According to new data released by Android Developers, Android 2.2 (Froyo) currently powers 61.3% of all Android devices that accessed the Android Market during the first two weeks of March. That figure is up just under 10% from January, when the group reported that Froyo powered 51.8% of all devices. Sadly, the stale, older operating systems like Android 1.5 (3%), Android 1.6 (4.8%), and Android 2.1 (29%), are still far more prevalent than the most current version being offered by Google; Android 2.3.3 (Ging...

Google has released their latest Android platform distribution numbers, and it looks like Android 2.1 — Eclair — is dominating. In a report from last month, Google reported 50% of the Android install-base was running version 2.1 of the mobile operating system, however, in just one months time that number has jumped 5.5%. Other highlights include Android 2.2 (Froyo) having 3.3% of the platform pie, with Android 1.6 registering in at 22.1% and Android 1.5 at 18.9%. Apparently, Android 2.0 and 2...

Google likes to keep a close eye on what percentage of its mobile OS, by version number, is out in the wild. Google accomplishes this chore by polling Android devices that check-in to Google’s Market application; they then publish a bi-weekly report to developers. Today, the latest report was published, and it looks like Android 2.1 has hit the 50% mark for worldwide Android handsets saturation. The platform breakdown looks like this: Android 2.1 – 50.0%, Android 2.01 – 0.3%, Android 2.0 ...

While it’s more like the Toyota of Android smartphones as opposed to the Cadillac, Canadians who want to take Google’s mobile OS for a spin should look no further than the Motorola QUENCH. Available today from Rogers, the QUENCH is simply T-Mobile CLIQ XT with an even more questionable name. Of course this means that all of its specs — 3.1″ capacitive HVGA display, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, HSDPA and MOTOBLUR atop of Android 1.5 — are the same, and can be yours for as littl...

Being the carrier that first brought Android to Canada, Rogers’ current Android line-up is extremely weak. Looking to change this, Rogers will soon be launching the Acer Liquid e and the Motorola QUENCH. Similar in that they both run Android, have 5 megapixel cameras, support 7.2Mbps 3G and have a candybar form, the two devices are quite different almost anywhere else you look. The Liquid e, which has Android 2.1, roars along with Snapdragon processor underclocked to 768MHz, while the QUENCH with Andro...

What you see above might just be the entire spec sheet for that mysterious Android slider from Motorola we caught a glimpse of the other day. Allegedly known as the Twist, the strange smartphone is said to measure in at 67mm-squared and 15.8mm thick, and possess a rather underwhelming feature set which includes a 2.8″ QVGA multitouch display, 3 megapixel camera, aGPS, Wi-Fi, dual-band HSPA (850/1900MHz), 700MHz OMAP 3410 processor and 512MB ROM / 256MB RAM. The slide mentions the Twist as running And...

Big news today for iDEN fans who have been jonesing for the Opus One that we scooped and spec’d way back when in December as today it has been formally announced Motorola. Officially known as the Motorola i1, the device is the world’s first Android Push-To-Talk smartphone and it will be offered “this summer” by Sprint. While pricing is currently unknown, we do know practically everything else about the phone and its specs which include a 3.1″ HVGA display, 5 megapixel camera wi...

So much for yesterday’s pricing revelation as today T-Mobile released the Motorola CLIQ XT with a price tag that is $30 higher than expected. Available on Even More plans for $129.99 and Even More Plus for $329.99, the CLIQ XT is still attractively priced considering some the rather positive early reviews it received. Of course, there are naturally going to be some stragglers who hold out on the CLIQ XT until Motorola delivers the Android 2.1 update it promised for all MOTOBLUR handsets back in January ...

As was widely expected, Rogers today announced the immediate availability of the Samsung Galaxy Spica. The carrier’s fourth Android smartphone, the Galaxy Spica offers a 3.2″ AMOLED HVGA capacitive display, 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, 3.6Mbps HSDPA/UMTS, 800MHz processor and up to 7 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby for $79.99 on a standard 3-year deal. Anyone that was hoping it would come pre-loaded with anything past Android 1.5 aka “Cupcake” will be sorely disappointed...

As of March 7th, AT&T is officially in the Android game, as Ma’ Bell made the Motorola Backflip official today in a press release. A quick recap of the Backflip: 7.2 HSPA 3G, 3.1″ touch-screen display, Android OS 1.5 (upgradeable to 2.1), 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, aGPS, 3.5 mm headphone jack, microSD slot (support for up to 32GB), fully QWERTY “back flipping” keyboard, and Motorola’s MOTOBLUR UI. The Backflip will retail for $99.99 after $100 mail-in rebat...

It looks as though Gizmodo Brazil got their hands on a yet-to-be-announced Android handset from device manufacturer Motorola. The full touch-screen device, which is being described as a Motorola BACKFLIP without the keyboard, is running Android 1.5 and is cloaked in the MOTOBLUR UI. Giz Brazil didn’t report on any specifications, however we can tell from the images the phone is SIM based, has a 3.5 mm headphone jack, micro-SD slot, and camera with flash. The phone is rumored to be released in March, alt...

If you have either a HTC Dream or Magic (or perhaps both) from Rogers Wireless, you might want to brush up on your rooting and porting skills because it appears that both devices will not receive an official OS update past Android 1.5. Said HTC’s website (and confirmed by Rogers):HTC is not currently planning any Android 1.6 upgrades for Rogers Dream or Magic. Android 1.6 was only made available for “Google”-branded devices such as the G1. It is not available for HTC-branded products such as the Dre...

We wish we were there to see the look of surprise on the face of the folks at nookdev when they disassembled the Nook and discovered that the customized Android 1.5 OS that powered the latest and greatest e-reader was stored on a removable microSD card. Doing what most great hackers would do, they popped out the SD card, inserted it into their Linux box and modified the system files to gain root access. With the system files now accessible and root access achieved, the sky is limit for this little e-reade...

And just like that, every major Canadian wireless carrier offers at least one Android smartphone as Bell has launched the Samsung Galaxy. Currently going for $99.95 on a 3-year contract and $449.95 without, the Galaxy might prove to be a bit of a tough sell for Bell considering all three of Android handsets offered by Rogers — the HTC Dream, Magic and LG Eve — are $79.99 and under while TELUS has the ever popular HTC Hero at $99.99 with the Motorola MILESTONE all set for an early 2010 debut. Havin...