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.
Posts Tagged ‘Android’
Androids: Dell Skips Éclair, Froyo on Desire and Gingerbread SDK
Friday, October 15th, 2010Mobile Updates: 10 LG, 2 BlackBerry Phones and the Next Android
Friday, August 20th, 2010If there is one thing that we can be sure of when it comes to Google, it is the fact that the company never rests. Despite the success of the Android operating system, it can easily be seen that the mobile phone industry is a very content sensitive environment and that there is always a need to stay on top of one’s game.
The Symbian OS is already losing its grasp and eventually, Google will be able to surpass it, and it will be up to Google if they can stay on top.
In any case, the new Google Android OS is going to be the 3.1 Honeycomb –which is an upgrade over the not yet released Android 3.0 Gingerbread.
RIM’s latest BlackBerry handset, the Torch 9800 is now available locally, but only online. Retailer Clove has been confirmed as having the device on stock and is offering the handset for about £523. That may seem pretty high priced for a BlackBerry handset, but one should not forget that this new phone sports the latest BlackBerry 6 operating system, a large touch screen and new media-based features that are designed for the general user. So far, it has not yet been announced on when the Torch will be available on local tariffs.
In other BlackBerry news, a new handset, called the R020 (for now, we expect to see a name change) will be released soon. Initial details show that the device looks like a variant of the Pearl and Curve models with basic mid to low range specs.
Rounding up the news is the announcement from LG that they will be launching ten new devices before the end of the year. So far, LG has been quiet about any further details so we cannot determine what operating systems will be supported. It is speculated that the LG Panther (WP7) is going to be in that list.
How Google is Taking Over the Mobile Phone Industry
Friday, August 20th, 2010For most, the choice has always been about quality or quantity. After all, resources are always limited and being able to focus on a particular aspect (or doing a quick compromise of both) is often the only thing that can be done.
However, Google is not like most, and when it comes to the Android operating system, there is nothing holding them from choosing just one.
Google’s Android has quantity, ridiculous amounts of it. One could say that among smart phones, the Android OS is the most prolific platform being used (though among all mobile phones, the Symbian still holds the top spot). Currently ranked in second place beside the Symbian, the Android OS’ multi-phone compatibility makes it one of the most commonly chosen platforms.
Apple, currently in third, has been able to perform admirably well in distribution despite being limited in the variety of iPhone variants (which means that Apple still has the most units of the same kind out there).
The Android has more than just numbers on its side. The operating system is also famous for the platform’s features itself, as it provides people with features and capabilities that were never originally associated with mobile phones.
Google is among the first to fully utilize augmented reality technology –to a point that the Google Goggles camera app is now able to read foreign languages and translate content on sight. The open source mobile platform has provided many developers and creators to debut their content –which has helped the community grow significantly.
It has recently been let known that the latest version of the Android operating system is already in works. Version 3.0 Gingerbread is already on its way to a December release date, while rumors of a possible 3.1 Honeycomb are already spreading online. Google has yet to confirm this data, but many are already looking forward to the update.
Android Malware Attack Shows that Users Still Need Education
Thursday, August 12th, 2010There are plenty of things that people learn in life, sadly, being tech-smart is not one of those things. Give a person a couple of years on the commute and natural street smarts will start growing and kicking in; the same is not true for owning technology.
Mobile phones have been around for quite some time, and so have computers and other electronic gadgets. However, knowing what to do and how to take care of these devices is something that is not common for most folks. In fact, it is something that people need to be directly told about.
Recent reports show that the Android OS has been hit with a virus or malware program that allows the handset to send SMS messages on its own –accessing expensive online services and racking up quite the bill for the victim. However, despite this, it is confirmed that the problem does not lie with vulnerability in the mobile platform –but with the user.
Simply put, there is no way for any software or application to be installed on the Android handset without the prior permission and no confirmation on the operating system. The only way for this to happen is for users to manually click the OK button for installation. And this is where the malware exploits humanity.
Most people are not trained or familiar enough with the slight nuances of software design to realize that the notification alert or the message box asking for permission is actually a Trojan or malware in disguise. It is one of the oldest tricks in the book, but as long as there are people who are ignorant, the tricks will still work.
It has been suggested that software companies try to create solutions to prevent this, but protecting one’s phone should be reason enough for users to study on their own.
Samsung Galaxy S Update Coming this September
Monday, August 9th, 2010
It has finally been confirmed, Samsung is getting an update to the Android 2.2. Froyo this coming September and the launch will be for all networks. The announcement just came in recently and as it was expected a while back, the launch of the update is indeed by September. Getting to know that Galaxy S users from all networks will be able to get the update at the same time is certainly a big bonus.
There is no doubt that the 2.2 Froyo update is a major milestone for the Android OS. Sure, it is still a solid update away from being a 3.0 (which is assigned to the upcoming Gingerbread), but Froyo still adds in sufficient upgrades that make it worth looking out for.
The biggest improvement would have to be the speed boost. Now this is not really a new function, but a general upgrade for the user interface. Everything just runs faster and smoother –and the original UI was already pretty good to begin with. This is thanks to the new kernel memory management that has been included in the OS update. Better Java script handling has also been added in; turning the handset’s built in browser into a pretty fast and stable feature. Sites now load faster (connection speeds aside) for viewing.
In the meanwhile, other Android smart phones will have to wait for their turn at the Froyo update. It was originally expected that August would see an increase in the number of available updates but as the first week of the month is passing, it seems that the arrival of the firmware updates are a lot slower than it was originally thought. Other Android smart phones, such as the HTC Desire and Wildfire, as well as several other major handsets, are still waiting for the official 2.2 Froyo patch.
Eric Schmidt: 200,000 Android Phones Sold Each Day
Friday, August 6th, 2010
The number is quite staggering; at 200,000 phones a day, that’s about 1.4 million Android handsets being bought every week. While not as impressive as the 1.7 million selling streak that the iPhone 4 got when it first arrived in the market, Eric Schmidt is talking about this pace as if it were a constant factor –which would make the Android operating system the most influential mobile platform on the market on sheer volume of users alone.
While the numbers are hard to pin down, we do know that with or without the exaggeration, the most widely used operating system in the market is indeed, the Android OS. According to NPD and many other market research firms, Android’s use on such a wide variety of devices allows it to be distributed more openly –going even past Symbian’s old numbers thanks to the fact that so many phone makers create Android devices.
Of course, there is more to selling plenty of Android than just having the Google brand, the OS is quite worthy of its reputation. The current latest version, 2.2 Froyo brings the fastest and smoothest available version of the OS UI, though older versions such as the 1.6 Donut and the 2.1 Éclair are already quite impressive begin with.
Aside from the charm of the OS, the phones using the Android are also an impressive lot. The devices that were released in this year alone should be more than worth the fame that the OS receives. Google’s Nexus One, HTC Desire, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, Samsung GT i9000 Galaxy S and the Dell Streak are just a part of the high end group among the many Android devices that are currently being offered by various operators. Add to that range devices from the mid to low end handheld category and they have got enough phones to suit almost everyone’s needs.
How Fragmentation is Holding the Android Back
Friday, August 6th, 2010
If there is one thing that has prevented Google from fully delivering a single uniform Android user experience, it is because of fragmentation.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, fragmentation refers to the fact that Google’s Android operating system is currently being used in a wide variety of smart phones. From devices such as the HTC Dream which is a two year old G1 handset to the latest Samsung GT i9000 Galaxy S and the Dell Streak, which have only been released a few weeks ago. The difference when it comes to the device’s features and hardware is pretty significant. In fact, even devices from the same manufacturer still are quite different. HTC’s latest Android, the Desire, is still leagues away from the older G1 Dream.
Sadly, fixing the problem is not as simple as pointing it out. Even Google has directly stated that the fragmentation issue is a serious matter when they brought it up at the Google I/O conference. There is some hope that by the time the Android 3.0 Gingerbread arrives, they would have already created a good solution to the fragmentation issue –or at least, are already close to finding one.
In the meanwhile, the app developers are the ones having trouble with multiple OS versions. This is pretty hard to deal with since the range of mobile platforms that use the Android OS range from old clunky business handsets to the sleek touch screen media smart phones of today.
The issue right now is that Google cannot stop making updates –and this means that the little game of catch up that developers are playing will get a whole lot harder once the newer versions arrive. While it has been stated that updates will slow down once version 3.0 comes out, developers can only wait and see what happens next.
Mobile Updates: Android News, BlackBerry Torch and More
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
It seems that the demand for the Android smart phone is continuously growing. According to recent reports, the Android share of the market has gone up at an incredible rate. In fact, it seems that the number of users of the Google mobile platform has finally surpassed the volume of people using an Apple device.
This is a big milestone for Google. Though many have predicted that Google’s open source OS has the power to surpass other platforms, no one expected that the time would come even at the height of Apple’s next generation – just after the launch of the iPhone 4. There is no doubt that the antenna issue is certain to hurt Apple’s reputation –as well as their methods in dealing with the problem. But at the same time, research shows that market interest in Apple has not waned even a bit.
In other news, it seems that the FCC in the United States has revealed that the BlackBerry 9800 Torch smart phone is indeed a real handset and not a hoax. While many have already claimed that the new phone is indeed real, this is the first concrete fact released about the handset –which is a major turning point for RIM as well. The 9800 torch is slated to come out with the BlackBerry 6 mobile platform that would determine if Rim really has what it takes to take the mobile phone industry’s current leaders head on.
Lastly, it has also been announced by local mobile network operator O2 UK that they are offering the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X8 smart phone and that it will be available by September. By that time, it is believed that the Android 2.1 Éclair update will already be available and hopefully, an update to version 2.2 Froyo will also be available later one.
TomTom Joins the Dark Side to Fight off Google
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
Google’s Android just became a major player in the GPS device industry. Thanks to the launch of the sat nav service for Google Maps, the company that developed the Android was able to ambush GPS manufacturers completely out of the blue.
The sat nav service is filled to the brim with features. First off, Google Maps is highly accurate and updated. Real time data on traffic and weather conditions are also present and of course, the device comes with a clearly voiced audio prompting guide that will safely and accurately bring you to your intended destination.
Extras have also been filled in, Google’s voice recognition technology lets you speak out loud and have the device look it up for you. Just say “navigate: beer” and the Android will automatically search the nearest bars in the area.
This has left TomTom seeking help in order to compete with such a powerful company. And when you are up against Google and their monstrous Maps (and Street View features), then it pays to have a Sith lord on your side.
Yep, those of you who have TomTom devices on your dashboard better make way for the heavy breathing Lord Vader as he arrives as one of the available voices for voice navigation. So far, there is no confirmation yet if he will force choke those drivers who fail to use their signal lights, but if you are going to have someone order you around town to get to a destination, it might as well be Darth.
If the evil menacing voice is not your thing, then you might want to wait for the release of the C3P0 voice. The golden protocol droid is well known for its unbelievably polite and apologetic manner. Other Star Wars characters such as Han Solo and the Jedi Master Yoda have been confirmed as upcoming voice choices for TomTom devices.
Adobe Flash and AIR Confirmed for the Android OS
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
It looks like the fish is out of the water and the arrival date of the next Android operating system has been revealed. Android smart phone users can start petitioning for requests for an early update release of the new 2.2 Froyo version of the mobile platform this coming June as Adobe finally revealed that they will be arriving on smart phones in that month.
Andy Rubin was originally tight lipped about the whole thing when he first revealed that the new OS version will have native support for Adobe’s Flash and AIR features. Considering that there is a large degree of Flash content on the internet, there is certain to be a large degree of demand for the latest version of the Android OS.
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 owners are probably cursing their fates as it had been previously announced that the first update for their smart phone will not arrive later in September. Until then, owners of this smart phone will have to make do with the 1.6 Donut version that comes with their device.
Back to the Android, their tie up with Adobe was simply a matter of time. Considering how harshly Apple rejected the presence of a Flash to iPhone converter, it showed Adobe that while they can stick to their cross-platform ideals, it is about time they made a stand.
At the same time, Adobe also declared that they would cease supporting Apple. This may not seem like big news, but it could also potentially mean that software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier, Dreamweaver and the entire creative suite of Adobe would no longer be available even for Macs. If this happens, then Apple stands to lose the support of millions of graphic designers all over the world who rely on Adobe software for their work.