Android - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Google drives into new market with Maps Navigation beta

  If you're an Android user, Google is hoping to help you get where you're going.

• Google delivers SDK for Android 2.0

  Google on Tuesday released an SDK for Android 2.0, revealing some new features that will come with the upgraded mobile operating system.

• Android moving into Mio MiBuddy navigation device

  Mio Technology will launch a new version of its MiBuddy 4.7-inch touchscreen Internet and navigation device next year running Google's Android mobile software, a company representative said Tuesday.

• Qualcomm opens subsidiary focused on open source

  Qualcomm has built a new subsidiary to better integrate its products with mobile open-source software, in hopes of capitalizing on the trend toward open platforms in the mobile industry.

• Windows Mobile worries mount as competition heats up

  When Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer admitted publicly in September that the company did "screw up with Windows Mobile," many experts were left wondering how the mobile operating system can be fixed with the arrival of version 7 next year -- and beyond.

• Mobile, search key challenges as Microsoft's Ballmer moves beyond a decade as CEO

  In a little over two months, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer will mark the 10th anniversary of his tenure as CEO, a stretch of time where he has seen software, lawsuits, mergers, acquisitions and competitive battle royals come and go.

• Droid TV ad pulls no punches in attacking the iPhone

  The Motorola Droid smartphone that will ship in November from Verizon Wireless could well be the game-changer supporting analyst forecasts that the Android operating system will dominate those from the iPhone and the BlackBerry by 2012.

• Android comes to an e-reader called Alex

  Android is known for smartphones but the mobile platform will also power the new Alex e-reader from a Fremont, Calif., company called Spring Design.

• Sony Ericsson to pick sides in mobile OS war

  It looks like Sony Ericsson is about to pick sides in the mobile operating systems war. The company is getting ready to announce a new strategy, new CEO Bert Nordberg said during a conference call.

• Blackberry Storm 2, Motorola Cliq: The critics weigh in

  The reviews are in for the much-anticipated Blackberry Storm 2 and Motorola's Android debut the Cliq. Finally, questions hanging over these devices have been answered. I know you're all eagerly waiting to find out whether the new Storm can wipe out the stain of its predecessor's virtually unanimous thumbs down, or will Blackberry Storm fanboys be called to defend the honor of their beloved PDA once more? What about the beleaguered Motorola, which was once the cell phone trailblazer? Will Android be its savior?

• Acer debuts Liquid Android smartphone, new netbook

  Acer, the world's third largest PC vendor, on Wednesday announced two of its most highly anticipated products with Google's Android mobile operating system on board, the Liquid smartphone and an Aspire One netbook.

• Motorola no longer on LiMo Foundation board

  Motorola is so focused on Android that it has dropped its board seat on the LiMo Foundation, the mobile Linux group it helped found.

• New software could pit Motorola as competitor to Yahoo

  The Motorola Cliq, on display for the first time at International CTIA this week, has hardware features such as a touch screen atop a slideout QWERTY keyboard designed to lure buyers, but its new Motoblur software could be its most important novelty.

• Motorola describes close relationship with Google

  On the day that Microsoft is launching phones that will run on its latest version of Windows Mobile, Motorola is singing the praises of open-source software, specifically Google's Android.

• iPhone, Android boost mobile Web usage

  Newcomers to the mobile-phone market are driving more wireless Web access at the expense of the phone makers that have been around for a while, according to a new report from AdMob.