One of the anticipated features of Froyo is the ability to create your own WiFi Hotspot. Unfortunately Motorola Droid users will not have this pocket MiFi or even USB tethering when they upgrade to Android 2.2 Froyo, which is to be released this week.

Verizon explained that the Droid lacks a WiFi transmitter and there’s no connection on the PC side as a reason. However some had opposed such explanation accusing Verizon of blocking users from using more data. It doesn’t make sense to blame on the hardware as users reported tethering works well with 3rd party apps such as EasyTether.

Since this is a telco-tied model, we wonder if Motorola Milestone in Malaysia faces the same limitation.

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	Android, Mobile Devices, Mobile OS, Motorola
	Android 2.2, froyo, mifi, Motorola, Motorola Droid, motorola milestone, Update, Upgrade, USB Tethering, WiFi Hotspot

While HTC users in China get to enjoy Android 2.2 Froyo on the current HTC Android devices, HTC EVO 4G users have officially gotten their Froyo update in the US. This makes it the 2nd phone to get Froyo after Nexus One over that side of the world.

The new update gave the EVO 4G similar Android 2.2 features plus a few stuff from HTC, such as a Flashlight app, updates on FM Radio, MMS and Photo Gallery apps. Android Central has a detailed list of the new changes in their EVO 4G Froyo post. As mentioned earlier, we should be expecting HTC’s Froyo update for the rest of us anytime soon.

For those who are having Android’s best selling Motorola Droid/Milestone,
an update is expected to come next week. Verizon, the official carrier for the Moto Droid in the US has updated its support page in time for the upgrade.

We should be expecting more announcements of Froyo roll out in the next couple of days. Samsung too has announced that the Galaxy S is getting Froyo by September. So far, the only quiet one is Sony Ericsson which seems to be stuck with Android 1.6 until today.

This is it folks! Q3 is showtime for Froyo.

[ SOURCE, 2 ]

	Android, HTC, Mobile OS, Motorola
	Android, droid, froyo, froyo download, froyo upgrade, HTC, HTC Evo 4G, Motorola, Motorola Droid, motorola milestone, Update, Upgrade

This isn’t official but it came from a tweet by HTC’s European representative. The roll out is reported to begin with the HTC Desire today in batches due to limited bandwidth.

Last month, we mentioned that HTC Desire, Legend and Wildfire are expected to get Froyo in Q3, so the release is pretty much on time, if it really comes true. Leaked version for the HTC Droid Incredible with HTC Sense had surfaced yesterday which lead us to believe that HTC should have its Android 2.2 Froyo update ready by now.

Let’s hope this is not a miscommunication of another HTC Staff. Previously HTC Singapore had mentioned that HTC Legend is not getting Froyo but had deleted that comment after getting substantial attention.

[ SOURCE ]

	Android, HTC, Mobile Devices, Mobile OS
	Android 2.2, Firmware Upgrade, froyo, HTC, HTC Desire, Upgrade

Techcrunch reports that sources close to Google are looking to offer a complete revamp of the Android OS user experience when the new version, codenamed Gingerbread, becomes available.

The endgame for Gingerbread, Google says, is to make the user experience so fluid and compelling that device manufacturers don’t see the need to add their own skins on top of Android, like the HTC Sense and Motorola Motoblur. Word has it, Google wants Android to feel close to how the iPhone is now and make skinned Android interfaces obsolete.

Techcrunch says that skinned Androids “aren’t all that great” and “tend to slow down devices”. We have to disagree on this. We’ve been using the HTC Legend side-by-side with a Nexus One running Froyo and we dare say that the HTC Sense on the Legend offers a more integrated user experience compared to running native Android alone.

Getting manufacturers to shed their skins and run on natve Android is going to be difficult though as device manufacturers rely on skinned UI to differentiate thier products from the rest.

On the other hand, Google will need to lock down Android to ensure that the mobile OS can compete with the likes of Apple’s iOS4. But this is going to be difficult considering the fact that Android is an open operating system that is designed to handle a variety of hardware options.

When there’s a variety in hardware, it’s going to be very hard to make the user experience perfect. Which is why Apple’s Macs, with locked down hardware, have always been a better experience than the hugely hardware-flexible Windows operating system.

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	Android, Mobile OS
	Android 2.2, Android 2.2 Download, Android 2.2 Froyo, Download, froyo, gingerbread, google, Nexus One, Nexus One Android Download, Update, Upgrade

Nexus One users will slowly be updated to the latest Android 2.2 OS codename Froyo via OTA. If this is a nerve wrecking process for those who can’t wait, here’s a solution for you!

The guys at XDA Developers Forum managed to grab the link for the Froyo OTA download link and have shared it on their forum. Some members even created a mirror link, in case you can’t download properly from Google’s server.

Head on there now if you own an Nexus One and you can’t wait.

[ Source ]

	Android, Mobile Devices, Mobile OS, Nexus One
	Android 2.2, Android 2.2 Download, Android 2.2 Froyo, Download, froyo, google, Nexus One, Nexus One Android Download, Update, Upgrade