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[andycapps]

I'm guessing this is going to be on AT&T with no chance of it coming to Verizon, right?

If it came to AT&T I might have to stay with them.. but they'd have to lower their prices or introduce some kind of Android plans that are much cheaper. As it is, I'm out as soon as my contract is up. Checked yesterday though and it's not up until 4/19/10.. Ugh!

 

[SimleuqiR]

I'm guessing this is going to be on AT&T with no chance of it coming to Verizon, right?

We're not sure what carrier the 'Rachael' is going to land on--we're leaning towards T-Mobile since AT&T hasn't acknowledged Android--but we'll soon find out on November 3rd!

It's all speculation at this time. But AT&T has been shunning Android to appease Apple and their Jesus phone. They might hold off until they lose or keep the iPhone before making a decision on Android.

 

[Vyse The Legend]

I came!! Please let it be on T-mobile or Sprint!! I'm already looking into switching to Sprint, but this phone coming out on T-mobile is the only thing that might keep me with them.

Seriously. If T-Mobile doesn't make moves soon, I'm defecting to Verizon.

 

[SimleuqiR]

Seriously. If T-Mobile doesn't make moves soon, I'm defecting to Verizon.

Verizon is to rich for my blood. I have three lines I have to worry about. Sprint seems more sensible to my needs. But if Rachael is coming to T-mobile, they are keeping me for another two years.

 

[Vyse The Legend]

Verizon is to rich for my blood. I have three lines I have to worry about. Sprint seems more sensible to my needs. But if Rachael is coming to T-mobile, they are keeping me for another two years.

T-Mobile's 3G uses 1700MHz, and the Infinity's leaked specs don't list that frequency. So, this may end up being AT&T's first Android phone. I hope I'm wrong, though.

 

[SimleuqiR]

T-Mobile's 3G uses 1700MHz, and the Infinity's leaked specs don't list that frequency. So, this may end up being AT&T's first Android phone. I hope I'm wrong, though.

Can I haz the leaked specs? The only info I've found shows European 3G bands. Thanks!

 

[Vyse The Legend]

Can I haz the leaked specs? The only info I've found shows European 3G bands. Thanks!

You're right. They're the Euro specs. Is there anything to suggest that it may come to T-Mobile or AT&T in those spec sheets? Also, is the scheduled announcement on November 3rd for the US or Euro markets?

 

[SimleuqiR]

You're right. They're the Euro specs. Is there anything to suggest that it may come to T-Mobile or AT&T in those spec sheets? Also, is the scheduled announcement on November 3rd for the US or Euro markets?

Nothing AFAIK. It's all speculation, since AT&T has been so hush hush on Android and are trying to keep Apple happy. That's why most are expecting no Android phones for AT&T at least until next year?

Verizon would have been the next logical choice, but they are building their own line of Android phones with similar design (Droid line name, face buttons, etc).

T-mobile and Sprint are the last possible choices.

Edit: Anything is possible. But AT&T does have the largest GSM network in the USA.

 

[Fatalah]

Is there a big event tomorrow for Verizon?

 

[Totakeke]

Is there a big event tomorrow for Verizon?

It's the Droid teaser, not necessary a big event, but some event nonetheless.

 

[tokkun]

You're right. They're the Euro specs. Is there anything to suggest that it may come to T-Mobile or AT&T in those spec sheets?

You don't need the spec sheets. S-E adopted a policy of not supporting CDMA in North America a long time ago. Unless they change policy, that means it has to go to T-Mobile or AT&T.

They did acquire Nortel (who makes NA CDMA support equipment) a couple months ago, so I guess it's possible that things could change on the handset front, but until there is more evidence it seems like long odds to me.

 

[NinjaFridge]

Any word on Droid outside of the US yet? Haven't been following it.

 

[wayward archer]

Any word on Droid outside of the US yet? Haven't been following it.

It's coming for sure but nobody knows when or where. Some people speculate Vodafone because of their link to Verizon.

http://phandroid.com/2009/10/16/motorola-sholesdroid-headed-to-europe/

 

[Pimpwerx]

Hopefully the Rachael is soft-unlockable so everyone can get in on it. I'm buying it day1. It's the sweetest Android phone on the horizon. I don't care about hard keyboards. PEACE.

 

[electristan]

it would be great to have the Droid in a GSM version, but if i dont hear anything soon im picking up the Acer Liquid. the videos of it working look so damn responsive.

 

[TheOMan]

Hopefully the Rachael is soft-unlockable so everyone can get in on it. I'm buying it day1. It's the sweetest Android phone on the horizon. I don't care about hard keyboards. PEACE.

 

[Totakeke]

Little more than a tiny image and a handful of specs right now, but NEC are believed to be working on a mobile PC that, to our squinting at least, looks to be Android based. The touchscreen slate has a 7- to 8-inch LCD display, and NEC apparently have high hopes for its sales performance: they’re predicting that they’ll eventually ship over 1m of the UMPCs each year.

http://www.slashgear.com/nec-android-tablet-to-drop-in-japan-this-fall-2761916/

Can Android take on both iPhone and the iTablet while covering whatever Apple is doing on the user interfaces on both?

 

[tokkun]

it would be great to have the Droid in a GSM version, but if i dont hear anything soon im picking up the Acer Liquid. the videos of it working look so damn responsive.

Given that the Liquid has a 768 MHz Snapdragon, I think that it has the best CPU of any Android phone that has been officially unveiled so far. It's a shame that the face of the phone looks so ugly, since I think that a lot of people have written it off for that reason.

 

[Dineren]

Looks like the Rachel is my best bet in the near term. Hopefully it ends up somewhere besides Verizon. I'd prefer Sprint, but I wouldn't mind sticking with AT&T or switching to T-Mobile.

 

[SimleuqiR]

Well, in Pimpwerx defense not everyone is used to physical keyboards. My iPhone was the first smart phone I've ever owned. Before that it was a one of those Motorola Flip phones, nothing special. So for someone like me software keyboard (only) is a welcome. Plus you don't have to worry about "wear and tear" of the keyboard.

 

[Fatalah]

Looks like the Rachel is my best bet in the near term. Hopefully it ends up somewhere besides Verizon. I'd prefer Sprint, but I wouldn't mind sticking with AT&T or switching to T-Mobile.

I don't think I've ever seen a Sony or Ericsson phone on Verizon.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

http://www.slashgear.com/nec-android-tablet-to-drop-in-japan-this-fall-2761916/

Can Android take on both iPhone and the iTablet while covering whatever Apple is doing on the user interfaces on both?

Well, maybe. Assuming the NEC is running Android, that would be three Android tablets worldwide before the end of the year, and they all target a different territory: Dell Streak for US, Archos 5 IT for Europe, and NEC for Japan. Archos is probably a good US/Europe combo, but Archos is more widely known in their home of Europe.

I'm hoping the Dell tablet delivers. A 5-inch capacitive screen? And it has 3G? Two of my grievances about the Archos's would be instantly rectified by those.

Given that the Liquid has a 768 MHz Snapdragon, I think that it has the best CPU of any Android phone that has been officially unveiled so far. It's a shame that the face of the phone looks so ugly, since I think that a lot of people have written it off for that reason.

I still think the red version looks hot. Yes, I said hot.

 

[Totakeke]

Well the jump from 1.6 to 2.0 was rather quick! Today Google is proudly announcing that the Android SDK now supports Android 2.0 (also known as Eclair). The first Android 2.0 device will be the Motorola Droid which is set to be unvieled by Verizon tomorrow.

http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2009/10/27/google-announces-android-2-0-support-in-the-sdk/

http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.0-highlights.html

Well, maybe. Assuming the NEC is running Android

I think the app tab on the lower part of the screen pretty much confirms Android, well, making it highly likely anyway.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

• The framework's multi-touch support ensures that key presses aren't missed while typing rapidly with two fingers.

• Support for HTML5:
  • <video> tag support in fullscreen mode.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

 

[Totakeke]

One of our connects hit us up and informed us that the much-awaited Motorola Droid and HTC Droid Eris will be launching on the same day of November 6th. Is this confirmed? No, but this is the closest we&#8217;re going to get besides an official announcement.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009...droid-eris-launching-november-6th-on-verizon/

 

[ThatObviousUser]

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009...droid-eris-launching-november-6th-on-verizon/

Two handsets at once? I thought Sprint was eager to cover their bases, launching the Moment so close to the Hero... now we have Verizon launching a QWERTY-packing and a QWERTY-less phone on the same day!

To think how dead the Android scene was earlier this year...

 

[SimleuqiR]

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Heh, yeah, I saw that. The device would be a lot more tempting if Apps: Android was replaced with Apps: Android Market, though.

 

[SimleuqiR]

Heh, yeah, I saw that. The device would be a lot more tempting if Apps: Android was replaced with Apps: Android Market, though.

The videos you posted here were awesome! Specially connecting the device to an HDTV and using a mouse+keyboard. That's a nice alternative to a laptop when on the go.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

The videos you posted here were awesome! Specially connecting the device to an HDTV and using a mouse+keyboard. That's a nice alternative to a laptop when on the go.

Archos definitely has the media aspect down, and yeah, hooking it up to an HDTV and using a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard practically make it like a desktop that can be taken anywhere. It's still got a few snags though. I eagerly await what Archos does with its next generation tablets.

 

[Fatalah]

If it's true that the Eris is underpowered and only runs Android 1.5, I'm going to be pissed off.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

You were gonna buy it?

 

[Fatalah]

You were gonna buy it?

I'd love to buy it. But not like this Andrex, not this way.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Poor Fatalah.

 

[tokkun]

If it's true that the Eris is underpowered and only runs Android 1.5, I'm going to be pissed off.

It's basically the Verizon-branded Hero. What did you expect?

 

[Skittleguy]

XDA works wonders guys.

 

[Fatalah]

It's basically the Verizon-branded Hero. What did you expect?

I'm hoping for a better HTC at the launch of Android on Verizon. What's the problem?!

 

[Grady Durden]

I just won a Motorola Cliq (T-Mobile) and it's pretty cool. The processor is faster the MyTouch and the G1. I really like the social networking aspect of it, as well. It integrates your Facebook/Twitter accounts into the phone and homescreen so that you can constantly stalk your friends. I'm still using the MyTouch though, seeing as my fiancee will get the new phone.

 

[Totakeke]

I just won a Motorola Cliq (T-Mobile) and it's pretty cool. The processor is faster the MyTouch and the G1. I really like the social networking aspect of it, as well. It integrates your Facebook/Twitter accounts into the phone and homescreen so that you can constantly stalk your friends. I'm still using the MyTouch though, seeing as my fiancee will get the new phone.

Lucky bastard!


And Google Navigation launching with Droid? Game changer?

We noticed Google Turn-By-Turn Directions but assumed this was just the current Google Maps Directions feature which provides an arrow button to see turns in-order. You know what they say… never make assumptions.

Our tipster says Google Turn-By-Turn Directions fulfill the prophecy of full blown GPS Navigation from Google. It is likely this will launch with the Motorola Droid and be included in all devices with Android 2.0 and beyond, accessed through and integrated with Google Maps for Android (and possibly/probably other platforms after Android).

My contact hasn’t seen Google Turn-By-Turn Directions in action but when asked how sure (s)he was it would launch with the Motorola Droid and be a complete, full blown GPS solution (s)he replied:

99.99999% sure.

http://phandroid.com/2009/10/27/google-turn-by-turn-directions/

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Just saw the Google Turn-by-Turn on Phandroid, and yeah, that could be a killer app. Literally. Well, maybe not too literally. But you know what I mean.

To be honest I'm surprised it took this long - they were beating their chests over Android's text-to-speech engine last May, integrating it into Maps for true turn-by-turn seemed the most likely scenario.

 

[Vanillalite]

Google lets the cat out of the bag a day early to celebrate the release of the new 2.0 version of Android. You can see the official info here!

Highlights Include

New User Features

Contacts and accounts

* Multiple accounts can be added to a device for email and contact synchronization, including Exchange accounts. (Handset manufacturers can choose whether to include Exchange support in their devices.)
* Developers can create sync adapters that provide synchronization with additional data sources.
* Quick Contact for Android provides instant access to a contact's information and communication modes. For example, a user can tap a contact photo and select to call, SMS, or email the person. Other applications such as Email, Messaging, and Calendar can also reveal the Quick Contact widget when you touch a contact photo or status icon.

Email

* Exchange support.
* Combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page.

Messaging

* Search functionality for all saved SMS and MMS messages.
* Auto delete the oldest messages in a conversation when a defined limit is reached.

Camera

* Built-in flash support
* Digital zoom
* Scene mode
* White balance
* Color effect
* Macro focus

Android virtual keyboard

* An improved keyboard layout to makes it easier to hit the correct characters and improve typing speed.
* The framework's multi-touch support ensures that key presses aren't missed while typing rapidly with two fingers.
* A smarter dictionary learns from word usage and automatically includes contact names as suggestions.

Browser

* Refreshed UI with actionable browser URL bar enables users to directly tap the address bar for instant searches and navigation.
* Bookmarks with web page thumbnails.
* Support for double-tap zoom.
* Support for HTML5:
o Database API support, for client-side databases using SQL.
o Application cache support, for offline applications.
o Geolocation API support, to provide location information about the device.
o <video> tag support in fullscreen mode.

Calendar

* Agenda view provides infinite scrolling.
* Events indicate the attending status for each invitee.
* Invite new guests to events.


New Platform Technologies

Media Framework

Revamped graphics architecture for improved performance that enables better hardware acceleration.
Bluetooth

* Bluetooth 2.1
* New BT profiles: Object Push Profile (OPP) and Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)

New Framework APIs

Android 2.0 includes several new developer APIs. For an overview of new APIs, see the Android 2.0 version notes.

For a complete report of all API changes, see the API Differences Report.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Yup yup yup it's looking pretty good.

Anyone excited for Verizon's event at 11:30 AM EST tomorrow? As if I had to ask.

 

[Pimpwerx]

Huh? Does this mean 2.0 is gonna get pushed out to other phones too, or is this announcement only significant to Droids? Are we really going to have to wait until Q2 2010? That's some bullshit. PEACE.

 

[sableholic]

Huh? Does this mean 2.0 is gonna get pushed out to other phones too, or is this announcement only significant to Droids? Are we really going to have to wait until Q2 2010? That's some bullshit. PEACE.

means people can update their apps to work for 2.0/take advantage of new 2.0 features nothing more nothing less I believe

 

[ThatObviousUser]

means people can update their apps to work for 2.0/take advantage of new 2.0 features nothing more nothing less I believe

Yup. Also I expect other devices to get 2.0 in Q1. The code's just sitting there in the repositories now, after all.

 

[Skittleguy]

Yup. Also I expect other devices to get 2.0 in Q1. The codes just sitting there in the repositories now, after all.

I thought they just pushed the SDK? Now the source is available too?

 

[ThatObviousUser]

I thought they just pushed the SDK? Now the source is available too?

I assumed it was... so, scratch that part, I guess. I still expect it to be put out in Q1 for other devices.

Though, a DroidDog (or was it Phandroid?) post said one of their tipsters confirmed 2.0 is too big for the Dream/G1. So that probably won't be getting it.

 

[JoeFu]

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Oh well, I guess I'll have to live with 1.6 for a while. Not going to get a new phone any time soon. This makes me sad ((((((((((((((((((

 

[nocode]

Yup yup yup it's looking pretty good.

Anyone excited for Verizon's event at 11:30 AM EST tomorrow? As if I had to ask.

I think it is safe to say that I am pretty excited.

 

[gutshot]

Yup yup yup it's looking pretty good.

Anyone excited for Verizon's event at 11:30 AM EST tomorrow? As if I had to ask.

I am. Is there usually a video feed of this kinda event? Or will we have to resort to live blogs?