Screenshots showing the HTC Hero running Android OS 2.1 have been circulating around the globe. As we reported, HTC has promised to upgrade the handset to 2.0 once it can upgrade the Sense UI to run on the newer build. When Google announced the Eclair update last month, it also said that it would have a minor update for Android 2.0 before the end of the year, so this 2.1 build fits perfectly with that story. We recently told you that the Sprint Hero received a minor OTA firmware upgrade, which might preclude an immediate upgrade to the Android OS for the Sprint branded unit. So if you are wondering when your Hero might start running the new Android build, there is no date yet that we can point to, but as soon as there is one, you KNOW you’ll hear it from us.
source: BeGeek via EngadgetMobile

The Motorola DROID DOES many things but one thing it does not do is support multi-touch in the browser. However, a simple download of the Dolphin browser from the Android Market can change all that. Dolphin has just added multi-touch zoom support to the DROID, so if you’re jealous that the overseas version of the phone does pinch-to-zoom in the browser, or if you are a heavy user of the social networking sites, you might want to check out the video and give this browser a shot. Among the interesting features is that each site visited is checked for an RSS feed and if the RSS button appears, you can subscribe to the feed via Google Reader. You can share links with others through your social networking sites.Pages load quickly and there is quick connectivity with Google services. If you do go shopping at the Android Market and decide to pick up the Dolphin browser, let us know what you think and how it compares with other mobile browsers that you are familiar with.
source:  Dolphin via EngadgetMobile

After launching 10 phones last year-9 of them powered by Windows Mobile-computer maker Acer is planning on selling 1 million handsets in 2010 with the majority equipped with the Android OS. The manufacturer wants to use Android on a majority of its releases next year while still saving Windows Mobile for use in other phones.“Next year it will be much more balanced,” Acer’s Aymar de Lencquesaing said in an interview with Reuters. “There is definitely momentum behind Android. The pace is faster than most would have anticipated one year ago.” In the quarter ended in September, Android had 3.5% of the worldwide OS market compared with 0% the prior year. In the same period, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile has seen its market share plunge to 8.8% from 13.6%.

Acer is looking to release 8 to 10 devices next year and is just one of many PC makers jumping into the smartphone arena. Others making the jump include Dell, Toshiba and Austek. At the same time, a handset maufacturer like Nokia is now making netbooks as the line between the two devices gets blurried. As for Acer, the company plans on cracking the list of the top 5 handset makers in the next 3 to 5 years. 10 carriers across the globe carry the line and some more carrier deals are expected to be announced.
source: Softpedia

Despite T-Mobile’s CTO Cole Brodman’s flat out denial that his company would offer a GSM version of the HTC Hero, there have been some rumors spreading that Brodman’s statement was a part of a misdirection play on the carrier’s part. All of this sprang from a listing on the T-Mobile job site seeking a “Product Manager HERO Handsets”. The problem with this is that the job listing clearly states what the nation’s fourth largest carrier means by “HERO”.  According to T-Mobile, a HERO handset is one that will “…expand customers’ imaginations through outstanding experiences, and receive the highest level of organizational support, including product development resources, marketing campaigns, sales priority and partner focus. At T-Mobile, we call these devices our HERO handsets.” Mystery solved. The HTC Hero will not appear with T-Mobile branding. As for those T-Mobile customers hoping that their carrier will be the one that offers the too hot for words HTC HD2, you had better check to see if HD2 means the HD2 and that T-Mobile doesn’t have another use for that title.
source: htcpedia

If you missed out on Black Friday, never fear. There is still an opportunity to pick up a sweet Motorola CLIQ from T-Mobile for $50 off through today (Sunday).

If you still can’t make it to a T-Mobile store to take advantage of this savings, you aren’t totally out of luck. Bing Cashback is offering 35% off purchases through December 2nd, so that gives you a couple more days to save some real cash — maybe enough to buy that extra present for a special someone for the holidays!

source: TmoNews

In today’s tough job market and rising unemployment, we felt it was newsworthy to pass on some potentially helpful information that just might land someone a job but also demonstrates that Garmin is definitely commited to some Android development. Garmin, a GPS powerhouse, is actively seeking Android developers in the Kansas City area. They are interested in developers with expertise in programming in C, C++, C#, Java, and other languages who will help them create navigation and location-based apps. If interested, check out the job listing here and pack your bags for Kansas City!

source: AndroidGuys

If you have been thinking about getting the Motorola DROID but wanted to test out the Google Maps and Navigation, you can “kick the tires” on one of the biggest stages in the U.S.-Times Square. For 20 straight hours today, anyone who calls 888-376-4336 will get a chance to do a Google Search by voice and the results will show up on either the giant NASDAQ sign or on the mammoth Reuters display. So if you were to call and say, “McDonalds”, the display would show a giant Google Map, pointing out to you the closest Micky D’s with signs showing you how to navigate to the location. For the last couple of weeks, this promotion has been running in 90 minute time slots in the afternoon and night. With the heavy parade traffic, the 20 hour promotion today should bring plenty of attention to the Android powered DROID. Just try to keep your search “clean”. After all, Times Square has been Disneyfied for a few years now.
source: TechCrunch

Yesterday we reported that the latest text entry method specifically developed for touch screens, Swype, would make its début on the Samsung Omnia II in the US and quite soon, on December 2. Now the rumor has it an Android-based handset featuring Swype will hit the shelves sometime next year. At this time, it seems the new entry method will be “hardwired” into cell phones, meaning they will either natively support it or not and you won´t be able to install it on your device in the latter case. Still, we do hope that its developers will find a way to release it as a standalone application, OS patch, software add-on etc. and it will appear at online application stores sooner or later. And if for whatever reason they can´t or are unwilling to, hackers will surely love to give it a go.
source: TechCrunch

Amazon is cutting $100 off the price of the Samsung Moment. The Android powered device will now cost you $79.99 through the online retailer, with a 2 year contract. At Sprint, the same handset will set you back $179.99 on contract. Amazon’s deal even beats Best Buy by $20. What you get for $79.99 is a 3.2 inch AMOLED toiuchscreen with resolution of  320 X480 pixels and 16 million colors (can you name all of them?). The device is equipped with a 3.2MP camera with video capture, a side sliding full QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi and a zippy 800MHz processor that helps Android OS 1.5 run quickly. Wait. Back it up. Android 1.5? Yup. Hopefully an upgrade to 2.0 will be coming sooner than later, but in the meantime you can be satisfied with the knowledge that for the Moment, you paid only $79 for a handset that some are still paying $100 more for.
source: OLED-Info via EngadgetMobile

The LG GW880 is a handset with quite similar design to the Windows phone LG GM750, but unlike the latter runs the Android-based operating system called Open Mobile System (OMS). It sports 3.5-inch WVGA display, 5-megapixel camera, GPS, Bluetooth and supports mobile TV. The cell phone will be distributed in China by China Mobile and will come with access to the carrier´s online application store.

We hope that similar device (but equipped with authentic Android) comes to the European or American markets soon, because the announced plans of LG include the release of more cell phones running the popular Google-made operating system.
via AkihabaraNews