'Tis the season for getting cool electronic gifts, and there's a good chance that some of us will be getting another Android device for a holiday present.  While for many it will be a new smartphone to replace their existing Android phone, for others it might just be a new Android tablet or Google TV, and will be used in addition to your beloved Android phone.  Some of us are old pros at handling multiple devices, but for the first timer it can be a bit confusing, not knowing how things like Google applications and other apps with an account will work while on more than one device.  That's where we come in.  There's two ways to handle it all, and we're going to cover them both after the break.

Big thanks to Android Central member whitenack for the idea!

Motorola Mobility, on its blog, has done a great piece explaining the steps it has to take before releasing any upgrades to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. That includes getting the source code, merging it with its existing frameworks, bug-testing, getting carrier certification, doing an initial pre-release with some of us in the real world (those are those "soak tests" we hear about) and, finally, releasing the upgrade. No small feat, to be sure.

We still don't have a hard time table for when we'll start seeing Motorola's devices get their updates, though the manufacturer does remind us that the Droid RAZR, Xoom and Xoom Family Edition, and Droid Bionic will all receive updates to ICS. And that's just for starters, most likely.

Source: Motorola; Thanks, Durthquake!

As we all know the BlackBerry PlayBook (which just got rooted and can now access the Android market) will be receiving a large update in February 2012, which will add an Android App Player to it. Many wondered how many applications would be initially available for downloading, and it seems as though the folks at Handster will be putting forth quite some effort on this.

Our good friends at CrackBerry.com received an e-mail that said the folks at Handster will be doing the work for the Android developers, converting their applications, submitting them, etc and all the developer needs to do is supply them with a properly sized App World icon. In fact, its been suggested over 7,000 Android apps have been in testing on RIM employee PlayBooks for quite some time now. While all the questions have yet to be answered about the service, this is definitely a great starting place for getting Android applications on the BlackBerry PlayBook.

Source: CrackBerry

The Android love affair with the Blackberry Playbook continues, as the latest to come from the Dingleberry rooting exploit is full access to the Android Market. 

RIM have as expected, quickly issued a patch to repair the exploit used in Dingleberry (which has since been rooted again) but it is noted that the patch isn't available in the Playbook OS 2.0 beta at this time. 

If you picked up a Playbook in the recent sales and want to see some Android love on it, full instructions are after the break. For more on the Playbook and the Dingleberry exploit don't forget to check out our sister site, Crackberry.com

via: Intomobile

Verizon this morning officially announced it will carry the Motorola Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition as the XYBOARD 10.1 and XYBOARD 8.2, respectively. Both tablets will launch with Android 3.2 Honeycomb but will be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The XYBOARD tablets also both feature 1.2 GHz processors, 1GB of RAM and have Gorilla Glass on their displays. They each have 1 5MP rear-facing camera and a 1.3MP shooter up front.

No actual release date was announced, just "this month." As for pricing: The XYBOARD 10.1 will be available in a 16GB version for $529.99, a 32GB version for $629.99, and a 64GB version for $729.99. The XYBOARD 8.2 will cost $429.99 for the 16GB version and $529.99 for the 32GB version. Also,  you'll have to sign a two-year contract with a (minimum) $30-a-month data plan. However, Verizon will take off $100 and throw in $50 worth of accessories if you also buy a new Droid RAZR on contract. 

Full presser's after the break.

Dingleberry, the exploit package that roots the BlackBerry PlayBook (and has one of the coolest names ever) has gone public, and everyone who bought a PlayBook can now root the QNX operating system on the device.  Huge props to the fellows who figured out the exploit, especially because rooting QNX builds isn't a well documented or popular subject.  You gentlemen have a standing offer of an ice cold beer or six anytime I have chance to meet up with you.

But exactly what this means for PlayBook owners remains to be seen.  Much of the "Joy of Root" we see on Android devices is because the OS source code is open, allowing people to modify it to their heart's content.  BlackBerry isn't like that.  RIM keeps a tight reign on everything -- well, most everything -- for financial and (misguided) security reasons.  We've seen the PlayBook run Hulu because it was rooted, and the developers are pretty sure that they can get Netflix running. so that's good news.  Also the ability to load the Android Market again and bypass the re-compiled Android app limits that RIM has imposed will make more than a few happy.  Last, but not least, there's the possibility that root access will open a path to running other operating systems on the device -- like CyanogenMod 9.

The real drawback is that RIM has more control over their OS than Google does.  They will patch this exploit at the kernel level, then force users to update to the patched version in order to use App World and or Desktop Manager.  Another root method may never be found.  We're keeping a close eye on this, and since I don't give a hoot about App World or Desktop Manager, I never have to update.  Next step is to get the Android subsystem rooted, which may open more possibilities.  We'll let you know how this, as well as any prospects to have Android running on the great (and recently cheap) hardware RIM is offering.  Keep an eye on CrackBerry for the news about how this affects the BlackBerry OS side of things.

Source: Dingleberry; via CrackBerry

Verizon this morning in a press release talked up the first anniversary of the launch of its LTE network, pimping that 190 markets and 200 million people will be covered by Dec. 15 (that's covered, and not necessarily subscribed). Pretty impressive when you think about it, especially when you compare it to the other established 4G network. (Cough. Wimax.)

Oh, and expect a couple of Motorola Xyboard tablets this month, Verizon says. That's Verizon's version of the Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition, and we'll likely see LTE on board, of course.

And in case you're wondering, Verizon says the Galaxy Nexus is still coming soon. Of course it is.

Source: Verizon

And HTC's made it official: Honeycomb indeed is rolling out to the GSM HTC Flyer in Europe. So what about the rest of us? HTC says the Wifi version of the Flyer will "receive its Honeycomb update soon." Here's the full skinny:

Ready for some ‘sweet’ news? The GSM version of the HTC Flyer tablet, available in Europe, is beginning to receive updates to Honeycomb beginning today! Honeycomb brings a ton of improvements to Android on tablets, including the latest version of HTC Sense for Tablet with enhanced Internet browsing, Mail, Calendar and more all optimized for the 7" screen. Not to be outdone, the WiFi version of the HTC Flyer will receive its Honeycomb update soon, too! Stay tuned for more details.

Source: Facebook

Looks like the long wait for a Honeycomb update on the HTC Flyer is finally over, with the French version starting to get Android 3.0. Hopefully the rest of the world won't be too far behind. And hopefully this isn't the last update we'll see the Flyer -- which launched with Gingerbread -- receive. We'd love to see Ice Cream Sandwich on this kid.

Source: HTCInside.de (translated)

Cheap Android tablets are nothing new, but Sunyvale, Calif., company MIPS Technologies looks to be one of the first out of the gate with a cheap Ice Cream Sandwich tablet. The first version is launching as a 7-incher -- 8- and 9-inch tablets are on the way. It's running a 1GHz MIPS-Based XBurst CPU with a Vivante GC860 GPU has the usual Wifi, Bluetooth, HDMI and microSD features.

We've generally been less than impressed by most every cheap Android tablet we've seen. You usually do get what you pay for when it comes to this sort of thing. But MIPS' press release also includes a quote from Android's Andy Rubin, who said:

“I’m thrilled to see the entrance of MIPS-Based Android 4.0 tablets into the market. Low cost, high performance tablets are a big win for mobile consumers and a strong illustration of how Android’s openness drives innovation and competition for the benefit of consumers around the world.” 

It's being touted as retailing for less than $100. In fact, it's $99. And we just paid $66 in shipping. We'll just have to see when we get our hands on the MIPS whether it's worth even that much. Full presser's after the break.