ChazClout

It seems that for the first time, smartphones running on Google’s Android OS have outsold the iPhone for the first time in the U.S.

Google’s Android-based smartphones accounted for 28% of smartphone sales, while the iPhone accounted for 21%, according to market research firm NPD.

I can think of MANY reasons for this. The iPhone is only on one US carrier (AT&T) and is at the end of its product life so sales would be naturally down (in my eyes) as more people will be waiting for the next generation iPhone.

It’s still quite an achievement for Google and the Open Handset Alliance but I suspect things would have changed back to the iPhone at number 2 once the next gen iPhone is released!

Source: Yahoo News

This picture says it all:

Source: Vodafone UK

Yesterday it was announced that HTC and Microsoft had struck a deal to licence patents concerning Google’s Android operating system. Some saw this as HTC backing down to Microsoft and others saw it as Microsoft siding with HTC in its recent patent dispute with Apple.

It seems that it may not be the case of Microsoft siding with HTC as Microsoft’s Horacio Gutierrez has issued the following statement:

Microsoft has a decades-long record of investment in software platforms. As a result, we have built a significant patent portfolio in this field, and we have a responsibility to our customers, partners, and shareholders to ensure that competitors do not free ride on our innovations. We have also consistently taken a proactive approach to licensing to resolve IP infringement by other companies, and have been talking with several device manufacturers to address our concerns relative to the Android mobile platform.

It’s currently unknown which manufacturers Microsoft have been talking to. It’ll be interesting to see if Google have anything to say about any future disputes.

Source: Engadget

Vodafone today started taking pre orders of the HTC & Google engineered Nexus One.

Vodafone Nexus One

You can pre-order now foe an expected 5th of May delivery. With a strong contender already out there in the HTC Desire, it will be interesting to see which one does better in the UK.

Source: Vodafone

Well it’s happened again, another delay to the oft delayed Android 2.1 Hero update.

Please sir, can I have some Eclair?

Techradar have reported on a statement made by HTC stating that the update won’t be rolled out until Early June.

HTC will be providing a free update to Éclair for European HTC Hero variants. Starting in June,

Whilst Legend and Desire owners play with their Android 2.1 touting phones, Hero owners are stuck with Android 1.5 which in turn means no access to  apps like Google Navigation and Google Goggles. I think HTC should try to muster up a Sense UI free rom for people desperate to get onto the Android 2.1 bandwagon.

For more info, hit the source link below.

Source: Techradar

Verizon have posted a registration page for the HTC “Droid” Incredible.

HTC Droid Incredible - exclusive to Verizon

To register your interest in the next phone to be released on April the 29th under the Droid name, follow the link below.

Sources: Verizon, Phandroid

I saw this app mentioned in the comments of an article recently and the comment sparked my interest when it said that bTunes was just like the iPod app from the iPod touch and iPhone.
In the video below you can see the similarities between the two.

Its pretty good but is missing things like coverflow. One useful enhancement it has is the ability to go to the next or previous track by simply swiping on the album art left or right or double tapping on the album art to pause and resume playback.

It also features a homescreen widget and lockscreen controls so you have plenty of ways to control playback. A good app overall and it is available on the android market.
Sources: bTunes, Android Market

HTC have made an official statement in the recent patent dispute initiated by Apple.

HTC Corporation today outlined its disagreement with Apple’s legal actions and reiterated its commitment to creating a portfolio of innovative smartphones that gives consumers a variety of choices.

It the statement they are keen to state that they “strongly advocate intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their technologies“.

Whilst I have no clue if Google will ever become a direct target by Apple in any future patent disputes, it will be interesting to see how far it goes and how it will affect either HTC or Apple in the long run. Full statement linked below.

Source: HTC news release.

In a press release today, Sprint have announcd that the Nexus One is coming soon to their network.

Nexus One, the first wireless phone sold through Google(TM)’s web store, is planned for Sprint’s 3G Mobile Broadband Network. Sprint (NYSE:S) will announce pricing and an exact availability date soon.

Once released on Verizon and Sprint, this will make the Nexus One available on all 4 major U.S carriers. It seems that Google have been busy in America.

Now, where is that U.K bound Vodafone Nexus One Google?

Source: Sprint

Engadget said it best:

That’s it folks — the heat is on. Today Google’s Nexus One has hit the virtual shelves equipped for 3G action on AT&T and Rogers networks… free of any contracts or nasty carrier locks. The device can be purchased from Google’s phone store right now for $529. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for, right?

Now available on All US GSM frequencies!