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  • google maps 4.0.0 released with google "buzz"

    these updates just keep coming and we’re loving every second of it.  the newest version of google maps (4.0.0) just flooded the airwaves and has everyone wondering how to fit this new fantastic-ness into their lives.

    with 4.0.0 we see a few new features...

    • Buzz
    • Synchronized starring and personalized suggestions
    • Night mode in Navigation

    obviously the big news is “buzz” and how it is taking the world by storm as we speak. check out google.com/buzz to really get going with it.  you can integrate buzz right into your gmail and obviously now with your google maps via android device.  i’d go into some big long spiel about it, but we’ll instead try to keep this as droid specific as possible.

    here is the video intro from google…


    download it here…

  • DroidDoes: Tethering! A look at PDANet for Android

    Hello everyone! Just popping in with a quick answer for one of the single most asked questions I receive:  Can I / How Do I Tether With My Droid?!?!?!??!

    Well here’s the answer: PDANET!

    Check it out! 


    Download:

  • motorola milestone users – manually update to 2.0.1

    for all the motorola milestone users out there impatiently waiting for your android 2.0.1 ota update to arrive, wait no further!  motorola is actually offering a manual update through their international sites to all countries supporting the milestone using “my software update.”

    at first i thought it was just the UK milestone, but we now have confirmation that the MSU update includes:  UK, Germany, France and Italy.  not sure which other countries have the milestone, but you will likely have access to this and should definitely take advantage.

    a confirmed uk milestone:

        * Firmware config version: GAS_EMEA_USASHL500RTGB_P019
    * Baseband version: 3GSMEPU91A_U_91.08.12I
    * Baseband Config version: UCASHLSEMEAB1B803F.0R
    * Kernel number: 2.6.29-omap-1 rkg683@ca25rhe76 #1
    * Build number: SHOLS_U2_01.14.0

    download “my software update” here.

    to pick your country, follow this link.

    (cheers @sdmorris1950)

  • flash 10.1 only coming to android 2.1 devices?

    if this news would have come out sunday, we would have had some incredibly pissed off people.  fortunately for adobe, this news leaked just after motorola droid users found out they were going to be updated to android 2.1!

    Adobe today provided a disappointment for some Android users as it revealed that Flash 10.1 will only be available for phones running Android 2.1 or later. Showing it off in a demo, the developer new OS is necessary due to certain software-level access but effectively shuts out the majority of Android phones, most of which are either waiting for upgrades or are unlikely to ever receive the upgrade. Only the Motorola Droid and Nexus One so far carry 2.1.

    now before everyone that doesn’t have 2.1 throws a giant fit, realize that most of you have been promised 2.1 at some point this year.  all will be all, i promise.

    (via electronista)

  • 2.1 update preparation: uninstalling ported apps

    if you’ve been following along with our list of nexus one 2.1 apps that were ported over to the motorola droid, then this is a post you need read through as the android 2.1 update is almost upon us.  with the breaking news coming out today of the update, and our sources telling us that february 10th will be day 1 of the rollout, it’s time to start cleaning up our devices.

    first of all, the best idea is to uninstall any 2.1 app that you have installed over the last few weeks to make sure you get a completely clean install when your device receives its ota update sometime this week.  the options you had are all listed here.

    video instructions for un-installation…


    steps for un-installation…

    1.  go to settings > applications > manage applications
    2.  scroll through app list to pick out the 2.1 app you want to remove.
    3.  options would be:  “clock” / “gallery” / “launcher” / “music” / “news and weather”
    4.  tap on the specific application.
    5.  if the application gives you the option to “clear defaults” then do so.
    6.  tap on “uninstall”.
    7.  repeat steps for each 2.1 app installed.

    *note* google maps 3.4 – if you installed the ported version of google maps from this post then you will need to remove it just as you would these other apps (there are un-installation instructions at the end of the video in that post as well).  however, if you downloaded the google maps update through the market, then you are good to go and can leave it alone.

    questions?

  • breaking! motorola droid to receive 2.1 update this week

    the wait is over my motorola droid friends.  the android 2.1 update is upon us!  i guess we should have really gone live with our leaked document and february 10th date from a few days ago and broke this beast wide open. anyways, through motorola’s facebook page we get the following message…

    Hi all– we know you are frustrated with the lack of details regarding Android software upgrades and we sincerely apologize for not being able to share info sooner. We’re happy to relay the 2.1 upgrade to DROID will start to roll out this week, and we will have more information to share on other device upgrades later this week as well. Thanks for your patience and continued support.

    no news on which features will be included/left out, but at least we have a date.  and i’m headed to the bar now to celebrate!

  • monday poll: thoughts on today’s 2.1 update news?

    the news that broke this morning from engadget was not exactly what motorola droid users were expecting regarding the update to android 2.1. in fact, from the comments on that post, people seemed pretty pissed.

    our first monday poll wants your thoughts. and feel free to vent in the comments…

  • android 2.1 update for motorola droid goes through testing

    engadget has the latest rumors from a verizon source claiming the android 2.1 update for our motorola droid has hit their testing department.  so maybe the supposed leaked document we brought you on saturday actually had some potential?  or the february 10th date?

    • It’s based on Android 2.1. The build currently being circulated is identified as 2.1 version 1, mirroring the update just pushed to the Nexus One last week.
    • Google Goggles is now pre-installed (no matter how unhelpful it may be).
    • The browser’s now multitouch enabled, just like Google Maps 3.4. Huzzah! No Flash, but then again, we weren’t really expecting that.
    • Interestingly, the home screen’s still got the same look as 2.0.1, meaning it doesn’t adopt the Nexus One’s rotating 3D grid of app icons — it’s still got the pull-up drawer tab at the bottom.
    • No active wallpapers. Bummer!
    • The news and weather widgets introduced on the Nexus One are included. Maybe certain capabilities of 2.1 are going to be restricted to devices with minimum performance benchmarks?

    i’m assuming they meant no live wallpapers which is too bad as that is one of the only features we haven’t seen ported over to the droid and were all looking forward to.