Much, much more Angry Birds Coming Soon!

With Easter several weeks away Rovio will again give all us 'Birds' addicted folks another much needed dose of game-play. According to the Rovio twitter feed, Angry Birds Seasons will soon be getting an Easter edition update. Oh, can't wait to see what's in store for some Easter slinging birds, pig killing fun! Will Rovio invite the Easter Bunny to join in the game?


Along with the Angry Birds Seasons update in April for Easter, you will also he pleased to hear that Rovio will be bringing more 'Birds' to us game lovers in May. Angry Birds Rio, and the standard Angry Birds will be getting updates then.


So, get out your Android smartphones and tablets for lots of pig whacking fun this April and May. Please remember to be extra good, or the Easter Bunny below may just appear in your dreams!

Amazon Appstore for Android is Here, and so is Angry Birds Rio

Amazon Appstore is live, and with it comes free Angry Birds Rio! The downside, yes I'm sorry folks, there is a downside...you have to be a U.S. resident to access the store. One more bit of bad news, even if you are in the U.S., if your carrier is AT&T, they are currently blocking access to the Amazon Appstore. Just why, I can't really say? Could it be the 'Big Brother Syndrome?' Or is there something much deeper like censorship or perhaps communism? Well, I was able to install the Amazon Appstore, and get Angry Birds Rio, because I'm with T-Mobile. Oh my gosh, AT&T just bought them, didn't they? I sure hope they change some of their policies before completely taking over T-Mo! Please give me a small smile AT&T customers, I hear they are working on making the Amazon Appstore available. Click on this link to let AT&T know you want Amazon Appstore access, and they will notify you when it's available.


The Amazon Appstore is awesome, and so is Angry Birds Rio! The graphics are really great! One great plus, Amazon will be featuring one paid app for free every day, so be sure to log on at least once a day to see if you want that app. I hope this nice gesture from Amazon will continue.


You can use the Amazon Appstore mobile app to get your apps right through your phone, or use the Amazon Appstore web interface. The nice part about the web interface is that you can test drive the app for a 30 minute period before deciding to purchase.


The Amazon Appstore currently has around 3,800 apps available, and I'm sure there are more to come. So hurry on over, sign up, and enjoy! You'll love Rio, take a peak at these shots of the game.

FINALLY...The Best 10.1 Inch Android Tablet is Almost Here Thanks to Toshiba

Have you been looking and looking, and waiting and waiting for the perfect Android tablet to come along like I have? Well, your wait is almost over thanks to Toshiba, and Amazon. Toshiba's superior 10.1 inch tablet just appeared on the Amazon website. No price is available, nor is the tablet just yet, but you can sign up to be notified when it goes on sale.


Oh my gosh, I can't wait. This tablet is one beauty, so packed with features I don't know where to begin. Here's a bit about some of the many features;


"Well-equipped with stand-out performance and features plus smart technologies that adapt to the way you want to use it, the Android-powered Toshiba Tablet features a brilliant 10.1-inch wide view screen with Toshiba Adaptive Display technology and an advanced NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor. Powered by the Android OS, the Toshiba Tablet is ready to delight and entertain, delivering a lightning-fast web experience complete with support for Adobe Flash and a broad range of HD multimedia content--including rich console-like games and movies.


The Toshiba Tablet features both a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video conferencing and 5-megapixel rear-facing camera for taking high-resolution photos and videos, and it includes integrated GPS and compass so you can take advantage of location-based services. It also offers built-in HDMI, USB, mini-USB and SD memory card ports, making it easy to share content with your other devices.

It's loaded with exclusive Toshiba smart technologies, like Resolution+ video upconversion as well as ambient screen and sound technologies to enhance your Tablet experience. Other features include ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth with connectivity to peripherals plus stereo headphones, user replaceable battery, and access to more Android apps via the Toshiba App Place and Android Market.

Dressed in an exclusive soft-to-the-touch Easy Grip surface, the Toshiba Tablet is comfortable and customizable, with changeable backplates available in a spectrum of exciting colors. An optional docking station allows you to connect and recharge the device at a desk or at home, and it provides additional connectivity ports."

Feast your eyes on this array of pictures of the yet to be named Toshiba tablet. I hope it gets a really rugged name, cause it sure looks like one awesomely tough tablet! I sure hope the price is right too, considering it's being sold on Amazon, I think the price should be reasonable. I plan on getting one, do you? This is one tablet sure to blow the iPad out of top sales spot. Thanks Toshiba, now make it available for purchase!

The Sprint & T-Mobile Merger; Will It Happen?

I've heard this morning that Deutsche Telekom is in talks with Sprint to create a merger. I know, we've heard this all before, and honestly I don't know if there's any weight to it this time, but people at Bloomberg seem to think so.


Sprint and T-Mobile are the third and fourth largest US carriers respectively. This is being called a merger rather than a buy-out since Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile) will still have a major share of the newly formed company. What do you think the new name should be? Please leave me some comments, so we can come up with one. What do you think of the new logo at the top of this article? Is that a good name?


Timotheus Hoettges, CFO of Deutsche Telekom says, "All options are open in the U.S. to sell the whole business or parts of it separately." Business Week tells us that talks have been on and off, with the biggest stumbling block being failure to mutually agree on the value of T-Mobile.


I personally, being a T-Mobile customer do hold hope that this merger will soon go through. It can only bring better wireless service and pricing for all. A blended company will also have much more competitive strength against Verizon and AT&T.

St. Patrick's Day Comes to Angry Birds Seasons

Rovio is teasing us with a St. Patrick's Day Seasons update that is not yet available for us to play.

Take a peek at the video. It looks like a whole lotta fun with more pigs, more levels, and of course green is everywhere. Please don't be alarmed when you see the 'available on the app store' at the end of this video. Android will get the update too!

Turbo Tax Snap Tax App Allows You to File Your Taxes From Your Android Phone

Now here's one more reason to get an Android smartphone. You can install an app to quickly and easily file your taxes with your phone. You thought finding your W-2 online was easy, well this is even easier, just snap a picture of your w-2 with your Android phone's camera. This allows Snap Tax to scan and extract the appropriate information from your W-2.


WOW, I can't wait to try this one! It sounds so easy, and almost makes filing my taxes painless. You noticed I said ALMOST! 


Just one catch, while the app itself is free, there is a $14.99 charge for filing from the app. Always a catch, huh? Still, that's pretty reasonable for filing your taxes considering what tax professionals charge. Snap Tax even allows you to save a copy in PDF format. 

This app of course is also available for the iPhone, which is what you will see in the demo video below. Enjoy the video, and don't forget, file your taxes by April 15, 2011, or you may get an unwelcome visit from Uncle Sam.

Get Your Atrix 4G Defender Case from Otterbox

The Motorola Atrix 4G is one of the most impressive new Android devices available through AT&T. This phone can even be quickly turned into a netbook with its dock accessory. I'm sure you don't want any damage to come to such a great looking phone, so you're on the hunt for a protective case.


Otterbox has a rugged Defender case now available on its website, and also at AT&T store locations. The Defender offers a three-layer protection system. It has a screen protector, impact resistant polycarbonate shell, and a durable shock absorbing silicone layer.


This tough case will protect your beautiful Atrix 4G against drops, bumps, and scratches. It will also keep dust out of your smartphone, but please do not put it in water! The case costs $49.95, but that's little for piece of mind protection of such a powerhouse smartphone.


Please enjoy your Atrix 4G to the fullest. It's one great phone that can perform, and so very easy to set up and use. I know, I've spent time with an Atrix for the past week.

Install Chomp and Quickly Find the Apps You Need

Need a better search engine for the Android Market, when the default one fails to find what you want, and frustrates you? Well, 'Chomp' is here to our rescue! I've just installed it myself to my Nexus One, and it works wonderfully. It is much more versatile, and accurate than the default Market search.


Let's face it, we don't always know the name of the app we want, and would prefer to search for it by its function. When you search the Android Market by app name, it works great, but if you search by function it falls short.


Let's just look at a few comparisons of the search results achieved through the default and Chomp. OK, I want a bar-code scanner, so I type in 'bar code scanner'. With the default Market search, two of the top three results are not what I want, they are calorie counters. The second result however, is a very good bar-code scanner.

Now I type in the same thing into 'Chomp', and right away I get the top three most popular bar-code scanners.

I want a web browser next, so I type in 'web browser'. Once again two of the top three results are not what I wanted with Market search. The first is a file explorer, and the third is a music app. The second result is a web browser.

Now I type the same thing into 'Chomp', and again, the top three search results are the most popular, highly-rated web browsers.

So, there you have it. I think you get a clear idea that 'Chomp' is much more accurate, and its a very stunning app as far as appearance too. Why not install 'Chomp' right now, and stop getting all those annoying unrelated and irrelevant search results through the Market search. Chomp is free, and a pleasure to use.


Please enjoy the following video of a quick Chomp demo if you are still not convinced.

Google Removed Malware from Android Market and Infected Phones

An alarming incident has just come to light for Android users. Some kooky individual plucked 21 apps from the Android Market, added root exploits, and republished them as new apps. These apps were then downloaded tens of thousands of times over a four day period.


Thanks to redditor 'lompolo' the scheme was uncovered. It was posted on reddit, then picked up by Android Police, who did two very important things. They contacted Google, and then did some more investigation. They were able to shed light on the fact that not only were these infected apps rooting phones, and sending information back to servers in California, they were also able to download and execute new code.

What can I say? This is pure EVIL in my eyes, certainly much more than a practical joke! I guess some nutty people have nothing better to do with their time than to hurt others. What a boring life they must lead. 


Google moved quickly after being alerted to this, and pulled all 21 apps from the Android Market, and utilized its rarely used ability to remotely remove apps from infected phones of the unsuspecting users who installed them.


In the past malware has been associated with non-Market apps, and this appearance in the Android Market is an eye-opener. A good practice for all Android users to put in place would be to more thoroughly read about each app before installing them to your phone.


Be careful folks! Thanks again to 'lompolo'. We need users like this to help combat against the ones that wish to do harm. So unfortunate. 

Seven Peeves with Google Chrome; Here's How to Fix Them

Google Chrome has been around for a few years now, and I use it as my default browser. I enjoy Chrome for its speed and style. There are a few minor flaws, but they are easily fixed. Here I'll point out 7 of them, and their fix.


NUMBER ONE
No confirmation when closing multiple tabs


When you have multiple tabs running and you close the window, you don't get a warning. You may end up closing some tabs you didn't want to. You can install Chrome Toolbox extension, so the next time you close many tabs, you'll see this warning.

NUMBER TWO
A very basic history page


Chrome has an extension called History 2, which allows web page sorting based on day or week you visited. At one click it will allow you to delete multiple pages from history, which isn't possible by default.

NUMBER THREE
Missing image properties


Chrome has no way of allowing you to instantly display image properties. The Image Properties Context Menu extension will allow you to right-click to get information. You can see the size, location, dimensions, and more.

NUMBER FOUR
No support for feeds


Chrome doesn't recognize RSS feeds, and it will just display a page with gobbledygook. Simply install the extension RSS Subscription, and you can immediately subscribe to any feed using Google Reader, iGoogle, Bloglines or My Yahoo.

NUMBER FIVE
You can't send a web page by email


Other browsers allow this, but not Chrome. A solution for this is to create a simple javascript bookmark, which opens your default email program with the current URL. You may also install the extension Send from Gmail, which will make Gmail your default email application. It will then provide you with a button to compose through Gmail, and share the link.

NUMBER SIX
No session manager


When closing Chrome, then reopening, it doesn't restore your previously opened tabs. You can go to Options, and select 'Reopen tabs that were opened last'. You can also get advanced session saving options by installing the extension Session Buddy. This will allow you to create multiple sessions, amongst other features.

NUMBER SEVEN
You can't switch to a tab from the address bar


Firefox 4 will allow you to switch to any open tab by typing relevant words into the address bar. If you'd like to do this in Chrome, install the extension Switch to Tab. If you have numerous tabs open, you can type "sw TAB" followed by some words from the page, then using enter will switch to the tab listed as the first match.

I hope these tips have helped. I have installed many extensions, which always makes things quicker and easier to do. I really like the 'send a web page by email'. The javascript is very easy to do. I know many freeze about using code, but the instructions are very simple to follow, and the code is supplied for you.


Happy Chrome surfing my blogger friends. I just know you'll want it as your default browser.

Hot Off the Press; New Social Network for Android Users; I Am Android

Oh my gosh folks, have I got great news for all you Android lovers. There's a new social network  built just for us. I just got back from signing up (wanted to the minute I heard about it), and I'm in love after only spending about a half hour on it. The greatest part was the IRC like chat, so much fun! Chat is right on the main page and allows for instant access with all members.


If you like Facebook, and Twitter, you are gonna love 'I Am Android'. It's a whole new concept, and so far I really like what I see. Come join in on all the fun, and friend me. My nick on 'I Am Android' is 'Jewle'.


Please pay attention to the word 'beta'. It's still new, and a work in progress, so don't be surprised if some features aren't running quite right.

Get The Beautiful Widgets Android App; Its Name Says it All

Have you ever gotten jealous watching someone use their HTC Android device, because it has such beautiful widgets? Well, no need for that jealousy any longer, now there's an app for that. No matter what Android device you use, you too can have those beautiful widgets. 

Beautiful Widgets is available now in the Android Market, or on AppBrain. (use QR Code supplied) It costs $1.98, which is not too much to pay for such eye candy. Judging by the reviews in the Android Market, it sure seems well worth a wee bit of your 'green'.

Features:

• 400 Free Skins to download
• More than 15 Weather Animations
• 4-day Weather Forecast for any location
• Date Widget
• Clock Widget
• Weather Widget
• Toggles Widget

I'm sure there will be much more to come with updates. Please have fun with this. Your phone will be 'the talk of the town' by everyone that lays eyes on such BEAUTIFUL WIDGETS!

Radio Shack Undercuts AT&T; Atrix 4G $149 Starting February 22nd

Radio Shack has announced on its Facebook Page it will be selling the AT&T Motorola Atrix 4G for only $149 starting February 22nd when this device goes on sale. This is Radio Shack's out-of-the-door price you'll be paying, it does not require a mail-in rebate like other retailers. This adds up to a $50 savings over the price offered by AT&T. They will also offer the laptop dock for $329.99 when bought with the phone. The phone and dock package will cost a total of $479.99, which is $20 cheaper from AT&T. My recommendation is to skip the laptop dock for now, and purchase one standard dock, and one multimedia dock. I'm not sure of Radio Shack's pricing on these.


The Atrix 4G is one of the first high-end Android smartphones available at AT&T. They will also be getting the Samsung Infuse 4G, and the HTC Inspire 4G. To read more info about the Atrix 4G, please use the above 'Facebook' or 'Atrix 4G' link above.


Who's heading over to the 'The Shack' to grab one of these on February 22nd? I might just do it myself if I could sell my current phone and get out of my contract. Geez, contracts!

Google One Pass; One Login to Subscription Digital Newsstand on Any Device You Own

I also write for Android Headlines. (androidheadlines.com) Please check out the link below to visit this site. I chose this article to blog since I'm really amazed at what a great concept this is, and how I can hardly wait to use it. I'm sure it will significantly increase the number of online newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Publishers. The easier something is to access, the more people will use it.


If you enjoy this article, please click on my name at the top of it to view the past 25 newest articles also written by me.


Google One Pass; One Login to Subscription Digital Newsstand on Any Device You Own | Androidheadlines.com

MapQuest App Just Released to Android Market

If you're a MapQuest user, you'll be happy to hear now there's an app for that in the Android Market. It's a great turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation app, which includes OpenStreetMap (OSM) features.

MapQuest Android also features voice search, a map toolbar for finding restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, and parking with one click. There's both walking and driving directions, and live traffic flow.


The OpenStreetMap feature makes MapQuest Android App much more appealing. It's what's called a 'living map', it's improved daily by MapQuest users. They are user-sourced OSM Maps that provide an extraordinary local perspective and detail, bug logging for OSM, and international maps.


MapQuest Android app is free, just use your barcode scanner app on your Android device to scan the QR Code below, and it will install.

If you like Lego, be sure to watch the YouTube video I've included. These guys must have lots more patients than I.

Effortlessly Send Links With Google 'Chrome to Phone'

I know it's happened to me. I sit down at my desktop or laptop computer, and come across a really cool app or mobile website, then think...dang...now I have to type that whole address into my phone! Well, no more of that for me now that I've become a Chrome to Phone App user.


To use Chrome to Phone search the Android Market for the app, and install on your device. On your computer you must download the 'Google Chrome to Phone' extension for the Google Chrome Browser, and install it. It takes a few seconds, and will place a new icon on your browser toolbar in the right top corner. While on the page you want to send to your phone, just click the Chrome to Phone icon, and voila, the link will instantly open on your mobile phone.


This method saves me so much time, now I go hunting just for things to send to my phone. It's become very fun, instead of very tedious. Please note, Chrome to Phone will only work if you have Android 2.2 Froyo or higher running on your device.


Go ahead, try it. I'm sure this alone will make you a huge fan of devices running Android. You'll never want any other OS on your smartphone. You will certainly become an Android addict, as you can see...I'm already there.

Eric Schmidt Former Google CEO Talks Android at MWC

Eric Schmidt has been throwing around some numbers today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and it's no surprise they represent great news for Android.


Google Android OS is rapidly increasing its market share in the mobile device community. They are slicing into that pie, and just may end up with the biggest piece if the competition can't catch up.


Schmidt wowed us with figures during his keynote, saying the numbers represent an increase of three times the amount they were just nine months ago. He stated that Android is now on over 170 compatible devices, 27 OEMs, 169 carriers, in 69 countries, and over 150,000 apps available in the Android Market. That's a whole lotta Android love!


Another remarkable figure Schmidt mentioned is 350,000, which is the number of Android devices currently being activated each and every day. It has bounced up quickly since late summer 2010 when that figure was 200,000 per day.


Are the Google guys happy? I would certainly hope so with that much growth in such a short time, with an operating system that is less than 3 years old. Apple will have to do some fancy slicing of that pie very soon, or Google will certainly eat the most.

Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain; February 14-17, 2011

The Mobile World Congress started today in Barcelona, Spain. There's so much excitement brewing in the mobile world I can't possibly cover it all. Please head on over to the MWC Website to see what all the excitement is about.


This is one of the biggest events for the cellular industry, and you can bet they will all be there. The big smartphone competitors will all be displaying something to WOW us, including Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, LG, HTC, and many others.


Be sure to check often on YouTube for all the Hands-On videos that will be available to showcase all the new devices.

Pre-Order AT&T Motorola Atrix 4G NOW; Don't Miss Out on March 6th

The Atrix 4G AT&T's most powerful smartphone is now available for pre-order. Head on over to AT&T's Website to order yours today. Don't wait in line on March 6th just to find it's sold out.


The Atrix 4G is priced at $199.99 with a new two-year contract. You will likely want to get a few charger docks. I would recommend one standard dock (49.99), and one HD multimedia dock  (129.99). The multimedia dock connects your phone to a HD monitor/TV for viewing content on a larger screen. It also has a USB port to connect peripherals, and comes with its own remote. If you want the laptop dock it will cost an additional $299.99, which might make buyers just live without it. Hang in there, I'm hoping to eventually see the price come down. Oh the bright side, you are getting both a new phone, and a new laptop.


Take a look at the complete hands-on video.

Mobilicity $69 Couples Plan & Free Condoms

Hey Canada, I have great news for all you couples out there! Are you wondering what to get for Valentines' Day? Well, Mobilicity has come along with a great offer just in time. It's called the $69 Couples Plan. We all love the number 69 right? There's more reason to love it now since that's all it costs for one plan with two lines.


This plan is designed for couples and includes unlimited North American calling, data, global text messaging, voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding and more on both lines! You'll get all that for the incredibly low price of just $69 per month. Now that's a great savings on the monthly budget!


All day today the Mobilicity Team Members have been walking the streets of Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton passing out condoms to promote this deal. On the package it says, "Stop getting screwed." Sounds like great advice. Hurry, the plan is for a limited time only.

Oh, one more important scoop about this deal, you don't have to be a "couple." Any two people who wish to share one account with two lines can be a "couple."