Speaking of the Motorola Cliq, a few of you started noting in the comments today that your phones saw updates, too. Turns out, according to Phone Scoop, that Version 1.3.8 -- which remains Android 1.5, by the way -- accidentally was pushed out to about 600 people and was only available for 15 minutes or so. Battery life, screen sensitivity and GPS are said to have been improved somewhat. No word yet on when any update will be made available again. [Motorola forums via Phonescoop]
Sure, there are precisely 3,497 ways (we counted) to get music on your Motorola Cliq. It's just that FM radio isn't one of them. Until now. Sort of. Alls you have to do is load up an LG ROM, mess around in some bin files and load an apk or six, and you're good to go. Simple, really, when you think about it. Oh, you don't know how to do that? Don't want to dive into the depths of a Linux-powered phone to listed to the latest from Ke$sha? Fine. Slacker. [via AndroidGuys]
Seriously, AT&T, it's time to give it a rest. You're getting as bad as Apple with these "facts." Woman looks at a Motorola Droid and says, "What is this?" Why, it's the Motorola Droid. It's what's propelling Android's numbers month after month. "Where are all my apps?" another woman asks. You're right, lady. It's real tough to find Android apps. Stop it. Just stop it. [via The iPhone Blog]
We're still eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Dell Mini 5 -- a five-inch Android-powered Mobile Internet Device also known as the Streak-- and we're going to keep waiting, apparently. Michael Dell himself teased TechCrunch with it recently, saying nothing more than "it'll be out in a couple months."
Despite the CEO's unwillingness to talk about the nuts and bolts of the Mini 5, we do know that it's powered by the 1GHz Snapdragon processor (isn't everything these days?) and has a 5MP camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G capability. So, that's a snazzy-looking device. The question, Michael, is how much are you gonna charge us for that little slice of heaven? Video after the break. [TechCrunch]
When your iPhone-loving friends question whether there are any decent games on your Android phone, just show them this video. (Thanks to everyone who sent this in.)
Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha has confirmed that his company has in the works "at least one direct-to-consumer device with Google." Sure sounds like the rumored Google Nexus Two to us, and again solidifies the relationship between the Android developer and hardware manufacturers. (Remember that Jha was on stage with Android and HTC execs at the launch of the Nexus One.)
As for the earnings call and Motorola's recent resurgence in the mobile space, Jha seemed upbeat, though cognizant of the road ahead. "We are just at the beginning of our transition to a smartphone company, and we have a lot of work ahead of us," he said. A couple of other points:
2 million Android-based smartphones sold in the fourth quarter. They expect lower sales in the first quarter.
The Motorola Backflip is coming before the end of the first quarter.
"Cliq, Backflip and the majority of our new smartphones this year will feature MotoBLUR," Jha said.
As for the numbers end of things, Motorola sold 2 million Android-based smartphones in the fourth quarter. Sales hit $1.82 billion in Q4, up from $1.69 billion in the third quarter. Operating loss was $114 million, down from $183 million the previous quarter, and down from $476 million in Q4 2008. More on that after the break. [Motorola (pdf link)]
We're getting word that T-Mobile myTouch 3G users are seeing an over-the-air (OTA) update roll in, but unfortunately it's not an update to Android 2.0/2.1 or anything. It's looking like it's not much more than a radio fix (better 3G, anyone?), but that's nothing to scoff at, either. Sing out if you're seeing anything different. [T-Mobile forums via @tsuranoth]
Want a 10-inch tablet with a big black bezel for $500, all without that Apple/AT&T baggage? MSI has one in works, says Digitimes, source of all things sometimes true. The as-yet unannounced and unnamed tablet would run an as-yet unidentified version of Android, powered by a Tegra-based processor. And unlike the iPad (which you guys weren't too keen on, by the way), this one would feature "all the functions of a regular notebook." [Digitimes]
The biggest leap many Android users have to make is going all-in with Google. E-mail, contacts, search results -- Google knows it all. Today is International Data Privacy Day, and the Big G is taking the opportunity to explain its privacy principles in five easy bullet points. Peep them and a cute little explainer video after the break.
Handmark's TweetCaster Twitter application is now live in the Android Market. (If you missed it, be sure to check out our review.) TweetCaster features support for multiple Twitter accounts, geolocation, searches and all of your other favorite Twitter features.
A free, advertising-based version is available, and there's a premium (ad-free) version of TweetCaster available for $4.99 in the Android Market. Note: You need to install the free version first, and then the upgrade key, to go ad-free. Download links below.
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