Android Community |
- Motorola Tweaks Android Update Timeline… For the worse
- Symbian and Android will dominate mobile market, says Gartner.
- Android 2.2 is not for tablets – Says Google, May block App Market Use
- Google adds Google Voice Widget to Android Home Screen
- T-Mobile G2 gets $199.99 price tag and release date courtesy of Best Buy
- Android Notifier bringing incoming calls and alerts to your desktop
- Qik planning to work with FaceTime APIs; estimates 75 million copies preloaded next year
- Motorola’s “Stingray” Android Tablet spotted in Verizon’s Internal Inventory
- 5 New Android Tablets from Archos, even a $100 unit
- Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Android tablet rumored to have AMOLED display
- Google TV Launching in September, Intel CEO Reveals
- Samsung Fascinate rooted on Day 1
- Bing not taking over all phones on Verizon
- Google Maps 4.5 – Now with Walking Navigation (Beta)
| Motorola Tweaks Android Update Timeline… For the worse Posted: 10 Sep 2010 10:38 AM PDT If you own a MOTOBLUR device you already realize that your phones potential for updates is dwindling. While Motorola prepares it's upcoming devices for Android 2.2 and beyond, Cliq, Cliq XT, and Backflip owners are waiting on a 2.1 update that may never even come to release.
The Motorola support forum has updated their Android timeline once again and the news gets worse for some. Once expected to get the update in second quarter of this year, the CLIQ and CLIQ XT are looking at late Q3/early Q4, at the same time as the Backflip. The Devour, however, will stay where it is because that’s what Motorola believes is the “best combined hardware and software experience”. The same goes for international QUENCH, DEXT, and BACKFLIP devices. No word yet on any plans for 2.2, but if I owned one of these devices I would set my expectations on Eclair, at the very most. [Via AndroidGuys] ) |
| Symbian and Android will dominate mobile market, says Gartner. Posted: 10 Sep 2010 10:29 AM PDT Gartner expects that Symbian and Android together will account for 59.8 percent of the total worldwide mobile OS market by 2014. They expect the 2 to be split almost equally – Symbian with 30.2 percent, and Android with 29.6 percent.
Gartner also makes predictions for RIM's BlackBerry and Apple's iOS market share come 2014, which are expected to take the 3rd and 4th place spots in the mobile market. When Symbian and Android will be soaring, Gartner expects BlackBerry OS to have just 11.7 percent of the mobile market and iOS to own 14.9 percent compared to Symbian and Android at over 59 percent. Symbian might still lead the mobile market in 2014 due to “Nokia’s volume and the push into more mass-market price points.” Android’s success can be attributed to “communication service providers’ marketing and vendor support,” Gartner said. Only time will tell if Android will truly dominate the mobile market, but if numbers continue as they are now, we will definitely see Android pass up many mobile operating systems in the coming years. [Via cnet] ) |
| Android 2.2 is not for tablets – Says Google, May block App Market Use Posted: 10 Sep 2010 10:13 AM PDT Google is now stating that for tablets larger than 10 inches (such as the iPad), the best option is it's own Chrome OS that is expected to be released this fall. Although Gingerbread and Honeycomb have been strongly hinted to be tablet-friendly versions of Android this is the first time Google has confirmed that Froyo isn't a platform for iPad rivals because it simply isn't optimized for such devices. Google even goes as far as saying that it may disallow such designs the ability to use its Android Market app marketplace.
“Which devices do, and which don’t will be unit specific, but Froyo is not optimized for use on tablets. If you want Android market on that platform, the apps just wouldn’t run, [Froyo] is just not designed for that form factor. We want to make sure that we’re going to create a application distribution mechanism for the Android market, to ensure our users have right experience.” The Google Chrome OS will be a generally more tablet friendly OS that will be perfectly optimized for bigger devices competing for the iPad market share. [Via TechRadar] ) |
| Google adds Google Voice Widget to Android Home Screen Posted: 10 Sep 2010 09:56 AM PDT If you use Google Voice, and really why wouldn't you – it’s such a great free service that lets you have one number to ring all of your devices – you can now add a standalone Google Voice widget to the home screen on your Android phone.
"Mobile is all about getting super fast access to what you're looking for and Google Voice is no exception. So, today we're releasing an update to the Android app, which gives you immediate access to your Google Voice Inbox and settings via two new home screen widgets.
The Google Voice Inbox widget brings your most recent voicemails and text messages to your home screen. With the widget, you can now quickly flip through messages in your Inbox, and if you choose to select a message preview, it will open in the Google Voice app." From the widget you can quickly compose and send free text messages via your Google Voice number, change your settings such as what calls to place via Google Voice, and activate Do Not Disturb directly all of your calls to voice mail. [Via GoogleMobile Blog] ) |
| T-Mobile G2 gets $199.99 price tag and release date courtesy of Best Buy Posted: 10 Sep 2010 08:16 AM PDT One thing missing yesterday from T-Mobile USA's announcement of the T-Mobile G2 was the price point (and release date) of the much anticipated Android 2.2 Froyo device. Luckily for us, Best Buy's press release has confirmed that the G2 will be up for preorder today starting at $199 with a new two-year agreement. The preorders will start shipping on October 6th.
The phone itself includes a 3.7-inch display, QWERTY keyboard, 5-megapixel camera, WiFi and GPS, along with HSPA+ connectivity. There's also an optical trackpad, 800MHz processor (with separate – and apparently potent – graphics chip) and a stock Android UI. Press Release: “Best Buy Mobile Launches Pre-Sale of the T-Mobile® G2™ with Google™ Best Buy Mobile today announced the T-Mobile® G2™ with Google™ will be available for pre-orders starting Friday, September 10. It will launch in stores October 6 and will retail for $199.99 with new two-year activation. By adding the T-Mobile® G2™ with Google™ to its assortment, Best Buy Mobile furthers its position as the place for consumers to research and purchase the smart phone that is right for their needs. Best Buy Mobile has the most under smart phones under one roof, including the iPhone 4, HTC EVO 4G (Black or White version), the full line of Samsung Galaxy smart phones and the BlackBerry Torch, among others. The G2 is T-Mobile's first phone on its advanced network that lets consumers connect at 4G speeds. It has the Android 2.2 operating system, an exclusive hinge design (HTC calls it "Z-Hinge") that opens up to a QWERTY keyboard and a full touch screen 3.7" S-TFT WVGA with clear images and wide viewing angle. Pre-orders can be made by visiting any local Best Buy or Best Buy mobile standalone store.” [Via Slashgear] ) |
| Android Notifier bringing incoming calls and alerts to your desktop Posted: 10 Sep 2010 07:58 AM PDT When working, many people are distracted from and pay little attention to their phones. sometimes missing incoming calls or messages. Now there is a way to get those notifications on your desktop over WiFi or Bluetooth from your mobile Android device.
Android Notifier does exactly that, bringing pop-up alerts to your desktop whether it be Windows, OSX or Linux based. These notifications are customizable bringing the option of displaying incoming calls, SMS messages, battery messages and voicemails right there on your desktop. Android Notifier is a free download for Android Phones and Macintosh computers. Windows and Linux users will need the app on their phone and Android-Notifier-Desktop on their computer. [Via Geek.com] ) |
| Qik planning to work with FaceTime APIs; estimates 75 million copies preloaded next year Posted: 09 Sep 2010 08:35 PM PDT Qik, the mobile video recording, sharing and chat application has told Engadget that they are definitely planning to integrate FaceTime compatibility as soon as the free APIs are released by Apple.
Not only are they happy to work and integrate, they're engaged in deals to make sure Qik comes preloaded on devices from most every major carrier and handset manufacturer worldwide. Looks like soon enough FaceTime will be coming to the masses as the new standard in video calling. [Via Engadget] ) |
| Motorola’s “Stingray” Android Tablet spotted in Verizon’s Internal Inventory Posted: 09 Sep 2010 08:17 PM PDT Today must just be the day of Android tablet leaks with another tablet, this one by Motorola, hitting the internet. The Motorola MZ600 has surfaced again, this time in Verizon's internal inventory showing demo, dummy and official versions.
This likely means the device is a go for next year but nothing is official as of yet. There has also not been a price point rumored or confirmed but we will keep you updated as anything comes up. [Via AndroidGuys] ) |
| 5 New Android Tablets from Archos, even a $100 unit Posted: 09 Sep 2010 07:22 PM PDT Archos has always been a major contender in the media player and tablet market, even before the iPad hit shelves. Looking to re-establish themselves as an industry powerhouse they have released not one, but 5 new tablets running Google's Android platform. They even have a device that starts just under a hundred bucks.
The devices come in many different flavors for different uses and include:
[Via MobileMag] ) |
| Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Android tablet rumored to have AMOLED display Posted: 09 Sep 2010 06:58 PM PDT It looks like Samsung is now looking into AMOLED displays for more than just their mobile phones. Their Galaxy Tab could end up shipping with a 1024×480 Pixel resolution AMOLED screen (formally rumored to be 800 x 600).
According to Digitimes the upcoming tablet will instead be making use of an AMOLED screen. This will offer incredibly rich and brilliant colors, that are especially noticeable when placed next to a TFT display. Click here to view the embedded video. [Via CrunchGear] ) |
| Google TV Launching in September, Intel CEO Reveals Posted: 09 Sep 2010 06:01 PM PDT According the the Wall Street Journal, it seems that Google TV will hit shelves a lot sooner than we all originally expected. Two days ago we heard from Eric Schmidt that Google TV would launch sometime this fall. However, this September launch date is far more precise than Google's word.
It is said that Google TV itself will be launched this month, although there has been no word on whether the hardware from either Logitech or Sony will debut around this same time frame. Intel's CEO, Paul Otellini, went on to say that while the right chipset will get the job done, Intel is trying to make some headway into the software front as well. He even goes on to reveal that Intel is responsible for about 50% of the code that is Google TV. [Via Slashgear] ) |
| Samsung Fascinate rooted on Day 1 Posted: 09 Sep 2010 05:18 PM PDT
Now it is only a matter of time until Bing is stripped from the device and the more native (and welcomed) Google experience is re-introduced to the Verizon handset along with many other unofficial features. [Via AndroidCentral] ) |
| Bing not taking over all phones on Verizon Posted: 09 Sep 2010 04:53 PM PDT It turns out that Bing, the popular search engine from Microsoft, will not be the only search engine on all future Android phones. Verizon reported to LaptopMag that Bing will "not be the search engine on all of our phones in the future."
In fact, once the Fascinate gets updated to Android 2.2 (Froyo), still no confirmed date, that Google Search will be available in the Android market. However, Bing will still be the only option in the browser on the devices and the search button on the phone will only integrate with Bing. [Via Laptop Mag] ) |
| Google Maps 4.5 – Now with Walking Navigation (Beta) Posted: 09 Sep 2010 02:28 PM PDT Google has just rolled out an update to their Maps application with a much requested feature, walking navigation. It comes meshed with the previously available walking directions and navigation features into one beta product – Walking Navigation (Beta v4.5).
This update brings walking directions in the same way we have had turn-by-turn directions for driving. It also brings the new Google Maps search bar at the top of the application scree. Here you can search, check places, and toggle layers in a more convenient way. You can now also filter search results by distance/ratings, view prices categorized with dollar signs, and look at cross streets for places. Google Maps 4.5 is available now as an update in the Android Market. [Via AndroidGuys] ) |
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