The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google is considering either buying or partnering with Space Data Corp. The company is known for providing wireless networks via giant balloons, which combined with that 700 MHz spectrum could mean free wireless access with incredible coverage. Read more »

Today Google released an updated Android SDK with many improvements. The interface has been overhauled and now looks much nicer and smoother than before. Google’s Jason Chen points out, though, that it’s still a work in progress. The new SDK now allows developers to create layout animations as well.

Geo-coding has also been added, giving developers the ability to translate addresses and coordinates back and forth, as well as search for businesses. Some new media codecs have been introduced, including OGG, MIDI, XMF, and others.

You can find a complete list of changes here. Check out the huge gallery after the jump. Read more »

Rumor has it that chip manufacturer ARM will be showcasing an Android phone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week. Could this be our first real peek at what the platform has to offer?

It’s interesting that ARM would be a company that chooses to show off Android. Traditionally, ARM licenses processor technologies for use in everything from iPhones to routers, but they doesn’t actually make the processors themselves.

This announcement follows that of HTC, which as already said that it will be one of the first manufacturers to offer an Android device. NTT DoCoMo has also recently announced a joint venture with Google to create one of the first Android handsets.

So, who will really be first? Only time will tell.

Today Garmin announced their brand new nüvifone, a GSM HSDPA smartphone running Garmin’s own operating system centered around GPS navigation.

The phone will feature a 3.5 inch touchscreen display with three primary icons displayed on it - “Call,” “Search,” and “View Map.”

As far as data, the nüvifone will use a 3.5G connection to power an integrated web browser, data connectivity, personal messaging, and personal navigation functions. The device will also tap into Google local search to provide all sorts of points of interest close to the user.

“The nüvifone is an all-in-one device offering unmatched integration of utility and function in a single mobile device,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO. “This is the breakthrough product that cell phone and GPS users around the world have been longing for - a single device that does it all.”

We’re excited to see this thing on the shelves in late 2008. It looks like it has great potential to compete with the iPhone, especially if it’s priced just right.