HTC Magic / T-Mobile G1 gets Honeycomb port, Android past and future fused together (video)

The original gangster of Android, T-Mobile's G1, just refuses to quietly fade into the annals of history. Even in spite of its long overdue end of retail life last summer, the handset continues to see support from grassroots modders and tweakers, with the latest project being the most ambitious of them all: an Android Honeycomb port. A pair of xda members have succeeded in splicing Android's most senior hardware with its very latest software and the results are available to see on video after the break. As usual with these builds, half of the phone's functions have still to be enabled and the UI lag seems like it'll be a permanent feature whatever happens, but still -- it's Honeycomb on the G1!

Seriously Scary Android Malware Quickly Pulled From Market

Apple’s semi-arbitrary approach to app store management may have problems, but Android (as much as I love it) is a jungle in comparison. Just tonight Google has pulled an app that, if downloaded, would have essentially rooted your phone and sent off every single detail it could find to a server in Fremont, California. Not only that, but it had the ability to download more code, potentially making it even more dangerous.

Redditor lompolo was investigating a suspicious app (Super Guitar Solo) that appeared to be a dupe of an existing app (Guitar Solo Lite), and found that it did indeed contain root exploits. Google pulled the code shortly after the guys at Android Police posted it, but it looks like at least 50,000 people have already downloaded the app, and there are a bunch more from the same publisher.

It’s the peril of an open app economy, but I have to say there’s rather a mismatch between the mentality behind the app store (essentially that behind the wave of download sites on the web in the late 90s) and the type of people increasingly using the OS. Right now this stuff is pretty limited, but if users get wind of it, or enough of these apps take down enough Droids, people will decide Android isn’t a “safe” mobile phone OS.

Mobile Phone Gaming in UK and US Is Rising

Personally I’m not into gaming on my smartphone but the word according to a recent study is that mobile phone gaming popularity is on the up in both the United Kingdom and the United States according to a survey by gaming firm PopCap.

According to an article over on Mashable, the research by PopCap shows that 52 percent of 2425 participants in the research survey stated they have played a mobile game on a mobile device, whether their own handset or someone else’s.

Apparently we in the UK are more mobile game hungry that our cousins over in the States, with 73 percent of UK respondents saying they played mobile games, while the US had 44 percent. Roughly a third of all those taking part in the survey said they had played a game on their mobile phone within the last month.

1-in-4 also stated they play a mobile game weekly, while others say they’ve only played once. The largest gaming area is the smartphone user with 83 percent playing a minimum of 1 game in the past week, which places them in the “avid mobile gamer” category apparently.

As for whether men or women domineer the mobile game playing arena, apparently it’s a close call with men playing game only slightly more than women, and the smartphone user is more likely to purchase a mobile game than a feature phone user, with average figures showing that in 2010 smartphone users purchased 5.4 games as opposed to 2.9 purchased by non-smartphone users.

So are you a mobile gamer, do you really get into playing games on your smartphone or do you consider yourself just a casual gamer that only plays when there’s nothing else to do?

Comcast releases Xfinity TV remote control app for Android devices

After debuting on the iPad and iPhone, Comcast has finally released its Xfinity TV app for Android. Right now it only supports basic features like remote controlling cable boxes, scheduling DVR recordings and searching the VOD library but other features like video streaming to the app and tuning to VOD on the TV will be add later, just like on iOS. Unfortunately right now it's optimized for phones, according to the notes it should work on tablets too but official support isn't ready yet. Features on their way to both platforms include recommendations and better filtering of watchlists and personalized TV listings. Other than having to turn our cable box off and on at first, we got it to work without a hitch, for now it's at least one more option to use a cool new device when you can't find the regular remote -- have you looked on top of the refrigerator?

Xfinity TV app for Android

Show full PR text

The XFINITY TV app puts a world of entertainment right at your fingertips!
Find your favorite shows and movies, control your TV, and schedule DVR recordings-all with the XFINITY TV app. The XFINITY TV app puts a world of entertainment right at your fingertips!
Find what to watch using a few taps:
- Browse TV listings customized to your area
- Browse an On Demand library featuring thousands of titles
- Search TV listings and On Demand for any show or movie
- Filter content by genre, network, HD, free and much more
Control your TV and DVR:
- Conveniently change channels right from the app
- Tune directly to On Demand programs to watch on your TV
- Schedule DVR recordings of your favorite shows, series, and movies
Requirements:
- Internet connection (Wi-Fi or 3G)
- Compatible cable/set-top box (for TV and DVR control). Please see http://www.xfinity.com/eligibleboxes for more details.
- Comcast ID or Comcast.net Email Address (and Password)
- Some restrictions may apply. Not available in all areas.
Initial Setup Notes:
Please be at home with your TV and cable boxes turned on. Messages will appear on your TV screen to help you name your boxes for easier identification and control.
Compatibility and Known Issues:
- Xfinity TV app supports most Android handsets running Android 2.1 and 2.2.
- The Xfinity TV app may work on other Android devices, like tablets, but it has not been designed or optimized for them and they are currently unsupported.
- Xfinity TV app currently supports devices that allow more than a 16MB memory limit on applications and will automatically detect the required memory. This includes most devices. However, the AT&T HTC Aria is a notable exception and is not compatible.
- Xfinity TV app is currently not supported on the Google Nexus S handset with Android 2.3.
*Xfinity TV app supports many-but not all-Comcast set top boxes. Specifically, Scientific Atlanta set top boxes are not yet supported. Please see http://www.xfinity.com/eligibleboxes for details about currently supported set top boxes.
Having trouble with the Xfinity TV App? Contact our support team via email: xfinity_remote@cable.comcast.com. We cannot respond through the Android Market comment/ratings system but would love to hear from you.

DIRECTV Remote App For iPad Released

For the iOS faithful that would like a little TV remote action with their Apple iPad there is now an app available from the App Store called DIRECTV, which is an Apple iPad remote app that enables the user to browse movies, sports and shows without interrupting the program you are currently viewing.

DIRECTV for the Apple iPad delivers a highly customisable remote functionality to you iOS tablet enabling the user to channel tune or set recordings instantly along with gaining access to info on shows, cast and crew, and set parental ratings.

With the DIRECTV app users can display up to 14 days of upcoming shows for a selected channel, list favourite channels by category such as his and hers, organise and view all recorded content via poster or list view, view current sports matchups and scores by league along with the option to view or record.

DIRECTV app for iPad users will require a residential home account with directv.com to use the remote and recording functionality of the app, while recording requires a WiFi, 3G or EDGE network and remote requires a WiFi connection.

The DIRECTV app for the Apple iPad can be downloaded to your iOS tablet running iOS 4.2 or above as a free download by hitting up iTunes.

Fonehouse nears network full-house

Retailer to make B2B connections through O2 and consumer connections through Orange, adding to existing relationships with T-Mobile and Vodafone

Fonehouse will have almost a full collection of mobile networks across its consumer and B2B divisions in the coming weeks, a large part of its plan to be the third-largest high street mobile retailer by the end of next year.

The retailer, which has over 50 stores nationwide, connects both T-Mobile and Vodafone. From March 1 it will connect B2B connections through O2, with Orange following on consumer and B2B connections on April 1. Fonehouse said it may also make B2B connections through Three from the same date.

Fonehouse recently signalled its intent to have about 170 stores open by the end of 2012. It is seeking to capitalise on its raised profile from Channel 4 documentary Mary Portas: Secret Shopper, which revealed the retailer is on a major store re-fit programme to create a ‘sit down and relax mentality’.

Fonehouse aims to add three partners a month to its franchise programme until the end of the year, and a further 90 stores next year. It also said it was confident of growing sales by 80 per cent before the start of next year, raising turnover to about 45 million in the next 12 months.

Fonehouse managing director Clive Bayley said: “The addition of networks is a result of our new store roll-outs. We want to be selling everything. However, the focus will still be with T-Mobile and Vodafone and we’re not going to tilt in any way to a new network. We’ve told the networks our volume numbers will increase due to the shops we’re opening.”

Fonehouse is also building a mock store within its head office in Fulham, West London, featuring the new shop layout currently being rolled out. The structure will be used purely for training purposes and not be open to the public.

HTC Thunderbolt Battery Life Causes Delay, Verizon Facebook

The HTC Thunderbolt news still carries on and Verizon has responded on its Facebook page, the delay is apparently down to battery life issues. Stick with us, as we will cover until released.

The HTC Thunderbolt delay according to Android Community suggests that it could be down to the battery life, apparently the poor battery life needs sorting before Verizon can release the smartphone and HTC is trying to fix this problem. Apparently the Thunderbolt can only give 3 to 4 hours of battery life running the LTE/4G connectivity.

Earlier on today phonesreview.co.uk writer James reported via sources that Verizon does not have a clue, if you visit the Verizon Wireless Facebook page you will see that they have responded to the delay and have said and quoted:

Hey fans, we appreciate all the excitement about the anticipated launch of the ThunderBolt by HTC. We’re excited too! Verizon 4G LTE is America’s fastest, most advanced 4G network & we want to ensure the advanced technology behind our first 4G LTE phone is flawless. We will announce its release date as soon as it is confirmed. Thanks for your support & patience while we work to bring you the ThunderBolt by HTC.

Droid-Life has reported that the HTC Thunderbolt ads have been removed from YouTube, which were live on Verizon’s YouTube channel, they are all now private and cannot be viewed.

The last we heard the HTC Thunderbolt will now be released to market on March 4, this has not yet been announced as of yet so please do not get annoyed with us as we only report what we hear, but trust us you will be the first to know when it does officially release. Thank you for being patient.

If you would like to talk about this handset and anything to do with delays etc please join our discussion page.

LG Optimus 2X Releasing in Europe This Month

For those in Europe who are waiting for the first dual-core Android smartphone, the LG Optimus 2X to be released, the word is you wont have to wait much longer as the Android 2.2 Froyo packing device is heading your way.

According to an article over on Android Central, LG has now officially announced that the LG Optimus 2X Android handset will see release in Europe sometime this month, although no specific date was given nor which countries would see the LG Optimus 2X.

Furthermore, although the LG Optimus 2X will come out to play sporting Android 2.2 Froyo, LG has confirmed that the device is up gradable to Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but hasn’t given an upgrade schedule.

Quick spec reminder for those hoping to snap up the device…4-inch WVGA touch screen, 8 megapixel camera, 1.3 front facing camera, 8GB memory, 1080p video recording, NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz processor, microSD expansion up to 32GB, and Adobe Flash 10.1 support.

SO any of our European readers hoping to pick up the LG Optimus 2X once it eventually lands in Europe later this month?