Monday, 3 January 2011

Android Community

Android Community

HSTi Wireless Media Stick funnels content from Android to your HDTV, more

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 07:58 AM PST

HSTi is promising to make streaming content between your Android smartphone and an HDTV, digital photo frame or another media player straightforward, with their Wireless Media Stick. The USB stick and the companion Wireless Media Stick Android mobile App funnel photos, videos and music from your phone to the media player, with the stick presenting the content as if it were locally stored.

Because of that, even non-network-aware devices, such as older TVs, can use the system, just as long as they can access files stored on a USB drive. The HSTi Wireless Media Stick is available now, priced at $119.99, while the app will be released later this month.

Press Release:

Wireless Media Stick™ – the perfect accessory for the Android™ life

January 2, 2010, Las Vegas, NV – HSTi announces the Wireless Media Stick™, a game changing accessory that sets Android™-based phones apart from their competition, and will change the way people enjoy media files like movies, home videos, music and photos. Exclusively at the CES 2011, HSTi will unveil the Wireless Media Stick Android™ mobile App that allows the Wireless Media Stick™ to now stream your stored movies, videos, music, and photos, from any Android™-based Smart Phone and Tablet, to your favourite media player without interrupting the use or functionality of the phone.

Turn your Android™ Smart Phone into a media hub, for complete entertainment portability. Small enough to fit in your pocket, the Wireless Media Stick™ combined with the Wireless Media Stick mobile App, makes the perfect accessory for an Android™ Smart Phone or Tablet. Based on HSTi's proprietary and patented technology, the Wireless Media Stick™ is able to deliver to playback devices the files stored in a PC, Mac and NAS device, and also files from your Android™ phone and Tablet's internal storage. Not only is the phone portable, but so is the Wireless Media Stick™. Plug it into your HDTV and watch a movie, or plug it into the stereo in your bedroom to play your favourite tunes, then go to your friend's house and plug it into their PS3 to share pictures from your party, all without having to set up the stick again.

Attaching to a wireless router, or your Smart Phone's or Tablet's built in Wi-Fi Access Point, the Wireless Media Stick™ basically acts as a wireless bridge that plugs into the USB playback ports on media players, game consoles or set top boxes like, a TV, PS3™, Xbox™, DVD/Blu-ray™ player, WD TV™, O!Play, Google TV™, etc and presents the shared files from the Smart Phone and Tablet. The media player reads the file as if it was stored inside the Wireless Media Stick™, but the file resides in the original location. When the user instructs the media player to playback the file, the file is streamed from the original location, wirelessly.

The Wireless Media Stick™ is a self contained solution that is easy to setup and use and does not require networked media players for it to work. Plug the Wireless Media Stick™ to a non-networked digital picture frame or even a three-year old DVD player, and stream files from your phone to that device for playback. You can even share or backup documents and files stored in your Smart Phone or Tablet by plugging the Wireless Media Stick™ into the USB port of a computer. The possibilities are endless.

"We all create memories, and document our experiences with our Smart Phones. They do a great job of consolidating our lives into one device. But when it comes to sharing it back from our phone, options are limited," says Ramesh Uppal, HSTi President and CEO. "People want to share their experiences, whether its photos or videos from a trip, or just music selections. The Wireless Media Stick™ is the natural extension of their Smart Phone or Tablet making it a must-have accessory for everyday life."

Unlike other streaming devices that are dedicated or tie up the devices they serve, the Wireless Media Stick™ lets you continue to use your computer, Smart Phone or Tablet, without interrupting your media streaming. Continue to make phone calls, check email, or post on your social media sites, while enjoying your streamed movies, music or photos.

The Wireless Media Stick™ is available today in various retail outlets and at hsti.com/shop. The Wireless Media Stick Android™ App will be available on the Android™ Market at the end of January.

)


AOC Breeze tablet cuts corners for a sub-$200 price tag

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 07:10 AM PST

AOC is better known for its display range, but it’s pushing out its own Android tablet all the same. The AOC Breeze is an 8-inch slate with a dinky sub-$200 price tag; problem is, you have to make a few other concessions to drop to that sort of budget pricing.

For instance, it’s Android 2.1 Eclair rather than Froyo or Honeycomb, and the display – despite being larger than what you get on the Galaxy Tab – runs at mere 800 x 600 resolution. There’s also only WiFi b/g and no Bluetooth, but you do at least get a full-sized USB port, 4GB of onboard storage and a microSD card reader.

Press Release:

AOC Unleashes the Breeze Tablet with 8-Inch Screen

World's largest manufacturer of LCD/LED monitors and HDTVs makes a bigger entrance into the tablet market

Fremont, Calif. – January 3, 2011– AOC, the world's largest manufacturer of LCD/LED monitors and HDTVs, announces the launch of the Breeze, an ultraportable tablet with an industry-leading 8-inch, 800-by-600-pixel touch screen and a full USB 2.0 port. The Breeze Tablet runs on the Google Android 2.1 operating system and is powered by a Rockchip processor. Weighing in at only 1.1 pounds, it is a truly portable device that puts the Internet, e-mail, games, movies and music at your fingertips. The Breeze Tablet offers a seamless user experience and will be available for purchase at a sub-$200 price point at national retailers.

"In developing the Breeze Tablet, we were able to capitalize on our expertise in video displays and our strength in the computer industry to create a device that matches our 60-year reputation of providing quality and user-friendly products at a great value," said Robert Velez, Marketing Manager of AOC.

Ideal for work and play, the Breeze Tablet lets you stream media from an attached USB device or the Internet via Wi-Fi onto its 8-inch, 800-by-600-pixel touch screen. The device will play several hours of audio and video when fully charged, and includes a built-in speaker, standard headphone jack and microphone. The Breeze comes preloaded with essential applications like Web browser, video and audio players, photo browser, e-mail, calendar and e-book shelves, and provides access to additional apps like office suite through the Android marketplace. The Breeze offers 4GB of on-board storage space, as well as a micro SD card slot for further expansion. The full USB 2.0 also allows for additional storage.
Key Standard Features
§ Google Android 2.1 OS
§ 8-inch touch screen with auto-rotation
§ Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
§ 4GB internal memory
§ Full USB 2.0 port
§ Additional ports: USB OTG, 3.5MM stereo headphone jack, DC in jack
§ Micro SD card reader
§ 12 hrs audio playing time/up to 6 hrs video time
A full line of accessories is available for the Breeze Tablet, and AOC offers a two-year accident coverage program for loss or damage of the device.
Launch Event
AOC will showcase the Breeze Tablet during CES 2011 in Las Vegas from January 6-9. Journalists interested in previewing the Breeze and additional AOC products at the Bellagio Tower Ballroom 5, may schedule an appointment by contacting Tiffany Iwankiw.

)


Wirefly reports Android devices drove holiday sales

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 06:14 AM PST

We mentioned back in early December that internet phone seller Wirefly was running a lot of big sales on Android devices for the holidays. Those specials on Android devices did well for the firm with it reporting that Android devices drove its holiday sales.

The top ten list at the retailer for mobile devices over the holiday was full top to bottom with Android devices save one spot for another OS device. Wirefly notes that the Evo 4G and the Droid Incredible were particularly popular with buyers during the holidays.

"2010 was the year of the smartphone and its popularity certainly did not wane during the holiday shopping season," said Andy Zeinfeld, CEO of Simplexity, the parent company of Wirefly.com. "Not only have smartphones gotten bigger, better, smarter and faster, but they are now more affordable – making them mainstream consumer devices."

Via eWeek

)


iPhone to Drown in a Sea of Android devices says analyst

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 06:07 AM PST

Analyst Jean-Louis Gassee from Allegis Capital has stated that he thinks that if Apple doesn’t license the iPhone Os to other handset makers the iPhone will be Mac 2.0. By that, he means that Apple’s unwillingness to license the Mac Os to other computer makers ultimately meant that the OS was drowned out by the hoards of Windows offerings in the mainstream and relegated to a tiny percentage of the global market.

Gassee figures that if Apple doesn’t license the iPhone Os that Android devices will drown the iPhone on the market. That is already happening so it is no real surprise. Apple is one of the most closed tech firms on the planet and the chances of it licensing the tech is about the same as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates becoming life partners.

Apple will not open up the OS to other builders so it’s only a matter of time before Android phones push the iPhone back to a smaller portion of the market that it still holds a huge share of today.

Via CBS News

)


Samsung Kies Air adds wireless sync & access to Galaxy S

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 03:27 AM PST

Samsung is rolling out wireless sync for users of its Kies desktop media management app for certain Android smartphones. Kies Air is showing up in the Samsung Apps download store on the Galaxy S, and allows PCs running Kies to access the smartphone over WiFi and view call logs, videos, photos, bookmarks, and IMs, as well as send SMS messages from the computer’s browser.

Unlike HTC Sense Online, Kies Air only works if all devices are on the same WiFi network, and we’re not seeing it show up in the Galaxy Tab apps store, only on the Galaxy S. Still, it’s a useful tool if you want to use your full-sized keyboard to punch out messages more quickly, or manage content on the Galaxy S without having to plug in a USB cable. Kies is a free download for PC only.

samsung_kies_air_galaxy_s_2 samsung_kies_air_galaxy_s_1 samsung_kies_air_galaxy_s_0

[via Samsung Blog]

)


Samsung hits 10M mark with global Galaxy S sales

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 03:04 AM PST

Samsung had big sales numbers in mind when it tossed the Galaxy S onto the market. The Galaxy S came to just about every carrier in the US with everyone giving the handsets its own name. Sister site SlashGear reviewed the Fascinate for Verizon for example. The device was a very nice smartphone and with the broad availability it's no surprise that the handset sold well.

Samsung has now announced that it has moved 10 million Galaxy S smartphones in only seven months on the market. The tidbit about sales numbers came by way of Samsung president and mobile division head JK Shin.

Shin said, “The Galaxy S is the result of our 22 year heritage in the mobile industry. It is the realization of our concept of 'the Smart Life' – we wanted to makes users' lives more convenient, more exciting, and more integrated. Today's milestone shows that we have succeeded: 10 million Galaxy S users around the world are living the Smart Life.”

Via OLED-Display

)


Enspert Identity Tab due in US for $100 at end of summer 2011

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 03:02 AM PST

The Enspert Identity Tab Android slate that took on Samsung’s Galaxy Tab in Korea earlier this year is apparently headed to the US, with the company claiming to have inked a deal with a major US carrier that will see the tablet priced at around $100. CMO Bobby Cha told the NYTimes that the Identity Tab will drop in the US at the end of the summer, with an unsubsidized retail price of under $350.

The existing version, available on South Korea’s KT network, has a 1GHz processor, 3-megapixel camera, 8GB of storage and a digital TV tuner. Final specs for the US version haven’t been announced, though a teaser site suggests it will be the updated E301 Identity Tab.

)


Toshiba Honeycomb Tegra 2 tablet due first half 2011

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 02:44 AM PST

The Toshiba Folio 100 failed to take the tablet world by storm, but the company isn’t planning on leaving it at that. A new, unnamed Toshiba tablet prototype running NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 chip has shown up, with Engadget grabbing some time with a non-functional prototype. The slate won’t arrive until Google release Android Honeycomb.

Specs include a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 capacitive touchscreen, rear 5-megapixel camera, front 2-megapixel camera, accelerometer, ambient light sensor and a removable battery. There’s also HDMI, USB, mini-USB and an SD card reader, along with interchangeable rubberized rear door panels. The slate weighs in at 1.7lbs and will be 0.6-inches thick; Toshiba say it’ll drop sometime in the first half of this year.

)


Android “e-newsstand” project in works tip Google insiders

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 01:44 AM PST

Google is believed to be working on an e-newsstand for Android devices, aiming to offer consistent e-magazine and newspaper content across smartphones, tablets and other form-factors and in the process further take on Apple’s iTunes store. According to the WSJ‘s sources, Google is in talks with Time Warner, Condé Nast and Hearst about the so-far unnamed project, promising them more favorable revenue share agreements than Apple’s 70/30 split, and greater access to user data.

That data would allow publishers to better tailor subscription packages, advertising and marketing promotions, and has been a key reservation about Apple’s digital magazine strategy.

[via SlashGear]

)


Vizio Via Phone and Via Tablet get official ahead of Summer release

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 01:25 AM PST

Vizio’s new Android-based tablet and phone have been previewed by the WSJ, with the Vizio Via Phone having a 4-inch screen and the Via Tablet having an 8-inch screen. Both will get Android Market access, according to the company, along with WiFi connectivity.

The Via Phone has a 5-megapixel rear camera and a front-facing camera for video calls, while the Via Tablet has a front-facing camera and three speakers. Each will have an HDMI port and a similar UI to the Vizio range of HDTVs; there’ll also be remote control apps, so that users can control their TVs from the phone or tablet.

Finally there’s Via Plus Internet service access, which means Netflix support thanks to Vizio’s existing HDTV deal with the streaming content provider. Both tablet and phone will launch in summer 2011, pricing tba.

)


Samsung Galaxy Player hits Amazon pre-order: Jan 7 2011 UK release

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 01:07 AM PST

Samsung’s Galaxy Player has shown up for pre-order at Amazon UK. The Android PMP is listed in 8GB and 16GB versions, and according to the retailer will ship on January 7 2011.

Although the Galaxy Player lacks 3G, instead having Bluetooth and WiFi b/g/n, it still has Android Market access. There’s a 3.2-inch touchscreen and microSD card slot, along with GPS and a camera, together with Samsung’s AllShare DLNA app and up to 25hrs audio playback or 5hrs video playback.

The Galaxy Player 50 creates a fast and exciting multimedia experience that fully utilizes the Android OS. With over 70,000 applications to choose from, the Galaxy Player 50 is a versatile way to organise your life and increase your productivity. Easy, fast and fun- the Galaxy player 50 offers it all. The Galaxy Player 50 takes advantage of an intuitive Android Platform that guarantees the widest, most diversified, and responsive mobile platform experience.

The Galaxy player 50 features include:

Diversified experience with GPS and camera

Smart Alarm- Your good morning begins when you wake up to the sound of nature and a sense of dawn breaking to ease you into a new day.

Daily Briefing- This is your own personal secretary, organizing and updating your information daily. You can check today's weather, latest stock market, headline news and find out your schedule of the day, like a brief all on the single screen.

Calendar and Email- When you’re out, Galaxy player 50 makes you manage your schedule with calendar, and you can check and write emails in Wi-Fi area.

Memo & Voice Recording- Memo and voice feature allows you to memo and send it easily. You can input text or record a meeting and send and share it with your friends easily by email.

Social Network – You can talk with friends on Google Talk and if you want to install another SNS application, just download in Android Market.

Google Maps Navigation- Before you make your way, Galaxy Player 50's pre-installed navigation by Google maps with voice command provides road information like real street view, traffic situation and satellite view.

Enjoy Music – It takes 1 or 2 hours to commute everyday. On the street, background music comes from Galaxy player 50.

Watch Video- Just drag and play videos, no need to convert. (Support full media codec's)

ThinkFree- To review your report, you'll organize documents by using the ThinkFree application. You can modify and edit work without the use of a laptop.

Samsung remote controller- Sometimes it's really hard to find a remote controller when you want to watch TV. With Galaxy player you can use it like a remote controller for Samsung internet enabled TV.

Allshare via DNLA – When downloading movies on Galaxy Player, connect allshare via DNLA to the television. With allshare you don't need to connect up to the TV with multiple cords.

[Thanks to everybody who sent this in!]

)


CES 2011, Here We Come!

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 07:35 PM PST

Hello, Android Community readers! As our team is
frantically packing and getting ready for CES 2011, you may notice
a bit of a slow down with posts. But don’t worry, once CES gets up
and running we will be covering the event to its full extent.

src="http://cdn.androidcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/SlashGearACCES2011-540x341.jpg"
alt="" title="SlashGearACCES2011" width="540" height="341"
class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-21869"
/>


The entire SlashGear and AndroidCommunity team will be on
the event floor bringing you the latest happenings in all things
technology and Android! It’s definitely going to be a busy week so
expect an influx in news and some truly revolutionary product
reveals as we all take part of one of the biggest tech trade shows
of 2011! Be sure to ask us questions as we will try our best to dig
for the answers from the developers and manufacturers themselves.
We hope you enjoy our extensive coverage as we start off 2011 with
a bang!

)


Vizio to Announce Android Phone and Tablet

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 07:23 PM PST

Vizio is a popular brand, and although it’s not considered “The Golden Standard” by many, they are some of the best TVs around at the best prices. Vizio is set to unveil its first Android phone and tablet, both based on Android, ahead of CES.

The phone itself is being referred to as the Via Phone and will ship with a 4-inch touchscreen, 5MP rear-facing camera, front-facing camera for video calling, and three internal speakers.

The tablet was displayed in the Vizio Rose Bowl commercial that aired Saturday, and the devices are expected to be announced tomorrow. Stay tuned as we cover CES to the fullest over the next week!

Click here to view the embedded video.

[Via AndroidCentral]

)


HTC Thunderbolt and Samsung SCH-i520 Show up in Verizon System

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 12:45 PM PST

Reports are dropping that not only has the HTC Thunderbolt (SCU ADR6400) shown up in Verizon’s system, but the lovely Samsung SCH-i520 has as well. Both of these phones are being reported as 4G LTE capable, and the newest dummy images are showing an 8 Megapixel camera. Hot! You can take a look at the dark, devious photo we were sent via email below, or you can check out this amazing concoction of the two phones up here. Check it out!

Both of these phone showing up in the system at Verizon so close to CES 2011 points toward one thing – both of these phones will much more than likely appear en grande on the Verizon stage, lightening bolts everywhere, people freaking out because they can buy them, hooray! On the other hand, we’ve also heard reports of items being “previewed” by Verizon quite a bit as well – perhaps just a tease and a release later this month? I want my bolts now! – Thanks for the tip, FP!

picsofverizon thunderboltatverizon

[Via ACentral]

)


Massive Lines Form as Meizu Launches M9 Android Froyo Phone

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 12:13 PM PST

Holy crap! This is a sign. A sign that THIS is the year Android takes over the world. Yesterday, January 1st, Meizu launched their latest handset in China: the M9 Android phone, with a 1GHz processor, display extremely similar to iPhone 4, and working on 2.2 Froyo. Apparently even though this was the first day of the year, and just like basically everywhere else in the world is a public holiday, people lined up starting at 8PM the night before – celebrating the new year in line for an Android phone! These lines formed at two Meizu stores in Shenzhen, China and formed in the cold (it’s cold there too!) despite the CEO of Meizu Jack Wong discouraging them from doing so since, as he said, “all the flagship stores will have sufficient stock” for pre-orderers. Antsy customers!

Meizu refused to give out numbers in stock at the two stores in the area, but apparently they could have easily been in the several thousands. Each person was allowed to pre-order as many phones as they liked, the prices at ¥2,499 / $379 for 8GB, and ¥2,699 / $409 for 16GB. There are stores in 28 other provinces in China, and if this is any indication, Meizu is a very happy company right now.

meizu2011-01-01-9 meizu2011-01-01-36 meizu2011-01-01-20



[Via Engadget]

)


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)