Thursday 27 May 2010

Android Community

Android Community

T-Mobile Garminfone Arrives June 9th for $199

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:01 AM PDT

T-Mobile has recently announced the arrival of the Garmifone powered by Android. This is the first Android device that will feature Garmin navigation. T-Mobile also has a contest on twitter where they will give out a few of these to the lucky winners.

The $199 price includes a $50 rebate and a new 2 year contract. This is the second Android device T-Mobile is releasing in June. There's still a chance for a third if the Samsung Galaxy S gets a speedy release (not likely). Given the fact that this phone has Android 1.6 and is not as powerful as handsets that's been recently released, $199 may be a bit high.

Since this is a Garmin product, it will be full of navigation goodies and there is a dock included in the packaging. As far as the contest goes:

"The T-Mobile Garminfone Navigate Your Life Sweepstakes will launch at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time today on T-Mobile's Twitter account, giving Twitter users the opportunity to win one of five Garminfones. To enter, Twitter users must follow @TMobile_USA and are encouraged to tweet their most interesting story about getting lost without a GPS device. Entries must use the hashtag #needgarminfone. The deadline for entries is 11:59 a.m. on June 9. Official Rules are at http://ow.ly/1PPFr."

[via tmonews]

The HTC Legend will hit Australia by June 3rd

Posted: 27 May 2010 09:28 AM PDT

Soon all you folks in Australia will be able to purchase the HTC Legend. By June 3rd this Sense UI powered by Android 2.1 can be yours.  Vodafone and 3 Mobile will be the Australian carrier's, Vodafone will be offering it for free with a 49 AUD plan.

If contracts aren't your thing you can buy it outright for 599 AUD. The Legend has a 3.2 HVGA AMOLED display, Android 2.1, Sense UI, 3.5mm headset jack, a 5-megapixel autofocus camera and this device should be in line for Android 2.2. This device also features a very sleek all aluminum chassis with rubber ascents. The full press release is here.

[via unwiredview]

Palm’s Matias Duarte joins Google as User Experience Director for Android

Posted: 27 May 2010 09:14 AM PDT

Matias Duarte, Palm's senior director of human interface and user experience, has decided to leave the company.  Most of you may know HP recently acquired Palm a few weeks ago. There have been rumors that he could land at Google and help out with the development of Android. Those rumors were recently confirmed by Engadget.

"Mr. Duarte is the new User Experience Director for Android", this is statement directly from Mountain View which is Google's headquarters. Matias previously worked with Andy Rubin in the past on Sidekick projects in the past. This is a reunion of sorts. The addition of Duarte could open up Android to a whole new world of possibilities.

In all respect WebOS is a pretty decent operating system. It has a few strong points that Android could really benefit from. WebOS is possibly the best mobile OS in handling multi-tasking. A few of these features are sure to make an appearance on Android. With the help of Matias, Gingerbread could very well receive a few piece from Palm's flagship OS.

Acer CEO shows off 7-inch Android tablet

Posted: 27 May 2010 06:21 AM PDT

At a presentation in Beijing today, Acer's CEO Gianfranco Lanci teased the audience with a 7-inch Android tablet. When asked about the device he kept all information tight lipped. But the device is said to be running Android and is very fast. It appears Acer has a few more Android devices in the works that is almost ready for prime time.

There was a hint at this coming to a few unnamed carriers so we can expect it to have 3G connectivity. Like most modern tablets, Wi-Fi Bluetooth SD card slot is a lock. The version of Android is unknown also. It does have a built in QWERTY keyboard at the bottom of the device as well. This tablet contradicts statement made by Acer in the past, they said they have no interest in entering the tablet reteam. Maybe the success of the iPad changed their mind.

[via SlashGear]

T-Mobile Planning Something “Big” for June 19th For The MyTouch Slide

Posted: 27 May 2010 06:08 AM PDT


Since its release, T-Mobile has been building the myTouch brand to be the flagship of their company. The Sidekick was their signature device until more sophisticated handsets hit the market. T-Mobile has big plans the myTouch Slide and has dubbed June 19th to be a big day for the device.

I'm excited to find out what exactly could this be. The phone will release before the 19th so what does T-Mobile have up their sleeves? This event is so big that stores will be opening early on that day. We all know that this device will ship with a custom version of Sense call Expresso which is Android 2.1. There has been a rumor that this device will be updated to 2.2 as soon a week after it is launched. Maybe this will play a role on this date as well. And if it does that just gives more validity to 2.2 hitting the Desire in late June since they are both built of Sense. Only time will tell, I hope it turn out to be something good.

[via tmonews]

Fring is first to bring video calling to Android

Posted: 27 May 2010 05:51 AM PDT

With the upcoming release of the HTC EVO 4G, Samsung Galaxy S and Dell Streak, the need for video calling software will increase drastically. Yes, most of these devices will come with preloaded software that can handle this but this is Android and there always room for choice. Fring will be the first to offer video calling software to Android and it is capable of a lot more than just that.

This is quite an accomplishment when you factor in the fact Google hasn't added support for dual cameras in the SDK yet. Unlike the QIK app that's included in the HTC EVO, this app does give you the ability to perform video calling. Since Fring is a VoIP client, it will allow you to make free calls over Wi-Fi and video chat.

The guys over at Androidandme were able to dig up some information on this app as well as the video below. Fring has yet to update their blog with this information so we'll keep an eye out for it. Apps like this will be more in demand when more Android devices are released with dual camera. Check out the video demonstration below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dell Streak Will Be Available For O2 UK on June 4th

Posted: 27 May 2010 05:35 AM PDT

Its official, the Dell Streak, formerly known as the Mini 5, will make its debut this June 4th on O2 in the UK. It will release sometime this summer here in the US, AT&T has long been rumored to be the carrier of this and many other Dell Android devices to come. O2 has a Dell Streak information page live now on their site.

If you're unfamiliar with the Streak it is a 5 inch Android 1.6 MID, it will receive Android 2.2 later in the year. It has a 1GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 3G HSPA, GPS, a 5-megapixel autofocus camera. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is also included as well as a front facing camera that can be use for video calls.

There is currently no price set, there is a good chance that you will have the opportunity to get your hands on one free of charge for right plan. Head to Slashgear for a video demo and see how you like it.

[via slashgear]

Exploded Andy t-shirt ideal for Android geeks

Posted: 27 May 2010 03:39 AM PDT

Ever wondered what’s inside Google’s endearing little Android mascot?  Garry Booth’s Exploded Andy t-shirt spills all – including the cogs – and would, ironically, have been the ideal thing to wear at Google IO last week.

As well as the t-shirt, you can get a version of the exploded diagram droid on a poster, if you’re not quite brave enough to wear your geekiness on your chest.  Just try not to drip Froyo all down the front, okay?

Acer Stream gets official: AMOLED, 1GHz and HDMI [Video]

Posted: 27 May 2010 03:21 AM PDT

Acer have officially unveiled the Acer Stream, the company’s latest Android smartphone.  Running Android 2.1 Eclair on a 1Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the Stream has a 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED touchscreen, HSDPA, Bluetooth and WiFi b/g/n.  There’s also 512MB of RAM, 2GB of onboard storage (plus a microSD card slot) and a customized Acer UI.

A 5-megapixel camera can be used for 720p HD video recording, and there’s an HDMI port for hooking up your HDTV.  Elsewhere Acer has stuffed in GPS, UPnP and DLNA compliance.  The whole thing measures 11.2mm thick.

No word on how much the Acer Stream will cost, nor when exactly it might launch, but it was spotted earlier this week clearing the FCC.  That certainly suggests a US launch.

Update: Batista70Phone have a video demo of the Acer Stream:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Press Release:

Acer Stream

the Perfect Entertainment Machine

Powerful. Spectacular. Cutting-edge technologies. State-of-the-art connectivity. Ultra-fast. Highly sensitive. These are just some of the words that best describe Acer Stream, the latest technological jewel of the Taiwanese company. Defining it a smartphone would be reductive. In fact, Acer Stream is the utmost expression of technology, design, performance and entertainment.

Acer Stream is a high-end multimedia smartphone, optimized for watching movies, listening to music and enjoying web browsing like at home. Perfect for most demanding users who look for the best in entertainment.

Elegant and minimalist in design, Acer Stream is made from highly resistant materials and offers truly outstanding user interface and technical features, all in just 11.2 mm, ensuring users a unique and unrepeatable experience.

The completely brand new user interface has been totally redesigned in order to focus on what is essential to users and guarantee a simple and quick access to what matters to them.
- Enjoy smooth animations and fine graphics: surf between photos and video thanks to the stunningly fluid 3D interface and unlock the phone by a 'peeling' gesture, assure a cool but very functional detail!
- Read information straight from the lock screen widget: accessing ambient information on the idle screen gives the user what he needs before he even asks for it.
- Quickly start your favorite applications with one tap: the status bar appears as an innovative divider between logical spaces. It shows all the essential information, providing shortcuts to most frequently used settings and its position allows a very easy access to the settings or notifications.
- Easily switch applications with the History panel: the top part of the Home screen has been dedicated to applications history, with the benefit of reducing complexity and providing significant cues for navigation.
- Reorder applications across several pages at their convenience: Apps can be moved around from one page to another or easily uninstalled by simply dragging them to the bin.
- Customize the phone according to specific needs:a simple customization page accessible from the Home screen will be a pleasant surprise, enabling customers to tailor their smartphone through wallpaper and sound personalization.

Coupled with three types of predictive keyboards, a smart dialer and a redesigned contacts list, the Acer user interface makes using the smartphone an efficient and delightful experience.

Social and entertaining: All the most popular applications are pre-installed: Nemo player to enjoy multimedia content to the fullest, Acer UrFooz to create your virtual "look-a-like", add your profile and bookmarks and post it to your social networks, Facebook™ and Twidroid perfectly integrated into the address book.
And for music addicts Acer Stream features Spinlets™, a completely free streaming service that lets you browse and listen to major music labels and record companies for great music and instantly post what you find to your favorite Social Networking sites.

Main features:
Superb display quality: the touch screen with Amoled technology boasts 1.67 million exceptionally bright colors, through a generous 3.7" WVGA display. Furthermore, its incredible contrast (superior 2000:1) makes for clear images and perfect legibility in any environment and light condition. Moreover, this type of display consumes less energy to help increase battery life.

Ultrafast connectivity 3G+ for streaming: HSDPA 7.2 Mbps in download, Bluetooth and WiFi n, enabling faster transmission of multimedia content than ever!

Power and performance: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor, with its 512 MB RAM, makes the Acer Stream one of the fastest and most reactive phones on the market. The operating system behind Stream is Android version 2.1, better known as
Éclair.

Unique and high-quality multimedia features, enabling the recording of HD videos up to 720p. Listening to your favorite music or the radio with RDS has never been so pleasant; enjoy the Dolby Mobile quality, with powerful bass and crystal-clear clarity for an unparalleled purity of sound. UPnP technology enables content sharing with other devices. Furthermore, a 5MP photocamera and integrated GPS system allow photos and videos to be geotagged. Last but not least, you can connect the Acer Stream to your home TV with HDMI port and watch a movie on a larger screen.

2GB of internal Flash memory is ideal for downloading tons of applications and 3D games, while an 8GB memory card as free bundle and a micro-SD card slot support up to 32GB enables users to enjoy their favorite multimedia content at all times.

i Wireless Starts Selling the Nexus One in Retail Stores

Posted: 26 May 2010 09:29 PM PDT

One of the first things Google mentioned, after they announced that their online phone store wouldn’t be staying open (or selling phones for that matter), was that the Nexus One, their first Android superphone (that birthed a whole bunch more), would start being sold in retail stores around the world. We’ve got word where it’s showing up here in the States, and it’s somewhere that, honestly, we didn’t expect.

i Wireless, in all of its 250 retail stores caught up in the Heartland of America (Iowa, western Illinois, and eastern Nebraska), have begun selling the superphone in their brick-and-mortar locations. But, there’s a spot of bad news: they’ve decided to mark it for $300. And yes, that’s with a mail-in rebate, and signing a new, two-year contract. So . . . Not much of a subsidy, if you ask us. It should also be mentioned that, even though they’re closing down the store, they’re still selling the N1 right now, and you can pick it up for $180 on a new, two-year contract. No mail-in rebate. So . . . Perhaps getting your phone mailed to you is still the right way to go, for now.

[via PhoneScoop]

HTC Magic Gets a Little Taste of Froyo [Video]

Posted: 26 May 2010 09:17 PM PDT

So, officially, the Dream and Magic (or G1 and myTouch, if you’re local) aren’t getting Android 2.2. But, thanks to the fact that there’s a huge group out there that focus on creating all the goodness for HTC devices, official doesn’t mean anything. As you can see here in this video, an HTC Magic does indeed have Froyo on it, and there’s some things working. Though, there’s a lot more that’s not working (but everything can be fixed in time, right?).

Thanks to the XDA Forums, you can thankfully put Froyo on your device. However, due to the fact that there’s still some room for improvements, there’s a lot of things not working. Such as: WiFi, camera, GPS, speakerphone, and the Browser crashes every time you try to install Flash Player 10.1.

But! What does work? Where’s the good news, right? If you go ahead and put Froyo on your first generation handsets, you’ll get the ability to make calls, access 3G, get a blinking notification LED, the use of the Android Marketplace and allowed to sync with Google, and the bar notifications work. So, it’s not a perfect release, but hey, it’s not official, you know? Go ahead and take a shot at it, and of course, let us know what you think.

Click here to view the embedded video.

[via Android France]
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