Android updates: speed, security and utility updates, along with a new mobile

Followers of Android have plenty of reading material today. It has been a pretty busy 24 hours for the open OS smartphone. Android has had announcements concerning speed and stability issues, new applications being released, a new device in China and heightened security services.
HTC upgrade:

HTC is reportedly working on a software upgrade for the Hero mobile device. A problem that quite a lot of Hero users have reported is lag and clunkiness when using the device. This issue could be caused by the fact the hardware inside the Hero is functionally the same as it’s predecessor, the Dream (or G1, if you like). The user-interface got a major overhaul, though. So some users have had problems with the same old hardware trying to run a much fancier UI. The coming update from HTC is supposedly to fix those speed issues, and iron over other minor bugs – and it will be available to download from the HTC website.

DroidSecurity:

A recent paranoia bomb detonated in the iPhone market, when a security firm at the Blackhat Conference in Vegas revealed a possible security exploit for the device. Little has been heard about this since, but it highlighted an important fact – your mobile device is increasingly a computer that you use to browse the web. And desktop computers with internet connections fight a constant battle against viruses and malicious attacks. Safety has also been a recurring theme for Android this year. There have been a couple of scares along the way, but nothing major so far. DroidSecurity wants to keep it that way.

Its Internet Security Suite provides three functions. First, it scans for viruses – not many of those for Android right now, but DroidSecurity believes the number will increase as Android matures. Second, it has a tracking function to let you find lost/stolen devices. Third, it measures and rates your devices security. The app is available as a basic, free download, but the full version only costs 5 dollars for a 12 month subscription.

Another Android device for China Mobile:

Well, it’s not really Android. It’s OMS (Open Mobile System), the variant of Android that China Mobile has developed for it’s own market. The Dell Mini 3i left everyone pretty unimpressed when it launched on Monday, but this device looks a bit better. It’s from Phillips, and it apes the iPhone in design. It has WiFi access, which the Mini 3i is sorely lacking, so it’ll be able to make use of those widgets you can see on the screen below. Following the disappointment of the 3i, I reckoned that China Mobile would want to have some pretty kick-ass smartphones waiting in the wings to make up for it. And while this isn’t “kick-ass” it’s certainly better.

Also: two phone launches in two days! I wonder what else China Mobile will spring on us.

Spotify still in stormy waters:

Spotify is one of those truly wonderful ideas – one of the ones that makes people nod and say “yeah, I would really use something like that.” It is a simple, downloadable client that allows you to listen to any song, by any artist. For a monthly subscription, you can stream any song you can think. There’s even a free version, for those who don’t mind being bombarded with advertising. The mobile application of this service is the really exciting part – it could literally turn your smartphone into the ultimate music player. No more worrying about storage space, or trying to remember whether you have an album or not – you could simply stream the songs you’re thinking of straight to your ear, anyplace, anytime.

That’s the theory, at least. Spotify is still in beta – in the majority of countries in the world, going to their site shows you a “this is not available in your country” image. On top of which, Spotifys track recored with mobile applications could be described as “troubled” at best.  Despite functional versions of the app being showcased as early as February, Spotify is yet to appear on the iTunes App Store. Twitter rumours are flying right now that the app has been rejected – though Spotify claims it hasn’t heard back yet.

In the meantime, it’s no better on Android. Users who are tired of waiting for a Spotify app for the open OS can now access an “unofficial” version called Droidify. Its available over the Android Market now, and it allows music streaming. However, it doesn’t have the “offline” playback feature that would be the most exciting aspect of Spotify. According to Unthinkable, Spotify has pooh-poohed the imitator, claiming that a free music streaming app that has no advertising and no premium option is not sustainable.

Any word from Spotify when the official Android app will be available? No. Just keep waiting.