Since the original Android 2.2 has lots of bugs, the Android hacking community thought of improving the software themselves. And they did. The hacked 2.2, considered bugless, was downloaded more than 40.000 times in a week only! Normally it's difficult to count how many downloads there are, because every hack is spreaded around on different websites. They decided to count the number of e-mails sent to the hackers. Which, usually, is not that big.

This time it proved to be a lot bigger. Also tracked by the bit.ly link spreaded on Twitter, they could count the number exactly: 37.642 exactly a week after the release. Considering the fact that there are way more Droids sold, around 40.000 does not seem too much, but remember this version is a hacked one and is spreaded by the word of mouth.

Via MobileCrunch

HTC said that they want to update every new device to Android 2.2 Froyo, and it seems they will really do it soon. Soon means by Christmans, but we all know there's a lot of work and there are lots of devices out there, so I think Christmas is an ok deadline. The HTC Desire is tipped to get the Froyo in August, for example. Anyway, it's very possible the owners of Legend or Wildfire (not high-end devices) to have to wait until the last month of this year to get it. They might even change their handsets until then...

Eric Lin, global PR and community manager at HTC said why is it going to last so much: "It takes time to port all of our applications over to Froyo and then make sure that it is running well on each of our devices. That's nor like a one week kind of project. We need to make sure that our applications are taking advantage of the Froyo features", said Lin. True, it takes, time. And I really understand them. Everybody expects to get updates over updates, but no one ever thinks of the work that is behind one update only.

Via UnwiredView

After we spotted the future new Motorola Charm in the wild, now there are more informations available about it from the same source. We knew there is going to be Android 2.1 on it, that's no surprise. The processor is going to be a 600MHz, but no informations about the architecture used. It will feature 512MB ROM and 512MB RAM, so it's going to be pretty fast comparing to other models which have just 256MB. The screen is a 2.8 inch QVGA.

It's possible the phone will also feature some social networking integration, so don't be surprised if the rumors will be confirmed. T-Mobile is probably going to be hit first by the phone, so if you are one of their million users and like the new Charm, be happy! It's possible you will have it too.

Via PhAndroid

The new Motorola Flipout will be launched by Orange UK. Now it's sure, Orange released some images and a press release to announce Flipout will be soon in stores. Sure, the phone is already available in the United Kingdom at both Vodafone and O2, but Orange users will be able to have it now too. The phone will be sold at PAYG prices, but also with monthly deals.

The device features a 2.8 inch QVGA touchscreen, a flipout qwerty keyboard, runs Android 2.1 and the latest version of MotoBlur. It will be powered up by a 700MHz Texas Instruments OMAP processor (based on ARM Cortex A8) and is Adobe Flash compliant. The device will be available in blach, pink and white. There is a 512MB ROM memory and a 256MB RAM and a 3.1 MP camera.

Via PhAndroid

Applications are one of the most important part of every smartphone, because when you buy a smartphone, you're not just thinking about calling and sending an SMS now and then, but also about apps. Some of the applications are free, some others are paid, but the prices are not so big. At least for Android. More than half of the apps for Android, Nokia and Palm are about $2, the ones from BlackBerry being $2.99. 

Android offers 57% of its applications for free, and that's the most a phone producer offers, while most of them have around 25%. Besides Android, only Palm offers more than 33% free. Android Market is available in 46 countries, but only the users from 13 can download the apps for free, while only 9 countries offer the developers the possibility to distribute them.

Via TechCrunch

It's official now! The three models of HTC, Legend, Desire and Wildfire will be getting Fyoyo, the update for Android, in the next quarter of this year. Anyway, that seems far, but it's not. The third quarter of each year stars in July, so it's almost here. Sure, there is not going to be any Froyo update tomorrow or next week, because the third quarter is long, but rumors suggest there is going to come in a few weeks to a few months. Sure, that's not helping you too much, isn't it? We're sorry, but we don't know too much about it either.

Now we will only be able to wait for it, and I am sure there are many users out there who can't wait to update their operating system to the new Froyo, tipped to be way better than the 2.1 Eclair. Nexus One is the only phone which got a 2.2 update until now, but it seems there are also new three smartphones that are going to get it too.

Via PhAndroid

Sprint and Samsung announced today a new Galaxy S device, called "Samsung Epic 4G", which features the same 4 inch touchscreen screen. It's powered up by a Hummingbird processor (we don't know the frequency), there is also a 5MP camera with 720p video recording capabilities. This new versions also includes a VGA front-facing camera, probably for video calling, a very nice feature. A cool news is that the handset will come with 4G radios to work with Spring's 4G network, which becomes better by day. There is also a slide-out qwerty keyboard.

The device will run Android 2.1 Eclair and TouchWiz 3.0, but there is known Samsung and Sprint will try to update the OS to Froyo as soon as possible. Other specs include 1GB ROM, 512MB RAM and a 16GB microSD card (up to 32GB, as always). Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will not miss either.

Via PhAndroid

Pantech announced those days its second Android phone, the IM-A630K, codenamed "Crystal de Izar". This new device come shortly after Sirius IM-A600S which is the company's first handset, running Android as well. Nothing special until now. Well, there is something special. This phone is designed specifically for women, coming with an interesting bottom. That bottom looks like crystal and it can light up in different colors. Those colors depend on the function of the phone you are using. Glamourish enough to be called a phone "for women".

The phone comes with a 3.2 inch WVGA touchscreen display, 800x480, Bluetooth, TV tuner, 5MP camera and a 4GB memory card preinstalled. The camera does not have video recording capabilities and is made to fit women hands. The handset is available in white and black and there will also be an Android 2.2 update later.

Via Unwired View

The FCC approved Sony Ericsson Vivaz in February, and back then pundits suggested the phone will hit USA via ATT for the first time (and maybe last too). Those things are confirmed right now, because we know for sure Vivaz is going to be released together with AT&T plans. In its user guide there are also references to AT&T Navigator, AT&T Maps and AT&T FamilyMap, so this fact is now more than confirmed.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz is running Symbian S60 5th Edition (Symbian ^1), comes with a great 8.1MP camera with autofocus and HD recording capabilities (720p). The screen is a 360x640 touchscreen display, scratch-resistant, and other specs include Wi-Fi, DLNA, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, social media integration (Twitter, Facebook), 8GB memory installed and is powered up by a 720MHz processor. 

There is still nothing known about the release date, but is expected the phone will be released soon.

Via Unwired View

T-Mobile is shipping HTC Wildfire since this week, and Vodafone doesn't want to lots ground. The "Red" company started to ship HTC Wildfire after not managing to do it on 15th June, which was the first official date. THe handset can now be bought even for free with monthly plans starting from 20£. The device can be ordered from here, from the official page of Vodafone.

Wildfire is another smartphone developed by HTC Corporation, announced on 17 May 2010 and released this month. It is powered up by a 528 MHz Qualcomm processor, runs Android 2.1 Eclair as operating system and includes a TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen. There is also a 5MP camera with autofocus and LED Flash. The phone has been described as the "Mini HTC Desire". The screen is a 3.2 inch 240x320, and the phone packs 512 MB flash and 384 MB RAM. It supports up to 32GB on microSD and features Radio, social media integration, aGPS with turn-by-turn navigation and full Flash support.

Via PhAndroid