Thursday 4 November 2010

Android Community

Android Community


Samsung expect 1m Galaxy Tab sales by end of 2010

Posted: 04 Nov 2010 07:46 AM PDT

Samsung is expecting to sell more than one million of its Galaxy Tab Android slates this year, according to mobile division chairman JK Shin.  The executive made the prediction at the Korean launch of the 7-inch tablet, saying that “although the launching of Galaxy Tab has been delayed a little bit [in Korea], consumer responses in Europe and Asia have been quite good and we are confident of meeting one million sales mark this year.”

The predictions will be invariably compared to Apple’s iPad sales figures, with the company shifting its first million units in 28 days. More on the Samsung Galaxy Tab in our full review over at SlashGear.

[via Electronista]

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LG Optimus One hands-on [Video]

Posted: 04 Nov 2010 04:38 AM PDT

LG officially announced their Optimus One smartphone back in September, but the entry-level Froyo handset is only now making its sales debut.  We caught up with LG in London for the Optimus One launch event, and grabbed some hands-on time with the phone.

First impressions are that the Optimus One, unsurprisingly, is not going to set the Android world alight.  The phone has a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen and a 600MHz Qualcomm processor, though it never felt particularly sluggish, as well as a 3.2-megapixel camera on the back and 3G/WiFi/Bluetooth.  There’s Google Maps Navigation support, along with mobile hotspot functionality, and a 2GB microSD card included in the box.

LG has made a few modifications to the base Froyo build, and generally they’re pretty useful.  The shortcut bar at the bottom of the display can be easily switched around to show your choice of four apps – you just tap and hold an icon in the app launcher, then drag it down to the slot you’d like it to occupy – and there’s a new folder-style organizing system for the app launcher itself.  Meanwhile uninstalling apps is easy too, with an iOS-style “X” button on each icon rather than users being forced to dig through the menus.

The LG Optimus One is available through UK retailer The Carphone Warehouse from today, priced from free with a new, £20 per month contract.  More details in the gallery and video below.

lg_optimus_one_0 lg_optimus_one_1 lg_optimus_one_2 lg_optimus_one_3 lg_optimus_one_4 lg_optimus_one_5 lg_optimus_one_6 lg_optimus_one_7 lg_optimus_one_8 lg_optimus_one_9 lg_optimus_one_10 lg_optimus_one_11 lg_optimus_one_12 lg_optimus_one_13 lg_optimus_one_14 lg_optimus_one_15 lg_optimus_one_16 lg_optimus_one_17 lg_optimus_one_18 lg_optimus_one_19 lg_optimus_one_20 lg_optimus_one_21 )


SNES controller hacked to work with Dell Streak Android MID

Posted: 04 Nov 2010 03:56 AM PDT

We really like some cool hacks and mods for Android devices around here. I bet a bunch of you are gamers and probably have some fond memories of gaming on the Super Nintendo back in the day. You will recognize the controller from the SNES right away.

A geek has taken said controller and hacked the thing to work as a controller for the Dell Streak. The controller hooks to the Streak through the PDMI port and the works was hacked up by a dude going by the name 0TheRain0.

The hack used a spare Streak connector and a Teensy USB Microcontroller board to make the magic happen. Apparently the controller is recognized by the Streak as a USB keyboard and the controller is claimed to work with all the emulators on the market today.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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PC World offers Galaxy Tab for £499.99

Posted: 04 Nov 2010 03:38 AM PDT

If you have your heart set on a Galaxy Tab and live in the UK you are probably looking at all the ads you can get your hands on looking for the best deal. So far the best price around on the Galaxy Tab we have spotted has been £529.99. We have spotted a better deal that will save you some money.

UK retailers PC World is offering the Samsung Galaxy Tab in 16GB flavor for £499.99. The only caveats are that you have to purchase online to get that price, you can't reserve it and then go to your local location and pick the thing up. The good news is that delivery is free.

The Tab has a 7-inch screen, a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, Android 2.2 as the OS, and the screen resolution is 1024 x 600. Storage capacity can be expanded with microSD cards. Rounding out the features is WiFi, headphone output, and Bluetooth.

Via Twitter

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Toshiba now shipping FOLIO 100 Android tablet

Posted: 04 Nov 2010 03:16 AM PDT

We now have another Android tablet option on the market from Toshiba. If you are looking for an Android tablet, Toshiba has announced that its FOLIO 100 is now shipping. Sister site SlashGear went hands on with the FOLIO 100 back in September. The tablet is shipping as of now all across Europe and sadly US availability looks unlikely.

If you missed the tablet the first time around it has a 10.1-inch screen and can run all the apps that are offered for Android devices. It will play Flash video and content with a plug-in that will be offered as a free download sometime this month. The tablet runs Android 2.2.

That 10.1-inch screen support multi touch with four points at one time and runs the Tegra 2 chipset. The tablet also has the sort of connectivity you expect in netbooks with a USB port and a mini USB port, a headphone socket, HDMI output, and a SD card slot. The internal storage on the tablet is 16GB and the battery promises seven hours per charge.

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Realtor.com unveils new Android app for home shoppers

Posted: 04 Nov 2010 02:47 AM PDT

Shopping for a house is fun for like the first two days. After that things get tedious and if you have to get a significant other to agree to a home that you like it can quickly move from being fun to being something that you loathe. If you are an Android user looking for a new home Realtor.com has announced a new Android app just for you.

The app is on the Android market right now and is called the Real Estate App. The app allows you to browse about 4 million homes that are for sale all around the country at no charge. The search function has lots of ways to find homes close to neighborhoods you like. If you find a house in a nice area and it’s too much, you can search for homes nearby that are in your price range.

The app will offer multiple photos of each listing, open house information, and pricing on just about all the houses for sale. The listings are updated every 15 minutes and you can save searches and listings. The app also has a voice note program that lets you speak notes on properties and then send them to family and your agent.

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Sharp GALAPAGOS 003SH & 005SH 3D Android smartphones hit Japan

Posted: 04 Nov 2010 02:21 AM PDT

Sharp Japan has outed a pair of 3D-capable Android smartphones that don’t require special glasses.  The Sharp GALAPAGOS 003SH and GALAPAGOS 005SH have both launched on Japanese carrier Softbank; each has a 3.8-inch WVGA display and runs Android 2.2 Froyo on Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor.

The 003SH has a 9.6-megapixel camera, while the 005SH has an 8-megapixel camera and a sliding QWERTY keyboard.  No word on when – or even if – they will launch outside of Japan.

[via 3D-Display-Info]

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T-Mobile has their numbers wrong, says AT&T

Posted: 03 Nov 2010 11:54 PM PDT

Let the 4G wars begin. AT&T is making a bold yet predictable move in bashing T-Mobiles recently renamed ’4G’ network. They go as far as saying they even currently cover more people than T-Mobile does currently, or will by year’s end.


In an email to Phone School AT&T stated:

"T-Mobile's claims about 4G are based on the same HSPA+ technology we have deployed to 180 million people today, more than T-Mobile's reported 140 million, and we'll have it rolled out to 250 million people by the end of this month, substantially more than the 200 million T-Mobile says it will have by year-end."

Now although AT&T currently has no phone that can connect to it’s 4G network, they do offer a USB modem that will allow this connection. AT&T’s HSPA+ network could be called 4G if they followed T-Mobile’s highly debated example, but to what extent they will refer to it as 4G will be up to them.

The interesting part comes in with T-Mobile marketing it’s network as “America’s largest 4G network” which is semi-true – by definition. But, if AT&T was to adopt the 4G branding, technically they will be the biggest.

[Via AndroidAndMe]

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myTouch 4G Updates for Reviewers, Download for All New Users

Posted: 03 Nov 2010 09:07 PM PDT

As you may well know by now, sometimes when reviewer-models of phones are sent out to the world of publications, tiny tweaks are needed to be done (or at least taken into account) when the review is being done. Some of those particular updates are happening now for the myTouch 4G. The first of these, we’re informed, is a cryptic “software update” notification that will be available soon, available in a similar fashion as other Android OS updates. From there, it gets totally exciting.

A newer version of “T-Mobile Video Chat by Qik,” recommended for the reviewer’s review of video chat on myTouch 4G, is available for download at the Android Market now. This new version is found by searching in the Market for “Qik” and downloading the “T-Mobile Video Chat by Qik” title. Customers who purchase the myTouch 4G will be receiving an OTA providing both the new software and the Qik update. This update will come to customers within 2 hours after their first phone call.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab and Continuum Dummy Units Hit Verizon Stores

Posted: 03 Nov 2010 07:20 PM PDT

If you have been considering a Galaxy Tab or Samsung Continuum and would like some hands-on time with with either one, now is your chance – with a dummy unit at least.

Tipsters have informed AndroidLife that the units are in fact arriving at Verizon stores.

Interestingly enough there is even Samsung Continuum accessories on display. The same ones seen in the Verizon holiday gift ideas page. You can purchase Silicone and Snap On Hard Covers for the yet to be announced device.

We should be hearing more of the Continuum here soon, it seems the only thing missing now is the actual device.

[Via AndroidLife]

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LG Optimus T, Motorola Defy, and the T-Mobile Comet available now

Posted: 03 Nov 2010 06:12 PM PDT

Along with the much more hyped myTouch 4G, T-Mobile has also gone and released the LG Optimus T, Motorola Defy, and the T-Mobile Comet today.

The T-Mobile comet is the new ultra-affordable Android starter phone that features many of the essentials making it an optimal phone for many users not looking for an ultra-packed feature phone such as the myTouch. You can pick that up here for free (2-year contract) or 199.99 without contract. The T-Mobile Optimus T is another basic Android handset also bringing you some normal features, you can pick that up here for free with a 2-year, or $239.99 without one.

And finally another featured packed phone, the Motorola Defy, is hitting the network. Being advertising as the “phone that can keep up with your active lifestyle and busy social life” it’s focused more on durability and ease of use rather than aesthetics. You can pick yours up now for $99.99 with a 2-year contract, and $379.99 without one, here.

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Twitter For Android gets big Update

Posted: 03 Nov 2010 06:04 PM PDT

After hearing about the new Facebook updates, Twitter has released some updates of their own to compete against their biggest rival. The update doesn’t add a whole bunch of new features, but it does improve the speed significantly and makes the app just look better in general.

One of the biggest new upgrades was the pull-to-refresh, which iPhone users had been using for a while now. This feature allows you refresh on an option bar that is shown after swiping on a tweet. There are some new quoting features available for retweeting and avatar pictures are now high resolution. One minor problem is that all the avatars don’t load right away while you scroll past them. Its just a minor problem and no reason not to upgrade or switch clients. The update is free so go ahead and scan the barcode below or find it in the market.

Via [Twitter Blog]

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Droid Pro to have presale Nov. 9, launch date is Nov. 18

Posted: 03 Nov 2010 04:47 PM PDT

Are you interested in purchasing the Motorola Droid Pro from Verizon? If so, you’re going to have an opportunity to secure your device coming on November 9th. If you order in between November 9th and November 17th, you’ll get your Droid Pro before the launch date, which is November 18th for those of you that were wondering.

If you happen to pre-order it between those dates, you’ll receive your device before the launch(devices will start to ship on November 10-11). Pricing is speculated to be at $300, but hopefully it will end up being near the unofficial standard price of smart phones which is $200. Also, the device won’t be available to retail locations in Pennsylvania or Massachusetts. Not sure why, but thats just according to a picture. We will keep you updated on the Droid Pro and will have some more info as time passes by. In the meantime let us know if you do end up pre-ordering and what you think of this device.

Via [AndroidCentral]

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Wear a shirt with a 16th Century Android Figure

Posted: 03 Nov 2010 03:30 PM PDT

As brilliant as Da Vinci was, it wouldn’t surprise me if he had invented a 16th century Android. These designs below could only help support this idea, but unfortunately this is not true. There’s something about that cute Android mascot that makes everyone love it, as we have seen with the roaming Android mascots in the down under and the Android toys in South Korea.

We all love some merchandise with a cool logo on it, and the guys at iSteam keep on pushing out new t-shirt designs. Their newest one, the Da Vinci break down of the Android Mascot, looks to sell out big like the iPhone Da Vinci. This design will also be available in poster form for $19 like the shirt. They also have some other really cool designs such as the Andy vs. Apple and Unstoppable Andy. They have a pretty cool gig going on and I know I will defintely end up purchasing a few shirts including this Da Vinci shirt. Check out the link below for all the details.

Via [iSteam]

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T-Mobile G2 Review

Posted: 03 Nov 2010 11:52 AM PDT

Welcome to the Android Community review of the fabled T-Mobile G2. Truly a lovely little piece of work with a Snapdragon MSM7230 processor, Android 2.2 Froyo, 4G speeds, and what I’ll tell you right now is a very nice still camera situation. Before you read this review, I’d like to encourage you to hang a left over to the Unboxing and Hands-On post for the G2, reading there all about the hardware details and feel of the device.

Hardware

Dimensions are 4.68" x 2.37" x 0.55"; Display: 3.7"; and it weighs in at around 6.5 ounces. 4GB internal memory with pre-installed 8GB micro SD card, expandable to 32GB, stereo Bluetooth 2.1/EDR/A2DP, works on both UMTS/HSPA+ (dual-band) (Bands I and IV), and it's a Quad-band GSM world phone: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz. There's a touchscreen, trackpad, and QUERTY keyboard complete with customizable keys. 3.7" WVGA Super-TFT screen display and Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM MSM7230 processor. 5 megapixel camera on the back with digital zoom (silly,) autofocus, and LED flash. The camera is also a HD camcorder with 720p video capture with autofocus.

On top is the headphone jack and power button, right is the button to activate the camera as well as a switch that releases the cover for the battery in back. The battery cover as well as the battery compartment look really fabulous – I think this is the most attention I’ve ever seen payed to the design of something that’s hidden 99% of the time. Inside you’ll find the giant battery blocking everything, once removed revealing relatively easy to access SIM car and the pre-installed 8GB Micro SD card (expandable to 32GB). As I said in the unboxing, some people might not be thrilled having to go this deep to change/replace these cards, some people prefer they be this far out of sight. Your call. Again moving to the outside of the phone, on the bottom there’s essentially nothing, on the left is the USB jack as well as the volume up/down button.

Pressing in sort of an up and over movement on the left side of the phone reveals the keyboard. All backlit with four rows of keys with QWERTY instantly and alternate characters (like numbers) available upon pressing the ALT key. Several interesting additions to this keyboard are: the “www. / .com” key, dedicated @ symbol key, and three user-definable shortcut keys.

Now if you’ve been following the news about the G2, you’ll notice there’s some talk about the strength of the hinge. I must assume that the looseness of the hinge problem has been fixed since that talk began, because this phone’s hinge is tough. When I first attempted to open the phone, if you’ll take a look at the unboxing/hands on video, I basically had a rough time doing so because it was tightened to such a degree. I’ve been using the phone for about a week now and the hinge has loosened up to a tiny degree, but it’s definitely not loose in a way that I’m worried about. Two or three years down the line with heavy use: maybe.

Software

Pre-note: I’m going through this phone as if I’d never touched a piece of Android equipment before in my life. I’m doing this because I feel as though many of the looks at this machine are from the perspective of an Android addict. This is alright most of the time because quite often when a person starts in on Android they don’t end up stopping at one device. On the other hand, there are going to be lots and lots of people starting in on the brand right here, from this device. Thusly, let’s take a look from their perspective.

From the moment this machine turns on, it’s sharp. The people that worked on this machine have design sense and layout sense, that’s for sure. They know how to interact with you, and they know how you are going to interact with the device. Or at least, they know how you’re going to end up interacting with the device when you see the controls. There are seven screens accessible from the onset, flicking back and forth, left and right, allows you to access them. On the bottom of the screen on the left and right are dots which indicate how many panels are to your left or to your right, and weather you’re in landscape mode or portrait mode is decided by having the keyboard extended or shut.

Each one of these panels has the ability to hold an array of apps, except screen 6, which holds 2 large rectangles containing Twitter and Facebook updates. It’s interesting how integrated these two services are to basically every single phone on the market these days. Also pre-loaded are such brands as YouTube, Photobucket, Gmail, and the sorts of apps every smartphone has like camera, gallery, email alternative, and the web browser. Something that’s not on every smartphone is the App Loader, accessible by pressing the grid key at the bottom center of the screen.

This App Loader is magnificent in both it’s looks and it’s function. You can keep every app you’ve got here on this screen (automatically alphabetized,) and access them from here as well, or you can press and hold an icon to place it out on one of your home screens. Simple, accessible, very very pretty.

You’ll find many if not all apps to be quite easy to access and navigate, especially if you use Google products outside of the phone. Many things are intuitive, like Maps (which is essentially Google Maps), which upon opening shows you a medium-range map with you in the center, placing you exactly where you are in the world GPS-wise. From there all you’ve got to do is enter the address you’d like to go and press Navigate. Presto, you’re on your way with that lovely lady speaking with you about the way you aught to go.

There’s multiple fun ways to search for items through Google including Google Goggles, Voice Search, and the always efficient typing of words. Games and other apps are quite easily found and purchased through Android Market. The game I used to compare playability to other phones is, of course, Angry Birds, and I’ll go ahead and say it plays as good or better than the iPod Touch version. Seems smoother somehow. Killing more pigs in a slightly more smooth manner.

Moving in and out of applications is slick. I recently did a review of a BlackBerry device and found it difficult to navigate on a very basic level. The situation here is basically the opposite. The buttons in the software and the buttons in the hardware are intuitively placed by designers who’ve obviously tested this device both on pro Android users as well as newbs. Speeds are fast all around, no more needs to be said about that.

Multimedia

Entering the App for YouTube, finding a video that can display itself in HD and pressing the HD button will tell you everything you need to know about the video capabilities of the G2. It’s not the best in the world, but it’s certainly excellent, and if you’ve never seen video on anything but a TV or computer monitor before, you’re going to be impressed by how well this device performs.

The speaker system goes loud enough that I’d be able to listen to some tunes in a room, just so long as there isn’t much other noise in the room going on. That’s talking about the speaker on full blast, no external speakers connected. Plug it in to a 3rd party device using the headphone jack and you’ve got a device that performs as well as any other on the market.

Camera

The camera is amazing. Once I began using it, I couldn’t stop because not only was the quality close to that of the point-and-shoot camera I’ve got, it had the capability of sending those photos to Facebook instantly, and that’s excellent. Taking video is just as slick as still photos, just flip the switch from the photo camera icon to the film camera icon and you’re ready to go. Options like switching video quality are all along the left (or the bottom, however you look at it,) and it looks great. Take a look at this very good puppy of mine wearing a squirrel costume, a photo taken with the still camera:

Very nice, yes?

Video Example:

Phone & Battery

From the inner Twin Cities to the top-left of Minnesota, Fargo and back down to Saint Cloud, this device never lost its signal until deep, deep within the woods. Really I did bring it deep into the woods, as that’s where my wife’s parents live, and that’s where we did go to visit, but also on a (super secret!) testing mission for this phone. The battery lasted for days when only playing games, calling, and texting, then for 1.5 days of heavy usage of internet and video and all those big ticket items.

Wrap-Up

This is the phone I reach for now. I’ve got several phone lying around, all of them connected to the internet and capable of calling and texting (most of them here because I’ve reviewed or are about to review them,) and this is the one I constantly put my hand on first. It does have a little bit to do with the fact that I’ve got to give it back soon, but a lot to do with how fun and easy it is to use.

I hear tell that there are stronger all-round Android phones on the market today, (read the last two paragraphs of this HTC Desire Z Review,) but if you’re in the store and you’ve got your tendrils wrapped around this device, especially if you feel the need for the keyboard and have a love for Android devices, this’ll do the trick. If you’re brand new to smartphones, you’ll be wowed. Not only will you be wowed, you’ll never be able to go back to the life you once had, so very long ago.

Take a look at the gallery below and again, whip back to the unboxing and hands on post to see sassy video of this in my hands.

androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_01 androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_02 androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_03 androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_04 androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_05 androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_06 androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_07 androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_08 androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_09 androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_10 androidcommunity_tmobileg2_review_11 )


Facebook places getting update to support deals – Many companies on board

Posted: 03 Nov 2010 11:38 AM PDT

One of the very popular features of check-in applications has been the deals that come along with using the social apps. Facebook is going to update it’s Places feature to include check-in based deals. The initial announcements of how it will first be implemented are very impressive- free pants anyone?

Yes, you heard right, free pants. Gap is going to be giving away free pants to it’s first 10,000 users to check in at the Gap store, if you are not one of the first to snag a free pair, you will still get a one time 40% off coupon.

They also touched in on North Face’s approach to check-ins via Facebook. North Face has added a feature in Facebook places when you check in at a National Park they will donate $1 to NPF.

Facebook Places’ now open nature and provided APIs is a great start for the company’s further journey into the location services market. And with it’s already huge user base we can expect it to leap ahead of many of the other check-in based applications here soon.

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