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HTC to launch Android and Windows Phone 7 app store?

Samuel Gibbs — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST

Is an HTC app store on the way? That's what the rumors circulating around the reported recruiting by the Taiwanese manufacturer infer. The store will apparently sell devices, books, magazines, and applications in a curated fashion using "Content Editors." Of course, HTC makes both Android and Windows Phone 7 devices under its own brand, so it's not clear if this supposed store will be multi-platform or just one or the other; it's more likely to be Android-only on the software side.

HTC isn't the only one going with its own app store. Acer recently said that it planned to launch a "next generation" app store, and being the world's second-largest PC maker might just give it enough clout to succeed. As for HTC, a home grown app store would certainly be an attempt to differentiate its handsets further from the plethora of Android devices currently available -- something that's going to become more important as the market becomes more and more saturated. Treat this as pure rumor for now.

[via 9to5Mac]

HTC to launch Android and Windows Phone 7 app store? originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTCSense.com is live, does sync, remote lock and more

Vlad Bobleanta — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: News, Web services, Freeware, Web, Android

HTCSense.com is now available for owners of the upcoming HTC Desire HD and Desire Z smartphones. It's meant to be an online dashboard for your device and includes features such as contacts and SMS sync, remote locking and wiping, app recommendations and more.

The service has some neat tricks up its sleeve. There are two ways of locating your device in case you've misplaced it: you can either make it ring (and this happens even if the phone is set to vibrate or silent mode), or see its whereabouts on a map. If you discover you've forgotten it somewhere, you can make the phone show a reward message in case someone notices it. Alternatively, you can remotely lock it or, if you're certain that it has been stolen, remotely wipe it.

Using the Footprints tab in HTCSense.com, you can add places you'd like to go to on the integrated Google map, and have those pushed to your device. No need to plan every trip on your phone anymore.

Contacts sync is included too, and works just as you'd expect. You can also create new contacts and edit existing ones from the website.

The SMS functionality is rather interesting, because not only does it automatically store every text message you send or receive 'in the cloud', it also lets you easily send and receive texts in the Web interface itself -- and your message history is kept even if you change your phone.

There's a section that features app recommendations, and one that allows you to personalize your device without ever touching it. You can choose wallpapers, sounds, widgets and themes from your Web browser and they get pushed to your device.

The folks over at PocketNow.com have managed to get a sneak peek inside HTC's new service and have created a walkthrough video that is waiting for you after the jump.

Continue reading HTCSense.com is live, does sync, remote lock and more

HTCSense.com is live, does sync, remote lock and more originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Songbird 1.8 update brings broader device support, OS X syncing

Lee Mathews — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Audio

The Songbird team has released a significant update to their feature-packed media player today. Among the new additions: sync support for several HTC and Nokia handsets (as well as the Blackberry Storm) and sync support on OS X (Mac users will need to download the MSC add-on).

While Songbird is no longer providing official builds for Linux users, contributed builds of Songbird for Linux are still available for download.

Songbird's service pane has also been given a facelift, bringing a more polixhed look to the left-hand side of the player's main window.

Songbird 1.8 update brings broader device support, OS X syncing originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Root your HTC Android phone with unrevoked

Lee Mathews — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Utilities, Android

Not everyone who wants to root his or her Android phone is interested in doing things the hard way (like me, for example -- if I had an Android phone, of course). Want to make things easy on yourself? Download unrevoked and let it do the heavy lifting for you!

The tool provides simple rooting for five HTC Android phones: the Incredible, Desire, Aria, Hero, and Evo.

Windows users: you'll need to first load the included HBoot drivers -- Linux and Mac users won't. You'll also need to make sure that no other programs are trying to access your device via USB (like HTC Sync or DoubleTwist, for example).

[via Droid Life]

Root your HTC Android phone with unrevoked originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC offers additional Hero / Droid Eris widgets via Android Market

Paul O'Brien — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:52:00 EST

Filed under: Commercial, Mobile Minute, Mobile, Android

In a move that marks a change of direction for the device manufacturer, HTC have just released four additional Hero / Droid Eris widgets for download in the Android Market.

The initial release offers 'Battery', 'Dice', 'Tip Calculator' and 'Today in History' widgets for download free of charge, though it should be noted that the widgets are Sense UI widgets rather than standard Android widgets, which means they will only work on the aforementioned HTC devices. This also means that other HTC manufactured devices such as the G1 or MyTouch 3G are also excluded.

It will be interesting to see whether HTC offers additional software in the Market going forward and whether the releases will remain limited to HTC devices - users of other Android devices would love to have the ability to use the excellent Sense UI or perhaps the HTC designed software keyboards - even at a cost.

Would this be a good opportunity for HTC to earn additional revenue or would it be a danger to the unique selling points of their devices? What happens over the coming weeks and months will likely reveal HTC's thoughts on the matter. What are yours?

HTC offers additional Hero / Droid Eris widgets via Android Market originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero users hit by Twitpocalyse bug

Paul O'Brien — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:31:00 EST

It's great having lots of manufacturer provided applications in the ROM of your mobile device, but what happens if one of them breaks? It's not as easy as just contacting the developer for an updated version is it!

This is exactly the problem being faced by users of 'HTC Peep', the Twitter client on the HTC Hero.

Last night, the unique id number assigned to each Tweet exceeded 4,294,967,295, in an event we covered as 'Twitpocalyse II'. This is the highest number that can be stored in an unsigned 32 bit integer. If the developer of a Twitter client uses this method to store the Tweet ID, then unexpected things will happen. Hence, since this occured, Peep users have been unable to use the application, instead being greeted by the error message above (after which the application either closes or refuses to load new tweets).

We have contacted HTC to ask how long Hero users should expect to wait for a fix, but if you are affected, it might be time to try out Twidroid, Twitterride or perhaps Swift!

UPDATE: HTC have responded to this issue. They have said "Thanks for helping to make us aware of the details of this problem. We have are investigating the issue and are working with Twitter on a solution. We apologize to our users for any inconvenience this has caused."

We'll bring you more information as it comes in.

HTC Hero users hit by Twitpocalyse bug originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mobile Minute: HTC releases software update for the HTC Hero

Paul O'Brien — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Mobile Minute, Mobile, Android

If you are a HTC Hero owner, you've likely been waiting with baited breath for the device software update that has been widely publicised as giving the Hero a much needed speed boost.

Wait no more, it's finally here!

Wearing version number 2.73.405.3 (in line with the leaked version that surfaced last week) for the WWE region (an Asia release will follow), the update adds also adds a new radio layer for improved reception and will require a wipe of your data to install. The update can only be installed via a Windows PC.

If you are lucky enough to have a Hero, there is absolutely no doubt you should install this update to significantly improve the performance of your device - grab it from the HTC support site.

The update does also flash a new bootloader which makes 'rooting' the phone for full unrestricted access slightly more difficult, but due to HTC failing to patch a vulnerability in the kernel, it can still be done!

Continue reading Mobile Minute: HTC releases software update for the HTC Hero

Mobile Minute: HTC releases software update for the HTC Hero originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaked HTC TouchFLO interface for Windows Mobile hits the web

Brad Linder — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Windows Mobile, Mobile Minute

There's an unofficial application floating around that may be a beta version of an update to HTC's TouchFLO interface for Windows Mobile. TouchFLO is basically a skin that replaces the default Windows mobile user interface with one that packs nice big icons that are easy to use with a finger rather than a stylus.

Some folks at the XDA-Developers forum have managed to get the application, which bears the codename Manila, up and running. And while it's certainly pretty to look at, it's reportedly quite sluggish. In fact, once you have it up and running, you'll be lucky if you can get your PDA or phone to do much of anything. So we certainly wouldn't recommend installing Manila, at least not until someone leaks a faster version.

[via the::unwired]

Leaked HTC TouchFLO interface for Windows Mobile hits the web originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google phone in the final stages

Chris Gilmer — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Internet, Web services, Google, Search

Rumors has it that the Google branded gPhone is on its way. Now when exactly is a different story.

Our brothers at Engadget report that sources at the DigiTimes have said that Google will definitely be launching a handset. The mobile OS is rumored to be Linux-based. The only issue is that hardware specs, production facility, and operating partners are still getting worked out.

As for the handset design, Google is supposedly leaning towards a 3G device instead of a full EDGE compatible cellphone, this all leading to a first quarter 2008 release.

We suppose we will wait for the initial gPhone announcement before deciding on whether to drop some coin on Google's device or the iPhone.

Google phone in the final stages originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Google HTC phone rumors

Chris Gilmer — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Audio, Business, Google, VoIP

And the rumors keep rolling in on Google's phone development. This magical device that will be host to Google's powerful services like Gmail and Search while on the go. This time a person inside HTC has confirmed the development of the device.

The rumors specify that the Gphone will be shipping from Taiwan, and is scheduled to launch Q1 of 2008. The team at Google has been going over the current 20 HTC models on the market and finalizing its handset design. Gphone will have a specially built version of Google Maps, just as the iPhone does, with built in GPS compatibility. Previous reports stated that the device would not have GPS, and that it would support both 3G and EDGE platforms. Gmail and Calendar will be present, with Google Talk becoming part of the phone in a VoIP mode. As for the operating system on the Gphone, the insider said it would use Windows Mobile 6, however some think that a Linux OS would be more realistic. As for price, there have been buzzing's that the device would stay in the range of only $100. Will it be unlocked? We will have to wait and see, but chances of that are fairly slim.

View Poll

More Google HTC phone rumors originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google phone out by late 2007

Chris Gilmer — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Google

HTC, the company that has supposedly been hard at work manufacturing the Google phone apparently has a date for shipping the finished product. According to the handsets component makers, the official ship date will be the end of 2007, and could reach as high as one million units for the first run.

Unfortunately the handset will not have GPS functionality; it will support 3G and EDGE platforms. The top features of the phone will include preinstalled Gmail and Google Search functionality.

This device is expected to hit European telecom providers first, possibly Orange, before hitting North American soil.

[via digitimes]

Google phone out by late 2007 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 19 Apr 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Google phone - coming soon?

Chris Gilmer — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Internet, Web services, Apple, Google

Is it true? Could Google be working on a mobile phone? Om Malik has reported that according to the Observer of London, they are doing just that. Google has supposedly met with Orange in the UK about a partnership worth a few billion dollars that could make it easier for users to search wherever they are. The phones are rumored to be branded by Google, but would also have an Orange logo on the device. HTC, specialist in PDAs, is said to be the manufacturer of the device.

This team of software experts, forward thinking mobile telecom company, and leading edge device manufacturer almost puts a damper on Apple's rumored iPhone news, but will surely create something fantastic for users. Imagine lightning fast searches providing exact location-based results in the palm of your hand. This device has the potential to be a huge success from all three companies that could be involved. Of course this is all speculation at the moment until an official release comes out, but this sure offers some salivation for Google and handheld device lovers alike.

The Google phone - coming soon? originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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