Get Your Hero For $129.99

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There are now three methods to watch complete games in the NBA: via TV, PC, or now using a mobile phone. Initial estimates report 59M mobile phone owners have the ability to watch streaming NBA games using their mobile phones.

The coverage is available through AT&T and T-Mobile, with Verizon Wireless beginning service on November 6. Apple iPhone and Google Android phone owners have access to the streaming feature now, but RIM BlackBerry owners are expected to have streaming NBA coverage at some point in the near future.

Mobile subscribers can watch 40 live games each week while accessing game statistics and game replays. In addition, it’s possible to record 30-second video clips that can be watched up to 48 hours after the game ends.

The ability to view live streaming content using a mobile phone is a feature many phone owners are now seeking. The National Hockey League (NHL) offers mobile gaming in Canada only, while Major League Baseball (MLB) offers live game coverage to iPhone owners only.

No Google Phone for You

Back on October 20th we brought you news of the rumor that Google was developing is own Android Phone.

Today we have bad news for those of you who thought this round of Google-phone rumors would end differently than the last. In a talk with CNET, Google VP Andy Rubin stated clearly that his company has no plans for any Android hardware.

While Google designed the increasingly popular Android operating system, they’ve been content to let manufacturers worry about the hardware. Rubin said that it would make no sense for his company to “compete with its customers”. Although Google has, in the past, stepped in to lend a hand on designing some features of the handsets that carry their OS (like the G1), they simply see no profit in building their own.

Google knows that dedicated handset manufacturers have more experience, more motivation, and more ability to draw upon when it comes to designing devices. Just look at Motorola; they didn’t need Google’s help to develop one of the best smartphones ever made. It’s taken a while, but an increasing number of very high-end smartphones have been produced with the Android OS. Both the Rachel and Acer’s A1 are due out soon, and Moto’s devoting most of their resources to making more Android gadgets.

There might once have been a day when a Google-made Android phone would could have given the OS a boost, but that day is long past. The OS has come into its own. All Google needs to do is continue to support and update Android, and watch its market share rise.

The AddressBook team would like to thank everyone for trying and giving feedback on AddressBook. It’s only been a few days but we’ve learned a lot and will be responding to feedback with improvements in short order.

One issue that may best be addressed when we can catch them in the blogs is “where in the heck/he__ is the AddressBook app?”. We made a mistake and were not as explicit as we should have been that only Android 1.6 is supported by AddressBook at this time.

We realize this is a disappointment to HTC Hero (guess who LUVs her Hero, me) and Moto Cliq users. However, try as we might, there was a severe bug introduced with Android 1.5 that added significant instability into our app, especially with installation and deletion of mixins. We worked with Google, submitted a fix for Andorid on 1.5, and while Google was able to respond for 1.6, there was not an opportunity for them to get the fix into an update for 1.5.

If any of you out there are willing to join our “guinea” program (very pre-release), and likewise are willing to follow a strict set of guideline for installing/de-installing with “as is” ground rules, please email us at addressbook.support@asurion.com to discuss use on 1.5. I’d like to get feedback on is it worth offering it on 1.5. If not, we’re working day and night to be ready for 2.0.

Keep the feedback coming, we are listening,

-Nancy

As you’ll see in the video, the 2.0 port on the G1 is very, very rough. It’s sluggish and not really usable but hey, it’s the proof-of-concept and effort that counts! The video goes through some new Android 2.0 features and while some stuff obviously doesn’t work, you still get the overall feel. The T-Mobile G1 (and myTouch 3G) hasn’t yet been confirmed to officially receive Android 2.0 but we’re crossing our fingers it’ll come soon. There’s no doubt that running Android 2.0 will make them feel brand new all over again. Let’s make it happen!

[via engadget]

The Droid Eris will run Android 1.5 and pack the same 528 MHz Qualcomm processor and also have a 5.0 megapixel camera (which we’re assuming is the same camera in the Sprint HTC Hero).

New leaked documents suggest all the Droid Eris grumblings we’ve heard were true: it should launch November 6, and it will supposedly run $99 after rebate. That’s pretty cheap considering it matches the specs of the $180 Hero.

What we’ve heard about the HTC Eris being a slightly reshaped Hero is pretty much right. The spec sheet claims it’s packing a 528MHz Qualcomm, a 320×480 screen, and Android 1.5, exactly what you’ll get in the Hero. There’s also mention of a bundled 8GB MicroSD card. Guess I shouldn’t have expected a 16GB card in a sub-$100 phone, but a guy can dream.

Even though it’s underspec’d compared with the Droid, I’m actually excited about this phone. I love Sense UI, and I don’t feel like I need a full hardware keyboard. Plus, assuming the Droid Eris mimics the Hero’s software as well as it does hardware, it should have multitouch, which the Droid doesn’t do. The Eris might not be new and exciting like the Droid, but I think it still deserves some love.

Dan and I were talking about how one of Sprint’s flagship phones, what was the premiere Android phone before the Droid came along, will be Verizon’s el cheapo Android handset come Friday. The Hero more than warrants the $180 Sprint charges, but Verizon sees it as a last-gen device only worthy of last-gen pricing. That, to us, shows the carrier is really planning to push Android hardware to the next level.

The AddressBook team would like to thank everyone for trying and giving feedback on AddressBook. It’s only been a few days but we’ve learned a lot and will be responding to feedback with improvements in short order.

One issue that may best be addressed when we can catch them in the blogs is “where in the heck/he__ is the AddressBook app?”. We made a mistake and were not as explicit as we should have been that only Android 1.6 is supported by AddressBook at this time.

We realize this is a disappointment to HTC Hero (guess who LUVs her Hero, me) and Moto Cliq users. However, try as we might, there was a severe bug introduced with Android 1.5 that added significant instability into our app, especially with installation and deletion of mixins. We worked with Google, submitted a fix for Andorid on 1.5, and while Google was able to respond for 1.6, there was not an opportunity for them to get the fix into an update for 1.5.

If any of you out there are willing to join our “guinea” program (very pre-release), and likewise are willing to follow a strict set of guideline for installing/de-installing with “as is” ground rules, please email us at addressbook.support@asurion.com to discuss use on 1.5. I’d like to get feedback on is it worth offering it on 1.5. If not, we’re working day and night to be ready for 2.0.

Keep the feedback coming, we are listening,

-Nancy