Google App Inventor opens up access to everyone, clings on to beta tag originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Magic gets Froyo on Vodafone UK originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rogers gets real with Android 2.1 updates for HTC Magic+, Samsung Galaxy Spica originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon’s teaser site for the Droid 2 R2-D2 edition has been teasing a series of locked spokes, accessible by all as soon as anyone in the community solves the “puzzle.” We don’t know exactly what the magic code was, but regardless, thanks to David H. yesterday, we’ve got a new gallery of devices pics and — oh, lookie — a special edition Droid R2-D2 dock. We don’t see room for a hyperdrive anywhere, nor wings, proton torpedos, or a cockpit for future Jedi to blast orbital space stations. So, let’s just call it a vacation home for astromechs needing a respite.

Update: As a number of you have pointed out, it’s “proton” torpedo in Star Wars canon, and “Jedi” is already plural. We’re left with two options here: total retcon the scope of which would put midi-chlorians to further shame, or just fixing the copy. We’ll let ya know what we decide.

Droid R2-D2 gets docked — not in a X-Wing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If 6.0.0 RC1 just wasn’t cutting it for ya, CyanogenMod-6.0 has released what’s being touted as the “first stable release based on Android 2.2″ and has hit the target number of supported devices, which by our quick count includes EVO 4G, Slide, Nexus One, Dream / Magic, Aria, and Droid — and we might be missing a few.. You know the drill; if you need a bit of Froyo in your mobile life.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Cyanogen Mod 6 — the one with Froyo — hits target list of devices, first stable release originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rogers HTC Magic+ 2.1 update almost ready for prime time originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can’t say we didn’t see this coming. After wooing us with a number of glasses-free 3D displays — including the one that gives Nintendo 3DS its magic — and 3D HD cameras for mobile devices, the company has finally laid down the gauntlet. It’s promising to release a smartphone with such an autostereoscopic screen and 3D camera, just like we always wanted, before New Year’s Day 2011. It certainly wouldn’t be the first 3D phone in the market — Hitachi touted one early last year for Japanese carrier KDDI, and NTT docomo has had a prototype 3D display — but a Sharp spokeswoman said that this 3D smartphone would be going international. The more the merrier, we say. Now, how about some more details and a pretty picture or two, eh Sharp?

Sharp to launch glasses-free 3D smartphone with 3D camera globally this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australia’s Telstra already claimed the title of World’s First on this one, but Telus up in Canada isn’t far behind, becoming the first carrier in North America to push HSPA+ up to 42Mbps through the magic of dual carrier technology. The concept, of course, is nothing new — remember those “Shotgun” two-line 56k landline modems back in the day? Dual carrier isn’t much different, employing two HSPA+ connection simultaneous to get an effective max theoretical throughput of 42Mbps. Telus has already wrapped up lab trials, but it expects to offer the blazing speeds to customers some time in the first quarter of 2011 with the launch of the first compatible devices — USB modems at first, we’d presume — and since Bell shares the network with Telus, we’d imagine that they’re in cahoots on this as well. Rogers, ball’s in your court. Follow the break for the full press release.

[Thanks, Zach]

Continue reading Telus launching North America’s first 42Mbps dual carrier HSPA+ network

Telus launching North America’s first 42Mbps dual carrier HSPA+ network originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, you’ve either purchased a Streak, or you’re anxiously awaiting your own here in the US. Fantastic. Now what? If you’ve just over $100 to spend and even a pinch of smarts, you’ll give strong consideration to Logitech’s diNovo Mini. Though launched around two years ago, this portable Bluetooth keyboard looks like a match made in heaven for Dell’s newfangled 5-inch smartphone, with the cover holding the Streak (almost) perfectly in order to create a makeshift Android laptop. Better still, the Bluetooth device pairs seamlessly with Dell’s doodad, and both the keys and finger pad operate sans any major issues. But hey, it’s not like you ought to be taking our word for it — head on past the break to see the magic happen on video, and dig down in that source link for even more inspiration. It might just convince your cold, hardened heart that love does indeed exist.

Continue reading Dell Streak makes friends with Logitech diNovo Mini (in more ways than one)

Dell Streak makes friends with Logitech diNovo Mini (in more ways than one) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The evolution of phones away from physical buttons toward touchscreens is great if you’re into clean, aesthetic design. But, if you’re suffering from limited vision, there are some obvious issues. Thankfully the iPhone 4 at least has support for Braille displays like those Brailliant, as kindly demonstrated by acoustic guitar virtuoso and software guru Victor Tasaran. Using the six buttons on his Brailliant-32 he’s able to navigate across icons, then feel the text beneath each one — or wait for the hurried text-to-speech to read back to him. It’s an encouraging solution for smartphone accessibility, but does have a rather negative impact on portability — and, we’re sad to say, on cost as well. His 32-character unit will set you back just under $4k, which is many times the cost of the phone itself. But, at least when it’s used like in the video below, sitting on the table, he won’t have to worry about signal issues.

Continue reading iPhone 4 plus Brailliant-32 display enables even blind men to experience the magic (video)

iPhone 4 plus Brailliant-32 display enables even blind men to experience the magic (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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