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ClockworkMod Tether serves free Android USB tethering, no root required

Myriam Joire — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:58:00 EST

Not content to provide us with ClockworkMod Recovery and other fine hacks, Koush just made a free USB tethering app available for Android aptly called ClockworkMod Tether Alpha. While it's not the first app to bypass paid tethering plans, it supports unrooted phones and works with Linux, Mac and Windows computers. Just enable USB debugging on your phone, download the appropriate installer for your desktop OS of choice, then connect both devices via USB and you're all set. The installation process creates a virtual network adapter on your computer and pushes a matching APK to your phone. A proxy is used to avoid detection by the carriers.

We tested the app on a late-model MacBook Air running OS X Lion and an AT&T-branded Samsung Captivate Glide -- along with a couple other handsets -- without much success (as documented in the screenshot above). Then again, based on the discussions following Koush's Google+ post (source link below), the app appears to work for many folks and continues being tweaked on an hourly basis. Clearly your mileage will vary, but let us know in the comments how it's working out if you've installed the app.

ClockworkMod Tether serves free Android USB tethering, no root required originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huawei Mercury arrives on Cricket in full Glory, available now for $250

Amar Toor — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:56:00 EST

What comes after Honor and Glory? Mercury, apparently. That's the American moniker of choice for Huawei's latest smartphone, which has just been launched on Cricket's network. Powered by a 1.4GHz single-core CPU, this Android-juiced handset boasts a four-inch FWVGA (854 x 480) display, packs 2GB of internal memory and sports an eight megapixel shooter, along with a VGA front-facing camera. The provider didn't offer many specifics on the software side, though the Mercury will support Google's full suite of mobile apps, while offering tethering support for up to five other devices. It's available now for $250 at select retailers, on Cricket's $55-per-month plan. Find more specs and information in the full PR, after the break.

Continue reading Huawei Mercury arrives on Cricket in full Glory, available now for $250

Huawei Mercury arrives on Cricket in full Glory, available now for $250 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android app tethers handsets to Canon cams, live view fanboys rejoice (video)

Dante Cesa — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 04:43:00 EST

We're living in a post-pc world, folks. High time you got with the program and junked that heavy and outmoded relic called the computer. But how does one take tethered snaps from a Canon, sans EOS Utility? Meet DSLR Controller, an Android app from Chainfire that turns your little green robot into an external live view monitor, and gives you complete control over your shooter's finer sensibilities. It lets you tweak exposure, aperture, shutter, white balance and focus with sensuous swipes of your fingertip. To make the whole shindig work, you'll need an Android device packing a USB host port and an "on-the-go" USB cable -- which lets your handset wear the pants in the phone / DSLR relationship. We should also warn you that the $8.51 application is currently still in beta and thus streams video in live view mode at a less than optimal 15fps. Those and other foibles may be remedied by the final release, but if you're looking to practice your tethering voodoo immediately, hit the source below, and watch a vid of your photographic future after the break.

Continue reading Android app tethers handsets to Canon cams, live view fanboys rejoice (video)

Android app tethers handsets to Canon cams, live view fanboys rejoice (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 04:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carriers crack down on Android tethering apps, rain on our mobile hotspot parade

Terrence O'Brien — Mon, 02 May 2011 15:32:00 EST

Well everybody, it looks like the free ride is over: carriers in the US have started to seriously crack down on Android tethering apps. Head on over to the Android Market site and try to install an app that turns your smartphone into a WiFi hotspot -- there's a pretty good chance you'll be told, "this item is not available on your carrier." We checked out a number of different tethering options and they were all blocked by T-Mobile and AT&T, which isn't entirely new. Verizon has also joined the party and, while it missed at least one that we spotted, we're sure they'll all be gone in short order. Only Sprint has decided against banning such apps... for now. It looks like you might have to finally cough up for that tethering plan you've been desperately trying to avoid.

Carriers crack down on Android tethering apps, rain on our mobile hotspot parade originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TetherGPS brings GPS navigation to Nook Color, in a manner of speaking

Kevin Wong — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:18:00 EST

The smart folks over at ComptonSoft are looking to provide a GPS receiver to your mobile device in a rather unconventional way. TetherGPS links up your Android phone's GPS to the Nook Color by means of WiFi -- either on the same network or via a WiFi tether -- because the Nook Color is lacking in the standard usable Bluetooth department. After connecting the two devices, it makes a second link by running a TGPS server on the phone and a TGPS client on the Nook. The two devices are then intertwined in a blissful, all-you-can-GPS buffet of routes and roads. For the most part, the Nook's location-aware Android applications, such as Google Maps, will draw from this connection for location data and use it as if there were a GPS receiver on board. TetherGPS is up for grabs for $2.99 on the Android Market, and there's also a free "Lite" version for those who only need GPS for five minutes at a time -- we'll assume you know who you are.

[Thanks, Red]

TetherGPS brings GPS navigation to Nook Color, in a manner of speaking originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T adding an extra 2GB to phone tethering plans, launching Mobile Hotspot app February 13th

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:46:00 EST

What, 2GB of monthly data isn't enough for your laptoppin' needs? Yeah, us either -- fortunately, AT&T's tweaking its phone tethering plan a bit with an extra 2GB that can be shared among all devices for a grand total of 4GB. As before, you'll need to start off with the $25 DataPro plan and tack on an extra $20 for tethering, bringing the total to $45 a month. In conjunction with the move, AT&T has announced that it'll begin rolling out a Mobile Hotspot app starting with the HTC Inspire 4G at its launch on February 13th, which means these guys are finally coming around and embracing the data revolution that's been taking hold the last year or two across the industry -- a trend that began with its first launch of a MiFi a few months back. Existing DataPro tethering customers will get the extra 2GB automatically added to their accounts, so there shouldn't be anything you need to do; obviously, we would've preferred something closer to unlimited, but something tells us that ship has sailed. Follow the break for the press release.

Continue reading AT&T adding an extra 2GB to phone tethering plans, launching Mobile Hotspot app February 13th

AT&T adding an extra 2GB to phone tethering plans, launching Mobile Hotspot app February 13th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile won't confirm the G2 OTA update, says it's working to deliver WiFi calling and tethering 'in the future'

Paul Miller — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:24:00 EST

We're still not sure what's up with the few reports of G2s receiving OTA updates that add WiFi calling and native hotspot support, but T-Mobile isn't fessing up to them just yet. In a statement issued to Phone Scoop, T-Mobile said that these features "are not currently supported" on the handset, although T-Mobile thankfully added that it "knows these features are important to consumers and we're working to deliver them to G2 users in the future." It's hard to tell if that means an update is just minutes away from widespread distribution, or if we've still got weeks or months to wait for these features. Familiar story?

T-Mobile won't confirm the G2 OTA update, says it's working to deliver WiFi calling and tethering 'in the future' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile G2 getting an OTA update to add WiFi calling and tethering?

Paul Miller — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:18:00 EST

It almost sounds too good to be true, but apparently some G2s are getting an official (if stealthy) OTA update from T-Mobile that adds the inexplicably withheld Android 2.2 native internet tethering back into the phone, along with the UMA WiFi calling T-Mobile plans to offer on all of its forthcoming Android handsets. What's not to love? Well, so far our G2 hasn't been offered the update, which is, like, totally unfair. Also, if you've been messing around with a "soft root" on your G2, you'll probably want to hold off for now. Still, if this is legit and meant for the masses it's a pretty major score for current and prospective G2 owners: WiFi calling is basically a beautiful dream short of a desirable handset, and of course tethering is becoming a requirement in this Android-age.

T-Mobile G2 getting an OTA update to add WiFi calling and tethering? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO 4G gets unlimited WiFi hotspot skills, courtesy of root

Vlad Savov — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 05:11:00 EST

The root, the root, the root is on fire! Well, not quite, but you just got another pretty splendiferous reason to hack your EVO: android-wifi-tether, an app doing exactly what its name suggests, has now been confirmed to support HTC's 4G-capable phone. There were apparently some compatibility issues at first, but those have now been ironed out and superuser-empowered folks have been successfully pairing the free app and supersonic phone since. Might as well jump on board with this one -- Google has already said Froyo's native ability to do this might be circumscribed by carriers, meaning Sprint's likely to package any official firmware upgrades in such a way as to keep you paying for hotspot capabilities. And who wants to do that?

HTC EVO 4G gets unlimited WiFi hotspot skills, courtesy of root originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 05:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 2.2 'Froyo' to include USB tethering, WiFi hotspot functionality

Vlad Savov — Thu, 13 May 2010 05:04:00 EST

And the good Froyo news just keep flowing in. TechCrunch have flexed their exclusive muscle this morning in revealing their discovery that Android 2.2 will come with built-in tethering and WiFi hotspot support. That means you'll be able to use your phone's 3G internet connection to hook your laptop up to the worldwide webosphere, with a choice of wired or wireless methods. Of course, this dreamy scenario will be subject to the big bad network operators permitting -- or at least not forbidding -- you to do such awesome things with your hardware, but at least we know the goods are being baked into this forthcoming release from Google. Frozen yogurt for all!

Android 2.2 'Froyo' to include USB tethering, WiFi hotspot functionality originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon confirms DROID tethering cost, will ask subscribers to double-down on their data plan

Tim Stevens — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:18:00 EST

Just a few days ago Verizon made the less-than-shocking confirmation that DROID tethering was coming, but wouldn't say how much it would cost. Now that the hardest of hardcore fans are already waiting in line, disconnected from the world at large, the company is unleashing the bad news: it'll be $30. That doubles the cost of the required data plan that sits atop a subscriber's voice plan, meaning a total of $60 per month for "unlimited" data access on handset or laptop. Mind you, "unlimited" really means 5GB of data per, a total of 10 split between the two $30 plans. Glass ceilings: we hate them.

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Virgin Mobile

Verizon confirms DROID tethering cost, will ask subscribers to double-down on their data plan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon confirms DROID tethering cost, will ask subscribers to double-down on their data plan

Tim Stevens — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:18:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Verizon confirms DROID tethering cost, will ask subscribers to double-down on their data plan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DROID tethering? It's coming early 2010, says Verizon

Ross Miller — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:47:00 EST

When the Motorola DROID debuts in Verizon Wireless stores bright and early this Friday, one nice little feature that won't be making an appearance yet is tethering, for computing with your laptop on-the-go when that Android 2.0 interface just won't cut it. We're pretty sure that missing functionality won't be lessening the early adopter crowds too much, but if you are so inclined, Gearlog's confirmed with VZW that its "Broadband Access Connect" tethering plan is indeed coming to the device, but not until sometime early 2010. Now, how about muscling Motorola and / or Google for some of that double-finger pointing our fine European friends get to indulge in?

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Verizon Wireless, Android

DROID tethering? It's coming early 2010, says Verizon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google restores tethering apps to Android Market, just not in the US

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:16:00 EST

They're back; Google has restored the tethering applications pulled from the Android Market earlier this week. What, can't you see them? That's because you live in the US. In a statement sent to affected developers, Google says:

We inadvertently unpublished your application for all mobile providers; if you like, we can restore your app so that all Android Market users outside the T-Mobile US network will have access to your application.

Thanks so much T-Mobile US, Google.

[Thanks, Chris]

Filed under: Cellphones

Google restores tethering apps to Android Market, just not in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Google pulling tethering apps from the Android Market?

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:55:00 EST

According to folks over at Android Community, Google has begun to pull tethering applications from the G1's Market. One of the contributors to the "WiFi Tether for Root Users" app claims that the company is citing distribution agreements with carriers as the cause of the takedowns. In their words:

Google enters into distribution agreements with device manufacturers and Authorized Carriers to place the Market software client application for the Market on Devices. These distribution agreements may require the involuntary removal of Products in violation of the Device manufacturer's or Authorized Carrier's terms of service" Google Developer Distribution Agreement

Of course, this should come as quite a surprise, given statements T-Mobile's Cole Brodman made to us during the G1 launch last year, and Google's seemingly rampant interest in being the de facto open source mobile OS. It's not clear at this point if this is an isolated incident (possibly related to the root nature of the app), or just the beginning of a more widespread move. Google (and T-Mobile to some extent) -- we await your response.

[Thanks, Chris]

Filed under: Handsets, Software, HTC, T-Mobile, Android

Is Google pulling tethering apps from the Android Market? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Google pulling tethering apps from the Android Market?

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:55:00 EST

Google enters into distribution agreements with device manufacturers and Authorized Carriers to place the Market software client application for the Market on Devices. These distribution agreements may require the involuntary removal of Products in violation of the Device manufacturer's or Authorized Carrier's terms of service" Google Developer Distribution Agreement

Filed under: Cellphones

Is Google pulling tethering apps from the Android Market? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First T-Mobile G1 tethering "solution" comes to light

Darren Murph — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:42:00 EST

Are you excited? Giddy? You should be. The inevitable has occurred, and even though it's far from elegant (and far from guaranteed-to-work), tethering on the T-Mobile G1 is a go. According to a few users over at TmoNews, this particular solution enables owners to share the G1's data connection via USB, which -- for all intents and purposes -- is tethering. You're going to have to put in some serious ~~days~~ minutes to get everything up and running properly, but trust us, it'll be worth it. Navigate down to the links below for all the instructions you could ever need... hopefully.

[Via AndroidGuys]

Read - G1 tethering instructions
Read - TmoNews discussion

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, T-Mobile, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, Android

First T-Mobile G1 tethering "solution" comes to light originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile's CTO on G1 unlocking and tethering -- plus a few details you might have missed

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:33:00 EST

While there was a flurry (actually, a full on snowstorm) of news today about the G1, there's a few bits of info you might not have heard, largely because no one is reporting them. We had a chance to speak with T-Mobile CTO Cole Brodman after the event today, and he had some illuminating -- and frankly refreshing -- takes on some of our more pressing questions. When asked about what T-Mobile's reaction would be to users creating tethering or unlocking apps for the phone, he was surprisingly even-keeled, noting that while the company didn't encourage the practice, they wouldn't lock down the OS or update the software to break those applications. Our impression was that as long as their use was relegated to a small percentage of owners, T-Mobile likely wouldn't take action, though he did voice concerns over tethering apps and their effect on the network, with a clearly guarded eye to letting users have free reign. More interestingly, buyers would be able to have access to a "contract free" G1 (with a price point of $399), and could unlock the device with T-Mobile's blessing after 90 days. Brodman also said that the company's policy of unlocking phones for customers in good standing wouldn't change for this phone.

Continue reading T-Mobile's CTO on G1 unlocking and tethering -- plus a few details you might have missed

Filed under: Cellphones

T-Mobile's CTO on G1 unlocking and tethering -- plus a few details you might have missed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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