The constant ups and downs associated with the stock market can get anyone into a dizzying frenzy – even more if they’re unable to access share prices on the go. Well now, it looks as though Google is helping those financial astute individuals a lending hand by unifying the experience of Google Finance across a variety of platforms. Whether you’re using an Android handset, an iPhone, or simply resorting to usuing your personal computer, the experience is now going to be the same across those specific platforms. Google announced today that they are launching the new edition of Google Finance for the Android and iOS platforms which enables anyone to keep up with the constantly changing moods of the stock market. The mobile experience offers all the same features and functionality that you would typically find on their regular site – plus it’s now available as an app in the Android market.
source: Google Mobile Blog

Sending out a tweet to direct interested parties to a teaser web site, Samsung has started spreading the word about the Galaxy Tab. The site for the device presents an endless video loop that shows off some of the features that will be found on the tablet. With a 7 inch display offering resolution of 600 x 1024 pixels, the unit will have a 3.2MP camera in the back and a camera in the front for video calls. Thanks to the tasty serving of Froyo on the tablet, the full web browsing offered by the unit includes the ability to run Flash Player 10.1 and will also allow for Augmented Reality to help you find landmarks, Gas stations and other places of interest wherever you are.

Trying to take a piece of the tablet market away from Apple’s iPad, Samsung plans on introducing the Galaxy Tab at the IFA show in Berlin Germany on September 2nd, as we reported. To take a look at the video clip on the Samsung Galaxy Tab site, you can head to the web page by clicking on the source link, or by watching the YouTube video below.
source: Samsung

Now that Android owners are getting comfy using the official Twitter app on their smartphones, it would’ve been only a matter of time before some kind of update were released for it. Sneaking underneath the radar, the app was recently updated to version 1.0.3 which unfortunately did not come along with a change-log. However, it appears that it’s basically comprised of mostly the usual bug fixes you’d expect to find and that it now utilizes OAuth for signing into the service. Aside from that, there really isn’t anything too different with it – so make sure to grab yourself the download through the Android Market.
via Android Central

If this weren’t any more of an indication to the speedy prowess of the Swype keyboard, it was actually used in breaking the Guinness World Record for the fastest text message. Using a Samsung Galaxy S smartphone with good old Swype on board, a 27 year old UK woman was able to dish up a mean phrase in under 26 seconds using the swipe friendly gestures of the on-screen keyboard. She managed to swipe the phrase “the razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human” – thus breaking the previous record by over 9 seconds. That’s a pretty astonishing feat when you think about it for a second, especially when the Swype keyboard was used in obtaining the record as opposed to a regular on-screen keyboard – or even a physical one to say the least. Considering everything else, this definitely would add some much needed publicity to the Swype keyboard as it attempts to sway over people with its alternative form of inputting text.
via BGR

The folks from PocketNow have pitted the IE-based browser of Windows Phone 7 against the current crown jewels – Safari on the iPhone 4, and the Android 2.2 browser on the Nexus One. The WP7 browser seems to have come a long way from the slow buggy experience observed in the early prototypes.

Still running on the LG GW910 (aka Panther) developer’s phone, the browser exhibits page loading, kinetic scrolling and touch gesture speeds comparable to the competition. The mobile Internet Explorer even has some unique features like simultaneous tabs loading. Rotating the view in landscape mode seemed a bit slower than on the other two handsets, maybe due to the transitional animations present in Windows Phone 7. This is still not a final build of the WP7 mobile OS, so the competition should be officially worried – Microsoft seems to have gotten one of the major selling points in any smartphone about right.

Look at the ten minute video below to check out the WP7 browser behavior on the 3.5” screen of the LG GW910.
source: PocketNow

As we near fall and ever closer to the all too important busy holiday season, there will naturally be a big push for tablets – and the Samsung Galaxy Tab plans on being part of the festivities. Packing similar hardware to its baby brother, the Samsung Galaxy S, the tablet is expected to compete head-on with the Apple iPad. Since the first wave of news regarding the Tab jumped onto the scene, we’ve rarely gotten the opportunity to see the handset in live form. However, the device in question was recently spotted being used by an employee of Australia’s Telco operator. From the captured video, it’s shaping up to be the device we all know about since it matches up to its description of being a 7” tablet. Additionally, you can quickly gather that it can be held with one hand and doesn’t appear to be large in size when compared to the iPad. When asked about the device, which was being tested live in Sydney, the employee said that it was “awesome” and clearly described it as “different” to the iPad. Since it’s being tested in the field right now, it could point to the reality that we could see the tablet very soon with a variety of network operators around the world speculated to offer it.
source: Electronista

One would imagine that installing an official firmware update from a manufacturer shouldn’t pose any risks, right? On the contrary, Vodafone believes the opposite seeing that they issued a statement saying that installing a recent firmware update for the Samsung Galaxy S could void your warranty. It’s rather difficult to fathom why a carrier would be so against installing an official update which has been approved by the manufacturer, but its seems that the case is so in this situation.

Although it’s no Android 2.2, Samsung recently released an update for the high powered Android smartphone that essentially packs bug fixes which improve the overall performance of the handset. Vodafone said in their official forum, “any firmware that hasn’t been released by us does invalidate the warranty directly with Vodafone.” It’s a bit strange to say the least, but thankfully, your warranty with Samsung will still be intact. Now the only reason why Vodafone is making such a rash statement is due partly to the reason that the update has not been approved yet by the carrier, but once the process is complete, we’d imagine that they’ll give the thumbs up for it – in the mean time, you’ll incur the consequences if you choose to install it.
source: Vodafone

Samsung Epic and HTC EVO 4G

There is no denying the success of the HTC EVO 4G: Sprint cannot keep the unit in stock and two and  a half months after launch supply simply cannot even come close to keeping up with demand.  No doubt eager to capitalize on the momentum Samsung is throwing their name in the hat with the Epic 4G, a Galaxy S phone.  Unlike the Galaxy S variants found on the other three major carriers the Epic 4G offers not only a 4″ Super AMOLED display but also a full QWERTY keyboard.  As the name implies the Epic is capable of running on Sprint’s WiMax network, but also supports 3G over EVDO Rev. A and has Wi-Fi capabilities as well.  It has a rear-facing 5 megapixel autofocus camera with flash, complimented by a VGA shooter up front for self-portraits and video chat.

Where the EVO 4G is a heavy slab of industrial design, the Epic is actually rather light.  The two don’t differ much in size, but the Epic is noticeably lighter in the hand, almost to a fault.  Like the HTC Diamond and Touch Pro, you expect the keyboard touting edition to be heavier, bulkier.  Instead the Epic feels almost like a toy.  Still, the Epic has some advantages over the EVO.  Despite being smaller the display is undeniably better thanks to the Super AMOLED technology.  Like we’ve seen with the other Galaxy S phones it is bright and crisp and vibrant.  Second, the phone has six-axis motion sensing which will make it a better gaming device than the EVO.  Samsung’s Media Hub is a one stop shop to rent videos, though the service has not launched yet so we are unable to try it out at this time.  It will be available by the 31st, which is when the Epic 4G goes on sale at your local retailer.

Of course what most people will choose the Epic 4G for is the physical keyboard.  While it does add bulk to the phone, to some is an absolute necessity and is worth the $50 premium over the HTC EVO 4G.  In our early usage we’ve been accurate with it, but not as quick as we’d like.  We’d the keys are large and well-spaced, but our initial impression is that we’d like some texture to the keys.  They offer good tactile feedback though, and plenty of space to work with.  Stay tuned for our full review of the Samsung Epic 4G, coming soon!

There have been some purists out there that have been clamoring to see Samsung’s TouchWiz interface on the Samsung Galaxy S be replaced or offered with the stock Android experience. Although some find it appealing and useful, others of course see it as rather tasteless to their eyes – but thankfully, someone out there was listening to pleas of many. Hackers quickly got started in getting the stock Android 2.1 experience ready for the high-flying Android handset, and although it’s still relatively in the early stages, it’s turning out to be promising nonetheless. One of the bigger bugs that need to be flattened out is the camera application – especially when its not in tip top functioning form right now. Slowly and gradually, we’ll probably see a fully functional and hopefully satisfying experience that Samsung Galaxy S owners can rightfully be content with. Now the only thing to one-up this whole project, which is of course another big one on its own, is to bring the stock Android 2.2 experience to this device. Any takers?
via the gadgets

When the Nexus One was no longer being offered through Google’s online store, it pretty much signaled the end to this favorite Android phone for everyone – forcing those interested in it to look elsewhere. However, Google decided to bring back the phone for one last time to Android developers for their opportunity to scope this highly prized handset. From the looks of it now, the demand for this developer friendly phone is pretty high since the initial stock of inventory quickly depleted in the course of a couple of weeks. Now we’re once again presented with the realization that the Nexus One is sold out, but luckily, it has been placed on back-order by HTC – so there are still some units coming down the road. At this point though, there is no indication as to the time frame of when we can expect to see inventory to come back – especially when there is a worldwide shortage of AMOLED panels.
source: Android Developers Blog