Froyo is Here, But I’m Enjoying Android 2.1

About a week ago, the long-awaited Android 2.1 update started rolling out to Droid Eris phones. For those of us reading about the joys of Froyo (Android 2.2), and still suffering with the 1.5 version, the wait seemed interminable. But now that the upgrade is complete, I can scan the Froyo headlines without deep pangs … Read more

Skype 2.0 for iPhone Brings 3G Calling

The Skype 2.0 update hit iPhones yesterday and brings with it 3G voice calling. Which is huge if you view AT&T as the agnostic data pipe it should be. So, instead of paying their possibly exorbitant rates, we now have a legit alternative. All 2.0 improvements: Call using your 3G connection. Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G are … Read more

Android Sirius XM App Now Available

Sirius XM Satellite Radio has launched an Android app that lets you listen to the network’s 120 channels of music and talk programming. Clearly the app doesn’t actually give your mobile phone a satellite receiver. Instead the app streams the radio stations over the internet using a WiFi or 3G connection — and the first … Read more

End of the Road for Dash Express

It should come as no surprise Dash Express network service would ultimately be terminated. In fact, I’m impressed that it’s been active this long given hardware discontinuation (11/08) and the RIM acquisition (6/09) in years past. However, we’ve nearly reached the end of the road — June 30th will be the last day Dash GPS owners will be able to access online services including traffic, Yahoo Local Search, and Send2Car.

As a refresher, Dash was notable as the first Internet-connected PND (via GSM service). It may have been large and had kinks to be worked out, but the Express provided all sorts of new, innovative mobile functionality. And I admired their audacity in taking on the establishment. Yet the world has dramatically changed since Dash was first conceived. And many of us now navigate via our (connected) smartphones. Which is probably why RIM, the Blackberry people, picked up Dash (for a song).

The Dash story is also partially my own – having been employed about 6 months when the powers that be pulled the plug on hardware and a large percent of the staff. Obviously it wasn’t the outcome I had hoped for or anticipated. And not a decision I agreed with. Sadly, due to the nature of things, it’s not appropriate to elaborate any further. Unless we’re chatting in person over a beer. ;)

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Google Formally Introduces Android 2.2 (Froyo)

Google has officially unveiled the next generation of its Android operating system for mobile devices today at the Google I/O developer conference. The SDK is available for developers today, and Google says Android 2.2 Froyo will be available to OEMs in the next few weeks. There are a ton of changes in Froyo, but here are some of … Read more

The Sprint HTC EVO Review Roundup

After drooling over Sprint’s pre-release HTC EVO, I made a practical decision to go with the CDMA Nexus One instead. As I saw limited benefit from a 4G smartphone and felt the EVO was just too big. Also, real world battery life and 3G/4G switching were undocumented. Unfortunately, Google blew up their Nexus One experiment and … Read more

Amazon Kindle Android App Coming This Summer

We already knew Amazon was working on a version of its Kindle eBook reader for Google Android. Now we know when it will be released… roughly. Amazon has announced that the Kindle App for Android is due out this summer — and it will have one major feature that’s missing from the iPhone and iPad versions. You’ll … Read more

Hands On Slacker 2.0 for iPhone (Caching!)

At long last, Slacker Radio 2.0 for iPhone is nearly here! Of course, the most notable and eagerly anticipated feature is the ability to cache stations for offline playback. Slacker’s updated app was submitted to Apple for review yesterday and, barring any show stoppers, should be available in iTunes in the next day or so. Slacker … Read more