Wednesday, 21 July 2010

Android Community

Android Community

Android 2.1 Now on More Than Half of Android Devices

Posted: 21 Jul 2010 10:53 AM PDT

It’s about time for a pie chart. Hopefully you agree, because we know Google does. And that’s what this is: a pie chart, again letting all of us know where, exactly, Android and its versions stand amongst the handsets available in the market. And, not surprising, we can see that Android 2.1 is still making a steady climb, to where it stands currently at a prodigal number. While Android 2.2 is still making its debut, and therefore showcases a small number.

So, where do we stand? Well, there’s still a healthy amount of Android 1.5 devices out there. Right now, we’re seeing an 18.9% market presence. While Android 1.6 rests firmly at 22.1%. The big hit is Android 2.1, though, as we can see it on 55.5% of devices out there in the wild. As for Android 2.2, well, that’s at only 3.3%. No surprise there, considering it hasn’t officially been released by anyone other than Google, and only for the Nexus One. Hopefully that will change in the coming months, especially as it gets put on the original Droid, the Droid X, and the phalanx of Galaxy S devices out there.

[via Android Developers]

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Nexus One for Vodafone to Get Android 2.2 Next Week

Posted: 20 Jul 2010 03:11 PM PDT

If you bought the Nexus One on Vodafone, you got Android 2.1. No surprise there, considering it was the phone to launch the mobile OS into the world. But, with that being said, everyone who owns a Nexus One has either been waiting patiently to get their official upgrade to Froyo (which was released by Google a little while ago), especially those on carriers. Getting updates from your wireless carrier can be a bit of a pain, as all Motorola Droid owners know, but Vodafone is hoping to calm of their wireless customers down here next week.

Vodafone has announced that, beginning next week, Vodafone customers that own the Nexus One will be able to upgrade their OS to the official, Vodafone-approved Android 2.2 system. The update isn’t going to get dumped on all of the Nexus Ones at the same time, though. As usual, it will be a staggered roll-out, so you’ll have to be a bit more patient, probably.

And, if you’re curious as to why it took a bit of time before Vodafone pulled the trigger on this one, you’ll probably be ecstatic to know that they’ve had to tweak a few things in the system. Like, getting rid of the Amazon MP3 Store, as well as Google Goggles. There’ll be a few more tweaks here and there, but hopefully nothing major. And you’ll be able to download both of those features from the Market. Also, worth mentioning: the WiFi tethering application? The first time you turn it on, it will be open for everyone to see. So, if you don’t want people hijacking your data, make sure to password protect it as soon as you can.

[via Android Central]

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Dell Streak Pre-Sales About to Kick Off

Posted: 20 Jul 2010 03:04 PM PDT

There’s been a few other Android-based launches the last few days, but hopefully you haven’t forgotten about Dell’s 5-inch mobile Internet device (MID). It’s still coming. And while it didn’t show up last week, like we hoped it would, Dell wants you to know it’s still happening. Soon. So soon, in fact, that they’ve managed to begin preparation for a pre-sale period. Sure, we’ve seen other pre-sales lead to nothing more than vaporware, but we’re pretty sure Dell will come through with this one.

Dell is saying that the Streak is set to launch by the end of July, which is, well, next week, so obviously they are doing what they can to get the populace ready. To prepare for that time, they’re going to open a 24-hour pre-sale “window,” which will allow some folks to get their orders in before everyone else. What makes it better, though, is the fact you’ll get free second-day shipment, a Bluetooth headset for only 99 cents, and the right to brag about your purchase before anyone else. You need to sign up at the Dell Streak’s site to get notified as to when this 24-hour window opens up, so if you’re interested (and we know someone out there is), then go ahead and follow through the link and get ready to pre-order.

[via Dell]

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Samsung Galaxy S in France to Get Android 2.2 in September

Posted: 20 Jul 2010 02:36 PM PDT

There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Samsung Galaxy S, in its original form overseas, is doing quite well for itself. So well, in fact, that a spokesperson for Samsung France is actually saying that the update to Android 2.2, better known as the frozen desert Froyo, is coming as quickly as September. Sure, it may not be tomorrow, but at least it’s better than some day.

The troubling part for the rest of the world, and especially those that are Samsung Galaxy S devices, but not actually the Samsung Galaxy S, is whether or not that the update to Froyo means everywhere else, too. Or, if it’s just Galaxy S devices that were purchased in France. But, there’s a shining glimmer of hope in the fact that the France version of the Galaxy S is the international version, which hopefully means that other models like it (not the ones in Korea, or any of the models launching in America) will also get the update. Now we just have to wait and hear from Samsung when the other versions will be getting their own updates. So, try to stay patient.

[via Unwired View]

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Adobe’s FlashTime Brings Peer-to-Peer Video Calling to Android Soon

Posted: 20 Jul 2010 02:19 PM PDT

So, video calling is a big thing now a days. With Apple’s own variation out and about, and the EVO 4G doing quite well for itself with its own front-facing camera, and considering there’s still more devices coming down the pipeline with the hardware, we can figure that a lot of companies out there are going to want to get into the action. Adobe is no different. And, after titling their new software platform FlashTime, we imagine that they’re obviously
just going for the jugular here. We welcome the fight.

FlashTime is built with the still incoming Air 2.5, and it’s built to a be a peer-to-peer video calling application. Instead of having a camera specifically built for video chatting, it’s the other way around. The software will just use whatever camera you have, which doesn’t make that much of a difference, but it’s worth a bullet point.

The real point here is the fact that it’s using Flash, and that means that it’s going to be able to do cross-platform easily enough, as well as make it onto new versions of Android just as easily. So, no losing the ability just because you change phones (hopefully).

[via Hexus.net]

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Motorola Droid 2 Launching With Android 2.2, Spy Shots Suggest

Posted: 20 Jul 2010 02:09 PM PDT

Okay, today’s getting ridiculous. Apparently now that the Droid X is out, the Droid 2 is trying to make up for some lost time in the spotlight. So, right on the heels of seeing a freshly leaked image of the Droid 2 running Android 2.2 in its Settings screen, we get this spy-shot of an internal Verizon system. What’s it say? Well, you guessed it: The Droid 2 will launch with Android 2.2.

Are we surprised by this? No, not at all. Like we’ve said in the past, we imagine that if the Droid 2 is launching anywhere near the end of August (between August 12th and August 23rd are the tentative dates at this point), then it makes perfect sense. The Droid X is scheduled to see the update around the same time, and if they both run the same “skin,” then seeing one launch with the update while the other one gets it OTA style, well, that just makes sense.

It’s good to see the Droid 2 launch with Android 2.2. That means it’s running in the family, more or less, to see major Operating System upgrades launching on high profile devices. Of course, whether or not you think the Droid 2 is actually a high profile device is purely up to you, but with that 1GHz processor under the hood, and a revamped keyboard to make it something like “great” compared to the original’s, we’d imagine many people would think the upgrade is perfectly suited for “high profile.”

[via Phandroid]

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Motorola Droid X Experiencing Screen Issues

Posted: 20 Jul 2010 01:07 PM PDT

If you were able to get your hands on a Motorola Droid X, then hopefully you’ve been having the time of your life with your new device. Especially considering no one else can get their hands on one right now. Hopefully you aren’t a few of the folks out there who have been experiencing some major screen problems. Because, at least according to some Verizon employees around the nation, these issues are pretty common amongst the first batch of Xs released into the world.

Symptoms are: flickering screens, double-banding both horizontally and vertically, or the screen blacking out entirely. Some have even mentioned that some of these issues can happen all at once, and just stop for some time before appearing again. Thankfully, while there were still some devices to be found, people were able to replace them at their local Verizon locations without much of a hassle. As you can see from the videos, it’s definitely a problem, but until Verizon or Motorola come forward and tell us how many Droid Xs are actually affected by this situation, we’ll just have to assume that it isn’t all of them. Or even most of them. Of course, let us know in the comments if you’ve had the problem, or if you haven’t noticed anything at all.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Motorola Droid 2 Could Launch as Early as August 12, R2-D2 Along for the Ride

Posted: 20 Jul 2010 12:32 PM PDT

Well, it’s one of those days, apparently. Despite the fact we just heard yesterday that the Droid 2 would probably launch on August 23rd, here’s your first contradictory statement about the matter at hand. According to a trusted source of Engadget’s, it sounds like the Droid 2 is actually going to have a soft launch on August 12th. Why a soft launch? Well, that’s where that August 23rd part comes in, strangely enough.

According to the source, the device will indeed hit store shelves on the 12th, but the heavy marketing for the new device won’t actually kick off until August 23rd. Strange, especially considering the advertising muscle behind the DROID line-up of devices, but obviously they’ve got some kind of plan. And hopefully Verizon loves it as much as another person when a plan comes together.

Now, that R2-D2 part. Apparently, there’s going to be a sorts of “special edition” handset, where there’s going to be a white R2-D2 on the back of the Droid 2. Yes. On the back of the Droid 2, there will be a representation of R2-D2 from Star Wars. But, it also makes perfect sense, considering that the DROID name is actually a registered trademark of Lucasfilms, so why not actually get into the graphic side of it, too? Engadget doesn’t know if the special edition variation will launch hand-in-hand with the “standard” handset. What would you go for? A no R2-D2 version, or one that’s sporting the little droid?

[via Engadget]

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Motorola Droid X and HTC Incredible Pushed Back to August

Posted: 20 Jul 2010 12:01 PM PDT

One of the problems with having one of the most sought-after smartphones in the market, is the fact that the manufacturers tend to have a lot of problems keeping them in stock. It has actually been a pretty big problem since the beginning of the Summer, at least, and there doesn’t look like there’s a solution in the near future. While the Incredible’s been out of “immediate satisfaction” categories since pretty much its inception into the market, there was a few people out there hoping that the Droid X wouldn’t fall into the same territory. That’s not happening, though.

Both the Droid Incredible and the Droid X, from HTC and Motorola respectively, have now been delayed until August 3rd. For the Incredible, this is pretty much standard — but the Droid X has only been pushed back once, and hopefully it will stay that way. Through massive sales out of the gate, it looks like the Droid X will be segregated to that “Do you have one?” category, rather than “Hey, I’ve got one of those, too.” Probably good for those of us who do have the Droid X, though — at least we have something to show off for a little while longer, right?

[via SlashGear]

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