Tag Archive for ‘Google-Android’
2010 will be remembered by mobile gadget geeks as the year when two tablet computers slugged it out in the emerging tablet markets. The Apple iPad came out first and delighted even the harshest critics. But it had its shortcomings – no USB, no camera, no 3G video camera, no HDMI and no real multitasking OS.
Enter the Samsung Galaxy Tab, inheriting just about all the flagship features that made its Galaxy S smartphone the most popular Android handset todate but bringing it closer to tablet size without giving up on portable ease and pocketability. It’s the largest mobile phone in the market with a foot on the tablet genre.
Shaming the iPad
Better in many areas than the iPad, the Samsung Galaxy Tab enjoys a 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU with PowerVR SGX540 graphics accelerator and 512 MB RAM running the Android running the v2.2 Froyo. This puts it processing prowess at par with the Apple iPad. With a choice of 16GB or 32GB model, it has a microSD slot for up to 32GB to give it parity with the 64GB model of the iPad. Then there’s a 3.2 megapixel autofocus shooter with LED flash and D1 video recording at 30fps and a front-facing 1.3 camera for 2G videos calls the iPad does not have. Lastly, it has true multitasking support with the Android v2.2 Froyo OS.
Other Features
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is your quad band GSM with 3G/HSDPA/HSUPA handset with WiFi 802.11 b/g/n support, Bluetooth v3 with A2DP and microUSB v2.0. Its gorgeous display is a 7-inch TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen with multitouch and Swype, an accelerometer with 3-axis gyro sensor and a proximity sensor.
Other feature includes in-built GPS receiver with A-GPS and digital compass and a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack that’s also a TV-out jack. It comes bundled with Adobe Flash 10.1, Thinkfree Office and Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, Picasa and Google talk integration. The best part is that Samsung Galaxy Tab contracts are available right now!
Tags: 3.2-megapixel, 7-inch-TFT, Android-2.2-Froyo, ARM-Cortex, Google-Android, Samsung, Samsung-Galaxy-Tab, tablets, Wi-Fi
The first Android full-QWERTY slider from the Taiwanese leader in smartphones was the HTC Dream released back in June 2009. Now you have a successor in the HTC Desire Z. A closer look and it’s really the HTC Desire that just grew a sliding QWERTY keyboard from the outside. Inside, it’s another story, though close.
Familiar Features
Like the earlier Desire, the Z comes with the same 3.7-inch Super LCD capacitive touchscreen with 480 x 800 resolution and 16 million colors, plus accelerometer and proximity sensors and the multitouch input feature. It could have been AMOLED just like the first batch of HTC Desire handsets, but HTC has already shifted to S-LCD in the later batches as Samsung failed to deliver the needed quantities of the screens.
Then there’s the same 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, geo tagging and face detection. But the HTC Desire Z one-ups the Desire with 720p video recording courtesy of its higher Android v2.2 Froyo. But an upgrade on the older Éclair in the Desire should fix that.
Other Desirable Features
Powered by a Qualcomm MSM 7230 CPU clocked at 800 MHz, a bit less endowed than the 1GHz Snapdragon on the first Desire, the HTC Desire Z enjoys the same plethora of radio and data connectivity options, starting with a quad band GMS/GPRS/EDGE on 2G and a dual band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA on 3G.
It comes with hotspot support from an upgraded WiFi 802.11 b/g/n with DLNA and local data connectivity like Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP and microUSB v2.0. Other features include a stereo FM receiver with RDS, a 3.5mm audio jack, SatNav support with GPS, A-GPS and Digital Compass.
There’s a 1.5 GB onboard user memory with 512 MB RAM and up to 32GB microSD support. Its 1300 mAh Li-ion battery delivers 9.8 hours of call time on 2G, 6.6 hours on 3G with 430 hours on standby. Some very attractive HTC Desire Z contracts have already emerged and the handset is expected to hit shelves in late October.
Tags: 5-megapixel, Android-2.2-Froyo, Google-Android, HTC, HTC-Desire-Z, qualcomm, QWERTY, social-networking, Wi-Fi
Open source mobile platforms are taking a solid cue from the Android operating system. And with smart phones like the HTC Desire placing a new benchmark for the technology, it is hard to deny the fact that other handsets being released are simply following the example that has been set.
Understanding what makes this smart phone so special is not just looking at one simple facet of the device as both the hardware and software are equally impressive.
Android Operating System
On the software side, the Android operating system delivers a mobile phone experience unlike any other. It allows for the easy access of a wide variety of Google’s web features such as email, Maps, augmented reality, search, as well as access to file hosting and media sharing sites such as Picasa and YouTube.
The Android Market also provides users with a wide array of apps to choose from –apps that would allow users to customize battery usage, better screen brightness controls along with other practical add-ons.
Even better is the fact that the HTC Desire is upgradeable to the Android 2.2 Froyo. This version of the Android platform provides better performance thanks to better resource management capabilities (Google boasts of an outstanding speed boost of up to three times faster than version 2.1 Éclair). Naturally, the improved performance makes this the version of choice and you can expect future handsets like the HTC Desire HD to come pre-loaded with it.
Web browsing using the Android WebKit is also a lot faster with the new Java API.
Specs and More
In terms of hardware features, the HTC Desire is the first mobile phone to place the Android operating system on a Snapdragon CPU aside from the Google Nexus One. Speaking of the Google branded Android, the two phones are so similar to each other that choosing one over the other is a simple matter of wanting to have the Sense user interface or not.
While some Android purists might not like having a custom UI, HTC’s newly launched Sense UI features not only makes the custom interface look better, it also provides plenty of new security features not originally available in the OS such as remote device access.
Tags: 5-mega-pixel, AMOLED, Android-2.2-Froyo, Google-Android, HTC, HTC-Desire, Qualcomm-Snapdragon
The average Android smart phone comes with a basic touch screen interface. In fact, that is all that a user needs to properly navigate the user interface. Occasionally, there are some devices that come equipped with physical keyboards; phones such as the Motorola Milestone and the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro. But this time, there is a new form factor that will be using the Google Android operating system: a Samsung handset using the BlackBerry form factor.
Sure, we can all refer to it as a portrait keyboard with a wide display, but everyone knows that these types of mobile phones bear an uncanny resemblance to the famous smart phones made by RIM. Anyway, one can only think that Samsung is planning to delve into the mobile business market with this new form factor that they are trying out.
Right now, there are no official or even leaked images of the Galaxy Q, so at best, we can all just imagine a Samsung Galaxy S with a cut down touch screen display and a four row keyboard on the face of the device. It should work, but most regular users will still opt for the more familiar Galaxy S smart phone.
It seems that with their successful run in the past few quarters, Samsung now has the freedom to let loose and experiment with new designs for smart phones. Surprisingly, they chose the Android OS to be running on this device instead of the proprietary Bada OS.
The Galaxy Q’s release date is still unconfirmed for now, but considering the device’s specifications, it should be released sometime before the end of this year. The device is also said to be running the new Samsung Hummingbird 1GHz processor, the success of the Q will show the power of Samsung’s latest CPU.
Tags: Google, Google-Android, Hummingbird-CPU, Samsung, Samsung-Galaxy-Q, Samsung-Galaxy-S
Fans of Google’s Android smart phones now have a new device to look forward to: the new Stream handset from electronics manufacturer Acer. The handset has been designed to deliver a complete Android experience when it comes to high end devices, which places the Stream on the same bracket as the Google Nexus One, HTC Desire, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, Samsung i9000 Galaxy S and Dell Streak Mini 5.
The only thing about the Acer Stream that buyers should remember is that online retailer eXpansys has retail exclusivity on the device, making it a very elusive Android smart phone. For those not too keen on ordering online, you might want to consider getting one of the other Android devices mentioned above.
For others, the Stream is very impressive handset that is worth trying out for one’s self.
The device’s look and form factor are pretty reminiscent of the Motorola Milestone –only this phone has better features but lacks a slide out QWERTY keyboard. But it does have those stylish line forms and slightly molded edges that give the handset a very solid look. At only 140 grams, the device is light and easy to handle, do not worry about placing it on your pocket as it will not encumber users.
The 3.7 inch AMOLED touch screen display easily matches the visual quality of all other smart phones in the bracket –with the exception of the Samsung Galaxy S which uses a super AMOLED screen. The Streak’s screen has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels which makes viewing both websites and videos quite the experience.
The handset has plenty of focus on its HDMI features. The 5 mega pixel camera records videos at 720p HD (30 FPS) and it even comes with a mini HDMI output port for viewing content on larger screen displays.
Tags: 5-mega-pixel, Acer, Acer-Stream, AMOLED, Google-Android, QWERTY
The Google Online Store only sells one product: the Nexus One Android smart phone. Now, the store has been taken down and the Nexus One is no longer available through this specific channel.
When asked about the move, Google stated that the Nexus One has already achieved what Google wanted and expected of the handset. With many other Android devices already being released, it is hard to imagine that the Android community would insist that the handset stay available.
Either way, Vodafone UK is still offering the handset on certain contracts. Since it has not been announced how much stocks they have or how long they plan on offering the Nexus One, those who intend to own this Google branded smart phone ought to get one as soon as possible.
The Nexus One, despite not being a major selling handset, is actually an impressive piece of technology. The device comes with a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen display, providing users with both amazing visual quality as well as responsive and accurate touch controls. The 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227 Snapdragon CPU gives the Nexus One all the necessary power and speed to handle any app and feature without skipping a beat.
The handset also comes with a 5 mega pixel camera, support for WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and all the usual smart phone features. Google has added in an upgraded version of the speech detection software –which gives the Nexus One speech to text features. Users can even use speech commands to initiate search queries as well.
This handset is loaded with Android 2.1 Éclair, and is compatible with the new Android 2.2 Froyo update. Froyo makes the Android OS run faster (both the UI and browser has been upgraded), and it will also be compatible with the newly launched Adobe Flash Player version 10.1.
Tags: 5-mega-pixel, AMOLED, Android-2.1-Eclair, Android-2.2-Froyo, Google, Google-Android, Google-Nexus-One, Qualcomm-Snapdragon, Vodafone
The Android Os is fast spreading in the world of smart phone users. Currently it is said that there are more devices using the Android OS over all others. Of course, this does not mean that all of these Android phones are running the same version of the OS.
Samsung has already unveiled their upcoming devices for the second half of 2010, and right now, the only question is which of their devices are going to be ported over from Korea to the UK? The I5500 S and the Galaxy Corby are certainly going to hit the shelves, but nothing has been reported about the Galaxy Tab.
HTC has once again caught the attention of many Android fans after a leaked roadmap showcased a couple of HTC devices that are coming later this year. The HTC Ace has not been detailed, but the HTC Vision has already come out in images. The Vision comes with a slide out QWERTY keyboard –which makes this handset the very first HTC Android that comes with a physical keyboard. In the meanwhile, HTC Androids (like the Sabor and the Scorpio) that were not part of the roadmap have disappeared from the radar.
It has recently been announced that the Japanese manufacturer Fujitsu has been eyeing the Google Android operating system. So far, it is rare that Japanese phone developers would make new handsets outside the land of the orient (and considering their very unique smart phones –or ketai as it is called in their country), but with Fujitsu, we are certainly hoping that whatever device they make will be meant for a world wide release.
Orange Mobile UK is also working on a proprietary smart phone. The Project JAL handset is rumored to be a low end Android smart phone featuring a 3.5 inch OLED screen and a 3 mega pixel camera.
Tags: Fujitsu, Google-Android, HTC, HTC-Ace, HTC-Vision, Orange, Project-JAL, Samsung, Samsung-Galaxy-Corby, Samsung-Galaxy-Tab
Microsoft has come a long way to prove that the Windows Phone 7 operating system is far more than the stiff and hard to use platform that the Windows Mobile OS was. And since they have first revealed the new system at the MWC, they have been able to convince a vast majority of people in the tech industry.
Now, all they need is the big reveal.
Microsoft has been sitting in a position below Apple and Google in the mobile phone industry and the computer giant seems to have had enough of playing third place. With the Windows Phone 7, they intend to show the industry that they have the right system to change the way people use smart phones. From what we have seen in the tech demos, it is easy to believe that Microsoft might just be right.
The new OS sports features that have never before been used in other handsets. The ability to transfer an app or a game from the smart phone to a computer –directly, has never been done before. In fact, this could change the way people treat daily work. The Xbox Live Games is one thing, but being able to continue progress in an app is one thing, and so far, they have only limited the application of the technology to this.
If they make this applicable to Microsoft’s Office software and other features –they can create an entirely new user experience. Outside of gaming, phones can start to be seen as real complements to desktop computers in terms of work.
According to recent reports, the new OS is expected to come out a full month ahead of schedule. September is the expected launch date for the first handsets that will be using the new platform –such as the LG Panther and the HTC Gold/Mondrian. HTC have had success with their HTC Desire and HTC Wildfire handsets which use the Google Android platform, so it will be interesting to see what they can come up with for Windows Phone 7.
Tags: Apple, Google, Google-Android, HTC, HTC-Gold, HTC-Mondrian, LG, LG-Panther, Microsoft, Windows-Phone-7
The Samsung Galaxy S i9000 has been on the market just recently, but is generating quite a lot of positive reviews from mobile phone fans and critics alike. It comes as no surprise as this latest offering from Samsung is their most technologically advanced mobile phone ever.
Cellular and internet access channels
Communication-wise, the phone provides the best in both network and internet connectivity. It has both class 12 EDGE and GPRS which provide access to cellular networks as well as 3G for fast internet connection where available. The phone also provides Wi-Fi support in hotspots for fast and free internet access. Wireline and wireless connectivity is provided by microUSB and Bluetooth, respectively, to exchange data with other compatible devices. Many Samsung Galaxy S deals have inclusive data allowances so you should be online in no time.
Android at the phone’s core
The Samsung Galaxy S has a fast and efficient ARM Cortex A8 1GHz processor beneath its hood with the popular Android 2.1 operating system (Éclair) on top. The device comes in 8 GB and 16 GB models which can be upgraded up to 32 GB by way of a MicroSD card slot if more storage space is required.
The Samsung Galaxy S i9000 handset boasts an extra-large 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with a capability to display 16 million colours at 480×800 pixels screen resolution. Further screen enhancement is provided by the phone’s TouchWiz 3.0 user interface which provides multiple home screens that are easy to navigate and highly-responsive to finger gestures.
Upload photos to social networking sites
The Samsung Galaxy S ships with a 5 megapixel digital camera which displays 2592 x 1944 pixels image resolution. The snapper features autofocus, smile and face detection, touch focus and geo-tagging functions. You can take professional-looking photos and upload it right away to your social networking sites as the phone provides superb integration to the popular social networks. The camera can also record video with 720p quality at 30 fps.
Tags: ARM-Cortex-A8, Bluetooth, EDGE, Google-Android, GPRS, microSD-card, Samsung, Samsung-Galaxy-S, Samsung-Galaxy-S-i9000, super-AMOLED, Wifi
As if the world really needs more reason to be excited for the iPhone. Apple’s brand is so famous and marketable that they have managed to sell an otherwise tech-spec impressive handset based mostly on the brand name alone –and if anyone is willing to argue that a large percentage of the 1.7 million people who bought the handset actually care about the specs, then Google’s Android should have been selling almost just as good.
In any case, it seems that the geniuses behind the Tap Tap Revenge iPhone game are now going to be teamed up with folks from the most iconic animation studio in the world, Disney.
That’s right folks, the Disney has “acquired” Tapulous, the company that is probably the single most successful app developer for the Apple iTunes store –and by successful, we mean a developer with paid apps that get downloaded a lot. Thanks to the easy to learn game, intuitive controls and vast music library of the Tap Tap series, it is not a surprise that so many people play their games.
And now, Disney will be jumping into the mix. At this point, nobody knows what the folks at Disney Interactive Media are planning by getting into the iPhone app market –but it is one gaming platform they cannot afford to ignore. While it is hard to determine if Steve Job’s majority shareholdings in Disney have been influential in this move, it is an undeniably smart move for Disney to choose Tapulous.
According to recent reports, Tapulous was last working on a social networking game –if Disney joins in the development of this, they will not only be able to provide Tapulous with the resources, but also present a much larger market demographic. And Tap’s founders know this. In an interview, Tapulous co-founder Bart Decrem stated that he is excited to be working with Disney.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPhone, apps, Disney, games, Google-Android, Steve-Jobs
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