Allegedly a T-Mobile rep spilled some beans at the T-Mobile myTouch 3G launch event yesterday. Although whispered under the breath, the rep suggested that T-Mobile would be pushing out two more updates this year, one of them major and one minor.

It’s nice to see support coming at a regular pace for our favorite green ‘droid. Since two updates (1.1 and 1.5) have already hit this year, and since two more are now suggested, does that mean that we can expect four updates a year, or an update each quarter? If so, that’s great news for Android users. After all, updates bring improvements, and improvements make Android better and better. Updates FTW!

Source: MobileCrunch

As we reported earlier, a demo video of what is said to be Sony Ericsson’s personalized user interface for Android, called Rachael, has surfaced. Basically, the UI introduces some nice visuals and smooth animation transitions that definitely add to the experience, but do they add to the functionality of the operating system? The manufacturer seems to have reworked it all – from the virtual QWERTY keyboard to the messaging screen. In fact, the Rachael interface has a comfy-looking screen that allows you to browse through almost all of your content in a snap, including music, photos, SMS messages, e-mails and calls, as well as correspondences through Facebook and Twitter. We give our thumbs up to Sony Ericsson’s new software and hope that the manufacturer will announce it soon. It looks like HTC will have to face some competition here, unlike in the world of WM interfaces.

Just the other day we reported to you about “Rachael”, a device that was aiming to become the first Android powered handset for Sony Ericsson. Wearing the Xperia brand, this handset was loaded with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor, an 8MP camera with AF, 3D graphic capabilities and 7.2Mbps HSDPA. Right alongside Rachael was Kiki, a unique looking unit that allowed the user to read the display from the front or the back of the device. Besides the new pix, we also can tell you that there is some video of the Sony Ericsson UI for the Android handset. Check it out at the source link. Seems like we can’t get enough pictures of this pair.

source: BGR

With the August 5th release date of T-Mobile’s myTouch 3G coming closer, one question on the minds of many was about the future plans of the carrier in regards to another Android model, the HTC Hero. Armed with the new Sense UI and supporting Flash on the browser, the handset was indeed looking like a Hero to many cellphone fanatics. But the air was already thick with the talk that the nation’s fourth largest carrier would not be adding the device to its arsenal. T-Mobile USA’s CTO, Cole Brodman left no doubt about his company’s plans when he said today, “(T-Mobile USA) has no plans to bring the HTC Hero to market.” Note the lack of  if’s, ands or buts.

source: Phonescoop

So, we all thought that “Google experience” smartphones would not offer Microsoft Exchange support, but guess what – it looks like Google has no problem with this at all. As the T-Mobile myTouch 3G now seems to feature both the “with Google” logo and Exchange support, EngadgetMobile informs that a Google representative has told it that it has “never been Google’s policy” to restrict “Google experience” phones from having Exchange support.

source: EngadgetMobile

Although Motorola doesn’t feel like talking about its upcoming Android smartphones, it seems that the company is pretty eager to come across some talented Android developers. The official MOTODEV site is now clearly open to developers who want to participate in the making of a rich application catalog, meaning devices are indeed in the works. Christy Wyatt, Motorola’s vice president of software platforms, has said that after collaborating with MOTODEV, Android app makers will have the opportunity to distribute their products through numerous channels, informs Forbes. This includes the Android Market, carrier stores, direct sales and third party distributors. Apparently, the most innovative and useful apps have a chance to come preloaded on future Android-powered Motorola phones.

The company hopes to attract attention because of the many Android products it plans to roll out, as well as their global distribution. Christy Wyatt has also said their handsets will vary from mid- to high-end and will be targeted to both the consumer and the enterprise markets, relying on messaging and multimedia features (the rumored Morrison for T-Mobile seems to fit in these characteristics).

source: MOTODEV and Forbes via EngadgetMobile

The news of upcoming Android handsets has been a steady flow lately – it seems like the Android OS is catching on. Sony Ericsson is expected to announce later this year an Android addition to their XPERIA line of smartphones, code-named “Rachael.”  Here are some specs for the device, and as may be expected of an XPERIA handset, this should be a fairly high-end device:

• Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon platform with processor speeds up to 1GHz (wow!)
• HSPA-speeds up to 7.2 Mbps
• Expected to have excellent 3D graphics capabilities
• 8-megapixel camera with autofocus
• 3.5 mm jack connector
• mini-USB connector at the top
• Touchscreen measuring 4 inch diagonal, likely to be 800 x 480 pixels WVGA (speculated)

That’s some pretty serious hardware for an Android device and represents a serious commitment by Sony Ericsson to the Android platform. Stay tuned for Sony Ericsson’s official announcement to hopefully come later this year!

Source: www.mobile.nu

Dell is up to something Android-related, but it’s not a phone. According to the WSJ online, Dell engineers are developing a pocket-sized device that is Web-centric, runs on the Android platform, and is slightly larger than the iPod Touch. Unconfirmed sources speculate that the device might begin selling as soon as later this year, which if true wouldn’t be such a bad idea to get a competitor to Apple’s iPod Touch in the hands of Christmas shoppers.

Dell has already tried to compete with Apple’s iPod with developing their own music device, but that project was shelved. This new device is still very much vaporware and could see the same fate, but two reasons come to mind that may help this project reach fruition: the iPod Touch market is almost as big as the iPhone market, and Dell can have a shot at price competitiveness by using the Android OS. How does a pocket-sized, Internet-connecting, Android-powered Dell device sound to you?

Source: WSJ

There is no promise that the HTC Hero will be available on AT&T, but there is evidence on the FCC’s web site that suggests approval of a Hero version that incorporates the bands necessary (II and V) that make it AT&T-friendly. The FCC has approved a WCDMA handset which fits nicely into the 1900 and 850 MHz combination that AT&T subscribers need for 3G data access. Whether or not this device ultimately lands on AT&T’s network remains to be seen, but even if it doesn’t, it should eventually be available through other sources and could ultimately end up in some AT&T users’ hands (unlocked, of course). If AT&T doesn’t get this handset, how many of you AT&T subscribers will try to get your mitts on one anyway?

Source: engadget mobile

What is sweeter than owning a myTouch 3G Android-powered smartphone? How about getting your myTouch 3G two days before everyone else and having mega-bragging rights? According to TmoNews.com, existing T-Mobile customers are going to get rewarded for their loyalty by receiving an email with the chance to get the myTouch 3G a couple days before everyone else.

What this means is that since the myTouch 3G is slated to launch on August 5th, the T-Mobile faithful can have a crack at pre-ordering for a August 3rd delivery. What could be better than that, except for getting that Android beauty right now?

Source: TmoNews