Motorola Droid 3 Preps For Verizon Stores

he Motorola Droid 3 has been eluding us since the start of the year. While other Motorola devices had made the “hunt” painless e.g. Motorola Droid X2, Motorola Droid Bionic, it’s hard to imagine why the Droid 3 has yet to surface with a firm release date.

Motorola Droid 3 appears again

Well now we come one step closer to that date as Android Central reports that they’ve caught the Motorola Droid 3 listed in Verizon’s device management pages, meaning “folks at big red are getting ready for the new slider to make it’s way into stores.”

Once again, its listing in the Verizon device management page is scarce with information. No details yet on a price, release date or even specs. So far the rumor mill suggests everything from dual-core processor to a 4-inch qHD display. As for the speculated June release date, this now certainly seems possible given the Droid 3′s listing. Other details that are a little more concrete are its 5-row keyboard which we saw courtesy of leaked images.

Nevertheless, even with such limited information we can still clearly see its key feature, the slide out QWERTY keypad. This in itself will have physical keyboard fans drooling and waiting over the phone as unfortunately Verizon doesn’t have much in the way of new keyboard equipped Android smartphones.

Zinio arrives for Android

Zinio, the popular magazine reading application that gained enormous popularity on iOS, is now available on Android. With the app, which is only available for tablets running Honeycomb, users can browse and consume their favorite magazines.

Zinio offers an enormous library, where users can purchase entire subscriptions or single issues. Their collection includes but is not limited to:

Bloomberg BusinessWeek
The Economist
Maxim
Esquire
Men’s Fitness
Macworld
PC World
PC Gamer
X-Box World
National Geographic
Consumer Reports

Facebook for Android v1.6

It started off as much maligned and then turned into pretty ok, so it’s been interesting watching the Facebook for Android app evolve since it’s inception on our phones. It would seem the next step of that evolution is nigh, as the Facebook for Android developers are seeking your (yes, you) help in beta testing v1.6 of the app.

A partial list of fixes includes:

Improved News Feed including comment liking

Pages

Video Uploads

Many bug fixes

Droid Pro getting its Gingerbread update

The rumors are true, folks. While your phone likely is still languishing with Froyo (hey, could be worse), the Motorola Droid Pro (read our full review) is getting its Gingerbread update. And why shouldn’t it? We found the Droid Pro to be a more-than capable (if a little small) 3.1-inch Android smartphone, with the front-facing QWERTY keyboard that so many of us had been wanting.

Anyhoo, back to the update. Looks like it’s Android 2.3.3 (Build number 4.5.1-110-VNS-11, if you’re into that sort of thing). You’ll have the updated version of Motorola’s Blur skin (which isn’t the worst thing in the world), as well as all the tweaks that Gingerbread can muster.

Plants Vs Zombies finally set his scale in top android apps simple game but worth playing watch game.

Sprint EVO 3D come with ‘The Green Hornet 3D

Apple: brings iWork to iPhone and iPod touch

Android 2.1 update now available for Xperia X10

iPhone 4 vs iPhone 3GS

Verizon says its LTE network is back ‘up

HTC: to release an NFC-capable device “slightly above” the HTC Sensation

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc review

HBO: GO now available, stream away!

Final shipping version of Gingerbread, leaks out for the Desire HD

Thunderbolt: update ready, OTA rolling out soon

Backup and restore of your data when switching ROMs

If you’ve rooted your Android phone, you probably have flashed a ROM or two.  Or 20.  If you haven’t, you will.  That’s how it works; you get sucked in and its too much fun to quit.  While Nandroid backups from a custom recovery are great for a full system restore, what about the equally important things like migrating text messages over to a new ROM?  Or all those bookmarks you’ve collected?  Or God forbid you lose your Angry Birdssave with all gold eggs and three stars!

Android Central forums member PvilleComp has you covered.  He’s laid out a very nice post that explains all the whats and hows of backing up your data, including whats safe to re-use and what isn’t.  If you’re new to the whole custom ROM game, or just were never sure what is safe to do and what isn’t, this one is for you.  And you seasoned experts out there — don’t be shy — you can jump on in and lend a hand if needed.  We’re one big happy family.

Verizon: says it will put location warning labels on all phones sold

See that rather ominous warning label above? That’s a new sticker that will soon be placed directly on the screen of every new device Verizon Wireless sells. Contrary to what you might suspect, however, that’s not being done in response to the most recent iPhone 4 tracking fiasco.

The label was revealed in a letter to Representatives Ed Markey and Joe Barton, who themselves sent a letter to Verizon (and the three other major carriers) on March 29th inquiring about a New York Times story that raised concerns about how carriers collect and store personal location data. As for the other carriers’ responses, they apparently aren’t going as far as Verizon has with its warning label, but they do mostly echo Verizon’s response in other respects. They all say, for instance, that personal data is secured by a variety of means and stored only as long as needed (which can apparently vary by carrier, though), that they don’t rent or sell personal information, and that they request customer consent before accessing location data. Despite those assurances, however, Rep. Markey says he’s still left with a “feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty,” and he’s pointing a finger at third-party developers in particular, who he says must be held “accountable.”

HBO Go hits iOS and Android | free for subscribers

Don’t ditch that premium cable subscription just yet. The long-anticipated HBO Go app just hit the iOS App Store and Android Market, bringing original HBO series and a variety of blockbuster films to your mobile device.

You’ll need an HBO subscription with your cable provider to get past the login screen, but unlocking all that the service has to offer using our Verizon FiOS account took just a second, and we were off and running with Avatar less than a minute after launching the app. We’ll have a full hands-on later today, but if you’re an HBO subscriber with an iOS or Android slab, head over to your device’s respective store to download the free app.

Xoom: Camera Connection Kit makes us lust for Photoshop on Honeycomb

Soon enough you’ll be able to transfer photos from your digital camera straight to your Xoom, provided you’re willing to shell out $20 for the Xoom Camera Connection Kit. We already knew that the tablet was capable of reading USB drives with a little trickery

but Motorola’s upcoming update will officially unlock that functionality (albeit in a limited form). The glorified micro-USB cable isn’t available online yet, but we’ve heard if you call Verizon and ask nicely for item number MOTMZ600ADPKIT they’re more than happy to send one your way. If asking for a random series of letters and numbers seems a little strange, just pretend you’re a secret agent and it’s some kind of cipher — preferably one that doesn’t remind you to drink your Ovaltine.

Verizon: says it will put location warning labels on all phones sold

See that rather ominous warning label above? That’s a new sticker that will soon be placed directly on the screen of every new device Verizon Wireless sells. Contrary to what you might suspect, however, that’s not being done in response to the most recent iPhone 4 tracking fiasco.

The label was revealed in a letter to Representatives Ed Markey and Joe Barton, who themselves sent a letter to Verizon (and the three other major carriers) on March 29th inquiring about a New York Times story that raised concerns about how carriers collect and store personal location data. As for the other carriers’ responses, they apparently aren’t going as far as Verizon has with its warning label, but they do mostly echo Verizon’s response in other respects. They all say, for instance, that personal data is secured by a variety of means and stored only as long as needed (which can apparently vary by carrier, though), that they don’t rent or sell personal information, and that they request customer consent before accessing location data. Despite those assurances, however, Rep. Markey says he’s still left with a “feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty,” and he’s pointing a finger at third-party developers in particular, who he says must be held “accountable.”

HBO Go hits iOS and Android | free for subscribers

Don’t ditch that premium cable subscription just yet. The long-anticipated HBO Go app just hit the iOS App Store and Android Market, bringing original HBO series and a variety of blockbuster films to your mobile device.

You’ll need an HBO subscription with your cable provider to get past the login screen, but unlocking all that the service has to offer using our Verizon FiOS account took just a second, and we were off and running with Avatar less than a minute after launching the app. We’ll have a full hands-on later today, but if you’re an HBO subscriber with an iOS or Android slab, head over to your device’s respective store to download the free app.

So, you can access your colleagues up

If you read the news today and yesterday, you can not have missed the security hole in Facebook . There is a vulnerability that allows you to access the accounts for all Facebook users that are connected to the same WiFi network as you. All you need is an extension for Firefox.

I will not tell you where you can download the Firefox extension, but anyone can find it through Google. The supplement was developed by a firm that wants to demonstrate the security hole and we can assume that up soon to solve this.

Update: After almost every other media talked about what the extension is called, I can also do it: it’s called the Fire Sheep , and it was developed by Code Butler .


All you have to do is install it and open it via Firefox and the menu View -> Sidebar -> Fire Sheep . This opens a window to the left of your browser and this shows all the up-logins that exist on the network.

How can this be possible? Well, when you log into Facebook sends a cookieto you with a unique ID number. This is apparently all it takes to log on. The Appendix uses the cookie to fake a login via Firefox. It does not help to turn off cookies in your browser, because the data is still sent to you.

At home, you can therefore access all the family members who are logged. If the neighbor does not have password protected their WiFi so you can connect to his network, you can access his family’s accounts. And if you have WiFi at work, you can get all logged colleagues. Not to mention the network of libraries, cafes, schools and so on.

Apple buy iCloud domain

In another possible sign that Apple is planning to launch a cloud-based service, it has been reported that the company may have purchased the domain name “iCloud.com” for $4.5 million.

According to blogger Om Malik of GigaOM, Apple may have purchased the domain name iCloud.com for the sum of $4.5 million. Malik’s source, however, is unnamed, and in the blog post is referred to as “a tipster of mine” and someone who is “familiar with the company” – that company being the previous owner of the domain name, Xcerion.

Xcerion has just changed the name of its cloud-based service from iCloud to CloudMe. The domain name for that website was acquired on April 5 of this year, says GigaOM. A search of the Whois database still shows the iCloud domain name as registered to Xcerion, though this could change shortly.

It is widely thought that Apple is close to announcing some form of cloud-based service. Only last week it was reported that the Cupertino company had reached an agreement with Warner Music, and possibly other record labels, to get iTunes in the cloud. Earlier in the month there were similar rumblings about a cloud-based TV servicein the offing from Apple. And if all that isn’t enough to have the more skeptical among you thinking, “Well, maybe itis going to look into this whole cloud business after all,” Apple is thought to have recently hired Kevin Timmons, the man who helped build the infrastructure for Microsoft’s global cloud computing network.

So let’s say it’s safe to assume Apple is going to be a player in the cloud. In that case, it’ll be wanting a domain name. Putting an “i” in front of the very service they’re offering would be just what you’d expect the company to do. Or is that too obvious?

The growing speculation could all be pointing toward a big announcement from Apple at the WWDC kicking off on June 6 in San Francisco.

Motorola: posts first quarter numbers Shipped 250,000 Xoom tablets

While Motorola shipped more than some expected, the Xoom’s first quarter numbers prove it didn’t live up to the hype.

After various reports claiming that Motorola’s Xoom sales were disappointing, it’s not surprise that its first quarter numbers are less than impressive. According to the Motorola Mobility’s financial statement, it shipped only 250,000 Xoom tablets.  While these numbers outdo the depressingly low estimate of 100,000 units shipped that Deutsche Bank analysts predicted at the beginning of April, they aren’t anything to get excited about.

The Xoom has had the cards stacked against it from the start. The extremely expensive tablet launched before it had integrated 4G or fully supported Flash, which were supposed to set it apart from the competition – most notably, the iPad and iPad 2. It doesn’t seem fair to compare, but context seems necessary:

Apple sold 300,000 iPads during its opening weekend.
Samsung shipped more than 600,000 Galaxy Tabs in its first month.
First day sales for the BlackBerry PlayBook are expected to outdo both the Galaxy Tab and the Xoom: Some analysts predict BlackBerry sold 50,000 units in one day.
It’s somewhat discouraging news for the Xoom, which was supposed to be the best answer to the iPad yet, and also introduce the world to Honeycomb, Android’s tablet-optimized OS. But it’s not all bad news for Motorola, which reported $3 billion in net revenues, 22-percent more than last year’s first quarter postings.

NPD: iPhone 4 remains top-selling smartphone, Android sales down in Q1

Apple, with help from Verizon, keeps its iPhone at the top of the sales charts for the first quarter of 2011. Android, meanwhile, sees its sales fall for the first time since 2009.


Apple’s iPhone 4 remained the top selling smartphone for the first quarter of 2011, according to market research group NPD. Meanwhile, Android phones saw their first quarterly drop in sales in two years.

The iPhone 4 retained its lead as the single best-selling mobile phone in large part to Verizon launching the device on its network in February. Overall, Apple accounted for 14 percent of all smartphone sales, which placed the Cupertino-based company in third place behind Samsung (23 percent) and LG (18 percent). Apple beat out competitors HTC, Motorola and Research in Motion (RIM).

Total smartphone sales rose eight percent in the first quarter of 2011 from the fourth quarter of 2010, but total mobile phone sales fell by a single percent.  According to NPD, it was the first time that smartphones outsold traditional mobile phones.

Android didn’t do so well over the first three months of the year. Sales of smartphones running the operating system fell to 50 percent, down from 53 percent in the previous quarter. Smartphones running Apple’s iOS accounted for 28 percent of smartphone sales — a nine percent increase.  RIM continued on a downward trajectory by falling to 14 percent, a five percent decline for the company.

With Apple creating a stir with today’s release of the white iPhone 4 and an iPhone 5 lurking in the not so distant future, the company should have no problem keeping its smartphone near the top of sales leader board. But that’s not to say the iPhone won’t be facing some serious competition from Android, which is also readying a highly-anticipated lineup of its own.

Verizon Droid charge: initial review

The Verizon Droid Charge is off to an inauspicious start. Announced at CES in early January 2011, it was slated to go on sale today, April 28. Such is not the case, however, due to some major hiccups with Verizon’s LTE network. But we’ve got a Droid Charge in hand, and it’s time to give Verizon’s second 4G-capable phone the what for.

Hardware-wise, it’s the same as we saw it four months ago. You’ve got a 4.3-inch touchscreen at 800×480, powered by a 1GHz processor, with 512MB of RAM. We’ve got 2GB of on-board storage, and our review unit came with a 32MB microSD card. Nice.

Despite being a large phone — it’s a hair over 5 inches tall and is about 2.6 inches wide — it’s less than a half-inch thick and weighs just 5.04 ounces. It’s big, but it feels pretty good in the hand, if a tad plastic. The Droid Charge tapers to a point down at the physical buttons — which are blissfully large — giving it the look of a shield.

Samsung’s TouchWiz interface is on board, same as it ever was. Otherwise, you’ve got all the usual accompanying features. There’s an 8MP rear camera with flash, front-facing 1.3MP camera, HDMI out, and so on and so forth. It’s a big, light, Android phone with LTE.

The full review’s coming up, folks. In the meantime, peep the pics after the break.