Cell Geek

Today in their community forums, Sprint announced a new software update that will be coming to the Samsung Galaxy SIII.  The update coded L710VPLJ7    will include Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.  The bugs repaired in this software update will include: improvements to both LTE, and exchange systems, increase accuracy of face unlock, improvements to text message notifications, multiple enhancements to the calendar functionality, high resolution photo back up to Google accounts that are logged in, and voice typing without the requirement on an Internet connection.  The updates began rolling out today, and are downloadable over the air (OTA).

via Sprint

Nuance has expanding the capabilities of their Go! Application, and is now providing users with enhanced voice activated features on their smart phones.  Users can send social network messages, texts, calls, sets appointments, and access other information from the Internet all by voice.  The software can be activated by waking it up by saying "Hi Dragon." The Dragon Mobile Assistant is available in Beta from Android Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0).  More features are planned by the end of the year.  You can download your copy in the Google Play Store.

Via Nuance

Popular mobile application download site GetJar is offering a promotion
for mobile gaming application designed by Glu. Select premium mobile
applications from Glu will be available for free download for the next
two weeks. The promotion will be available for Android, Blackberry, and
Java enabled devices.

Fring, a social voice chat software similar to skype, has just been
released for Android. The software will not restrict the use of wifi
for the data network, so you will be able to use wifi with Fring instead
of carrier data if you choose. Fring will work on 3G, 4G, and WIFI.
The software will offer international rates starting at $0.01 per minute
to select locations. The application can be downloaded for free via the
Android Market Place.

BlindType has just announced that they have been acquired by Google.  BlindType creates predictive typing software they claim is better than the competitors.  The software will allow users to type on a touch based device without looking at the keyboard. The terms of purchase were not disclosed, but you can assure that this company was purchased to integrate the technology into Android based devices.  Text entry on touch devices has seen many improvements lately, the most notable is Swype.  Some manufacturers have already begun to bundle Swype into their devices standard.

Car Home is an application that comes standard on Android based devices.  The application has shortcuts to allow you to still use your device while in the vehicle, but make the usage of the device easier.  The menu is simplified, and allows you to quickly access useful tools while on the road such as GPS navigation.  The Car Home application has an updated version available in the App Market.  The new version will allow you to customize the even further simplified menu, change the shortcuts on the screen, and even launch into Car Home when paired with a Bluetooth Headset.  The wallpaper is also able to be customized this time around.  Car Home has also released a development kit to allow developers to make their own applications compatible with Car Home.  Car Home requires Android 2.2 to download, and is of course a free download.

Microsoft has claimed that Motorola's Android based devices violate patents that are held by Microsoft. The patent suit filed with the ITC claim that Motorola's Android devices include essential smart phone technologies such as email synchronization, calendar, scheduling meetings, and passing internal hardware information such as signal strength and battery life to applications.  Microsoft claims that the lawsuit was filed only to force Motorola to respect their intellectual properties.

According to Gartner an independent Electronics Research firm, Google's
Android operating system will out RIM's Blackberry software from the
number two spot world-wide by the end of 2010. By the end of 2014
Google will have their sights set on taking down Nokia and their Symbian
platform.
Gartner predicts that Android and Symbian will be the top operating
platforms for mobile devices in 2014 accounting for nearly 59.8 percent
of the mobile OS sales.
Gartner further predicts that open source operating systems will
continue to sustain a greater than 60 percent hold on the market place.
Operating platforms for companies like Apple and RIM will continue to
grow in units, but the growth rate will be well below industry averages.

Droid X owners are now given the choice to install Froyo (Android 2.2) on their device.  In order to do this, their device must be rooted. 
A very stern warning was passed down from Motorola recently.  Motorola will not be held liable for an issues with a device once it has been rooted and/or installed with an unauthorized version of Android.  Motorola also further warned that users who can not wait for the Authorized Froyo will not get it. 
Thats right, unauthorized now = no authorized later.  If you choose to forgo the warning Team Blackhat has leaked the newest ROM for the  DROID X with Froyo, and has a full set of instructions available to help you through this process.  As always proceed at your own risk.

Download / Instructions Here

Google Android has been a popular platform gaining massive amounts of traction in the mobile space.  Android looks to be unstoppable.  The open nature of the platform has been leading an initiative to allow your devices to operate in any way the hardware will allow, instead of being limited by the software.  Android version 2.2 (Froyo) looks as if it is going to allow USB tethering, and Hot spot creation within the operating system without the need for additional programs.  There is not information currently as to if carriers can disable this option in the operating system.

Details are not confirmed through Google yet, but it looks as if Android 2.2 will pack a major speed boost along with full support for flash.  Android Police claims to have Android 2.2 running on a Nexus one, and using a benchmarking program called Linpack have been able to measure the performance upgrades from 2.1.
The new OS will feature just in time compiling for javascript so there will not be a need for intermediary compliers resulting in a speed update.

More to come.

A tipster to BGR sent in what looks to be an internal document.  The document outlines some previously unknown information about a the LG Ally or if you prefer Codename Aloha.  The phone will not be a powerhouse as rumored that will rival the Incredible, but will ship with a respectable 600 Mhz processor and 256Mb of RAM.  The Ally will also perform its feat with Android 2.1 installed to the device so the phone will make a great LG alternative to the HTC Droid Eris.

In an official forum post at the Sprint Community, Sprint announced that they will be pushing the updates for Android 2.1 back to the second quarter.  Sprint is disappointed, and expected to have problems with the updates worked out by now.