The latest feature which Android phones are going to have is called Google Goggles, well actually this is visual search. Imagine going to a place where you need to find info on a certain building or a landmark. The obvious way would be to take out a tourist map or ask someone nearby, but with Google Goggles proud owners of Android devices will be able to snap the picture of that feature and hit the search button and let Google handle form there on. With in seconds audio/visual results will be displayed providing info about the landmark.

This certainly sounds like a useful feature for tourists. And yes this might as well come handy in case one gets lost in a new city. Watch the video here.

HTC is all rage these days. In 2010 5 new models running Android are expected. The names are HTC Legend, Salsa, Bravo, Tide and Buzz. If anything the names say it all, they are all out to create ripples in the mobile industry. More Android phones would mean more Android users, and since the fever has caught on we can perceive good competition with the ever-present iPhone by Apple, only if they do not bring out something totally new and out of this world. Take a look at the pics for some unexpected drooling.

HTC Legend

Since the launch of some new Smart phones running Google’s Android OS Android applications are much in demand.  Although the list cannot match the likes of Apple’s applications running literally in the thousands but for Android it is just a start that is poised to take off. User reviews are encouraging and the availability of Android SDK free of cost has given the required impetus to the development of more applications. Enthusiasts the world over are now busy developing more and more apps for varying needs. In my previous post I had listed Top Ten Android applications now I have listed 20 free apps for Android devices that includes categories like Communication tools, Utilities, Social, Reference, Lifestyle, Finance, Entertainment, Shopping and Productivity. Read on for a brief description of these applications and do try them out, remember they are all free!

Communication.

• Opera Mini v 4.0. The well known web browser Opera Mini runs on Android devices as it has been designed for them. The browser is fast as the content is compressed before being sent to the phone, which saves more time as well as money. However, do check the version before downloading and installing on your device for compatibility issues. The browser also lets users synchronize history, notes and bookmarks between mobile phone and PC. Website: Opera.

• Twidroid. Twidroid is a creation of Marban & Zimmermann and is used for tweeting via the Android phone. It supports photo posting (Native), auto-completion, news from twitter buzz and location support. The newer version is going to have off line composing facility and YouTube posting. More info is available at Marban & Zimmermann website.

I’m big fan of 3D games and am really excited about prospect of 3D gaming on android mobile platform. I figured that there must be other gaming enthusiasts who love 3D games of all sorts, so here are first set of 3D games which they must try.

Speed Forge 3D

Features :

Important game features:

• Full 3D graphics
• Realistic physic simulation
• 6 very different tracks
• 3 vehicles (each with different physical properties)
• Weaponry: mines and homing rockets

New in version 1.2

• Sensitivity setting added to options
• 2 acceleration mode (auto and by phone tilt)
• 3 Difficulty levels
• Some minor bugs fixed

The game is available from Slideme for $2.99 and not from android market place. Click here to get it.

Package name : Mag3DLite.SpeedForgeDemo

Check out the video below

With Thanksgiving just a day from now, am sure most of you will be dreading the traffic rush on the roads once again this year. As like always American Automobile Association(AAA) is predicting a rise of 1.4 per cent to 38.4 million Americans that will travel at least 50 miles to get to their chosen holiday destination where a massive of 86 percent will be driving by car. Looking at this, Android developers have just in time released their latest update of Google Maps Navigation running Android 1.6 and higher.

You can find the below features on this updated version

- Internet connected GPS system with voice guidance and automatic rerouting

- Google search facility (either typed or spoken)

- Fresh map, business and traffic data, satellite and street view imagery

- Also includes latest stuff like Wikipedia articles about places and more.

How to get it

If you are using a phone running Android 1.6, download the updated version of Google Maps from Android market, before you leave for your Thanksgiving day. Google Maps Navigation is in beta and is currently available in the United States. Check out the demo video for Beta version here. Wishing you all a happy and safe traveling on Thanksgiving!

Sometime back it was Symbian OS which gave users the flexibility of installing hundreds of thousands of applications, then iPhone overshadowed everything by making available thousands of applications at the Apple website, now its Android’s turn. The Google based OS for smart phones that is poised to take the world by storm has an equally impressive number of applications lined up for its loyal followers. Some of the most wanted are described here in not so fine detail. The applications/games introduced here have been selected after much surfing and browsing.

• Wapedia. Originally developed by Taptu Limited the application makes it possible for users to access Wikipedia contents on their Android based phones. The application is fast in accessing content even on 2G Networks. This is a must have utility for Wikipedia fans. Its features included news items, image rendering, auto-complete feature for article titles, support for multiple languages and links to alternative wikis.

Dell is finally in the mobile phone arena with this little smart phone called as the Mini3. The device has a 3.5” screen size and runs on Android OS. According to Dell it is “the world’s smallest Dell”. The phone is going to be released in China through China Mobile and in Brazil through Claro. Other regions will also have it from various telcos.

The smart phone sports a 3 MP camera which might look a little out of place since most modern phones nowadays have a 5 MP cam attached to their faces. A tiny stylus comes bundled with the phone for people with thick finger tips. The Chinese version they say will not have 3G or even WiFi. There is no 3.5 mm jack instead the mini USB has a mini USB to 3.5 mm connector for the job.

The screen res is 360 x 640. Mini3 has Bluetooth, mini USB and microSD slot. There is no QWERTY keyboard instead the device has an onscreen keyboard besides the usual handwriting recognition ability. The phone is sleek and impressive looks. More pictures can be viewed at the 163  Chinese website.

A research by Gartner, Inc has released that Android share will raise upto14 percent by 2012, making it the number two phone OS in the world (after Symbian OS). With Google being the maker of android, anybody can guarantee that Android will remain a success for a longer period of time.

The Gartner forecast gives Android such an enormous surge in popularity because of a variety of factors, but chiefly because of Google Inc.’s backing of Android and the range of cloud computing functions and related applications that Google will make available in coming years.

Continuing with this, we now have a new Samsung Moment Android phone (this time on Sprint) , after our last news on Biggtech of “Samsung’s Behold 2 to run android in its chest”.  The new moment Android phone includes all useful features like Wi-Fi, integrated GPS, a 3.2MP camera/camcorder, QWERTY keyboard and 3.2″ AMOLED touchscreen display.

What’s more

- 800 MHz processor

- 3.2 Megapixel Camera

- GPS Navigation

- 32 GB expandable memory

This is the second Android phone available on Sprint which also confirms its Sprint’s decision to be a member of Open Handset Alliance.

How to get it?

I know most of you can’t resist the phone by seeing it. Well right now, you can order the Moment by November 1 for $179.99 (excluding taxes) after a $50 instant savings and a $100 mail-in-rebate with a two-year service agreement. Pre-registration begins today at www.sprint.com/moment.