocking the XOOM’s bootloader (required for rooting) will wipe your device.

That being said, if your ready to begin hacking your dual core monster, instructions below. This does  requires ADB Commands but nothing too difficult. Still this method is recommended for experienced users familiar with the rooting process.

Instructions on Rooting Wi-Fi Only Motorola XOOM

Instructions courtesy of Xaositek

This is it guys… HUGE props to MADindustries and modplan!
Download the Motorola WiFi Xoom Root Zip file and unzip it. (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2180926/xoomwifiroot.zip)
Place the files in the SDK Tools folder.

If rebooting works…

adb reboot bootloader
fastboot oem unlock
adb reboot bootloader

If stuck at “Dual Core Technology”

Hold VolUp and power to restart Xoom
Hold VolDown will booting unit for fastboot mode
fastboot flash boot boot.img (Tiamat 1.1.6 boot.img – http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=978013)
fastboot reboot
adb remount
adb push bcm4329.ko /system/lib/modules/bcm4329.ko
adb push cifs.ko /system/lib/modules/cifs.ko
adb push tun.ko /system/lib/modules/tun.ko
adb push scsi_wait_scan.ko /system/lib/modules/scsi_wait_scan.ko
adb push su /system/bin
adb shell ln -s /system/bin/su /system/xbin/su
adb shell chmod 4755 /system/bin/su
adb push Superuser.apk /system/app
adb reboot
adb shell
WE HAZ ROOT!!

Music Fan? Android Lover? Collectable Android Accessory Adapters for Headsets

What is Makible?

Makible is kind of a startup company that is creating a new way of making things. They connect up with communities and help to create products that solve their common problems. It seems like they are just now getting started since they announced that this is one of Makible’s first products, yet they are already making a big hit with people. I already know people who heard about it before me and are already wanting to get a pair, including myself.

Makible: Collect And Customize

These may seem just like regular headphones, but in fact they are both fully functional as well as collectable, with 4 swappable covers for the cord wrap with a hands-free function. I am a BIG music lover and I love Android just as much, I don’t want to spend money on expensive headphones, and so I get earphone cords getting in the way and getting tangled, every other little thing breaking including the clip, and the buttons not working. That’s what I get for going cheap I guess.

These headphones will save my life. they have a integrated cord wrap, a magnetic clip instead of a cheap little spring clip, and a single button control just like most Android devices have. I know all of this might be confusing and you’re probably wondering how it works, but thanks to Makible, I was able to get some great pictures to show you guys.

Why Should I Not Wait To Buy?

Don’t wait until later to get these great headphones, because you just might not get the chance to. Only 10,000 units will be made until they move onto a newer design. Man, my payday never looked so far away.

I would say that these are a must have for any Android and music lover, these are simply too good to be true, though I am interested in their future designs. This amazing headset is only $20. There is an iPhone headphone adapter for Android for only $10, though I don’t think any Android user would be caught with iPhone headphones, I guess it’s for iPhone users that are thinking about converting to Android. Ha.

Head over to the site now for more information and a video on how all this goes together.

Want VLC The Ultimate Media Player For Your Android Device? I do.

If you don’t know, VLC is a high quality media player. An Android version of VLC could be released as early as April, according to VLC developer Rémi Duraffort, who told German website Handy-Sparen.de that “most of the components are working but we must work to make them fit together.” Duraffort told the site last week that he expects a working demo or beta version to be available “in one or two months.”

The Android implementation of the popular open source video player has been in the work for months, and lead VLC developer Jean-Baptiste Kempf had said in December that a release could be expected “in a matter of weeks.” VLC for Android was initially expected in January, but lead VLC developer Jean-Baptiste Kempf said earlier this year that it has been “a challenge” to move VLC’s core C++ code into Java, which is used on Android.

Duraffort’s Statement

“Having to create an application in Java that will load a C library in order to run VLC code is part of the issues we have. Moreover, most API (application programming interface) to manage graphics (OpenGL) or audio can only be accessed from Java which means that we decode audio and video in C but then give the images and audio samples to Java to be able to render them.”

VLC For Android Will Feature A Stunning Mobile Media Experience

If you’ve ever used VLC on Windows, then you know first hand how nice the quality is, and to put that on an Android phone would make for a nice picture. If you have a Android phone with the Super AMOLED (Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) screen, then you’re probably looking forward to this more than anyone, and you have a right to be. You can do quite a lot with this amazing program, one of the many things you can do on VLC is you can convert audio and video formats into almost any format you have ever  heard of, this comes in handy when you have a song or video that’s just not quite in the right format for what you want it on, like a mp3 player for instance.

Google Android’s NDK (Native Development Kit) has made it easier to run native C code with the release of Android 2.3, which should improve things, according to Duraffort. However, don’t expect VLC developers to take the easy way out and just cater to a smaller subset of device owners with the most recent version of the mobile OS. “VLC for Android will work for every Android version since 1.5 (Cupcake),” he said. Having the VLC app for Cupcake and higher is a good move on their end, because there are still quite a few people who don’t want to part with their old OS’s. So if you’re one of the few who still have some of the first Android devices, then you won’t be disappointed.

VLC For Android Tablets Coming Soon

If you happen to be wondering if you can use it for a tablet, then you’re in luck. Android VLC player application will also be compatible with Androids exclusive tablet-only operating system Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) like the Galaxy Tab series or the Motorola XOOM. Although the tablet version won’t be available right away when the VLC hits the market, the VLC team will work on a version optimized for tablets as soon as the regular Android app is released, since it doesn’t sound like they’ve even started on it, you might have to wait on that one.

Show me the Mobile app; Carfax comes to Android

Commercials certainly  have a way of getting stuck in our heads. I’m sure when most people hear the company name “Carfax” they think of the carfox from their popular tv spots. But who needs a fox when you have an Android? Carfax has just announced they now have a “Carfax for dealers” app in the Android Market.  Dealers can use this to scan a cars VIN number and pull up the report immediately. If they would integrate Google’s Cloud printing into this application it could become even more useful, but Google hasn’t even put that in their own Gmail application yet, so i’m just getting ahead of myself. This application is currently only for dealers, but letting the user scan cars and see the details if they have a carfax account seems like a very good idea, and i’m sure they are working on something like that. Check out the full press release below. If you are a car dealer click here to get the application, then post how I can contact you for a good deal in the comments!

Dealers Now Get Carfax Reports Instantly Using Apple orAndroid Mobile Devices

CENTREVILLE, Va., March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Carfax has launched the Android version of its free ‘Carfax for Dealers’ mobile application. The much-anticipated version follows the successful launch of the Carfax app for iPhone and other Apple devices. Using most Android-based mobile devices, on-the-go dealers can access their Carfax account anytime, anywhere to better evaluate used cars.

“I made sure to download the app the day it came out and started using it right away,” said Marc Schumacher, director of used vehicle acquisitions for Jim Koons Automotive Companies in Vienna, Va. ”If I’m not online, I’m usually at the auction and need quick and handy access to Carfax. I won’t buy any car unless I’ve got the Carfax. The ‘Carfax for Dealers’ app instantly puts the information I need to make an informed buying decision right in front of me. I’ll be using it constantly.”

Running Carfax Reports is a key component to a dealer’s acquisition process. Users start by entering the vehicle identification number (VIN) or scanning the vehicle barcode to run the Carfax Report. Any vehicle run through the ‘Carfax for Dealers’ app is automatically added to the dealer’s inventory manager at carfaxonline.com. Carfax Reports are saved for up to 30 days and dealers can mark vehicles they’re most interested in as favorites within the app.

“We don’t put any cars on our lot without checking Carfax first,” said Mike Foote, general manager at Lia Honda of Albany, NY. “When you’re the highest bidder at auction, you want to know you’re buying with confidence and the Carfax app gives us that. Our trade appraisal process is also more efficient, eliminating the need to run back and forth while customers sit and wait. It’s everything right at your fingertips.”

Estimates are that 30% of smartphone users own an Android-based device. Dealers can download the ‘Carfax for Dealers’ app free from the Android Market at http://market.android.com/search?q=pname:com.carfax.cvhr.

“I just got an Android phone yesterday and the ‘Carfax for Dealers’ app was the first thing I downloaded onto it,” said Chris Stellakis, owner of CJ’s Car America in Bridgeport, NY. “We rely on Carfax Reports as part of our used car operations, which makes this app a must-have for us. As an independent dealer, now we’ll be even more confident we’re putting our customers in a quality used car.”

iPhone and other Apple device users can continue downloading the ‘Carfax for Dealers’ app in the App Store,http://itunes.com/apps/CARFAXInc/CARFAXforDealers.

About Carfax (www.carfax.com)

Carfax is the vehicle history expert for used car buyers, sellers and the automotive industry. Carfax created the Vehicle History Report in 1986 and is trusted by dealerships across North America to help acquire, advertise and retail used cars. Carfax is integrated with over 250 acquisition and inventory companies and is the vehicle history provider of choice for 31 manufacturer Certified programs plus 2,000 automotive Web sites. Online shoppers view Carfax® Vehicle History Reports™ included with dealer listings more than 85 million times a year to buy with more confidence. Become a Carfax Advantage™ dealer or learn how Carfax can help your dealership win by visiting www.carfaxonline.com. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter@CarfaxReports and watch us on YouTube. Friend Car Fox on Facebook and follow him on Twitter@TheCarFox. Download the ‘Carfax for Dealers’ mobile app in the App Store(SM) and Android Market(SM)

Malware in the Android Market

Kaspersky Lab, a leading manufacturer of secure content and threat management solutions, have identified a number of free applications in Google's Android Market which contain malware, such as Trojans. The applications were illegitimate copies of legitimate developers' apps that were injected with malware code.

An example was the Super Guitar Solo application, which contained the popular “rage against the cage” root exploit commonly used to “root” Android phones and gain super-user privileges. Once somebody gains super-user rights, they will have full administrator level access to the phone's operating system. In this case the exploit was launched without the owner's consent.

“The application attempted to gather product ID, device type, language, country, and user ID among other things, and then upload the data to a remote server,” said Timothy Armstrong, Junior Malware Analyst at Kaspersky Lab. “This discovery is important because up until now most of the Android malware has been found outside of the Android Market, which requires a number of special steps to be taken in order to infect the phones. In this case, users are even able to install from the Web with the new Android Market format.”

Kaspersky Lab experts analysed the Trojan inside the illegitimate apps in the Android Market and highlighted that it has been designed to be easily included in popular applications, uploaded onto the Market with misleading names and that it also had the ability to install other applications on the devices. These traits hint at the way through which the author was planning to monetise the infections – deploying Adware or Advertising-supported apps on the device.

Adds Armstrong; “An update from Google shows that malicious apps and the corresponding download page from the Android Market were removed. At the same time, Google launched an application called 'Android Market Security Tool March 2011' for remote-removal of infected applications installed on smartphones. The main issue is that this new app does not fix the vulnerability; it simply removes the application known to be malicious.”

For better protection of Android smartphones, Kaspersky Lab recently launched the new version of Kaspersky Mobile Security 9. The security solution supports Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Mobile: http://www.kaspersky.com/kaspersky_mobile_security

“Given the above, it is important to consider that these might not be the only live malware samples currently existing in the Android Market. In line with this, Kaspersky Lab strongly recommends that users always check all the permission requests that an application requests during installation and to always think twice before jail-breaking or rooting their smartphones,” concludes Armstrong.

Kaspersky Lab will continue to monitor this situation and report any important updates. Articles about this topic can be found following the below links:

http://www.securelist.com/en/blog/11184/Malware_in_the_Android_Market

http://www.securelist.com/en/blog/11198/Malware_in_the_Android_Market_part_2

http://www.securelist.com/en/blog/11222/Malware_in_the_Android_Market_part_3

Apple Sues Amazon Over App Store Trademark

Online retailer’s Android marketplace named Amazon Appstore, infringing Apple’s disputed trademark.

Apple has begun legal proceedings against Amazon, alleging the online retail giant is in violation of the App Store trademark.

Amazon’s Android software marketplace, Amazon Appstore, is to officially launch later this month. Yet last Friday Apple filed a complaint at a northern California federal court, accusing Amazon of trademark infringement and unfair competition, requesting a judge’s order to prevent Amazon using the name and award Apple unspecified damages.

“Amazon has begun improperly using Apple’s App Store mark in connection with Amazon’s mobile-software developer program,” Apple said in its complaint. “Amazon has unlawfully used the App Store mark to solicit software developers throughout the United States.”

Apple claims to have contacted Amazon three times over the alleged breach of trademark, demanding that it cease using the phrase, but that it hadn’t “provided a substantive response”.

“We’ve asked Amazon not to copy the App Store name because it will confuse and mislead customers,” Apple’s Kristin Huguet told Bloomberg.

Apple’s trademark of the phrase App Store, which it registered in 2008, is currently being challenged by Microsoft, who claims the phrase is a generic term to describe a software marketplace which its competitors should be free to use.

Samsung Introduces The Galaxy Tab 8.9 And Reintroduces The Galaxy Tab 10.1 Thinner Then iPad 2

Galaxy Tab Now The World’s Thinnest Tablet

Samsung wasn’t playing around when they stated they wanted to rethink their Galaxy Tablets in face of the iPad 2 and they are coming to play. Everyone has been talking about how thin and light the new iPad is, well guess what Samsung just out did Apple and both of their new tablets boast being the thinnest and lightest tablets available at 8.6 mm. They will both feature Android 3.0 Honeycomb and introduce a new Touch Wiz Honeycomb variant.

Galaxy Tab 2 Sizes 1 For Everyone

Samsung had already introduced an earlier version of the 10.1″ variant of their tablets and everyone has been waiting on the 8.9″ tab to see what it brings to table. Samsung  is saying that the smaller Galaxy Tab 8.9 will be the productivity oriented version (coming with PowerPoint and Excel viewers) and the larger is the more entertainment geared option.

New Galaxy Tab UI

Both versions are shipping with a Samsung TouchWiz interface over the Honeycomb OS. The new overlay features a mini application tray, live panels, the ability to resize widgets, a social hub, media hub and much more. I was hoping for a stock Android Honeycomb experience, but the enhancements do add a lot of value for many consumers.

Galaxy Tab Pricing

• Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi-only 16GB: $499, available June 8th
• Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi-only 32GB: $599, available June 8th
• Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi-only 16GB: $469, available “early summer”
• Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi-only 32GB: $569, available “early summer”

At these prices Samsung intends to compete strongly against the iPad 2 the Motorola Xoom and all of the other tablets soon to be available. What do you think of Samsung’s improvements can they take the market by storm with their new Variations of the Galaxy Tab?

Updated: Amazon Launches Its Appstore. Is A Tablet Or A Handset Next?

Today Amazon (NSDQ: AMZN) has launched its newest onslaught to the digital media economy: an Android app store, appropriately branded “appstore”, beginning with nearly 4,000 apps and counting. Why will this latest app store be different from the rest, and what’s next for the giant e-tailer?

The store will initially only be available to customers in the U.S. Amazon is handling the billing for now, but is working with AT&T (NYSE: T) (and possibly other operators) to enable purchasing via the operator’s own billing system, putting the charge directly on the customers’ mobile bill.

See more of our latest Amazon coverage
or add an alert for future coverage of Amazon.

Before the store even went live, Amazon was already peppering the internet with links to the site (one was uncovered last week, along with initial price lists for apps), to specific apps on the store and even a developer portal. Some of these are not yet working as “live” links but one can still access them via their cached versions on, for example, Google’s search results page.

What is setting the appstore apart from the others? In a market brimming with native and non-native app stores already, this is probably the key point in driving traffic to Amazon. So far, Amazon looks like it’s being clever with its approach:

—Like other app stores, Amazon requires developers to submit their apps for approval before they can go live on the store. Amazon’s terms and conditions, however, appear (for now) to be significantly looser than those for some other app stores, with the main criteria for approval being that the apps are determined not to harm a users’ system.

—Unlike other app stores, Amazon has decided that it will wield control over how apps are being priced—although developers can suggest a retail price. This will let Amazon promote certain apps for free, before potentially hiking up the charge at a later stage when downloads have picked up momentum. This appears to include a promotional scheme to offer one normally paid-for app as a free download every day. To kick things off, it looks like Rio, the new Angry Birds game that Amazon nabbed exclusively for the appstore, will be free at first, later going up to $0.99 per download.

Amazon looks like it will follow the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) and Google (NSDQ: GOOG) model for splitting revenues on paid apps, but only in part: publishers will either get 70 percent of the sale price with Amazon keeping 30 percent; or 20 percent of the sale price suggested by the publisher—whichever is greater. (Presumably this is how Amazon can get around suddenly making a paid app free of charge.)

This pricing control is right in line with how Amazon has run other content sales on its site up to now, for instance, undercutting many other booksellers with its deals in the hopes of encouraging more purchases and/or return business on books with more favorable sales margins.

—Recommendation. In line with the free apps and driving more/repeat business, Amazon will also be harnessing its formidable recommendation engine to suggest other apps to users—and it wouldn’t surprise me to see that recommendation engine extending to Amazon’s other content offerings (eg, if you liked Angry Birds “Rio,” how about buying this book on Angry Birds tips, or this plush toy?)

Even before launching, the store has been driving controversy, with Apple hitting Amazon with a lawsuit over the use of the name appstore. The store echoes the complaint made in January by Microsoft.

Apple’s attempt to control the name “app store” is part of a bigger play by app storefront owners to continue to control their brands and distribution channels.

Amazon itself is no stranger to that, either: it has revoked API access to the Lendle Kindle e-book lending app, for discouraging people from buying the books for themselves.

So how far will that control of distribution channels go? Amazon has been entirely silent on the idea of developing an Android-based Kindle device—blurring the line between e-reader and tablet ever more—but with the launch of appstore this possibility seems more likely than ever before.

Amazon has been gradually taking its Kindle to a wider market—selling it not only via mobile operators like AT&T but also, crucially, via strong and influential retail powerhouses like Best Buy and Carphone Warehouse. While that looks, on one hand, like a strategy to pick up the second wave of Kindle adopters beyond early-adopting, Amazon-loving consumers—it also could very well be a strategy to lay the groundwork for a push on even more devices.

Creating a tablet fits in neatly with Amazon’s strategy to control its content ecosystem and would be a perfect complement to the company’s other media plays—specifically its Netflix-competing movie/video rental and purchasing business and its iTunes-competing music downloads business.

Given that Amazon has already carved out a substantial place for itself as a reseller of mobile phones and mobile contracts, it would be far from surprising if the company decided to take advantage of the open-source ease of Android to develop handsets, too.

T-Mobile's new Android phone is a dual-core powerhouse

T-Mobile's latest Android smartphone — the LG G2x — sounds like a powerhouse. It's got an NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor with a dual-core CPU, a bright 4-inch display, and some preloaded games such as "Need for Speed SHIFT HD."

The device will run on T-Mobile's 4G network and comes equipped with an 8-megapixel rear-camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope.
The G2x's loaded with a stock version of the Android 2.2 operating system and will supposedly have low power consumption and high performance when it comes to media playback — oh, and it'll multitask insanely well.
The announcement was tied to the spring CTIA Wireless trade industry show this week in Orlando, Fla.
There aren't any specifics regarding pricing or the exact launch date, but we do know that the device will be available this spring.

Microsoft's Latest Legal Attack On Android Shows Desperation (MSFT)

Microsoft is getting desperate to stop Android from taking over mobile devices.

Today, the company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Barnes & Noble for using Android in its Nook device.

That's right -- not an Android phone maker, but a bookseller who happens to use Android in a way that most users don't even notice. In fact, unless you hack the Nook, you can't even see the Android interface or use any Android apps.

The move means that any company who uses Android in any capacity faces a legal threat from Microsoft.

Microsoft is probably on solid legal ground here. Android includes Linux at its core, and Microsoft established years ago that it thinks Linux infringes its patents. (That claim never been tested in court, but tons of Linux distributors have signed licensing deals anyway -- which boosts Microsoft's future claims.)

Last year Microsoft began trying to strike deals with Android smartphone makers. HTC signed a deal. Motorola didn't, and Microsoft sued.

But Motorola is a tech company and was able to sue Microsoft back by pointing to some of its own patents. That's not uncommon in patent cases, and usually paves the way for a settlement.

But apparently Microsoft will stop at nothing to stall Android adoption -- or at least earn some money from every single Android device that ships.

A to Z: Motorola Xoom Android Tablet Beginners Guide

Many people I know always give me a really strange look when I say things like Honeycomb, Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor , and 1 GB of Ram.  I know, you are probably wondering what I’m doing hanging around these kind of people.  But come on, not everyone can be as geeked up as us right?  So this review will be dedicated to all the layman folk who want to get passed the techie jibberish and just know how it works.

Display

First off the screen is a 10.1″ 1280 x 800 pixel display.  Which means HD quality.  Very very crisp.  The apps look great and video playback looks even better.  Not the best  resolution there is but seriously, it’s one of the nicest displays I’ve seen yet.

Hardware

Once you get passed the flashiness, wipe the puddle of drool off the screen you’ll notice how fast this thing is.  The speed of it comes from the memory and processor.  Technically speaking 1 GB of RAM and a Nvidia Tegra 2, 1 GHz Dual-Core processor.  Motorola really built this device to match the power of higher end computers.  You can load apps, play music, and search the web and the Xoom wont even hesitate.

Memory

With the Motorola Xoom you can hold a plethora of information.  It has an internal storage capacity of 32GB and holds up to another 32GB with adding a 32GB microSD card.  To put that into perspective, 64GB total will hold over 40,ooo photos, 96 hours of standard definition video or 16,000 songs.  That’s a ton of entertainment.

Operating System

The Motorola Xoom has a special operating system.  It is currently running Android 3.0 Honeycomb.  Honeycomb is the latest version of Android and is specifically designed for tablet use.  Android is a very user friendly OS.  Even if you have never used an Android phone you wouldn’t have a problem adapting to the easy to use Xoom.  I honestly believe it’s even easier to operate than the iPad.  Which you can also accredit the UI or User Interface.  All it will take is for you to just click a few icons and you will know and learn basically what everything does.  Very simple.

Applications

Here’s a tricky subject.  The applications for Android devices are pretty much the same.  Simply go to the Android Market and download your favorite apps.  However, this is a tablet device which means the applications created were done so thinking of using them off of your phone.  So some formatting and minor tweaks need to be done to make the apps work a little better on this device.  That being said, most of the apps you would use on a regular basis will most likely work business as usual.  Within the Android Market the number of tablet specific apps are growing on a daily basis.  I do believe personally that the marketplace feels a little clumsy and hope they fine tune it a little for tablets specifically.

Another great feature that deals with the applications is the recently closed / currently running icon.  Simply click the icon and it gives you a fast choice to be able to get back to another app or item you are currently running or need to get back into.

As for email the Gmail app might be the cleanest running app I have ever used.  Runs just as smooth as the desktop version if not better.  Another app that is on the main page is Books.  If you are a book reader the Xoom will cover your reading needs.  It has a few clever options and with the Books Market I think it will compete with the Kindle or Sony Reader.

Keyboard, Web Browser, Camera and Video

The Keyboard is very nice.  Large buttons, very responsive, and easy to use.  The only downside I have found is it’s still a touch screen keyboard.  Meaning that I can’t type as fast as I would normally using a standard keyboard.  I liked it so much that I would have written this article using the Xoom, but it seriously isn’t the best for paragraph style typing.  Searching the internet, updating Facebook and Twitter, no problem.  You’ll still move pretty fast.  Another slight issue is the number placement.  In order to use the numbers you have to click the number button.  No big deal, but it is something to get use to.

Onto the Web Browser.  This is where I was confused.  I assumed it was Google Chrome.  It looks, feels, and acts like Chrome, but it just isn’t.  You can call it lite, watered down, but just don’t call it Chrome.  Don’t get me wrong, it is probably the second or third best browser I have ever used.  I just was expecting full Chrome.  If you are familiar with Google Chrome you know that you can sync your personal settings using your Google account.  So anytime you log into Chrome you get the same settings, bookmarks, look and feel of what you’re used to.  The great thing about this browser is that you still can sync it with your Google account.  Google Chromes extensions will not load however.  The only other minor issue I have noticed with the web browser is that it gets buggy and every once in a while it will throw you out of the browser.  Not a terrible issue, but it may happen due to the lack of flash capability.  Which the Adobe Flash rollout is currently in place.

The Camera and Video capability are pretty nice.  It is equipped with a 5 mp rear camera, a 2 mp front web cam, and takes 720p video.  It also uses a dual led flash to give your pictures a little extra pop!  It does feel a little strange taking pictures with such a large device, but using the G Talk video chat and getting good quality face time is a definite plus.

Battery Life

The battery life on the Xoom is incredible!!  Motorola worked wonders with this battery.  All of these time frames are listed as approximate, but they have to  be very close to true.  Starting with standby time you have up to 14 days.  If you are browsing the internet over Wi-Fi you can get up to 10 hours of use and 9 hours if using 3G.  For video playback you can get up to 10 hours and if you feel like listening to music for almost 3 and a half days you can do so.  Charging time isn’t so bad.  Your looking at 3.5 hours for a full charge.

Connectivity

The Motorola Xoom has the ability to connect to your favorite accessories via Bluetooth while connecting to the internet either by Wi-Fi or a standard 3G data package.  The 4G upgrade will be available soon.  It just all depends on what you need.  And the rumors are true that the Xoom will soon be sold as a Wi-Fi only option on top of the 3G / 4G model.  It also has a Micro-USB and a HDMI output.  Just hook either of those up to your TV or PC and you’ll be showing off your pictures or video on a big screen in no time.  If you need to listen to music or watch video without disturbing others you can plug in your earbuds into the 3.5 mm headset jack.

Pricing

Currently the prices at Verizon are $799.99 with no 3G contract and $599.99 with a 3G data plan on a two year contract.  The two year contract data packages start at $20 a month for 1 GB and can go as high as $80 a month for 10 GB of data.  Honestly I thought the pricing is a little high.  Until I had the privilege to review the Xoom.  Once you get your hands on it you will not be able to put it down.  If you are unsure or not quite in the market to buy one right now don’t worry, save up and see if the price comes down a little.  Which indeed it will.  The Wi-Fi only option would be all anyone would need which will be on sale March 27th for 600 bucks.  With so many free hotspot  locations you wouldn’t need the data plan.  3G data plans really are a nice convenience to have, just not necessary.

Conclusion

With many more tablets coming out this year, if you have any hesitation you should wait and see what other options you will have.  Trust me, by the end of the year you will have plenty of options.  Although as of right now the Motorola Xoom in my opinion is the best tablet on the market.  Good technology usually comes with a higher price tag.

If you specifically need a device for school to type a paper, write a report for work, blogging, or any other lengthy project the Xoom may not be for you.  Android has applications that will act like and import Word or Excel documents, but this is not a Microsoft device.

With all of that being said, I’ve seen my niece and nephew more in the last week in a half than I have in the last few months.  Teens will love this device.  Seriously, LOVE it!

Even with the next few tablets that will be released the Xoom will easily stay on top.  This device is one finely tuned well running machine.  I didn’t want to sit this thing down.  I found it to turn into a habit of sitting on the couch with it in reach at all times.  If this device was mine, I wouldn’t leave home without it.

New HTC Thunderbolt Ad Appeals to the Popular Hipster in All of Us |

 

Maybe it’s just me, but the HTC ads never seem to appeal to a person like me. I’m a full on tech geek and all, but the actors in their commercials never seem like “average people” to me. Their newest one has a guy riding his bike with his dog, who he named Wi-fi, hanging out in his backpack. Really? Having quickly thrown together parties on the roof of your building? Sure! Whether it shows what you would consider “real-life” or not, they always seem to stick in memory and show off their latest products in a fun way. Their newest one for the Thunderbolt is no exception. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s embedded below.

Trapster gets Updated; Better Zoom-level and Reporting Support!

Trapster, Finding Speedtraps Everywhere

Trapster has been helping Android, Blackberry, and iOS users save money on radar detectors, thanks to crowd sourcing speed trap locations for us. The 2.1 update has brought some features back and added a few as well.

The users of this application were quite fond of the quit option, which has now been brought back in the menu options to ensure that the app is completely closed out. As we all know, constant use of the GPS signal is a battery drain that no one enjoys.

The option to report a speed trap or hazard is now a button on the map while in use. If you press it, it stops navigating, lets you report the location, then kicks back in to where you currently are without having to leave the navigation itself.

Trapster also has Android OS 2.1 and below users in mind with their theme deletion, since older Android OS phones don’t officially have the option to move to SD.  You have the option to delete unused themes from the app to save space on your phone. You can restore them at any time. This is a rather uncommon practice for an app developer, but a good one!

Trapster Saves Your Settings

In addition to all of that, they now save your zoom level when you close the program out, so when you go back its at your desired level.  A lot of these tweaks show that they really listen to their audience, which is something we consumers will never get sick of hearing.

You can download Trapster from the Android Market here. Big Trapster fan? Did you find out about it from this story? Let us know in the comments.

Google Search app for iPhone—a new name and a new look

If you need to do a Google search on your iPhone or iPod touch it's now faster and easier when you use our redesigned Google Search app, formerly Google Mobile App. If you've been using Google Mobile App for a while, you'll notice that things look different.

The redesigned home screen of Google Search app.

First, you’ll see that there are now more ways to interact with the app. When browsing through search results or looking at a webpage, you can swipe down to see the search bar or change your settings. For those who use other Google apps, there’s an Apps button at the bottom of the screen for rapid access to the mobile versions of our products.

We also included a new toolbar that will make it easier for you to filter your results. You can open this toolbar by swiping from left to right — either before you search or once you’ve got your results. If you only want images, just tap “Images,” and the results will update as shown:

The toolbar helps you to get to the right kind of results.

Second, we’ve made it easier to pick up searching where you left off. If you leave the app and come back later, you’ll be able either to start a new search right away (just tap in the search box to type, hit the microphone button to do a voice search or tap on the camera icon to use Google Goggles) or get back to exactly where you were by tapping on the lower part of the page.

Finally, there are a number of improvements we’ve made to everything else you love in the app, including Google Goggles, Voice Search, Search with My Location, Gmail unread counts and more. There's a lot in the app, so we've added a simple help feature to let you explore it. Access this by tapping the question mark above the Google logo.

The help screen can be accessed from anywhere in Google Search app.

 

Download and try Google Search app today; it’s available free from the iTunes App Store. You can also scan the QR code below.

You’ve got better things to do than wait in traffic

Ever been stuck in traffic, only to find out you’d have been better off going a bit out of your way to take a less congested route? If you’re like me, you probably hear the traffic report telling you what you already know: traffic is bad on the road you’re currently on, and you should have taken another. It doesn’t need to be this way, and we want to help. So we’re happy to announce that Google Maps Navigation (Beta) will now automatically route you around traffic. With more than 35 million miles driven by Navigation users every day, this should add up to quite a bit of time saved!

On a recent trip to New York, I was running late to meet some friends at the Queens Museum of Art. I had no idea that there was a traffic jam along the route I would normally have taken. Thankfully, Navigation routed me around traffic. I didn’t even have to know that there was a traffic jam on I-495, and I got to enjoy a much faster trip on I-278 instead.

Navigation now uses real-time traffic conditions to automatically route you around traffic.

You don’t have to do anything to be routed around traffic; just start Navigation like you normally would, either from the Navigation app or from within Google Maps. Before today, Navigation would choose whichever route was fastest, without taking current traffic conditions into account. It would also generate additional alternate directions, such as the shortest route or one that uses highways instead of side roads. Starting today, our routing algorithms will also apply our knowledge of current and historical traffic to select the fastest route from those alternates. That means that Navigation will automatically guide you along the best route given the current traffic conditions.

Not only can you save time and fuel, you’re making traffic better for everyone else by avoiding traffic jams. Keep in mind that we can’t guarantee that Navigation will be able to find a faster way, but it will always try to get you where you’re going as fast as possible.

You can begin routing around traffic with Google Maps Navigation for Android in North America and Europe where both Navigation and real-time traffic data are available.

Enjoy your newly found free time!

Instant Previews now available on mobile

Instant Previews provides a fast and interactive way to evaluate search results. Starting today, Google Instant Previews is available on mobile for Android (2.2+) and iOS (4.0+) devices across 38 languages. Similar to the desktop version of Instant Previews, you can visually compare search results from webpage snapshots, making it easier to choose the right result faster, especially when you have an idea of the content you’d like to see.

For example, if you’re looking for a webpage that has both photos and descriptions, you can use Instant Previews to quickly identify these pages by navigating across the visual search results with a few swipes of your finger. Or perhaps you’re looking for an article, a step-by-step instructions list, or a product comparison chart—with Instant Previews, you can easily spot pages with the right content without having to navigate back and forth between websites and search results. And when the mobile version of a website is available, we’ll show you a preview of the mobile page.

To use Instant Previews on your mobile device, do a search on www.google.com and tap on the magnifying glass next to any search result. A side-by-side comparison view of the webpage previews for the first page of search results will appear. When you find a result you like, tap on the preview to go straight to the website. It’s as easy as finding a recipe for poaching an egg:




You can learn more about Instant Previews for mobile in our Help Center. We hope that you enjoy finding the right result faster with Instant Previews