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• The Beautiful Widgets drama continues as HTC once again has asked to "review" the latest version, and that means our thread regarding the widgets continues to grow. Be sure to keep up with the latest information in this thread here.
• If you own an Android device, chances are you like to be able to customize things. And that's exactly what all of you Moto Droid owners seem to be doing. Share your home screens in the thread: Post your Screen!
• With so much hype surrounding the Nexus One, why not jump in our forums and discuss it?
• If you had to choose one single Android application, what would it be?

See you on the forums!

Google today responded to the FCC's FTC's request for more information regarding its purchase of AdMob, the mobile advertising company. And, as expected, they're putting a positive spin on the delay that's holding up the $750 million deal.

As we said when we announced the deal, we don't see any regulatory issues with this deal, because the rapidly growing mobile advertising space is highly competitive with more than a dozen mobile ad networks.

That said, we know that closer scrutiny has been one consequence of Google's success, and we've been talking to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over the past few weeks. This week we received what's called a "second request," which means that the FTC is asking for more information so that they can continue to review the deal.

Hey, time is money. And Google certainly has more than enough of both. [Google via MacRumors]

Update: Yes, we know the FCC is not the FTC. We're lucky we didn't call the darn thing the HTC. :-/

The rumors are building ahead of CES, and the latest involves LG, Sprint and a little 4G standard called WiMAX. The long-rumored LG Prada 3 reportedly could be an Android device. [MobileOSNews via Slashgear] Or, it could be a Windows Mobile device. [Information Week via WMExperts] It all depends on who you ask right now.

Either way, an actual WiMAX phone will be a pretty big deal. So we're just gonna have to go to Vegas and see for ourselves. Besides, Brooke Shields will be there. We just can't pass that up.

For you folks who are big into Photobucket, there's now a free Android app for you. With it you can search PB's library, get easy access to image URLs from your phone, and you can upload multiple files in the background. The app's now available in the Android Market. [Photobucket via AndroidOS.in]

You knew this was eventually going to happen. An official version of Tetris, from EA Mobile, was just released and it takes full advantage of the Motorola Droid's gorgeous screen.

With smooth animations along with some pretty decent music and sound effects, you have yourself a version of Tetris that competes with the best of them. Sadly, there is no multiplayer mode, but you do get three challenging single player modes -- Marathon mode, Ultra, and Forty Line.

This is a very polished version of Tetris, although I noticed the controls at times seemed a little clumsy, especially at higher levels. Hopefully an update will fix this. The other negative is that you can not use the Droids directional pad. Now perhaps I am being a bit harsh, because at the end of the day it is Tetris, and it's addicting.

Tetris is now available in the Market for $4.99.

We've seen tons of pictures and a few unofficial specs for the Nexus One trickle out of the past couple of weeks, but the folks at Engadget have found the mother lode. They've also gotten word that the Nexus one will be sold starting Jan. 5, albet on an invite-only basis at first, which they're guessing will be developers. A full T-Mobile retail launch is still in the cards, though, it's just that nobody knows when. Hit the break for the rest of the specs. [Engadget]

Let's face it: A smartphone doesn't really reach manhood until it can achieve the almighty tether -- we'll ignore for the moment whether it's Kosher with your carrier. And you can now tether with the Motorola Droid.

Sure, you previously could use PDANet. And while that's fine for many, it's just not the same. It you want true tethering, however, you're going to have to work for it. A new firmware isn't a small matter, but the instructions are now available, thanks to DroidForums user webacoustics. We'll warn you in advance: Read the instructions. Then read them again. And if you're not sure what you're doing, don't do it. But otherwise, happy tethering!

[DroidForums via Engadget]

The story of HTC is nothing short of amazing. From a little OEM company that developed phones for other companies to a complete powerhouse of a manufacturer and heavyweight in the smartphone industry in 10 short years--it's simply incredible the growth that HTC has shown. In 2008, one in six smartphones in the US were built by HTC. How did this Taiwanese company become so relevant, so fast?

Wired examines the history of HTC and showcases its plan for the future. In the past, they made the right bets (on Android) and did a great job with design and in the future, they'll continue to build their brand and globalize their company. Here's our choice nuggets from the story:

• “When we started to work with Google, we had no visibility at all,” says Wang. “The (Android) platform probably would not even materialize and even if it did, it could be just another one in the market. But we shared the excitement.”
• Over the next three years, it will spend $1 billion to create a new R&D facility near a Taipei suburb. 
• Personalization will be another big trend, “I firmly believe that the phone you have should never look like the phone I have,” he says.”If you love stocks and financial news that’s what your phone should show. But if I am interested in Hello Kitty and manga then my phone should reflect that.”
• “Brand value is like respect, you have to earn it,” he says. “You can’t buy respect. You can spend all the money you want to build the recognition but that doesn’t mean anything. I want the HTC brand to stand for a great experience.”

The whole story is worthy of a read even with some factual oddities (Sense on the Motorola Cliq, HTC Tattoo on Verizon? Huh?) that we'll begrudgingly excuse because HTC deserves all the accolades and acclaim they're receiving. HTC undoubtedly makes great products and we're glad to see the little company that could become a powerhouse in the industry. Now if HTC can follow up the Hero with the Nexus One ASAP, we'll love them even more.

[wired]

The guys at Gizmodo got their hands on the Nexus One aka the Googlephone and have come away with some impressions that have been surprisingly hard to come by. We'll give you the highlights but it seems like they've concluded that the Nexus One (or the N1?) will be the Android phone to get when released. Yep, better than the Droid, the Hero, and whatever else Android phone you want right now.

Here's their thoughts:

• The Nexus One is slightly thinner than the iPhone 3GS, and slightly lighter.
• The back is definitely not cheap and plasticky, like the iPhone's backing, and feels like some sort of rubbery material.
• It feels long and silky and natural in your hand—even more so than the iPhone 3GS.
• Even though the screen is the same size and same resolution as the Droid, it's noticeably better.
• This is probably the best screen we've seen on a smartphone so far. Probably.
• The Nexus One is astonishingly faster than the Droid.
• [For webpage loading]...the Nexus One loaded first, the iPhone 3GS came in a few seconds later, and the Droid came in a little while after that.

Head over to Gizmodo for their take but this is getting us more excited about the Nexus One than ever before. We love our Droids here at Android Central, something definitively better than the Droid will have to be eye-poppingly good.

Hooray! The Motorola Cliq (full review coming, we promise) has officially been rooted. Which means you can turn this tween-text-teen-social-centric phone into a powerhouse of whatever you like, in time. It's not quite ready for what we all expect rooted Android phones to be ready for--cyanogenMOD ROMs, Sense ROMs, etc.--but we expect that to be all figured out shortly. In the meantime, enjoy the fact that the rooted Cliq won't have to be stuck with Motoblur and will eventually be able to handle anything the devs throw at it!

Hit the link if you want to know how to root your Motorola Cliq!

[via redmondpie]