"Android is an operating system that failed to bring about the eagerly anticipated revolution in the cell phone world, but has managed to become overwhelmingly popular. At this time, probably the only cell phone manufacturers that are not heavily preoccupied working on Android-based devices are Apple, Nokia and Palm. Many studies prove the platform is getting more widespread and influential by the day and most of them also indicate that Android will rank second to Symbian in just a few years. Android and LG. These are words that we don’t typically use in one and the same sentence. So far, the Korean manufacturer has introduced two Android-based handsets to be sold globally – the LG GW620 (also known as the Eve) and the GT540. What the company seems to be trying to accomplish with them is get a proper feel of the market and showcase its personalized S-CLASS interface on a brand new platform. Neither of these two comes with powerful hardware or contemporary software. LG GW620 hit the shelves equipped with somewhat obsolete software, because is runs Android version 1.5, while the current OS edition as the time of this review is 2.1." Read more here:

"An updated ROM is now available for HTC Magic customers to download. As always, HTC is committed to providing customers with the best possible mobile experience.
Installation Instructions:
ROM Version:3.05.401.3
Improved Functions
This ROM Upgrade for your HTC Magic will let you experience HTC Sense on your phone. HTC Sense lets you create a phone just right for you. You can customize your experience to be any way you like. Discover intuitive experiences that make everything you do on your phone effortless and delightful." Check it here: 

"NTT DoCoMo today unveiled its docomo Smartphone Xperia, manufactured by Sony Ericsson and known as the Xperia X10 in markets outside Japan, which is scheduled to go on sale in Japan this April. Built on the open Android operating system and powered by a 1GHz CPU, the docomo Smartphone Xperia with 4.0-inch touchscreen features Mediascape, a Sony Ericsson signature application for intuitive organization of music, photos and videos. If the new “infinite button” is pressed while playing a song, Mediascape searches for all content related to the artist across a broad range of media, both in-phone and online, such as music, videos and information. Another signature Sony Ericsson application, Timescape, intuitively organizes communication histories with each individual and provides quick mobile access to the user’s favorite means of communication. When the “infinite button” is pressed, Timescape presents one convenient view of all interactions with an individual, such as voice, e-mail (configuration required), Twitter, Facebook and mixi, a popular social network service in Japan. The phonebook also synchronizes with postings on Twitter and Facebook. The docomo Smartphone Xperia is compatible with FOMA HIGH-SPEED, DOCOMO’s HSUPA/HSDPA data-communication service for extra-fast 2.0 Mbps uplinks and 7.2 Mbps downlinks (theoretical maximums). It also is equipped for Wi-Fi, uploading videos and photos to YouTube and Picasa, and downloading applications from Android Market, allowing users to co-create an experience that is entirely unique to them. Google services such as Google search, Google Maps and Gmail are preloaded. The docomo Smartphone Xperia intelligently recognizes up to five faces from photos stored in the phonebook and automatically tags faces in photos taken with the handset’s 8.1-megapixel camera. The user can make phone calls or send emails to an individual by simply touching their tag in a photo." via slashphone.com

"Motorola today announced its new MOTOROI, an Android smartphone running with Android 2.0 and would be available in Korea. Designed to take full advantage of the power of Android 2.0, MotoROI gives you a full touch screen with a huge 3.7 inch, high-definition WVGA (480X854) display, making it easier than ever to view full page websites, videos, games, or photos. The display uses a powerful combination of Motorola’s touch user interface (UI) and a capacitive touch sensor for smooth screen flipping and scrolling, and five main displays let you customize your MotoROI with various widgets. The MotoROI also includes an 8 megapixel camera with Xenon flash. The camera model is able to do 720p HD video recording and includes easy panorama, face detection, multi-shot (6 shots in a row), face filter, red eye reduction and camera shake prevention. Other than a built in Terrestrial DMB receiver to watch digital TV channel, the smartphone’s HDMI connector will allow you to play your media content with your TV for better viewing." Read more inside..

"There is an old saying 'better late than never', but in the case of the LG GW620 that doesn;t seem to hold up. The GW620 is LG's first entry into the UK Android amrket and to be frank it's unlikely to wow many people. The handset runs Android 1.5, has a resistive touchscreen and seems about a year behind the curve. Given how fast Android has been progressing and the current range of Android handsets, not to say anything of the upcoming range like Sony Ericsson's X10, the GW620, or InTouch Max to use its market name, is unliekly to be seen as anything other than an 'also ran'. Of course it's good to see LG releasing Android handsets, but apart from those who haven't got a clue about Android it's hard to see who this particular handset will appeal to. At any rate it should be available on T-Mobile and a contract of around £20/month will probably get you the device free." via mobile-review.com

"Rafe and I have often pulled out the 'hybrid' form factor as the one offering the best of all worlds. i.e. a screen that occupies most of the plan form factor of the phone, with a qwerty keyboard that does the same, made possible through a sliding, pivoting or folding mechanism. Yes, there's a level of mechanical complexity which might prove unreliable in the long run, but the benefits are huge.And yes, touchscreen-only fans will point out that a 'slate' device (e.g. Samsung i8910 HD, HTC HD2, Google Nexus One) can pop up a landscape keyboard when needed, to also give the best of both worlds, but I'd also argue that:

• with such a virtual keyboard on-screen, the display area left is much reduced
• even on the best virtual keyboards, you don't get the mechanical feedback of thumb-typing on real keys - this leads, ultimately, to faster, more satisfying text input

This head to head isn't exhaustive, of course, I've limited it to just four interesting devices. The idea is both to compare hybrid solutions from different platforms/ecosystems and (in the E90's case) from a different era. And to provoke discussion and debate, of course!" Read more here:

"Rafe and I have often pulled out the 'hybrid' form factor as the one offering the best of all worlds. i.e. a screen that occupies most of the plan form factor of the phone, with a qwerty keyboard that does the same, made possible through a sliding, pivoting or folding mechanism. Yes, there's a level of mechanical complexity which might prove unreliable in the long run, but the benefits are huge.And yes, touchscreen-only fans will point out that a 'slate' device (e.g. Samsung i8910 HD, HTC HD2, Google Nexus One) can pop up a landscape keyboard when needed, to also give the best of both worlds, but I'd also argue that:

• with such a virtual keyboard on-screen, the display area left is much reduced
• even on the best virtual keyboards, you don't get the mechanical feedback of thumb-typing on real keys - this leads, ultimately, to faster, more satisfying text input

This head to head isn't exhaustive, of course, I've limited it to just four interesting devices. The idea is both to compare hybrid solutions from different platforms/ecosystems and (in the E90's case) from a different era. And to provoke discussion and debate, of course!" Read more here:

"Navigon announced an upcoming release of its on-board navigation application, MobileNavigator, for Android mobile phones in North America. Expected availability in spring 2010, Navigon’s hallmark navigation features for Android include Reality View Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Speed Assistant and Day & Night Mode. The Navigon solution is equipped with maps of North America (US, Canada, Hawaii and Puerto Rico) from NAVTEQ.
Key features of the NAVIGON MobileNavigator for Android phones:

• Reality View Pro displays photo-realistic 3D views with actual road signs and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange and exit drivers will encounter.
• Lane Assistant Pro helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit or turn by providing a lane map complete with arrows and actual road geometry.
• Text-to-speech announces street names in addition to turn-by-turn directions.
• Speed Assistant with adjustable audio-visual warning.
• Day & Night Mode for map display.
• Direct Access allows navigation to contacts saved in the phone’s address book.
• Route Planning
• Branded POIs and POIs along the route." via slashphone.com