Android 2.2 upgrade for Droid X may already be trickling out, other Droids shortly?

We’ve already gathered that Verizon, Moto, and HTC all seem to be pretty well committed to bumping most of their Droid models to Froyo (as well they should), but things are starting to get real — really real. First off, we’ve been fed a shot of a tipster’s Droid X that has apparently already been blessed with 2.2 over the air; the baseband version is a tick older than the one in a shot leaked over on My Droid Life, but it’s anyone’s guess how Motorola is staging this and what the final gold binary really contains. We’ve also seen a 2.2 ROM for the Droid Incredible leak recently (and the Droid before that), so uncorroborated rumors we’re seeing that three of the four retail Droids will be getting 2.2 by the 15th of next month aren’t necessarily crazy. Remember: think positive thoughts.

Droid Life

xda-developers

MagicJack’s femtocell misses its launch date, still hasn’t been submitted to the FCC for approval

Wondering about the fate of the MagicJack femtocell now that its promised second quarter launch window has passed? So was Computerworld, and what it found out isn’t exactly promising for the as-seen-on-TV company. According to a MagicJack spokesperson, it’s taken longer than expected to finish the software and patents associated with the product, which means it still hasn’t even been able to submit the device to the FCC for approval. The company says the software should be done within two weeks, however, but that still means a wait time of several more months while the FCC does its thing. Of course, that’s to say nothing of the many legal problems facing the device, which MagicJack is unsurprisingly not commenting on — although it insists the device will be available “this year.”

Computerworld

Qi wireless power standard finalized, universal contactless chargers look closer to reality than ever

The Wireless Power Consortium took a big step forward this past week with the confirmation that its precocious Qi interoperability standard has been finalized. Composed of three documents setting out the interface, performance and compliance requirements, the new dictum has set itself the not inconsiderable challenge of making wireless charging universal, so that any Qi-approved phone can soak up juice from any Qi-verified base station, dock or omnitool. This first spec is limited to devices requiring no more than 5 Watts, an appropriately humble early goal, though cauldrons are already bubbling with ideas for laptops and the like. We just hope the impressive list of big time companies on the Consortium will succeed in taking Qi into the mainstream — who here hasn’t dreamt of their phone being compatible with the Touchstone?

[Thanks, MrStringTheorist]

Wireless Power Consortium (1), (2)

HTC Sense coming to Windows Phone 7, after all

Some cried and some cheered when Microsoft revealed that handset manufacturers couldn’t reskin Windows Phone 7 devices wholesale. But as it turns out, at least one major OEM is still banking on software to help differentiate its phones. HTC’s Drew Bamford told Forbes that Sense UI will still appear in the company’s Windows Phone 7 creations, and believes it will live on in Android 3.0 (Gingerbread) as well. “Microsoft has taken firmer control of the core experience,” acknowledged Bamford, who added that Sense wouldn’t be fully integrated into WP7 phones, but that HTC would “augment” the Microsoft experience with as-yet-undisclosed functionality of its own. As long as it doesn’t eat up too much memory and processor time, right?

Softpedia

Forbes

RIM’s BlackBerry Curve 9300 spotted in T-Mobile branding (update)

It’s certainly not the first time we’ve seen this here BlackBerry (with “this here” meaning “Curve 9300″), but it’s the first time we’ve seen it outfitted in carrier clothing. Notice that T-Mobile logo at the bottom? That’s the clearest indication yet that this particular ‘Berry will soon be headed to T-Mob, but given that it’s unlikely to support an upgrade to BlackBerry OS 6, your off-the-chart excitement level may indeed be unwarranted. At any rate, we’re also hearing that Rogers in Canada will be snagging this at launch, but we’ll be passing along official details just as soon as we get them.

Update: As it turns out, this actually isn’t the first time we’ve seen a magenta-scarved Curve 9300, just the one that has us most convinced it’s got a date with destiny. Not to mention stateside availability.

BB Geeks

Tweaker ports Samsung’s TouchWIz UI onto non-rooted Nexus One for reasons unknown

This one’s been kicking around the interwebs for a few weeks now, but it has managed to grow into something of a beast during that period. Frankly, we couldn’t think of less fitting way to send the glorious Nexus One out than to completely deface it and ruin what Google has worked so hard to perfect. But regardless of what we think, that’s exactly what has happened here. One rolle3k over at xda developers clearly has a masochistic gene or two planted inside of his skull, but at least his APK doesn’t require your N1 to be rooted before providing you access to a TouchWiz user interface. Feel free to hit the source if you’re up for seeing what you’ve been missing out on, but only if you literally cannot think of a single better thing to do with your time.

The Gadgets

xda developers

HP not making Windows Phone 7 devices, focusing on webOS instead

No big surprise here, but HP Personal Systems Group VP Todd Bradley just flat-out confirmed to CNBC that HP will not be making any Windows Phone 7 devices, preferring instead to focus on the newly-acquired webOS for its line of smartphones. Here’s the entire exchange:

Q: Can you make webOS successful with developers when you’re selling Windows Phone 7, maybe Android or Linux at the same time?

A: We continue to be Microsoft’s biggest customer, and we continue to believe we will drive innovation with Microsoft. At the same time, I think it’s clear to say, that we’re very focused on the customer, and giving the customer the experience that’s important to them. We won’t do — will not do a Linux / Android phone. We won’t do a Microsoft phone.

Q: So no Windows Phone 7?

A: We will continue to more broadly deliver the webOS-based phones that are in the market today, and Jon and his team have driven a strong roadmap for the future.

Q: So does that mean you’re going webOS only for phones?

A: For smartphones it does. Our intent is to focus those resources and really make webOS the best OS it can be.

That’s a big ouch for Microsoft — it has to sting when your biggest customer turns its back on your fledgling mobile efforts — but we can’t exactly see HP spending a billion dollars on Palm only to turn around and support multiple platforms. There is a small silver lining for Microsoft, though — Bradley also reiterated that HP’s tablet plans aren’t so locked in, and once again hinted that the Windows 7-based HP Slate has become an enterprise product, which is at least better than being killed off entirely. Lose some, lose some slightly less, we suppose. Full video after the break — the good bit starts around 5:20.

CNBC

Apple Support Says iPhone 4 Yellow Tint Problem Is “Residue From Manufacturing”

For the first time, Apple support technicians have pointed at a manufacturing issue as the origin of the yellow bands and spots that people are finding in their iPhone 4′s displays. There’s no official word from Apple yet, however.

I too have the yellow discoloration on the bottom of my new iphone 4 screen.

I called Apple and they guy told me that it is residue from the manufacturing process and that they rushed the shipments out to hit deadline. He also told me that its just because the residue is not dry fully yet and it should clear up within a couple of days.

Pat Cain

Presumably, this “residue from the manufacturing process” is the adhesive used to bind the glass with the screen, as pointed in our ongoing coverage.

We are still receiving contradicting reports, however: At least three readers have said that Apple support has directed them to ask for a replacement instead of waiting for the yellow spots to disappear. Two readers have told us about this after Pat talked with Apple support. Naldien, a Gizmodo reader who got his iPhone 4 at the University Village store in Seattle, says that Apple Store employees there were aware of the problem:

“So, did you hear about the screens yellowing at all?” and an employee said “Yeah, if that happens to you just bring it back in and we’ll swap it. We have tons of replacement phones in-stock.”

Naldien discovered that his phone also had the yellow tint problem in his car, after leaving the Apple Store.

There is still no word about the other display problem that seems to affect a handful of users: White spots randomly distributed over the screen, resembling a constellation of stars.

iPhone 4G: Records problem with the new iPhone

The iPhone 4G with 1.7 million devices sold just Saturday, is the most successful product in Apple’s history. But the iPhone 4G problems remain, and unleashed the irony of competitor Nokia. Apple announced today that it has reached a quota of 1.7 million iPhone 4G sold in the fourth day Saturday, June 26, just three days after launch. The Apple online store has a time ttes to 3 weeks for orders iPhone 4G and retail costs $ 199 for iPhone 4G 16 GB model and $ 299 for the iPhone 4G 32GB model.

“iPhone 4G is the most successful product launch in Apple’s history,” said Steve Jobs. These record figures would shine a bright sun on Cupertino, but some situations are likely to thicken dark clouds on the horizon, the problems with the new iPhone 4G does not stop. While the Daily Mail had spoken of the possibility that Cupertino withdraw the new iPhone 4G, but only because it had relied on the tweet of a fake Steve Jobs mistaken for the original, Nokia took the opportunity to do irony on the problems of the iPhone 4G on the assumption Cupertino that all phones have the same problem of low reception if challenged in a certain way.

Apple  said today that it sold up to last Saturday, June 26 more than 1.7 million units of its new iPhone 4G mobile phone 4, three days after its launch it has thus become the most successful. In a statement, CEO Steve Jobs apologized to the “customers who were rejected” because the company had adequate supplies. Apple has not stated that the estimates include the pieces that had been pre-booked prior to the start of the June 24. The company in Cupertino, Calif., also announced that by the end of July iPhone 4G will be available in 18 other countries.

Part of the Japan race to win the new iPhone 4G. Hundreds of people braved the humidity ‘of the night and waited in long neat rows that Apple stores would open its doors for the world debut of the iPhone 4G. The time is in favor of Japanese, because ‘today’s iPhone 4G mobile home in Cupertino will be’ available in Britain, France, Germany and the United States. More ‘than 500 people were lined up before dawn the Apple store in Ginza and the first to get their hands on the new iPhone 4G high-definition screen and video-chat’ was a 18 year old student or not to lose that position has passed two nights camped in front of the store for an iPhone 4G.

“iPhone 4G is the most successful product launch in Apple’s history,” said Steve Jobs. These record figures would shine a bright sun on Cupertino, but some situations are likely to thicken dark clouds on the horizon, the problems with the new iPhone 4G does not stop. While the Daily Mail had spoken of the possibility that Cupertino withdraw the new iPhone 4G, but only because it had relied on the tweet of a fake Steve Jobs mistaken for the original, Nokia took the opportunity to do irony on the problems of the iPhone 4G on the assumption Cupertino that all phones have the same problem of low reception if challenged in a certain way.

Apple responds to congressional inquiry, details location data collection in 13-page letter

When Apple’s latest privacy policy revealed the company could track any iPhone’s location in real time, it threw some for a loop… including a pair of gentlemen from the US House of Representatives, who asked what Cupertino was up to. In a thirteen page letter dated July 12, Apple’s legal counsel explains the whole matter away, while giving us a fascinating look into how the company collects — and justifies collecting — all that GPS data. Legally the defense is simple, as Apple claims users grant express permission via pop-up messages for every single location-based service and app, and if you don’t care to be tracked, you can simply shut down location services globally or (in iOS 4) on a per-app basis in the phone’s settings panel.

Where it gets more interesting is when Apple explains what it actually collects, and who they share it with — namely, Google and Skyhook, who provided location services to earlier versions of the operating system. In iOS 3.2 and beyond, only Apple has the keys to the database, and what’s inside are locations of cell towers, WiFi access points, and anonymous GPS coordinates. None of these are personally identifying, as the company doesn’t collect SSIDs or any data, and in the case of device coordinates they’re reportedly collected and sent in encrypted batches only once every 12 hours, using a random ID generated by the phone every 24 hours that apparently can’t be linked back to the device. In the case of iAd, Apple says coordinates don’t even make it to a database, as they’re immediately converted (by remote server) to a advertising-friendly five-digit zip code. Concerning location data collection for services other than iAd, there’s still the little question of why, but we’ll just leave you with Apple legal’s quote on that subject after the break, and let you hit up the full document yourself at Scribd if you want the deep dive.