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Archive for the ‘Android Mobile Phones’ Category
Monday, March 28th, 2011
Here goes one of those ideas that you’re probably asking yourself how come no one has thought of it before. While Amazon has been working on dominating the eReader arena as well as making sure that the Kindle app is available for every major internet connected device, the company is also expanding its tentacles in the Android region.
As you might have heard, Amazon launched their AppStore last week and to celebrate the company offered a free download of Angry Birds Rio to whoever downloaded their app store app. We’ll be prepared to be a bit more amazed as the company has decided to up the ante against Google’s Marketplace by offering a feature that we’re sure will be duplicated in many other app stores in the near future.
Thanks to the Test Drive feature, prospective app buyers will be able to use an app they are interested in within a virtual device and thus can make a decision on whether they want to actually use the app or not before actually purchasing the app. Amazon explains the feature as follows:
Clicking the “Test drive now” button launches a copy of this app on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), a web service that provides on-demand compute capacity in the cloud for developers. When you click on the simulated phone using your mouse, we send those inputs over the Internet to the app running on Amazon EC2 – just like your mobile device would send a finger tap to the app. Our servers then send the video and audio output from the app back to your computer. All this happens in real time, allowing you to explore the features of the app as if it were running on your mobile device.
Unfortunately the feature is only for U.S customers at the moment, but it should be rolling out for everyone shortly including us here in the U.K.
Source: Engadget
Tags: Amazon, Amazon-app-store, Google, google-android
Posted in Android Mobile Phones | No Comments »
Monday, December 20th, 2010
 It seems that the Windows Phone 7 update will not be arriving as early as we thought –that and there is a possibility that smaller updates might be released along the way. According to the latest reports, the WP7 Mango update (yes, Microsoft is calling it the Mango), will be released sometime during summer of 2011. This tags the release date of the patch to be sometime around August to September.
Originally, it was believed that the first major update of the Windows Phone 7 mobile platform will be out by the first quarter of 2011; however it seems that there are certain add-ons that are proving to be so massive that it will take a while before the update gets released. At this point, many are calling the Mango as “7.5” and from the initial reports, it appears that HTML5 support, and more Silverlight will be added in the update. There are also rumors that the Windows Phone 8 mobile platform will be released by 2012.
Google’s new Android version has finally gotten a designation, and we are not talking about the recently launched Gingerbread operating system. Indeed, the search engine giant is churning out one massive Android update after the other, starting with the Éclair at the end of last year, to the flash capable Froyo that came out mid-year and just a couple of days back, the 2.3 Gingerbread. Google has not made it a secret that the next OS to follow the big G is the Honeycomb, but no designation has been confirmed.
It appears that the Honeycomb might be taking on the 2.4 designation, though there are questions as to whether the update is really not that far from the 2 series. It has been confirmed that the Honeycomb is designed specifically for touch screen tablet devices –which the original Android is not all that good for (or so Google says).
Tags: Android-2.4-Honeycomb, Google, Microsoft, Windows-Phone-7
Posted in Android Mobile Phones, Google Phones, Microsoft Phones | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
 Andy Rubin must be quite proud; the much awaited Google Android 2.3 version is finally here: the Gingerbread. This latest Android version promises plenty of new features and innovations and from the looks of it, Google has got a master plan set on dominating the mobile platform industry.
The new OS promises plenty of new features –aimed primarily at developers. For quite some time, Google’s Android has been the Linux of the mobile industry –providing developers with a wide range of tools and resources in order to create software (or in this case, apps). But unlike the case for desktop computers where the Linux was used mainly by tech geeks, the Android has a stronger market appeal and is used by a wide range of users.
Gaming will be a core function of the new Android OS –as seen in the latest news about the Sony Ericsson Zeus Z1 gaming device. Better CPU performance and energy management will be present, allowing developers to create games with stronger resource needs but at the same time, still provide users with enough battery life to keep the device running after several rounds of playtime.
That will not be the only feature that Gingerbread offers, new technology such as near field communications will also factor in heavily in the system. While manufacturers will obviously have to bring in the hardware, the OS is already fully equipped to run the new feature. Google (along with Nokia and Apple) strongly believes that NFC will be present in a lot of upcoming technology –expect to see actual applications of the feature in the near future.
Lastly, the Gingerbread is also going to pave the way for the Honeycomb. While Android updates are certainly going to leave many network operators deep in demands and pressure to bring the latest versions of the OS to their users, Google is stopping for no one. With 2.3 already set, they have already made a few announcement about the next version and they are promising that the next Android will be tablet-ready.
Tags: Android-Gingerbread, Google, Samsung-Nexus-S
Posted in Android Mobile Phones, Industry News | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
 An interesting study has come up recently. According to a survey from GfK, many people tend to be loyal to a specific mobile platform or operating system. As for manufacturer however, the choice is not that big a deal.
Of course, the study does get a bit skewed since those loyal to the Apple iOS and the RIM BlackBerry OS would be forced to stick to Apple’s iPhone devices and RIM’s smart phones –the operating systems are proprietary after all. But looking at the Google Android –which is currently the fastest growing OS in terms of the number of users, there are plenty of choices in brands.
Sure, HTC and Samsung are among the top favorites, but Android phones made by Motorola, Asus, Acer, LG, and other phone makers are also selling well. This is due to the fact that people only care about the operating system of the smart phone and not the actual phone itself (with specific devices being chosen for specs and not for their brands). With the Windows Phone 7 OS already out, expect to see a similar situation for Microsoft’s new mobile platform.
So the question now is: does it matter which brand we choose? The only real consideration on the per-brand selection is the fact that each phone maker has their own custom user interface (Samsung TouchWiz, HTC Sense, etc). Aside from that, there is very little to think about.
Another study has announced that the average UK household has been hoarding over 700 Pounds worth of old mobile phones. These can often be resold too –which is a great help for the coming holidays. A quick look at older phones often reveals a vast diversity in the choices of brands.
Tags: Apple, BlackBerry, Brand-loyalty, HTC, operating-systems, samsung
Posted in Android Mobile Phones, Apple Phones | No Comments »
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
 Users of the Apple iOS in the UK will finally be able to enjoy the iAds system. This may seem odd as generally, not a lot of people will appreciate having more advertisements on their devices. However, the iAds system is so well implemented that the additional content has proved to actually attract more buyers when the iAds has been used in other regions.
LG Display, AB InBev, L’Oréal, Renault, Citi, Evian, Louis Vuitton, Nespresso, Perrier, Unilever, Turkish Airlines and Absolute Radio have all been confirmed as to have signed up for the Apple ad service.
According to a recent study by an advertising network, the Android mobile platform is able to attract as many web browsing users as the Apple iOS. This result has shown that despite the massive number of devices that Apple already has sold, Google is able to match that number. While Apple has enjoyed dominance in the field for a long period, more and more people are slowly learning to appreciate the Android OS.
This is the result of having the open source OS present in a large number of devices has help the Android –as well as the fact that Flash is supported by the platform. Apple’s lack of Flash format support has left that OS unable to satisfy the browsing needs of many users as a large chunk of web content is not viewable without Flash.
Research in Motion is supporting BBC’s special charity day by launching the Children in Need theme for the BlackBerry. The new theme give the OS a colorful new look complete with cute icons and fonts. While this may all seem like childish fun, the real feature here is an additional application that allows users of the handset to easily donate to the Children in Need charity. While users can also opt to phone in a pledge, the app can prove to be easier to access for most.
Tags: Apple-iAds, Apple-iOS, BlackBerry, google-android
Posted in Android Mobile Phones, Apple Phones, Blackberry Phones | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
 The open source, Linux based MeeGo operating system is not yet out, but it is already receiving a few changes to the system. A recent announcement by AMD has informed the mobile industry that the Linux developer will now be teaming up with both Nokia and Intel as they also join the MeeGo development team.
This latest update brings the upcoming MeeGo operating system as something that is far more than a foray by Nokia and Intel in the platform industry. AMD’s partnership with the two companies could mean that the OS will certainly be something we can all look forward to.
In Android related news, the 2.3 Gingerbread update is already making plenty of Google fans excited though the exact release date has yet to be officially pinned down, some speculations even stated that the OS upgrade would be released as soon as today. Of course, unless Google makes an official decision, it is impossible to make a final date. Naturally, devices under various networks would still have to rely on specific updates for their handset.
Speaking of which, HTC Legend owners under Vodafone UK will be happy to know that the update to version 2.2 Froyo is already underway for the smart phone. This confirms earlier reports that the Legend handset would also be getting a major OS update –the same report also stated that the HTC Wildfire might also get an update of its own.
Lastly, it seems that the iOS 4.2 update will not be available anytime soon. Cupertino based Apple has yet to make an official statement, but initial reports has indicated that the delay is being caused by WiFi issues. Once this error has been fixed, we can all expect to see the new OS upgrade to be released.
Tags: Android-2.2-Froyo, Android-2.3-gingerbread, Apple-iOS, google-android, HTC-Legend, MeeGo
Posted in Android Mobile Phones, HTC Phones, Nokia Phones | No Comments »
Monday, November 8th, 2010
 There is a bit of a general agreement going on about the direction in which Google’s Android operating system is heading and what is in store for everyone in the future. The bottom line: things do not look good for Android handset makers –but as for Google, things will always be looking up.
With the continuous and seemingly non-stop growth the Android OS is currently enjoying right now, it is not too hard to conceive a near immediate future where Android devices are pretty much the staple. And while the OS is shining aplenty with some spotlight hogging high end devices, the fact that it is used in a wide range of devices –for an even wider range
The Android is open source, multi platform and easy to access, it is easy to see why so many people cannot avoid but see the similarities between the PC and an Android smart phone. However, the competition among operating systems for smart phones is not as fierce as the one for the desktop.
The situation is quite different on the mobile front. Fragmentation and many other issues plague the Android smart phone, and the competition for number one is pretty tough –the dividing line between hardware is not as significant as the lack of upgrade options means that a handset will eventually be retired and that users will always have the option to shift to a device that uses another platform.
Standardization issues and lowered Android phone costs that will hurt manufacturers are only conceivable for as long as the Android stays on top, but as long as other developers push their proprietary OS systems (as well as the recent launch of Windows Phone 7) and other open source platforms like the Symbian continue to exist, it will be hard to have an Android saturated future.
Tags: google-android
Posted in Android Mobile Phones | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
 The Android OS has been making plenty of waves in the past couple of weeks. Despite the overwhelming surge of updates regarding the upcoming Windows Phone 7, it seems that nothing can really get in the way of the unstoppable growth of the Google Android.
The biggest news of the week comes with some details of the upcoming Android 3.0 Gingerbread. The new version of the Android OS brings together several key features that have been planned by the folks at Mountainview for quite some time.
The big new focus on version 3.0 however, is stability. The biggest problem that Google has faced is the fragmentation of the Android OS. In more detail, the simple fact that there are so many handsets that use the OS that no two are alike in terms of user experience. Add in the fact that the system can be altered and changed using to many internal settings and downloadable apps that creating a uniform user experience is completely out of the question –but that is where the Android’s strength lies. And this is why stability will be a big new factor for Google.
Smoother is the best way to describe how Google is promising the next Android UI to be. The previous version, 2.2 Froyo, already brought an incredible surge in speed as the new OS was performing about three to five times faster than version 2.1 Éclair –and by then, the Android was already pretty fast and stable.
Originally, it was announced at the Google I/O conference that the next update to the OS would arrive by the end of this year (at that time, it was still a month before the launch of the Froyo). However, the slow migration of Android devices to the newer OS as well as development issues has delayed the launch of Gingerbread. Many believe that the new version will be out by the start of 2011.
Tags: Android-2.2-Froyo, android-3.0-Gingerbread, Google, google-android
Posted in Android Mobile Phones, Google Phones | No Comments »
Friday, October 15th, 2010
 The Dell Streak is an interesting smart phone –in terms of overall specs, 1GHz CPU, 5 mega pixel camera; the device is basically your typical high end smart phone. The phone’s biggest feature however, is truly big, a 5 inch capacitive touch screen display. Dell’s Android was basically a mini tablet and people loved it.
However, if there was one catch about the handset –it was because of the Android 1.6 Donut operating system. Sure, Google’s Android OS is one of the most stable platforms around, but with the Android Éclair already out and most devices simply waiting for an update to version 2.2 Froyo, the delayed launch of the Éclair update for the Streak has been a disappointment.
Now, Dell has announced that the Éclair is no longer coming to the Dell Streak. Instead, the OS will skip version 2.1 and go straight for version 2.2. While going straight to Froyo sounds exciting, it also means that Streak owners will have to wait a little bit longer.
Google has also announced that the SDK for the Android 3.0 Gingerbread is due to be released by next week. This big new announcement means that the official OS update might not be too far away. The Gingerbread update is expected to bring plenty of new features such as support for HTML5 and the use of Google Talk Video (which would be a solid rival for Apple’s less than successful FaceTime).
Lastly, 3 UK has confirmed that they are now releasing the update to Android 2.2 for owners of the HTC Desire. The Desire has long been compatible with an update to 2.2 Froyo but due to issues with the update when it was released by other networks, 3 UK has decided to run their own tests and security measures to ensure that devices will not be affected negatively by the patch.
Tags: Android, Dell-Streak, HTC-Desire
Posted in Android Mobile Phones, Dell Phones | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010
 Mobile network operator Vodafone UK has confirmed that they will be launching the new HTC Desire HD smart phone pretty soon and for those who simply cannot afford to wait any longer without being able to secure a handset, the pre-order web page of the network operator is already up and running. This means that Android smart phones fans simply need to log into the Vodafone website in order to be able to reserve the device.
The contract plans are pretty nice, and we highly recommend the 35 Pound monthly tariff which will provide users with the handset free of charge. This plan provides about 600 minutes of talk time, 500 MB of data and unlimited texting. Subscribers are encouraged to take up this very same offer through the Vodafone web site as it will provide online users with an additional 300 minutes of talk time and 250 MB of mobile data –making this a very sweet deal for a two year contract.
The HTC Desire HD lives up to its name with an impressive screen display and built in camera. The phone comes packed with an 8 mega pixel snapper that allows users to shoot videos in 720p HD quality. The camera can also take images at 3264 x 2448 pixels and is equipped with both auto focus and dual LED flash. With this hardware, media lovers will certainly find this Android handset pretty tempting.
The screen makes use of the new super LCD technology. Despite the fame that has been associated with the AMOLED display, it is the S-LCD that is quickly becoming the favored screen technology by many manufacturers. It is said that the super LCD is cheaper and easier to manufacture compared to other touch screen displays.
As expected, the Desire HD runs on the latest version of the Android OS, 2.2 Froyo.
Tags: google-android, HTC, HTC-Desire-HD, Vodafone
Posted in Android Mobile Phones, HTC Phones, Vodafone Phones | No Comments »
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