G2 Froyo ROM leaked. Sense UI no where in sight. Android junkies rejoice!

The big Android news tonight is not of any one piece of hardware coming to light, but instead a glimpse at the software the G2 will be running. The big drama behind the Froyo build for the HTC G2 is that so far, Sense UI isn’t mentioned anywhere in the ROM’s internal files structure. As you all may know, HTC hasn’t let an Android device slip from their grasp without their custom skin wrapped nicely around Android’s more delicate parts in quite a while. So to see the G2 without Sense is pretty surprising.

Zapote21 has put together the wallpaper you see above, showing the G2′s ROM’s inner workings. On top of that, the master of the evening has gotten the ROM up and running on his own device and has confirmed it’s stock Android — no Sense. Perhaps HTC is witholding Sense from these final few test builds before release. That’s really all I’ve got, and honestly, it’s pretty weak.

The only disappointing part I can think of off the top of my head is that the G2 won’t ship with Android 3.0 has was rumored often in the past. Still, for an HTC-powered sliding-QWERTY Android device on T-Mobile, it’s not bad at all. Of course, with 1.5GHz and dual-core phones on the near horizon, is it really worth jumping in now? In the meantime, head on over to AndroidGuys and pick up the more refine download feature the G2′s Froyo ROM for your hacking pleasure…

Is this IE9?

Besides sucking the bottom of the web browser barrel when it comes to browser performance and standards, IE has also had the unlucky glory of looking like trash. The UI was horrible, slow, and clunky. With each new version end users hoped for progress. But instead, Microsoft laughed in their faces and continued on their “our way is the only way” tirade, acting as if their browser was the only browser that mattered and that these silly “browser wars” were below them.

But perhaps Microsoft is finally starting to see the light. Performance in early test builds of IE 9 have shown that there’s potential for some pretty awesome performance. But the oh so sought after new UI that Redmond has hinted to has so far gone unseen…until now.

The image above was found on a Russian site. It doesn’t say outright that this is IE9. For all we know it could be a rendering. But if it is legit, I can finally tip my hat (if I had a hat on that is) to Microsoft. IE9 looks pretty slick. There’s a few alignment issues and other minor button/tab/box placements that could be worked on. Though overall it’s leaps and bounds better than their previous vane attempts.

What do the readers think? If this is IE9, would you use it?

Moto Droid 2 haz root!

Originally, tears of sorrow and words of sadness oozed forth from potential Android buyers over Motorola’s decision to lock up their devices as tight as possible. Horror stories of bricked devices spread around the web (yes, I helped) with tasks such as flashing ROMS all but impossible. But never fear for the fine folks at XDA-Forums can and always will find a way to prevail.

Ladies and gents: Droid 2 haz root. A mere 2 weeks after release sounds pretty awesome. Basically, it is. For now, only the more experienced devs and nerds will want to try out the D2 root as copious amounts of commands, adb work, and other not so easy tasks are warranted. But there is hope yet again — according to the XDA gurus, the D2′s rooting process is much like the Droid X’s. That means we should see a one-touch/click root option in a few weeks time.

Liberation smells sweet indeed. Head on over to xda if you want to give the root a go…

The way Apple should have handled multitasking: multifl0w

iOS4 and the iPhone 4 have remedied a lot of the issues that originally required jailbreaking to reach — multi-tasking (kind of, since iOS 4′s handling of 3rd party apps isn’t truly multi-tasking), UI customization (ok, a simple wallpaper change isn’t enough, Apple), tethering, and so on and so forth. I’ll give it to Apple; every year like clockwork, they’re pushed out a handful or more of useful and critical updates that keep loyal and new users alike coming back for more.

But even then, there’s some things Apple still hasn’t done quite right. Back tracking a bit to multi-tasking, we’ll point out what several other reviews mentioned at the time of iOS’s release — multi-tasking almost feels tacked on. It’s certainly not polished in the typical Apple affair. T hat’s for sure. It is this point that perfectly illustrates why jailbreaking and Cydia are still relevant. Introducing “multifl0w”.

Multifl0w is a multi-tasking UI that displays running apps in an expose-esque manner, notably looking many times better and being far more fluid to use than Apple’s own bottom dock-style option. It’s worth noting however that to get the full backgrounding effect, it’s suggested that popular Cydia app, “Backgrounder” be installed as well, bringing true background/multi-tasking processes to the iPhone. But even without Backgrounder, multifl0w will work — just as stock iOS “background apps” however (in memory but not really running).

multifl0w is $4.99 in the Cydia App Store and supports iOS 4 and 3.x. Updates to previous buyers are free. Get to it!

[multifl0w]

Good morning, THQ hates your business, likens used games to piracy and theft…

My oh my, incompetent and mindless companies (and their PR departments) never cease to amaze me with their senseless comments. Take for example, THQ’s response to disapproval they’ve garnered after announcing that they won’t provide DLC for used games, specifically THQ’s new WWE: Smackdown vs. Raw 2011.

I don’t think we really care whether used game buyers are upset because new game buyers get everything. We hope people understand that when the game’s bought used we get cheated. I don’t think anyone wants that so in order for us to make strong, high-quality WWE games we need loyal fans that are interested in purchasing the game. We want to award those fans with additional content.

It’s called Fist-Sale Doctrine — it’s a law…since 1908. Get over it. You are not entitled to every single shred of a sale that involves your product. You sold that right, remember…? And yet companies such as THQ make decisions that are so backwards in thinking it literally boggles my mind how the people in charge managed to turn a profit at all.

Just because someone doesn’t buy a game brand spakin’ new — Which at $60 for your typical game, is way too damn much! — doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be willing to purchase DLC later on down the road. Game developers such as EA and now THQ are missing a huge revenue stream. Used games sales is a fairly big market. Why purposely tell used game buyers that they are “not worth it” and as such, cannot spend any more money on your products in the future. THQ is actively turning away more money.

And if THQ really wants to get all high and mighty over their “new” game, we’ll shamelessy highlight the obvious — There hasn’t been a “new” wrestling game in years. Each one is exactly (and I mean exactly) the same as each previous game before it. Way to pick a fight with one of the most unoriginal and un-innovative genres you could possibly find.

Yes, THQ. You’ve won the most boneheaded decision award for the week. Congratulations.

T-Mobile’s Samsung Vibrant gets vanilla Android 2.1 ROM void of TouchWiz

Yeah, HTC, Samsung, and Motorola may think their custom Android skins are too hot to trot, but real Android junkies know the hottest babe is a natural one. On that same note, every time a new superpowered Android device is released and subsequently associated with some custom skin, a little bit of me dies. By know you all know the deal — custom skins slow down the overall experience with lag and delay crucial updates.

Thankfully the Android development scene is becoming increasingly active and we devoted Android users have options. Exhibit A: XDA-Devs have managed to pump out a stock (read: no ugly skin in sight) Android 2.1 ROM for the T-Mobile Samsung Vibrant. That’s of course phenomenal news for Vibrant owners. Though the new fangled look isn’t without some cons, namely a MIA data connection and simliar no go on the camera front. But rest assured dear geek that the lead developer working on this ROM, Eugene373, is still chugging away. There isn’t a timeline for a full, bug-free release at the time of writing, but I’d guess another few weeks before it gets all ironed out.

Either way, this is really good news and should give those looking to remove custom skins from other devices a bit of new hope. Whataya think — Any Vibrant owners eager to rip TouchWiz off their devices? One thing’s for sure: that stock Android UI should certainly make the Hummingbird-powered device fly…

Apple rejects app because it requires pre-configured user account. WTF?

It looks like after a brief hiatus in front page news, the App Store approval/rejection employees are working hard to reclaim their spot at the top of #facepalm hill. Today’s story involves Read It Later, a handy little app that allows you to bookmark and save articles for offline viewing at a later point. The app is available on iPhone, iPad, desktop computers, and browsers, so you can see just how useful Read It Later is up front. But one feature in particular has stumped Apple’s approval machine — the requirement of a Read It Later account.

Apparently such things are against the iOS SDK rules. That of course wouldn’t garner a second look if it weren’t true that countless other popular apps require a pre-registered account before the app works (hello Facebook, MySpace, any type of IM service, etc., etc.) And yet Apple responded with the following: