Well this is quite the unsettling story. Two “security experts” (I prefer to call them hackers) have drafted up a tool that would allow the user of it to probe an Android device to intercept emails and SMS messages. The program is a “root” utility that disguises itself as a program to help easily root your phone, but will do some other extracurricular activity before it’s done (that’s if it even goes through the process of rooting at all). Know that the hackers aren’t doing this with any malintent: they want Google to get off their butts and fix the security holes before a serious incident goes down.
The tool was released to thousands of hackers at the DefCon 18 security and hacking conference going on this weekend. At first, you may not think releasing the scary tool is in yours or anyone’s best interests, but it forces Google’s hand in making sure things are set straight before too long.
This isn’t unlike the story we heard about exactly one year ago where a known SMS flaw plagued millions of handsets (housing many types of operating systems) and would allow the sender of an SMS to send something similar to a denial-of-service attack which would keep you from being able to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, and use your phone’s data. Following the revelation of that bug at a similar conference, Google, Apple, and other software vendors found themselves pushing out updates within days to fix it. If this is anything like that, then I’m sure Google’s already hard at work to take care of that.
[via Reuters]
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The Motorola FlipOut is nearing unlocked availability in the UK courtesy of retailers Play.com and and Clove. Play’s offering the device August 11th for 249 British pounds while Clove – who hasn’t announced a date for their release yet – will have it for 258 pounds.
The device is not yet available subsidized through UK carriers so you’ll need to be OK with spending a large chunk of money for the device upfront if you truly want it. The Motorola FlipOut ships with Android 2.1 and the latest version of MOTOBLUR and includes a “flip-out” QWERTY keypad – perfect for trendy teens that need to text and wants to have a device that does something “cool”.
[via EuroDroid]
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Two HTC phones we’ve been hearing more and more about lately – the HTC Ace and the HTC Vision – might be getting a revelation pretty soon as the two devices have shown up in Vodafone Germany’s inventory system as the HTC Desire HD and the HTC Desire Z, respectively. The Desire HD would look a lot like the HTC Legend with its aluminum unibody design and – according to the BestBoyZ’s (translated) wording – will include features of the HD2 and Desire (we’re assuming they mean HTC Sense [software] and a Snapdragon processor at the least [hardware], for now).
T-Mobile’s rumored to get the HTC Vision – otherwise known as the QWERTY-equipped high-end T-Mobile G1 Blaze – as their first HSPA+ handset later this summer. As far as this new “Desire Z”? We’ll just have to wait and see if it ever leaves Germany and makes its way to other regions whenever details begin to flow out.
[BestBoyz (translated)] [Thanks, Patrick!]
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A new FCC filing was uncovered late yesterday showing a new device – the Motorola Sage – could be running Android and could be headed to AT&T. The assumption that this thing will run Android comes from the fact that the device is equipped with the array of radios you’d only find in a smartphone. Putting two and two together, we know that Motorola only uses Android in their smartphones these days. The device is stocked with HSDPA and HSUPA on the same frequency bands used by AT&T.
We’d love to speculate that this is an entirely new device, but it’s possible that this could be a device we’ve already seen as American Androids are named differently from their overseas counterparts more often than not. We’ll just have to wait until the leak train gets going (or until AT&T and Motorola announces anything) before we learn anything more.
[via Engadget]
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We’re not sure what Motorola would call these devices if they did end up getting European counterparts, but new rumors suggest that the Motorola Droid X and the yet-to-be-announced Motorola Droid 2 could be headed to Europe. French Android blog FrAndroid reports that the Droid X will be launched near the end of the year, with the Droid 2 soon to follow.
We can’t confirm their source (nor do the pictures give us any indication that this rumor has any legs – the devices pictured are Verizon-branded, though FrAndroid claims it’s because they’re prototypes and their designs have yet to be finalized) but I’m sure Motorola’s not going to ignore the European market for their latest flagship phones.
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Samsung’s holding a shindig on the morning of August 11th in New York to celebrate “a new dimension of Wonder” as they’ll be showing off new products and making some announcements. While nothing points to their Android line of products specifically, I can’t imagine we’re too far off from an announcement of their Android-based tablet (the Samsung Galaxy Tab). There could also be an announcement regarding their personal media player that’s derived from the Samsung Galaxy S called the YP-MB2.
We’ll just have to wait until August 11th to see if Android – in any form – will be on hand. [via Crunch Gear]
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With all of this FroYo flying around (food fight?) to several handsets very soon, Motorola Droid X users are wondering when they’ll be able to wake up to some good news. Today, Motorola’s given a general window for when you can expect to see Android 2.2 on Verizon’s latest Droid by updating their update chart. You guys can look forward to sweet frozen yogurt “in late summer”. Probably not the most desirable answer you were looking for, but at least you know you won’t have to wait until the leaves start falling to get your taste.
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Motorola has done an excellent job with its Android handsets on Verizon. Case in point, the Droid X, Moto’s latest to hit the market. Now, an FCC filing has shown up to suggest that they could be sending one named the Sage to AT&T.
All of the specifications suggest that this is an AT&T phone. Other than that? No real details yet, but remember that we’ve seen the Flipout with AT&T apps loaded. AT&T was late to the high-end Android handset game, but has released the HTC Aria and Samsung Captivate lately, with the Dell Streak soon to follow. AT&T finally appears committed to releasing quality Android phones. [via Engadget]
Posted originally at Android Central
Sponsored by Android Cases and Accessories
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Bird lovers who carry Android handsets in their pockets can rejoice! The famous Audubon Society has released through Green Mountain Digital an Android app that allows you to browse their nature guides on your phone.
Available in the Market for $19.99, you are basically buying an electronic book developed for viewing on the go. If you decide that you want to download these bad boys, be aware that you should do it over a WiFi connection, as they are almost 21mb in size!
Let us know if you are planning on getting and using this app, we are interested to hear about the quality.
There were no pictures of the Android App at press time, but you can get the idea from the iPhone version pictured to the left.
NOTE: Audubon Birds Comes to Android originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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It appears Motorola may have finally given us what we wanted: the open source software for the Droid X. That’s right, now developers can mess around with the 4.3-inch beast even more! This isn’t quite as exciting as the 1-Click Root that came to the Droid X just a few days ago, but it’s still news. And I’m sure some crazy dev will have Froyo up and running on the Droid X in no time.
NOTE: Motorola Open Sources Droid X originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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