We’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is – Android 1.6 firmware is now available, but now for the bad news – you need the patterned, unlocked HTC Dream Developer phone in order to use it. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait until Android 1.6 is pushed out to the general public or until someone hacks it (something we don’t recommend, but hey, it’s your phone).

Android 1.6 offers several updates, like CDMA support, new text-to-speech engine, and a real biggie – support for alternative screen sizes. Supporting different screen sizes is critical for Android’s success so that developers may not have to rework their apps to fit the many different Android handsets coming down the pike. Check out the video!

source: Android Community

November 2nd is THE day – the Motorola CLIQ will launch on T-Mobile for an unexpected price of $199.99. The price is unexpected because it seems a wee bit high when you consider it’s competing with the likes of the Palm Pre and the venerable iPhone. Nevertheless, for $199.99 you can grab this Android-powered handset and start getting your ‘droid groove going. Beginning October 19th you can pre-order the CLIQ. What do you think of the price tag?

source: Android Authority

As reported by our sister site, PhoneArena, the Motorola Sholes A855 has passed muster with the FCC and is likely on it’s way to Verizon. The Sholes should support EVDO Rev A and include Wi-Fi 802.11b/g. It’s rumored that the Sholes will undergo a name change to the Motorola Tao and should show up sometime in October. ‘Tis the season to get excited about more and more news of imminent Android handset releases and we’ll continue to bring you news as it unfolds.

source: PhoneArena

The season of Android is upon us and soon Verizon will have a new Android-powered handset, the HTC Desire. The Desire (ADR6200 or ADR6200VW) has received both FCC approval and Wi-Fi certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance. Usually when approval and certification is received, phone availability is shortly to follow. We can also anticipate the Motorola Sholes on Verizon as well, so if you are a current Verizon subscriber or a Verizon fan just waiting for some Android-ness to seal the deal, you may not have to wait much longer.

source: BGR

The folks over at Phandroid have got their hands on the HTC Hero for Sprint. We would love to get our hands on one ourselves, but fortunately, Phandroid has posted a video of the unboxing and you can watch it for a first look. It’s great another Android handset is hitting the streets, and also great that it’s at another carrier besides T-Mobile for the sake of variety and wider distribution. Take a look!

source: Phandroid

The Motorola CLIQ will be the first in what we hope is a long and fruitful relationship with Google’s Android OS, and it really looks like Motorola is getting off on the right foot by including some excellent pre-loaded apps. The first-time user experience with the CLIQ will be enhanced with apps like the following:

• Telenav
• Yahoo Mail
• Digg
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Mint
• Accuweather
• Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, oh my!
• USA Today Money
• The whole host of Google services
• and more!

This is great news to have so much to look forward to, already pre-installed on the Motorola CLIQ right out of the box. Of course, if you want to rid yourself of some of the bloat, then I’m sure you can get busy deleting. However, for the first time Android user and even the seasoned veteran, it’s nice to have a device with so much functionality from the moment you turn it on.

source: phandroid

Due to the addition of a Judging app in the Android Market, now YOU can judge apps submitted for the Android Developers Challenge Part Deux. The ADC2 Judging app is now updated and ready to go – simply download it onto your Android device and you will be notified of new apps ready for your rating. Open the app, try it out, then return to the Judging app and rate the app based on these categories:

• Originality of concept
• Effective use of the Android platform
• Polish and appeal
• Indispensability

Download the app and start rating apps so you can participate in the Android Developers Challenge (part Deux, of course). Your feedback is invaluable!

source: androinica

Mark Sullivan of PC World has been poking around at the 4G World Conference in Chicago and suggests that Sprint may (rumor mill alert) offer a Samsung Android-powered handset on their new 4G network in 2010. Sprint has confirmed plans to sell a 4G phone next year, but has not offered any further details about the handset manufacturer or the OS that will be used.

Sprint has invested heavily in rolling out WiMax, as they have a 51% stake in WiMax carrier Clearwire. A WiMax handset with decent apps would run circles (speed-wise) around the 3G iPhone, and the up-and-coming Android OS should be a good vehicle for delivery of some 4G sweetness. Hopefully this speculation will be properly fed into the rumor mill and we will report any further developments.

source: pcworld

Sprint isn’t playing around with their commitment to Android and the HTC Hero. They announced that at the developer’s conference being held on October 26, they will give away free HTC Hero handsets and a month of free service to the first 400 developers who attend the HTC Coding Lab. In order to qualify, attendees must have a laptop with Android development environment 1.5 installed and running for the hands-on session. This should be a nice incentive for developers to attend, to get involved with developing for Android, and in turn that will be positive for all of us who are a fan of that little green ‘droid.

source: Android Community

Some less-than-focused (perhaps even blurry) pics have surfaced that look a lot like Sony Ericsson’s Android-powered XPERIA X3 with a very different skin displayed. Engadget has posted numerous pictures for your viewing pleasure to give you a taste and whet your appetite for this powerhouse. If you’ve followed Sony Ericsson’s endeavors, you would know that the XPERIA X2 is the Windows Mobile counterpart to the X3, and hopefully both will hit the market sooner than later. If you want an XPERIA X-something but are still on the fence as to which operating system best meets your needs/wants, maybe these leaked pictures will sway you toward an Android? Go take a look here!

source: engadget