If you’re not satisfied with the default chat and instant messaging options in Android or 3rd party solutions on the market, you might be happy to know that Nimbuzz is now available on the Android Market. The application serves as an all-in-one Skype, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, AIM, studiVZ, GoogleTalk, Facebook, MySpace, Jabber client and many more.

The folks at Nimbuzz told us that the Android version has some sophisticated features which they further explain in their press release / blog announcement:

The smart buddy list layout displays information in an intelligent way, combining avatar and presence information in one, with community icon and resource information (if your buddy is online on the mobile or PC) in the same line.

The time sensitive UI is a favorite .  It  detects how long you press on a buddy’s name. A light touch opens their profile and a stronger touch instantly starts a new chat!

Home-screen notifications alert you on the home screen of activities such as incoming chats while Nimbuzz continues to run in the background.

Clickable URLs make for a multimedia rich chat experience so you can share YouTube videos and Wikipedia information during your chat. A browser window will open from which you can seamlessly switch back and forth to Nimbuzz.

Auto reconnect is also very useful!  For example,  I often leave Nimbuzz running in the background while connected to a Wi-Fi network and before I know it I’m out of range and offline to all my friends. To prevent this, Nimbuzz detects whenever you are out of range, and if there isn’t a known Wi-Fi network available it connects you via 3G, and vice versa.

Unique to Android users is the fact that only Nimbuzz integrates Skype IM and local social networks such as Hyves in the Netherlands, StudiVZ from Germany, Gadu-Gadu from Poland, and Giovani from Italy – we didn’t forget you guys!

Check out the video they provided demonstrating the app:

In addition to downloading Nimbuzz via Android Market, you can also download directly from the Nimbuzz website. Give it a whirl and let us know what you think. Will it become your default chat app? Do you find an alternative much better?By the way, the company has also said via their twitter account that they do NOT offer VoIP with this version and that it is “an Android issue” but that they will solve the problem soon!

We can only hope…

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Transmedia launches its Glide Engage microblogging and collaboration application for the T-Mobile G1 smartphone, based on Google’s Android mobile operating system. Transmedia CEO Donald Leka said Apple’s inconsistent iPhone App Store policies and the fact that Glide Engage will compete with Apple’s MobileMe and iTunes store mean Transmedia has to be careful about what it launches on the iPhone.

Transmedia CEO and Chairman Donald Leka isn’t buying the recent talk about the Apple iPhone being superior to the T-Mobile G1 based on Google’s Android mobile operating system. Leka uses both the iPhone and the G1 and said he finds the G1 superior for Web browsing.

Weighing that fact and Apple’s unpredictable iPhone App Store policies regarding competing applications, Transmedia Aug. 18 launched the first mobile version of its Glide Engage social networking and mobile collaboration application for the G1 smartphone. Glide Engage does a lot, but most notably it enables microblogging up to 1,400 characters, a stab at Twitter’s 140-character cap for messaging.

Transmedia’s choice of the G1 as the launch pad for Glide Engage is significant because it flies in the face of some developer anecdotes that the G1 is an inferior device to the iPhone. Although Apple has sold millions of iPhones, the device is supported by an App Store marred by inconsistent policies that have led to the expulsion of some applications.

In the most high-profile case, Apple allowed some third-party Google Voice call management applications to run on the iPhone, but yanked them from the App Store. Apple also rejected Google’s submission of a Google Voice application for the iPhone App Store.

Transmedia has supported the iPhone since its inception two years ago, letting iPhone users create Microsoft Word and PDF documents, edit photos and other tasks from the Glide Operating System. But business is business, and Leka believes the best business is to go with the G1 first.

Leka told eWEEK the Google Voice issue, currently under investigation by the Federal Communications Commission, the open-source nature of Android, and the G1′s nimble Web browsing were a few of the reasons he and his staff chose to release Glide Engage for the G1 first.

“The Android phone is just a great Web phone,” Leka told eWEEK. “I carry an Android phone and I carry an iPhone, but for Web browsing I just find the Android phone to be a better Web browsing phone.”

However, he admitted another reason that proves more pragmatic than philosophical. Glide Engage aims to compete with Apple’s MobileMe service, which pushes e-mail, contacts and calendar events over the air to all Apple devices, and potentially down the road with Apple’s iTunes store and social networking plans.

“We’re a small company, so we can’t release something that Apple arbitrarily rejects and then we’ve lost our development dollars,” Leka told eWEEK, adding that he wants to establish a foothold for Glide Engage in the mobile market before submitting an iPhone version for approval to Apple.

Glide Engage is a rights-based social networking and macro- or micro-blogging service. The fat character cap on the app’s microblogging feature means people can use it to share documents, images and other files.

In describing this capability, Leka also claimed Glide Engage is a bit like “bringing Google Wave to the Android platform before Google does it,” because it lets users start with a post, then add editable links to documents and photos. Users can also easily upgrade their microblogging collaboration to a video conference on the fly.

Glide Engage is also integrated with the Glide OS’s productivity and collaboration application suite and file storage solution, allowing users to create and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

Glide Engage, which features 10 gigabytes of free storage, can be downloaded here for the G1, but will eventually be rolled out for RIM’s Blackberry, the Palm Pre, Symbian and Windows Mobile. That doesn’t mean the app will never grace the iPhone.

Leka said a version of the Glide Engage application for the iPhone is nearly complete and will be submitted to Apple for approval.

The mobile version of Glide Engage comes a week after Transmedia rolled out the desktop version, which can be downloaded here.

[via eWeek]

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Many people who are militant about security on the computers don’t think much about security when surfing the net or checking email on their smartphone. A new company called DroidSecurity is offering software for Android devices that will protect users while they are online.

The app costs $5 for a year of service and is a Java-bases antivirus scanner. The application also has a service built-in to help the user find a lost or stolen phone called trace lost. A phone that is turned off will yield the last known location and one that is on will give the real time location.

DroidSecurity has to give Google 30% of the profits from the sale of a year’s subscription if the purchase happens through Google. The app is also available on the company’s website. So far, over 100,000 people have downloaded the free lite version of the app.

[via NetworkWorld]

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Android is moving on up. When Google announced the platform almost 2 years ago, many critics laughed at what they thought was a pitiful attempt to plant themselves in the largest upcoming growth market. But if imitation is the best form of flattery, Android should be flattered. One year ago, everyone was looking for the iPhone Killer. Today, the iPhone can be found copying what the latest Android Phone made famous – HTC Sense:

You’ll need a jailbroken iPhone to accomplish the task, but once you’re done, you’ll have the beauty and awe of the HTC Sense UI, complete with the sexy clock/weather widget, updated app icons and delighfully curved launch dock. Check out a video of HTC Sense on the iPhone in action:

This is for all you suckers who bought into the iPhone craze who are now locked into a contract, wishing you had an Android to brighten your day. I guess this is the next best thing to either switching carriers or paying full price for an AT&T Android when they launch this holiday season.

[RedmondPie via EngadgetMobile]

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Another application destined to become a worldwide favorite, Layar Reality Browser has finally launched and is now available on the Android Market! The video below will illustrate what exactly Layar is all about:

Essentially you’re using your phone like a camera so you can see the real world as you pan around, but the application utilizes your GPS location and G-Sensor to determine exactly what your phone/camera is pointing towards and provides you more information about it directly on your phone! But Layar introduces new layers of awesome because its technology isn’t just an application… its a platform.

Developers can utilize the Layar API to create their own augmented reality layers for use within the app! According to the company’s Press Release, more than 100 developers currently have access to the API and right now some of the available layers include Wikipedia, Twitter, Brightkite, Yelp, Trulia, Store Locators, Nearby bust stops, Mobile coupons, Mazda dealers, Tourist information and much more!

This is truly awesome! I would go into more depth explaining the service but two issues are preventing me from doing that:

1. You’re better off downloading the app and experiencing it first hand
2. I just downloaded the app and I want to experience it first hand

So I’m off to play with Layar. Think of it as Google’s Places Directory and Sherpa had an awesome virtual reality baby that used layers from Google Sky Map. Or… yeah that’s just a lot more confusing then it needed to be. I’ll try to put together a video at some point today or tomorrow with a review but in the meantime there is a TON of information over on the Layar website so definitely check that out, and I’ve copy/pasted the Press Release below for your convenience!

Press Release: Layar Reality Browser Announces Global Launch and New Features in the Latest Release

Over 100 partners worldwide developing content layers including well known brands

AMSTERDAM, August 17th 2009. Layar, which was first launched in June 2009 in The Netherlands, announces that it’s second generation Reality Browser is now available globally on Android devices. Many new content layers are available in the Reality Browser which vary from Wikipedia, Twitter and Brightkite to local services like Yelp, Trulia, store locator’s, nearby bus stops, mobile coupons, Mazda dealers and tourist, nature and cultural guides.

Layar Reality Browser 2.0
To discover new content quickly and with ease, the new Reality Browser includes sections for ‘Featured’ and ‘Popular’. All layers are also accessible via a keyword search in the search function. Layers that are used often can be saved to ‘Favorites’. In addition to the enhanced augmented reality camera view, it is now possible to select Map or List view. For every Point of Interest (POI), several actions can be taken such as: linking to a mobile site for more information, playing a live location based trivia game, linking to a video or sound clip, clicking to call for reservations, and looking at a route description to the POI. Content partners can fully customize their layer to provide a distinctive experience for the user.

500 more developers
Over 100 developers worldwide have been given access to the Layar platform by means of an API key, and are currently developing layers.

Scott Halcomb of SystemK from Japan, who developed 22 layers including the ‘Sapporo Hotspots’ layer:
“With the Layar API and support of the developers community, creating layers has been a pleasure”.

Dave Elchoness of GoWeb3D from the USA/ India, with 11 layers published including FlickAR:
“We strongly believe that Layar represents the next evolution for mobile applications and feel privileged to participate”.

Michael Coutinho, Technical Manager at Trulia, USA:
“This is a great idea. I was able to develop our layer in about three hours.”

To further grow the community of developers, Layar has released an additional 500 new API keys. The supporting wiki (http://layar.pbworks.com), with developer instructions and documentation, are all now available.

Layar for all
Starting from today, Layar is available for everyone with an Android phone anywhere in the world.  The Reality Browser can be downloaded in all local Android Markets and is pre-installed on the new Samsung Galaxy (i7500) in the Netherlands.

Dirk Groten, CTO:
“The next platform on which Layar will be available is the iPhone 3GS. We are currently investigating other platforms that support our functionalities.”

Raimo van der Klein, CEO:
“With the release of this Reality Browser we believe we have created a worldwide platform that will bring both fun and relevant Augmented Reality experiences in one application to a growing audience of users.”

Boilerplate
The Layar Reality Browser displays real time digital information on top of reality in the camera screen of the mobile phone. While looking through the phone’s camera lens, a user can see houses for sale, popular bars and shops, tourist information of the area, play a live game, etcetera. Layar first launched on June 16th, 2009 and announced the opening up its platform by means of an API on July 8th, 2009. The Layar platform serves as an enabler for mobile location services – any database with geo-location information can easily be turned in a content layer. The Layar Reality Browser is globally available for mobile phones running the Android operating system. Layar is a company based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Pure awesome.

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HTC have announced that the HTC Hero Sense user interface will be made available for the HTC Magic handset. Announced at a press conference in Taiwan, HTC revealed that the update will be available from their official website at some point in the future.

However, due to licensing reasons the update will not be available for any handset featuring the “with Google” logo on the back. This means that owners of the Vodafone HTC Magic and the T-Mobile myTouch 3G won’t be allowed to install the update officially.

Instead, the update will only be officially available for users who either bought the handset directly from HTC, or for the models that don’t have the “with Google” on the back.

Back in June, HTC’s CEO Peter Chou revealed that, “HTC sense will be available on some other existing devices.”

The HTC Sense update is expected to become available later in the year.

[via eprice.com]

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*** ROOT AT YOUR OWN RISK WE DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU BRICKING YOUR PHONE!!! ***

A new root kit app got published to the Android Market this weekend called “recovery flasher” put together by RyeBrye and Zinx. This update has been confirmed working and can be downloaded right from the App Market, at least until it gets pulled. If your interested in this you should probably act fast and do it before you get an OTA update from Google/T-Mobile.

The note in the app market states “This Application lets users ROOT their phones in 1 click. It flashes cyanogen’s 1.4 recovery image over the original.”

Get the full details over at RyeBrye’s Blog here.

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Most of the excitement about upcoming Android phones seem to be centered around the Motorola Morrison and Motorola Sholes, and although Motorola hasn’t announced anything product wise, they are certainly on the attack on many levels.

The most recent level is a creative one that we thought would be fun to share. On the Moto Dev Blog, Motorola is reaching out to developers and non-developers to create their own custom Android Robot. They provided a few examples that include:

An Android with headphones:

An Android reading a book:

And an Android riding a motorcycle… or should we call it a MotoCycle?

Unlike this last example Motorola provided, they are asking that you DO NOT include any Motorola logos or proprietary trademarked stuff like cell phone images. There isn’t a contest or anything, but they’re asking anyone who wants to try their hand to post them on the MotoDev Facebook Page.

This may seem like a small and stupid post that means nothing, but its obviously a sign of much bigger things to come. Motorola is just starting to build some momentum with the Android buzz and they want to keep the ball rolling. In a few months, they could be watching a snowballing meteor of mobile success…

[Via MotoDev Blog]

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Customization is one of the big draws to open source devices like those running Android. Users can modify and customize their devices to their hearts content. One of the stranger ways to customize phones to me is to try to make them look like other devices.

A theme has been available for Android that mimics the look and feel of the Palm Pre. As it turns out the theme used wallpapers and icons directly from webOS and raised the ire of Palm.

Palm has reportedly had its crack team of legal monkeys type up a letter and sent it along to the Android team to tell them to pull the Pre theme from its site. As of now, the theme is no more. It’s not clear if users who already have the theme will be forced to remove it at this point. A similar theme to make Android look like the iPhone has been pulled as well.

[via Mobiletor]

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The Android Revolution keeps on picking up steam, much of it courtesy to an HTC-fueled injection of hot hardware. At an event launching the HTC Hero in Taiwan, company CEO Peter Chou announced that sales of the HTC Magic have surpassed 1 Million units! That is quite a feat for any mobile phone and considering the Android Powered Magic has only been available since the end of April, impressive is a good descriptor.

Chou also revealed that HTC will focus on mid-range smartphone costing around USD $300 the latter half of 2009, presumably before contract/rebates, noting that 50% to 60% of shipments in the 2nd half of the year will fit into this category. HTC Click anyone?

[Via Digitimes]

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