Call me crazy, but finding an application in the market can be quite a task. Lots of time is spent looking, reading, trying, and buying, but as we all know there is easier ways then trial and error. Finding good suggestions can be hard, but we do our best to bring you some of our favorite applications that you will find useful. Take a peek after the jump to see what we have brought to you this week.

Posted originally at Android Central

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If there is one downside to Android, it’s that you only get to use one of the many handsets. That is, unless you’re a rich geek who can afford to stockpile handsets to use at will. But for the rest of us it comes down to one handset every one or two years. It means we have to choose carefully, lest we go with a suboptimal Android handset. Because there is so much that goes into buying a new Android, the staff at AndroidGuys created power rankings based on a number of criteria. Then, just today, they published the results of a public survey. Combined these should give you an idea of the top Android handsets.

The fans voted the Nexus One first and the EVO 4G second. I can’t argue with either. I like having the larger screen, but the Nexus gets all the updates before everyone else. That’s enough to push it to No. 1 in my book. Following the EVO on the user list is the Droid X, Epic 4G, and Droid Incredible. On the AndroidGuys side the Epic 4G ranks at the top, followed by the EVO, Nexus One, Samsung Vibrant, and the Droid X.

The only issue with ranking Android handsets is that they all differ in significant ways. We’ve been over the slider vs. virtual keyboard issue, so we know that it’s a personal matter. I would never rate the Epic No. 1 because I don’t want the slider. Screen size is another personal matter, which makes it tough to rate the Droid X and EVO against handsets with smaller screens. I’d have the Droid X and the EVO further towards the top. But, again, that’s just a personal preference.

When rating Android handsets it’s probably best to break them down along these issues of taste. A larger screen isn’t necessarily better than a smaller one. If a user doesn’t want to carry around a large device he probably won’t want the EVO or the Droid X. So what good does it do him to see either of those devices atop a rankings list? I think it only obscures the true choice of buying one of the many handsets with the Android OS.

Screen and keyboard are the big ones for me. What other matters of personal taste do you think we should use to separate Android handsets when ranking them?

This post originated at AndGeeks.com - home to all things Android! Also a great source of info about Android Phones.
Which Android handset do you prefer?

It looks like Samsung is looking to pull off another simultaneous offering treat of the Galaxy S series smartphone to 3 of China’s mobile networks, similar to the magical feat they did in the U.S.  China Telecom, China Mobile, and China Unicom will be receiving their own version of the handset, all capable of the 3G standard on their respective carrier.

Check out the picture details on which model is going to which carrier after the jump:

Read More…

Galaxy S heads to major 3 carriers in China

A second mobile provider in the United Kingdom has been confirmed to be supplying the Galaxy Tab to eager customers. No date has been provided for the release, but we do have some monthly pricing to provide you all with:

Three voice packages:

- SIM10: £10 a month including 100 any network minutes, 2000 Three-to-Three minutes, 3000 texts and 1GB data

- SIM15: £15 a month including 300 any network minutes, 2000 Three-to-Three minutes, 3000 texts and 1GB data

Monthly data only packages:

- 1GB data for £7.50

- 5GB data for £15

Data customers are able to make calls and send text with their data SIM at 10p per text, 10p to call Three mobile or landlines and 25p to other networks.

This is very exciting news. I think that Three have provided some very reasonable pricing plans for the Galaxy Tab. The only thing that is not mentioned in these pricing details is how much the device will cost itself. This is the same situation we have seen with Vodafone UK.

Hopefully we will get some more information from Three regarding the Galaxy Tab soon. In the mean time here is the full press release below:

08 Sep 2010 13:15

Coming soon to Three – Samsung GALAXY Tab

Three has confirmed it will be ranging the Samsung GALAXY Tab (GT-P1000). Samsung’s Android flagship Tablet.

A network built for mobile Internet, Three will provide fast and reliable 3G connectivity for the Samsung GALAXY Tab, making the most of product features such as phone functionality, front and rear facing cameras for video calls, downloading e-books, using GPS and searching the Internet with full Flash capability.

Nigel Field, Director of Devices at Three said, “With both the Android and tablet markets going from strength to strength, we’re proud to be ranging the Samsung GALAXY Tab. More than 97% of Three traffic over the network is data, so more than ever consumers need to make sure they’re on a network that can cope with the demand when buying mobile Internet devices like tablets. With both SIM and Wi-Fi connectivity, Samsung GALAXY Tab users on Three can get the most out of the product knowing they’re with the UK’s number one mobile broadband provider.”

Perfectly suited to Three’s high speed 3G network, the Samsung GALAXY Tab’s super fast 1.2GHz processor makes browsing the internet, watching YouTube videos and sharing social media updates a breeze.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab also features Internet tethering, so you to connect up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices any one time, using Three’s fast 3G connection.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab will be available on SIM only one month rolling voice and data contracts.

Three voice packages:

- SIM10: £10 a month including 100 any network minutes, 2000 Three-to-Three minutes, 3000 texts and 1GB data

- SIM15: £15 a month including 300 any network minutes, 2000 Three-to-Three minutes, 3000 texts and 1GB data

Monthly data only packages:

- 1GB data for £7.50

- 5GB data for £15

Data customers are able to make calls and send text with their data SIM at 10p per text, 10p to call Three mobile or landlines and 25p to other networks.

Samsung Samsung GALAXY Tab P1000 Key Features

• Android 2.2 (Froyo)
• 1.2 GHz processor
• 7” WSVGA TFT
• Full HD (1080p) playback
• Full Flash support
• PC & TV compatibility via DLNA
• Wi-Fi Hotspot for up to eight devices
• Bluetooth 3.0
• Phone/ SMS enabled
• HSDPA/ HSUPA

Galaxy Tab Coming Soon to 3 (Three) UK

We still have some benchmarks and videos of the Galaxy Tab that I need to publish, but in the mean time you should check out the official site for Samsung’s first Android tablet. The page includes a nice set of mini video tutorials showing off video calls, navigation, the new Readers Hub, and more. Visitors can also find screen savers, wallpapers, and a full list of accessories and specs.

As we covered in our first hands-on with the Tab, it is basically a super-sized Galaxy S. This is awesome since the Galaxy S is one of our favorite phones, but it also means you will be forced to purchase the Tab through your carrier.

I’m not quite sold on the idea of having another device with another contract or data plan to pay for, but maybe the carriers will come up with some interesting options to make it more attractive to those of us who already own smartphones.

Let me know if there are any questions remaining about the Tab and I’ll do my best to address them when I post my benchmarks.

Samsung Galaxy Tab official site

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Some readers were concerned when they learned the T-Mobile G2 would have a CPU running at only 800 MHz, but some leaked graphics benchmarks indicate it should have roughly the same performance as the Samsung Galaxy S and the Motorola Droid X/2.

HTC held the performance crown for a short while when the Nexus One was released in early January, but newer phones from Motorola and Samsung have since passed it up with their more efficient 45nm processors and faster GPUs.

The T-Mobile G2 will be the first Android phone in the U.S. to sport the new 45nm 800 MHz MSM7230 processor from Qualcomm. One of the major additions is that Qualcomm has finally included a graphics processor, the Adreno 205, that is on par with what we have seen from the PowerVR GPUs found in Samsung and Texas Instrument’s SoCs.

Qualcomm claims the new Adreno 205 offers about 4x the graphics performance of the previous Adreno 200 (used in the original Snapdragon). We are finally able to back up those numbers with some results uploaded at GLBenchmark.com of the HTC Vision (aka G2).

The HTC Vision aka the G2.

As you can see the G2 (HTC Vision) is in the neighborhood of other top Android phones. I wouldn’t put too much into this since it’s only a single benchmark result, but you can clearly see the difference from previous HTC+Qualcomm offerings like the Nexus One and Droid Incredible. Note the EVO scores low in this benchmark because of its 30 fps cap.

So now we know that when the G2 lands later this month (or early next) it should offer top-level performance, the fastest data connection (HSPA+ 14.4 Mbps), and the joys of stock Android 2.2.

The G2 is a very tempting upgrade to T-Mobile customers (unless you already own the Vibrant), but we also know dual-core phones are right around the corner. After nine months with the Nexus One I have learned that up-to-date Android often beats out faster hardware, so it is a very tough call for sure.

Are you ready to upgrade that aging G1? Or will you wait for dual-core?

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• Correction: T-Mobile G2 will feature 800 MHz processor
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Looks like Samsung is appealing to the ladies with a new pink version of their Galaxy S (M110S) smartphones.  We’ve already seen the “snow white” version, but unfortunately it hasn’t been sold anywhere outside of South Korea.  Most likely, this will be the case as well for the pink version.  Oh well, those trendy Korean girls get all the love when showing off their phones.

South Korea gets pink Samsung Galaxy S

The Verizon Fascinate is the fourth member of the Galaxy S class of Android smartphone to be released in the United States. And like its cousins, it has its share of tweaks that make it stand out. Some of those tweaks are good. Others are causing those of us in Nerdom to shake our fists in frustration.

After the break, our initial impressions of the Samsung Fascinate on Verizon, including our hands-on video.

Posted originally at Android Central

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Many of us rely on CNET for the latest and greatest when it comes to a wide variety of news in our daily life (except for Android news, right?). Whether looking for tech articles, seeking money advice, or just reading about the happenings of the world that day, CNET us a great one stop shop for all of this. They have released a clone of their iOS application, which contains a ton of features for users. Within the application you are able to read articles on a full screen, search using their optimized mobile search as well as tweet links to your favorite articles instantly. If your an avid CNET reader and you were using their mobile site, it's definitely time to hop in the market and download this free application. Download links available after the jump. [via CNET News]

Posted originally at Android Central

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Qualcomm announced today that their dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon processor (QSD8672) will not arrive in products until the end of next year and their dual-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragons (MSM8260 and MSM8660) would start appearing in devices during the first three months of 2011. This could mean trouble for Qualcomm because their competitors have announced dual-core processors which could be in smartphones (and tablets) by Christmas.

LG recently announced their Optimus Series smartphones will use the NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor and debut starting in the fourth quarter of this year. Samsung also said their dual-core Orion processor would be available to “select customers in the fourth quarter” and we expect it could arrive in a next-gen Galaxy phone soon.

So Qualcomm will be later than others with their dual-core processors, but the real issue might be performance.

Android fans loved the original 1 GHz Snapdragon processor (QSD8x50) when it debuted in the Nexus One (and then later in other HTC phones), but after more 3D games started to appear in the Android Market we soon realized the limitations of the Adreno 200 GPU that Qualcomm was using.

Motorola and Samsung both went with PowerVR GPUs from Imagination Technology, and they have since taken away the performance crown from Qualcomm (and HTC).

So what is Qualcomm’s response? Their new dual-core Snapdragons might use the Adreno 220 GPU which they say offers improved 3D graphics (up to 80M triangles/sec and 500M+ 3D pixels/sec). However, several leaked benchmark scores indicate the Adreno 220 will be slower than (or on par with) the the current leader – the PowerVR SGX540 found in Samsung’s Hummingbird processor. Update: Those leaked benchmarks could be from the Adreno 205.

Now we have NVIDIA and Samsung which are both saying their dual-core processors and new GPUs will deliver five times the graphics performance of the previous generation single-core offerings. We have yet to verify these amazing claims, but it sounds like they could leapfrog the competition and Qualcomm and TI will be forced into playing catchup.

To recap the Android ecosystem for those not paying close attention, the dual-core CPUs and GPUs we believe will power the next-generation of high-end smartphones include:

• HTC: Qualcomm Snapdragon (Adreno 220 GPU)
• LG: NVIDIA Tegra 2 (GeForce GPU)
• Motorola: TI OMAP4 (PowerVR SGX540) or NVIDIA Tegra 2 (GeForce GPU)
• Samsung: Samsung Orion (GPU unknown)

HTC is the main handset maker relying on Qualcomm for their high-end phones. There were rumors back in 2009 that they were talking with NVIDIA, but nothing ever materialized. It appears they will stick with Qualcomm in the near future and this may hurt the sales of their high-end units if they can’t match performance with the competition.

LG becomes the real wild-card here. They claim to be the first ones with a dual-core smartphone this year, but they have yet to produce a real winner and I’m not so sure how committed to Android they are.

Motorola and Texas Instruments have been buddies for awhile, but rumors suggest that Moto could be switching to NVIDIA for their next high-end phone. TI has their dual-core OMAP4 in the works, but I have seen nothing that makes me believe it will be available for smartphones this year. Even if it did ship on time, we know the GPU is the same as what’s in the current Samsung Hummingbird processor.

Samsung’s Hummingbird is the best single-core 1 GHz mobile processor and we have high hopes for the upcoming dual-core Orion. Some analyst had claimed Samsung had a Q4 hole when it came to high-end smartphones, but the Orion could be available this year. I honestly think Samsung could ride the Galaxy S lineup all the way through Christmas (yes, they are that good), but my gut tells me they will have a new flagship smartphone in stores by Christmas.

Conclusions? What conclusions?

At the end of the day, I think I’m left with more questions than answers and we will not know how this plays out for another couple months.

• Can LG and NVIDIA really deliver a Tegra 2 phone in time for Christmas?
• Will Tegra 2 become the new performance leader?
• Are we wrong about the Adreno 220 GPU? Can it surpass the top offerings from Imagination Technologies and NVIDIA?
• Will Motorola actually dump TI and switch to NVIDIA for their high-end phones?
• Can dual-core phones deliver increased performance and increased battery life at the same time?
• What GPU will Samsung choose for their dual-core Orion? PowerVR or something completely different?

I know there are a lot of people out there smarter than me who read this blog, so please sound off if you think you can enlighten me.

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If you need some inspirational words from the holy book or want to hear words of wisdom from greats like John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul, SermonAudio has got you covered. The newly released app will help you find over 350,000 popular audio and video sermons. If you want to see one of these sermons live, simply use the search option to find a local church that offers great sermons. Full list of features and download links after the break. [SermonAudio]

Posted originally at Android Central

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Dinner’s over and you just spent $80 entertaining potential clients. You could wait until getting home before submitting the bill to an expense report, or you could just take out your Android phone and take care of things right away.

ProOnGo Expense is an Android app designed for professionals on the go. (See what they did there?) ProOnGo is an easy solution for people who need to track expenses on their phone. Users can enter in the details of each meal, product, or expansible purchase and have it stored in the application. ProOnGo will track details for amount, purchase time, descriptions, categories, and the client associated with the expense. It can then snap a photo of a receipt and have it track the expenses online (pro account required).

Data stored on ProOnGo is accessible in multiple ways. Expenses can be exported Excel, QuickBooks, an online account, or emailed to a supervisor or client. Using this feature requires a paid ProOnGo account that costs $0.99 per month. For $2.99, users can scan up to 30 receipts or business cards; $4.99 will get up to 50 receipts/cards.

There’s no point in using ProOnGo Expense unless you’re willing to sign-up for one of these accounts. Exporting is available only to pro customers and that’s that the entire point of using ProOnGo. However, if you work at a job where you can submit expense reports, $0.99-$4.99 should be manageable. ProOnGo is ideal for people who want to immediately track expenses to ensure prompt submission and storage.

KEY FEATURES

• Track expenses by entering information or photographing receipts
• Export to email, Excel, or QuickBooks

CONS

• Pretty useless unless purchasing a pro account

App: ProOnGo

Price: Free

Website: http://www.proongo.com

We’ve received reports that the Nexus One, which sold out in the developer store a few weeks ago, is now back in stock.  We have no idea how many they have, but you can bet that if the quantity is small, it will sell out rather quickly.

So, if you have a developer account and want to get your hands on a Nexus One, head on over to the developer store before it’s too late!

Nexus One available once again in the developer store

Want a Samsung Vibrant? Sure you do. What’s that? You want two? Well, looks like you’re in luck, as T-Mobile has a special going on right now.

In a press release, T-Mobile stated that they are now offering the Samsung Galaxy S device in a special package: buy on Samsung Vibrant, and receive a second phone free after a $50 mail-in rebate. This deal only applies to new two year agreements, so if you’re on the market for a new phone, you should really take a look.

T-Mobile now offering buy-one-get-one Samsung Vibrant

Google advanced its search portfolio with a new product that provides instant results. The aptly-named Google Instant can now perform search queries without requiring users to hit the enter key. As the user types a word or phrase, Instant predicts what that person is looking for and updates its prediction with live results.

And of course, it’s coming to Android.

Instant search is currently available only on the desktop to users in the U.S. (however some international folks are getting it by logging into their Google account and visiting Google.com). However, members from the search team displayed a very brief demo of how Instant works on a Droid, and then promised to deliver this feature to the mobile search page this fall.

Google Instant will save 2-5 seconds on each desktop search query, according to VP of Search Marisa Mayer. That will become even more valuable once the feature makes it way to Android. Faster results and fewer demands on changing pages will be a significant advancement in mobile search.

UPDATE:

Scratch that. Looks like Google has already put an end to the demo page. It worked 5 minutes before I posted and stopped after publishing. Them’s the breaks.

Thanks to Neil Lund, we’re able to see what mobile looks like right now (or at least until Google shuts this down). This is still very early and somewhat slow, but you get the idea. Test it for yourself by visiting http://jmt20.google.com/m?sky=psy from your phone.