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2011年2月13日星期日

ANDROID 2.4 ICE CREAM SOON COMING THIS SUMMER

Android 2.4 will be announced somewhere around Google’s IO conference at the beginning of May 2011, and will launch in June or July.

As you may know, the name fits as the alphabetical names do add up to an I: Doughnut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, then Ice Cream.

If history repeats itself, most other Android phones won't get the update until the fall or winter, if at all. So what's actually new in Android 2.4? No one really knows. If Android 2.4 arrives this summer, it will compete with the anticipated iPhone 5.

What about Honeycomb (3.0)? Many believe that Android Honeycomb will never make it to smartphones in it’s current form, and that it will stay solely on tablet devices. That leaves the door open for a different OS version for smartphones later on down the line. Splitting Android like that isn’t likely to quiet those decrying fragmentation. But at this point, it’s nothing more than speculation save for the new information regarding Android 2.4 (Ice Cream). Stay tuned, the announcement for Ice Cream is rumored to be at the Google I/O conference in the not too distant future.

source: androidcommunity.com, gadgetsteria.com

Android 2.3.3 Platform, a New NFC Capabilitie

Several weeks ago we released Android 2.3, which introduced several new forms of communication for developers and users. One of those, Near Field Communications (NFC), let developers get started creating a new class of contactless, proximity-based applications for users.

NFC is an emerging technology that promises exciting new ways to use mobile devices, including ticketing, advertising, ratings, and even data exchange with other devices. We know there’s a strong interest to include these capabilities into many applications, so we’re happy to announce an update to Android 2.3 that adds new NFC capabilities for developers. Some of the features include:

A comprehensive NFC reader/writer API that lets apps read and write to almost any standard NFC tag in use today.
Advanced Intent dispatching that gives apps more control over how/when they are launched when an NFC tag comes into range.
Some limited support for peer-to-peer connection with other NFC devices.

We hope you’ll find these new capabilities useful and we’re looking forward to seeing the innovative apps that you will create using them.

Android 2.3.3 is a small feature release that includes a new API level, 10. Going forward, we expect most devices shipping with an Android 2.3 platform to run Android 2.3.3 (or later). For an overview of the API changes, see the Android 2.3.3 Version Notes. The Android 2.3.3 SDK platform for development and testing is available through the Android SDK Manager.

2011年2月12日星期六

Motorola Shows Off Xoom, Satirizes Apple in Super Bowl

Following up on its teaser ad, Motorola delivered the real thing on Super Bowl Sunday, showing the Xoom running a bunch of different apps and taking a few jabs at Apple in the process.

Motorola is hoping that the Xoom, the first tablet running Android OS 3.0 (Honeycomb), will be an iPad killer. Apple's Tablet currently has a commanding grip on the market, with iPads accounting for 75% of last quarter's tablet shipments.

The Super Bowl ad did not mention these details, but various leaks have confirmed that the Xoom will launch on February 24 with an $800 price tag.

With this release date nearing, Motorola has launched a Xoom product pagedetailing the tablet's specs. Highlights include a 1280 x 800 resolution on the 10.1-inch screen, the touted Android 3.0 OS, Adobe Flash support, and an NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core processor.

So, what did you think of the ad? Did it rival Apple's classic? Did it make you think about a role reversal between Apple circa 1984 and Apple in 2011? Did it make you want a Xoom? Sound off in our forums.

2011年2月11日星期五

LG G-Slate 3D Demoed on Videos

Not long after it was revealed that the LG G-Slate 3D would be showcased at the upcoming Mobile World Congress -- under the European moniker of the Optimus Pad -- a video has since popped up on YouTube that offers a close first look at its build and features.

In the video, we're given a glimpse at the G-Slate's front, back, and sides, confirming the locations of the USB and HDMI ports, the headset jack, volume controls, the speaker, the power/lock button, and, perhaps most importantly, the highly anticipated stereoscopic cameras for 3D video recording. Some off-screen footage is also provided, including that of a 3D video, browsing the web, exploring a map, and even running a video game.

Most of the device's specs, which have already been revealed, are listed over the course of the video. The G-Slate will be powered by the dual-core, 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and will feature an 8.9-inch capacitive multi-touch display, 32GB of storage, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and Google's Android OS 3.0 (Honeycomb).

The LG G-Slate 3D will be available to T-Mobile customers sometime in March, though pricing details have yet to be disclosed.

Kyocera Echo Useable as Mini Tablet Thanks a lot to "Tablet Mode"

The recently revealed Kyocera Echo smartphone can do a number of things thanks to its two 3.5-inch touchscreens, one of which is transforming into a "tablet mode," where the two displays can be arranged side to side for a single, connected workspace.

Other specs for the Echo include a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, a single 5-megapixel camera, 1GB of memory (expandable up to 32GB through the built-in SD card slot), 3G connectivity, and wireless hotspot connectivity.

The device isn't perfect, however. Aside from some unremarkable specs (with the exception of the dual touchscreens), the Echo is also bulky in its "standard mode" -- when one screen is tucked under the other via the metal pivot hinge connecting the two -- and the battery life is a mystery since the device is still in production. Should the latter become an issue, however, Kyocera is prepared; the Echo will come with a phone charger that is outfitted with a swappable second battery, free of charge.

There is also the issue of the operating system, which will be Google Android OS 2.2 (Froyo). Sprint and Kyocera are allegedly considering a future upgrade to 2.3 (Gingerbread), which would help, but for now it seems like a somewhat dated choice for the Echo's OS.

It won't be long before the Kyocera Echo hits the shelves. Sprint customers will be able to get their hands on it this spring for $199 subsidized with a two-year contract. Below is a demo video of the Echo, and for more details about the upcoming smartphone, take a look at the Hands-on Preview over at our sister site, shoppingkoo.

Windows 7 and Android Dual-Boot ViewPad 10 Pro to Debut at MWC

ViewSonic has decided to kick off this year's Mobile World Conference a little early: the UK branch of the company announced today the ViewPad 10 Pro, which will run both the Android 2.2 and Windows 7 operating systems.

ViewSonic is looking to market its new tablet to corporate buyers. The company hopes that the combination of Windows' enterprise functionality and Android's reputation as an entertaining, user-friendly OS will entice European businesses to adopt the ViewPad as the tablet of choice for employees.

Derek Wright, Product Marketing Manager of ViewSonic Europe, said that the ViewPad's dual-boot, quick switch capability "offers users the best of both worlds."

Full specs, release information, and pricing are not yet available, but ViewSonic has confirmed that the ViewPad 10 Pro will sport a 10-inch, 1024 x 600, capacitive LED screen and will be powered by an Intel Oak Trail processor. Featuring a number of connectivity options, including 3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, it will also have Flash 10.1 support and a battery life of at least six hours.

The ViewPad 10 Pro will be first previewed at the Mobile World Conference on Valentine's Day.

RIM now Developing Software to Run Android Apps on PlayBook

BlackBerry PlayBook users are going to get the best of both worlds when the tablet from Research In Motion Ltd. is released: a BlackBerry OS with the ability to run Android applications.

Though there was previous speculation about the ability to run Android applications on the PlayBook, it had been nothing more than an unconfirmed rumor until now. Three anonymous insiders have maintained that RIM is, in fact, working on software that would give PlayBook users access to the more than 130,000 apps for Google's OS.

When the rumors first leaked, the explanation of the compatibility was that the new, QNX-based BlackBerry OS would possibly feature software called Dalvik, a Java-based virtual machine that was developed by Google for Android. But two inside sources have now claimed that RIM has decided not to go with Dalvik due to an ongoing patent dispute between Google and Oracle Corp., leading RIM to develop its own software to allow for Android app compatibility, due out by the second half of this year.

An enterprise-friendly tablet, we got our hands on the BlackBerry PlayBook at CES this year and were pleasantly surprised at how powerful and responsive it was. Sporting a 1 GHz TI OMAP processor and a 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, the PlayBook demonstrated its power by running two HD movies simultaneously while allowing us to seamlessly swipe between them.

The PlayBook will also allow for one-to-one syncing with BlackBerrys, becoming an extension of the device and providing access to email, calendar, contacts, and more via Bluetooth over BlackBerry Bridge. When the two devices are not connected via Bluetooth, however, the PlayBook is just a Wi-Fi-only tablet with access to the web, but not the BlackBerry data.

Though pricing and release date details haven't been made official, Office Depotrecently posted a listing for the PlayBook, priced at $499.99, along with an approximate release date of late March or early April.

Samsung Nexus S Review and Information - By ShoppingKoo

Samsung Nexus S

Reviewer Rating:

Review Summary:

Despite some issues with voice quality, the Nexus S is an outstanding smartphone for those looking for a cutting-edge device.

Pros

Latest version of the Android OS
Excellent screen
Responsive device

Cons

Extremely low voice quality
No memory car slot
No zoom on the camera