Android

Sencha's Web-app tools reach mobile browsers

Sencha, a start-up trying to make a business out of open-source tools for building Web applications, has begun an important new phase of its business with its first foray into the hot mobile browser market.

The new Sencha Touch 1.0 software is a JavaScript programming framework out of which mobile Web apps can be built. It joins the company's earlier products, the Ext JS and Ext GWT frameworks and the Ext Designer developer tool.

The tools are designed for those who need to build user interfaces out of dialog boxes, pop-up windows, sliders, charts, check-boxes, and all the … Read more

You've got mail!

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

Facebook gets ready to make an announcement about mail and messaging

AOL unveils its new Webmail client, Project Pheonix

The Sony Dash touch-screen device snags Hulu Plus

Netflix can now stream on Android but only on a select few handsets

Google Earth adds user-contributed panoramic photos

Netflix coming to Android theater--but not near you?

Netflix said this week that its instant streaming service will, indeed, be coming to mobile gadgets running Google's Android operating system--sometime early next year. But it won't be available on all such devices.

In a blog post late Friday, Greg Peters of Netflix product development said the incomplete roll out is due to the fact that there's no common way to ensure security and digital rights management across Android devices. Instead, Netflix must work one-on-one with individual handset makers to build in DRM.

"Unfortunately," Peters wrote, "this is a much slower approach and leads … Read more

Minor software updates hitting Droid Incredible and Evo 4G

Two of HTC's better-known handsets, the Droid Incredible and the Evo 4G, are currently receiving software updates. Unfortunately they aren't Gingerbread some are anxiously awaiting, but instead are typical maintenance releases and tweaks. Some of you may have already received these files, as they started rolling out over the last day or so.

The update hitting the Droid Incredible sees the addition of the Verizon V Cast Apps store, a first for Android. Promised for the Droid, Droid X, Samsung Fascinate, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the alternative storefront is a hotly debated topic. Some users, already familiar … Read more

Rock Band is breaking up

Links from Friday's episode of Loaded:

Facebook plans an announcement for Monday in which it may announce a "Gmail killer"

Viacom is selling off Harmonix, maker of Rock Band

Apple teams up with Twitter to promote its music social network, Ping

YouTube claims to have 35 hours of video uploaded to the site every minute

Walmart.com will ship for free this holiday season with no minimum purchase

Microsoft receives a patent for foot computing

Hustler releases an app for Android

Google: Oracle 'redacted or deleted' code in suit

Google's reply to Oracle's amended complaint in the Java infringement suit is a barn burner, and the search giant isn't going quietly. Remember that line-by-line comparison of Java vs. Android code? Google says Oracle redacted parts to look better.

Groklaw has the reply, which was filed Wednesday. It reads in part:

Google further denies that the document attached to Oracle's Amended Complaint as Exhibit J contains a true and correct copy of a class file from either Android or "Oracle America's Java." Google states further that Oracle has redacted or deleted from the … Read more

Nvidia CEO: Lots of Android tablets coming

Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said a flood of Android tablets are on the way and repeated that they have to be "truly remarkable" in order to compete with the iPad. And traditional notebooks may imperiled by the deluge, according to Huang.

Nvidia reported earnings today for its most recent quarter, ending October 31. The Santa Clara, Calif., graphics chip supplier's profit slipped to $84.9 million, or 15 cents per share, from $107.6 million, or 19 cents per share, in the year-earlier quarter. Earnings were up, however, from this year's previous quarter, when the company … Read more

T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy Tab (hands-on)

We know you've already poured over our review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab on Sprint. But if T-Mobile is your carrier of choice, you're probably wondering what differences you can expect from its version of the Tab.

In terms of hardware pricing, the two are neck and neck, priced at $399 with a two-year contract, and $599 off-contract. It's the little things, such as home screen layout, preinstalled apps, memory configuration, SIM card slot, and the color of the backing, that really stand out at first glance.

To see what you can expect from T-Mobile's Tab, … Read more

Verizon's exclusivity on Bing for Android ends

What does Bing now have in common with Skype? It joins the list of apps that were once exclusive to mobile carrier Verizon, and now aren't.

Earlier today, Microsoft announced that its Bing search application is now available to all Android users through Google's Android market, a move that ends the exclusivity Verizon has had on it since the end of August.

The app is no different from the one that came before it, except that it no longer matters what carrier you're on. Android users who want to grab the app can just do a search … Read more