Currently works on most Samsung phones, some Motorola phones (Razr/Bionic/DroidX), LG Optimus/Vortex/Ally, ZTE N762, HuaWei Comet. Does NOT work on HTC phones or Motorola Droid.

It’s still in beta form which has a few minor bugs, so they have a few tips on dealing with those. They did include WPA2 availability for more secured connections. So far FoxFi works flawlessly on my Samsung GS2. I connected my Motorola Xoom to the hotspot created on my GS2 with FoxFi and was getting over 5Mb down on a speed test. Combined with the unlimited data plan I still have on AT&T makes this guy one happy camper. –Greg

Download FoxFi from the Google Market

SAMMOBILE

ROMs via SAMMOBILE

Effective December 21, 2011 AT&T will release new software for the Samsung Captivate™ Glide that supports Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS). CMAS is a new public safety system that allows customers who own an enabled mobile device to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area. Consumers will receive only three types of alerts through CMAS:

• Presidential Alerts (automatic alerts that cannot be disabled by the customer)
• Imminent Threat Alerts (FEMA type alerts – customers can opt out of messages – see screen shots below)
• Amber Alerts (e.g., child abduction alerts – customers can opt out of messages – see screen shots below)

Note: While the emergency alerts are free, customers may opt out of receiving the “Imminent Threat” and/or “Amber Alerts” but they may NOT opt-out of receiving the “Presidential Alerts”. To opt-out go to; Messaging application > Menu > Settings > Notifications settings > Emergency Alerts and uncheck the box for each type of alert you do not wish to receive; a) Extreme alerts, b) Severe alerts, and/or c) Amber alerts. (See screen shots below)

The initial AT&T roll out is to its customers with compatible handsets in New York City and Washington, D.C. The CMAS software update for the Samsung Captivate™ Glide will enable the device to be Wireless Emergency Alert Capable (WEAC). The update also supports a Google security patch which upgrades the Samsung Captivate Glide operating system to 2.3.6 and a fix for Exchange Active Sync (EAS). This is an OTA update (no side load option is available).

 

Looks like we will continue to see this hit more phones as time goes on and will likely be included on future phones from the factory as they are released. I’m curious how soon and often we will begin to see the types of alerts and if there will be any type of user interaction requested. I’m sure with the Presidential Election next year it could be interesting to see how much electoral spam we receive. -Greg

Here are some of the new features and updates:

• New UI: Action Bar and Dashboard
• New Post Editor with formatting toolbar
• Tablet Support – scrollable item list optimized for the extra real-estate
• Background post uploading
• Media – Titles, Captions, and Placement

One of my biggest challenges was trying to make blogging in WordPress from my Xoom. Automattic’s WordPress for Android was very helpful in making that a little easier. The only major problem I had was with media. Not being able to control the alignment of my media, being able to correctly title pictures, and adding captions just weren’t possible. I would have to create drafts, upload them, and then login from my desktop to make final edits before publishing each post. Not anymore, now that Automattic has addressed all the fore mentioned. WordPress 2.0 for Android is now more usable than ever and with CES 2012 just around the corner this couldn’t have come at a better time. Between my Motorola Xoom and WordPress for Android, live blogging should be a snap when I get to CES. –Greg

Automattic’s WordPress 2.0 for Android

Invite friends to join your crew, the bigger your crew the stronger you are!
Battle other pirates to gain rewards and increase your standing.
Buy cannons, weapons, amulets, and equipment to upgrade your ship.
Explore exotic islands, buy properties, and complete quests to earn gold and experience.

Best part of Disney’s new game, it’s free! So, head over to the Android Market or iTunes to grab the game today. –Greg

Beginning December 16, 2011 AT&T will release new software on Samsung Galaxy S II™ (SGH-i777) to support Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS).
CMAS is a new public safety system that allows customers who own an enabled mobile device to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area. Consumers will receive only three types of alerts through CMAS:
Presidential Alerts (automatic alerts that cannot be disabled by the customer) Imminent Threat Alerts (FEMA type alerts – customers can opt out of receiving these messages) Amber Alerts (e.g., child abduction alerts – customers can opt out of receiving these messages)

I’m an owner of this exact phone and I myself haven’t received any type of update or notification about this specifically. We should hear more about this in coming days I’m sure. Presidential Alerts are not optional, hopefully this doesn’t include anything of less than National Security as I myself don’t want to hear about Obama’s new health plan via forced mobile messaging. If you have received this update or maybe know more about it I’d love to hear what you have to say. -Greg

**Update – Looks like a number of users have started receiving the update to Android version 2.3.6 on December 16th as note above. Some of these users had failed attempts, so maybe the update as been slowed or pulled temporarily. Either way looks like this is definitely underway.

One billion is a pretty big number by any measurement. However, when it’s describing the speed at which something is growing, it’s simply amazing. This past weekend, thanks to Android users around the world,Android Market exceeded 10 billion app downloads—with a growth rate of one billion app downloads per month. We can’t wait to see where this accelerating growth takes us in 2012.

To celebrate this milestone, we partnered with some of the Android developers who contributed to this milestone to make a bunch of great Android apps available at an amazing price. Starting today for the next 10 days, we’ll have a new set of awesome apps available each day for only 10 cents each. Today, we are starting with Asphalt 6 HD, Color & Draw for Kids, Endomondo Sports Tracker Pro, Fieldrunners HD, Great Little War Game, Minecraft, Paper Camera, Sketchbook Mobile, Soundhound Infinity and Swiftkey X.

Of course, none of these apps would have existed if it weren’t for the developers who created them. Every day, these developers continue to push the limits on what’s possible and delight us in the process. For that, we thank them.

Please join us in this 10-day celebration and check in every day to see what new apps our developer partners are making available on Android Market—for only a dime.

Enough about my decision, the phone itself is outstanding. I see NO lag at all when opening apps, swiping pages, taking pictures, or anything that doesn’t require Internet. The 4G HSPA+ is no slouch either as I flip through web pages with ease. I have seen pretty good speed tests around a consistent 3Mb down and 1.5 up. This is comical in comparison to the LTE network, but I’m also not downloading uncompressed 1080P movies onto my phone either. The phone comes with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and is very good looking in itself. The phone included “AllShare“, as in the previous Galaxy S, which I was happy to see. Samsung’s AllShare makes its a cake walk to share media across DLNA supported networks and devices. The physical attributes of the phone leave it one of the thinnest and lightest phones made to date. It has a 4.3″ Super AMOLED screen made with none other than Gorilla Glass. The upgraded 8MP camera includes an LED flash this time around and supports 1080P video. They also included a 2MP front facing camera which has worked well video chatting using the included video app Qik. Some other features new to the GS2 worth mentioning are Samsung’s Kies Air and Voice Talk by Vlingo.

Kies Air lets you manage your phones content and more when it’s connected to a WiFi network by using a web browser.

Voice Talk from Vlingo takes voice control a step forward and using your phone using voice commands only pretty easy.

Overall I think they have really made a great phone even better. It’s going to be interesting to see what they will have in store for the GS3. I’m sure it will have a faster processor, but as you can see they add a lot more than voice apps and faster CPU’s when they create their next gen phones. When designing their phones Samsung takes it Siri-ously. -Greg

According to Matias Duarte, Android 4.0 was created with 3 principles in mind:

1. Enchant Me
2. Simplify My Life
3. Make Me Awesome

Here are the goodies that ICS has to offer:

• Designed with 16:9 1280×720 as the native resolution
• New “Roboto” font throughout OS
• Navigation buttons are virtual, but can hide when not in need
• Side swiping will be used across the platform (say goodbye to scrolling apps menu)
• Make folders by dragging and dropping icons onto each-other
• App launch is now customizable
• Quick application switching with previews (swipe a preview off screen to remove from list)
• Built-in screenshot taking
• Improved notifications, including music controls
• Swipe to remove individual notifications (ehem, kang’d from CyanogenMod?)
• New and improved keyboard with in-line spell checker
• Improved cut, copy, and paste, usable throughout OS
• Instant talk to text
• Face Unlock!!!!
• Redesigned Google Apps
• All new browser that syncs with Chrome from your desktop (and much more)
• Completely new Gmail experience (it’s awesome)
• Pinch-to-zoom in calendar
• Data usage management
• New camera with easier sharing capabilities, panorama mode, 0 shutter lag, etc.
• Photo editing capabilities
• Take photos while recording video
• People app that pulls info from all services that are linked
• Full-screen high res pics during calls and ability to reject calls with quick response message
• New phone app with built-in visual voicemail
• Android Beam – allows you to send things via NFC by just touching phones together