Common Paradox Tech Blog

That weirdly-shaped Sholes Tablet we saw a while ago has an official Chinese press page up. There’s also details on the XT800, the much less lumpy handset of the two.

Both of the phones feature Android 2.0 (sans Motoblur from what I can see), Cortex A8 processors and 854×480 displays. The XT800 is a hybrid EVDO-CDMA/GSM handset. Except for the lump on the Sholes (or XT701 if you’re a model number kind of person), they both look pretty nice.

Here’s to hoping these find their way to U.S. shores soon enough. Check out the link for full specs on both. [Mobile Review Forums via BGR]

This KINGK N99 phone has all the makings of a proper knock-off. It looks just like the Motorola AURA! It has a Nokia logo! It has a Transformers Autobot logo! It even has a 1.3 “magapixel” camera.

Just in case this KINGK tickles your fancy, you can import it from—where else—China for $159.99 now. Do let us know if it “caters to the taste of male friends” like it says on the website. [SZPrice via UberGizmo]

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TiPb Top 5 iPhone Bluetooth Headsets

According to Reuters, Google will have two versions of the Nexus One—one unlocked and one on a service contract with T-Mobile. The phone could be available directly from Google as early as January 5th.

They already had the January 5th date a few days ago, so this second confirmation of the same date might make it a bit more legit.

“In the long term Google will become a seller and get commission from operators,” the source said, adding that other operators are expected to follow T-Mobile’s lead eventually and agree to Google’s terms.

Reuters also quotes Baird Research analyst Will Power on how Google’s choice to market their own phone shakes up the smartphone market, but mostly screws other Android makers:

“We expect the launch of a new competitive device to be directionally negative for most of the existing smart phone markers, including Apple, Research in Motion, Nokia Oyg, HTC, Motorola Inc, Palm Inc, Samsung and others, while perhaps most negative for the existing Android partners.”

If Google’s choice to go the traditional route with carriers is true, it would, of course, dash any possibility that they might be giving this thing away for free. Let’s just hope the unlocked version comes cheap. [Reuters]

It looks like AT&T could finally be getting its first Android powered handset. While this may be good news for those on the network that have been hankering for some Android, there are some odd things going on here. The Motorola Backflip/Enzo (name still in question) eschews the hinge mechanism we’re all familiar with. It’s basically backwards so that when closed, the back of the phone has the keyboard exposed.

The phone runs on Motorola’s MotoBlur implementation of Android 1.5 similar to the T-Mobile CLIQ. The phone will have a 3.1 inch capacitive display, Wi-Fi, 5MP camera, and that same old Qualcomm 528Mhz CPU. The camera is at one end of the keyboard and faces the user when the phone is open. There’s also apparently a touchpad on the back of the phone (opposite the keyboard) that can be used for no-look scrolling.

The Backflip/Enzo takes the inadvisable step of ditching all the Google applications except for Maps. That’s right; this Android phone looks like it will ship with no Gmail, Gtalk, or even Google Search. There is a Yahoo search widget in place of the standard Google one. In an almost complete disconnect from reality, a Google login is still required to use the phone. It’s also loaded down with the usual AT&T software. No word on pricing or release date yet.

So, can an Android phone succeed without all those Google apps? Check out more pics here.

You know whats nerdier than contrasting the merits of the iPhone versus those of the Motorola Droid (twice)? Pitting the two phones against each other in a sound effect remix battle. You know what’s even nerdier than that? Absolutely nothing.

The folks over at Indaba Music have challenged their users to strive for that pinnacle of nerddom in an all out remix competition they’re calling Phone Wars. The results are… surprisingly pleasing.

The Open Web Awards: Social Media Edition, our annual contest highlighting the very best the web has to offer, is in its final hours. We’ve had 750,000+ votes cast for the top individuals, companies, websites and applications – that’s in addition to the 450,000+ nominations made in the first round. There are less than 12 hours left to participate.

If you haven’t voted yet – now’s your last chance.

Vote in the Finals of the Open Web Awards 2009>>

Thanks to our Partner: MOTOBLUR

MOTOBLUR from Motorola was built expressly for the way people communicate today. It’s the only service that automatically delivers and organizes your conversations, contacts and content from all your favorite sites and sources in easy-to-manage streams. Whether it’s Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, text messages, Gmail or work e-mail, MOTOBLUR keeps track of it all and serves it up on a customizable home screen and integrates it through the phone. Plus, with MOTOBLUR you have peace of mind, because all of your info is backed up and secure. Discover MOTOBLUR on Motorola CLIQ available at T-Mobile. It’s time to spend less time managing life and more time living it.

Reviews: Facebook, Gmail, MySpace, Twitter

Tags: mashable, openwebwards

Well, lookee’ here. Motorola’s been building their own Android Marketplace, and someone found it out. It’s been taken down since, but here’s what Android and Me found before Moto pulled the plug.

The biggest addition is that it’s web based. That’s right, Android users. A store that’s easily browsable on the desktop. Not to mention an application for desktop app management.

So that’s all well and good, but why does Motorola have to even build a separate portal? This is all stuff that Google should really be on top of if they want to really win consumers over. The last thing that anyone wants is to have the Android Marketplace start getting segmented by manufacturer, so please Google, whenever you’re done building your phone, add this stuff in to save us all the trouble. [Android and Me via Engadget]

At the start of 2009 there were rumblings that Android was failing as a platform. Phones running the Google-backed open source platform were few and far between for the first few months. Then, in recent months, the Android handsets started dropping more frequently. There are now about a dozen different Android phones floating around. But according to CCS Insight, the flood gates could open wide next year as manufacturers ship more than 50 devices.

Based on plans already announced from vendors, CCS believes that Android usage is about to ramp up quickly. “There are so many companies that have committed to delivering devices … so to get to 50 isn’t that difficult,” said Ben Wood from CCS. Sony Ericson is set to release their Xperia X10 in the first quarter, and HTC is expected to launch five phones in the first half of 2010. CCS also expects Motorola to continue on from the Droid and release about 10 new handsets in 2010.

CCS even speculated that the cost of Android phones could drop under $200 before carrier subsidy. If you thought you had a lot of smartphone choices in 2009, just wait.

The Droid is coming to Europe with a much less appealing name: the Milestone.

The ads are equally boring, we think. This one, posted to Motorola’s YouTube channel, promotes an “immersive Web experience,” “cinematic quality” and other yawners.

What you won’t get: explosions, alien invasions or even the Droid’s demonic eye of doom. Sorry, fellow Europeans, looks like we missed out this time.

[via Pocketlint]

Reviews: YouTube

Tags: droid, milestone, Motorola