Google Maps has hit a new milestone as the first Android application to surpass the 50 million download mark. The free application has seen many revisions since its public introduction in 2008 — as part of Android 1.6 — and now includes 3D modeling with multi-touch zoom and panning, free voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation, and support for Google’s Latitude and Places products. Given that it’s available on every iteration of Android — that we can think of — we’re not surprised to le...

Google announced Monday that an update to the Android Market has started rolling out to devices. On its Android Market Facebook page, Google stated that the Market refresh will be pushed out to all devices running Android 1.6 or later over the next two weeks. Some users have already reported receiving the update, which apparently creates a much more appealing Market experience. Among the listed improvements are a better UI, faster searches, more information about apps and an improved ratings system. (moreR...

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 ...

A huge leap forward in the Canadian smartphone world today as TELUS has started to sell the Motorola MILESTONE. The first Android handset to go on sale in Canada that’s actually capable of holding its own against the likes of the Bold 9700, iPhone 3GS and Touch Pro2, the MILESTONE goes for $199.99 on a 3-year voice and data contract with no term pricing coming in at $599.99. At these prices we can’t imagine TELUS will have a hard time selling the MILESTONE to smartphone crazed Canadians, but then ...

Last year’s CES was a veritable snooze fest save for unveiling of the Palm Pre and webOS, but this January’s show looks to be much more promising thanks in part to Dell. As anyone who frequents this site will recall, a prototype MID made by Dell known as the Streak was recently shot up while on vacation in Vietnam with its 5″ WVGA touchscreen display, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, 3G radio and Android 2.0 in tow. It is this device that Pocket-lint has been told will try and take center stage at...

Alongside today’s release of Android SDK 2.0.1, Verizon Wireless has announced that an OTA update for the Motorola DROID will be available “within the coming weeks.” What’s in line to be fixed? Voice reception and the 5 megapixel camera’s nearly legendary inability to focus on subjects, amongst other things. In case you glossed over the snippet of a quote above, we still don’t have an availability date, but the last time we took a look at the ol’ rumor mill it appeare...

Man is our Mandarin rusty! Our friends over at Mobile Android China seem to have of the first live photos of the Motorola Sholes Tablet (codename). The specs that we’ve been given to mull over are pretty impressive: 550MHz OMAP TI 3430 processor (same as the DROID), 3.7″ touch screen, 800 x 480 resolution, HDMI port, 3.5mm headset jack, UMTS/HSPA, 8 megapixel camera, and a xenon flash; all running on Android 2.0, probably 2.1 at time of launch. While we’re not exactly thrilled with the blue ...

It comes as no surprise to us that the Motorola DROID has been seeing some really successful sales numbers since its release. As a matter of fact, it is getting mighty close to its target of finding one million hands by the end of the fourth quarter. Actual sales figures are reported to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 700,000 to 800,000 devices sold, which is nearing Verizon and Motorola’s goal and already well over analyst predictions. If Verizon sees a big holiday push, that number can easily craw...

HTC has been rather candid when it comes to Android 2.0, having previously stated it will distribute the OS once it finishes optimizing its compatibility with Sense UI. Over the weekend, French tech blog Be Geek posted some screenshots of a Hero running Android 2.1 complete with — you guessed it  – Sense UI. No details accompanied the screenshots, it’s quite clear (at least to our eyes) that no major changes have been made to the overlay, although we can’t say the same for the so far ...

We and everyone else that has managed to get some hands on time with the Motorola DROID came to the same two conclusions — it’s a damn good smartphone, but its camera couldn’t focus for beans. Overnight, however, our tips line was literally flooded with reports that the DROID’s autofocus camera was finally doing its job and, well, automatically focusing. First reporters were humorously utterly convinced that their wiping off the anti-glare coating on the lens was responsible for the im...

Our favorite live video-broadcasting service just upped the ante last night. Qik has gone ahead and introduced not only support for Android 2.0 and the Motorola DROID, but the capability to stream 720×480 video live right from the handset. Because the camera supports that resolution, dummies. We’ve taken it out for a spin and have been pretty blown away by the video quality and also the updated interface and UI. If you want to download the DROID-specific version, you’ll need to shoot an email...

Pardon us while we think out loud, but that high resolution screen with an HTC Sense UI-looking clock/weather widget looks like Android to us. We’ve also confirmed that this photo was taken of a Verizon handset, and with all signs pointing to an impending release, we’re just going to venture out on a limb and say that we believe this photo is of HTC’s next Android device for Verizon Wireless. In case you forgot, the rumored device we’re talking about is supposedly one bad ass piece of ...

We scooped it, we previewed it, and now we’re officially reviewing it. There’s a good chance that even if you’re not into tech all that much, you’ve heard of the Motorola DROID thanks to Verizon’s big marketing push, and that’s a good and bad thing. As you’ll see in our review, the DROID is a fantastic device, but does it have what it takes to compete outside the world of the die-hard Android fans and techies in the consumer arena? You’ll see soon enough! (more&...