New handsets will include the updated operating system while existing owners can upgrade through Samsung’s proprietary PC Studio 7 software (available at http://www.samsungmobile.com).  The upgrade is available in Germany and Samsung has detailed that it will be gradually rolled out to other European markets, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Asia, Africa and rest of the world (Antarctica and Americas.)

Motorola Droid owners are shaking their heads in disapproval and perhaps a little misplaced jealousy as the Samsung incantation of Android Eclair will sport no less than nine screens (Droid has three).  The Galaxy Spica will also experience some additional multimedia improvements over and above it’s current ability to play divx files (which Droid doesn’t).  The new media browser permits user to easily browse through Media files stored on the memory card and updates to the camera software promise ‘enhanced picture options and viewing functionality.’

Source: Samsung Press Release

The developer team over at alldroid.org has  managed to gain root access to the version of the Motorola Milestone which was recently released by Telus Mobility in Canada.  At first glance this doesn’t seem like news; both the Droid and Milestone were rooted months ago.  The difference is the Telus version was released with the root exploit patched.

A few days after the Droid/Milestone exploit was discovered, a developer submitted the patch for it to the Android Open Source Project.  The patch was accepted and merged into the source code.  Interestingly, this developer was Steve Kondik aka Cyanogen who is best known for his custom ROMs which he has developed for rooted HTC phones.  You can review the patch here.

The way to root a Telus Milestone is covered in detail here.  Basically it consists of completely wiping the memory of the phone and then flashing the memory with the Brazilian Milestone’s operating system.  This version of the Milestone software doesn’t have the exploit patched.  Once this is flashed, you simply continue as normal by downloading and running a modified ‘update.zip’ file which piggybacks the root access inside an over the air update file.

Although this does give the user root access, none of the Milestone branded devices will run a boot image unless digitally signed by Motorola.  This means no overclocking, custom roms, or custom recovery menu; but there are already tutorials for running interactive wallpapers, blocking unwanted advertisements, removing unwanted apps, and installing customized themes available over at alldroid.

I wonder how long until these guys figure out how to digitally sign custom ROMs?  At this pace we should see them by Friday.

Sources:  alldroid.org; telusmobility.ca

Google has sent out an email to some devs that states the following:

Due to your contribution to the success of Android Market, we would like to present you with a brand new Android device as part of our developer device seeding program. You are receiving this message because you’re one of the top developers in Android Market with one or more of your applications having a 3.5 star or higher rating and more than 5,000 unique downloads.

In order to receive this device, you must click through to this site read the terms and conditions of the offer and fill out the registration form to give us your current mailing address so that we can ship your device.

You will receive either a Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Droid by Motorola (NYSE: MOT) or a Nexus One. Developers with mailing addresses in the US will receive either a Droid or Nexus one, based on random distribution. Developers from Canada, EU, and the EEA states (Norway, Lichtenstein), Switzerland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore will receive a Nexus One. Developers with mailing addresses in countries not listed above will not receive a phone since these phones are not certified to be used in other countries.

We hope that you will enjoy your new device and continue to build more insanely popular apps for Android!

I believe this is the first OS developer to offer something like this, but it could make things interesting!

Source: IntoMobile