FreshPhoneNews.com

Those who have tried Layar, swear by it, those who haven’t, well get with the times already. Layar works by using the camera on your Android handset to show the world to you with an extra layer of location-based content. If you’re using Google search or Yelping for a restaurant, the Layar browser will plot results in a 3D layer above the live video displayed on your screen from your camera. But the fun doesn’t stop here, Layar is actually a platform, an OS if you please. And many developers have seized the opportunity to make the OS more functional, Currently available content includes Flickr, Wikipedia, Yelp, Google local search, Qype, Britekite, Twitter and more. The augmented reality browser in now globally available on the Android OS, it even comes pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy. AND, there are talks that the makers of Layar are eyeing the iPhone 3GS with intentions of launching a browser for the iPhone by next year. In the words of Homer Simpson; Woohooooo!

Demo video

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Okay some hope for HTC Magic users pining after the Sense UI. The HTC Magic will indeed be getting the new and improved UI from HTC.  Of course the Magic’s poor cousin over at T-Mobile, yes we mean myTouch 3G, will not be getting any Sense UI action. We expected as much. In any case, at least somebody gets to see some new improvements on their Android. And a legal agreement with Android signed by T-Mobile is exactly the reason why myTouch users won’t have access to the new interface. Happy Sense Magic owners!

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DigiTimes, the Chinese tech journal got a hold of HTC CEO Peter Chou and in the very brief interview that ensued, they got some tasty tidbits for all of us. The biggest bit of info they were able to pry was that HTC has sold over 1 million Magic units by the start of August. The Magic initially came out this year in April has made the millionth mark in impressible little time. It’s not as big a number as that of the iPhone or the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, but it’s impressive nevertheless. Beyond the sales figures, Chou also revealed that HTC was planning on shifting focus towards more mid-range smartphones during the remaining half of 2009. The target price range of these handsets will be around $300. All we can say is, we look forward to it.

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Right for all those people who for some unimaginable reason have not yet picked up the iPhone 3GS, Palm Pre, BlackBerry Tour, this summer, T-Mobile is now giving you the chance to grab the myTouch 3G for $199.99. The handset is available online, in stores and over the phone, whatever makes you comfortable. And while it may be easier to grumble, try to be friends with your myTouch 3G (uurgh…that name) and try not to think about the gorgeous HTC Hero that T-Mobile won’t get for you.

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RadioShack has been partners with Sprint, Verizon and AT&T till now and the company is getting 30 percent of its revenues from its wireless business. Hence it came as no big surprise when the RadioShack announced it would be partnering up with T-Mobile. Third-party ventures like these are always fun because most (smart) third-party retailers offer handsets at more subsidized prices than your corporate retailer does. Of course they charge you separately if you cancel, but most folks who cancel have usually had the last straw and are willing to do anything for freedom. But I digress. RadioShack will kick off the partnership by bringing myTouch 3G on board along with a good number of other devices. This should be especially good news for all you mall shoppers; no more going the extra mile for your upgrade.

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Well of all the comical, over the top prying into other people’s personal preferences, the blogosphere has gone slightly ablaze with images of Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt sporting a BlackBerry. Gasp! Okay, so maybe that’s a bit of an eyebrow raiser, only a bit, that the CEO of the company that is making the newest and hottest mobile OS, Android, would chose a non-Android device. But just stop to think, BlackBerry phones have been around for a lot longer than any other business oriented smartphone and that too with resounding success. Most CEOs have practically grown up on them (corporately speaking of course). So maybe Schmidt was just chatting up with his favorite device. I’m sure he has his Android favorites too, just not in this photograph. No need to lose our heads and doubt Android, we are the new generation and have more options than ever before. Bask in that glory and let the veterans be.

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For all you Tmo customers who can live happily without a physical QWERTY, myTouch 3G is the ideal device to get your Android love.  myTouch is currently available for pre-order starting at $199.99 and T-Mobile will guarantee delivery by August 5th. The pre-order offer ends July 28th, so you have time to think about taking the plunge. Also, those who have placed their pre-orders are reporting a few glitches in the system, which includes upgrade eligible subscribers getting a $399.99 price point on checkout. Give it a few days and Tmo will have the kinks ironed out, or you can always ring up a customer service rep.

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Thanks to some sharp eyed observers and their javascript sleuthing, we can actually have a T-Mobile in-store launch date for the Android-powered myTouch 3G. T-Mobile USA announced the device towards the end of June, with pre-orders being taken from July 8th, with an in-store release in ‘early August’. The Android and Me blog have uncovered that this ‘early August’ is actually August 5th. According to claims made by an author on the blog, he’s stumbled upon a T-Mobile development server containing a widget that counts down to the handset’s US release date, as indicated by the phrase “myTouch 3G in stores”. The source further says that the server is owned by “the same media company who developed the official G1 website”. It all adds up, though no URL for the alleged server is provided so until there is some official word on the matter, this is all just a rumor.

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News on the second Android handset from T-Mo is here and we are indeed looking at the myTouch 3G. The device made by HTC is already out and about in other countries through other carriers and the U.S. will be graced by its presence via T-mobile at the start of August. Pre-ordering is available on July 8^th for $199 on a two year agreement. Color options available are White, Black and “distinctive merlot” colorizations. The specs for the myTouch 3G are

• Quad-band EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA (1700MHz/2100MHz)
• Wi-Fi
• GPS
• 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with YouTube and Picasa uploading support
• MicroSD slot with included 4GB microSD card
• 3.2″ HVGA capacitive touch screen
• Microsoft Exchange support

Customization has been largely emphasized with this handset by T-Mo and a number of applications are available in all their exclusivity. Details for just one of those knickknacks are below;

“Whether a marathon runner in training who downloads the Cardio Trainer application or a music buff who lives by his or her Imeem application, myTouch customers can find and download unique applications from Android Market to expand and personalize their phone to fit their precise interests and lifestyle. myTouch customers can also enjoy Sherpa™, an application that features GENIE (Geodelic ENgine for Interest Evaluation), a learning engine that automatically customizes itself to the user’s preferences. Created by Geodelic, Sherpa learns a person’s likes and dislikes through behavior and user feedback, prioritizing recommended retailers, restaurants and attractions. Seamlessly blending behavior recognition, a recommendation engine and location relevant information, this combination of learning is exclusive to Sherpa and unlike any experience currently on the market.

T-Mobile just made its second android handset official and all the good head shots are here. Picture below is practically every imaginable angle on the new Handset, myTouch 3G which has gone by the name Magic. Well Hogwarts stricken or not, this is one sizzling set as you can probably tell from the detail photo shoot. The handset both in and out of its skin is to die for.

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