The Daily Slash: July 21st 2010

It's the middle of the week already, but we're studiously counting down the days until the end of the month. There are going to be quite a few exciting things in August, and we're hoping for even a couple surprises, so you'll have to forgive our foresight. But, let's try to stay focused on the present, at least for a little while longer. Welcome to the Wednesday night edition of The Daily Slash. Tonight, in the Best or R3 Media, we've got Android 2.1 on a bevy of devices, more iPhone rumors, and absolutely no cellphones for prisoners. And then in the Dredge 'Net, we're getting better gesture control soon, Microsoft comes clean on Kinect and hardcore gamers.The Best of R3 MediaAndroid 2.1 on More Than Half of All Android Devices: It seems like only yesterday that everyone was clamoring for Android 2.0, and then even sooner that they all called out for immediate access to Android 2.1. But all of that yelling is in the past, as it turns out that 2.1 is now fully present on more than 50% of Android-based handsets. Actually, it accounts for 55.5%. Pretty good numbers, even if there are still 18.9% of owners out there running Android 1.5. Still, at 3.3%, Android 2.2 is making a claim for fame, and it's only going to get more prevalent soon. [via Android Community]iPhone Making its Way to T-Mobile: Yes, that says iPhone, and not iPhone 4. And yes, that's for a reason. Why? Because no one thinks that the iPhone 4, in the incarnation that we see it now (antenna issues and all) is going to make an appearance anywhere else other than AT&T's network. Nope, it's going to be an iPhone, sure, but it won't be the same thing. A new rumor suggests that T-Mobile, the fourth largest wireless carrier in the United States, is actually almost finished with their talks with Apple, pretty much clinching the final necessities needed to get their hands on the coveted device. The rumor also suggests that it will come out some time in the third quarter of this year, which ends in September. So, it should be pretty much any day now that we hear some kind of official verbiage on this issue if it's actually true. [via SlashGear]House of Representatives Completely Blocks Prisoners from Mobile Phones: Right now, prisoners aren't allowed to have mobile phones. But, for the most part, it's just a written rule that bears no real consequences if they are found with one. But, thanks to the US House of Repesentatives, S. 1749 has just been passed, and that means the original bill approved by the Senate back in April is one step closer to getting signed by the President, and then enacted as a law. Which means any prisoner caught with a mobile phone, or any device capable of accessing outside communications or the mobile web, will be served with a punishment. Now, what's next? State governments are currently petitioning to get cellphone signals jammed at prisons around the country. We'll see how that goes. [via PhoneMag]The Dredge 'NetGesture Control Without Gloves, Multiple Hands: So, technology keeps advancing, and we're riding the train towards the future in our big comfortable chairs. One of the stops on the tour would have to be Fraunhofer Technical Institute in Germany, where scientists there have created a new, advanced gesture control system that doesn't need any gloves, but can fully recognize multiple hands at the same time. The system actually has the ability to track not just your hands, but also your individual fingers. Unfortunately, the scientists have no idea when this technology will be ready for the mainstream, but we're hoping it's tomorrow. No, seriously. [via DVICE]Microsoft: Hardcore Gamers Will Enjoy Kinect, Too: So, when you look at Kinect, and see all those great games it's launching for, there might be some of you out there wondering where, exactly, the hardcore games are. Like, your next favorite First Person Shooter, or the next great action-adventure title. You won't see them, at least not right now. But, don't freak out. Microsoft has your back. The Redmond-based company says that hardcore games, like Halo-esque titles are coming down the pipe, but they just won't be the focus right off the bat. No, they may take up to 18 months to show up onto the scene. Right now, those are being kept to the controller, but will make their way to Kinect sooner than later. So, you can start breathing again. [via CrunchGear]