Posts tagged Canada
Rumours Say Canada May Have Paid Apps Soon
Feb 26th
Android is nothing new in Canada and while we don’t have a very large selection of different handsets, the average person would be able to tell you what it is. We may be quite excited about Android and it’s edgy approach to the mobile scene, but now we want more!
Most people have been content with free apps, but for those who have explored the reaches of Android will know that there is a whole other wonderful world of paid apps available to many others. Rumors have come from the Montreal Gazette and we have pulled conclusions that we could possibly see paid apps in the Canadian Android Market as soon as next week! Google Canada Spokesperson Wendy Rozeluk is quoted as saying,
“There are many factors that come into play to make sure the selling and purchasing processes run smoothly. It takes time to bring support to more countries, which is something we are working hard to do”.
The latter is quite true as mistakes could cost Android big, being it is technically the new guy on campus. Also, the Montreal Gazette goes on to say, “She said Google is working on the problem and hopes to make an announcement next week.”
This would have many good outcomes including developer profits and willingness to develop for Android. In the end we have to remember that the market is a business and business thrives with more customers! I’m excited are you?
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Motorola Milestone Now Available On Telus
Feb 18th
From the carrier that brought you the highly acclaimed HTC Hero, Telus is now officially offering the Motorola Milestone. It is available for $199.99 on a 3 year term. As a bonus, Telus and Motorola have partnered to offer all customers who buy the Milestone a free car mount to help with in-car navigation. Details and features of the device have already been mentioned in earlier posts but here are some of the details available from the Telus website.
- Superior web experience on the touchscreen with the Google browser
- On-device Google Search™ to retrieve apps, contacts, songs, and more
- Sync email with Microsoft Exchange and set-up personal email
- Personalize 3 home screens with apps* and widgets
- Download free apps* from the continuously growing Android Market™
Want to win one free? Go to the Motorola Canada Facebook Fan page or click on this link to automatically be directed to the Motorola Facebook App. Enter your own personal milestone to be entered to win a free Motorola Milestone.
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Motorola Milestone Confirmed for Telus
Feb 3rd
Telus has officially announced that they will soon be acquiring the Motorola Milestone(Similar to MotoDroid) into their mobile device line-up. It is exciting news for not only that Canada will be receiving yet another Android device, but that it will be the first HDPI, high density, screen on an Android device for Canada. This means the screen is approximately 480×854 pixels a.k.a. it looks really sharp and clear.
Top features will include:
- Ultra-thin design (13.7mm)
- 3.7 inch widescreen display
- pinch zooming capabilities
- 5MP camera with flash
- MOTONAV turn-by-turn GPS navigation
There is no clear date on the release of the phone but you may sign up here for periodic updates from Motorola. Although the phone will be a little late in making it to Canada, as it was been released elsewhere some months ago, it is still much anticipated and exciting news. See you soon, Milestone.
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Canadian LG Eve to Make the Jump to Android 1.6
Feb 3rd
According to various sources, including LG Canada themselves, the LG Eve will be receiving an upgrade to Android version 1.6. It is only so long before version 1.5(Cupcake) is no longer on any device which really goes to prove how quickly Android is progressing.
Unfortunately this update will not be an OTA(Over-the-air) update, but rather like HTC Dream and Magic customers had to recently do, LG Eve owners will have to acquire the update from the Rogers website. LG has given a rough estimate that it will be released sometime this Spring. Looks like most Rogers Android owners (ie Dream, Magic) now have an update to look forward to in the upcoming months.
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Canadian HTC Magic Gets Sense UI and 911 Fix
Jan 25th
The first of 2 upgrades to the Canadian HTC Magic is officially underway. The two updates spoken about in an earlier post stated that the first of the 2 updates would be a 911 fix and the much appraised HTC Sense UI. The second which will be released mid-summer is the full upgrade to Android 2.1 to keep it up-to-date with the latest Android version. The update is available on the Rogers website and requires a little more than a basic knowledge of the computer to install it. Thankfully Rogers Wireless has included instructions that make the process “bearable” to say the least. The instructions specifically state that you should put 20 minutes aside for this process; although with the internet connection I’m on right now it looks like it’s going to be 20 min to just download the update! The link to the update is here. *Win7 and Mac users please see your special directions below. Choose your phone as either the HTC Dream or Magic.
While this update has some people cautious about downloading it, wondering whether it will affect their “rooted/modded” status, most will be happy to find out that they will receive a one month’s credit of data fee’s due to the inconveneience. A big point of controversy for this upgrade is that users who do not upgrade quickly enough will have their data services disconnected until the update is completed.
Enjoy your Sense UI! And working 911 calls! Woot Woot!
Win7 and Mac Users Upgrade Instructions:
Requirements:
Rogers Magic Battery Level of 50% or more. Do not start upgrade if battery level less than 50% MicroSD card formatted in FAT32, please note cards formatted in FAT will not work. Installing the Update via MicroSD Card:
Part1
The first part will prepare the device for the actual update but will not upgrade the Operating System, the upgrade itself will be performed in Part2.
1) Download the HTC_Magic_Update_File1.zip and extract the file within, SAPPIMG.zip to the root of the memory card in this form, do not extract it’s contents and please do not change the file name.
2) Backup your personal data: All personal data (contacts, applications, photos, bookmarks, etc) stored on the device will be lost after the update process. There are also 3rd party applications on Android Market place to back up your applications and personal data.
3) Power off the device.
4) Remove the existing microSD card from your device (if there is one already installed), press in on the microSD Card to eject it and then remove it from the slot.
Insert the microSD card with the SAPPIMG.zip on it in the microSD slot, slide it into the slot until you feel a “click”.
5) Press and hold the Volume Down Button and the Power buttons until the display turns white.
6) The update will begin installing, please follow any onscreen instructions, press the trackball when prompted to press “Action”
7. Once the update is complete, “Press Action to Complete” will be displayed on the screen, press the TrackBall for the device to reboot and complete the first part of the upgrade process.
8. Power off the device to prepare for the step 2 below.Part 2
Upgrading the device.
1) Delete the SAPPIMG.zip from the microSD card
2) Download the HTC_Magic_Update_File2.zip and extract the file within, SAPPIMG.zip to the root of the memory card in this form, do not extract it’s contents. Please do not change the file name.
3) Follow the same instructions as in Part 1 – step 3 TO 8.
4) Delete the SAPPIMG.zip file from the card.
Other Great AndroidGuys Posts
Canadians, Your Free Magic Won’t Dial 911 As Well
Jan 21st
So after my last post, I wish to update Canadian Android’ers that the HTC Magic is experiencing the same GPS/911 problems currently affecting the HTC Dream. Rogers is letting customers know via text message that 911 emergency calls will not complete due to a bug when GPS is enabled. Rogers asks that all Magic owners (and Dream) that you disable your phone’s GPS until further notice. You can do this via the following instructions:
- Click on your settings icon
- Click on “Wireless Controls”
- Uncheck “Enable GPS Satellites”
I write out these almost unnecessary instructions to impress upon all Canadian Dream and Magic owners that you should actually turn off your GPS for the time being because emergencies can happen instantly. So play it safe until Rogers sends out an update.
(via @IWMOPS)
@MatthewPatience
Other Great AndroidGuys Posts
Slacker Personal Radio for iPhone Now Available in Canada
Jan 18th
Slacker Personal Radio [Free - iTunes link] is now available in the Canadian App Store. While our friend’s at CrackBerry.com got to enjoy the news a little sooner, thanks to Apple’s currently speedier App approval process and iLounge’s spot, TiPb didn’t have to wait as long as we feared either.
As far as we know, this is the first streaming internet radio service available to Canadian iPhone users (blame our nightmarish licensing) and it includes some nice local content:
- Canadian Rock
- Canadian Country
- Canadian Today’s Hits
Slacker also tells TiPb that the 2.0 version is coming soon, and will provide station caching for iPhone and iPod touch. Can’t. Wait.
Note: While the app is free for the first 30 days, a $5/month Slacker Plus subscription turns off the ads, turns on unlimited skips, and otherwise makes the service much more enjoyable and functional thereafter. More Plus features, after the break…
Slacker Radio Plus:
- Cache stations to Blac kBerry and Android smartphones; soon on iPhone/iPod touch
- Enjoy Slacker music even without a wireless network on select mobile applications
- Unlimited song skipping
- Ad-free listening
- Complete song lyrics*
- Create custom stations based on artists or songs
- Unlimited song requests for creating perfect custom stations
- High-quality stereo playback
- Over 60 professionally programmed genre stations
- Fine tune stations on-the-fly to play more of the music you like
- View artist biographies and photos
- View album art and reviews
- “Peek Ahead” artist and album preview
- Pause and skip songs
- Rate songs as favorites
- Ban the songs and artists you don’t like
- Downloadable “mini” player for your PC
This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
Slacker Personal Radio for iPhone Now Available in Canada
