Google [GOOG] has launched Google App Inventor. The software allows users to create apps for Android based smartphones by using an easy to use user interface to drag and drop elements on to a page.

The system uses blocks which you drag and drop on to a virtual phone screen. When the functions are on the page you can then edit actions and so forth to create interactive applications.

The application is not just limited to simple apps either. The App Inventor software gives users access to sensors and other functions of the phone allowing them to create more in-depth applications. [Read more…]

For those of you who still have the trusty T-Mobile G1 kicking around, you are now in for a treat as Cyanogen has released an Android 2.2 Froyo build for the smartphone.

Running Android 2.2 on a G1 apparently works well although it does lack a few features such as Adobe Flash 10.1 and it does on occasion see the Force Close box pop up which might put a few people off. Either way, it’s an early build and one that will be updated we assume over the next month to iron out a few remaining issues.

It’s certainly a good step in the right direction as many people said that the G1 was stuck on Android 1.6 and laughed last year at the idea of even 2.0 running. We then of course saw 2.1 and now see 2.2. [Read more…]

Yesterday Fring launched an update to it’s iPhone app for those using iOS 4 and in particular, the iPhone 4 it’s self. The new update allows users to make video calls to other devices such as Android, Nokia and anything else running or connecting through Fring. Video calls were enabled via 3G or WiFi.

Thanks to a huge amount of people uploading and testing video calling from their iPhone 4, Fring has had to take down support for Skype temporarily. When logging on to Fring today you may have noticed that Skype contacts are gone as well as the small square login box for Skype found on the Add-Ons menu. [Read more…]

The HTC Desire Android 2.2 update is a few months away yet. However, if you are willing to root your HTC Desire now, you can grab the unofficial update that has just been launched.

The good news with the HTC Desire Android 2.2 update is that it works very well according to those at XDA Developers with only a small amount of bugs. These bugs include no wallpapers, geolocalization not always working well and sometimes a reboot for unknown reasons. Although the last could be a problem, it seems like it isn’t that often to cause worry and it would get you Android 2.2 on your Desire now.

Details of the Desire Android update include…

* Android 2.2 Froyo (FRF-85B)
* Kernel 2.6.32.15
* New Radio 32.41.00.32U_5.08.00.04
* New Base v2.04
* 720p Video recorder
* Native APP2SD
* App Sharing
* Car Panel
* Plurk
* Torcia
* Wi-Fi Hotspot
* ..and much more!

[Read more…]

Another iPhone 4 jailbreak is being teased. This time it’s done by Geohot who has provided jailbreaks in the past.

The downside right now is that the iPhone 4 jailbreak probably wont come from Geohot for some reason that we are not sure of.

The picture above simply had an opening line of text saying… “Got one of these in the mail today and figured I’d give it a shot.” [Read more…]

The OS from Google [GOOG] called Android is making quite an impact in the smartphone arena.

Numbers indicated that the Android platform grew 44 percent between February and May. The three months prior to that saw Android taking about 9 percent share of the US smartphone market. With the Android OS growing 44 percent the three months after that, the market share jumped up to 13 percent.

Thirteen percent isn’t a huge number, but at the same time the four percent increase over a quarter shows the rate at which Android is moving. If the growth rate keeps up, which it can due to the sheer number of high end handsets being launched, then this time next year will show Android with a larger market share. [Read more…]

The new iOS 4.0.1 (or whatever it’s called) could be delayed due to the iOS 4 jailbreak that is pending release.

It appears that Apple [AAPL] need a little more time to figure out the security hole to prevent the jailbreak from working. The information doesn’t come from an official source though and instead comes from a tweet of someone who spoke to an Apple [AAPL] store worker…

Guy in Apple Lakeside seems 2 think 4.0.1 is delayed as they r doing a fix 2 stop jailbreak that they have found. Dunno if true?

[Read more…]

Earlier today we mentioned that the Samsung Captivate was landing on AT&T [T] in the US on July 18. The Captivate is a Galaxy S phone re-branded for the AT&T network. Likewise, the Samsung Vibrant is also a Galaxy S phone but T-Mobile branded. However, the T-Mobile version seems to be launching a few days earlier on July 15.

The original date for T-Mobile was July 21, which means the new release date is almost a week earlier than originally planned.

If the change of launch date does happen, it will land on the same day as the Motorola DROID X which indicates that Samsung / T-Mobile are trying to put an alternative option in the way of potential DROID X buyers. [Read more…]

Apple [AAPL] launched the iPhone 4 just a few weeks ago in five countries with promise of more countries getting it in the near future. It seems that the next list of countries is getting closer as Movistar in Spain has indicated that the iPhone 4 will be available on it’s network on Wednesday July 28.

The information comes from a series of tweets sent out from the official Movistar twitter account.

It isn’t 100% certain that the release date is set in stone as Apple are the ones who will make the official announcement. But we suspect by this time next week, if the tweets are true, that those in Spain will be able to pre-order the iPhone 4. [Read more…]

One user unluckily had their iPhone 4 set on fire when trying to connect the docking cable. The image here shows the damage what was done to the cable and the iPhone 4.

It appears that the issue was caused due to a problem with the USB port rather than a user error which is a little worrying. Hopefully this is just a one off incident as the user who’s iPhone 4 went up in flames around the port also had his hand burned.

When the user took the phone back to AT&T [T] to replace, it was out of stock so it is believed the customer will have to wait a little while to get a new handset replacement. [Read more…]

AT&T [T] announced that the Samsung Galaxy S was coming to their network but with the name of Samsung Captivate. The Captivate we now hear will be made available in a couple of weeks time on July 18 and will cost $200 on a 24 month contract.

Technical specs of the Galaxy S class phone include a 4 inch AMOLED screen along with a 1GHz processor and a 5 megapixel camera. The phone it’s self is very powerful thanks to the type of processor it uses which allows it to shift three times more triangles per second than the Nexus One by Google [GOOG].

For storage the Captivate has 16GB of internal memory. For connectivity it has Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0 as well as Wireless that can connect to 802.11b/g/n networks. [Read more…]

Fring has updated it’s iPhone 4 app to allow 2 way video calling on the iPhone 4. What makes this update stand out is the ability to use Fring to do 2 way video calls from the iPhone 4 to other devices over 3G or WiFi.

Features include…

* Face-to-face video calls with friends on their Droids, Nokia (Symbian S60) and other iPhones
* Video calls over 3G or Wi-Fi (Performance over 3G is subject to mobile operators’ 3G coverage & quality)

What makes this version stand out is the ability to call across platforms. With FaceTime from Apple [AAPL], you are restricted to WiFi and iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 to make use of it. With Fring, those restrictions are gone making it way more handy than before. [Read more…]