webOS 3.0 screenshots

Our buddy Derek to the PreCentral has shown from a few screenshots from 3.0 webOS emulator today received today from an anonymous source. It certainly looks like great news for fans of WebOS, and some things there will make Android fans do a double take.
We're not going to sit here and tell people copied other people - there are only so many ways to do the right thing, and it looks like a WebOS 3.0 is to do some of them. There is a nice full-screen browser with a minimalist navigation and control areas at the top, and a virtual keyboard looks good spacing and capitalization does not force on you when you do not want it. The application looks very nice chat. This is a multi-pane interface with a large area for the content of your messages, and we assume that your friends list will fill the left. Google has done the same to the original Talk application in the Honeycomb, and work really.
Regional Settings quickly bring an interesting idea - you can see the influence of Matias Duarte has been on both webOS 3.0 and Honeycomb. They are not exactly the same, but there are many similarities there (check out the comparison after the break). It's not a bad thing, because they both look great. Easy access and functionality combined with sleek looks is something fans of both platforms can appreciate.
The last thing to note, and not surprising given HP's strong relationships with Microsoft, is that WebOS 3.0 uses Bing for their maps application. Like it or hate it, HPalm will make for a strong partner for maps Bing, and Derek speculated that HP can partner with Bing in the search space as well. Anyone who has used both Maps and Google Maps Bing knew it was lose them, and I'm not going to get rid of optimized tablet webOS version 3.0 directly from Google Maps if the market is big enough to justify it.
All in all a similar 3.0 WebOS nice upgrade to the platform, and even I was curious to see how it runs on HP's new touchpad.     
     webOS quick settings            Honeycomb quick settings

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Radio Shack to sell T-Mobile Optimus T without monthly contract for just $175 | androidyes

If you're on T-Mobile and are looking for an above-average mid-level phone off contract, check this out: The above screenshot we just received tells us the T-Mobile Optimus T (that's Magenta's version of the LG Optimus One) will soon be available from Radio Shack for $175 -- without having to sign a contract. That's about $65 off the current no-contract "retail" price and is a deal we can get behind.
It doesn't appear to say what kind of data plan you'll need. But, again, you won't be tied down to a monthly contract. So if you want out, you get out. That's the way it should be, folks. Thanks to anon, who submitted via the official Android Central App.
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T-Mobile confirms Sidekick 4G coming to stores on April 20 for $99 | androidyes

Radioshack already outed the date, and now T-Mobile on Twitter has confirmed that April 20 is the day you can pick up the Sidekick 4G (see our hands-on from CTIA) in stores. It'll go for a mere $99 on contract. April 20 also is the same day the T-Mobile G2X drops in stores. Different strokes for different folks. [@TMobile]
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T-Mobile confirms: LG G2X online April 15, in stores April 20 for $199 on contract | androidyes

We broke the news yesterday, and today T-Mobile confirms: the LG G2X will be available online starting April 15 for $199 on contract and after $50 rebate. You'll be able to pick one up in stores starting April 20. Who's ready for some 4-inch dual-core goodness? [@TMobile]
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Andy Rubin - the father of Android | androidyes

Andy Rubin -- the father of Android -- has taken to the Android Developer blog to shed a little light on what's happening regarding Honeycomb, any changes in Google's open-source policy, and fragmentation. The post is titled "I think I'm having a Gene Amdahl moment," referring to the former IBM exec who coined the phrase "fear, uncertainty and doubt" -- aka FUD.  You'll definitely want to read the entire post, but we'll break it down here:
"We don’t believe in a 'one size fits all' solution. ... Quality and consistency continue to be top priorities.""As always, device makers are free to modify Android to customize any range of features for Android devices.""Our approach remains unchanged: there are no lock-downs or restrictions against customizing UIs. There are not, and never have been, any efforts to standardize the platform on any single chipset architecture.""We continue to be an open source platform and will continue releasing source code when it is ready."
Again, those are just bullet points cherry picked by us. Read the entire post. And then take a deep breath and read it again. And while you might not like the answers -- or maybe you don't think really Rubin answered anything at all -- Rubin, and by extension Android and Google, did one thing we called for in last week's Android Central Podcast: cast a little transparency on what's been a bit of a murky period for Android's "open" nature. [Android Developer Blog]
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Developer claims Google pulled PSX4Droid | androidyes

 
We reported in late March that popular PlayStation emulator PSX4Droid had been pulled from the Android Market in an almost Apple-like manner, and now the developer has fired back. ZodTTD has decided to host .apk downloads right on his own website and has also made the app free for anyone to download. In addition, it seems Google has placed some holds and restrictions on his developer account, which is making it difficult for him to put more apps on the Market and profit from others he already has.
This entire episode as a whole has not been good for the Android ecosystem as being free of Apple's arbitrary restrictions on applications in its own AppStore has been one of the incentives to develop apps like emulators for Android. There are legal uses for emulators and the ROMs they run so it makes the issue even more confusing. In the meantime, ZodTTD, might we suggest the Amazon AppStore? [ZodTTD via Engadget]
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