For some Android users out there, if it wasn’t for CyanogenMod — they probably wouldn’t even own an Android device. Well, TeamDouche and friends have graciously provided an update for the everyone in the Android modding community, giving us some insight on the progress of CyanogenMod, as well as newly and upcoming supported devices, and some pitfalls the team has been facing.

When it comes to roadblocks, CM has been hit with a big one, dealing specifically with closed-source device drivers. If you were hoping you local “dev” would get that camera app working in the Ice Cream Sandwich ROM you’re running, it might be awhile. We’re all at the mercy of OEM’s who will have to release them in a devkit or new device release.

Officially, CM9 (a modified Android 4.0 ROM) is supported on devices like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, HP TouchPad and Motorola Xoom. New devices being added to the fold are Samsung devices using Exynos processors, with Qualcomm MSM 8660 and 7×30 chipsets in the near future. Where things become a little more uncertain is when dealing with devices powered by the aging 1st gen Snapdragon processor, but CM would like to remind everyone that when dealing with the Android community, workarounds can usually be found for these types of things.

The ultimate goal of CyanogenMod is to create a seamless, near-stock, Android experience for users that’s makes them feel as if their device should have shipped with the ROM out of the box. Where normally the CM team is able to beat OEM’s to the punch when dealing with firmware updates — Android 4.0 in this case — it seems at the soonest, you can expect a fully working and stable CM9 ROM on your device is around the same time manufacturers officially update their devices.

In the meantime, if you appreciate CyanogenMod and the hard work their team puts into bringing the stock Android experience to your Sensified/TouchWizzed/Blurred out device and others like it, feel free to hit the source link for more info on progress, as well as a donation link.

[CyanogenMod]

Android Phone Fans

Microsoft is at it again — no, it’s not another new patent lawsuit — instead, they’re bringing OneNote to Android devices in their all new application launching on the Market today. Microsoft OneNote is one of many note taking apps for Android, the key benefit here is Microsoft is looking at users who are already using the desktop software, allowing them to sync and take their notes with them on-the-go using SkyDrive.

Standard note taking features can be found like typing out text, pictures, bullet points and check boxes. But there’s a catch — users are only allowed to store and edit up to 500 notes at which point you’ll have to pony up the cash in an in-app purchase for unlimited use.

Seems Microsoft is banking on the fact that maybe not everyone in the world has heard of more robust and full featured note taking apps like EverNote, Springboard or Catch. Still, if you want to give it a test run, you can find the app for free right now in the Android Market.

[Market Link]

Android Phone Fans

Motorola is working on an update that will bring even more functionality to their MOTOACTV fitness tracker and music player. After providing a few minor software tweaks over previous months, the update planned for March will expand the MOTOACTV’s tracking abilities from biking, running, and walking to a range of other sports including yoga, dancing, Pilates, and martial arts. That’s big news for many owners of the device who have been requesting a greater range of activity support since the Android-based smart watch launched.

Other enhancements will include the ability to activate the device’s display with the flick of the wrist, set WiFi networks directly from the MOTOACTV, and compete against other users through the MOTOACTV online portal. It’s great to see Motorola expand the device’s capabilities rather than let it fall into obscurity, something other smartwatch makers have been more than happy to let happen. If Moto keeps pushing quality updates to the MOTOACTV it has plenty of life left in it.

[via Motorola]

Android Phone Fans

When Google today launched Chrome for Android in beta they did so without support for Adobe Flash. For many users this seemed surprising given the strong push for Flash on Google’s mobile OS after Steve Jobs and Apple refused to allow Adobe’s platform on their iOS devices. The writing, however, was on the wall. Last November Adobe announced that they would discontinue the development of Flash for mobile — save for a few security and bug updates that have trickled out since — and today they are reiterating their stance. Plainly, there is no chance of seeing Flash support in the mobile version of Chrome. They suggest users looking for Flash content in a mobile browser crafted by Google use the stock Android browser.

Adobe will continue to work on their Flash platform, but mostly as it relates to their AIR technology. For interactive and immersive web content the company is focusing their efforts on HTML5. That should make things pretty clear: there won’t be Flash in Chrome for Android. Sorry, folks.

[via Adobe | Thanks to all who sent this in!]

Android Phone Fans

There was a Gingerbread update available via Samsung Kies for the Infuse 4G, but it is no more after a few issues surfaced in the build of Android 2.3.6. It’s quite possible that Samsung knew the update wasn’t fully baked all along, as AT&T announced the software before the manufacturer of the Infuse 4G had time to even get the proper files on their servers. The two companies eventually got on the same page and users were able to sideload the update to their devices, but a new post at Samsung’s support forums says the OS upgrade has been put on hold. A fix is in the works as we speak and Samsung hopes to have things back on track shortly.

[via AndroidCentral]

Android Phone Fans

The moment you’ve all been waiting for is finally here. We’ve been longing for a Google Chrome browser on Android for quite some time, and while the default browser has been outstanding we are excited for all of the potential benefits of having a fully-fledged Chrome browser on our phones.

Bookmark sync is back from the stock Android 4.0 browser but we’ve now got the ability to sync history, improved search suggestions and the ability to bring all of your tabs over to mobile in case you need to leave your desktop computer and take your browsing sessions with you. You can even open an unlimited amount of tabs, something that users are usually limited on.

It’s based directly on the Chromium project that Chrome is built from so you’re getting the same rendering engine (always have, really) and the same base code for your phone and tablets that you have on your desktop.

Unfortunately this one’s only for Android 4.0 or higher devices but if you fit the bill, check out the beta here. Remember to submit any feedback you have to make sure the public release goes as smooth as possible. Take a look at the video from Google above.

Android Phone Fans

The Motorola DROID BIONIC has had an update in the works for a bit of time now and it looks like testing is all wrapped up. The changelog states that V-Cast Apps and Amazon MP3 are both preloaded. We’ve also got improvements for data connectivity and stability, WiFi mobile hotspot fixes, improvements in overall device stability and a lot more. The full changelog found in this PDF file should give you a great idea of what to expect. As always, we could be seeing this anytime between now and 2-3 weeks from now, but recent updates have come within 2-3 days after Verizon publishes the changelog. Be on the lookout for it and let us know whenever it gets sent to your handset. [via Droid-Life]

Android Phone Fans

Minus for Android has been updated recently to include a couple of cool changes. Firstly, you’ll now be able to open Minus profile links using the app instead of staying within the browser. It’ll give you easy access to friends’ profiles without having to deal with a web UI over a native one.

You also get basic searching features for users and folders so it’ll be even easier to find the files you and your friends have uploaded. The general round of bug fixes and performance enhancements can also be had.

Minus is kind of like DropBox or Box.net, but they are extremely generous with the amount of free storage awarded to users starting at 25GB, something you’d have to pay for with most other companies.

Users who have migrated from DropBox or Box.net have tons of good things to say about it. If you’re looking for an online file host and you don’t want to pay a lot to be able to store a lot, give Minus a try. Find it here in the Android market. [Minus via AndroidForums.com]

Android Phone Fans

Carphone Warehouse has put the Toshiba AT200, also known as the Toshiba Excite X10, over in the UK. The 7.7mm 10 inch tablet houses a 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4430 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 5 megapixel rear camera, a front facing camera and comes in configurations of either 16GB or 32GB. This one’s still running Honeycomb, unfortunately, but Toshiba assures us that it will be getting the upgrade to Android 4.0+ sometime down the line. Pricing is £399 and £449 for the 16GB and 32GB configurations, respectively. Deliver to the mainland and store are free, but you’ll have to wait until February 15th to find it in-stores. Get started here and here.

Android Phone Fans

Our friends at BriefMobile reported a few days ago that the Atrix 4G would soon be receiving it’s Android 2.3.x update, bringing the software up to version 4.5.141. Well, that special day for Atrix users is February 7th which just so happens to be tomorrow (today). TalkAndroid received further confirmation of this with a message from Motorola stating,

“Tomorrow [February 7th] after 12 Central/10 Pacific, you will receive a pop-up message on your phone that will mark the beginning of  the software pre-release test."

The update will bring with it the usual bug fixes as well as:

• Latest Android security fixes from Android 2.3.6+
• Bluetooth voice commands while the device is asleep
• Improvements to the Messaging and Contacts applications (unspecified)
• WiFi settings update and AT&T Mobile Hotspot usage built-in
• Increases in stability, power management

Kind of a bummer for those expecting Android 4.0 but something tells me it could be awhile before we see the Atrix receive a frosty Ice Cream Sandwich update. That is, if you forgo the easy root method and have something against CyanogenMod.

Android Phone Fans