Smartphone Experts–Smartphone Fan

According to one of our insider sources over at Sprint, there is already an issue emerging out of Samsung’s just-launched Epic 4G. In speaking with our insider, we are being told that the Epic 4G is having a problem with the capacitive back button on the bottom of the device. The button can become unresponsive, up to the point of being completely unusable. Sprint has, apparently, already had returns on the device due to this issue. There are also various reports that the issue may also affect any or all of the capacitive touch buttons. Not only that, but the issue had been previously reported in the Sprint insider forums (a forum dedicated only to Sprint Employees) by employees who were device advocates for the Epic prior to launch, and was already considered to be a very real problem. Sadly, however, it looks like the issue wan’t handled prior to public release.

What with all the problems we saw surrounding the HTC EVO 4G directly after launch, we here at TalkAndroid hope that these issues won’t continue rolling in. Any of our new Epic-toting readers having a problem in this area? Be sure to let us know in the comments.

Thanks Robert for sending this in!

That’s right folks! The hottest app on the iTunes Store is finally making it’s way to our favourite OS. Readers who have played the iPhone version will understand when I say that Angry Birds has to be one of the most addictive mobile games ever made.

We told you a few weeks ago that Angry Birds would be released by the end of August and it turns out that we were pretty close. The news comes from a reader of the website ‘Droid Life’. He received an email from the support department at Angry Birds that read like this:

Read More…

This is likely a move to challenge Apple’s plans to add streaming capability to iTunes later this year. I am excited by the idea of Google having a music service that will allow purchase, streaming, and download of music, so I am extra excited to see what this holiday season brings us Android users.

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides

I came across this post on Droid Life today and I got all excited. As a Motorola Droid owner I am hopping that it is more than a rumor

We just received word from one of our most reliable sources that the official Android 2.2 update will be hitting the Motorola Droid starting July 13th. I know, I know, here we go again right? After the pain we all experienced with 2.1, it’s hard to even mention a rumored Froyo update date, but this one feels legitimate enough to share.

Let me just toss out some thoughts as to why this could easily happen…

1. We’ve already seen July mentioned in a couple of Verizon systems.
2. The Droid X arrives 2 days later on the 15th. What better way to keep your millions of Droid 1 customers happy than by dropping a major OS update on them a few days before a new device takes over the Droid throne.
3. July 13th is a Tuesday, and if you remember the 2.1 update, Verizon tends to like Tuesdays.
4. We saw the release of an extremely polished Droid Froyo build (FRF84B) this week which should mean we’re closer than ever.

Thoughts? Fingers and toes crossed?

• Blazing fast music recognition. Fans can identify music playing from a speaker (radio, TV, films) in as little as four seconds.
• Sing & Hum music recognition. If the user can carry a tune, SoundHound can identify it.
• Voice-directed search. The fan simply speaks a Title or Artist to explore, and get results instantly, including links to video, discography, artist info and more.
• Instant sharing with integrated and customizable email and Twitter options.
• Lyrics, videos and other rich content.
• Buy links for easy purchase of songs and related content, including Amazon MP3

SoundHound is getting to app market as we speak. Now there are two verions: SoundHound, in which you only get 5 “ID’s” per month and then there is SoundHound Infinity, where you get an unlimited number of song “ID’s” this version is going to run you $4.99. So depending on how often you’re trying to identify a song, the free version may be just fine for you. Anyway, head on over to the Android Market,try it out and let us know what you think in the comments.

Sports fans rejoice! This is one of those apps that iUsers have been enjoying for a while, well our time has come. The app is easy to use, updates happen almost real time and it allows you to add your “favorite” teams to the app. It even allows you to login with your ESPN account. Oh, I forgot the best part, it’s FREE!

Well there isn’t really much more to say, head on over to the Android Market and grab it! Once you download it, be sure to leave your comments here.

Download Link

We wrote about the 2.1 update possibly coming to the UK a little over a week ago. Well apparently good things come to those who wait. HTC Europe has begun pushing out groundwork for the 2.1 update OTA to Hero owners today. If your phone receives the update, you will see a notification on the phone and all you have to do is press OK to accept the update, which will download via your data connection or wifi. After installing the update, you can verify it installed correctly by checking the Build number.

From the Home screen, go to Menu -> Settings -> About Phone -> Build Number. Once there, the new Build number after the update will be 2.73.405.93; 2.73.405.94 (Nordic) & 2.73.405.95 (Greece/ Ireland).

[via HTC]

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides

Tony Bradley over at PCWorld has put together the top 5 reasons that Apple (and the iPad) should fear an Android invasion. Here’s my summary of his list:

1. True Multitasking – Sure iPhone OS 4.0 will have multitasking, but it’s still a limited version only usable within certain situations and scenarios
2. Less Restrictive App Market – With nearly 200,000 apps (according to Apple), there is power in numbers. However, with Apple ruling their app market with a very subjective iron fist, how soon is it developers leave the platform? This isn’t helped when Apple approves an app, but then changes the rules down the road and then un-approves the app.
3. Adobe Flash – This horse is pretty dead, but Android supports it. iPhone / iPad doesn’t. End of story.
4. Hardware Diversity – Not in love with Apple hardware but like their software? You’re outta luck my friend. But let’s say you love Android (and who doesn’t) but you cant stand the Moto Droid? No problem, take a look at HTCs offerings, or Samsung’s, or Google’s, or Dell’s. You get the idea. This applies to not only phones, but obviously tablet’s as well.
5. Carrier Diversity – There are Android devices available for pretty much every carrier under the Sun, so finding a device that works on your network shouldn’t be a problem. But if you’d like to get an iPad, you need to sell your soul to ATT, which not everyone is willing to do.

These are my brief opinions on each point that Tony makes, but go check out his article for a more in-depth look.

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides