App: ANDROIDIFY - make android your own

DESCRIPTION

Get ready to make Android your own.

Androidify yourself by customizing the little green Android as yourself, your family, your friends, anyone! Stretch it , shrink it, add a hoody, style its hair, throw on some shades, or even give it a parrot and a pirate hat. Arrrgh!

Once you’ve personalized your Android, share it with your friends, set it as a photo in your contact book, or use it in some inventive way we haven’t thought of yet. Have fun, and we can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Developed together by Google Creative Lab and Larva Labs.

APP SCREENSHOTS

Detail & download:  here

Show you the way to change a default application on Android

When you first try an alternative launcher or Web browser, Android asks if you'd like that application to be the default from now on. You may say yes and then come to regret it later on – perhaps you've decided you like another launcher better, or wish to go back to using the stock Android browser.

While you could always uninstall the application you no longer wish to be the default, that's a bit of a brute-force solution. Perhaps you still want it on your system, but only wish to use it every now and then.

To make an app stop being a "default application" for a certain type of action, do this:

1) Go to Settings > Applications > Manage applications.
2) Locate your application in the list. If the list is too long, you can hit the Running tab, because your app most likely is still running somewhere in the background.
3) Once you've located it, tap its name.
4) You will now find yourself in the Application info screen. Scroll down until you see the heading which says Launch by default.
5) Press the Clear defaults button, shown in the screenshot.

When you next try to perform the operation previously associated with this app (launch a browser, go to the home screen, etc.), you will be presented with a dialog letting you choose what app should be used. 

Source: switched

British engineers planning to send an Android phone into space

A team of engineers at SSTL and the Surrey Space Centre in Guildford want to see if the sophisticated capabilities in today’s mobile phones can function in the most challenging environment of all: space.

Why are they doing this you might be asking? Shaun Kenyon, the project manager at SSTL, said, “They come now with processors that can go up to 1GHz, and they have loads of flash memory. First of all, we want to see if the phone works up there, and if it does, we want to see if the phone can control a satellite.”

Although the specific phone model to be used hasn’t been announced yet, SSTL wants to use the phone to control a 30cm-long satellite and take pictures of the Earth in the mission later this year. If this works, it could potentially save tons of money and weight for future similar projects in space.

The team chose Android because of its open source software, which means they can tweak it if need be.

“We’re not taking it apart; we’re not gutting it; we’re not taking out the printed circuit boards and re-soldering them into our satellite – we’re flying it as is,” Kenyon explained. ”And, in fact, we’re going to have another camera on the satellite so we can take a picture of the phone because we want to operate the screen and have some good images of that as well.”

All I know is I can’t wait to see pictures of this Android smartphone in space! What device do you think they’ll choose? Let us know in the comments.

Source: BBC

Review of Sony Ericsson Vivaz 2

Sony Ericsson has had some missteps lately, mostly with not updating their most recent phones beyond version 1.6 of the Android OS. They have some promising phones on the horizon though, with the Xperia Arc leading the pack. Also starting to get a little attention, however, is the MT15i, which is rather like the Vivaz, but sporting the Android the OS. We haven’t heard a lot of talk about this phone, but it’s being positioned to appeal more to the entry-level crowd, rather than those looking for the most powerful phones on the market. It won’t be sporting the Tegra-2 processor, but it also won’t be priced at that level. Based on the review over at mobile-review.com, it may be one of the better choices for those looking for budget-conscious, entry-level Android device.

The MT15i is a more solid offering than some of Sony’s previous phones, having a little more heft, but feeling like a more “quality” device.  The LCD screen is somewhere in the three-inch neighborhood, supporting a 480×854 resolution and their “BRAVIA” technology to improve the overall image quality.  This phone is expected to drop in the UK market somewhere around April, and will be an excellent offering for anyone looking for their first Android phone. No word on whether or now we’ll see it here in the US, but we’ll keep you posted as more details become available.

  

Read this article before making a decision.

WidgetLocker Lets You Customize Your Lock Screen

WidgetLocker, by TeslaCoil Software, is a lock screen replacement app that offers a great deal of extras along with personal customization.  The app assists in preventing you from requiring needless multiple steps to drill down and get back to an apps interface.  You can do it all directly from the lock screen.  The app allows you to place shortcuts and widgets on the lock screen, much like you can on your home screen.  Moving apps around are equally as simple, you just long press and drag to reposition an app or shortcut.  The functionality allows you to stay interactive with certain apps, like music players and podcasts while not accidentally unlocking the phone and touching unwanted applications.  

There are also a plethora of settings that will allow a user to make multiple tweaks to the lock screen, such as the placement of volume keys.  There’s also functionality that will allow you to perform an unlock with the trackball for trackball enabled devices.  In addition, the app also does a wonderful job of providing a tutorial for you to check out all of the features and gives an explanation of each one.  The app also gives you an optional “Easy Wake” feature using any button such as the volume, camera or trackball to wake the device.  Furthermore, the developer has stated that the next version of WidgetLocker will support custom themes.  That should spice up your lock screen a bit.  So if you’re ready for a new lock screen experience, head on over to our apps database and check it out for yourself.  Don’t forget to leave a comment and let us know what you think.

More detail & download: here

Soucre: .talkandroid

Sony Reader app for Android now available

Sony had promised an Android companion app for its eBook store in January 2011, and it's delivered. You can now find Sony Reader in the Android Market, ready to pocket-size your digital tomes previously purchased from the Reader Store.

Like other eBook apps, Sony Reader allows you to adjust the font size and brightness, and supports bookmarking and highlighting. Tap the bottom of the reading window and a slider appears which you can move to skip ahead or back. You can also jump between bookmarks and highlighted passages, and Reader offers a decent built-in search function as well. As an added bonus for owners of a Sony Reader Daily Edition, you can keep your Android device and e-ink reading on the same page, as it were.

An iOS version is also in the works, though Sony's mobile app page says only that it's "coming soon." Sony Reader for Android is a free download and is available now from the Android Market.

Download Sony Reader for Android [AppBrain]

The Good News About Android's Version Distribution

When you develop a product and use liberal licensing terms, there's always the risk that someone else will use your code to create a poor product. Maybe it will include a lot of unnecessary features, it will be slow and have a lot of bugs or it will never use the latest version of your software.

Android's goal was to be a common baseline that enables innovation in the mobile space. Convincing other companies to use Android wasn't easy and that's one of the biggest Google accomplishments. Not many people believed in Android's success three years ago and its adoption rate is still surprising.

Convincing companies to update their Android-based firmware faster is much easier. If users only buy Android phones that have the latest version of the operating system and constantly request phone manufacturers and carriers to update the software, then they'll work harder to improve their products.

Google has recently released some information about the current distribution of the Android versions and the good news is that 87.4% of the Android phones use Android 2.x, up from about 55% in July. 51.8% of the phones use Froyo, a version released 7 months ago. In only one month (August 2010), Froyo's share grew from 5.5% to more than 28%, after Motorola and HTC updated phones like Droid, Droid Incredible, Evo 4G, and Desire.

ZDNet says that "almost 13% of Android users are still running versions of the mobile OS that are several generations old and these users will never see Android 2.1", but this percentage is constantly decreasing. Even if they're using Android 1.6, that's still a much better operating system than the one from a feature phone and it still lets them use many apps from the Android Market. A slower update rate is a small price to pay for creating an ecosystem of heterogeneous devices that run the same operating system which is not perfect, but it's "good enough".

Source: googlesystem

How to manage your Android contacts?

How to manage your Android contacts?
Mobile devices have become lifelines for connecting to family, friends, business associates, and clients. With your contacts list growing exponentially, you need to know the best ways to manage this information. Here are some ways Android device owners can keep their contacts list under control.

Google is your friend

The best advice I can offer is to make sure every contact you create on your Android phone is a Google contact. Why is this so important? Because you can manage your Google contacts from within your Google account. This will save you from fumbling around on your mobile phone’s keyboard to try to arrange, categorize, create, edit, and delete those contacts.
If you want the non-Google contacts that are already on your Android phone to be migrated to Google contacts, there is no way to do this directly on the phone; instead, you have to do an export/import. You have to export the contacts to a CSV file to your SD card and then import that file into Google.
To export those contacts, you need to use the free app called UiA - Backup Contacts (it’s available on the Android Market). After you install the app, you’ll see it listed in your Application drawer labeled Backup Contacts. Tap that application, agree to the license, and you’ll see the main window (Figure A), where you can: Backup Now, View Your CSV Contact List, Upload To Dropbox, or Send To Email.
 

Figure A

When you export the contacts using Backup Contacts, that CSV file will be saved on the root of your SD card. The file that is saved to your CSV card will be named Backup.Contacts.TODAYS_DATE.csv; TODAYS_DATE is the date the contacts were saved. With that file on your SD card, you can mount the SD card, copy the file to your PC, and then import that file into your Google account contacts.
This method does not convert the contacts on your phone to Google contacts, so you might find some duplicate entries in your contacts. You can delete the contacts on your phone once you know they’re secured in your Google account.

Groups

Another tip for organizing your contacts is to use groups. Groups allow you to sort, search, and find your contacts much easier.
 

Note: All Google contacts will belong to their own group, “Google.” You cannot reassign those contacts or assign them to multiple groups. You can manage your Google contacts from within your Google account, but you will not be able to see those actions (such as adding Google contacts to groups within Google) on your Android phone.
For contacts that are on your phone, you can create groups by following these steps:
1. Open the Contacts application.
2. Tap the Groups tab (Figure B).
3. Tap the Menu button.
4. Tap the Create button.
5. Create your new group.
 

Figure B

The Groups tab also includes all social media accounts you have authenticated on your phone. Follow these steps to assign a contact to a group:
1. Tap the Groups tab.
2. Tap the Add Member button.
3. Select all contacts you want to join the group.
4. Tap the Add button.

Linked Contacts

A very nice feature of the Android contact system is Linked Contacts. A Linked Contact is a way to link one contact to a related contact. For instance, you might want to link all the employees of a specific department. To do this, open one of those contacts and scroll down to the bottom. Tap the section labeled Linked Contacts (Figure C) and then tap the Add Link Contact button. On the next screen, find the contact you want to link, and it will be linked. Repeat these steps to link more contacts. You are limited to five linked contacts.
 

Figure C

Samsung Captivate-specific tips

The next two features I’ll highlight — Directional Swiping and Speed Dialing — are unique to the Samsung Captivate line of phones.
 

Directional Swiping
From your Contacts application, the Directional Swiping feature allows you to quickly phone or message a contact depending upon which way you swipe that contact. If you swipe the target contact to the right, you place a phone call; if you swipe the target contact to the left, you send an SMS message. This feature is incredibly handy and should be made available to all Android phones.
 

Speed Dialing
To add a contact to speed dialing, follow these steps:
1. Open the Contacts application.
2. Tap the Menu button.
3. Tap the Speed Dial button.
4. Tap the number for which you want to add a contact.
5. Find and select the contact.

Source: pccleancomputers

Learn Java for Android Development

Product Description

Android development is hot, and many programmers are interested in joining the fun. However, because this technology is based on Java, you should first obtain a solid grasp of the Java language and its foundational APIs to improve your chances of succeeding as an Android app developer. After all, you will be busy learning the architecture of an Android app, the various Android-specific APIs, and Android-specific tools. If you do not already know Java fundamentals, you will probably end up with a massive headache from also having to quickly cram those fundamentals into your knowledge base.

Learn Java for Android Development teaches programmers of any skill level the essential Java language and foundational Java API skills that must be learned to improve the programmer’s chances of succeeding as an Android app developer. Each of the book’s 10 chapters provides an exercise section that gives you the opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the chapter’s material. Answers to the book’s more than 300 exercises are provided in an appendix. Once you complete this book, you will be ready to dive into Android, and you can start that journey by obtaining a copy of Beginning Android 2.

Additionally, author Jeff Friesen will provide supplementary material (such as 6 more chapters) on his javajeff.mb.ca website, available over the next few months following this book's release.

What you’ll learn

    * The Java language: This book provides complete coverage of nearly every pre-Java version 7 language feature (native methods are briefly mentioned but not formally covered). Starting with those features related to classes and objects, you progress to object-oriented features related to inheritance, polymorphism, and interfaces. You then explore the advanced language features for nested types, packages, static imports, exceptions, assertions, annotations, generics, and enums. Continuing, you investigate strictfp, class literals, synchronized, volatile, the enhanced for loop statement, autoboxing/unboxing, and transient fields. The book also briefly presents most (if not all) of Java version 7’s language features, although not much is said about closures or modules (which were not finalized at the time of writing).
    * Java APIs: In addition to Object and APIs related to exceptions, you explore Math, StrictMath, BigDecimal, BigInteger, Package, Boolean, Character, Byte, Short, Integer, Long, Float, Double, Number, the References API, the Reflection API, String, StringBuffer, System, the Threading API, the collections framework, the concurrency utilities, the internationalization APIs, the Preferences API, Random, the Regular Expressions API, File, RandomAccessFile, stream classes, and writer/reader classes. You will also get a tiny taste of Swing in the context of internationalization.
    * Tools: You will learn how to use the JDK’s javac (compiler), java (application launcher), javadoc (Java documentation generator), and jar (Java archive creator, updater, and extractor) tools. You will also receive an introduction to the NetBeans and Eclipse integrated development environments. Although you can develop Android apps without NetBeans or Eclipse, working with these IDEs is much more pleasant.

Who this book is for

This book is for any programmer (including existing Java programmers and Objective-C (iPhone/iPad) programmers) of any skill level who needs to obtain a solid understanding of the Java language and foundational Java APIs before jumping into Android app development.

Table of Contents

   1. Getting Started with Java
   2. Learning Language Fundamentals
   3. Learning Object-Oriented Language Features
   4. Mastering Advanced Language Features Part 1
   5. Mastering Advanced Language Features Part 2
   6. Exploring the Basic APIs Part 1
   7. Exploring the Basic APIs Part 2
   8. Discovering the Collections Framework
   9. Discovering Additional Utility APIs
  10. Performing I/O
  11. Solutions to Exercises

About the Author

Jeff ""JavaJeff"" Friesen is a freelance software developer and educator specializing in Java and now Android technology. In addition to teaching Java at a local college, he's written several books on Java, with Learn Java for Android and Beginning Java SE 6 Platform: From Novice to Professional being his most recent books. Jeff has also written numerous articles for java.net, InformIT.com and JavaWorld.com. Check out his javajeff.mb.ca website to discover these articles, as well as additional material on Java, JavaFX, and other software technologies.

Source: Android-er blog
Learn Java for Android Development on Amazon.com

This book is also available:  http://books.google.com/books?id=dWC1zHcr4HcC

App: NhacCuaTui - An application helps you listen to music anytime - anywhere

Screenshot: 

Descriptions:

This is the official mobile application of website nhaccuatui.com, developed by NCT Corporation Mobile Lab. Now you can have access to your favourite music anywhere and anytime that you want. NCT Mobile App will update the hottest songs and playlists automatically, let's try and enjoy the world of music on your device.

Version:  1.0 (for all Android versions)

Download:  Here

Wi-Fi tools I’m using on my Android

While 7Mbps 3G speeds are nice, Wi-Fi is even nicer. That’s why I try connecting to a Wi-Fi network whenever possible. It just makes things that much easier and smoother. Lately I’ve taken advantage of a number of Wi-Fi tools to make the experience even better. With all four of them combined I’ve been killing it with the browsing speed.

The first two apps we’ve already covered. They are Lookator and WeFi. Lookator is the sexier of the apps, since it uses Augmented Reality to place the source of Wi-Fi hotspots on your screen. I won’t lie: I’ve stood under someone’s apartment window and jacked their unsecured Wi-Fi. Why would they leave it unsecured in the first place? This also works well with WeFi, which is a hotspot database that already contains 74 million-plus hotspots. As I said when I first wrote about these, they’re permanently on my device.

Because I so greatly prefer Wi-Fi, I’d also prefer that my handset automatically detect a connection and set me up. That way I can retrieve my phone from my pocket and go nuts without having to actually connect. While I haven’t been able to find an app that will automatically connect me to an unsecured or public hotspot, I do have Wi-Fi Auto On. It will automatically connect me to hotspots I’ve already used. This goes well with public spots you often hit, such as the new hotspots in New York City. Just walking in the area will turn on Wi-Fi,which means I’ll be experiencing fast speeds right out of my pocket.

When I’m home I also want to use Wi-Fi, since I get only two bars of service inside my apartment. That made WiFi Automatic the perfect solution. It automatically turns on Wi-Fi when you connect your charger, and turns it off when you disconnect. Since my phone is charging nearly all the time at home, this makes complete sense. The only thing I wish it did was allow me to stay connected to my current hotspot until I leave it. Then it turns WiFi off. But hey, I’ll take what I can get for free.

All of these apps are available in the Market.

Source: andgeeks

iPhone 4 and Nexus S: Which smartphone is right for you ?

Six months after moving to Apple's smartphone, I'm back on Android. On December 17, I bought the Samsung-made Google Nexus S from my local Best Buy. Days later, my iPhone 4 sold on eBay for $575, which will cover my early termination fee with AT&T and some of the new phone's cost. Like any other tech purchase, I did research beforehand but couldn't find what I most wanted: iPhone comparison to Nexus S reviews -- Apple's flagship smartphone to Google's superphone. After nearly two weeks using Nexus S, I'm ready to offer some experiential comparisons for other shoppers.

To be clear, I wasn't dissatisfied with iPhone 4. On the contrary, I was hugely satisfied with the phone and the user experience. Apple's smartphone feels solid to hold, offers breathtaking display and shoots pleasing photos and videos. With the exception of ongoing Bluetooth earpiece problems, iPhone satisfied -- perhaps too much. Psychologists say that marriages often break up not in a flurry of anger or arguments but silence. Two people drift apart, one day realizing they have little left in common. That sentiment in some ways describes my feelings about iPhone 4. Three-and-a-half years after the original phone launched, the iOS user interface is pretty much the same. The UI feels stale, uninviting and too PC-like. I love the hardware, but no longer pine for the software.

An iPhone 4 Divorce

My software breakup started months earlier, when my 89 year-old father-in-law switched to iPhone 4. In process of watching him struggle to use the device, I suddenly saw in a new way the inconsistencies of the user interface, such as the button in the left hand corner  of some standard phone functions leading "back" but doing something different, too (text messaging is good example). There was a consistency about his confusion -- when encountering UI inconsistencies and oddities.

Other things bugged me. For example, photo sharing is cumbersome on iOS compared to Android. The iOS presents a few standard sharing options, like e-mail and MMS, but the services are all Apple's. By comparison, Android exposes APIs to third-party developers. When using the Nexus One, the newer Google phone's predecessor, I could upload photos directly to Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr immediately, without having to truck over to their apps (unlike iPhone). This example represents the difference in openness of the two mobile platforms.

In June, I switched to iPhone 4 from Nexus One, which my wife still uses. I generally liked the Android phone but there were accuracy problems with the touchscreen and the AMOLED screen washed out in sunlight, making the phone essentially unusable. When I had the Nexus One, it ran Android 2.1 (now 2.2). I like versions 2.2 and 2.3 less; there are more steps required for some really basic functions, like making phone calls. The point: Android's user interface is becoming unnecessarily complex in some respects. However, in many others, such as adjusting settings or getting notifications, even Android 2.3 is superior in its simplicity compared to iOS.

Google Nexus S side view showing curvy screen

Some reasons why Nexus S appealed to me compared to iPhone 4:

1. It's the new Google phone. Nexus S is Google branded, with no carrier crapware installed. The smartphone is based on the popular Samsung Galaxy S series, and it will be first to get the newest Android operating system version updates.

2. Nexus S runs Gingerbread. Android 2.3 is tasty. What can I say? I like sweets.

3. The Super AMOLED screen overcomes Nexus One's sunlight blindness -- and it's crisp and clear enough compared to iPhone 4.

4. I like the Samsung Galaxy S series -- too bad the Nexus S misses some features. I'd be happier if like T-Mobile's Samsung Vibrant variant, Nexus S had 720p video and microSD slot to augment the 16GB internal storage. That said, the Nexus S is gorgeous and loaded with goodies.

5. I was bored with iOS and longing for Android. As aforementioned, I was ready for the iPhone 4 divorce. I just wanted the right phone to switch to-- something like the Nexus One in concept but not the shortcomings.

How Do the Phones Compare?

There is no apple (or is that Apple?) to apple comparison. Each smartphone appeals in its own way. I mostly prefer the Nexus S to iPhone 4, but I could just as comfortably use Apple's smartphone. These are both exceptional quality phones. For many people, one or the other will be a matter of taste, assuming they're not contractually committed to the wireless network supporting the other phone.

Quick Specs: iPhone 4

• Processor: Apple A4.
• Storage: 16GB or 32GB; available to applications.
• Dimensions: 115.2mm high by 58.6mm wide by 9.3mm deep, weighing 137 grams.
• Display: 3.5 inches, with 960-by-640 resolution; 326 dots per inch; 800:1 contrast ratio.
• Wireless: UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA -- 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz; GSM/EDGE -- 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz; 802.11b/g/n WiFi; Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR; Assisted GPS
• Cameras: VGA front-facing and 5-megapixel back-facing (backlit CMOS and high-dynamic range capabilities); VGA video from front and 720p from the back, both 30 frames per second; LED flash on back camera.
• Claimed battery life: 7 hours talk, 5 hours Internet
• Carrier locked: Yes, in most geographies
• US price: $199 for 16GB and $299 32GB with two-year contractual commitment to AT&T. No commitment: $599 and $699, respectively.

iPhone 4

Quick Specs: Nexus S

• Processor: 1GHz Samsung Cortex A8 (Hummingbird).
• Storage: 16GB; 1GB available to applications.
• Dimensions: 123.9mm high by 63mm wide by 10.88mm deep, weighing 129 grams.
• Display: 4 inches, with 800-by-480 resolution; 235 dots per inch; 100000:1 contrast ratio.
• Wireless: HSDPA/HSUPA -- 900, 1700, 2100 MHz; GSM/EDGE -- 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); 802.11b/g/n WiFi; Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR; Assisted GPS; Near Field Communication.
• Cameras: VGA front-facing and 5-megapixel back-facing; VGA video from front and 720 x 480 from the back, 30 frames per second; LED flash on back camera.
• Claimed battery life: 6.7 hours.
• Carrier locked: No
• US price: $199 or $249 with two-year contractual commitment to T-Mobile. No commitment: $529.

In the United States, iPhone 4 is locked to AT&T's network; even when unlocked by the user, high-speed data is not available on the other major GSM network, T-Mobile. The Nexus S is unlocked and uses T-Mobile's data frequencies. The phone is good for voice on AT&T but only EDGE for data. Note to T-Mobile subscribers: The Nexus S tops out at 7.2Mbps; it does not support T-Mobile's so-called 4G network speeds.

First-Hand User Experience

The Nexus S' most distinctive feature is the curved screen, which feels noticeably more comfortable against the face than iPhone 4 or other smartphones I have used. The screen is bright, with rich contrast that is superior to iPhone 4. The capacitive touchscreen is scarily responsive, like it's reading my mind and producing letters before I touch the screen. That's not too far from the truth. In testing, I find the screen responds without touch, if I hold my fingers just above the letters.

But it is the speed I first noticed. The Nexus S is fast, noticeably more than iPhone 4, which is saying a lot, since Apple's smartphone is no slouch. From a usability perspective, I much prefer Android's simply inspired notifications compared to Apple's seemingly hacked on approach. If, for example, Facebook isn't on the main iPhone screen, the user might not realize he or she has notifications, which appear as a numeral against the application icon. On Android, a unified notifications bar appears at the top of screen and pulls down to reveal them.

Android also places phone function or application settings on the same screen (after you untuck them), rather than how iPhone forces the user to go to a separate, consolidated "settings" application. Another nicety: Widgets running on the desktop. I use the featured "Google News/Weather" widget throughout the day. I'll add others to one of the home screens, as I find time.

Nexus S' battery life, while good, simply doesn't compete with iPhone 4, which is an exceptional performer. I would guess Nexus S delivers about 80-85 percent the time of iPhone 4. Strangely, I find talk time to be longer on Nexus S compared to iPhone 4, while Apple's phone lasts longer for data usage.

As a journalist, the camera is a high priority for me. Unquestionably, iPhone has the edge, particularly for video. But I find the Nexus S delivers satisfying performance -- certainly good enough -- and there are some actual controls for adjusting settings while taking pictures, such as white balance and exposure compensation.

Like other Android handsets, Nexus S syncs to the cloud -- no PC required, unlike iPhone 4. Apple offers some cloud sync capabilities, but users must still backup the device to a computer and receive updates there. Android updates OTA -- over the air. I presume that Nexus S, like the N1, will restore all apps and settings OTA if the phone is reset.

There remains the question of mobile apps. Apple claims 300,000 in the App Store, but what about Google? According to AndroLib, the Android Marketplace now has more than 200,000 applications. I won't quibble the number, which isn't Google official, but will say this: I had absolutely no problem finding all the applications I needed.

Which phone is right for you? I can't say. Hopefully this post will help your decision-making process. But nothing beats actually handling a phone, which I suggest you do on several trips. It's an important commitment (if bound by carrier contract that you'll live with for years) that deserves some hands-on experience. The Nexus S is right for me, and I have no regrets.

Source: betanews

Android trojan horse Geinimi spotted stealing user data in the wild

Another trojan horse for devices running Google’s Android mobile operating system — this one capable of stealing information and uploading it to remote servers — has been spotted on third-party Android application marketplaces.

The Geinimi trojan horse gets onto your device via games and other applications that users download off third-party application marketplaces outside of the official Android Marketplace. Applications that are corrupted by Geinimi ask Android users to verify a much larger set of permissions than the application is supposed to verify, and then send that information off to remote servers.

While Geinimi hasn’t made a malicious move yet, mobile cyber security firm Lookout suspects it is building a botnet — an army of devices that can be controlled remotely — like trojan horses and other types of malware do with typical computers.

Malware on mobile devices is still a new trend. But it’s a little disconcerting to see another sophisticated trojan horse come out on Google’s Android operating system just a few months after one made a splash on Russian Android phones by forcing phones to send premium text messages.

Lookout is warning Android users to stick to well-known and well-rated applications on the Android Marketplace. The Android operating system is particularly vulnerable to attack, since just about anyone can upload apps bearing malware to the Android Market. Those apps often trick users into giving them permission to do something to the user’s phone.

Cyber criminals are targeting smartphones because they aren’t as well protected as computers with anti-malware software, said Bradley Anstis, vice president of technology for M86 Security, a security technology company in Orange, Calif. Other mobile devices are also becoming increasingly ubiquitous — mobile tablet computers are expected to be a big hit and bring in $24.9 billion in revenue next year.

Google’s Android mobile operating system isn’t the only one at risk, either. The Zeus virus was released on Nokia phones running the Symbian operating system recently. It was able to compromise online-banking apps that use text messages to verify mobile transactions.

 Source: venturebeat