Gone fishing

No updates to this site until the 16th september 2010 at least as i am on holiday

Vodafone update comming on the 23rd??

Link: http://www.gadgetvenue.com/vodafone-htc-desire-android-22-update-lands-august-23-08200418/

Vodafone has announced that the HTC Desire Android 2.2 update will be made available this coming Monday August 23rd.

The update will follow along the path of other updates in that HTC Desire users will receive a notification on their smartphone telling them that an update is available. Vodafone will be pushing out the update in phases over about a 2 week period.

For those who run Vodafone 360, some instructions have been provided on the Vodafone website in regards to what you need to do with the updates.


So if you dont want alot of branded junk on your phone i sugest you do this
1. Go to “Settings->Applications->Manage applications->360 updates” and tap on “uninstall updates”.

2. When asked “Do you want to uninstall the updates to this Android application?” Select “OK” and then “OK” again.

3. The phone will show the message "Uninstall not successful". This message is incorrect and in fact the application is fully removed. Select “OK”.

4. Go to “Settings->Applications->Manage applications->Shop” and tap on “uninstall updates”.

5. The user will be presented with the message “Do you want to uninstall the updates to this Android application?” Select “OK” and then “OK” again.

6. The phone will show the message "Uninstall not successful". This message is incorrect and in fact the application is fully removed. Select “OK”.

7. Restart the phone and the two applications are permanently removed.

I found this here: http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/topic/70251-htc-desire-firmware-update-200810/ and it was posted by a vodafone employee.

Tweetdeck BETA Avalible On Android

Right screenshot is desktop version, left screenshot is the mobile version

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To install Tweetdeck Beta...

Go into Settings, select Applications and enable "Unknown sources".

Download tAttachApkInstaller from the Android Market

Download Android Tweetdeck from: http://downloads.tweetdeck.com/android_beta/TweetDeck-0.9.2.apk (Easyer to download from phones browser)

When asked, open the file with tAttachApkInstaller

Vodafone Have Decided To Pull Their Finger Out

Seems that vodafone have responded to the anger thrown towards them after the last update they sent out to the HTC Desire witch when downloaded the owners phone with 360 services. The update was made worse because it came the same day that HTC released android 2.2 across europe, so when people thought they were updating to Froyo they were actualy getting alot of branded stuff. Vodafone told Techradar the following

"We've listened to feedback from customers on a number of points around the recent 360 Android 2.1 update and made some changes to the roll out plan," a Vodafone spokesperson told TechRadar.

"The Android 2.2 update for Vodafone HTC Desire users will be based on the HTC open market version of the software and we will customise it to ensure ournetwork settings are installed.

"We will let you know when the date for delivery of the Android 2.2 update is finalised, but, subject to testing, we expect this to be in 7-10 days time."

And in responce to the 360 issue they said the following

"For customers who have downloaded the recent 360 update for Android 2.1, we can confirm that the Android 2.2 update will remove the 360 applications and will leave the homepage and bookmarks on your current settings.

"Customers who want to access the 360 services will be able to do so once the Android 2.2 compatible version is available and, in the meantime, can now download apps like 360 People from the Android Marketplace.

"We plan to make the 360 apps available in a separate update for the HTC Desire at a later date, giving customers the choice to download it."

So it looks like vodafone will come out of this with their reputation intact, after all everybody makes mistakes.

Vodafone Angers Customers With (Fake) Update

The cheaky buggers at vodafone have made customers angry after they have released a upgrade on the 1st August 2010 witch customers assumed was the froyo update but instead just put alot of branded crap on there phone. The 1st of August was the day 2.2 was released accross europe. A vodafone spokesman says “When we originally announced the HTC Legend and the Desire would be coming to Vodafone, we did say they would be preloaded with 360 services. However, there was a delay in getting the software for the Desire in particular ready, which meant that it’s only just now starting to roll out.” And to add insult to injury it looks like froyo wont be comming to vodafone handsets for a few weeks.

Desire 720p Test

This video was captures using the official froyo release for the HTC Desire witch was mad avalible on 1st August 2010.

Froyo IS Out!!

Just to confirm that froyo is out and the press release below was official, dont worry if you havent got the update this just means you have a branded desire therefore your release will come at a later date (a few weeks).
Also i am hearing that T-Mobile have already released there version of android 2.2

Official Looking Press Release Claims 2.2 Coming This Weekend (30.7.10)

The press release.
“The Android 2.2 (FroYo) update for HTC Desire will start rolling out across Europe this weekend. As well as including the complete set of Android 2.2 features, the update will contain a few special additions of our own through the latest iteration of HTC Sense. The update will provide 720p video capture, HTC’s App Share widget, as well as our enhanced HTC Caller ID, and improved multi-language keyboard. Also, though the update, HTC Sync will allow HTC Desire users to sync their music with iTunes.

HTC Desire users will be notified that the over-the-air update is available to download when their phone automatically checks for software updates. The update won’t delete any of the phone’s content. However, due to the size of the update, we would advise using a WiFi connection to download it wherever possible to avoid additional data charges.

This update will initially roll-out to unlocked HTC Desire handsets. Operator specific versions of the update are undergoing testing and we expect to make them available in several weeks’ time.”

The website i found it.
http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/htc-desire-to-get-android-2-2-froyo-this-weekend-in-europe-30-07-2010/

My reaction.
Looks like good news i know it says it will be coming to unlocked handsets first and then later to locked ones but i am going to un-root my desire right now as it looks like i wont be waiting that long anymore.

Sales Of Android Phones In UK Rose By 350% In Q2

 According to GFK a large market research group sales of android based phones rose by 350% between April and July 2010. Between January and March android sales accounted for 3% of the market witch rose to 13% in Q3 of 2010, GFK said that these figures were "staggering" as smartphones in general only rose by 1% in that quarter. The same company also reported that nokia are struggling in the smartphone market.

Froyo!!

This is just a quick post to talk about the features available on froyo of witch i have just updated to. The first thing i want to talk about is the browser witch i have found very fast indeed. Google claim that this will be the fastest browser on any mobile phone and i think they were right. Another feature i like is the car home witch puts all the things you would find useful during a car journey in one place, directions, maps and all that carry on. Mt favorite feature is the portable hotspot witch allows you to connect to your phones 3G/2G network on your computer, wirlessly, in case you have no other way of getting on the net on your pc.

My Experiance Rooting And Installing Froyo ROM

This is a screenshot of my phone running on android 2.2 (froyo) but as you can tell i have a white status bar at the moment but once i learn how i am going to install a black status bar ROM. When the froyo update is official here i am going to un-root maybe rooting again if there are ROM's for android 3.0 (vanilla) available.
So rooting your phone is supposed to be easy although it took me about 23 hours including 6 hours sleep to toot and install froyo. The installation of froyo was easy once you find a good ROM but rooting does have its difficulties. The first problem i came across was working with command prompt, i have never really had to before. the instructions said something like create a directory in some location. This sounds and is a very basic command but to a command prompt noob it took an hour or so of stressing out and an hour or so of looking online. I managed to find this in a youtube video witch i will share as i found this very easy to just copy what this guy was doing to root my phone http://bit.ly/bdXsiR. The first step of rooting (for people with branded phones) is creating a goldcard witch i did pretty fast. And the worst problem i had was that command prompt kept coming up with permission denied or something like that so i had to create a short cut on the desktop and go into properties and select run as administrator. I tried right clicking and selecting run as administrator but the same was happening, so there it is 2 computers and 23hours later i am running froyo and loving it.
If you want me to link a guide for rooting, creating gold cards, and installing froyo comment on this post.

Desire Vs Iphone 4

Just a nice little article i read somewhere.
Comparison:
From the start, the newest and thinnest addition to the iPhone family has out-slimmed the comparatively bulky HTC Desire with the iPhone 4’s dimensions of 115 x 59 x 9mm fitting into more pockets than the desire’s 119 x 60 x 12mm size. Weighing in at 137g, the iPhone 4 is slightly heavier than the 135g HTC Desire though. Both handsets have relied on their screens to be a wow-factor, and we’ve loved using both the Desire and iPhone 4. Size-wise the HTC Desire offers a bit more screen than the iPhone 4 with a 3.7 inch screen over Apple’s 3.5 inches. This may not sound like much, but can make watching video just that bit more comfy. The iPhone 4 has a brilliant screen res of 960 x 640 against the Desire’s 480 x 800 resolution, which is still good, but not quite as good as the iPhone 4. Under the bonnet, Apple has given its software a new name, and has included iOS4 in its new iPhone. Along with the new name is the new multitasking feature, allowing you to switch between open apps almost as fast as you can decide which one to use. For those with an organised mind, iOS4 also allows you to organize apps into folders. On the flip side, the HTC Desire runs Android 2.1, with an upgrade to Froyo 2.2 coming to a Desire near you soon. We’ve been long-time Android fans, and the open source nature of the Desire’s software gives it a leg-up against Apple. With the Froyo update, the Desire is expected to run over 400% quicker, and will also support Flash 10.1 which is a bone of contention with Apple. Delving into each handset’s connectivity, both phones look quite similar on the surface with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS and MMS capabilities in both handsets. The Desire has been constant in its call reliability from day one though, and this is again where Apple have stumbled somewhat. The iPhone 4 drops its phone signal when your palm covers the lower left corner of the phone- like when you hold it with your left hand for example. This obviously isn’t good for a phone, with Apple simply telling users to hold their device differently to counter the problem. Both the iPhone 4 and HTC Desire pack 5 megapixel cameras with LED flash and auto focus. Both take decent shots, but aren’t number one in the market for this feature. To store your pictures, both devices come with 32GB storage, but the HTC Desire has the added bonus of a microSD card slot, allowing you to up the ante on the number of songs and snaps you’re carrying around with you.
We Say:

The iPhone 4 is without a doubt an impressive piece of kit, and does have a bit more street cred than any HTC Device on the market today. Delving into each phone’s differences though, the Desire has a better OS in Android, and superior reliability, which is important in a phone. We’re giving this one to the HTC Desire, but in reality both phones will do you proud. But don’t take our work for it, take a look at other mobile phone reviews.

Link To Arctical : http://www.gaj-it.com/20059/iphone-4-vs-htc-desire/

HTC Anounce Firmware Updates

Today HTC have announced that the Hero will be getting the android 2.1 firmware, exciting news i think you will agree, but this news was shadowed by the fact that they also said that android 2.2 will be coming to the Desire (yey), the Legend and the Wildfire at the beginning of Q3. Android 2.2 boasts new features such as using your phone as a wireless network, an updated market, flash player 10, and the long awaited saving applications to the sd card. Google have been quoted in the past saying the browser on 2.2 will be the fastest browser on a mobile phone.

HTC Sense

HTC Sense is a UI (user interface) built by HTC and put onto many of there android and windows based phones and debuted on the Desire and Legend. HTC brag that Sense is a "design experience" thats it "is all about how people use the device, making their content personal to how they use the device." One of the main selling points of the HTC Sense based phones is the interaction between itself and social networking sites like facebook and twitter. HTC Sense has 7 home screens for you to add widgets and shortcuts on, HTC have created there own widgets including Mail (left screenshot) Friendstream for you to see you friends facebook and twitter updates in a time-line and the clock you can see in the right screenshot. HTC Sense is set to revoloutionise how we use our phones and even the relationships we have with them.
Click here to see the very impressive HTC Sense launch video altough this is a slightly older version then the most recent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MchNr8TagNU&feature=channel

How To Install Voice To Text

Ok one of the best features for android devices is the voice to text software but some device's don't have this including my HTC Desire but as the screenshot shows i have it now. And i am going to tell you how you can do the same. Firstly note that this isn't the easiest thing in the world but if you follow instructions to the letter nothing will go wrong.
Firstly you will need download the keyboard (http://nimbu.amorvi.com/2010/04/add-full-voice-to-text-to-htc-desire/) (download link in step 2)
Next you will need to add the voice search widget (http://nimbu.amorvi.com/2010/04/add-voice-search-to-htc-phones/) (make sure you download the one for your device)
Now attach your phone to your pc as a disk drive and put the two files you have downloaded on your phone and remember where.
Ok if you have a file manager open it, if you don't you will have to download one and i suggest "andexplorer" so open file manager and browse to the files you have just saved. Open either of the files IF it asks you what programe you want to open it with press "package installer" and it will install and repeat with the other file.
Now long press your home screen and add the search widget if there is now a microphone symbol on the widget you have done everything right so far.
Now you have installed the keyboard, next step is to activate it:
Go to Settings > language and keyboard
Tick "Android Keyboard" [Android version] OR "HTC_IME mod" [HTC Sense version] and go back to your homescreen
Press the search key on your phone
Long press on the quick search box
Select "input method" from the popup list
Select "Android Keyboard" [Android version] OR "HTC_IME mod" [HTC Sense version]

Now it should all work, if not comment this post and i will help.

Internet connection faster then GPRS needed to use voice to text.

The Record breaking, Swype

 Swype is a new way to text, it is quite confusing when you first use it but once you get the basic idea you can break records i.e. the youtube video. The guy who broke the record was using the swype technology on a samsung phone but swype has recently become available on android based phone. You cannot find swype on the android market, you have to visit their beta website http://beta.swype.com/ you must then register your details with them and they send you a email, open the email on your phone and download the installer and follow the steps.
IMPORTANT NOTE.
If you want to download swype you will need to allow the installation of non-market applications, found by pressing settings then aplication settings.
Get swyping annd try to break a record.

Play Gameboy Advance Games On Your Device, (Gameboid)

A step by step guide.
1 go to the android market and download Gameboid lite (free)
2 now download a "bios" for the emulator should be found here http://rapidshare.com/files/69551457/gba_bios.bin and save on your pc
3 next step go to http://doperoms.com/ and download the roms "games" you want
4 extract the game/rom file from the folder you downloaded using a program like "winrar" easily found on google
5 save bios and extracted games onto your sd card, i suggest creating a new folder called GBA or something and putting them in there for convenience
6 right with all of your stuff saved onto your memory card open gameboid and firstly it will ask you to locate the bios file from your memory card, simple enough you just browse the card, next it will ask you to select the game you want to play, after done that you can take it from their you will see a settings menu you dont need to change anything
7 one exited the setting menu your free to play.

Notes
*games save
*i sugest downloading pokemon red if you used to play the pokemon games
* should work on other models i just have the desire
*game play is smooth and just as fast as it was on the gba
*download many games as the file sizes are unbelievably small