Android Community |
- Meizu Launches M9 M9 Christens Site, Full Specs Detailed
- Dolphin Browser Mini Now Available in the Android Market
- HTC Evo 4G Update Now with NOVA demo game and Swype
- Samsung Vibrant and Samsung Galaxy Tab Prices Slashed Down
- 10-inch Android Tablet by the name of Olivetti OliPad
- Gingerbread Being Assessed on Verizon Phones
- Google TV Updated: Dual View Mode, Voice Search & Netflix Improvements [Video]
- GMail Creator Predicts Android Will Eventually Kill Chrome OS
- Honeycomb Won’t Require Physical Buttons, Home and Navigation Built into the UI
- Google Launches Nexus S Into Space to Test Sensors at 30,000+ meters
- HTC LTE handsets coming H2 2011, Mecha anyone?
- Fossil offers up connected watch concept that will hook to your Android phone
- Broadcom outs new Android platform for mass-market smartphones
- O2 Dell Streak Froyo update releasing today
- Android Community Daily Wrap Up: December 14th 2010
- Andy Rubin at D: Dive Into Mobile Interview Video Available Now
- Swiftkey Updated, 5 new languages and HD skin included
- Gameloft Issues an Apology for Billing Errors
- Nexus S Kernel Source Available Now
- Angry Birds Adds new Video Advertisements on Startup
| Meizu Launches M9 M9 Christens Site, Full Specs Detailed Posted: 15 Dec 2010 11:23 AM PST The Meizu M9 is proving to be quite the handset. It’s been teased for a while now by Meizu’s CEO Jack Wong, and now the official site for the impressive device has just been launched offering a peak at the specs.  The device will feature the following:
Quite the device, indeed. The expected launch date is December 25th in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen; expanding to the rest of China the following week. You can check out the device’s webpage over at Meizu.com. [Via Engadget] )
|
| Dolphin Browser Mini Now Available in the Android Market Posted: 15 Dec 2010 11:10 AM PST Android users love the freedom to choose which browser they use on their device, and as a result there are quite a few to choose from. The Dolphin Browser team has now made their popular web browser available for download via the Android Market.  The browser is focused at providing a faster user experience, and should be treated as the mini version of Dolphin Browser HD and the upgrade to the Dolphin Browser. Key Highlights of the browser include:
The three browsers offered all bring different features to the table which are detailed below:  You can download Dolphin Browser Mini in the Android Market: QR Code:  [Download Link] [Via Dolphin] )
|
| HTC Evo 4G Update Now with NOVA demo game and Swype Posted: 15 Dec 2010 11:07 AM PST All you owners of a Sprint Evo 4G rejoice for there is an update upon you. It goes by the name 3.70.651.1 and it bringeth some fun items including: Blockbuster (including WM DRM 10), Kindle eReader, Preloaded try/buy video game: NOVA from Gameloft, Sprint Zone update, Latest Telenav, Latest VVM App, Latest Sprint TV app, SWYPE Keyboard, and Scan Now Widget for 4G. You can wait for the update as it reaches your area, or update manually.
To update to this newness manually, begin by downloading the file at this link: [renaming it update.zip]. After that, 1. Reboot to recovery mode by first turning the phone off, then pressing the volume down button, and press also the power button. Your screen should boot to a white screen with three Androids on skateboards. 2. Use the volume button to select RECOVERY and press the power button one more time. Your Evo will now reboot into recovery mode. You should see an image of the phone with a red triangle and an exclamation point. 3. Hold the volume up button and press the power button. Choose applysdcard:update.zip and let the magic begin. These instructions should be fairly self-explanatory, but if you have no idea what any of them mean, we suggest stepping on into T-Mobile for some support. Hopefully they’ll be ever-so-kind and lend you a hand on your way to update world. [Via XDA Forums] )
|
| Samsung Vibrant and Samsung Galaxy Tab Prices Slashed Down Posted: 15 Dec 2010 10:37 AM PST T-Mobile has a treat in store for you lovers of the Samsung Vibrant and Galaxy Tab – provided you don’t already own one, of course. Prices SLASHED down just so long as you get a two-year agreement to go with. Samsung Galaxy Tab, once $399.99 (with 2-year agreement) is now $349.99 after $50 mail-in-rebate. Samsung Vibrant, originally $199.99 (w/2-year agreement), is reduced down to $149.99 after a $50 MIB. Super sales, super duper!
Combine either of these with the current Buy One Get One offer going on at T-Mobile and you’re looking at some doubledown savings the likes of which have never been seen before! Oh my goodness the savings are just so crazy and wild. [Via TmoNews] )
|
| 10-inch Android Tablet by the name of Olivetti OliPad Posted: 15 Dec 2010 10:26 AM PST When you think “Olivetti,” do you think tablets? Probably not. Probably, if you know what Olivetti is, you’re thinking typewriters and calculators. Now they’re dipping their ol’ surefire claws into the tablet world and that world is about to be waiting on their hands to see what they’ve got to offer. 10-inches of touchscreen goodness running on some version of Android or another for right around $400. Will it float?
Olivetti is Italian and is currently owned by Telecom Italia. They’ve almost been bankrupt at least once, but their long-lasting company that’s been around long enough to manufacture typewriters might still instill enough confidence in them to create some sweet sort of pad. This tablet, they say, will be aimed directly at those who work with or in small or medium-sized enterprises. This tablet will have a major focus being put on apps that’ll help those aiming to communicate within their own company specifically, with fun features being planned like a digital catalog for the fashion market. What we’ve got so far on the tablet as far as specifications go is limited: it’s going to have a 10-inch touchscreen display, work with integrated Wifi, cellular connections, and the price is going to be around $400. Release date unknown, Android version unknown, user interface modifications (if any) unknown. More soon! We hope. [Via SlashGear] )
|
| Gingerbread Being Assessed on Verizon Phones Posted: 15 Dec 2010 10:00 AM PST Customer service representatives at Verizon stores are reportedly being told to relay information to their customers that they are “working with Google as they release source code for device manufacturers to begin integration. We are also assessing which devices will get Gingerbread within the coming months.” So what’ll it be?
The image you see above is of a note sent to a Verizon CS rep, more than likely sent out to ALL Verizon CS reps across the nation (USA). This means that not only will Android 2.3 be coming to future Verizon products (a given), it’ll be integrated into more than one device already released. Sounds super neato. [Via Droid Life] )
|
| Google TV Updated: Dual View Mode, Voice Search & Netflix Improvements [Video] Posted: 15 Dec 2010 08:57 AM PST Updates to the Google TV platform aren’t a new thing, but this is the first one that users can consider “major.” The new update isn’t just for bug fixes, or small improvements to the general search results of the set-top box. Instead, this update is meant for the Netflix users out there, as well as adding a few extra features for the Dual View mode.
The improvements to Netflix include the ability for users to update their queue right from within the application available on Google TV. And up until now, that Dual View mode, which allowed you to watch a television program and have a smaller browser window open on the screen, wasn’t able to move around. Now users can move the smaller browser window wherever they want. But, that’s not all: there’s a new movie landing page, which will let users now only search through Netflix, but also Amazon Video On Demand, as well as movies/shows running on TV, available on the Internet, or through YouTube. And now there’s shortcuts for actors on the landing page, too. The update should roll out automatically for Google TV users, but if you haven’t received it yet and want to see it in action, send a thank you to Scott Greczkowski who took some screenshots of the update, and even put a video of the update on the Internet, which you can watch below. Also noteworthy: you can now download the remote control for Google TV right out of the Android Market, which will turn your Android powered handset (you guessed it) into a remote you can use to interact with GTV. [via SlashGear] )
|
| GMail Creator Predicts Android Will Eventually Kill Chrome OS Posted: 15 Dec 2010 07:16 AM PST We know that Android, at least in its current form, isn’t the best bet for Netbook or Notebook PCs. Google knows this as well, which is why they started development on Google Chrome OS, a web-based browser operating system. However, former Google employee and GMail creator, Paul Buchheit, has predicted that Android will eventually kill or merge with Android.  Now although this is just a prediction, it brings up an interesting point. When Google noticed that Android was being used for tablets, they started development of a tablet optimized operating system (Honeycomb). They may just do the same, or something similar, and build an optimized version of Android to be used on notebooks if Chrome OS fails to launch successfully. What do you think about the Chrome OS as a whole? Do you think it would be better replaced by an Android-based OS? And, if you’d like to test drive the operating system for yourself, remember that we are giving away two Google Chrome Cr-48s! [Via ChromeSpot] )
|
| Honeycomb Won’t Require Physical Buttons, Home and Navigation Built into the UI Posted: 15 Dec 2010 06:59 AM PST As Gingerbread has been announced, and ready for public release tomorrow with the Nexus S launch, the internet is shifting to Google’s next operating system, Honeycomb. The OS will be highly focused on tablet use, and we now know that it won’t even require any physical keys on the devices in which it’s installed on.  The Home, Menu, and Back buttons have been built right into the UI. Andy Rubin explains that the need for this change will be that the end user will always have quick and easy access to these UI commands at the bottom left, regardless of how the device is held. Of course, not having any physical buttons is not a requirement. We can definitely seeing manufacturers keeping physical buttons for various reasons, but if they’d like to create a clean faced Android slate, the UI will now support them. [Via PhoneDog] )
|
| Google Launches Nexus S Into Space to Test Sensors at 30,000+ meters Posted: 15 Dec 2010 06:42 AM PST A team at Google has launched a total of 7 Samsung Nexus S devices into “near space.” In an effort to test the phones capabilities at 30,000+ meters in the sky, the team constructed boxes made out of beer coolers to safely transport the phones via helium weather balloon.  The phones were mounted with their cameras facing out through clear plastic we get a glimpse what it looks like to be on the verge of space all from a camera phone. The test was done mainly to test the phones sensor functions while in a freezing cold near-vacuum, but the team definitely had a “let’s see if we can do it, and what happens” attitude. Interestingly, this is not the last we will see of Google technology in space. Google is in talks with a UK-based satellite manufacturer to build small “commodity” satellites based on the core Nexus S technology. He says, “The phone is powerful enough.” Out of the seven devices launched, 6 have been recovered so far. Check out the video below for the launch procedure: [Via Engadget] )
|
| HTC LTE handsets coming H2 2011, Mecha anyone? Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:20 AM PST We all know LTE 4G service is going to be a big deal as the new network is already being rolled out by Verizon in a few key markets. With the networks available, what the market needs now is a lot of handsets and you can bet that those are on the way. HTC’s Peter Chow has offered up a timeline for the HTC LTE packing smartphones.
According to Chou HTC will have LTE smartphones on the market in the second half of 2011. If we look at that statement and then think about the leaked HTC Mecha packing LTE and Android, we can start to get an idea of when we will see that sweet Android device on the market. Chou also says that the HTC offerings will support Near Field Communications. Chou also noted that HTC would remain committed to both Android and Windows Phone 7 for its offerings. HTC will offer a wide range of handsets and then let the consumer choose what they want to buy. I bet I am not the only person that was hoping that Mecha would turn up soon; it looks to be at least six months away. Via WMPowerUser )
|
| Fossil offers up connected watch concept that will hook to your Android phone Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:12 AM PST Back when I used to wear a watch, my favorite brand was Fossil. The watches tended to look cool and they were affordable whereas watches for some of the other major brands were often hundreds of dollars. Fossil has a new concept watch that can connect to your Android device via Bluetooth and show you all sorts of data so you can leave the phone in your pocket.
The downside is that you have to start wearing a watch again. I haven’t worn a watch in years. The watch is a secondary screen that will shoot over details like weather, caller ID, and email from your phone to the watch screen. Why would you want that? The idea is so that you can see who is calling you or texting you with your phone in your pocket. I can see this being something that would be useful when driving so you can’t have to dig the phone out of your pocket. That said, there big downside of the concept device is that the tiny screen means you need to do a lot of scrolling to read a text and if you get long texts it’s not going to be worth it to most of us. Still the concept is cool and some will find it appealing. Via Scobleizer    )
|
| Broadcom outs new Android platform for mass-market smartphones Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:05 AM PST
The new platform is called the Broadcom BCM2157 and it is aimed at delivering mass-market Android smartphones to consumers. Some of the key specs and features of the BCM2157 include a 3G HSDPA modem supporting 7.2Mbps downstream and global roaming. The device has integrated support for HVGA displays, multi-touch screens, and support for 5MP digital camera. The Android baseband platform also has 3G dual SIM/dual standby and other smartphone capabilities. The dual-core ARM processor used in the platform runs at 500MHz. The platform also has Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, and NFC and uses Broadcom InConcert technology. The new baseband is set to sample to early customers now with the first commercial launch of products using it in Q1 2011. )
|
| O2 Dell Streak Froyo update releasing today Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:29 AM PST UK carrier O2 has announced that it is pushing out the OTA Android 2.2 Froyo update to the Dell Streak today, as promised earlier this week. The wireless update will begin later on in the day, and be a staggered roll-out; there’s no public timescale from O2 as to how long the carrier expects before every device is updated.
Froyo will bring with it performance updates together with a new UI for the Streak. )
|
| Android Community Daily Wrap Up: December 14th 2010 Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:22 PM PST It has been quite a busy day here at Android Community. First and foremost, we’re giving away two Google Cr-48 notebooks! If you win, you’ll will be among the first group of people to get their hands on a Chrome OS notebook, as many notebooks aren’t expected to hit shelves until mid 2011. We also posted our full review of the Samsung Nexus S, which is proving to be quite the device. For the rest of the news covered here at Android Community, check out the list below!  Featured: R3 Media Network AndroidCommunity LG Optimus 2X is Korean LG Star [Video]
|
| Andy Rubin at D: Dive Into Mobile Interview Video Available Now Posted: 14 Dec 2010 08:49 PM PST Just as promised, All Things Digital has published the full video interview where they sat down and talked to Andy Rubin. As you recall it was here where we first saw the Motorola Everest with Honeycomb and the soon to be released Nexus S.  You can check out the video over at All Things Digital. The full interview lasts about 1:26 but if you have the time, it’s definitely worth the watch. )
|
| Swiftkey Updated, 5 new languages and HD skin included Posted: 14 Dec 2010 07:23 PM PST Swiftkey, one of the most popular and user friendly keyboards for the Android platform has seen an update today. The update includes support for 5 more languages and includes a new HD skin with better fonts.  Support for the following languages was added:
Along with the additional language support the new HD skin looks better on phones with larger screens like the DROID X, and even tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab. You can download the update now in the Android Market.  [Android Market Link] [Via Swiftkey] )
|
| Gameloft Issues an Apology for Billing Errors Posted: 14 Dec 2010 06:36 PM PST Gameloft has been under quite a bit of heat regarding how billing from its online store has been handled. Users were reporting being billed multiple times when using the company’s online web store.  We do not know why the company is avoiding using the Android Market to distribute its applications. After many refinements the Android Market is becoming the easiest and most reliable way to get applications out for developers, and its use would certainly never have this big as a backlash from angry customers. The company has started issuing refunds to the “0.05% affected” and if you were billed multiple times you should see your charges being reversed here soon. Gameloft would like to apologize to those who were affected by the following situation on Gameloft's Android store: We spotted an issue in our billing process that affected 0.05% of all transactions on our stores in December. After having bought one game through a credit card, some customers were charged a second time under certain circumstances. All customers who received extra charges will be automatically refunded for all related game charges directly to their credit card accounts, and will receive a free game credit. This bug has been fixed today. Again, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience it might have caused some of our customers. If you need further assistance on Gameloft's offer for Android please contact: android.support@gameloft.com )
|
| Nexus S Kernel Source Available Now Posted: 14 Dec 2010 06:24 PM PST The Linux kernel source for the Samsung Nexus S has just been posted by Google on their repository. Giving developers something to work with to start producing ROMs and other various hacks, it has been published just 2 days before we will see the device hit Best Buy shelves.  For all of you interested, you can check out the kernal over at Google’s Android Open Source Project. )
|
| Angry Birds Adds new Video Advertisements on Startup Posted: 14 Dec 2010 06:23 PM PST We all love free apps, and although it’s great not having to pay for an application, the advertisements can certainly hinder the user experience. If you have opened up Angry Birds lately then you might have noticed a full length video ad before startup.  Android users were considered lucky to have their port of Angry Birds available for free, but after many annoying advertisements, that can break up gameplay, and now this, I’m sure many of us would be willing to drop the $.99 to just have an uninterrupted gameplay experience. What do you think? Have you noticed these ads? Are they worth getting the whole game for free? Let us know in the comment section below! [Via AndroidAndMe] )
|
Broadcom has been around for a long time and the company is huge in the electronics market with all manner of chips and components that go inside of a vast array of electronic devices. 
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Community To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment