Google Earth, previously available as an app for the iPhone, is now sitting in the Android Market. The only problem is that the download will only work on phones running Android 2.1 or higher which boils things down to the Nexus One. Of course, a number of Android models will eventually be sporting 2.1, but the pace of upgrading seems to be going from slow to slower. The Motorola DROID should be the next to have the 2.1 OS, but that is another story for another day.

Google Earth was displayed at the just ended MWC by Google CEO Eric Schmidt who used a Nexus One, of course, and allows the user to see specific places but also will show terrain and borders and will link to Wikipedia and show user-submitted pictures of locations. The app will let you take a look at the Ocean floor and view historical images from around the world. You will be able to see buildings in 3D and view galaxies in Outer Space. Google Earth is a free download
source: InformationWeek

Back in January, we showed you a video straight from Adobe that gave you a look of how Flash 10.1 would look on the Motorola DROID. The handset is expected to get the update sometime in the first half of this year and the latest story is that it will be part of a major upgrade to Android 2.1 that will include the long hoped for Flash upgrade. It’s ironic that while DROID users are waiting for Flash and know with a high degree of certainty that it is coming. iPhone users also want Flash but comments from Apple CEO Steve Job basically have made it clear that the New Jersey Nets have a better shot at winning the NBA Title this year than iPhone owners have of seeing Flash on their device.
source: MobileBurn

Gowalla is the location based social networking site that right now has issued a beta version app for Android. While a higher version build will be available before the end of the month at Android Market, the current version can be downloaded from this link from your Android browser, or by scanning the QR code below. Founder Josh Williams notes that this version is not complete as he calls it beta release 0.1. Not included in this download is Gowalla Trips and Items and graphics display slowly because of the lack of caching at this time. Still, TechCrunch says that the Android beta beats the release for the iPhone. And because the former version starts off the bat by checking which of your friends has checked in, it makes it more socially oriented than the latter’s app where the friend list is the very last tab.

Gowalla allows you to visit certain locations, post to other social sites like Facebook and Twitter, and “stamp” your passport to get rewards from the places you visit. You can also share your experiences at certain locations with other members. It’s a fun and games way to get around.
source: Gowalla via TechCrunch

We bet that Verizon’s current BOGO promotion might be extremely tempting if you’ve been waiting patiently to get your hands on the Motorola DROID. There’s actually a better deal that Dell is currently offering if you’re truly interested in saving some cash on the DROID. Right now they’re offering the Android powered smartphone to any customers that sign a two year contract with them. By doing so, you’ll be treated to the extra low price of $49.99 for the handset – which of course makes it one hard offer to pass up on. When you try to purchase the handset and choose the lowest voice plan, Dell is automatically putting on the unlimited texting plan before you’re eligible to checkout. So if you’re fine with having the unlimited texting plan added on to your account, then go ahead and take advantage of this special limited time offer – you never know when something like this might come again in the near future.
source: Dell via Slickdeals

As we’ve already heard how Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha recently made comments regarding the possibility to forging a new relationship with Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Series, HTC looks to be in the same boat that Motorola once stood with the Redmond based company. It’s known that Motorola cut the product development for its Windows Mobile phones in favor of setting their attention on Android. During MWC, HTC unveiled a few new smartphones, but some may interpret it as a somewhat strained relationship considering all the recent Android handset announcements from HTC. When you look back at it, HTC has been a constant figure in the support and development of the Windows Mobile platform. Thankfully though there is no cause for alarm because HTC’s own CEO managed to settle things straight during a meeting at MWC. Chou said, “Our commitment to Microsoft has never changed. Of course, we are very committed to Android as well. We are very long-term committed to those two.” With that in mind, HTC plans to continue supporting those two platforms, as well as its own, in continuing its attack on the smartphone market. There’s no change of heart for this company – especially when their foundation was built to where it stands now thanks to its long time support for Microsoft’s platform.
source: Reuters via wmpoweruser

We recently mentioned an update for the Samsung Moment that was to require you to bring your handset to a Sprint repair center. Well, Sprint has decided to offer the update via your own PC. While the carrier’s other Android device, the HTC Hero, has received a few OTA updates for light housekeeping, it seems that Samsung is just not there yet in regards to sending out the upgraded software.

After the update is through, the Moment will still be running Android 1.5. There should be a firmware upgrade to Android 2.1 early in the next quarter. For those who don’t keep up to date on these matters, Sprint will send out an SMS that will alert the user to the CL 14 update. Among the changes will be updates to certain third party apps like Visual Voicemail, NFL, NASCAR and Sprint TV. The Emergency Dial on the lock screen will be changed as will the hard reset which will now be available in recovery mode. This update should also improve battery life. For more info and instructions, visit the source link.
source: Sprint via Twitter, AndroidandMe

Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha told the WSJ that his company is testing TV set-top boxes with the addition of the MOTOBLUR UI. The UI is a socially-centric piece of software that is designed to push to your cellphone homescreen, all of the relevant info from social network sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. By adding it to the box that connects your TV to cable or satellite feeds, Motorola is seeking to connect your television with your phone. Jha talked about sharing “media and features” which would require a common platform and brings up talk of a possible Android powered Set-top box. Motorola has a tentative release date for later this year, but lately the company has not been too careful about meeting self imposed deadlines.
source: WSJ via Engadget

What can you say about the Dell Mini 5? The Android powered device is a tablet and a cellphone. Prototype units out now are powered by Android 1.6 which might change by the time production starts on the model. The touchscreen is a whopping 5 inches with resolution of 480 x 800 pixels on the capacitive display. Under the hood is the now obligatory 1 GHz Snapdragon processor. There is 405MB of RAM and 1.63GB of storage that can be increased through the microSD slot next to the battery. Speaking of the battery, the cell ran all day using 3G services. As for the skimpy amount of native memory, that can be beefed up for retail production. There is a WCDMA radio on board and the video below does show a dial pad for the device, so it would appear that cellphone service will be supported. Some of the ports will be proprietary which means that Dell will probably be offering some peripherals for the Mini 5. No launch date for the Mini 5 was mentioned, and our previous report on it mentioned a pre-subsidized price of $1,098 USD.

One interesting accessory is the docking station which is the subject of the strange video below. There appears to be an HDMI output jack and a USB port and a see through back support for the Mini 5. Oh yes, there is a joke that repeats over and over. It’s a play on the manufacturer’s name, really, and gets old after the first time it is done. Anyway, enjoy the video as it also shows a bit of the device in action and you can gauge the size of it better. Guys, with the Dell Mini 5 stuffed in the right pocket, you might find the women swarming all over you.
source: T3 (translated) via Engadget

When we reported that the Motorola CLIQ was to get a minor, housekeeping update by the end if the week, with tongue in cheek we alluded to the failure of Motorola to roll out the Android 2.1 upgrade to the DROID last week as it originally said it would. But there is a big difference between upgrading an OS and sending out light changes like improvements to battery life, the touchscreen and the GPS, and support for .wma and .wav videos among other things. We said that we would believe Motorola when we saw the update hit the CLIQ. Well, believe it or not, the manufacturer failed again because the majority of  users of the device did not receive the changes. Now, the update is scheduled for the week of February 22nd. The news here is that once again, Motorola sent out a tweet promising a change to a handset within a specific date and then could not meet their own deadline. It makes you wonder what is going on. Apparently, some of the handsets owners have indeed received the upgrade automatically, and some are reporting via tweets and on various forums that the update for the CLIQ can be found by doing a manual search for updates. The bottom line is that for most CLIQers, the software was not improved and while it might only be a difference of a few days, why should Motorola send out the tweet in the first place if it isn’t planning on living up to its own words? If you were one of the lucky ones who received the upgrade, let us know if there are any visible changes to your experiences with the phone. If you had to manually find the update, let us know that, too. After all, with all of these problems for a minor change, what will happen with a 2.1 upgrade? Oh wait, we already know the answer to that one.
source: TmoNews

If you are a Verizon user and have longed for a Motorola device with the social networking-centric MOTOBLUR UI, then the DEVOUR is for you. The Android flavored device is the first Big Red phone to offer the push capabilities of MOTORBLUR to keep you updated on your social networking sites. Just as BlackBerry phones are known for pushing email to the handset, the Motorola UI does the same with your pals on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. But the DEVOUR is more than just a phone for the Facebook crowd. Running on Android 1.6, it will be the first to have the 600MHz Qualcomm MSM 7627 processor under the hood. Also, the phone can be connected to your PC using WiFi which allows you to check out the content of your phone from your desktop browser. It is called Moto Phone Portal and you’ll see it on the video below. The Motorola DEVOUR will launch next week for $149.99 after a 2 year contract from Verizon. As we reported earlier Friday, it looks like Best Buy will be offering the phone for $50 less than Verizon!
source: MotoDevBlog via AndroidandMe