Looks like Verizon is ramping up for some major Android releases. Along with the Droid (which we're expecting very soon), this in-the-wild photo is of the HTC Desire which clearly houses Verizon branding and runs the HTC Sense UI. We have absolutely no details to share with you but we've seen this device before in the hands of Google CEO Eric Schmidt. You can see that the button layout and trackball in Schmitty's hand match the phone in the photo above.

What could this phone be? Perhaps another take on the HTC Hero? A completely new HTC Android device? We can't wait to find out.

[bgr]

thanks troy otts for the tip!

According to some leaked slides, it looks like Best Buy will receive the Verizon Droid on October 24th. As in this coming weekend. As in 4 days earlier than the planned Verizon Droid event. The price listed on the slides is $599.99 which is obviously off-contract pricing. Having the phone shipped to Best Buy on October 24th doesn't necessarily mean that it'll immediately be available to customers, in fact, it's downright silly to expect a phone as anticipated as the Droid to be made available before an official announcement.

And with Verizon taking the Droid so seriously, we wouldn't expect to be able to mosey down to our nearest Best Buy and snatch one off the shelves. As for enterprising Best Buy workers? Only time will tell. More pictures available at the link.

[phonearena]

We've received news that HTC has just made the HTC Hero kernel source code public. For the average Android user, this isn't big news but for those who like to dib and dabble, tinker and mod their phones, this is magnificent news. Having the HTC Hero kernel source code available to the public releases all the inner workings of the software on the phone--every little painstaking detail. Now everyone will be able to see what HTC did to tweak Android and developers can offer the same performance enhancements in their own builds. Basically, with this, developers will be able to do a lot more and offer deeper access into their phones.

Sounds good by us. We're happy that HTC is following in line with Android's open source nature. What do you guys think?

[via gizmodo]

Google is looking to get involved with music services and it's going to use the help of current web services like iLike and LaLa to do so. From what we gathered, Google Audio will allow people to search for artists, songs, etc and it'll display results in either snippets of the song or full-length versions and point users to where they can easily purchase those songs. And though that's an amazing and exciting proposition, being able to simply use the power of Google to get easy-access to purchasing songs, it's not exactly going head to head with the moneymaking heavyweight that is iTunes.

But still, a lot is unknown at this point and certain final UI details and design may change and clearer details may eventually come about. But what is sure is that Google is planning to announce this new service on October 28th (interestingly, the same day as the Droid event!) so we'll find out soon. Could Google eventually use their new service to replace the Amazon MP3 Store on Android?

What do you guys think about Google's new music service?

[techcrunch, gizmodo]

T-Mobile's 'Project Dark' is especially of interest to us because of T-Mobile's faith in Android. Because of their support (and the great customer service), we have a soft spot for the fourth-place, magenta loving carrier and hope that 'Project Dark' can be all its prepped up to be and catapult T-Mobile into the big boys table. And if it follows the lead of these screenshots, we think 'Project Dark' will become an out and out success.

Tmonews got their hands on these leaked images that show new pricing structures and rate plans for T-Mobile. According to this report, T-Mobile will offer two new options, Even More and Even More Plus. The details are as follows:

Even More Plan:

• $100 for unlimited voice/SMS/data
• $70 for unlimited voice and SMS
• $60 for unlimited voice
• Requires two year contract

Even More Plus Plan:

• $80 for unlimited voice/SMS/data
• $60 for unlimited voice and SMS
• $50 for unlimited voice
• Pre-paid, no contract

What's really amazing is that the 'Even More Plus' plans are not locked in a 2 year contract and yet are cheaper! There's also word that you'll be able to purchase phones over four different installments. We're hoping that the no-contract plans of 'Even More Plus' can still lead to carrier subsidies for phones and that the 2-year contract plans of 'Even More' can offer ridiculously cheap options. Yeah, we want to eat our cake too. Don't you?

How do you feel about these details of T-Mobile's 'Project Dark'?

We know you guys are excited about the Sprint Samsung Moment, it offers Android in a QWERTY-slider form factor with a 800MHz processor, 3.2-inch AMOLED screen, 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, and an optical joystick. With the added hardware keyboard it offers a completely different experience than the HTC Hero, so Sprint users will have the benefit of choice.

Engadget got their hands on the Samsung Moment and were kind enough to put it through the rite of the unboxing. Feel free to head over there to check out more pics!

According to HTC VP of Asia Pacific, Jack Tong, the HTC Hero is enjoying high demand and great sales in the European and Asian markets. Because of such hot demand, it looks like the Hero is in tight supply for the next month or so. According to Tong:

The tight production will not be eased until November and the sales momentum of HTC Hero is expected to continue in the first quarter of 2010.

We're excited to see an Android device take off and hold such a strong demand. It's clear that the European GSM HTC Hero is a success and that the European and Asian markets love Android. But it definitely leaves us to wonder how the Sprint HTC Hero is performing (we think very well). Either way, we can't wait to see more Android devices made by HTC!

[digitimes]

It looks like that countdown clock on the Droid website was ticking down to the official announcement of the Verizon Droid. Verizon just sent out invitations to the media that confirms what we already know--the Droid is made by Motorola headed to Verizon and going to be one of 'must-have devices of the year'. So come October 28th, be ready for the onslaught of Droid.

In a separate promotional mailer from Verizon PR, 11.09 is listed on the backside. And since November 9th comes after October 28th, we're deducing that the later date could be the actual release date of the Droid. We make pretty good detectives, don't we?

And lastly, to show how serious Verizon is about the Droid, check out the video of the package they mailed to MobileCrunch after the break! What can say 'Droid' more than that?

[via engadget, gearlog]

Meet the Dell 'Streak', a 5-inch Android-powered MID that packs a 800x480 capacitive touchscreen (with multitouch!), 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, and runs Android 2.0 'Eclair'. There are also 3 touch sensitive buttons on the right side and what appears to be a front-facing camera for video conferencing. This isn't a complete surprise since we've heard of Dell's interest in creating an Android-powered, iPod Touch competitor before, but it's certainly an exciting proposition.

After the US was initially ignored by the China-only Dell mini 3i smartphone, it looks like Dell is re-focusing on their home market. Reports have shown that the Dell mini 3i will makes its way to the US market and the 'Streak' should follow suit.

What do you guys think?

Hit the jump for a video look of the Dell 'Streak' Android MID!

[via slashgear]

Now that's how you design a dual-screen E-book reader! Barnes & Noble just announced their own E-Book Reader called 'Nook' and its fresh design offers both a 6-inch E-ink display with a 3.5-inch color touchscreen for navigation and controls. Unlike the E-book reader we reported yesterday, the Nook looks amazing and blends the two screens amazingly well.

We're very impressed with the Nook and hopeful that with Android in its corner, it can knock the Kindle and Sony E-readers off their perch. Like most E-book readers these days, the Nook packs 3G and Wi-Fi for wireless downloading but unlike most, the Nook offers LendMe technology that allows you to lend books to friends for 14 days. Other features include a microSD slot, 3.5 mm headphone jack and mp3 player, PDF support, and 1 million books available for purchase.

The Nook will be available for $259 at the end of November. We're hoping that since Android powers the Nook, we'll see some applications designed to extend the scope of E-book readers.

Who wants one?

[barnes and noble]