News: Android Voice Actions, Chrome to Phone extension, call phones from Gmail, Droid gets Android 2.2

News:

• Android voice search app is updated with Voice Actions which can be used to speak into your Android phone and dictate texts and emails, get directions and launch turn-by-turn navigation, listen to music, set alarm clock, call businesses and contacts, and browse the web. For more details see Voice Actions page.
• Chrome to Phone extension for Chrome Browser and accompanying Android Chrome to Phone app are officially released. The Chrome extension and Android app use Cloud to Device Messaging API of Android 2.2 to send current web page, map, YouTube video, or selected phone number or text from the Chrome browser straight to your Android device (2.2+). See the earlier blog post for the detailed demo.
• Google added ability to make and receive calls from Gmail page.
• Gmail updated Contacts user interface.
• Advanced Task Manager developer made ~$80,000 in a year.
• Happy iPhone to Android convert shares his impressions - iPhone to Droid X: Lots More Good Than Bad.
• One year anniversary of Apple’s response to FCC regarding Google Voice rejection. Back then Apple stated that they were not rejecting Google Voice, but were merely pondering about it since the app “appears to alter the iPhone’s distinctive user experience by replacing the iPhone’s core mobile telephone functionality and Apple user interface with its own user interface for telephone calls, text messaging and voicemail.” Among many great features, Google Voice indeed replaces racket AT&T international rates with much more reasonable Google Voice rates. One year later Apple’s pondering continues.
• Android 2.2 roll out for Motorola Droid began.
• Nexus One is temporarily sold out even through the Android developers program.