Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Android Community

Android Community

Epic Games on Future Android Plans

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 11:10 AM PST

Epic Games is the maker of the immensely popular Infinity Blade for iOS. The game utilizes the Unreal Engine to provide users with a graphical experience that has yet to be on a mobile device. After seeing the impressive Epic Citadel demo, Android fans were wondering if we would ever see the technology on our devices. The answer was simple: possibly, but not yet.

Epic Games wants to focus on iOS where it sees it being the best option for them at this time. The main cause of this is, of course, fragmentation. In an interview with Slowdown.vg, Epic’s Vice President, Jay Wilbur stated the following:

One of the problems with the Android marketplace is hardware fragmentation, that's a really big issue. The other thing is marketplace fragmentation, there are so many different appstores out there. The Android marketplace is a little more difficult [to develop for] because there is less control. I think the Android marketplace is robust … I find it very easy to buy things on it, it's just that Apple has very tight control. So anything in the Apple world is perfect. It's just perfect. We like that, we like that a lot. We know that it's just gonna work. Sometimes that's not always the case in the Android marketplace.

No matter your stance on Android, he does have a point. With Android being available on such a wide variety of devices, it’s hard for a developer to get a game, especially one as visually impressive as Infinity Blade, optimized for many devices. Hopefully we will see Epic Games shift focus to Android over the coming months, but until then we can only wait.

[Via Slowdown.vg]

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Kongregate Arcade is Back in the Android Marketplace

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 10:51 AM PST

Just a week ago Kongregate Arcade appeared on the Android Market. In an unusual move from Google, the application was pulled the very same day due to issues with the application offering up what seemed to be application downloads. Now the app has been resubmitted with some changes in hope of Google approval.

The new application has some subtle, yet crucial, changes. First, the address bar in the browser is now visible when an application first loads, then jumps to full screen, “which is a standard feature of Flash.” Second, Kongregate Arcade will now use the standard browser cache instead of the SD card to store its offline files.

CEO Jim Greer hopes these changes will allow for Google’s approval and restates that they are not trying to compete and hopes these changes help “meet Google’s requirement that we’re not creating a competing App Store while still creating a great gaming experience.”

[Via Joystiq]

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MyTouch 3G Update to Froyo Rolling Out Now

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 10:48 AM PST

Word from a fellow by the name of “Hamburger” in our discussion forums is that T-Mobile is pushing out an over-the-air update to all MyTouch 3G holders out there. Which update, you ask? Why, Android 2.2 Froyo of course. If you’ve been following this story you’ll know that these myTouch people have been waiting a while for this and were even promised that they’d have it by the beginning of February. Turns out it’s here now!

If you see this update roll through your device, let us know! We’re gonna go ahead and assume this update is going to be sent out to both myTouch 3G 3.5mm Jack and myTouch Fender LE. Until then ladies and gentlemen, keep on clicking on that Android Community app you picked up for free in the Android Marketplace, and keep the fire burning! Take a peek at the original discussion forum thread here, and tell Hamburger to get a move on with that pic!

[Via Android Community Discussion Forum]

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Droid X2 Successor Codenamed Daytona, Shipping in May with Tegra 2?

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 10:35 AM PST

Motorola is a key player in the current Android market. With powerful devices such as the BIONIC and Atrix on track to release this year, many are wondering what will be their next product. It seems that it will indeed be the successor to the DROID X which is currently in development under the codename “Daytona.”

The Daytona, or DROID X2, is said to feature a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 4.3-inch display with a 540×960 resolution, and feature many of the hardware options as the original DROID X such as the HDMI out, HD video capture, and 8-megapixel camera.

Currently X2 devices are running Android 2.2, but by the expected launch date of May, this is expected to change. It’s also unknown of the device will be 4G ready, if it’s not, it will definitely separate it from the DROID Bionic. Only time will tell are we will definitely keep on the lookout for anything “X2″ or “Daytona” related.

[Via Android and Me]

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HTC ThunderBolt Training at Verizon Stores is Underway, Still On Track for February Launch

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 10:21 AM PST

Good news for everyone looking to pick up an HTC ThunderBolt in the near future, Verizon employees have officially begun training for the device today. Still no official launch date has been specified, but HTC did mention that the device is still on track for a february launch.

HTC also demoed the simultaneous data/voice utilizing the 4G network which is a major drawback to Verizon’s network compared to others such as AT&T. Verizon reps were allowed to get their hands on on device which means the device is confirmed to be ready for launch. Now we just have to play the waiting game as we wait for Verizon to announce the 4G data plans for upcoming devices. Stay tuned!

[Via Droid-Life]

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Adknowledge Launches Monetization Solution for Android Game Developers

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 09:48 AM PST

Making money from development is heavily based around a revenue stream. Sure developers can sell their app, but most of the flowing stream of revenue comes from ad clicks, in-game purchases, and upgrades to premium versions of the app. Until know there hasn’t been a single go-to option that would handle most of these methods of receiving pay, Adknowledge has introduced a new monetization suite that will simplify the process for developers.

The suite is completely constructed for the Android platform and is not a port from another OS. Offering up simple tools to streamline monetization, the product will allow the developer to choose how to receive revenue.

The product will help implement ads, in-game purchases, in-game currency, paid downloads, subscription-based pay, or a mix of any of the following. Hopefully this suite will allow developers focus less on how they’re going to fund their work and allow them to have more time to develop.

Press Release:


ADKNOWLEDGE LAUNCHES MOBILE MONETIZATION SOLUTION FOR

SOCIAL GAMES AND APPLICATIONS

Adknowledge's Super Rewards Android Monetization Solution Drives

Free-to-Play Model Forward in the Mobile Space

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Inside Social Apps Summit– Jan. 25, 2011 – Mobile game and app publishers have a new, powerful way to earn recurring revenue by using the first product built specifically for the Android platform that combines direct payment methods, advertising offers, application installs and customer service all within a single SDK.

Adknowledge today announced its venture into the mobile ecosystem with the release of its Android SDK. The new Android SDK provides publishers with the ability to maximize earnings per user, gives consumers the ability to acquire virtual currency in multiple ways and provides advertisers with new channels to reach their target market. Information about the Android SDK can be found here: http://www.srpoints.com/industries/mobile/android-sdk.

Significant Opportunity for Mobile Advertising and Monetization

Providing monetization solutions on mobile devices is a natural extension of Adknowledge’s business. As the leading long tail advertiser marketplace, Adknowledge connects advertisers to consumers in hard-to reach places on the Web, including email, search, domains and social networks. In addition, through its Super Rewards division, the company has led the revolution in the monetization of games on social networks and standalone sites.

“Subscription, banner and paid download models have proven to be challenging ways to monetize many mobile games and apps,” said Chris Smutny, general manager of Adknowledge’s game division. “However, the free-to-play model is proving itself to be a powerful way to monetize games. We have seen the success of F2P in games on social networks, as well as on standalone games. The next frontier is mobile. Over the last three years, Adknowledge has helped thousands of publishers to develop, grow and monetize their F2P games. We are uniquely positioned to do the same with mobile game developers.”

As smart phones become increasingly powerful, the opportunity for them to be used as robust gaming platforms greatly increases. Among smart phones, the Android ecosystem provides mobile game developers the ability to reach a rapidly-growing user base. In 3Q10 for instance, the Android OS represented 26% of new smart phone sales (Gartner November 2010 report “Competitive Landscape: Mobile Devices, Worldwide, 3Q10″).

The company plans to launch subsequent mobile products over the next year, including products focused on other platforms, as well as on the web.

A Robust Mobile Monetization Solution

Mobile game and app publishers can enjoy valuable benefits that Adknowledge’s web-based monetization platform already provides to thousands of game developers. Mobile developers will now have access to an aggregation of mobile-optimized content including direct payment methods, advertising offers from Adknowledge’s 10,000+ advertisers, application installs and full customer support for the gamer.

The Android mobile SDK works on the most popular Android devices running OS 1.6+. Publishers can now download and integrate within a matter of minutes. In addition, the Android SDK uses the same optimization algorithms as the company’s web-based platform. This means only the offers most likely to result in conversions will be shown to users, thereby maximizing revenue-earning potential.

Since revenue performance varies based on the specific application dynamics including the level of user engagement and game dynamics, Adknowledge’s game analysts provide publishers with strategic counsel to maximize earnings while improving the user experience. All of the company’s pioneering platform controls that are provided to web-based publishers continue to work with the new Android SDK, including the industry’s first and most robust content filtering, whitelisting and blacklisting controls. In addition, publishers can use a simple, single login across all of their mobile and web-based games. The developer SDK is available at http://cdn.superrewards-offers.com/docs/Android_SDK.html

Fresh on the heels of securing $200 million in equity and debt funding, today’s announcement continues Adknowledge’s momentum and extends its leadership as the most valuable one-stop- shop for publishers and advertisers. Thousands of game publishers already use the company’s Offer Wall platform to generate reliable revenue quickly and efficiently. More than 10,000 advertisers use Adknowledge’s BidSystem, www.bidsystem.com, to promote their offers across the long tail in “hard to reach” segments of online advertising such as mobile, casual gaming, email, social networks, display, and domain inventory.

About Adknowledge

Adknowledge operates the 4th largest marketplace for advertisers to connect with their target audiences in hard-to-reach places on the Web with similar ROI as search. Since its founding in 2004, Adknowledge has grown organically and through acquisitions (including Miva, Super Rewards and Hydra) to become the largest privately-owned Internet advertising network. The company connects advertisers with consumers across the long tail Web via multiple channels, including mobile, email, search, domains and social networks. For more information on Adknowledge, visit www.adknowledge.com.

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PlayStation Phone Close Up Hands-On Preview [Video]

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 09:41 AM PST

It appears that none other than our pals over at Engadget have gotten their hands on an official Xperia Play, aka the Playstation Phone. Take a very close look at the hardware, the software, the camera, and the smoothness of the overall experience. It looks fab, it looks great, and it looks like it’s going to be quite an amazing package.

Hardware – a 4-inch multitouch 854 x 480 LCD, the same that the x10 has. LCD looks great, LCD closer to the glass than the x10, all viewing angles work out fine, screen powered by Bravia engine for improved video playback. Still unknown if it’s powered by a Qualcomm MSM8655 chipset, clocking indicates 122.88MHz to 1GHz, coupled with Adreno 205 GPU, 512MB of RAM, 1,689 on Quadrant, 59fps on Neocore, and the Wifi doesn’t appear to work – probably because they don’t have a fully functional piece of equipment.

There’s the regular 4 Android buttons, physical buttons below the screen, as well as a power button in the top right, volume rocker between two game triggers on the right (on top once the game buttons are flipped out,) and what they say is a flimsy battery door. Inside there’s a 1500mAh battery, slot for SIM card and microSD card, and a “second mic” above the LED flash (for noise cancellation?), and stereo loudspeakers outside next to a USB port. Under the screen you’ll see the very familiar PlayStation controls. All the buttons you’d expect are there save for the extra set of buttons above, and the dual-shock joysticks are now touchpads.

Software – they compare the experience they’re having here on the Play to that of the one they’ve had with the x10, saying that there’s some comparison to be made, though this PlayStation phone is just a bit better, a user interface with tweaks that make all the difference when it comes to browsing, and browsing with speed. Engadget installed a couple of emulators (one PlayStation, the other Gameboy Advance,) and say everything works “ran pretty well.”




Camera – appears to be really great. They mention there might be a little too much red going on in several of the images they took, but that third party apps would easily be able to rectify. This is an 8 megapixel camera which, if you’re familiar with the current state of cameras on smartphones, is a pretty big number, and the examples show the difference.

Wrap Up – Engadget says they’re tempted by the game pad, and have enjoyed the device, but feel like questions about the games (how they’ll be distributed, cost,) as well as an unknown cost for the phone itself are questions too big to allow them to give a final verdict on the phone just yet. While we agree, we feel like the most important bit on this entire device is going to be how well the games, even if they’re overly expensive, play on the gamepad. PlayStation has had essentially the same controller for years and years now, will true believers be able to turn their hands a bit outward and expect the same experience? We’ll have to see.

xperiaplayhero01252011-1295924690 xperiaplaygame01252011 xperiaplaymedia01252011 xperiaplaycam01252011 xperiaplayback201252011

[Via SlashGear]

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Samsung Giorgio Armani Galaxy S Now Free On Contract

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 09:20 AM PST

The ultra-lush Samsung Armani Galaxy S has been quite the talked about device. Bringing in designer premiums into the mobile phone market in the UK, it has been met with mixed opinions. However, now the deal is a little sweeter with the device being free, on contract of course.

Exclusive retailer Phones4U is now offering up the remaining of the 800 stock units for free. However the contracts on which it’s offered aren’t exactly cheap. Coming in around £40-50, the contracts definitely feature a “designer premium.”

Phones4U has also demoed the impressive device on video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

UK readers, now that the device itself is free, do you have any intentions of picking up the exclusive device? Let us know!

[Via IntoMobile]

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BlackBerry PlayBook and Handsets to Run Android Apps?

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 09:11 AM PST

It appears that the Boy Genius Report has received several words from several sources on the following bit of news: RIM may very well be seriously considering a feature that would let BlackBerry users run Android apps on their BlackBerry devices. This is big news, especially since PlayBook is set to be a big contender in the oncoming tablet wars, with Android/BlackBerry compatibility, its power to hold the eyes of consumers may have just doubled. Research in Motion (RIM) appears to have been trying to find the road that it’d like to walk down as far as how the Java environment it’s got working now will work in its upcoming QNX tablet and handsets. RIM has stated publicly that it is looking to get a Java virtual machine running on PlayBook, but they’ve not yet appeared to have decided what Java VM they’ll end up using.

What BGR has been told by more than one source is that RIM is considering the Dalvik virtual machine, the same virtual machine that Android OS uses, this then allowing compatibility in that all the RIM devices employed with this VM would be able to run basically any Android app. RIM has also, if you follow their epic life story at all you might remember, acquired the magnificent UI team The Astonishing Tribe, worked with QNX OS, and whispers of more magical items that could potentially knock them back directly in line with the big guns again – don’t fail, RIM, more operating systems means better operating systems!

[Via SlashGear]

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LG Optimus V Appearing at Some Virgin Mobile Stores

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 09:02 AM PST

Just as expected, although a little soon, the LG Optimus V for Virgin Mobile has appeared in stores. Currently showing up in select stores, the popular entry-level device is just as all other Optimus One devices, this time featuring Virgin Mobile branding.

The phone is being offered for $150 off-contract, which is an amazing price for what we see as the most impressive entry-mid grade Android device.

The device comes with a 3.2-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen, 3G data connection, Bluetooth, GPS, expansion slot, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. No word on when general availability will come but were expecting the device to be shipped to all locations here soon.

Is the Virgin Mobile pay as you go structure perfect for you? If so, this is probably one of the best devices you could pick up on the network.Will you be getting one?

[Via IntoMobile]

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Feature Packed Motorola Music Player Available for Download, Again

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 08:55 AM PST

A new Motorola Music Player has been leaked to the internet by XDA, and it’s by far one of the most impressive players we have seen for the Android platform. Now we are not exactly sure where this came from (Atrix, BIONIC?) but it sure piles on the features.

The software was originally posted late last weekend, but since then it has been pulled and replaced with the legal message:

Admin note: attachment deleted. Motorola has reported this as a violation of software copyright. Please refrain from reposting this piece of software. Thanks for your cooperation.

The application, Motorola Music Player 1.0.179, seems to be able to work on most devices bringing many features the Android music platform has been lacking for quite some time. It can play or stream music from a wide variety of sources, supports a FM Radio (hardware permitting), internet radio, and even the ability to search YouTube for music videos.

Other features include the ability to download missing album art with the press of an icon, Soundhound music analysis built-in, and with Tunewiki integration, you will have quick access to song lyrics. Sounds like an ultra feature-packed application, indeed.

You can get your hands on the music player by visiting the mirror file hosted here. Be sure to move hastily as Motorola will probably make their sweeps and delete the file soon.

[Via TDG]

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Notion Ink Quick Updates: Pre-Installed Updates, Next Order Stage and Adam 2 Incoming

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 08:41 AM PST

Even though the launch of the Notion Ink Adam has been off to a rough start, the company is staying in touch with their customers to let them know the current happenings regarding their much hyped tablet. In a recent blog post, Rohan has updated the customer base with a few bits of information.

First off, all next batches of the Adam will come with the controversial update pre-installed, this will prevent anyone from having update-related bricking problems. Furthermore, the Adam team will continue to help customers install the update to avoid bricking.

The next order stage is also starting soon. The reason for the delay is the company is trying to avoid Mastercard and banking issues this time around.

He also goes on to discuss the issue of the Mail’d source code. He confirms that it is indeed based on K9 and is an open source application. Both the K9 Project Founder and the Notion Ink team will continue to work together.

And finally, regarding Adam 2, Rohan had the following to say about the tablet which seems to be a more community-involved development process:

We are waiting to release some information on Adam 2 (which will take 9-15months from now!). It is going to be an exciting piece of engineering and we will surprise the world by making everyone sleeping in their beds, come out, sit over the edge, and become a part of it! We will release the road map, timelines and other details. This time, we will make it with you!

[Via Notion Ink]

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Motorola DROID Bionic and ATRIX 4G suffering “unfixable” power problems?

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 08:32 AM PST

The Motorola DROID Bionic and ATRIX 4G allegedly both suffer from a power management fault that could lead to the smartphones overheating even when idle. According to trusted source kbman at HowardForums, his contacts involved in testing the smartphones claim the issues could affect radio performance among other things.

“The problem has to do with the PMU and causes a variety of issues including severe overheating even while at idle, power fluctuations affecting RF performance and cold boot issues”

More concerning are suggestions that the problem is “unfixable”, though another user claiming insider information claims the PMU problem is in fact due to be addressed this week. While no specific evidence has been produced, kbman has a track record of inside Motorola information that is leaving would-be Bionic buyers wary of the new smartphone.

[via Electronista]

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Gingerbread for x86 released: Android 2.3 for your PC

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 07:14 AM PST

Gingerbread may only be on one commercially available smartphone right now, but if you fancy Android 2.3 on your PC then there’s already a suitable build. The Android-x86 project has managed to craft an early – but functional – Gingerbread release for Intel processors.

Right now sound and WiFi work, but ethernet, 3D and mouse control are still works-in-progress. It’s the handiwork of cwhuang, and you’ll need a 64-bit build environment and Java 1.6.

[via Twitter]

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Play.fm launches on Android platform

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 04:37 AM PST

Play.fm has announced that its mobile music service is now on three mobile platforms including Android. The app is also offered on Windows Phone 7 and the iPhone as well. The app provides the world’s largest on-demand radios for live recordings and DJ sets right on your mobile phone.

The app can be downloaded right now on the Android Market for 2.99 Euros. For that much loot, you get 90 days of all the listening that you want and the catalog of music has 30,000 DJ sets. That 90-day access allows the user to listen to five hours of music per month.

After the 90 days is up you will have to renew your subscription. The app has a Featured List that shows the most popular and most recent DJ sets and it has navigation buttons to search the database for specific sets.

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Official Facebook Phones to be HTC Android handsets?

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 04:28 AM PST

HTC is tipped to be working with Facebook on two Android smartphones bearing the social network’s official branding. According to CityAM‘s unspecified sources, the two handsets will use Facebook’s color scheme and support Facebook Voice calls and IM, as well as putting the social network’s news feed and messages on the homescreen.

Neither company has commented on the rumors, which suggest the new phones will debut at MWC 2011 next month, but SlashGear has heard independently that at least one of the devices should have a physical QWERTY keyboard and Facebook CTO Bret Taylor has recently insisted that the company’s primary focus for 2011 is mobile. Android Community will be at Mobile World Congress to bring back all the details of any announcement.

[via SlashGear]

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Good Technology reports Android devices were 30% of net new activations in Q4

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 04:23 AM PST

Good Technology offers a lot of secure and managed services in the mobile market and the company works with all platforms including Android, iOS, Windows Mobile and more. Good is offering up some details on the mobile market in the enterprise for Q4 2010 that is interesting.

Android and iOS devices are running away with the market according to the firm. Android represented 30% of new net activations for Good Technologies services in Q4 2010. Android was 40% of all smartphone activations as well in that period, that number does not count tablets. Windows Mobile and Symbian devices both dropped out of the top ten in Q4 2010.

The lead in activations was with iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone with 65% of net new activations being iOS devices from October 1 to December 31. Good Technologies points to that the Android and iOS platforms had very similar growth for the quarter.

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e-con Systems camera daughter boards get Android support

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 04:10 AM PST

It doesn’t matter what smartphone platform mobile fans use, we all have some of the same wants in common. One of the most common complaints about smartphones of all types from users is that the cameras aren't that great. A company called e-con Systems has announced that its new HD camera board called the e-CAM50_OMAP35x now supports the Android OS.

The camera driver used in the camera board interfaces with a high speed CMOS sensor interface on the TI OMAP35x and promises to deliver better picture quality and lossless compression to Android devices. The camera board uses an Omnivision OV5642 5MP sensor and has fixed autofocus.

In addition to taking still shots, the camera can also record 720p HD video at 30fps, VGA quality video at 55fps, and QVGA quality at 120 fps. The daughter board interfaces with the TI EVM board for prototyping devices and development.

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Notion Ink Eden UI ported to Viewsonic GTablet [Video]

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 03:05 AM PST

Notion Ink‘s Eden UI has been ported to the Viewsonic GTablet, after the start-up released fix files containing the slate’s ROM for those who had bricked their Adam. xda-developers wasted no time in bringing the three-pane interface over to the GTablet, and while it’s not 100-percent stable, it’s still arguably better than the UI Viewsonic opted for.

Interestingly the Notion Ink team seems aware of the hacking efforts, and – at least going by the latest blog post – don’t appear too upset. “XDA community, we love you!” CEO Rohan Shravan claims.

[Thanks to everybody who sent this in!; image and video via roebeet]

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Google “not happy” with Android Market paid-app performance

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 02:02 AM PST

Google is “not happy” with the number of paid app purchases from the Android Market, with Android platform manager Eric Chu telling developers that the company had several strategies for driving app buyers in 2011. Speaking at the Inside Social Apps conference in San Francisco this week, Forbes reports, Chu confirmed that carrier billing would be extended beyond just AT&T, so as to remove the payment obstacle for more users, while in-app payments would also come sometime this quarter.

Actual discovery of apps is also being streamlined, with Chu saying that Google is tweaking the Android Market search algorithm as well as investing in more people to weed through any titles that violate the ToS. There’ll also be a new push for HTML5 apps, and better social integration with the Android address book which Chu described as “the best social graph.”

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