Google - SlashGear

Posts Tagged ‘google’

GSM Motorola MILESTONE lacks turn-by-turn in Android 2.0 Maps [Update: Confirmed]

By Chris Davies on Monday, Nov 2nd 2009 No Comments

US would-be DROID buyers now livid by the European version of the smartphone’s multitouch support can take heart in the fact that while the Motorola MILESTONE gives with one hand, it takes away with the other. Mobile-Review’s Eldar Murtazin has revealed that – on his pre-release Euro model at least – Android 2.0 lacks turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps Navigation.

Update: A Google spokesperson has told us that the reason turn-by-turn is absent from the MILESTONE is because currently the beta is US-only.

Motorola Milestone maps

Continued »

Motorola MILESTONE (aka GSM Verizon DROID) confirmed for O2 Germany

By Chris Davies on Sunday, Nov 1st 2009 1 Comment

We’re still playing avidly with our Verizon DROID by Motorola in preparation for the full review this coming week – check out some first-impressions and highlights in the meantime – but according to a leaked O2 Germany document the GSM European version may only be days away. The document lists the Motorola MILESTONE – with a shot of what’s definitely the Motorola DROID – as coming to the German carrier in the week beginning November 9th 2009; in fact there’s already a page for the MILESTONE on the O2 Germany site.

o2 germany motorola milestone 540x384

Continued »

Google “doing exactly what Microsoft did” says angry GPS app dev

By Chris Davies on Friday, Oct 30th 2009 5 Comments

google maps navigation trouble ahead 157x280 custom With Google Maps Navigation causing ripples not only among Android users but in the share prices of Garmin, TomTom and other mapping providers, it seems some location-based services providers are coming out fighting. LaptopMag have been talking to Networks in Motion’s (NIM) Steve Andler, VP of marketing at the company responsible for Verizon’s VZ Navigator and the Gokivo iPhone app, and he’s pulling no punches about his opinion of Google. Andler describes the idea of Android as being open as “a bunch of hooey”, and even goes so far as to suggest that “Google is doing exactly what Microsoft did, which is, they integrate stuff into the core, leaving no room for anyone to innovate.”

Of course, it’s not surprising that Andler – and NIM – are frustrated, given the particular corner of software development they chose to carve out. Andler’s core argument about PND software is that it requires more than a few voice prompts on top of a map.

Continued »

Verizon introduces the leader of the DROID army – First Take

By Michael Gartenberg on Thursday, Oct 29th 2009 No Comments

Recently I asked, if a DROID could take on the Death Star? Now, Motorola and Verizon, along with some help from Google launched DROID. I’ve spent the day with a device and here’s what I think so far. First, Verizon was clear that DROID is going to be a family of devices running Android, Motorola’s device will be the only one called DROID, others will be known as the DROID-XXX. DROID is the first Android 2.0 device and the Google branding points to the fact that this is stock Android. And I do mean stock Android: there are zero Verizon services on this device (with the exception of a non-branded visual voicemail app). No VCast. No nothing. One wonders if Verizon were willing to go to this length a few years ago, would the iPhone have landed on Verizon? Android 2.0 is a great update and finally is starting to feel complete. Compared to V1 Android running HTC Sense, it’s a mixed bag. HTC’s UI is lightyears ahead of stock Android in my opinion but the DROID performs so much better than any Android V1 phone I’ve used and is nearly feature complete that it’s hard to recommend a V1x device at this point.

verizon droid 17 r3media 540x359

Continued »

Google Discover Music search launches: previews & MP3 downloads [Video]

By Chris Davies on Thursday, Oct 29th 2009 No Comments

Google’s rumored push into music has panned out into an new search function with integrated playback. Thanks to a deal with MySpace (who have acquired media playback firm iLike) and Lala, searches for songs, artists or albums will also produce links to audio previews and places you can actually buy the track. Meanwhile partnerships with Pandora, Rhapsody and imeem will offer suggestions of similar artists and music.

Video overview after the cut

Continued »

Google Maps Navigation beta for Android 2.0: turn-by-turn, Car UI, more [Video]

By Chris Davies on Wednesday, Oct 28th 2009 No Comments

Google have announced the latest evolution of Google Maps for mobile, and life for standalone PND apps just got a whole lot harder. Android 2.0 devices – such as the Verizon Droid by Motorola – now have access to Google Maps Navigation Beta, a turn-by-turn navigation application that supports voice guidance, search-by-voice and automatic re-routing complete with traffic information.

Video demo after the cut

Continued »

Android 2.0 Eclair officially launches [Video]

By Chris Davies on Tuesday, Oct 27th 2009 No Comments

Google have launched Android 2.0 Eclair, complete with SDK support for developers. Key changes for the new version of the OS include multiple Google and Exchange account support, two-way contacts sync, the ability to pull in contacts from multiple accounts, the ability to switch methods of communication and accounts within threaded conversations, and a unified email inbox. There’s also new camera functionality, including macro focus and integrated flash support.

Android 2.0 Official Video

Video overview after the cut

Continued »

HTC confirm Android 2.0 smartphones incoming

By Chris Davies on Monday, Oct 26th 2009 No Comments

When HTC aren’t commissioning new ad campaigns they’re making smartphones, and while we would hate to put words in their collective mouth it seems highly likely that the HTC Dragon will end up packing Android 2.0. While Motorola may have beaten HTC to the jump with announcing the first Android 2.0 smartphone, albeit briefly, Gearlog have confirmed that the company is indeed already playing with the next-gen version of Google’s open-source platform.

Continued »

Google Audio music download store coming October 28th?

By Chris Davies on Wednesday, Oct 21st 2009 No Comments

google audio logo It seems the rift between Google and Apple is growing; after the latter made moves to supply its own mapping technologies for the iPhone and iPod touch, Google now looks set to kick off its own music service to rival iTunes. According to TechCrunch’s sources, the so-called Google Audio service will launch on October 28th, and offer US users both access to streaming media together with purchase/download links.

Continued »

DIY Samsung Q1UP Android 1.6 UMPC

By Chris Davies on Tuesday, Oct 20th 2009 No Comments

Android is slowly but surely appearing on a number of UMPCs and MIDs, but if you actually want to buy one – as opposed to just read about it – your options are still pretty limited. Over at jkOnTheRun our friend Kevin C. Tofel’s patience has expired and so he’s loaded Android 1.6 onto his Samsung Q1UP UMPC, courtesy of the Android-x86 project.

samsung q1up android umpc 540x303