Starbucks has bring more comfort to the Android phone users. All you have to do to enjoy this Starbucks mobile payment is load your Starbucks card to your Android phone and scan the app’s barcode at the cash register. Available on devices running Android 2.1 or above. Thus far, there are about 6,800 stores that support mobile payments, though the company is planning to add an additional 1,000 locations, this July.

With Starbucks, you can check your balance, reload your card with any major credit card, view your transactions and conveniently track your Stars in the My Starbucks Rewards program.

Features
• Check your Starbucks Card balance
• Reload your Starbucks Card with a major credit card
• View your transaction history
• Pay with your Android™ phone at in any of the 6,800+ company-operated U.S. Starbucks stores, 1,000+ U.S. Starbucks Target locations, and Safeway stores
• Locate a mobile payment Starbucks near you
• Track your Stars in the My Starbucks Rewards program

Known Technical Limitations
• This application supports U.S. Starbucks Cards only, including Gold cards
• Starbucks Store Credit Cards or Duetto Cards are not supported
• This application is designed to support domestic phone numbers only; international phone numbers may not consistently be supported
• Starbucks supports your personal Starbucks Cards. Cards may only be loaded onto one device at a time. If you wish to reload a friend or family members’ Starbucks Card, please visit Starbucks.com/card.

Get Starbucks from the Android Market.

If you plan or have already purchased a Samsung Fascinate, then you should know that this smartphone doesn’t come with the usual Google search engine, instead you have to content with Bing search engine.

Owned by Microsoft, Bing is third largest search engine on the web following its competitor Google and Yahoo.  Although, Verizon has declared the availability of Google’s search engine soon on Samsung Fascinate, until then here’s the guide to show you how you can install Google’s search engine on Samsung Fascinate.

The process requires users to download Google’s Enhanced search apk. file from outside the Android Market.

Step 1: Upon downloading the application (apk. file), copy it on your SD card and install it using a file manager.

Step 2: Use a third-party launcher (ADW/Launcher Pro), to add Google Search widget on the home screen and reassign the physical search button.

 Step 3: After rebooting, voice search should work smoothly, when the Search button remains pressed.

Remember, voice search will not work on un-rooted Samsung Fascinate, so it’s essential to root it first.

If you have a rooted Samsung Fascinate, you will need to go to /system/app and rename I500_BingSearchAndroid_07152010.apk to I500_BingSearchAndroid_07152010.old.

Having just released the full version of Jet Car Stunts, mobile game development company True Axis also decided to release a demo version of the game, aka Jet Car Stunts Lite. Like the full version, the lite version features OpenFeint compatibility and gives users the ability to make huge jumps and fly through the air doing crazy stunts. For those who aren’t familiar with the game, it’s a 3D driving sensation where your opponents are not other players, but the tracks. I’m an avid fan of the game, and can tell you that it is very addictive and extremely fun.

This version includes:

•8 new levels not found in the regular version

•Responsive accelerometer controls

•Great crashes

•36 unique and ‘insane’ tracks

•Multiple play modes

•Jet assisted drift landing

•Half car and half jet means you’ll have in-air controls

•Online leader boards and achievements with OpenFeint

•Upload replays with your best times

 For anyone who wants to try it before making a purchase, try the Jet Car Stunts Lite now in the Android Market, and it’s free. Search “Jet Car” in the Market.

Google Android, an open-source mobile operating system is aggressively used by phone manufacturers across the globe, today.  The Android OS receives updates at a rapid pace that by the time we purchase our very first Smartphone, it already becomes old.  Such is the story of the Android update cycle. But today, on a cheerful note, we are glad to announce that 83% of all Android phones as of December 1 run Android versions 2.1 and above.

Out of the pie, a major 43.4% run the latest 2.2 version followed by 39.6% running on Android 2.1. A meagre 10.6% run Android 1.6, while an even smaller 6.3% run the Android 1.5. Interestingly, India Android phone market is abreast with the global scenario and the popular Android versions run on the Indian phones now.  

Each version has brought some important features and improvements, for instance, Android 1.6 brought support for the WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) screens, Android 2.1 got an improved browser that supported multi-touch, Android 2.2 delivered better performance and nifty features like turning your phone into a Wi-Fi router or installing apps on SD card.

For Indian consumer we bring to you an important note – you need to be wary of few rotten eggs in the basket. Steer clear from the below mentioned phones as they still run Android 2.1, when they should be equipped with deserving 2.x update.

• LG GW620 (Android 1.5)
• Motorola Backflip (Android 1.5)
•  Acer beTouch E130 (Android 1.6)
•  Acer beTouch E110 (Android 1.5)

And, for Android loves who are abreast with the latest Android technology and seeking to purchasing the latest Android OS (Android 2.2) enabled phone should concentrate on the below mentioned list:

• LG Optimus P500
• Samsung Galaxy S
• Acer Liquid E
• HTC Desire/Google Nexus One
• Tablets – Samsung Galaxy Tab and the OlivePad including Dell Streak 

Black Friday is long gone, but the Season’s spirit has just begun, Virgin Mobile has just declared Cyber Monday. It is an opportunity that you can grab today, when Virgin Mobile USA with Sprint network offers its only Android handset – Samsung Intercept for mere $175. This means you get a whooping $75 off. To add the icing on the cake, you receive a phone plan worth $25 per month, with NO contract.

Now who will want to waste such a unique offer for 800MHz Android QWERTY slider phone. Buy it, use it and give us your feedback.

Toshiba announces the introduction of new AC100 Mobile Internet Device running on Google Android in India. Toshiba AC100 supports Nvidia Tegra 250 System-on-Chip that works on Android 2.1 with 10.1-inch display. Earlier in January 2010, Toshiba had debuted AC100 at the Consumer Electronics Show. The Laptop will be available at all leading electronic and computer outlets in India for $417.

Features of Toshiba AC100 include:

• Tegra 250 (Tegra 2) architecture with dual-core ARM Core A9 architecture System-on-Chip, running up to 1GHz with eight independent processors.
• Supports 1080p HD encode-decode and Flash 10.1 hardware acceleration with the Tegra 250 chip.
• 10.1-inch Clear SuperView display with LED backlight and supports 1024×600 pixel resolution.
• 512MB DDR2 333MHz RAM
• 8GB Flash storage.
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support
• 1.3- megapixel webcam
• Audio-Mic combo port, SD & MMC card reader and HDMI Port for HD Display

Toshiba has put in Home Menu and a customizable desktop with widgets and shortcuts on it.  We hope the laptop is Froyo friendly as well.