If you have ever been in a situation where you needed to share your Android smartphone with a friend, relative or coworker, but wished you could set up a "guest account" because you didn't want them getting access to some of your sensitive/personal data on the phone, then the SwitchMe app could be a decent and workable solution for you. This app only works for users who are rooted, and it will not let you switch between ROMS, but it still could be a valuable tool for some users.

The app doesn't actually create guest accounts per se, but it does allow you to switch between two different installations of Android operating systems on the same phone, and easily move between them. This brings up another potentially good use for this. The app would basically give devs a separate "sandbox" to test with. The free version of the app allows two installations, but to unlock the ability to install more it's only $1.98. This seems like an intriguing "niche" app. What do you guys think?

Source: Engadget and Android Market

Several users of the Motorola Atrix 4G received "confidential" emails from the company indicating they could participate in a new soak test. The email didn't specify whether this was a minor update or a major one, but it is possible that they could be testing Ice Cream Sandwich on the former flagship phone. Here is the email below:

“Hi ATRIX 4G user!

You’re receiving this email because you’ve filled out a Motorola Feedback Network survey in the past stating your interest in ATRIX 4G feedback opportunities. As a Motorola Feedback Network member you get advanced notice, like this, of such activities.

We’re getting ready to have a pre-release update on your AT&T ATRIX 4G. Please fill out the following survey( https://________ ) to confirm your interest in this soak opportunity. The first 1,000 applicants will be picked on a first come, first serve basis, provided information is correctly filled out. I know there are some questions that are a repeat, sorry, but there is a reason for that. Please fill it out carefully, honestly and accurately as misinformation can cause this exercise to be unsuccessful. You can edit your survey from the same computer until the survey period closes, though it is advisable to fill it out the first time correctly. Duplicates will be excluded with the newer one used.. Secondly, once the survey period closes we’ll not be able to update your IMEI. Consider carefully before exchanging your device.

This survey period will end at 8pm 01/30/12 Central time or when 1000 valid responses are received. If you don’t intend to actively participate please do not sign up for this opportunity.

Do not forward this communication to other parties(websites, individuals, etc), as you will lose your spot. As part of your original MFN survey you agreed to keep all MFN activities and notifications confidential. If we find that you have breached this agreement we may elect to remove you. You can always encourage users to sign up for the Motorola Feedback Network so they can be considered for feedback opportunities in the future.

If accepted, you will receive additional notifications via this email when the soak test activities will begin. Users not selected will not be notified. Do not email or PM me asking if you are accepted or when it will start as we may elect to remove you from the opportunity.

In the mean time, please log in to the new community. If you haven’t logged in since the move you’ll need to do a password reset in order regain access using the email account “______” as username is only used as a Forums Display Name on the new site. If you have trouble accessing your account you can email us at ____.

Thanks again for your interest.

Mark & Matt
Support Forums Managers
Motorola Feedback Network“

We will keep you informed as we find out more details!

Source:via TalkAndroid

Here's one of those rare mysterious stories that are always fun to share with you guys. Apparently, there was a user in the UK that purposefully bought an HTC Rezound over the holidays to try and get it to work on T-Mobile. He put a SIM card in the phone and set the network to “WCDMA Only” and actually had a working connection including data. This obviously means the phone has global radios that work without an unlock code. Interestingly, both Verizon and HTC deny that the phone has the global radios, yet there is a several week old thread on XDA indicating that several users have experienced exactly what the UK user did.

It makes for an interesting mystery as to why VZW and HTC would lie about the phones being global or not. Could it be they plan on bringing out a refreshed version of the phone later on that will have "official" global capabilities among other things? Or could these users just be yanking our chain? What do you guys think?

Source: TalkAndroid

CEO Thorsten Heins has just taken over the reigns at RIM and he has not wasted any time insulting the competition. When asked about the incessant articles that suggest RIM should build on Android, Heins recoiled and said "Just take a look where the Android OEMs are. I leave this to you. Take a look at their recent announcements and what you will immediately see is there is just no room for differentiation because they are all the same." Those are some fighting words, and it could be argued that the Waterloo based company should be careful throwing stones while living in their glass house.

Is this a fair assessment or should Thorsten clean up his own backyard first before calling out others?

Source: Crackberry

It seems Google is really putting a lot of work behind creating a more unified user experience with Android because their latest post on the developer blog wasn't expected. Today Google posted a public service announcement to developers letting them know that the menu button is in fact the thing of the past and they see a different future for those actions. The future, according to the post, is Google's new action bar, which effectively replaces the menu button and make all buttons easily accessible.

Millions of people have made their voices heard about the fragmented experience you get when you use different apps in the Market, it seems Google is cracking down on that.

Via: Developer Blog

It seems Motorola started a new, and possible good, trend in the Android manufacturing business. According to UK CEO Phil Roberson, HTC, in 2012, will slow their hands a little bit and refocus their energy on quality rather than quantity. He believe there is a link between the amount of phones HTC is putting out and the slight decline in awesomeness. Nevertheless they're planning on just slowing down the production line a bit this year, and working harder in the R&D department.

This move might cost them some of their great profits, but at least they have some street points with us.

Via: Phandroid

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is now available for a measly $99 at Amazon. That's a huge discount from the $299 most everyone paid.
The $99 price is good for NEW contracts only. Amazon is also including a 2-day shipping for good measure. This is the lowest price we've seen for the first ever Android 4.0 phone.

Hardware

• Dual-core 1.2 GHz processor capable of opening web pages twice as fast as most other smartphones.
• 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED multi-touch screen (1280 x 720 pixels) with Contoured Display.
• MicroUSB port
• 3.5mm headphone jack

Memory

• 32 GB internal memory (non-expandable)
• 1 GB RAM for improved multitasking.

Camera

• 5-megapixel camera with continuous auto focus, zero shutter lag, single-motion panoramic mode, and LED flash.
• Full HD 1080p video capture with on-phone movie editing and easy upload to YouTube.
• Front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chats and self portraits.

Amazon Wireless

Investors already knew that Q4 was going to be a rough quarter, and when Thursdays numbers arrived, they surely lived up to those expectations. Motorola Mobility recorded an operating loss of $285 million for the year, and an operating loss of $70 million in the fourth quarter. To add insult to injury Motorola didn’t make any money selling phones last year either, they actually lost $70 million for the full year. It must be said that those totals include sales of regular feature phones, not just smartphones. Feature phones are still a big part of Motorola’s overall business model. They did sell slightly more smartphones over the previous year, coming in at 5.3 million units, up from 4.9 million units a year ago. In all, the company sold 10.5 million mobile devices in the fourth quarter and 42.4 million devices for the year.

Nokia and HTC find themselves in the same boat in regards to reporting losses and are in the process of shaking things up, we'll have to see what Googorola has ups its sleeves in the coming months.