Android

I must say that I was surprised when I received this "tablet" for review. Somehow I was expecting a 7 to 10 inch screen, but instead, this unit is about the size of an iPod touch. In fact, that's the best way to describe it. It's an Android iPod touch. It's a bit thicker than an iPod with a smaller touch screen at 3.2 inches with a 400 x 240 resolution and 18 bit color depth.

If you are a gamer, and you like to go mobile with your IOS, Blackberry, or Android phone, you'll want to take a look at Powerskin. It not only protects you device, but it makes the handheld gaming experience more exciting and longer lasting.

They come in a colorful array of orange, green, blue, and black. They are more fun than a barrel of monkeys, and they are aptly named Tankbots. They sort of look like little Smart Cars on tractor treads.

The Verbatim Ultra-Slim keyboard really is slim. It measures just over 1/8" think by 8 3/4 x 4/3/4 and weighs about as much as a hummingbird beak. So, it's compact and easy to carry on the road, yet it's a full-size Qwerty board with lots of special key features. It makes the perfect stock stuffer for the dedicated road warrior or for at home/office use to increase productivity.

I haven't had such a horrible reading experience since I think about 1998 or 1999. I had forgotten that it was like trying to wrestle an octopus in the dark. It's better when you have light, lots of light. The worst part is not so much trying to see the blurry, small print on cheap paper as it is trying to keep the page from curving and the whole thing closing and slipping out of your hands--hands because the unpleasant process takes two hands to make it viable. And your arms get tired and maybe cold if you don't have the heat turned up sufficiently.

HTC announces a new phone designed with accessories to enhance the overall smartphone experience, called the Rhyme. Includes a dock and some very unusually stylish colors. Read on for full press details...

SPB  has added more cool features to their already popular Shell 3D product, including more 3D features, landscape support and more. Read on for full PR info or go here...

I've taken a handful of trips requiring travel through Europe in the past 10 years. Would have been nice to have taken some extra time to actually tour the best sites and sounds in the area. A virtual tour guide on my phone or computer might have convinced me to do it! Now you can not only bring along one of the best sources of travel information on Europe, you can bring him along for free! Read on for full press info on the new Rick Steves app (now available for Android)...

If you are a serious Facebook user, you might want to consider a phone built just for you. The Android-based HTC Status is that phone. Coming later this summer, the Status will include a Facebook Share button that keeps all your Facebook friends updated on your location, pix and much more. Read on for full press release details...

Today, I've played a bit with Nokia feature phone -> Android migration, file system access and Skype. I elaborate on them, should you face the same problem

Let's start with the second: file system and the phone with probably the best price/value ratio, the ZTE Blade. To make it visible for XP, you'll want to download the file system drivers from HERE.

This won't be strictly a programming-related post, but as you may find this information useful, particularly if you want to quickly get your new Android phone synchronized without reading through tons of (largely outdated) articles and spending hours reading forums for user opinions, I still post it.

Unfortunately, synchronizing PIM (Personal information management) data (calendars and contacts; let alone tasks!) with Android phones is in no way as seamless as is with, say, Palm OS, Windows Mobile or even the iPhone.

The timeless time app from SPB software now available for Android, with skin features (and free skins), World time, multiple alarm settings, and much more...Read on for full release info and links.

Wow, another powerhouse Android phone building on the success of the Incredible is available on Verizon ($199 with contract). The part deux version now sporting an 8mpxl camera, and 4" Super LCD display! Read on for full press kit details...

The SPB guys have added 3D panels, widgets and many more features to the popular user display replacement now called SPB Shell 3D. The latest version is currently only available for Android phone types, but will hopefully include other OS types soon. Read on for more information from the press kit...

HTC keeps pouring on the innovation with new Android and Windows WP7 phones at CTIA this year. First up is the HD7S... a powerhouse of features packed into a 4.3" screen should satisfy any mobile power user. The new devices include a tablet and the pumped-up EVO 3D. Read on for full press info or go here...

New products for HTC ThunderBolt just released! If you take care of your mobile investments as much as I do, then you know you have to have a good accesory vendor in the back pocket. Seidio has just about every popular device out there covered. Check out the site here, or read on for more press info...

Many a cell phone user does not understand the myriad ways a provider can charge them for data usage, and at the heart of this problem are apps (push services for example) that are surreptitiously running up your data connections in the background. This is where an app like Spb Monitor (now available for Android), can greatly help… Read on for full press release info…

USA Today released a reader app yesterday for Android (also available for other iPhone, Google TV/Chrome OS, and Windows Slate PCs). If you're an Android user, and look forward to USA Today updates on your phone, you probably want to grab this app. Go here to the Android Market to check it out, or read on for full press details...

TeamViewer--A free solution to get your Mac, Windows, or Linux desktop to iPhone/iPod touch/iPad, and guess what? Now Andoid also supported, and totally free! Grab it here.

If you do a blog search (at our other blog), you may find a rave or two from me about the Sonos wireless music system (IMO, a must-have music accessory).