Sony Ericsson’s “Shakira” has has gone from rumored to official in under two weeks. The company has officially announced their next Android handset, the Xperia X8. As most predicted, the X8 falls neatly in the middle between the X10 and X10 Mini series. Sony Ericsson pegs the phone with a price point of just under 200 Euro Retail ($245 US) and expects it will attract a new Android audience. Similar to the user interface of the X10 mini, the X8 features the four-corner customizable button for one-touch access to often used applications.
Sony Ericsson Formally Announces Xperia X8
AT&T Announces $129.99 HTC Aria for June 20
AT&T has announced via Facebook that their next Android handset, the HTC Aria, will be available June 20th. If you’ve been following along for the last few weeks then you’ll not be surprised by the form factor. Dropping at $129.99 (after $100 mail-in rebate), the pocket-sized Aria marks the first of several promised Android 2.1 handsets from the carrier.
HTC EVO 4G: The AndroidGuys Review
I’ll spare you guys a bunch of long-winded paragraphs and get right to the point. The HTC EVO 4G is the best phone you can buy for your money right now. Coupled with Sprint’s rate plans, there is really not much to even debate. From the gorgeous, and massive screen to the speedy 1GHz processor, it easily bests my previous Android experiences. I am not going to bore you with head-to-head match ups or specific test here. There’s plenty of the detailed stuff to be found online already. No, I will simply tell you about the things that stick out. My gut tells me that you guys are a lot like me. Your usage changes from day to day and you just want to know the big picture.
Motorola FLIPOUT Announced with Android 2.1 and Enhanced MOTOBLUR
Motorola just officially announced their latest Android offering, the FLIPOUT. Some of you may recall seeing this phone when it was rumored with names like ‘Ruth’ and ‘Twist’ a few months back. The compact and stylish phone features Android 2.1, a 3 megapixel camera, and an updated version of MOTOBLUR that offers seven home screens. Flipping the unqiue handset open reveals a five-row QWERTY with a directional pad. This marks the first device from Motorola to launch with Android 2.1 and options such as live wallpapers and added security for corporate email.
Andy Rubin: Android Updates Will “Probably end up Being Once a Year”
Google VP Andy Rubin recently spent some time speaking with the Silicon Valley Mercury News where he shared a few details about the future of the mobile platform. Rubin acknowledged the rapid maturity of Android and how it has kept developers and OEMs up at night. After what seems like a new release every few months, he expects to see Android updates slow down to once a year. Not terribly groundbreaking news as we’ve pretty much expected that around here. Still, it’s nice to see Google put this out there for handset makers and carriers to look forward to.
Google TV
A major announcement at the Google I/O last week was Google TV. Â So what is Google TV? Â The simple answer is it brings the power of the web to your television. It will bring all the videos on the internet from the small computer monitor to the large display of your television and home entertainment system. Google TV is part TV and part computer.
Google Changes Store Approach: “It’s Clear That Many Customers Like a Hands-on Experience”
Andy Rubin just published a post on the Official Google Blog where he announced some sweeping changes in the company’s approach to selling phones. The company has realized that after a few months, the store needs to be adjusted to reflect the needs and wants of consumers. It appears that customers are not ready to buy phones over the internet without playing with them first.
TMO Announces MyTouch 3G Slide!
Today T-Mobile officially announced the highly anticipated MyTouch 3G Slide. Featuring such additions as the Genius Button, myModes, and the Faves Gallery, will the MyTouch Slide offer up an experience that is as warmly received as the G1 was? Read below for full press release:
LG Ally Arrives May 20th
The first Android-based smart phone from LG to hit the US has gone from rumor to real deal in a matter of days. We just found official confirmation showing May 20th as the release date for the LG Ally. The handset manufacturer is gearing up for a full-on advertising blitz starting immediately. Some of you may have noticed the new commercial over the weekend featuring 5 friends caught in the middle of a battle between Iron Man and some drones.
While we’re still waiting to hear the official word on specs, we know a little bit more about what LG has in store for the phone. The Ally will come with an Augmented Reality application that works with an Iron Man comic book. Customers can enter a sweepstakes to win tickets to an upcoming Marvel movie, an LG phone, and other LG-related prizes.
An Iron Man-themed micro site, www.lgim2.com, is set to open any moment now and will include a film-themed game designed around Augmented Reality. According to LG, the Ally is “the first Android device to boast an Augmented Reality application” downloadable at the micro-site. For now, this app will be exclusive to LG handsets. As we read through the press release we get the sense that the Ally is featured throughout Iron Man, which would make it a first for Android handsets. We’ve seen other phones pop up here and there, but never in such a high-profile manner.
And It’s Official… Verizon Announces Droid Incredible for April 29th
One of the worst kept secrets in the history of Android has finally come to an end. The Droid Incredible is official from Verizon and due out April 29th. Starting Monday, April 19th, interested parties will be able to available for pre-order online at www.verizonwireless.com. No surprises at all when it comes to this one. The phone is everything we’ve been seeing and reporting on for the last few weeks.
The Droid Incredible will retail for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate (debit card) providing you sign a new two-year agreement. Highlights include Android 2.1 with the new Sense UI, a 3.7-inch AMOLED display, and an 8 megapixel camera with dual LED flash.