Android Atlas

(Credit: Google)

We learned on Thursday that Verizon's Motorola Droid will be getting an update to Android 2.0.1 to address camera and voice reception issues. Today brings news that all 2.0 devices will be updated to this version before the year is out.

As of right now, the only other known 2.0 handset is the Milestone, also from Motorola. This update also deals with additional bug fixes and framework behavioral changes. For a look at the complete release notes, you can read them at the Android Developers blog.

The Android 1.6 SDK also gets a slight update as well. Revision 2 mainly relates to the compatibility mode for apps that don't support multiple screen sizes beyond the HVGA (320x480-pixel resolution) screens commonly found in most of today's handsets.

For those of you on Twitter, you can now follow the official Android Developers blog at @AndroidDev.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

While Motorola Droid owners are prepping to get Android 2.0.1 delivered to their smartphone in the coming weeks, HTC Droid Eris users might be wondering, "Hey, what about us?" Well, the good news is that there is an update coming. The bad news is you're going to have to wait a bit longer.

Verizon said Friday that it plans to release an OS update for the Droid Eris, which currently runs on Android OS 1.5, in the first quarter of 2010. The carrier did not specify which version of Android it would release for the smartphone, but did say that customers will get support for Google Maps Navigation.

On a somewhat related note, Verizon is running a buy-one, get-one-free promotion for the Droid Eris starting Friday, December 4, and ending Monday, December 7. During that time, if you buy an HTC Droid Eris or a Motorola Droid, you can get a second Droid Eris for free.

Motorola Droid

(Credit: CNET)

Verizon just informed us that Google released an SDK for Android 2.0.1 Thursday, which means those who have a Motorola Droid can expect a free over-the-air upgrade to their phone in the "coming weeks."

Some updates include an improvement to the camera's auto-focus and the phone's voice reception. There's still no news on the exact dates the new firmware will be rolled out, but we look forward to it all the same.

AndroidStats

(Credit: Screenshot by Scott Webster)

As the number of apps and games continues to grow for Android, it's getting harder to keep on top of everything. Rather than trying out every title that enters the Android Market, I like to look for specific genres of apps.

For instance, I really enjoy casual games on my T-Mobile G1. I always find at least a few minutes of downtime throughout my day so I'm constantly trying to get a new high score or unlock a new puzzle. However, as much as I'd love to try out every brain game that's released, it's simply impossible for me to do so. Instead I look for the titles that seem to be making the most noise in the market. For this, I use an Android app called AndroidStats.

As the name implies, it provides statistics into what's going on in the Android Market. I glance through the app every few days to see if there are any significant movers or shakers I've yet to play. AndroidStats is very straightforward in that it lets me see how apps are performing from day to day as well as over time.

Two features of AndroidStats that you won't find in the Android Market are Biggest Weekly Movers and Yesterday's Price Changes. The former shows users which apps or games have gained the most ground in the last seven days. I find it very similar to Heatseekers on Billboard's music charts. The latter lists apps that have changed in price as compared with the previous day. While most of these are price drops, occasionally you will find price increases.

If you find an app that captures your interest, you can view the title and you'll get the same description that developers provide in the Android Market. One bonus here is that URLs are clickable. In addition, an accompanying chart shows how well the application or game has been performing in terms of overall rank. The menu button provides the option to find other apps by the author or go directly to the download page in the Android Market.

AndroidStats is a free application, but does have an unobtrusive AdMob advertising bar at the top of each page. For a glimpse into how it all works, you can also visit AndroidStats.com to see a Web-based setup.

Motorola Cliq

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

T-Mobile and Motorola have begun pushing a software update to the Moto Cliq. Google Android release 1.1.31 will offer the following changes. Motorola offers more information about the update on its support page.

• Longer battery life
• New battery management Feature
• Better Bluetooth
• Touch-screen accuracy
• TTY option
• Better business connections
• Improved caller connectivity
• Quick Office 2
• Accelerometer enhancements

Three developers made it past thousands of community voters and a panel of judges Monday to emerge as the winners of Google's second Android Developer Challenge (ADC2).

The top overall prizes went to SweetDreams, What the Doodle, and WaveSecure. These winners took home between $125,000 and $250,000 for their efforts. Smaller cash prizes were awarded to the top-three applications in each of 10 categories, which included media, entertainment, education, and travel.

SweetDreams is a lifestyle application that lets users sleep comfortably while knowing their handsets will block unwanted calls in the middle of the night but still sound the alarm clock at the designated time. You also can set a downtime for your handset, and disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other battery draining items.

What the Doodle is a multiplayer game that finds players drawing out pictures for phrases while others guess the answer. The real-time game includes Free-For-All and team modes, global leaderboard, and voice recognition.

WaveSecure is a security app that gives users peace of mind in the event of a lost or stolen phone. Similar to Motorola's MotoBlur interface, customers can track the location of their phone, lock out prying eyes, and remotely wipe their data. The backup feature allows for full restoration should the user recover the lost phone or purchase a new device.

The developers who didn't win money still stand a chance of gaining some added visibility. T-Mobile, which currently offers the most Android phones of any U.S. carrier, served as a judge. The carrier's "AppPack" features a hand-picked group of apps that is pushed to new Android users. Landing on this or a similar list might be more than some developers could have hoped for.

Android Market 1.6.

(Credit: Screenshot by Scott Webtser/CNET)

As I said last week, fragmentation with the Google Android operating system is beginning to frustrate Android developers. And according to a recent report by Skyhook Wireless, the issue isn't going away. Though developers are excited about the future of Android, the platform may face significant challenges if it does not soon improve options to monetize apps and take steps to protect against the risk of fragmentation.

According to the study, four out of five surveyed developers are finding it difficult to get their apps noticed in the current Android Market. Also, more than half polled (57 percent) are less than happy with their profits so far. The gripes found in the survey seem to point a finger at the way the Android Market is designed, not so much at Android directly. To these developers, the platform holds promise, but the current way of doing business simply isn't enough to satisfy the masses.

One potential reason for the lack of profit might be all of the free applications available. For the first few months of its existence, the Android Market offered only free applications and then opened up to paid selections. It's possible that Android users got too comfortable in the initial phase and are simply content with the free apps that offer most of the same functionality found in paid titles.

The lack of a desktop client also makes it difficult for developers to give potential customers enough information to make informed decisions. With only 325 characters and two screen shots to use in the Android Market, it's simply not enough room to convince people to open up their wallets. There are no clickable links, or videos, and good luck squeezing the change log in the notes if your app has seen a recent update. Yes, the market was changed with Android 1.6, but so far only three handsets in the United States have the new look portal. More than half of all Android handsets still have the old market application.

Skyhook also suggests that developers feel Google Checkout is a hindrance to better sales. Roughly two in five claim they'd sell more apps if the Android Market allowed for carrier billing or another system. So far, T-Mobile and Sprint have already jumped on board with carrier billing and at some point in the near future both will allow users to have apps added to their wireless bills.

On Call runs every two weeks, alternating between answering reader questions and discussing hot topics in the cell phone world.

It's been a long time since I've devoted an On Call to reader questions, but e-mails about the Motorola Droid have poured in following the device's debut last month. Some have offered nothing but effusive praise for the handset, while others have raised concerns. I've included a sampling of e-mails from the latter camp below. And be sure to catch my follow-up to a previous Android post at the end of the question-and-answer session.

Q: I think you described switching to Google Android quite well. I like the Droid, but I'm thinking of waiting for a GSM version. Will there be a GSM version and do you think that Verizon Wireless will carry it?
- Tandon55

A: A GSM version of the Droid already exists. The Milestone, as it's called, is almost identical to the Droid except that it has pinch-and-zoom multitouch. We're not sure why it has the extra feature--believe us when we say we're not happy about the disparity--and neither Verizon Wireless, Google, nor Motorola is offering an answer. The Milestone will land first in Europe and Germany, but it won't come to Verizon Wireless. Verizon uses CDMA, which is an incompatible technology to GSM, and Verizon already carries its own version of the phone. ... Read more

(Credit: Phandroid)

Oh, you knew someone was going to do this. So let's just get it over with. And though some might think of this as a battle between the Droid and the iPhone for the nation's morality, let's be open-source about it: someone's trying to make a lot of money from cell phone porn.

A company with the obtusely childlike name MiKandi has launched a mobile app store that will exclusively cater to adults whose brain food consists of content that reflects their age. Yes, the sort of stuff some prefer to refer to as porn.

MiKandi's publicity material naturally avoids this term, referring to the more PC phrase "adult only." However, there is a little kink in its offering. According to Android fanperson site, Phandroid, the MiKandi Market apps only work with Android phones and not with Apple's more morally minded handsets.

Cupertino steadfastly sticks to its policy of refusing to allow apps filled purely with adult content, though some might dispute whether its definition of "adult" isn't occasionally a little idiosyncratic.

Not for a moment would one suggest that Verizon or Motorola or the deities at Google are necessarily in favor of porn apps. However, MiKandi is attempting to take advantage of the fact that the Android system is more open than the iPhone's.

So while the Android Market itself doesn't offer porn, nothing on your Droid phone prevents you from using MiKandi's services. The wise people at Phandroid do, however, offer stern warnings about MiKandi's workings.

Despite attempting to use MiKandi's services, purely for scientific purposes, Phandroid failed to actually secure access to any mature content. Remember, children, this sort of thing will always be a somewhat risky business.